Use of a novel saline/bipolar radiofrequency energy instrument as an adjunct for arresting ongoing solid organ surface and laceration bleeding in critically injured patients

IntroductionSolid organ (liver, spleen and kidney) haemorrhage is often life threatening and can be difficult to stop in critically ill patients. Traditional techniques for arresting this ongoing bleeding include coagulation by high voltage cautery (Bovie), topical haemostatic application, and the delivery of ignited argon gas. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new energy device for arresting persistent solid organ haemorrhage.Patients and methodsA novel instrument utilizing bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy which acts to ignite/boil dripping saline from a simple hand piece was employed to arrest ongoing bleeding from solid organ injuries at 2 high volume, level 1 trauma centres. This instrument is extrapolated from experience within elective hepatic resections. Standard statistics were employed (p < 0.05 = significant).ResultsFrom January 2013 to January 2015, 36 severely injured patients (mean injury severity score = 31; blunt mechanisms = 32/36 (89%)) underwent use of this new saline/RF energy instrument to arrest ongoing haemorrhage from the liver (29), spleen (5) and kidney (2). Of these patients, 25 received instrument use during an initial laparotomy, while 11 patients underwent use following removal of sponges during a return laparotomy after an initial damage control procedure. Success in arresting ongoing haemorrhage was 97% (35/36) in these highly selected cases. The surgeons reported an ‘ease of use’ score of 4.9 out of 5. No postoperative complications (including delayed haemorrhage) were noted as a direct result of the energy instrument.ConclusionsThis simple saline/RF energy instrument has the potential to arrest ongoing solid organ surface/capsular bleeding, as well as moderate haemorrhage associated with deep lacerations.     

Evaluation of a novel biomaterial for intrasubstance muscle laceration repair.

The authors compare the effects of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) treatment to suture repair with respect to histologic and functional outcomes for complete muscle lacerations in a rabbit model. The authors hypothesized that SIS treatment of full-thickness muscle belly lacerations would significantly improve muscle function, strength, and regeneration compared to the current standard-of-care treatment. Muscle belly lacerations were created in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) of both hind limbs of each rabbit. After randomization, lacerations were left unrepaired (n = 48) or repaired using a 4-0 Prolene modified Kessler stitch (n = 48). A flap of SIS graft was sutured into half (n = 24 each) of the repaired and unrepaired muscles forming four study groups. Suture repair with SIS augmentation of complete muscle lacerations resulted in healed tissue that most closely resembled normal muscle in terms of morphology and function when compared to current standard-of-care treatments. Active force production in this group reached 79% of uninjured controls 12 weeks after surgery. SIS may have important clinical advantages over suture repair alone and warrants further clinical study.     

Use of a beef tongue model and instructional video for teaching residents fourth-degree laceration repair

Introduction and hypothesis  

This study seeks to compare the utility of the beef tongue model versus an instructional video in teaching obstetric and gynecology residents how to repair a fourth-degree laceration.     

熟悉肝脏解剖及合理选用控制出血技术以提高肝切除成功率

肝切除术术中和术后的并发症甚至死亡的发生绝大部分与手术导致的大出血有关,导致大出血的最主要的原因还与对肝脏解剖熟悉的程度不够及控制出血技术选择是否合理有关.近年来发展起来的肝切除术的几种新技术和新理念应该有助于更进一步减少术中输血量和手术并发症发生率.     

Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of a liver laceration accompanied by hemodynamic instability

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a useful adjunct in the evaluation of trauma patients, particularly in the area of aortic injury and cardiac tamponade. Little has been written on the use of this modality in the evaluation of extra-cardiac injury. We present a case of a trauma patient in whom TEE was used to evaluate hemodynamic instability; during the course of the examination a previously undiagnosed liver laceration was identified. We report the diagnosis of a liver laceration in a trauma patient by novel use of the transesophageal echocardiographic imaging modality.     

