Penetrating injuries to the neck: a safe, selective approach to management.

The most appropriate management of patients with penetrating injuries to the neck remains a controversial issue. In order to determine the safety and efficacy of a selective approach to the management of such patients, a retrospective review of our experience with penetrating injuries to the neck at Northwestern Memorial Hospital over the past 5 years since the designation as a Level I trauma center was undertaken. A total of 30 patients fulfilled entry criteria. Twelve patients underwent immediate operative exploration based upon clinical indications present at admission. Seventeen patients underwent further diagnostic evaluation, including angiography in 17 and contrast esophagography in eight. Endoscopy was used infrequently. The mortality rate was 13.3 per cent, there were two negative cervical explorations, and there were no missed injuries. The results support the application of a selective approach to the operative management of penetrating injuries to the neck.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. A preliminary experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. DESIGN: Nonrandomized trial. SETTING: Veterans Affairs hospital and a large university hospital. PATIENTS: The study included 38 patients (36 male and two female) who had an acceptable risk for general anesthesia, presented electively, and gave informed consent; patients were excluded for whom general anesthesia had a high risk or who had incarcerated or strangulated hernias. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair was performed with general anesthesia through bilateral, lower-abdominal, 12-mm lateral rectus sheath ports with an umbilical 30 degrees viewing laparoscope. After the peritoneum was incised and flaps were raised, an onlay patch of polypropylene mesh, secured with staples, covered both indirect and direct hernia regions in each patient. Small hernia sacs were usually reduced or excised. RESULTS: From December 1991 through October 1992, 40 inguinal hernias were repaired; two patients had bilateral hernias. There were 22 indirect and 17 direct inguinal hernias and one femoral hernia. Nine of the hernias repaired were recurrent, and five were sliding hernias. Complications occurred in nine patients, but there were no recurrences during a median follow-up of 26 weeks. All but one patient resumed preoperative activities by 7 days after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is an effective operation with low morbidity. Long-term follow-up is needed to determine the durability of the repair.

Treatment of peripancreatic fluid collections in patients with complicated acute pancreatitis.

We reviewed an experience with treatment of peripancreatic fluid collections in patients with complicated acute pancreatitis to identify clinical and computed tomography (CT) parameters that are helpful in the selection of patients for treatment and to assess treatment outcome. The extent of CT abnormalities determined a CT severity score (mild = 1, severe = 4). From 1985 to 1990, 650 patients were hospitalized with acute pancreatitis; a peripancreatic fluid collection was found in 36 patients (5.5 percent). Ten of 11 patients with successful outcome after no invasive treatment (group 1) had a low CT severity score of 1 or 2; mean serum albumin was 4.0 gram percent. Of 25 patients who had some form of drainage, 12 had a high CT severity score of 3 or 4 (p < 0.05) and a mean serum albumin of 3.4 grams percent (p < 0.05). Nine patients had only operative drainage (group 2) and 16 had CT-directed percutaneous catheter drainage (group 3). In group 3, percutaneous catheter drainage successfully drained the fluid collection in six patients, while ten patients needed an operation, in addition to percutaneous drainage, to effectively débride and drain the necrotizing pancreatic problem. As a result of the current review, we propose an algorithm for treatment of these patients.

Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple.

Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple is a distinct, benign clinical entity. It is similar histologically to a syringoma, a benign tumor originating in the ducts of the dermal sweat glands. When located in the nipple, this lesion has been mistaken for nipple duct adenoma or tubular carcinoma. Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple is locally infiltrating but does not metastasize. Appropriate local management depends on an accurate diagnosis. Following is a case report, review of the literature, and therapeutic options for infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple.

Bilateral breast cancer.

The magnitude of the clinical problem of bilateral occurrence of breast cancer is controversial. In order to evaluate clinical and pathologic factors associated with increased risk for metachronous, contralateral breast cancer, we reviewed the records of 187 patients undergoing operative treatment for primary breast cancer by the same surgeon at a single institution. Variables analyzed included age, race, history of tuberculosis or cancer at other sites, family history of breast cancer or cancer at other sites, prior use of estrogens, tobacco, and alcohol, marital status, parity, age at first pregnancy, tumor size and location, histologic diagnosis, degree of cellular differentiation and involvement of axillary lymph nodes. The incidence of metachronous, contralateral breast cancer was 11.8 per cent. The only factor with a statistically significant association with bilateral cancer was histologic diagnosis characterized by multicentricity. Life table survival analysis revealed that the five-year survival following treatment for metachronous, contralateral cancer was 59 per cent. We conclude that bilateral breast cancer is a significant clinical problem, that histology characterized by multicentricity is associated with a higher incidence of bilateral breast cancer, and that favorable survival justifies an aggressive approach.

