Suction versus slow-pull for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic tumors: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Suction (S) is commonly used to improve cell acquisition during endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Slow-pull (SP) sampling is another technique that might procure good quality specimens with less bloodiness. We aimed to determine if SP improves the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA of pancreatic masses. METHODS: Patients with pancreatic solid masses were randomized to four needle passes with both techniques in an alternate fashion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values were calculated. Cellularity and bloodiness of cytological samples were assessed and compared according to the technique. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of suction vs. SP were 95.2% vs. 92.3%; 100% vs. 100; 95.7% vs. 93%, respectively. As to the association of methods, they were 95.6, 100 and 96%, respectively. Positive predictive values for S and SP were 100%. There was no difference in diagnostic yield between S and SP (p = 0.344). Cellularity of samples obtained with SP and Suction were equivalent in both smear evaluation (p = 0.119) and cell-block (0.980). Bloodiness of SP and suction techniques were similar as well. CONCLUSIONS: S and SP techniques provide equivalent sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Association of methods seems to improve diagnostic yield. Suction does not increase the bloodiness of samples compared to slow-pull.

Rendez-Vous laparoendoscopic after ERCP failure in patient with Billroth II gastrectomy / Laparoscopía por Rendez-Vous luego de falla de CPRE en un paciente con gastectomía Billroth II

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the treatment of choice in patients with choledocholithiasis. However, despite its high success rate, in some cases it is not successful, requiring alternative therapy. Billroth II partial gastrectomy is a condition associated with an important failure rate of ERCP. When endoscopic treatment fails, surgical exploration of the bile duct is the most common approach. However, the surgery is related to a greater complexity of execution and morbimortality. We describe the case of a patient with choledocholithiasis and Billroth II partial gastrectomy, submitted to the combined treatment called rendez-vous laparoendoscopic, after failure of ERCP, which unites in a single stage the endoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis and laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder. We conclude that this therapeutic approach was effective, safe, with low cost and without complications.

La colangiopancreatografía endoscópica retrógrada (CPRE) es el tratamiento de elección en pacientes portadores de coledocolitiasis. Sin embargo, a pesar de su elevada tasa de éxito, en algunos casos no es exitosa, exigiendo terapia alternativa. La gastrectomía parcial con reconstrucción a Billroth II es una condición asociada a la importante tasa de fracaso de la CPRE. Cuando el tratamiento endoscópico falla, la exploración quirúrgica de la vía biliar es un enfoque más común. Sin embargo, la cirugía se relaciona con una mayor complejidad de ejecución y morbimortalidad. Describimos el caso de un paciente con coledocolitiasis y gastrectomía parcial con reconstrucción a Billroth II, sometido al tratamiento combinado denominado rendez-vous laparoendoscópico tras fallo de la CPRE, que une en una sola etapa el tratamiento endoscópico de la coledocolitiasis y la retirada laparoscópica de la vesícula biliar. Llegamos a la conclusión de que este enfoque terapéutico fue eficaz, seguro, de bajo costo y sin complicaciones.

Rendez-Vous laparoendoscopic after ERCP failure in patient with Billroth II gastrectomy.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the treatment of choice in patients with choledocholithiasis. However,despite its high success rate, in some cases it is not successful, requiring alternative therapy. Billroth II partial gastrectomy is a condition associated with an important failure rate of ERCP. When endoscopic treatment fails, surgical exploration of the bile duct is the most common approach. However, the surgery is related to a greater complexity of execution and morbimortality. We describe the case of a patient with choledocholithiasis and Billroth II partial gastrectomy, submitted to the combined treatment called rendez-vous laparoendoscopic, after failure of ERCP, which unites in a single stage the endoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis and laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder. We conclude that this therapeutic approach was effective, safe, with low cost and without complications.

Surgical anatomy of the internal thoracic lymph nodes in fresh human cadavers: basis for sentinel node biopsy.

BACKGROUND: While the optimal management of early breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) involvement mapped in the internal thoracic chain is still debated, biopsy may be performed when surgeons select patients who are most likely to benefit. The aim of this study is to examine anatomical aspects of internal thoracic nodes (ITNs) to orientate SLN biopsy in the parasternal area. METHODS: This study was based on dissections of 29 female cadavers. The parameters analyzed were the number of intercostal spaces (ICSs) containing at least one ITN, mean number of nodes in each ICS, position of the ITNs in relation to the internal thoracic artery (ITA), number of retrocostal spaces (RCSs) containing at least one ITN, and mean number of nodes in each RCS. RESULTS: The ICS that was most likely to have at least one ITN was the third, with 86.2% in the right side and 75.8% in the left side. In the second ICS, the rates were 69.2 and 73.6%, and in the fourth, the rates were 48.1 and 33.3%. In the third ICS, on both sides, the mean number of ITNs was the highest (1.2). A tendency of the nodes to be laterally located in the second ICS and medially located in the downward dissection was observed. Most of the RCSs did not present any nodes. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that most of the second and third ICSs presented at least one ITN, and the mean number of nodes in the third space was greater. There is a tendency to find nodes medial to the artery downwards from the second to the fourth ICS. ITNs are generally located in ICSs, and the majority of RCSs did not contain any nodes.

The rotation of the humeral head does not alter radiographic evaluation of the head-shaft angle.

BACKGROUND: The head-shaft angle is used to plan osteotomies and arthroplasties and to assess the radiographic outcomes of surgical treatment for proximal humerus fractures. There are no published data showing whether different degrees of arm rotation interfere with the evaluation of this angle. METHODS: Eighteen humeri from adult cadavers were used. Radiographs were taken with the specimens initially placed in a true anteroposterior position and then subsequently positioned with internal and external rotations of 10°, 20°, and 30°. All radiographs were evaluated by 3 shoulder and elbow surgeons at 2 different times 3 months apart. The head-shaft angle was measured using a picture archiving and communication system. RESULTS: For the humerus in the neutral position, the head-shaft angle was 137° ± 4°. With the anatomic specimen positioned with increasing external and internal rotations, there was a maximum difference of 2° compared with the value observed in the neutral position, which was not a significant difference (P = .911). Measurements of the head-shaft angle showed a good interobserver correlation coefficient, with a value of 0.788 (0.728-0.839) for all measurements. The intraobserver correlation coefficient ranged from moderate to excellent (0.536-0.938). CONCLUSION: The head-shaft angle did not change significantly with varying degrees of humeral rotation. The interobserver correlation coefficient showed good reliability, and the intraobserver correlation was moderate to excellent.

Contribuição ao estudo das variações anatômicas do canal do hipoglosso / Contribution to the study of anatomical hypoglossal canal variations

O canal do hipoglosso é considerado homólogo de um canal intervertebral ou como um complexo de canais intervertebrais. Assim, quando ele se apresenta triplo, os três canais equivalem a três forames invertebrais rudimentares. A quadruplicidade levaria a supor que o nervo hipoglosso está constituído por mais de três nervos segmentares. A duplicidade do canal tem sido constatada por alguns autores, e verificada com maior freqüência em determinadas raças. No presente trabalho foram examinados 492 crânios humanos secos agrupados segundo o sexo e a cor (brancos e não brancos) onde se verificou a presença da duplicidade do canal do hipoglosso em 97 (19,7 por cento) casos. Forames divididos em três ou quatro aberturas não foram encontrados. O tratamento estatístico empregado permitiu concluir que para a amostra estudada não existem diferenças significativas para as variáveis: cor X tipo de canal, sexo X tipo de canal, cor X lado, e sexo X lado. A triplicidade e a quadruplicidade não foram observadas