The impact of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery on postoperative renal function.

OBJECTIVES: A number of risk factors have been recognised for postoperative renal dysfunction following on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). There are, however, few studies that have evaluated the potential reno-protective effects of off-pump CABG in the presence of other confounding risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine if off-pump CABG reduces the risk of renal injury. METHODS: Serum creatinine values (preoperatively and day 1, 2 and 4 postoperatively) and other clinical data were prospectively collected on 1580 consecutive patients who underwent first-time CABG from 2002 to 2005. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockcroft and Gault equation. The effect of on-pump vs. off-pump CABG on renal function was analysed, adjusting for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular (LV) function and preoperative creatinine clearance, using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred and forty-five (73%) patients underwent on-pump CABG and 435 (27%) underwent off-pump CABG. The two groups were similar with respect to age, gender and diabetes. Two hundred and seventy-four (17%) patients were females and 274 (17%) patients had diabetes. Multivariate analysis demonstrated significantly lower creatinine clearance postoperatively in patients with diabetes (P<0.001) and advanced age (P<0.001). The on-pump group had significantly lower postoperative creatinine clearance in comparison to the off-pump group (P= 0.01). The effect remained consistent after adjusting for potential risk factors (age, diabetes, gender, LV function and preoperative creatinine clearance) in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Off-pump surgery is associated with a reduction in postoperative renal injury.

Tension hemothorax following abdominal surgery - a rare presentation of congenital diaphragmatic defect.

BACKGROUND: Small congenital diaphragmatic defects are usually occult, but can present as a problem in patients with increased abdominal fluid as unilateral massive hydrothorax. We present a unique case presentation of a small congenital diaphragmatic defect. CASE REPORT: A 79 female immediately postoperatively developed a hydrothorax following low anterior resection for rectal cancer. The hydrothorax turned out to be due to an intrabdominal bleed in a patient with a previously undiagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The respiratory ball value mechanism worked as a pump to move blood from the abdomen to the chest and caused a tension hemothorax. RESULTS: Surgeons should be aware that a post operative hydrothorax could be associated with an intrabdominal complication of recent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A small occult congenital diaphragmatic defect and associated ball value mechanism may provide an unexpected but clinically significant communication between the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

Cost-effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in patients with intractable angina.

AIM: To review the cost of healthcare utilisation by patients suffering from intractable angina, unsuitable for coronary revascularisation, before and after treatment with spinal cord stimulation. METHODS: Data were collected for eight patients treated for intractable angina with spinal cord stimulation at Green Lane Hospital before April 1999. Information on consumption of specified medica resources for the twelve months preceding implantation, the implantation period, and the twelve months following implantation was collected. Where available, data were also collected for the eighteen months preceding and following treatment. RESULTS: In six patients successful permanent stimulation was established; in two it proved technically impossible to implant a stimulator. The six patients with successful stimulation spent fewer days in hospital (p=0.028) and consumed fewer resources (p=0.046) following implantation than in the period before implantation. The two patients for whom spinal cord stimulation was unsuccessful spent more days in hospital and consumed more resources in the twelve months following, than in the twelve months preceding attempted implantation. Extrapolation of data for all eight patients suggests that, on average, the cost of implanting a spinal cord stimulator will be recovered in approximately fifteen months. CONCLUSION: Spinal cord stimulation is a cost-effective treatment for intractable angina pectoris.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for difficult common bile duct stones: initial New Zealand experience.

AIM: Common bile duct (CBD) stones can usually be managed by open surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or radiological intervention. At times, however, these methods are either unsuccessful or inappropriate. We report our initial experience of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for CBD stones that had either been unsuccessfully managed by conventional techniques, or in cases where these techniques were associated with a high level of risk. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of cases receiving ESWL for CBD was undertaken. The aspects reviewed were: indications, outcome and completions from the procedure. RESULTS: ESWL was used in the management of eight patients (three male, five female, age range 24-83, mean 54 years). The indications in five cases were failure of open surgery, ERCP or radiological techniques to clear the duct. In the other three cases, ERCP was unsuccessful and there was significant coincidental medical illness (morbid obesity with diabetes, and severe ischaemic heart disease). CBD clearance was achieved in seven cases. In one unsuccessful case, the duct was cleared after two open procedures. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL can be used to clear CBD stones. It should only be used, however, where prior CBD drainage has been achieved, preferably by endoscopic sphincterotomy. Morbid obesity is a relative contraindication to the use of ESWL. If ESWL fails, a period of time should be allowed to elapse before open surgery because of distortion of soft tissue planes. ESWL can be a useful technique in dealing with some difficult CBD stones.

Intra-abdominal manifestations of Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Gastrointestinal involvement occurs in approximately two thirds of children with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) and usually is manifested by abdominal pain. Abdominal symptoms precede the typical purpuric rash of HSP in 14-36%; the symptoms may mimic an acute surgical abdomen and result in unnecessary laparotomy. Major complications of abdominal involvement develop in 4.6% (range 1.3-13.6%), of which intussusception is by far the most common. The intussusceptum is confined to the small bowel in 58%; its frequent inaccessibility to demonstration by contrast enema means that ultrasonography is the investigation of choice. Ultrasonography complements serial clinical assessment, clarifies the nature of the gastrointestinal involvement and reduces the likelihood of unnecessary surgery. Bowel ischaemia and infarction, intestinal perforation, fistula formation, late ileal stricture, acute appendicitis, massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, pancreatitis, hydrops of the gallbladder and pseudomembranous colitis are seen infrequently. Earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment of intra-abdominal complications has reduced the mortality from 40% to almost zero.

Giant colonic diverticulum: report of four cases and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Giant colonic diverticulum are rare, with 103 reported cases in 95 patients. The experience of any one surgeon is limited. We aimed to retrospectively review our experience and to review the literature on origin, pathology, and management of this rare and unusual problem. METHOD: Cases were identified by review of pathologic database and by computerized audit from three hospitals. RESULTS: Five giant colonic diverticulum were identified in four patients, and the pathology and management were reviewed. CONCLUSION: A definition and classification system of giant colonic diverticulum is suggested. Giant colonic diverticulum should be the universal term to cover all colonic diverticulum larger than 4 cm, and we suggest that there are two types based on histology. Literature review reveals 103 reported cases in 95 patients. Type I (87 percent) is a pseudodiverticulum, perhaps related to conventional diverticular disease, whereas Type II (13 percent) is a true diverticulum, which is probably a type of communicating cystic congenital duplication. These lesions tend to occur in the sigmoid colon (93 percent) and present with complications similar to conventional diverticular disease. In the presence of conventional diverticular disease, consideration should be given to anterior resection, and in the absence, diverticulectomy should be considered.

Colo-colic intussusception in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Intussusception is the commonest surgical complication of Henoch-Sch onlein purpura (HSP), occurring in 1.3%-13.6% of affected children. Colo-colic intussusception is a rare occurrence in HSP, with only three other reported cases. Intussusception in HSP almost always originates in the ileum (90%) or jejunum (7%), and more than one-half of cases (58.4%) are confined to the small bowel. This is in contrast to idiopathic intussusception, where the majority (80%-90%) are ileo-colic and can be diagnosed and reduced by contrast enema.

Congenital caecal cystic duplication presenting with caecal volvulus in an elderly woman.

Congenital caecal cystic duplication of the gastrointestinal tract usually present during infancy or young childhood. We have identified a patient who presented at 91 years of life with a caecal volvulus caused by a large communicating caecal cystic duplication. Review of the literature shows that caecal cystic duplications become symptomatic early when they cause complications, but until this report, volvulus was not a recognised presentation of caecal cystic duplication.