Quality of life of Egyptian donors after living-related liver transplantation

Quality of life after liver donation must remain a primary outcome measure when we consider the utility of living donor liver transplants. In making clinical decisions on the use of transplantation for chronic liver diseases, consideration should be given to the key factors likely to affect subsequent health related quality of life. It would be beneficial for donors, if factors predicting good quality of life are identified. The aim of this study was to assess the health related quality of life changes experienced by donors following living related liver transplantation using the Short Form 36 [SF-36] questionnaire. Between August 2001 and December 2006, 125 adults received liver grafts from living donors at Dar Al-Fouad Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. The SF-36v2 questionnaire was applied to 30 donors after at least 6 months following donation and maximally 4 years after donation [mean +/- SD:3.28 +/- 1.56 years]. Furthermore, 30 healthy volunteers were taken as a control group. None of the donors required re-surgery and no deaths were reported. Only 4 [13.3%] donors experienced minor complications, which did not affect their quality of life and had no long term effects. No significant difference was found between donors and control group when means of the Physical and Mental Component Summary were compared. The physical functioning domain was the only domain of health which showed a statistically significant difference between both groups. Health related quality of life of donors was not compromised after full recovery. All donors had good recovery and returned to regular activities within 2-4 months post donation

Combined radiofrequency ablation [RFA] and percutaneous acetic acid injection [PAI] versus radiofrequency ablation alone for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is one of the most commonly occurring solid tumors worldwide. Percutaneous acetic-acid injection [PAI] and radiofrequency ablation are options for treatment. The aim is to compare the efficacy and safety of combined radiofrequency and acetic acid injection versus radiofrequency alone for ablation of HCC. This study was conducted on 40 patients having HCC. Group 1 [20 patients] was subjected to radiofrequency ablation preceded by intra-tumoral acetic acid injection [RFA+AA]. Group 2 [20 patients was subjected to RFA alone. The procedure was successful in 18 [90%] patients of group 1 and in 15 [75%] of group 2. RFA+ AA are most effective than RFA alone as acetic acid injection may enhance the ablation induced by RFA

Necessity and safety of completion thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Thirty two patients underwent completion thyroidectomy after initial thyroid lobectomy for a solitary thyroid nodule that proved to be malignant on paraffin histopathologic examination. Contralateral thyroid carcinoma was detected in 15 [46.8%] of these patients undergoing thyroidectomy. There was one case of transient vocal cord paresis [3.1%]. Temporary hypoparathyroidism occured in two patients [6.2%]. Complete recovery occured in these three patients. Completion thyroidectomy is a safe procedure with minimal morbidity

Hepatic resection for benign liver tumours: is it justified?

Between January 1992 and November 1995, 12 patients with benign liver tumours [BLTS] were treated in our department. Nine were symptomatic and underwent hepatic resection, and 3 were asymptomatic and were primarily observed. A single patient within the asymptomatic group underwent hepatic resection later on. In 5 patients [41.6 percent], 4 symptomatic and 1 asymptomatic, precise preoperative diagnosis was not possible. One symptomatic equivocal lesion turned out to be malignant. No operative mortality and no serious complication occured. All symptomatic patients became symptom free, and complete regeneration was realised in all patients following resection. Hepatic resection for persistently symptomatic and suspicious equivocal lesions is considered justified and safe