Polyglactin tie added to nonabsorbable polymer locking clips to control artery in laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy: better safe than sorry.

As Teleflex Medical contraindicates the use of Hem-O-Lok clips in laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN), we report the feasibility of a simple surgical artifice that aims to preserve the advantages of lockable clips with increased safety while respecting the manufacturer's legal recommendations. Since January 2009, a polyglactin-0 tie was placed on the renal artery in addition to the two usual Hem-O-Lok clips in LLDN at our institution (n = 10) using a pre-tied loop suture (Endoloop ligature, Ethicon) placed on the artery stump, proximally to the aorta, after kidney removal. This artifice increased operating time of 65 seconds (range, 35-85 seconds) with no modification of warm ischemia time and led to visually decreased aortic pulsation transmitted to the clips. Without evidence of increased safety, we assume that this ruse may protect surgeons from prosecution in cases of clip displacement. It certainly decreases the risk of clip slippage and should be considered as a cheap, easy artifice to reduce the already low-risk of hemorrhage in LLDN.

Surgical treatment of primary locally advanced rectal cancer in Norway.

AIMS: Most reports on locally advanced rectal cancer come from specialized centres, with a selected patient material. The purpose of this study was to examine the results after surgical treatment of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer at a population level. METHODS: National cohort study of 896 patients undergoing surgery for a locally advanced primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum from November 1993 to December 2001. RESULTS: Surgery with resection was undertaken in 724 patients and 172 patients underwent palliative procedures. Of 557 patients treated for cure, a R0 resection was achieved in 342 (61%). In a multivariate analysis, pre-operative radiotherapy was the only factor with a positive association with R0 status (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-6.4). Five-year local recurrence rates were 18% (CI 14-23) for R0 resections and 40% (CI 26-52) for R1 resections. Overall 5-year survival rate was 23%; for the group of patients with a R0 resection the survival rate was 49%. CONCLUSION: The radical resection rate and survival rates in this national study were similar to those reported from specialized centres.

Anastomotic leakage following routine mesorectal excision for rectal cancer in a national cohort of patients.

OBJECTIVE: Mesorectal excision is successfully implemented as the standard surgical technique for rectal cancer resections in Norway. This technique has been associated with higher rates of anastomotic leakage (AL) and the purpose of this study was to examine AL in a large national cohort of patients. METHODS: This was a prospective national cohort study of 1958 patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery with anterior resection in Norway from November 1993 to December 1999. RESULTS: The overall rate of AL was 11.6% (228 of 1958 patients). In a multivariate analysis, the risk of AL was significantly higher in males (odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.2), in patients receiving pre-operative radiotherapy (OR 2.2, CI 1.0-4.7) and in low level (4-6 cm) (OR 3.5, CI 1.6-7.7) and ultra-low level (< or = 3 cm) anastomoses (OR 5.4, CI 2.3-12.9). The presence of a diverting stoma was associated with a 60% reduction in the risk of AL (OR 0.4, CI 0.3-0.7) for anastomoses 6 cm and below. 30-day mortality was significantly higher for the patients with AL (7.0%, CI 3.7-10.3) compared with no AL (2.4%, CI 1.7-3.2) AL had no significant effect on local recurrence rate (log rank P=0.608). CONCLUSION: Low anastomoses should be defunctioned to avoid AL and the associated high perioperative mortality. No effect of AL on local recurrence was found in this large cohort.

Inadvertent perforation during rectal cancer resection in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Inadvertent perforation of the bowel or tumour is a relatively common complication during resection of rectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine intraoperative perforation following the introduction of mesorectal excision as a standard surgical technique in Norway. METHODS: This was a prospective national cohort study of 2873 patients undergoing major resection of rectal carcinoma at 54 Norwegian hospitals from November 1993 to December 1999. RESULTS: The overall perforation rate was 8.1 per cent (234 of 2873 patients). In a multivariate analysis, the risk of perforation was significantly greater in patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection (odds ratio (OR) 5.6 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 3.5 to 8.8)) and in those aged 80 years or more (OR 2.0 (95 per cent c.i. 1.2 to 3.5)). The 5-year local recurrence rate was 28.8 per cent following perforation, compared with 9.9 per cent in patients with no perforation (P<0.001); survival rates were 41.5 and 67.1 per cent respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The risk of intraoperative perforation was significantly greater in patients with rectal cancer undergoing abdominoperineal resection and in those aged 80 years or more. The high local recurrence rates and reduced survival following perforation call for increased attention to avoid this complication.

The effect of gamma-irradiation on drug release from bioerodible microparticles: a quantitative treatment.

