Ten years experience with paravariceal injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in children

Esophageal varices in 59 consecutive children with portal hypertension were treated by paravariceal injection sclerotherapy. Repeated injections were performed using a special rigid instrument under general anesthesia. In children older than 10 a flexible endoscope was used without general anesthesia. Using 0.5% Polidocanol, a fibrous layer protecting varices against the further bleeding was produced in 59 children. Complications during treatment included hemorrhage, esophageal ulceration and stricture, each in two children. 55 children have been followed for 6 months to 10 years after two phases of paravariceal injection following the first phase of treatment. Three rebleeds have occurred in this group. Sclerotherapy was repeated. Thereafter, using a regular endoscopic control every year, no rebleeding occurred. Four children with liver cirrhosis died of liver failure. All other children except four foreign ones could be followed. 51 of them (86%) are alive.     

Ten years experience with a conservative approach to radial keratotomy

This retrospective study reports the results of radial keratotomy surgery on 225 eyes of 135 patients by one surgeon. Fifty-one percent of the eyes had four incisions and 45% had eight as the initial procedure. Fifteen percent of the eyes repeated surgery. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -5.10 diopters (SD 1.90, range 1.20 to 11.60 D) and at 3 months to 1 year, the mean was -0.60 D (SD 1.00, range -4.80 to +3.40 D). For the entire series, 69% of the eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, 73% were corrected to within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia, and 3% were overcorrected by more than +1.00 D. For eyes with low preoperative myopia (-3.00 D and less), 100% achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, 97% were corrected to within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia, and 3% were overcorrected by more than +1.00 D. For eyes with moderate myopia (-3.1 to -5.9 D), 73% achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, 81% were corrected to within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia, and 3% were overcorrected by more than +1.00 D. For eyes with higher preoperative myopia (-6.0 to -11.60 D), 47% achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, 45% were corrected to within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia and 3% were overcorrected by more than +1.00 D. One hundred eyes with a follow-up of 2 years or greater were studied for stability; 77% changed by less than 1.00 D from the 1 year value; 17% changed by 1.00 D or more in the hyperopic direction; 6% changed by 1.00 D or more in the myopic direction. There were no vision threatening complications and only one eye had a postoperative best spectacle corrected visual acuity of less than 20/40.     

Ten years experience with the free jejunal autograft

Retrospective analysis by chart review, personal interview, and physical examination identified 88 patients who received 96 jejunal free flaps over a 10 year period. Seventy-nine of these patients had cancer. There were 13 operative failures (13.5 percent) in 10 patients. Failures were attributed to arterial thrombosis in four instances, venous anastomotic problems in four instances, fistula and infection in the neck in one instance, carotid blowout in one instance, psychosis with avulsion in one instance, and an unknown cause in two instances. Seven second attempts at salvage of jejunal flaps were performed with five successes. There were five deaths in the perioperative period (6 percent). Of these, one was directly attributed to graft failure. The following eight abdominal complications required operation: wound dehiscence (four instances), small bowel obstruction (one instance), Mallory-Weiss tear (one instance), gastrostomy tube leak (one instance), and acute gastric dilatation (one instance). Complications in the neck included infection (six instances), infection requiring operation (three instances), hematoma (three instances), and suture line dehiscence (one instance). Fistulas developed in 28 patients (32 percent), 12 of whom required operative closure (43 percent). Significant stenosis developed in six patients, two of whom required operative revision. Of 79 patients treated for cancer, 34 died from progression of disease which recurred an average of 9.7 months postoperatively. Death ensued an average of 16.7 months postoperatively. Ten patients died with no evidence of disease. At last follow-up, 28 patients were alive without apparent disease. Twenty-six of these patients have good swallowing function. Significant palliation and a high rate of restoration of function are possible with the free jejunal autograft. Careful patient selection should markedly decrease operative morbidity and mortality.     

Pelvic fractures due to falls from a height in people with mental disorders

BACKGROUND: Pelvic fracture resulting from a fall, is a serious condition with morbidity and mortality that are higher among people with mental disorders. METHODS: A retrospective study of fall pelvic fractures 1999-2006, comparing clinical features of cases with and without mental disorders. RESULTS: Of 248 participants, 69 had comorbid mental disorder, sustained worse injuries requiring more treatment, and displayed injury recidivism. CONCLUSION: A strategy of injury prevention is vital in the subsequent management of these patients.     

