Surgical Site (surgical + site)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Terms modified by Surgical Site

  • surgical site infection
  • surgical site infections

  • Selected Abstracts


    Pemphigus Foliaceus Masquerading as Postoperative Wound Infection: Report of a Case and Review of the Koebner and Related Phenomenon following Surgical Procedures

    DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2005
    Adam M. Rotunda MD
    Background The Koebner phenomenon, also known as the isomorphic response, is the development of preexisting skin disease following trauma to uninvolved skin. Various cutaneous disorders have been described to arise at surgical wounds and scars. Moreover, dermatologic procedures, such as cold-steel and laser surgery, can evoke koebnerization. Objective To describe a case of pemphigus foliaceus arising in postoperative wounds and to present a review of dermatologic disorders triggered by surgical procedures. Methods We report a case of pemphigus foliaceus initially presenting at sites of Mohs' micrographic surgery, shave biopsy, and cryotherapy and, subsequently, at a nonsurgical site. We reviewed the English literature in MEDLINE from November 1955 to April 2004 for reports of Koebner and related phenomenon following surgical procedures. Results To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pemphigus foliaceus erupting at surgical and cryotherapy wounds. The clinical appearance can mimic wound infection. In addition to inducing preexisting disease, cutaneous procedures can also trigger the onset of new disease, which can either be limited only to the surgical site or subsequently become generalized. Conclusion Postoperative Koebner or related responses should be included in the differential diagnosis of poorly healing surgical wounds. Skin biopsies for histopathology and immunologic studies may be necessary for definitive diagnosis and optimal management. ADAM M. ROTUNDA, MD, ANAND R. BHUPATHY, DO, ROBERT DYE, MD, AND TERESA T. SORIANO, MD, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS. [source]


    Metastatic acinic cell carcinoma in a neurofibroma mistaken for carcinosarcoma

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 1 2005
    Michael L. Cohn MD
    Abstract Background. Tumor-to-tumor metastasis is a rare, but well-recognized, entity most commonly involving metastatic carcinoma to a mesenchymal neoplasm. We report a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland metastatic to a neurofibroma. Methods and Results. A 55-year-old man with a history of a high-grade acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid was seen with a mass at the surgical site and metastatic foci in the scalp 10 months postoperatively. The resection specimen revealed a spindle cell lesion with metastatic foci of high-grade adenocarcinoma, initially diagnosed as a carcinosarcoma. The bland morphology and S-100,positive expression of the spindle cell lesion confirmed the diagnosis of neurofibroma. The high-grade features of the carcinomatous foci and their similarity to the primary tumor confirmed the presence of a tumor-to-tumor metastasis. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acinic cell carcinoma metastatic to a neurofibroma, an important entity in the differential diagnosis of biphasic tumors of the head and neck. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: 76,80, 2005 [source]


    Acellular dermal matrix allograft used to gain attached gingiva in a case of epidermolysis bullosa

