Pulmonary endarterectomy: experience and lessons learned in 1,500 cases

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pulmonary hypertension resulting from chronic thrombotic occlusion of the pulmonary arteries is significantly underestimated. Although medical therapy for the condition is supportive only, surgical therapy is curative. Our pulmonary endarterectomy program was begun in 1970, and 188 patients were operated on in the subsequent 20 years. With the increased recognition of the disease and the success of operative therapy, however, more than 1,400 operations have been done since 1990 at our center. METHODS: The safety and efficacy of the operation was assessed with changes made through increased experience. We examined in detail the results of our last 500 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, profound hypothermia, and circulatory arrest were found to be essential to the success of the operation. All occluding material could be removed at operation. We currently believe that there is no degree of embolic occlusion within the pulmonary vascular tree that is inaccessible and no degree of right ventricular impairment or any level of pulmonary vascular resistance that is inoperable. With shorter cardiac arrest periods and the use of a cooling jacket to the head, cerebral impairment has been eliminated. The pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance in a recent cohort of 500 patients is examined. The mortality rate for the operation has been reduced steadily, and was 22 of the last 500 patients operated on (4.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The operation is considered curative and therefore greatly superior to transplantation for this condition. Current techniques of operation make the procedure relatively safe.     

Hirschsprung disease: lessons learned from the last 100 cases

We analize our experience in the management of the last consecutive 100 Hirschsprung's disease (HD) patients divided into two periods: 1992-1997 and 1998-2004, in order to find out differences in morbidity, mortality and outcome between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During this period, 72 males and 28 females were treated. Twelve had family history and five suffered from Down's syndrome. Information about clinical onset, need of stomas, surgical procedures, continence, outcome and mortality was recorded. We compared the results between the two groups with non-parametrics stadistics test. RESULTS: 50% of patients were symptomatic in the newborn period and 25% of them needed some surgical procedures. Seventy four patients suffered from rectosigmoid forms, fourteen colic forms and twelve were total colonic HD (7 with small bowel extension). Hystochemistry was diagnostic in 98%. Nursing was effective in 47 cases. Differences in the need of stomas were found beetween the two periods: 30% during the first period and 6% during the second one (p<0,05). Twenty percent (20) of the patients suffered from enterocolitis (with no differences beetween both groups), and 13 of them still had enterocolitis episodes in spite of stomas or pull-through procedures. We performed 49 Swenson, 29 Soave, 14 transanal and 2 Lester-Martin procedures. The median age at definitive operation was smaller in the last period when compared to the first (p< 0.05). We found good results on continence in 86%, with no relation with definitive surgical procedure nor with the period of time studied. CONCLUSIONES: The younger age at definitive treatment, the performance of stomas and the increase of transanal procedures were the principal differences beetwen the two groups.     

Lessons learned after more than 250 periacetabular osteotomies

The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has become the procedure of choice in many centers for the treatment of young patients with symptomatic hip dysplasia in the absence of severe secondary arthrosis. This article concerns our institution's "learning curve" with this procedure and focuses on patient selection, exposure, technical aspects of performing the bone cuts, mobilizing the fragment, and obtaining proper correction.     

Lessons learned after more than 250 periacetabular osteotomies

The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has become the procedure of choice in many centers for the treatment of young patients with symptomatic hip dysplasia in the absence of severe secondary arthrosis. This article concerns our institution's "learning curve" with this procedure and focuses on patient selection, exposure, technical aspects of performing the bone cuts, mobilizing the fragment, and obtaining proper correction.     

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty: an analysis of first 100 cases and important lessons learned

Aim  

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) is a minimally invasive approach that is becoming a standard treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). It is providing similar results when compared with open surgery. We here present our technique and analyses of experience of our first 100 cases.     