The two major objectives of this study were: (i) to monitor the effect of different gamma-irradiation doses (4-33 kGy) on the release kinetics from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based microparticles, and (ii) to analyze the obtained experimental data with a new mathematical model giving insight into the occurring mass transport phenomena. Drug release was found to depend significantly on the applied gamma-irradiation dose. Interestingly, the obtained release profiles were all biphasic: a rapid initial drug release phase ("burst") was followed by a slower, approximately constant drug release phase. Surprisingly, only the initial rapid drug release was accelerated by gamma-irradiation; the subsequent zero-order phase was almost unaffected. Importantly, the new mathematical model which is based on Fick's second law of diffusion and which considers polymer degradation was applicable to all the investigated systems. In addition, the gamma-irradiation dose could be quantitatively related to the resulting drug release rate. In conclusion, diffusion seems to be the dominating release rate controlling mechanism in all cases, with a significant contribution of the polymer degradation process.

[Is quality assurance only an empty phrase?]. / Er kvalitetssikring bare en floskel?

BACKGROUND: Norwegian hospitals and their leaders are required by law to engage in quality assurance. We wanted to study to what extent the heads of hospital departments were actually engaged in such activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaires sent to heads of hospital departments in Norway (n = 657), of whom 567 (86%) responded. RESULTS: Only 23% of those interviewed prior to their appointment had been asked about experience in quality assurance, less than 30% had written instructions for their work, and only about 40% received regular follow-up from the hospital administration. The majority registered complaints and mistakes, and was engaged in teaching quality assurance. 58% of the heads of small departments and 73% of those of large departments reported that quality in general suffered because of the demands for higher clinical productivity. INTERPRETATION: Most heads of hospital departments in Norway are engaged in quality assurance work, but the study indicates that hospital administration attaches little importance to this type of work.

[How much is the workload of surgeons in Scandinavia?]. / Hvor mye opererer kururgene i Norden?

According to figures presented at the Bianniul General Meeting of the Scandinavian Surgical Society, the mean number of operations performed per surgeon at some clinics of different sizes in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden ranged from 90 to 240 in 1996. This corresponds to 2.6 to 8.5 hours actual operating time, though figures are misleading since time spent assisting at operations, or on endoscopies, minor diagnostics and outpatient procedures, and essential pre- and post-operative tasks is not included. This level of operative activity is considered barely sufficient for training surgeons or for maintaining surgical skills. Surgeons could devote more time to surgery if a greater proportion of their non-surgical workload was taken over by other hospital staff, which would also reduce the number of surgeons required.

Gastric banding for morbid obesity: five years follow-up.

This paper reports on a five year follow-up of 174 morbidly obese patients (132 women) with gastric banding performed between 1981 and 1985. Mean preoperative weight was 122.6 +/- 1.4 kg (s.e.m.) (body mass index (BMI) = 41.8 +/- 0.4 kg/m2) and mean overweight was 73.2 +/- 1.6%. After rapid weight loss during the first six months weight levelled off reaching a nadir at 12-18 months. At 12 months mean weight loss was 36.5 +/- 1.2 kg (BMI = 29.1 +/- 0.4 kg/m2). At 60 months BMI had increased to 32.3 +/- 0.6 kg/m2 (P < 0.05 vs. 12 and 24 months). Mean excess weight at 60 months was 33.5 +/- 2.4% with 47.5% of patients maintaining less than 30% overweight. There were no differences in relative weight loss between men and women and no differences between stomal diameter of 12 or 15 mm 60 months after the operation. Early post-operative complications occurred in 25 patients (14.4%), four of whom required reoperation. Three of these re-operations were for perforations, one of which was fatal. Forty-eight patients (28%) had altogether 60 late complications requiring 26 reoperations (14.9%). There has been a total of four deaths (one clearly unrelated, one unknown) in the series. We conclude that gastric banding is a simple and safe gastric restrictive operation that is effective in about 50% of patients weighing between 90-181 kg (BMI 33-69 kg/m2).

Primary treatment of carcinoma of the anus by combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Twenty-four patients with carcinoma of the anus were treated with a combined regimen of external irradiation (50 Gy) and mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil. A relatively large number of patients with locally advanced disease were included. A local complete response rate of 87.5% was obtained. The major acute toxicity was dermatitis/mucositis, necessitating a split course in 14 cases. After treatment four patients had persistent anal incontinence. After an observation period of 40-70 months 14 of the patients were alive without disease. We conclude that the conservative combined radiotherapy/chemotherapy regimen is an effective treatment also of advanced anal carcinoma, with tolerable toxicity and with promising survival results.

[Can surgeons be in charge of an obstetric department?]. / Kan kirurger ha ansvaret for en fødeavdeling?

