Preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of patients with cholecystocholedocholithiasis

Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) are the most common methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cholecystocholedocholithiasis. We evaluated the selection criteria for preoperative ERCP examination and the results of endoscopic-laparoscopic treatment of patients with choledocholithiasis. Between January 1993 and December 1998, 1630 patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis were admitted for surgical intervention. Preoperative ERCP was performed in 247 patients according to the selection criteria. The criteria to perform ERCP were dilated common bile duct (CBD; more than 8 mm), abnormal serum liver test results, and a recent history of pancreatitis. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was performed if CBD stones were found during the procedure. LC was then carried out within 3 days after ES. Of the 247 patients selected for preoperative ERCP, CBD stones were confirmed in 146 patients (59.1%). ES was successful in 141 patients, and stone clearance was achieved in 133 patients, resulting in a 94.3% success rate. Eight patients (5.5%) had complications after endoscopic intervention, all of which resolved uneventfully. Open operative procedures were carried out in a total of 31 patients. Overall, 115 patients were successfully treated by this endoscopic laparoscopic sequence. The length of hospital stay in these groups was significantly lower than that for patients in whom an open method was employed. Preoperative ES combined with LC is a safe and effective therapy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis, and the criteria that we used for the selection of patients seem to be appropriate. Received: July 4, 2000 / Accepted: October 12, 2000     

经肛内括约肌切除术联合经腹全系膜切除术对超低位直肠肿瘤保肛的应用探讨

Objective To study the combination of trans-anal intersphincteric resection and trans- abdominal total mesorectal excision for anus-retained ultra-low rectal tumors. Methods Clinical data of 34 ultra-low rectal tumor patients without external anal sphincter involved, who underwent the combination surgery, were retrospectively analyzed Results The distance from the distal incisal margin of the rectum to the inferior margin of the tumor ranged from 1.8 cm to 3.0 cm on an average of 2. 1 cm. For pathological types, there were 23 cases of adenocarcinoma (9 well differentiated and 14 moderately differentiated), 1 papillary carcinoma, 2 rectal stromal tumor, 5 rectal villous adenoma with canceration and 3 giant villous adenoma. For pathological stages, there were 18 eases at stage pTNM Ⅰ , 5 at Ⅱ A, 1 at Ⅱ B, 4 at ⅢA, 1 at ⅢB and for T grading, there were 15 cases at stage T1, 5 at T2, 8 at T3, 1 at T4. In these 34 patients, there were 3 cases with postoperative anastomotic stenosis, 2 with postoperative anastomotic rupture, 2 with rectovaginal fistula and no operative death. Because of the dysfunction of bowel control, bowel frequency varied from 3 to 12 in the early stage after operation, but with the recovery of anus function, bowel frequency decreased and ranged form 1 to 5 times a day and the time of formed bowel control could be more than 5 min in 6-12 months after operation. However, patients underwent total resection of internal anal sphincter still suffered from incontinence of loose stool after 1 year. After operation, anastomotic recurrence was found in 1 case in 5 months, liver metastasis in 1 case in 10 months and 28 months respectively, cardiac sudden death in 1 case in 26 months. Conclusion The combination of trans-anal ISR and trans-abdominal TME for anus-retained ultra low rectal tumor is not only coincident with radical tumor principle but also retains the function of anus, on the premise of the strict indication.     

Evaluation of Tissue-Engineered Skin (Human Skin Substitute) and Secondary Intention Healing in the Treatment of Full Thickness Wounds after Mohs Micrographic or Excisional Surgery

BACKGROUND: Human Skin Substitute (Apligraf, Organogenesis, Inc., Canton, MA) is a bi-layered tissue-engineered living biological dressing developed from neonatal foreskin. It consists of a bovine collagen matrix containing human fibroblasts with an overlying sheet of stratified human epithelium containing living human keratinocytes. Human Skin Substitute (HSS) appears to be immunologically inert, and has shown usefulness in the treatment of chronic and acute wounds. OBJECTIVE: Primary objectives were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HSS in the treatment of full-thickness wounds in a prospective case series. Secondary objectives were to determine the rate of complete wound reepithelialization, incidence of complete wound healing, pain at wound site, overall cosmetic outcome, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Fourteen patients were enrolled in the study, of which 12 were evaluable. HSS was applied in a blinded fashion to 6 of the patients immediately following Mohs or excisional surgery for skin cancer. The remaining 6 patients were allowed to heal by secondary intention. Both groups were evaluated at weekly appointments until complete reepithelialization occurred. During each evaluation, wound quality was assessed through the Vancouver Burn Scar Assessment Scale by the investigator and an independent blinded dermatologist. The investigator, blinded observer, and patient further evaluated the cosmetic outcome of the wound through the use of a Visual Analog Scale over a 6-month period. RESULTS: HSS patients and secondary intention patients were equivalent in comorbid factors such as pain, erythema, edema, exudate, infection, or hematoma between the groups. The incidence of complete wound healing at 6 months was 100% for both groups. Both groups also appeared to heal at similar rates, as defined by the complete reepithelialization of the wound. HSS patients ultimately resulted in more pliable and less vascular wounds as defined by the Vancouver Burn Scar Assessment Scale. Patient satisfaction with cosmetic outcome in both groups was positive at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: HSS appears to be a safe, well-tolerated biological dressing with equivalent comorbid factors to secondary intention healing. HSS, however, seems to produce a more pliable and less vascular scar than those developed through healing by secondary intention. HSS also appears to produce more satisfactory cosmetic results when compared to secondary intention healing.     

