ABSTRACT
As the life expectancy of AIDS patients continues to increase due to improved anti-retroviral therapy less of these patients die of HIV-related illnesses. Dysphagia is a common complaint in AIDS patients and usually results from a fungal esophagitis. While cancer of the esophagus is occasionally found in AIDS patients, we report our experience with an AIDS patient diagnosed with a squamous cell esophageal malignancy who received pre-operative radiation and chemotherapy, followed by transhiatal esophagectomy. The patient is alive 16 months post-operatively. The transition of HIV/AIDS from an acute fulminant disease to a chronic condition mandates that these patients should receive full and standard therapy for their esophageal malignancies.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Deglutition Disorders/surgery , Esophageal Neoplasms/therapy , Esophagectomy , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis , Deglutition Disorders/etiology , Esophageal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Seventy-six patients who underwent re-operation for recurrent lumbar disc protrusion were analysed to define the pattern of disc recurrence and the outcome following the operation. Whereas recurrence after an L4/5 discectomy occurred at the same level in 66%, recurrence after an L5/S1 discectomy was as likely to occur at L4/5 as at L5/S1. Outcome was inversely related to the number of operations. A satisfactory outcome after the first procedure was usually associated with a satisfactory ultimate outcome. Associated complications were few but of a severe nature.
