Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation as a Treatable Cause of Progressive Brown-Sequard Syndrome

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation is a rare spinal cord disorder caused by spinal cord prolapse through a adural defect. It is a curable disease, so early detection is of particular importance. We report a 38-year-old woman with Brown-Sequard syndrome which was caused by the thoracic spinal cord herniation. Her weakness was almost completely resolved after surgical management, which emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and surgical management in this rare disease entity.     

Choice of general practice for postgraduate training among medical graduates and undergraduates in Nigeria

A questionnaire survey of career choices was carried out among 112 medical graduates, after one year's internship (group I), during their National Youth Corps programme in Kaduna, Lagos, Cross River and Oyo states of Nigeria, and 365 final-year medical undergraduates (group 2) in the colleges of medicine in the corresponding states. A total of 13% in group I and 40% in group 2 were undecided as regards their first choice. Obstetrics and gynaecology was the most popular first choice in both groups. General practice ranked fifth among group I, but displaced surgery to rank second among group 2. The differences were statistically significant. A total of 41% of group I and 46% of group 2 preferred to work in a teaching hospital, reflecting the high preference for surgical specialties. Twenty-six per cent and 33.7% of respondents in groups 1 and 2 respectively wished to own their own practice or work in the private sector. General practice is a new specialty and its growth is supported by a national postgraduate training programme. A shift towards general practice is seen compared with previous studies of career preference among Nigerian medical graduates and students. This may be due to a changing balance of supply and demand in the medical work-force, or a better assessment of the nation's health problems and manpower needs.     

36例胰腺浆液性囊腺瘤的临床分析

目的：探讨胰腺浆液性囊腺瘤的诊断和治疗。方法：对1998年6月至2006年9月瑞金医院收治的36例病理诊断为胰腺浆液性囊腺瘤的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果：胰腺浆液性囊腺瘤好发于中老年女性,多见于胰腺头颈部,无特征性临床表现。B超和CT诊断囊性肿瘤的正确率分别为69%（25/36）和94%（34/36）。CT对于囊腺瘤的诊断正确率为80%（29/36）,对浆液性囊腺瘤的诊断正确率为61%（22/36）。在不能排除或考虑实性假乳头状瘤的病人中MRI对于囊腺瘤的诊断正确率80%（4/5）。本组35例行手术治疗,其中7例行胰十二指肠切除;11例行胰腺节段切除;12例行胰体尾切除;5例行局部切除,1例行剖腹探查活组织检查。10例术后出现并发症,包括胰瘘、内出血、幽门梗阻、胰腺假性囊肿合并肠瘘病人及不同程度的胸腔积液。1例因内出血死亡。本组3例失访,32例获随访,除2例因其它疾病死亡,其余均健在,术后无复发。结论：CT和MRI,结合肿瘤学指标和临床病理特征可大大提高浆液性囊腺瘤的术前诊断率。浆液性囊腺瘤是一种良性的肿瘤,但手术治疗并发症较多。大多数浆液性囊腺瘤可考虑随访;有症状的胰腺浆液性囊腺瘤,或与黏液性囊性肿瘤不能鉴别者,应手术治疗。     

全腹膜外补片植入术中补片不固定的实验研究

目的评价全腹膜外补片植入术中补片不固定的安全性和有效性。方法将50只SD大鼠建立疝缺损(3cm2)模型,按随机数字表分为2组,使用聚丙烯补片(12 cm2)采用腹膜外补片植入术进行修复。甲组为补片固定组,乙组为补片不固定组。大鼠于术后不同时间分批处死,记录补片的挛缩度、腹壁抗张强度以及组织细胞学变化。结果所有大鼠术后腹腔均无粘连。2组大鼠在术后7 d、14 d、30 d、60 d和90 d补片的挛缩度分别为6.7%±1.3%vs 7.3%±1.5%、12.3%±1.3%vs 12.4%±1.6%、14.0%±2.0%vs 14.5%±1.3%、17.4%±2.1%vs 18.4%±1.5%和18.9%±2.2%vs19.5%±2.6%(P>0.05);2组大鼠的腹壁抗张强度分别为(288.4±8.4)mm Hg vs(286.6±10.2)mm Hg、(300.4±11.2)mm Hg vs(298.8±11.4)mm Hg、(305.0±11.7)mm Hg vs(303.3±16.1)mm Hg、(309.0±10.8)mm Hg vs(307.6±8.9)mm Hg和(311.8±9.8)mm Hg vs(310.0±8.6)mm Hg(P>0.05);2组大鼠的组织细胞学变化一致。结论当补片面积是大鼠疝缺损的4倍以上时,不固定的腹膜外补片植入术是安全有效的。     

