TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT OMENTUM FOR INFECTED STERNOTOMY WOUNDS IN CARDIAC SURGERY. REPORT OF 16 CASES AND REVIEW OF PUBLISHED REPORTS

The expanding indications for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and cardiac valves replacement have caused an increase in the number of sternal infections. The common treatment includes appropriate antibiotics, early debridement, and transposition of muscle flaps with or without skin grafts. When other treatments have proved unsatisfactory, we have used the great omentum for wound closure. During the last five years, 16 patients (10 women, six men, median age 63 years) underwent repair of infected sternotomy wounds by the transposition of the great omentum, after failure of pectoralis major or rectus abdominis muscle flaps (n = 9). Seven patients underwent transposition of the great omentum as the first choice. The omentum covers the sternal defect well and the closure was reliable.     

Modification of the Senning procedure in the double-switch operation: The triangular double-door technique

We developed a modified Senning procedure in the double-switch operation for the patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA). In our technique, the right atrial (RA) free wall is not used as a baffle for draining systemic venous blood to the left atrium. Instead, a patch material is used for the baffling. A wide communication between the pulmonary venous chamber and RA is created by making the triangular double door with the RA-free wall, and the window is closed with in situ pericardial flap. We have successfully adopted this technique in our recent two consecutive ccTGA patients.     

EARLY AND LATE RESULTS AFTER BIRD'S NEST FILTER PLACEMENT IN THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA: CLINICAL AND DUPLEX ULTRASOUND FOLLOW UP

From February 1989 to November 1992, 61 Bird's Nest filters were placed in the infrarenal vena cava in 61 patients (36 men and 25 women; mean age ± s.d., 63 ± 15, range (16–83). In 27 (44.3%). the filter was inserted because of contraindication to anticoagulation, in 19 (31.1%) for anticoagulation failure and in 15 (24.6%) as prophylaxis against pulmonary embolism in high risk patients. All the filters were introduced by percutaneous puncture of the femoral vein after preliminary screening venography demonstrated that the iliac vein was free of thrombus. Two deaths occurred within 24 h of filter placement (periprocedure mortality 3.3%) while five other patients died within 1 month (30 day cumulative mortality 11.5%). At follow up, 2–40 months later (mean ± s.d., 17 ± 9), a further 13 patients had died (cumulative mortality 32.8%). At 36 months, the probability of survival, calculated by the Kaplan-Meier Product Limit Method, was 55% (95% confidence intervals 37–74%). Apart from the two patients dying within 24 h, none of the early or late deaths were attributable to the procedure and there were no recurrent pulmonary emboli. Thirty-seven of the surviving 41 patients were recalled for clinical examination and Duplex ultrasound interrogation of the vena cava and the lower limb veins. No new venous thromboses in the legs were observed and no increase or onset of leg swelling was reported. The vena cava patency was 100% in these 37 patients. Considering that the annual attack rate for deep venous thrombosis in New South Wales, Australia is 60 per 100000, and for pulmonary embolism 45 per 100000, vena caval filter placement is an effective but underused resource.     

A SELF-EXPANDING ENDOLUMINAL GRAFT FOR TREATMENT OF ANEURYSMS: RESULTS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE

Background: The results of two and a half years' experience of endoluminal treatment of aneurysmal disease (from March 1993 to December 1995) are reported. Methods: The endoluminal grafts were individually made at Royal Perth Hospital. They are based on Dacron-covered stainless steel self-expanding ‘Z’ stents with Gianturco barbed stents (Cook Pty, Australia) for proximal anchorage for grafts within the aorta, Results: Fourteen straight tube grafts (nine for aortic aneurysm, four for iliac aneurysm and one for subclavian aneurysm) and 24 bifurcate grafts were deployed; all were in patients considered high-risk for conventional repair. Seventy-two per cent of the straight tube grafts successfully excluded the aneurysm. The bifurcate grafts, in use since July 1994, successfully excluded the aneurysm in 88%. There were two delayed deaths from rupture after the grafts failed to exclude the aneurysms; two patients required conversion to open repair and survived; three patients have persistent endoleaks; and three of the bifurcate grafts subsequently occluded a graft limb but did not require further intervention. Ninety per cent of these complications occurred in the first half of the series (prior to January 1995). Conclusions: A learning and development curve was clearly apparent. The results thereafter compare favourably to those for open repair in similar high-risk groups, suggesting that these techniques hold promise for all patients with aneurysms.     

