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Purpose@#The standard of care for early rectal cancer is radical surgery; however, it carries high postoperative morbidity. This study aimed to assess the short-term and oncological outcomes of local excision and adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with high-risk pathological stage (p) T1 rectal cancer. @*Methods@#Fifty-five patients underwent local excision with adjuvant radiotherapy or radical resection for high-risk T1 rectal cancer. Patients with adenocarcinoma within 10 cm from the anal verge; pT1 with high-risk features (grade 3–4); a tumor size of ≥3 cm; a positive margin; a lymphovascular or perineural invasion; or a submucosal invasion depth of ≥SM2 were included. @*Results@#The rates of postoperative complications and stoma formation were higher in the radical surgery group (P = 0.021 and P = 0.003, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) between the 2 groups (P = 0.301 and P = 0.076, respectively). Vascular invasion was a significantly poor prognostic factor for DFS (P = 0.033). The presence of 3 or more high-risk features was associated with a poor DFS (P = 0.002). @*Conclusion@#Local excision with adjuvant radiotherapy significantly reduces the risk of complications and stoma formation. It is also an alternative option for patients with fewer than 3 high-risk features.
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Purpose@#Vascular invasion is a well-known independent prognostic factor in colon cancer and tumor sidedness is also being considered a prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to compare the oncological impact of vascular invasion depending on the tumor location in stages I to III colon cancer. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was performed using data from patients who underwent curative resection between 2004 and 2015. Patients were divided into right-sided colon cancer (RCC) and left-sided colon cancer (LCC) groups according to the tumor location. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the RCC and LCC groups, depending on the presence of vascular invasion. @*Results@#A total of 793 patients were included, of which 304 (38.3%) had RCC and 489 (61.7%) had LCC. DFS and OS did not differ significantly between the RCC and LCC groups. Vascular invasion was a poor prognostic factor for DFS in both RCC (hazard ratio [HR], 2.291; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.186–4.425; p = 0.010) and LCC (HR, 1.848; 95% CI, 1.139–2.998; p = 0.011). Additionally, it was associated with significantly worse OS in the RCC (HR, 3.503; 95% CI, 1.681–7.300; p < 0.001), but not in the LCC group (HR, 1.676; 95% CI, 0.885–3.175; p = 0.109). Multivariate analysis revealed that vascular invasion was independently poor prognostic factor for OS in the RCC (HR, 3.186; 95% CI, 1.391–7.300; p = 0.006). @*Conclusion@#This study demonstrated that RCC with vascular invasion had worse OS than LCC with vascular invasion.
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Purpose@#Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) reduces postoperative complications and shortens hospital stays. We aimed to describe the implementation and improvement of ERAS protocols in our institution through a multidisciplinary team approach. @*Methods@#A multidisciplinary team comprised of colorectal surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and a performance improvement team was launched to develop the ERAS protocol. The ERAS protocol was followed in patients who underwent colonic and rectal surgery between January and November 2017. The ERAS protocol comprised 22 elements in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. After the initial application, ERAS compliance was monitored and audited every 4–6 months and improvements made as necessary. @*Results@#The length of hospital stay significantly decreased after the application of the ERAS protocols for colon cancer in 2017 and 2018. And there was no significant difference in the duration of hospital stay after applying the rectal cancer ERAS protocol. Moreover, after starting the colon ERAS, there was a significant decrease in the complication rate. Since December 2017, there was a continuous increase in the colorectal ERAS clinical pathway application rate, which remained high (>90%). The patient compliance rate significantly increased between 2017 and 2018, but slightly decreased again in 2019. @*Conclusion@#The application and continual improvement of an ERAS protocol are crucial. Improving compliance may result in better clinical outcomes. Additionally, the basic guidelines of ERAS must be applied and developed according to each hospital’s situation based on the team approach.
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Purpose@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of applying enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in elderly colorectal cancer patients. @*Methods@#The medical records of patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer surgery at our institution, from January 2017 to December 2017, were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the young group (YG, patients aged 70 and under 70 years) and the old group (OG, patients over 70 years old). Perioperative outcomes and length of hospital stay were compared between both groups. @*Results@#In total, 335 patients were enrolled; 237 were YG and 98 were OG. Despite the poorer baseline characteristics of OG, the perioperative outcomes were similar. Length of hospital stay was not different between the groups (YG, 5 days vs. OG, 5 days; P=0.320). When comparing the postoperative complications using the comprehensive complication index (CCI), there was no significant difference (YG, 8.0±13.2 vs. OG, 11.7±23.0; P=0.130). In regression analysis, old age (>70 years) was not a risk factor for high CCI in all patients. In multivariate analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP) level on postoperative day (POD) 3 to 4 was the only strong predictive factor for high CCI in elderly patients. @*Conclusion@#Implementing the ERAS protocol in patients aged >70 years is safe and feasible. High CRP (≥6.47 mg/dL) on POD 3 to 4 can be used as a safety index to postpone discharge in elderly patients.