Early outcomes of surgery for small bowel obstruction: analysis of risk factors

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to review the etiologies of patients who underwent surgery for small bowel obstruction (SBO) and to evaluate the risk factors affecting the early postoperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case series of 430 patients (252 men) with a mean age of 64.5 years, who underwent 437 operations for SBO, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Peritoneal adhesions and hernia were the most common causes of SBO, contributing 42.3 and 26.8% of all cases, respectively. Strangulation occurred in 27.7% and caused nonviable bowel in 13.0% of obstructing episodes. Old age (age >/= 70 years), female patient, nonadhesive obstruction, and hernia were the independent significant factors associated with bowel strangulation. The 30-day mortality was 6.5%, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 8 days. Old age, the presence of premorbid pulmonary disease, and malignant obstruction were the independent factors associated with operative mortality. The overall complication rate was 35.5%, and old age was the only significant factor associated with postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for SBO is still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. As old age is significantly associated with an increased incidence of strangulation, operative mortality, and complications, this group of patients should be managed with extra cautions to avoid unfavorable outcome of surgery.     

Surgery for ventricular tachycardia in patients undergoing surgical ventricular restoration: The Karolinska approach

This article presents a review on the efficacy of surgical ventricular restoration and direct surgery for ventricular tachycardia in patients with left ventricular aneurysm or dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy. The procedure includes a non-electrophysiologically guided subtotal endocardiectomy and cryoablation in addition to endoventricular patch plasty of the left ventricle. Coronary artery bypass surgery and mitral valve repair are performed concomitantly as needed. In our experience, this procedure yielded a 90% success rate in terms of freedom from spontaneous ventricular tachycardia, with an early mortality rate of 3.8%. A practical guide to the pre- and postoperative management of these patients is provided. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Inguinal hernia is a common complication in lower midline incision surgery

Inguinal hernia is a known complication after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). We have investigated whether other types of lower midline incision surgery in males increase the risk of inguinal hernia. Male patients operated with open prostatectomy for benign prostate hyperplasia (n = 95), pelvic lymph node dissection for staging of prostate cancer (n = 88), or cystectomy for bladder cancer (n = 76) were identified and were sent questionnaires in which they were asked about postoperative inguinal hernia morbidity. Two-hundred and seventy-one men operated with RRP had previously received a similar questionnaire. The answers were compared with those from a control group of 953 men who had not undergone surgery. Annual attributional hernia morbidity and Kaplan–Meier hernia-free survival were calculated. The cumulative incidence of post-operative inguinal hernia and annual attributional hernia morbidity after the respective surgical procedures were clearly higher during the early years post-operation than for nonoperated patients. Inguinal hernia is a common postoperative complication in males after all the lower midline incision surgery investigated.     

计算机辅助手术的发展状况和展望——参加第17届国际计算机辅助放射学及手术大会（CARS 03）后记

计算机辅助手术和治疗(IGST)是一个新兴的多学科交叉的研究领域,近年来取得了飞速的发展.作为该领域顶级会议之一的国际计算机辅助放射学及手术大会(CARS2003)于2003年6月25至28日在英国伦敦伊丽莎白二世国际会议中心隆重举行了第17届会议.本文将对这次大会作一回顾和总结,内容包括科学论文方面的评论和产品展览方面的情况.     

板层角膜移植治疗绿脓杆菌性角膜溃疡的临床价值

目的探讨绿脓杆菌性角膜溃疡的病理机制及安全有效的治疗方法。方法应用板层角膜移植术治疗即将穿孔的绿脓杆菌性角膜溃疡，并对病变组织做病理活检。结果２１例（２１只眼）均获得一次手术便可有效控制角膜炎症、成功恢复角膜外形及保留较好视力的理想效果。组织病理学显示，该病除有严重的炎症坏死性改变外，角膜缘球结膜与巩膜、角膜溃疡周围及溃疡底部均有大量淋巴细胞浸润、角膜胶原变性水肿及新生血管伸入。结论绿脓杆菌性角膜溃疡可能存在炎症反应与变态反应共同参与的病理机制，板层角膜移植术能有效阻断上述机制而获理想临床效果。