Symptomatic and Clinical Improvement in Morbidly Obese Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Background: Patients who suffer with gastroesophageal reflux Disease (GERD) endure a worsening of symptoms as their weight increases. When medical treatment of this condition in the morbidly obese patients fails, surgical intervention may be indicated. Choosing a procedure which not only helps achieve weight control but which also relieves symptoms and complications of GERD is the goal. We present a review of patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP) and related procedures for this disease. Methods: One hundred eighty-eight patients undergoing surgery for morbid obesity and for GERD in 1992-1996 were contacted by mail or phone. All of these patients had undergone preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy to grade the severity of their disease. Their preoperative symptoms were compared to those experienced postoperatively. Results: One hundred thirty patients underwent a RYGBP with modified Hill fundopexy, 22 patients underwent a distal gastrectomy with modified Hill fundopexy, 8 patients underwent distal gastrectomy alone and 28 patients underwent RYGBP alone. There have been no deaths. There were nine surgical complications, eight early and one at 2.5 years postoperation. Follow-up is 4-48 months. The average BMI dropped from 43 to 30.2 kg/m². Whereas all patients were on some form of medical therapy before surgery, only 14 reported the need for medication postoperatively. Conclusions: Surgical intervention for weight control and treatment of GERD has been highly successful in our experience both with respect to weight control and to the reduction of reflux symptoms. Depending upon endoscopic and operative findings a RYGBP with or without an antireflux procedure can provide dramatic improvement. Gastrectomy with antireflux modifications is appropriate in selected cases.     

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

PURPOSE: A retrospective, 12-year review of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis was undertaken at a county hospital, with emphasis on presentation signs and symptoms. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with presence of intramural air were included in the study. The following signs and symptoms were studied: evidence of respiratory distress, use of umbilical catheters, white blood cell count and temperature at presentation, time interval from birth to diagnosis and time interval from diagnosis to operative intervention, presence of intramural air, air in biliary tree or free air, changes in abdominal girth, and presence of occult or gross blood in stools. Comparison was done among infants who had surgical or medical treatment, premature and full-term infants, and infants who had neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis less than or more than 20 days after birth. RESULTS: Eleven patients had a fatal outcome, with an overall survival of 87 percent. Sixty-four patients were treated medically and 18 had operative treatment. Mortality of the surgically treated group was 44 percent. Neonates who had surgical intervention had a left shift of the white blood cell count more commonly present, and all had documented abdominal distention. There were 62 premature and 20 full-term neonates in the group. Full-term neonates developed neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis earlier after birth (5.3 days compared with 15.3 days in the premature neonate group). Full-term neonates had a better prognosis in our series. Presentation of symptoms more than 20 days after birth did not change outcome. CONCLUSION: Our results reflect the experience of a community-based hospital. Clinical acumen remains the cornerstone of diagnosis and management.     

Ileocutaneous fistula formation following laparoscopic polypropylene mesh hernia repair

A rare case of enterocutaneous fistula caused by chronic erosion of polypropylene mesh after laparoscopic repair of a recurrent inguinal hernia is described. Successful treatment was achieved by fistulectomy, total resection of the implanted mesh, and small-bowel segmental resection. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and at follow-up 18 months later, the herniorrhaphy has remained intact. This complication needs to be added to the differential diagnosis in patients who present inflammation, abscess formation, or cutaneous fistula following laparoscopic hernia repair. Received: 7 October 1996/Accepted: 14 October 1996     

Vesicocutaneous fistula: An unusual complication of inguinoscrotal hernia

Involvement of the urinary bladder in an inguinal hernia is common, but massive bladder hernia is rare. Most urinary bladder herniations are discovered and repaired during surgery. We report a case of large incarcerated inguino-scrotal hernia, which was reduced only to present as a scrotal abscess and vesicocutaneous fistula; an unusual complication. The patient was managed conservatively due to underlying comorbidities.     

A review of incisional hernia repairs: preoperative weight loss and selective use of the mesh repair

At the Shouldice Clinic pre-operative weight loss is used prior to incisional hernia repairs. Mesh repair is selectively used, based on specific hernia characteristics. A series of 236 patients were reviewed and followed up for 36 months. Data were available on 188 patients (80%). There were 15 recurrences (8%). The number of obese patients was reduced from 67 (35.6%) to 25 (13.3%) through the weight loss program. The hernia diameter, gastrointestinal complications, and surgical site infection were significantly related to recurrence but not the type of repair, obesity, location, or previous recurrences. The risk factors of incisional hernias include size, intestinal complications and infections. A selective use has a comparable result to the exclusive use of mesh repair. Weight reduction has yet to be shown to affect the rate of recurrence, and further prospective studies are required.     

