Surgery
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Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is a 15 kd protein that constitutes 2% to 3% of enterocyte protein. Normally I-FABP is undetectable in serum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether I-FABP could be detected in peripheral serum and/or urine early in the evolution of intestinal ischemic injury. ⋯ I-FABP is released into the peripheral circulation after reversible intestinal ischemic injury and has potential as a biochemical marker to facilitate the early detection of mesenteric ischemia.
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The rare obturator hernia has a high incidence of potentially lethal complications. This report reviews this condition and stresses the dangers of unrecognized obturator hernia. ⋯ The need for awareness of the condition is stressed and the diagnosis of obturator hernia should be strongly suspected in a thin, elderly woman who has small bowel obstruction and no previous abdominal surgery.
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We determined the lung and systemic response of a moderate smoke inhalation injury combined with a 15% total body surface third-degree burn compared with a burn alone and inhalation alone. Adult sheep were prepared with chronic lung and bilateral prefemoral soft tissue lymph fistula. The burn was confined to one side. ⋯ We conclude that a modest smoke inhalation (carboxyhemoglobin of 25%) added to a 15% total body surface burn markedly increases the degree of burn edema, as well as nonburn soft tissue and lung QL, compared with burn alone, indicating increased plasma to interstitial fluid transport in these tissues as well. Increased burn tissue lipid peroxidation products corresponded with the increased burn fluid losses. The increased lung lipid peroxidation also indicates further lung oxidant activity as well.
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Thymectomy has continued to gain acceptance as definitive treatment for myasthenia gravis. Because of the nature of thymic embryology with scattered rests throughout the anterior mediastinum, we advocate a transsternal thymectomy with extended anterior mediastinal dissection. ⋯ An aggressive surgical approach to myasthenia gravis can result in a high percentage of overall improvements and drug-free remissions. The best results are achieved in patients with lower-stage disease. Therefore transsternal extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis appears to be the procedure of choice and should be advocated as soon as the diagnosis is made and the patient stabilized.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Enteral nutrition with supplemental arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids in patients after operation: immunologic, metabolic, and clinical outcome.
The individual nutrients arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids improve immune function, but prospective trials have not demonstrated their effects on clinical outcome. Patients (n = 85) who underwent operation for upper gastrointestinal malignancies were randomized to receive the supplemental diet or a standard enteral diet after surgery. Clinical patient characteristics were similar between the two groups. ⋯ Linear logistic models for infectious/wound complications with control for the amount of nitrogen suggested (p = 0.10) dietary treatment as the major factor. Mean length of stay in the hospital was significantly shorter (p = 0.01) for the supplemented group (15.8 +/- 5.1 days) than for the standard group (20.2 +/- 9.4 days). These results suggest that postoperative enteral nutrition with supplemental arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids instead of a standard enteral diet significantly improved immunologic, metabolic, and clinical outcomes in patients with upper gastrointestinal malignancies who were undergoing major elective surgery.