Abstract

Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare, benign, soft tissue tumor typically located between inferior corner of scapula and posterior chest wall causing mass, scapular snapping, and pain. When classic symptoms and localization are present, it is diagnosed without biopsy and treated with marginal resection. This study retrospectively analyzed patients operated on for ED to evaluate presenting symptoms, tumor size, complications, and clinical results, and to suggest optimal treatments. This study included 51 patients who underwent surgery for ED in 2 different clinics between 2005 and 2015. Patient age, gender, profession, side affected, symptoms, average duration of symptoms, and tumor size were researched. Radiological examinations of patients were evaluated. Patients with lesions larger than 5 cm in size were operated on. Postoperative complications, recurrence, and functional results were evaluated using Constant score and compared to preoperative values. A total of 61 operated lesions of 51 patients clinically and radiologically diagnosed with ED were retrospectively evaluated. Average length of time patient experienced symptoms was 11.21 months. Lesions in 19 (37.2%) patients were bilateral, 10 of which were symptomatic and larger than 5 cm in size, meeting indication for surgery. Average lesion diameter was 8.7 cm. Average follow-up was 26.89 months. Average of preoperative Constant score of 67.28 subsequently increased to 92.88 (p < 0.05). Seroma and hematoma were observed in 11.5% of patients. Generally, good clinical results can be obtained with marginal resection without requiring a biopsy, considering classic complaints and radiological appearance of ED. Level IV, Therapeutic study.

Abstract

An 83-year-old high-risk gentleman diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis was scheduled for TAVR. A 31 mm CoreValve was implanted but severe paravalvular leak was noted. A valve-in-valve procedure was performed. However, the valve frame was partially dislodged into de ascending aorta. We report our strategy to solve this severe leak after a failed valve-in-valve procedure.

Abstract

Rheumatic heart disease is one of the most common cause for heart failure and associated mortalities/morbidities in the young population in developing countries like Nepal imparting huge familial, social and manpower burden. This is a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study during June 2014 to April 2016 over a period of 22 months at College of Medical Sciences-Bharatpur including 235 patients with clinical and/or echocardiographic evidence of definite rheumatic heart disease. The age of the patients ranged from 7 to 76 years with mean age 39.82 ± 4.2 years with female preponderance (F:M = 2.1:1) (p < 0.01). Majority of the rheumatic heart disease patients belonged to 30–44 years (28.78%) followed by 15–29 years (25.75%) and 45–59 years (25.00%). Majority belonged to the low socioeconomic status (60.60%) (p < 0.05). The predominantly involved isolated valve was mitral in 110 patients (46.80%) followed by isolated aortic valve in 22 patients (9.36%) and 79 (33.62%) had dual valvular involvement. The common rheumatic valvular lesions were pure mitral stenosis in 32 (13.61%), isolated mitral regurgitation in 58 (24.68%), combined mitral stenosis/regurgitation in 36 (15.32%), combined mitral/aortic regurgitation in 23 (9.78%) and combined aortic stenosis/regurgitation in 18 (7.66%) patients with few overlappings. The common complications encountered were heart failure in 90 (38.30%) and arrhythmias in 124 (51.00%) patients.130 patients (55.32%) received injectable benzathine penicillin whereas 45 patients (19.15%) preferred oral penicillin V. Surgical intervention was done in 54 (22.97%) patients. 12 (5.10%) expired in the CCU during the course of treatment. RHD is a leading cause of heart failure among young populations with requirement of prolonged duration of medical treatment and many of them requiring surgery.

Abstract

Meckel diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the small intestine, occurring in about 2%–4% of the population. Meckel diverticulum results from incomplete closure of the omphalomesenteric duct. The presentation of symptomatic Meckel diverticulum includes gastrointestinal hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, volvulus, intussusception, diverticulitis, and neoplasms. The development of fistula is an extremely rare complication. Previous literature has even shown an enterocolonic fistula, a vesicodiverticular fistula, ileorectal fistula, and fistula-in-ano. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case of the fistula complicated between Meckel diverticulum and the appendix in a review of the English literature.

Abstract

Pectus excavatum (PE) is a common chest wall deformity. There are several surgical alternatives for the repair of PE. In our practice, the sternal turnover (STO) procedure had been performed for decades. In 2008, we started treating PE patients with the Nuss procedure. Our objective of this study is to compare these two procedures. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 50 patients undergoing pectus excavatum repairs from March 2005 to January 2013, including 20 patients with the STO procedure and 30 patients with the Nuss procedure. Patients were evaluated for type of repair performed, operating time, drainage after operation, length of postoperative stay, complications, and cosmetic results. The mean age of the STO group was 11.0 years and that of the Nuss group was 15.0 years (p = 0.353). The Nuss procedure had a much shorter mean operating time, a less mean drainage after operation, and a shorter mean time to drainage tube removal than those of the STO procedure. The rate of complication was 40.0% (8/20) in the STO group and 33.3% (10/30) in the Nuss group. Follow-up data indicated that 90% (18/20) of patients in the STO group and 96.7% (29/30) of patients in the Nuss group regarded the results as good or excellent (p = 0.965). Our data suggests that both the STO and Nuss procedures are equally safe and effective correction methods. However, less trauma, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results are the benefits of the Nuss procedure.