额叶内侧面损伤的临床特点及救治

目的 总结17例额叶内侧面损伤的临床特点及救治经验。方法 对我科1999年7月至2003年4月收治的额叶内侧面损伤患者进行回顾性分析。结果 手术治疗1例，恢复良好，保守治疗16例，其中恢复良好12例，中残2例，死亡2例，全组死亡率11．77％。结论 额叶内侧面损伤一般意识障碍较轻，但易直接发生枕骨大孔疝，严密观察病情及动态CT检查，颅内压监测，不拘泥传统手术指征，及时抓住手术时机，可有效降低致残率及死亡率。     

正常腹内压影响因素的临床研究

目的　探讨正常腹内压的影响因素 ,建立腹内压回归方程。方法　应用膀胱测压法测定 10 6例住院患者的腹内压 ,并对年龄、性别、身高、体重、体质指数、既往和近期腹部手术史、住院原因、合并症情况及数量等 14项因子与腹内压的关系进行分析。结果　住院患者平均腹内压为 5 .5mmHg( 1mmHg =0 .133kPa) ,范围为 0 .4～12 .8mmHg。各级体质指数相应的腹内压差异有显著性意义 (F =5 .5 5 0 ,P<0 .0 1)。男性腹内压比女性高 2 .0mmHg ,差异有显著性意义 (t=3.12 2 ,P<0 .0 1)。其他 12种因素对腹内压无明显影响 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论　正常腹内压可能受性别和体质指数影响 ,存在明显的个体差异     

肛周按揉及温水足浴对腹部手术后患者肛门排气时间的影响

目的探讨肛周按揉及温水足浴对腹部手术后患者肛门排气时间的影响。方法选择普外科180例腹部手术后患者，随机分为A组（肛周按揉＋温水足浴组＋常规护理）90例和B组（常规护理组）90例。比较2组肛门排气时间及腹胀情况。结果首次肛门排气时间A组早于B组，2组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．01）；腹胀症状A组较B组轻。结论肛周按揉结合温水足浴可显著缩短腹部手术术后患者肛门排气时间，减轻术后腹胀症状。     

腹茧症合并不孕七例临床分析

目的探讨腹茧症合并不孕的病因和诊治方法。方法对1996年至2005年因不孕施行腹部手术中发现的7例腹茧症患者进行回顾性分析。结果7例患者均为原发、管性不孕。其共同特点为,术中见多重疏松、灰白色的纤维膜状组织包裹于肠管间隙及盆腔脏器,手术分离困难。结论腹茧症引起的不孕可能为纤维膜包裹输卵管,使其丧失活动度,伞端封闭,无法完成捡拾和输送卵子的功能或包裹卵巢,使其排卵障碍而不能受孕。术后"假性囊肿"或"包裹性积液"易复发。     

Motor blockade associated with continuous epidural infusion after abdominal hysterectomy: a randomized controlled trial comparing 0.1% ropivacaine-plus-fentanyl versus 0.2% ropivacaine-alone

We compared rates of motor blockade, analgesia, adverse effects and patient satisfaction of 0.1% ropivacaine+fentanyl versus 0.2% ropivacaine-alone in a randomized, controlled trial. Fifty-four women who had undergone abdominal hysterectomy were randomly allocated into two groups to receive an epidural block at L_1–2 or L_2–3: group R received 0.2% ropivacaine-alone and group RF received 0.1% ropivacaine plus 2 μg fentanyl/ml, both at 8 ml/h. Rescue analgesia was provided via a morphine-loaded PCA device. Motor blockade (using a modified Bromage scale), pain intensity (visual analogue scale (VAS)), morphine consumption, level of sensory blockade and adverse effects, were measured at 4, 8 and 21 h after infusion. Patient satisfaction with pain management was assessed at the end of the study. The rates of motor blockade were not different at 8 h after infusion but at 21 h, group RF had significantly less motor blockade than group R. There were no differences in VAS, level of sensory blockade, adverse effects and patient satisfaction. Morphine consumption at each measurement was comparable but the total amount used by group RF was less than group R (12 mg versus 20 mg, P=0.049). Therefore, 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 μg/ml appears to offer advantages over 0.2% ropivacaine-alone.