A randomised controlled trial comparing needle movements during combined spinal‐epidural anaesthesia with and without ultrasound assistance

Ultrasound assistance for neuraxial techniques may improve technical performance; however, it is unclear which populations benefit most. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy of neuraxial ultrasound in women having caesarean section with combined spinal‐epidural anaesthesia, and to identify factors associated with improved technical performance. Two‐hundred and eighteen women were randomly allocated to ultrasound‐assisted or control groups. All the women had a pre‐procedure ultrasound, but only women in the ultrasound group had this information conveyed to the anaesthetist. Primary outcomes were first‐pass success (a single needle insertion with no redirections) and procedure difficulty. Secondary outcomes were block quality, patient experience and complications. Exploratory sub‐group analysis and regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with success. Data from 215 women were analysed. First‐pass success was achieved in 67 (63.8%) and 42 (38.2%) women in the ultrasound and control groups, respectively (adjusted p = 0.001). Combined spinal‐epidural anaesthesia was ‘difficult’ in 19 (18.1%) and 33 (30.0%) women in the ultrasound and control groups, respectively (adjusted p = 0.09). Secondary outcomes did not differ significantly. Anaesthetists misidentified the intervertebral level by two or more spaces in 23 (10.7%) women. Sub‐group analysis demonstrated a benefit for ultrasound in women with easily palpable spinous processes (adjusted p = 0.027). Regression analysis identified use of ultrasound and easily palpable spinous processes to be associated with first‐pass success.     

Early developmental outcome of infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Purpose

The study aimed to compare the developmental outcome of infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) who underwent pyloromyotomy with healthy control infants in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Methods

Infants diagnosed with IHPS requiring surgical intervention were enrolled prospectively between August 1, 2006, and July 31, 2008. Healthy control infants were enrolled in the same period. The children underwent a developmental assessment at 1 year of age (corrected) using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Version III).

Results

Of 52 infants with IHPS who were enrolled, 43 had developmental assessments. Most (90.6%) were term infants (>36 weeks gestation) with a median birth weight of 3237.8 g. Two infants (8%) had an associated birth defect, and survival was 100%. Developmental assessments were also performed on 211 control infants. Infants with IHPS scored significantly lower on the cognitive, receptive language, fine motor, and gross motor subscales compared to the control infants.

Conclusions

This unique study found lower than expected developmental scores for infants after surgery for IHPS than for healthy control infants. These findings raise concerns over the potential impact of IHPS and its surgical treatment. Further studies, including continuing developmental review to determine whether these differences persist and their functional importance, should be performed.     

Detection of epidural catheters with ultrasound in children

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess whether a noninvasive imaging technique such as ultrasound could visualize an epidural catheter in the epidural space in children. METHODS: Following local ethics committee approval and informed parental consent a pilot study of 12 cases was performed. Children undergoing major surgery requiring epidural analgesia were recruited. All catheters were introduced via the lumbar region. All children were scanned within 24 h of epidural insertion by consultant paediatric radiologists. If the catheter was identified in the epidural space then an attempt was made to visualize the entire length of the catheter. RESULTS: The epidural catheter was detected in nine of 12 patients. All of these were less than 6 months old. The entire length of the catheter was visualized in five of the nine patients. It was possible to estimate the most cephalad level of the catheter in seven of the nine patients. This was in the thoracic region in all cases and an appropriate level for the intended surgical procedure. It was not possible to precisely identify the tip of the catheter as a distinct entity using ultrasound. CONCLUSION: This study shows that it is possible to visualize an epidural catheter in the epidural space in children under 6 months of age using ultrasound.     

Seromuscular laceration of the stomach associated with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in the newborn

Two cases of seromuscular laceration of the stomach associated with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis are reported. The diagnosis and treatment of this lesion is uncertain due to a paucity of clinical experience. The first patient was treated by mucosal resection. Early decompression therapy of the stomach is essential for the neonate with upper gastrointetinal obstruction or stenosis.     

