Preliminary experience with new bioactive prosthetic material for repair of hernias in infected fields

Surgisis (Cook Surgical, Bloomington, Ind., USA) is a new four-ply bioactive, prosthetic mesh for hernia repair derived from porcine small-intestinal submucosa. It is a naturally occurring extracellular matrix which is easily absorbed, supports early and abundant new vessel growth, and serves as a template for the constructive remodeling of many tissues. As such, we believe that Surgisis mesh is ideal for use in contaminated or potentially contaminated fields in which ventral, incisional, or inguinal hernia repairs are required. From November 2000 through May 2002, 25 patients (11 male, 14 female) underwent placement of Surgisis mesh for a variety of different hernia repairs. A total of 25 hernia repairs were performed in our patient population. Fourteen procedures (56%) were performed in a potentially contaminated setting (i.e. with incarcerated/strangulated bowel within the hernia or coincident with a laparoscopic cholecystectomy/colectomy). Eleven repairs (44%) were performed in a grossly contaminated field, including one in which an infected polypropylene mesh from a previous inguinal hernia repair was replaced with Surgisis and one in which necrotic bowel was discovered within the hernial sac. Median follow-up was 15 months with a range of 1–20 months. Of the 25 total repairs, there was one wound infection complicated by enterocutaneous fistula in a patient originally operated on for ischemic bowel. The fistula was in a location independent of the Surgisis mesh. There were no mesh-related complications or recurrent hernias in our early postoperative follow-up period. Surgisis mesh appears to be a promising new prosthetic material for hernia repair, especially in contaminated or potentially contaminated fields. Obviously, long-term follow-up is still required. Electronic Publication     

International differences in ageing and spinal cord injury

DESIGN: The present study is part of a programme of longitudinal research on ageing and spinal cord injury involving three populations - American, British and Canadian. The design was multivariate. OBJECTIVE: To identify international differences in outcomes associated with ageing and spinal cord injury. SETTING: A sample of 352 participants was assembled from five large, well-established databases. The Canadian sample was derived from the member database of the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Ontario and Manitoba divisions). The British sample was recruited from Southport Hospital's Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and Stoke-Mandeville Hospital's National Spinal Injuries Centre. The American sample has been recruited through Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado. METHODS: The sample included individuals who had incurred a spinal cord injury at least 20 years previously; were admitted to rehabilitation within 1 year of injury; were between age 15 and 55 at the time of injury. Data were collected using a combination of self-completed questionnaires and interviews. Data included medical information, general health, hospitalisations, and changes in bladder and bowel management, equipment, pain, spasticity, the need for assistance, and other health issues. RESULTS: Clear international differences existed between the three samples in the three different countries. After controlling for sampling differences (ie, differences in age, level of lesion, duration of disability, etc.), the following differences were seen: (1) American participants had a better psychological profile and fewer health and disability-related problems; (2) British participants had less joint pain and less likelihood of perceiving they were ageing more quickly; (3) Canadians had more health and disability-related complications (particularly bowel, pain and fatigue problems). CONCLUSION: These differences are discussed in terms of socio-political, health care system and cultural factors that might be used to explain them, and to generate hypotheses for future research.     

Assessment of Depth of Anesthesia and Postoperative Respiratory Recovery after Remifentanil-versus Alfentanil-based Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Ear-Nose-Throat Surgery

Background: The authors investigated whether total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with precalculated equipotent infusion schemes for remifentanil and alfentanil would ensure appropriate analgesia and that remifentanil would result in better recovery characteristics.

Methods: Forty consenting patients (classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III) scheduled for microlaryngoscopy were randomized to receive, in a double-blind manner, either remifentanil (loading dose 1 [mu]g/kg; maintenance infusion, 0.25 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) or alfentanil (loading dose, 50 [mu]g/kg; maintenance infusion, 1 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) as the analgesic component of TIVA. They were combined with propofol (loading dose, 2 mg/kg; maintenance infusion, 100 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1). To insure an equal state of anesthesia, the opioids were titrated to maintain heart rate and mean arterial pressure within 20% of baseline, and propofol was titrated to keep the bispectral index (BIS) less than 60. Neuromuscular blockade was achieved with succinylcholine. Drug dosages and the times from cessation of anesthesia to extubation, verbal response, recovery of ventilation, and neuropsychological testing, orientation, and discharge readiness were recorded.

