Drain Removal Research Articles

Effect of Perioperative Prophylactic Intravenous Antibiotic Use in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study.

Background Among breast reconstruction methods, implant-based breast reconstruction has become the mainstream. However, periprosthetic infection is still an unresolved problem. Although published articles have revealed that limited use of antibiotics is sufficient to reduce infection rates, the number of surgeons still preferring elongated usage of antibiotics is not less. The aim of our study is to validate the appropriate duration of antibiotic use to reduce infection rate after implant-based breast reconstruction. Methods A retrospective study reviewed medical record of 235 patients (274 implants for reconstruction) who underwent prepectoral direct to implant breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix wrapping technique. Infection rates were analyzed for the patients administered postoperative prophylactic antibiotics until drain removal and those who received only perioperative prophylactic antibiotics for 24 hours. Results Of the 274 implants, 98 who were administered prophylactic antibiotics until drain removal had an infection rate of 3.06% (three implants) and 176 who received prophylactic antibiotics no longer than 24 hours postoperatively had an infection rate of 4.49% (eight implants). A total of 11 patients diagnosed with postoperative infection clinically, 8 were salvaged by antibiotic treatment, and 3 had implant removal and replacement with autologous flap. Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis duration had no statistically significant effects in the risk of infection ( p = 0.549). Conclusion The duration of prophylactic antibiotics after surgery was not related to infection risk. Further study with a large number of patients, randomized control study, and route of antibiotics is needed.

A Prospective Analysis of the Effects of a Powder-Type Hemostatic Agent on the Short-Term Outcomes after Liver Resection.

Background and Objectives: Postoperative bleeding is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following liver resection. Therefore, it is crucial to minimize bleeding during liver resection and effectively manage it when it occurs. Arista® AH (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) is a microporous polysaccharide hemosphere (MPH), a new plant-derived polysaccharide powder hemostat that can be applied to the entire surgical field. This study prospectively assessed the effectiveness of Arista for bleeding control when applied intraoperatively to the liver resection surface. Materials and Methods: Data were collected at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for patients who underwent liver resection owing to malignant hepatocellular carcinoma or benign liver diseases. We compared the outcomes between 45 patients managed with Arista® AH (data were prospectively collected between September 2022 and May 2023) and 156 patients managed without the use of Arista® AH (data were retrospectively collected between January 2021 and December 2021). Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. The estimated blood loss (EBL) was significantly lower in the Arista® AH group compared with the control group (495.56 ± 672.7 mL vs. 691.9 ± 777.5 mL, p = 0.049). The mean postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Arista® AH group (5.93 ± 1.88 days vs. 6.94 ± 4.17 days, p = 0.024). The time to Jackson-Pratt drain removal was also significantly shorter in the Arista® AH group (4.64 ± 1.31 days vs. 5.30 ± 2.87 days, p = 0.030). The patient subgroup was divided into four categories based on the type of resection and the presence or absence of cirrhosis. Within the subgroup of major resections in non-cirrhotic patients, the Arista® AH group demonstrated significantly better outcomes compared to the control group, showed lower EBL, reduced need for blood transfusions, decreased volume of drain fluid collected within 48 h, earlier removal of drains, and shorter hospital stays. In contrast, for the other subgroups such as minor resection (both non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic) and major resection with cirrhosis, the differences between the Arista® AH and control groups in various parameters like EBL, blood transfusion rates, drain fluid volume, time to drain removal, and duration of hospital stay were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Arista® AH significantly improved intraoperative blood management and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing liver resection, particularly in non-cirrhotic patients who underwent major resection.

Approach to mediastinal masses: a comparison of open surgery and uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery techniques

Aims: This study aimed to compare perioperative and postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) and open surgery for mediastinal mass resection. Methods: A total of 62 patients who underwent mediastinal mass resection in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic were included. The patients were separated into the open surgery group (n=30) and the U-VATS group (n=32). The groups were compared in terms of perioperative and postoperative outcomes including operative time, blood loss, chest tube removal time, drainage volume, pain, and hospital stay. Results: The distributions of age and gender were similar between the groups. Median operation time (120 vs. 180 minutes, P < 0.001), median intraoperative blood loss (50 vs. 100 mL, P < 0.001), median time of chest drain removal (4 vs. 6 days, P < 0.001) and median postoperative drainage volumes were lower in the U-VATS group than the open surgery group. The U-VATS group exhibited a lower VAS score, return time to daily activity (1 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and length of hospital stay (4 vs. 6 days, P < 0.001). A postoperative myasthenic crisis was not observed in all cases. One thymoma patient in the open surgery group had a recurrence, but not in the U-VATS group. Conclusion: The U-VATS approach had better intraoperative safety and lower postoperative outcomes than open surgery. U-VATS, which has the potential to enhance postoperative recovery and quality of life, may be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with mediastinal mass resection.

