Diagnosis and treatment of primary thyroid lymphoma from a surgical perspective: a multi-institutional study.

PURPOSE: Surgery of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) has been mostly limited to diagnostic work-up. This study aimed to further study its potential role. METHODS: This was a retrospective study from a multi-institutional registry of PTL patients. Clinical, diagnostic work-up (fine needle aspiration, FNA; core needle biopsy, CoreNB), contribution of surgery (open surgical biopsy, OpenSB; thyroidectomy), histology subtype, and outcome data were evaluated. RESULTS: Some 54 patients were studied. Diagnostic work-up included FNA in 47 patients, CoreNB in 11, and OpenSB in 21. CoreNB yielded the best sensitivity (90.9%). Thyroidectomy was performed in 14 patients with other diagnosis (incidental PTL), in 4 for diagnosis and in 4 for elective treatment of PTL. Incidental PTL was associated with not performed FNA nor CoreNB (OR 52.5; P = 0.008), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) subtype (OR 24.3; P = 0.012), and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (OR 11.1; P = 0.032). Lymphoma-related death (10 cases) mostly occurred within the first year after diagnosis and was associated with diffuse large B-cell (DLBC) subtype (OR 10.3; P = 0.018) and older patients (OR 1.08 for every 1-year increase; P = 0.010). There was a trend towards lower mortality rate in patients receiving thyroidectomy (2/22 versus 8/32, P = 0.172). CONCLUSION: Incidental PTL accounts for most of thyroid surgery cases and are associated with incomplete diagnostic work-up, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and MALT subtype. CoreNB appears to be the best tool for diagnosis. Most of PTL deaths occurred during the first year after diagnosis and mostly related to systemic treatment. Age and DLBC subtype are poor prognostic factors.

Strategy for the management of acute postoperative pain in day surgery centres in Spain. DUCMA 2.0. project.

INTRODUCTION: Adequate treatment of acute postoperative pain is one of the quality requirements in ambulatory surgery and its suboptimal management is associated with delayed discharge, unplanned admissions and late admissions after home discharge. The aim of the present study was to learn about the organizational strategy for the management of postoperative pain in ambulatory surgery units (ASU) in Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicenter study was carried out based on an electronic survey on aspects related to the management of acute postoperative pain in different ASUs in our country. RESULTS: We recruited 133 ASUs of which 85 responded to the questions on the management of postoperative pain. Of the ASUs that responded, 80% had specific protocols for pain management and 37.6% provided preoperative information on the analgesic plan. The assessment of postoperative pain is carried out in 88.2% of the ASUs in the facility and only 56.5% at home. All ASUs use multimodal analgesia protocols; however, 68.2% report the use of opioids for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Home invasive analgesia strategies are minimally used by the surveyed ASUs. CONCLUSIONS: The DUCMA study highlights that the practice of pain treatment in day surgery remains a challenge in our country and is not always in agreement with national guidelines. The results suggest the need to establish strategies to improve clinical practice and homogenize pain management in ambulatory surgery.

[Training of residents in abdominal wall surgery in Spain]. / Consideraciones en torno a la formación del residente en cirugía de pared abdominal en España.

The training of residents in abdominal wall surgery is a fundamental aspect of surgical training, representing globally 20% of its activity. In this paper, we analyze the current state of resident training in this kind of surgery in Spain, taking into account the broad spectrum it covers: general services, specific functional units, ambulatory surgery programs. To do this, based on the specifications of the specialty program, specific data were used from several different sources of direct information and a review of the results obtained by residents in hernia surgery. In general, our residents agree with their training and the recorded results are in line with objectives outlined in the program. However, it would be important to structure their teaching schedules, a rotation period in any specific unit and their involvement in outpatient surgery programs.

[Survival in colorectal adenocarcinoma in Cantabria. A population-based study (1989)]. / Supervivencia del adenocarcinoma colorrectal en Cantabria. Estudio de base poblacionol (1989).

PURPOSE: To analyse a population-based study of postoperative mortality and five-year survival in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma and to compare the results to those of a previous survival study of 1970-1978 period. METHODS: Using the Register of Colorectal Cancer of Cantabria, with a population of 531.654 inhabitants according to the 1989 census, we studied 187 patients with primary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Patients with recurrence after previous excision and who were not residents of Cantabria were excluded. Postoperative mortality included 30-days postoperative period. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used to compare curves of probability. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 7.7%. Overall five-year survival was 42.4%. Specific-cancer survival was 46%. Type of surgical procedure (curative or palliative) and TNM classification showed significant differences (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In Cantabria the five-years survival rate in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma is similar to published data from other population-based studies but the survival rate did not change over the last decade.

[Epidermoid carcinoma on Zenker's diverticulum]. / Carcinoma epidermoide sobre un divertículo de Zenker.

Carcinoma is a rare but recognized complication of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum. We report the case of a 49-year-old man operated for a Zenker's diverticulum with an epidermoid carcinoma arising in the diverticulum. Since carcinoma is an uncommon complication of this pathology, we review the literature and discuss the therapeutic options.

[Stomach volvulus in a female patient with chondrodysplasia punctata]. / Vólvulo gástrico en una paciente con condrodisplasia punctata.

The case of an 11-year-old girl with a history of chondrodysplasia punctata is reported. She presented with a clinical picture of abdominal pain and vomiting. At surgical intervention an organo-axial gastric volvulus was found and a single derotation was performed. Three weeks after discharge the patient presented abdominal distension and vomiting. In a plain abdominal X-ray film a gastric dilation was appreciated and a new volvulus was detected by means of a contrast radiogram. The diagnosis was confirmed at surgery and a gastropexy was performed without volvulus relapse.

[Evaluation of a nosocomial infection surveillance program]. / Validación de un programa de vigilancia de infecciones nosocomiales.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the nosocomial infections surveillance system, establish its impact in morbi-mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surveillance of every single patient admitted during a one month period was done by one of us (DMG). Each possible case was discussed with two other hospital epidemiologists (SPLR, MSRF). This intensive surveillance was compared against the routinely surveillance performed by the nurses. We included all hospitalized patients between 11th July and 12th of August according to CDC (Atlanta, GA) nosocomial infections definitions. Patients were followed everyday and information about age, gender, underlying diagnosis, microorganisms responsible for nosocomial infections, hospital length of stay and mortality. RESULTS: During the study period 429 were admitted, 45 developed a nosocomial infection (cases) and 384 did not (controls). The incidence of nosocomial infections was 10.48 cases/100 discharges. The sensitivity and specificity of the surveillance system was 95.3 and 98.7%, respectively. Mortality in infected was 11.11% and in non infected was 2.4%. The average length of stay was 20 and 11 days for cases and non infected respectively (p < 0.01). Urinary tract infections were the most common NI (42%), secondary bacteremia (14 < or = %), pneumonia (11.11%) and deep surgical site infection (9.25%). The surgical wound infection rates were: 1.3%, 1.9% and 1.9% for clean, clean-contaminated and contaminated wounds. Patients with rapidly fatal diseases had an increased frequency of infections. The microorganisms most commonly isolated were Escherichia coli (28%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.11%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.6%). The level of antibiotic resistance was in average of 43% for those antibiotics tested. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of the surveillance system was excellent. Patients with nosocomial infections had an increased length of stay and a higher mortality compared to those without NI. The validation of the surveillance system allows the production of trustable conclusions about nosocomial infections.