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The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is associated with improved clinical outcomes. However, implementation of ERAS in clinical practice is difficult because it requires a multidisciplinary approach and complex standardization. Moreover, maintenance and auditing of ERAS protocols is another challenge.Current Concepts: The ERAS society provides guidelines for surgery in almost all areas, and each guideline consists of approximately 20 items. Audits are performed to determine whether the items are being applied appropriately in a compliant manner as well as monitor and improve ERAS protocols. Numerous studies have reported that even with the application of the same ERAS protocol, postoperative short-term outcomes such as reductions of hospital stay and postoperative complications were better in the high-compliance group than in the low-compliance group. In addition, some recent studies have reported that application of ERAS protocols with high compliance can improve the long-term survival outcomes in cancer patients. In this regard, ERAS has been hypothesized to improve long-term oncological outcomes by minimizing surgical stress and reducing the postoperative inflammatory response and damage to immune function.Discussion and Conclusion: In addition to the development of appropriate protocols, auditing of compliance is also an important part of ERAS implementation. High compliance may lead to improved clinical outcomes.
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Purpose@#Intrathecal analgesia (ITA) and transverse abdominis plane block (TAPB) are effective pain control methods in abdominal surgery. However, there is still no gold standard for postoperative pain control in minimally invasive colorectal surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether the analgesic effect could be increased when TAPB, which can further reduce wound somatic pain, was administered in low-dose morphine ITA patients. @*Methods@#Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were randomized into an ITA with TAPB group or an ITA group. Patients were evaluated for pain 0, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The primary outcome was the total morphine milligram equivalents administered 24 hours after surgery. The secondary outcomes were pain scores, ambulatory variables, inflammation markers, hospital stay duration, and complications within 48 hours after surgery. @*Results@#A total of 64 patients were recruited, and 55 were compared. There was no significant difference in morphine use over the 24 hours after surgery in the 2 groups (ITA with TAPB, 15.3 mg vs. ITA, 10.2 mg; P = 0.270). Also, there was no significant difference in pain scores. In both groups, the average pain score at 24 and 48 hours was 2 points or less, showing effective pain control. @*Conclusion@#ITA for pain control in patients with colorectal surgery is an effective pain method, and additional TAPB was not effective.
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Purpose@#This study was performed to evaluate complications using comprehensive complication index (CCI) in colorectal cancer patients with implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, and to investigate the predictive factors associated with high morbidity rates. It can be used as a safety net in determining the timing of discharge. @*Methods@#A total of 335 consecutive patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer surgery between January 2017 and December 2017 at a single tertiary center were enrolled. Postoperative complications were defined as occurring within 30 days after surgery. The predictive factor analysis for the high CCI group was also performed. @*Results@#In total, 116 patients experienced postoperative complications. Wound-related complications and postoperative ileus were the most common. The mean CCI for overall colorectal cancer surgery was 9.1 ± 16.7. Patients featuring low CCI (<26.2) were 297 (88.7%) and high CCI were 38 (11.3%). In multivariable analysis, obstructive colorectal cancer (odds ratio, 3.278; 95% confidence interval, 1.217–8.829; P = 0.019) and CRP value on postoperative day (POD) 3–4 (odds ratio, 1.152; 95% confidence interval, 1.036–1.280; P < 0.010) were significant predictors for high CCI. @*Conclusion@#The clinical usefulness of CCI in colorectal cancer patients with the ERAS protocol was verified, and it can be used for surgical quality control. More cautious care is needed and the timing of discharge should be carefully determined for patients with obstructive colorectal cancer or POD 3–4 CRP of ≥6.47 mg/dL.
