Inhibition of Intra-Abdominal Adhesions: A Comparison of Hemaseel APR and Cryoprecipitate Fibrin Glue

Our previous studies demonstrated fibrin glue (FG) prepared from cryoprecipitate (cryo) inhibits intra-abdominal adhesions in rats. A new FG, Hemaseel APR, is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for hemostasis during cardiac surgery and splenic trauma. This study was undertaken to determine if Hemaseel FG prevents intra-abdominal adhesions, and to compare it to cryo FG. Forty-five rats underwent laparotomy. Bilateral peritoneal-muscular defects were created. Polypropylene mesh was sewn into each defect with a running silk suture. The bowel was abraded with gauze. The rats were then randomized to mesh covered with Hemaseel FG, cryo FG, or control. On postoperative day 7, the severity of adhesions were graded by percentage of mesh covered by adhesion (0-100%) and degree of adhesion (0-3). The mean percentage of mesh covered by adhesion was 9% for Hemaseel FG, 43% for cryo FG (p = .005), and 65% for the controls (p < .0001). The mean density adhesion score was 0.5 for Hemaseel FG, 1.2 for cryo FG (p = .04), and 2.1 for the controls (p < .0001). In the Hemaseel FG group, 77% of patches had no adhesions, compared with 37% in the cryo FG group (p = .004) and 13% in the controls (p < .0001). Thus, Hemaseel FG significantly decreases intra-abdominal adhesions, and is more effective than cryo FG.     

Relationship between distal screws and femoral arteries in closed hip nailing on computed tomography angiography

Background

Iatrogenic vascular injury as a result of closed hip nailing is not common, but is a regularly reported complication after hip fracture surgeries.

Methods

To prevent vascular injury in closed hip nailing by identifying the range of distances and angles between deep and superficial femoral arteries (DFAs and SFAs) and distal screws.

Patients and methods

Forty subjects who underwent computed tomography angiographies were included in this study. Imaginary lines marking the distal screws (proximal femoral nail antirotation-II [PFNA-II], 180 and 300 mm; inter-trochanteric/sub-trochanteric nails [ITST], 200 and 300 mm) were drawn on the scout film. On arterial phase images, angles between distal screw lines and those marking DFAs or SFAs, as well as the distance between each artery and far cortex, were measured using the cross-reference capabilities of the picture archiving and communication system.

Results

The short nails (PFNA-II 200 mm and ITST 180 mm) were closest to the DFAs, indicating that these nails are most likely to cause injury (PFNA-II 200 mm: 11.2 ± 13.7° anterior and 9.87 ± 5.83 mm; ITST 180 mm: 22.56 ± 15.92° posterior and 9.24 ± 4.74 mm). The short nails were relatively distant from the SFAs, which were located posteriorly to the long nails (PFNA-II 300 mm and ITST 300 mm).

Conclusions

These data indicate that insertion of distal screws into intramedullary nails increases the risk of injury to vascular structures. Surgeons must take care in drilling or inserting screws to ensure the prevention of vascular injury.     

Joint hypermobility, obstetrical outcomes, and pelvic floor disorders

Introduction and hypothesis

Benign joint hypermobility syndrome may be a risk factor for pelvic floor disorders. It is unknown whether hypermobility impacts the progress of childbirth, a known risk factor for pelvic floor disorders. Our objective was to investigate the association between joint hypermobility syndrome, obstetrical outcomes, and pelvic floor disorders. Our hypotheses were: (1) women with joint hypermobility are less likely to experience operative delivery and prolonged second-stage labor; and (2) pelvic floor disorders are associated with benign hypermobility syndrome, controlling for obstetrical history.

Methods

Joint hypermobility was measured in 587 parous women (participants in a longitudinal cohort study of pelvic floor disorders after childbirth). Their obstetrical histories were obtained from review of hospital records. Pelvic floor disorders were assessed using validated questionnaires and a structured examination for prolapse. Joint hypermobility and pelvic floor disorders were evaluated at enrollment (5–10 years after first delivery). We compared obstetrical outcomes and pelvic floor disorders between women with and without joint hypermobility, defined as a Beighton score ≥4.

Results

Hypermobility was diagnosed in 46 women (7.8 %) and was associated with decreased odds of cesarean after complete cervical dilation or operative vaginal delivery [odds ratio (OR)?=?0.51; 95 % confidence interval (CI):0.27–0.95]. Anal sphincter laceration was unlikely to occur in women with hypermobility (OR?=?0.19; 95 % CI 0.04–0.80). However, hypermobility was not associated with any pelvic floor disorder considered.

Conclusions

Benign joint hypermobility syndrome may facilitate spontaneous vaginal birth but does not appear to be a risk factor for pelvic floor disorders in the first decade after childbirth.     

Incidence and Consequence of Close Margins in Patients with Ductal Carcinoma-In Situ Treated with Mastectomy: Is Further Therapy Warranted?

Background

The impact of close margins in patients with ductal carcinoma-in situ (DCIS) treated with mastectomy is unclear; however, this finding may lead to a recommendation for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). We sought to determine the incidence and consequences of close margins in patients with DCIS treated with mastectomy.