At Rana sykehus there are neither obstetricians nor pediatricians. The obstetric ward is run by the surgeons. Pregnant women suspected of being at increased risks are transferred to Nordland Sentralsykehus before the expected delivery. The following data were obtained by analyzing 1,009 deliveries. 19.2% of all the deliveries needed emergency assistance by a doctor. Emergency cesarean section was performed in 6.2% of the cases, and vacuum extraction was needed in 3.2%. Elective cesarean section was done in 4.9% of all births. Emergency and elective cesarean section together made up 11.1% of the 1009 deliveries. The cesarean section rates were lower than the average number in Nordland and in the country as a whole. The perinatal death rate was lower than the average rate for the rest of the country (0.49% versus 0.8%). Infants with potential dangerous conditions were transferred for pediatric care at Nordland Sentralsykehus (3.96%). Our conclusion is that general surgeons can be responsible for an obstetric ward, when it is done voluntary, and it is approved by a responsible obstetrician. In our area there is a need for an obstetric ward, and the surgeons here have built a certain expertise in obstetrics. In difficult cases, however, the surgeons always consult the obstetricians and pediatricians at Nordland Sentralsykehus for evaluation of the patients.

Colo-recto-anal intussusception. Case report.

Two cases of colo-recto-anal intussusception are reported, both in old women and with a tumour at the apex of the intussusception. Primary resection of the sigmoid colon with terminal sigmoidostomy was successful in one case. Resection with anastomosis in the other case was followed by anastomotic leakage with peritonitis, requiring revisional closure of the rectum and terminal sigmoidostomy.

Beta-adrenoceptor blockade in the treatment of postoperative adynamic ileus.

Abdominal trauma, such as surgery and peritonitis, leads to inhibition of intestinal motility, partly mediated by alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. To investigate the effect of nonselective beta-blockade on adynamic ileus, propranolol was compared with placebo in the postoperative course after elective colonic surgery in a double-blind randomized study. Ten patients received 4 mg propranolol intravenously twice daily, and ten received 10 mg intravenously twice daily. Nineteen patients received placebo. The time to first passage of stool was 110 +/- 9 h in the placebo group and 82 +/- 11 h in the 4-mg propranolol group. In the 10-mg propranolol group, the time was 79 +/- 8 h. The difference between the placebo-treated group and the propranolol-treated groups was significant (p less than 0.01). The effect of propranolol was most marked in older patients and after surgery on the distal colon. In patients older than 60 years the time to first stool in the placebo group was 127 +/- 13 h (n = 8), compared with 73 +/- 8 h (n = 11) in the propranolol group (p less than 0.01). In patients who had undergone surgery on the distal colon the time to first stool was 125 +/- 13 h (n = 8) in the placebo group and 76 +/- 8 h (n = 11) for propranolol (p less than 0.01). Adverse effects on the respiratory or cardiovascular system were not seen during medication. It is concluded that propranolol shortens the period of adynamic ileus after colonic surgery.

Gastric banding for morbid obesity: early results.

During the years 1981-85, 163 patients were treated with gastric banding for morbid obesity. Mean preoperative body weight (+/- s.e.m.) was 121.3 kg +/- 1.4, and mean overweight was 71.5% +/- 1.6 according to Broca's formula. Twenty-four patients had postoperative complications during the first 30 days, mostly minor. Four required reoperation and one of these died. Seventeen patients had late complications, six persistent vomiting necessitating reoperation, eight incisional hernia and three penetration of gastric wall by band. The weight loss was rapid during the first 6 months, and thereafter levelled off. After 2 years the weight loss was 33.4 kg +/- 2.4, corresponding to a mean weight loss of 27.6 percent +/- 1.9 of preoperative weight. There was no significant difference in weight loss expressed as a percentage of preoperative weight between patients operated with an outlet of 12 mm (45 patients) or 15 mm (118 patients), nor between males (37 patients) or females (126 patients). We conclude that our technique of gastric banding seems to be a relatively safe and reliable surgical treatment for morbid obesity. But our follow-up period has been limited to 2 years or less, and a longer follow-up is necessary before the method can be fully evaluated.

The immediate effect of human renal transplantation on basal and meal-stimulated levels of gastrointestinal hormones.

Elevated serum levels of gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide, and glucagon were found in 10 uraemic patients, whereas gastric inhibitory polypeptide and somatostatin levels were normal. After renal transplantation there was a significant reduction in serum gastrin (median, 5 pmol/l; p = 0.05, n = 9), pancreatic polypeptide (145 pmol/l; p less than 0.01, n = 9), GIP (9.5 pmol/l; p = 0.02, n = 7), and glucagon (92 pg/l; p less than 0.02, n = 9), whereas no alteration was seen in the somatostatin level. Meal stimulation produced consistent increases in serum levels of all hormones, and the response appeared to be unchanged after renal transplantation.