Local administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid reduces post-operative blood loss from surgery for closed, Sanders III–IV calcaneal fractures

Purpose To investigate whether local administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) is effective and safe in reducing the post-operative blood loss in surgery for Sanders III–IV calcaneal fractures. Methods Patients with Sanders III–IV calcaneal fractures who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2016 to February 2021 and underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) via lateral approach with an L-shaped incision were included in the current study. Eighty five patients were randomly divided into two groups, EACA group (43) and control group (42). Twenty milliliters of 5% EACA solution or normal saline was perfused into the incision of patients in EACA group and control group, respectively. The volume of post-operative drainage was investigated as the primary outcome. Post-operative blood test, coagulation test, and wound complications were analyzed as the secondary outcomes. Results The volume of post-operative drainage at 24 and 48 h was 164.8 ± 51.4 ml, 18.9 ± 3.8 ml for patients in EACA group, and 373.0 ± 88.1 ml, 21.2 ± 4.4 ml for patients in the control group, respectively. EACA greatly reduced the post-operative blood loss compared to the control (normal saline). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was found between EACA group and control group with regard to the pre-operative, baseline characteristics. Post-operative blood test results demonstrated that haemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly higher in EACA compared to those of control group. No significant difference was found between EACA group and control group in terms of the platelet counts, prothrombin time (P.T.), activated partial prothrombin time (APTT), and wound complications. Conclusion Local administration of EACA is effective in post-operative blood loss reduction in ORIF surgeries for Sanders III–IV types of calcaneal fractures without increasing the incidence of periwound complication.

Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Resection and Lobectomy for Infants With Pulmonary Sequestration: Case Series and Initial Experience

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) for infants with pulmonary sequestration (PS).Methods: From January 2019 to July 2020, 19 infants with PS were admitted to a provincial hospital in the Fujian Province of China. A 1.5-cm utility port was created in the fifth intercostal space at the anterior axillary line. A rigid 30° 5-mm optic thoracoscope was used for vision, and two or three instruments were utilized through the port. Surgical options include standard lobectomy, wedge resection, and resection of the extralobar sequestration. Only one intercostal space was entered, and a chest tube was inserted through the same skin incision if necessary.Results: The procedure was successful in all patients with an average operation duration of 58.3 ± 31.5 min. The length of post-operative hospital stay was 5.4 ± 1.5 days, and no post-operative deaths or serious complications were observed. The mean post-operative drainage volume was 164.6 ± 45.9 mL, and the mean post-operative thoracic tube indwelling duration was 5.5 ± 1.0 days. No intraoperative conversion, surgical mortality, or major complications were identified among the patients.Conclusion: Our preliminary experience presented a series of U-VATS lobectomy, wedge resection, and resection of the PS for infants with satisfactory perioperative results.

SP8.1.1 Ultrasonic versus electrocautery dissection in modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Aims Electrocautery (EC) remains the dominant dissection tool in modified radical mastectomy (MRM) for breast cancer. However, ultrasonic dissection devices (UDD) have emerged as popular alternatives on the basis that their mechanism of action limits tissue damage resulting in decreased blood loss, seroma formation and post-operative drainage. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare surgical outcomes for EC versus UDD in MRM surgery. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and the Cochrane Database were searched and a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis performed according to PRISMA guidelines, comparing EC versus UDD in MRM for breast cancer. Outcomes of interest were post-operative drainage, incidence of seroma, intra-operative blood loss and operative time. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to aggregate the data. Odds ratios (OR) were used as the summary statistic for dichotomous data and mean difference (MD) for continuous data. Data heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Results Nineteen eligible peer-reviewed studies were analysed involving 1501 patients, UDD:744 EC:757. We demonstrated that in MRM, UDD significantly reduced post-operative drainage (MD = 312.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 102.59-521.93, p = 0.004); seroma (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.39-0.68, p < 0.00001) and intra-operative blood loss (MD = 111.68, 95% CI: 84.56-138.8, p < 0.00001) with no significant difference in operative time between the two techniques (MD = 0.32 (11.3-11.94), p = 0.96. Conclusion Using UDD in MRM for breast cancer presents significant advantages in decreasing post-operative drainage, seroma and intra-operative blood loss, without lengthening operating time compared to EC. It therefore appears favourable, however further cost-effectiveness analysis would be beneficial to guide selection.

