243 research outputs found
Securing the appendiceal stump in laparoscopic appendectomy: Evidence for routine stapling?
Background: This metaanalysis aimed to compare endoscopic linear stapling and loop ligatures used to secure the base of the appendix. Methods: Randomized controlled trials on appendix stump closure during laparoscopic appendectomy were systematically searched and critically appraised. The results in terms of complication rates, operating time, and hospital stay were pooled by standard metaanalytic techniques. Results: Data on 427 patients from four studies were included. The operative time was 9 min longer when loops were used (p = 0.04). Superficial wound infections (odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06-0.71; p = 0.01) and postoperative ileus (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.14-0.89; p = 0.03) were significantly less frequent when the appendix stump was secured with staples instead of loops. Of 10 intraoperative ruptures of the appendix, 7 occurred in loop-treated patients (p = 0.46). Hospital stay and frequency of postoperative intraabdominal abscess also were comparable in loop-treated and staple-treated patients. Conclusions: The clinical evidence on stump closure methods in laparoscopic appendectomy favors the routine use of endoscopic staplers
Single and multigland disease in primary hyperparathyroidism: Clinical follow-up, histopathology, and flow cytometric DNA analysis
Two-hundred seventy-four patients with primary hyperparathyroidism had selective removal of enlarged parathyroid glands. Biopsies were taken from all parathyroid glands. Normal-size glands were not resected irrespective of their histological appearance. After a mean follow-up of 13.5 years the rates of persistent and recurrent hyperparathyroidism were, respectively, 3.6% and 0.7%. Transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 24% and 2.5% of the patients. The microscopic appearance of enlarged glands and of biopsies taken from normal-size glands were reviewed by two pathologists. Normal parathyroid glands were distinguished from abnormal glands fairly accurately (sensitivity 93%, specificity 80%). Microscopic classification of abnormal parathyroid glands as adenomas or hyperplastic glands correlated poorly with the gross classification as single or multigland disease. Flow cytometric DNA analysis of paraffin embedded parathyroid tissue showed significant differences for DNA index, % S-phase and % G2M (p<0.001). Differentiating single from multigland disease by means of DNA analysis was not possible. In conclusion, removal of only enlarged parathyroid glands results in acceptable rates of persistent and recurrent hyperparathyroidism. Biopsies should only be taken sparingly to prevent transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism. Microscopic examination and flow cytometric DNA analysis can differentiate normal from abnormal parathyroid glands but are unable to differentiate abnormal glands into single or multigland disease
Fertility and body composition after laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy in a 30-year-old female with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is caused
by an inborn defect in the 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21), leading to
virilization of female patients and causing ambiguous genitals in the
majority of female infants. Adult women may suffer from loss of libido,
irregular or absent cycles, and reduced fertility, despite intensive
medical treatment. These problems have stimulated the search for
alternative treatment modalities. We present an adult female patient, who
was difficult to treat medically and whose clinical situation markedly
improved after laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy. The procedure was
well tolerated and without side effects. Postoperatively the elevated
serum progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels, as well as the
undetectable LH levels, normalized. The procedure resulted in marked
clinical improvement. Within 12 months after surgery she lost 11 kg in
weight. This weight loss consisted mainly of adipose tissue. Acne
disappeared, and she had a regular 4-week menstrual cycle, with
progesterone levels that are compatible with a luteal phase. The
introduction of laparoscopic techniques may give an impulse to the
application of surgical therapy at a larger scale in patients with
21-hydroxylase deficiency who are difficult to treat with adrenal
suppression therapy
The INCH-trial:a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing short- and long-term outcomes of open and laparoscopic surgery for incisional hernia repair
Background: Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is increasingly performed worldwide and expected to be superior to conventional open repair regarding hospital stay and quality of life (QoL). The INCisional Hernia-Trial was designed to test this hypothesis. Methods: A multicenter parallel randomized controlled open-label trial with a superiority design was conducted in six hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients with primary or recurrent incisional hernias were randomized by computer-guided block-randomization to undergo either conventional open or laparoscopic repair. Primary endpoint was postoperative length of hospital stay in days. Secondary endpoints included QoL, complications, and recurrences. Patients were followed up for at least 5 years. Results: Hundred-and-two patients were recruited and randomized. In total, 88 patients underwent surgery and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (44 in the open group, 44 in the laparoscopic group). Mean age was 59.5 years, gender division was equal, and BMI was 28.8 kg/m. The trial was concluded early for futility after an unplanned interim analysis, which showed that the hypothesis needed to be rejected. There was no difference in primary outcome: length of hospital stay was 3 (range 1–36) days in the open group and 3 (range 1–12) days in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.481). There were no significant between-group differences in QoL questionnaires on the short and long term. Satisfaction was impaired in the open group. Overall recurrence rate was 19%, of which 16% in the open and 23% in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.25) at a mean follow-up of 6.6 years. Conclusions: In a randomized controlled trial, short- and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic incisional hernia repair were not superior to open surgery. The persisting high recurrence rates, reduced QoL, and suboptimal satisfaction warrant the need for patient’s expectation management in the preoperative process and individualized surgical management. Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register NTR2808.</p
An unusual case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and the role of 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy
A 50-year-old woman is described with a very unusual combination of MEN-1 syndrome with a negative family history. At first she had been treated because of a clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma in the maxillary sinus. Six years later a carcinoid tumour was discovered by means of 111In-pentreotide scintigraphy
The value of plasma markers for the clinical behaviour of phaeochromocytomas
OBJECTIVE: Phaeochromocytomas (PCCs) are widely known for their clinical
unpredictability. This study intends to define predictive plasma markers
for their variable postoperative behaviour. Furthermore, the diagnostic
accuracy of these plasma tests was determined. DESIGN AND METHODS: A
retrospective correlative study was performed in a series of 83 operated
and four autopsied patients in order to correlate preoperative
catecholamine (CAT) levels of 103 PCCs with their clinical behaviour. In a
subset of cases, chromogranin-A (Chr-A) and enzymes/precursors of the CAT
biosynthesis were studied for their predictive value. RESULTS: Basal CAT
levels were elevated in 81/87 instances (sensitivity: 93%). Four of six
cases with normal measurements showed only medullary hyperplasia. Larger
PCCs, particularly those showing necrosis, capsular and vascular invasion,
secreted higher CAT levels. Bilateral, hereditary tumours were less
productive than their unilateral counterparts. Extra-adrenal PCCs secreted
significantly lower levels of epinephrine (EPI) than intra-adrenal
tumours. Fourteen patients developed metastases. According to Kaplan-Meier
estimations, patients with higher levels of dopamine, norepinephrine (NE)
and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase as well as lower ratios of
EPI/EPI+NE, had significantly shorter metastases-free intervals. Existence
of preoperative hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and measured
blood pressures showed significant positive relationships with CAT levels,
but not with Chr-A. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that plasma CAT
measurement is a sensitive method in the diagnostic work-up of PCCs. Those
tumours producing normal levels are commonly small and asymptomatic.
Furthermore, certain secretion patterns are indicative of the presence of
metastases as well as the size and site of spor
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