Morphologic changes of the liver following chemotherapy for metastatic breast carcinoma: CT findings

Thirty patients with metastatic breast carcinoma to the liver underwent systemic chemotherapy. Twentyfour of these patients also received hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, three in conjunction with hepatic artery embolization. The morphologic changes of the liver believed to be due to chemotoxic effect of treatment occurred in 27 patients, and were evaluated by serial computed tomography (CT) examinations. These included fatty changes in seven patients, severe cirrhotic changes in four, localized atrophy with regional contour changes in three, and areas of low density in the regions of previously treated metastases in 13. The CT features of cirrhosis included density changes along with nodular irregularity of the hepatic borders with marked decrease in liver size and development of ascites.     

神经内镜手术后发热反应的临床观察及其意义

目的总结和分析神经内镜术后发热反应的特点。方法回顾性分析88例符合纳入标准的行神经内镜手术治疗病人的临床资料。将病人按手术方式分为5组：外侧裂蛛网膜囊肿造瘘组（SAC）、脑室内蛛网膜囊肿切除组（VAC）、透明膈造瘘组（SPF）、第三脑室底造瘘组（ETV）、脉络丛烧灼术组（CPC），分别总结各组病人的术后发热反应特点。结果术后发热反应以CPC组最重。术后达到最高体温的时间所有病人均不超过术后第3天。ETv组术后最高体温可出现在手术后当El的数小时内．而非ETv组病人无此现象。结论电凝烧灼、坏死组织残留、下丘脑刺激、脑脊液循环能力等多种因素．使神经内镜手术后可出现不同程度的发热反应。     

Influence of statins on postoperative wound complications after inguinal or ventral herniorrhaphy

The lipid-lowering agents, statins, are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs in the western world. Because of their widespread use, many patients undergo surgical procedures while on statins. Statins, in addition to cholesterol-lowering effects, also have anticoagulant, immunosuppressive, and antiproliferative properties that may affect the risk of local wound complications. This study investigated the relationship between statins and postoperative wound complications in a large cohort of patients undergoing inguinal or ventral hernia repair. Data mining was performed in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)16 Data Warehouse. This database contains clinical and demographic information about all veterans cared for at the ten VA Medical Centers that comprise the South Central VA Healthcare Network in the mid-south region of the US. Aggregate data (age, body mass index, smoking history, gender, race, history of diabetes, statin use, and postoperative wound complications) were obtained for all patients who underwent inguinal or ventral hernia repair during the period October 1, 1996–November 30, 2004. During the period of the query, 10,782 patients (10,676 male, 106 female), 1,242 (11.5%) of whom received statins, underwent herniorrhaphy. Statin use did not affect the risk of wound infection or delayed wound healing. Statin use was, however, associated with an increased rate of local postoperative bleeding complications (P=0.01). When the type of hernia, age, smoking, diabetes, and body mass index were included in a multivariate analysis, statins remained borderline significant as an independent predictor of wound hematoma/postoperative bleeding (P=0.04), odds ratio 1.6 (95% CI 1.03–2.44). Patients who undergo inguinal herniorrhaphy while on statins have an increased risk of postoperative wound hematoma/hemorrhage. Focus on additional factors that may affect the propensity to postoperative bleeding and on meticulous intraoperative hemostasis are particularly important in such patients.     

安定东莨菪碱在产程中的联合应用（附176例分析）

产程延长传统处理方法是应用催产素静脉点滴，根据安定能选择性使宫颈肌纤维松驰；东莨菪碱能扩张血管，改善微循环，解除平滑肌痉挛，使宫颈水肿消失或减轻，我院妇产科自1988年5月至1989年4月，对176例在产程延长或宫颈水肿的产妇，联合应用安定、东莨菪碱，取得良好的效果，本文介绍了应用方法，并对二药的药理作用进行了讨论。     

RESULTS OF EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY IN 448 PATIENTS WITH CLINICALLY LOCALIZED ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE PROSTATE