Feasibility of ultrasonic surgical system in breast total capsulectomy

Background Capsulectomy is a crucial procedure in cosmetic breast surgery, and there is demand for an efficient and convenient tool to perform it. This study analyzed the postoperative outcomes of total capsulectomy by comparing an ultrasonic system to conventional electrosurgery.Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent total capsulectomy and implant removal from 2012 to 2020. The ultrasonic surgery group underwent this procedure using the Harmonic scalpel, while the electrosurgery group underwent the same surgery using conventional electrocautery. A statistical analysis of the two groups was performed using multivariate linear regression analysis to determine the unbiased effect of ultrasonic surgery on operative efficiency and outcomes.Results A total of 89 patients were included in the study. The operative time was significantly shorter in the ultrasonic surgery group (60 minutes vs. 70 minutes, P=0.002). After adjusting for other independent variables that might also be related to the outcomes, shorter operative time (P=0.014) and faster drain removal (P=0.003) were associated with the use of ultrasonic surgery.Conclusions The use of an ultrasonic system (Harmonic scalpel) for total capsulectomy and explantation in cosmetic breast revision surgery was associated with shorter operative times and faster drain removal than conventional electrosurgery.

Total Sealing Technique (TST) with a bipolar vessel sealing system reduces lymphorrhea and seroma formation for axillary lymph node dissection in primary breast cancer

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of a novel surgical procedure, the Total Sealing Technique (TST), using the latest bipolar vessel sealing system (BVSS; LigaSure™ Exact Dissector) to reduce lymphatic leakage and seroma formation after electrocautery axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer surgery. Prolonged drainage is a common occurrence after ALND, primarily due to lymphatic leakage. In addition, the presence of seroma often leads to delays in the administration of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy even after drain removal. MethodsWe conducted a comparative analysis of 36 patients who underwent total mastectomy with ALND using conventional electrocautery technique (CONV) during the first 3 years, and 35 patients who underwent the same procedure using TST during the subsequent 3 years. The following factors were compared to assess the impact of TST: operation time, blood loss, total drainage volume, mean time to drain removal, postoperative hospital stay, mean time to initiation of postoperative chemotherapy, and postoperative complications in each group. ResultsTST significantly reduced drainage volume (360.5 vs. 820.6 mL, p < 0.001), days to drain removal (4.8 vs. 6.8 days, p < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (5.9 vs. 9.6 days, p < 0.001), the incidence of seroma (28.6 % vs. 65.9 %, p = 0.001), and time to chemotherapy initiation (33.1 vs. 61.4 days, p < 0.001) compared to CONV. ConclusionsTST in total mastectomy with ALND effectively decreases the incidence of lymphorrhea and seroma formation; thus, it can be recommended for total mastectomy with ALND.

