Saturday, August 31, 2019

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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Lupine Publishers | Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures: Emerging Indications

Lupine Publishers | Journal of Surgery & Case Studies

 

Abstract


Introduction: Rib fractures are a common injury after road traffic accidents. While most simple rib fractures heal well, multiple rib fractures may result in acute life-threatening complications or chronic disability and work loss. Though surgical fixation of rib fractures has most commonly been restricted to multiple rib fractures with flail chest, there has been a recent interest in fixation of multiple rib fractures with chest deformity to preclude chronic disability and loss of work.
Case Report: We report the case of a 34 year male with multiple rib fracture and chest deformity due to multiple, displaced fractures of 3rd to 10th ribs on the left side. He was treated with open reduction and internation fixation of ribs with 2.4mm titanium reconstruction plates and screws. The emerging indications of rib fracture fixation, as seen in this patient, are discussed.
Conclusion: Longer duration of hospital stays and delay in returning to normal life result in poor quality of life and add to direct and indirect treatment expenses. A case-based approach is essential in the decision-making for surgical fixation of multiple displaced rib fractures.
Keywords: Rib Fractures; Fracture Fixation; Chest Deformity

 

Introduction

Rib fractures are one of the most common injuries after road traffic accidents. Most simple rib fractures heal well with minimum intervention. But multiple rib fractures may require use of mechanical ventilation and sometimes surgical management [1]. Thoracic trauma comprises 10-15 % of all trauma and are the causes of death in 25 % of all fatalities due to trauma [2]. We present a case of multiple rib fractures and chest deformity and present the outcome of surgical fixation and its significance.

 

Case Summary

A 34 year male, a bus conductor, was brought to our hospital in the emergency room with an alleged history of road traffic accident. He sustained mild head injury with a history of loss of consciousness and there were multiple abrasions all over his body. He complained of severe excruciating pain during breathing and movements of left arm, with a pain score in VAS scale at 8-9(0-10). Pain was nonresponsive to analgesics. He had significant depression of the chest wall on the left side; chest wall movements were equal bilaterally. Computed tomography of the brain showed no parenchymal injury. Plain chest radiograph (Figure 1) and computed tomography with 3D reconstruction (Figure 2) demonstrated multiple, displaced fractures of 3rd to 10th ribs on the left side. There was no evidence of pneumothorax, hemothorax or lung contusional injury.
Figure 1: Anteroposterior radiograph of the chest demonstrating fracture of 3rd to 11th ribs.
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Figure 2: 3-D computed tomography demonstrating the displaced fractures.
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Figure 3: Intraoperative picture demonstrating placement of 2.4 mm titanium reconstruction plates and screws to fix the fractures.
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Figure 4: Postoperative radiograph showing surgical fixation of 6th to 10th ribs.
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Considering the presence of chest wall deformity and multiple consecutive rib fractures, surgical stabilization of the ribs was planned. Under general anesthesia, patient was positioned on left lateral position, and through a single lazy- S incision starting from lower border of scapula with a length of 6 cm, lattisimus dorsi muscle was exposed and split along the fibers and access to the ribs was made by stripping off the intercostal muscles. The 6th to 10th ribs were reduced and fixed with 2.4 mm titanium reconstruction plates and screws (Figures 3 & 4).
There were no signs of pleural tear after fixation, as clinically confirmed by positive pressure ventilation. The wound was closed in layers with a vacuum drain in-situ. He made a rapid recovery with marked reduction in his pain and discomfort (VAS score of 5) on post-operative day 1. The chest wall deformity was fully corrected. He was discharged on the 3rd post-operative day. Patient was last followed-up at 7months. The fractures had united (Figure 5) and recovery was uneventful. He had returned to work 3weeks following surgery.
Figure 5: Anteroposterior chest radiograph at 7 months following surgery showing fracture consolidation.
Lupinepublishers-openaccess-Surgery-Casestudies

 

