The rationale for performing MR imaging before surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for the preoperative localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands. DESIGN: Prospective study of 58 consecutive patients with biochemically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent preoperative MRI. SETTING: The setting is a referral centre. PATIENTS: Fifty-six of the 58 consecutive patients (41 women, 17 men) were studied by both preoperative MRI and 99mTC MIBI scintigraphy, and two by MRI alone. The same surgeon, using the information from both MRI and 99mTC MIBI, performed surgery in 58 patients, including 19 with a history of neck surgery. Initial interpretation of each MR study was done independently by one radiologist and the surgeon and then results were compared. At surgery, the operative duration, the precise anatomical location, weight, and dimensions as well as complete histopathological evaluations of all excised glands were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: In addition to the prospective assessment of MRI, this study compared performance of MRI with double-phase 99mTC MIBI scintigraphy for preoperative localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands. RESULTS: All patients became normocalcaemic after surgery. MRI and 99mTC MIBI imaging revealed 53 of 58 (91%) and 47 of 56 (84%) of abnormal glands, respectively. Sensitivities of MRI and 99mTC MIBI were respectively 94.3 and 88.0. Positive predictive values were 96.15 and 93.60. When MRI and 99mTC MIBI were interpreted together, the sensitivity and positive predictive values both raised to 98.10. Median operative duration was 30 minutes (ranges 20-300 minutes, mean 65). CONCLUSION: MRI has better sensitivity and positive predictive value than 99mTC MIBI scintigraphy for the detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands. The combination of the two studies provides an additional increase in sensitivity and positive predictive value leading to a more precise anatomical localization of the abnormal parathyroid glands reducing both the extent of the surgical dissection and the operative duration.

[Perforation of hollow organs in the abdominal contusion: diagnostic features and prognostic factors of death]. / Perforatiile organelor cavitare prin contuzie abdominala: particularitati diagnostice si factori prognostici de deces.

UNLABELLED: Blunt hollow viscus perforations (HVP) due to abdominal contusions (AC), although rare, are difficult to diagnose early and are associated with a high mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our paper analyses retrospectively data from patients operated for HVP between January 2005 and January 2009, the efficiency of different diagnostic tools, mortality and prognostic factors for death. RESULTS: There were 62 patients operated for HVP, 14 of which had isolated abdominal contusion and 48 were poly trauma patients. There were 9 women and 53 men, the mean age was 41.5 years (SD: +17,9), the mean ISS was 32.94 (SD: +15,94), 23 patients had associated solid viscus injuries (SVI). Clinical examination was irelevant for 16 of the 62 patients, abdominal Xray was false negative for 30 out of 35 patients and abdominal ultrasound was false negative for 16 out of 60 patients. Abdominal CT was initially false negative for 7 out of 38 patients: for 4 of them the abdominal CT was repeated and was positive for HVP, for 3 patients a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Direct signs for HVP on abdominal CT were present for 3 out of 38 patients. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed for 7 patients with suspicion for HVP, and was positive for 6 of them and false negative for a patient with a duodenal perforation. Single organ perforations were present in 55 cases, multi organ perforations were present in 7 cases. There were 15 deaths (15.2%), most of them caused by haemodynamic instability (3 out of 6 patients) and associated lesions: SOL for 9 out of 23 cases, pelvic fracture (PF) for 6 out of 14 patients, craniocerebral trauma (CCT) for 12 out of 33 patients.Multivariate analysis showed that the prognostic factors for death were ISS value (p = 0,023) and associated CCT (odds ratio = 4,95; p = 0,017). The following factors were not confirmed as prognostic factors for death: age, haemodynamic instability, associated SVI, thoracic trauma (TT), pelvic fractures (PF), limbs fractures (LF) and admission-operation interval under 6 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Hollow viscus perforations due to abdominal contusions have a high mortality, early diagnosis is difficult, repeated abdominal CT and the selective use of diagnostic laparoscopy for haemodynamic stable patients with ambiguous clinical examination and diagnostic imaging are salutary. Prognostic factors for death were the ISS value and associated craniocerebral trauma.

[Postoperative early enteral nutrition in a patient with polytrauma and late duodenal perforation]. / Nutritie enterala postoperatorie precoce la un politraumatism cu perforatie duodenala tardiva.

We present the case of a 51 years old multiple injured female patient who was transferred from another hospital. She suffered a car accident and at admission, the diagnosis was anterior flail chest with fractured sternum, blunt abdominal trauma with IIIrd grade kidney laceration, multiple extremities fractures, ISS = 50. We performed emergency nephrectomy, surgical fixation of the flail chest and bilateral pleurostomy. Postoperatively the evolution was difficult, she was intubated and mechanically ventilated. We started early enteral nutrition (EEN), at 24 hours with 20 ml/hour Fresubin (Fresenius-Kabi, Bad Hamburg, Germany) and then with 40 ml/hour. In the fourth postoperative day, CT scan identified no supplementary lesions. In the seventh postoperative day, jaundice became apparent and the CT exam identified gas in the retroperitoneum. At surgery, we identified a IInd degree D2 rupture. We practiced duodenal suture, pyloric exclusion, latero-lateral gastro-entero-anastomosis. We passed a naso-gastro-entero-duodenal tube into D2 for active suction and we performed a fine needle catheter jejunostomy. Difficult postoperative evolution, intubated, febrile, with hemodynamic instability. EEN on the jejunostomy at 20-40-60 ml/hour. 10 days after the reoperation, the general condition ameliorated. Enteral nutrition was continued for 22 days after reoperation. The patient was discharged after 44 days. The particularities of this case are the complexity of the traumatic lesions: anterior costal flail chest, left kidney rupture, late duodenal perforation, multiple extremities fractures (APACHE II score = 34). The treatment involved internal pneumatic stabilization and surgical fixation of the flail chest, duodenal suture with pyloric exclusion and fine needle catheter jejunostomy, left nephrectomy. We consider that the use of EEN was of real help in this case and we recommend it in all polytraumatised patients and in all the cases where it can be used.

[Multimodal analgesia in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A double-blind randomized controlled trial]. / Analgezia multimodal in colecistectomia laparoscopica elective. Studiu prospectiv randomizat dublu-orb.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to test the effects of preincisional parietal and intraperitoneal infiltration with ropivacaine (R) on postoperative pain after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: 60 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by the same surgeon were enrolled in a randomized, controlled double-blind trial. All patients received the same general anesthesia protocol and Ig i.v. paracetamol was infused after induction of anesthesia for postoperative analgesia, repeated postoperatively each 6 hours, up to 4 g/ 24 h. After induction of anesthesia, the patients were randomized in 4 groups (15 patients each): group A received preincisional parietal infiltration of 20 ml normal saline (NS) solution and 20 ml R0, 25% intraperitoneal instillation; group B, 20 ml R0, 0.25% preincisional parietal and 20 ml NS intraperitoneal; group C, 20 ml R0, 25% preincisional parietal and 20 ml R0, 25% intraperitoneal; group D (control), 20 ml NS preincisional local and 20 ml NS intraperitoneal. Tramadol was used as a rescue analgesic Primary end points: were postoperative pain at Oh, 2h, 6h, 12h, 24h on visual analogue scale (VAS 0-100 mm) score and rescue analgesic requirements. RESULTS: We found no differences in demographics, length of surgery time and hospital stay (total 3.38 +/- 0.22 days). VAS was significantly lower at all intervals in groups C versus D and at Oh, 6h and 12 h in group C versus group A and B (p < 0.05). We found no influence on shoulder pain. Tramadol doses required were significantly lower in group C vs. D (0,73 +/- 1.10 vs 1,93 +/- 1.03, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine shows significant favorable effects on postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy when using both parietal and intraperitoneal instillation in combination with perioperative i.v. paracetamol.

Laparoscopic suture repair of perforated duodenal peptic ulcer for patients without risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Suture repair became the standard treatment for perforated duodenal ulcer (PDU) due to the efficacy of modern anti-ulcer therapy. This study compared short-term outcomes of open versus laparoscopic suture repair of PDU in patients without risk factors. METHOD: Patients with perforated duodenal ulcer were selected for open or laparoscopic suture repair. Patients with either one or more of the following risk factors were excluded: age > 50 years, interval between perforation and operation > or = 12 hours, presence of major comorbidities (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] III-IV), and previous abdominal surgery. RESULTS: 174 patients underwent open surgery (OSG) and 85 underwent laparoscopic surgery (LSG). The two groups were similar in regard to age, sex, ulcer disease history, time between onset of surgery, ASA score, and presence of free air on X-ray. There were statistical differences between OSG and LSG in the duration of operating time (55 vs 85 min), analgesic doses (16 vs 9) and hospital stay (7.8 vs 6.1 days). During the night (10:00 PM - 06:00 AM), 129 patients were operated: 107/174 in OSG and 22/85 in LSG. In LSG we performed suture repair in 37 patients and suture repair with omental patch in 41 patients. In OSG, 7 patients had a wrong preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Five patients (5.8%) in LSG group and 15 patients (8.6%) in OSG had postoperative complications and 2 respectively 1 patient needed reoperation. The two reoperated patients in LSG presented suture repair leak and a right subphrenic abscess. Both had only suture repair. There were no mortalities. CONCLUSION: We believe that suture repair with omental patch associated with anti-ulcer medical therapy is the standard therapeutic solution in PDU for young patients without risk factors.

[Progress of surgical treatment in the last 10 years. Comparative study of surgical interventions performed between 1993-1995 versus between 2003-2005]. / Evolutia terapiei chirurgicale în ultima decada. Studiu comparativ al interventiilor 1993-1995 vs. 2003-2005.