Single versus Double Drainage for Immediate Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Reports evaluating plastic surgeons' practices indicate there are conflicting trends regarding the use of one or two drains for implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). Our study aimed to perform a matched cohort analysis to examine the postoperative outcomes and complications of immediate IBBR with tissue expander (TE) using two drains versus a single drain. A propensity score-matched analysis (nearest neighbor, 1:1 matching) of immediate reconstructions using two versus one drain was conducted. Female patients undergoing immediate two-stage IBBR with TEs between January 2011 and May 2021 were included. The covariables were as follows: BMI, mastectomy weight, lymph node surgery, TE surface, plane of reconstruction, use of acellular dermal matrix products, fluorescence imaging use, and intraoperative TE volume. After matching using propensity scores, 192 reconstructions were included in the final analysis: 96 in each group. The rate of 30-day complications and overall complications during the first phase of IBBR were comparable between groups. The time for drain removal, time to initiate and finalize expansions, and time for TE-to-implant exchange were comparable between groups. Diabetes (OR 3.74, p = 0.025) and an increased estimated blood loss (OR 1.004, p = 0.01) were the only independent predictors for seroma formation. In this matched cohort analysis evaluating the role of one versus two drains for two-stage IBBR, we found a comparable rate of complications and surgical outcomes between the two cohorts. Using two drains for immediate IBBR needs to be tailored depending on intraoperative findings. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Are the Efficacy and Safety of Chest Tubes in Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Related to the Level of Intercostal Space Insertion or to the Drain Type? A Prospective Multicenter Study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate if the efficacy and safety of chest tube placement are influenced by the level of intercostal space insertion (uniportal VATS vs. biportal VATS) or by the type of drain employed (standard vs. smart coaxial drain). Data on patients who underwent either uniportal or biportal VATS upper lobectomies with lymphadenectomy were prospectively collected in three European centers. The uniportal VATS group with a 28 Fr standard chest tube (U-VATS standard) was compared with the uniportal VATS group with a 28 Fr smart drain (U-VATS smart), and U-VATS smart was also compared with biportal VATS with a 28 Fr smart drain inserted in the VIII intercostal space (Bi-VATS smart). When comparing the U-VATS standard group with the U-VATS smart, a higher fluid output was recorded in the U-VATS smart (p: 0.004) in the III post-operative day (p.o.) and overall (p: 0.027), with a lower 90-day re-admission in the U-VATS smart (p: 0.04). The Bi-VATS smart group compared to U-VATS smart showed a higher fluid output in the I p.o. (p < 0.001), with no difference in total fluid amount or hospitalization. The Bi-VATS smart recorded a lower incidence (p < 0.001) of residual pleural space or effusion (p: 0.004) at chest X-rays prior to drain removal but a higher level of pain and chronic intercostal neuralgia (p: 0.03). Chest tube insertion through the same incision space in uniportal VATS seems to be safe and effective. Smart drains can improve the fluid output in uniportal VATS, as if the drainage were inserted in a lower space (i.e., biportal VATS), but with less discomfort.

ERASURE: early autologous blood pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks—a randomized, controlled trial comparing prophylactic autologous blood pleurodesis versus standard watch and wait treatment for postoperative air leaks following thoracoscopic anatomic lung resections

BackgroundThe prolonged air leak is probably the most common complication following lung resections. Around 10–20% of the patients who undergo a lung resection will eventually develop a prolonged air leak. The definition of a prolonged air leak varies between an air leak, which is evident after the fifth, seventh or even tenth postoperative day to every air leak that prolongs the hospital stay. However, the postoperative hospital stay following a thoracoscopic lobectomy can be as short as 2 days, making the above definitions sound outdated. The treatment of these air leaks is also very versatile. One of the broadly accepted treatment options is the autologous blood pleurodesis or “blood patch”. The purpose of this trial is to investigate the impact of a prophylactic autologous blood pleurodesis on reducing the duration of the postoperative air leak and therefore prevent the air leak from becoming prolonged.MethodsPatients undergoing an elective thoracoscopic anatomic lung resection for primary lung cancer or metastatic disease will be eligible for recruitment. Patients with an air leak of > 100 ml/min within 6 h prior to the morning round on the second postoperative day will be eligible for inclusion in the study and randomization. Patients will be randomized to either blood pleurodesis or watchful waiting. The primary endpoint is the time to drain removal measured in full days. The trial ends on the seventh postoperative day.DiscussionThe early autologous blood pleurodesis could lead to a faster cessation of the air leak and therefore to a faster removal of the drain. A faster removal of the drain would relieve the patient from all the well-known drain-associated complications (longer hospital stay, stronger postoperative pain, risk of drain-associated infection, etc.). From the economical point of view, faster drain removal would reduce the hospital costs as well as the costs associated with the care of a patient with a chest drain in an outpatient setting.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00030810. 27 December 2022

Conventional versus enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in emergency gastrointestinal tract surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Background Compared with elective operations, emergency abdominal surgery is more likely to result in perioperative morbidity and mortality. Implementation of care programs could be beneficial for such patients to decrease complication rates. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a complex perioperative approach that has proven its efficacy in multiple elective procedures. Nonetheless, its efficacy in emergency abdominal surgery has been questioned. Herein, we compared the ERAS and conventional approaches in the management of such patients. Patients and methods Sixty adult patients were enrolled in our randomized prospective trial, and they were assigned to two groups; the conventional and ERAS groups. The duration of hospitalization was the main outcome. Results Preoperative characteristics, presentation, and surgical operations were comparable between the two study groups. A perforated duodenal ulcer was the most common diagnosis and was treated by through and through suture with the omental patch (36%) followed by resection anastomosis (36%) in patients with ischemic loop or patients with severely injured loops, and primary repair in simple injury (28%). The hospitalization period decreased significantly in ERAS patients (5.9 vs. 10.5 days in the conventional group P&lt;0.001). The ERAS protocol had a significant beneficial impact on postoperative recovery, which manifested in earlier nasogastric tube removal, drain removal, bowel sounds, bowel motion, and oral intake compared with the conventional group. The incidence of postoperative complications especially surgical site infection increased significantly with the conventional perioperative regimen (36.7% vs. 13.3% after ERAS P=0.034). Conclusion ERAS has multiple advantages over the conventional approach when implemented in emergency surgery patients and is recommended in emergency surgical practice.