Borderline Serous Papillary Tumor Arising in a Paraovarian Cyst: A Case Report and an Extensive Review of the Literature

Background: Paraovarian cysts are benign cysts that develop near the ovaries and fallopian tubes in the pelvic region. They can cause mass effects requiring excision. In rare cases, tumors may develop inside these cysts. These tumors may be benign, malignant, or borderline. Case Report: A 26-year-old lady presented for excision of a paraovarian cyst. Pre-operative imaging showed the presence of few undulating folds at the periphery of the cyst. The patient underwent laparoscopic pelvic cystectomy without intra-operative drainage. Pathological examination of the specimen revealed a borderline serous papillary tumor protruding from the cyst wall. Conclusion: The occurrence of a borderline tumor, also known as a tumor of low malignant potential, in a pre-existing paraovarian cyst is very rare and has only been reported few times in the literature. A thorough review of these cases showed that the most common imaging finding that raises suspicion for a borderline tumor within a paraovarian cyst is the presence of small intracystic projections within the unilocular adnexal cyst. However, since evaluating the presence of an intracystic tumor is not always possible, performing a fertility-preserving laparoscopic cystectomy without cyst content spillage, is recommended. If properly excised, the prognosis of this tumor is good, and recurrence is rare.

A comparative study between continuous and interrupted sutures in open pyeloplasty

Background: Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) is one of the common causes of obstructive uropathy dealt by urologists around the globe. The management of PUJO requires surgical intervention and pelvi-ureteral anastomosis is most time-consuming step in surgery and suturing plays a critical role for the good outcome of the surgery. Objective: To assess the outcomes of continuous or interrupted suturing in open pyeloplasties done for PUJ obstruction. Materials and methods: This comparative study was conducted in the department of Urology in a tertiary care hospital of eastern India. A total of 60 patients with pelviureteric junction obstruction were included as per inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into two groups depending upon whether continuous (Group A) or interrupted (Group B) suturing was done. Both groups were compared for mean operative time, mean suturing time, duration of post-operative drainage, mean drain output, post-operative hospital stay, postoperative GFR and improvement in GFR. Results: Out of 60 patients continuous and interrupted suturing was done in 30 patients in both arms. Out of 60 cases there were 46 (76.66%) males and 14 (23.33%) females with a M:F ratio of 1:0.30. The mean age in group A and group B was found to be 30.06 ± 8.28 and 27.63 ± 6.07, respectively. Mean operative time, mean suturing time, duration of post-operative drainage, mean drain output and postoperative hospital stay were found to be higher in interrupted suture group and the difference was found to be statistically highly significant ( p < 0.0001). The complication rates and recurrence rates were found comparable in both the cases with no statistically significant difference ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: Continuous suturing technique for pyeloplasty is preferable as it is found to have a lower mean operative time, mean suturing time, duration of post-operative drainage, mean drain output and postoperative hospital stay.

Association of gravity drainage and complications following Whipple: an analysis of the ACS-NSQIP targeted database

Background The optimal type of operative drainage following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains unclear. Our objective is to investigate risk associated with closed drainage techniques (passive [gravity] vs. suction) after PD. Methods We assessed operative drainage techniques utilized in patients undergoing PD in the ACS-NSQIP pancreas-targeted database from 2016 to 2018. Using multivariable logistic regression to adjust for characteristics of the patient, procedure, and pancreas, we examined the association between use of gravity drainage and postoperative outcomes. Results We identified 9665 patients with drains following PD from 2016 to 2018, of which 12.7% received gravity drainage. 61.0% had a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma or pancreatitis, 26.5% had a duct <3 mm, and 43.5% had a soft or intermediate gland. After multivariable adjustment, gravity drainage was associated with decreased rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula (odds ratio [OR] 0.779, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.653–0.930, p=0.006), delayed gastric emptying (OR 0.830, 95% CI 0.693–0.988, p=0.036), superficial SSI (OR 0.741, 95% CI 0.572–0.959, p=0.023), organ space SSI (OR 0.791, 95% CI 0.658–0.951, p=0.012), and readmission (OR 0.807, 95% CI 0.679–0.958, p=0.014) following PD. Conclusions Gravity drainage is independently associated with decreased rates of CR-POPF, DGE, SSI, and readmission following PD. Additional prospective research is necessary to better understand the preferred drainage technique following PD.