Discussion

Incidence of rib fracture reported by various studies ranges between 7 - 40 %. Most commonly 4th - 9th ribs are fractured. Fractures of upper ribs (1st & 2nd) usually signify severe trauma with increased risk of great vessel injuries [2]. Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in the surgical management of rib fractures [3,4]. Indications for surgical fixation of rib fractures include flail chest, severe chest wall deformity, failure to wean from mechanical ventilation, chronic pain or disability, pulmonary herniation, nonunion and “on the way out” after thoracotomy [5]. Initial research suggests that in select patients, operative management of chest wall injuries is a promising treatment option. Granetzy et al. [4] in 2005 randomised 40 patients who experienced fractures of 3 or more ribs to receive either conservative or surgical treatment and the results showed that patients in the surgical group experienced significantly fewer days on mechanical ventilation, decreased stay in the Intensive Care Unit and hospital stay and less restrictive pattern on pulmonary function tests 2 months after treatment [6]. Similar results were found by Nirula et al. [5] in 2006 where they treated 60 patients with rib fractures [7]. Favourable long term outcomes of patients undergoing surgical chest wall stabilization was documented from a prospective study by Lardinois et al. [8], who had done surgical stabilization of 60 patients of chest wall injuries from 1990-1999.
Rib fractures have been associated with significant disability and loss of work [9]. Hence selected patients with multiple rib fractures but without flail chest have been hypothesized to benefit better from open reduction with internal fixation than from nonoperative treatment [10,11]. All existing surgical indications are relative. Surgical repair has been attributed to possible sooner return to work and usual activities [5,12]. In a retrospective study by Solberg et al on 16 patients of unilateral rib fracture and chest wall deformity, the overall recovery of the surgically treated patient was much earlier than that of those who were treated conservatively [13]. However, no cohort study is available to confirm the beneficial effects of surgical fixation for multiple rib fractures without flail chest [5,12]. Treatment must be individualized on the basis of the patient’s fracture pattern, overall medical condition, and functional status [12]. This patient presents an ideal scenario where a surgical fixation of the rib fracture would result in better clinical outcomes and reduce the morbidity of prolonged pain and disability and loss of work.

 

Conclusion

The most preferred modality of treatment of rib fractures is non-operative, with analgesics and active chest physiotherapy. However recovery is prolonged or associated with complications, especially in the presence of multiple rib fracture, floating ribs or a flail chest. Longer duration of hospital stay and delay in returning to normal life also result in poor quality of life and add to direct and indirect treatment expenses. Hence, it is rational to manage certain patients with multiple rib fracture surgically to reduce morbidy, mortality and loss of work. Clinical message: The report stresses the need to make a case-based approach in decision-making and the need to have a lower threshold for surgical fixation in the presence of multiple displaced rib fractures. Further cohort studies are needed to confirm the benefits of internal fixation of multiple rib fractures in the absence of flail chest.

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Lupine Publishers: Soil Texture of Nesting Sites and Breeding Populat...

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Monday, August 26, 2019

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Lupine Publishers | Preoperative Parenteral Iron Supplementation in Critical Mesenteric Ischaemia

Lupine Publishders | Journal Of Surgery & Case Studies

 

Abstract


Background Symptomatic mesenteric ischaemia is an uncommon disease entity which can prove complicated to diagnose and manage. Both endovascular and open operative approaches have been described but the nutritional complications caused by poor gut absorption can mean that these patients may be at higher risk of operative complications, and appropriate care should be given to preoperative nutritional optimisation prior to surgical management.

Objective 

We present a case of critical mesenteric arterial stenosis treated with preoperative intravenous iron supplementation to illustrate preoperative optimisation and therapeutic approaches, together with a selected review of the literature

Conclusion

Preoperative parenteral iron supplementation is likely to be effective in reducing preoperative anaemia but the impact of this intervention on postoperative blood transfusion and other complications in the context of complex aortic surgery is unknown.
Keywords: Critical Mesenteric Ischaemia; Iron Supplementation; Preoperative Optimisation

 

Introduction

Chronic mesenteric ischaemia (CMI) caused by atherosclerotic stenosis of the arteries supplying the small bowel is a fairly common finding at autopsy (reported to be between 12-60% of elderly patients at autopsy [1]), however symptomatic critical mesenteric ischaemia is rarely reported and can elude diagnosis for extended periods of time due to the non-specific symptoms of presentation. Patients may complain of post-prandial abdominal pain, appetite and weight loss, and “food fear” [2]. In these patients, as the disease process can be protracted and well-established by time of diagnosis and management, patients may show signs of long-term undernourishment, including weight loss, electrolyte and micronutrient deficiencies and declining overall health [3]. As such, substantial preoperative optimisation may be required prior to consideration of operative management and revascularisation. Consideration should also be given postoperatively to a possibility of re-feeding syndrome. We present here the case of a 70-yearold woman seen in our unit with a complex critical mesenteric ischaemia compounded with general frailty and undernourishment.

