Risk factors for acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after caesarean section: A retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and caesarean section are known to predispose to the development of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), a rare form of functional ileus of the distal large bowel. Pathogenesis of ACPO is likely influenced by pregnancy and childbirth and subsequent changes to hormonal, autonomic and metabolic physiology. Identifying pregnancy risk factors will assist with early identification, as the insidious onset postpartum often leads to delayed diagnosis and bowel ischaemia, perforation and sepsis. AIMS: To establish pregnancy risk factors associated with the development of ACPO after caesarean section. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study included 19 121 women undergoing caesarean between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2016 at a tertiary referral hospital. Twenty-three cases of computerised tomography (CT)-diagnosed ACPO post-caesarean were identified from hospital medical records and imaging databases. Controls were matched for gestational and maternal age within one week of delivery with a ratio of 1:3. RESULTS: The incidence of ACPO was one in 800 caesarean sections. ACPO was significantly more likely to occur in women who had been administered opioid analgesia in labour (odds ratio (OR) 4.67, P = 0.04), and a trend for increased estimated blood loss (OR 1.01, P = 0.01). There was no increased risk associated with emergency or elective caesarean classification, previous abdominal surgery, type of anaesthesia, duration of labour, oxytocin augmentation, intrapartum fever, hypertensive disorders, diabetes in pregnancy, antepartum haemorrhage, multiple gestation, fetal presentation or birthweight. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for developing ACPO post-caesarean include opioid analgesia in labour and a trend for increased blood loss.

Modified Dorsal Approach in the Management of Lisfranc Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Open reduction and internal fixation of Lisfranc injuries has typically used multiple longitudinal incisions or a single transverse incision to approach the tarso-metatarsal joint (TMTJ). The incidence of wound-related complications is considerable. We describe a novel single-incision approach that utilizes subcutaneous windows to the medial TMTJ. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 150 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for Lisfranc injuries, via the modified dorsal approach, at our center between January 2011 and June 2016. Removal of hardware (ROH) was routinely undertaken in 105 patients at a median of 210 days postoperatively. Medical records were reviewed to record patient demographics, mechanism of injury, and operative details. Outpatient notes were reviewed to identify wound-related complications, including delayed wound healing, superficial infection, wound dehiscence, deep infection, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), neuroma, and impaired sensation. Median age was 37 years (range, 19-78 years). Seventy-three percent of patients (110) were male. Most frequent mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle accident (MVA), 39%; motorbike accident (MBA), 19%; and fall, 18%. Sixteen percent (24) of injuries were open. Five patients required soft tissue reconstruction at the primary operation. Median follow-up was 144 (range, 27-306) weeks. RESULTS: Following the primary procedure, 14% of patients experienced wound-related complications including delayed healing (3%), superficial infection (5%), dehiscence (3%), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) (1%), and impaired sensation (1%). MBA injuries were at 15.1 times odds of superficial infection ( P =.01) than were MVA injuries. Following ROH, 13% of patients experienced wound-related complications, including delayed healing (2%), superficial infection (8%), dehiscence (1%), CRPS (2%), and neuroma (1%). Overall, 5 patients returned to surgery for soft tissue reconstruction for wound dehiscence. CONCLUSION: The modified dorsal approach using intervals to the midfoot offers a viable alternative with comparable wound complication rates to existing midfoot approaches. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

18F-FDG-Avid Thyroid Incidentalomas: The Importance of Contextual Interpretation.

18F-FDG-avid thyroid incidentaloma (TI) is seen in approximately 2.5% of patients imaged for staging or response assessment of malignancy and represents thyroid cancer in approximately 35% of cases. Consequently, the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines strongly recommend investigation of all 18F-FDG-avid nodules 1 cm or larger with ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA). This study aimed to assess the overall and thyroid cancer-specific survival in a large cohort of patients with 18F-FDG-avid TI with long-term follow-up to assess the validity of this approach. Methods: Retrospective review of 45,680 PET/CT scans performed at a comprehensive cancer center from January 2007 to January 2015 identified 2,588 18F-FDG PET/CT reports referring to the thyroid. After exclusion of nonavid thyroid nodules, diffuse 18F-FDG uptake, known thyroid cancer, abnormalities adjacent to the thyroid, and repeat studies, 500 patients (1.1%) with TI were identified, of whom 362 had confirmed death or more than 12 mo of clinical follow-up. Variables including age, sex, primary malignancy, overall survival, thyroid cancer-specific survival, FNA, and histopathology were collected until January 2016. Multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis were performed. Results: The 362 analyzed patients (65% female) had a median age of 65 y (range, 19-96 y) and follow-up of 24 mo (range, 1-103 mo). Lymphoid, lung, and colorectal malignancy were the most common staging indications. Median overall survival was 20 mo (interquartile range, 9.5-39 mo). Most of the 180 observed deaths were due to the primary malignancy under investigation (92.2%) or to causes not related to cancer (7.2%); one patient (0.6%) died from incidentally detected medullary thyroid cancer. 18F-FDG avidity in the index malignancy, an advanced stage for that malignancy, and a clinician decision not to investigate 18F-FDG-avid TI were all predictors of mortality, with hazard ratios of 8.5, 3.0, and 3.3, respectively, and 95% confidence intervals of 4.6-15.8, 2.3-3.9, and 2.0-5.0, respectively (P < 0.001). Of 131 patients suitable for cytologic or histopathologic evaluation, 47 (36%) had incidental thyroid cancer (24 papillary, 11 malignant FNA, 5 oncocytic/Hürthle cell, 2 medullary, 1 follicular, and 4 metastases from underlying malignancy). Conclusion: Overall survival with 18F-FDG-avid TI was poor because of the prognosis associated with underlying malignancy, which must be considered before investigation of 18F-FDG-avid TI and certainly before aggressive treatment. Active surveillance should be considered in this group of patients.

