Biomedical subjects

G Beldi

Publications and source records attributed to G Beldi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Analysis of stapling versus endoloops in appendiceal stump closure.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of various appendiceal stump closure methods has not been evaluated systematically. The aim of this study was to compare the morbidity of stump closure by stapling or use of endoloops. METHODS: A non-concurrent cohort study of prospectively acquired data was performed. The primary outcome variable was the rate of intra-abdominal surgical-site infection. Secondary outcome measures were complications, duration of intervention, hospital stay, rate of readmission to hospital and the difference in direct costs of the operation. RESULTS: Staples were used in 60.5 per cent and endoloops in 39.5 per cent of 6486 patients operated on for suspected appendicitis between January 1995 and December 2003. Among 4489 patients with acute appendicitis the rate of intra-abdominal surgical-site infection was 0.7 per cent in the stapler group and 1.7 per cent in the endoloop group (P = 0.004). The rate of readmission to hospital was 0.9 and 2.1 per cent respectively (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Application of a stapler for transection and closure of the appendiceal stump in patients with acute appendicitis lowered the risk of postoperative intra-abdominal surgical-site infection and the need for readmission to hospital.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is safe and cost effective.

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernia repair is increasingly performed by laparoscopic means since the introduction of dual-layer meshes. This study aimed to compare the early complications and cost effectiveness of open hernia repair with those associated with laparoscopic repair. METHODS: Open ventral hernia repair was performed for 92 consecutive patients using a Vypro mesh, followed by laparoscopic repair for 49 consecutive patients using a Parietene composite mesh. RESULTS: The rate of surgical-site infections was significantly higher with open ventral hernia repair (13 vs 1; p = 0.03). The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter with laparoscopic surgery (7 vs 6 days; p = 0.02). For laparoscopic repair, the direct operative costs were higher (2,314 vs 2,853 euros; p = 0.03), and the overall hospital costs were lower (9,787 vs 7,654 euros; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair leads to fewer surgical-site infections and a shorter hospital stay than open repair. Despite increased operative costs, overall hospital costs are lowered by laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Practical aspects and current perspectives of liver transplantation for the general practitioner].

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has become the method of choice for many forms of endstage liver disease and is generally associated with a good long-term outcome. Morbidity and mortality for this routine procedure have become acceptable provided the procedure is carried out with a correct and timely indication. It is important for the general practitioner to recognize the various early clinical signs of liver failure and portal hypertension in due course in order to reach a comprehensive planning of all necessary medical steps ahead. The most frequent indications for OLT such as chronic hepatitis C related cirrhosis, cholostatic forms of liver disease, limited liver tumours and metabolic disorders (haemochromatosis) are discussed in detail and major practical problems that a general practitioner might encounter in the follow-up of patients with OLT are highlighted in this review.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Laparoscopic appendectomy using endoloops: a prospective, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate closure of the appendix stump can lead to abscess formation or peritonitis. This prospective randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate the number of endoloops needed in laparoscopic appendectomy. METHODS: A total of 208 patients were randomized in two groups: 109 in group 1 using one and 99 in group 2 using two proximal endoloops. The groups were compared in terms of intra- and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were found in five patients (4.6%) in group 1, consisting of intraabdominal abscesses (three patients), pulmonary embolism (one patient), and persisting port-site pain (one patient). In group 2, postoperative complications were found in five patients (5.1%), consisting of intraabdominal abscesses (four patients) and prolonged percutaneous drainage (one patient). There was no significant difference between the two groups. DISCUSSION: In acute appendicitis, a minimal inflamed appendix base can be safely divided using one endoloop.

Appendectomy↗

PubMed2003

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: In severe cholecystitis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be technically difficult, and is associated with an increased rate of procedure conversions and common bile duct lesions. METHODS: We investigated the safety and complications of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis in a medium- to long-term follow-up evaluation. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 345 patients during a period of 64 months. In 46 of the patients (13.3%), a subtotal cholecystectomy was performed. The results were compared with data on laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 16,130 patients in 84 surgical institutes in Switzerland, collected prospectively by the Swiss Association for Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery (SALTS). RESULTS: The median operating time was 93 min (range, 50-140) min. The overall rate of procedure conversions in acute cholecystitis was lowered significantly from 23.2% (SALTS) to 9.7%. There was no bile duct lesion, as compared with the rate of 0.8% in the SALTS data. In follow-up evaluations, fluid collections in 16 patients (35%) and residual gallstones in 6 patients (13%) were of no clinical relevance. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis offers a simple and safe solution that prevents bile duct injuries and decreases the rate of conversion in anatomically difficult situations.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Transit time flow measurement: experimental validation and comparison of three different systems.

BACKGROUND: Bloodflow measurements are of major clinical importance for quality control in vascular surgery. They allow detection of low-flow situations which may influence outcome adversely. The purpose of the present study was to validate three different flow systems for measuring absolute blood flow. METHODS: Measurements were performed in an experimental flow model using arteries and veins and blood or saline at two different temperatures. As a reference method true flow was measured by volume sampling. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between transit time flow and true flow measurements ranged between 0.71 and 0.92. Systematic overestimation and underestimation of transit time flow were observed, but after second-order correction all correlations were excellent, ranging from 0.93 to 0.95 irrespective of flow medium and temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Transit time flow measurements are exact and reproducible. Second-order correction yields good accuracy and high precision, with minimal differences among the three systems evaluated.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Local and remote ischemia-reperfusion injury is mitigated in mice overexpressing human C1 inhibitor.

Activation of the classical complement pathway is crucially involved in complement-mediated endothelial cell damage in ischemia-reperfusion injury. C1 inhibitor is the only known physiological inhibitor of classical complement pathway activation. Transgenic mice overexpressing human C1 inhibitor were used in a surgical lower torso and a liver ischemia-reperfusion model. Organ-specific endothelial disruption was determined by 125I-tagged albumin extravasation. In the lower torso ischemia-reperfusion model, transgenic mice overexpressing the C1 inhibitor were protected in the muscle and the lungs from endothelial cell damage. In the liver ischemia-reperfusion model, endothelial cell integrity was preserved in transgenic animals in the liver, the gut and the lungs. Our data indicate that inhibiting complement activation by a transgenic approach is effective in protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Albumins↗