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 11 2003
    Eralp Buduneli
    Abstract Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is an acquired disease or inherited as either autosomal dominant or recessive with an incidence of 1/50,000. The prominent clinical characteristic of the disease is the development of bullae or vesicles in mucosa or skin in response to minor trauma. Aim: A female patient with a dystrophic type of EB had been put in a maintenance regimen after completion of the initial phase of periodontal therapy and followed for 7 years. The purpose of this report is to document acellular dermal matrix allograft application to increase the width of the attached gingiva in this patient experiencing difficulty in chewing and performing plaque control due to the dramatic loss of attached gingiva after 7 years of supportive periodontal therapy. Methods: Under local anaesthesia and antibiotic coverage, the acellular dermal matrix allograft was applied in the anterior region of the upper jaw in order to increase the width of attached gingiva, thereby improving patient comfort. Results: The healing was uneventful and a significant gain in attached gingiva dimensions was observed 9 months after the periodontal surgery. The procedure avoided a second surgical site, provided satisfactory results from an aesthetic point of view, and improved patient comfort. Conclusion: Acellular dermal matrix allograft may be regarded as an alternative in the treatment of EB cases to increase the width of attached gingiva and facilitate maintenance of the dentition. Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Die Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) ist eine erworbene oder eine autosomal dominant oder rezessiv vererbte Krankheit mit einer Incidenz von 1:50,000. Die hervorstechenden klinischen Symptome dieser Erkrankung sind die Entwicklung von Blasen oder Vesikeln in der Mukosa oder in der Haut auf geringste Traumen. Ziel: Eine Frau mit dem dystrophischen Typ von EB wurde in der Erhaltungsphase seit 7 Jahren geführt, nachdem die initiale Phase der parodontalen Therapie beendet worden war. Der Zweck dieser Studie ist die Dokumentation der Applikation eines azellulären Hautmatrixtransplantats für die Verbreiterung der fest angewachsenen Gingiva bei dieser Patientin, die nach 7 Jahren der erhaltenden parodontalen Therapie Probleme beim Kauen und bei der Durchführung der Plaquekontrolle durch einen starken Verlust an fest angewachsener Gingiva hatte. Methoden: Unter lokaler Anästhesie und antibiotischer Abschirmung wurde das azelluläre Hautmatrixtransplantat in die anteriore Region des Oberkiefers appliziert, um die Breite der fest angewachsenen Gingiva zu vergrößern und so das Befinden der Patientin zu verbessern. Ergebnisse: Die Heilung war komplikationslos, und ein signifikanter Gewinn an fest angewachsener Gingiva 9 Monate nach der parodontalen Operation wurde beobachtet. Die Methode vermied eine zweite chirurgische Region, erbrachte zufriedenstellende Ergebnisse aus ästhetischer Sicht und verbesserte das Befinden der Patientin. Schlussfolgerung: Das azelluläre Hautmatrixtransplantat kann als eine Alternative in der Behandlung von EB betrachtet werden, um die Breite der fest angewachsenen Gingiva zu vergrößern und zur Möglichkeit der Erhaltung der Dentition beizutragen. Résumé La bullose épidermolysie (EB) est une maladie contractée ou héritée qui peut être aussi bien autosomale dominante que récessive avec une fréquence de 1/50,000. La caractéristique clinique importante de la maladie est le développement de bulles ou de vésicules au niveau de la muqueuse ou de la peau comme réponse à un traumatisme mineur. Une femme avec un type dystrophique de EB a été placée dans un régime de maintenance après la fin de la phase initiale du traitement parodontal et suivie durant sept années. Le but de ce rapport est de documenter le placement d'un allographe de la matrice dermique acellulaire visant à augmenter la largeur de la gencive attachée chez cette patiente qui avait des problèmes aux niveaux masticatoire et du contrôle de la plaque dentaire vu la perte dramatique de la gencive attachée après sept années de maintenance parodontale. Sous anesthésie locale et sous couverture antibiotique, l'allographe de la matrice dermique acellulaire a été placé dans la région antérieure de la mâchoire supérieure pour augmenter la largeur de la gencive attachée afin d'améliorer le confort de la patiente. La guérison s'est déroulée sans problème et un gain significatif de gencive attachée a été observé neuf mois après la chirurgie parodontale. Ce processus chirurgical élimine la nécessité d'avoir un site donneur, apporte des résultats satisfaisants du point de vue esthétique et améliore le confort du patient. L'allographe de la matrice dermique acellulaire peut donc être considéré comme une alternative dans le traitement des cas de EB afin d'augmenter la largeur de la gencive attachée et faciliter le maintien de la dentition. [source]


    Major elective joint replacement surgery: socioeconomic variations in surgical risk, postoperative morbidity and length of stay

    JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2010
    Jennifer Hollowell PhD
    Abstract Background, Patient deprivation is associated with greater need for total hip and knee replacement surgery (THR/TKR) and a higher prevalence of risk factors for surgical complications. Our aim was to examine associations between deprivation and aspects of the inpatient episode for patients undergoing these procedures. Methods, We analysed socioeconomic variations in preoperative surgical risk, postoperative morbidity and length of stay for 655 patients undergoing elective THR/TKR at a large metropolitan hospital. Surgical risk was assessed using the orthopaedic version of the POSSUM scoring system, postoperative morbidity was assessed using the postoperative morbidity survey, and socioeconomic status was measured using the Index of Multiple Deprivation. We adjusted for age, sex, surgical site and primary vs. revision surgery. Results, We found only a modest, clinically insignificant socioeconomic gradient in preoperative surgical risk and no socioeconomic gradient in postoperative morbidity. There was a strong socioeconomic gradient in length of stay, but only for patients undergoing TKR. This was due to deprived patients being more likely to remain in hospital without morbidity following TKR. Conclusions, Our findings suggest differential selection of healthier patients for surgery. Hospitals serving deprived communities may have excess, unfunded costs because of the increased length of stay of socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. [source]