Early drain removal after live liver donor hepatectomy is safe - A randomized control trial

Early drain removal after live liver donor hepatectomy is safe - A randomized control trial

The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain Severity Associated with Mediastinal Chest Drain Removal in Patients Undergoing Open- Heart Surgery

The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain Severity Associated with Mediastinal Chest Drain Removal in Patients Undergoing Open- Heart Surgery

Continuous Analgesia through an Extrapleural Catheter: Ropivacaine Alone versus Ropivacaine with Fentanyl

Introduction: Thoracotomy incision causes severe debilitating pain. Local anesthetic infusion in extrapleural paravertebral space via a catheter is a good alternative for postoperative analgesia for such patients. The addition of fentanyl to the local anesthetic infusion may further augment the analgesic efficacy of this technique. The aim was to compare the analgesic efficacy of 0.375% ropivacaine with fentanyl and without fentanyl via extrapleural paravertebral catheter (EPVC) for continuous postoperative analgesia. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 40 patients aged 18–60 years belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Grade I, II, and III posted for thoracic surgery. All the patients received general anesthesia as per the standard institutional protocol, and intubation was done with an appropriate size double-lumen endotracheal tube after giving muscle relaxant. An extrapleural catheter was inserted by the surgeon under direct vision external to the parietal pleura just before thoracotomy closure. Patients were randomly allocated to receive an infusion of 0.375% ropivacaine at 0.15 ml/kg/h in Group R or 0.375% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 mcg/ml at 0.15 ml/kg/h in Group R.F. The dose or rate of infusion was decreased after 2 days or chest drain removal as the pain subsided. Postoperatively, the pain was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 h after the surgery. Patients who complained of pain with a VAS score of more than or equal to 4 were given injection tramadol 1 mg/kg as rescue analgesic. The peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs), hemodynamic parameters, and incidence of any adverse effect were compared between groups. Results: The analgesia duration was comparable in the two groups (3.46 h in Group R vs. 4.60 h in Group R.F, P = 0.091). The mean VAS score at rest as well as during cough was comparable between the two groups (P &gt; 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean PEFRs between the two groups. Conclusion: Fentanyl 2 μg/ml does not increase the duration of analgesia when combined with ropivacaine 0.375% for continuous EPVC infusion.

Pleuro-cutaneous fistula complicating chest drain insertion for melioidosis empyema

Melioidosis is a rare cause of empyema. Pleurocutaneous fistula is a pathologic communication between the pleural space and the subcutaneous tissues. Here we’re presenting a case of a Pleurocutaneous fistula complicating chest drain insertion for melioidosis empyema. Fifty-year-old fisherman from Mannar Sri Lanka presented with predominant thoracic empyema. Pleural fluid culture isolated the Burkholderia pseudomallei. A chest drain was inserted for the empyema. Subcutaneous emphysema was noted following the removal of the chest drain and it worsened over time. CECT Chest revealed the right Pleuro-cutaneous fistula, which was complicated by hemopneumothorax and trapped lung. Surgical management was refused by the patient for fistula correction and trapped lung. The fistula was successfully closed with an autologous blood patch. Melioidosis can present with predominant thoracic empyema. Pleuro-cutaneous fistula can complicate the chest drain insertion in the patient with melioidosis empyema which can be treated with an Ultrasound-guided autologous blood patch.

