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Su-Ming Tan

Publications and source records attributed to Su-Ming Tan.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Which octogenarians do poorly after major open abdominal surgery in our Asian population?

BACKGROUND: As the elderly population grows and surgeons are faced with more octogenarians, there is a need to know how our Asian patients fair after major surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of 125 octogenarians who underwent major abdominal surgery between January 1997 and September 2003 was performed. Preoperative condition was assessed using a weighted index of comorbidity used in Charlson Comorbidity Index and classification of patients according to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA). Outcome was measured as to whether complications developed, 30-day mortality and whether there was return to premorbid function. RESULTS: The patients had a mean age of 84.6 years (range: 80-106). Nearly half (48.8%, n = 61) the cases were emergency cases. The median index of comorbidity was 3, and 29.6% of patients were classified either ASA III or IV. The operations were mostly stomach, small bowel or large bowel resection. Multivariate analysis revealed that emergency operations were associated with significantly increased odds of morbidity. The overall 30-day mortality was 5.6%, being only 4.7% for elective cases, despite high morbidity rates. ASA classification, comorbidity index >5, development of acute coronary syndrome and anastomotic leakage were found on multivariate analysis to significantly increase the odds of mortality. For elective cases, 82.8% of patients were able to return to their premorbid functional status. Development of complications and comorbidity index >5 were found to predict failure of its occurrence. Low serum albumin and haemoglobin and renal impairment were also predictors of adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to improve outcome in geriatric surgery patients should emphasize a shift of attitude towards elective surgery rather than doing emergency operations when complications occur and also target the optimization of predictors of adverse outcome. Octogenarians should not be denied elective surgery.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2006

Breast specimen ultrasound and mammography in the prediction of tumour-free margins.

BACKGROUND: Adequacy of margins is important for local recurrence control in breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. This study aims to compare the accuracy of intraoperative specimen ultrasonography (IOUS) and specimen mammography in the prediction of achieving adequate histologically tumour-free margins during breast-conserving surgery. METHODS: Between March 2003 and September 2004, a prospective study was carried out on 25 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery. After wide excision, IOUS and specimen mammography were used to assess adequacy of margins. Further surgery was undertaken when either method showed an inadequate margin. The margins were assessed histologically and correlated with IOUS and mammographic findings. RESULTS: Using IOUS alone, higher rates of histologically tumour-free margins were achieved compared with mammography alone. Combined IOUS and mammography achieved similar or slightly higher rates of histologically tumour-free margins compared with IOUS alone. If the margin measured on IOUS is twice the desired histological margin, this will result in achieving a histologically tumour-free rate of >90%. Associated ductal carcinoma in situ was the only significant factor found to decrease the rate of achieving adequate margins. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative specimen ultrasonography is useful in predicting histologically tumour-free margins during breast conserving surgery for cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of outcome after immediate breast reconstruction: prospective comparison of four methods.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the association among different methods to assess outcome following breast reconstruction. The aim of this study was to comprehensively compare four distinct methods of outcome evaluation following immediate breast reconstruction. METHODS: There were 102 women who were prospectively evaluated: 46 patients had submuscular implants, and 56 patients had implant-assisted latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction. The mean patient age at the time of operation was 46 years (range, 22 to 72 years), with a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 12 to 24 months). All patients were evaluated using geometric measurements, photographs, linear analogue scores, and a quality-of-life questionnaire. The Wilcoxon signed rank test, Spearman's correlation, and factor analysis statistics were used. RESULTS: Transverse breast width, vertical breast height, sternal notch-nipple, midclavicular line-nipple, nipple-inframammary crease, midline-nipple, internipple, and intermammary measurements were reproducible and reliable. Median differences of absolute vertical and horizontal differences were less than 1 cm and were associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. Assessors asked to score photographs without being specifically requested to consider shape, cleavage, or symmetry would focus mainly on vertical and horizontal differences. There was a high correlation between surgeon and patient linear analogue scores. Quality-of-life questionnaires provide valuable information on body image, physical effects, and continued cancer worry. Factor analyses failed to identify components to compress data fields to obtain equivalent information from fewer questions. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of immediate breast reconstruction is complex. Cumbersome data collection has to be balanced against practical variables that individual units can collect to evaluate outcome for audit and research.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Mirizzi syndrome: noteworthy aspects of a retrospective study in one centre.

