Intra‐Aortic Balloon Shape Change: Effects on Volume Displacement During Inflation and Deflation

It has been observed that operating the intra‐aortic balloon at an angle to the horizontal resulted in a reduction of the volume displaced toward the coronary arteries and compromised afterload reduction. Therefore, the aim of this work is to examine whether changing the current balloon shape, which has not been altered for 40 years, could compensate for the negative hemodynamic effects due to angulation. We tested two tapered balloons, increasing diameter (TID) and decreasing diameter (TDD), and compared the results with those obtained from a standard cylindrical balloon. The balloons were tested in vitro at 60 beats/min and a static pressure of 90 mm Hg. The balloons were operated at four angles (0°, 20°, 30°, 45°), and the pressure at three locations along the balloon (base, middle, and tip) was also measured. Flow rate upstream of the tip of the balloon was also measured to indicate the flow displaced toward the coronary circulation. The relative volume displaced toward (VUTVi) and suctioned away from (VUTVd) the simulated ascending aorta, during inflation and deflation, respectively, is reduced when a standard cylindrical balloon is operated at an angle to the horizontal. The TDD provided the greatest VUTVi and also produced the largest pulse pressure during deflation. Although the TID provided less VUTVi and VUTVd at smaller angles, it was not markedly affected by the change of angle. According to these results, different balloon shapes analyzed, with comparable volume to that of a cylindrical balloon, produced greater inflation and deflation benefits, at the horizontal and at a range of angles to the horizontal. Further investigations are required to optimize the shape of the tapered balloons to fit into the available physiological space.     

Comparison between Gallbladder Serosal and Mucosal Patch in Duodenal Injuries Repair in Dogs

Background: One of the most challenging problems in clinical surgery is management of an extensive duodenal injury. In its management, there are limitations in using jejunal serosal patch and other conventional methods in specific conditions. This study was performed to compare treatment of large duodenal defects by a gallbladder serosal patch and the gallbladder mucosal patch in a dog as an animal model. Methods: A duodenal defect (2 cm, about 50% of the total circumference) was created in the second portion of the duodenum in eight dogs. The animals were divided into two equal groups, with group 1 undergoing serosal patch repair and group 2 undergoing mucosal patch repair. The macroscopic and microscopic healing features of the gallbladder serosal and mucosal patch were compared. Results: None of the dogs died due to surgical complications. The whole grafted area was covered by neomucosa at the end of the third week in all animals with the gallbladder serosal patch (group 1). In this group, the scar was small; no significant narrowing of lumen was noted and serosal healing was uniformly complete. In histological examination, a complete coverage of the gallbladder serosal patch by neomucosa consisting of columnar epithelium with short villous formations was observed. In mucosal patch models (group 2), complete epitheliazation, mild fibrosis, and incomplete repair were visible. In histological examination, severe inflammation was noticed too. Conclusion: In patients with multiple trauma affecting upper gastrointestinal tracts, use of the gallbladder serosal patch method is easy and reliable. So it may be considered in the surgical management of large duodenal defects, which cannot be repaired by available conventional methods.     

A randomized comparative study between selective walking spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia for anorectal surgeries in outpatient settings

BackgroundSpinal anesthesia is gradually increasing in ambulatory setting. The limiting factor to the more widespread use of spinal anesthesia in the outpatient setting refers to the effect of residual block. Selective spinal anesthesia (SSA) with low dose lidocaine was compared with modern general anesthesia (GA) technique in day care anorectal surgeries.ObjectiveOur objectives in this study was to compare SSA with propofol and fentanyl based modern GA as regard to 1 – operating conditions 2 – patients’ and surgeon’s satisfaction, 3 – intraoperative, postoperative adverse events and 4 – recovery profiles in ambulatory anorectal surgeries.MethodsProspective randomized clinical study was conducted on 60 patients undergoing elective day case anorectal surgery. The patients were randomly allocated into one of two groups (GA and SSA groups) of 30 patients each. In GA group anesthesia was induced with intravenous fentanyl (2 μg/kg) and propofol (2–3 mg/kg). Airway was secured with I-gel supraglottic airway. Anesthesia was maintained by sevoflurane 1.5–2%, nitrous oxide 60% in oxygen mixture. SSA group patients received spinal anesthesia with lidocaine 20 mg and fentanyl 25 μg to a total volume of 3 ml with sterile water for injection. Intraoperative, postoperative and home adverse events, time to ambulate, time to home discharge, patients’ and surgeon’s satisfactions were statistically compared between both groups.ResultsBoth anesthetic techniques showed acceptable operating conditions and high rate of patients’ satisfaction. Low pain intensity, shorter time to ambulate and home discharge in SSA compared to GA with a p value < 0.001. Intraoperative hemodynamic stability was reported in both groups. No major postoperative or home adverse events in both groups.ConclusionsSSA with low dose lidocaine may be suitable alternative and competitive for modern GA in ambulatory anorectal surgery.     

Spinal stenosis frequent in children with multiple hereditary exostoses

Purpose

Children with multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) have numerous osteochondromas, with the most prominent lesions typically over the appendicular skeleton. A recent report noted a high rate of intracanal lesions in this patient population and recommended preventative spinal screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). We sought to evaluate the prevalence of spinal stenosis from intracanal osteochondromas at our pediatric orthopedic center in order to evaluate if routine screening is warranted.

Methods

All pediatric patients treated for MHE were retrospectively identified. Records were reviewed to determine demographics, previous orthopedic surgery, and indication and results of axial spine imaging (CT or MRI). Imaging studies were reviewed to evaluate the presence of intracanal and compressive spinal lesions.

Results

Between 1990 and 2011, axial imaging was performed in nine patients with MHE due to concerns of pain, weakness, and/or dizziness. These patients had moderate disease involvement, with a mean of 4.9 previous orthopedic surgeries to address skeletal osteochondromas. Two patients with MHE had cervical spinal stenosis secondary to intracanal osteochondromas. Both children successfully underwent spinal decompression. Thus, of our MHE population undergoing axial imaging, 22 % were noted to have intracanal lesions.

Conclusions

Our experience reveals a >20 % rate of compressive intracanal osteochondromas in MHE patients undergoing spinal imaging. These two patients represent 5 % of the MHE patients treated at our center. These lesions may be slow growing, and significant consequences can occur if not identified promptly. Thus, we confer that routine axial screening of the spinal canal may be warranted in these children.     

Necrotising Infection of the Orofacial Tissues in Neonates (Noma Neonatorum): Case report

Noma neonatorum should be differentiated from noma, in that it is typically a disease of seriously ill premature infants whose birth weight was low, and is caused by Pseudomonas aerugenosa septicaemia. We know of only two case reports of noma neonatorum involving newborn infants born at full term, so we report here another case of noma neonatorum in a neonate born at full term. In addition we describe the differences between noma neonatorum and noma (cancrum oris), a clinically related entity.