Endothelial functions improve with decrease in asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels after renal transplantation

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular events. The relationships between the markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were investigated both before and after living donor kidney transplantation. METHODS: Twenty-seven renal transplant patients were studied. Eleven patients (six male, five female) were on cyclosporine A, whereas 16 patients (nine male, seven female) were treated with tacrolimus based regimes. Twenty-seven subjects (12 males, 15 females) were studied as controls. Plasma adiponectin, high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), Asymetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels were studied before transplantation and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. The brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was studied before transplantation and on the 28th day. RESULTS: Serum hsCRP and ADMA levels decreased significantly from the first posttransplantation day on each measurement (P<0.001 for all) while the decrement of plasma adiponectin started in the third day (P<0.001 for all). The FMD was lower in the patients than the control group (P<0.001) and improved significantly in the 28th day of transplantation (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that ADMA is associated with FMD in CKD both before and after kidney transplantation. Endothelial functions improve at the very beginning of the posttransplantation period with accompanying reduction in ADMA and hsCRP levels.     

Minimally invasive anterior contralateral approach for the treatment of cervical disc herniation

BACKGROUND: During the practice of ipsilateral approach to the offending lesion in anterior simple discectomy, the authors realized that it achieves better surgical exposure of the opposite foraminal area. In addition, it was also realized that routine procedures for better visualization of the foraminal area, such as stripping longus colli muscles, further excising of the anterior longitudinal ligament, or using a spreader, which cause more invasive surgery during the standard anterior approach, are not necessary because the contralateral approach already achieves sufficient exposure of the target foraminal area. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the results and effectiveness of this minimal invasive technique in patients with either soft or hard disc herniations. METHODS: Between January 1994 and April 2002, 216 patients underwent anterior contralateral microdiscectomy without fusion for cervical disc herniation at 1 or 2 adjacent levels. Anterior contralateral microdiscectomy is a less invasive technique than standard anterior simple discectomy in which longus colli muscles are not stripped, and the lateral part of annulus fibrosis at the side of intervention and ventrolateral part of it at the opposite side are not removed. In addition, a mini Zenker handheld retractor is used for retraction of paravertebral soft tissues and a spreader is not used during the discectomy procedure. There were 182 patients diagnosed with radiculopathy and 34 patients with myelopathy. Assessments of the neurological status of patients with radiculopathy were done by physical examinations, and of those with myelopathy according to the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association cervical spine functional assessment scale. These neurological assessments were repeated in the 18th month after surgery. In the follow-up period, the outcomes of surgery were also assessed for all patients in 4 categories, from failure to excellent. RESULTS: Surgery outcomes generally have been good to excellent and none of the patients were made worse by the procedure. The outcomes were significantly better in the radiculopathy and soft disc herniation groups. Other positive outcome factors were short duration and sudden onset of symptoms, normal cervical curvature, and single-level disease. Follow-up radiological studies revealed fibrous healing with normal or slight loss of disc height in 199 (92.1%) patients and total obliteration of the involved disc space representing radiological fusion signs in 13 (6%) patients. The overall complications observed in this study were 2 spontaneous and 2 postinfection collapses of disc level, 1 excessive fibrosis of disc level, and 2 adjacent-level diseases. CONCLUSION: Anterior contralateral microdiscectomy without fusion achieves better exposure for resection of the offending foraminal or far lateral lesions, ventral osteophytes, or a disc fragment under direct microscopic visualization. Collapse and instability of the involved disc level can also be avoided via this less invasive technique.     

Medical haemostasis in acute hepatocyte injury and experimental liver trauma

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to test the effectiveness of aprotinin to reduce bleeding in liver resection of guinea pigs with acutely injured hepatocyte using intraperitoneal d(+)Galactosamine. METHODS: Thirty-two guinea pigs were divided equally into four groups. Group 1 was the control group. Group 2 received intraperitoneal D(+)galactosamine. Group 3 received intraperitoneal d(+)galactosamine prior to a standard liver resection. Group 4 received 10.000 KIU/kg aprotinin infusion via jugular catheter in 10 min prior to standard liver resection in pretreated animals with d(+)galactosamine. All of the measurements and surgical interventions were made 24 h after the administration of d(+)galactosamine. Bleeding amounts were recorded in groups 3 and 4 for 1 h by weighing the sponges placed into the abdomen. Liver function tests, histologic, haematologic and fibrinolytic parameters were measured. RESULTS: Hepatocyte injury and hyperfibrinolysis were seen at the end of 24 h after application of d(+)galactosamine in groups 2, 3, and 4. Statistically significant amounts of bleeding from the resected livers were observed in group 3 and 4. In group 4, the bleeding was reduced (P < 0.05) and fibrinolytic parameters were normalized (P < 0.05) with aprotinin infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Significant bleeding diathesis and hyperfibrinolysis occurred in groups 2, 3, and 4, which had hepatocyte injury proved with histopathologic and haematologic tests. Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in groups 3 and 4 were fivefold higher than that in the control group (P = 0.0001). The bleeding tendency according to high PT and aPTT levels were continued with application of aprotinin while reduction of bleeding was seen. Parenchymatous organ haemorrhage in acute liver failure or hyperfibrinolytic conditions could be reduced significantly with aprotinin without procoagulant effect.     

Importance of identifying the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in total and near-total thyroid lobectomies

In our clinic, near-total thyroidectomy is the principal surgical procedure performed for benign thyroid diseases. We conducted a single-institution study on 176 consecutive patients who underwent near-total thyroidectomy due to various thyroid diseases. We compared the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury between total and near-total thyroid lobectomy sides in each patient. Our hypothesis was that the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after total thyroid lobectomy would be similar to that of near-total thyroid lobectomy when the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified during surgery. The temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rates on the total and near-total thyroid lobectomy sides were 3.9 per cent (7 of 176 nerves) and 2.2 per cent (4 of 176 nerves), respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. Permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy did not occur in any of our patients. In conclusion, the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in total versus near-total thyroid lobectomy is not different when the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is identified during surgery.     

