Managing gynaecological emergencies with laparoscopy.

A consecutive series of 49 women (50 procedures), whose conditions were haemodynamically stable, presenting with acute lower abdominal pain, pelvic tenderness, and either a urine concentration of greater than 50 U/l beta human chorionic gonadotrophin or a pelvic mass shown by ultrasonography were treated with operative laparoscopy under video monitoring (videopelviscopy) as an alternative to laparotomy. Ectopic pregnancy, ovarian and non-ovarian cysts, pelvic adhesions, endometriosis, and fibroids were found, for which salpingotomy, salpingectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, cystectomy, adhesiolysis, thermocoagulation, and myomectomy were carried out by laparoscopy. In one patient pelviscopy was repeated because of persistent tubal pregnancy after the fimbria was expressed. Laparotomies were carried out on three patients because treatment was not possible by laparoscopy and on a further patient two days after adhesiolysis had been attempted. These were the only serious complications. For the 46 cases (45 patients) in which operative laparoscopy was successful the mean stay in hospital was 1.9 days after operation, and this group of patients returned to normal activities and to work after an average of 2.3 and 2.6 weeks respectively. Most gynaecological emergencies that are managed by laparotomy can be treated by laparoscopy and benefit both patients and the health service.     

Laparoscopy and laparotomy combined with bone marrow biopsy in staging Hodgkin's disease.

The relative merits of laparoscopy with liver and spleen biopsy and staging laparotomy were studied in 91 unselected patients with Hodgkin''s disease. Laparoscopy with liver and spleen biopsy were combined with needle biopsy of the bone marrow and laparotomy was combined with open bone marrow biopsy. In 65 untreated patients six out of seven with liver or marrow disease, or both, were shown to have extranodal lymphomas in these sites by laparoscopy plus needle marrow biopsy. Among 26 patients who had been treated this finding occurred in six out of 10 patients. Spleen biopsies during laparoscopy detected infiltration by lymphoma in 14 out of 37 (38%) patients with diseases spleens. Morbidity was higher after laparotomy than after laparoscopy. Laparoscopy produced abdominal bleeding secondary to splenic biopsy in two patients. All patients with Hodgkin''s disease should be subjected to laparoscopy plus needle marrow biopsy before undergoing laparotomy.     

Fine needle aspiration of the liver

A total of 81 transhepatic fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies were performed on 78 patients to rule out focal or diffuse neoplastic disease; 87.6% were performed with ultrasound guidance, 6.1% with CT guidance, 3.7% intraoperatively and 1 using fluoroscopy during percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Smears of the aspirated samples were cytologically evaluated with clinical and radiologic correlation; in addition, histologic examination of cell blocks was performed in 46% of the cases, ultrastructural examination in 34% of the cases and peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining in 3 cases. Ultrastructural definition of the type of malignancy was possible in 24 cases (29%). Minor complications in two patients were pain and tenderness at the puncture site. The sensitivity for malignancy was 91%, the specificity was 100%, the predictive value of positive results was 100%, and the predictive value of negative results was 73%. This series demonstrates that FNA biopsy with ultrasound guidance can provide an accurate diagnosis of malignancy and may preempt a lengthy workup in the search for a primary tumor.     

Correlation of anemia with infradiaphragmatic involvement in Hodgkin's disease and other malignant lymphomas

A staging laparotomy and splenectomy were performed in 41 patients with Hodgkin''s disease and 11 with other malignant lymphomas. There was a significant correlation (P = 0.025) between the presence of unexplained anemia and involvement of the spleen or abdominal lymph nodes by tumour. The anemias were of mild degree; hemolysis was documented in three and iron deficiency in four, while 21 cases were unexplained. Bone marrow was not involved by lymphoma in this series. The complication rate in exploratory laparotomy was higher than previously reported. Severe complications were observed in 17% of these patients while another 15% had minor complications. The association we have discovered may be helpful in the staging of patients who cannot tolerate an operative procedure. The absence of infradiaphragmatic involvement is suggested in the presence of normal hemoglobin concentrations.     

