Selective use of superficial temporal artery cannulation in infants undergoing cardiac surgery.

Arterial cannulation is routinely performed in children undergoing cardiac surgery to aid the intraoperative and intensive care management. Most commonly cannulated peripheral site in children is radial artery, and alternatives include posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis, and rarely superficial temporal artery (STA). Two specific situations in cardiac surgery where STA cannulation and monitoring was useful during the surgical procedure are reported. To our knowledge, such selective use of STA pressure monitoring has not been reported in the literature previously. Our experience suggests that STA monitoring can be useful and reliable during repair of coarctation of aorta or administration of anterograde cerebral perfusion in patients having associated aberrant origin of the right subclavian artery.

Outcome of trans-axillary approach for surgical decompression of thoracic outlet: a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the trans-axillary surgical approach in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. METHODS: This retrospective study is comprised of data acquired from January 1998 until Oct 2008. Case histories of all the patients were reviewed from the Medical Records Department of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute. Relevant information and follow-up of the patients was carried out by examining the relevant clinical notes available by telephone interviews and personal contact whenever possible. All data was compiled and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: There were a total of 139 patients. The female: male ratio was about 6:1. Pain was the most common presenting symptom followed by weakness and parasthesia. Nerve conduction velocity was abnormal in 111 patients. Twenty-eight patients had abnormal Doppler study of subclavian vessels. Preoperative symptoms persisted in 13 patients. Overall, 126 patients showed improvement in symptoms and no recurrence or persistence of symptoms on follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Trans-axillary approach provides a good exposure and cosmesis in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. It should be considered as the gold standard in the management of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Further insights into the syndrome of prolapsing non-coronary aortic cusp and ventricular septal defect.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with prolapse of the right coronary cusp and aortic regurgitation can be managed surgically with the anatomical correction technique. However when the VSD is located underneath the non coronary cusp surgical management differs due to anatomical constraints and secondary pathological changes seen in the non coronary cusp. It is therefore important that the location of the VSD and the morphology of prolapsing cusp be characterised preoperatively in order to plan appropriate surgical repair. We present a case study in which we discuss the salient differences in the surgical management of the prolapsing right and the prolapsing non coronary cusps.

Peripheral vascular injuries due to blunt trauma (road traffic accident): management and outcome.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to analyze the pattern, presentation and management of peripheral vascular injuries due to road traffic accidents (RTA). METHODS: A prospective study of patients of peripheral vascular injuries due to road traffic accidents (RTA) between Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2011. A total of 192 patients presented with peripheral vascular injuries due to RTA during this period. All patients with vascular injury due to other causes were excluded from study. RESULTS: Most of the patients were managed by reverse saphenous vein graft followed by end to end anastomosis. Most of the patients had associated long bone fractures. Delayed presentation and associated long bone fractures had bad effect on outcome. Wound infection and thrombosis of the graft were the most important complication. Amputation rate was 4.68%. CONCLUSION: Vascular injury due to RTA requires prompt recognition and referral to a vascular center. Immediate revascularization has excellent results and less morbidity. Proper clinical examination and hand held Doppler examination are enough to reach the diagnosis.

Ascaris exit through the feeding jejunostomy tract: a rare case report.

A 65-year-old male was operated for esophageal carcinoma. Transhiatal esophagogastrectomy with jejunostomy feeding tube was done. Orals were started on the 12th postoperative day. The jejunostomy feeding tube was removed on the 20th postoperative day. Immediately after removal of the feeding tube, a 10-12 cm ascaris was seen emerging through the jejunostomy tract. Ascaris lumbricoides can cause a variety of complications like intestinal obstruction, perforation, biliary obstruction, pancreatitis, liver abscess, cholangiohepatitis, volvulus, and gangrene, etc. Although the above-mentioned complications have been frequently reported, ascaris exit through the feeding jejunostomy tract is very rare. This case is reported here to emphasize the importance of this complication of wandering ascariasis.

Profile of missile-induced cardiovascular injuries in Kashmir, India.

BACKGROUND: Missile cardiovascular injuries have taken an epidemic proportion in Kashmir valley since the eruption of militancy in 1990. Present study was undertaken to analyse the pattern, presentation and management of missile cardiovascular injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-six patients with missile cardiovascular injuries since Jan 1996 to Oct 2008 were studied retrospectively. All patients of cardiovascular injuries due to causes other than missiles were excluded from the study. RESULTS: All patients of missile cardiac injuries were treated by primary cardiorrhaphy. Right ventricle was the most commonly affected chamber. Left anterior thoracotomy was most common approach used. Most of the patients of missile vascular group were treated by reverse saphenous vein graft or end-to-end anastomosis. Most common complication was wound infection (20.83%) followed by graft occlusion (1.94%) in missile vascular group. Amputation rate was 4.66%. Amputation rate was higher in patients with delay of >6 hours and associated fractures. CONCLUSION: Missile cardiac injuries should be operated early without wasting time for investigations. Clinical status at arrival, time interval till management, nature of injury and associated injuries, tell upon the mortality. Missile vascular injury needs prompt resuscitation and revascularization at the earliest. Time interval till revascularization and associated fractures has a bearing on mortality and morbidity.

