Feasibility of enlarging the ventral space by using a drill under spinal endoscopy in the treatment of severe free lumbar disc herniation / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy of spinal endoscopy in the treatment of severe free lumbar disc herniation and explore the feasibility and application of microscopic drills to expand ventral space.@*METHODS@#Thirty patients with severe free lumbar intervertebral disc herniation treated by spinal endoscopic technique from April 2019 to March 2021 were collected, including 19 males and 11 females;aged from 19 to 76 years with an average of (44.03±16.92) years old. All patients had a single segmental lesion with prolapse of the nucleus pulposus. Among them, there were 3 cases on L2,3, 3 cases on L3,4, 15 cases on L4,5, and 9 cases on L5S1. During operation, posterior bone of vertebral body and pedicle notch were removed by a drill under the endoscope to enlarge the ventral space. And the free nucleus pulposus was exposed and completely removed. The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, hospital stay and postoperative neurological complications were recorded, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared before operation, 2 days, 3 months and 1 year after operation, and Macnab standard was used to evaluate clinical efficacy.@*RESULTS@#All operations were successful and the free nucleus pulposus was completely removed. Pain in the lower back and legs was significantly relieved on the day after operation. Two patients experienced transient pain and numbness in lower limbs after operation, and no serious nerve injury complications occurred. ODI and VAS at each time point after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery (P<0.01), and JOA score was significantly higher than before surgery (P<0.01). The excellent and good rates of Macnab were 66.67% (20/30), 83.33% (25/30) and 90.00% (27/30) on 2 days, 3 months and 1 year after operation, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#For severe free lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, using of a drill under endoscope to expand the ventral space can smoothly remove the free nucleus pulposus and avoid nerve damage.

Controversy of subtalar arthroereisis in symptomatic flatfoot / 中国骨伤

Flatfoot could be divided into flexible flatfoot and rigid flatfoot. Flatfoot with symptoms is called symptomatic flatfoot, surgical treatment is required if conservative treatment is not effective. Subtalar arthroereisis is a minimally invasive procedure which has been used for many years with good results in flexible flatfoot, however, still has many controversial points. Controversial points focus on indications and contraindications, optimal age, subtalar arthroereisis alone or not, efficacy and safety of absorbable material implants, and implant removal. The paper reviewed and summarized the use and controversies of subtalar arthroereisis in symptomatic flatfoot as follows:the best indication for subtalar arthroereisis was pediatric flexible flatfoot syndrome and aged from 10 to 12 years old was optimal age for treatment;tarsal coalitions with flatfoot and adult flatfoot were relative indications. Stiff flatfoot, joint laxity, and subtalar arthritis were contraindications;obesity and neurogenic flexible flatfoot were relative contraindications. The correction ability of subtalar arthroereisis alone was limited, and it's combined with other procedures depending on patient's situation. The safety and efficacy of absorbable material implants had been reported. Routine removal of the implant was not necessary, the main reason of which was tarsal sinus pain.

Outcome of modified Kidner procedure with tendoscopy for the treatment of painful accessory navicular / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate clinical efficacy of modified kidner procedure with tendoscopy in treating painful accessory navicular.@*METHODS@#From February 2014 to April 2019, 19 patients with painful accessory navicular were admitted, including 13 males and 6 females with a mean age of 26 years old (ranged from 14 to 58 years old), all of which were unilateral symptoms. The courses of disease ranged from 6 to 60 months. All patients received excision of accessory navicular and reconstruction of posterior tibial tendon insertion on navicular with anchor, and the tendoscopy were used to examin the posterior tibial tendon. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) midfoot score and visual analogue scale(VAS) were used to evaluate efficacy before operation and at the latest follow-up.@*RESULTS@#All the patientswere followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 73 months, with an average of (35.0±20.9) months. VAS score was 0.20±0.41 at the latest follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score of 6.33±1.95(@*CONCLUSION@#The modified kidner procedure with tendoscopy is a good choice for the treatment of painful accessory navicular, which could obviously relieve foot pain, improve foot function, and has certain clinical efficacy.