Treatment of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a district general hospital: a review of 160 cases

Background: Ramstedt’s pyloromyotomy has long been the standard operation for the treatment of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Controversy exists over whether this procedure can be performed safely in the district general hospital setting or whether it should be restricted to specialist pediatric units only.Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of a series of 160 infants treated by Ramstedt’s pyloromyotomy by 2 surgeons in a district general hospital over 16 years.Results: There was no perioperative mortality. Oral feeding was achieved by 24 hours in 76% of infants, and there was persistent vomiting in only 3.8%. Wound discharge was encountered in 4.4% and confirmed wound infection in 1.3%. Wound dehiscence occurred in 1.9% of infants. Inadvertent mucosal perforation occurred in 19% of cases, although all cases were recognized and repaired at once with no apparent ill effects. These results are comparable with those reported from specialist pediatric units and from pediatric surgeons working within general surgical units.Conclusions: Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis can be treated safely in a district general hospital when care is provided by appropriately trained surgical, anesthetic, and pediatric staff.     

硬膜外麻醉下免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的临床分析(附21例报告)

目的:探讨免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的临床经验。方法:回顾分析我院在硬膜外麻醉下为21例患者行腹腔镜单孔阑尾切除术的临床资料。结果:21例手术均获成功,手术时间平均15m in,术后平均住院3d,无并发症发生,住院费用低于全麻腹腔镜三孔法阑尾切除术及常规开腹阑尾切除术。结论:免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术具有患者创伤小、康复快等优点,且操作简单,易推广。     

持续硬膜外麻醉下行大量体外超声吸脂术的体会

目的：评价持续硬膜外麻醉下行大量体外超声吸脂的疗效及安全性,并总结经验。方法：对15例肥胖患者在持续硬膜外麻醉下行体外超声吸脂术（其中腰腹部6例,大腿部9例）,记录注入肿胀液量、吸出纯脂肪量,术前术中术后患者生命体征、血液成分变化,并观察并发症出现情况。结果：吸出脂肪量3300～4800ml,平均4100ml;11例短期内均出现血压下降、脉搏加快,皮肤、粘膜苍白,心悸,全身乏力,恶心、呕吐,纳差,眩晕等血容量不足的表现,查见红细胞、血红蛋白明显降低;术后恢复时间较局部肿胀麻醉者长,平均5天（以术后患者可自行下地行走,无明显不适为限）,局部瘀紫严重,无感染、皮肤坏死、不平坦及松弛等其它并发症发生。结论：持续硬膜外麻醉下行大量体外超声吸脂需慎重,并要切实做好术前准备及术后处理。     

The use of cardioselective β-blockers in a patient with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The β-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs are commonly used in the treatment of patients with idiopathic hypertropic subaortic stenosis (IHSS). These drugs, however, are contraindicated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We report the anesthetic management of a patient with IHSS complicated by severe COPD. We concluded that the β₁ selective, ultra-short acting β-blocker, esmolol, can be used intraoperatively when both conditions are present. The pathophysiology and the commonly used anesthetic drugs and practices for treatment of patients with IHSS are reviewed.     

72例胸腰段爆裂性骨折患者神经功能缺失与伤后椎管狭窄相关性的研究

目的：研究胸腰段爆裂性骨折患者脊髓损伤程度与相应椎管狭窄两者间的相关性。方法：对1998年6月～2004年3月间收治的72例胸腰段爆裂骨折患者进行回顾性分析,脊髓功能按照Frankel分级进行评定,使用透明毫米尺对患者CT片椎管正中矢状径进行测量以此代表椎管面积,分别计算T11、T12、L1、L2四个节段两者的相关系数并进行直线相关分析。结果：T1、T12、L1、L2节段两者问相关系数分别为：O．3348、0．8457、0．6691、0．3336。提示T12水平两者具有较高的相关性,而在L1、L2节段两者的相关性较低。对相关系数进行显著性检验,结果显示在T12、L1椎管狭窄和脊髓功能损伤之间具有直线相关关系（P〈O．001）,而在T11、L2两个节段不能认为椎管狭窄和脊髓功能损伤间具有直线相关关系（P〉0．5,0．10〈P〈0．20）。结论：脊髓的损伤程度与椎管狭窄程度具有相关性。测量患者胸腰段爆裂骨折CT扫描图像中椎管占位面积的大小可以作为神经损伤程度的一个预测因素。     

