Femoral Pseudoaneurysm in Drug Addicts—Excision without Revascularization is a Viable Option

PURPOSE: To present a series of patients presenting with femoral pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: Seventeen patients who presented with a femoral pseudoaneurysm during a 1 year period were included in this study. Parenteral drug abuse was the most common aetiological factor. The femoral artery was most commonly involved at its bifurcation. Sixteen patients (94%) had excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessel and debridement without any revascularization and one patient (6%) had reverse saphenous grafting after excision and ligation of vessels. Four amputations (23%) were performed. Three (17%) were major limb amputations, which included one above knee and two below knee amputations. Four patients (23%) developed intermittent claudication. CONCLUSION: Excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessels and wide debridement without immediate revascularization in infected pseudoaneurysms is a safe and effective treatment.     

Deep Venous Thrombosis in Lap Band Surgery: A Single Center Study

Bariatric surgery has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for morbid obesity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of pre- and post-operative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in Lap-Band surgical patients. This study group comprised 56 consecutive patients who underwent Lap-Band surgery. Mean age and body mass index were 38 years (range: 18–64 years) and 50.9 kg/m² (range: 53–74 kg/m²), respectively. All the patients were screened with duplex ultrasonography pre- and post-operatively. There were no iliac, femoral, or popliteal vein thromboses detected at any given point of time. No patient had any clinical signs or symptoms of DVT post-operatively. There were no observable differences attributable to DVT prophylaxis. This data suggest that in the setting of chemical and mechanical prophylaxis, the incidence of DVT in patients undergoing Lap-Band surgery at an established bariatric centre is minimal.     

Composite sequential arterial reconstruction for limb salvage

OBJECTIVE: Autogenous vein is the conduit of choice in patients presenting for infrainguinal arterial reconstruction. Venous conduit may be limited because of inadequacy or prior utilization. Our group and others use prosthetics to maximize limb salvage with moderate results. However, in cases where patients present with an isolated popliteal segment that may extend below the knee, we have performed prosthetic bypasses to this above-knee segment and then used a venous reconstruction from the native arterial circulation to a more distal outflow tract. In this report, we will analyze our results using this type of reconstruction in patients who present for limb salvage with no all-autogenous option. METHOD: From 1992 to 2000, 27 patients presented for limb salvage with an isolated popliteal artery and inadequate vein for continuous bypass. There were 106 patients in this period without an isolated popliteal segment or adequate vein who underwent prosthetic bypass with distal vein cuff or arteriovenous fistula. The vascular registry and patient charts were reviewed for indication, demographics, and type of composite reconstruction. Outcomes were calculated with use of life table methods and compared by log rank analysis. RESULTS: Demographics revealed 16 (59%) men, 16 (59%) patients with diabetes, and 4 (15%) smokers with a mean age of 71 years (range, 51-87 years). The venous reconstructions had the inflow taken from the distal native popliteal artery in 26 (above knee in 8 and below knee in 18) and the peroneal artery in one. The outflow involved the below-knee popliteal in one (4%), a tibial in 23 (85%), and the dorsalis pedis artery in 3 (11%). Morbidity included bleeding (4%), wound infection (4%), and limb loss (4%). Mortality occurred in one patient (4%), and no revisions were required in follow-up. Six late failures were identified, one of which resulted in amputation. Primary patency and limb salvage were 80% and 88% at 1 year, respectively. For comparison, our results using prosthetic with vein cuff had a 1-year primary patency of 52% and limb salvage of 92% (P = NS), whereas prosthetic with an arteriovenous fistula was 73% and 84%, respectively (P = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Composite sequential reconstruction using an isolated popliteal segment as inflow for the distal reconstruction is an acceptable option in patients presenting for limb salvage reconstruction with limited venous conduit. This type of reconstruction, when available, may be a better option than pure prosthetic with or without a vein cuff or arteriovenous fistula.     

Perioperative Net Fluid Balance Predicts Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background

Our goal was to evaluate the relationship between perioperative fluid administration and the development of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

Retrospectively, we analyzed fluid balance over the first 72 h in 104 consecutive patients who underwent PD between 2013 and 2017. Patients were categorized into tertiles (low, medium, and high) by net fluid balance.

