Location of the appendix at the third trimester of pregnancy: A new approach to old dilemma.

The aim of this study was to determine the location of the appendix at the third trimester of pregnancy as there are conflicting results in literature. Distances from the base of the appendix were measured intra-operatively to the anterior iliac spine (A), symphysis pubis (B) and the xyphoid process (C). The same measurements were taken from McBurney's point on the abdominal wall (A1, B1 and C1). In the allocated 21 pregnant and 18 non-pregnant women, distance A and B were 10.3 ± 0.9 cm and 18.3 ± 3.2 cm in pregnant and 6.7 ± 0.9 cm and 13.2 ± 0.9 cm in non-pregnant women (p < 0.001), respectively. Distance C was shorter in pregnant women (14.7 ± 2.5 cm vs. 23.8 ± 1.9, p < 0.001). Conversely, distance C1 was longer in pregnant women (30.3 ± 3.0 vs. 24.8 ± 5.1 cm, p = 0.004). This study provides evidence that the appendix moves cranially late in the course of the pregnancy. Therefore, McBurney's point cannot be used as a reference point to localise the appendix at the third trimester of pregnancy.

Comparison between the intraoperative use of polyvinyl chloride cover and surgical compresses for preventing postoperative adhesions.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Surgical compresses used for retraction during major abdominal and pelvic procedures lead to postoperative adhesion formation resulting from damage to the visceral peritoneum. This study investigates whether polyvinyl chloride (PVC) covers cause less postsurgical adhesion and inflammation than surgical compresses in an animal model. METHODS: Female Wistar albino rats (n = 160) were divided into three groups (compress, PVC cover and control), which were then divided into 16 subgroups (n = 10/group). All animals underwent midline laparotomy and cecal abrasion. A metal retractor, which applies a constant force, was then placed on the small intestine for 2 h. In the control group, no material was placed under the retractor, whereas a surgical compress or PVC cover was placed in the experimental animals. Full-thickness small intestinal biopsies were obtained and examined by light and electron microscopy. The following parameters were evaluated: congestion, mesothelial proliferation, leukocyte migration and collagenization. Adhesions were scored according to the Nair, Knightly and Mazuji scoring systems. RESULTS: All inflammation scores were significantly higher in the compress group than in the other two groups. However, no significant difference was observed between the PVC cover and control groups. Adhesions were more frequent in the compress group than in the other two groups, regardless of the scoring system used. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical compresses used in abdominal and pelvic surgeries cause inflammation and adhesion. Contrary to surgical compresses, PVC covers do not cause inflammation and adhesion, which may considerably reduce adhesion-related complications in abdominopelvic surgeries.

Incisional hernia treatment with polypropylene graft: results of 10 years.

PURPOSE: To report herein our results of tension-free repair of large incisional hernia with polypropylene mesh using a modification of the method that was described by Usher. METHOD: Two hundred ninety-one patients who were operated on between January 1994 and December 2004 were studied. Two hundred thirty-two patients were female (79.7%), and 59 were male (20.3%). The average follow-up period was 55 months. The patients were evaluated for infection, recurrences, hematoma and seroma formation, sinuses and enterocutaneous fistula formation. RESULTS: Infection was observed in eight patients (2.7%). Graft removal due to infection was encountered only in two patients (0.6%). Recurrence was observed in six patients (2.1%). Two patients (0.6%) developed hematoma while another two developed seroma. No patient developed enterocutaneous fistula. CONCLUSION: By using our modified technique we can decrease the expected complications after tension-free repair of large incisional hernias.

Preoperative nutritional risk assessment in predicting postoperative outcome in patients undergoing major surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Although a variety of nutritional indices have been found to be valuable in predicting patient outcome when used alone, there is no consensus on the best method for assessing the nutritional status of hospitalized patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of a cohort of patients who underwent major elective surgery using the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Maastricht Index (MI), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) to determine the best possible nutrition screening system in surgical practice. METHODS: The study population consisted of 460 patients who underwent major elective surgery between December 1999 and March 2002. Each patient had a complete set of the three nutritional assessment techniques (NRI, MI, SGA); in addition, the MNA was performed in patients older than 59 years of age. One of the coauthors who was unaware of the nutritional assessments assessed the patients for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Complications were classified as major or minor and as infectious or noninfectious. To assess the predictive value of the assessment techniques, likelihood ratios were calculated for the various strata of each method. The odds ratio and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also calculated to describe and compare the diagnostic value of each of the four nutrition indices. RESULTS: Twenty patients died during the study period. No complications occurred in 329 of the 460 patients; 42 patients suffered from two or more complications. The frequency of malnutrition was found to be 58.3%, 63.5%, and 67.4% as assessed by the SGA, NRI, and MI, respectively. Morbidity rates, especially severe infectious and noninfectious complications, were significantly higher in malnourished patients in all nutritional indices. The likelihood ratio was well correlated with the risk categories of every nutritional index. The area under the ROC curves revealed that each scoring system proved to be significantly powerful in predicting the morbidity (infectious and noninfectious severe morbidity) and mortality. However, no differences were detected among the nutritional indices in 460 patients. The odds ratio for morbidity between the well nourished and malnourished patients was 3.09 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.96-4.88], 3.47 (95% CI, 2.12-5.68), 2.30 (95% CI, 1.43-3.71), and 2.81 (95% CI, 0.79-9.95) for the SGA, NRI, MI, and MNA, respectively. All indices except the MNA were significantly predictive for morbidity. The odds ratios were not statistically different among the indices. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that all nutritional assessment techniques can be safely applied to the clinical setting with no significant difference in predictive value. We therefore strongly recommend the use of any of these techniques to improve the outcome of surgical care. Meanwhile, further investigations are needed, and much effort must be given to find the best method for assessing nutritional status.

Clinical and histopathological findings in Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome.

Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genodermatosis with the classical triad of macrocephaly, genital lentiginosis, and intestinal polyposis. Characteristic mucocutaneous manifestations include vascular malformations, lipomatosis, speckled lentiginosis of the penis or vulva, facial verrucae-like or acanthosis nigricans-like lesions, and multiple acrochordons of the neck, axilla, and groin. We present a case of Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome with macrocephaly, abnormal facies, lipoma, tender and painful arteriovenous hemangiomas, lymphangiokeratomas, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and localized myopathy. We also describe previously unreported findings, including peripheral neuropathy, punctate cystic changes in acral tubular bones, and enostosis of talus. Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome needs recognition by dermatologists because affected patients may present with mucocutaneous and subcutaneous lesions that may simulate other dermatological disorders.

Prevention of surgical site infection after open prosthetic inguinal hernia repair: efficacy of parenteral versus oral prophylaxis with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in a randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this prospective study was to compare the efficacy of oral versus parenteral prophylactic amoxicillin-clavulanic acid for preventing surgical site infection after open prosthetic mesh repair of inguinal hernia. A total of 480 inguinal-hernia patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group I (n = 240) received 1.313 g oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 2 hours before operation, and group II (n = 240) received 1.2 g of the same drug combination intravenously approximately 30 minutes before surgery. Patients were examined four times during 1 year of follow-up (at 7-10 days, 4-6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postoperation), and data related to surgical site infections were collected. Seventy-two patients were excluded due to confounding factors during and after the operation. There were no statistically significant differences between group I (final n = 208) and group II (final n = 200) with respect to age, sex distribution, body mass index, American Anesthesiology Association grade, frequencies of different hernia types, duration of surgery, and the experience levels of the principal surgeon in the operations. One of the 208 (0.5%) patients in group I and 3 of the 200 (1.5%) patients in group II developed superficial surgical site infections (p > 0.05). None of the infections required mesh removal. There were no deep surgical site infections in either group, and there was one case of hernia recurrence in each group. For patients undergoing open prosthetic repair of inguinal hernia, oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is safe, significantly less costly, and equally effective in preventing surgical site infection as the same dose given parenterally.

The effect of diosmin hesperidin on intestinal ischaemia--reperfusion injury.

AIM: The effect of Diosmin Hesperidin on intestinal ischaemia reperfusion injury was evaluated in an experimental model in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of (n = 10) (sham, sham + Diosmin Hesperidin, Reperfusion, Reperfusion + Diosmin Hesperidin). Diosmin Hesperidin oral gavage was administrated at a dose of 50 mg/kg to rats 14 and 2 hours before the operation and 30 minutes of ischaemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion was performed in the groups when appropriate. Ileum samples were resected for histopathological evaluation and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPA) level determination. RESULTS: Mean mucosal injury score of IR group (4,50+/-0,23) was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Although mean mucosal injury score of IR + DH group was higher than sham and sham + DH groups, difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Tissue MDA and MPO activities of IR group were 45,55+/-2.61 nmol/g/wet tissue and 1.68+/-0.25 U/g/wet tissue respectively and were significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.008). Although tissue MDA and MPO activities of IR + DH group was higher than sham and sham + DH groups, differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.008). CONCLUSION: Diosmin Hesperidin seems to be effective in the prevention of intestinal reperfusion injury.

An assessment of the effect of Ginkgo Biloba EGb 761 on ischemia reperfusion injury of intestine.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Ginkgo Biloba (EGb 761) on reperfusion injury of the small bowel. METHODOLOGY: Forty-eight male 200-250 g Spraque-Dawley rats in six groups were used to determine the biochemical and histopathological changes after a 30-min ischemia and 30-min reperfusion. Pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg EGb 761 (Tebofortan, Karlsruhe-Germany) or 10-mL/kg saline was administered intravenously in the treatment and control groups. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded distal to the right colic artery and collateral arcades were ligated to provide complete ischemia. Ischemia was determined by the existence of pulseless or pale color of the small intestine. The return of the pulses and the reestablishment of the pink color were assumed to be the reperfusion of the intestine. Rats that were administered Egb 761 and saline were subjected to laparotomy, ischemia, or ischemia-reperfusion procedures. Mucosal lesions were graded from 0 to 5 in histopathological examination. Malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels of the intestinal mucosa were measured. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted between the control and treatment groups regarding the histopathological changes. Although malonyldialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels of the reperfusion + EGb 761 group were slightly higher than the laparotomy + saline group, they were significantly lower than the reperfusion + saline group. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that EGb 761 pre-treatment before ischemia-reperfusion decreased malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels and attenuated the mucosal damage.