Preventing seroma formation after axillary dissection for breast cancer: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundSeroma formation after axillary dissection remains the most common early sequel to breast cancer surgery. Different surgical approaches have been performed to reduce seroma collection. Therefore, we aimed to assess the outcome of patients operated on using an ultrasound scalpel according to a standardized operative technique before accepting it as a routine procedure.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the outcome of patients undergoing breast surgery and axillary dissection using either standard scalpel blades, scissors, ligations, and electrocautery or the ultrasound scalpel only. Each arm of the trial consisted of 30 patients.ResultsA statistically significant benefit in terms of axillary and chest wall drainage volume, the number of axilla seromas, intraoperative bleeding, and hospitalization stay was recorded in the harmonic scalpel group. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of operative time. Finally, no postoperative hematoma, wound infections, and chest wall seroma were observed.ConclusionsThe use of the harmonic scalpel was shown to reduce the magnitude of seromas in axilla and hospitalization stay. The harmonic scalpel can be used alone in axillary dissection with a safe and effective hemostasis. Our results must be confirmed by larger series.     

Renal replacement therapy in lupus nephritis

The indications and the choice of renal replacement therapy for lupus patients are similar to those for other uremic patients. However, lupus patients can pose some particular problems. First, 10-28% of patients needing dialysis can have a partial renal function recovery. Therefore, the clinician has to decide whether to administer a rescue treatment, risking side-effects, or to reduce immunosuppression precluding a potential recovery. Many patients on regular dialysis show subdued biological and clinical activity. Others can show a hectic disease activity, particularly in the 1st year. In these cases, treatment is difficult, as vigorous immunosuppression can expose uremic patients to severe side-effects. The presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) can favor thrombosis or stenosis of vascular access (VA). Renal transplantation is the best therapy for most lupus patients with end-stage renal failure. Many, but not all, studies have reported similar patient and graft survival rates in lupus and in non-lupus transplant recipients. The results are much better with living donor transplantation. Patients with aPL, black patients and those on long-term dialysis have a higher graft failure risk. Candidates with active lupus and/or those with significant iatrogenic morbidity should be advised to wait 6-12 months before transplantation. The recurrence risk of lupus nephritis ranged between 2% and 30% in different studies. The histological picture does not usually show severe features. Antiplatelet agents or anticoagulation can be advised for aPL patients.     

Hyperparathyroidism associated with thyroid pathology

BACKGROUND: The pathological association between thyroid and parathyroid gland disease is here discussed. The multiphase analyzer has revealed a new type of subclinical primary hyperparathyroidism (HPP) and the role of surgery in these cases is not clear. METHODS: This is a prospective study of all cases of thyroid disease in association with parathyroid disease treated surgically in our Institute from July 1999 to June 2001. RESULTS: Of the 221 thyroidectomies carried out, 29 patients had an elevated preoperative serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH). An ultrasonography examination was performed on all patients and a preoperative scanning with 99Tc-MIBI on 11 of 29 patients. We examined intraoperatively 19 cases of HPP (14 parathyroid adenoma, 5 hyperplasia). In 10 cases we observed a normal size of the parathyroid gland and we did not perform a parathyroidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with elevated serum parathyroid hormone and serum calcium levels before thyroidectomy should be considered candidates also for surgery to the parathyroid glands. The pathological association between thyroid and parathyroid gland diseases is not rare. We must conduct an accurate neck exploration in all these cases.     

Systemic fungemia and hepatic localizations of Fusarium solani in a liver transplanted patient: an emerging fungal agent.

The incidence of invasive fungal infection is increasing especially in the field of transplantation, affecting as many as 50% of bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients with neutropenia and 5-20% of solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Fusarium species are soil saprophytes and plant pathogens. They may cause superficial mycoses or important opportunistic infections in patients with bone marrow suppression and neutropenia, they have been rarely described in solid organ recipients, and up to now there have been no reports of such infection in isolated liver transplanted patients. We describe a case of disseminated Fusarium solani infection with hepatic localization in a liver transplanted patient that resolved with the administration of amphotericin B. Our observation confirms that Fusarium spp. are emerging pathogens that may most frequently affect not only BMT patients and patients with hematological malignancies, but also SOT patients. They may cause both localized and disseminated infection. In conclusion, Fusarium spp. etiology should be considered in the context of infectious diseases following liver transplantation.     

Adjuvant treatment in the management of testis-confined germ cell tumours after orchidectomy

Germ cell tumours are highly curable, especially when still at the localized stage, which is the case for most testicular tumours. Various options are available for organ-confined disease; depending on the histological review, patients with clinical stage I seminomas can be offered radiotherapy, surveillance or chemotherapy, whereas those with clinical stage I nonseminomas can be offered retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, surveillance or chemotherapy. As it is unlikely that any of these approaches will have a clear survival advantage, the most appropriate variables to be considered are acute and late side-effects, acceptability and quality of life. In recent years adjuvant chemotherapy has been extensively evaluated in patients with seminoma or nonseminoma. In this review we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different strategies for treating seminomas and nonseminomas, and their associated prognostic factors, and then consider future developments.     

