The effects of volatile induction and maintenance of anesthesia and selective spinal anesthesia on QT interval, QT dispersion, and arrhythmia incidence

OBJECTIVE:

The effects of sevoflurane general anesthesia and bupivacaine selective spinal anesthesia on QT dispersion (QTd) and corrected QT (QTc) interval were investigated.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted between July and September 2009 in the Urology and General Surgery operating rooms. Forty ASA I–II patients undergoing noncardiac surgery were randomized into two groups: Group R (n = 20) and Group V (n = 20). In Group R, 5 mg bupivacaine was administered into the spinal space. Anesthesia induction in Group V was established with sevoflurane + 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium using the maximum vital capacity technique. Anesthesia was maintained with 2–3% sevoflurane + 50% N₂O/O₂ inhalation. All patients were tested with a 24-hour Holter ECG device. QT, QTc, and QTd intervals were measured using 12-lead ECG records at 1 and 3 minutes during preinduction, postinduction, postincision and postextubation periods. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate and ECG records were measured simultaneously.

RESULTS:

None of the patients displayed arrhythmia. There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to QTd values (p>0.05). However, QTc was longer in Group V than in Group R after the induction of anesthesia at 3 minutes, after the intubation at 1 and 3 minutes, and after the incision at 1 and 3 minutes. MAP and heart rate were generally higher in Group V (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Although Volatile Induction and Maintenance of Anesthesia (VIMA) with sevoflurane might prolong the QTc interval and did not result in arrhythmia, selective spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine was not associated with alterations in the QT interval or arrhythmia.     

Ulcer in the basis of Zenker's diverticulum mimicking esophageal malignancy

Complications of Zenker's diverticulum are rare and include ulcer, bleeding and malignancy. Ulcer in the basis of diverticulum is a very rare complication and to date only four cases have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a new case of ulcer in Zenker's diverticulum mimicking esophageal malignancy presumed to be due to aspirin and/or alcohol consumption. The exact diagnosis was troublesome and needed to perform diagnostic procedures repeatedly. The patient underwent external pharyngoesophageal diverticulectomy. We emphasize that endoscope should be withdrawn if any resistance is encountered during esophageal intubation-even with forward-viewing endoscope-especially when there is a Zenker's diverticulum suspicion and the patient receives ulcerogenic agents. Endoscopic examination should be performed prior to any definitive surgical procedure in all patients with Zenker's diverticulum.     

Characteristics and management of intractable neck involvement in tularemia: report of 19 patients

The objective of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics and to evaluate the treatment options of intractable neck involvement in tularemia. The medical records of 19 tularemia patients with neck involvement were reviewed retrospectively. On physical examination, fluctuation indicating an abscess formation was detected in 78.9% of the patients. Bilateral involvement was seen in 15.8% of the patients. The most common clinical form was glandular form (63.1%). The most commonly involved lymph node group was upper jugular nodes (78.6%). Six patients underwent incision and drainage procedure, five patients underwent superselective neck dissection and eight patients had only medical treatment. Complete and immediate cure, and better tissue healing with less scarring could be achieved in all patients who underwent superselective neck dissections. In conclusion, intractable neck masses and an abscess can be the initial finding in tularemia, and a high index of suspicion is needed in the differential diagnosis. Superselective neck dissection is a safe and effective option in the treatment of long lasting cervical tularemia unless it responds to medical treatment.     

Single versus multiple primary melanomas: old questions and new answers

BACKGROUND:

In patients with multiple primary melanomas (MPM), mean tumor thickness tends to decrease from the first melanoma to the second melanoma, and prognosis may be improved compared with the prognosis for patients who have a single primary melanoma (SPM). In this study, the authors compared the clinicopathologic features of patients with MPM and SPM to better characterize the differences between these 2 groups and to determine whether or not there is an inherent difference in tumor aggression.

METHODS:

In total, 788 patients with melanoma who were enrolled prospectively in the Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group database from 2002 to 2008 were studied. Patients with SPM and with MPM were compared with regard to clinical and primary melanoma characteristics.

RESULTS:

Of 788 patients with melanoma, 61 patients (7.7%) had 2 or more primary melanomas. The incidence of developing a second primary melanoma 1 year and 5 years after initial melanoma diagnosis was 4.1% and 8.7%, respectively, and most of the risk accumulated within the first year. The incidence of MPM was greater in patients aged ≥60 years than in those aged ≤60 years. The absence or presence of mitosis and other tumor characteristics did not differ significantly between patients with SPM and patients with MPM (P = .61).

CONCLUSIONS:

No difference was observed in the presence or absence of mitoses, a marker of tumor proliferation, in SPM and MPM. Because it has been demonstrated that the presence of mitosis is a powerful prognostic marker, the current findings suggested that the tumors behave similarly in patients with SPM and patients with MPM. The authors concluded that differences in tumor thickness and prognosis between SPM and MPM more likely are caused by factors other than tumor biology, such as increased surveillance. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Target volume definition in high-risk prostate cancer patients using sentinel node SPECT/CT and

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: To assess the influence of sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) SPECT/CT and 18F-choline (18F-FCH) PET/CT in radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning for prostate cancer patients with a high-risk for lymph node (LN) involvement. METHODS: Twenty high-risk prostate cancer patients underwent a pelvic SPECT acquisition following a transrectal ultrasound guided injection of 99mTc-Nanocoll into the prostate. In all patients but one an 18F-FCH PET/CT for RT treatment planning was performed. SPECT studies were coregistered with the respective abdominal CTs. Pelvic SNs localized on SPECT/CT and LN metastases detected by 18F-FCH PET/CT were compared to standard pelvic clinical target volumes (CTV). RESULTS: A total of 104 pelvic SNs were identified on SPECT/CT (mean 5.2 SNs/patient; range 1-10). Twenty-seven SNs were located outside the standard pelvic CTV, 17 in the proximal common iliac and retroperitoneal regions above S1, 9 in the pararectal fat and 1 in the inguinal region. SPECT/CT succeeded to optimize the definition of the CTV and treatment plans in 6/20 patients due to the presence of pararectal SNs located outside the standard treatment volume. 18F-FCH PET/CT identified abnormal tracer uptake in the iliac LN region in 2/19 patients. These abnormal LNs were negative on SPECT/CT suggesting a potential blockade of lymphatic drainage by metastatic LNs with a high tumour burden. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodality imaging which combines SPECT/CT prostate lymphoscintigraphy and 18F-FCH PET/CT identified SNs outside standard pelvic CTVs or highly suspicious pelvic LNs in 40% of high-risk prostate cancer patients, highlighting the potential impact of this approach in RT treatment planning.     

Adapalene gel 0.1% in the treatment of infantile acne: an open clinical study

Abstract:  Infantile acne is an uncommon condition in pediatric age. We determined the efficacy and safety of adapalene gel 0.1% in the treatment of infantile acne. Twelve patients were enrolled for adapalene gel 0.1% application once daily over a 16-week treatment period. Efficacy evaluation included counting the inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions by the physician and global evaluation of the improvement. After 16 weeks all patients were followed up for a 1-year period. The time of clearance of the infantile acne lesions was 3 months in four (33%) patients and 4 months in eight (67%) patients (median 3.4 months). Adapalene gel produced reductions in noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions counts. Limited side effects were observed and none of them required stopping the therapy. No patient was left with scarring. Three patients were showed mild lesions in the 1-year follow-up period. Adapalene gel 0.1% was found to be a highly effective and safe drug in the treatment of mild-to-moderate infantile acne.