In the last decade of the past century, as laparoscopy was introduced in our clinic in 1993, minimal access therapy (MAT--endoscopy, angiography, interventional imagery) had a positive and constant evolution. Our paper retrospectively evaluates the interventions performed between 2003-2005 (group A) compared to those performed between 1993-1995 (group B). We observed a 17.08% (7056 vs 6026 interventions/year) raise in the total number of interventions in group A, with a significant 66% decrease (195 vs. 588 interventions/year) of interventions for gastro-duodenal ulcer and a 18% decrease (1211 vs 1490 interventions/year) of appendectomies, but a 63% increase (1560 vs. 955 interventions/year) of cholecystectomies, 53% increase (1186 vs. 773 interventions/year) of interventions for parietal defects and a 62% (626 vs. 325 interventions/year) increase of oncological interventions. The most frequent interventions were, in the order of frequencies: cholecystectomies (79.8% laparoscopically), appendectomies, interventions for hernia and eventrations, oncological operations and trauma surgery. The incidence of laparoscopic interventions was greater in group A, counting for 19% of the total number of interventions. In group A were performed 2334 endoscopies, 149 diagnostic and therapeutic angiographies. Postoperative mortality dropped with 29.64% and hospital stay dropped to 4.7 days. We believe that the incidence of MAT should rise, by performing more laparoscopic interventions and this change should lead to a revision of the surgical residents training program.

[Small bowel perforation caused by compound pelvic fracture found in diagnostic laparoscopy]. / Perforatie intestinala prin fractura complexa de bazin diagnosticata laparoscopic.

Small bowel perforations in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT), especially in multiply injured patients, are difficult to diagnose in the first hours after the accident, either clinically or by imagistic studies. A less encountered diagnostic modality is diagnostic laparoscopy (DL), selectively indicated. We present the case of a patient with BAT and complex pelvic fracture, hemodynamically stable, with TS= 15, who clinically had abdominal tenderness and on ultrasound (US) and CT scan, had free intra-abdominal fluid (FIAF), without any injuries of a solid viscus, which led us to suspect a hollow viscus injury. We proceeded with a DL, imposed by the equivocal diagnosis, taking advantage of the general anesthesia needed for the femoral and pelvic fracture immobilization. We identified an ileal perforation and decided to convert to open surgery, and we found a second perforation. Segmentary ileal resection was performed. Orthopedically, in emergency, the femoral fracture and the posterior arch of the pelvis were immobilized, but due to the septic risk, the anterior arch was immobilized 10 days later. DL is a valuable tool in BAT with FIAF on US and CT scan with suspicion of hollow viscus perforation in the hemodynamically stable patients, in order to decide between laparotomy and observation. In equivocal diagnosis cases, DL avoids unnecessary or delayed laparotomy. Whenever possible and indicated, orthopedic lesions will be dealt with in emergency ("early total care"), in order to reduce the recovery and hospitalization period.

[Needle catheter jejunostomy versus "Witzel" tube jejunostomy for early postoperative enteral nutrition in surgical patients. Prospective randomized study]. / Jejunostomia minimmacu cateter versus jejunostomia cu tub de politen ("á la Witzel") pentru nutri,tie enterala postoperatorie precoce la pacientii chirurgicali subnutriti. Studiu prospectiv randomizat.

Malnutrition in surgical patients can be present since their admission into hospital or can appear in the postoperative period. Early postoperative enteral nutrition (EPEN) is recommended to these patients as often as possible. In cases where the patients are severely malnourished with major digestive surgical interventions which we estimate that will be unable to feed orally efficient minimum 7-10 days postoperatively, we recommend EPEN on jejunostomy. Prospective randomized evaluation of 37 patients (75.6% severely malnourished): 19 with needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ), group A, respectively 18 with standard "Witzel" tube jejunostomy (STJ), group B. 22 patients presented malignant tumors and 15 serious benign problems. On 7 patients the jejunostomy was done at the reoperation. Postoperative major complications were observed on 54.05% of the patients (independent of the jejunostomy) and the postoperative mortality rate was of 13.33% on the patients that had jejunostomy and EPEN on their first operation, and 57.14 respectively on the patients where jejunostomy was done at the reoperation. The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, length of EPEN and hospital stay, presence of malnutrition, complications and mortality. Postoperative complications were statistically more frequent in anemic patients (68.8%) respectively anemic and severely malnourished (76.47). Minor complication related to the jejunostomy occurred in 5.6% of the group A and 22.2% of the group B. NCJ was done rapidly the same as STJ (7 min vs. 15 min). In conclusion, EPEN on jejunostomy on surgically malnourished patients, who have suffered major superior digestive interventions is beneficial. Postoperative complications have been more frequent on anemic and severely malnourished. NCJ is easier to perform and safer.