100 consecutive minimally invasive Heller myotomies: lessons learned

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the authors' first 100 patients treated for achalasia by a minimally invasive approach. METHODS: Between November 1992 and February 2001, the authors performed 95 laparoscopic and 5 thoracoscopic Heller myotomies in 100 patients (age 49.5 +/- 1.5 years) with manometrically confirmed achalasia. Before presentation, 51 patients had previous dilation, 23 had been treated with botulinum toxin (Botox), and 4 had undergone prior myotomy. Laparoscopic myotomy was performed by incising the distal 4 to 6 cm of esophageal musculature and extended 1 to 2 cm onto the cardia under endoscopic guidance. Fifteen patients underwent antireflux procedures. RESULTS: There were eight intraoperative perforations and only four conversions to open surgery. Follow-up is 10.8 +/- 1 months; 75% of the patients have been followed up for at least 14 months. Outcomes assessed by patient questionnaires revealed satisfactory relief of dysphagia in 93 patients and "poor" relief in 7 patients. Postoperative heartburn symptoms were reported as "moderate to severe" in 14 patients and "none or mild" in 86 patients. Fourteen patients required postoperative procedures for continued symptoms of dysphagia after myotomy. Esophageal manometry studies revealed a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) from 37 +/- 1 mm Hg to 14 +/- 1 mm Hg. Patients with a decrease in LESP of more than 18 mm Hg and whose absolute postoperative LESP was 18 or less were more likely to have relief of dysphagia after surgery. Thirty-one patients who underwent Heller alone were studied with a 24-hour esophageal pH probe and had a median Johnson-DeMeester score of 10 (normal <22.0). Mean esophageal acid exposure time was 3 +/- 0.6% (normal 4.2%). Symptoms did not correlate with esophageal acid exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results after minimally invasive treatment for achalasia are equivalent to historical outcomes with open techniques. Satisfactory outcomes occurred in 93% of patients. Patients whose postoperative LESP was less than 18 mm Hg reported the fewest symptoms. After myotomy, patients rarely have abnormal esophageal acid exposure, and the addition of an antireflux procedure is not required.     

Pediatric snakebites: lessons learned from 114 cases

Purpose

Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of pediatric snakebite injuries are lacking because they occur infrequently in most centers.

Methods

We reviewed our experience treating snakebites from January 1995 through December 2005. Demographic (eg, age, sex, geographic location) and clinical information (eg, location of bite, species of snake, vital signs, laboratories, treatment, hospital length of stay) were obtained.

Results

Over the last decade, we have treated 114 children with confirmed snakebites. Mean age was 7.3 ± 4.2 years (range, 1-17 years), and snakebites were more common in males (n = 68, 60%). All bites occurred on the extremities, and lower extremity bites were more common (n = 71, 62%). Copperheads inflicted the most bite injuries (n = 65, 57%), followed by rattlesnakes (n = 9, 8%) and cottonmouths (n = 7, 6%). The snake was not identified in 33 (29%) cases. Seven (6%) children were treated with Crotalidae antivenin. Of the children treated with antivenin, only 4 met criteria for treatment, and 1 had an anaphylactic reaction. If compartment syndrome was suspected based on neurovascular examination, compartment pressures were measured. Only 2 (1.8%) patients required fasciotomies. Over the last 2 years, we have stopped empiric treatment with antibiotics and have not observed any infectious complications. Average hospital length of stay was 30 ± 25 hours.

Conclusions

Most children bitten by pit vipers can be managed conservatively with analgesics and elevation of the affected extremity. Treatment with Crotalidae antivenin, antibiotics, and fasciotomy is rarely indicated.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: lessons learned from 100 consecutive procedures.

