Dexamethasone as an adjuvant for peripheral nerve blockade: a randomised,triple-blinded crossover study in volunteers

Background

The efficacy of dexamethasone in extending the duration of local anaesthetic block is uncertain. In a randomised controlled triple blind crossover study in volunteers, we tested the hypothesis that neither i.v. nor perineurally administered dexamethasone prolongs the sensory block achieved with ropivacaine.

Symptomatic liver cyst: Special reference to surgical management

We conducted a retrospective study of 14 patients with symptomatic liver cysts to evaluate current therapeutic interventions for this condition. Abdominal pain (n = 7) or abdominal mass (n = 5) were the most frequent presentations. Three patients also had renal cyst. Percutaneous aspiration with ethanol sclerotheraphy was carried out in 4 patients and all cysts so treated diminished in size, with relief of the symptoms. One patient was treated by aspiration only and re-retension occurred. Cystectomy was performed in 2 patients, unroofing in 5, and fenestration in 2 patients. All patients gained relief of symptoms, with no recurrence of symptoms. Computed tomography revealed that the cysts were diminished or were no longer observable after all the treatments. Our experience indicates that unroofing, fenestration, and cystectomy are safe and suitable procedures for treatment of the condition. Ethanol sclerotherapy may be a feasible alternative to surgical intervention in selected patients. Received for publication on July 23, 1997; accepted on Dec. 25, 1997     

LONG-TERM EXPERIENCE WITH SCLEROTHERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF EPIDIDYMAL CYST AND HYDROCELE

Background: Symptomatic testicular hydrocele and cyst of the epididymis may be treated with either operation or sclerotherapy. Methods: The current report presents the experience of a 9 year prospective study using sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STD) sclerotherapy for the treatment of symptomatic hydrocele and/or epididymal cyst. Results: A total of 102 lesions were treated during the study period, with an initial success rate of 76% which improved to 94% with multiple treatments. The overall median follow up during the study was 30 months (range 2–100). Conclusions: Sclerotherapy offers a cost-effective outpatient method for the treatment of symptomatic scrotal cysts.     

经内镜注射硬化剂治疗食管静脉曲张(附15例报告)

经内镜注射5％鱼肝油酸钠治疗食管静脉曲张15例,共注射45次。其肝功能按Child分级,A级1例,B级8例,C级6例。曾经作过脾切除,分流或断流术者7例。8例急症出血患者经用硬化疗法获得了止血成功。1例急症患者死亡。6例作了择期预防出血的注射,治疗后均得到改善。治疗出血方面,硬化疗法在15例患者中14例有效,随访6～12月无再出血。     

Percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy of symptomatic hepatic cysts

Nineteen patients with 49 symptomatic non-neoplastic non-parasitic simple hepatic cysts were subjected to ultrasonographically guided percutaneous aspiration and temporary injection of 99% ethanol into the cyst. Small cysts were treated twice, the large ones three times at the same sitting. The volume of alcohol per injection varied from 20 to 100 ml, depending on the size of the cyst. A cure was usually achieved with one ethanol sclerotherapy treatment. Only minor side effects such as transient pain and temperature elevation occurred. Forty-seven of the 49 cysts could be treated adequately, and did not recur during a follow-up period af 12–40 months. The results indicate that aspiration an and ethanol sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with symptomatic non-neoplastic simple hepatic cysts or polycystic liver disease. Correspondence to: A. Leinonen     

Technique and early clinical results of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL)

Summary Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a new technique designed to be used instead of sclerotherapy. Small elastic O rings ligate varices resulting in their strangulation and eradication. During a 12-month period, EVL was employed in 53 consecutive patients, of whom 36 (68%) had alcoholic cirrhosis 17 were Child-Pugh class A, 22 class B, and 14 class C. Varices were graded from I to IV and repeat treatments were given at 1–2 week intervals until the varices were eliminated. At follow-up ranging from 6–18 months (mean 11.5), 217 EVL treatment sessions had been performed. Of the 13 patients (24%) who died during the study, 11 died during the index hospitalization. Active bleeding was controlled in 19 of 21 patients (90%). Of 40 survivors 13 patients (33%) had 1–2 (mean 1.4) recurrent variceal bleeds while 34 patients had repeat EVL treatment. Elimination of distal varices was achieved in 26 and 7 had reduction of varices from grade III–IV to grade I–II or less. Eradication required a mean of 4.4 EVL sessions in Child's A and B patients and 7.0 sessions in Child's C patients (P<0.025). No significant treatment-related complications were observed. EVL appears to control active bleeding, is associated with a low incidence of non-bleeding complications, and may be used as an alternative to sclerotherapy.     

