The effectiveness of conservative management for retropharyngeal abscesses greater than 2 cm.

OBJECTIVES: Conservative management for retropharyngeal abscesses <2 cm is now a first line option. It is unclear if conservative management can be used to manage larger abscesses without increased morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective case series was performed from 2012 to 2015 by the Otolaryngology department of the San Fernando General Hospital involving pediatric patients who presented with retropharyngeal abscesses. All patients were initially treated with antibiotics alone. METHODS: Patients with clinical features and CT scan confirmation of a retropharyngeal abscess were included in the study. Those who improved clinically and biochemically within 48 h continued to be treated conservatively and those who deteriorated had surgical intervention. RESULTS: Sixteen patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most patients were Afro Trinidadian males between the ages of two and five who were also found to be iron deficient. Drooling was a sensitive predictor for the presence of an abscess but did not indicate the need for drainage. Hoarseness was the clinical feature that prompted surgical intervention. Sixty three percent of patients had an abscess >2 cm of which 90% improved within 48 h. One patient required surgical drainage with no increase in morbidity or mortality. CONCLUSION: Conservative management of retropharyngeal abscesses >2 cm can be offered to patients during the first 48 h. If the patient demonstrates clinical and biochemical improvement, antibiotics alone can be continued. If the patient deteriorates, surgical drainage can be subsequently performed with no increase in morbidity and mortality.

The largest and neglected giant phyllodes tumor of the breast-A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Phyllodes tumours are rare fibro-epithelial lesions. The role of the pathologist in the preoperative diagnosis of phyllodes tumours of the breast is critical to appropriate surgical planning. Wide local excision or mastectomy with adequate margin remains the treatment of choice. Local recurrence occurs in approximately 10- 16.1% of patients (Wei et al., 2014) [1] and distant metastases occurs in 6.3-31% of patients with malignant phyllodes tumours (Wei et al. (2014), Chaney et al., 1998) [1,2] but only in 4% of all phyllodes tumours (Salvador et al., 1989) [3]. Emphasis should be given in early diagnosis and intervention to decrease morbidity and mortality.

Patterns of arteriosclerotic lesions of the lower extremity in a West Indian population based on angiographic findings and ethnicity.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine whether ethnic differences show different patterns of arterial disease in the lower limb. METHODS: A prospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients with 160 lower limb arteriograms was performed looking at the pattern of disease with relation to ethnicity in Trinidad and Tobago. RESULTS: There were 53 male and 47 female patients with an age range of 43-90 years (mean: 66 years). Of the 100 patients, 45 were of East Indian descent, 36 of Afro-Caribbean descent, 14 of mixed descent and 5 had other backgrounds. There were 32 smokers and 69 diabetics. The most commonly affected artery in East Indians was the anterior tibial artery (ATA, 70%) followed by the peroneal artery (60%), superficial femoral artery (SFA, 60%), posterior tibial artery (PTA, 57%) and tibioperoneal trunk (TPT, 39%). In Afro-Caribbeans, the most commonly affected artery was the ATA (79%) followed by the PTA (74%), peroneal artery (66%) and TPT (55%). The mixed group showed the PTA (85%) to be most diseased followed by the peroneal artery (75%), ATA (70%), SFA (70%), dorsalis pedis artery (DPA, 60%) and TPT (50%). Overall, the most diseased vessel in all groups was the ATA (73%) followed by the PTA (66%), peroneal artery (64%), SFA (59%), TPT (46%), DPA (38%), popliteal artery (31%) and medial plantar artery (MPA, 29%), with the proximal vessels not being affected severely. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic divisions were only statistically significant (p<0.05) with East Indians showing worse disease in the profunda femoris artery and Afro-Caribbeans showing worse disease in the PTA, DPA and MPA. This suggests that environmental factors may play a significant role in the disease process including smoking and dietary factors rather than purely genetics.

The impact of hereditary colorectal cancer on the Indian population.

