Enhancing Safety in Tumescent Liposuction: Managing Sedation-Related Respiratory Issues and Serious Complications Under Deep Sedation with the Propofol-Ketamine Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 4 years, aesthetic surgery, notably liposuction, has substantially increased. Tumescent liposuction, a popular technique, has two variants-true tumescent liposuction (TTL) and semi-tumescent liposuction. While TTL reduces risks, it has limitations. There is no literature reported on semi-tumescent liposuction under deep sedation using the propofol-ketamine protocol, which is proposed as a potentially safe alternative. METHODS: The retrospective analysis covered 8 years and included 3094 patients performed for tumescent liposuction under deep sedation, utilizing the propofol-ketamine protocol. The evaluation of patient safety involved an examination of potential adverse events with a specific focus on respiratory issues related to sedation, including instances of mask ventilation. RESULTS: Among the 3094 cases, no fatalities were recorded. Noteworthy events included 43 mask ventilation instances, primarily occurring in the initial 10 min. Twelve cases experienced surgery cancellation due to various factors, including respiratory issues. Three patients were transferred to upper-level hospitals, while another three required blood transfusions. Vigilant management prevented significant complications, and other adverse events like venous thromboembolism (VTE), fat embolism, severe lidocaine toxicity, and so on were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of 3094 tumescent liposuction cases highlighted the overall safety profile of the propofol-ketamine protocol under deep sedation. The scarcity of severe complications underscores its viability. The study emphasizes the significance of thorough preoperative assessments, careful patient selection, and awareness of potential complications. Prompt interventions, particularly in addressing sedation-related respiratory issues, further contribute to positive outcomes for patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

In vitro CT evaluation of intrahepatic stones: correlation with chemical composition.

OBJECTIVE: To describe in vitro CT features of intrahepatic stones and to correlate CT attenuation with chemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the patients who underwent choledochoscopic intrahepatic stone removal between 1998 and 2001, 54 patients with stones larger than 3 mm were enrolled in this study. In each case, a chemical compositional analysis was performed to determine calcium, cholesterol, total bilirubin, and inorganic phosphorus compositions. The three largest stones obtained from each patient were imaged by CT. CT attenuation numbers were measured in the center images of each stone by drawing free-hand region of interest (ROI). The measured CT attenuation numbers were correlated with their chemical composition. Also, CT attenuation numbers of stones were compared with that of the liver on non-contrast CT (50-70 HU). RESULTS: Stone size ranged from 3.1 to 10.5 mm (mean +/- S.D.: 6.0 +/- 1.4). The CT attenuation numbers (HU) of stones ranged from 36.4 to 410.19 (mean +/- S.D.: 94.6 +/- 49.9). CT numbers of stones were below 70 HU in 11 patients (20.4%), and below 90 HU in 33 patients (59.3%). The chemical analysis data of the stones were as follows: calcium (0.5-6.5 wt.%; mean +/- S.D., 2.6 +/- 1.4), total bilirubin (0.45-24.4 wt.%; 13.1 +/- 6.2), cholesterol (5.4-73.9 wt.%; 29.3 +/- 17.4), phosphorus (0.1-1.2 wt.%; 0.6 +/- 0.3), and non-soluble residue (17.6-85.4 wt.%; 57.0 +/- 22.6). There was a weak but significant correlation between calcium composition and CT attenuation (r = 0.38, P < 0.01) and no significant correlation between other chemical compositions and the CT attenuation (cholesterol, r = 0.01, P > 0.01; total bilirubin, r = 0.05, P > 0.01; phosphorus, r = 0.01, P > 0.01). CONCLUSION: On non-contrast CT, intrahepatic stones would not be hyperattenuating with respect to liver parenchyma in about one fifth of patients. The CT attenuation of stones correlates with calcium and does not correlate with any other chemical composition.

Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas and pancreatic head resection with second-portion duodenectomy for benign lesions, low-grade malignancies, and early carcinoma involving the periampullary region.