A imagem corporal na ótica de mulheres após a mastectomia / Body image in optic of women after mastectomy

Este trabalho teve como objetivo conhecer a percepção e os sentimentos de mulheres mastectomizadas acerca de sua imagem corporal. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, do tipo descritivo, realizado com sete mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de mama e submetidas à mastectomia em algum período de suas vidas. Utilizou-se a entrevista aberta como técnica de coleta de dados e aplicou-se a proposta operativa para análise dos dados. A mastectomia corresponde a um momento difícil na vida de uma mulher, o qual implica em sofrimento e mudanças relevantes. A percepção das mulheres que realizaram mastectomia, em relação à sua imagem corporal, resulta do processo vivido desde o momento do diagnóstico, da revelação da necessidade da mastectomia e das vivências do cotidiano. Todos estes aspectos podem implicar na aceitação da nova imagem corporal. Conclui-se que as mulheres modificaram a maneira como percebiam seus corpos, manifestando, inicialmente, estranhamento, tristeza, choro, ansiedade, dor, além da diminuição da autoestima, refletindo em uma imagem corporal negativa. Todavia, elas utilizaram estratégias de superação que fortaleceram a autoestima e, consequentemente, auxiliaram positivamente na reconstrução da imagem corporal.

This study aimed to know the perception and feelings of mastectomized women about their body image. It is a qualitative study, descriptive, conducted with seven women diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent mastectomy at some time in their lives. We used the open interview as data collection technique and applied to operational proposal for analysis of the data. Mastectomy corresponds to a difficult time in a woman's life, which implies suffering and material changes. The perception of women who underwent mastectomy, in relation to their body image results from the process lived from the time of diagnosis, the revelation of the need for mastectomy and everyday experiences. All these aspects may imply acceptance of the new body image. It is concluded that woman changed the way that they perceive their bodies, manifesting, initially, estrangement, sadness, crying,anxiety, pain and decreased self-esteem, reflecting on a negative body image. However, they used strategies for overcoming that strengthened their self-esteem and, consequently, assisted positively in reconstruction of body image

Meralgia parestésica por compressão de cinta modeladora / Meralgia paresthetica by compression from a modeling girdle

Meralgia parestésica é caracterizada por dor, parestesia ou queimação e diminuição da sensibilidade tátil e dolorosa na face anterolateral da coxa. Isto ocorre por uma neuropatia do nervo cutâneo femoral lateral (NCFL). O tratamento conservador é frequentemente bem-sucedido, aliviando os sintomas na maioria dos pacientes. Descrevemos o caso de uma paciente de 44 anos de idade que apresentou os sintomas descritos após uso pós-operatório de malha modeladora por cirurgia estética.

Meralgia paresthetica is characterized by pain, paresthesia or burning sensation, and reduction of tactile and pain sensitivity in the anterolateral surface of the thigh. This disability is caused by a neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). Conservative treatment is often successful at relieving the symptoms in the majority of patients. We describe the case of a 44-year-old patient who presented with these symptoms caused by postoperative use of a surgical girdle after aesthetic surgery.

Cirugía endoscópica del síndrome de túnel carpiano. Descripción de una técnica personal y experiencia en 22 años / Endoscopic Surgery Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Description of a technical and personal experience in 22 years

