Sentinel lymph node localization and staging with a low-dose of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) enhanced MRI and magnetometer in patients with cutaneous melanoma of the extremity - The MAGMEN feasibility study

BackgroundIn patients with melanoma, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status is pivotal for treatment decisions. Current routine for SLN detection combines Technetium^99m (Tc⁹⁹) lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye (BD). The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a low dose of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) injected intracutaneously to detect and identify the SLN, and the secondary aim was to investigate if a low dose of SPIO would enable a preoperative MRI-evaluation of SLN status.MethodsPatients with melanoma of the extremities were eligible. Before surgery, a baseline MRI of the nodal basin was followed by an injection of a low dose (0.02–0.5 mL) of SPIO and then a second MRI (SPIO-MRI). Tc⁹⁹ and BD was used in parallel and all nodes with a superparamagnetic and/or radioactive signal were harvested and analyzed.ResultsFifteen patients were included and the SLNB procedure was successful in all patients (27 SLNs removed). All superparamagnetic SLNs were visualized by MRI corresponding to the same nodes on scintigraphy. Micrometastatic deposits were identified in four SLNs taken from three patients, and SPIO-MRI correctly predicted two of the metastases. There was an association between MRI artefacts in the lymph node and the dose SPIO given.DiscussionIt is feasible to detect SLN in patients with melanoma using a low dose of SPIO injected intracutaneously compared with the standard dual technique. A low dose of SPIO reduces the lymph node MRI artefacts, opening up for a non-invasive assessment of SLN status in patients with cancer.     

Increased hospital costs are associated with low skeletal muscle mass in patients undergoing elective open aortic surgery

Objective

Low psoas muscle area is shown to be an indicator for worse postoperative outcome in patients undergoing vascular surgical. Additionally, it has been associated with longer durations of hospital stay in patients with cancer who undergo surgery and subsequently greater health care costs in Europe and the United States. We sought to evaluate this effect on hospital expenditure for patients undergoing vascular repair in a health care system with universal access.

Surgical management for chronic pain

Chronic pain in the UK affects up to 43% of the population. The consequences include physical and psychological distress, loss of function, employment, family and social strain and increased utilization of healthcare services. Modern pain management services operate across primary, secondary and tertiary care and incorporate general practitioners, psychologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, specialist nurses, pain physicians and surgeons. This allows for a coordinated approach to chronic pain, engaging the patient in a structured pathway from conservative measures, through to surgery if necessary. Surgical interventions have been utilized effectively throughout the 20^th century for the treatment of a variety of conditions, some of which are now effectively managed with improved pharmacological approaches or novel neuromodulation techniques. Ablative procedures that aim to permanently interrupt the pain pathway still represent the final solution for some conditions, particularly those with cancer associated pain; however, the search for less invasive, less risky measures continues. This is stimulated by an increased understanding of the neurobiology of pain transmission and the physiological changes which occur in persistent pain.     

Cataract Surgery in HIV Seropositive Patients: Long-Term Follow-Up

Purpose: To study epidemiology and clinical findings of cataract in HIV+ patients.

Methods: A total of 32 HIV+ patients, 11 with uveitis/retinitis before surgery and 21 without, mean follow-up 44.9 ± 36.6 months, and 114 HIV- patients, 57 with uveitis/retinitis before surgery and 57 without, were retrospectively compared.

Results: Visual acuity improved in all HIV+ patients (p < 0.001), who were younger (p = 0.01) and more frequently males (p = 0.027). HIV+ patients with uveitis prior surgery improved less (p = 0.046) than HIV- (p < 0.001); their anterior chamber inflammation was similar to baseline. Male sex (p = 0.005), younger age (p < 0.001), dyslipidaemia (p = 0.058), HBV+ (p = 0.037), and unilateral cataract (p = 0.001) were more frequent in HIV+ patients with senile cataract, but they showed the same postoperative course as HIV- patients.

Conclusion: Cataract surgery in HIV+ patients is safe and effective. Uveitis prior to surgery did not significantly affect the postoperative course. Systemic comorbidities are more frequent in HIV+ patients with senile cataract than in HIV- subjects.     

Risk factors and management of stoma-related obstruction after laparoscopic colorectal surgery with diverting ileostomy

BackgroundStoma-related obstruction (SRO) is defined as small bowel obstruction occurring around the limbs of diverting ileostomy (DI). This study was aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and management of SRO after laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DI creation.MethodsThis study included 155 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DI creation for rectal cancer (n = 138), ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 14), and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (n = 3) between 2011 and 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of SRO.ResultsThe incidence of SRO was 7.7% (n = 12), and it was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in patients with lower anterior resection or intersphincteric resection (4.3%) than in those with ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) (35.2%). The multivariate analysis revealed that IPAA was independently associated with the development of SRO (P = 0.001; odds ratio, 9.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.5–35.4). Eleven of 12 patients (92%) with SRO required trans-stomal tube decompression, and 8 of those (67%) underwent early stoma closure.ConclusionIPAA was an independent risk factor of SRO in laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DI creation. Early stoma closure was needed in most cases of SRO.     

Antibiotic prophylaxis in orthognathic surgery: an overview of systematic reviews

The purpose of this overview was to assess different antibiotic regimens used in orthognathic surgery and to establish an evidence-based protocol so that beneficial and adverse effects can be determined. A comprehensive literature search for systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library until March 2020. Grey literature was investigated in Google Scholar, and a manual search was done of references lists. Two meta-analyses and four systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. The AMSTAR-2-tool was used to ascertain the potential risk of bias in the included studies, which presented moderate to high methodological quality. Lower infection rates were associated with long-term therapies of penicillin, cefazolin-cephalexin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic-acid, with rates varying from 0% - 3.13%. Higher rates were reported in placebo groups (52.6%) and short-term penicillin therapy (60%). Side effects were reported with cefazolin, clindamycin, and penicillin therapies, including nausea, pain, swelling, headache, vomiting, and skin rash. Evidence suggests that long-term antibiotics can reduce the risk of a surgical site infection (SSI) in orthognathic surgery, but there is uncertainty regarding the effects of one dose of antibiotics preoperatively versus short-term antibiotics. In the same way, intravenous penicillin, cefazolin, clindamycin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid kept the infection rates associated with bimaxillary procedures under 3.5%.