    Early detection of bone infection and differentiation from post-surgical inflammation using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro- D -glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in an animal model

    JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005
    Laurie Jones-Jackson
    Abstract Diagnosing bone infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation is problematic since many of the early signs of infection are similar to normal post-surgical changes. We used a rabbit osteomyelitis model to evaluate the use of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro- D -glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as a means of detecting post-operative infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation. Comparisons were made between infected and non-infected rabbits in which infection with Staphylococcus aureus was initiated at the time of surgery. Weekly PET scans were obtained 30 and 60 min after the introduction of FDG and analyzed based on standardized uptake values (SUV) at the surgical site and visual assessment of the presence or absence of infection. Concurrent X-rays were taken immediately prior to scanning. At 4 weeks post-operatively, animals were sacrificed for histologic and bacteriologic confirmation of infection. Uptake of FDG was evident in the bone of all rabbits on day 1 post-surgery, however, SUV comparisons from the surgical site could not be used to distinguish between the infected and uninfected groups until day 15. Visual analysis of FDG-PET scans revealed a significant difference (p < 0.01) between the infected and uninfected groups as early as day 8. This was due in part to the ability to visualize regional lymph nodes by FDG-PET.© 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [source]


    Retention of 125I-labeled recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 by biphasic calcium phosphate or a composite sponge in a rabbit posterolateral spine arthrodesis model

    JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 5 2002
    John Louis-Ugbo
    The purpose of this study was to characterize the retention kinetics of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) applied to two calcium-based delivery matrices. Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and a composite containing BCP in an absorbable collagen sponge (BCP/ACS) were evaluated using a spinal fusion model in rabbits. rhBMP-2 labeled with radioactive iodine (125I) was used as a tracer to assess in vivo retention of rhBMP-2 in the presence of these materials (nine animals per material studied). Over a 36 day study period, animals were assessed for the following: percent administered dose retained at the implant site as measured by scintigraphic imaging (counting) with a gamma camera (all animals), radiography of the implant site (all animals), radioactivity in blood and plasma (all animals), and radioactivity in the urine and feces (three animals for each material). Radioactivity data were corrected for the decay of 125I and the attenuation between the implant in vivo and the gamma camera. Differences observed between the two materials for the area under the retention vs. time profile (AUC; 988%day for BCP vs. 1070%day for BCP/ACS, p = 0.57) and the mean residence time (MRT; 10.2 days for BCP vs. 7.6 days for BCP/ACS, p = 0.06) were not statistically significant. Initial retention/incorporation of rhBMP-2 was slightly higher for rhBMP-2/BCP/ACS than for rhBMP-2/BCP (96.8% vs. 86.0%, p lt; 0.05). Animals receiving rhBMP-2/BCP showed a longer terminal retention half-life (t1/2) than did those receiving rhBMP-2/BCP/ACS (7.5 vs. 4.5 days, p < 0.05). The urinary radioactivity recovery data supported the data obtained by scintigraphy. Over the 36 day collection period, essentially complete recovery of radioactivity (dose) in urine was observed for rhBMP-2/BCP and rhBMP-2/BCP/ACS and the majority of the radioactivity (approximately 95%) was soluble in trichloroacetic acid, suggesting extensive catabolism of rhBMP-2 before renal excretion. Fecal recovery of radioactivity was low, approximately 2,3%. In conclusion, rhBMP-2 was retained at the implant site when delivered with either BCP or BCP/ACS based on mean residence time and area under the retention curve vs. time profile. Use of these matrices resulted in detectable rhBMP-2 levels at the surgical site for over a week in contrast to data reported with several other matrices that lasted less time. Systemic catabolism and elimination of the rhBMP-2 was extensive and systemic presence of the protein was negligible. © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [source]


