Laparoscopic diaphragm rupture repair.

Diaphragm rupture is an infrequently encountered but well-documented injury in the multiply injured patient. Only a few cases in which minimally invasive techniques were used for repair have been reported thus far. Herein we describe the repair of a diaphragm rupture in a 36-year-old man who was injured in a motor vehicle accident. In a 10-year review of the literature, we were able to locate seven journal articles reporting 10 patients. We conclude that in appropriate stable patients with diaphragm rupture, minimally invasive techniques offer a reasonable alternative to open laparotomy or thoracotomy.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in a community hospital setting.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 15 years, many large university hospitals have reported their experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). The purposes of this study are to evaluate the safety of PDT in a non-university hospital setting and to compare our results with those published in the literature. METHODS: The study was done by retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Over a 6-year period, 300 PDTs were done in two community hospitals in Tyler, Texas. There was one death and 12 complications. Comparison of our results and those reported in five recently published articles in the literature showed no significant difference in mortality rate, pneumothorax, bleeding, paratracheal placement, dislodgement, or cellulitis. There was a trend toward a significantly lower incidence of paratracheal placement using bronchoscopic guidance. CONCLUSION: Bedside PDT with bronchoscopic guidance can be safely done in a community hospital setting.

The high morbidity of blunt cerebrovascular injury in an unscreened population: more evidence of the need for mandatory screening protocols.

BACKGROUND: Blunt cerebrovascular injuries are rare injuries causing substantial morbidity and mortality. The appropriate screening methods and treatment options for these injuries are controversial. We examined our experience with these injuries at a community Level I Trauma center over a 51 month period. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review and analysis was done of all patients with the diagnosis of a blunt cerebrovascular injury during this period. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had blunt carotid injury (0.40%) and three had blunt vertebral injury (0.09%) out of 3,480 total blunt admissions. The overall incidence of blunt cerebrovascular injury was 0.49%. The most common associated injuries were to the head (59%) and chest (47%) regions. The overall mortality rate was 59% (10 of 17), with death occurring in 8 of 14 (57%) blunt carotid injury patients and 2 of 3 (67%) blunt vertebral injury patients. Eight of ten (80%) deaths were directly attributable to the blunt cerebrovascular injury. Median time until diagnosis was 12.5 h (range 1-336 h) for the entire group and 19.5 h for nonsurvivors. Diagnosis was delayed > 24h in 7 patients and > 48h in 5 patients. All five patients whose diagnoses were delayed > 48 h developed complications, and four (80%) of these patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt cerebrovascular injury is uncommon, but lethal; particularly when the diagnosis is delayed. Aggressive screening protocols based on mechanism of injury, associated injuries, and physical findings are justified to minimize morbidity and mortality. Head and chest injuries may serve as markers for blunt cerebrovascular injury. Most deaths are directly attributable to the blunt cerebrovascular injury and not to associated injuries.

A potentially expanded role for enoxaparin in preventing venous thromboembolism in high risk blunt trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent and potentially life-threatening complication after trauma. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of enoxaparin in preventing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after injury in patients who are at high risk for developing VTE. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective single-cohort observational study was initiated for seriously injured blunt trauma patients admitted to a Level I trauma center during a 7-month period. Patients were eligible for the study if time hospitalized was > or = 72 hours, Injury Severity Score (ISS) was > or = 9, enoxaparin was started within 24 hours after admission, and one or more of the following high risk criteria were met: age > 50 years, ISS > or = 16, presence of a femoral vein catheter, Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) > or = 3 for any body region, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Score < or = 8, presence of major pelvic, femur, or tibia fracture, and presence of direct blunt mechanism venous injury. Patients with closed head injuries and nonoperatively treated solid abdominal organ injuries were also potential participants. The primary outcomes measured were thromboembolic events--either a documented lower extremity DVT by duplex color-flow doppler ultrasonography or a PE documented by rapid infusion CT pulmonary angiography or conventional pulmonary angiography. RESULTS: There were 118 patients enrolled in the study. Two patients (2%) developed DVT, one of which was proximal to the calf (95% confidence interval, 0% to 6%). Two of 12 patients (17%) with splenic injuries who received enoxaparin failed initial nonoperative management. There were no other bleeding complications, and no clinical evidence or documented episodes of PE. One patient died from multiple system organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Enoxaparin is a practical and effective method for reducing the incidence of VTE in high risk, seriously injured patients. This study supports further investigation into the safety of enoxaparin prophylaxis in patients with closed head injuries and nonoperatively treated solid abdominal organ injuries.

Incidence of tracheal stenosis and other late complications after percutaneous tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of tracheal stenosis, voice and breathing changes, and stomal complications after percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). METHODS: From December 1992 through June 1999, 420 critically ill patients underwent 422 PDTs. There were 340 (81%) long-term survivors, 100 (29%) of whom were interviewed and offered further evaluation by fiberoptic laryngotracheoscopy (FOL) and tracheal computed tomography (CT). Tracheal stenosis was defined as more than 10% tracheal narrowing on transaxial sections or coronal and sagittal reconstruction views. Forty-eight patients agreed to CT evaluation; 38 patients also underwent FOL. CT and FOL evaluations occurred at 30 +/- 25 (mean +/- standard deviation) months after PDT. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (27%) patients reported voice changes and 2 (2%) reported persistent severe hoarseness. Vocal cord abnormalities occurred in 4/38 (11%) patients, laryngeal granuloma in 1 (3%) patient, focal tracheal mucosal erythema in 2 (5%) patients, and severe tracheomalacia/stenosis in 1 (2.6%) patient. CT identified mild (11-25%) stenosis in 10 (21%) asymptomatic patients, moderate (26-50%) stenosis in 4 (8.3%) patients, 2 who were symptomatic, and severe (>50%) stenosis in 1 (2%) symptomatic patient. Ten patients (10%) reported persistent respiratory problems after tracheal decannulation, but only four agreed to be studied. Two patients had moderate stenosis, and one had severe stenosis. One patient's CT scan was normal. No long-term stomal complications were identified or reported. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective voice changes and tracheal abnormalities are common after endotracheal intubation followed by PDT. Long-term follow-up of critically ill patients identified a 31% rate of more than 10% tracheal stenosis after PDT. Symptomatic stenosis manifested by subjective respiratory symptoms after decannulation was found in 3 of 48 (6%) patients.

The safety of prolonging the use of central venous catheters: a prospective analysis of the effects of using antiseptic-bonded catheters with daily site care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine rates of catheter colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) when antiseptic-bonded central venous catheters (CVCs) and standardized daily site care are used with no predetermined interval for removal. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Two major trauma centers. PATIENTS: All trauma patients admitted to two major trauma centers that received a CVC from May 1996 through May 1998. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Catheters were semiquantitatively cultured to identify bacterial colonization and CRBSI. Monitored variables included total catheter days, anatomical site of catheter insertion, and area in hospital of catheter insertion. CVC tips and intracutaneous segments were semiquantitatively cultured. A total of 460 (92%) of 501 catheters placed in 324 trauma patients were evaluable, representing 95.5% of all catheter days during the study period. Rates of catheter colonization and CRBSI were 5% (5/1000 catheter days) and 1.5% (1.511000 catheter days), respectively. Subclavian catheters were in place longer than femoral or internal jugular catheters (p < .0001), but the colonization rate was significantly lower (p = .03; relative risk, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.77). No differences in CRBSI rates among anatomical sites or between catheters used < or =14 days and those used >14 days were identified. CONCLUSION: Femoral and internal jugular antiseptic-bonded CVCs develop bacterial colonization earlier than subclavian CVCs. Subclavian antiseptic-bonded CVCs combined with standardized daily site care may be safely used >14 days in trauma patients.

Mechanisms and patterns of injuries related to large animals.

BACKGROUND: Injuries from encounters with large animals represent a significant health risk for rural communities. We evaluated our regional trauma centers' experience with large-animal injuries to determine whether certain mechanisms and patterns of injury predicted either major head/craniofacial or torso (chest/abdomen/pelvis) trauma. METHODS: The hospital courses of 145 patients with injuries related to large animals were reviewed retrospectively to determine patterns of injury, specific injury mechanisms, species-specific injuries, and predictors of multiple body region trauma. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients (55%) were injured by horses, 47 patients (32%) by bulls, 16 patients (11%) by cows, and 3 patients (2%) by wild animal attacks. The predominant species-specific mechanisms of injury were falls (horses), tramplings (bulls), and kicks (cows). Brain/craniofacial injuries were most common from horse-related encounters (32%), whereas bull and cow encounters usually resulted in torso injuries (45% and 56%, respectively). Multiple body region injuries occurred in 32% of patients. Fractures of the upper extremities were more often associated with torso and head/craniofacial injuries (48%) than lower extremity injuries (17%) (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Large animal injuries frequently involve multiple body regions with species-specific mechanisms. Upper extremity injuries are associated with a significantly higher percentage of torso and head/craniofacial injuries, which may have implications for field triage.

Postlaparoscopic small bowel obstruction. Rethinking its management.

BACKGROUND: Patients with early postoperative small bowel obstruction (SBO) are usually managed nonoperatively with nasogastric suction, intravenous fluids, and observation. The majority of early postoperative SBO resolve without an operation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients who had been diagnosed with postlaparoscopic SBO at three Chicago area teaching hospitals. RESULTS: The patients were initially managed nonoperatively for up to 7 days. However, all of them subsequently required an operation. In every case, the postlaparoscopic SBO was caused by the small bowel being incarcerated in a peritoneal defect created either by trocar placement or peritoneal incision for herniorrhaphy. CONCLUSION: In contradistinction to the approach used for early SBO after laparotomy, prompt operative intervention for postlaparoscopic SBO is recommended.

Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy in the geriatric population.

