A case of hydrocortisone desensitization in a patient with radiocontrast-induced anaphylactoid reaction and corticosteroid allergy.

Allergic reactions and systemic desensitization to corticosteroids have been documented rarely in English language literature. These reactions appear more often when the agent is applied topically and may lead to dangerous complications in patients if administered i.v. Therefore, the safety and efficacy of using an i.v. corticosteroid for desensitization in a patient who has a history of allergy to corticosteroid must be weighed carefully, especially when the aim of its use is to prevent an allergic reaction from a second drug. We report a case of successful systemic hydrocortisone desensitization in a patient with radiocontrast-induced anaphylactoid reaction and corticosteroid allergy. Sensitization to corticosteroids was determined through skin testing. The patient was desensitized to hydrocortisone and premedicated with hydrocortisone and diphenhydramine and subsequently underwent cardiac catheterization with radiocontrast without adverse reaction.     

Watermelon stomach: a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Watermelon stomach is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a middle-aged woman who had been having recurrent bleeding from watermelon stomach. She was treated surgically by gastrectomy and Billroth II anastomosis.     

Relevance of day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a developing nation.

Feasibility, safety and success of day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DCLC) has been well established in advanced countries. The information on (DCLC) is not available from developing nations. All patients of gallstone disease undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under the care of the two participating surgeons at the post graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research were considered for day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The selection criteria were: elective cases only, patients less than 70 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I and Grade II, living within 20 Kilometers of the hospital, availability of a responsible adult carer at home, access to a telephone and a means of transportation to hospital if needed. Clinical and operative data were recorded prospectively. All patients were discharged 6 to 8 hours after surgery with the advice to contact the surgical team over phone whenever necessary or on the day after discharge. Out of the total 236 laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed over a period of 26 months, 106 patients (44.9%) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy as day care procedure. Five patients (4.8%) were admitted after surgery. Four patients were admitted because of conversion and one patient was admitted because of suspected myocardial infarction. Hundred and one patients (95.2%) were discharged on the same day. There was no major morbidity and patient's acceptance was high. Day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible, safe, and acceptable to patients.     

Multiple spontaneous enterocutaneous fistulae in malakoplakia.

Malakoplakia is a rare chronic inflammatory disease, usually involving the urogenital tract. We report a patient who presented with a psoas abscess, and later developed colocutaneous fistula at the site of abscess drainage and multiple spontaneous fistulae away from the site of incision. Histology of the resected specimen showed Michaelis-Gutmann bodies, which are diagnostic of malakoplakia.     

Monopolar electrocautery versus ultrasonic dissection of the gallbladder from the gallbladder bed in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Ultrasonic dissection has been suggested as an alternative to monopolar electrocautery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy because it generates less tissue damage and may have a lower incidence of gallbladder perforation. We compared the 2 methods to determine the incidence of gallbladder perforation and its intraoperative consequences.

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial between July 2008 and December 2009 involving adult patients with symptomatic gall stone disease who were eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly assigned before administration of anesthesia to electrocautery or ultrasonic dissection. Both groups were compared for incidence of gallbladder perforation during dissection, bile leak, stones spillage, lens cleaning, duration of surgery and estimation of risk of gall-bladder in the presence of complicating factors.

Results

We included 60 adult patients in our study. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic characteristics, symptomatology, comorbidities, previous abdominal surgeries, preoperative ultrasonography findings and intraoperative complications. The overall incidence of gallbladder perforation was 28.3% (40.0% in the electrocautery v. 16.7% in the ultrasonic dissection group, p = 0.045). Bile leak occurred in 40.0% of patients in the electrocautery group and 16.7% of patients in ultrasonic group (p = 0.045). Lens cleaning time (p = 0.015) and duration of surgery (p = 0.001) were longer in the electrocautery than the ultrasonic dissection group. There was no statistical difference in stone spillage between the groups (p = 0.62).

Conclusion

Ultrasonic dissection is safe and effective, and it improves the operative course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy by reducing the incidence of gallbladder perforation.     

Effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on gastric emptying and dyspepsia

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic gallstone disease. Nonresolution of dyspepsia postoperatively is of major concern nowadays. The present study was conducted to study the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on gastric emptying in symptomatic gallstone disease using ^99mTc sulfur colloid scintigraphy. This pilot study sought to obtain preliminary data and to establish a base for further detailed study.

Methods

A total of 25 patients with a diagnosis of symptomatic gallstone disease scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. All patients underwent gastric scintigraphic emptying study preoperatively and 2 weeks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done as a day care procedure.

Results

Mean ± standard deviation preoperative gastric percentage clearance was 51.36 ± 12.67 %. Preoperative gastric emptying half-time was 62.72 ± 21.59 min. Forty percent of patients experienced dyspeptic symptoms before surgery. Twenty-four percent of patients had dyspeptic symptoms during postoperative follow-up at 2 weeks. Postoperative percentage gastric clearance was 49.92 ± 13.17 %. Postoperative gastric emptying half-time was 64.12 ± 19.13 min. Statistical analysis revealed no significant effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on gastric emptying parameters.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not alter gastric emptying or stomach percentage clearance in gallstone patients who have preoperative delayed gastric emptying on scintigraphy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has no effect on gastric emptying in symptomatic gallstone patients.     

Sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET-CT scan in detecting lymph node metastasis in operable periampullary tumours in correlation with the final histopathology after curative surgery

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (FDG-PET/CT) was investigated for evaluation of periampullary tumours and other gastrointestinal neoplasms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of FDG-PET/CT for detection of lymph node metastasis in periampullary tumours by comparing the preoperative FDG-PET/CT scan finding with postoperative histopathology of lymph nodes. Study was done on 24 patients with diagnosis of periampullary carcinoma either proven or suspected on conventional radiology. Standard uptake value (SUV) were measured for lymph node areas with uptake in FDG-PET/CT and compared with histopathological lymph node status. For detection of lymph node metastasis, FDG-PET/CT with cutoff value SUV max ≥2.0 had a sensitivity of 71.4 % and specificity of 77.8 % and that for SUV max ≥2.5 and 2.8 were 57.1, 42.9 and 77.8, 77.8 %, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET/CT at each lymph node groups were 72 and 89 % in peripancreatic area, 100 and 93 % in hepatoduodenal area and 100 and 100 % in aortocaval area at SUV max ≥2.0, respectively. At SUV max ≥2.5 the values were 57 and 89 % in peripancreatic area, 100 and 93 % in hepatoduodenal area and 100 and 93 % in aortocaval area. FDG-PET-CT has a possible role in detection of lymph node metastasis in periampullary carcinomas and may be used as a guide for possible lymphadenectomy during surgery and for prognostic purpose.     

Treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena caval occlusion by mesoatrial shunt.

OBJECTIVE: To report the effectiveness of a mesoatrial shunt in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by combined hepatic vein and inferior vena caval block. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital, India. PATIENTS: 10 patients (4 men and 6 women; mean age 28, range 18-45) who had operations for Budd-Chiari syndrome between 1994 and 2000. INTERVENTION: Mesoatrial shunt. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graft patency, survival, liver function and symptoms. RESULTS: One patient died. All grafts were patent over a mean follow up period of 40 months (range 6-71). All survivors have normal liver function and were symptom free at the time of writing. CONCLUSION: Mesoatrial shunt is effective in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by combined hepatic vein and vena caval occlusion.