Tracheal agenesis without esophageal fistula: genetic, resuscitative, and pathological issues

An exceptional case of tracheal agenesis with no communication with the esophagus is described. This malformation needs surgical airway approach and is hardly classifiable. We analyzed the literature and our institutional data: this resulted to be the first case of such anatomical variant. Genetic and pathological issues are reviewed: recent genetic data seem to explain this malformation. We also reviewed the available literature about prenatal presentation. Because prenatal diagnosis is difficult to achieve and current guidelines for neonatal resuscitation do not provide any recommendation, the resuscitative team may not be prepared for managing such a case. Usefulness of uncommon resuscitative maneuvers is discussed: a promptly performed surgical tracheotomy is the only mean to ventilate such a baby.     

An In Vivo Autotransplant Model of Renal Preservation: Cold Storage Versus Machine Perfusion in the Prevention of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

There is increasing proof that organ preservation by machine perfusion is able to limit ischemia/reperfusion injury in kidney transplantation. This study was designed to compare the efficiency in hypothermic organ preservation by machine perfusion or cold storage in an animal model of kidney autotransplantation.
Twelve pigs underwent left nephrectomy after warm ischemic time; the organs were preserved in machine perfusion ( n  = 6) or cold storage ( n  = 6) and then autotransplanted with immediate contralateral nephrectomy. The following parameters were compared between the two groups of animals: hematological and urine indexes of renal function, blood/gas analysis values, histological features, tissue adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) content, perforin gene expression in kidney biopsies, and organ weight changes were compared before and after preservation.
The amount of cellular ATP was significantly higher in organs preserved by machine perfusion; moreover, the study of apoptosis induction revealed an enhanced perforin expression in the kidneys, which underwent simple hypothermic preservation compared to the machine-preserved ones. Organ weight was significantly decreased after cold storage, but it remained quite stable for machine-perfused kidneys.
The present model seems to suggest that organ preservation by hypothermic machine perfusion is able to better control cellular impairment in comparison with cold storage.     

The free TRAM procedure in breast reconstruction: choice of vascular receptor site

In this study, 70 consecutive cases of breast reconstruction with the use of a free Transverse Rectus Abdominal Myocutaneous (TRAM) flap were reviewed with respect to the type of recipient vessels. We describe our evolution of choice of the receptor vessels. The deep inferior epigastric artery was anastomosed to the thoracodorsal artery in 15 cases. In 55 cases the internal mammary artery (IMA) was used as a recipient vessel. The deep inferior epigastric vein was anastomosed to the thoracodorsal vein in 15 cases, to the cephalic vein in eight cases, the external jugular vein in 16 cases and to the internal mammary vein (IMV) in 31 cases. Total flap necrosis occurred in four cases. In an additional four cases there was partial necrosis requiring minor operative correction. In six cases venous outflow problems were the cause of flap necrosis. The external jugular vein (n = 3) and cephalic vein (n = 2) were relatively frequently involved in cases of venous outflow problems. One flap was rescued 5 days after surgery following venous thrombosis by inserting a vein graft. The IMA and vein proved to be reliable and easy to access as recipient vessels for anastomosing the vessels of the free TRAM.     

A new mutation in two siblings with cystinosis presenting with Bartter syndrome

Nephropathic cystinosis is a severe autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disease characterized by accumulation of free cystine in lysosomes. Cystinosis can lead to renal failure and multiorgan impairment. Only five cases of cystinosis with associated Bartter syndrome are reported in the literature, and no genetic evaluation has been reported. We describe two siblings with nephropathic cystinosis presenting with features of Bartter syndrome and their genetic pattern.     

Intramedullary nailing versus external fixation in Gustilo type III open tibial shaft fractures: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Open tibial shaft fractures are the most common of long-bone open fractures. Management of the fracture is either by intramedullary nailing (IMN) or by external fixation (EF). Since the literature does not indicate clearly which is more effective, a meta-analysis was conducted to establish which approach is more suitable to treat Gustilo type III fractures. MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCT) describing IMN and EF treatment of Gustilo type III fractures. As of 15 November 2012, five RCT involving 239 patients had been published; the outcomes examined in this study are their surgical complications. Data analysis led complications to be grouped into infection, fracture healing problems (non-union, malunion) and “other complications” (vascular injury, revision surgery, soft tissue damage, mechanical failure and tibial malalignment). IMN was associated with lower rates of infection and fracture healing problems; the differences between the two approaches for “other complications” were not significant. The data indicate that IMN is the treatment of choice for Gustilo type III fractures.