Pain management in ambulatory surgery.

Successful ambulatory surgery is dependent on analgesia that is effective, has minimal adverse effects, and can be safely managed by the patient at home after discharge. A number of studies have identified that the provision of effective postoperative analgesia is inadequate for a significant proportion of patients. The following discussion details the current available analgesic options for ambulatory surgery patients and the rationale for their use. Preemptive analgesia should be given to all patients unless there are specific contraindications. Consideration should be given to the use of long-acting oral COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and long-acting oral opioids to treat postoperative pain. A standardized multimodal postdischarge analgesic regimen tailored to the patient's expected postoperative pain levels should be prescribed. Patient follow-up by telephone questionnaire will confirm those surgical procedures that result in mild or moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and the effectiveness of treatment plans.     

Comparing reconstruction with ileocecal graft to jejunal interposition pouch after total gastrectomy in rats.

After total gastrectomy, the ileocecal graft may act as a reservoir and protect against reflux but give rise to transposition of the ileum and cause possible changes in bile acid metabolism and nutrition. This study compared the ileocecal graft and jejunal pouch. Male Wistar rats weighing 265 +/- 22 g were submitted to sham operation (S), ileocecal interposition graft (IIG), and jejunal pouch interposition graft (JP) after total gastrectomy. Eight weeks later, the esophagus was examined for evidence of esophagitis. Nutritional biochemistry and weight profile were documented preoperatively and 8 weeks after surgery. The oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Thirty-three rats were operated on and 30 survived for 8 weeks. Esophagitis occurred in seven JP rats. Body weight was significantly higher in IIG than in JP rats (p < .05). Normal glucose tolerance to intragastric glucose load was observed in sham and operated rats. JP rats had a significant decrease in serum albumin, glucose, transferrin, hemoglobin, iron, folate, and calcium, compared to sham (p < .05). Cobalamine was significantly lower in IIG rats than in JP rats (p < .05). In the IIG and JP groups, serum/hepatic total bile acid did not differ significantly from preoperative and sham values. In conclusion, the IIG interposition graft in rats prevented esophagitis, preserved nutrition, and did not interfere with enterohepatic total bile acid circulation.     

Partial vertical laryngectomies and reconstruction with plathysma myocutaneous flap

The authors report on 14 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the glottic region, classified T1, T2 and T3, operated upon by a hemilaryngectomy (9 cases) with reconstruction using a Plathysma myocutaneous flap. The oncological results over a follow-up period of 1 to 6 years and the functional results are analyzed. The authors conclude that this method does not compromise the carcinological result and provides a good functional result with low ratings for complications, with in addition an adequate support for the organ, favouring increased resections.