 

Case Report

Figure 1: Preoperative CT scan showing scaphoid abdomen.
Lupinepublishers-openaccess-Surgery-Casestudies
A 70-year-old woman was initially referred by her primary care doctor for assessment of unintentional weight loss for investigation of possible malignancy. At time of referral, the patient had lost 9 kilograms (from 51kg to 42kg) within 4 months (body mass index 18) and complained of persistent nausea and upper abdominal pain. She was noted to have a background of rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A CT scan of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis did not show any sign of malignant lesions, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed only mild gastritis. The patient was treated with helicobacter pylori eradication therapy and discharged (Figure 1). She was re-referred to the service following further concerning weight loss to a body weight of 35kg with a BMI of 12.86. A repeat upper GI endoscopy was completely normal. Blood tests showed a mild red cell macrocytosis (MCV 100) and low ferritin levels; renal function, electrolytes and liver function tests were unremarkable. Further review of CT imaging revealed an occluded coeliac trunk with stenosis at the origin of the superior mesenteric artery and suspicion of post-stenotic aneurysm.
The patient underwent CT angiography which showed critical stenosis with short occlusion of the coeliac trunk origin, and a 3cm occlusion at the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Bowel was entirely supplied by collateral vessels originating from the inferior mesenteric artery, which was itself also stenosed at its origin. Abdominal aorta, renal arteries and iliac vessels did not show any significant disease. Attempts were made to treat the stenoses with an endovascular approach but were ultimately unsuccessful as it was not possible to identify mesenteric vessel origins due to severity of stenosis. Following this the patient was planned to undergo supracoeliac aortic-SMA bypass, with preoperative optimisation with IV iron supplementation. The patient’s low ferritin levels at diagnosis were supplemented by this approach and came up to normal levels by the time of procedure; this was reflected in the improved full blood count of the patient.” The patient underwent laparotomy and adhesiolysis, following which the root of the SMA was identified (Figures 2 & 3).
Figure 2: DSA from brachial approach, AP.
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Figure 3: DSA lateral image showing no filling of any mesenteric vessels.
Lupinepublishers-openaccess-Surgery-Casestudies
Figure 4: Postoperative CT scan showing patulous anastamosis and proximal part of vein graft.
Lupinepublishers-openaccess-Surgery-Casestudies
Figure 5: Postoperative CT with 3D reconstruction showing right renal artery takeoff and vein graft.
Lupinepublishers-openaccess-Surgery-Casestudies
A long saphenous vein graft was harvested and anastamosed to the supracoeliac aorta proximally and the terminal SMA distally. On completion of anastamosis and upon opening of the graft, the small bowel became flushed pink and began enthusiastically peristalsing almost immediately (Figures 4 & 5). Postoperatively the patient progressed well, and upon follow up, had gained 7kg in the space of 3 months. Symptoms of post-prandial pain and nausea, as well as appetite generally, had improved significantly from her previous morbid state.

 

Discussion

ACritical mesenteric ischaemia poses a particular challenge for preoperative optimization; reduced arterial supply of the small bowel is likely to affect its function and the degree to which this occurs is likely to depend on the severity of the stenotic areas. Equally, preoperative anaemia is known to increase the risk of blood transfusion, and in turn, increase the morbidity and mortality risk of undergoing a procedure [4]. A recent study involving patients with colorectal cancer treated with preoperative intravenous iron supplementation showed that the haemoglobin level was significantly increased in the active treatment group, however the further impact of this increase on risk levels of morbidity and mortality is not known [5]. In particular, the effectiveness of this intervention is unknown in patients undergoing high risk aortic surgery. A 2015 Cochrane report identified 3 prospective randomised controlled trials investigating its use – two in colorectal surgery and one gynaecological study. This review suggested that there was a reduction in use of blood transfusions associated with preoperative intravenous iron supplementation but it was not statistically significant. Each of these studies had small patient numbers, however, and overall the authors note that the studies are unlikely to have had sufficient power to reliably analyse the significance of the effect [6].

 

Conclusion

We present a case of critical mesenteric ischaemia with use of preoperative intravenous iron supplementation. Intravenous iron replacement therapy has been noted in the literature to have reduced the prevalence of preoperative anaemia, though more studies are needed to see if this truly translates to lower levels of operative morbidity and mortality, and if this effect is seen across differing surgical procedures.

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Gallstone Ileus in the Elderly: Still a Challenge, Report of a Case with Review of the Current Literature

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