Is herniography useful?

Herniography has been used for 25 years in the diagnosis of occult herniation but has not gained widespread acceptance in the UK, despite studies confirming its high sensitivity and specificity for occult hernias and an excellent record of safety and patient acceptability. The traditional approach in the UK to suspected occult groin herniation has been surgical exploration. This study examined the use of herniography in a single district general hospital to assess its impact in limiting unnecessary groin explorations and allowing discharge of patients without hernias. The case notes of 90 successive patients referred for herniography by the department of general surgery in a single UK district general hospital over an 18-month period were reviewed. Eighty-seven completed examinations were analysed in which 23 hernias were diagnosed in 20 patients. Thirteen patients have undergone hernia repair with resolution of symptoms. There were no false positive examinations, although two inguinal hernias were incorrectly diagnosed radiologically as femoral hernias; there were two false negative examinations where additional hernias were found at laparoscopic repair. There were no reported complications. Twenty-four patients were discharged directly from the surgical clinic after a negative herniogram. Thirty patients were referred to other specialities. No patient had undergone groin exploration after a negative herniogram. Herniography is a useful tool in assessing obscure groin pain and potential occult herniation. It can reliably rule out the presence of a hernia and avoid the need for surgical exploration. Many patients with a negative herniogram can be reassured and discharged, whilst others may be referred on to other specialities safe in the knowledge that an occult hernia has been excluded.     

The case for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration

The modern surgeon's approach to choledocholithiasis depends his or her view of cholangiography. During the early 1990 there was a swing away from cholangiography, which had previously been common practice. This was because of perceptions of difficulty with the technique, the time it took, and perhaps an implied increase in costs because of the time factor. There was no evidence on which to base this decision. This led to a marked upswing in the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). There were a large number of ERCPs with normal results performed prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This paper states the case for intraoperative cholangiography and common bile duct clearance at the time of cholecystectomy. It is hoped that this technique will be adopted so patients can undergo a single procedure to remove their gallstones and common bile duct stones if they exist and to decrease the incidence of normal preoperative ERCPs and the need for a second procedure postoperatively to clear stones if they are found.     

Results of the routine use of a modified endoprosthesis to drain the common bile duct after laparoscopic choledochotomy

Background: One hundred eighty-one patients were submitted to laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Methods: A transcystic approach was used in 147 patients, choledochotomy in 14, and both in 20. The indications to perform a choledochotomy included stones larger than 20 mm, stones proximal to the cystic duct entrance, and cases in which the transcystic duct approach proved impossible or unsuccessful. Results: The common bile duct was drained by a T-tube in four patients, by laparoscopic sphincterotomy in one, by laparoscopic choledochoduodenostomy in one, and by a 10 Fr endoprosthesis in 28. The stent placement was technically feasible in all patients but one. The biliary drainage was adequate. Mean hospital stay was 2.1 days. Complication was limited to one umbilical infection and one self-limited biliary leak. Conclusions: The procedure proved to be technically simple, safe, and efficient, and resulted in a low morbidity rate and short hospital stay. Received: 29 March 1996/Accepted: 12 June 1996     

Laparoscopic choledochotomy with primary closure

Background: Thirty-three patients were candidates for laparoscopic choledochotomy. The indications for this operation are described. Methods: The procedure was completed 32 times (97%). We had 29 successful common bile duct (CBD) clearances, three negative explorations, and one failed clearance which needed to be converted to laparotomy. All the completed procedures ended with primary closure of the main duct. Median duration of surgery was 180 min (range 100–300), including three associated laparoscopic procedures. Results: There were three postoperative complications (9.4%), none major. Average postoperative hospital stay was 7.1 days (range 4–14). In May–June 1995 we controlled 31 out of the 32 consecutive patients (one patient was lost to follow-up) who had a successful laparoscopic choledochotomy from October 1991 to December 1994. Median follow-up was 22 months (range 5–44). Besides clinical control, 23 patients also had ultrasound (US) controls and 24 had blood tests. Eleven had intravenous cholangiotomography. Two patients died 11 and 22 months after the operation for unrelated causes and without biliary symptoms. Two patients had umbilical hernias. One had a small residual asymptomatic stone, which was removed endoscopically. None had signs of postoperative CBD stricture. At US, CBD was ≤7 mm in 15 patients, 8–10 mm in four patients, and 10–12 mm in three patients. The last group had preoperative CBD dilation, too. We could compare preoperative and postoperative CBD diameters in 22 patients: 11 had no change; in nine it decreased; and two had a slight increase (8–10 mm). Conclusions: We conclude that laparoscopic choledochotomy with primary closure is a very good operation: It has a high success rate and low morbidity. Mortality is nil so far. Medium-term results are very positive: We had no CBD stricture and only one case of asymptomatic residual stone, which could have been avoided. Our results suggest that intraductal biliary drainage is useless, and its specific complications are well known. Received: 20 October 1995/Accepted: 28 February 1996     

Laparoscopic trans-cystic-duct common-bile-duct exploration

One thousand seventy-one consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Routine cholangiography was employed with a 99% success rate. One hundred thirty patients were found to have common duct stones (CBDS). In 48 (37%) patients they were unsuspected. One hundred eleven patients underwent attempted trans-cystic-duct extraction techniques (TCD-CBDE). One hundred three (93%) were successful. The following techniques were employed: 101—biliary endoscopy, 23—ampullary balloon dilation, 2—fluoroscopic basket retrieval.The average operative time was 136 min. The average postsurgical stay was 3.7 days. There were 19 (17%) complications—6 (5%) major. There were 4 retained stones (2 intentional) and 1 death. Patients over 65 years of age had more complications and patients with unsuspected CBDS under 65 years of age had the fewest.TCD-CBDE is a safe, effective way to extract common duct calculi. Endoscopy and basket stone retrieval was the primary technique employed.Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 18–19 April 1994     

