Cyanoacrylate vs. sutures in clean and clean-contaminated surgical wounds - a randomised control study.

Objectives: Various techniques of closure of surgical incisions have been described ranging from various suture materials, staples and tapes to adhesive compounds. Cyanoacrylate is an adhesive compound available for surgical incision closure. Although sutures have been the preferred universal choice for surgical incision closure, glue is gaining popularity in specific places like pediatric injuries, facial injuries, laparoscopic incision closure, etc. This study aimed to compare the results between the application of cyanoacrylate and conventional suturing. Methods: In this randomized control study, patients were divided into two groups of 100 each. The surgical incisions were closed using cyanoacrylate glue in Group A patients and polyamide (EthilonTM 2-0) in Group B patients. Post-operative pain was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale on the first, third, and seventh day. The wounds were evaluated for complications on post-op days 1, 3, 7, and 30 using the ASEPSIS score. Cosmetic outcome was assessed at the end of first month using the Modified Hollander Cosmesis Scale. Results: Post-operative pain was significantly less in the glue group on days 1, 3, and 7. Wound infection with dehiscence occurred in 4 cases (4 %) in Group A and one patient (1 %) in Group B, which was statistically insignificant. There was no significant difference in cosmetic outcomes in either Group. Conclusions: Cyanoacrylate is a good alternative to sutures in skin closure of clean and clean-contaminated surgical wounds.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal haematoma causing duodenal obstruction: a case report and review of literature.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal haematoma is a rare clinical entity; resulting duodenal obstruction is even more occult. It can pose a diagnostic challenge due to variable presentations. Timely management requires a high index of suspicion and a multidisciplinary approach. Surgery is indicated in patients refractory to conservative treatment and failure of endoscopic or interventional radiology options. We report an interesting case illustrating the rarity and severity of this condition, with a review of the literature.

A case report and review of the literature of Bouveret syndrome.

Bouveret syndrome is a rare variant of gallstone ileus causing gastric outlet obstruction. It results from the formation of either a cholecystoduodenal or a cholecystogastric fistula and subsequent migration of gallstone into the duodenum or pylorus of stomach, causing obstruction. The first case was reported by Leon Bouveret in 1896. We report a case illustrating the rarity and severity of this condition, together with a review of the literature of the different methods of endoscopic and surgical treatment.

The conundrum of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in burns in India and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to assess the practice of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis among the plastic surgeons attending National Academy of Burns India Conference 2012 (NABICON 2012). BACKGROUND: DVT prophylaxis in burns is a controversial issue as there is no consensus among the community of burn surgeons about the prevalence of DVT, the incidence of pulmonary embolism, the indications for DVT prophylaxis, dosage and duration of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and the complications related to DVT and LMWH. METHODOLOGY: A survey was conducted among plastic surgeons attending the NABICON 2012 held at New Delhi, by circulating a questionnaire. The respondents were divided into two groups based on whether burns constituted more than or less than 50% of their practice. The data thus collected were tabulated and analysed. RESULTS: Almost 70% of all the respondents practice some form of DVT prophylaxis. There was significantly higher incidence of complications related to the use of LMWH among the surgeons whose practice of burns was >50%. There was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to the incidence and complication of DVT or recommendation of DVT prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Majority of plastic surgeons practice DVT prophylaxis routinely and consider multiple criteria such as percentage of burns, age, lower limb involvement, the degree of burns and associated co-morbidities for starting the LMWH.

Dumbbell-Shaped Neurofibroma Over the External Ear.

Dumbbell-shaped swellings in neurofibroma have been commonly described in the spine, thorax, cranial cavity, and pelvis; however, dumbbell-shaped swellings in the peripheries are rare. Here, we report a dumbbell-shaped neurofibroma over the pinna in an 18-year-old female patient, its successful surgical management, and its association with Hashimoto thyroiditis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever case to be reported of a dumbbell-shaped neurofibroma over the external ear and only the fourth case of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) to be associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Gravid uterus in neglected incisional hernia with skin defect-a clinical challenge.

UNLABELLED: Incisional hernia during pregnancy with whole of gravid uterus as the content of the hernia sac is a rare occurrence. When such hernia is associated with skin defect over the sac, the management gets complicated. Very few such cases are reported in the literature. There is no consensus on the management of these cases in the available literature. Here, we are reporting two such cases managed in different ways and reviewed the literature. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, Clinical cases.

Electric Wire as Foreign Body in the Bladder and Urethra-a Case Report and Review of Literature.

