Is simple nephrectomy the right nomenclature? - Comparing simple and radical nephrectomy to find the answer.

Introduction: The word "simple" means "easily done" or "presenting no difficulty." Hence, the "Simple Nephrectomy" (SN) operation should be "easy to perform." However, in clinical practice, we have noticed that SN can be equally or more challenging surgery than radical nephrectomy (RN). This study assesses the need to modify the terminology of simple nephrectomy and identify the level of difficulty between SN and RN by comparing various intraoperative and postoperative factors. Methods: Patients undergoing open SN for benign renal disease (Group A) and RN for T1/2 renal tumors (Group B) were included in the study. Two groups were compared for operative time, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, blood transfusion rate, and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 114 patients were analyzed (82 in Group A and 32 in Group B). Mean age of the patients was higher in Group B (41.2 vs 53.6 years, P < 0.01). Mean operative time (136.8 vs 125.5 min, P = 0.08), incidence of postoperative complications (32.9% vs 25%, P = 0.50), length of hospital stay (7.2 vs 6.5 days, P = 0.09), estimated blood loss more than 500 ml (13.4% vs 9.3%, P = 0.75), and requirement of blood transfusion (10.9% vs 6.2%, P = 0.72) were higher in group A. Conclusion: The application of correct terminology is important to understand the subject and to convey the information. Simple nephrectomy is not an appropriate term as it is equally challenging to perform than its radical counterpart.

Bilateral retrograde pyelography leading to anuria.

Retrograde pyelography (RGP) is done to evaluate the collecting system when intravenous contrast studies are contraindicated due to renal insufficiency or prior adverse reactions. We report a patient who developed acute renal shutdown following bilateral RGP in the same sitting done for evaluation of positive malignant cytology of urine. A 65-year-old man on treatment for left stroke and hypertension, with a baseline serum creatinine of 1.9 mg/dl presented with painless haematuria for 2 months. Plain computed tomogram revealed a small papillary growth on the posterior wall of the urinary bladder. Transurethral resection revealed inflammatory atypia. As the patient continued to have haematuria, he was taken up for bilateral ureteric washings for cytology and bilateral RGP. A 5-Fr universal ureteral catheter was used to cannulate the ureters, urine was aspirated for cytology and 6 ml of 76% meglumine diatrizoate (1:2) was injected, and sufficient opacification with no abnormality or pyelosinus/venous or lymphatic reflux was noted. In the immediate postoperative period, he developed anuria and the serum creatinine rose to 3.6 mg/dl on postoperative day 1 and to 7.5 mg/dl on day 5. He needed three sessions of haemodialysis. Ultrasonography showed no hydroureteronephrosis. Urine output improved and his serum creatinine stabilized at the preoperative level of 1.8 mg/dl. The patient is doing well with stable renal function at 12 months. Although RGP is useful, it needs to be done with caution if a bilateral procedure is contemplated. This entity is seldom reported, and routine double-J stenting following unilateral/bilateral RGP also needs evaluation.

Innominate Vein Stenosis in Association with Ipsilateral Hyperdynamic Brachiobasilic Fistula Causing Ipsilateral Limb and Hemifacial Swelling.

A 34-year-old hypertensive woman with a hyperdynamic, left brachiobasilic dialysis fistula presented with a long history of throbbing in her head and swelling of the left side of the face. Tight stenosis of left brachiocephalic vein was found to be causing retrograde flow into the left jugular vein which normalized after dilatation and stenting with resolution of all the symptoms and patient is asymptomatic for 1 year.

Decolonisation of MRSA and its effect on surgical site infections--a study in a tertiary care institute.

BACKGROUND: Two-thirds of surgical site infections (SSI) because of Staphylococcus aureus are caused by Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This study was done to assess the efficacy of topical 2% mupirocin with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate body wash in decolonizing MRSA and its impact in preventing SSI because of MRSA. The various risk factors associated with MRSA carriers and SSI were also studied because of paucity of data in the developing world. METHODS: We did a non-randomised interventional trial in 602 patients undergoing elective general surgical operations. All patients in case (297) group were screened for MRSA and those positive were decolonised with topical 2% mupirocin calcium ointment and daily baths with 2% chlorhexidine antiseptic solution for 5 days. Control (305) group patients underwent surgery without decolonisation. Postoperatively, all patients were followed up for SSI for 30 days. RESULTS: Prevalence of MRSA carriers was 7.5% with decolonisation rate of 95.2%. The SSI incidence was 21.3%. The significant risk factors for SSI were type of anaesthesia (p = 0.002), duration of surgery (p = 0.001) and preoperative hospital stay (p = 0.001). There was a significant association between MRSA carrier positivity at the time of surgery and SSI (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: There was no reduction in rate of SSI or other nosocomial infections in patients undergoing elective general surgical operations following preoperative MRSA decolonisation with 2% mupirocin and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in MRSA carriers. MRSA carrier status was a significant risk factor for SSI but not for other nosocomial infections.

Sporadic bilateral synchronous multicentric papillary renal cell carcinoma masquerading as bilateral multifocal pyelonephritis.

Pyelonephritis is defined as an inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis. The diagnosis is usually clinical. Acute multifocal bacterial nephritis is a rare form of pyelonephritis that is more severe and sepsis is more common. We report a patient who presented with fever and right-sided abdominal pain associated with right flank tenderness, suggesting right acute pyelonephritis. Bilateral multifocal pyelonephritis was diagnosed on ultrasonography, radionuclide renal scintigraphy and computed tomography. However, owing to non-resolution of symptoms, a biopsy was performed, which showed bilateral papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC). PRCC is known to exhibit multicentricity. To our knowledge, a case of bilateral multicentric PRCC masquerading as bilateral multifocal pyelonephritis has not been reported in the English literature. This case highlights the need to be vigilant while treating patients with focal lesions of the kidney as an inflammatory condition lest a malignancy should be missed.

Spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistula with tuberculous duodenal ulceration.

Spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistulas (CDFs) are rare. The most common aetiology is penetrating duodenal ulcers, observed in 80% of cases. Even in areas where acid peptic disease is common, tuberculosis should be considered as a cause, especially in developing countries like India, where tuberculosis is common. The management of CDF due to acid peptic disease is predominantly surgical while healing of tuberculous CDF has been reported with antitubercular treatment. A preoperative diagnosis of tuberculous CDF by endoscopic biopsy from the duodenal ulcer or image guided fine needle aspiration if abdominal lymph nodes are present can eliminate the need for surgery and achieve a cure with antitubercular treatment. The CDF in this case was due to caseation of periduodenal lymph nodes rupturing into the duodenum and the bile duct.

Jejuno-jejunal intussusception secondary to small-bowel lipomatosis: a case report.

Intussusception is usually a disease of children aged between 6 months and 4 years, in which a part of a bowel telescopes into another part of the bowel. We report a case in a 60-year-old man who required resection and anastomosis. Although intussusception is unusual in adults, awareness of the differences in symptoms and causes should be borne in mind when adults present with intestinal obstruction.