Reproductive outcome of women with unicornuate uterus

This study was undertaken to examine the reproductive impact of unicornuate uterine abnormalities cases in a group of 571 women with a uterine anomaly. Hospital records of 1784 patients who presented to the infertility outpatient clinic with infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, pain or acute abdomen during the study period between January 1991 and January 2001, were reviewed retrospectively. The reproductive performance of women with unicornuate uterus was poor, with a live birth rate of only 29.2%, prematurity rate of 44%, miscarriage rate of 29%, and an ectopic pregnancy rate of 4%.     

Reliability and validity of the Functional Rating Index in older people with low back pain: preliminary report

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Functional Rating Index (FRI) was developed to provide an assessment instrument which has not only clinical usefulness but also quantifies the patient's current state of pain and dysfunction in a reliable and valid manner for spinal conditions. There is no study on the FRI applied to older people with low back pain (LBP). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the FRI in older people with LBP. METHODS: A total of 76 subjects aged 65 to 90 years with LBP, of which 37 were cognitively intact and were followed up on a second occasion, were assessed by the FRI, numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) and spinal movement test. Reliability was assessed by statistical analysis of test results for test-retest and internal consistency. To assess construct validity, the FRI was compared with the RMQ. Concurrent validity was assessed using the NRS and spinal mobility test. RESULTS: The FRI demonstrated high internal consistency, with alpha=0.921 for test and alpha=0.901 for retest. Item-scale correlations were between 0.549-0.871. Test-retest correlation was 0.913 (p=0.000). There was very good construct validity between the FRI and the RMQ for test (r=0.663, p<0.000) and retest (r=0.603, p<0.000). The FRI showed high correlation with the NRS (r=0.701, p<0.000 for test; r=0.743, p<0.000 for retest) and no correlation with the spinal movement test (r=0.173, p=0.307 for test; r=0.024, p=0.888 for retest). CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary report, the FRI appears to be easy to administer, seems to have significant validity and reliability, and may be useful in geriatric assessment of older people with LBP.     

An analysis of maxillofacial fractures: a 5-year survey of 157 patients

The purpose of this study was to review retrospectively the outcomes for 157 patients treated for maxillofacial fractures between 1994 and 1999 at one military hospital in Turkey. Significant data were collected according to age, gender, time of injury, type of facial injuries, cause of injury, treatment methods, and postinjury and postoperative complications. Fractures resulting from gunshot wounds were excluded in this study. Fractures were examined in two groups according to the type of fracture, i.e., isolated or combined. Methods of fixation with closed or open reduction were used to treat the fractures. Fixation was performed with miniplates, compression plates, microplates, reconstruction plates, and wires for open reduction, and stabilization was performed with arch bars for closed reduction. Complications were recorded in two groups, i.e., postinjury and postoperative complications. There were 151 male patients (96.18%) and 6 female patients (3.82%). The patients ranged in age from 15 to 62 years (mean, 22.8 years). In our study, it was determined that the most significant causes of maxillofacial fractures were traffic accidents (69 cases, 43.95%) and fighting (42 cases, 26.75%). Most fractures were in the mandible (161 fractures). It was observed that most of the mandibular fractures were in the body (49 fractures, 30.43%) and condylar (42 fractures, 26.09%) regions. Of the 223 maxillofacial fractures, 63.68% (142 fractures) were treated with closed reduction and 36.32% (81 fractures) were treated with open reduction. Postinjury complications included infections (local infection or osteomyelitis), nerve injuries (alveolaris inferior, facial, lingual, and infraorbital nerves), and a salivary gland fistula, and postoperative complications included infection, facial asymmetry, and malocclusion.     

A rare cause of wound infection: Shewanella putrefaciens

Shewanella putrefaciens has a wide geographical distribution, including all forms of sea water, fresh water, fish and soil. In humans, it is an unusual pathogen of wound infections. In this report, a wound infection was presented in a previously healthy man.     

A decade of change in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the United States: Have we improved outcomes equally between men and women?

OBJECTIVES: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has undergone vast changes in the last decade. We reviewed a national database to evaluate the effect on utilization of services and rupture rates. METHODS: From the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS), a 5% inpatient sample was obtained for 1994 to 2003 as beneficiary encrypted files (5% BEF) and as a limited data set file after 2001. Files were translated into Microsoft Access by using a custom program. Queries were performed using International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision) (ICD-9) diagnosis codes 441.3 (ruptured AAA) or 441.4 (non-ruptured AAA) and ICD-9 procedure codes 38.34, 38.36, 38.44, 38.64, 39.25, 39.52 for open, and 39.71 (available after October 2000) for endovascular repair. The 5% BEF totals were multiplied by 20 to calculate yearly volumes. Total cases were divided into the yearly CMS population of elderly Medicare recipients for repair rates per capita and are reported as cases per 100,000 elderly Medicare recipients. Statistics were performed using chi2, Student's t test, nonparametric tests, and multiple regression analysis; P < or = .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Elective AAA repairs declined from 94.4/100,000 in 1994 to 87.7/100,000 in 2003. AAA rupture surgery declined from 18.7/100,000 (1994) to 13.6/100,000 (2003). Rupture repairs from 1994 to 2003 decreased by 29% for men and by 12% for women (P < .001). Rupture mortality has not changed, but the average is significantly higher for women at 52.8%, with men averaging 44.2% (P < .001). Mortality for elective AAA repair has decreased from 5.57% (1994) to 3.20% (2003) in men (P < .001) and from 7.48% (1994) to 5.45% (2003) in women (P < .001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated increasing age, female sex, and open surgery (vs endovascular) were significant predictors of elective and ruptured AAA repair mortality. For 2003 elective AAA repairs, the average length of stay was 6.9 days in men and 8.9 days in women (P < .01) For 2003, men were more likely to be discharged to home after rupture (32.9% of men vs 23.3% of women; P < .001) and elective repair (84.5% of men vs 70.1% of women; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in AAA management in the last decade have decreased aneurysm-related deaths and reduced the incidence of aneurysm ruptures, with a lower utilization of services. Women, however, continue to have a consistently higher mortality for open and ruptured AAA repair and are less likely to return to home after either.     