INTRODUTION: The incidence of colorectal cancer in India is lower compared to the Western world. In Western countries, most cases of colorectal cancer are sporadic and the hereditary variety accounts for only 10-15% of all cases. The aim of the present review is to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hereditary colorectal cancer in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Medline search was conducted to review the literature published from India regarding colorectal cancer. The keywords used included India, colorectal cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis, and familial adenomatous polyposis. All relevant articles were reviewed and the characteristic features of this disease in Indian population were collated and presented. RESULTS: Literature search revealed eighty two articles pertinent to India, of which only ten articles had relevant information on hereditary cancers. Although the overall incidence of colorectal cancer was low in both genders, there were a high proportion of patients developing colorectal cancer before the age of 45 years. Additionally, there was a higher proportion (10-15%) of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer cases, as confirmed by microsatellite instability. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of colorectal cancer is low in India. There is a tendency to affect a relatively younger age group, and we infer that the incidence of hereditary colorectal cancer is high and is similar to the Western countries.

Penile Carcinoma in Northern Trinidad and Tobago.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current incidence as well as general and ethnic trends of penile carcinoma in northern Trinidad and Tobago. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on all cases of penile carcinoma presenting in north and east Trinidad, as well as Tobago over an eight-year period. RESULTS: There were 19 cases from October 2003 to February 2012 with an age range of 42-96 years, mean of 59 years; peak age of presentation was 41-50 years and the number of cases presenting per year varied from one to four, with an average of three new cases yearly. Of 19 cases, 63% (12) originated from Port-of-Spain General Hospital (POSGH), 26% (5) from Sangre Grande (SGH) and 11% (2) from Tobago (TRH). There were 14 (74%) patients of African descent, three mixed and two of East Indian descent. There were four associated inflammatory lesions, five with ulcers, five verrucous lesions and two (10.5%) with human papillomavirus (HPV). One case presented with metastatic disease to the groin with erosion into the common femoral artery resulting in a blow-out of the vessel. The patient had the vessel oversewn and an extra-anatomic bypass done. He later had an above-knee amputation due to graft infection and failure. CONCLUSION: The incidence of penile carcinoma in north Trinidad and in Tobago is low and has halved in the past two decades. It stands at 0.6 cases per 100 000 males with the peak age group being 41-50 years, and with 95% of cases occurring between 41 and 80 years. There is a statistically significant association with active infection and being Afro-Caribbean. The decreasing incidence may be attributed to better hygiene, a higher rate of circumcision and low HPV rates in our population.

The history of laparoscopic general surgery in the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVE: The first world witnessed a laparoscopic revolution in the 1990s. At the start, laparoscopic surgery was heavily criticized and ridiculed. Despite this, the specialty has blossomed where almost any procedure can be done laparoscopically with the now obvious tremendous benefit to the patients. The objective of this paper is to examine where the Caribbean is placed relative to the rest of the world in terms of laparoscopic surgery and to understand why we are here. DESIGN AND METHODS: The literature written on laparoscopy in the region was reviewed and contributions were taken from key surgeons in three main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica. RESULTS: Though the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Caribbean, in most islands, took place in the early 1990s like the rest of the world, there was relative dormancy for at least a decade in Trinidad and Tobago and even longer in other islands with regards to implementing advanced procedures or increasing case volumes. Reasons for this included lack of funding, lack of operating time in public facilities, lack of information of the public and the medical fraternity but most importantly lack of trained laparoscopic surgeons. This last factor was proven to be the key one in Trinidad and Tobago in 2003, Jamaica 2005 and Barbados 2011/12, when the return of trained personel engineered the transition from basic to advanced laparoscopy CONCLUSION: Despite the delay of approximately 10 years in Trinidad and Tobago and 15 years in other islands, the return of trained surgeons has seen a rapid increase in case variety and volumes in laparoscopy. The wheels of motion of the laparoscopic revolution in the Caribbean have finally begun.

The history of laparoscopic general surgery in the Caribbean / Historia de la cirugía general laparoscópica en el Caribe

OBJECTIVE: The first world witnessed a laparoscopic revolution in the 1990s. At the start, laparoscopic surgery was heavily criticized and ridiculed. Despite this, the specialty has blossomed where almost any procedure can be done laparoscopically with the now obvious tremendous benefit to the patients. The objective of this paper is to examine where the Caribbean is placed relative to the rest of the world in terms of laparoscopic surgery and to understand why we are here. DESIGN AND METHODS: The literature written on laparoscopy in the region was reviewed and contributions were taken from key surgeons in three main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica. RESULTS: Though the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Caribbean, in most islands, took place in the early 1990s like the rest of the world, there was relative dormancy for at least a decade in Trinidad and Tobago and even longer in other islands with regards to implementing advanced procedures or increasing case volumes. Reasons for this included lack of funding, lack of operating time in public facilities, lack of information of the public and the medical fraternity but most importantly lack of trained laparoscopic surgeons. This last factor was proven to be the key one in Trinidad and Tobago in 2003, Jamaica 2005 and Barbados 2011/12, when the return of trained personel engineered the transition from basic to advanced laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: Despite the delay of approximately 10 years in Trinidad and Tobago and 15 years in other islands, the return of trained surgeons has seen a rapid increase in case variety and volumes in laparoscopy. The wheels of motion of the laparoscopic revolution in the Caribbean have finally begun.

OBJETIVO: El primer mundo fue testigo de una revolución laparoscópica en los años 1990. Al comienzo, la cirugía laparoscópica fue muy criticada y ridiculizada. A pesar de ello, la especialidad ha florecido, siendo el caso que ahora casi cualquier procedimiento puede hacerse laparoscópicamente, con evidentes grandes beneficios para los pacientes. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar donde se encuentra el Caribe en relación con el resto del mundo en lo que se refiere a la cirugía laparoscópica, y asimismo el por qué nos hallamos en ese lugar. DISEÑO Y MÉTODOS: Se examinó la literatura sobre laparoscopia escrita en la región, y se tomaron contribuciones de cirujanos claves de tres islas principales, a saber, Trinidad y Tobago, Barbados y Jamaica. RESULTADOS: Aunque las primeras colecistectomías laparoscópicas en la mayoría de las islas del Caribe, tuvieron lugar a principio de los años 1990 como en el resto del mundo, hubo un período de relativa inactividad por espacio de casi una década en Trinidad y Tobago, y aun por más largo tiempo en otras islas, en relación con la implementación de procedimientos avanzados o el aumento del volumen de casos. Las razones para esta relativa inactividad incluyeron la falta de fondos, la falta de tiempo de operación de los centros públicos, la falta de información del público y la fraternidad médica, pero sobre todo la falta de cirujanos entrenados en laparoscopia. Esto ultimo resultó ser el factor clave en Trinidad y Tobago en 2003, Jamaica en 2005 y Barbados en 2011/12, cuando el regreso del personal entrenado hizo técnicamente posible la transición de una laparoscopia básica a una avanzada. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar de la demora de aproximadamente 10 años en Trinidad and Tobago, y de 15 años en las otras islas, el regreso de los cirujanos entrenados ha visto un rápido aumento en la variedad casos y los volúmenes de laparoscopia. El motor de la revolución laparoscópica en el Caribe ha por fin echado a andar.

Extra-adrenal perirenal myelolipoma. A case report and review of literature.

Myelolipomas are rare tumours which are most commonly found in association with the adrenal glands. However, extra-adrenal sites have been described, but limited to case reports. They are characterized by a normal adrenal gland function and absence of haematopoesis which differentiates them from extramedullary haematopoetic tumours. We present a rare case of perirenal extra-adrenal myelolipoma and we review the imaging characteristics and management options for this condition.

Strong linea alba: myth or reality?

The traditional approach of repairing the linea alba, while operating on ventral hernias, is based on the premise that the linea alba is a strong layer and can reinforce the abdominal wall. This deeply entrenched view of most surgeons has resulted in numerous techniques which invariably include the linea alba as a part of the repair. On the contrary, this article proposes a hypothesis that the linea alba is a weak layer and varies widely in individuals with respect to its anatomy. It is especially weak in elderly, obese and multiparous patients in whom ventral hernias are common. The 'white line' - literal translation of 'linea alba' - becomes wide and attenuated in these patients; this 'white area' or 'rus alba' is more susceptible to tissue failure. We termed this the "Sick Linea Alba Complex" (SLAC) and hypothesize that the linea alba should be excluded from rather than included in the repair of ventral hernias in order to minimize recurrence rates.

