Evaluating Multi-User Selection for Exploring Graph Topology on Wall-Displays.

Wall-displays allow multiple users to simultaneously view and analyze large amounts of information, such as the increasingly complex graphs present in domains like biology or social network analysis. We focus on how pairs explore graphs on a touch enabled wall-display using two techniques, both adapted for collaboration: a basic localized selection, and a propagation selection technique that uses the idea of diffusion/transmission from an origin node. We assess in a controlled experiment the impact of selection technique on a shortest path identification task. Pairs consistently divided space even if the task is not spatially divisible, and for the basic selection technique that has a localized visual effect, it led to parallel work that negatively impacted accuracy. The large visual footprint of the propagation technique led to close coordination, improving speed and accuracy for complex graphs only. We then observed the use of propagation on additional graph topology tasks, confirming pair strategies on spatial division and coordination.

Role of Epidural Analgesia within an ERAS Program after Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Studies.

Introduction. Epidural analgesia has been a cornerstone of any ERAS program for open colorectal surgery. With the improvements in anesthetic and analgesic techniques as well as the introduction of the laparoscopy for colorectal resection, the role of epidural analgesia has been questioned. The aim of the review was to assess through a meta-analysis the impact of epidural analgesia compared to other analgesic techniques for colorectal laparoscopic surgery within an ERAS program. Methods. Literature research was performed on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. All randomised clinical trials that reported data on hospital stay, postoperative complications, and readmissions rates within an ERAS program with and without an epidural analgesia after a colorectal laparoscopic resection were included. Results. Five randomised clinical trials were selected and a total of 168 patients submitted to epidural analgesia were compared to 163 patients treated by an alternative analgesic technique. Pooled data show a longer hospital stay in the epidural group with a mean difference of 1.07 (95% CI 0.06-2.08) without any significant differences in postoperative complications and readmissions rates. Conclusion. Epidural analgesia does not seem to offer any additional clinical benefits to patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery within an ERAS program.

[Negative pressure therapy and acute wounds]. / La thérapie par pression negative et les plaies aiguës.

Negative pressure therapy medical techniques constitute a revolution in wound care, notably with acute wounds.The latter, often surgical, are treated as an emergency

Mucormycosis: a rare complication of an amputation.

Mucormycosis is a rare but serious opportunistic fungal infection. Several clinical forms have been described, including cutaneous localization that is frequently associated with soft tissue trauma or burns. We report a case of cutaneous mucormycosis in a diabetic patient with severe occlusive arterial disease. The diagnosis was made early with mold growth on an amputation wound and the presence of nonseptate hyphae on direct microscopic examination, later identified on culture as Lichtheimia ramosa. Aggressive treatment, including the control of underlying diseases, systemic and local amphotericin B, and extensive surgical debridement permitted successful outcomes.

Usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan in the assessment of periprosthetic collections: report of 2 cases with opposite management.

Vascular prosthetic infection is a rare but serious complication of vascular surgery that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. It is associated with high rates of amputation and death. The diagnosis is difficult when faced with a chronic nonspecific clinical presentation. We report 2 cases showing the diagnostic usefulness of positron emission tomography (PET). In 1 case, PET excluded with certainty the septic character of a periprosthetic collection fistulized with the skin by showing a periprosthetic fixation insufficient to diagnose an infection. In the other case, it confirmed the prosthetic infection in association with an evocative clinical picture by revealing a pathologic periprosthetic hyperfixation. PET scan therefore drew aside the diagnosis of prosthetic infection faced with a mild clinical and paraclinical presentation in the first case, and made it possible to pose it with certainty in the second case. This examination made it possible to save valuable time in 1 case and to elucidate the periprosthetic collection in the other case. Therefore, the rule of surgical explantation of any prosthesis with flow or periprosthetic collection is no more univocal.

18F-FDG PET/CT imaging of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule.

An 82-year-old woman was followed up for an uterine cervical adenocarcinoma treated by surgery. A whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study revealed a pathologic fluorodeoxyglucose uptake located in the umbilicus associated to peritoneal carcinomatosis. Biopsy of the umbilical nodule demonstrated an umbilical metastasis from the uterine adenocarcinoma, the so-called "Sister Mary Joseph's nodule."

Thoracoscopic renal denervation for intractable autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease-related pain.

The authors report a case of intractable autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease-related pain associated with normal renal function, treated with renal denervation. Renal denervation was performed via a thoracoscopic approach. The good medium-term result suggests that thoracoscopic sympatho-splanchnicectomy would be an attractive procedure for pain management in autosomal polycystic kidney disease.

[Combined traumatic rupture of the bladder and ileum]. / Ruptures traumatiques vésicale et iléale associées.

Intraperitoneal bladder rupture represents 2% of all abdominal lesions requiring surgical exploration. It has a poor prognosis due to the frequent associated lesions, particularly involving abdominal and retroperitoneal organs. An associated small bowel injury is rarely reported in the literature. The limited intestinal symptoms, the poor sensitivity of emergency imaging and the minor lesions detected at surgical exploration justify a systematic search for ileal lesions in this type of trauma, by an incision providing broad exposure of the entire abdominal cavity.

Videothoracoscopic bleb excision and pleural abrasion for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficiency of videothoracoscopic bleb excision and pleural abrasion for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: From July 1991 to December 1997, 182 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were treated by a single technique at our institution. Seven patients had single-stage bilateral procedures and 11 other patients had staged bilateral procedures. Indications for operation were first episode with prolonged air leak, incomplete lung reexpansion, or job restrictions (n = 59), first ipsilateral recurrence (n = 57), second or third ipsilateral recurrence (n = 34), contralateral recurrence (n = 25), synchronous bilateral pneumothorax (n = 3), hemopneumothorax (n = 3), and tension pneumothorax (n = 1). All patient data were reviewed retrospectively, and 167 patients were available for late follow-up (92%). RESULTS: Mean operative time was 57 +/- 19 minutes. Conversion to thoracotomy was required in 1 patient (0.6%). Mean duration of pleural drainage was 5.8 +/- 1.2 days (range, 4 to 26 days), and mean postoperative stay was 7.7 +/- 1.6 days (range, 6 to 31 days). Postoperative complications occurred in 50 patients (27.4%), the most frequent being prolonged air leak (14.8%), and in-hospital mortality was 0%. After a mean follow-up of 93 +/- 22 months (range, 57 to 134 months; median, 84 months), five ipsilateral recurrences were noted (3%). Three recurrences occurred within 12 months of videothoracoscopy and required reoperation. Two patients had partial pneumothorax recurrence at 39 and 58 months, and were treated conservatively with chest tube insertion and tale slurry. After 1 year, 10.7% of patients complained of chronic chest pain or discomfort, although none was taking pain medication after 3 months. Most patients (89.8%) were satisfied or very satisfied of their operation. All patients had returned to sport activities within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Videothoracoscopic bullectomy and pleural abrasion is a reliable and safe method to treat primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Long-term recurrences occur with an acceptable rate that compares with results after limited thoracotomy. Chronic chest pain or discomfort is unpredictable and may represent a problem in a few patients.