Abdominal dermolipectomy in an abdomen with pre-existing scars: a different concept

Although abdominal dermolipectomy is a frequently performed procedure, few publications have reported on the safety of the procedure in the scarred abdomen. The aim of this study was to stress the possibility of performing a natural-looking abdominoplasty with no complication such as skin necrosis or liponecrosis in the presence of abdominal scars and to clarify that the scarred abdomen is not a great limitation for full abdominoplasty as reported in the literature. Seventy-six abdominoplasties were performed on scarred patients from July of 1997 to June of 2003. Twenty-five patients had oblique subcostal scars, six patients had median supraumbilical scars, three patients had median infraumbilical scars, 10 patients had appendectomy scars, nine patients had paramedian supraumbilical scars, eight patients had paramedian infraumbilical scars, seven patients had long transverse scars of repaired ventral hernias, and eight patients had multiple small scars after laparoscopy. In addition, there were concomitant transverse cesarean delivery scars in 40 patients. All patients underwent full abdominoplasties, plication of the musculoaponeurotic system, and liposuction assistance if required (45 patients). Of 76 subjects, three patients had very limited liponecrosis at the watershed area. Eleven patients (14.5 percent) were morbidly obese and heavy smokers. In comparisons of postabdominoplasty complications, such as liponecrosis, wound infection, and dehiscence with and without liposuction in scarred abdomen, no significant differences were found. Secondary revision was more common among abdominoplasties without liposuction [seven of 45 (15.6 percent) versus 12 of 31 (38.7 percent); p = 0.02]. In conclusion, there is no limitation or contraindication for abdominal dermolipectomy with or without liposuction assistance on the previously scarred abdomen as long as the vascular zones of the abdomen are respected. The abdominal wall dissection is limited to allow only the plication of the musculoaponeurotic system, and aggressive liposuction is avoided.     

Clinical Correlates of Mass Effect in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Mass effect from polycystic kidney and liver enlargement can result in significant clinical complications and symptoms in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In this single-center study, we examined the correlation of height-adjusted total liver volume (htTLV) and total kidney volume (htTKV) by CT imaging with hepatic complications (n = 461) and abdominal symptoms (n = 253) in patients with ADPKD. “Mass-effect” complications were assessed by review of medical records and abdominal symptoms, by a standardized research questionnaire. Overall, 91.8% of patients had 4 or more liver cysts on CT scans. Polycystic liver disease (PLD) was classified as none or mild (htTLV < 1,600 mL/m); moderate (1,600 ≤ htTLV <3,200 mL/m); and severe (htTLV ≥ 3,200 mL/m). The prevalence of moderate and severe PLD in our patient cohort was 11.7% (n = 54/461) and 4.8% (n = 22/461), respectively, with a female predominance in both the moderate (61.1%) and severe (95.5%) PLD groups. Pressure-related complications such as leg edema (20.4%), ascites (16.6%), and hernia (3.6%) were common, and patients with moderate to severe PLD exhibited a 6-fold increased risk (compared to no or mild PLD) for these complications in multivariate analysis. Similarly, abdominal symptoms including back pain (58.8%), flank pain (53.1%), abdominal fullness (46.5%), and dyspnea/chest-discomfort (44.3%) were very common, and patients with moderate to severe PLD exhibited a 5-fold increased risk for these symptoms. Moderate to severe PLD is a common and clinically important problem in ~16% of patients with ADPKD who may benefit from referral to specialized centers for further management.     

Laparoscopic abdominal cysts fenestration using harmonic scalpel

The use of ultrasonically activated scalpel for tissue cutting and coagulation is a potential replacement for electrosurgery, which can be related to different complications. Its working principle is to transform the electric power into the mechanical longitudinal movement of the working part of the instrument, by a piezoelectric transducer situated in the hand piece. Between October 2000 and June 2004, six patients with abdominal cysts were treated by laparoscopy, using the harmonic scalpel. The average age was 40.8 (ranging from 15-60) years. Laparoscopic abdominal cyst fenestration was performed in five patients, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and abdominal cyst fenestration were done in one patient during the same operation. The average duration of the operation was 40 (ranging from 25-70) minutes and hospital stay was 2.8 (ranging from 1-5) days. Laparoscopic abdominal cyst fenestration using the harmonic scalpel is a safe and successful operation, with good results including all the advantages of the minimally invasive surgery.     

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration cytology in pancreatic cancer.

Fifty-five patients underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration from the pancreas. Adequate material was obtained from 33 of the 41 patients with pancreatic malignancy. A cytological diagnosis of cancer was made in 31 (94%) of these; the overall clinical success rate was 75.6%. There were no false-positive results or complications. The sensitivity of the procedure may be increased by repeating the punctures.     

Need for open access non-screening mammography in a hospital with a specialist breast clinic service.

