Electrophysiological Changes in Patients with Postoperative Cross-facial Nerve Graft in a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Facial nerve palsy is a multifaceted pathology that causes facial disfigurement, affecting eye closure, speech articulation, oral competence, and emotional expression, with functional, aesthetic, and psychological consequences. Standardized electrophysiological tests, such as electroneurography and electromyography, allow an objective evaluation of the functional state of the nerve. Here, we aimed to compare and correlate clinical findings with electromyography in patients with facial nerve palsy, before and after facial nerve reanimation with cross-facial nerve grafts. Methods: Eight patients with traumatic or nontraumatic facial paralysis with complete clinical records who underwent surgical reanimation of facial nerve with cross nerve grafts. Results: The median time from diagnosis to treatment was 173 days (interquartile range = 222). Outcomes were evaluated using standard clinical scales (House-Brackmann, Sunnybrook, and eFACE) and electromyography. The median time for postoperative outcome evaluation was 768 days (interquartile range = 1053). A statistically significant difference was found between pre- and postoperative outcomes according to eFACE (Δ median = 13, P = 0.003), House-Brackmann (Δ median = -2, P = 0.008), and electromyography (Δ mean = 855, P = 0.005). A positive correlation between electromyography and clinical evaluation with eFACE was observed (r = 0.751, 95% confidence interval = 0.174-0.944, P = 0.019). Conclusions: Our results suggest that cross nerve grafts are associated with clinical and electromyographic improvement of the paralyzed face. Electromyography and eFACE scores validate the reliability of eFACE scale for measuring postoperative outcomes. We suggest postoperative electromyography as an objective measure of postoperative evaluation in patients with a delay in improvement at 6-9 months.

Quality of life in bile duct injury: 1-, 5-, and 10-year outcomes after surgical repair.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life after bile duct injury is a relevant health issue besides physician-oriented outcomes. A prospective study was performed to explore short- and long-term outcomes after surgical repair. METHOD: We studied a cohort of patients with Strasberg E injuries who underwent Roux-en-Y jejunal anastomosis from 1990 to 2008. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was selected as the appropriate quality of life assessment instrument. Two groups were comprised: Group I included patients with 10-year follow-up after surgery. Group II included patients operated during 2008 with preoperative 1- and 5-year questionnaires. RESULTS: Group I patients (N = 41) were operated from 1990 to 2003 and Group II (N = 44) during 2008. There is a significant improvement in quality of life after the first year of repair in all domains. Readmissions (48 vs 25 %; p < 0.01), colangitis (46 vs 14 %; p < 0.001), and hepatojejunal redo (26 vs. 4 %; p < 0.0001) were less frequent in Group II. No differences in quality of life summary scores were found between Group I and II. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life improves significantly after the first year of surgical repair, reaching a plateau at 5 years. No correlation exists with physician-centered outcomes.

Transition from a low: to a high-volume centre for bile duct repair: changes in technique and improved outcome.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in bile duct injury repairs have been shown in centres with specialized surgeons. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the temporal change in the pattern of referral, technical variation associated with repair and long-term outcome of bile duct injuries at a tertiary referral centre in Mexico City. METHODS: A retrospective case note review was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: group I (GI) 1990 to 2004 and group II (GII) 2005-2008, and appropriate statistical analysis undertaken. RESULTS: Over a 20-year period, 312 patients with iatrogenic bile duct injuries required surgical treatment (GI = 169, GII = 140 patients). All injuries were reconstructed using a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. The proportion of patients who had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy increased from 24% to 36% (P = 0.017) over the two time periods. In the second time period there was an increase in segment IV and V partial resections (P = 0.020), a reduction in the use of transanastomotic stents (42% to 2%, P = 0.001) and an increase in the proportion of patients requiring a neoconfluence (2% to 11%, P = 0.003). In the second time period, the number of patients requiring a hepatectomy during repair (2% to 1%, P = 0.001), a portoenterostomy (16% to 9%, P = 0.060) or a double-barrel hepatico-jejunostomy (5% to 1%, P = 0.045) significantly decreased. During follow-up, patients in the second time period had a reduction in the incidence of post-operative cholangitis (11% to 6%, P = 0.310) and the frequency of post-operative anastomotic stenoses (13% to 5%, P = 0.010). Mortality remained low throughout the series but was absent in the second group. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in technique and growing experience of the multidisciplinary team improved operative and long-term results of bile duct injury repair.

[Analysis of population survey for determining the factors associated with the control diabetes mellitus in Mexico]. / Análisis de una encuesta poblacional para determinar los factores asociados al control de la diabetes mellitus en México.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the influence of nutritional counseling, exercise, access to social healthcare and drugs, and the quality of medical care on the control of diabetics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The information and blood samples were obtained in 2005. Glycemic control was defined as good if HbA1c was ≤7.0%, poor from 7.01%-9.50% and very poor if HbA1c >9.5%. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine the association of these factors with HbA1c>9.5%. RESULTS: Thirty percent of the patients with a medical diagnosis of diabetes had adequate metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional guidance was associated with an increase in the degree of control. A majority of diabetics have poor or very poor glycemic control. Strengthening the quality of and access to medical care for these patients is urgently needed.

Análisis de una encuesta poblacional para determinar los factores asociados al control de la diabetes mellitus en México / Analysis of population survey for determining the factors associated with the control diabetes mellitus in Mexico

OBJETIVO: Explorar la asociación entre recomendaciones dietéticas, ejercicio, acceso a seguridad social y medicamentos, y calidad de la atención médica con el grado de control glucémico en pacientes diabéticos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La información y muestras sanguíneas se obtuvieron en 2005. Se analizó la proporción de pacientes que se encontraban en buen control (<7 por ciento), mal control (7.01 por ciento - 9.5 por ciento) y descontrol severo (>9.5 por ciento), de acuerdo con su HbA1c. Fueron empleados modelos de regresión logística binaria para determinar la asociación entre los factores y niveles de glucemia. RESULTADOS: El 30 por ciento de los pacientes diabéticos se encontraban en buen control. CONCLUSIONES: Recibir consulta con un nutriólogo disminuye la posibilidad de descontrol severo. Un alto porcentaje de los pacientes diabéticos se encuentra en alto grado de descontrol, por lo que es urgente reforzar el acceso y calidad de la atención ofrecida a estos pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the influence of nutritional counseling, exercise, access to social healthcare and drugs, and the quality of medical care on the control of diabetics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The information and blood samples were obtained in 2005. Glycemic control was defined as good if HbA1c was <7.0 percent, poor from 7.01 percent - 9.50 percent and very poor if HbA1c >9.5 percent. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine the association of these factors with HbA1c>9.5 percent. RESULTS: Thirty percent of the patients with a medical diagnosis of diabetes had adequate metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional guidance was associated with an increase in the degree of control. A majority of diabetics have poor or very poor glycemic control. Strengthening the quality of and access to medical care for these patients is urgently needed.