Effects of epidural volume extension by saline injection on the efficacy and safety of intrathecal local anaesthetics: systematic review with meta‐analysis,meta‐regression and trial sequential analysis

Epidural volume extension, a modification of combined spinal–epidural anaesthesia, involves the epidural injection of saline in order to increase the spread of drugs given intrathecally. Results from individual studies have so far been contradictory and we aimed to gather the available evidence for this technique. We performed a systematic literature search for randomised, controlled trials comparing epidural volume extension after spinal injection with a control group without epidural injection in patients undergoing surgery. Conventional meta‐analyses, trial sequential analyses and meta‐regression were performed, with the Grading of Recommendations on Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach used to express reliability of outcome estimates. We included 15 studies with 1177 participants. Meta‐analyses for the primary outcomes, such as maximum sensory height (6 studies, 274 participants, mean difference (MD) (95%CI) ?0.59 (?1.24 to 0.07) dermatomes, low‐quality evidence) and hypotension (10 studies, 683 participants, risk ratio (95%CI) 0.84 (0.66–1.07), low‐quality evidence), did not differ significantly between the two treatment arms, but trial sequential analysis suggested insufficient evidence to be certain of these findings. Meta‐regression suggested a volume‐dependent effect, with higher volumes causing a higher spread of intrathecal drugs and a higher incidence of hypotension. A sub‐group analysis indicated a pronounced effect on motor block recovery time when a lower anaesthetic dose plus epidural volume extension was compared with a higher anaesthetic dose without epidural volume extension, the MD (95%CI) being ?66.75 (?76.0 to ?57.5) min, with trial sequential analysis suggesting the evidence was sufficient to draw this conclusion. In trials using the same anaesthetic mixture in the epidural volume extension and the control groups, motor block recovery time did not differ between groups, with a MD (95%CI) of ?1.06 (?5.48 to 3.36) min, although trial sequential analysis suggested insufficient evidence. In summary, there is not enough evidence to draw definite conclusions on the effect of epidural volume extension. The quality of the current evidence is low for both efficacy (maximum sensory height) and safety (hypotension). However, there may be a significantly shorter motor block recovery time when different anaesthetic mixtures are used in epidural volume extension and control groups; this warrants further investigation.     

Treatment strategies for the surgical complications of thoracic spinal stenosis: a retrospective analysis of two hundred and eighty three cases

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate the causes of and treatment strategies for surgical complications of thoracic spinal stenosis.

Methods

Between May 1990 and May 2010, 283 patients with thoracic spinal stenosis were treated in our department. Three physicians were assigned to patient follow-up. Patient medical records and radiographs were reviewed. Complications were categorised as perioperative, mid- to long-term and donor-site.

Results

Follow-up was completed for 254 patients; 249 patients survived. Follow-up time ranged from one to 19 years, with a mean of six years and two months. There were 107 cases with complications an incidence rate of 42.1 %. Eleven cases were pulmonary infection, seven transient nerve-root injury, three pulmonary injury and one vertebral canal haematoma, all of which resolved. Thirteen cases of spinal cord injury postoperatively were treated using dehydration and corticosteroid therapy; eight recovered to the preoperation level, and five deteriorated. Eleven cases resulted in dural injury, and four led to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. There were five cases of wound-fat liquefaction and one of wound infection. Seven cases with deep venous thrombosis of the lower limb resolved by elevating the affected limb and administration of low-molecular-weight dextran. Seven cases of delayed wound healing recovered following change of dressings and antibiotic administration. Four cases of delayed bone-graft fusion recovered by extending the external fixation time. One case of bone-graft absorption was treated by iliac bone grafting and bracing. Two cases of internal fixation breakage were treated by removing the internal fixation.

Conclusions

Thoracic spinal stenosis surgery may result in various complications but has a good prognosis with proper treatment. The key points in reducing complications are the surgeon’s familiarity with operative imperatives and the appropriate surgical approach.     