OBJECTIVE--Assessment of open access non-screening mammography in a hospital with a breast clinic. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of patients sent for first mammogram to our open access service by general practitioners and breast clinic in the year April 1989 to March 1990. SETTING--District general hospital serving 200,000 people before the introduction of breast screening. SUBJECTS--361 symptomatic women referred directly by general practitioners and 226 women referred by the breast clinic for first, non-screening mammograms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Radiographic reports on all patients. Final diagnosis in patients reported as having possible or probable neoplasm. RESULTS--Of the women referred directly by general practitioners one (0.2%) was reported as showing probable malignancy (later histologically confirmed) and 15 (4%) as showing possible malignancy (on follow up none had proved malignancy). Of the women referred by the breast clinic 38 (17%) were reported as showing probable malignancy (all had confirmed carcinomas) and 35 (15%) as showing possible malignancy (19 (54%) had proved malignancy). 18 of the proved malignancies were in women under 50 years old, 26 were in women over 64 years, and 14 were in women of screening age. 54 (93%) of the 58 patients with proved breast cancer and an abnormal mammogram had a discrete breast lump. CONCLUSIONS--General practitioners accurately divided women into low and high risk groups, resulting in few abnormalities being detected in patients referred directly for mammography. This suggests that an open access non-screening mammography service for general practitioners is unnecessary in an area with a specialist breast clinic. The large proportion of cancers in women outside of screening age emphasises the need for such clinics.     

Laparoscopy: the method of choice for sterilization and investigation of infertility

The increasing demand for sterilization as a permanent and effective form of birth control leads one to consider the various methods available to achieve this end. Tubal cauterization and excision by laparoscopy appears to be a safe, efficient method.The technique used is carefully reviewed step by step. The absence of major complications in this series of 115 consecutive laparoscopies certainly supports the safety of the procedure. The low morbidity, short hospital stay and minimal time required appeal particularly to the working mother. The absence of an abdominal scar is also much appreciated. The procedure, when used for investigation of infertility, provides far more information than other current methods.     

Prospective evaluation of the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic jejunostomy.

We prospectively assessed the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic jejunostomy done by 11 surgeons in 8 medical centers using the T-fastener technique. In all, 23 men and 13 women aged 19 to 84 (mean, 59) years required enteral feeding, but could not undergo gastrostomy and had no contraindication to laparoscopy. Of these patients, 12 had head and neck cancer and 11 had neurologic swallowing dysfunction. The procedure took 25 to 180 minutes (mean, 75). Three (8%) early cases were converted to open jejunostomy because of accidental enterotomies caused by inappropriate techniques that were avoided in later cases. Minor technical problems, such as passing a needle through the back wall of the jejunum, occurred in 7 patients, but they were easily corrected and produced no complications. Feedings were routinely begun within 24 hours of the surgical procedure. All jejunostomy catheters functioned well. This is a safe and effective technique when done by experienced laparoscopic surgeons, and serious complications are rare.     

腹腔镜切除与内镜联合治疗胃肠道肿瘤的效果观察

目的：分析腹腔镜联合内镜治疗胃肠道肿瘤的可行性和临床效果。方法：对我院收治的行腹腔镜切除与内镜联合治疗的75例胃肠道肿瘤患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,其中腹腔镜与胃镜联合治疗34例,腹腔镜与肠镜联合治疗41例。总结分析治疗效果。结果：75例患者中有72例手术成功,3例患者因肿瘤位置不佳中转开腹,腹腔镜与胃镜联合平均手术时间（72.8±12.7）min,出血量5~30mL,术后无吻合口瘘、吻合口出血、腹腔感染等并发症,住院时间（7.5±0.5）d。结论：腹腔镜联合内镜治疗胃肠道肿瘤具有创伤小、手术安全的特点,是一种有效、安全的治疗手段,值得临床推广应用。     

Prospective comparative cytologic study of direct peritoneal smears and lavage fluids in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and benign gynecologic disease

Direct peritoneal samples obtained by scraping or brushing (with a Cytobrush) were compared to peritoneal lavages (washings) for the cytologic evaluation of patients with gynecologic disease. The direct samples were obtained during laparotomy or laparoscopy, following saline lavage if that was performed, and were immediately smeared on glass slides and fixed in 95% alcohol. Only 9 of the direct peritoneal samples taken from 64 patients with benign gynecologic disease were unsatisfactory for cytologic interpretation while 19 of the 33 lavage specimens simultaneously collected from these patients were considered unsuitable for analysis (P less than .001). Two direct smears from cases with benign histology were reported as suspicious. Nineteen patients with epithelial ovarian cancer also had cytologic specimens collected by direct sampling and by washing. The direct smears were positive for malignancy in 12 cases, suspicious in 4 cases and negative in 3 cases while the lavage samples were positive in 9 cases, suspicious in 4 cases, negative in 4 cases and unsatisfactory in 2 cases. These results indicate that direct peritoneal sampling is a simple and reliable alternative to peritoneal lavage and produces a significantly lower incidence of unsatisfactory specimens.     

