INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid dysfunction leading to symptomatic hypocalcemia is not uncommon following a total thyroidectomy and is often associated with significant patient morbidity and a prolonged hospital stay. The current study aimed at evaluating the comparative predictive role of serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed in 83 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. Laboratory data such as serum calcium, vitamin D level, serum iPTH and serum phosphorus levels before surgery, postoperative calcium, and PTH levels measured after 1 and 6 hours and on the first postoperative day (1POD) were recorded. RESULTS: Among the 83 patients, the mean (SD) age was 45.87 (12.57) years (range, 21-72 years); 70 (84.3%) patients were female. Final pathology was benign for 47 (56.6%) patients and malignant for 36 (43.4%) patients. In total, lymph node dissections were performed in 19 subjects (22.9%). On histological examination of the specimens, the parathyroid gland was found to have been removed inadvertently in 13 (15.7%) cases. In total, 35 (40.9%) patients developed hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that a cut-off value of 15.39 pg/ml for iPTH, with a decline rate of 73% 1 hour after thyroidectomy is a significant predictor of hypocalcemia (area under the curve [AUC], 0.878; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.96, P<0.0001) compared with calcium <8 mg/dl (2 mmol/L) with AUC=0.639; 95% CI, 0.51-0.76); P=0.067). CONCLUSION: The current study showed that the decline rate in iPTH is a more reliable factor for hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy than serum calcium. Patients with a decline rate <73% in iPTH could be discharged at 1POD without supplementation.
INTRODUCTION: Foreign body aspiration is usually a serious condition that is most common among the pediatric population, and rare in adults. In adults, aspiration may be tolerated for a long time. CASE REPORTS: Our first case is a 38-year-old man who presented with a 2-day history of swallowing a foreign body. He was completely asymptomatic. Chest X-ray revealed the presence of 5-cm foreign object in the right main bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed and a knife was removed from the right main bronchus. Second, a 57-year old man with a known case of laryngeal cancer from 15 years previously was admitted for respiratory distress. He had previously undergone a permanent tracheostomy and had received radiotherapy for his cancer. At the first visit, the patient had prominent distress and was transferred to the operating room as an emergency. A tube was seen on chest X-ray. On bronchoscopy, we found the tracheostomy situated in the carina. The cleaved tracheostomy was removed using the grasper, by grasping the cuff line. CONCLUSION: We conclude that foreign body aspiration might be completely asymptomatic, especially in an adult. A good history and imaging findings can help us to diagnose and treat the condition carefully.
BACKGROUND: There are controversies regarding the usefulness of the pyloric drainage methods after esophagectomy as well as differences among various pyloric drainage techniques. Therefore, we compared the outcome of pyloromyotomy, pylorus buginage, and no intervention methods on gastric emptying among patients undergone esophagectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, patients with diagnosed esophageal cancer or any other benign lesions candidate for esophagectomy were selected. They randomized in three groups with three different approaches for gastric pull-up esophageal surgery including esophagectomy with pyloromyotomy, esophagectomy without intervention, and esophagectomy with pylorus buginage. The outcomes of procedures regarding gastric emptying time and delayed gastric emptying were compared. RESULTS: Thirty patients were allocated in three groups. Gastric emptying time was not significantly different in the three groups (P > 0.05). Frequency of delayed gastric emptying, complications and barium leakage were not different in three studied groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gastric emptying time and delayed gastric emptying were not different between common pyloric drainage methods after esophagectomy and esophagectomy without drainage.
BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of silver nitrate (SN) versus tetracycline in pleurodesis among patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). METHODS: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, patients with unilateral MPE candidate for pleurodesis were enrolled. The patients randomly allocated in two groups for receiving 20 mL 0.5% SN or 2.5 g tetracycline diluted in 30 cc normal saline and 0.1% lidocaine, through the chest tube. Patients were followed-up immediately (during 24 h) and 1-month after the procedure for evaluating recurrence of the pleural effusion using chest radiograph. They were clinically evaluated for chest pain and/or dyspnea and fever using a questionnaire that completed by the surgeon. The results were compared with two groups. RESULTS: During this trial, 50 patients with MPE candidate for pleurodesis were selected and randomized into two interventional groups (25 patients in each group). Immediate and late recurrence of pleural effusion after pleurodesis were similar in two groups (P > 0.05). All patients in tetracycline group had fever and chest pain, but in SN group fever and chest pain were reported in 3 (12%) and 12 (48%) of patients, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SN is at least as effective as tetracycline for MPE treatment. In addition, its side effects were lower than tetracycline. Other advantages of SN are its low cost, availability, and safety. For more accurate results, it is recommended to design further trials with larger sample size and with lower doses of both SN and tetracycline.