The results of external beam radiotherapy for clinically localized adenocarcinorna of the prostate in 448 patients treated in the period 1980–90 were reviewed. The average follow up was 4.9 years. The patients were aged 44–87 years (median 69 years) and all had histopathological evidence of adenocarcinoma by needle biopsy or transurethral resection of prostate. The histopathological grading was: 127 G₁; 154 G₂; 127 G₃; 12 G₄; 28 G_x. Clinical staging according to TNM (American Urological Association) was: 29 T₀ (A2); 4 T₁ (B1); 173 T₂ (B2); 176 T₃ (C1); 63 T₄ (C2); 3 T_x. Routine surgical pelvic lymph node staging was not performed but patients had radiological (computerized tomography scan or lymphogram) nodal staging: 350 N₀; 22 N₁; 12 N₂; 64 N_x. High energy linear accelerator external beam radiotherapy was given by multiple fields to total doses of 50–70 Gy (median 60 Gy). The majority of patients (307, 69%) was treated by a uniform policy under the care of one radiation oncologist (HM). The rates of local and distant failure at 5 years were 10% (s.e. = 2%) and 42% (s.e. = 3%), respectively. The late complication rate at 5 years was 25% (s.e. = 2%), comprising mild 16%, moderate 7% and severe 1.3%. The 5 year overall survival rate was 64% (s.e. = 2%) and the cancer-specific survival rate was 74% (s.e. = 3%). Both histological grade and clinical stage were strongly predictive of overall survival and distant failure. Only histological grade was predictive of local failure. Treatment with external beam radiotherapy for this common cancer resulted in survival and disease control rates that compare favourably with other published radiotherapy series and has been accompanied by acceptably low morbidity.     

Could bipolar vessel sealers prevent bile leaks after hepatectomy?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this work was to test the feasibility of using a bipolar low thermal acting system inducing collagenic sealing but not protein coagulation to secure hepatic parenchyma cutting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive hepatectomies were carried out using kellyclasy plus ligatures and clips (controls), while the following 50 hepatectomies used kellyclasy plus bipolar vessels sealer (BVS). Blood loss, duration of hepatic pedicle clamping, length of hospital stay, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in blood loss and duration of clamping between controls and BVS. Specific complications (9/21 in the control group vs 1/49 for the BVS group, p<0.00045) and length of hospital stay (14 days in the control group vs 11 days in the BVS group, p<0.014) were statistically lower in BVS group than in the controls, mainly due to prevention of bile duct leakages. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that BVS may be particularly efficient to achieve bilistasis leading to the highest level of safety in performing hepatectomies. Further studies are now needed to confirm its superiority on the classical biliary ducts occlusion techniques.     

玻璃体视网膜手术后早期低眼压和睫状体脱离的临床观察

目的 观察玻璃体视网膜手术后早期睫状体脱离的发生率及其自然病程，并分析其与手术后早期低眼压的关系。方法 利用超声生物显微镜检查(UBM)连续观察行玻璃体视网膜手术治疗的患者46例46只眼。按玻璃体视网膜手术后不同填充内容分组：气体填充组11例11只眼，硅油填充组8例8只眼，平衡盐溶液（BSS）填充组27例27只眼。按手术后眼压分组：眼压<10 mm Hg（1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)组25例25只眼，≥10 mm Hg组21例21只眼。玻璃体视网膜手术后第3天行UBM确定有无睫状体脱离，手术后每天用非接触眼压计监测眼压，有睫状体脱离者每隔7 d复查1次，直至睫状体脱离复位，所有患者均随访观察14～35 d。结果 手术后睫状体脱离20例，占本组患者的43.5％。无睫状体脱离者26例，占本组患者的56.5%。玻璃体视网膜手术后气体填充组睫状体脱离发生率 27.3％，硅油填充组25.0％，而BSS填充组为55.6％。睫状体脱离者手术后平均眼压(6.47±4.49) mm Hg （1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa），无睫状体脱离者平均眼压(15.61±7.72) mm Hg，两者差异有统计学意义（t=8.031,P＜0.001）。手术后眼压<10 mm Hg组患者睫状体脱离发生率为68.0％，眼压≥10 mm Hg组患者睫状体脱离发生率为14.3％，两组差异有统计学意义(χ2＝15.60, P＜0.001)。玻璃体视网膜手术后早期睫状体脱离患者除1例因低眼压引起视盘水肿而需行气体填充外，其余患者均在手术后30 d内自行复位。结论 手术后早期睫状体脱离是玻璃体视网膜手术的常见并发症。玻璃体视网膜手术后行BSS填充患者手术后睫状体脱离的发生率高。绝大多数患者睫状体脱离能够在玻璃体视网膜手术后30 d内自行复位。     

Risk groups for clinical complications of norovirus infections: an outbreak investigation