Methods of hysterectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective To evaluate the most appropriate surgical method of hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, or laparoscopic) for women with benign disease.Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, and Biological Abstracts.Selection of studies Only randomised controlled trials were selected; participants had to have benign gynaecological disease; interventions had to comprise at least one hysterectomy method compared with another; and trials had to report primary outcomes (time taken to return to normal activities, intraoperative visceral injury, and major long term complications) or secondary outcomes (operating time, other immediate complications of surgery, short term complications, and duration of hospital stay).Results 27 trials (total of 3643 participants) were included. Return to normal activities was quicker after vaginal than after abdominal hysterectomy (weighted mean difference 9.5 (95% confidence interval 6.4 to 12.6) days) and after laparoscopic than after abdominal hysterectomy (difference 13.6 (11.8 to 15.4) days), but was not significantly different for laparoscopic versus vaginal hysterectomy (difference -1.1 (-4.2 to 2.1) days). There were more urinary tract injuries with laparoscopic than with abdominal hysterectomy (odds ratio 2.61 (95% confidence interval 1.22 to 5.60)), but no other intraoperative visceral injuries showed a significant difference between surgical approaches. Data were notably absent for many important long term patient outcome measures, where the analyses were underpowered to detect important differences, or they were simply not reported in trials.Conclusions Significantly speedier return to normal activities and other improved secondary outcomes (shorter duration of hospital stay and fewer unspecified infections or febrile episodes) suggest that vaginal hysterectomy is preferable to abdominal hysterectomy where possible. Where vaginal hysterectomy is not possible, laparoscopic hysterectomy is preferable to abdominal hysterectomy, although it brings a higher chance of bladder or ureter injury.     

Antibacterial therapy in disseminated purulent peritonitis

Analysis of 156 records relating to patients at the age of 15 to 85 years with extended purulent peritonitis of the surgical and gynecological genesis (the toxic phase, VI category ASA) showed that combination of programmed sanitation laparotomy and intensive antibacterial therapy performed as short-term courses before, during and after the operation with an account of the information on the nature of the microbial associations and antibioticograms was an efficient procedure in treatment of severe peritonitis. It was indicated in treatment of patients with polyorgan deficiency. When the surgical treatment was adequate early antibiotic therapy allowed to decrease the number and intensity of postoperative complications: the frequency of abscessing in the abdominal cavity and formation of intestinal fistulas lowered 2 and 1.5 times respectively. Such a decrease was also observed in asthenic patients with lowered protective reactions to development of new infectious foci in the abdominal cavity complicating the peritonitis process. It was also possible to prevent with that procedure the infection generalization and development of peritoneal sepsis. With application of the procedure to such patients (20 per cent) lethality lowered 2-fold.     

宫腔镜联合腹腔镜在女性不孕症诊治中的应用

摘要目的：探讨宫腔镜联合腹腔镜在女性不孕诊断及治疗中的临床应用价值。方法：回顾性分析60 例我院收治的采用宫腔镜联 合腹腔镜进行诊断和治疗的女性不孕症患者为研究对象,对其临床资料进行分析。结果：宫腔镜联合腹腔镜检查发现,60 例不孕 症患者中,56.7 %的患者患有慢性盆腔炎,16.7 %的患者为子宫内膜异位症,11.7 %的患者为多囊卵巢综合征;单纯腹腔镜检查的 阳性检出率为60.0 %,单纯宫腔镜检查的阳性检出率为28.3 %,宫腔镜联合腹腔镜检查的阳性检出率高达91.7 %,宫腔镜联合腹 腔镜镜检阳性发现率明显高于前二者(P < 0.05)。治疗前,双侧不通、一侧通畅和双侧输卵管通畅的患者分别为38.3 %、48.3 %和 13.3 %,经宫腔镜联合腹腔镜治疗后分别为11.7 %、50.0 %和38.3 %,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。34 例原发性不孕患者,术后 13例妊娠,妊娠率38.2 %;26 例继发性不孕患者,术后15 例妊娠,妊娠率57.7 %;总妊娠率为46.7 %,其中宫外孕2例。结论：宫 腔镜联合腹腔镜检查可帮助明确女性不孕症患者明确原因及发病部位,并可针对病因进行治疗,提高女性不孕症的病因诊断准 确率及治愈率。     

Gall stones in sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom.