Ten years experience with subfascial endoscopic perforator vein surgery

We report here results from our 10-year experience of performing subfascial endoscopic perforator vein surgery (SEPS). Between 1989 and 1999 we performed 254 SEPS in 224 patients. SEPS results were evaluated 1 month after surgery and every 6 months during observation. In the year 2000, all patients who underwent the procedure were called in for a final follow-up examination. Analysis covered all documented data of 130 patients and 146 limbs (58% and 57.5%, respectively, of those that underwent surgery). The study group comprised 51 men and 79 women, between 26 and 72 years of age. The chronic venous insufficient clinical condition of patients prior to surgery was as follows: class 3, 3.1%; class 4, 40%; class 5, 29.2%; class 6, 27.7%. Post-thrombotic syndrome was diagnosed in 85 patients (65.3%). The observation period ranged from 6 months to 10 years (4 years and 8 months on average). Long-term SEPS results demonstrated the efficacy and safety of this surgical technique. SEPS is a new treatment method, especially for patients with ulcerations. Unfortunately, it dose not completely solve the problem of treating chronic venous insufficiency.     

Ten years of experience with third and fourth branchial remnants

Background: Third and fourth branchial remnants may result in cysts and abscesses that are in close contact with the thyroid gland. These anomalies are rare and often present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Methods: The charts of patients diagnosed with a branchial anomaly between July 1991 and July 2001 at the Montreal Children's Hospital were reviewed. All cases of third and fourth branchial remnants or pyriform sinus fistulae were identified. Clinical presentation, imaging, treatment, and outcome were recorded. Results: Eight patients with a third or fourth branchial anomaly were identified and ranged in age from birth to 13 years. All anomalies were left sided. Presenting symptoms consisted of an asymptomatic cervical mass (n = 1), an infected mass (n = 5), neonatal respiratory distress (n = 1), and 1 incidental cyst found on magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasonography was useful in suggesting the diagnosis in 7 cases. Barium swallow was performed in 3 patients with 2 positive results. Pharyngoscopy results showed the internal opening in 2 of 7 patients. A portion of the thyroid gland was resected in 6 patients. One patient has not yet undergone a definitive procedure. There was 1 recurrence in a patient whose pathology did not confirm a branchial remnant. Conclusions: The diagnosis and management of pyriform sinus anomalies are challenging. Ultrasound scan, computed tomography scan, barium swallow, and pharyngoscopy are all useful. The portion of thyroid involved in the fistula must be excised en bloc with the inflammatory mass, and the tract should be ligated at the level of the pharynx to minimize recurrence.     

Etiologic factors in falls from height in pediatric cases

Objective  

In this study, factors causing falls from height and precautions taken for their prevention were investigated.     

Prognostic factors for mortality following falls from height

Aim

To identify the potential prognostic factors for mortality after falls from height.

Method

A retrospective clinical observational study included victims of fall of >6 m from October 2000 to December 2007. Variables studied comprised each casualty's age, gender, height of fall, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Abbreviated Injury Scale scores, Injury Severity Score, heart rate, Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), White Blood Cell (WBC) count, haemoglobin, serum glucose, Creatine Kinase and duration of hospital stay. The relationships between these variables and outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Among the 66 patients studied the mortality rate was 22.7%, i.e. 7 out-of-hospital and 8 in-hospital deaths. In univariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Score ≤14, Injury Severity Score ≥16, head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥4, chest Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥4, heart rate ≥100 or ≤50 beats/min, Mean Arterial Pressure ≤60 and serum glucose ≥140 mg/dl were significantly related to mortality. In multivariate analysis, head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥4 was independently correlated with mortality.

Conclusions

Severe head injury (head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥4) is a significant factor for mortality following falls from >6 m.     

Ten years experience of CAPD in diabetics: comparison of results with non-diabetics

CAPD outcomes were compared between a group of 301 diabeticpatients (mean age±SD, 58.9±12.7 years, 55.8%males) and a group of 1689 non-diabetic patients (mean age±SD57.8±14.8 years, 55.9% males) treated in 30 centres participatingin the Italian Cooperative Peritoneal Dialysis Study Group from1980 to 1989, with follow-up observation periods of 444 years(mean±SD, 1.48± 1.24) and of 3502 years (mean±SD,2.07± 1.91) respectively. CAPD was the first modality for 87.2% of diabetics and 78.1%of non-diabetics (P<<0.001). The percentage of patientswho needed a partner for CAPD was 45.9% in diabetics and 30.2%in non-diabetics (P<0.00l). In diabetics compared with non-diabetics, cardiovas cular diseasesand cachexia were nearly twice and infections other than peritonitismore than three times as frequent in causing death. In diabetics,survival was significantly worse (P<0.0001) and the relativerisk of death 2.13 times higher (P<0.001). The technique survival and the relative risk of drop out werenot significantly different in the two groups. Clinical problemswere the most important cause of drop-out among diabetics. Theprobability and relative risk of drop-out due to peritonitis,as well as of the first peritonitis episode, were not significantlydifferent between the two groups and between diabetics usingor not using intraperitoneal insulin. Days per patient year of hospitalization, excluding the first,were 18.4 in diabetics and 14.3 in non diabetics. CAPD-relatedproblems caused hospitalization in a similar way in the twogroups. In conclusion, compared to non-diabetics on CAPD, diabeticson the same treatment showed more clinical problems that accountfor a higher need of partner, death, and hospitalization andare the first reason for technique failure; on the other hand,problems closely related to the CAPD technique seem to occurwith the same frequency in the two groups.     

