Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and colonic infarction: a risk factor appraisal

OBJECTIVE: Colonic infarction is a recognized complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. The clinical difficulty in establishing the diagnosis combined with the patient's poor physiological status is usually associated with a fatal outcome. We assessed our experience with this problem to identify a possible risk factor profile for these patients. METHOD: Patients records were identified from the operative logs, intensive care unit, Hospital Inpatient Enquiry system and vascular unit databases over a 6-year period. RESULTS: A total of 405 patients underwent AAA repair during this period; 140 as emergency ruptures. Nine patients were identified from the databases with known colonic infarction (2.2%). One was a woman. The mean age was 70 years. Seven patients had emergency ruptures (5%). Twenty independent risk factors were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Significant risk factors identified by using a multivariate analysis included the nature of the presenting patient, preoperative hypotension, prolonged cross-clamp time, intra-operative ischaemia and postoperative acidosis. Confirmatory diagnosis was made by colonoscopy in eight patients. One patient survived following the salvage surgery. The mean duration of survival was 10.5 days. The overall mortality was 89% of patients. CONCLUSION: In our unit infrarenal AAA repair has a 2.2% rate of colonic infarction. A definitive diagnosis is best made by colonoscopy. A risk factor profile for the development of colonic infarction may be constructed on the basis of specific clinical parameters. Earlier intervention on the basis of this profile may ultimately reduce the current excessive mortality.     

Effects of seawater immersion combined with open abdominal injury on the expression of NF-κB,and IκBαof small intestine in rats

Objective To observe effects of seawater immersion combined with open abdominal injury on the expression of NF-κB,and IκBαas well as the change pattern in rats. Methods Ninety-one Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group (n =7), the open abdominal injury group(n =42) and open abdominal injury combined with 1-hour seawater immersion group ( n =42). The expression of NF-κB,andIκBαin small intestine tissues was measured by Western blot and statistical analyses were also made in the study. Results The expression of NF-κB,in the seawater immersion combined with open abdominal injury group increased significantly 3 hours after injury, when compared with that of the open abdominal injury group(P<0. 05), whereas the expression of NF-κB, of the pure injury group was slightly lower than that of the control group, but no statistical differences could be seen between them(P>0.05). The change pattern in the expression of IκBαwas quite the opposite to that of NF-κB. Conclusions NF-κB seemed to be rapidly and persistently involved in the whole inflammatory response to trauma induced by opened abdominal injury and seawater immersion, when a comparison was made with the pure open abdominal injury group. Injuries for the rats in the open abdominal injury combined with seawater immersion group were serious, and the feedback mechanism for NF-κB was not established for quite a long time.     

Acute diverticulitis – clinical presentation and differential diagnostics

Objective To describe the clinical presentation of acute diverticulitis in an emergency department and to characterize the natural history of diverticulitis in the short perspective. Comparisons are made with an important differential diagnosis, nonspecific abdominal pain (NSAP). Method Patients admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain of up to 7 days’ duration were registered prospectively using a detailed schedule for history, symptoms and signs, from 1 February 1997 to 1 June 2000. Of 3349 patients initially included, 3073 (92%) were eligible for follow up after 1–3 years. Results Acute diverticulitis was the final diagnosis in 145 patients and NSAP in 1142 patients. The incidence of hospitalized patients with diverticulitis was 47 per year and 100 000 population, with a mean hospital stay of 3.3 days. Patients with diverticulitis, more frequently than NSAP, had a longer history and laboratory signs of inflammatory activity. Isolated left abdominal tenderness was more common in diverticulitis, whereas isolated right abdominal tenderness was more common in NSAP. Duration of symptoms on arrival was independent of age and was not correlated to C‐reactive protein, leucocytes or body temperature. Sensitivity of diverticulitis as primary diagnosis was 64% and specificity 97%. Corresponding figures for NSAP were 43% and 90% respectively. Age and gender did not influence diagnostic accuracy or risk of surgery. Conclusion Diverticulitis differs significantly from NSAP in clinical presentation and laboratory parameters. Sensitivity of primary diagnosis for diverticulitis and NSAP was low.     

鼻胃管胃肠减压在择期腹部手术中的应用价值

鼻胃管胃肠减压曾被常规应用于择期和急诊的腹部手术后，目的是预防急性胃扩张的发生、治疗梗阻、降低吻合口压力等。但是，鼻胃管置入也会带来一些副作用，如呼吸道并发症、胃-食道反流、体液和电解质的丢失、声带的损伤，以及越来越被重视的患者的不适感。近年来的研究结果也对择期的腹部手术后常规应用鼻胃管胃肠减压提出不同的看法。现重新评价应用鼻胃管胃肠减压的理论基础及相关临床研究的结果，并对鼻胃管胃肠减压在择期腹部手术中的价值作一综述。     

