Comparison of Laparoscopic vs Open Sigmoid Colectomy for Benign and Malignant Disease at Academic Medical Centers

Few studies have examined outcomes of laparoscopic and open sigmoid colectomy performed at US academic centers. Using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedural codes, data was obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) Clinical Database of 10,603 patients who underwent laparoscopic or open sigmoid colectomy for benign and malignant disease between 2003–2006. A total of 1,092 patients (10.3%) underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy. Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay (5.4 vs 7.4 days), lower overall complication rate (19.7 vs 26.0%), lower 30-day readmission rate (3.4 vs 4.6), and a lower hospital cost ($13,814 vs $15,626). When a subset analysis of malignant and benign groups was performed, a significantly shorter length of stay in both the malignant laparoscopic group (6.4 ± 6.4 vs 7.8 ± 6.6 days) and in the benign laparoscopic groups (5.1 ± 3.5 vs 7.2 ± 7.6) exists. A lower wound complication rate (2.1 vs 5.5%, malignant and 4.0 vs 6.1, benign) is also evident. Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy was associated with a shorter length of stay, less complications, and a lower 30-day readmission rate. The shorter length of stay and wound infection rate maintain significance when comparing laparoscopic vs open sigmoid resections for malignant and benign disease. Presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract at Digestive Disease Weak, Washington, DC, May 21st 2007. The information contained in this article was based on the Clinical Data Base provided by the University HealthSystem Consortium.     

下肢静脉性溃疡的外科微创治疗

目的探讨下肢静脉性溃疡外科微创治疗的效果。方法对31例(33侧患肢)下肢静脉性溃疡通过静脉造影检查明确引起溃疡的原发病变,根据患肢血流动力学异常的种类和程度对10例(11侧患肢)行高位大隐静脉结扎联合静脉腔内激光治疗术;17例(18侧患肢)行高位大隐静脉结扎联合静脉腔内激光治疗、内镜深筋膜下交通静脉离断术;4例(4侧患肢)行高位大隐静脉结扎联合静脉腔内激光治疗、内镜深筋膜下交通静脉离断和股浅静脉瓣膜包窄术。溃疡一律行周缘环行缝扎。结果术后33侧患肢浅静脉曲张均消失,色素沉着、湿疹样病变均明显减轻;24侧小腿酸胀沉重感、疼痛、水肿12~16d消失;溃疡18~40d内愈合。随访1~36个月,平均14.8月,3侧(9.1%)肢体溃疡复发。结论纠正浅静脉、交通支静脉、深静脉功能不全和重视溃疡创面的处理是治疗下肢静脉性溃疡的有效疗法,静脉腔内激光治疗、内镜深筋膜下交通静脉离断术操作简便、微创、安全,联合股浅静脉瓣膜包窄术可以有效地减少下肢静脉性溃疡的复发。     

Travel distance, age, and sex as factors in follow-up visit compliance in the post-gastric bypass population

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the optimal rate of follow-up in the post-bariatric surgery patient population. METHODS: The records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass from 2001 to 2003 were reviewed. Using patient zip codes, travel distances were calculated between the patients' places of residence and our clinic. Patients were then assigned to 1 of 3 cohorts according to the following distances: (1) < 50 miles, (2) 50 to 100 miles, and (3) > 100 miles. Patient compliance with follow-up appointments at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months was analyzed. Linear trends were identified using the Mantel-Haenszel test. Age and sex were analyzed as possible predictors of compliance using the chi(2) test. P values < .05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study group comprised 150 patients (127 females and 23 males). The 3 cohorts contained 115, 21, and 14 patients, respectively. All patients in each cohort were compliant with the 3-week follow-up appointment. Although there were differences in compliance between cohorts at each of the remaining appointments, only the 9-month (70.3% vs 61.9% vs 35.7%) visit showed statistical significance (P = .035). The 6-month visit trended toward significance (85.2% vs 76.2% vs 64.3%; P = .088). Males were more likely to be compliant with the 12-month follow-up (P = .040). When controlling for sex, travel distance was also a predictor of compliance at this follow-up visit (P = .024). Age was not predictive of compliance (P = .827). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, we conclude that travel distance from the clinic does not significantly affect compliance at the initial follow-up, 3-month, and 12-month appointments. However, distance does tend to affect compliance at the 6-month appointment and significantly affects compliance at the 9-month appointment. Males are more likely to be compliant at the 12 month follow-up visit. We must continue to strive for 100% follow-up in our post-bariatric surgery patients.     

Association Between Outpatient Follow-Up and Pediatric Emergency Department Asthma Visits

Background. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines recommend that patients receive a follow-up outpatient asthma visit after being discharged from an emergency department (ED) for asthma. Objective. To measure the frequency of follow-up outpatient asthma visits and its association with repeat ED asthma visit. Design. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children with asthma using claims data from a university-based managed care organization from 01 1998 to 10 2000. We performed a multivariate survival analysis using Cox proportional hazards model to determine the effect of follow-up outpatient asthma visits on the likelihood of a repeat ED asthma visit, after controlling for severity of illness, patient age, gender, insurance, and the specialty of the primary care provider. Results: A total of 561 children had 780 ED asthma visits. Of these, 103 (17%) had a repeat ED asthma visit within 1 year. Almost two-thirds of children (66%) did not receive outpatient follow-up for asthma within 30 days of an ED asthma visit. Outpatient asthma visits within 30 days of an ED asthma visit are associated with an increased likelihood (relative risk = 1.80; 95% confidence interval 1.19, 2.72) for repeat ED asthma visits within 1 year. Conclusions. Most patients do not have outpatient follow-up after an ED asthma visit. However, those patients that present for outpatient follow-up have an increased likelihood for repeat ED asthma visits. For the primary care provider, these outpatient follow-up visits signal an increased risk that a patient will return to the ED for asthma and are a key opportunity to prevent future ED asthma visits.     

