Annali italiani di chirurgia
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The incidence of thyroid carcinoma in hyperthyroidism varies considerably from as low as 0.3% to as high as 16.6% with a higher rate in toxic nodular goiters. Occult thyroid carcinoma (< 1.5 cm or microscopic foci) is the rule and only a few tumors are suspected preoperatively with ultrasonography or fine needle aspiration or 131 I scan. In 408 patients who underwent surgery for hyperthyroidism in our Surgery Department from January 1967 through December 1994 the incidence of thyroid carcinoma was 5.6% (23 cases). ⋯ Mean follow-up is 59.6 months. Our retrospective study shows a progressive increase of the incidence of coexisting thyroid malignancy and hyperthyroidism especially in toxic nodular goiter, probably related to extended surgical indications. Our findings do confirm that, even in the presence of hyperthyroidism, all thyroid nodules require careful diagnostics for exclusion of malignancy.
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The progress in surgery, anaesthesia, pre and postoperative care improves the number of old patients undergoing major surgery. The preoperative physiologic assessment is very important to identify patients who are at higher risk group and to plan the therapeutical strategics. ⋯ The authors emphasize that the preoperative physiologic assessment to identify patients at higher risk and an accurate preoperative care may reduce the mortality rate also in patients over 80 years undergoing major surgery. In urgency, when the patients cannot undergo a preoperative assessment and care, the postoperative mortality is higher in the group over 80 years than in younger.
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To identify factors affecting mortality and morbidity in patients operated on for perforated peptic ulcer. ⋯ Old age, great APACHE II and SAPS scores, delay in treatment and large size of the perforation were associated significantly to mortality in perforated peptic ulcer patients. Efforts should be made perioperatively for patients having these risk factors.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Use of new elastomeric pumps and PCA in postoperative pain control in thoraco-abdominal surgery].
36 patients submitted to interventions for thoraco-abdominal surgery has been submitted to antalgic post-operatory therapy with elastomeric pump at a continuous intravenous infusion and patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The patients have been randomized in three groups. The patients of the 1 degree group received 30 minutes before of the end of the surgical intervention 30 mg of Ketorolac. ⋯ In the 2 degree group to the awakening (T0), the pain was middle-tall (5.50 +/- 2.32) and an expressive reduction appeared at the time T2 (3.60 +/- 1.35 P < 0.005). In the 3 degrees group have not recorded a diminution of the pain if not after 24 hours from the end of the intervention deposit the intramuscular antalgic therapy. In conclusion, the system infusion + PCA represents an indubitable advantage in comparison with the traditional antalgic therapy as for concern the entity of the reduction of the pain as because it permits the use of a smaller quality of drugs.
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Case Reports
[Complex extravascular dislocation of a guidewire during catheterization of the subclavian vein].
A case is presented in which a guidewire, during subclavian catheterization in a 63 years old patient, became knotted outside the vein, behind the clavear head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The wire was easily removed by surgical approach and the post operative course was uneventful. The causes of this complication are discussed and a few main points are emphasized when the Seldinger technique is employed for subclavian vein catheterization.