Recent evidence for subcutaneous drains to prevent surgical site infections after abdominal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) increase mortality, hospital stays, additional medical treatment, and medical costs. Subcutaneous drains prevent SSIs in gynecological and breast surgeries; however, their clinical impact in abdominal surgery remains unclear. To investigate whether subcutaneous drains were beneficial in abdominal surgery using a systematic review and meta-analysis. The database search used PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. The following inclusion criteria were set for the systematic review: (1) Randomized controlled trial studies comparing SSIs after abdominal surgery with or without subcutaneous drains; and (2) Studies that described clinical outcomes, such as SSIs, seroma formation, the length of hospital stays, and mortality. Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. The rate of total SSIs was significantly lower in the drained group (54/771, 7.0%) than in the control group (89/759, 11.7%), particularly in gastrointestinal surgery. Furthermore, the rate of superficial SSIs was slightly lower in the drained group (31/517, 6.0%) than in the control group (49/521, 9.4%). No significant differences were observed in seroma formation between the groups. Hospital stays were shorter in the drained group than in the control group. Subcutaneous drains after abdominal surgery prevented SSIs and reduced hospital stays but did not significantly affect seroma formation. The timing of drain removal needs to be reconsidered in future studies.

Effect of hospitalisation on the rate of surgical site infection in dogs with Penrose drains.

The aim of this study is to retrospectively report complication and infection rates associated with the use of Penrose drains in a large population of dogs; and to compare complication and infection rates of dogs hospitalised for maintenance of their Penrose drains with those that were discharged home with their drains in place. We performed a retrospective search of medical records from 2014 to 2022 for dogs that had a Penrose drain placed into a wound in one institution. Our population was sub-divided into dogs discharged home with a drain in place; dogs discharged only after drain removal; and dogs recovered part of the time in hospital and part at home (with the drain insitu). Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo scale. Two hundred and eight dogs were included. The overall complication rate was 40.9% (85/208), with most complications considered minor. The overall infection rate was 16.9% (35/207). Dogs discharged home with the drain insitu <24 hours after surgery (n=136) had similar complication (39.0%) and infection (16.2%) rates to dogs kept hospitalised for drain care (n=50, 42.9%, 18.4%) and dogs kept hospitalised for >24 hours but discharged with the drain insitu (n=18, 50.0%, 22.2%). Our study results show no significant influence on the complication or infection rates between dogs that were hospitalised for drain care and those discharged home with drains insitu within 24 hours of surgery.

Spinal Cord Protection During Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Endovascular Aortic Repair: 5-Year Results of a Preventive Protocol Including Prophylactic Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage in High-Risk Patients

Purpose: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) repair. The use of prophylactic cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) as part of a protective protocol during endovascular repair is controversial. This article reports the results of the prophylactic use of CSFD as part of the of a prevention protocol implemented in 2016. Methods: Retrospective review of spinal cord outcomes (SCI rate and CSFD-related complications) in patients treated endovascularly for TAA disease at a single institution from 2016 (implementation of an institutional SCI risk reduction protocol) to 2021. Patients were classified as high risk (≥2 factors), intermediate risk (1 factor), or low risk (0 factor). Only high-risk patients without contraindications underwent a prophylactic CSFD placement. Results: One hundred eighty-one patients were analyzed (124 males; 69.6 years): 130 (69%) aneurysms (n=24 thoracic, n=28 Crawford 1–2–3, and n=78 Crawford 4/pararenal), 35 (19.9%) chronic aneurysmal dissections, and 16 (8.8%) acute complicated type B dissections. Interventions were staged in 31 (17.2%) cases, and consisted of 74 (41%) Thoracic EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR) and 107 (59%) Fenestrated Branched EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (F-BEVAR). Sixty-nine (38.1%) patients were identified as being at high risk of SCI and CSFD was used prophylactically in 64 of them (4 failures and 1 contraindication). Spinal cord injury occurred in 8 cases (4 paraparesis, 4 paraplegias including 2 permanent), of which 3 had a prophylactic CSFD and 5 underwent rescue drainage. In addition, 4 patients developed SCI related to prophylactic CSFD (intradural hematoma), resulting in 1 paraparesis and 3 paraplegias. Other CSFD-related complications were mild (6) or moderate (2), for a total of 12 complications (17%). Factors associated with major drain complications were: curative anticoagulation 36 hours after drain removal (n=1), multiple punctures (n=1), platelet count &lt;100 000 at drain removal (n=1), and bipolar disorder (n=2). Overall, 4 patients had permanent paraplegia and 1 had sphincter dysfunction at the last follow-up. Mean follow-up was 17 months. Mortality was 4.4% at 30 days and 13.3% at 18 months, including 3 (1.6%) aortic-related deaths. Conclusions: With the protocol we used to protect the spinal cord, we report results comparable with the SCI literature and highlight the risks associated with prophylactic CSFD use, which requires a better understanding of contraindications.

Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Simple Prostatectomy for large prostatic adenomas: A single-centre experience on 14 patients with significant lower urinary tract symptoms.

