Intraoperative radiotherapy of upper abdominal tumours

Thirty patients with malignant tumours in the upper abdomen underwent surgery and intraoperalive radiation (IORT), using electron beam, to: the surgical bed, residual or unresected tumour. The technical aspects and results of this treatment are described. Renal, adrenal, bile duct and gastrointestinal tumours were treated. along with several other lesions. The surgical procedure consisted in 10 cases simply of exposure of the tumour for IORT and in 20 the tumour was resected. The TORT dose ranged from 10 to: 20 Gv. In 13 patients, external beam radiation was also given to: residual tumour or to: areas of high risk for recurrence. Chemotherapy was given to: 10 patients. Tolerance to: the combined treatment was acceptable; with few complications related to: IORT.The median follow-up and survival time 23 months (range 4-more than 70 months). Local tumour control rate (or tumour stabilisation) is 90%. Distant metastases developed in 19 patients (63%). The actuarial survival rate for the group projected at 70 months (maximum follow-up) is 37%. IORT in useful in the management of tumours arising in the upper abdominal organs, for palliation surgery or when resectability of the tumour is in doubt. Indications for IORT include patients with uncommon tumours of the upper abdomen who are not be candidates for standardised cancer treatment.Presented at the European Congress of Radiology, Vienna, September 15–20,1991     

妇幼保健院医疗设备配置的思考和探讨

妇幼保健院运营的模式,服务的对象都有别于综合性医院。通过对设备使用效益的调查、分析,提出妇幼保健院医疗设备的配置,应符合本院的特点。配置应遵循:适用性、特色性、经济性、先进性,不可盲目求新、求全,避免设备使用的低效益。     

The relationship between maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal intensive care environment

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the nature and organization of maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal unit. BACKGROUND: The relationship between maternal needs and priorities appears to be an under studied area in neonatal nursing. METHODS: A quantitative survey was carried out based on 209 mothers with premature infants. Two self-assessment schedules were used: critical care maternal needs inventory (J. Leske, Heart and Lung 15, 27-42) and a ranking scale. The data were analysed with multivariate analysis. FINDINGS: Data analysis revealed clear priorities in maternal needs. In particular the need for accurate infant related information was a priority for 93% of the mothers. Good communication practices with professionals were also valued. The mothers displayed altruistic behaviour, and self-related needs took second place. It is proposed that maternal needs demonstrate a hierarchical organization. CONCLUSION: It is important for nurses to consider the individual needs of the mothers, simply because the satisfaction of these needs is essential for maternal well-being.     

Monitoring motor function during resection of tumours in the lower brain stem and fourth ventricle

Objectives Even in the days of modern microsurgery, the removal of a brain stem lesion remains a surgical challenge. Especially when operating on children, the prognosis is directly related to the radicality of the resection; however, a radical resection is often associated with surgical morbidity. Intraoperative neuromonitoring could help to minimise the surgical morbidity, but few studies have been performed to clarify the value of this monitoring. We investigated a prospective series of 21 patients with lesions involving the brain stem for the prognostic value and benefits of neuromonitoring.Methods We performed intraoperative neuromonitoring of cranial nerve function by electromyography (EMG) and motor evoked potential (MEP). The results were correlated with postoperative neurological deficits.Conclusions There is a good correlation between intraoperative neurophysiological events and postoperative neurological deficits in patients with lesions of the brain stem. In general, transient, prolonged, spontaneous activity in EMG is associated with a transient paresis of the respective muscle, whereas a permanent spontaneous activity is associated with a permanent deficit. Intraoperative neuromonitoring reliably predicts postoperative neurological function in patients with tumours of the lower brain stem and fourth ventricle. This neuromonitoring guides the neurosurgeon in the operation and may decrease surgical morbidity. We recommend using monitoring of MEP and EMG of the lower cranial nerves in surgery on all patients with lesions involving the lower brain stem and fourth ventricle.     

