Massive liver haemangioma causing Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in an adult.

Liver haemangiomas are common, but their size very rarely exceeds 40cm. Most people with liver haemangiomas are asymptomatic, and diagnosis is usually made incidentally during imaging for other complaints. When a liver haemangioma is symptomatic or produces complications, surgical intervention may be warranted. Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is an uncommon complication reported in certain rare vascular tumours in children, with only a few cases reported in adults. The syndrome describes a consumptive coagulopathy initiated within a vascular tumour, mainly tufted angiomas and kaposiform haemangioendotheliomas and, less commonly, giant haemangiomas. The process can extend beyond the tumour and become disseminated in certain cases due to trauma or surgery. The definitive treatment for giant liver haemangiomas can include arterial embolisation, surgical excision, hepatectomy or even liver transplantation. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman with a 42 × 32 × 27cm (18,870ml) liver haemangioma associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. The diagnosis was challenging, even with proper imaging, owing to the rarity of the condition. It was achieved with an exploratory laparotomy with biopsy.

Self-reported Sleep Improvement in Buprenorphine MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) Population.

This is a prospective, naturalistic study to evaluate patient's report on sleep and depression in early recovery while receiving buprenorphine in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). 40 Subjects entering into MAT with buprenorphine/naloxonefor opioid dependence disorder were recruited. No change of concurrent treatment was made. Subjects were administered Sleep Scale from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-Sleep), a 5-item Supplemental Sleep Scale (SSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The measures were administered at day 0 (baseline), 30, 60 and 90 days. The result showed that patients reported significant progressive improvements in three MOS-Sleep subscales: sleep disturbance, sleep indices I and II. The mean scores of SLPD4 (Sleep disturbance) at day 0, 30, 60, 90 were 62.4, 53.2, 53.3, and 48.4 respectively (p=0.0029). Similarly, subscores of SLP6 (Sleep Problem Index I) and SLP 9 (Sleep Problem Index II) were also significantly decreased over time (P=0.038 for SLP6 and p=0.007 for SLP9). BDI-II depression scores improved from "Moderate depression" at baseline to "Mild depression". The mean BDI score decreased from 24.2 to 17.0 after 90 days of treatment. Findings suggest that subjects reported improvement in both sleep and depression after initiating MAT with buprenorphine/naloxone.

Underlying mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates at a tertiary care centre in Lebanon: role of OXA-48 and NDM-1 carbapenemases.

A recent increase in carbapenem resistance among extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates at a major tertiary care centre in Lebanon prompted the initiation of this study. Consecutive ESBL-producing isolates were tested for resistance to carbapenems, with initial screening by disk diffusion and Etest using ertapenem. The modified Hodge test was also performed. PCR of ß-lactamase-encoding genes, including bla(NDM-1), bla(KPC), bla(OXA-48), bla(CTX-M), bla(TEM), bla(SHV), bla(CMY-2) and bla(OXA-1), as well as outer membrane porin genes (ompC and ompF) was performed. Sequencing, efflux pump inhibitor tests and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis were performed. In total, 14 (2.45%) of 572 K. pneumoniae and 24 (1.07%) of 2243 E. coli were ertapenem-non-susceptible [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥0.25 µg/mL]. Resistance to other carbapenems was variable. PCR and sequencing analysis revealed that isolates harboured different ß-lactamase genes, including bla(OXA-1), bla(CTX-M-15), bla(TEM-1), bla(CMY-2), bla(OXA-48) and bla(NDM-1). In addition, K. pneumoniae lacked the outer membrane porin-encoding genes, whilst E. coli harboured them with detected mutations. CTX-M-15 was carried on a 90 kb plasmid, whilst OXA-48 was carried on a 70 kb plasmid. Efflux pump inhibition significantly decreased MICs in E. coli. RAPD analysis demonstrated genomic variability. In conclusion, carbapenem resistance in ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae and E. coli is due to the combined effect of ß-lactamases with porin impermeability and/or efflux pump activity observed in these organisms, and in a number of isolates is due to the production of the carbapenemase-encoding genes bla(OXA-48) and the newly emerging bla(NDM-1).