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo sobre la eficacia del tratamiento endoscópico del síndrome del túnel carpiano con técnica e instrumental especifico para ello. El instrumental fue diseñado por el autor, así́ como la técnica quirúrgica, la cual es descrita con detalles. Fueron realizados 1500 procedimientos en 1200 pacientes. Todos intervenidos por el autor en una sola institución, durante el período 1992 al 2014. Los resultados fueron excelentes en todos los pacientes. El periodo de tiempo incluido para estas cirugías fue de 22 años. Esta técnica se realiza con el concepto de un solo portal proximal produciendo una cicatriz con muy poco dolor y estéticamente excelente. Todos los pacientes que fueron intervenidos con la técnica abierta en el lado contralateral prefirieron la cirugía realizada con el procedimiento endoscópico. Se describen todos los aspectos de la evaluación del paciente, así́ como las exclusiones y los resultados, los cuales evidencian que esta técnica produce una mejoría total de la sintomatología, siendo reproducible y aplicable a nuestro medio siempre y cuando el cirujano sea especialista en esta área, conozca la anatomía y tenga experiencia con los procedimientos endoscópicos. Finalmente, es un ejemplo más de buenos resultados con técnica mínimamente invasiva(AU)

A surgical technique of endoscopic carpal tunnel release using our own personal designed instruments is described. This is a prospective study on one thousand five hundreds hands were that operated with one thousand two hundred hands that were operated by the senior author at the same institution, during the period of time between 1992 ­ 2014. The results were excellent in all the patients. The period of time that was done this work was 22 years. The technique is done with a small transverse skin incision over the skin creases of the anterior aspect of the wrist. Only one portal was made. Patients who had an open procedure in the other hand preferred the results of the endoscopic one. All aspects of the preoperative evaluation are described, as well as the exclusions to enter in the group being operated. The results show that with this technique the author obtained excellent results and patients were free of symptoms after the surgery. It is important that the surgeon have knowledge of the anatomy of the area and to have skills on the endoscopic procedures. This is another example of good results with a minimal invasive surgery(AU)

Revisão integrativa: dor aguda e intervenções de enfermagem no pós-operatório imediato / Integrative review: acute pain and nursing interventions in the immediate postoperative period

Objetivo: Revisar e analisar as evidências cintíficas disponíveis na literatura nacional e internacional, referentes à dor aguda e as intervenções de enfermagem ao paciente no período pós-operatório imediato. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura integrativa, cuja busca dos artigos foi realizada nas bases de dados LILACS, Medline, Cochrane, SciELO e PeriEnf, em periódicos publicados entre os anos 1998 a 2009...

Evaluation of low level laser therapy in reducing diabetic polyneuropathy related pain and sensorimotor disorders

Over the past three decades physicians have used light level laser therapy [LLLT] for the management and the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and have obtained results that calls for further investigations. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of LLLT in treatment of pain symptoms in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. In this study 60 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were matched based on their sex, age, BMI, type of diabetes, duration of diabetes, and duration of pain, and randomized to case and control groups based on their established scores on the visual analog scale [VAS] and the Toronto clinical scoring system [TCSS]. Cases received laser therapy with wavelength of 78 nm and 2.5 j/cm[2] two times a week, each time for 5 min, for one month. During the same period, controls received sham laser therapy. Comparing the differences between the two groups' VAS and TCSS mean scores before the intervention with that of the 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the intervention we were able to see a statistically significant difference between the two groups [P<0.05]. On the other hand, when we compared their VAS and TCSS mean scores 4 weeks and 2 weeks after the intervention we did not find any statistically significant difference between the two groups. We achieved the same results when we examined cases' and controls' pre and post VAS and TCSS scores independent from each other; no improvement in the assessment based on their 2 and 4 weeks comparisons tests. Laser therapy resulted in improved neuropathy outcomes in diabetic patients who received it relative to the group that received sham therapy, evaluating before and after LLLT assessments. Further studies are needed to test types of lasers, as well as different dosage and exposure levels required in different phase of neuropathic care, so as to obtain reproducible results.

