Management of Esophageal Perforation in 120 Consecutive Patients: Clinical Impact of a Structured Treatment Algorithm

Introduction

The therapy of esophageal perforation is still challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the etiology, specific treatment, and outcome of esophageal disruption in order to generate an optimal therapeutic approach to improve patient’s outcome.

Methods

We reviewed the cases of 120 consecutive patients with esophageal perforation treated within 10 years.

Results

Iatrogenic perforation was the most frequent cause of esophageal perforation (58.3 %); Boerhaave’s syndrome was detected in 15 cases (6.8 %). Surgery was performed in 66 patients (55 %), 17 (14 %) patients received conservative treatment and 37 (31 %) patients underwent endoscopic stenting after tumorous perforation. Statistically significant impact on mean survival had Boerhaave’s syndrome (p?=?0.005), initial sepsis (p?=?0.002), pleural effusion/empyema (p?=?0.001), mediastinitis (p?=?0.003), peritonitis (p?=?0.001), and redo-surgery (p?=?0.000). Overall mortality rate was 11.7 %, in the esophagectomy group 17 % and in the patients with Boerhaave’s syndrome 33.3 %.

Conclusions

An approach considering etiology and extent of perforation, diagnostic delay, and septic status is required to improve patient’s outcome. Primary repair is feasible in patients without intrinsic esophageal disease and evidence of sepsis. The greater the diagnostic delay, the more the destruction of the esophageal wall especially in the case of septic esophageal disease, thus the stronger the argument for esophagectomy if anatomically and/or oncologically possible.     

Effects of Nordic Walking Compared to Conventional Walking and Band-Based Resistance Exercise on Fitness in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Nordic walking with conventional walking and band-based resistance exercise on functional fitness, static balance and dynamic balance in older adults. Volunteers (n = 65) were divided into four groups: Nordic walking (NW), conventional walking (CW), resistance (RES), and control. Each group performed activity 50-70 min·day⁻¹ (warm-up 10-15 min, main exercise 30-40, and cool down 10-15 min), 3 days·week⁻¹ (NW and CW) or 2 day·week⁻¹ (RES) for 12 wks. Upper-body strength improved (p < 0. 05) in the RES (22.3%) and the NW (11.6%) groups compared to the CW and control groups. Cardio- respiratory fitness improved more in the NW (10.9%) and CW (10.6%) groups compared to the RES and control groups. Upper- and lower-body flexibility also improved in all exercise groups compared to the control group. There were no improvements in balance measures in any group. While all modes of exercise improved various components of fitness, Nordic walking provided the best well-rounded benefits by improving upper-body strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. Therefore, Nordic walking is recommended as an effective and efficient mode of concurrent exercise to improve overall functional fitness in older adults.

Key Points

• Nordic walking, conventional walking, and resistance training are beneficial for older adults.
• Nordic walking and conventional walking both improve cardio-respiratory fitness while resistance training does not.
• Nordic walking provides additional benefits in upper-body muscular strength compared to conventional walking.
• Nordic walking is an effective and efficient mode of exercise to improve overall fitness in older adults.

Key words: Walking, resistance exercise, concurrent exercise, aging, functional fitness     

A comparative North American experience of robotic thyroidectomy in a thyroid cancer population

Purpose

This study seeks to explore the efficacy of robotic thyroidectomy in treating a North American population with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) as compared with the conventional cervical approach.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of our prospectively collected thyroid surgery database was performed. We included all consecutive patients that underwent thyroidectomy for the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer, performed by a single surgeon.

Results

Twenty-four robotic transaxillary and 35 conventional thyroidectomy procedures were performed. Average size of the tumor was 1.1?±?0.2 cm in the robotic group and 1.7?±?0.3 cm in the cervical group (p?=?0.16). Average total operative time for the robotic group was 133?±?65.4 and 119.7?±?22.5 min in the cervical group (p?=?0.34). No robotic cases required conversion. One patient required reoperation for recurrent disease at 24 months follow-up. Both groups had similar blood loss (p?=?0.37) and all margins were negative for malignancy on permanent pathology. All patients were discharged home within 24 h. Postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin levels were similar for the two groups (p?=?0.82).

Conclusions

Our experience with robotic transaxillary thyroidectomy confirms this technique is feasible. It is possible to achieve a safe and effective oncologic result in a select group of North American patients with DTC.     

Impaired skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in morbidly obese patients is normalized one year after bariatric surgery

BackgroundObesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with impaired skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism. As an intrinsic characteristic of an individual, skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction could be a risk factor for weight gain and obesity-associated co-morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, impaired skeletal muscle metabolism could be a consequence of obesity. We hypothesize that marked weight loss after bariatric surgery recovers skeletal muscle mitochondrial function.MethodsSkeletal muscle mitochondrial function as assessed by high-resolution respirometry was measured in 8 morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI], 41.3±4.7 kg/m²; body fat, 48.3%±5.2%) before and 1 year after bariatric surgery (mean weight loss: 35.0±8.6 kg). The results were compared with a lean (BMI 22.8±1.1 kg/m²; body fat, 15.6%±4.7%) and obese (BMI 33.5±4.2 kg/m²; body fat, 34.1%±6.3%) control group.ResultsBefore surgery, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-stimulated (state 3) respiration on glutamate/succinate was decreased compared with lean patients (9.5±2.4 versus 15.6±4.4 O₂ flux/mtDNA; P<.05). One year after surgery, mitochondrial function was comparable to that of lean controls (after weight loss, 12.3±5.5; lean, 15.6±4.4 O₂ flux/mtDNA). In addition, we observed an increased state 3 respiration on a lipid substrate after weight loss (10.0±3.2 versus 14.0±6.6 O₂ flux/mtDNA; P< .05).ConclusionWe conclude that impaired skeletal muscle mitochondrial function is a consequence of obesity that recovers after marked weight loss.     

