Low pressure gynecological laparoscopy (7mmHg) with AirSeal® System versus a standard insufflation (15mmHg): A pilot study in 60 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate feasibility of performing benign gynecologic pathology low pressure (7mmHg) laparoscopy (LPL) with AirSeal® system and to study benefits in terms of postoperative pain, when compared to a standard insufflation group (15mmHg). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective randomized pilot study, 60 patients had laparoscopy for gynecologic benign pathology: 30 with 7mmHg and AirSeal system, and 30 with 15mmHg standard insufflator. The primary endpoint was incidence of shoulder pain. A postoperative questionnaire was completed by each patient to assess shoulder pain (Numeric Rating Scale [NRS], from 0 to 10) at H4, H8, H24, and consumption of morphinics was notified. During each procedure, anesthesia parameters were collected (peak airway pressure, systolic blood pressure, end tidal CO2). RESULTS: Laparoscopy was performed on 30 patients in AirSeal®-LP group without need to increase pressure above 7mmHg, and no complication was reported. Incidence of shoulder pain was significantly lower in the AirSeal®-LP group (23.3% vs. 73.3%, P<0.001). NRS shoulder pain was significantly lower in AirSeal® LP group at hour 4, 8 and 24. Maximal values of ETCO2, systolic blood pressure, and peak airway pressure were significantly lower in AirSeal®-LP group. CONCLUSION: LP (7mmHg) laparoscopy with AirSeal® platform allows laparoscopic surgery with less postoperative shoulder pain. These results could facilitate the development of ambulatory laparoscopy.

Prediction of axillary lymph node status in male breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether predictive factors of axillary lymph node metastasis in female breast cancer (BC) are similar in male BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1994 to May 2011, we recorded 80 non-metastatic male BC treated at Institut Curie (IC). We analysed the calibration and discrimination performance of two nomograms [IC, Memorian Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)] originally designed to predict axillary lymph node metastases in female BC. RESULTS: About 55% and 24% of the tumours were pT1 and pT4, respectively. Nearly 46% demonstrated axillary lymph node metastasis. About 99% were oestrogen receptor positive and 94% HER2 negative. Lymph node status was the only significant prognostic factor of overall survival (P = 0.012). The area under curve (AUC) of IC and MSKCC nomograms were 0.66 (95% CI 0.54-0.79) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.52-0.76), respectively. The calibration of these two models was inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-variate models designed to predict axillary lymph node metastases for female BC were not effective in our male BC series. Our results may be explained by (i) small sample size (ii) different biological determinants influencing axillary metastasis in male BC compared with female BC.

[Value and role of echo-Doppler in the screening of renovascular hypertension. A prospective study of 144 arteries with reference to angiography]. / Intérêt et place de l'écho-Doppler dans le dépistage des hypertensions réno-vasculaires. Une étude prospective portant sur 144 artères, en référence à l'angiographie.

The purpose of the study is a rigorous validation of different ultrasonic criteria of renal artery stenosis, and the presentation of the performances of duplex sonography in renal artery stenosis screening. Sixty seven patients have been investigated by ultrasonic techniques, and the results of duplex compared with intraarterial or intravenous digital subtraction angiography. Two kinds of ultrasonic investigations have been defined: complete explorations when the renal artery ostium is accessible, incomplete explorations in other cases. The main difficulty preventing the exploration from being complete is obesity: all patient with an overweight of more than 20% of their theoretical weight have an incomplete exploration of at least one of their renal arteries. Furthermore, duplex sonography was not able to demonstrate polar artery in any case. When the exploration is complete, maximum systolic frequency (F max) recorded on the renal artery course, and the systolic frequency ratio of renal and aortic recordings (RAR) are two valuable criteria of significant stenosis (> 50%): mean difference between normal and stenosed arteries for these two variables is statistically significant (p < 0.01). To obtain a good specificity, pathological threshold have been fixed at F max > 3,500 Hz and RRA > 2.5. When the exploration in incomplete, ascending time (asc. T) and resistance index (RI) of doppler recording obtained in the renal hilum are two valuable criteria for severe stenosis (> 80%), or occlusion: the mean between stenosed and non stenosed arteries is statistically different (p < 0.001 and p < 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)