BACKGROUND: Considering the poor survival rate of patients with esophageal cancers, mainly due to the disease effects and surgical co morbidities, we have aimed to introduce a new method of Transhiatal Esophagectomy (THE) without mediastinal manipulation for lower third esophageal and cardial cancers. It has suggested that using this technique would decrease mentioned complications. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients with esophageal cancer who referred for surgical treatment have enrolled and undergone to new method of THE, without mediastinal manipulation. Pre and post-operative morbidities as well as the duration of procedure, duration of hospital and ICU stay have recorded. All patients have followed up or 4-40 months. RESULTS: In this study 53 patients with mean age of 55.2+/-10.3 years have undergone esophagectomy, and then in 50 of them the new method has performed. Median operative time and volume of blood loss was 120 minutes and 130 ml, respectively. Median duration of hospital and ICU stay was 7 and 1 day, respectively. There were no Pre-operative mortalities, arrhythmia, hemodynamic instability and mediastinal vessels injury. The most common co morbidities have related to our new method were mediastinal pleura injury, anastomotic leaks and anastomotic narrowing with 20%, 16% and 10% reported rate, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings of current study have indicated that transhiatal esophagectomy without mediastinal manipulation, has represented a safe and effective method for treatment of lower third esophageal and cardial cancers due to its potential advantages of decreased blood loss, being a less traumatic procedure, minimal cardiopulmonary complications and low rate of hospital mortality.
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic anastomosis leakage and fistula formation following pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple's procedure) is a common complication. Delay in timely diagnosis and proper management is associated with high morbidity and mortality. To report our experience with management of pancreatic fistula following Whipple's procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, medical records of 90 patients who underwent Whipple's procedure from 2009 to 2013 at our medical center were reviewed for documents about pancreatic anastomosis leakage and fistula formation. RESULTS: There were 15 patients who developed pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis leakage. In 6 patients (3 males and 3 females) the leakage was mild (conservative therapy was administered), but in 9 patients (6 males and 3 females), there was severe leakage. For the latter group, surgical intervention was done (2 cases underwent re-anastomosis and for 7 cases pancreatico-jejunal stump ligation was done along with drainage of the location). CONCLUSION: In severe pancreatic anastomotic leakage, it is better to intervene surgically as soon as possible by debridement of the distal part of the pancreas and ligation of the stump with nonabsorbable suture. Furthermore, debridement of the jejunum should be done, and the stump should be ligated thoroughly along with drainage.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited condition, characterized by the presence of hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyps and mucocutaneous pigmentation. Patients with this syndrome can be associated with other neoplasms such as ovarian neoplasms known as sex-cord tumor with annular tubules that are associated in one third of the cases with this syndrome and other types of malignancies. We report a 42-year-old woman with a history of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and bilateral breast cancer that presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpino-oophorectomy was done and an ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules was incidentally diagnosed. By reviewing literatures and in agreement with previous studies we suggest routine screening for malignancies in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
Anaphylactic reaction is a known complication of cystic hydatid disease, a parasitic infestation caused by the larval/cyst stage of Echinococcus granulosus that usually happens after trauma or during interventions. Nontraumatic leakage of cyst contents into the blood circulation is an uncommon triggering factor for anaphylaxis, which is rarely reported in available literatures. We describe anaphylaxis in a 47-year-old lady who was admitted for evacuation of hydatid cyst of the liver. Unfortunately, she developed signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in the ward while waiting for her operation. However, the condition was controlled immediately, and she was taken to the operating theater for surgery. As she had not sustained any trauma in the ward and operative exploration did not reveal any macroscopic rupture, we assumed that her problem must have been caused by nontraumatic spillage of cyst material into circulation. Although the condition is not common, one should bear in mind the possibility of such diagnosis in all patients with Eccinococcous infection who develop shock especially in areas where this infestation is endemic.
Anaphylaxis/etiology , Echinococcosis, Hepatic/complications , Echinococcosis, Hepatic/surgery , Echinococcosis, Hepatic/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
