The Effect of Conventional Open Thyroidectomy on Clinical Results and Respiratory Function Tests in Multinodular Goitre.

AIM: The primary aim of our study was to measure the effect of conventional open thyroidectomy performed for patients with multinodular goiter (MNG) on pulmonary volumes measured with respiratory function tests independent from surgical indications. A secondary aim was to determine whether there was a significant improvement in the complaints due to obstructive symptoms after MNG surgeries. METHODS: This study was conducted between October 2020 and June 2022. Patients who were hospitalized to undergo surgery for giant multinodular goiter were prospectively included in the study. Patients were questioned about complaints of pressure, hoarseness, dyspnea, sleep apnea, snoring, and dysphagia before the surgery and during the follow-up 6 months after surgery. In addition, pulmonary function tests were performed preoperatively, 48 hours after surgery and 6 months after surgery. Forced expiratory volume in 0.5 seconds forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity values in pulmonary function test (PFT) measurements were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients, 42 females and 13 males, mean age 49.54 ± 13.6 years, were included in the study. Although there was a significant decrease in clinical symptoms caused by the thyroid volume within 6 months in patients who were operated for giant MNG there was no significant change in pulmonary function tests. There was a positive correlation between the thyroid volume and nodule weight in patients with MNG. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that it is not necessary to follow up with patients without obstructive findings in preoperative pulmonary function tests with pulmonary function tests in the postoperative period.

The Effects of Sex Hormones on Postoperative Pain in Patients with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: There are many factors that affect postoperative pain. This study determines the effect of preoperative sex hormone levels on postoperative pain levels in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 89 patients who met the study inclusion criteria. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on their sex and pre and postmenopausal periods: male patients (n = 28), postmenopausal female patients (n = 31), and female patients with normal cycles (n = 30). Normal-cycle women were also regrouped based on their follicular and luteal phases. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, a patient follow-up form, and the Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS: Venous blood samples taken from the patients before surgery were used to measure their levels of estradiol (EST), testosterone (TES), and progesterone levels. Male patients had lower pain levels than female patients. The male patients' Visual Analog Scale scores were inversely related and correlated strongly with their TES levels ( P < 0.05). However, subgroup analyses suggested that their EST level played a primary role in males and that the EST/TES ratio was determinant in the late postoperative period. In female patients, the EST/progesterone ratio was the most determining factor for the level of pain felt in the postmenopausal period, whereas there was no change in the premenopausal period at different stages of the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Sex hormones were found to be effective in predicting postoperative pain severity.

Comparison of spinal anaesthesia and erector spinae plane block in unilateral inguinal hernia: Randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study was to compare erector spinae plane block (ESP) with spinal anaesthesia (SA) for inguinal hernia repair with respect to anaesthetic efficacy, post-operative analgesia, mobilisation, discharge, complication and side effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 52 patients over 50 years of age, with the American Society of Anaesthesia physical status Class I-III. Group ESP ( n = 26) was applied 30 ml of mixed local anaesthetic mixture applied at the L1 level to the plane of the erector spinae and 10 ml of tumescent when necessary, while Group SA ( n = 26) was applied 3 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine at the L3-L4/L2-L3 level. RESULTS: Intraoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) value was lower in Group S, whereas the 6 th -h VAS value was lower in Group ESP ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the VAS values at hour 12 and 24 ( P > 0.05). Reaching post-anaesthesia discharge criteria 9 and time to mobilisation and oral feeding was shorter in Group ESP, whereas post-procedure waiting time was shorter in Group S ( P < 0.05). While the need for post-operative analgesics was higher in Group S ( P < 0.05), there was a high level of patient satisfaction in Group ESP ( P = 0.05). Intraoperative midazolam requirement was lower in Group S, post-operative diclofenac requirement was lower in Group ESP ( P < 0.05), post-operative urinary retention and tremor were higher in Group S ( P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: ESP block provides adequate surgical anaesthesia compared to SA (non-inferiority) for inguinal hernia repair. It is associated with less analgesic requirement, low post-operative pain, less complication rate and high patient satisfaction in the post-operative period.

Benign nodules of the thyroid gland and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in euthyroid patients.

BACKGROUND: The presence of nodules in the thyroid gland is common in iodine-deficient areas of the world. Recently, vitamin D levels were found to be lower than normal and sometimes deficient in malignant nodules of the thyroid. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the relationship between the serum vitamin D levels and benign thyroid nodules in euthyroid patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Tertiary care center in Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients referred to the general surgery outpatient clinic and diagnosed with thyroid nodules were the study group. The control group consisted of healthy individuals without thyroid nodules. Age, BMI, thyroid ultrasonography, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, free T3, free T4, thyroid stimulating hormone, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, total protein, albumin, glucose, creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were compared between groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels and size of the thyroid nodules. SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS: Of 849 individuals, 453 were patients with thyroid nodules and 396 were healthy individuals. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin D levels of patients with thyroid nodules were significantly lower than controls (P<.001). Serum vitamin D levels along with serum total protein levels and eGFR were independent variables associated with the presence of a thyroid nodule (P<.001, p=.005 and P=.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest vitamin D deficiency might be one of the pathophysiologic factors in development of thyroid nodules. LIMITATION: Single-center and possible information bias. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: None.

Does choroidal thickness change in advanced hemorrhoids patients?

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine the choroidal thickness of patients with grade 4 hemorrhoids to see if vascular abnormalities in hemorrhoid patients may affect other `parts of the body. METHODS: 51 patients diagnosed with grade 4 hemorrhoids in the last two years and 49 healthy volunteers were included. Choroidal evaluation was done by measurements from various points of the choroid using a spectral domain Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.) in enhanced-depth imaging mode. Choroidal thicknesses were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Nasal choroidal thickness, temporal choroidal thickness and mean choroidal thickness measurements were significantly higher in the hemoroid group (p<0.05), while subfoveal choroidal thickness did not differ significantly between the groups. Macular thickness was also significantly higher in the hemoroid group compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was an increase in choroidal thickness in patients with grade 4 hemorrhoids. KEY WORDS: Choroidal thickness, Hemorrhoids, Macular thickness, Optical coherence tomography, Vascular pathologies.

Shall we use low-pressure CO2 pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

BACKGROUND E AIMS: We aimed to determine whether intraabdominal pressure change caused by pneumoperitoneum created during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has effects on abdominal and shoulder pain, nausea, vomiting, bowel movements, time of first flatus and defecation, and biochemical parameters. METHODS: Seventy patients that were diagnosed with cholelithiasis and would undergo LC, between the ages of 18-75, with the Society of Anesthesia Physical Status (ASA) I-III classifications were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups as whose intervention was defined as low pressure (8-10 mm/hg) and whose intervention was defined as high pressure (14-16 mm/hg). Differences in the prognoses of patients in both groups were observed for statistical significance. RESULTS: Shoulder pain- visual analogue scale (VAS) values in 6th and 24th hours were lower in Group 1(p<0.005). There was no significant difference in abdominal pain-VAS values(p≥0.05). Mean intraoperative end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) values were higher in Group 2 (p<0.005). Differences in nausea and vomiting were not significant(p≥0.05). There was no significant difference in the first flatus times(p≥0.05). Bowel movements resumed earlier in Group 1(p<0.005). Changes were not significant for biochemical blood parameters in the preoperative and postoperative periods( p≥0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of low-pressure and high pressure carbon-dioxide (CO2)-pneumoperitoneum created during LC does not cause a significant difference in terms of clinical and laboratory results. Therefore, the surgical team should prefer an easy-to-apply pressure level which they are used to and in which they have low complication rates. KEY WORDS: Cholecystectomy, Pneumoperitoneum, Low-pressure CO2.

Noncyclical and cyclical mastalgia in Turkish women: Prevalence, risk factors, health-care seeking and quality of life.

Our aim in this study was to determine the prevalence of cyclical and noncyclical mastalgia, its underlying risk factors, and to examine its effect on women's quality of life. This study was conducted on 415 women, among whom the prevalence of mastalgia was found as 20.7%. It was found that experiencing intense stress, daily coffee and chocolate consumption, breast surgery history and the menstruation pattern were risk factors associated with mastalgia. Some domains of quality of life were found to be negatively affected in women who had mastalgia. Awareness among women about the risk factors of mastodynia and lifestyle changes is needed to improve mastalgia management.

Primary omental torsion with massive necrosis A case of uncommon surgical emergency.

A 61-year-old male patient presented to our hospital's emergency department with a history of worsening abdominal pain. The symptoms began as epigastric pain and later localized to the right lower quadrant. On physical examination, there was rebound tenderness mainly in the right lower quadrant and in the right upper quadrant. The laboratory results showed leukocytosis. Abdominopelvic computed tomography scan revealed that a definite twisting on the long axis with three complete counter-clockwise turns was observed in the vascular structures of greater omentum. At operation, the greater omentum was found to be twisted and gangrenous. The infarcted omentum was ligated at the pedicle and excised. Primary torsion of the omentum is one of the uncommon causes of acute abdominal pain. Although rarely diagnosed, the entity is important to the surgeon because it mimics the common causes of the acute surgical abdomen. Omental torsion usually occurs on the right side. Abdominal pain starts suddenly after a heavy meal or hard exercise, and is not accompanied with nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Abdominal computed tomography may show peculiar features suggestive of omental torsion. Treatment consists of ligation and resection of the involved portion of the omentum and recovery is usually rapid, uneventful and complete. Primary omental torsion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen. The surgeon must remain aware of the disease and search for it if, at laparotomy, other adequate cause is not found to explain the symptoms, especially if free sero-sanguineous fluid is found in the peritoneal cavity. KEY WORDS: Acute abdomen, Greater omentum, Omental torsion, Omental infarction, Omental necrosis.