Ten years of experience with the operative management of tibial shaft fractures

Two hundred ninety-three consecutive fresh tibial shaft fractures in 276 patients were treated operatively in a 10-year period. Eight patients required amputations. The early and late complications in both closed and open tibial shaft fractures are separately described and discussed. More than 90% of the closed fractures needed a normal healing time; osteitis developed in 2.5%. Eighty-eight per cent of the closed fractures had an excellent or acceptable end result. In the open fractures delayed union occurred in 9.0% and nonunion in 6.8%. Osteitis developed in 8.35%. Seventy-five per cent of open fractures and an excellent or good end result; one fourth had an acceptable or poor end result. In the series discussed there was a high incidence of direct trauma with soft-tissue injury in both closed and open tibial shaft fractures. There was a positive relationship between the degree of soft-tissue damage of the fractured lower leg at admission and the frequency of early postoperative problems. The frequency of late complications was more dependent on the fracture form and the method of the first operative stabilization.     

Ten years of experience in chronic ulcers and malignant transformation

Malignant degeneration of wounds is rare and often misdiagnosed. Delay in diagnosis may result in a worse prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine the number of skin cancers associated with chronic skin ulcers in our facility over a period of 10 years. Between January 2002 and December 2012, a total of about 1000 patients had consulted with us for chronic wounds, especially of vascular, diabetic and traumatic origin and pressure ulcers. Thirteen skin cancers had been detected: seven squamous cell and five basal cell carcinomas and one melanoma. We highlight how important it is to be aware of the signs suggesting a malignant change and the importance of biopsy at regular intervals during the life cycle of any chronic wound.     

Twenty years of experience with perineal injury in children

Purpose

The aim of this study was to review our 20 years of experience determining the common mechanisms of perineal trauma and initial management to evaluate the effects of classification for treatment.

Methods

A total of 75 children with perineal injuries were reviewed retrospectively, including patient demographics, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, injury severity score, presenting symptoms and methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Results

Amongst the 75 children (55 females and 20 males; mean age, 8 years), fall from height, followed by motor vehicle crash and sexual abuse were the most common reasons for injury. The most common symptom on presentation was bleeding, followed by abdominopelvic pain and tenderness. Eleven patients were allowed to heal secondarily, and 64 were examined under general anaesthesia. The affected area was repaired in 48, further diagnostic tools were needed in 20 and 11 cystoscopic, 10 rectoscopic, and 5 vaginoscopic evaluations were performed. Six patients with full-thickness injuries that extended to the peritoneum were treated with colostomy, and all were victims of motor vehicle crashes.

Conclusion

The genital injury score is a useful genital trauma scale for predicting anogenital injury severity. Identifying the mechanism and severity of perineal and associated injuries under general anaesthesia may facilitate appropriate classification and management.

     

Ten years experience with using directed laparostomy in treatment of diffuse purulent peritonitis

During the recent ten years operations were made on 331 patients with diffuse purulent peritonitis, 214 of them had traditional management of the postoperative period, 117 were managed using directed laparostomy by the method developed in the clinic. Toxic phase of peritonitis was noted in 66.76%, with the terminal phase--33.24% of patients, in the group of patients with laparostomy their number being 10% more than in the group of comparison (with a traditional method of management at the postoperative period). In cases with using directed laparostomy with programmed sanitation of the abdominal cavity the number of postoperative complications was 29.9%, 21.36% of patients died. In the group of patients with traditional management of the postoperative period there were 68.2% of complications, 80 patients (37.4) required relapatotomy, 55.6% died.     

