Biliary Dyskinesia: How Effective is Cholecystectomy?

Introduction  

Studies on biliary dyskinesia have been based on short-term surgical follow-up and do not take into consideration that most patients are discharged from surgical follow-up after the first postoperative visit and that for persistent or recurrent symptoms they are frequently seen by primary care providers and subsequently referred to gastroenterologists. We aimed to study this pattern and assess which factors predict patients that will benefit from cholecystectomy.     

How Precise Is Computer-navigated Gap Assessment in TKA?

BackgroundMethods to improve gap balancing in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include the development of calibrated distractors and various devices to determine the distances of the gaps. However, few studies have validated the accuracy or precision of computer navigation to determine these measurements, especially gaps created after bone cuts have been made; doing so would be important, because optimal surgical technique relies on appropriate gap spacing.Questions/purposesWe investigated the ability of a new image-free computer navigation surface registration protocol to measure gap distances in TKA.MethodsEight embalmed cadaveric specimens of the lower extremity were used. A surface registration software protocol defined the most distal and posterior surface points of the femoral condyles and the navigation system measured the distance of the most distal femoral condyle point to the surface of the tibia after tibial resection. The tibial resection was perpendicular to the mechanical axis and was cut with a 7° posterior slope. The navigation system measured gaps spaced by modular spacing blocks at 5° intervals from full extension to 120° of flexion. Repeatability assessed repeated measures by one surgeon. Reproducibility was assessed by performing the same measurements after complete reregistration of the computer protocol to the cadaver bones.ResultsThe gaps measured by the computer were statistically the same as those assessed with the use of blocks with a maximum measurement error of 1 mm. Reregistration did introduce error into the measurement. The gaps changed with position of knee flexion, and there was gradual and significant stretching of the gaps with repeated measurements.ConclusionsPreliminary testing shows that computer navigation can reproduce static measurements reliably and with equal accuracy as spacer blocks. We have not demonstrated that this could be applied in a dynamic setting.

Clinical Relevance

This computer navigation system has sufficient precision to warrant investigation in the clinical setting for measuring gaps created during the surgical procedure.     

How safe is silver in wound care?

Use of silver in burns, chronic ulcers and diabetic ulcers can lead to circulatory absorption and deposits in wound sites, liver, kidney and other organs. Despite this, the risks of lasting tissue damage or functional disorders are low.     

Is Laparoscopic Appendectomy an Effective Procedure ?

Aim: To compare the results of open and laparoscopic appendectomy and to determine if the laparoscopic approach might be more effective for some subgroups of patients.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed the computerised data of 326 consecutive adult patients operated on for suspected appendicitis between 2001 and 2005. The series consisted of 166 men and 160 women with a mean age of 32 ± 16 years and a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24 ± 4. There were 265 ASA I, 46 ASA II and 5 ASA III patients. According to the surgeon’s preference, 176 patients had an open appendectomy (OA) and 150 a laparoscopic appendectomy (LA).

Results: The mean operative time and hospital stay were equivalent in the two groups: respectively 49 ± 19 min. and 4.1 ± 2.5 days in OA and 50 ± 16 min. and 3.5 ± 1.8 days in LA. However, subgroup analysis revealed that overweight (BMI > 25) patients (n=102) and patients with ectopic appendices (n=86) had an obvious benefit from LA. In cases of OA, operative time and hospital stay were longer in overweight patients than in normal weight patients: respectively 63 ± 20 min. and 5.3 ± 2.9 days versus 44 ± 16 min. (p < 0.01) and 3.7 ± 2.2 days (p < 0.01). On the contrary, no difference was observed in the lA group. Operative time and hospital stay were also longer in patients with ectopic appendices submitted to OA than in patients with an appendix in the normal position: respectively 60 ± 18 min. and 4.7 ± 2.7 days versus 45 ± 18 min. (p < 0.01) and 3.9 ± 2.4 days (p < 0.01). Again, such a difference was not observed in cases of LA. We noted no mortality, but 24 patients (7%) developed an abdominal complication: 18 wound infections and 6 intra-abdominal abscesses. Wound infections were more common in the OA than in the LA group: 7.3% (13/176) versus 3.3% (5/150) (p = 0.1). In the LA group, 4 wound infections were observed in our early experience, at a time where no endoscopic bag was used for the removal of the appendix. The rate of intra-abdominal abscesses was similar: 1.7% (3/176) in the OA group and 2% (3/150) in the LA group.

Conclusions: LA is an effective procedure with a reduced risk of developing wound infection. The laparoscopic approach is particularly effective for overweight patients and/or patients with ectopic appendices as far as shortening the operative time and hospital stay are concerned.     

How important is vitamin D in preventing infections?

Interaction with the immune system is one of the most recently established nonclassic effects of vitamin D (VitD). For many years, this was considered to be limited to granulomatous diseases in which synthesis of active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)₂D₃) or calcitriol is known to be increased. However, recent reports have supported a role for 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in promoting normal function of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Crucially, these effects seem to be mediated not only by the endocrine function of circulating calcitriol but also via paracrine (i.e., refers to effects to adjacent or nearby cells) and/or intracrine activity (i.e., refers to a hormone acting inside a cell) of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ from its precursor 25(OH)D₃, the main circulating metabolite of VitD. The ability of this vitamin to influence human immune responsiveness seems to be highly dependent on the 25(OH)D₃ status of individuals and may lead to aberrant response to infection or even to autoimmunity in those who are lacking VitD. The potential health significance of this has been underlined by increasing awareness of impaired status in populations across the globe. This review will examine the current understanding of how VitD status may modulate the responsiveness of the human immune system. Furthermore, we discuss how it may play a role in host resistance to common pathogens and how effective is its supplementation for treatment or prevention of infectious diseases in humans.     

How accurate is sperm morphology as an indicator of sperm function?

Sperm morphology has been consistently correlated with fertilisation success or failure. The clinical relevance of the percentage normal spermatozoa has been a widely discussed topic amongst infertility specialists and scientists. This study aimed to evaluate the role of sperm morphology as an indicator of additional sperm functions among 114 andrology referrals. The sperm functions that were investigated included chromatin packaging quality (CMA3 test (n = 109), zona‐induced acrosome reaction (ZIAR test; n = 36), hemizona assay (HZI; n = 36) and progressive motility (n = 47). Chromatin packaging quality had a negative and significant (P = 0.0001, r = ?0.74) correlation with the percentage normal spermatozoa, while progressive motility had a significant and positive correlation (P = 0.0001, 0.59). Accurate sperm morphology scoring as described by the WHO 2010 manual can therefore be used as an indicator of specific sperm functions.     

CORR Insights®: Single-stage Acetabular Revision During Two-stage THA Revision for Infection is Effective in Selected Patients

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® -