Surgical oncology
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Extended spinal anaesthesia using a spinal micro-catheter was used as a primary method of anaesthesia for elective colorectal cancer surgery in 68 high risk patients over a 14-year period in our institution. The technique was also useful in eight elective and 13 emergency abdominal surgeries. All patients suffered from severe chronic obstructive airway disease requiring multiple inhalers and drugs (ASA III). ⋯ Postoperative pain relief was obtained by administering intravenous morphine through a patient controlled analgesia machine in the critical care ward area (High Dependency Unit). There was a low incidence of minor postoperative side effects such as nausea (14.6%), vomiting (7.9%), minor post dural puncture headache (5.6%) and pruritus (5.6%). We conclude that spinal anaesthesia with a micro-catheter may be used as a primary method of anaesthesia for colorectal cancer surgery and other major abdominal surgery in high-risk patients for whom general anaesthesia would be associated with higher morbidity and mortality.
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The therapeutic results of managing proximal tibial osteosarcoma have been dramatically improved because of the recent advancements in imaging, chemotherapy, and surgical techniques. Further, the prognosis of patients with proximal tibial osteosarcoma is improved and the chance of survival with limb salvage surgery is increased. Among the limb salvage procedures, endoprosthetic reconstruction is now preferred to other methods such as allograft, composite allograft prosthesis, or arthrodesis. However, the treatment for proximal tibial osteosarcoma with proximal tibiofibular joint involved has not been reported. ⋯ Custom prosthetic reconstruction could yield as much satisfactory results as neoadjuvant chemotherapy and limb salvage surgery, for patients with osteosarcoma in proximal tibia and proximal tibiofibular joint. During the present study, most patients had good or excellent motor functioning with few incidences of complications. However, more attention should have been given to both the quality of function and long-term survival of patients.