Single incision for oncologic breast conserving surgery and sentinel node biopsy in early stage breast cancer: A minimally invasive approach.

Introduction Breast conserving surgery (BCS) has a postoperative morbidity up to 30%. We report the feasibility of a single-incision approach for tumor excision and axillary sentinel node biopsy (SNB) sampling intended to minimize patient morbidity and complications. Materials and methods A tertiary surgical oncology single surgeon database was retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing BCS and SNB between January 2013 and December 2015. The single-incision approach used a single breast incision to resect the tumor and the Lymphazurin-tagged SNB. The multi-incision group used a breast incision and a separate axillary incision. Results The single-incision approach was associated with shorter operative time (56 vs 64 minutes, P = 0.026). Sentinel node retrieval was achieved in 100% in both groups. The single-incision technique was used primarily in the upper outer quadrant (N = 41, 85.4%), but was also selectively applied in other quadrants (N = 5). There was no significant difference in complication rates between the two procedures (P = 0.425), and there were no instances of conversion from single-incision to standard BCS-SNB. Conclusions Minimally invasive breast conserving surgery is feasible for patients with early breast cancer located in the upper outer quadrants. This technique may reduce postoperative morbidity and improved cosmetic result

Dark-adapted red flash ERGs in healthy adults

Purpose: The x-wave of the dark-adapted (DA) ERG to a red flash reflects DA cone function. This exploratory study of healthy adults aimed to investigate changes in the DA red ERG with flash strength and during dark adaptation to optimise visualisation and therefore quantification of the x-wave. Methods: The effect of altering red flash strength was investigated in four subjects by recording ERGs after 20 minutes dark adaptation to red flashes (0.2–2.0 cd s m-2) using skin electrodes and natural pupils. The effect of dark adaptation duration was investigated in 16 subjects during 20 minutes in the dark, by recording DA 1.5 red ERGs at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. Results: For a dark adaption period of 20 minutes, the x-wave was more clearly visualised to weaker (< 0.6 cd s m-2) red flash strengths: to stronger flashes it became obscured by the b-wave. For red flashes of 1.5 cd s m-2, the x-wave was most prominent in ERGs recorded after 1–5 minutes of dark adaptation: with longer dark-adaptation, it was subsumed into the b-wave’s rising edge. Conclusions: This small study suggests that x-wave visibility in healthy subjects after 20 minutes dark adaptation is improved by using flashes weaker than around 0.6 cd s m-2; for flash strengths of 1.5 cd s m-2, x-wave visibility is enhanced by recording after only around 5 minutes of dark adaptation. No evidence was found that interim red flash ERGs affecting the dark-adapted state of the normal retina

Structural analysis of the factors pertaining to attitudes toward and consciousness of organ donation : Comparison between Japanese and Americans

The purpose of this study is to analyze the background factors relating to opinions on organ donation through factorial and structural comparisons between Japanese and Americans. The data were obtained from responses to a questionnaire (371 Japanese and 41 Americans). The main findings are as follows: 1. Most of the factors, ‘a will for organ donation depending on a recipient’, ‘view of remains’, ‘understanding of brain death’ and so on showed significant differences between Japanese and Americans. 2. Japanese had a better understanding of brain death. On the other hand, the ratio of Americans who were willing to donate an organ was higher than that of Japanese. 3. It was revealed that “the approval of organ donation for the third person, not only for one's family” had an impact for having donor card showing the approval for organ donation. Furthermore, as underlying factors generating differences on organ transplant opinions, differences were found among Japanese between “approval of organ transplant” and the attitude assuming that oneself or a member of one's family was the person concerned with organ transplantation. There were also differences between Japanese and Americans on ideas about a view for life and death such as soul existence or view of remains. The argument for transplantation in Japan should consider these structural differences

Pancreatectomy and Body Mass Index: An International Evaluation of Cumulative Postoperative Complications Using the Comprehensive Complications Index

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obese patients undergoing pancreatectomy are at increased risk for postoperative complications and readmission. We examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative complications following major pancreatectomy using the novel Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI), which analyzes the impact of multiple surgical complications rather than just the most severe. METHODS: We performed a retrospective dual institutional international review of 500 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic resection and assessed the association of BMI with postoperative complications using the CCI and Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) with uni- and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Overweight and obese patients undergoing pancreatic resection demonstrated a higher incidence and severity of CCI-measured complications (29.3 vs. 21.1, P < 0.001), more pancreatic fistulae (15.4 vs. 8.8%, 95% CI 1.005 -1.902), and an increased 30-day readmission rate (21.1 vs. 12.1%, 95% CI 1.067 -1.852) (all p < 0.05) than normal-BMI patients. The CCI was a more sensitive marker of post-pancreatectomy complications relative to the CDC, with a higher multicomplication rate in overweight/obese patients (54.8% vs. 44.5%). CONCLUSION: Patients with overweight and obese body mass index undergoing major pancreatectomy demonstrated higher rates of postoperative complications, pancreatic fistulae, and readmissions. The CCI is a more robust and sensitive tool to assess post-pancreatectomy complications than the CDC