HYPOTHESIS: Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas (DPRHP) and pancreas head resection with segmental duodenectomy (PHRSD) can be alternatives to standard pancreaticoduodenectomy for benign periampullary lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients requiring surgery for benign and borderline malignant tumors of the periampullary region. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS: Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas (n = 8) and PHRSD (n = 7) were performed in 15 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of benign and borderline malignant tumors of the periampullary region (ie, 11 pancreas head lesions [2 intraductal papillary mucinous tumors, 4 serous cystadenomas, 2 insulinomas, 1 epidermal cyst, 1 metastatic renal cell carcinoma, 1 nonfunctioning islet cell tumor/parapaillary] and 4 duodenal lesions [3 adenomas and 1 adenocarcinoma]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical factors (operation time and blood loss), postoperative complication, postoperative pancreatic insufficiency (eg, development of diabetes mellitus and steatorrhea or elevated stool elastase values), weight change, and recurrence of disease. RESULTS: No differences were noted in the mean operation time and estimated blood loss between the 2 procedures. Major postoperative complication constituted the following: bile duct stricture (n = 1) in DPRHP and delayed gastric emptying (n = 1) and postoperative bleeding (n = 1) in PHRSD. Newly developed diabetes mellitus occurred in 1 patient. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (steatorrhea) was observed in 1 patient after PHRSD. Patients with early duodenal carcinoma and intraductal papillary mucinous tumors with a borderline malignancy are still alive without evidence of recurrence. There was no hospital or long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas is recommended first for a benign or low-grade, early malignant pancreatic head lesion; PHRSD can be an option for a lesion of the ampullary-parapapillary duodenal area as well as the pancreatic head. Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas can be converted to PHRSD if ischemia of the second portion of the duodenum occurs. We found benign periampullary lesions could be conservatively treated with DPRHP and PHRSD, which could substitute for classic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Changing patterns of gallstone disease in Korea.

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and changing patterns of gallstone disease in Korea over a recent 20-year period. A total of 4020 gallstone patients who had undergone surgery at Seoul National University Hospital during 1981-2000 were analyzed according to periods: period I (1981-1985: 831 cases); period II (1986-1990: 888 cases); period III (1991-1995: 1040 cases); period IV (1996-2000: 1261 cases). The literature from 13 institutes in Korea reporting a total of 13,101 gallstone cases were reviewed to elucidate the nationwide trend. The number of gallstone cases gradually increased. A female predominance was not noted (F/M = 1.17-1.37) as is seen in Western countries. The patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones were older than those with gallbladder (GB) stones or intrahepatic duct (IHD) stones. Over time, the relative proportion of those with a GB stone increased, plateauing (80-85%) during the 1990s; that of patients with CBD stones decreased (34% --> 19%); and that of those with IHD stones remained unchanged (11-15%). Over the entire period, the rural pattern of gallstone formation (low number of GB stones, high numbers of CBD and IHD stones) has become similar to the urban pattern. The body mass index (BMI) of the GB stone group was above average, as were the BMIs of the CBD stone and IHD stone groups. Throughout the literature review, this same changing pattern of the relative proportion of gallstone disease was confirmed. Thus the pattern of gallstone disease in Korea has become similar to that seen in Western countries except for a high prevalence of hepatolithiasis.

Randomized prospective trial of the effect of induced hypergastrinemia on the prevention of pancreatic atrophy after pancreatoduodenectomy in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether gastrin has regenerative effect on the pancreas and in particular whether it prevents the atrophy of the distal pancreas after resection of pancreas in humans. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Although pancreatic regeneration after resection is well documented in animals, atrophy rather than regeneration of the distal remnant pancreas commonly occurs following pancreatoduodenectomy in humans. Of the many factors involving pancreatic regeneration, gastrin has been shown to have trophic effect on the pancreas in an animal model. METHODS: Between March 1999 and May 2000, a randomized prospective study was performed in 56 patients who underwent pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary neoplasms. Patients were allocated to either a lansoprazole group or a control group. The lansoprazole members were given oral lansoprazole (30 mg/d) over 12 weeks postoperatively to induce hypergastrinemia. During the study period, 19 patients were excluded for different reasons; in the end a total of 37 patients (lansoprazole, n = 18; control, n = 19) were eligible for study. The volume of the distal pancreas as determined using thin-sectioned spiral CT data, nutritional status, and endocrine (insulin level, glucose tolerance test) and exocrine function (stool elastase) of the pancreas and serum gastrin levels were measured before surgery and 3 months after surgery. The two groups were clinically comparable. RESULTS: Serum gastrin level was elevated in the lansoprazole group. In this group, the mean volume of the distal pancreas was reduced by 10% after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, whereas severe pancreatic atrophy occurred in the control group. Postoperative insulin and stool elastase levels were higher in the lansoprazole group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first prospective randomized trial of induced hypergastrinemia on the regeneration of the pancreas in humans. It may be possible to use induced hypergastrinemia in the treatment or prevention of pancreatic insufficiency following resection or injury.