Laparoscopic splenectomy: A retrospective review of 75 cases

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is considered a safe procedure for spleens of normal size as well as for larger spleens. Seventy-five consecutive patients underwent LS. Splenomegaly was defined by diameter >15 cm and by weight >400 g. Thirty patients had splenomegaly. The outcomes with spleens <15 cm and spleens >15 cm were compared. LS was successfully completed in 73 cases (97.4%). Spleens >15 cm required longer operating time and were associated with greater blood loss (P < 0.001), longer hospital stay, and more complications. Two patients needed blood transfusion. No overwhelming postsplenectomy infection was registered, and operative mortality was zero.     

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective review of 19 cases

The role of laparoscopic techniques in pancreatic surgery is still controversial especially regarding to exocrine malignancies. Operative time, conversion rate, adequacy of dissection, and morbidity do represent factors of major concern. Whereas laparoscopic resection of left sided pancreatic lesions requires no anastomosis and therefore has gained worldwide acceptance over the last years, excision of cephalic lesions by mimimal access has little place in surgeons' practice because of its technical complexity and duration of surgery. This study was designed to assess the feasibility and results of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy for neoplasms of the pancreatic head, analyzing steps of learning curve, conversion rate, and short-term outcomes. From August 2002 to December 2006, 19 patients affected by pancreatic neoplasm of the head were approached by minimally invasive technique. A video-assisted procedure with pancreaticoduodenal resection and anastomoses fashioned through a midline minilaparotomy of 7 cm was achieved in 7 patients. Conversion to laparotomy was required in 6 patients, in 3 for bleeding and in 3 for difficulties in dissection. Cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy was achieved by thorough intracorporeal technique in 6 patients. Mortality was nil. Oncologic principles with adequate lymphadenectomy and resection margins were respected and short-term outcomes and mean survival were quite acceptable and equal to those of conventional surgery.     

Thumb replantation: a retrospective review of 103 cases

Replantation has become the state of the art reconstruction for an amputated thumb. The aim of our study was to review our series of thumb replantations over a period of 12 years at the Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. The mechanism of injury, level of amputation, and use of vein grafts was reviewed and correlated with survival rates of the replanted thumbs. The overall survival rate was 91.3%. Of the 12 thumbs that were re-explored for vascular compromise, 75% were successfully salvaged. Our study also indicates that there is no statistical difference in survival of thumb replants when comparing the mechanism of injury, the level of amputation, and the use of vein grafts. However, the use of vein grafting seemed to be beneficial in the successful outcome of replantation in severe crush and avulsion injuries, even though the values did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that thumb replantation is associated with very high survival rate, regardless of the mechanism of injury or level of amputation, and should be attempted in all cases. An early reexploration for vascular problems yields a high salvage rate and should be performed in all cases. We also recommend the use of vein grafts in severe crush and avulsion injuries.     

Syme's amputation: a retrospective review of 10 cases

Amputation at the level of the ankle joint is a valuable, yet underused procedure for a variety of conditions affecting the foot and ankle. The procedure can provide a comfortable and durable stump that allows a lower extremity amputee to function with minimal disability. The indications, surgical technique, and postoperative prosthetic considerations are reviewed and discussed. Emphasis is placed on the preoperative considerations deemed essential for a successful outcome based on the senior author's experience of 10 cases performed for a wide variety of pathologies. Three case illustrations show the efficacy of the Syme's procedure as an alternative to a higher level amputation, such as below-knee amputation or above-knee amputation.     

前列腺脓肿12例诊疗分析

目的 总结前列腺脓肿患者的临床表现及影像学特点,提升诊断符合率,同时为临床治疗提供一定的参考.方法 回顾2006年2月至2014年9月本院12例诊断为前列腺脓肿患者的既往病史、临床表现、实验室检查及影像学表现特点,总结其诊疗特点及临床疗效.结果 最常见的临床表现及体征为寒颤、发热及尿路刺激症状;9例尿培养阳性,培养结果以大肠杆菌为主(7/9),穿刺液培养亦以大肠杆菌为主(8/9),其中4例行经直肠超声引导下前列腺穿刺引流术及5例行经尿道前列腺脓肿电切去顶引流术,术后予以抗感染而控制病情;术后随访3个月,其中单纯抗感染治疗复发2例.结论 直肠指诊、PSA、经直肠超声及CT检查有助于尽早诊断前列腺脓肿,CT可准确反应脓肿的大小、位置及分隔情况,可作为诊断前列腺脓肿的常规检查;超声引导下穿刺引流或经尿道前列腺脓肿电切去顶引流术可有效控制病情.     