血管内栓塞外伤性颈动脉海绵窦瘘126例随访结果

目的探讨血管内栓塞治疗外伤性颈动脉海绵窦瘘（TCCF）的近期及远期效果。方法139例TCCF患者行血管内栓塞术后3个月开始通过再次入院、邮寄调查表或电话随访．其中再次入院完成及收回调查表共64例，电话随访62例，获随访126例（90．6％）。结果126例中26例术后行MRA检查，20例行颅脑CT检查，均未见异常；10例术后半年行DSA复查，未见复发。11例复发，经再次栓塞后治愈。结论血管内栓塞治疗TCCF，术后复发率不高，临床随访即可。     

Significance of Anticardiolipin Antibodies on Short and Long Term Allograft Survival and Function following Kidney Transplantation

The significance of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) prior to renal transplantation is unclear. We studied a cohort of 337 patients who underwent renal transplantation from 1996 to 2001. Follow-up continued until allograft loss, patient death or 31 December 2002. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of death-censored allograft loss or a 25% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from 1-month post-transplant. Secondary outcomes were allograft loss, a 25% reduction in GFR, acute rejection and creatinine at 1 year. IgG and IgM ACA titers were positive (> or =15) in 18.1% of recipients. There were no significant differences at baseline between recipients, except coumadin therapy in those with positive ACA titers (20% vs. 7.4%). Post-transplant, there was no increase in the primary outcome in ACA-positive patients, even after adjustment for anticoagulation with coumadin (HR = 1.42 [0.68, 2.96]). There was no difference in secondary outcomes between those with or without positive titers. Two of five patients with very high titers (>50) who were not anticoagulated had early graft loss. A positive ACA titer prior to kidney transplantation was not associated with inferior renal outcomes after transplantation, although more research is required to address the prognostic significance of very high ACA titers.     

双侧内囊前肢毁损术治疗难治性强迫症疗效及随访研究

目的　对难治性强迫症进行双侧内囊前肢毁损术治疗 ,评定手术疗效并进行 2年随访 ,以进一步探索脑外科手术对难治性强迫症的疗效 ,并探讨手术治疗的良好适应症。方法　对 2 8例难治性强迫症患者进行双侧内囊前肢毁损术治疗 ,并分别在手术前、手术后二周、手术后三月、手术后六月、手术后一年、手术后二年进行Y BOCS、HAMA、HAMD量表评定及术后疗效评定。结果　 (1)强迫症患者手术后各期Y BOCS评分、HAMA评分与手术前比较均下降 ,有极显著差异 (P <0 .0 0 1) ;(2 )手术后各期Y BOCS的强迫思维评分均有明显下降 (P <0 .0 0 1) ,强迫行为在手术后 1年和 2年 ,与手术前比较无明显改变 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;(3)手术后 2年的总有效率为 5 3.5 % ,明显低于手术后 3月的总有效率 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　采用双侧内囊毁损术有相当的治疗效果 ,对于难治性强迫症患者可作为一种补充治疗手段 ;手术治疗对强迫行为的长期疗效较差 ,以严重的强迫思维为主的难治性强迫症患者为手术更好的适应症。     

What should nurse teachers be doing? A preliminary study

There is little doubt that the role of the nurse teacher is complex and multifaceted in nature. The apparently conflicting demands of NHS trusts and education in the United Kingdom, at the time of integration of nurse education into the higher education sector, further complicates the role. This recognition underlines the need to capture and measure key aspects of nurse teacher function in order to maximize educational gain. Using a comprehensive literature review, focus group discussions and a small number of individual semi-structured interviews, this preliminary study explored the issue of teacher workload, from the perspective of the principal stakeholders in nurse and higher education. Competing research and clinical practice objectives for nurse teachers are identified against a background of changing health care provision, reduced availability of placements and an increased need for evidence-based practice.     

乙型肝炎与肝癌关系的流行病学研究—广西HBsAg携带者及肝损害者的分布及发生肝癌的前瞻性研究

本文对20岁以上22830人按HBsAg状况和肝损害表现分队列进行随访,平均追踪6.8年,在肝癌高发区和低发区均以HBsAg携带者并有重度肝损害者(肝大+肝功能异常)的肝癌死亡率和相对危险性最高,相对危险性分别为37.3和22.5倍。以无肝大和肝功能异常的非携带者最低,肝癌的发生和肝损害的程度呈平行关系。HBsAg携带者发生肝癌死亡的相对危险性高于非携带者7倍,并发现HBsAg携带并有重度肝损害的肝癌死亡的平均年龄显著提前。认为肝癌高发区人群中HBV的持续感染和肝损害的广泛存在是导致肝癌高发和早发的重要因素。