Abstract

Little data on the usefulness of microbiological samples in appendicular peritonitis (AP) are available. The objectives of the study were to document the clinical value of systematic peritoneal swabbing in complicated appendicitis, to establish whether they influence postoperative outcome, and to help to optimize empirical preoperative treatment. Charts of all consecutive patients undergoing appendicectomy for acute perforated appendicitis were analyzed over a 7-year period from 2005 to 2011 in a tertiary hospital in New Caledonia. From prospectively recorded data, microbiological culture results, and sensitivity of isolates were obtained in relation to histopathological findings and infective morbidity. Overall, 144 cases including 47 (33%) children and 97 (67%) adults with perforated appendicitis were included in the study. Fifty-one (35%) had generalized peritonitis treated laparoscopically in 30 (59%) cases. Peritoneal fluid samples yielded a positive culture in 104 (74%) patients. The most commonly recovered species were Escherichia coli (81%), Streptococcus milleri group (12%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%). Postoperative infectious complications occurred in 32 (22%) including intra-abdominal abscess (n = 20) and wound infection (n = 12). Probabilist antibiotic regimen was less often suitable in children than in adults (p = 0.003). Infectious complications occurred more often in cases with an unsuitable antibiotic regimen after culture results compared with a suitable antibiotic regimen before culture results (p = 0.01). Although antibiotic use may be considered as an adjunct to surgical intervention of AP, the appropriate use of preoperative antibiotics and modifications according to culture results are essential to prevent infectious complications.

Abstract

To analyze the preoperative factors associated with the need for secondary surgery following primary urethroplasty. This study utilized a subset of the National Health Insurance Research Database, which includes the data on all paid medical benefit claims from 1997 to 2007, for 1 million beneficiaries in 2005. We analyzed the claims data for all patients with hypospadias who had undergone primary urethroplasty. The characteristics of the patients, surgeons, and hospitals associated with surgical outcomes were analyzed to investigate possible associations with the need for secondary surgery. Among 52, 705 live male newborn babies, 218 were diagnosed with hypospadias, of whom 89 received repair surgery. A total of 75 (84.3%) male newborn babies received single hypospadias surgery, and 14 (15.7%) underwent more than two surgical procedures. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the type of hypospadias and the surgeon caseload volume were significantly associated with the need for additional hypospadias surgery (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the type of hypospadias (distal vs. proximal, odds ratio, 0.25, p = 0.03) and the surgeon caseload volume (high vs. low, odds ratio, 0.04, p = 0.05) were significantly correlated with secondary operation. The type of hypospadias and the surgeon caseload volume were significantly associated with the need for secondary hypospadias surgery. The findings of this study provide important information on the outcomes of hypospadias repair for parents and specialists.

Abstract

To investigate the factors associated with recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer in children. We combined the clinical and pathological features to guide surgical treatment options, ensure efficacy, and reduce complications. A prospective analysis of clinical data of 43 cases of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer from March 2008 to June 2014 admitted in our department, including 38 cases of papillary cancers and five cases of follicular cancer, 40 cases were Stage I and three cases were Stage II (Union for International Cancer Control [UICC] Tumor Node Metastasis classification [TNM] staging). We performed the operations according to the condition of lesions and lymph nodes. Operations included subtotal resection in 36 cases, total resection in seven cases. We applied statistical methods to investigate the risk factors of recurrence and postoperative complications. The pathologic lymph node metastasis rate was 67.44% (29/43): Area VI lymph nodes metastases in 20 cases and Area III/IV or Area II/V lymph nodes metastases in nine cases. Postoperative hypocalcemia symptoms were seen in three cases and hoarseness in three cases, for a total rate of 13.95% (6/43). Until December 2015, patients were followed up from 1.5 years to 8.7 years, with a median of 4.9 years. There were three cases of cervical lymph node recurrence, one case of local recurrence, and one case of lung metastasis, for a total recurrence rate of 11.63% (5/43), all patients survived. Log-rank test of Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox stepwise regression analysis showed that lesion number, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph nodes metastases were the risk factors for postoperative recurrence, the relative risk values were, respectively, 3.117, 2.816, and 4.628 (p = 0.041, p = 0.048, and p = 0.031, respectively) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were, respectively, 1.094∼8.735, 1.046∼7.932, and 1.189∼10.205. However, the lesion excision approach was not a risk factor for postoperative recurrence (p = 0.107). The logistic stepwise regression model showed that lesion excision approach was a risk factor for postoperative hypocalcemia and hoarseness, the odds ratio value was 2.537 (p = 0.037) and the 95% CI was 1.034∼6.983. Pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer has a high metastatic rate to lymph nodes and distant organs, but the total prognosis is good. Application of total resection cannot necessarily reduce the relapse rate of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer, but it may increase the postoperative hypocalcemia and hoarseness. The authors propose strictly adhering to various operation indicators, and carrying out various operations with a full understanding of the local lesion and lymph nodes in order to reduce relapse and postoperative complications.