胸腔镜胸腺切除术治疗重症肌无力500例

目的 总结胸腔镜胸腺切除术治疗重症肌无力(MG)的经验,对比胸腺瘤和非胸腺瘤MG患者的术后效果,分析胸腔镜联合纵隔镜和单纯胸腔镜治疗非胸腺瘤MG的远期效果.方法 2001年至2011年,采用胸腔镜胸腺扩大切除术治疗MG患者500例,根据是否合并胸腺瘤和术中是否联合纵隔镜分组:胸腔镜胸腺瘤组(A组)118例,胸腔镜非胸腺瘤组(B组)301例,胸腔镜联合纵隔镜非胸腺瘤组(C组)81例.结果 全组无术中死亡.完全电视胸腔镜下完成手术495例.A组手术(128.5±77.8) min,术后24.6％患者出现肌无力危象;B组手术(111.3±31.6) min,术后11.0％患者出现肌无力危象;C组手术(145.0 ±71.6) min,术后9.9％患者出现肌无力危象.术后随访3个月至11年,A、B、C组患者完全缓解率(CSR)分别为28.7％、37.3％、36.5％.无病生存曲线示术后3年B、C组CSR高于A组,术后5年C组CSR高于B组.术后第5年C组CSR接近60％,B组为50％,而A组仅为36％.结论 胸腔镜基础上联合纵隔镜胸腺扩大切除手术清除颈部、前纵隔脂肪组织及异位胸腺更为彻底,远期效果更加理想.与非胸腺瘤MG患者相比,胸腺瘤MG患者术后远期效果较差.     

Diastematomyelia: a retrospective review of 138 patients

Diastematomyelia is a rare congenital abnormality of the spinal cord. This paper summarises more than 30 years' experience of treating this condition. Data were collected retrospectively on 138 patients with diastematomyelia (34 males, 104 females) who were treated at our hospital from May 1978 to April 2010. A total of 106 patients had double dural tubes (type 1 diastematomyelia), and 32 patients had single dural tubes (type 2 diastematomyelia). Radiographs, CT myelography, and MRI showed characteristic kyphoscoliosis, widening of the interpedicle distance, and bony, cartilaginous, and fibrous septum. The incidences of symptoms including characteristic changes of the dorsal skin, neurological disorders, and congenital spinal or foot deformity were significantly higher in type 1 than in type 2. Surgery is more effective for patients with type 1 diastematomyelia; patients without surgery showed no improvement.     

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a retrospective review of 14 cases

Although the role of minimally invasive techniques in pancreatic surgery remains controversial, resection of the left pancreas for benign or endocrine lesions has been universally adopted as a routine technique over the last few years. This study was undertaken to assess feasibility and safety of minimal access resections of distal pancreas in benign, endocrine, and malignant diseases. Operative time, conversion rate, adequacy of dissection, respect for oncologic principles, morbidity rate, and short-term outcomes were analyzed. From the years 2002 to 2007, 14 patients affected by pancreatic neoplasm of body/tail region were approached by minimally invasive technique. Nine patients were affected by malignant neoplasms and distal splenopancreatectomy was successfully achieved by laparoscopy in 6. Five patients were affected by endocrine neoplasms; distal pancreatectomy with preservation of spleen and splenic vessels was achieved laparoscopically in 3, whereas 2 needed conversion to laparotomy. Four patients developed pancreatic leak after transection by linear cutting stapler plus oversewing, whereas no leak was observed within 30 days from surgery after transection by linear stapler with Seamguard reinforcement of the staple line (P<0.05 with Fisher exact test).     

Medulloblastomas: a review of modern management with a report on 75 cases

The authors summarize the 8-year experience of a tertiary medical center with 75 cases of medulloblastoma in Saudi Arabia. A discussion of the evolution of modern management of this difficult problem ensues. As 5-year survival statistics approach 80% in some institutions, attention is being focused on the long-term effects of modern therapy and the quality of life led by these children.     

Nocardiosis in patients with nephrotic syndrome: a retrospective analysis of 11 cases and a literature review

International Urology and Nephrology - We evaluated the clinical manifestations and outcomes of nocardiosis, a rare opportunistic infection that occurs in patients with nephrotic syndrome. The...     