One hundred consecutive laparoscopic adrenal procedures for a variety of endocrine disorders were reviewed. There was no mortality, morbidity was 12%, and conversions was 3%. During follow-up, none had recurrence of hormonal excess. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the procedure of choice for adrenal removal except in carcinoma or masses > 15 cm. OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for a variety of endocrine disorders. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Since the first laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 1992, this approach quickly has been adopted, and increasing numbers are being reported. However, the follow-up period has been too short to evaluate the completeness of these operations. METHODS: One hundred consecutive laparoscopic adrenal procedures from January 1992 until November 1996 were reviewed and followed for adequacy of resection. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients underwent 97 adrenalectomies and biopsies. The mean age was 46 years (range, 17-84 years). Indications were pheochromocytomas (n = 25), aldosterone-producing adenomas (n = 21), nonfunctional adenomas (n = 20), cortisol-producing adenomas (n = 13), Cushing's disease (n = 8), and others (n = 13). Fifty-five patients had previous abdominal surgery. Mean operative time was 123 minutes (range, 80-360 minutes), and estimated blood loss was 70 mL (range, 20-1300 mL). There was no mortality, and morbidity was encountered in 12% of patients, including three patients in whom venous thrombosis developed with two sustaining pulmonary emboli. During pheochromocytoma removal, hypertension occurred in 56% of patients and hypotension in 52%. There were three conversions to open surgery. The average length of stay has decreased from 3 days (range, 2-19 days) in the first 3 years to 2.4 days (range, 1-6 days) over the past 16 months. During follow-up (range, 1-44 months), two patients had renovascular hypertension and none had recurrence of hormonal excess. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe, effective, and decreases hospital stay and wound complications. Prior abdominal surgery is not a contraindication. Pheochromocytomas can be resected safely laparoscopically despite blood pressure variations. Venous thrombosis prophylaxis is mandatory. The laparoscopic approach is the procedure of choice for adrenalectomy except in the case of invasive carcinoma or masses > 15 cm.     

The ileal neobladder: experience and results of more than 100 consecutive cases

The ileal neobladder produces a completely detubularized, low pressure, high capacity reservoir constructed from ileum without any valves. From April 1986 through May 1989, 113 patients underwent this procedure at our institution. Of these patients 99 underwent simultaneous radical cystectomy for bladder cancer and 14 underwent bladder augmentation. The mean postoperative followup was 14.4 months, with a range of 1 to 36 months. There was no perioperative mortality. However, 7 patients died more than 2 months postoperatively: 5 of tumor progression, 1 of pneumonia and severe metabolic acidosis, and 1 of septicemia of unknown cause. Reoperation was necessary in only 13 patients; 10 patients required urethrotomy or dilation of urethral strictures. Day and night continence was preserved in 82.1% of all patients. Stress incontinence, which must be corrected by an artificial sphincter, was found in 4 patients (4.2%) and night-time incontinence that required an external device occurred in 5 (5.3%). Eight patients (8.4%) with mild stress incontinence required no further treatment. Pressure waves exceeding 22 cm. water seldom occurred and then only at maximum capacity. Our experience with this relatively simple system without a nipple is an overwhelming success. The need for reoperation is extraordinarily low and the high reservoir capacity results in continence from the beginning in most patients. The concept is sound and offers a genuine alternative to any form of cutaneous urinary diversion with an incidence of complications not higher than after standard supravesical urinary diversion.     

Gastric bypass revision: lessons learned from 920 cases

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) is an accepted operation for the control of body weight in morbidly obese patients. Early technical complications and inadequate weight loss, well-known sequelae of this procedure, necessitated reoperation in 42 patients of 920 who underwent RGB in a 10-year period. Indications for reoperation included dilated gastrojejunal anastomosis (16), inadequate weight loss without demonstrable enlargement of the anastomosis (10), staple line breakdown (6), anastomotic obstruction (4), anastomotic leak (4), and enlarged proximal gastric pouch (2). Reoperation consisted of completely redoing the initial RGB in 20 patients, redoing the anastomosis alone in 17 patients, staple line revision in four patients, and intraoperative dilatation of the anastomosis in one patient. After initial RGB, 26 of the 42 patients (61.9%) experienced major complications. After revision of RGB, there were major complications in 21 patients (50%). In conclusion, major postoperative complications may contribute to RGB failure, RGB revision for early technical failure or inadequate weight loss is associated with a high incidence of major complications and, subsequently, negligible weight loss. Therefore repair of RGB for technical failure or complications is not recommended.     