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the forearm in elite rowers: a technique for mini-open fasciotomy and a report of six cases

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the forearm may occur in sports requiring prolonged grip strength. CECS is a function of increasing pressure following muscle expansion within an inelastic tissue envelope resulting in compromise of perfusion and tissue function. Typical symptoms are pain, distal paraesthesia and loss of function. The condition is self-limiting and resolves completely between periods of activity. With no effective medical treatment, the gold standard remains four compartment open fasciotomy (Söderberg, J Bone Joint Surg Br 78(5):780–2, 1996; Wasilewski and Asdourian, Am J Sports Med 19(6):665–7, 1991). Minimally invasive techniques have been described (Croutzet et al., Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg 13(3):137–40, 2009) but have a risk of neuro-vascular injury, especially to the ulnar nerve while releasing the deep flexor compartment. We present a safe technique used with six elite rowers for mini-open fasciotomy to minimise scarring and time away from training while reducing the risk of neurovascular injury.     

Waste of skin in elliptical excision biopsy of non-melanomatous skin cancer

Our objective was to quantify the skin wasted during elliptical excision biopsy. This is defined as the difference between the excised elliptical area and the area of the original lesion. We used geometrical calculations of 26 excisional biopsy specimens from patients with non-melanomatous malignant tumours. Relative to the lesion area, the largest waste of skin measured was 230% and the smallest was 34% with a mean of 130%. We conclude that for better preservation of tissue when closing circular defects, patterns other than an ellipse should be adopted.     

Syndromes myasthéniques congénitaux : difficultés diagnostiques, évolution et pronostic,thérapeutique L’expérience du réseau national « Syndromes Myasthéniques Congénitaux »

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by genetic defects affecting neuromuscular transmission and leading to muscle weakness accentuated by exertion. Three different aspects have been investigated by members of the national French CMS Networ: the difficulties in making a proper diagnosis; the course and long-term prognosis; and the response to therapy, especially for CMS that do not respond to cholinesterase inhibitors. CMS diagnosis is late in most cases because of confusion with other entities such as: congenital myopathies, due to the frequent presentation in patients of myopathies such as permanent muscle weakness, atrophy and scoliosis, and the abnormalities of internal structure, diameter and distribution of fibers (type I predominance, type II atrophy) seen on biopsy; seronegative autoimmune myasthenia gravis, when CMS is of late onset; and metabolic myopathy, with the presence of lipidosis in muscle. The long-term prognosis of CMS was studied in a series of 79 patients recruited with the following gene mutations: CHRNA; CHRNE; DOK7; COLQ; RAPSN; AGRN; and MUSK. Disease-course patterns (progressive worsening, exacerbation, stability, improvement) could be variable throughout life in a given patient. DOK7 patients had the most severe disease course with progressive worsening: of the eight wheelchair-bound and ventilated patients, six had mutations of this gene. Pregnancy was a frequent cause of exacerbation. Anticholinesterase agents are the first-line therapy for CMS patients, except for cases of slow-channel CMS, COLQ and DOK7. In our experience, 3,4-DAP was a useful complement for several patients harboring CMS with AChR loss or RAPSN gene mutations. Ephedrine was given to 18 patients (eight DOK7, five COLQ, four AGRN and one RAPSN). Tolerability was good. Therapeutic responses were encouraging even in the most severely affected patients, particularly with DOK7 and COLQ. Salbutamol was a good alternative in one patient who was allergic to ephedrine.     

Root damage induced by intraosseous anesthesia–An in vitro investigation

Objectives: The principle of the intraosseous anesthesia (IOA) relies on the perforation of the cortical plate of the bone for direct application of the local anesthetic solution into the underlying cancellous structures. During this procedure, IOA needles might accidentally come in contact with the tooth roots. The aim of the current in vitro study was to examine the consequences of this ‘worst case scenario’ comparing five commercially available IOA systems. Material and Methods: Extracted human roots were randomly perforated using five different IOA systems with a drilling time ≤5s. To simulate normal in vivo conditions, the roots were kept humid during the drilling procedure. Data was statistically evaluated using F-test (SPSS16, SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA) and the significance level was set at p≤0.05. Results: All examined systems resulted in root perforation. Drill fractures occurred in either none 0% (Quicksleeper®, Anesto®, Intraflow®, Stabident®) or 100% (X-Tip®) of the applications. Excessive heat generation, as evident by combustion odor as well as metal and tooth discoloration, appeared in 30% (Quicksleeper®), 40% (Anesto®), 60% (Intraflow®), 90% (Stabident®) and 100% (X-Tip®) of all perforations. Conclusion: Within the limits of in-vitro studies, the results show a potential for irreversible root damage that might be inflicted by an improper use of IOA systems. Key words:Intraosseous anesthesia, complication, root damage.