Conservative and Surgical Treatment Improves Pain and Ankle-Brachial Index in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

PURPOSE: The pathological mechanism of lumbar spinal stenosis is reduced blood flow in nerve roots and degeneration of nerve roots. Exercise and prostaglandin E1 is used for patients with peripheral arterial disease to increase capillary flow around the main artery and improve symptoms; however, the ankle-brachial index (ABI), an estimation of blood flow in the main artery in the leg, does not change after treatment. Lumbar spinal nerve roots contain somatosensory, somatomotor, and unmyelinated autonomic nerves. Improved blood flow by medication with prostaglandin E1 and decompression surgery in these spinal nerve roots may improve the function of nerve fibers innervating muscle, capillary, and main vessels in the lower leg, resulting in an increased ABI. The purpose of the study was to examine whether these treatments can improve ABI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seven patients who received conservative treatment such as exercise and medication (n=56) or surgical treatment (n=51) were included. Low back pain and leg pain scores, walking distance, and ABI were measured before treatment and after 3 months of conservative treatment alone or surgical treatment followed by conservative treatment. RESULTS: Low back pain, leg pain, and walking distance significantly improved after both treatments (p<0.05). ABI significantly increased in each group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first investigation of changes in ABI after treatment in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Improvement of the spinal nerve roots by medication and decompression surgery may improve the supply of blood flow to the lower leg in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Denervación de cordón espermático asistida con lupas para el tratamiento del dolor testicular crónico idiopático / Spermatic cord denervation assisted with magnifying glasses in the treatment of idiopathic cronic testicular pain

Presentar una serie clínica de doce pacientes sometidos a denervación de cordón espermático asistida con lupas como tratamiento del Dolor Testicular Crónico ldiopático (DTCI). Pacientes y métodos: Diecisiete pacientes (rango de edad 18 a 70 años) con DTCI no respondedores a analgésicos orales fueron enrolados prospectivamente en la primera etapa del estudio. Se realizó un bloqueo del cordón espermático con Bupivacaína a todos los pacientes. Aquellos pacientes que respondieron al bloqueo (n= 12) fueron sometidos a denervación del cordón espermático asistida con lupas (magnificación 3. 5x) por via subinguinal. El seguimiento incluyó un ecodoppler testicular a los siete días post cirugía y Escala Visual Análoga (EVA) del dolor a los 3 y 6 meses. Resultados: La duración promedio de la cirugía fue de 70 minutos (rango: 50 a 90 minutos). En el control de los siete días los doce pacientes presentaron un ecodoppler normal sin evidencias de isquemia en ninguna de las unidades testiculares sometidas a cirugía (n= 13). Respecto de la EVA a los tres y seis meses, nueve pacientes (75 por ciento) estaban completamente libres de dolor con un EVA igual a O. Tres pacientes persistían con molestias, dos con un EVA de 1 que no requerían analgésicos, y uno con EVA de 2 que requería analgésicos de manera intermitente. Dos pacientes fueron reoperados 6 y 8 semanas después de la cirugía primaria, uno por un hematocele y el segundo por un linfocele, ambos evolucionaron de manera favorable con ecodoppler normal después de la segunda cirugía. Conclusión: La denervación de cordón espermático asistida con lupas es una alternativa eficaz para el tratamiento del DTCI y puede constituirse en una buena alternativa terapéutica para el manejo de estos pacientes...

To present a clinical series of twelve patients that underwent loupe assisted spermatic cord denervation as a treatment for idiopathic Chronic Testicular Pain (ICTP). Patients and methods: Seventeen non responders to oral analgesics patients (age range 18 - 70 years) with ICTP were prospective/y enrolled in the first stage of the study. A spermatic cord block with bupivacaine was performed in all patients. Twelve patients who responded to the bupivacaine cord block underwentloupe assisted (3. 5x magnification) spermatic cord denervation through a subinguinal/ approach. Postoperative follow-up included color doppler ultrasound of the testes seven days after surgery and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain questionnaire at 3 and 6 months. Results: The median operation time was 70 minutes (range 50 - 90 min). Seven days after surgery all patients had a normal color Doppler ultrasound without evidence of ischemia in any of the operated testes (n=13). At three and six months after surgery nine patients (75 percent) were absolutely pain free (VAS=O). Three patients remained with pain; two had a VAS 1 that did not interfere with daily activities and required no analgesics, the third patient had a VAS 2 and occasionally required analgesics to manage pain. Two patients needed reoperations, 6 and 8 weeks after primary surgery, one for hematocele and another for lymphocele, both had a favorable outcome and normal color doppler ultrasounds after the second surgery. Conclusion: Loupe assisted spermatic cord denervation is an efficient alternative for the management of ICTP and may become a good therapeutic option for these patients...