Nine years of experience with laparoscopic appendectomy in children

We review the clinical report of 110 patients that were operated on by a laparoscopic appendectomy in our hospital since January 1992 until december 2000. In 66 patients the reason was an acute appendicitis, and recurrent abdominal pain in 44. The age of them was between 4 and 19 year old with a mean of 10.8; there were 44 males (39%) and 66 females (61%). The maximum weight was 70 kg and the minimum 15, with a mean of 41. In 23% of them vomiting was present in the postoperative period. The hospital stay was 2 or 3 days in 73% of the patients. In acute appendicitis patients 66.1% were with acute inflammation, in 29% complicated and 4.8% negative appendicitis. Of recurrent abdominal pain patients in 50% we found pathological alterations. Finally we had complications in 13% of cases. As conclusion we achieve a reduction in hospital stay, the patients and parents appreciate it, this approach allow a better exploration of abdominal cavity and in those patients with recurrent abdominal pain we obtained a clinical improve.     

An analysis of 161 falls from a height: the 'jumper syndrome'

Vertical deceleration injuries represent a distinct form of urban blunt trauma. We reviewed 161 adult patients, admitted over 36 months, who jumped or fell from a height of one to seven stories and survived emergency department resuscitation. Charts and radiographs were analyzed to identify common injuries, complications, and causes of death. Those who fell five or more stories had a mean ISS of 41, for a predicted survival of 50% but actual survival of 83%. Virtually all these patients had multiple fractures. Sixty per cent of them presented in shock, yet more than two thirds had angiographically demonstrated retroperitoneal hemorrhage as their major source of bleeding. Thirteen patients had significant intra-abdominal injuries, with only one associated with major hemorrhage. Utilizing early diagnostic peritoneal lavage, ten of 13 patients explored had a therapeutic laparotomy. Hollow viscus perforations accounted for about one half of the abdominal injuries, including three duodenal injuries. Conclusions. 1) Patients who present in shock after falls from height are much more likely to be bleeding from retroperitoneal than intraperitoneal sources. 2) Early tap and lavage followed by emergency angiography and transcatheter embolization is the treatment of choice in this group of patients. 3) Although these patients often have multiple complex injuries, the prognosis for long-term survival is good. Therefore, we advocate early aggressive operation stabilization of fractures to permit patient mobilization, facilitate pulmonary toilet and nursing care, and to decrease long-term disability.     

Ten years experience with reconstruction of the chronic totally occluded renal artery

The criteria for selection of patients who may benefit from reconstruction of totally occluded renal arteries are not well defined. Of those patients who underwent renal artery reconstruction for renal artery occlusive disease at our institution 13% (52/397) had a chronic renal artery occlusion at preoperative arteriography. In 38 cases (73%) the contralateral renal artery had a significant (greater than 70%) stenosis, which was reconstructed simultaneously. Renovascular hypertension alone (n = 27;52%) or in combination with impaired renal function (n = 25;48%) was the indication for surgical treatment and transaortic thromboendarterectomy was the preferred method of reconstruction (n = 38;73%). Operative mortality was 5.7% and during follow-up (38 +/- 31 months) 4 patients died from myocardial infarction (n = 2), aortic dissection (n = 1) or cerebral haemorrhage (n = 1). Postoperatively 20 patients (44.5%) had a normal blood pressure; in a further 20 (44.5%) the hypertension was easier to control and medication could be reduced. Five patients (11%) remained hypertensive. Postoperative arteriography showed a normal patent renal artery in 40 cases (89%). Postoperative plasma creatinine levels ranged from 0.8 to 3.4 mg% (1.32 +/- 0.74) which was a significant reduction from preoperative levels. Two patients with severe uraemia improved to an extent where haemodialysis could be discontinued. Radionuclide scan and the measurements of plasma renin activity before and after administration of a converting enzyme inhibitor (Captopril) were the most reliable diagnostic methods for preoperative patient selection and postoperative follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

膀胱黏膜修复尿道下裂及短期并发症10年回顾

目的 总结我院膀胱黏膜修复尿道下裂的经验.方法 回顾性总结我院1997年2月-2006年12月采用膀胱黏膜尿道成形术治疗的尿道下裂患者70例,年龄1～33岁,平均(14±9)岁,术后随访3个月-1年,平均(5±1)月.阴茎外观满意,排尿功能良好.将资料按手术年份、尿道下裂类型、患者年龄、手术分期等分组,对术后并发尿瘘情况应用SPSS15.0统计学软件进行统计学分析.结果 术后并发尿瘘5例(7.1%),于术后3～6个月行尿瘘修补术后治愈;尿道狭窄2例(2.9%),经术后尿道扩张治愈.各组尿瘘发生率:前期手术组与近期手术组、前段型和中段型组与后段型组差异,有统计学意义(P<0.05).初次手术组与再次手术组、青春期前组与青春期后组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 膀胱黏膜尿道成形术是较为理想的尿道下裂手术方式,膀胱黏膜更适合于后段型尿道下裂患者,患者年龄与手术分期对膀胱黏膜尿道成形术术后并发尿瘘无明显影响.