    Thalamic deep brain stimulation: Effects on the nontarget limbs

    MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 6 2001
    William Ondo MD
    Abstract Unilateral thalamic ventral intermediate (VIM) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is now accepted as an effective treatment for essential tremor (ET) and tremor related to Parkinson's disease (PD). The effects of unilateral placement on the side ipsilateral to the surgical site have not been carefully evaluated. To systematically assess the effects ipsilateral to the surgical side and to determine the effects of device inactivation on the baseline tremor, we evaluated tremor in 73 patients approximately 3 months after their unilateral thalamic placement. Assessment included blinded and unblinded ratings using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale for PD patients and a modified Tremor Rating Scale in ET patients. All measures of tremor contralateral to the implantation site improved significantly and robustly in both PD and ET. Implantation did not worsen tremor by any measure on the ipsilateral side. There was mild ipsilateral improvement as measured by lower observed tremor scores in ET (6.0 ± 1.8 to 5.0 ± 1.9, P < 0.005), but not PD. There was no rebound augmentation of tremor in either hand after the devices were deactivated in either group. We conclude that VIM DBS may mildly improve ipsilateral ET, and that concerns about meaningful ipsilateral tremor augmentation after device deactivation are not warranted. © 2001 Movement Disorder Society. [source]


    Does epidural analgesia delay the diagnosis of lower limb compartment syndrome in children?

    PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 2 2009
    DOUG J.G. JOHNSON MBChB MRCP FRCA
    Summary One of the cardinal symptoms of compartment syndrome is pain. A literature review was undertaken in order to assess the association of epidural analgesia and compartment syndrome in children, whether epidural analgesia delays the diagnosis, and to identify patients who might be at risk. Evidence was sought to offer recommendations in the use of epidural analgesia in patients at risk of developing compartment syndrome of the lower limb. Increasing analgesic use, increasing/breakthrough pain and pain remote to the surgical site were identified as important early warning signs of impending compartment syndrome in the lower limb of a child with a working epidural. The presence of any should trigger immediate examination of the painful site, and active management of the situation (we have proposed one clinical pathway). Avoidance of dense sensory or motor block and unnecessary sensory blockade of areas remote to the surgical site allows full assessment of the child and may prevent any delay in diagnosis of compartment syndrome. Focusing on excluding the diagnosis of compartment syndrome rather than failure of analgesic modality is vital. In the pediatric cases reviewed there was no clear evidence that the presence of an epidural had delayed the diagnosis. [source]


    Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor after successful treatment for Hodgkin disease

    PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 5 2005
    Philip M. Rosoff MD
    Abstract The risk of second malignancies after successful treatment for Hodgkin disease can be considerable. The most common malignancies are solid tumors arising in irradiated sites, such as the breast and thyroid gland after mantle field radiation. Sarcomas and other musculoskeletal tumors are also seen. We describe a young woman who developed an intra-abdominal desmoid tumor more than 4 years after completing therapy for Stage IIB Hodgkin disease, treated with combination chemotherapy (ABVD) and mantle irradiation. The tumor did not occur at either a surgical site or within a radiation field. She did not carry a mutation for familial adenomatosis polypoli. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Mycotic pseudoaneurysm following a kidney transplant: A case report and review of the literature

    PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2009
    Ignacio Osmán
    Abstract:, Vascular complications represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following a kidney transplant. Pseudoaneurysms are rare, occurring in approximately 1% of cases. We present a 15-yr-old patient who received a kidney transplant in the right iliac fossa. Thirty-six days following the transplant, the patient was admitted to the hospital because of a marked increase in serum creatinine levels, arterial hypertension, scrotal edema, and lower right limb pain. The patient did not present fever or raised inflammatory markers. A pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed by means of a Doppler echography and a CT. By a selective arteriography of the right iliac artery, we placed a 8 × 5 cm stent to isolate the pseudoaneurysm, due to the high risk of an extensive defect occurring in the arterial wall. Forty-eight h later the patient underwent transplant nephrectomy. Seven days following surgery, the patient experienced febrile syndrome and therefore another CT was carried out which showed a large abscess around the stent. So we decided to perform another intervention in order to drain this abscess. Due to the extensive loss of the arterial wall where the prosthesis was largely exposed, we ligated the common iliac and external iliac arteries, removed the prosthesis and performed a femoro-femoral bypass with the usual subcutaneous positioning of the prosthesis (separate from surgical site). The stent and mural thrombus were sent for culture analysis and Candida albicans was observed. The diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm in these types of patients continues to be considered as a surgical emergency by the majority of authors. Transplantectomy is the most frequently used treatment technique. Positioning a stent prior to transplantectomy avoids ligature of the iliac artery in the majority of cases. [source]