The prevalence of gall stones was studied prospectively by abdominal ultrasound examination in 131 patients with sickle cell disease aged 10-65 years. Of 95 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease, 55 (58%) had gall stones or had had a cholecystectomy. Gall stones were present in four out of 24 (17%) patients with haemoglobin S + C disease and two out of 12 (17%) with haemoglobin S beta thalassaemia. The presence of gall stones was not related to sex, geographical origin, or haematological variables and was not associated with abnormal results of liver function tests. Symptoms typical of biliary colic were reported by 32 out of 47 adult patients with gall stones, and cholecystitis or cholestasis was diagnosed in 18. Cholecystectomy was performed in 29 patients with good relief of symptoms in most cases. Postoperative complications were common, occurring in 10 of the 28 patients who could be evaluated, but not generally serious; they were considerably lessened by a preoperative exchange transfusion that reduced the haemoglobin S concentration to below 40%. It is suggested that all patients with sickle cell disease should be screened for gall stones and that elective cholecystectomy should be performed in those with symptoms or complications.     

Prevention of respiratory complications after abdominal surgery: a randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the prevention of respiratory complications after abdominal surgery by a comparison of a global policy of incentive spirometry with a regimen consisting of deep breathing exercises for low risk patients and incentive spirometry plus physiotherapy for high risk patients. DESIGN--Stratified randomised trial. SETTING--General surgical service of an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS--456 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Patients less than 60 years of age with an American Society of Anesthesia classification of 1 were considered to be at low risk. OUTCOME MEASURES--Respiratory complications were defined as clinical features consistent with collapse or consolidation, a temperature above 38 degrees C, plus either confirmatory chest radiology or positive results on sputum microbiology. We also recorded the time that staff devoted to prophylactic respiratory therapy. RESULTS--There was good baseline equivalence between the groups. The incidence of respiratory complications was 15% (35/231) for patients in the incentive spirometry group and 12% (28/225) for patients in the mixed therapy group (P = 0.40; 95% confidence interval -3.6% to 9.0%). It required similar amounts of staff time to provide incentive spirometry and deep breathing exercises for low risk patients. The inclusion of physiotherapy for high risk patients, however, resulted in the utilisation of an extra 30 minutes of staff time per patient. CONCLUSIONS--When the use of resources is taken into account, the most efficient regimen of prophylaxis against respiratory complications after abdominal surgery is deep breathing exercises for low risk patients and incentive spirometry for high risk patients.     

Nosocomial Candidemia; Risk Factors and Prognosis Revisited; 11 Years Experience from a Norwegian Secondary Hospital

The aim of the study was to review the epidemiology and prognosis of candidemia in a secondary hospital, and to examine the intra-hospital distribution of candidemia patients. Study design is a retrospective cohort study. Trough 2002–2012, 110 cases of candidemia were diagnosed, giving an incidence of 2, 6/100000 citizens/year. Overall prognosis of candidemia was dismal, with a 30 days case fatality rate of 49% and one year case fatality rate of 64%. Candidemia was a terminal event in 55% of 30 days non-survivors, defined as Candida blood cultures reported positive on the day of death or thereafter (39%), or treatment refrained due to hopeless short-term prognosis (16%). In terminal event candidemias, advanced or incurable cancer was present in 29%. Non-survivors at 30 days were 9 years (median) older than survivors. In 30 days survivors, candidemia was not recognised before discharge in 13% of cases. No treatment were given and no deaths or complications were observed in this group. Candidemia patients were grouped into 8 patient categories: Abdominal surgery (35%), urology (13%), other surgery (11%), pneumonia (13%), haematological malignancy (7%), intravenous drug abuse (4%), other medical (15%), and new-borns (3%). Candidemia was diagnosed while admitted in the ICU in 46% of patients. Urology related cases were all diagnosed in the general ward. Multiple surgical procedures were done in 60% of abdominal surgery patients. Antibiotics were administered prior to candidemia in 87% of patients, with median duration 17 (1–108) days. Neutropenia was less common than expected in patients with candidemia (8/105) and closely associated to haematological malignancy (6/8). Compared with previous national figures the epidemiology of invasive candidiasis seems not to have changed over the last decade.