Laparoscopic presacral neurolysis for endometriosis-related pelvic pain

BACKGROUND: Some patients with endometriosis are candidates for sympathectomy of the superior hypogastric plexus. The objective of this paper is to describe our technique of laparoscopic presacral neurolysis for sympathectomy and to report 1 year results of the first 15 cases. METHODS: To achieve this objective in a prospective observational study of 1 year follow-up; we performed laparoscopic presacral chemical neurolysis with phenol in 15 patients with pelvic pain and minimal-moderate endometriosis. The main outcome measures were: the impact of treatment on pelvic symptom resolution, non-opioid analgesic consumption during menses, sexual performance and observed complications and side effects during 1 year follow-up. RESULTS: We noted a significant reduction in total pelvic symptom score as compared with baseline mean (SD) of 9.04 (1.2). The mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] of reduction was 5.7 (4.9-6.5), 5.8 (5.0-6.6) and 5.8 (4.9-6.6) from the baseline at the 3rd, 6th and 12th postoperative month (P < 0.001). We observed a significant improvement in Sabbatberg Sexual Rating Scale as compared with baseline mean (SD) of 30.9 (4.3). The mean difference (95% CI) of increase was 33.4 (30.3-36.4), 33.2 (30.1-36.2) and 33.2 (30.1-36.3) from the baseline at the 3rd, 6th and 12th postoperative month. We observed a significant reduction in analgesic consumption during menses in terms of total naproxen sodium tablets as compared with baseline mean (SD) of 8.9 (1.1). The mean difference (95% CI) of reduction in the total number of naproxen sodium 250 mg tablets was 6.5 (5.5-7.5), 6.7 (5.7-7.7) and 6.6 (5.6-7.6) from the baseline at the 3rd, 6th and 12th postoperative month. The most common side effect was constipation. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic presacral neurolysis is feasible and simple. More data is needed to support its efficacy and safety.     

User-designed information tools to support communication and care coordination in a trauma hospital

BackgroundIn response to inherent inadequacies in health information technologies, clinicians create their own tools for managing their information needs. Little is known about these clinician-designed information tools. With greater appreciation for why clinicians resort to these tools, health information technology designers can develop systems that better meet clinicians’ needs and that can also support clinicians in design and use of their own information tools.ObjectiveTo describe the design characteristics and use of a clinician-designed information tool in supporting information transfer and care coordinationDesignObservations, semi-structured interviews, and photographing were used to collect data. Participants were six nurse coordinators in a high-volume trauma hospital. Content analysis was carried out and interactions with information tools were analyzed.ResultsNurse coordinators used a paper-based information tool (a nurse coordinator’s clipboard) that consisted of the compilation of essential data from disparate information sources. The tool was assembled twice daily through (1) selecting and formatting key data from multiple information systems (such as the unit census and the EHR), (2) data reduction (e.g., by cutting and whitening out non-essential items from the print-outs of computerized information systems), (3) bundling (e.g., organizing pieces of information and taping them to each other), and (4) annotating (e.g., through the use of colored highlighters and shorthand symbols). It took nurse coordinators an average of 41 min to assemble the clipboard. The design goals articulated by nurse coordinators to fit the tool into their tasks included (1) making information compatible with the mobile nature of their work, (2) enabling rapid information access and note-taking under time pressure, and (3) supporting rapid information processing and attention management through the effective use of layout design, shorthand symbols, and color-coding.ConclusionsClinicians design their own information tools based on the existing health information technologies to meet their information needs. The characteristics of these clinician-designed tools provide insights into the “realities” of how clinicians work with health information technologies. The findings suggest an often overlooked role for health information technologies: facilitating user creation of information tools that will best meet their needs.     

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in the Reproductive-Age Female Farmworkers of Southeastern Turkey

Background:

There are limited data on the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the agricultural population worldwide.

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors in the reproductive-age female farmworker.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2013 in southeastern region (SAR) of Turkey. A community-based representative agricultural sample (n = 705) from the agricultural areas of nine provinces of SAR was randomly determined by clustering method using Epi Info software. Questionnaires including demographic information and risk factors of HBV were administered to participants. The presence of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HBe antibodies in blood samples were measured by ELISA.

