Endoscopic management of post-cholecystectomy bile leak.

Endoscopic management of post cholecystectomy biliary leak is described in a 56-year-old patient who developed a cystic duct leak following open cholecystectomy.

Endoscopic management of post-cholecystectomy bile leak

Endoscopic management of post cholecystectomy biliary leak is described in a 56-year-old patient who developed a cystic duct leak following open cholecystectomy

Perinephric abscess mimicking fulminant hepatic failure.

We describe a female diabetic patient who presented with features suggestive of hepatobiliary disease and who exhibited clinical signs of fulminant hepatic failure. Identification and drainage of a right perinephric abscess resulted in prompt resolution of both the physical signs and biochemical indices of liver disease. Infection remote from the hepatobiliary tree can mimic fulminant hepatic failure, and recognition of this unusual presentation of infection is important if dangerous delay in diagnosis and treatment is to be avoided.

Perinephric abscess mimicking fulminant hepatic failure

We describe a female diabetic patient who presented with features suggestive of hepatobiliary disease and who exhibited clinical signs of fulminant hepatic failure. Identification and drainage of a right perinephric abscess resulted in prompt resolution of both the physical signs and biochemical indices of liver disease. Infection remote from the hepatobiliary tree can mimic fulminant hepatic failure, and recognition of this unusual presentation of infection is important if dangerous delay in diagnosis and treatment is to avioded.

Thyroid surgery without drainage: 15 years of clinical experience.

Drainage in thyroid surgery has been a routine but empirical practice with no scientific evidence to support its benefit. The largest series to date of non-drainage in thyroid surgery is presented, comprising 260 patients over a 15-year period. No case selection for non-drainage was employed. Two hundred and fifty-nine cases were not drained and included toxic goitres, and bilateral and redo procedures. There was one thyroid storm and two cases of subcutaneous fluid collection, treated by needle aspiration. No cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, airway obstruction or death were recorded. This study strongly demonstrates the safety of non-drainage in routine thyroid surgery.

Thyroid surgery without drainage: 15 years of clinical experience

Drainage in thyroid surgery has been a routine but empirical practice with no scientific evidence to support its benefit. The largest series to date of non-drainage in thyroid surgery is presented, comprising 260 patients over a 15-year period. No case selection for non-drainage was employed. Two hundred and fifty-nine cases were not drained and included toxic goitres, and bilteral and redo procedures. There was one thyroid storm and two cases of subcutaneous fluid collection, treated by needle aspiration. No cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, airway obstruction or death were recorded. This study strongly demonstrates the safety of non-drainage in routine thyroid surgery (AU)

A subcutaneous uterus with unusual presenting features.

A 32 year old female, para 2 + 0 presented with a hard lump in the scar of a lower midline incision. She had had a myomectomy 2 years previously and subsequently noticed the lump 3 months later. Her only complaints were urinary frequency during menstruation and the suprapubic mass. Surgery was performed for what was initially thought to be a desmoid tumour. At surgery the uterus was found to be lying in the subcutaneous position with no peritoneal sac. The uterus was dissected free of the sheath and reduced into the pelvis, uneventfully. This rare occurrence of a subcutaneous non-gravid uterus in the absence of a hernial sac is reported and its clinical features and possible preventative measures are discussed.

The impact of the ATLS course on traffic accident mortality in Trinidad and Tobago.

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training of medical staff did not improve outcome of the trauma victim. Potential benefit of this course may have been masked by weak links in the trauma care chain such as pre-hospital care and in hospital investigative and therapeutic facilities.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy and arterial embolism.

A severely pre-eclampic patient developed peripartum cardiomyopathy and bilateral femoral emboli. Medical therapy for cardiac failure was commenced prior to delivery by Caesarean Section. Bilateral femoral embolectomy was performed on the sixth postpartum day.

The impact of the ATLS course on traffic accident mortality in Trinidad and Tobago

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training of medical staff did not improve outcome of the trauma victim. Potential benefit of this course may have been masked by weak links in the trauma care chain such as pre-hospital care and in hospital investigative and therapeutic facilities.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy and arterial embolism

A severely pre-eclamptic patient developed peripartum cardiomyopathy and bilateral femmoral emboli. Medical therapy for cardiac failure was commenced prior to delivery by Caesarean Section. Bilateral femoral embolectomy was performed on the sixth postpartum day.

Obstructed left colon: one-stage surgery in a developing country.

Thirty-two consecutive cases of left-sided colonic obstruction are presented. Thirty cases were managed by primary resection and anastomosis without colostomy. No anastomotic leakage occurred. This procedure allowed significant conservation of material and personnel resources, with minimal patient morbidity.

Obstructed left colon: one stage surgery in a developing country

Thirty-two consecutive cases of left-sided colonic obstruction are presented. Thirty cases were managed by primary resection and anastomosis without colostmy. No anastomotic leakage occurred. This procedure allowed significant conservation of material and personnel resources with minimal patient morbidity (AU)