Omentoplasty in the prevention of deep abdominal complications after surgery for hydatid disease of the liver: a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial. French Associations for Surgical Research

BACKGROUND: Omentoplasty (OP) is thought to fill residual cavity, to assist healing of raw surfaces, and to promote resorption of serosal fluid and macrophagic migration in septic foci. Results published to date, whether retrospective or prospective, are not controlled and are discordant. STUDY DESIGN: The authors investigated whether OP, either filling the residual cavity after unroofing, or covering the hepatic raw surface after pericystectomy, could reduce the rate or severity of deep abdominal complications (DAC) after surgical treatment of hydatid disease of the liver. Between January 1993 and December 1996, 115 consecutive patients (51 males and 64 females, mean age 42+/-16 years [range 10 to 80 years]) with previously unoperated uni- or multilocular hydatid disease of the liver, complicated or not, without other abdominal hydatid disease, were randomly allotted to OP (n = 58) or not (NO) (n = 57) after unroofing, total, or partial pericystectomy. Patients were divided into 2 strata according to the site of the cyst with respect to the diaphragm: a) posterosuperior segments II, VII, and VIII or b) anterior segments III, IV, V, and VI. Main outcomes measures included deep bleeding, hematoma, infection, or bile leakage. Subsidiary measures included wound complications, extraabdominal complications, duration of operation, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding patient demographics, cyst characteristics, intraoperative procedures, search for bile leaks, and intraoperative transfusion requirements. On the other hand, more patients (86%) in NO had associated drainage of the abdominal cavity than in OP (64%) and the duration of operation was 9 minutes longer in OP, but neither of these differences was statistically significant. Less DAC occurred in OP (10%) than in NO (23%) (a posteriori gamma risk < 0.05) and fewer deep abdominal abscesses (0 versus 11%) (p < 0.03). Median duration of hospital stay, however, was similar. CONCLUSIONS: OP decreases the rate of DAC and especially deep abdominal abscess after surgical treatment (unroofing or pericystectomy) for hydatid disease of the liver and should be recommended in this setting.     

Clinical and laboratory characteristics in septic arthritis patients with and without isolated germs

Background

The management of septic arthritis without bacteriological evidence is not well codified.

Dorsal costo-vertebral joint as a rare localization of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis

Background

Septic arthritis of the costovertebral thoracic joint is a rare site infection. We report an isolated case of septic arthritis of the 10th costo-vertebral right joint with osteitis due to Staphylococcus aureus.

Platelet reactivity evaluated with the VASP assay following ticagrelor loading dose in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

The level of platelet reactivity (PR) inhibition obtained after P2Y12-ADP receptor antagonist loading dose (LD) is associated with the ischemic and bleeding risk following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the level of PR inhibition achieved by a 180 mg LD of ticagrelor and the rate of high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) in ACS patients undergoing PCI.

Methods

We performed a multicentre prospective observational study enrolling ACS patients undergoing PCI. Patients were included if they were admitted for ST-elevation myocardial infarction or non ST-elevation ACS. To assess PR, a VASP index was measured at least 6 and within 24 hours following a 180 mg LD of ticagrelor. HTPR was defined as a VASP index ≥ 50%.

Results

One hundred and fifteen patients were included: 31.3% of STEMI, 49.6% of NSTEMI and 19.1% of unstable angina. Following ticagrelor LD the mean VASP index was 17 ± 14%. However the response to ticagrelor was not uniform with a small inter-individual variability: inter quartile range: 7.6–22.8% and a rate of HTPR of 3.5%. A high number of patients, 65.6%, had a VASP index < 16%. None of the baseline characteristics of the study population was associated with PR. In addition, PR was similar in STEMI, NSTEMI and unstable angina (p = 0.9).

Conclusion

In ACS patients the level of PR inhibition achieved by a 180 mg loading dose of ticagrelor is not uniform and the rate of HTPR is 3.5%. A high proportion of patients exhibited a VASP index < 16%.