Brain monitoring after subarachnoid hemorrhage: lessons learned

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a serious condition with a high morbidity and mortality rate despite advances in neurocritical care. Intraparenchymal monitors providing continuous bedside physiological data have been introduced into the care of the neurocritically ill and are the focus of clinical research. We review the available technology for bedside brain monitoring and the knowledge that has been gathered and its clinical utility by organizing it into 3 main areas: detecting vasospasm early, establishing end points to resuscitation in the management of cerebral vasospasm, and developing insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. Finally, we discuss its implications for the field and future directions.     

Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy: lessons learned from 111 consecutive cases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy (ERA). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Minimally invasive adrenalectomy has become the procedure of choice for benign adrenal pathology. Although the adrenal glands are located in the retroperitoneum, most surgeons prefer the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach to adrenal tumors. METHODS: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 111 ERAs from January 1994 to December 1999 were evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients underwent 111 ERAs (79 unilateral, 16 bilateral). Indications were Cushing syndrome (n = 22), Cushing disease (n = 8), ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome (n = 6), Conn's adenoma (n = 25), pheochromocytoma (n = 19), incidentaloma (n = 11), and other (n = 4). Tumor size varied from 0.1 to 8 cm. Median age was 50 years. Unilateral ERA required 114 minutes, with median blood loss of 65 mL. Bilateral ERA lasted 214 minutes, with median blood loss of 121 mL. The conversion rate to open surgery was 4.5%. The complication rate was 11%. Median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days for unilateral ERA and 5 days for bilateral ERA. The death rate was 0.9%. At a median follow-up of 14 months, the recurrence rate of disease was 0.9%. CONCLUSION: For benign adrenal tumors less than 6 cm, ERA is recommended.     

Lasertripsy for ureteric stones in 120 cases: lessons learned

The pulsed dye laser has proved to be an effective and safe method of treating ureteric stones; 120 patients have been treated. Ureteroscopic lasertripsy (107 cases) had an overall success rate of 84%. The failures were due to mobile stones inadvertently flushed back into the kidney (14%) and 2% of patients required open ureterolithotomy after failure of two ureteroscopic procedures. "Blind" lasertripsy (13 cases) was safe but not as efficient, the success rate being only 23%.     

Treatment of distal ureteral calculi with ESWL: experience with more than 100 consecutive cases

Summary Until recently, the indications for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) have been limited to renal calculi and ureteral calculi above the pelvic brim. However, the distal ureter can be made available for shock wave treatment as well, by modifying the position of the patient on the support of the Dornier lithotripter HM-3. Using this sitting position technique, 133 patients with stones or stone fragments in the lower ureter were treated from January through November 1986. Treatment was successful in 125 patients (94%), 14 of whom required 2 sessions. In 8 patients, treatment failed and stone removal was accomplished using ureteroscopy or open surgery. No complications or adverse side effects were encountered in the entire series. We consider ESWL the treatment of choice in the management of distal ureteral calculi and Steinstrassen.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: lessons learned from an initial series of 100 patients