Internal anal sphincter function following lateral internal sphincterotomy for anal fissure: a long-term manometric study

BACKGROUND: Anal fissure is a common and painful disorder. Its relation to hypertonic anal sphincter is controversial. The most common surgical treatment of chronic anal fissure is lateral internal sphincterotomy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term manometric results of sphincter healing following lateral internal sphincterotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2003, 50 patients with anal fissure were included in this study and underwent sphincterotomy; 12 healthy patients served as controls. All patients with anal fissure underwent manometric evaluation using a 6-channel perfusion catheter. All patients were examined 1 month before surgery and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following surgery. The control group had 3 manometric evaluations 6 months apart. RESULTS: The mean basal resting pressure before surgery was 138 +/- 28 mm Hg. One month after surgery, the pressure dropped to 86 +/- 15 mm Hg (P < 0.0001) and gradually rose to a plateau at 12 months (110 +/- 18 mm Hg, P < 0.0001). At 12 months, the manometric pressure was significantly lower than the baseline (P < 0.0001). However, manometric measurements in the fissure group were still significantly higher than in the control group (110 +/- 18 versus 73 +/- 4.8 mm Hg, P < 0.0001). All patients were free of symptoms at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Lateral internal sphincterotomy caused a significant decline in the resting anal pressure. During the first year following surgery, the tone of the internal anal sphincter gradually increased, indicating recovery, but still remained significantly lower than before surgery. However, postoperative resting pressures were higher than those in the control, and no patient suffered any permanent problems with incontinence, so this decrease may not be clinically significant.     

Microsurgical reconstruction of hepatic artery during living donor liver transplantation

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become a well-recognized treatment modality for patients with end-stage liver disease. Arterial reconstruction during LDLT is perhaps the most important aspect of the grafting procedure. Although microsurgical hepatic artery reconstruction has become the essential technique in LDLT, it poses significant challenges even to experienced microsurgeons. In this report, the experiences of 155 microsurgical reconstructions of the hepatic artery in 150 LDLTs were reviewed, and the problems that were encountered and the solutions are discussed. From June 1999-March 2004 150 LDLTs were performed on 148 recipients at Ege University Organ Transplantation and Research Center. Hepatic arterial thrombosis was encountered in 3 patients. Microsurgical technique has overcome the difficulties in LDLT. This has increased liver transplantations in the presence of limited cadaver grafts and has decreased the patient mortality in the waiting list.     

Effect of body temperature on peripheral venous pressure measurements and its agreement with central venous pressure in neurosurgical patients

Previous studies suggest a correlation of central venous pressure (CVP) with peripheral venous pressure (PVP) in different clinical settings. The effect of body temperature on PVP and its agreement with CVP in patients under general anesthesia are investigated in this study. Fifteen American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II patients undergoing elective craniotomy were included in the study. CVP, PVP, and core (Tc) and peripheral (Tp) temperatures were monitored throughout the study. A total of 950 simultaneous measurements of CVP, PVP, Tc, and Tp from 15 subjects were recorded at 5-minute intervals. The measurements were divided into low- and high-Tc and -Tp groups by medians as cutoff points. Bland-Altman assessment for agreement was used for CVP and PVP in all groups. PVP measurements were within range of +/-2 mm Hg of CVP values in 94% of the measurements. Considering all measurements, mean bias was 0.064 mm Hg (95% confidence interval -0.018-0.146). Corrected bias for repeated measurements was 0.173 +/- 3.567 mm Hg (mean +/- SD(corrected)). All of the measurements were within mean +/- 2 SD of bias, which means that PVP and CVP are interchangeable in our setting. As all the measurements were within 1 SD of bias when Tc was > or = 35.8 degrees C, even a better agreement of PVP and CVP was evident. The effect of peripheral hypothermia was not as prominent as core hypothermia. PVP measurement may be a noninvasive alternative for estimating CVP. Body temperature affects the agreement of CVP and PVP, which deteriorates at lower temperatures.     

Effect of catheter site on the agreement of peripheral and central venous pressure measurements in neurosurgical patients

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest a correlation of central venous pressure (CVP) with peripheral venous pressure (PVP) in different clinical setups. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of measurement site on PVP and its agreement with CVP in patients undergoing general anesthesia. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTINGS: University hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II undergoing elective craniotomy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned into Group A (antecubital; n=15) and Group D (dorsum hand; n=15) for antecubital and hand dorsum catheterization sites, respectively. Central venous pressure and PVP were monitored throughout the study. A total of 1925 simultaneous measurements were recorded at 5-minute intervals. Bland-Altman assessment for agreement was used for CVP and PVP in 2 groups. MEASUREMENTS: Peripheral venous pressure measurements were within the range of +/-2 mm Hg of CVP values, in 93.9% of the measurements in Group A, and in 91.2% of the measurements in Group D. Considering all measurements, mean bias was -0.072 mm Hg (95% CI, -0.134 to -0.010). Group A measurements showed a bias (CVP-PVP) of 0.173+/-3.557 mm Hg, whereas the bias was -0.122+/-4.322 mm Hg (mean+/-SDcorrected for repeated measurements) in Group D. All of the measurements were within mean+/-2SD of bias, which means that PVP and CVP are interchangeable in our clinical setting. CONCLUSION: Peripheral venous pressure measurement may be a noninvasive alternative for estimating CVP in patients undergoing elective neurosurgical operations. Measuring PVP from hand dorsum does not interfere with the agreement of CVP and PVP.