Endoscopic Therapy in Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a debilitating disease that can result in chronic abdominal pain, malnutrition, and other related complications. The main aims of treatment are to control symptoms, prevent disease progression, and correct any complications. A multidisciplinary approach involving medical, endoscopic, and surgical therapy is important. Endoscopic therapy plays a specific role in carefully selected patients as primary interventional therapy when medical measures fail or in patients who are not suitable for surgery. Endoscopic therapy is also used as a bridge to surgery or as a means to assess the potential response to pancreatic surgery. This review addresses the role of endoscopic therapy in relief of obstruction of the pancreatic duct (PD) and bile du ct, closure of PD leaks, and drainage of pseudocysts in CP. The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block for pain in chronic pancreatitis is also discussed.

Síndrome do túnel carpal: resultados do tratamento cirúrgico com a técnica de mini-incisão / Carpal tunnel syndrome: results of surgical treatment with mini-incision technique

Introdução: A síndrome do túnel carpal é constituída por um conjunto de sinais e sintomas característicos como parestesia, formigamento, dor e perda da força nas mãos. Inicialmente os sintomas são brandos, progredindo ao longo do tempo. Objetivo: Apresentar os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico com mini-incisão, bem como discutir a relação entre os resultados e a técnica cirúrgica utilizada. Método: Esta pesquisa foi realizada na Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, onde foram avaliados 79 punhos de 71 pacientes, todos submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico da síndrome do túnel carpal por ?mini-incisão?, entre janeiro de 1996 e maio de 2007. A média de idade entre os pacientes foi de 52,4 anos, sendo a idade mínima 27 e a máxima 80 anos. Sessenta e cinco pacientes eram do sexo feminino e seis do masculino. Quanto ao lado acometido, foram obtidos 36 punhos do lado direito e 27 do lado esquerdo, sendo 8 bilaterais. Resultados: Os resultados clínicos mostraram que 60 pacientes ficaram satisfeitos com os sintomas, com os resultados estéticos e funcionais e com a melhora da força muscular para apreensão. Dois pacientes apresentaram complicações cutâneas com infecção superficial e necessitaram de antibioticoterapia oral. Conclusões: Concluímos que o tratamento cirúrgico por ?mini-incisão? é uma técnica segura, com poucas complicações e resultados clínicos e estéticos satisfatórios para o tratamento da síndrome do túnel do carpo.

Introduction: The carpal tunnel syndrome is composed of signs and characteristic symptoms as parestesis, tingling, pain and hand power loose. Initially, the symptoms appear softly, progressing along the time. Objective: To present the results of surgical treatment using mini-incision, as well as to discuss the relationship between the results and the surgical technique used. Method: This study was accomplished at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC where 79 wrists of 71 patients were evaluated. All of them were submitted to the surgical treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome using ?mini-open? technique between January 1996 and May 2007. The mean age of the patients was 52.4 years old, the minimum age was 27 years old and the maximum was 80 years old. Sixty-five patients were females and six were males. Thirty-six subjects had the right side affected and 27 had the left side, though 8 patients presented both sides affected. Results: The clinical results showed that 60 patients were satisfied with the symptomatic, aesthetic and functional results, as well as with the muscular power improvement for apprehension. Two patients presented cutaneous complications with superficial infection and were treated with oral antibiotic therapy. Conclusions: The surgical treatment using ?mini-incision? is a safe technique, with few complications and satisfactory clinical and aesthetic results for the carpal tunnel syndrome treatment.