New imaging characteristics for predicting postoperative neurologic status in patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. A retrospective analysis of 81 cases

Background Context

Several clinical features have been proposed for the prediction of postoperative functional outcome in patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC). However, few articles address the relationship between preoperative imaging characteristics and the postoperative neurologic status.

The incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and its association with folic acid supplementation during pregnancy: A nested case–control study

Background and Rationale

Several studies have suggested that the incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has decreased in recent decades. This decrement is controversial and not fully explained. Concurrently, there has been a major increase in folic acid consumption by pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects. We aimed to describe IHPS incidence in Israel in recent years and to assess its potential association with folic acid consumption.

三维重建联合超声引导下射频消融治疗肝癌的疗效分析

目的 探讨术前三维重建联合B超引导下RFA治疗肝癌的疗效.方法 回顾性分析广州医科大学附属肿瘤医院2009年1月至2012年12月收治的96例肝癌患者的临床资料.将肿瘤单发,直径3～5 cm,接受术前CT检查三维重建联合B超引导下RFA治疗的43例患者作为射频组;选取同期收治的53例接受手术治疗的小肝癌患者作为手术组,比较两组患者的疗效.采用门诊和电话进行随访,随访时间截至2014年3月31日.计数资料比较采用x2检验或Fisher确切概率法,Kaplan-Meier法绘制生存曲线,生存率比较采用Log-rank检验.结果 射频组43例患者完全消融率达到95.3％ （41/43）.手术组53例患者中行肝楔形切除术32例、局部肿瘤剔除术17例、肝叶规则切除术4例.射频组患者严重并发症发生率为4.7％（2/43）,手术组患者严重并发症发生率为24.5％（13/53）,两组比较,差异有统计学意义（x2=2.385,P＜0.05）.截至最后随访日期,射频组失访1例,手术组失访3例.射频组患者未发现肿瘤针道种植.射频组和手术组患者l、2、3年肿瘤复发率分别为21.8％和26.4％、44.9％和36.8％、50.4％和49.4％,两组患者术后3年肿瘤复发率比较,差异无统计学意义（x2=0.000,P＞0.05）.射频组和手术组患者1、2、3年总体生存率分别为90.6％和88.5％、76.1％和73.4％、57.9％和65.3％,两组患者3年总体生存率比较,差异无统计学意义（x2=0.000,P＞0.05）.结论 对于直径3～5 cm的小肝癌,术前CT检查三维重建联合B超引导下RFA肿瘤完全消融率高,安全易行,可达到与手术切除相近的疗效.     

加压植骨联合单枚Cage的椎体间融合与后外侧融合治疗双节段腰椎椎管狭窄症临床效果的回顾性研究

目的探讨双节段腰椎椎管狭窄症后路减压手术后行椎间加压植骨联合单枚Cage置入的椎体间融合术（posterior lumbar interbody fusion,PLIF）与后外侧融合术（posterolateral fusion,PLF）的临床效果。方法回顾性随访分析53例双节段腰椎椎管狭窄症行后路椎管减压、融合手术的患者,分为2组,PLF组31例,PLIF组22例。对2组患者手术情况进行比较,手术前、后及末次随访进行日本骨科协会（Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA）评分及下腰痛的视觉模拟量表（visual analog scale,VAS）评分。结果 2组手术时间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;出血量、输血量差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;JOA评分,手术前2组差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,术后2组差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;术后2组下腰背疼痛的VAS评分差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论椎弓根螺钉内固定椎间加压植骨联合单枚Cage置入椎体间融合术较后外侧融合效果肯定,手术方式安全,手术后恢复快,出现下腰疼痛病例少,融合率高。     

硬膜外麻醉下悬吊式免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的临床分析(附52例报告)

目的:总结悬吊式免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的临床经验。方法:回顾分析在硬膜外麻醉下为52例患者行悬吊式免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的临床资料。结果:52例均成功完成腹腔镜手术,手术时间30～65 min,平均42 min;无一例发生切口感染,平均住院4 d。结论:悬吊式免气腹单孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术具有患者创伤小、康复快、美容效果好等优点,操作简单,易推广。