Gastro-Gastric Fistulas and Marginal Ulcers in Gastric Bypass Procedures for Weight Reduction

Background: Gastro-gastric fistulas and marginal ulcers are frequent and serious complications of gastric compartmentalization procedures for obesity. Methods: The authors analyzed 810 patients after 911 operations for gastro-gastric fistulas and marginal ulcers over an 8-year period. All patients underwent a form of gastric bypass, in which a pouch is constructed along the lesser curvature of the stomach. The outlet of the pouch was restricted with a prosthetic band. In the first 189 patients (Group I), the pouch and stomach were stapled in continuity or partially divided. In the next 222 patients (Group II), segments were stapled and separated by transection. In the remaining 492 cases (Group III), in addition to transection of the stomach, a limb of jejunum was interposed between the pouch and excluded stomach. Stapled anastomoses were done in Group I and II patients and a portion of Group III patients. The remaining patients underwent hand-sewn anastomosis. Results: Gastro-gastric fistulas occurred in 49% of the patients in Group I, 2.6% of those in Group II, and 0% of those in Group III. In stapled anastomosis, the incidence of marginal ulceration in Groups I, II, and III were 8.5%, 5.4%, and 5.1%, respectively. In a subset of Group III patients, in whom a two-layer, hand-sewn anastomosis was done, the incidence was 1.6% when the outer layer was not absorbable and 0% when both layers were absorbable. Conclusions: Gastro-gastric fistulas and marginal ulcerations are likely the result of breakdown of the mucosa resulting from migrating staples and other foreign material. Lack of integrity of the gastric lining facilitates the action of the gastric digestive process. Transection of gastric segments with interposition of jejunum prevents gastro-gastric fistula formation. An intact serosa appears to block the digestion of bowel wall by gastric enzymes. Our early data suggest that the use of absorbable sutures at the gastrojejunostomy significantly decreases the incidence of marginal ulceration.     

Surgical management of recurring or metastatic thyroid cancer

The surgical oncologist is sometimes confronted with a patient who was surgically treated for cancer of the thyroid gland and now has recurrent disease. In most instances, additional surgical treatment is indicated. The magnitude of surgery is primarily determined by the amount of tissue removed at the original operation. Surgery for recurrent disease may include completion of total thyroidectomy with dissection of lymphatic tissues in the thyroid compartment or/and neck dissection, preferably modified. Several clinical situations are outlined and discussed.     

开放性氩氦靶向冷冻治疗脑胶质瘤

目的 探索氩氮靶向冷冻治疗系统(氩氮刀)在脑胶质瘤治疗中的应用价值。方法 开颅后，根据MRI及CT设计冷冻范围，应用氩氮刀冷冻-复温-冷冻后切除胶质瘤，并取冷冻前后标本送病理检查。结果 8例Ⅱ～Ⅳ级胶质瘤患者肿瘤均达到全切，术中出血少，术后短期未见副作用及神经功能缺失。冷冻前后病理切片对比：与冷冻前对比，冷冻后标本在普通显微镜下见有明显出血灶；透射电镜下可见几乎所有细胞核膜肿胀，核形状不规则，染色质凝结为粗颗粒状，明显边聚，线粒体明显肿胀，部分破裂崩解。结论氩氮靶向冷冻治疗系统治疗脑胶质瘤具有能直接摧毁肿胀细胞、手术安全、出血少、全切率高的优点。     

经鼻内镜手术治疗鼻部脑膜脑膨出

目的　探讨经鼻内镜手术治疗鼻部脑膜脑膨出的可行性并确立临床处理的基本原则。方法　经鼻内镜下采用剪除、电切、切割等方式切除鼻内型脑膜脑膨出 5例 ,并根据颅底缺损的不同情况选择使用肌肉、筋膜、软骨、骨等一期修补颅底。结果　 5例均一次手术治愈 ,除 1例术后颅内感染 (脑膜炎 )外 ,无并发症发生 ,随访 1～ 5年无复发。结论　位于鼻腔内的脑膜脑膨出可以经鼻内镜手术完成 ,直径 0 5cm以下的颅底缺损可使用肌肉填塞和筋膜覆盖的方法修补 ,直径超过 0 5cm的颅底缺损应先使用软骨或骨封闭缺损 ,然后再用肌肉填塞和筋膜覆盖 ,以免复发。     

心外管道全腔肺动脉吻合术的临床应用

目的 评价心外管道全腔肺动脉吻合术的临床应用价值。方法 １９９８年６月～１９９９年８月,１０例先天性心脏复杂畸形的患者接受了心外管道全腔肺动脉吻合术。包括单心室８例,均伴有完全性大动脉转位;右心室发育不良２例。均在全麻低温体外循环下手术。结果 患者全部治愈出院。术后随访６～１８个月,无晚期死亡。所有患者症状消失,无静脉压明显升高现象,超声检查显示心外管道血流通畅,无血栓形成;心电图检查显示无严重心     