内镜鼻胆管引流术在腹腔镜和开腹胆总管探查术中的应用

目的　评价内镜鼻胆管引流术 (Endoscopicnasobiliarydrainage ,ENBD)配合腹腔镜和常规开腹手术治疗胆总管结石的疗效。　方法　回顾分析 1997年 1月～ 2 0 0 1年 7月应用ENBD配合完成腹腔镜胆总管探查、I期缝合术 4 4例及开腹胆总管探查、I期缝合术 34例。　结果　 78例均手术成功 ,术后无胆漏、胆道出血、胆管炎等并发症。术中结石取净率 10 0 % (78 78)。术后住院时间 :腹腔镜组为 (6 2±1 3)d ,开腹组为 (7 4± 2 1)d。随访 5 7例 ,时间 (1～ 4 5 )年 ,平均 2 6年 ,腹部彩色B超检查无胆管狭窄及结石复发。　结论　ENBD配合腹腔镜和开腹胆总管探查取石、胆总管I期缝合术安全、可靠。     

Investigation of the infertile couple: when is the appropriate time to explore female infertility?

While the appropriate method for the investigation of female infertility continues to be debated, the timing of the investigation has received less attention. The current approach is time-consuming, and paradoxically may lead to overtreatment as well as undertreatment. Recent findings on fecundity and the conception window in humans have important implications for the timing of the investigation of female infertility. The findings support the view that fertility-oriented intercourse may have a major impact in reducing the time to pregnancy. Procedures for the investigation of female infertility are becoming less invasive and more accurate, while the therapies for infertility are more effective. It is proposed that under appropriate circumstances female infertility should be investigated after 6 months of fertility-oriented intercourse.     

Actions of theβ-carboline ZK 93426 in an animal test of anxiety and the holeboard: Interactions with Ro 15-1788

Summary The effects of the-carboline ZK 93426, a putative benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, were investigated in the social interaction test of anxiety and in the holeboard. Like the receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788, ZK 93426 (2.5–10 mg/kg) caused a specific reduction in social interaction (interpreted as an anxiogenic effect) and caused a significant elevation in exploratory head-dipping (5 mg/kg). When low (ineffective) doses of both compounds (1 mg/kg ZK 93426; 4 mg/kg Ro 15-1788) were administered together they significantly reduced social interaction. No further reductions in social interaction were observed when effective doses of both compounds (5 mg/kg ZK 93426; 10 mg/kg Ro 15-1788) were tested in combination; it is likely that this is due to almost total benzodiazepine receptor occupancy at effective doses of either compound. When doses of each compound (5 mg/kg ZK 93426; 10 mg/kg Ro 15-1788) that resulted in stimulation of head-dipping were examined in combination, the elevation in exploration was no longer observed. Since at higher doses of both compounds there is an attenuation of the elevation in head-dipping, it is again likely that the effects of the two compounds are additive.     

单侧双通道内镜下减压治疗腰椎管狭窄症的早期疗效观察

【摘要】 目的：观察单侧双通道内镜下进行单侧椎板切除双侧减压治疗腰椎管狭窄症的早期临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析我院2020年4月1日~2021年1月31日应用单侧双通道内镜技术进行单侧椎板切除双侧减压治疗单节段腰椎管狭窄症且随访3个月以上患者的临床及影像学资料。共纳入64例单节段腰椎管狭窄症患者,其中中央椎管狭窄患者28例,男15例,女13例,年龄57~77岁（67.79±6.29岁）,体质指数（BMI）为22.31±2.89kg/m2;随访3~9个月（3.86±1.80个月）;双侧侧隐窝狭窄36例,男17例,女19例,年龄50~79岁（62.75±8.02岁）,BMI 23.14±2.73kg/m2,随访3~9个月（4.83±2.30个月）。中央椎管狭窄组患者术前病变节段Schizas分级B级14例,C级13例,D级1例;侧隐窝狭窄组患者术前A级8例,B级17例,C级11例。统计所有患者术前与术后次日、1个月、3个月及末次随访时的腰腿痛视觉模拟评分（visual analogue scales,VAS）和Oswestry功能障碍指数（Oswestry disability index,ODI）,手术前后的硬脊膜囊截面积、血常规血红蛋白量,手术时间、术后下地时间和出院时间。通过配对样本t检验对比分析手术减压前后临床评分结果。结果：两组患者术后次日、1个月、3个月及末次随访时的腰痛和腿痛VAS评分均明显小于术前（P<0.05）;两组患者术后1个月、3个月及末次随访ODI均明显小于术前（P<0.05）。中央椎管狭窄组和侧隐窝狭窄组患者术后血红蛋白分别下降21.54±7.24g/L和21.00±7.67g/L,手术时间分别为120.75±9.79min和106.40±12.99min,术后下地时间分别为1.61±0.63d和1.47±0.61d,术后住院时间分别为4.39±1.77d和3.69±1.70d,硬脊膜囊截面积改善率分别为（108.21±38.28）%和（62.20±53.10）%。中央椎管狭窄组术后病变节段Schizas分级均恢复至A级;侧隐窝狭窄组1例患者由术前C级恢复至B级,其余35例均恢复至A级。两组患者术中均未更改手术方式,术后均未出现严重并发症,均未行二次手术。结论：单侧双通道内镜下单侧椎板切除双侧减压技术对腰椎管狭窄症患者的腰椎中央椎管狭窄和双侧侧隐窝狭窄能够实现充分的减压,早期随访临床效果确切,且安全性亦较高。