Laparoscopy has brought controversy to herniorrhaphy, particularly in the elderly. We reviewed our experience with this technique in patients older than 65 years at a single teaching institution. Data include demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, operative time, hernia type, type of repair, hospital stay, and complications. A telephone questionnaire was used to assess return to normal activity, recurrence, and reason for choosing the laparoscopic approach. From March 1992 through March 1996, 110 of 328 patients were eligible. Mean age was 73 +/- 5.6 years; 34 patients had bilateral and 20 had recurrent hernias; 73 patients (66.4%) were ASA-2, and 22 (20%) were ASA-3. The extra-abdominal and transabdominal preperitoneal approaches were used in 64 and 46 patients, respectively; mean operative time was 87.9 +/- 34 minutes. The overall complication rate was 15 per cent, with 71 per cent of these being urinary retention. Patients were discharged the same day (59%) and at 1 day (33%). Follow-up was available in 84.5 per cent. Recurrence rate was 9.7 per cent, which was not significantly influenced by complication rate, hernia repair type, or ASA class. Median return to normal activity was 7 days. ASA classification correlated with hospital stay (P = .02), but not with complications, recurrence, or return to normal activities (P = not significant). Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy appears safe in the elderly.

The influence of laparoscopy on lymphocyte subpopulations in the surgical patient.

BACKGROUND: Surgical stress is known to disturb the immune system so that the overall picture is one of generalized immunosuppression proportional to the degree of stress. It has been suggested that minimally invasive procedures, i.e., laparoscopic cholecystectomy, should be accompanied by decreased surgical stress. METHODS: The present study utilized a panel of monoclonal antibodies to identify peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in 11 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These were obtained immediately preoperatively, one day postoperatively, and one week postoperatively. RESULTS: The results demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in T-helper to T-suppressor cell ratios the first day postoperatively compared to the preoperative ratios; the mean decrease was 13% below the preoperative ratios. There was no significant change in the ratios one week postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Even though laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been documented to have less disability and postoperative pain than open cholecystectomy, alterations in immune function, although attenuated, do persist.

Preperitoneal bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy evolution of a technique from conventional to laparoscopic.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous repair of bilateral inguinal hernia remains controversial. METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients underwent a preperitoneal prosthetic repair of bilateral groin hernia; 25 via laparoscopy. ASA classification, Nyhus type, hospitalization, convalescence time, and cost were examined. Mean follow-up was 36 and 12 months for the conventional and laparoscopic group respectively. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were available for long-term follow-up. Average hospital stay, recurrence rate, perioperative urinary retention, transient thigh neuralgia, and return to normal activities were 48 hours, 5%, 9%, 6%, and 22 days as compared to 4 hours, 6%, 20%, 12%, and 9 days for the conventional and laparoscopic group respectively. The cost for laparoscopic repair was $500 greater. CONCLUSIONS: The preperitoneal approach to repair of bilateral hernias demonstrates an acceptable recurrence rate with low long-term morbidity. Experience with conventional preperitoneal technique greatly facilitates transition to laparoscopic repair.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis.

Between January 1991 and December 1992, 220 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and were monitored prospectively. Twenty-seven patients (12.3%) had acute cholecystitis, according to strict clinical and pathologic criteria. Their average age was 60.4 years. The average operative time was 121 min. Two of the 27 patients (7.4%) required conversion to open laparotomy. The postoperative morbidity rate was 11%. The average hospital stay was 1.9 days. This series provides further evidence that laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be used safely and effectively to treat acute cholecystitis when performed by experienced surgeons.

A technique for laparoscopic retraction of the acutely inflamed thick-walled gallbladder.

Utilizing the described technique, we have been able to obtain adequate cephalad retraction of the acutely inflamed, tense, and thick-walled gallbladder with minimal trauma. This has made it possible to more adequately identify key anatomical landmarks and to more safely perform the dissection in this area. We believe that the benefits of a shorter hospital stay, decreased postoperative pain, and earlier return to normal activity that patients realize when having an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis can be made available as well to more patients presenting with acute cholecystitis.

Laparoscopic versus conventional appendectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to prospectively define the impact of laparoscopy on the management of patients with a presumed diagnosis of appendicitis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: While the role of laparoscopy in the management of cholelithiasis is well established, its impact on the management of acute appendicitis needs to be objectively defined and compared to that of conventional management. Several authors have predicted that laparoscopic appendectomy will become the preferred treatment for appendicitis. METHODS: Two groups of consecutive patients with similar clinical characteristics of acute appendicitis were compared. Data on the laparoscopic group were compiled prospectively on standardized forms; data on the conventional group were collected retrospectively. Operative time, hospital stay, analgesia, cost, and return to normal activities were noted. RESULTS: Seventeen consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy were compared to 18 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopy (16 of these 18 had laparoscopic appendectomy). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical characteristics and appendiceal histopathology. The mean operative times were 61 +/- 4.1 minutes and 46 +/- 2.9 minutes for the laparoscopy and conventional groups, respectively (p < 0.01). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic appendectomy group, with 81% of patients being discharged on their first postoperative day (p < 0.001). The laparoscopic appendectomy patients required significantly less narcotic analgesia (p < 0.02). Return to normal activity was not significantly different between the two groups. The average total cost of laparoscopic appendectomy was 30% greater than that of conventional appendectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is a useful adjunct to the management of patients with a presumed clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis.