An unusual cause of acute pancreatitis?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Noun.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
BACKGROUND: Arterial oxygenation may be compromised in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a vital capacity manoeuvre (VCM), followed by ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), on arterial oxygenation in morbidly obese patients undergoing open bariatric surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two morbidly obese patients (body mass index >40 kg m-2) undergoing open bariatric surgery were enrolled in this prospective and randomized study. Anaesthesia and surgical techniques were standardized. Patients were ventilated with a tidal volume of 10 mL kg-1 of ideal body weight, a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide (FiO2 = 40%) and respiratory rate was adjusted to maintain end-tidal carbon dioxide at a level of 30-35 mmHg. After abdominal opening, patients in Group 1 had a PEEP of 8 cm H2O applied and patients in Group 2 had a VCM followed by PEEP of 8 cm H2O. This manoeuvre was defined as lung inflation by a positive inspiratory pressure of 40 cm H2O maintained for 15 s. PEEP was maintained until extubation in the two groups. Haemodynamics, ventilatory and arterial oxygenation parameters were measured at the following times: T0 = before application of VCM and/or PEEP, T1 = 5 min after VCM and/or PEEP and T2 = before abdominal closure. RESULTS: Patients in the two groups were comparable regarding patient characteristics, surgical, haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. In Group 1, arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) were significantly increased and alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure gradient (A-aDO2) decreased at T2 when compared with T0 and T1. In Group 2, PaO2 and SaO2 were significantly increased and A-aDO2 decreased at T1 and T2 when compared with T0. Arterial oxygenation parameters at T1 and T2 were significantly improved in Group 2 when compared with Group 1. CONCLUSION: The addition of VCM to PEEP improves intraoperative arterial oxygenation in morbidly obese patients undergoing open bariatric surgery.
The authors describe an exceptional variation of the splenic artery found on a preoperative angiogram and confirmed after surgery on splenopancreatectomy specimens. Total duplication of the splenic artery is herein reported for the first time and suggest the need for a new classification of digestive arteries anomalies.
A 34-year-old male presented with exquisite left flank pain. Computed tomography showed a hyperdense vascular structure surrounded by whirling linear streaks situated in the greater omentum under the splenic flexure of the colon. Omental stranding extended caudally into the pelvis where part of the inflamed omentum entered a left inguinal hernia sac. Surgery revealed left-sided torsion of the greater omentum. Left-sided omental torsion is infrequent and pre-operative diagnosis is rarely established. The CT findings of an omental fatty mass with a whirling pattern is characteristic of omental torsion. Preoperative diagnosis is important because conservative management has been suggested.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
OBJECTIVE: The authors compared the intra- and postoperative course of patients undergoing liver resections under continuous pedicular clamping (CPC) or intermittent pedicular clamping (IPC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Reduced blood loss during liver resection is achieved by pedicular clamping. There is controversy about the benefits of IPC over CPC in humans in terms of hepatocellular injury and blood loss control in normal and abnormal liver parenchyma. METHODS: Eighty-six patients undergoing liver resections were included in a prospective randomized study comparing the intra- and postoperative course under CPC (n = 42) or IPC (n = 44) with periods of 15 minutes of clamping and 5 minutes of unclamping. The data were further analyzed according to the presence (steatosis >20% and chronic liver disease) or absence of abnormal liver parenchyma. RESULTS: The two groups of patients were similar in terms of age, sex, nature of the liver tumors, results of preoperative assessment, proportion of patients undergoing major or minor hepatectomy, and nature of nontumorous liver parenchyma. Intraoperative blood loss during liver transsection was significantly higher in the IPC group. In the CPC group, postoperative liver enzymes and serum bilirubin levels were significantly higher in the subgroup of patients with abnormal liver parenchyma. Major postoperative deterioration of liver function occurred in four patients with abnormal liver parenchyma, with two postoperative deaths. All of them were in the CPC group. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical controlled study clearly demonstrated the better parenchymal tolerance to IPC over CPC, especially in patients with abnormal liver parenchyma.
We report an incidental finding of an aberrant origin of the splenic artery described here for the first time.
Despite careful selection of cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver resection remains associated with a greater risk than in patients without underlying liver disease. In this study we assessed by multivariate analysis parameters associated with in-hospital mortality and morbidity in a selected group of 108 Child-Pugh A cirrhotic patients undergoing liver resection of HCC. The overall incidences of in-hospital deaths and postoperative complications were 8.3% and 48.1%, respectively. By univariate analysis, the preoperative serum alanine transferase (ALT) level (p = 0.001) and intraoperative transfusions (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with in-hospital death; however, only the serum ALT concentration was an independent risk factor. In-hospital mortality rates in patients whose serum ALT was below 2N (twofold the upper limit of the normal value), between 2N and 4N, and more than 4N were 3.9%, 13.0%, and 37.5%, respectively. An ALT level greater than 2N was predominantly observed in patients with a hepatitis C virus infection and significantly associated with histologic features of superimposed active hepatitis. Patients with an ALT level greater than 2N experienced an increased incidence of postoperative ascites (58% versus 32%, p = 0.01), kidney failure (16% versus 0%, p = 0.0003), and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (6.4% versus 0%, p = 0.02). These results indicate that the preoperative ALT level is a reliable predictor of in-hospital mortality and morbidity following liver resection in Child-Pugh A cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients with ALT > 2N should undergo only a limited resection; if a larger resection is required, those patients should be considered for nonsurgical therapy or liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND: By current convention, the liver graft is revascularized, first with portal blood flow, and thereafter with arterial blood flow. Although experimental studies showed no detrimental effects of primary arterialization, this order of revascularization has not been investigated in clinical transplants. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-nine patients were included in our controlled study to investigate and compare, by means of a technical procedure that permits either initial arterial revascularization (IAR) or initial portal revascularization (IPR), the effects of graft revascularization by IAR and by IPR in clinical transplants. RESULTS: Patients were equally divided in the IAR group (n = 15) and the IPR group (n = 14), and were homogeneous in terms of recipients and graft characteristics. Graft reperfusion was uniform and diffuse in all grafts with IAR versus 10 (71%) with IPR (p < 0.05). After reperfusion, the time taken for completion of the procedure was shorter in the IAR group (159 +/- 28 versus 242 +/- 39 minutes) (p < 0.01). Both mean blood transfusions and antifibrinolytic requirements were lower in the IAR group: 5.4 +/- 1.8 versus 7.6 +/- 3.5 packed red cell units, and 13% versus 50%, respectively (p < 0.05). Postoperative ASAT level, clotting factor V level, and bile flow were not different between the two groups. Early postoperative vascular or biliary complications did not occur. During a mean follow-up of 16 months (range, 7-20), one hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in the IPR group, and one anastomotic biliary stricture occurred in each group. CONCLUSION: Under adequate portal decompression, LAR is a safe option and results in better graft reperfusion, shorter post revascularization phase, and reduced transfusion and antifibrinolytic requirements.
Esophageal cancer induced by radiation is uncommon. Irradiation of the head, the neck, the chest and the abdomen may cause an esophageal cancer several years later. Therefore, regular gastroscopy and biopsy of esophageal mucosa are strongly recommended in symptomatic patients. Surgery combined or not with radiotherapy seems to be the most effective treatment for this kind of cancer. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus diagnosed 13 years after chemotherapy and radiotherapy for Hodgkin disease stade IIIb.
Cutaneous metastases arising along the exit site of an abdominal drain in one patient and within the operative wound in two others after resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are reported. All patients underwent curative hepatic resection, and cutaneous metastases occurred 9, 12, and 22 months after surgery respectively. Cutaneous metastases were not associated with intrahepatic recurrence and were treated by local excision. Two patients are alive and disease-free 48 and 49 months after hepatic resection, respectively; the third patient died from recurrence 39 months later. These observations suggest that cutaneous malignant seeding may occur, and the authors recommend the observance of special care during liver surgery to prevent occurrence of this complication, including the use of wound protection and avoiding the opening of the specimen by the surgeon. The follow-up of patients who have undergone liver resection for an HCC should include the examination of all operative wounds including the exit site of abdominal drains. These subcutaneous nodules should be resected as an appreciable survival can be expected.
