Multiple-level thoracolumbar burst fractures in teenaged patients

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of multiple-level burst fractures in teenaged patients. Five teenaged patients were identified with this injury pattern. The mean age at injury was 17.6 years. All five patients underwent a posterior fusion and an attempted decompression through ligamentotaxis. One of the five went on to have an anterior decompression. Four of the five patients had spinal instrumentation. Neurologic deficit was present in four patients. The proximal fracture was most often responsible for the neurologic deficit when present. The average length of follow-up was 4.5 years. There was no significant neurologic recovery after hospital discharge. Three of the five patients had minimal or no back pain at latest follow-up. The authors conclude that multiple burst fractures should be treated individually based on their clinical and radiographic characteristics.     

Long-term results of less than total parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to assess long-term results after less than total parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. METHODS: Of 1888 patients undergoing operation at our institution for primary hyperparathyroidism between 1972 and 2001, 83 (4.4%) had multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Outcome data were available for 79; 66 underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, 55 (83%) of these with bilateral thymectomy. In 13 patients, only grossly enlarged glands were resected (mean 1.1 per patient) as the syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 was not yet evident or the initial exploration was performed elsewhere. RESULTS: Follow-up has been 48 +/- 51 months (mean + SD). Intraoperative serum PTH assay decay in 20 patients was suggestive of cure in 18 patients, none of whom required reoperation. Nine patients (11%) required reoperation (3 required reoperation twice) after a mean interval of 77 +/- 53 months. Subtotal parathyroidectomy resulted in a lesser reoperation rate than resection of grossly enlarged glands (7% vs 30%, P =.02). At the time of review, 63 patients (80%) were normocalcemic, 10 (13%) hypocalcemic (2 after unsuccessful delayed autograft), and 7% hypercalcemic (none after reoperation). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the rate of surgical cure (patients who are nonhypercalcemic) is 60% and 51% at 10 and 15 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Subtotal parathyroidectomy reduces the need for reoperation. Selective reoperation leads to long-lasting biochemic cure.     

Mortality, complications and loss of pulmonary function after pneumonectomy vs. sleeve lobectomy in patients younger and older than 70 years

Retrospective single institution analysis of all patients undergoing sleeve lobectomy or pneumonectomy between 2000 and 2005. Seventy-eight patients underwent pneumonectomy (65 patients <70 years, 13 patients >70 years) and 69 sleeve lobectomy (50 patients <70 years, 19 patients >70 years). Pre-existing co-morbidity, surgical indication and induction therapy was similarly distributed between treatment by age-groups. In patients <70 years, pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy resulted in a 30-day mortality of 3% vs. 0 and an overall complication rate of 26% vs. 44%, respectively. In patients >70 years, pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy resulted in a 30-day mortality of 15% vs. 0 and an overall complication rate of 23% vs. 32%. In both age groups, pneumonectomy was associated with more airway complications (NS) and a significantly higher postoperative loss of FEV(1) than sleeve lobectomy (P<0.0001, P<0.03). Age per se did not influence the loss of FEV(1) and DLCO for a given type of resection. Sleeve lobectomy may have a therapeutic advantage over pneumonectomy in the postoperative course of elderly patients.     

Quantitative in vivo islet potency assay in normoglycemic nude mice correlates with primary graft function after clinical transplantation

Reliable assays are critically needed to monitor graft potency in islet transplantation (IT). We tested a quantitative in vivo islet potency assay (QIVIPA) based on human C-peptide (hCP) measurements in normoglycemic nude mice after IT under the kidney capsule. QIVIPA was initially tested by transplanting incremental doses of human islets. hCP levels in mice were correlated with the number of transplanted islet equivalents (r(2) = 0.6, P<0.01). We subsequently evaluated QIVIPA in eight islet preparations transplanted in type 1 diabetic patients. Conversely to standard criteria including islet mass, viability, purity, adenosine triphosphate content, or glucose stimulated insulin secretion, hCP in mice receiving 1% of the final islet product was correlated to primary graft function (hCP increase) after IT (r(2)=0.85, P<0.01). QIVIPA appears as a reliable test to monitor islet graft potency, applicable to validate new methods to produce primary islets or other human insulin secreting cells.     

The Canadian Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Audit Study (CanBas)

Objective

To determine the prevalence, diagnostic patterns and management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Canadian urology outpatient practice.

Methods

Representative urologists were randomly selected from lists provided by the Canadian and Quebec Urological Associations. Each patient identified with a BPH diagnosis during a typical 2-consecutive-week period during April, May or June 2007 was asked to complete a corresponding International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Each day, the participant urologist completed an outpatient log and a detailed programmed chart review to transcribe demographics, investigations and treatments associated with each BPH patient.

