Gastrointestinal injuries during gynaecologic operations at a university teaching hospital in Thailand: a 10-year review.

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of gastrointestinal injuries during gynaecologic operations, the management of such injuries and associated risk factors. This case-control study (1:4) examined patients who received gynaecologic operations from 2007 to 2016 in Ramathibodi Hospital. The study cases comprised patients who had gastrointestinal injuries, while the control cases comprised patients who had gynaecologic surgeries in the same period with matching the types of procedures. The 10-year incidence was 0.38% (104 cases of gastrointestinal injuries among a total of 27,520 cases). The most common injury site was the small bowel (43.3%). There were 102 cases (98%) of gastrointestinal injuries which were diagnosed intraoperatively and which were immediately repaired with successful outcomes. Logistic regression indicated that a pelvic adhesion, previous pelvic surgery and previous abdominal surgery were predictive risk factors associated with the injuries (odds ratios: 9.45, 3.20 and 11.84, respectively). An immediate consultation with a surgeon and surgical repair of the injury resulted in excellent outcomes. Impact statement What is already known about this subject? Gastrointestinal injury is a rare, but fatal complication of gynaecologic operations. The previous small study identified some risk factors such as surgical approach and pelvic surgery associated with the injury. What do the results of this study contribute? Our study identified the associated risk factors for gastrointestinal injury, including previous abdominal injury, pelvic adhesion and previous pelvic surgery. A previous abdominal surgery was the most associated risk factor. Patients with the history of abdominal surgery had an almost 4-fold higher odds ratio than the ones with previous pelvic surgery. Other factors, including endometriosis, ovarian cancer and subsequent oncological procedures, and surgical staging were less related to the gastrointestinal injury. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The knowledge is useful for pre-operative evaluation and preparation. Bowel preparation and consultation with surgeon are necessary for patients with these risk factors prior to their surgeries. Moreover, an immediate intra-operative surgical correction of the injury results in excellent outcomes.

Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in Thai University adolescents.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common and complex condition characterized by endocrine features and influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In Southeast Asia and Thailand, the prevalence of PCOS is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and determine factors associated with PCOS in Thai adolescents. We administered a validated questionnaire to 600 university female participants aged 17-19 years from Mahidol University in Bangkok. Of these, 548 (91.33%) responded and agreed to participate. Two-hundred and seventy-nine girls (50.91%) were identified as likely having PCOS and defined as 'probable cases'. Of those 279 participants, 248 (88.88%) were evaluated further for PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria. A complete history was taken, and a physical examination including trans-abdominal ultrasound was performed. Blood chemistry tests were performed to exclude similar conditions and to investigate potential co-morbidities. The prevalence of PCOS in Thai adolescents was found to be 5.29%. After multivariate analyses, moderate acne was the strongest risk factor for PCOS. The odd ratios (95% confidence interval) for the presence of mild acne, moderate acne, and oligo- or amenorrhea in participants with PCOS were 2.83 (1.01-7.90; p = .47), 31.69 (10.07-99.67; p < .001), and 5.89 (2.42-14.37; p < .001), respectively.

Vaginal Stump Characteristics after Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Using Electrosurgery versus Scalpel or Scissors for Vaginal Incision: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the vaginal stump characteristics following total abdominal hysterectomy between two vaginal incision techniques, electrosurgery versus scalpel or scissors. Material and Method: A randomized single-blind controlled trial was performed in 80 patients scheduled to undergo total abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions. Either sharp instrument (scalpel or scissors) or electrosurgery was used for vaginal incision following standard surgical technique for total abdominal hysterectomy. The main outcome measures were the vaginal stump characteristics determined by the degree of vaginal mucosal approximation and the presence of vaginal granulation at 6-week postoperatively. Results: Six weeks after surgery, the number of patients with incomplete mucosal approximation following electrosurgical technique was 11 (27.5%), as compared to 8 (20%) (p = 0.43) in the scalpel/scissors technique group. The incidences of vaginal granulation in the scalpel/scissors group and electrosurgical group were 10% and 22.5%, respectively. Conclusion: The vaginal stump characteristics at six weeks following total abdominal hysterectomy between two vaginal incision techniques were not statistically significantly different.

Prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic vertebral fracture in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic vertebral fracture in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 80 patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis. Medical history, Fracture Risk Assessment Tool and anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spine were obtained. Vertebral fractures were identified using the Genant semiquantitative assessment. Results: Radiography demonstrated asymptomatic vertebral fracture in 22 patients (27.5%). FRAX® results for major osteoporotic fracture (area under the curve, 0.64) and hip fracture (area under the curve, 0.62) were able to discriminate patients with prevalent asymptomatic vertebral fracture. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that a 1-year average corrected calcium (odds ratio, 0.38), steroid use (odds ratio, 8.99), and a serum albumin concentration <25 g/dL (odds ratio, 28.82) significantly predicted prevalent asymptomatic vertebral fracture (clinical model; area under the curve, 0.82). Combining the 1-year average corrected calcium and serum albumin concentration <25 g/dL with FRAX® results for major osteoporotic fracture (area under the curve, 0.78) and FRAX® results for hip (area under the curve, 0.75) produced a significantly greater area under the curve value to predict fracture when compared with FRAX® result for major osteoporotic fracture and FRAX® result for hip (P = 0.022). Conclusion: Asymptomatic vertebral fracture is prevalent. FRAX® results for major osteoporotic fracture and hip provided lower ability in predicting asymptomatic vertebral facture when compared to the clinical model. Combining a 1-year average corrected calcium and serum albumin concentration <25 g/dL with FRAX® result for major osteoporotic fracture or hip improved the model's performance and provided comparable area under the curve to the clinical model.

Utility of QT interval corrected by Rautaharju method to predict drug-induced torsade de pointes.

INTRODUCTION: New QT correction formulae derived from large populations are available such as Rautaharju's [QTcRTH = QT * (120 + HR)/180] and Dmitrienko's [QTcDMT = QT/RR0.413]. These formulae were derived from 57,595 and 13,039 cases, respectively. Recently, a study has shown that they did not experience errors across a wide range of heart rates compared to others. OBJECTIVES: (1) To determine the best cut-off value of QTcRTH and QTcDMT as a predictor of torsade de pointes (TdP) and (2) to compare the sensitivity and specificity using the cut-off value of QTcRTH with those of the QTcBazett (QTcBZT), QTcFridericia (QTcFRD), and QT nomogram. METHODS: Data were derived from two data sets. All cases aged over 18 years with an exposure to QT-prolonging drugs. Group-1, all cases developed TdP. Data in Group-1 were obtained from systematic review of reported cases from Medline since its establishment until 10 December 2015. Group-2 is composed of those who overdosed on QT prolonging drugs but did not develop TdP. This data set was previously extracted from a chart review of three medical centers from January 2008 to December 2010. Data from both groups were used to calculate QTcRTH and QTcDMT. The cut-off values from QTcRTH and QTcDMT that provided the best sensitivity and specificity to predict TdP were then selected. The same method was applied to find those values from QTcBZT, QTcFRD, and QT nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was applied where appropriate. RESULTS: Group-1, 230 cases of drug-induced TdP were included from the systematic review of Medline. Group-2 (control group), which did not develop TdP, consisted of 292 cases. After applying all of the correction methods to the two datasets, the best cut-off values that provided the best accuracy (Ac) with the best sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) for each formula were as follows: QTcRTH at 477 milliseconds (ms), Ac = 89.08%, Sn = 91.30% (95%CI = 86.89-94.61), Sp = 87.33%(95%CI = 82.96-90.92); QTcDMT at 475 ms, Ac = 88.31%, Sn =91.30% (95%CI = 86.89-94.61), Sp = 85.96%(95%CI = 81.44-89.73); QTcBZT at 490 ms, Ac = 86.97%, Sn = 88.26% (95%CI = 83.38-92.12), Sp = 85.96% (95%CI = 81.44-89.73); QTcFRD at 473 ms, Ac = 88.89%, Sn = 89.13% (95%CI = 84.37-92.84), Sp =88.70% (95%CI = 84.50-92.09). We found a significant difference (p-value = 0.0020) between area under the ROC of the QTcRTH (0.9433) and QTcBZT (0.9225) but not QTcFRD (0.9338). The Ac, Sn, and Sp of the QT nomogram were 89.08%, 91.30% (95%CI = 86.89-94.61), and 87.33% (95%CI = 82.96-90.92), respectively, and they were all equal to those of QTcRTH. CONCLUSION: Rautaharju method not only produced minimal errors for QT interval correction but also at QTcRTH 477 ms, it could predict TdP as accurately as QT nomogram and was better than the QTcBZT.

The association between oral hygiene and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Dental plaque accumulation and inadequate personal oral hygiene (OH) are known major risk factors of periodontitis. Nevertheless, the magnitude of their effects has not yet been the subject of a meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Medline and Scopus databases were searched up to May 2016. Observational studies were eligible if they assessed associations between OH and periodontitis in adult subjects. A multivariate random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the effects of fair/poor OH versus good OH on periodontitis across studies. The associations between oral care habits and periodontitis were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 50 studies were eligible; 15 were used for pooling the effect of fair OH versus good OH and poor OH versus good OH on periodontitis, with pooled odds ratios (ORs) of 2.04 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-2.53] and 5.01 (95% CI: 3.40-7.39), respectively. Eleven studies examined oral care habits measured according to toothbrushing regularity and dental visit frequency; pooled ORs of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.47-0.94) and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.47-0.98) were obtained, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fair to poor OH increases the risk of periodontitis by two- to five-fold. This risk can be reduced by regular toothbrushing and dental visits.