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Purpose@#The prognostic factors in obstructive colon cancer have not been clearly identified. We aimed to identify the prognostic factor to establish optimal treatment strategy in obstructive colon cancer. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent surgery for primary colon cancer in stages II and III with symptomatic obstruction from 2004 to 2010 in six hospitals were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathological and surgical outcomes were compared between stent insertion and emergent surgery group. Multiple regression analysis and survival curve analysis were used to identif y the prognostic factors in symptomatic obstructive colon cancer. @*Results@#Among 210 patients, 168 patients (80.0%) underwent stent insertion followed by surgery and 42 patients (20.0%) underwent emergent surgery. Laparoscopic approach (55.4% vs. 23.8%, p< 0.001) and adequate lymph node (LN) harvest (≥12) (93.5% vs. 69.0%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in stent insertion group. In multiple regression analysis, emergent surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 2.153; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.031–4.495), vascular invasion (HR, 6.257; 95% CI, 2.784–14.061), and omitting adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 3.107; 95% CI, 1.394–6.925) were independent poor prognostic factors in 5-year overall survival, and N stage (N1: HR, 3.095; 95% CI, 1.316–7.284; N2: HR, 4.156; 95% CI, 1.671–10.333) was the only poor prognostic factor in 5-year disease-free survival. @*Conclusion@#In symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, emergent surgery, N stage, vascular invasion, and omission of adjuvant chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors. Stent insertion is suggested as the initial treatment for symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, and adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended, especially when vascular invasion or LN metastasis is confirmed.
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Purpose@#The objective of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes between single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) and 3-port conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA) in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. @*Methods@#Of 101 laparoscopic appendectomy with ERAS protocol cases for appendicitis from March 2019 to April 2020, 54 patients underwent SILA with multimodal analgesic approach (group 1) while 47 patients received CLA with multimodal analgesic approach (group 2). SILA and CLA were compared with the single institution’s ERAS protocol. To adjust for baseline differences and selection bias, operative outcomes and complications were compared after propensity score matching (PSM). @*Results@#After 1:1 PSM, well-matched 35 patients in each group were evaluated. Postoperative hospital stays for patients in group 1 (1.2 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.8 days, P = 0.037) were significantly lesser than those for patients in group 2. However, opioid consumption (2.0 mg vs. 1.4 mg, P=0.1) and the postoperative scores of visual analogue scale for pain at 6 hours (2.4±1.9 vs. 2.8 ± 1.4, P = 0.260) and 12 hours (2.4 ± 2.0 vs. 2.9 ± 1.5, P = 0.257) did not show significant difference between the 2 groups. @*Conclusion@#SILA resulted in shortening the length of hospitalization without increase in complications or readmission rates compared to CLA with ERAS protocol.
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Purpose@#The prognostic factors in obstructive colon cancer have not been clearly identified. We aimed to identify the prognostic factor to establish optimal treatment strategy in obstructive colon cancer. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent surgery for primary colon cancer in stages II and III with symptomatic obstruction from 2004 to 2010 in six hospitals were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathological and surgical outcomes were compared between stent insertion and emergent surgery group. Multiple regression analysis and survival curve analysis were used to identif y the prognostic factors in symptomatic obstructive colon cancer. @*Results@#Among 210 patients, 168 patients (80.0%) underwent stent insertion followed by surgery and 42 patients (20.0%) underwent emergent surgery. Laparoscopic approach (55.4% vs. 23.8%, p< 0.001) and adequate lymph node (LN) harvest (≥12) (93.5% vs. 69.0%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in stent insertion group. In multiple regression analysis, emergent surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 2.153; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.031–4.495), vascular invasion (HR, 6.257; 95% CI, 2.784–14.061), and omitting adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 3.107; 95% CI, 1.394–6.925) were independent poor prognostic factors in 5-year overall survival, and N stage (N1: HR, 3.095; 95% CI, 1.316–7.284; N2: HR, 4.156; 95% CI, 1.671–10.333) was the only poor prognostic factor in 5-year disease-free survival. @*Conclusion@#In symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, emergent surgery, N stage, vascular invasion, and omission of adjuvant chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors. Stent insertion is suggested as the initial treatment for symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, and adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended, especially when vascular invasion or LN metastasis is confirmed.