Making liver transection even safer: a novel use of microwave technology

Hepatic surgery has evolved significantly in the past decade. The current article describes the largest series of patients in United States undergoing liver resective therapy with the use of microwave technology for liver precoagulation. Glisson's capsule was incised after securing inflow and outflow control. Two antennae, 2 cm apart, connected to a 915-MHz generator, were inserted 5 cm into liver parenchyma at a 130° angle. Once the parenchyma was firm and changed its color to gray, the antennae were advanced along the line of transection. The parenchyma was divided with electrocautery. Intra- and postoperative data were analyzed. Thirty-five patients (24 men) underwent liver resections. Diseases treated were colorectal metastases (n = 9), hepatic adenoma (n = 3), gallbladder cancer (n = 3), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 4), neuroendocrine tumor (n = 2), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 5), hemangioma (n = 2), focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 2), metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n = 1), hydatid cyst (n = 1), hepatoid carcinoma (n = 1), hepatolithiasis (n = 1), and suspected metastatic breast cancer (n = 1). Resections done were right hepatectomy (n = 19), segmental resection (n = 5), left hepatectomy (n = 4), extended right hepatectomy (n = 4), Segment IVb and Segment V resections during radical cholecystectomy (n = 2), and left lateral sectionectomy (n = 1). Median operative time for major resection was 188 and 251 minutes for minor resection. There was one postoperative mortality. Bile leak needing stenting occurred in one patient. Median blood loss for major resection was 500 mL and 265 mL for minor resection. Intraoperative transfusion was required in nine major and one minor resections. Other complications were ileus in four, deep vein thrombosis in two, intra-abdominal abscess in one, and cardiac events in two patients. Liver precoagulation with microwave technology is a novel and efficient technique with minimal morbidity and mortality for liver transection.     

Skin grafting for repair of a cardiac laceration

Rupture of the right ventricle has been reported as a complication of closed catheter irrigation in poststernotomy mediastinitis. We report the case of a right ventricular rupture that was repaired with a deepithelialized dermal skin graft. The technique is described and management options for these difficult wounds are discussed.     

Ligation of the main hepatic artery for exsanguinating liver laceration in an adolescent

An adolescent with blunt injury to the liver was found to have bilobar posterior hepatic laceration. Hemostasis was achieved only after ligation of the hepatic artery proper. Postoperative liver function changes were minimal and transient. Her recovery was complete.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情形势下原发性肝癌破裂出血的诊治策略

在新型冠状病毒肺炎(简称:新冠肺炎;WHO定名:COVID-19)疫情下,如何处理危及患者生命的原发性肝癌(简称肝癌)破裂出血是目前临床上亟需解决的问题之一。笔者认为,该病的临床处置应在筛查新冠肺炎的前提下,遵循操作流程,做好充分防护。对于疑似或确诊新冠肺炎患者,需综合考虑新冠肺炎分型、肝癌破裂出血的程度、肿瘤情况、肝功能情况等因素,慎重制定具体治疗方案,开展个体化治疗。遵从既保证患者的安全及疗效,又要降低医护人员感染风险的诊治原则。     

Use of the round ligament of the liver to decrease pancreatic fistulas: a novel technique

BACKGROUND: The reported pancreatic anastomosis fistula rate for pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or enucleation is 2% to 27%. We hypothesized that reinforcement with a vascular pedicle would decrease the number of fistulas. We report a novel technique: the use of the round ligament of the liver to reinforce the pancreatic anastomosis after resection. STUDY DESIGN: Patients undergoing resection from January 1, 2000 until August 8, 2005, at a tertiary referral center, were followed in a retrospective cohort study. The round ligament of the liver was disconnected from the abdominal wall, from the umbilicus to the liver. After pancreatic resection, it was sutured to the anastomosis or closure. A pancreatic fistula was defined as follows: Jackson-Pratt (JP) drainage>50 mL/d, after the fifth postoperative day, with amylase>3 times the serum level; reexploration for a fistula; postoperative pseudocyst; or death from sepsis with a presumed fistula. RESULTS: In 95 patients, we were able to mobilize the round ligament and use it as a vascular pedicle. The overall fistula rate for the series was 5.3% (5 of 95) and for pancreaticoduodenectomy it was 8.8% (5 of 57). There were no fistulas within the distal pancreatectomy and enucleation group (n=38). Importantly, there was no mortality from pancreatic fistula in the studied patients and no need for operative intervention for a fistula. CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel technique to prevent pancreatic fistula. Although randomized trials are necessary, it appears that the use of the round ligament as a vascular pedicle for reinforcing the pancreatic anastomoses and resections results in a very low number of pancreatic fistulas.