Vascular injuries after bear attacks: Incidence, surgical challenges and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Bear mauling is rarely reported in medical literature due to its rare occurrence. Present study was undertaken to describe the pattern and management of bear maul vascular injuries in Kashmir. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Study of patients with bear maul vascular injury from 1(st) Jan 2004 to 31(st) Dec. 2008. Fifteen patients with bear maul vascular injury were studied. All patients of bear maul without vascular injury were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Most of the patients were treated by reverse saphenous vein graft or end to end anastomosis. Most common complication was wound infection (20%) followed by graft occlusion (13.33%). There was no operative death. CONCLUSION: Bear attacks are very common in Kashmir. Vascular injury due to bear maul needs prompt resuscitation and revascularization. Results are very good provided timely intervention for revascularization is done.

Feeding jejunostomy: does the benefit overweight the risk (a retrospective study from a single centre).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to review the efficacy and safety of feeding jejunostomy in terms of achieving the nutritional goals in patients undergoing esophagectomy for carcinoma of oesophagus and complications associated hence with. METHODS: A total of 463 patients underwent esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma oesophagus during this period. All these patients underwent Witzel feeding jejunostomy for post-operative enteral nutrition. Enteral feeding was started after 24 h of surgery and increased gradually till target caloric and protein value was achieved. Nutritional goals achieved were reviewed. All complications related to jejunostomy were recorded. RESULTS: The study comprised of 463 patients who underwent elective esophagogastrectomy. Mean age was 58 +/- 8.4 in male patients and 55 +/- 4.2 years in female patients. Patients spend a mean of 19 +/- 8.4 (range 10-49) days on jejunostomy feed. The targeted calorie requirement was achieved by post-operative day 3 in 408 (88.12%) patients. The catheter blockage was one of the main complications during the course of feeding. Seven patients required relaparotomy for catheter blockage. CONCLUSION: Feeding jejunostomy is an effective, safe, economic and well tolerated method of providing nutrition to the patients of esophagogastrectomy. Feeding jejunostomy should be done in every patient undergoing esophagectomy at the time of laparotomy.

Missile vascular injuries: 19-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Missile vascular injuries have reached an epidemic proportion in Kashmir valley since the eruption of militancy. The present study was undertaken to analyze the mode, pattern, presentation, and management of missile vascular injuries. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with missile vascular injury from January 1990 to October 2008 was undertaken. Five hundred eighty patients with missile vascular injury were studied. All patients with vascular injury due to causes other than missiles were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Most of the patients were treated by interpositional saphenous vein graft or end-to-end anastomosis. The most common complication was wound infection (22.7%) followed by graft occlusion (3.8%). The amputation rate was 3.3% and was higher in patients with a delay of >6 hours to revascularization and associated fractures. CONCLUSION: Missile vascular injury requires prompt resuscitation and revascularization. Preoperative angiography is seldom necessary. Doppler study may sometimes be needed to aid in the diagnosis.

Incidence and pattern of bear maul injuries in Kashmir.

BACKGROUND: Injuries due to mauling by bears are rarely reported in the literature. The high incidence of such injuries in Kashmir, India, which is a valley surrounded by dense forests and is a habitat of Asiatic Black bears, urged us to undertake such a study in our department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted both retrospectively (January 1990-July 2005) and prospectively (August 2005-December 2007). RESULTS: A total of 417 cases were recorded and all the injuries were caused by black bears alone. Majority of the patients were young to middle-aged (96.8% of cases) and predominantly males (80.33%). The incidence was highest during July to November (76.82%), and most of the attacks (97%) occurred during daytime. Soft-tissue injury occurred in all 417 cases, bones were involved in 131 (31.41%) while the visceral organs were injured in four (12.94%) patients. The face (80.57%) was most common part of the body injured, followed by the head (54.67%), and all the patients had soft-tissue injury (100%). In spite of devastating injuries caused by bear maulings, the mortality rate was only 2.39%. CONCLUSION: Injuries due to mauling by black bear occur mainly between July and November. The young and middle-aged men have a higher tendency to be wounded. The face and head were the most commonly affected sites, while visceral injuries were rare. Mortality was low, and reconstruction of many of the injuries was challenging, often necessitating a staged procedure. Those living in villages close to black bear habitats may benefit from education related to the risk and severity of the attacks in the hope of reducing the number of injuries seen.

Popliteal artery embolism by Ascaris lumbricoides: a case report.

Arterial occlusive diseases are highly prevalent and constitute the leading overall cause of death. Adverse events are due to the effects of impaired circulation on critical end organs, namely the brain, heart, abdominal viscera or extremities. Acute thromboembolism remains a major surgical challenge. Even with optimal surgical management, acute lower extremity ischemia resulting from thromboembolic ds continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of thromboembolism of the left popliteal artery by an Ascaris worm in a patient with oriental cholangiohepatitis.

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture, a diagnostic dilemma in the presence of eventration: a case report.

Eventration of the diaphragm is the condition where the muscle is permanently elevated, but retains its continuity and attachments to the costal margins. Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is a recognized consequence of high velocity blunt trauma to the abdomen usually a result of motor vehicle accident. Multi-slice CT and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the pre-operative evaluation of trauma patients, diaphragmatic rupture can be still overlooked if not evaluated with the fair degree of clinical suspicion, more so if it is associated with an eventration of diaphragm - as was in our case.