Results:

The prevalence of the HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HBe antibodies, and seropositivity were 5.7%, 25.9%, 28.9%, 16.4%, and 36.7%, respectively. There was no association between the HBsAg and the size of the household, age, education level, parity, and place of birth while the prevalence of HBsAg was higher in seasonal migratory farmworkers and people living in urban areas and the prevalence of anti-HBs antibody was significantly higher in women ≥ 35 years of age, those with a high parity, and those who gave birth without the assistance of health professionals (P < 0.05). The risk for HBV infection in the seasonal migratory group was 4.3 times higher in comparison to local workers (P = 0.00; OR = 4.3; 95% CI, 2.2-8.4), with a prevalence rate of 11%.

Conclusions:

The monitoring of at-risk groups like seasonal migratory farmworkers is necessary to strengthen the healthcare service provided to this population.     

Clinical outcome of surgically treated low-grade gliomas: A retrospective analysis of a single institute

Objective

Low grade gliomas (LGGs) are slow-growing primary brain tumors with heterogeneous clinical behaviors. The aim of our study is to review the treatment outcome of 63 patients with LGGs focusing on surgical outcome and the current therapeutic strategy.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 63 patients surgically treated for LGGs. The gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 35 patients (60.3%), subtotal resection (STR) was performed in 19 patients (31.7%) and partial resection (PR) or biopsy was performed in 9 patients (14.3%). We analyzed their progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and malignant transformation with regard to age, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), clinical presentation, tumor location, radiologic pattern, contrast enhancement, extent of removal, pathologic subtype, chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) treatment.

Results

Among all LGGs, the 3-year OS rate was 80% and the 5-year OS was 76%. The 3-year PFS rate was 83.6% and the 5-year PFS was 25%. The non-eloquent area location showed a longer PFS than the eloquent area location (p = 0.05). Oligodendroglial pathology showed a longer PFS compared to oligoastrocytomas and astrocytomas (p = 0.02). Patients older than 60 years had poorer OS than younger patients (p < 0.05). Female gender had a shorter OS than male gender (p < 0.05), and a KPS of 90 or 100 had a longer OS than a KPS of 80 (p < 0.05). Oligodendroglial pathology statistically correlated with a longer OS (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings from our study, which were confirmed by uni- and multivariate analyses, demonstrated that radical tumor resection was associated with better long-term outcomes and tumor progression for patients with LGG.     

Surgical management of childhood bronchiectasis due to infectious disease

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate operative risk and to identify indicators of adverse prognosis in patients undergoing resection for childhood bronchiectasis. METHODS: From January 1985 to February 2001, patients undergoing resection for bronchiectasis were studied. The indications for operation were failure of medical therapy in 33 patients (94.2%) and hemoptysis in 2 (5.7%). The mean duration of symptoms was 4.2 years (range, 1-9 years). Surgical treatment included lobectomy in 17 patients (48.5%), pneumonectomy in 7 (20%), lobectomy plus segmentectomy in 5 (14.2%), bilobectomy in 2 (5.7%), and segmentectomy in 4 (11.4%). RESULTS: The operative mortality rate was 2.8%, and the morbidity rate was 17.6%. The mean follow-up in 34 patients was 5.4 years (range, 1-12 years). Overall, 22 patients (64.7%) were asymptomatic after surgery. Clinical improvement was noticed in 8 patients (23.5%), and no improvement was noticed in 4 (11.7%). Complete resection resulted in a significantly better clinical outcome than incomplete resection (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for childhood bronchiectasis can be performed with low mortality and morbidity. Complete resection should be performed when possible.     

Effects of low dose ketamine before induction on propofol anesthesia for pediatric magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate effects of low dose ketamine before induction on propofol anesthesia for children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Forty-three children aged 9 days to 7 years, undergoing elective MRI were randomly assigned to receive intravenously either a 2.5 mg x kg(-1) bolus of propofol followed by an infusion of 100 microg x g(-1) x min(-1) or a 1.5 mg x kg(-1) bolus of propofol immediately after a 0.5 mg x kg(-1) bolus of ketamine followed by an infusion of 75 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). If a child moved during the imaging sequence, a 0.5-1 mg x kg(-1) bolus of propofol was given. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation and respiratory rates were monitored. Apnea, the requirement for airway opening maneuvers, secretions, nausea, vomiting and movement during the imaging sequence were noted. Recovery times were also recorded. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in the propofol group, while blood pressure did not change and heart rate decreased less in the propofol-ketamine group. Apnea associated with desaturation was observed in three patients of the propofol group. The two groups were similar with respect to requirements for airway opening maneuvers, secretions, nausea-vomiting, movement during the imaging sequence and recovery time. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous administration of low dose ketamine before induction and maintenance with propofol preserves hemodynamic stability without changing the duration and the quality of recovery compared with propofol alone.