Results

POPF was identified in 17.3% of patients (n?=?18). No significant demographic differences were identified among tertiles. Similarly, there were no differences in ASA, smoking status, hemoglobin A1C, pathologic findings, operative time, blood loss, intraoperative fluid administration, use of pancreatic stents, use of epidurals, or postoperative lactate. Patients with high 72-h net fluid balance had significantly increased rates of POPF compared with those in the medium and low tertiles (31.4% vs. 11.4% vs. 8.8%, p?=?0.02). On multivariate analysis, increasing net fluid balance remained associated with CR-POPF (OR 1.26, CI 1.03–1.55, p?=?0.03).

Conclusion

High net 72-h fluid balance is an independent predictor of POPF after PD. Given ongoing efforts to minimize PD morbidity, net fluid balance may represent a clinical predictor and, possibly, a modifiable target for prevention of POPF.

     

Extrathyroidal Uptake from Thyroid Carcinoma on 99mTc-Pertechnetate Scintigraphy

Three cases of imaging with 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4) and unusual positive lymph node uptake in the neck are reported hereby. Two cases were later diagnosed to be well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, (DTC) with nodal metastasis. The third was a confirmed case of carcinoma thyroid that had presented with mass in the neck soon after surgery, being prepared for ablative dose of radioactive iodine (131I). All three were young females under 40 years of age. These 3 cases signify that extra thyroidal areas of uptake on a routine thyroid scan with 99mTcO4 can some time be due to thyroid carcinoma with regional metastases. Foci of metastasis in patients with DTC may be incidentlly detected with 99mTcO4 scan. Multinodular goiter with palpable lymph node should always be investigated for exclusion of malignancy. The patients underwent near total thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection; histopathology confirmed the scan findings.     

Inclusion of an S-nitrosylating agent in the insufflating gas does not alter gastric activity in rats following pneumoperitoneum

Background We have previously shown that mixing the S-nitrosylating agent ethyl nitrite with carbon dioxide can attenuate pneumoperitoneum-induced decreases in splanchnic blood flow, but it was unclear if this agent would alter gastric function. This question was answered using rats by assessing gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit times following gavage with radioactive chromium. Methods There were five experimental groups: absolute control, anesthesia control, and carbon dioxide alone or with 100 or 300 parts per million ethyl nitrite. The period of insufflation was 1 h, and all animals were euthanized 6.5 h after chromium administration. Results The mean amount of radioactivity remaining in the stomach ranged between 16% and 27% of the total administered; these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Modest differences in chromium distribution were identified in the gastrointestinal tract, but for all treatments, the peak amount of radioactivity was located in the distal portion. Location of the peak, expressed as a percentage of total tract length, varied between 70% and 85% (p = 0.366). Conclusions This study found no adverse effect of ethyl nitrite on postoperative gastric emptying or gastrointestinal transit time following pneumoperitoneum. The findings support continued assessment of the clinical utility of ethyl nitrite in the setting of laparoscopic surgery.     

Increased use of laparoscopy in acute right iliac fossa pain – is it good for patients?

Aim The use of laparoscopy, with or without appendicectomy, is becoming more common in the management of acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain, but little is known of the ‘unintended’ consequences of this change. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of increased use of laparoscopy on the number and type of patients treated surgically and on the rate of negative appendicectomy. Method A prospective audit was carried out of admissions to a teaching hospital over two, 3‐month periods during 2007 and 2008. The management, investigations and outcome of patients presenting with RIF pain were studied. Results Admissions were stable over the two time‐periods. There was a significant increase in the number of laparoscopic operations performed, from 22.5% (14/62) in 2007 to 85.7% (72/84) in 2008 (P < 0.0001), and the percentage of patients undergoing surgery rose from 55.4% (n = 62) in 2007 to 71.2% (n = 84) in 2008 (P < 0.01). In 2008, female patients were more likely to have surgery, an increase from 37.1% to 66.2% (P < 0.001), and were more likely to have a laparoscopic procedure, an increase from 50% to 98% (P < 0.0001). The rate of histologically confirmed appendicitis did not increase significantly (50/122 vs 57/118; P = 0.25), but the number of patients with a normal appendix either left in situ because it was macroscopically normal or found to be histologically normal following excision, increased significantly, from 9.01% in 2007 to 21.2% in 2008 (P < 0.01). The diagnostic value of pelvic ultrasound decreased from 75.6% of examinations in 2007 to 54.5% in 2008 (P = 0.039). Conclusion An increase in laparoscopic procedures has resulted in more operations in women, an associated higher negative appendicectomy rate and decreased usefulness of pelvic ultrasound. Increased use of laparoscopy needs to be balanced against the diagnostic benefits of ‘negative’ laparoscopy.     