Thermo-expandable prostatic stents for bladder outlet obstruction in the frail and elderly population: An underutilized procedure?

Purpose: To report our outcomes with the use of a thermo-expandable metallic intraprostatic stent (Memokath) for patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) secondary to prostatic obstruction, and to assess it is a feasible option for many frail and elderly men unsuitable for surgery. Materials and Methods: We reviewed patients who underwent insertion of a Memokath stent for BOO over 17 years (January 1999 to December 2015) at one regional center over a long follow-up period (median, 7 years). Patients were selected if they had obstructive urinary symptoms or urinary retention with an indwelling catheter in situ, and were ineligible for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) under general or spinal anesthesia. Primary outcomes assessed were the improvement in urinary symptoms and voiding parameters, as well as the ability to void spontaneously if catheterized, along with complications. Results: One hundred forty-four patients who presented with BOO or urinary retention had a Memokath stent inserted. Ninety patients (62.5%) had a successful stent insertion with a significant difference between the median preoperative (550 mL) and postoperative residual volume (80 mL, p<0.0001). Nearly two-thirds of men (64%) returned to unassisted voiding with no increased risk of complications over time. Fifty-four patients (37.5%) experienced stent failure. Main complications requiring stent removal or repositioning were migration, occlusion, refractory urinary retention and irritative voiding symptoms. Conclusions: In elderly and frail men with BOO deemed unsuitable to undergo TURP, prostatic stent is a safe and practical alternative to long-term catheterization.

Pheochromocytoma with Negative Metanephrines: A Rarity and the Significance of Dopamine Secreting Tumors.

We describe a case of a 25-year-old female with a dopamine secreting PPGL diagnosed retrospectively with biochemical analysis. This finding resulted in change in approach to investigation and management, given their important clinical implications. There are important differences in management of dopamine secreting PPGL compared to classical noradrenaline and adrenaline-secreting PPGL. This includes the risk of peri-operative cardiovascular collapse peri-operatively with alpha/beta blockade, risk of malignancy/recurrence, and associated genetic abnormalities.

Lisfranc fracture dislocation: a review of a commonly missed injury of the midfoot.

Musculoskeletal trauma to the foot is a common presentation to EDs. A Lisfranc fracture dislocation involves injury to the bony and soft tissue structures of the tarsometatarsal joint. While it is most commonly seen post high velocity trauma, it can also present post minor trauma. It is also misdiagnosed in approximately 20% of cases. These Lisfranc injuries typically present to EDs with pain particularly with weight bearing, swelling and post a characteristic mechanism of injury. Diagnosis is via clinical examination and radiological investigation-typically plain radiographs and CTs. Once diagnosed, Lisfranc injuries can be classified as stable or unstable. Stable injuries can be immobilised in EDs and discharged home. Unstable injuries require an orthopaedic referral for consideration of surgical fixation.

Laparoscopic or open appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis in pregnancy and evaluation of foetal outcome in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in pregnancy is associated with higher rates of foetal loss when compared to open appendicectomy (OA). However, the influence of gestational age and maternal age, both recognized risk factors for foetal loss, was not assessed. METHOD: This was a multicentre retrospective review of all pregnant patients who underwent appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis from 2000 to 2012 across seven hospitals in Australia. Perioperative data and foetal outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Data on 218 patients from the seven hospitals were included in the analysis. A total of 125 underwent LA and 93 OA. There were seven (5.6%) foetal losses in the LA group, six of which occurred in the first trimester, and none in the OA group. After matching using propensity scores, the estimated risk difference was 5.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4%, 9.8%). First trimester patients were more likely to undergo LA (84%), while those in the third were more likely to undergo OA (85%). Preterm delivery rates (6.8% LA versus 8.6% OA; CI: -12.6%, 5.3%) and hospital length of stay (3.7 days LA versus 4.5 days OA; CI: -1.3, 0.2 days) were similar. CONCLUSION: This is the largest published dataset investigating the outcome after LA versus OA while adjusting for gestational and maternal age. OA appears to be a safer approach for pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis.