Predictive factors of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing rectal surgery

BACKGROUND: Despite major advance in surgical techniques from open surgery to robot-assisted surgery, acute kidney injury (AKI) is still major postoperative complication in rectal surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare the incidence of postoperative AKI according to different surgical techniques and also the risk factors, outcomes of AKI in patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery. METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review was done in a total of 288 patients who received proctectomy because of rectal cancer from 2011 to 2013. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 62 ± 12 years, and male was 64.2%. Preoperative creatinine was 0.91 ± 0.18 mg/dL. Open surgery was performed in 9%, and laparoscopy assisted surgery or robot assisted surgery were performed in 54.8% or 36.1% of patients, respectively. AKI developed in 11 patients (3.82%), 2 (18%) of them received acute hemodialysis. Incidence of AKI was not different according to the surgical technique, however, the presence of diabetes, intraoperative shock, and postoperative ileus was associated with the development of AKI. In addition, AKI patients showed significantly longer hospital stay and higher mortality than non-AKI patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that despite advances in surgical techniques, incidence of postoperative AKI remains unchanged and also that postoperative AKI is associated with poor outcome. We also found that presence of diabetes, intraoperative shock and postoperative ileus are strongly associated with the development of AKI. More careful attention should be paid on high risk patients for the development of postoperative AKI regardless of surgical techniques.

The Relationship of Plasma Visfatin Level and Anorexia in Terminal Cancer Patients / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: Anorexia is a common symptom in terminal cancer patients. Some data have suggested a role of visfatin in regulating feeding behavior. We studied the relationship of a serum visfatin level and anorexia in cancer patients provided with hospice care. METHODS: After informed consent was obtained, 69 cancer patients over 20 years old at a hospice center were enrolled in the study from July 2009 to July 2010. We characterized patients by age, sex, body mass index, primary cancer site, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, etc. Also, blood tests were performed to measure the level of hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, albumin, lymphocyte count, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interukin-6, leptin and visfatin. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 65.5 years old, According to univariate analysis, pulse, ECOG performance scale, opioid use and visfatin level were different between the anorexia and non-anorexic group (P<0.05). The median visfatin level was higher in the anorexia group than the good appetite group (P=0.0323). Serum visfatin concentrations were not related with either body mass index or serum leptin or total cholesterol levels, but it was negatively correlated with serum albumin levels (P=0.0198) and lymphocyte counts (P=0.0013). CONCLUSION: This study did not identify a novel link between visfatin levels and anorexia in cancer patients at a hospice.

Closed Reduction and External Fixation of Displaced Fractures of the Proximal Humerus

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to analyze the functional results of closed reduction and external fixation of unstable fractures of the proximal humerus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten unstable proximal humerus fractures were managed with closed reduction and external fixation in which other operative methods are not proper due to comminution, osteoporosis or poor general condition of patients. 4 cases of 2-part and 6 cases of 3-part fracture were included. Radiologically union of fracture, malunion and the evdence of avascular necrosis of humeral head were assessed and the functional results were analyzed with Neer scoring system. RESULTS: Radiologically all fractures were healed but in 2 cases malunion was resulted because of reduction loss in proximal fragment. Pin site infection was developed in 7 cases and oral antibiotics were needed. The functional results were excellent in 4, satisfactory in 3 and unsatisfactory in 3 cases. 2 cases with malunion and one case with lack of postoperative cooperation resulted in functionally unsatisfactory. CONCLUSION: External fixation is an alternative method in the treatment of unstable proximal humerus fractures in which open reduction or percutaneous pinning are not proper due to comminution, osteoporosis or poor general condition of patient.

Effect of Bone Cement Augmentation of Pedicular Screwing for Osteoporotic Lumbar Spine / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen patients undergoing bone cement augmentation of pedicular screwing for osteoporotic lumbar spine were reviewed retropectively. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of bone cement augmentation of pedicular screwing for osteoporotic lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: For the technical limit obtaining the dynamic stability in the bone-screw interface for osteoporotic lumbar spine, the additional device to enhance pedicular screw fixation strength needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 18 cases undergoing pedicular screwing and fusion for the osteoporotic (Jikei grade I, II, III/III) lumbar spine from Feb. 2000 to Mar. 2001 with an average follow-up of 1.5 years. Mean age was 69.5 years with 6 male and 12 female. Inclusion criteria was 9 degenerative spinal stenosis, 5 spinal stenosis associated with compression fracture, 2 Kummel's disease, 1 spondylolisthesis and 1 internal disc disruption. We performed bone cement injection around the screws showing significantly low insertion torque, screw pullout or cut-up during surgery. We asssessed the radiographic results of sagittal angle correction (SAC) of the fused segment and disc height restoration (DHR) on the preoperative, postoperative and last follow up lumbar lateral views. Clinical results were evaluated according to the Kumano's criteria. RESULTS: Mean sagittal angle at preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up was 11.6-21.6-19.6 degrees with mean SAC gain 10 degrees (p0.05). Mean disc height of each period was 33.3-49.8-43.5% with mean DHR gain 16.5% (p0.05). The clinical result was analyzed as 14 good, 3 fair and 1 poor. Fusion success was achieved in all. There were 2 perioperative complications of 1 superficial surgical site infection and 1 incomplete L4 root injury, and 6 complications during follow up of 3 compression fractures above fused segment, 1 screw pullout, 1 screw cut-up, and 1 bone cement extrava-sation into canal. CONCLUSIONS: The bone cement augmentation of pedicular screwing for osteoporotic lumbar spine can be an alternative to enhance screw fixation strength.