BACKGROUND: Mirizzi syndrome is uncommon. It is, however, clinically important, as it is associated with an increased incidence of bile duct injury and demands more complex surgical techniques. METHODS: A retrospective review of 24 consecutive cases of Mirizzi syndrome that arose between January 1997 and July 2002 was performed. A total of 1881 cholecystectomies were performed during that period. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 19 (79.2%) had Mirizzi type I, four (16.7%) had type II, while one (4.2%) had type III disease. Only 54.2% of patients were symptomatic prior to presentation. One-third of patients had normal liver function tests. Ultrasonography and computed tomography were not helpful in diagnosing this entity. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was useful to identify cholecystocholedochal fistulas and to allow therapeutic endoscopic stenting but failed to pick up the syndrome in half of the patients. Inadvertent bile duct injury occurred in four patients (16.7%), all occurred in patients without a preoperative diagnosis. Three of the four injuries occurred during operations by a senior registrar rather than a consultant. Mirizzi type I was managed with either total or subtotal cholecystectomy, while types II and III cases were managed with either T-tube insertion or biliary bypass procedures. Bile duct injury was managed with T-tube successfully in one patient while the rest went on to biliary bypass operations. All except one patient had good functional outcomes on follow up. CONCLUSION: The preoperative diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome is a challenge. Only constant vigilance during intraoperative dissection of the Calot's triangle will reduce the incidence of bile duct injury in Mirizzi syndrome that can occur in both open and laparoscopic surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Adult intussusception: experience in Singapore.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal intussusception is an uncommon clinical entity in adults and is interestingly distinct from its paediatric form. In adults an identifiable lead lesion is found in the majority of cases, of which a significant percentage are malignant. Its treatment is thus different from that of paediatric intussusception. The present study reviews our experience of treating adult intussusception. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with a postoperative diagnosis of gastrointestinal intussusception between January 1997 and December 2002 was conducted. All patients under the age of 18 and cases of rectal prolapse were excluded. RESULTS: During the 5-year period, there were nine cases of intussusception. There were four male and five female patients, with a mean age of 63.8 years (range 37-85 years). Less than half of the patients (44.4%) presented with acute symptoms. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain and distension. The symptoms were intermittent in 77.8% (7 of 9) of patients. Only two patients had a palpable abdominal mass, while another had signs of acute intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography was the most useful imaging modality, identifying intussusception in six out of six patients. Eight patients had lead lesions occurring at the ileocaecal junction resulting in ileo-colonic intussusception. Of these eight, four were malignant (two adenocarcinomas and two lymphomas). There was one sigmoid-rectal intussusception secondary to adenocarcinoma. All patients were treated operatively. Seven patients were treated with en bloc resection. CONCLUSION: Although uncommon, surgeons need to be aware of the epidemiology and treatment options for adult intussusception. The symptoms and signs are often non-specific and the surgeon might be faced with the diagnosis only at laparotomy. Computed tomography is the most useful imaging modality. An identifiable organic lesion is present in most cases, of which more than 50% are malignant (especially in the large bowel). Operative treatment is thus prudent. En bloc resection is recommended for ileo-colonic and colo-colonic intussusception. There is, however, a role of initial reduction in selected patients with ileo-ileal intussusception.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Immediate breast reconstruction using biodimensional anatomical permanent expander implants: a prospective analysis of outcome and patient satisfaction.

Immediate breast reconstruction is offered to the majority of women requiring a mastectomy for cancer treatment. Improvements in implant technology have seen the evolution of shaped, fixed-volume implants and permanent expanders. The theoretical benefits of biodimensional anatomical expander implants include better reconstructed breast form, the potential for achieving this at a single procedure, and the avoidance of a contralateral procedure as a result of improved ipsilateral cosmesis. The aim of the present study was to assess outcome after immediate breast reconstruction using the McGhan 150 permanent expander implant. A total of 107 consecutive patients (129 breast reconstructions) were studied over a 30-month period; 49 patients (68 reconstructions) had submuscular implant placement alone, and 58 patients (61 reconstructions) had an implant in conjunction with a latissimus dorsi flap. The mean patient age was 47 years (range, 22 to 72 years) and the mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 6 to 40 months). Outcome was assessed in the following four ways: geometric measurements, evaluation of photographs by four independent observers, linear numerical analogue scale, and a quality-of-life questionnaire. Geometric measurements after surgery showed median differences that were highly consistent with good symmetry. Transverse breast width difference between breasts was 0.35 cm, vertical breast height difference was 0.8 cm, sternal notch-to-nipple distance difference was 0.6 cm, midclavicular line-to-nipple distance difference was 0.5 cm, nipple-to-inframammary crease distance difference was 0.5 cm, midline-to-nipple distance difference was 0 cm, and projection difference was 0 cm. Photographic assessment by four observers who evaluated shape, cleavage, symmetry, and overall outcome produced correlation values of 0.73 to 0.81. More than 75 percent of each of these parameters was scored as good or excellent. A numerical analogue scale (from 1 to 10) assessing overall result by the surgeon and patient revealed good (7 to 8) or excellent (9 to 10) scores in 83 and 82 percent of respondents, respectively. Quality-of-life data showed that 81 and 88 percent of women felt "a little" or "not at all" less feminine, respectively, and 88 percent were satisfied with the appearance of their breasts. A total of 88 percent of women would also choose the same reconstructive procedure if faced with the same cancer diagnosis. Complication rates were low; infections occurred in 6.2 percent of reconstructions, hematoma occurred in 1.6 percent, and implant loss occurred in 3.9 percent. Only 24 of 107 patients (22 percent) elected to have a synchronous contralateral breast adjustment, and four of 107 (4 percent) chose to have a subsequent procedure for symmetry. Biodimensional expander implants used in immediate breast reconstruction are associated with high levels of patient and surgeon satisfaction. Optimum breast form can be achieved during a single operation with a low incidence of complications.

Adult↗