Use of bronchial blockers: a retrospective review of 302 cases

The purpose of this retrospective review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the bronchial blockers (BBs) used in thoracic anesthesia. We enrolled 302 patients who had a BB placed to achieve one-lung ventilation (OLV). Variables recorded from the anesthetic record included type of device used, type and side of surgery, specific indications for OLV, Mallampati score, route of intubation, and complications related to the use of BBs. The BBs used include the Arndt Wire-guided, Univent, Cohen Flexi-tip, Fogarty catheter, and Fuji. The majority of BBs placed were Arndt (n = 156) or Univent (n = 131). BBs were used significantly more often in thoracoscopic procedures than in thoracotomies (P < 0.01). Of the 251 patients, 216 (86%) had a Mallampati score of I/II and 35 (14%) had a score of III/IV. There were no identified complications related to BBs. In summary, BBs can be safely used to achieve OLV and offer advantages for OLV in specific situations.     

Endogenous-lesioned cervical disc herniation: a retrospective review of 9 cases

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and surgical treatment of cervical disc herniation without external trauma. Between 2004 and 2008, 9 patients with cervical disc herniation and no antecedent history of trauma were diagnosed with cervical disc herniation and underwent surgical decompression. Pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. In 6 patients, herniation resulted from excessive neck motion rather than from external trauma. An injury from this source is termed an endogenous-lesioned injury. Patients exhibited neurologic symptoms of compression of the cervical spinal cord or nerve roots. In the other 3 patients, no clear cause for the herniation was recorded, but all patients had a desk job with long periods of head-down neck flexion posture. After surgery, all patients experienced a reduction in their symptoms and an uneventful recovery. Cervical disc herniation can occur in the absence of trauma. Surgical decompression is effective at reducing symptoms in these patients, similar to other patients with cervical disc herniation. Surgical treatment may be considered for this disorder when the herniation becomes symptomatic.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the external ear: a review of 75 cases

Squamous cell carcinoma of the external ear can be a potentially lethal lesion. Although it is the most common cancer involving the pinna, the variables that have the greatest impact on prognosis are still in question. We reviewed 75 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the external ear to determine patterns of occurrence and treatment failure. Forty patients had adequate follow-up for determination of cancer control rates. Local control was successful with initial treatment in 85% of the cases. The incidence of lymph node metastases was 10%, whereas distant metastasis occurred in only one patient (2.5%). This series differs from others in that most patients were unselected and most of the lesions treated were early (less than 1 cm). The significance of positive margins after surgical excision is also analyzed.     

Malignant breast cancer in children: a review of 75 patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine incidence trends and outcomes for pediatric patients with malignant breast disease. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was examined for all females 19 years of age and younger diagnosed with a malignant breast tumor between 1973 and 2004. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients with malignant breast tumors were identified. Overall, 14.5% of patients had in situ tumors, and 85.5% had invasive disease. Tumors were classified as being either carcinomas (n = 41, 54.7%) or sarcomas (n = 34, 45.3%). The majority of sarcomatous lesions were phyllodes tumors (n = 29, 85.5%), whereas most carcinomas were of a ductal etiology (n = 19, 46.3%). The age-adjusted incidence of all malignant pediatric breast tumors in 2003 was 0.08 cases per 100,000 people (0.03 carcinoma and 0.06 sarcoma cases per 100,000 people). In the carcinoma group, regionally advanced disease was present in 11 patients (26.8%), whereas only 3 patients (7.3%) presented with metastatic disease. All patients with sarcomatous tumors presented with localized disease. Adjuvant radiation therapy was administered in only 9.8% of carcinomas and 8.8% of sarcomas, and 85.4% of carcinoma patients and 97.1% of sarcoma patients underwent surgical resection for their primary disease. Subgroup analysis revealed 5- and 10-year survival rates of 89.6% for patients with sarcomatous tumors and 63.1% and 54.3% for carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant pediatric breast malignancies remain relatively rare. The two most common histologies of breast neoplasms in children are malignant carcinomas followed by sarcomas. Although uncommon, malignant disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the pediatric patient with a breast mass.     

Use of the CTrach Laryngeal Mask Airway in adult patients: a retrospective review of 126 cases

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the CTrach Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) when used electively.DesignRetrospective analysis.SettingOperating room of an academic hospital.MeasurementsData from 126 patients who were electively intubated with the CTrach LMA over a 16-month period were reviewed. Each patient's weight, height, ASA physical status classification, Mallampati score, thyromental distance, and cervical spine range of motion were recorded.Main ResultsSuccessful ventilation was achieved in 100% of patients, while successful intubation was achieved in 89.7% of patients. The most common reason for failure to intubate was poor airway visualization and the inability to appropriately position the device anterior to the vocal cords.ConclusionsThe major advantage of the CTrach LMA is that it is the only device that allows airway visualization during patient ventilation; however, it does not have 100% success with intubation.