原位心脏移植30例临床分析

目的对30例心脏移植进行分析总结。方法30例患者中,24例的原发病为扩张型心肌病,4例为终末期瓣膜性心肌病,1例为终末期缺血性心肌病,1例为病毒性心肌炎行双心室辅助术后1个月。均在体外循环下行原位心脏移植术,3例采用标准心脏移植术式,27例采用双腔静脉吻合心脏移植术式,体外循环时间(75±24)min,主动脉阻断时间(72±8)min。术后采用环孢素A、霉酚酸酯和泼尼松预防排斥反应,根据血环孢素A的浓度调整CsA的用量。术后早期,每天行心肌内心电图及超声心动多普勒监测,以便早期发现急性排斥反应,必要时行心内膜心肌活检。结果30例患者中,术后死亡5例,3例死于低心排,1例死于感染所致的多器官功能衰竭,1例死于出血。术后并发症有低心排、心律失常、三尖瓣返流、右心衰竭、细菌和真菌感染、肾功能异常及血糖升高,上述并发症除导致死亡者外,其余经治疗好转;4例发生急性排斥反应,给予甲泼尼龙冲击治疗,并调整免疫抑制剂的用量后排斥反应逆转。结论术后并发症的预防和及时正确的处理,是心脏移植成功的关键,尤其是对感染、急性排斥反应、右心功能不全及肾功能异常的预防和处理。     

Localization of small intestinal bleeding

The preoperative identification of a bleeding site is not always possible, particularly when bleeding originates in the small intestine. Small vascular abnormalities, such as the telangiectatic lesion described in this report, comprise about 40–60% of such cases. Preoperative location using arteriography, radionuclide bleeding scan, and enteroclysis were nondiagnostic. The lesion was demonstrated by intraoperative endoscopy. A segment of small intestine was resected, and the patient made an uneventful recovery.     

The influence of clinical problems, age and social support on outcomes for elderly persons referred to regional aged care assessment teams

Abstract Background: Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) have been established throughout Australia during the past seven years. Early studies of their effect have concentrated on their impact on the rate of institutionalisation of disabled elderly, the clinical characteristics of referred cases and the relationship between disability and recommended care plan. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between age, clinical features and social characteristics of AC AT subjects with outcomes at 12 months after assessment. Methods: The examination of an arbitrary sample of persons referred to ACATs over a year by one generalist geriatrician with follow-up of all cases by the three ACATs associated with the study was carried out. All analyses were performed on raw data presented as categorical variables in the form of contingency tables. Results: The sample included 324 subjects who suffered from 2030 clinical problems with a mean of 6.5 per person aged 75 or over and 5.5 for those under 75. Cardiovascular and neurological disease were the commonest source of problems. Study of accommodation outcome at 12 months, for those subjects who survived this period revealed that, in the older group, over 60% of subjects with neurological disease were resident in nursing homes while the majority of all other groups remained in the community, as did two-thirds of those aged under 75. Admission to a nursing home was independent of social support for older subjects with neurological disease, but it played a significant role in those with cardiopulmonary or musculoskeletal disease. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that for one-year survivors there is an increased likelihood of admission to a nursing home of people aged 75 or over with neurological disease, while those under 75 were more likely to remain at home. The association was independent of whether spouse, family or friends were living with the subject. (Aust NZ J Med 1994; 24: 378–385.)     

Functional posterior rhizotomy: the Tokyo experience

Purpose The author describes the history of functional posterior rhizotomy (FPR), the surgical procedure currently used, and the results together with its future perspective in Japan. The modern form of FPR was introduced to Japan in 1995, and the first surgery was carried out in 1996. Despite initial resistance from orthopedic surgeons, the procedure has eventually gained wide recognition in the country. Materials and Methods The author has operated on 98 patients (60 boys and 38 girls, aged from 2 to 19 years old) by the end of 2006. Most patients were mild to severely disabled children with spastic hypertonia because of cerebral palsy and other diseases. The surgical procedure used is based on the Peacock’s procedure with some modification for the mildly disabled children whose spasticity was predominantly the muscles of the ankle joint. Intraoperative neurophysiology was an indispensable tool for preserving urogenital function and for judging which root/rootlet to be cut. Results Seventeen to 83% of the root/rootlets were found to be abnormal and were cut, clearly correlating with the degree of disability. However, there was a wide difference in the cutting rate, even in children with the same degree of disability. The result of surgery in this group of patients was the same as in previously published data. Twenty out of 51 patients (39%) followed for more than a year at the current institute showed improved locomotion after FPR. Thirty patients (59%) demonstrated suprasegmental effects after FPR. Conclusion The role of FPR will grow in importance as a treatment for spasticity in Japan in the future.     

颈动脉支架植入术的术中护理干预

目的:探讨颈动脉支架植入术的术中护理干预的疗效及护理。方法:54例患者分为对照组和干预组。对照组(n=21),干预组(n=33),对照组给于常规护理,干预组在常规护理基础上给与认知、心理、行为干预。观察两组的疗效并进行比较。结果:干预组的静脉输液通畅,高压灌注线管理良好,恐惧,意识体征变化,尿潴留均较对照组有明显改善(P<0.01)。结论:在颈动脉支架植入术的术中实行护理干预有重要意义,值得推广应用。