OBJECTIVE: The authors compared operative course of patients undergoing major liver resections under portal triad clamping (PTC) or under hepatic vascular exclusion (HVE). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Reduced blood loss during liver resection is achieved by PTC or HVE. Specific complications and postoperative hepatocellular injury mediated with two procedures have not been compared. METHODS: Fifty-two noncirrhotic patients undergoing major liver resections were included in a prospective randomized study comparing both the intraoperative and postoperative courses under PTC (n = 24) or under HVE (n = 28). RESULTS: The two groups were similar at entry, but eight patients were crossed over to the other group during resection. In the HVE group, hemodynamic intolerance occurred in four (14%) patients. In the PTC group, pedicular clamping was not efficient in four patients, including three with involvement of the cavohepatic intersection and one with persistent bleeding due to tricuspid insufficiency. Intraoperative blood losses and postoperative enzyme level reflecting hepatocellular injury were similar in the two groups. Mean operative duration and mean clampage duration were significantly increased after HVE. Postoperative abdominal collections and pulmonary complications were 2.5-fold higher after HVE but without statistical significance, whereas the mean length of postoperative hospital stay was longer after HVE. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that both methods of vascular occlusion are equally effective in reducing blood loss in major liver resections. The HVE is associated with unpredictable hemodynamic intolerance, increased postoperative complications with a longer hospital stay, and should be restricted to lesions involving the cavo-hepatic intersection.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This article describes experience with preservation of portal and caval flow during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for fulminant or subfulminant hepatic failure (FSHF) as an alternative to venous bypass. As a modification of the standard procedure, hepatectomy and graft implantation were performed with preservation of caval patency in combination with a temporary portocaval shunt. From July 1991 to March 1994, 25 consecutive patients with FSHF underwent OLT with preservation of portal and caval flow. All patients had severe confusion (n = 9) or coma (n = 16) with a mean(s.d.) clotting factor V of 13(5) per cent and a mean(s.d.) serum bilirubin level of 408(151) mumol/l. During the anhepatic phase, haemodynamic data showed a preservation of cardiac filling pressure, mean arterial pressure, and renal perfusion pressure, while the mean(s.d.) urine flow was maintained at 182(120) ml/h. Venous bypass was not required. There were three (12 per cent) deaths after the operation, and all survivors made a full neurological recovery. Normal postoperative creatinine values allowed the early use of baseline immunosuppression. The authors conclude that, in patients with FSHF, successful liver transplantation can be achieved with this technical procedure.
BACKGROUND: A novel technique of orthotopic liver transplantation was developed whereby both vena caval and portal venous blood flows are preserved during the entire procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This method of liver transplantation was successfully performed in 51 consecutive patients and included a temporary portocaval shunt, a total hepatic resection with vena caval preservation, and an end-to-side cavocaval anastomosis. RESULTS: Preservation of vena cava and portocaval anastomosis were feasible in 51 patients (100%), including 34 patients with cirrhosis and 2 patients undergoing elective retransplantation. Both caval and portal flows were preserved during the entire procedure in 48 patients (94%). No venovenous bypass was required. Four deaths (7.8%) occurred postoperatively, all of them unrelated to the surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: We believe adoption of this orthotopic liver transplantation technique will obviate the need for venovenous bypass.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cystic dystrophy in heterotopic pancreas (CDHP) is characterized by the presence of cystic formations surrounded by inflammation and scarring. It usually involves the duodenal wall and can be responsible for strictures and pain. The diagnosis of this disorder was previously based on pancreatoduodenectomy specimens removed for a suspected pancreatic tumor. Six cases were observed in young men (mean age 40 years) between 1989 and 1993. Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) features allowed definitive preoperative diagnosis of CDHP. After surgical resection of the tissue-bearing segments that included five pancreatoduodenectomies and one antrectomy, symptoms disappeared in all patients. Patients were followed 2 to 45 months; one patient experienced recurrence of pain and hyperamylasemia 17 months after surgery. The preoperative diagnosis of CDHP is presently possible because of modern imaging procedures and improved knowledge of specific signs. Resection is the most appropriate treatment.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.