Results: Demographics, duration of surgery, and anesthesia were similar between the two groups. Both groups received similar propofol doses. There were no difference in BIS values preoperatively (mean, 96), intraoperatively (mean, 55), and postoperatively (mean, 96). Recovery of BIS and times for verbal response did not differ. At 20, 30, and 40 min after terminating the opioid infusion, the peripheral oxygen saturation and respiratory rate were significantly higher in the remifentanil group compared with the alfentanil group.     

Combination cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy for locally advanced unresectable or medically unfit bladder cancer cases: a Southwest Oncology Group Study

PURPOSE: Patients with locally advanced bladder cancer or who are not medically fit for surgery are a therapeutic dilemma. Radiotherapy with or without single agent cisplatin has been the major therapeutic modality. A phase II Southwest Oncology Group trial investigated the efficacy and feasibility of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin and radiation in this patient subset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had muscle invasive bladder cancer (clinical stages T2-T4) with nodal involvement at or below the level of bifurcation of the iliac vessels, were medically or surgically inoperable, or refused cystectomy. Patients underwent pretreatment cystoscopy and detailed tumor mapping, and were treated with 75 mg. /m.2 cisplatin on day 1 and 1 gm./m.2 daily, 5-fluorouracil on days 1 to 4 and definitive radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was repeated every 28 days, twice during and twice after radiation. RESULTS: From October 1993 to April 1998, 60 patients were enrolled in study. Of the 56 eligible patients 34% had unresectable tumors, 21% were not medically fit for surgery and 45% refused cystectomy. Overall, 68% of the patients had clinical T3 tumors or greater and 22% had nodal metastasis. Treatment was completed as planned in 32 of 56 (57%) patients. The most frequent grade 3 or 4 toxicities were neutropenia, stomatitis or mucositis, diarrhea, neuropathy and nausea. There were 53 patients who were evaluable for response, although response was not determined for 18. The overall response rate was 51% (95% confidence interval [CI] 37 to 65) based on intent to treat with a complete response rate of 49% (95% CI 35 to 63). Estimated median survival of the 56 patients was 27 months (95% CI 21 to 40 months) with an overall 5-year survival of 32%. The 5-year survival of the 25 patients who refused surgery was 45%. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin and radiation therapy is feasible. Despite a promising complete response rate, the overall 5-year survival suggests the need for more effective systemic therapy. The 5-year survival of patients who refused cystectomy suggests that this combined modality may provide another alternative to cystectomy for these patients.     

Perceptual Deprivation in the Acute Phase of Spinal Injury Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

Patients in intensive care units are often reported to experience psychological disturbances which may be attributable to a number of well-researched causes. However, it is suggested that the total lack of proprioceptive and motor feedback after spinal trauma may be a significant factor in the genesis of these disturbances which are unique to this group of patients.

All cases admitted to the Regional Spinal Injuries Centre in Southport from January 1987 through December 1990 were assessed (n=187) and the conditions surrounding the occurrence of behavioural disturbances (n=23, 12.3%) established. The level of interaction with relatives and significant others was established for all acute admissions, and low frequency was found to correlate significantly with the development of perceptual deprivation experiences.

The effects of inadequate somatosensory input, lesion level, increasing age, and visitor variability for spinal patients is discussed and an algorithm presented to highlight the potential factors associated with aetiology and treatment of the problem.

The implications of these findings for the future management of acute spinal trauma are discussed.     

Preliminary results of a two-layered prosthetic repair for recurrent inguinal and ventral hernias combining open and laparoscopic techniques