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profile of patients with subjective tinnitus

Subjective tinnitus is frequently seen in the general population. We investigated the personality traits in tinnitus and nontinnitus groups, both of which were nonpsychiatric. In this study, we evaluated 28 patients with subjective tinnitus and 28 subjects for a control group. In the analysis of psychiatric status, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles were used. Psychasthenia was found to be higher in tinnitus patients of both sexes, whereas Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, Masculinity/Feminity, Psychasthenia, Schizophrenia, and Social Introversion scores were higher in females with tinnitus. In our research, it is thought that the experience of tinnitus may cause the psychological disturbance.     

Does subjective tinnitus cause sexual disturbance?

OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus can cause psychological problems, which can affect sexual performance. The aim of this study was to investigate sexual disturbance related to the psychological problems of patients with subjective tinnitus. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjective tinnitus group with normal hearing levels consisted of 20 patients (10 male, 10 female) who were nonpsychiatric. The control group consisted of 20 healthy patients (10 male, 10 female) with normal hearing levels who did not have tinnitus and were nonpsychiatric. All subjects were married and had an active sexual life. Using a questionnaire, the subjective tinnitus loudness level score (STLL-Sc) was found. Using Zung Anxiety and Depression Scale, self-rating depression scale (SDS) was found in the study and control groups. Sexual function was assessed in all male subjects with the International Index of Erectile Functions (IIEF) and in all female subjects with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: In females, the satisfaction subscore was slightly lower than normal limits in both the study and control groups. In males, the IIEF showed an insignificant, negative correlation with the STLL-Sc and the SDS and a positive correlation with tinnitus duration. In females, the FSFI showed an insignificant negative correlation with the STLL-Sc and a positive correlation with tinnitus duration and the SDS. CONCLUSION: Sexual disturbance is seen in very quiet- and intermediate-level tinnitus sufferers in the early period of the disease. Over time, they become used to living with their tinnitus, and no loss in sexual performance is seen. In the future, we plan to investigate the sexual disturbance of patients with severe STLL-Scs.     

Exclusion of accessory renal arteries during endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Adequate proximal neck length is important for proper endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Placement of endografts in AAAs with relatively short proximal necks may require covering the origin of accessory renal arteries. Exclusion of these arteries carries the theoretical concern of regional renal ischemia associated with loss of parenchyma or worsening hypertension. We reviewed our experience with accessory renal exclusions during endovascular AAA repair to determine the frequency and severity of complications. METHODS: Complete records were available for review on 311 of 325 consecutive patients treated with endovascular grafts for AAAs from February 6, 1996, to March 15, 2001. The presence of accessory renal arteries was ascertained from preoperative/intraoperative aortography or from computed tomographic scanning. Sizes of the accessories were measured by using the main renal arteries as a reference. Considerations for excluding the accessory renal arteries were based on the likelihood of successful proximal attachment to healthy aorta, an accessory vessel whose size does not exceed the diameter of the main renal artery, and the absence of renal disease. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 11.5 months. Fifty-two accessory renal arteries were documented in 37 patients (12%), ranging from 1 to > or =3 per patient. Of these, 26 accessory renal arteries were covered in 24 patients. Patients ranged in age from 57 to 85 years (mean, 74.1 years), with 20 men and 4 women. The Ancure device was used in 23 patients and the Excluder device in one. Of the accessories excluded, 22 originated above the aneurysm and 4 originated directly from the aneurysm itself. There were no perioperative mortalities. One patient died 5 months after surgery from an unrelated condition. There was one type I (distal) endoleak and no type II endoleaks. Five patients (21%) had segmental renal infarction associated with the side of accessory renal artery exclusion. Only one patient with segmental infarction had significant postoperative hypertension that resulted in changes in blood pressure medication. The blood pressure reverted to normal 3 months later. One patient with a stenotic left main renal artery required exclusion of the accessory renal artery for successful proximal attachment. Serum creatinine levels remained unchanged throughout follow-up in all but one patient, in whom progressive postoperative renal failure developed despite normal renal flow scan, presumably from intraoperative manipulation and contrast nephropathy. CONCLUSION: Exclusion of accessory renal arteries to facilitate endovascular AAA repair appears to be well tolerated. Long-term sequelae seem infrequent and mild.