Background Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is considered the gold standard for the surgical treatment of adrenal disorders in most centers. This study analyzes the authors’ experience using the lateral intraperitoneal approach with the first 100 patients. In addition to analyzing the authors’ experience, this article aims to contrast it with some published series as an internal quality control. Methods In a 10-year period, 138 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed for 100 patients. Demographics, surgical results, complications, and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Results The participants comprised 69 women and 31 men with a mean age of 37 years. The procedures included 24 right, 38 left, and 38 bilateral adrenalectomies. The indications for surgery were Cushing’s disease for 33 patients, pheochromocytoma (4 bilateral) for 23 patients, Cushing’s syndrome for 18 patients, Conn’s syndrome for 16 patients, and incidentaloma for 10 patients. Five procedures were converted to open surgery. Two patients with pheochromocytoma required intraoperative blood transfusion. The mean operative time was 174 min for unilateral adrenalectomies and 302 min for the bilateral procedures. The mean hospital stay was 5 days. Surgical morbidity included an abdominal wall hematoma, a small pneumothorax, and intraabominal bleeding in one patient that required reexploration. There were three operative mortalities not related to the technique. The long-term results showed control of hypercortisolism in all the patients with Cushing’s disease and 82% of the patients with pheochromocytoma. Most of the patients with Conn’s syndrome (91.4%) became normotensive after surgery. Conclusions Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe and effective. The complications are mild, and mortality is related more to the patient’s condition than to the surgical technique.     

Endoscopic removal of eroded adjustable gastric band: lessons learned after 5 years and 78 cases

BackgroundOne of the complications of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is intragastric erosion, leading to a revisional procedure to remove the band. Our aim was to present the procedure and results of endoscopic band removal in a 5-year multicenter experience from the Gastro Obeso Center and Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, and Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.MethodsFrom 2003 to 2008, 82 patients were diagnosed with band erosion. The clinical data concerning the endoscopic procedure were prospectively recorded and retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThe average preoperative body mass index was 43.2 kg/m² (range 34–50). At the diagnosis of intragastric erosion, the body mass index was 24–41 kg/m² (average 31.8). The erosion occurred an average of 16.3 months (range 6–36) postoperatively. The symptoms included pain in 25 (31%), port infection in 21 patients (27%), and weight regain in 20 (25%), and 12 patients (15%) were asymptomatic. Endoscopic removal was possible for 78 patients (95%). In 85% of patients, the band was removed in the first session, with an average duration of 55 minutes (range 25–150). Five cases of pneumoperitoneum occurred after the procedure. Of these, 3 were treated conservatively, 1 was treated by laparoscopy, and 1 was treated by abdominal puncture using the Veress needle.ConclusionEndoscopic removal of eroded laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is safe and effective. It can be used as a first choice procedure in clinical practice.     

A critical analysis of laparoscopic colectomy at a single institution: lessons learned after 1000 cases

BACKGROUND: A critical outcome analysis of a large, single-institution experience provides a better frame of reference for an assessment of the role of laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal pathology. METHODS: Review of a prospectively gathered database was performed of a consecutive series of laparoscopic colectomy patients who were operated on by 2 surgeons at a single institution (tertiary referral center) using standardized techniques and care plans. Patients were assessed for operative indications, type of resection, operative time, conversion, complications, duration of stay, and readmission within 30 days. RESULTS: One thousand consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy from January 1999 thru June 2004 were analyzed. The types of resections were right colectomy = 314, left/sigmoid colectomy/anterior resection = 435, total colectomy = 61, total proctocolectomy = 14, and other = 176. The indications for surgery were diverticular disease = 285, colorectal neoplasia = 285, inflammatory bowel disease = 172, rectal prolapse = 81, and other = 177. The conversion rate was 11.4%. The mean operative time was 112 +/- 45 minutes for all resections. The mean duration of hospitalization for all patients was 3.7 +/- 3.8. The overall complication rate was 9.9%, with the most frequent complications being ileus 2.8%, pulmonary 1.6%, cardiac 1.4%, and wound infection 2.6%. The 30-day readmission rate was 9.1%, and the most frequent reasons for readmission were ileus/small-bowel obstruction, intra-abdominal infection, and anastomotic leak. CONCLUSIONS: This largest single-institution experience with laparoscopic colectomy confirms the benefits of a standardized approach including shorter hospital rehabilitation and low rates of cardiopulmonary and wound complications. Efforts must be directed at improving access to training in laparoscopic colectomy techniques so that patients can benefit from this new technology.