Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for ultrasound normal gallbladders: Should we forego hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scans?

INTRODUCTION: Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA)-radionuclear scans are used to diagnose biliary dyskinesia, the treatment for which is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, the predictive value of the HIDA scan for LC candidacy is debated. CASE: A physical, ultrasound, and blood test for a 53-year-old woman with biliary dyskinesia-like symptoms were normal, contradicting a textbook history. A HIDA-scan was ordered but the results suggested she was not eligible for a LC. The patient insisted on receiving the procedure and gave informed consent to undergo an elective LC. RESULTS: Six-weeks post-surgery, the patient's symptoms had ceased besides one short episode of abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: A LC relieved the patient's symptoms, suggesting that negative HIDA-scans can mislead correct decisions to perform a LC. Surgeons who receive inconclusive HIDA scan results should consult their patients, and when necessary and agreed-upon, take an informed risk together in an attempt to improve the patient's quality of life.

Introduction: La scintigraphie hépatobiliaire avec acide iminodiacétique (HIDA) radionucléaire sert au diagnostic de dyskinésie biliaire, qui est traitée par cholécystectomie par laparoscopie. La valeur prédictive de l'HIDA pour identifier les candidats à la cholécystectomie par laparoscopie fait cependant l'objet d'un débat. Cas: L'examen physique, l'échographie et les analyses sanguines d'une femme de 53 ans qui présentait des symptômes évoquant la dyskinésie étaient normaux, ce qui contredisait l'anamnèse modèle. Une scintigraphie HIDA a été réalisée, mais les résultats ont laissé croire que la patiente était inadmissible à la cholécystectomie par laparoscopie. La patiente a insisté pour subir l'intervention et a donné son consentement éclairé pour subir une cholécystectomie par laparoscopie non urgente. Résultats: Six semaines après l'intervention, les symptômes de la patiente étaient disparus, à l'exception d'un épisode de douleur abdominale. Conclusion: La cholécystectomie par laparoscopie a soulagé les symptômes de la patiente, ce qui laisse croire que la scintigraphie HIDA négative peut entraîner des erreurs de décision pour réaliser une cholécystectomie par laparoscopie. Les chirurgiens qui reçoivent des résultats inconcluants à la scintigraphie HIDA doivent consulter leurs patients, et lorsque nécessaire et entendu, prendre ensemble un risque éclairé pour tenter d'améliorer la qualité de vie des patients. Mots-clés: Dyskinésie biliaire, scintigraphie HIDA, cholécystite alithiasique, cholécystite chronique sans lithiases, dysfonctionnement biliaire, vésicules biliaires symptomatiques échographie normale.

Needs of specialists in rural and remote Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Very little literature exists on rural specialists as a unique group and how best to meet their needs. We sought to provide some baseline information on specialists practising in rural and remote Canada to better understand their reasons for working rurally, their workload and how supported they felt, as well as their sources of advice and satisfaction with continuing medical education (CME). METHODS: The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada mailed a survey to specialists working in rural and remote Canada. Specialists were identified based on databases of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the provincial colleges. The survey focused on reason(s) for working in a rural or remote setting, level of support and CME. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 1500 physicians and yielded a 19% response rate. Although 85% of respondents felt supported overall, less than 20% felt supported by the CMA or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). Conversely, most felt supported by immediate colleagues (85%) and their community (78%). Most wished they had access to more training, with close to 90% agreeing that additional training should be available if they had worked for several years in a rural or remote area and a need was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The CMA and the RCPSC may wish to work with rural specialists to foster a more supportive relationship and better meet their needs. Additionally, efforts should be made to provide rural specialists with better access to relevant CME.

Management of infraumbilical vertical scars in DIEP-flaps by crossover anastomosis.

The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP)-flap continues to be the standard treatment in microsurgical breast reconstruction. Reasons for the popularity of the DIEP-flap include the availability of a large amount of tissue for the reconstruction of large breasts, a reliable vascular anatomy and an aesthetically pleasing donor site scar. However, the DIEP-flap is not considered the optimal choice as the donor tissue in all patients. Previous abdominal surgeries with resulting scars may threaten the success of a free DIEP-flap due to compromised vascularity within the flap. We elaborated a technique to increase the safety of breast reconstruction with the DIEP-flap in the presence of an infraumbilical vertical scar. After raising the DIEP-flap in a traditional manner on one side with harvesting of a considerate length of the inferior epigastric vessels, a segment of the superior epigastric vessels is left attached to the main pedicle. This stump of the superior epigastric vessels is now anastomosed under the microscope to a paraumbilical perforator on the contralateral side of the flap for in-flap microvascular augmentation. The above-mentioned technique was applied in five patients who presented with an infraumbilical vertical scar and were reconstructed with a DIEP-flap because of breast cancer. In three of the five patients there was an additional risk factor present such as smoking or diabetes mellitus. In all five patients no major complication due to marginal perfusion of the contralateral side of the flap was encountered. In two patients there was minor breakdown of fatty tissue that was managed conservatively in both cases. In-flap microvascular augmentation of DIEP-flaps is a valuable tool for the plastic surgeon in microvascular breast reconstruction. It permits usage of the lower abdominal tissue even if perfusion is compromised due to midline scarring. We recommend this technique as a safe alternative in patients seeking autologous breast reconstruction in the presence of a midline abdominal scar.