Results

Eighty-six urologists were invited to participate. Thirty-eight (44.2%) agreed, and 27 of those (71.1%) submitted evaluable data for the audit. Of the 5616 patients seen in outpatient practice (average 208 per urologist), 4324 (77%) were male. A BPH diagnosis was identified in 19.6% of the men (n = 849; mean age 69.5, standard deviation [SD] 10, yr; age range 40–100 yr; mean duration of symptoms 4.8, SD 4.2, yr; mean IPSS score 12.3, SD 7.4; mean prostate specific antigen [PSA] 3.9, SD 3.9, ng/mL). Twenty-four percent of patients had prostates that were rated as large, 50% as medium and 26% as small. PSA level correlated positively with prostate volume. Twenty-two percent were initial consultations for LUTS and 78% were repeat visits. Diagnostic evaluation tended to follow those examinations and tests recommended by the Canadian BPH guidelines. Treatment choices tended to follow an evidence-based algorithm with respect to treatment choices for men in the various prostate-volume and PSA groups.

Conclusion

This prospective audit indicates that BPH remains a common condition managed by urologists in outpatient practice. Investigations and treatments confirm that Canadian urologists appear to be following Canadian BPH guidelines as well as the most recent evidence from the literature.     

Prospective randomized evaluation of emergency extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the short-time outcome of symptomatic ureteral stones

OBJECTIVE: Here, we report the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the efficacy of emergency ESWL (eESWL) on the short-term outcome of symptomatic ureteral stones. MATERIAL: The trial enrolled 100 patients admitted in emergency room for renal colic caused by a ureteral radioopaque [corrected] stone. Patients were randomized to medical therapy alone or combined with eESWL. eESWL was performed within 6 hours of the onset of renal colic without specific analgesia on a Lithostar lithotripter (Siemens Medical, Munich, Germany). The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients stone free rate after 48 hours (SF-48) and the cumulative proportion of patients discharged from the hospital after 48 and 72 hours. RESULTS: Ureteral stone's location was proximal and distal in respectively 46% and 54% of the patients; stone's mean size was 5.5 mm (range 2-10 mm). Median hospital stay was 3 days, ranging from 1 to 14 days. SF-48 in the control group varied from 76% for distal stones <5 mm to 28.6% for proximal stones >5 mm, averaging at 61%. On average, eESWL increased SF-48 by 13% (p: 0.126), the gain strictly depending on stone size and location. SF-48 increase ranged from 40% for proximal stones >5 mm to 1.8% for distal stone <5 mm. On average, eESWL increased the median duration of hospital stay by one day. This mean negative impact results from ESWL increasing significantly the duration of hospital stay in case of distal stone, while slightly shortened it for stones located proximally. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated for the first time that rapidly performed ESWL is a valuable therapeutic option to improve elimination of ureteral stones and shorten duration of hospital stay, proven that the stone is located proximally to the iliac vessels.     

Pancreas after living donor kidney transplants in diabetic patients: impact on long-term kidney graft function

Abstract:  In this single-institution study, we compared outcomes in diabetic recipients of living donor (LD) kidney transplants that did vs. did not undergo a subsequent pancreas transplant. Of 307 diabetic recipients who underwent LD kidney transplants from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2003, a total of 175 underwent a subsequent pancreas after kidney (PAK) transplant; 75 were deemed eligible (E) for, but did not receive (for personal or financial reasons), a PAK, and thus had a kidney transplant alone (KTA); and 57 deemed ineligible (I) for a PAK because of comorbidity also had just a KTA. We analyzed the three groups (PAK, KTA-E, KTA-I) for differences in patient characteristics, glycemic control, renal function, patient and kidney graft survival rates, and causes of death. Kidney graft survival rates (actuarial) were similar in the PAK vs. KTA-E groups at one, five, and 10 yr post-transplant: 98%, 82%, and 67% (PAK) vs. 100%, 84%, and 62% (KTA-E) (p = 0.9). The long-term (greater than four yr post-transplant) estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was higher in the PAK than in the KTA-E group: 53 ± 20 mL/min (PAK) vs. 43 ± 16 mL/min (KTA-E) (p = 0.016). The patient survival rates were also similar for the PAK and KTA-E groups. We conclude that the subsequent transplant of a pancreas after an LD kidney transplant does not adversely affect patient or kidney graft survival rates; in fact, it is associated with better long-term kidney graft function.