Harmonic scalpel thyroidectomy versus conventional haemostasis thyroidectomy

Background: As there is paucity of data on harmonic scalpel thyroidectomy from Jammu and Kashmir belt. So, we conducted this study to bridge this gap and also to create awareness about the use of harmonic scalpel. Thyroidectomy has become one of the most common and frequent surgery. Hemostasis in thyroid surgery is of utmost importance for a successful surgery. Our aim was to compare operative factors, postoperative outcomes of thyroidectomy using the Harmonic Scalpel (HS) and Conventional Haemostasis (CH).Methods: In this randomized control trial study, 100 patients who underwent thyroidectomy were enrolled and randomly divided in two groups- HS group and CH group. The inclusion criteria were age>18years, acceptance to participate in the study (signed informed consent form) and scheduled total thyroidectomy. The groups were compared with regards to age, gender, operative time, post-operative drainage volume, postoperative pain, and hospital stay.Results: The mean age in years was 39.8 years for HS group and 43.8 years for CH group with female preponderance. There was a significant difference with regards to operative time, post-operative drainage volume, postoperative pain, and hospital stay (p<0.001). Harmonic Scalpel shortens the operative time. And there was less post-operative drainage volume and postoperative pain in HS group. Hospital stay was also less as compared to CH group.Conclusions: HS is superior then CH thyroidectomy and is considered as a safe and better tool in thyroidectomy.

Association of Gravity Drainage and Complications Following Whipple: An Analysis of the ACS-NSQIP Targeted Database

Background: The optimal type of operative drainage following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains unclear. Our objective is to investigate risk associated with closed drainage techniques (passive [gravity] vs. suction) after PD.Methods: We assessed operative drainage techniques utilized in patients undergoing PD in the ACS-NSQIP Pancreas-Targeted database from 2016-2018. Using multivariable logistic regression to adjust for characteristics of the patient, procedure, and pancreas, we examined the association between use of gravity drainage and postoperative outcomes.Results: We identified 9,665 patients with drains following PD from 2016-2018, of which 12.7% received gravity drainage. 61.0% had a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma or pancreatitis, 26.5% had a duct <3 mm, and 43.5% had a soft or intermediate gland. After multivariable adjustment, gravity drainage was associated with decreased rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula (odds ratio [OR] 0.804, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.659-0.981, P= 0.031), delayed gastric emptying (OR 0.830, 95%CI 0.693-0.988, P= 0.036), superficial SSI (OR: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.572-0.959, P=0.023), organ space SSI (OR: 0.791, 95% CI: 0.658-0.951, P=0.012), and readmission (OR: 0.807, 95% CI: 0.679-0.958, P=0.014) following PD.Conclusions: Gravity drainage is independently associated with decreased rates of CR-POPF, DGE, SSI, and readmission following PD. Additional prospective research will help determine which method is preferred.

Giant Ovarian Cysts: A Case Series

Giant ovarian cysts are rare and are almost no longer reported in medical literature. Except where good diagnostic imaging procedure is performed, they could be mistaken for massive abdominal ascites. Here we report 2 cases which were diagnosed at a medical missions facility during a free medical outreach program in March 2017. The patients presented with gross abdominal distention. Ultrasound scan revealed cystic ovarian tumors in both cases with no suspicious finding for malignancy. Salpingo-ophorectomies were carried out at laparatomies through midline incision extending from below the epigastric to just above the suprapubic. Patients were treated with postoperative antibiotics and analgesics and discharged home after 7 days on admission. They were followed up for 2 years and both recovered well without recurrence. Cystectomy without pre-operative drainage remains the modality of treatment in our environment.