Accreditation of hospitals in Lebanon: a challenging experience

The quality of hospital care in Lebanon has witnessed a paradigm shift since May 2000, from a traditional focus on physical structure and equipment to a broader multidimensional approach, emphasizing managerial processes, performance and output indicators. In the absence of an effective consumer voice, the impetus for change has come from the Ministry of Public Health, which has supported the development of an accreditation programme for hospitals. This paper describes and analyses the experience of Lebanon in introducing this programme. It looks at the application of normative measures on private institutions that have been used to operating in a loosely controlled environment with little accountability

Antral follicle count, anti-mullerian hormone and inhibin B: predictors of ovarian response in assisted reproductive technology?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B and antral follicle count (AFC) with ovarian response. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Fertility unit. SAMPLE: AFC was recorded, and a serum sample obtained on day 3 from all patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Patients were given 300 IU/L recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; Gonal F). The following day blood samples were collected. METHODS Serum samples were assayed for FSH, AMH and inhibin B using commercial immunoassay kits and oestradiol using an in house assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response to gonadotrophin stimulation and the number of eggs collected. RESULTS: AFC was negatively correlated to age (r=-0.426, P < 0.001). Delta inhibin B (levels of inhibin B on day 4 minus day 3) had the best association to the number of eggs collected (r= 0.533, P < 0.001) followed by basal AMH (r= 0.51, P < 0.001) and AFC (r= 0.505, P < 0.001). The number of eggs fertilised was significantly associated with basal AMH (r= 0.592, P < 0.001) and inhibin B (r= 0.548, P < 0.001). AMH with a cutoff of 0.2 ng/mL had the best sensitivity (87%) and specificity (64%) in predicting poor response. A cumulative score using basal FSH, basal AMH, delta E2 (levels of oestradiol on day 4 minus day 3), delta inhibin B, AFC and age gives the best predictive statistics to identify poor responders with 87% sensitivity and 80% specificity and a positive likelihood ratio of 4.36. CONCLUSION: Delta inhibin B had the best positive association with the number of eggs collected and basal AMH is the single best predictor of poor response. AFC has a significant association with the number of eggs collected and is predictive of clinical pregnancy. It is evident that a single parameter is of limited value in predicting ovarian response. However, we have demonstrated a cumulative score using all the above markers could be useful in predicting poor response.

[Cystic tumors of the pancreas. Cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas. Diagnosis and management]. / Les tumeurs kystiques du pancréas. Cystadénomes et cystadénocarcinomes. Diagnostic et attitude pratique.

Thirteen cases of cystic tumours of the pancreas were studied: serous cystadenomas (CS) = 4, mucinous cystadenomas (MC) = 4 and cystadenocarcinomas (CC) = 5. There were 9 females and 4 males, mean age 60 years (range 44 to 89 years). Two patients had no clinical manifestations, six (2 MC and 4 CC) had a weight loss (3-10 kg). One patient with CC had jaundice. Tumours of the pancreas were diagnosed with sonographic or CT-scan examinations. Eight were localized in the head of the pancreas, two in the body and three in the tail. The cystic tumour remained unknown after preoperative explorations in three cases. The exact nature of the tumour was identified preoperatively in four cases (SC, MC and two CC). Final diagnosis was obtained after histological examination of the surgical specimen in nine cases, by surgical puncture in one case and due to the presence of liver metastases in one case and ultrasound guided needle biopsy in one other. One patient refused all surgery. Ten patients were operated: four had duodenopancreatectomy (SC and three CC), three had tumour exeresis (SC and two MC), two had caudal splenopancreatectomy (MC and CC) and one had surgical puncture (SC). Clinical surveillance is justified in cases with asymptomatic. SC if certain diagnosis has been obtained. Other cystic tumours of the pancreas should be removed, either because there is doubt as to the exact nature of the tumour; because of symptoms induced by SC or because a MC or CC has been identified. In this latter case, the prognosis appears to be better than for non-metastasis exocrine cancer of the pancreas.

[Early reoperation in chylothorax after thoracic surgery]. / La réintervention précoce dans les chylothorax après chirurgie thoracique.

Chylothorax is a rare complication of thoracic surgery. The chyle leak can induce serious metabolic and immunological disorders. The ideal treatment of chylothorax has not been clearly established, and opinions are still divided between medical treatment and early or late surgical reoperation after prolonged medical treatment. Out of a total of 1.750 thoracic operations performed at the Centre Chirurgical du Val d'Or over the last 10 years, six cases of chylothorax were reoperated early, an average of five days after the initial operation. The chyle leak was easy to localize in every case. The second operation was performed via the same initial incision. All six patients has an uneventful postoperative course and only one case had a persistent chyle leak which gradually resolved. The mean total hospital stay was 18 days. No systemic infections or deaths were recorded. Early reoperation avoids the complications of prolonged medical treatment, is technically easy and decreases the length of hospital stay.