Spinal epidural abscess -- a rare complication of inflammatory bowel disease.

Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon but highly morbid illness. While it usually afflicts older, immunocompromised patients, this condition has been reported as a result of intestinal perforation in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease. Two cases of spinal epidural abscess in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are reported: one in a patient with Crohn's disease and one in a patient with ulcerative colitis after restorative proctocolectomy.

Subcutaneous heparin versus low-molecular-weight heparin as thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing colorectal surgery: results of the canadian colorectal DVT prophylaxis trial: a randomized, double-blind trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and safety of low-dose unfractionated heparin and a low-molecular-weight heparin as prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism after colorectal surgery. METHODS: In a multicenter, double-blind trial, patients undergoing resection of part or all of the colon or rectum were randomized to receive, by subcutaneous injection, either calcium heparin 5,000 units every 8 hours or enoxaparin 40 mg once daily (plus two additional saline injections). Deep vein thrombosis was assessed by routine bilateral contrast venography performed between postoperative day 5 and 9, or earlier if clinically suspected. RESULTS: Nine hundred thirty-six randomized patients completed the protocol and had an adequate outcome assessment. The venous thromboembolism rates were the same in both groups. There were no deaths from pulmonary embolism or bleeding complications. Although the proportion of all bleeding events in the enoxaparin group was significantly greater than in the low-dose heparin group, the rates of major bleeding and reoperation for bleeding were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Both heparin 5,000 units subcutaneously every 8 hours and enoxaparin 40 mg subcutaneously once daily provide highly effective and safe prophylaxis for patients undergoing colorectal surgery. However, given the current differences in cost, prophylaxis with low-dose heparin remains the preferred method at present.

Internal sphincterotomy is superior to topical nitroglycerin in the treatment of chronic anal fissure: results of a randomized, controlled trial by the Canadian Colorectal Surgical Trials Group.

PURPOSE: This was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of topical nitroglycerin with internal sphincterotomy in the treatment of chronic anal fissure. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic chronic anal fissures were randomly assigned to 0.25 percent nitroglycerin tid or internal sphincterotomy. Both groups received stool softeners and fiber supplements and were assessed at six weeks and six months. RESULTS: Ninety patients were accrued, but 8 were excluded from the analysis because they refused internal sphincterotomy after randomization (6), the fissure healed before surgery (1), or a fissure was not observed at surgery (1). There were 38 patients in the internal sphincterotomy group (22 males; mean age, 40.3 years) and 44 patients in the nitroglycerin group (15 males; mean age, 38.7 years). At six weeks 34 patients (89.5 percent) in the internal sphincterotomy group compared with 13 patients (29.5 percent) in the nitroglycerin group had complete healing of the fissure (P = 5x10(-8)). Five of the 13 patients in the nitroglycerin group relapsed, whereas none in the internal sphincterotomy group did. At six months fissures in 35 (92.1 percent) patients in the internal sphincterotomy group compared with 12 (27.2 percent) patients in the nitroglycerin group had healed (P = 3x10(-9)). One (2.6 percent) patient in the internal sphincterotomy group required further surgery for a superficial fistula compared with 20 (45.4 percent) patients in the nitroglycerin group who required an internal sphincterotomy (P = 9x10(-6)). Eleven (28.9 percent) patients in the internal sphincterotomy group developed side effects compared with 37 (84 percent) patients in the nitroglycerin group (P<0.0001). Nine (20.5 percent) patients discontinued the nitroglycerin because of headaches (8) or a severe syncopal attack (1). CONCLUSIONS: Internal sphincterotomy is superior to topical nitroglycerin 0.25 percent in the treatment of chronic anal fissure, with a high rate of healing, few side effects, and low risk of early incontinence. Thus, internal sphincterotomy remains the treatment of choice for chronic anal fissure.

Piperacillin versus cefazolin given perioperatively to high-risk patients who undergo open cholecystectomy: a double-blind, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy, microbiologic features and toxicity of prophylactic cefazolin versus prophylactic piperacillin in high-risk patients who undergo open cholecystectomy. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized trial with follow-up for 6 weeks postoperatively. SETTING: An 850-bed community hospital, located in a major Canadian city. Patients admitted to hospital who satisfied published criteria for being at high-risk for infection after open cholecystectomy were entered into the protocol, and those who satisfied the criteria and provided consent were entered into the study. Eighty-one patients were randomly assigned by computer to receive either piperacillin or cefazolin as the prophylactic agent. INTERVENTIONS: Open cholecystectomy. MAIN OUTCOME: Provides detailed information on the organisms found in the biliary tree in patients with acute cholecystitis, assesses the in-vitro activity of cefazolin versus piperacillin against the isolated organisms, expecting that piperacillin would be much more active against isolated anaerobes and gram-negative bacteria. RESULTS: Bactobilia was documented in 42% of patients in the cefazolin group and 29% of patients in the piperacillin group. Piperacillin was active in vitro against 94% of all isolates versus 56% for cefazolin (p < 0.005, McNemar's test). Adverse effects and toxicities in both the piperacillin and cefazolin group were low and were not serious. CONCLUSIONS: Both piperacillin and cefazolin are safe and effective prophylactic antimicrobials for high-risk patients who undergo open cholecystectomy. However, piperacillin had a much wider spectrum of in-vitro activity against the isolated pathogens, especially Enterococcus sp., Enterobacter cloacae and the anaerobes.

Foreign bodies in the rectum.

Although infrequent, rectal foreign bodies present a challenge in management. The authors report on their experience with 29 patients who had rectal foreign bodies. Emergency-department procedures included rectal examination, proctoscopy and abdominal radiography. Soft or low-lying objects having an edge could be grasped and removed safely in the emergency department, but grasping hard objects was potentially traumatic and occasionally resulted in upward migration toward the sigmoid. Operating-room procedures included anal dilatation under general anesthesia, transrectal manipulation, bimanual palpation if necessary and withdrawal of the foreign body. In two cases, rectal mucosa was trapped--in an open deodorant bottle in one patient and in a curtain rod in the second patient; operative release of the mucosa enabled safe removal. Two patients presented with peritonitis; both had "broomstick" injuries and required proximal colostomy. Five patients had perianal sepsis due to inadvertently ingested pieces of wood (three) and chicken bones (two). The mean hospital stay was 3 days (range from 6 hours to 6 days). There were no deaths. Because of the potential complications, rectal foreign bodies should be regarded seriously and treated expeditiously.

Primary colorectal anastomosis with the intracolonic bypass tube.

BACKGROUND: Intracolonic bypass with primary colocolonic or colorectal anastomosis may be an effective option in the operative management of complicated colonic disease when adequate bowel preparation is not possible. A pliable latex tube is anchored to mucosa and submucosa 3 centimeters proximal to a site of colocolonic anastomosis and later spontaneously evacuated by way of the rectum. METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutive patents who required urgent colorectal operations in the presence of unprepared bowel underwent left colon resection with intracolonic bypass and primary anastomosis. These patients would have otherwise undergone multistage procedures for the management of the colorectal disorders. Demographic data, APACHE II scores, and type and frequency of complications were recorded. RESULTS: Between July 1, 1990, and June 30, 1991, 31 patients were eligible for entry in the study. Two patients ultimately had contraindications for the use of intracolonic bypass. The causes encountered included complicated diverticular disease, colonic carcinoma, sigmoid volvulus, and iatrogenic colorectal injury. Complications included wound infection (7), myocardial infarction (2), prolonged ileus (1), deep vein thrombosis (2), and anastomotic leak (2). Postoperative myocardial infarction and subsequent multiorgan system failure were responsible for the only death in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Intracolonic bypass permits a safe primary anastomosis where multistage procedures would otherwise be required. Avoidance of colostomy and the attendant socioeconomic benefits warrants further study of this method.

Dexon plus versus Maxon fascial closure in morbid obesity: a prospective randomized comparison.

A monofilament polyglyconate suture (Maxon) was developed as a longer-lasting suture associated with less potential for infection than braided polyglycolic acid suture (Dexon). The authors compared Dexon Plus and Maxon in a prospective randomized study of 84 consecutive morbidly obese patients who underwent vertical banded gastroplasty. Linea alba was closed with continuous running suture, reinforced with a few interrupted, sutures. After more than 2 years' follow-up, one seroma (2.4%), one wound infection (2.4%) and no hernias were found in the Dexon group. In contrast in the Maxon group there were three seromas (7.1%), four wound infections (9.5%) and four incisional hernias (9.5%, p less than 0.05). The hernias were noted between 2 and 10 1/2 months after the operation in two patients who had had wound infections and in two who had had seromas. When Maxon was used, the needle occasionally pulled off the suture and the ends beyond the knot projected rigidly. Dexon Plus was easier to handle in very fatty wounds.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy by the "pull" and "introducer" methods.

After 28 patients, studied prospectively, underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) by the Ponsky "pull" technique, another 28 patients underwent PEG by the Russell "introducer" method. These two groups were compared retrospectively with 28 patients who had previously undergone Stamm gastrostomy as an independent operation performed by the same group of surgeons. All procedures were done within a 5-year period. The major indication for gastrostomy was the inability to swallow due to neurologic diseases; a similar number of patients in each group also had pharyngeal blockage, cachexia, respiratory failure and inhalation burns. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy could be done most appropriately under local anesthesia, the "introducer" method requiring less time than the "pull" method, which in turn required less time than the Stamm gastrostomy. Feeding was generally instituted successfully 24 hours after PEG compared with 3 days after Stamm gastrostomy. "Introducer" PEG was not associated with peristomal infection, and the authors postulate that the peristomal infections in the "pull" PEG group were due to oropharyngeal bacteria brought through the abdominal wall by that technique.

Gastroesophageal reflux is not increased by highly selective vagotomy.

In an attempt to determine whether or not highly selective vagotomy leads to increased gastroesophageal reflux, 20 patients were studied after vagotomy (ten underwent highly selective vagotomy and ten, truncal vagotomy and drainage) and ten patients with duodenal ulcer disease were studied preoperatively by history, esophageal manometry, basal pH studies, standard acid reflux tests, acid perfusion tests (Bernstein tests), acid clearance tests and endoscopy with biopsy. Nine of ten patients had either no or minimal reflux symptoms after highly selective vagotomy were contrasted with five of ten preoperative patients who underwent truncal vagotomy and four of ten patients with duodenal ulcer disease. No significant differences in the three patient groups studied were found by esophageal manometry, pH tests, acid perfusion tests, acid clearance tests or endoscopic and histologic examinations. Our results add support to the view that gastroesophageal reflux is not increased after vagotomy (including highly selective vagotomy).

Psoas abscess: a complication of Crohn's disease.

Between 1971 and 1978 at St Mark's Hospital and St Bartholomew's Hospital, 8 patients were seen with a psoas abscess complicating Crohn's disease. All patients had a long history of disease and the diagnosis was usually obvious on clinical grounds. The abscess was drained in all patients and 5 required drainage on more than one occasion. The underlying Crohn's disease was treated surgically in all patients. Seven patients are now well, although 2 have required further excisional surgery; 1 patient died 2-years after the first drainage of the psoas abscess.