    SURGICAL SITE MARKING DOES NOT AFFECT STERILITY

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 8 2008
    John Rooney
    Background: In 2005, surgical site marking became mandatory in Australia, with the introduction of the first Australian guidelines to prevent wrong site surgery. It has been our experience that most surgical site marking occurs with the use of a non-sterile marking pen, which has been used on multiple patients and there is little information in the published work about the effects of surgical site marking carried out in this fashion. Our aim was to determine whether the sterility of a surgical site was affected by surgical site marking with a non-sterile surgical marking pen. Methods: Both forearms of 20 volunteers would simulate surgical sites. Surgical site marking was carried out on right forearms with the same non-sterile surgical marking pen, whereas left forearms were unmarked controls. Microbiology swabs were taken from both forearms before, and after, skin sterilization with 10% povidone,iodine. Routine cultures were carried out on the swabs after sodium thiosulphate was used to deactivate residual iodine. Cultures were assessed for growth after 5 days. Results: One of the 20 marked forearms and 15 of the 20 unmarked forearms had bacterial growth on cultures before skin sterilization (P < 0.1). After sterilization with iodine, no bacterial growth occurred in the cultures of the swabs taken from the marked or control arms. Conclusion: Surgical site marking carried out with a non-sterile surgical marking pen did not contaminate the surgical site. We recommend the practice of surgical site marking. [source]


    Postoperative surgical site infections in cardiac surgery ,an overview of preventive measures

    APMIS, Issue 9 2007
    BENGT GÅRDLUND
    Postoperative surgical site infections are a major cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. A surgical site infection occurs when the contaminating pathogens overcome the host defense systems and an infectious process begins. Bacteria may enter the operating site either by direct contamination from the patient's skin or internal organs, through the hands and instruments of the surgical staff or by bacteria-carrying particles that float around in the operating theatre and may land in the wound. The ability to withstand the contaminating bacteria depends on both local and systemic host defense. Successful preventive strategies are multiple and must include: 1) Minimizing the bacterial contamination of the surgical site (skin preparation, operating room ventilation, scrubbing, double gloving, etc.), 2) Minimizing the consequences of virulent contaminating bacteria by antibiotic prophylaxis (adequate dose, sort, timing, duration), 3) Minimizing injury to local host defense (atraumatic surgery, no excessive electrocautery, meticulous hemostasis, etc.), and 4) Optimizing general host defense (nutrition, tobacco smoking, weight loss, etc.). Compliance with these preventive procedures must be enforced through regular reviews of performance. Non-compliance with hygiene routines is often due to ignorance and poor planning. Education of personnel in these issues is a continuous process. [source]


    Early load mandibular hybrid prosthesis using the Ohio State University acrylic frame requiring no final impression

    AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
    I Turkyilmaz
    Abstract Background:, Although immediate/early loading protocols for dental implants have presented encouraging outcomes, immediate loading procedures may cause discomfort to the patient and may increase the possibility of damage to the surgical site during the impression procedures. The aim of this study was to describe an alternative technique to fabricate a mandibular hybrid prosthesis in three or four days without making any final impression and to evaluate the outcomes of this technique. Methods:, Seven patients aged 41 to 71 years (mean age, 58 ± 11) were considered for this study. Each patient received five implants for the reconstruction of the edentulous mandible. These implants were placed in the anterior region of an edentulous mandible and restored with a final mandibular hybrid prosthesis in four days using the Ohio State University (OSU) acrylic frame requiring no final impression procedure. The patients were followed up to 19 months after implant placement. Results:, No implants were lost, no technical complications were observed and only minor marginal bone loss was noted after an average 15 months. Conclusions:, This clinical study shows that the OSU acrylic frame, which can easily be customized and accommodates variability in arch form, may be an alternative method to restore any edentulous mandible with an early load mandibular hybrid prosthesis. [source]


    Duplicated inferior vena cava and crossed renal ectopia with abdominal aortic aneurysm: Preoperative anatomic studies facilitate surgery

    CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 4 2003
    M. B. K. Shaw
    Abstract Abdominal aortic aneurysm in association with duplication of the inferior vena cava and crossed renal ectopia is described for the first time. Preoperative imaging with computer-aided tomography provided good visualization of the local anatomy, allowing the surgical approach to be adapted for the best access to the surgical site. A retroperitoneal approach was successfully used for repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. Clin. Anat. 16:355,357, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    SURGICAL SITE MARKING DOES NOT AFFECT STERILITY

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 8 2008
    John Rooney
    Background: In 2005, surgical site marking became mandatory in Australia, with the introduction of the first Australian guidelines to prevent wrong site surgery. It has been our experience that most surgical site marking occurs with the use of a non-sterile marking pen, which has been used on multiple patients and there is little information in the published work about the effects of surgical site marking carried out in this fashion. Our aim was to determine whether the sterility of a surgical site was affected by surgical site marking with a non-sterile surgical marking pen. Methods: Both forearms of 20 volunteers would simulate surgical sites. Surgical site marking was carried out on right forearms with the same non-sterile surgical marking pen, whereas left forearms were unmarked controls. Microbiology swabs were taken from both forearms before, and after, skin sterilization with 10% povidone,iodine. Routine cultures were carried out on the swabs after sodium thiosulphate was used to deactivate residual iodine. Cultures were assessed for growth after 5 days. Results: One of the 20 marked forearms and 15 of the 20 unmarked forearms had bacterial growth on cultures before skin sterilization (P < 0.1). After sterilization with iodine, no bacterial growth occurred in the cultures of the swabs taken from the marked or control arms. Conclusion: Surgical site marking carried out with a non-sterile surgical marking pen did not contaminate the surgical site. We recommend the practice of surgical site marking. [source]


    Original Article: Lignocaine gel in minimally invasive surgery , A pilot cohort study

    AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
    Natasha BEG
    Background:, The administration of local anaesthetic at the conclusion of minimally invasive procedures has been shown to reduce postoperative pain. However, it is often not feasible to reach target surgical sites using a needle, making it difficult to administer injectable local anaesthetic. Formulations currently available for topical use are also not sterile, adhere poorly, and are not adjusted to neutral pH at the time of use. To address these limitations, a new sterile, aqueous 4.8% lignocaine gel was formulated for topical application on surgical wounds. Aims:, To determine the clinical feasibility, safety and tolerability of the topical lignocaine gel. Methods:, A total of 125 female patients underwent minimally invasive gynaecological procedures. The lignocaine gel was applied to any intra-abdominal, intra-uterine or intra-vaginal surgical wounds. The incidence of any intra- or postoperative complications was determined via retrospective review of surgical reports, hospital files and outpatient clinic files. Results:, In all cases, the surgeon was able to apply the gel successfully to the desired site. There were no intra-operative complications. There were no adverse events encountered during recovery or hospitalisation which are likely to be associated with the lignocaine gel. Eight patients experienced adverse events during the postoperative period which could be linked to the use of the gel. However, the incidence of these was within the known range of adverse events for these procedures. Conclusions:, A sterile lignocaine gel can be safely used in minimally invasive surgery. [source]


    Presurgical lateralization of seizure focus and language dominant hemisphere with O-15 water PET imaging

    ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2000
    R. Tatlidil
    Objectives, The purpose of this study was to assess the value of same day blood flow PET in both the identification of the language dominant hemisphere and in the lateralization of the epileptic focus in patients who were preoperatively evaluated for complex partial seizures. Methods, The charts of 24 patients who had temporal lobectomies for seizures were retrospectively reviewed. All PET scans were acquired by using O-15 water tracer (H215O) in both resting and language activation conditions. PET language laterality results were compared to Intracarotid amytal procedure (IAP) results. For epileptic focus lateralizations, regions of interest (ROI) analysis of temporal lobes was performed on resting scans. Results, IAP testing was discordant with PET language mapping in 1 out of 24 cases. This patient had a decline in cognitive abilities as measured by postoperative neuropsychologic testing. For epileptic focus lateralization, the PET was highly sensitive (87%) and specific (100%). Lateralizations with the PET were in agreement with surgical sites in all cases. Eighteen patients (75%) were seizure free and 4 patients (17%) were significantly improved after surgery. Conclusion, The results suggest that O-15 water PET is sensitive and specific in both the lateralization of epileptic focus and the language dominant hemisphere and can be a cost-effective and noninvasive method in presurgical evaluation of patients with complex partial seizures. [source]