老年腹主动脉瘤非手术治疗的长期超声随访研究

目的超声随访观察经非手术治疗的老年腹主动脉瘤的发展变化规律。方法超声随访诊断明确、病历及影像学资料完整的老年腹主动脉瘤非手术治疗患者37例，按首次发现时瘤体大小分3组，定期测量并记录各组腹主动脉扩张最明显处横切面直径，计算年增长量。结果37例腹主动脉瘤首次发现时瘤径大小平均为4．68cm，随访年限0．5～11年，平均6．1年，瘤径平均每年增长0．47cm。14例瘤径小于4．0cm，平均年增长0．23cm，15例瘤径小于6．0cm，平均年增长0．37cm，8例瘤径大于6．0cm，平均年增长0．67cm。随访期间死亡5例，其中因动脉瘤破裂死亡2例，破裂前瘤径大小分别为8．35cm、8．91cm。7例随访期间因瘤径短期内明显增大而行腹主动脉瘤腔内支架隔绝术。结论老年腹主动脉瘤瘤径小于6．0cm者随增龄增长缓慢，大于6．0cm者随增龄增长快，应进行积极的外科干预。     

The Prospective Assessment of Autonomic Nerve Function by Pupillometry in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The study aimed to compare the longitudinal assessment of autonomic nerve function by computerized infrared pupillometry and standard cardiovascular tests in adolescents with diabetes. Adolescents (n = 150) were assessed at two time points (T1 and T2). The median time interval between assessments was 1.5 (range 0.9–3) years. At T1 the median age was 14.5 (range 8.3–19.5) years and the median duration was 6.5 (range 1.1–16) years. The pupillary variables assessed included the resting pupil diameter, the maximum constriction velocity, and the reflex amplitude of constriction. Heart rate reflexes were assessed in response to deep breathing, the Valsalva manoeuvre, and on standing from a lying position (30/15 ratio). Between visits there was a significant decrease in maximum constriction velocity (6.0 mm s^?1 vs 6.3 mm s^?1, p = 0.0001) and resting pupil diameter (6.2 mm vs 6.3 mm, p = 0.001). At reassessment pupillary abnormalities increased from 32 (21 %) to 45 (30%), with 17 (54 %) of the initial abnormalities persisting. Adolescents with abnormally slow maximum constriction velocity compared to those with normal maximum constriction velocity had a higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c%) at T2 (p = 0.02) and between assessments (p = 0.01). Cardiovascular test abnormalities did not increase between visits and the persistence of initial abnormalities was low (21 %). In summary, pupillometry appears a more sensitive test of autonomic nerve dysfunction in adolescents with diabetes than assessment of cardiovascular reflexes.     

胫骨延长后骨痂直径与新生骨预后关系的临床分析

目的探讨胫骨延长后骨痂直径与新生骨预后的关系.方法 1996年1月～2001年12月,对68例胫骨延长者测量达所需延长长度时的骨痂直径,计算骨痂直径率(callus diameter ratios,CDR);统计拆除外固定架后2～4周时新生骨发生骨折例数及畸形角度,比较骨折和成角畸形与CDR的关系.结果拆除外固定架前胫骨前屈角度5度以上畸形19例,其中11例发生骨折;拆除外固定架后胫骨出现5度以上畸形6例,其中2例骨折;其余43例胫骨延长骨痂正常愈合.计算CDR值:CDR值小于80% 23例,其中发生新生骨骨折13例,成角畸形5度以上者21例;CDR在81%～85%之间6例,成角畸形5度以上4例;CDR值超过86% 39例,无畸形或新生骨骨折.结论胫骨延长时CDR小于80%时,容易发生新生骨骨折和畸形;CDR大于85%时,无新生骨骨折和畸形发生;两组间具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).CDR是判断骨痂能否正常愈合较为理想的检测指标.     

Two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease: improved clinical outcome with restoration of lumbar lordosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar diseases is routine, there are few reports on double-level PLIF. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of double-level PLIF. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective study of operated cases in Gifu, Japan. PATIENT SAMPLE: Nineteen patients (8 men and 11 women, 59.5+/-10.2 years) who underwent double-level PLIF between 1996 and 2001. OUTCOME MEASURES: Operation time, blood loss, complications, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for back pain and lumbar sagittal alignment were evaluated. METHODS: Patients were examined retrospectively at follow-ups of 3.6+/-1.7 years. Primary diseases were spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis and herniated intervertebral disc. Fusion areas were L3 to L5 in 15 cases and L4 to S1 in 4 cases. RESULTS: The mean JOA score increased from an initial score of 12.9+/-3.5 to 21.3+/-4.9 at the final follow-up. There was a positive correlation (R=0.718, p<.001) between the increase in lordotic angle and the increase in the JOA score. Several parameters suggested that the surgical invasiveness was not minimal. CONCLUSION: Double-level PLIF provided satisfactory results and preserved lumbar spine lordosis.