Duration of preoperative scrotal pain may predict the success of microsurgical varicocelectomy

Purpose: Varicocelectomy is used in the treatment of scrotal pain. We report our results with microsurgical subinguinal varicocele ligation to treat pain. Materials and methods: A total of 284 men underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocele ligation for scrotal pain. All patients were asked to return for a follow-up evaluation 3 months after surgery, which included a physical examination, as well as questions on pain severity, number of days required before their return to work and development of any postoperative complications. Results: Median patient age at the time of varicocele ligation was 23.7 years (range 16-38 years). The average duration of pain before presentation was 11.2 months (range 1 month to 40 months). In 85.6 percent patients there was complete resolution of pain and 6.3 percent had partial resolution. Pain persisted postoperatively in 19 cases (8.1 percent). There were statistically non-significant differences in the characteristics of the pain and grade of varicocele between postoperative groups. A significant difference was observed in postoperative success between patients who had long period and those who had short period of pain. Conclusions: Sub-inguinal microsurgical varicocele ligation is an effective treatment for painful varicocele. The duration of pain preoperatively may predict outcomes in selected patients.

Microsurgical testicular denervation for the treatment of chronic testicular pain initial results

INTRODUCTION: Chronic testicular pain remains an important challenge for urologists. Currently, the treatment plan is primarily empirical, with the first approach consisting of clinical measures. However, some patients remain in pain despite a conservative treatment protocol and, for them, it is possible to perform a surgical procedure that involves severing the scrotal and spermatic branches of the genitofemoral and ilioinguinal nerve fibers. METHODS: In our institution, 60 patients were evaluated and treated for idiopathic chronic testicular pain between January 2003 and July 2007. Priority was give to clinical treatment, which evolved from simple to more complex measures. Microsurgical treatment was performed on those who experienced no considerable pain relief (10 individuals in our study). RESULTS: Over a twenty-four-month follow-up period, 70 percent of patients showed complete remission and 20 percent exhibited partial relief from pain.

A relação intersubjetiva entre o enfermeiro e a criança com dor na fase pós-operatória no ato de cuidar / The intersubjective relationship between nurse and child with pain in post-surgical fase in the caring act / La relación intersubjetiva del enfermero y el niño con dolor no periodo pos-operatorio en acto de cuidar

Pesquisa qualitativa que tem como questão norteadora “como se processa a relação intersubjetiva estabelecida entre o enfermeiro e a criança com dor na fase pós-operatória no ato de cuidar?” baseada na Teoria Humanística de Paterson e Zderad pelo método exploratório-descritivo. Os objetivos foram identificar a relação intersubjetiva estabelecida no ato de cuidar e desvelar como se desenvolve o cuidado do enfermeiro à criança com dor na fase pós-operatória. As informações foram coletadas com oito enfermeiros pela entrevista semi-estruturada gravada. Utilizou-se a Análise Textual Qualitativa proposta por Moraes (2003). Da análise emergiram três categorias e seis unidades de significado. Conclui-se que ser sensível ao sofrimento do outro, fazer-se presente, saber ouvir, tocar, relacionar-se, requer aproximação, na perspectiva de perceber os aspectos subjetivos da criança, a maneira como reage física e emocionalmente ao sofrimento que a dor lhe proporciona. O cuidado humanístico deve ser delineado a partir da percepção multidimensional da experiência existencial de dor.