Severe intestinal pseudo-obstruction following withdrawal from over-the-counter steroid abuse.

Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) is commonly diagnosed in critically ill patients failing to maintain a pressor response and/or with electrolyte abnormalities. We report a case of a 59-year-old man who presented with diverticular bleeding and developed prolonged ileus postoperatively. After observing arthritic joints on examination, further questioning revealed long-term, high-dose steroid use for analgesic effect. Failure to produce an effective cortisol response was due to adrenal suppression from continuous steroid use. Immediate improvement of his ileus was seen after steroid replacement. Unreported self-medication is a frequent problem encountered in developing countries. RAI can be easily missed and requires a high index of suspicion in any patient who fails to respond to conventional treatment or with long-term steroid use.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in gastrointestinal malignancies-where do we stand?

Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are the nodes in direct communication with the primary tumor and are therefore the first group of nodes to be involved in lymphatic metastasis. Though the role of SLN biopsy is well established in cancers of the breast and melanoma, its role in gastrointestinal malignancies is still evolving and controversial. In this paper, the literature is reviewed with respect to the status of SLN biopsy in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Perforated left-sided diverticulitis with faecal peritonitis: is the Hinchey classification the best guide for surgical decision making?

BACKGROUND: Although the Hinchey scoring system has guided surgical decision making for perforated diverticulitis, what constitutes optimal surgical management is controversial. We report our experience of selective primary closure of the perforation without use of a transverse colostomy and the specific circumstances in which this may be safe. METHODS: All cases of perforated diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon with Hinchey grade IV (faecal) peritonitis seen over a 4-year period from one surgical unit were reviewed. RESULTS: Primary closure without a diverting stoma was performed in six of the eight patients studied since the bowel was deemed healthy, and resection and primary end-to-end anastomosis were performed in the other two patients because there was associated scarring and stricture formation distally. In the primary closure patients, the site of the perforation was dissected and closed with attendant omentoplasty and a meticulous peritoneal toilet. In one of these cases, a diverting stoma was later fashioned after the patient developed a short-lived faecal fistula. CONCLUSION: The status of the underlying bowel, not the degree of peritoneal soiling, is the most significant consideration in defining the role of minimally invasive surgical treatment options for perforated diverticulitis. A new classification system that remains to be validated, taking into account the degree of colonic scarring and stricture formation, is proposed as a guide for surgical decision making in patients with perforated left-sided diverticulitis with faecal peritonitis.

A cystic hepatic lesion: when to worry? / La lesión cística del hígado: ¿cuándo preocuparse?

A 16-year old female presented to hospital with abdominal pain. Features on computed tomography raised the possibility of biliary cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma. She underwent a liver resection, and histopathology confirmed a serous biliary cystadenoma. This case is presented to highlight the radiological features of this uncommon pre-malignant condition as well as to summarize a management algorithm for cystic liver lesions.

Una mujer de 16 años de edad acudió al hospital con un dolor abdominal. Las características observadas con tomografía computarizada apuntaban a un cistoadenoma biliar o un cistoadenocarcinoma como diagnósticos diferenciales. La paciente fue sometida a una resección del hígado, y la histopatología confirmó un cistoadenoma biliar seroso. Presentamos este caso para resaltar los rasgos radiológicos de esta condición premaligna rara, así como para resumir un algoritmo de tratamiento para las lesiones císticas de hígado.

A cystic hepatic lesion: when to worry?

A 16-year old female presented to hospital with abdominal pain. Features on computed tomography raised the possibility of biliary cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma. She underwent a liver resection, and histopathology confirmed a serous biliary cystadenoma. This case is presented to highlight the radiological features of this uncommon pre-malignant condition as well as to summarize a management algorithm for cystic liver lesions.