The use of TWH catheters in CAPD patients: fourteen-year experience in technique, survival, and complication rates.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the technique of insertion, complication rates, and survival rates of Toronto-Western Hospital (TWH) peritoneal catheters in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 222 TWH catheters were inserted into 203 CAPD patients (113 males and 90 females) with end-stage chronic renal failure during a period of 14 years (1 January 1982 to 31 August 1995). The mean age of the patients was 58.5 years (range 18-86 years). For the first 6 years, the peritoneal cavity approach was performed via a lower midline incision (45 insertions), various other approaches (17 insertions), and, finally, for the last 160 insertions (for approximately 8 years) the transverse paraumbilical incision was exclusively employed. The duration of CAPD ranged between 1 to 151 months (mean time 33.2 months). RESULTS: Regarding early and late complications (namely leakages, obstructions, eviscerations, tunnel infections, herniation, and others), as well as catheter survival, the transverse paraumbilical insertion, compared to other approaches, had the smallest number of complications. Thus, early leakage occurred in 5/222 (2.25%) versus 10/222 (4.5%), obstruction nil versus 2/222 (0.9%), and evisceration nil versus 1/222 (0.45%). In addition, as far as the late complications are concerned: tunnel infections 5/222 (2.22%) versus 13/222 (5.85%), herniations 1/222 (0.45%) versus 16/222 (7.3%), and cuff protrusion nil versus 7/222 (3.1%). Finally, overall peritonitis occurred with a rate of one episode every 21.2 months. Actuarial survival for 1 and 3 years was 75% and 37%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The transverse paraumbilical incision seems to be the most advantageous approach in inserting (by "surgical method") theTWH catheters. We found it to be a safe, simple, versatile procedure, giving good results in all parameters concerned.

Tricuspid stenosis secondary to metastatic melanoma.

Cardiac metastases from malignant melanoma are frequent, usually asymptomatic and occur terminally. When responsible for symptoms, close evaluation of the patient is imperative for correct diagnosis and subsequent therapy. Surgical intervention where indicated in combination with chemotherapy and judicious use of irradiation constitutes optimal therapy.

Endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary and alpha fetoprotein: a case report.

Yolk sac tumors of the ovary are associated with elevations in serum levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Thus, an antigenic marker is provided for evaluating therapeutic results in selected patients. A patient with a pure endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary is presented who underwent serial determinations of AFP. The effectiveness and limitations of serial AFP levels as demonstrated by this case are discussed in addition to the surgical and chemotherapeutic management of patients with yolk sac tumor of the ovary.