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Purpose@#The objective of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes between single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) and 3-port conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA) in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. @*Methods@#Of 101 laparoscopic appendectomy with ERAS protocol cases for appendicitis from March 2019 to April 2020, 54 patients underwent SILA with multimodal analgesic approach (group 1) while 47 patients received CLA with multimodal analgesic approach (group 2). SILA and CLA were compared with the single institution’s ERAS protocol. To adjust for baseline differences and selection bias, operative outcomes and complications were compared after propensity score matching (PSM). @*Results@#After 1:1 PSM, well-matched 35 patients in each group were evaluated. Postoperative hospital stays for patients in group 1 (1.2 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.8 days, P = 0.037) were significantly lesser than those for patients in group 2. However, opioid consumption (2.0 mg vs. 1.4 mg, P=0.1) and the postoperative scores of visual analogue scale for pain at 6 hours (2.4±1.9 vs. 2.8 ± 1.4, P = 0.260) and 12 hours (2.4 ± 2.0 vs. 2.9 ± 1.5, P = 0.257) did not show significant difference between the 2 groups. @*Conclusion@#SILA resulted in shortening the length of hospitalization without increase in complications or readmission rates compared to CLA with ERAS protocol.
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We aimed to show that a standardized step-by-step robotic approach using surgical landmarks could make lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPND) less complicated. We performed robot-assisted LPND consisting of 4 steps using surgical landmarks. The first step is a dissection of uretero-hypogastric fascia, which envelopes the ureter and the hypogastric nerve. The second step is a dissection of the medial side of the external iliac vein located at the lateral border of the obturator lymph nodes (LNs) group. The third step is a dissection of the vesico-hypogastric fascia, which is at the medial border of the obturator LNs group. The final step is a dissection of the internal iliac artery until the Alcock’s canal. Indocyanine green was injected just before surgery around the dentate line to identify the lateral pelvic LNs. Standardization using a robotic approach for LPND guided by surgical landmarks allows a safer and more effective surgery.
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Purpose@#Minimally invasive colorectal surgery had reduced the rate of surgical site infection. The use of surgical skin adhesive bond (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) for wound closure reduces postoperative pain and provides better cosmetic effect compared to conventional sutures or staples. But role of surgical skin adhesive bond for reducing surgical site infection is unclear. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the role of surgical skin adhesive bond in reducing surgical site infection following minimally invasive colorectal surgery. @*Methods@#We performed a retrospective analysis of 492 patients treated using minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. Of these, surgical skin adhesive bond was used for wound closure in 284 cases and skin stapling in 208. The rate of surgical site infection including deep or organ/space level infections was compared between the 2 groups. @*Results@#The rate of superficial surgical site infection was significantly lower in the group using skin adhesive (p = 0.024), and total costs for wound care were significantly lower in the skin adhesive group (p < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#This study showed that surgical skin adhesive bond reduced surgical site infection and total cost for wound care following minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery compared to conventional skin stapler technique. Surgical skin adhesive bond is a safe and feasible alternative surgical wound closure technique following minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery.
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In addition to classical triad such as gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and dementia, parkinsonian extrapyramidal motor signs and neuropsychiatric symptoms can be observed in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). In our case, a 46 year old female patient showed extrapyramidal symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, restlessness and regressed behavior beside two(gait disturbance & urinary incontinence) symptoms of three classical triad. It was difficult to diagnose this patient as NPH from the beginning because of her relatively young age and previous psychiatric mediation history for controlling advanced anxiety and affective disorder. Antiparkinsonian agents and discontinuation of psychiatric medications did not work for this patient. Patient's brain computed tomographic finding showed enlarged ventricles. We suspected NPH and did empirical drainage of 30mL CSF. Finally, patient's pyramidal and neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as two of three classical triad of NPH were improved dramatically within several days. It is important to consider NPH as one of the differential diagnosis in patient with parkinsonian symptoms and various neuropsychiatric symptoms who did not respond to usual clinical management especially in case of ventricular enlargement in neuroimaging because of its treatable property by CSF shunt operation.