Parámetros de práctica para el manejo del dolor en cáncer: Grupo de Consenso para el Manejo del Dolor en Cáncer / Practice guidelines for cancer pain management: Task Force for Cancer Pain Management

El dolor por cáncer es un problema frecuente en nuestro medio, se presenta en 80 a 90 % de los pacientes y en aproximadamente 90 % de ellos se resuelve con medidas relativamente sencillas. No obstante, aproximadamente 40 % de los pacientes se encuentra insatisfecho con el médico o la enfermera respecto al manejo de su dolor. Por tal motivo, se convocó a un grupo de consenso con la finalidad de generar parámetros de práctica clínica fundamentados en la evidencia publicada y en la opinión de los expertos. Este grupo estuvo integrado por 31 médicos líderes de opinión es este campo, quienes con base en 599 documentos emitieron esta serie de recomendaciones, identificadas cada una según su nivel de evidencia.

Cancer pain is a frequent medical problem in our society. This syndrome affects from 80 to 90% of cancer patients and can be solved with relatively simple measures in 90% of the cases. Approximately 40% of cancer patients reported to be unsatisfied with the physician or nurse about their pain management. For these reasons, we gathered a task force in order to generate practice guidelines based on medical evidence and on the opinion of experts in this area. These guidelines were generated by a task force of 31 physicians who were leaders in this field and based on 599 papers selected by a previous literature search. This group evaluated the results of this search in three work sessions, during which a level of evidence was assigned to each recommendation.

A profile of destructive surgery in Nepal Eye Hospital.

This is a study profile of the patients undergoing destructive surgery in Nepal Eye Hospital over a period of 2 years (2001-2003). The rationale of the study was to know the incidence and causes for destructive surgery (enucleation/evisceration) and the measures to prevent them. Patients admitted in the ward from emergency and outpatients departments for the purpose of enucleation and evisceration were taken into this study. Their visual acuity, slit-lamp examinations, fundus evaluation were done. Most of the patients had no perception of light with painful blind eyes, panophthalmitis, endophthalmitis, staphylomas, crush injuries and malignancies. After a decision made by the surgeons in the round, a full consent was taken for the operation. Evisceration was done for cases with history of ocular infections and the rest were enucleated. Destructive operation was done for (a) saving the other eye, (b) life saving, (c) painful condition and disfigurement. The incidence of destructive surgery in Nepal Eye Hospital was 1.40%. male : female ratio was 1.41:1. The causes for destructive surgery were panophthalmitis (31.71%), painful blind eye (21.95%), endophthalmitis (14.63%), staphyloma (14.63%), retinoblastoma (12.20%) and crush injuries (4.88%). Number of evisceration (73.17%) was higher than enucleation (26.83%) as most of the cases were sequele of corneal ulcer. Enucleation was mostly seen in children and evisceration in adults. Lastly, the incidences of destructive surgery would be minimized by (a) Prompt treatment of corneal ulcers for reducing panophthalmitis (b) pre, intra, and post operative care in intra ocular surgery for reducing endophthalmitis, and (c) genetic counselling (pre marital) for reducing childhood malignancies. Decision for destructive surgery should be a team work rather than a single surgeon's opinion. It should be done under general anaesthesia or retrobulbar block. Precaution must be taken to prevent the appalling tragedy of enucleating the wrong eye by marking above on the eye to be operated or EUA prior to surgery. Last but not the least, there should be fitting of a prosthesis for cosmesis, psychological support and careful follow-up of the healthy eye.

Ceratectomia fototerapêutica (PTK) e ceratopatia bolhosa: relato de caso / Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) and bullous keratopathy: case report

O objetivo é avaliar os efeitos da ceratectomia fototerapêutica (PTK) em pacientes com ceratopatia bolhosa. Foi realizada ceratectomia fototerapêutica em paciente pseudofácico com descompensação corneana pós-facectomia, com excimer laser Nidek EC 5000, após debridamento epitelial manual. O paciente apresentou melhora da dor a partir do décimo quinto dia após a aplicação do laser e durante os oito meses de seguimento. Não houve melhora da acuidade visual. A realização de ceratectomia fototerapêutica deve ser considerada uma alternativa a mais no tratamento da dor em ceratopatia bolhosa de pseudofácicos.