Methods

The records of 810 patients with DCIS treated with mastectomy from 1996 through 2009 were reviewed. Clinical and pathologic factors were analyzed with respect to final margin status. Median follow-up was 6.3 years.

Results

Overall, 94 patients (11.7 %) had close margins (positive, n = 5; negative but ≤1 mm, n = 54; 1.1–2.9 mm, n = 35). Independent risk factors for close margins included multicentricity, pathologic lesion size ≥1.5 cm, and necrosis, but not age, use of skin-sparing mastectomy, or immediate reconstruction (p > 0.05). Seven patients received PMRT, and none had a locoregional recurrence (LRR). Among the remaining 803 patients, the 10-year LRR rate was 1 % (5.0 % for margins ≤1 mm, 3.6 % for margins 1.1–2.9 mm, and 0.7 % for margins ≥3 mm [p < 0.001]). The 10-year rate of contralateral breast cancer was 6.4 %. On multivariate analysis, close margins was the only independent predictor of LRR (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Close margins occur in a minority of patients undergoing mastectomy for DCIS and is the only independent risk factor for LRR. As the LRR rate in patients with close margins is low and less than the rate of contralateral breast cancer, PMRT is not warranted except for patients with multiple close/positive margins that cannot be surgically excised.     

Outcome and Prognostic Factors After Adrenalectomy for Patients with Distant Adrenal Metastasis

Background

The purpose of this study was to describe a single-institution experience with adrenal metastasectomy and to elucidate factors that may bear prognostic significance.

Methods

This is a single-center, retrospective review of patients with adrenal metastasis who underwent adrenalectomy performed with curative intent between 2000 and 2012. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to evaluate overall survival from time of adrenalectomy to death or last follow-up. Primary endpoint was death from any cause. Clinical variables were examined for association with survival.

Results

The study included 62 patients with mean age of 60 (±12) years; 55 % (34 of 62) were male, 85 % (53 of 62) presented with isolated adrenal metastasis, and 82 % (51 of 62) had metachronous disease with median disease-free interval (DFI) of 22 months (range, 6–217 months). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was the most common primary comprising 50 % of cases. Median survival for the study population was 30 months (range, 1–145 months) and 5-year survival was 31 %. Patients with NSCLC had significantly shortened survival compared with non-NSCLC with median and 5-year survival of 17 versus 47 months and 27 % versus 38 %, respectively (p = .033). Synchronous metastasis (p = .028) and DFI < 12 months (p = .038) were also associated with worse survival outcome, though male gender (p = .69) and oligometastatic disease (p = .62) were not.

Conclusions

Adrenal metastasectomy resulted in median survival of 30 months and 5-year survival of 31 %. Shorter survival was associated with lung primary, short disease-free interval, and synchronous metastasis, but not with the presence of oligometastatic disease provided that the primary cancer and additional metastatic lesions were adequately controlled and amenable to resection.     

Prognostic Value of Early Postoperative Tumor Marker Response in Gastric Cancer

Background

The clinical usefulness of tumor markers as predictors of treatment outcome in patients with stomach cancer after radical gastrectomy has been poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a comprehensive understanding of the impact of early postoperative tumor marker normalization on survival after gastrectomy.

Methods

Between January 2001 and December 2007, we enrolled 206 patients who had received radical gastrectomy as an initial treatment and had elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (>5 ng/mL) or carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 (>37 U/mL) levels. Early tumor marker response was defined as a normalization of preoperative CEA or CA19-9 values 1–2 months after gastrectomy.

Results

The mean patient age was 61 years (range 29–84 years), and 139 patients (67.5 %) were male. Early tumor marker response was identified in 150 of 206 (72.8 %) patients. Of the patients, 49 (23.8 %), 41 (19.9 %), and 116 (56.4 %) were stages I, II, and III, respectively, according to the seventh edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly longer in patients with tumor marker response compared with nonresponse (61.5 vs. 37.6 months; P = 0.010 and 71.3 vs. 50.9 months; P = 0.008, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed that high CA19-9 level, early tumor marker response, and tumor, node, metastasis classification system stage were independent predictors of DFS and OS (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Early CEA or CA19-9 normalization after radical gastrectomy is a strong prognostic factor for gastric cancer, especially in patients with high preoperative levels of tumor markers.     

Vein Involvement During Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Is There a Need for Redefinition of “Borderline Resectable Disease”?

Introduction

Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend neoadjuvant therapy for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma to increase the likelihood of achieving R0 resection. A consensus has not been reached on the degree of venous involvement that constitutes borderline resectability. This study compares the outcome of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with or without vein resection without neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods

A multi-institutional database of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy was reviewed. Patients who required vein resection due to gross vein involvement by tumor were compared to those without evidence of vein involvement.

Results

Of 492 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, 70 (14 %) had vein resection and 422 (86 %) did not. There was no difference in R0 resection (66 vs. 75 %, p?=?NS). On multivariate analysis, vein involvement was not predictive of disease-free or overall survival.

Conclusion

This is the largest modern series examining patients with or without isolated vein involvement by pancreas cancer, none of whom received neoadjuvant therapy. Oncological outcome was not different between the two groups. These data suggest that up-front surgical resection is an appropriate option and call into question the inclusion of isolated vein involvement in the definition of “borderline resectable disease.”