Anti-infectious prophylaxis after splenectomy: current practice in an eastern region of Switzerland

Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) is a long-term risk in asplenic patients, which may be minimised by appropriate preventive measures. In this survey anti-infectious strategies after splenectomy were evaluated in an eastern part of Switzerland. We found 91 individuals in the canton of Thurgau, who underwent splenectomy between 1998 and 2003. We assessed adherence to vaccination guidelines, the use of antibiotics and the awareness of the infectious risks by review of hospital charts and by structured interviews with patients and their general practitioners. The total vaccination rate was 64/91 (70%). 6 patients were vaccinated pre-operatively, 50 during the hospital stay and 8 after discharge by the general practitioner. 64 received vaccination against pneumococci, 6 against haemophilus influenzae and 3 against meningococci. Although 39 died during the study period, none died of overwhelming sepsis. None of the patients received a booster vaccination. Prophylactic long-term antibiotics were given to 2 children but to none of the 89 adults. Three adults had a supply of stand-by antibiotics at home. Less than half of the patients who were interviewed knew that asplenia puts them at greater risk for life-threatening infections and few practitioners were aware that travel and animal bites pose a special threat. We conclude that after splenectomy vaccination discipline and patient education should be substantially improved and suggest the publication of comprehensive guidelines.     

Helicobacter pylori infection and short-term intake of low-dose aspirin have different effects on alpha-1 antitrypsin/alpha-1 peptidase inhibitor (α1-PI) levels in antral mucosa and peripheral blood

Objective. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common in the population, but not all subjects seek professional health care for their symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare consulters in secondary/tertiary care with those in primary care and non-consulters by using questionnaires to investigate factors of importance for health-care seeking in IBS. Material and methods. The study included 218 subjects with IBS: 70 non-consulters, 53 patients from primary care and 95 from secondary/tertiary care. The subjects completed questionnaires on gastrointestinal (GI) and psychological symptoms, coping resources, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and reasons for not seeking health care. Results. Consulters (primary and secondary/tertiary care combined) had poorer HRQOL, more severe psychological symptoms, higher levels of GI-specific anxiety and poor coping resources compared with non-consulters, but the GI symptom severity was similar. Mental health and poor social, emotional and physical functioning were independently predictive of being a health-care seeker (r²=0.41). Independent predictors for being a consulter in secondary/tertiary care were a high degree of anxiety, low scores on physical functioning, physical role and food (IBSQOL) (r²=0.65). Several non-consulters reported mild symptoms and ability to control symptoms as reasons for not seeking health care. Having a close relative with similar symptoms reduced the need to seek health care. Thirty-six non-consulters had sought alternative care or advice from friends and/or relatives about their GI symptoms. Conclusions. GI symptom severity alone cannot explain the illness behavior in IBS. HRQOL and psychological symptoms are important for experience of GI symptoms and the health-care seeking pattern in IBS.     

Intraoral blue (Jadassohn-Tieche) nevus.

Blue nevus of the oral mucosa is a distinctly uncommon clincial entity. Careful review of the literature yielded thirty-one previously reported cases. The present article reports the occurrence of a blue nevus of the hard palate in a 58-year-old man. It is of interest since it is the smallest (1 by 1 mm.) intraoral blue nevus to be reported. A clinicopathologic study of the previous thirty-one cases and of our case suggests that this lesion has no age or sex predilection. The most common site of occurrence was the hard palate. There appears to be no tendency toward recurrence. A brief review of the historical background, clinical features, theories of possible origin, and differential diagnosis is presented. Excisional biopsy of localized areas of oral pibmentation, together with histopathologic study, is indicated to rule out melanoma.     

Sequential transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Twenty-one consecutive patients with unresectable T3 and T4 HCC were treated by sequential TACE (median time interval between treatments 7 weeks) up to six times with an emulsion of lipiodol, epirubicin, and cisplatin. All TACE procedures were performed as unilobar or whole-liver chemoembolization. Results An average of 3.9 TACE procedures were performed per patient. One primary and two secondary technical failures occurred. No procedural death was observed. After exclusion of the patient with the primary technical failure and 3 patients with extrahepatic disease, the survival rates for the remaining 17 patients at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were 70.6%, 52.9%, 44.1%, and 33.1%, respectively. Conclusion Sequential TACE is a safe procedure in patients with unresectable advanced HCC and feasible in most cases. It seems to prolong the survival time compared with historical series of untreated patients.