Enhanced recovery pathway in adult patients undergoing thoracolumbar deformity surgery

BACKGROUND CONTEXTEnhanced recovery (ERAS) pathways can help hospitals maximize the incentives of bundled payment models while maintaining high-quality patient care. A key component of an enhanced recovery pathway is the ability to predictably reduce inpatient length of stay, as this is a critical component of the cost equation.PURPOSETo determine the efficacy of an enhanced recovery pathway on reducing length of stay after thoracolumbar adult deformity surgery.STUDY DESIGNSingle surgeon retrospective review of prospectively-collected data.PATIENT SAMPLEForty adult deformity patients who underwent ≥5 levels of fusion to the pelvis (two to L5) with a single surgeon before and after implementation of an ERAS pathway.METHODSThe pathway involved participation by anesthesiology, hospital medicine, and physical therapy, and was designed to achieve goals previously associated with decreased LOS (eg, EBL<1200 mL, procedure time <4.5 hours, avoidance of ICU postoperatively, and mobilization POD0-1). Patients were propensity-score matched 1:1 to a historical cohort (enhanced recovery [ER] and historical [H] cohorts), based on demographics, medical comorbidities, radiographic alignment parameters, and surgical factors. Outcomes were compared to determine the effect of the enhanced recovery pathway. Primary outcomes included LOS and 90-day complications and readmissions.RESULTSAfter matching, gender, BMI, ASA class, preoperative opioid dependence, day of surgery, sagittal alignment parameters, rate of revision surgery, three-column osteotomies, and interbody fusions were comparable between the cohorts (p>.05). In the ER cohort, there was reduced EBL (920±640 vs. 1437±555, p=.004) and no ER patient went to the ICU immediately following surgery, compared with 30% of H patients (p=.022). The ER cohort also had a greater number of patients ambulating by POD1 compared to the H cohort (100% vs. 55%, p=.010). ER patients had a shorter LOS (4.5±1.3 vs. 7.3±4.4 days, p=.010). A 90-day readmission and complications were comparable between the cohorts (p>.05).CONCLUSIONSThe creation of an ERAS pathway for patients undergoing thoracolumbar adult deformity surgery reduced length of stay without negatively affecting short-term morbidity and complications. Given the specificity of this pathway to a single surgeon and hospital, the resources and staffing changes that were instrumental in creating the pathway may not be generalizable to other centers.     

Contraceptive practice among postpartum urban womenin Zibo city of Shandong province

<正> Objectives:The objective of this study was to investigate the existing pattern ofcontraceptive use among postpartum women in urban areas of China.Method:A hospital based longitudinal study was carried out in Zibo city,Shandongprovince of China from June 1996 to November 1997.Both quantitative and qualitativeresearch approaches were used.This report mainly deals with the quantitative data.Qualitative data provided insights into the behavior of breastfeeding and contraceptiveuse,which helped to understand the perceptions and behavior of people and communityin this area.Information was obtained from 496 new parturient women who gave birthin the five district hospitals where they first were interviewed.They were then fol-lowed-up three timings for interview at 42 days,four months and one year after deliv-ery,respectively.Structured interview questionnaires filled out by trained interviewers.Total subjects of 492 women were for analysis in this paper.Results:The results showed that 74.4% of women were using contraceptive meth-ods when they resuming the first sexual activity after delivery.During postpartum peri-od,the majority of women interviewed used condom within 3 months,for instance,at 3months after delivery,there were still 84.5% of women use condom.Afterwards,mostof them switched to IUD.Life table analysis shows that the continuation rates of fullbreastfeeding,abstinence,amenorrhea and acceptance of contraceptive methods at 4months after delivery were 35.5%,68.2%,5.0%,and 86.3%,respectively.Conclusion:The policy implications of this study are that contraceptive services andinformation for postpartum women in urban areas need to be improved further.Thecontraceptive methods providing for postpartum women should have more methods to letwomen choose and instead of only one method for all of postpartum women.