TREATMENT OF SUBCAPITAL FRACTURES OF THE FIFTH METACARPAL BONE: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED COMPARISON BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL TREATMENT AND REPOSITION AND SPLINTING

We did a prospective study to compare the results of treatment of subcapital fractures of the fifth metacarpal bone by closed reduction and splinting or by functional treatment. Twenty-nine consecutive patients were randomly divided into the two treatment groups (functional n = 14, and reposition and splinting n = 15). The results of treatment were satisfactory in both groups. Functionally treated patients recovered their grip force and range of movement of the affected hand a little sooner. All fractures in both groups had united within three months. There were no complications. We conclude that subcapital fractures of the fifth metacarpal bone can successfully be treated without closed reduction and splinting.     

POSITIVE PROXIMAL RESECTION MARGINS AFTER RESECTION FOR CARCINOMA OF THE OESOPHAGUS AND STOMACH: EFFECT ON SURVIVAL AND SYMPTOM RECURRENCE

Background: Our aim was to determine the frequency, survival and symptomatic local recurrence rate of patients with a positive proximal resection margin in a series of patients having a resection for carcinoma of the oesophagus or stomach. Methods: A retrospective study of pathology reports and case notes. Survival and data on local recurrence were obtained from the patient or general practitioner. Results: Ten (11.5%) of 87 patients having a gastric or oesophageal resection for carcinoma had a positive proximal resection margin. All 10 patients underwent a palliative resection for late-stage disease. Nine were dead at an average 8.3 months (range 2–20 months) post-resection and one patient remains alive at 9 months. Only one of these 10 patients had evidence of a local recurrence with recurrent dysphagia prior to death at 11 months. Conclusion: A high incidence of a positive proximal resection margin was found. This occurred in patients who underwent a palliative resection for late-stage disease, most of whom died before local recurrence became a problem. For patients recognized as having late-stage disease, surgery for symptom palliation need not be aggressive (such as to include a thoracotomy) because achieving microscopic clearance is unlikely to affect the long-term outcome.     

IMPROVING THE EASE AND SAFETY OF LAPAROSCOPY: A TECHNIQUE FOR OPEN INSERTION OF THE UMBILICAL TROCAR

Background : Sharp cannulation of the abdominal cavity for laparoscopy occasionally causes life-threating injury to major vessels. Methods : A technique of open cannulation is described to minimize this risk. Results : In over 2000 general surgical laparoscopies performed the Flinders Medical Centre, there were no major vessel injuries and only one bowel injury (prior to laparotomy). Conclusions : We advocate the use of open technique to minimize injuries caused by abdominal cannulation for laparoscopy.     

CARCINOMA OF THE MALE BREAST: A REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

Background : Male breast cancer is rare and experience of it in any single institution is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presentation, management and outcome of male patients with breast cancer treated at Concord Repatriation General Hospital hospital over a 38-year period and to determine a best-practice protocol based on the results and a review of the literature. Methods : A total of 42 patients were retrospectively reviewed, pathology slides were re-examined and reclassified where necessary. Outcome was assessed and compared with results obtained from a literature review. Results : A trend towards less radical surgery has emerged. Overall 5-year survival was 50%, but, due to the late age at presentation, more than half the deaths were non-breast cancer related. One quarter of the patients presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Conclusions : The presentation, diagnosis pathology and outcome of breast cancer are similar in men and women, although the disease occurs at a later age in men. Radical surgery is not required in order to gain local control, but knowledge of axillary node status is important in determining prognosis and the need for adjuvant therapy.     

SEX AND SUBSITE FREQUENCY OF LARGE BOWEL CANCER IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA: A COMPARISON WITH NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand (NZ) has a high risk population for the development of large bowel cancer (LBC). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a low risk population and is estimated to have incidence and mortality rates which are ten times lower than NZ. It has already been shown that in NZ, females have a higher incidence of right-sided colonic cancer and males a higher incidence of rectal cancer. To determine whether the same situation exists in a low risk population the NZ data were compared with similar data from the cancer registry at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC). Between 1975 and 1989. 423 Saudi and Yemeni patients with LBC were registered at KFSH. The subsite distribution of tumours in this group were compared with the subsite distribution in 4678 patients registered in NZ between 1972 and 1975. The male to female (M:F) ratio for right-sided tumours in KSA was 1:0.90 compared with 1:156 in NZ whereas the ratios for rectal tumours were 1:0.61 and 1:0.83 respectively. This study confirms the presence of a lower frequency of right-sided tumours in females in a low risk country and further confirms the importance of gender in LBC. It may be that early and multiple child bearing, physical activity and relatively poor diets have been protective for Saudi females.