An Analysis of Approaches to the Management of Endometrial Cancer in North America: A CTF Study

Objective.The aim of this study was to define the clinical–therapeutical approach to endometrial cancer now being followed in some of the most important centers of reference for gynecological cancer in North America by means of a questionnaire.Study design.The questionnaire focused on four principal areas: (1) surgical staging and therapy; (2) adjuvant treatment; (3) treatment modifications; and (4) management of advanced stages (FIGO III–IV).Results.There were 48 evaluable responses (77%) received by the end of December 1994 which were considered for this analysis. Lymphadenectomy is utilized routinely in 26/48 centers (54.2%) and in selective clinical–pathological conditions in another 21/48 centers (43.5%). In the majority of centers (31/48; 64.6%) radical surgery is utilized for selected indications such as cervical involvement. Only 3/48 (6.2%) centers consider the vaginal approach totally inappropriate. The great majority (40/48; 83.3%) of the centers considered postsurgical adjuvant therapy to be necessary in FIGO Stage Ic. Brachytherapy is routinely performed in 3 centers (6.2%) in postsurgical management of Stage I endometrial cancer, while the majority of the centers (31/48; 64.6%) perform brachytherapy of the vaginal vault in certain clinical–pathological conditions. A wide variety of treatments are used for advanced stages (FIGO III–IV).Conclusions.It emerges that some controversial aspects exist on endometrial cancer treatment, and these conflicting data need a large-scale multicenter randomized clinical trial.     

Posterior Laryngeal Clefts: Preliminary Report of a New Surgical Procedure Using Tibial Periosteum As an Interposition Graft

Objective: To present the preliminary results of a new surgical procedure for posterior laryngeal cleft repair. Design: Retrospective study in an academic tertiary care center. Method: The study included three male patients (age at surgery, 2, 13, and 14 mo). One presented with severe aspiration and cyanotic attacks, the two others with aspiration and recurrent chest infections. The types of laryngeal clefts included complete cleft of the cricoid with varying degrees of tracheal involvement but not further than the first six tracheal rings. Associated malformations included one VATER syndrome, one esophageal atresia, and one tracheoesophageal fistula. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia with nasotracheaI intubation. A vertical anterior laryngofissure was performed. The mucosal margins of the clefts were incised and then repaired in two layers with polyglactin sutures. The original feature of this procedure was the interposition of a small piece of tibial periosteum between the two layers. This fascia graft is known to be strong and resistant in cleft palate surgery. Main Outcome Measure: Clinical and endoscopic follow-up was used for evaluation of results. Results: The three patients had successful laryngeal repair at a mean follow-up of 6 months (range, 4-14 mo). Conclusion: The anterior laryngofissure provides a good surgical access to the cleft. The interposition of tibial periosteum allows durability of the cleft repair. A longer follow-up is needed to confirm these preliminary results. A computed tomography scan study and a study on the rabbit are planned in order to evaluate the outcome of these periosteal grafts.     

Effects of super-extended paraaortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) on biological responses in totally gastrectomized patients with T3 or T4 gastric cancer

Background. In Japan, much attention has recently been paid to super-extended paraaortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. However, it has been reported that PAL is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as compared to conventional extended lymphadenectomy (D2 or D3). Therefore, an analysis of the effects of PAL on perioperative changes in the biological responses of patients essential for determining the potential utility of this procedure. Methods. The current non-randomized prospective study included evaluations of perioperative changes in parameters of surgical stress (series I; serum levels of antidiuretic hormone, interleukin-6, trypsin, and phospholipase A ₂ ) and immunocompetence (series II; phytohemagglutinin- and concanavalin A-induced blastogenesis, activity of natural killer cells and the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (T3 or T4), comparing groups treated with D3 plus PAL ( n = 12) and D3 ( n = 13), and a control group with early gastric cancer ( n = 16) treated with D1 lymphadenectomy (perigastric N1 nodes) between April 1995 and April 1997. Results. The duration of surgery and the amount of blood lost were longer and greater in the D3 plus PAL group than in the D3 and D1 groups. D3 plus PAL and D3 were associated with significant postoperative increases in parameters of surgical stress, as well as with significant postoperative immunosuppression, compared to results with D1. However, there were no significant differences in the respective parameters between the D3 plus PAL and D3 groups. Conclusions. Our results indicate that there are no essential differences in patients' biological responses between D3 plus PAL and D3 lymphadenectomy. It appears that PAL-associated morbidity can be minimized by very careful manipulation during the dissection of paraaortic lymph nodes. Received for publication on Feb. 10, 1998; accepted on Jun. 3, 1998