{"title":"Thoracoscopy versus open lung biopsy in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease: a randomised controlled trial.","authors":"A K Ayed, R Raghunathan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Some patients with diffuse lung disease require a lung biopsy for diagnosis. This study is aimed to compare the clinical results and the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy with the open lung biopsy method for the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. From January 1996 to December 1998, 61 patients were referred for diagnostic lung biopsy. Thirty two patients were randomly allocated to have a thoracoscopic lung biopsy and twenty nine had an open lung biopsy. Subsequently, various factors were analyzed and compared in both groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was no difference between the groups in age and pulmonary function test. Median operative time was 45 minutes for the thoracoscopic biopsies and 60 minutes for the open biopsies (P = 0.009). Median amount of analgesia (Demerol) in the first 24 hours postoperatively was 75 mg. for thoracoscopic biopsies and 150 mg. for open biopsies (P < 0.001). Median duration of insertion of a chest tube in days and 24 hours of pleural drainage was not statistically significant between the two groups. Duration of hospital stay was significantly less for the thoracoscopic biopsy (3 days) compared with an open biopsy (5 days) (P < 0.001). The diagnostic yield of each method was comparable (thoracoscopic biopsy 31/32; open biopsy 27/29) (P = 0.3). Complications occurred in 6/29 of patients undergoing open biopsies and 3/32 patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung biopsies (p = 0.28). There were 2 deaths among patients who had an open lung biopsy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Thoracoscopic lung biopsy has some clinical advantages over open biopsy. These findings suggest that thoracoscopic lung biopsy is an acceptable alternative to open lung biopsy for the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"159-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Glyceryl trinitrate treatment of chronic fissure in ano: one year's experience with 0.5% GTN paste.","authors":"F F Palazzo, S Kapur, M Steward, P T Cullen","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Assessment of the efficacy of topical 0.5% glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) paste in the treatment of chronic fissures in ano.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Forty-five patients were treated with 0.5% GTN paste and reviewed at 3, 6 and 12 weeks to assess symptoms, side effects and fissure healing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 6 weeks, 73% of patients had no fissures. In 27% of cases treatment was unsuccessful. At three month follow up there was no early recurrence. The prevalence of headaches was 84% with 11% headache related non-compliance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The use of 0.5% GTN induces rapid healing of chronic anal fissures with a 73% healing rate in this study. Successful treatment may come at the expense of a high incidence of headaches and a lower compliance than found in studies involving a lower concentration of GTN. A balance is required between fissure healing and headache intolerance.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"168-70"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A case of multiple splenic abscesses managed non-operatively.","authors":"A W Murray, A B Macgregor","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report the case of a previously fit 22-year-old man who developed multiple splenic abscesses of unclear aetiology and was successfully treated with percutaneous drainage of the largest abscess and antibiotic therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"189-91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revalidation: the catalyst for change in continuing professional development?","authors":"B Fearn","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"202"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21723432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"American Society of Anaesthesiologist Physical Status (ASA-PS): a predictor of treatment outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)","authors":"S Basu, S Shivde","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21723438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome.","authors":"R L Paterson, N R Webster","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome are common and represent a major factor in morbidity and mortality in intensive care units and the critically ill. The pathogenesis of these syndromes is becoming increasingly understood and it is hoped that this will result in improved outcome. However, novel treatments have so far failed to live up to the expectations following extensive and promising in vitro and in vivo animal studies. The aim of this review is to detail the currently used definitions of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis and septic shock and to present an overview of our current understanding of the pathophysiology which underline these conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"178-82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mediastinal endodermal sinus tumour: surgical role in chemotherapy resistant cases.","authors":"A A Syed, V P Lynch","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report two cases of aggressive mediastinal endodermal sinus tumours (EST) detected incidentally on a chest radiograph. The patients were being investigated for minor chest complaints. After three courses of cisplatin-based chemotherapy the tumour marker levels declined. However, the tumour size continued to increase. Complete surgical removal was possible in one case and significant reduction in tumour mass was achieved in the other. Reduction in the viable, tumour tissue load made the residual tumour sensitive to postoperative chemotherapy. It is important to be aware of endodermal sinus tumours refractory to chemotherapy which may require early surgical intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"199-201"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hydatid liver disease as a cause of recurrent pancreatitis.","authors":"A I Yahya","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"203-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21723435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A case of a Spigelian hernia at an unusually high anatomical location.","authors":"J M Rehman, C S Seow, P J O'Dwyer","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Most Spigelian hernias occur below the level of the umbilicus close to the level of the arcuate line. We report a case diagnosed by computed tomography in an unusually high anatomical location due to a previous drain site incision.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"196-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M Sahin, S Tekin, F Aksoy, H Vatansev, M Seker, M C Avunduk, A Kartal
{"title":"The effects of splenic artery ligation in an experimental model of secondary hypersplenism.","authors":"M Sahin, S Tekin, F Aksoy, H Vatansev, M Seker, M C Avunduk, A Kartal","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To induce hypersplenism in rats by splenic vein ligation and to investigate the effects of splenic artery ligation in this model.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Selective arterial embolisation and splenic artery ligation (SAL) are used in the treatment of secondary hypersplenism in some medical centres but these methods are not common.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Thirty male Saprague-Dawley rats were allocated to three groups (n = 10). The first group underwent laparotomy, the second and third groups underwent laparotomy and splenic vein ligation. At the end of the third week, laparotomy was performed in the first and second groups and splenic artery ligation in the third group. Erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet counts were performed weekly. At the end of the sixth week, the animals were sacrificed and the spleens were taken for histopathologic examination.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the second and third groups, after splenic vein ligation, the erythrocyte and platelet counts were significantly reduced at the end of the second week (p < 0.01). In the second group, which underwent splenic vein ligation only, the levels remained low throughout the experiment. In the third group, after splenic artery ligation, there were rises in both erythrocyte and platelet counts; the levels were similar to the levels in the control group at three weeks after splenic artery ligation (p > 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the leukocyte counts throughout the experiment (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Splenic vein ligation successfully induces experimental secondary hypersplenism. This state can be ameliorated by splenic artery ligation.</p>","PeriodicalId":76058,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh","volume":"45 3","pages":"148-52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21724348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}