Embryo transfer under ultrasound guidance improves pregnancy rates after in-vitro fertilization

Between October 1998 and January 1999, we examined the influence of ultrasound guidance in embryo transfer on pregnancy rate in 362 patients from our in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer programme. These patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: 182 had ultrasound-guided embryo replacement, and 180 had clinical touch embryo transfer. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, cause of infertility and in the characteristics of the IVF cycle. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher among the ultrasound-guided embryo transfer group (50%) compared with the clinical touch group (33.7%) (P < 0.002). Furthermore, there was also a significant increase in the implantation rate: 25.3% in the ultrasound group compared with 18.1% in the clinical touch group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ultrasound assistance in embryo transfer significantly improved pregnancy and implantation rates in IVF.     

Using psychometric ability to improve education in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia: a multicentre randomised controlled trial

The learning curve for novices developing regional anaesthesia skills, such as real-time ultrasound-guided needle manipulation, may be affected by innate visuospatial ability, as this influences spatial cognition and motor co-ordination. We conducted a multinational randomised controlled trial to test if novices with low visuospatial ability would perform better at an ultrasound-guided needling task with deliberate practice training than with discovery learning. Visuospatial ability was evaluated using the mental rotations test-A. We recruited 140 medical students and randomly allocated them into low-ability control (discovery learning), low-ability intervention (received deliberate practice), high-ability control, and high-ability intervention groups. Primary outcome was the time taken to complete the needling task, and there was no significant difference between groups: median (IQR [range]) low-ability control 125 s (69–237 [43–600 s]); low-ability intervention 163 s (116–276 [44–600 s]); high-ability control 130 s (80–210 [41–384 s]); and high-ability intervention 177 s (113–285 [43–547 s]), p = 0.06. No difference was found using the global rating scale: mean (95%CI) low-ability control 53% (95%CI 46–60%); low-ability intervention 61% (95%CI 53–68%); high-ability control 63% (95%CI 56–70%); and high-ability intervention 66% (95%CI 60–72%), p = 0.05. For overall procedure pass/fail, the low-ability control group pass rate of 42% (14/33) was significantly less than the other three groups: low-ability intervention 69% (25/36); high-ability control 68% (25/37); and high-ability intervention 85% (29/34) p = 0.003. Further research is required to determine the role of visuospatial ability screening in training for ultrasound-guided needle skills.     

Selective transperineal prostate biopsy for fluoroquinolone-resistance patients reduces sepsis and cost

Background:Urosepsis is a recognized complication of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx). Pre-biopsy rectal swabs have been used to identify patients with microorganisms in the rectal flora resistant to the conventionally used empirical prophylaxis. The transperineal route of biopsy (TP-Bx) has a lower complication risk but comes at an increased cost.Materials and methods:Retrospective cohort study including patients undergoing prostate biopsies between October/2015 and April/2018. The intervention cohort, a rectal swab was performed, the result of which dictated the biopsy route; TRUS-Bx against TP-Bx. TP-Bx for patients with fluoroquinolone resistance or extended-spectrum β-lactamase. The control cohort underwent TRUS without a rectal swab receiving empirical antibiotics—oral ciprofloxacin and intravenous gentamicin.Results:Total 1000 patients were included in which 500 underwent a swab, 14 (2.8%) developed post-TRUS biopsy infective complications with 3 having positive bacteremia (0.6%); 500 had no swab, 47 (9.4%) developed post-TRUS biopsy infective complications with 22 (4.4%, p < 0.05) having positive bacteremia. Three patients (0.6%) of patients who underwent swab developed urinary tract infection symptoms whilst 12 (2.4%) had urinary tract infection in the control group. In those patients that underwent a swab, 14 required hospitalization with mean length of stay of 2.5 days versus 43 patients of the control with 3.6 days. Cost analysis concluded savings of this strategy was £18,711.Conclusions:We have demonstrated a protocol that reserves template biopsies for higher risk patients and can significantly reduce sepsis and other infectious complication rates whilst also proving to be a cost-efficient strategy. We recommend that units not utilizing rectal swabs to uncover the fluoroquinolone resistance rate by introducing them. We advocate units that already utilize rectal swabs, to introduce transperineal biopsy for their higher risk patients.     

多普勒血流仪引导注射治疗内痔

目的：介绍新的更有效的内痔注射方式。方法：用多普勒血流仪引导注射治疗内痔出血与脱出,与单纯注射治疗对照观察。结果：一年后出血复发率治疗组为１０％,对照组为１１９．１７％（Ｐ〈０．０５）;内痔脱出复发率治疗组为１８．２５％,对照组为２５％。结论：用多普勒血流仪引导注射治疗内痔能更有效的闭塞痔动脉。