Auricular skin-cartilage sandwich graft technique for full-thickness eyelid reconstruction

Full-thickness deficiency of eyelid tissues can result in coloboma or retraction or both. Here we report our initial experience on the use of auricular skin-cartilage sandwich graft technique for full-thickness eyelid deformities. Five patients (4–32 years) underwent the procedure. Patients with full-thickness eyelid deformity were included. Three patients were operated for large-sized coloboma and two for eyelid retraction. One patient had congenital, and four patients had acquired etiology. The following parameters were specifically assessed: correction of deformity, ocular surface problems, graft status, and epithelization of skin-cartilage graft. All the patients had a good correction of eyelid position, except one patient who had severe eyelid retraction (8 mm) at presentation. None of our patients had corneal erosion/defect, persistent ocular surface redness, or graft loss. The auricular skin-cartilage sandwich graft technique produces optimal results with no graft loss. Advancement of orbicularis muscle in between the auricular skin and cartilage grafts (sandwich technique) is an imperative step that leads to the survival of both grafts.     

An unusual presentation of a recurrent neurofibroma in the hand

Neurofibromas in the hand are uncommon and constitute less than 5% of all hand tumours. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate management are important because malignant transformation has been reported, especially in Von Recklinghausen’s neurofibromatosis. We report a case of a large neurofibroma in the right hand of an 18-year-old girl of Afro-Caribbean origin. She was symptomatic with complaints of pain and weakness of grip. General examination revealed multiple café-au-lait spots on the trunk and one nodular swelling in the forearm. The swelling was excised through a palmar approach and histology proved it to be a neurofibroma. The case is being reported for its rarity and it emphasizes the importance of general examination. Histopathological examination is vital in excluding malignant transformation.     

Traumatic bilateral posterior hip dislocation in 10 year old male child

Traumatic bilateral posterior hip dislocation in skeletally immature patient is reported very less in literature. We report a 10 yr old boy presented to us following farmyard injury with bilateral posterior hip dislocation, which was reduced manually under sedation with uneventful follow-up and complete hip range of motion at 2 year.     

Management of Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor of the Kidney with Inferior Vena Cava Thrombus

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) are an aggressive group of small round cell tumors usually arising in the nervous system and affecting children. They have a tendency for local invasion, distant spread and formation of tumor thrombi. The kidney is a rare primary location for these tumors. Outcomes are frequently poor due to late diagnosis (Wilms tumor is a more common tumor in this population) and early spread. Immunohistochemistry is invaluable in making the diagnosis of PNET. We report a case of a primary renal PNET with extensive tumor thrombus into the inferior vena cava, and lung metastasis in a pediatric patient, and its successful management. Our 14-year-old patient with renal PNET was managed with radical nephrectomy, thrombectomy and chemotherapy and remains disease free to date. The diagnosis of renal PNETs should be considered in young adult patients who present with aggressive renal masses at initial presentations. Despite its aggressive nature, good outcomes can be achieved by a multimodality therapeutic strategy.Key Words: Primitive neuroectodermal tumors, Kidney cancer, Immunohistochemistry, Thrombosis     

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition using eptifibatide with primary coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction: a 30-day follow-up study.

The results of primary coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been reported to improve significantly with the concomitant administration of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor abciximab. There are, however, no data available with the use of eptifibatide, a more cost-effective, small-molecule GP IIb/IIIa blocker with a shorter half-life. In a prospective multicenter feasibility and efficacy study, we assigned 55 consecutive patients with AMI being taken up for primary stenting to receive eptifibatide just before the procedure (two boluses of 180 microg/kg 10 min apart and a 24-hr infusion of 2 microg/kg/min). Clinical outcomes were evaluated at 30 days after the procedure. The angiographic patency of the vessel with TIMI flow rates, TIMI myocardial perfusion (TMP) grade, and corrected TIMI frame counts were assessed at the end of procedure and before hospital discharge. At 30 days, the primary endpoint, a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and urgent target vessel revascularization (TVR) was seen in 12.7% of patients. The TIMI 3 and TMP grade 3 flow, which was seen in 93% and 86% of patient, respectively, at the end of the procedure, declined to 86% and 78%, respectively (P < 0.05) before hospital discharge. Corrected TIMI frame counts also decreased from 25.7 +/- 7.2 to 22.9 +/- 6.8 (P < 0.05). There were five (9.1%) instances of subacute thrombosis (SAT) presenting as AMI, needing urgent TVR in all, within 3-5 days of the primary procedure. No excessive bleeding complication, directly attributable to the use of eptifibatide, was observed. The study was terminated prematurely because of an unacceptable SAT rate. Administration of eptifibatide along with primary stenting for AMI is associated with a high TIMI 3 and TMP grade 3 flow acutely. However, these flows decline significantly before hospital discharge and lead to a high rate of SAT. The dosage and duration of infusion of eptifibatide in this setting needs further evaluation.     

Heterogeneity of Randomized Controlled Trials of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of FMT for reduction in CDI recurrences (rCDI), but this treatment and its reporting in the literature has...