The use of prosthetic mesh has become the standard of care in the management of hernias because of its association with a low rate of recurrence. However, despite its use, recurrence rates of 1% have been reported in primary inguinal repair and rates as high as 15% with ventral hernia repair. When dealing with difficult recurrent hernias, the two-layer prosthetic repair technique is a good option. In the event of incarcerated or strangulated hernias, however; placement of prosthetic material is controversial due to the increased risk of infection. The same is true when hernia repairs are performed concurrently with potentially contaminated procedures such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, or colectomy. The purpose of this study is to report our preliminary results on the treatment of recurrent hernias by combining laparoscopic and open techniques to construct a two-layered prosthetic repair using a four ply mesh of porcine small intestine submucosa (Surgisis®, Cook Surgical, Bloomington, IN, USA) in a potentially infected field and a combination of polypropylene and ePTFE (Gore-Tex®, W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) in a clean field. From September 2002 to January 2004, nine patients (three males and six females) underwent laparoscopic and open placement of surgisis mesh in a two layered fashion for either recurrent incisional or inguinal hernias in a contaminated field. A total of eight recurrent hernia repairs were performed (five incisional, three inguinal) and one abdominal wall repair after resection of a metastatic tumor following open colectomy for colon carcinoma. Six procedures were performed in a potentially contaminated field (incarcerated or strangulated bowel within the hernia), two procedures were performed in a contaminated field because of infected polypropylene mesh, and one was in a clean field. Mean patient age was 56.4 years. The average operating time was 156.8 min. Operative findings included seven incarcerated hernias (four incisional and three inguinal), one strangulated inguinal hernia, and one ventral defect after resection of an abdominal wall metastasis for a previous colon cancer resection. In two of the cases, there was an abscess of a previously placed polypropylene mesh. All procedures were completed with two layers of mesh (eight cases with surgisis and one with combination of polypropylene/ePTFE). Median follow up was 10 months. Complications included two seromas, one urinary tract infection, two cases of atelectasis and one prolonged ileus. There were no wound infections. The average postoperative length of stay was 7.8 days. There have been no mesh-related complications or recurrent hernias in our early postoperative follow-up period. The use of a new prosthetic device in infected or potentially infected fields, and the two-layered approach shows promising results. This is encouraging and provides an alternative approach for the management of difficult, recurrent hernias.     

TLIF术式在布氏杆菌性脊柱炎病人中的临床疗效及安全性分析

目的 对比分析单纯后路内固定+一期经腰椎间孔病椎间病灶清除(TLIF)与经典的前后联合手术在布氏杆菌性脊柱炎患者中的临床疗效及安全性。 方法 对我院2015年1月至2017年12月收治的93例布病性脊柱炎患者的临床资料进行分析。按手术方式分为观察组(45例)和对照组(48例)。对两组患者的基础数据、临床指标、术前术后各项指标水平以及术后并发症、植骨治愈情况。 结果 观察组与对照组基础数据比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组患者的手术时间、住院天数、术中出血量及术后下床时间均明显低于对照组(P<0.01)。两组患者术后3个月的ODI、VAS、CRP、ESR及Cobb角均明显低于术前(P<0.05);术后3个月,观察组患者的ODI、VAS、CRP、ESR及Cobb角均明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组术后并发症发生率(4.4%)明显低于对照组(25.0%)(Χ²=7.674,P<0.01)。 结论 TLIF治疗布氏杆菌性脊柱炎患者的临床疗效突出,安全性较好,更有利于患者术后身体的恢复。     

Sexual behavior, human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) infection, and HPV 16 seropositivity

BACKGROUND: Sexual behaviors have been linked to seropositivity for human papillomavirus (HPV) but not with the magnitude of the seroreactivity. GOALS: The objective of this analysis was to examine the association of sexual behavior, cervical HPV 16 DNA positivity at enrollment (past) and at diagnosis (current), and other potential determinants with the likelihood and magnitude of HPV 16 seropositivity at diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: With use of stored specimens from an incidence case-control study at Kaiser Permanente (Portland, OR), women were tested for seroreactivity to HPV 16 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with virus-like particles at diagnosis and were tested for past and concurrent cervical HPV 16 DNA positivity with MY09/MY11 L1 consensus primer PCR. Questionnaire data were used to ascertain past sexual behavior. RESULTS: Increased lifetime number of sex partners (P(Trend) < 0.001), past HPV 16 DNA positivity (odds ratio = 6.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.5-31), and a current cytologic diagnosis (P(Trend) < 0.03) were independently associated with HPV 16 seropositivity. Among the seropositive, only lifetime number of sex partners (P(Trend) < 0.001) and past HPV 16 DNA positivity (P = 0.003) were independently associated with mean signal strength (optical density) in an age-adjusted analysis. Women negative for past and concurrent HPV 16 DNA had a significant trend of increasing optical densities associated with greater numbers of lifetime partners (P(Trend) < 0.001). Conversely, the mean signal strength for those women who were ever HPV 16 DNA-positive during the study did not depend on lifetime numbers of sex partners (P(Trend) = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: HPV 16 seropositivity is a surrogate for past HPV 16 infection. Circulating levels of antibodies to HPV 16 may reflect recent HPV 16 infection or the frequency of past HPV 16 infection.