Norovirus infections have been described as self-limiting diseases of short duration. An investigation of a norovirus outbreak in a university hospital provided evidence for severe clinical features in patients with several underlying diseases. Clinical outcomes of norovirus infection were defined. Risk-factor analysis targeting underlying diseases and medication was performed using multivariate analyses. In five outbreak wards, 84 patients and 60 nurses were infected (an overall attack rate of 32% in patients, and 76% in nurses). The causative agent was the new variant Grimsby virus. Severe clinical features, including acute renal failure, arrhythmia and signs of acute graft organ rejection in renal transplant patients, were observed in seven (8.3%) patients. In multivariate analyses, cardiovascular disease (OR 17.1, 95% CI 2.17-403) and renal transplant (OR 13.0, 95% CI 1.63-281) were risk-factors for a potassium decrease of >20%. Age >65 years (OR 11.6, 95% CI 1.89-224) was a risk-factor for diarrhoea lasting >2 days. Immunosuppression (OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.78-20.1) was a risk-factor for a creatinine increase of >10%. Norovirus infections in patients with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, renal transplant and immunosuppressive therapy may lead to severe consequences typified by decreased potassium levels, increased levels of C-reactive protein and creatine phosphokinase. In the elderly, norovirus infection may lead to an increased duration of diarrhoea. Therefore patients at risk should be hospitalised early and monitored frequently. Strict preventional measures should be implemented as early as possible to minimise the risk of nosocomial outbreaks.     

Multicentre prospective audit of surgical outcomes and acute complications following short course pre-operative radiotherapy for resectable rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The addition of short course pre-operative radiotherapy to total mesorectal excision reduces local recurrence in resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum. In a previous retrospective study potential factors associated with early complications following this combination were identified. The aim of this study was to examine these relationships in a prospective multicentre audit. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients who received short course pre-operative radiotherapy in four cancer centres between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002 were included. Data including patient age, radiotherapy field length, overall treatment time, operation type, surgical outcomes and complications occurring within 3 months of the 1st day of radiotherapy were collected. These were compared and combined with the previously studied cohort of 176 patients treated at one centre between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 1999. RESULTS: In the prospective cohort only patient age (P=0.001) was significantly associated with acute complications. However, both the overall treatment time (median 9.0 vs 11.0 days P <0.0001) and field length (median 16.6 vs 17.0 cm P=0.03) were significantly shorter in this cohort when compared to the previous retrospective study. In patients from both studies (n=283), increasing age (P=0.002) and field length (independent of operation type) (P=0.02) were independently associated with an increased risk of acute complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that meticulous selection of patients for short course pre-operative radiotherapy and smaller planning target volumes may be associated with a lower risk of acute complications. The use of MRI scanning to stage pelvic disease may reduce the number of patients with R1 resections receiving short course pre-operative radiotherapy.     

Current practice patterns in pancreatic surgery: Results of a multi-institutional analysis of seven large surgical departments in germany with 1454 pancreatic head resections, 1999 to 2004 (german advanced surgical treatment study group)

Despite decreasing mortality rates, morbidity is still high after pancreatic head resection. Comparative data in the United States and Europe show a relationship between hospital volume and mortality. Treatment strategies vary frequently, partially because of the lack of evidence-based data. We performed a multi-institutional analysis in Germany evaluating current numbers, indications, techniques, and complication rates of pancreatic head resection. Questionnaires were completed by seven high-volume surgical departments regarding quantitative and qualitative aspects of pancreatic head resections in the period from 1999 to 2004 (five prospective and two retrospective institutional databases). A total of 1454 pancreatic head resections (944 for malignancy) were reported. Mean annual hospital volume ranged from 14 to 52 (10 to 43 in malignancy). Mortality was between 1.1% and 4.8%, morbidity was between 24% and 46%, and pancreatic leakage was between 9% and 20%. In malignant disease, all centers perform standard lymphadenectomy and regard arterial infiltration as a contraindication for resection. However, the rate of portal vein resection varied from 0% to 28%. No consensus is seen on the type of surgery for malignancy and chronic pancreatitis. After resection for pancreatic cancer less than one fourth of the patients receive adjuvant therapy. The results of our analysis in Germany confirm that pancreatic head resection can be performed with low mortality in specialized units. Variations in indications, operative technique, and perioperative care may demonstrate the lack of evidence-based data and/or personal and institutional experience. The low number of patients receiving adjuvant therapy after resection of pancreatic cancer suggests that more efforts must be made to establish novel adjuvant therapies under randomized study conditions. Presented at the Forty-Sixth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Chicago, Illinois, May 14–18, 2005 (oral presentation).