Operative timing and patient survival following distal splenorenal shunt.

The importance of "operative timing" in cirrhotic patients with variceal hemorrhage is often underemphasized. To evaluate the effects of immediate versus delayed selective portasystemic decompression on hepatic function, operative mortality, and long-term patient survival, we reviewed the records of 77 patients who underwent distal splenorenal shunts (DSRS) over a 14-year period. A hepatic risk status score was calculated at the time of the index bleed (HRS1) or presentation and again just prior to operation (HRS2). Variables analyzed included age, sex, prior bleeding episodes, time from index bleed to operation, transfusion requirements, and etiology of cirrhosis. Operative mortality rates for immediate versus delayed DSRS were 46.2 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. HRS improved significantly in elective DSRS patients from 1.46 to 1.30. Predictors of HRS2 included HRS1 and time in days from the index bleed to operation. The most important predictor of early survival for all patients after elective DSRS was the HRS2; however, for patients who underwent elective DSRS and survived, HRS1 was a better predictor of length of survival than HRS2. No other variable analyzed accurately predicted survival. We conclude that HRS can be expected to improve with supportive inhospital therapy; improved HRS at the time of operation is associated with decreased operative mortality; and the extent of liver disease as determined by HRS1 appears to be the chief determinant of long-term patient survival.

Covert splenic abscess: a continuing challenge.

Although splenic abscess is a rare cause of intra-abdominal sepsis, the mortality rate remains high especially in patients with silent or covert lesions. The clinical presentation and course of five patients with overt splenic abscess and seven patients with covert splenic abscess seen during a thirty year period were analyzed. Average age of patients with overt lesions was 44.5 years. Direct extension from a contiguous source, hematogenous spread from a distant site (metastatic) and trauma comprised the known etiologies. Clinical features of localized left upper quadrant sepsis were commonly present but only one patient exhibited multiple organ failure. The clinical diagnosis was established preoperatively in four patients (80%) and all underwent splenectomy without mortality. All resected spleens contained solitary abscesses. In contrast, patients with covert lesions tended to be older (average age 56.1 years), uniformly exhibited multiple organ failure and rarely demonstrated local clinical findings of left upper quadrant sepsis. Trauma was a less common etiology than metastatic infection and direct extension. Four patients died without operation. Three patients underwent exploration for unrelated reasons, but the diagnosis of splenic abscess was made intraoperatively in only one patient. Mortality among patients with covert lesions was 86%. Multiple splenic abscesses were demonstrated in all patients with covert lesions. Splenic abscess presents as a spectrum of clinical disease. Solitary lesions can be readily diagnosed and treated by splenectomy. Multiple abscesses are usually covert, associated with multiple organ failure and highly lethal. The role of splenectomy in patients with covert lesions remains unknown.

Early variceal rebleeding after successful distal splenorenal shunt.

Of 77 patients with repeated variceal hemorrhage who underwent distal splenorenal shunt, five (6.5%) developed rebleeding despite a patent splenorenal anastomosis. Three of the five patients died. Early variceal rebleeding usually indicates shunt thrombosis but may occur with a patent anastomosis. Anatomic or functional left renal vein and/or splenic vein hypertension producing incomplete variceal decompression is generally the cause. Ineffective separation of the main portal vein from the gastrosplenic venous plexus may coexist and further intensify variceal congestion. Urgent angiographic studies and direct shunt catheterization with measurement of splenic vein, left renal vein, and inferior vena cava pressures should be performed to plan appropriate therapy. A significant gradient between the splenic and renal veins is evidence of an unsatisfactory anastomosis and should be managed by balloon angioplasty or reoperation. High splenic and left renal vein pressures with a gradient of more than 10 mm Hg between the renal vein and the inferior vena cava indicate renal vein hypertension. Initial therapy should include serial injection sclerotherapy, as renal vein hypertension will usually resolve over time as additional collaterals develop. However, persistent or recurrent variceal hemorrhage may require total portal decompression to bypass the restrictive left renal vein segment.