The use of ultrasound elastography in the assessment of malignancy risk in thyroid nodules and multinodular goitres.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our work is to use a surgical series to analyse the validity of elastography in evaluating the malignancy of thyroid nodules and multinodular goitres. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study examined 156 patients, 134 women (85·9%) and 22 men (14·1%), who underwent surgery for nodular thyroid disease between October 2008, and November 2010. The average age of the patients was 52 years (±14·42). Thirty-six patients (23·1%) presented with a single nodule, and 120 (76·9%) exhibited multinodular goitres. Prior to surgical intervention, all patients underwent colour eco-elastography using a qualitative five-point ordinal scale for nodule classifications. Test results were analysed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and an anatomical pathologic examination of surgical specimens was used as a gold standard diagnostic tool for comparison. RESULTS: Of the 192 nodules analysed, 28 (14·6%) were malignant. Using elastography data, an ROC curve was obtained with an area under the curve of 0·662 (±0·060) and a 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) between 0·545 and 0·779 (P = 0·006). By establishing a cut-off point that classified thyroid nodules with an elastographic value greater than or equal to 3 as malignant, we achieved a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 45·73%, positive predictive value of 19·1% and negative predictive value of 91%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1·38 and 0·55, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound elastography can provide information regarding malignancy risk in thyroid nodules and multinodular goitres. However, the sensitivity and specificity values obtained in our study are below those reported by other groups, a finding that calls into question the current clinical utility of ultrasound elastography.

Vacuum assisted closure: utilidad en el abdomen abierto y cierre diferido. Experiencia en 23 pacientes / Vacuum assisted closure in open abdomen and deferred closure: experience in 23 patients

Introducción: Analizamos nuestra experiencia y los resultados obtenidos con el uso del vacuum assisted closure (VAC®, KCI Clinic Spain SL) en el manejo del abdomen abierto. Material y métodos Revisamos de forma retrospectiva las laparostomías realizadas entre junio de 2006 y marzo de 2011 usando la terapia VAC® en el Hospital Xeral-Cíes de Vigo. Resultados Incluimos a 23 pacientes consecutivos (18 varones y 5 mujeres) en los que se usó el VAC® en un abdomen abierto por distintas indicaciones (traumatismo abdominal, peritonitis, pancreatitis, patología isquémica o síndrome compartimental abdominal). El VAC® precisó recambio una media de 3,1 veces por paciente (1-7), con una duración total media de la terapia de 14,8 días (2-43) hasta el cierre, lográndose el cierre primario en 18 de 21 pacientes (86%). La estancia media hospitalaria fue de 110,1 días (8-163) y 6 pacientes (26%) fallecieron durante el ingreso por problemas relacionados con su proceso de base. Siete casos (30%) presentaron complicaciones durante la terapia VAC®: 3 abscesos intraabdominales (13%), 4 fístulas o dehiscencias de suturas (17%) y 1 evisceración (4%).Conclusiones La terapia VAC® es de manejo sencillo con una aceptable tasa de complicaciones, particularmente la de fístulas intestinales, y una mortalidad reducida. De los diversos sistemas disponibles para el cierre diferido de un abdomen, el VAC® supone un progreso considerable en estos últimos años gracias a su material adaptable y sus numerosas ventajas. Posiblemente su uso aumentará en el futuro (AU)

Introduction: We analyse our experience and the results obtained with the use of vacuumassisted closure (VAC1, KCI Clinic Spain SL) in the management of open abdomen.Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the la parostomies performed between June 2006 and March 2011 using VAC1treatment in the Hospital Xeral-Cíes, Vigo. Results: We included 23 consecutive patients (18 males and 5 females) on whom the VAC1was used in the open abdomen due to different indications (abdominal trauma, peritonitis, pancreatitis, ischemic disease or abdominal compartmental syndrome). The VAC1neededchanging a mean of 3.1 times per patient (range 1-7), with total mean treatment duration of14.8 days (2-43) until closure, primary closure being achieved in 18 out of 21 patients (86%).The mean hospital stay was 110.1 days (8-163) and 6 patients (26%) died during their hospital stay due to problems related to their underlying disease. Seven cases (30%) had complications during the VAC1 therapy: 3 intra-abdominal abscesses (13%), 4 fistulas or suture dehiscence (17%), and 1 evisceration (4%).Conclusions: VAC1therapy is simple to manage, with an acceptable rate of complication, particularly of intestinal fistulas, and a reduced mortality. Of the various systems available for the deferred closure of the abdomen, the VAC1has made considerable progress in the past few years, mainly due to its adaptable material, and its numerous advantages. Its use will possibly increase in the future (AU)

[Vacuum assisted closure in open abdomen and deferred closure: experience in 23 patients]. / Vacuum assisted closure: utilidad en el abdomen abierto y cierre diferido. Experiencia en 23 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: We analyse our experience and the results obtained with the use of vacuum assisted closure (VAC(®), KCI Clinic Spain SL) in the management of open abdomen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the laparostomies performed between June 2006 and March 2011 using VAC(®) treatment in the Hospital Xeral-Cíes, Vigo. RESULTS: We included 23 consecutive patients (18 males and 5 females) on whom the VAC(®) was used in the open abdomen due to different indications (abdominal trauma, peritonitis, pancreatitis, ischaemic disease or abdominal compartmental syndrome). The VAC(®) needed changing a mean of 3.1 times per patient (range 1-7), with total mean treatment duration of 14.8 days (2-43) until closure, primary closure being achieved in 18 out of 21 patients (86%). The mean hospital stay was 110.1 days (8-163) and 6 patients (26%) died during their hospital stay due to problems related to their underlying disease. Seven cases (30%) had complications during the VAC® therapy: 3 intra-abdominal abscesses (13%), 4 fistulas or suture dehiscence (17%), and 1 evisceration (4%). CONCLUSIONS: VAC(®) therapy is simple to manage, with an acceptable rate of complication, particularly of intestinal fistulas, and a reduced mortality. Of the various systems available for the deferred closure of the abdomen, the VAC(®) has made considerable progress in the past few years, mainly due to its adaptable material, and its numerous advantages. Its use will possibly increase in the future.