Longitudinal followup study of ultrasonography in congenital muscular torticollis

High-resolution ultrasonography was used to examine affected sternocleidomastoid muscles in patients with congenital muscular torticollis at different times. Thirty-one female and 42 male patients were recruited and classified as having one of four types of fibrosis based on the sonograms. Compared with initial assessment, 22 (95.6%) patients with Type I fibrosis and 22 (57.9%) patients with Type II fibrosis had a change in classification at the end of the study. Among the patients with Type I fibrosis, the classification of one patient was changed to Type III fibrosis, the classifications of two patients were changed to normal muscle, and the classifications of the other patients were changed to Type II fibrosis. For patients with Type II fibrosis, the classifications of two patients were changed to Type III fibrosis, the classifications of three patients were changed to Type IV fibrosis, and the classifications of the other patients were changed to normal muscle. No changes in classification of patients with Types III and IV fibrosis occurred during followup. Patients with Type IV fibrosis had a significantly high incidence of surgical intervention. Congenital muscular torticollis is a dynamic disease. Ultrasonography can be valuable in observing the alteration. Aggressive management may be necessary for patients with Type IV fibrosis.     

布鲁菌病研究进展

布鲁菌病是最常见的人畜共患病之一,呈全球范围流行,而我国近年来布鲁菌病发病率不断上升,给公众健康和社会经济带来的严重危害。布鲁菌病可以累及全身各个系统,若治疗不及时或不规范易复发或者呈现慢性化,甚至可以发生各种并发症而严重影响患者预后,故早诊断和早治疗至关重要。本文就布鲁菌病的病原学、流行现状、各系统临床表现以及实验室诊断和并发症的治疗进展进行综述。     

Altemeier手术在嵌顿性直肠脱垂急诊处理中的应用

目的 评价Altemeier手术在嵌顿性直肠脱垂急诊处理中的应用价值.方法 回顾性分析经Altemeier手术急诊治疗的9例嵌顿性直肠脱垂患者的临床资料.结果本组9例患者均行经会阴直肠乙状结肠部分切除术,手术时间1.0～1.5（平均1.7）h,术中失血50～200（平均109）ml,术后首次排便时间1～6（平均2.8）d,总住院时间3～10（平均5.3）d.术后无吻合口瘘、腹腔感染、泌尿生殖功能障碍等并发症发生,1例患者术后直肠系膜血栓形成,1例患者出现肛门不适症状.术后经5个月至6.5年（平均3.5年）的随访,所有患者未出现再次脱垂.术后6个月肛门功能Kirwan Ⅰ级8例,Ⅱ级1例;所有患者均感到满意.结论 Altemeier手术治疗嵌顿性直肠脱垂术后肛门功能良好,可作为嵌顿性直肠脱垂急诊处理的首选术式之一.     

Changes in Mitochondrial Respiratory Enzyme Activity After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Living-Donor Liver Transplantation

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury plays an important role in the immediate graft function in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). There is growing evidence that mitochondria play a pivotal role in I-R injury. Our aim was to evaluate changes in mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activities after I-R injury in LDLT.

Methods

Specimens from 8 donor recipient pairs enrolled in this study were obtained from the donor livers before harvest (before I-R injury) and after vascular anastomosis in the recipient (after I-R injury). Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution was used to perfuse the organ during the cold ischemic period between harvesting and transplantation. We correlated changes in mitochondrial respiratory enzyme complex activity (succinate cytochrome c reductase [SCCR]; NADH cytochrome c reductase [NCCR]) after I-R injury with clinical data and graft status.

Results

NCCR and SCCR activities did not uniformly decrease after I-R injury. Two of 8 recipients experienced graft dysfunction after transplantation. The decrease in neither NCCR nor SCCR activity correlated with graft dysfunction in these 2 patients. Among the clinical factors, grafts from older donors tended to show decreased NCCR activity after I-R injury.

Conclusions

In this study, changes in mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity failed to predict the severity of I-R injury in LDLT. The organ preservation solution may play a protective role on mitochondrial respiratory enzymes during I-R injury.     

Increased expression of carbonic anhydrase I in the synovium of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background  

One of the most distinctive features of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is new bone formation and bone resorption at sites of chronic inflammation. Previous studies have indicated that the hyperplasia and inflammation of synovial tissues are significantly related to the pathogenic process of AS. The present study used a proteomic approach to identify novel AS-specific proteins by simultaneously comparing the expression profiles of synovial membranes from patients with AS, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).     

Using the distal part of vastus lateralis muscle as chimeric anterolateral thigh free flap is a more flexible tool for head and neck reconstruction

The chimeric anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap with vastus lateralis (VL) has been our workhorse for soft tissue head and neck reconstruction following cancer resection. Using the distal portion of the VL muscle, as part of the chimeric flap, which is based on the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and supplied separately from the skin paddle of the flap, has proved to be a more flexible tool for coverage of these extensive and multidimensional defects. The ALT flap has been a reliable soft tissue source and has shown superiority over other flaps for head and neck reconstruction, especially over its main rival, the radial forearm flap. It offers many advantages and in spite of the intramuscular dissection of the perforator(s) being a challenge, having gained substantial experience in raising this flap, we think that the flap can be harvested safely using a careful dissection, refinements of the surgical technique and understanding of the variable anatomy of the thigh region. This flap solves the problems, which are often encountered by the reconstructive surgeon such as the pedicle length, flap inset, and deficiency of recipient vessels. The purpose of this study is to describe the operative technique, the clinical applications, and the advantages of this variation of the chimeric ALT flap.