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Antiparkinson Agents , Anxiety , Bipolar Disorder , Brain , Dementia , Diagnosis, Differential , Dihydroergotamine , Drainage , Gait , Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure , Hypokinesia , Mood Disorders , Negotiating , Neuroimaging , Psychomotor Agitation , Urinary IncontinenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been the standard of care for gallbladder diseases since the late 1980s. Many surgeons have rapidly adopted single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder pathologies. The aim of the current study was to analyze clinical outcome in initial single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Analysis of data from 206 consecutive single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed between May 2008 and Jun 2012 was conducted retrospectively. We divided the patients into four groups according to surgery period - period I (n=56), II (n=50), III (n=50), and IV (n=50), consecutively. During each procedure only one longitudinal transumbilical incision, 1.5 to 2.0 cm in length, was made in order to access the abdominal cavity. One of the various single-port trocars was used for the procedure. Standard laparoscopic instruments were used in performance of cholecystectomy. RESULTS: Patients' demographics did not differ among the groups. Of the 14 cases that were converted to conventional laparoscopic surgery, seven were part of period I, one of II, five of III, and one of IV. Mean operation time for single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy in each group was 71.6, 58.2, 69.1, and 53.3 minutes, in order. There were two operative complications in period I, which were managed successfully with laparoscopic surgery. No statistical difference in hospital stay was observed among the groups. CONCLUSION: Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely for various gallbladder lesions in selected cases, and the operation time improved with accumulation of cases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Abdominal Cavity , Cholecystectomy , Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic , Demography , Gallbladder , Gallbladder Diseases , Laparoscopy , Length of Stay , Pathology , Retrospective Studies , Standard of Care , Surgical InstrumentsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal antiestrogenic drug used mainly in the adjuvant therapy of breast cancer and it also has estrogenic effect to the endometrium. We investigated the effects of tamoxifen on endometrial thickening in postmenopausal women taking adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer, and analyzed the correlation between sonographic findings, pathologic findings and duration of tamoxifen therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty three patients previously operated and being treated by tamoxifen since July 1995 to August 1999 were involved in this study. Control group was selected from patients of postmenopausal syndrome visiting postmenopausal clinic more than 2 years after menopause since January 1994 to August 1997. Endometrial thicknesses of breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen were measured twice a year for 2 years and then once a year by transvaginal ultrasonography. They were considered abnormal when those thicknesses were greater than 6 mm. Sonographic mearsurements of control patients were done once at the first visit and which were compared with those of breast cancer patients. RESULTS: The mean endometrial thicknesses of breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen therapy were 5.06 mm (4.86~5.21 mm) at 6th month, 5.1 mm (4.92~6.00 mm) at 12th month, 5.13 mm (4.89~5.32 mm) at 18th month, 5.15 mm (4.97~5.28 mm) at 24th month and 5.14 mm (4.96~5.21 mm) at 36th month. The mean thickness of control patients was 4.87 mm. The mean endometrial thickness of breast cancer patients and that of control patients were 5.07 mm and 4.87 mm respectively. Only one patient with stage I breast cancer showed endometrial thicknessof 6 mm during follow-up and endometrial biopsy showed atypical endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial thickness significantly increased after 18 months of tamoxifen therapy, but the rate of increase was slow. CONCLUSION: The endometrial thickness increased with duration of tamoxifen therapy, but the rate of increase was slow and seldom exceeded 6 mm. So we concluded the risk of endometrial cancer is low.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Biopsy , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Endometrial Hyperplasia , Endometrial Neoplasms , Endometrium , Estrogen Receptor Modulators , Estrogens , Follow-Up Studies , Menopause , Tamoxifen , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Acute mesenteric infarction is a catastrophic illness representing a diverse spectrum of pathologic conditions which ultimately lead to necrosis of the intestine and which is uniformly fatal if left untreated. Despite better understanding of the disease process, acute mesenteric infarction continues to be a lethal disorder with high mortality rate. We experienced two cases of acute mesenteric infarction due to superior mesenteric arterial and venous branch occlusion, respectively, in recent years: One case was focal segmental ischemia with normal radiologic finding including angiography, successfully treated with segmental resection of the necrotized ileum, another case was mesenteric venous thrombosis, also treated with resection of necrotized small intestine followed by second look operation.
Subject(s)
Angiography , Catastrophic Illness , Ileum , Infarction , Intestine, Small , Intestines , Ischemia , Mortality , Necrosis , Venous ThrombosisABSTRACT
Liability to vascular trauma in orthopedic procedures results from the close relation between bones and vessels and complicated use of sharp instruments and retractors. Prompt diagnosis and management are mandatory to avoid high mortality and morbidity. We report 6 vascular injuries secondary to orthopedic procedures performed between 1994 and 1998. Two injuries occurred as a consequence of intramedullary nailing and Ilizarov external fixation of a femur fracture, one injury from lumbar laminectomy, one injury as a result of total hip replacement, one from hip flexion contracture release and the other one secondary to knee flexion contracture release. Injury occurred to three femoral arteries, one femoral artery and vein, one popliteal artery, and one iliac artery and IVC. Four vascular injuries required bypass grafts, division was done in AV fistula following disc operation. Conservative treatment was given to one vascular injury. There was no significant complication and death in our series except one case of graft infection that was revised with extra-anatomic bypass. The goal of management of vascular trauma that occurs during the orthopedic procedure is to save the limb and even the life. Urgent management based on knowledge of vascular structure and skillful surgical technique are needed.