Free perforation of primary small bowel lymphoma in a patient with celiac sprue and dermatitis herpetiformis.

Small bowel lymphomas are rare and constitute approximately 1% of the malignant gastrointestinal tumors. However, the risk of malignant disease in adult celiac disease is about 8-10%, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common. In the literature, cases with celiac disease and small bowel lymphoma have been reported, but the emphasis on emergency surgery is extremely rare. We herein present a case of primary small intestinal lymphoma diagnosed after surgery in a 55-year-old male patient who presented to our emergency department with findings of gastrointestinal perforation and had a history of celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. The purpose of this report is to review this situation briefly and discuss it in the light of literature.

Comparison of spinal anaesthesia versus ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric nerve block applied with tumescent anaesthesia for single-sided inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Primary aim of this study is to determine whether the use of local anaesthesia performed with IINB and IHNB against spinal anaesthesia in inguinal hernia repair is accepted as an alternative medicine. METHODS: 75 cases in the class of American Society of Anesthesia physical status (ASA) I-III between the ages of 18 and 75 diagnosed with single-sided inguinal hernia and hospitalized for surgery in general surgery clinic were prospectively and randomly included in this study. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference between the groups (30.14 ± 8.2 and 35.51 ± 9.39) in terms of the duration of the surgery. The duration was shorter in Group 1 (p < 0.001). There was statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the duration of the first mobilization. It was significantly shorter in Group 2 than in Group 1 (5.71 ± 1.7 and 2.70 ± 1.53 min) (p < 0.001). Mean duration of length of hospital stay criteria was significantly shorter in Group 2 than in Group 1 (26.00 ± 6.43 and 14.23 ± 5.40 h) (p < 0.001). Throughout the follow-up period in postoperative 24 h, the number of patients who needed analgesia was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (91.4% and 45.7%) There was statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of patient satisfaction and urinary retention development (p < 0.005). Hematoma development or postoperative bleeding was not observed in either group. The time of sensory block onset was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (9.66 ± 1.41 and 9.03 ± 0.98 min) (p < 0.005) CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that IINB and IHNB applied with local anaesthesia are superior to spinal anaesthesia in unilateral inguinal hernia repairs.

Spilled gallstones found incidentally in a direct inguinal hernia sac: Report of a case.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the preferred surgical treatment for symptomatic gallstones. Iatrogenic gallbladder perforation and spillage of gallstones during LC is a frequent occurrence. There are many different clinical presentations of complications resulting from dropped gallstones. We herein present a case of scattered gallstones after LC encountered incidentally during a direct inguinal hernia repair. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 62-year-old male presented with a 4-year history of swelling of both right and left groins. He had undergone LC for acute calculous cholecystitis at another hospital 5 months earlier. Physical examination revealed reducible both right and left direct inguinal hernias. Surgical exploration of the right side revealed foreign bodies at the fundus of the sac attached to the inner wall, with a fibrotic reaction around it. On closer inspection these foreign bodies were macroscopically consistent with gallstones. The gallstones were removed, and bilateral herniotomies and Lichtenstein's prolene mesh repair were performed. Pathologic evaluation confirmed 10 foreign bodies of 5-mm in size to be cholesterol gallstones. DISCUSSION: Gallstones have been very rarely reported previously within a hernia sac after LC. Most of the spilled gallstones are clinically silent and rarely become symptomatic. Complications may occur from the immediately postoperative period to a long time interval of 20 years. Treatment of complications is based on its type and location. CONCLUSION: This case presents a very rare entity resulting from leaving spilled gallstones behind. We recommend that every effort should be made to retrieve any scattered stones during LC in order to avoid complications.

Synchronous endocrine tumors of small intestine: report of a case.

As with most endocrine tumors, the malignant potential depends on evidence of local or distant invasion (metastasis), so it is important to differentiate synchronous/metachronous endocrine tumors from their metastases. A 90-year-old man was operated due to tumor of the ampulla of Vater. As the surgical specimen was examined macroscopically, a second tumor focus, measuring 1 cm in diameter, was detected at the duodenum. There were no clinical syndromes due to hormone hypersecretion. Microscopically, the ampullary tumor had trabecular and rosette-like patterns, with many necrotic areas. It had invaded the muscularis mucosa at the duodenal wall. The latter duodenal tumor was located in the submucosa and had distinct borders. This tumor consisted of trabecular structures with stroma rich in lymphoid aggregates. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for synaptophysin and gastrin and negativity for somatostatin. In addition, the whole antral portion of the Whipple resection material showed diffuse parietal cell hyperplasia. The tumors were diagnosed as well-differentiated endocrine carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater according to the WHO classification 2000, a gastrin-producing well-differentiated endocrine tumor in the first portion of the duodenum without regional lymph node metastases, and a diffuse parietal cell hyperplasia at the antral portion of the stomach. In conclusion, clinical findings and the postoperative diagnosis suggest that this patient had primary synchronous neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine.