Fluid management for laparoscopic colectomy: a prospective, randomized assessment of goal-directed administration of balanced salt solution or hetastarch coupled with an enhanced recovery program.

INTRODUCTION: No consensus exists regarding the optimal fluid (crystalloid or colloid) or strategy (liberal, restricted, or goal directed) for fluid management after colectomy. Prior assessments have used normal saline. This is the first assessment of standard, goal-directed perioperative fluid management with either lactated Ringer's or hetastarch/lactated Ringer's, with use of esophageal Doppler for guidance, in laparoscopic colectomy with an enhanced recovery protocol. METHODS: A double-blinded, prospective, randomized, three-armed study with Institutional Review Board approval was used for patients undergoing laparoscopic segmental colectomy assigned to the standard, goal-directed/lactated Ringer's and goal-directed/hetastarch groups. A standard anesthesia and basal fluid administration protocol was used in addition to the goal-directed strategies guided by esophageal Doppler. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy (22 standard, 21 goal-directed/lactated Ringer's, 21 goal-directed/hetastarch) had similar operative times (standard, 2.3 hours; goal-directed/lactated Ringer's, 2.5 hours; goal-directed/hetastarch, 2.3 hours). The lactated Ringer's group received the greatest amount of total and milliliters per kilogram per hour of operative fluid (standard, 2,850/18; goal-directed/lactated Ringer's, 3,800/23; and goal-directed/hetastarch, 3,300/17; P < 0.05). The hetastarch group had the longest stay (standard, 64.9 hours; goal-directed/lactated Ringer's, 71.8 hours; goal-directed/hetastarch, 75.5 hours; P < 0.05). The standard group received the greatest amount of fluid during hospitalization (standard, 2.5 ml/kg/h; goal-directed/lactated Ringer's, 1.9 ml/kg/h; goal-directed/hetastarch, 2.1 ml/kg/h; P < 0.05). There was one instance of operative mortality in the goal-directed/hetastarch group. CONCLUSIONS: Goal-directed fluid management with a colloid/balanced salt solution offers no advantage and is more costly. However, goal-directed, individualized intraoperative fluid management with crystalloid should be evaluated further as a component of enhanced recovery protocols following colectomy because of reduced overall fluid administration.

Colorectal resection, both open and laparoscopic-assisted, in patients with benign indications is associated with proangiogenic changes in plasma angiopoietin 1 and 2 levels.

INTRODUCTION: Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are increased after surgery and may stimulate tumor growth after cancer resection. Angiopoietin 1 (Ang 1) and Ang 2 are proteins that impact VEGF-related angiogenesis (VRA). Ang 1 stabilizes mature vessels and inhibits VRA, whereas Ang 2 destabilizes vessels and promotes VRA. The ratio of Ang 1 to Ang 2 reflects the net effect; a low ratio promotes VRA. This study's purpose was to determine the impact of open and minimally invasive (MIS) colorectal resection (CR) for benign indications on plasma Ang 1 and 2 levels. METHODS: A total of 30 patients operated by MIS and 26 operated by open procedure were studied. Plasma was obtained preoperatively (PO) and on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 3. Plasma Ang 1 and Ang 2 levels were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in duplicate. Data were compared using Wilcoxon's matched-pair test and the Mann-Whitney U-test (significance p < 0.05). RESULTS: Indications, types of resection, and morbidity for the groups were similar. The mean MIS incision length was 4.7 +/- 1.6 cm while it was 16.8 +/- 7.1 cm for the open group (p = 0.0001). For both groups Ang 2 levels were significantly higher and the Ang 1 to Ang 2 ratio was significantly lower on POD 1 and 3 compared with preoperative results. Ang 1 levels were significantly decreased on POD 1 and 3 in the MIS group but only on POD 1 in the open group. For unclear reasons, preoperative Ang 1 levels and Ang 1 to Ang 2 ratios were significantly different between the groups, which precludes comparison of the postoperative results between groups. CONCLUSION: CR for benign pathology results in higher Ang 2 levels, lower Ang 1 levels, and lower Ang 1 to Ang 2 ratios early after surgery. These alterations are proangiogenic. These results, plus the already noted VEGF increases, suggest that surgery results in proangiogenic plasma protein changes that may stimulate tumor growth early after surgery. The duration of the Ang 1 and 2 changes needs to be determined.

Burr hole cover for ventriculoperitoneal shunts and ventriculostomy: technical note.

In patients who have undergone intracranial procedures, bone gaps or burr holes often result in small but undesirable scalp or skin depressions. The authors designed a burr hole cover for hydrocephalus shunt system or external ventricular drainage, which is shaped to alleviate the deformity of the burr hole by filling the bone defect and allowing the passage of the ventricular catheter. The specifications of this device and its clinical application are described.

Bipolar coagulation in neurosurgery.

Coagulation is an essential part of a surgical procedure, especially in neurosurgery. Beginning in the early years of this century, various techniques have been used to control bleeding at the surgical site. Over the years, these techniques have led to the invention of the bipolar coagulator and its modifications. Prevention of charring and tissue adhesion have been the goals of bipolar coagulator manufacturers all over the world; new techniques and different metallurgical compositions for the forceps have been tried to achieve these results. The NS2000, with its microprocessor-based controlled coagulative sequence, can be a good system for reducing tissue adhesion and charring under desired limits of low output power ranges provided by the system. Comparable results can also be obtained with the Malis CMC III and Synergy Malis systems with irrigation channels. These systems have the additional advantages of providing higher power outputs at lower panel settings and a maximum power output greater than that of NS2000. For neurosurgeons who need the additional option of cutting, the Malis CMC III is the recommended system.

Aneurysm clips: magnetic quantification and magnetic resonance imaging safety. Technical note.

Knowledge of the magnetic properties of cerebral aneurysm clips in patients undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is imperative. The authors quantified in electromagnetic units the magnetic properties of 13 different types of aneurysm clips by using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Their results showed that the magnetic moment of these clips ranged from 0.15 EMU/g to as high as 152.7 EMU/g. Based on these results and tests of the movement of the clips during MR imaging, they conclude that aneurysm clips with a magnetic moment less than 1 EMU/g may be safely used during MR imaging. The quantification of magnetic properties into electromagnetic units by using a vibrating sample magnetometer is a reliable method applicable to any testing field gradient. This method can be used as a standard to measure and label the magnetic properties of aneurysm clips.

Magnetic characteristics of Yasargil aneurysm clips.

BACKGROUND: Metallic bioimplants are subject to great scrutiny in order to ensure that they are totally harmless to patients. Aneurysm clips are no exception to this rule. Considering the number of aneurysm clips used and their potential for injury, they should be evaluated very meticulously. Determining the magnetic characteristics of these clips is an important part of the evaluation process. In this study, a new method for evaluating magnetism is described and the importance of that information is briefly discussed. METHODS: Twenty Yasargil aneurysm clips were analyzed using a vibrating sample magnetometer under 1.5 Tesla. This device is highly sensitive, and is capable of measuring the magnetism of small objects. RESULTS: Our measurements showed magnetism of the aneurysm clips ranged from 0.0334-0.1369 electromagnetic units (emu). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetometer measurements and real life tests under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown that these clips have a very low magnetism and are safe to use in 1.5 Tesla MRI scanners. This study also proves that the vibrating sample magnetometer is a useful device for analyzing the magnetism of aneurysm clips, and their emu values can be used as another industry standard in the production line to increase the safety of these clips.

Magnetic field gradients in the MRI suite and their effects on aneurysm clips.

We studied magnetic field intensity in the magnetic resonance imaging suite at our hospital and its possible effect on several different types of aneurysm clips, including one Heifetz 17-7 PH, six Heifetz Elgiloy, one Mayfield, six Perneczky, fifteen Sugita, one Sundt-Kees Variangle, four Variangle-McFadden and fifteen Yasargil clips. We carefully observed the clips for any translational or rotational movements along the path from the door towards the magnetic resonance imaging gantry. The magnetic field strength was 0.04 kiloGauss at the entrance of the room, with an acute increase of magnetic strength at 310 cm away from the entrance to the room, 90 cm to the entrance of the gantry. The magnetic strength continued to increase at a rate of 1.0-1.5 kiloGauss for every 20 cm up to the entrance to the gantry. No movement was observed in any of the clips at the entrance to the suite except for the Heifetz 17-7 PH clip, which showed small movement in the longitudinal plane of the clip. At the entrance to the gantry, the Heifetz 17-7 PH, Sundt-Kees Variangle, and Mayfield clips were aligned on the walls of the test container perpendicular to the magnetic bore. The, Heifetz Elgiloy, Perneczky, Sugita, Variangle-McFadden, and Yasargil clips showed no movement throughout the path of the stretcher or near the gantry.

Sleep promoting effects of intravenously administered acidic fibroblast growth factor.

The influence of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on sleep was studied in conscious rabbits. An intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection of aFGF induced a significant increase in sleep duration in comparison with animals that received vehicle solution. Somnogenic effects were obtained 30 min following i.v. aFGF administration and lasted about 75 min. Furthermore, the somnogenic effects of aFGF were prevented by pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME. Our findings demonstrate a somnogenic effect of aFGF which requires crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and implicate that nitric oxide sleep pathway may be involved in this biological effect.

Microanatomical basis for the third ventriculostomy.

In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in endoscopic third ventriculostomy as a treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus. Although various techniques have been used to perform this procedure, not enough emphasis has been placed on the microanatomical details of the third ventricle and surrounding cisterns in relation to this procedure. Using a surgical microscope we examined the microsurgical anatomy of the floor of the third ventricle floor and related subarachnoid cisterns in 20 adult brains using the "immersion technique" in conjunction with microsurgical dissection. We believe that the optimal place to fenestrate is the midline of the floor of the third ventricle, behind the infundibular recess and in front of the mammillary bodies, communicating the third ventricle with the anterior interpeduncular cistern, minimizing the risk for vascular lesions. Stereotactic third ventriculostomy is a safe and effective way of re-establishing normal cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics in selected cases of obstructive hydrocephalus. However, in an endoscopic exposure only a small portion of the anatomy can be seen at any one time, and important neurovascular structures may be located adjacent to the endoscope, but outside of the visual range of the lens. A thorough understanding of the microanatomy of the neural and vascular structures surrounding the third ventricle and related cisterns is essential in order to improve surgical results avoiding complications.