Foreign body in the urinary bladder is a relatively rare occurrence. A variety of foreign bodies, majority of which were mostly self-inflicted for autoerotic reasons, have been reported in the literature. Here, we report a case of self-inserted electric wire in the bladder and review the literature.

Genital reconstruction in exstrophy patients.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery for bladder exstrophy has been evolving over the last four to five decades. Because survival has become almost universal, the focus has changed in the exstrophy-epispadias complex to improving quality of life. The most prevalent problem in the long-term function of exstrophy patients is the sexual activity of the adolescent and adult males. The penis in exstrophy patients appears short because of marked congenital deficiency of anterior corporal tissue. Many patients approach for genital reconstruction to improve cosmesis as well as to correct chordee. We report our series of male patients seeking genital reconstruction following exstrophy repair in the past. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen adolescent/adult male patients attended urology services during the period January 2000-December 2009 seeking genital reconstruction following exstrophy repair in the past. RESULTS: Three patients underwent epispadias repair, four patients had chordee correction with cosmetic excision of skin tags and seven patients underwent chordee correction with penile lengthening. All patients reported satisfaction in the answered questionnaire. Patients undergoing penile lengthening by partial corporal dissection achieved a mean increase in length of 1.614 ± 0.279 cm dorsally and 1.543 ± 0.230 cm ventrally. The satisfactory rate assessed by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) showed that irrespective of the different genital reconstructive procedures done, the patients were satisfied with cosmetic and functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical procedures have transformed the management in these patients with bladder exstrophy. Bladders can be safely placed within the pelvis, with most patients achieving urinary continence and cosmetically acceptable external genitalia. Genital reconstruction in the form of correction of chordee, excision of ugly skin tags and lengthening of penis can be performed to give the patients a satisfactory cosmetic and functional system.

Does the laparoscopic colorectal surgery learning curve adversely affect the results of colorectal cancer resection? A 3-year prospective study in a district general hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is slowly being adopted across the UK. We present a 3-year prospective study of laparoscopic colorectal cancer resections in a district general hospital. METHOD: Data relating to premorbid, operative and postoperative parameters were recorded for all patients undergoing laparoscopic, open, planned converted (laparoscopic assisted) and unplanned converted resections prospectively from April 2003 to April 2006. RESULTS: A total of 238 colorectal resections were performed, 153 of which were for cancer. Of these 44 (29%) were open, 77 (50%) were laparoscopic and 32 (21%) were converted [26 (17%) planned and six (4%) unplanned]. Blood loss was less in the laparoscopic group compared with the open group (P = 0.02) as was intra-operative fluid replacement (P = 0.01). Time to requiring oral analgesia alone was shorter (P = 0.001) and bowel function returned earlier (P = 0.001) in the laparoscopic group. This is reflected in a trend towards a shorter hospital stay for the laparoscopic group compared with the open group (P = 0.049). The operating time of the laparoscopic group was not significantly longer (P = 0.38). The complication rate was similar between groups (P = 0.31) and the mortality in the laparoscopic group was 1.3%. CONCLUSION: Changing from open to laparoscopic dissection for colorectal cancer is safe even during the initial learning curve. There are clear potential short-term benefits for patients and the technique can be introduced without penalties in terms of reduced surgical throughput.

Following anterior resection for rectal cancer, defunctioning ileostomy closure may be significantly delayed by adjuvant chemotherapy: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: A temporary loop ileostomy is often created to minimize the impact of peritoneal sepsis from an anastomotic dehiscence following colo-anal or low colorectal anastomosis. These stomas are not without complications. Clinicians tend to advise patients that their loop ileostomy will be reversed within 6-12 weeks of formation. However, factors such as adjuvant chemotherapy may affect the timing of closure. The aim of this study was to review the time between formation and closure of loop ileostomies following total mesorectal excision in patients with rectal cancer. METHOD: A retrospective study of 50 patients with loop ileostomies to defunction total mesorectal excisions for rectal cancer, between April 2002 and July 2005. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients with defunctioning loop ileostomies, 24 received adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy, and 26 did not. There was a 28% morbidity. The overall median time from formation to closure was 142 days (35-575). Median time from formation to closure in those with adjuvant therapy was 197 days (35-575) and in those with no adjuvant therapy was 133 days (75-395). This was a significant delay (P = 0.049). Sixteen stomas were not closed to date. CONCLUSION: Time between formation and closure of loop ileostomy following anterior resection of rectum is significantly delayed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Because of their high morbidity, defunctioning ileostomies should be closed as early as medically possible, especially if adjuvant chemotherapy is planned.