RESUMEN
Oedema can occur in handled tissues following upper gastrointestinal surgery with anastomosis formation. Obstruction of the lumen may result in delayed return of enteric function. Intravenous steroid use may be beneficial. Three cases of delayed emptying following fundoplication, gastro-enteric and entero-enteric anastomoses are reviewed. Conservative management with supportive measures failed. Dexamethasone was administered to treat the oedematous obstruction. A literature review in PubMed, Cochrane database and Medline for English language publications on the use of dexamethasone in the treatment of acute post surgical oedema of the upper gastrointestinal was conducted. Administration of dexamethasone led to resolution of symptoms and successful outcome. No reports on the use of steroids in this context were identified in the literature. The use of dexamethasone may effectively treat intestinal obstruction due to inflammatory or oedematous cause in the early post-operative period.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Chyle leak after oesophagectomy is highly morbid and may carry significant mortality if treatment is delayed. Identification of the site of leakage and surgery may be plagued by failure. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe a case of chyle leak after oesophagectomy. Lymphangiography revealed the site of chyle leak to be an aberrant duct that would have been difficult to identify surgically. Radiological coiling and embolization successfully treated the leak. DISCUSSION: The gold standard for treatment of chyle leak or chylothorax after oesophagectomy was a re-operation, either open or throracoscopic, to ligate the thoracic duct. The interventional radiological technique employed in our case was not only efficacious in stopping the leak, but had the added advantage of identifying the site and highlighting the anatomy hence avoiding a morbid reoperation. The literature is reviewed. CONCLUSION: The report and review confirm that lymphangiography followed by coiling and embolization for chylothorax post oesophagectomy is safe and effective in a majority of cases.
RESUMEN
AIMS: The number of patients >80 years receiving pacemakers (PMs) is increasing. Little is known about survival and complications in this specific subgroup. We aim to determine predictors of long-term survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pacemaker-related complications and death occurring in patients receiving a first PM for conventional bradycardia indications were systematically documented (the FollowPace registry). This report describes 481 patients ≥80 years during a mean follow-up of 5.8 (SD 1.2) years. Within 2 months 54 PM complications occurred in 47 patients (9.8%). During follow-up, 35 adverse PM events were reported in 33 patients (6.9%). Complication rates in patients ≥80 years were comparable with those for patients <80 years. Survival rates were 86, 75, and 49% after 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively, and were comparable with survival for age- and sex-matched controls from the general Dutch population. Most patients died of non-cardiac causes. Age at the time of implantation, male gender, the presence of congestive heart failure, coronary pathology, and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: This large study of long-term cardiac pacing for bradycardia in octogenarians and nonagenarians showed a cumulative 5-year survival of ~50%, which compares with that of age- and sex-matched controls. These data suggest a beneficial impact of bradycardia pacing, restoring life expectancy to previous levels. The occurrence of PM complications during long-term follow-up is not infrequent with 18.1% of patients experiencing a PM-related complication during a mean of 5.8 years follow-up. The complication rate was not higher than in younger PM patients.