There are various approaches available for surgical management of large prostatic adenomas - open, laparoscopic as well as laser enucleation - but there are no available clear cut consensus or guidelines. We present our experience in Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Simple Prostatectomy on 14 patients with large prostatic adenoma (>100 g). This is a retrospective analysis on 14 patients with large prostatic adenoma who underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic prostatectomy (LSP) over a period of 2 years (2021-2023). All selected patients underwent extraperitoneal LSP. The case records were retrospectively reviewed and data were collected regarding age, clinical presentation, prostate size, median surgical time, intra-operative and post-operative events, pre-operative and post-operative assessment of IPSS score, Uroflowmetry and PVR values and duration of hospital stay. A total of 14 patients underwent LSP. The median age was 64.2 years and the median prostatic size was 123.25 g. Median operative time was 150 min. None of the patients required blood transfusion; mean Post-operative day (POD) for drain removal was 2.5 days. The mean duration of hospital stay was 3.5 days. Only one patient had urinary leak and vesico-cutaneous fistula which was managed conservatively by prolonged catheterisation. At 3 months follow-up, there was significant improvement in IPSS Score (mean 7.8 vs 21.3 pre-operatively), uroflow values (mean Qmax of 27.3 vs 6.8 pre-operatively) and PVR (mean 30.5 vs 350 ml pre-operatively). Laparoscopic Simple Prostatectomy is a safe and feasible approach for large prostatic adenomas with lesser morbidity and complications and satisfactory outcome.

Usefulness of preoperative ice cream consumption and novel postoperative drainage management in patients undergoing left-sided neck dissection for thyroid cancer: a nonrandomized prospective study

PurposeThis study investigated the effects of ice cream consumption on chyle leakage after left lateral neck dissection in patients with thyroid cancer.MethodsA total of 491 patients with thyroid cancer underwent left lateral neck dissection with identification of the thoracic duct following ice cream consumption. Before closing the wound, the anesthesiologist increased the intrathoracic pressure to observe chyle leakage. If chyle leakage occurred postoperatively, the drain was removed using the drain negative pressure release test.ResultsPostoperative chyle leakage was observed in 18 of the 491 patients who underwent left lateral neck dissection. We treated 17 patients conservatively and 1 patient surgically. Drains were removed within five days in all patients. After the drain negative pressure release test had been performed in eight patients, the drainage volume significantly decreased from an average of 175 ml to 31 ml per day. The average number of days until the removal of the drainage tube was 3.2 days. No perioperative complications were associated with ice cream consumption.ConclusionsIn left lateral neck dissection for thyroid cancer, performing surgery following ice cream consumption does not completely prevent chyle leakage; however, early drain removal is possible because there is only mild leakage.

Early Outcome after Sublay versus Onlay Polypropylene Mesh Repair for Ventral Midline Incisional Hernia - A Single Center Retrospective Analysis.

Onlay and retromuscular sublay mesh repairs are the most frequently used procedures in open repair of midline incisional hernias. The onlay placement of the mesh is simple and fast to perform, while the sublay retromuscular repair offers a supplementary protection against infection, but it is considered a more complicated procedure with a higher risk of early postoperative complications. The personal experience of the surgeons plays an important role in choosing the technique of mesh placement. This paper presents the results of a retrospective analysis of 220 consecutive patients operated on in the Surgical Clinic of the Mures Clinical County Hospital (Romania) between 31.01.2017 - 31.12.2019 with sublay or onlay polypropylene mesh repair for ventral midline incisional hernia. The patients were divided into two groups according to the position of the mesh. The two groups were identical in terms of age, sex distribution, incidence of comorbidities (obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiac and respiratory diseases), number of previous operations and size of the defect (p value 0.05 for all the parameters). Results: Postoperative mortality was zero, with no statistically significant differences of the duration of the postoperative hospitalization between the two groups p 0.05. A total of 34 early reoperations were required for hematoma, skin necrosis, seroma, wound suppuration, and intestinal obstruction, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p 0.05 for the overall and separate incidence of each complication). The onlay placement of the mesh was associated with a later removal of the superficial drains p 0.0001 with a larger proportion of the patients who were discharged without removing the drains (group A 2/62 versus group B 141/168, p 0.0001). Conclusions: Both the onlay and the retromuscular sublay placement of polypropylene meshes may be used with good results for the treatment of midline incisional hernias. The lack of a supplementary early morbidity after the retromuscular sublay repair is an argument for a more frequent use of this technique which offers a supplementary protection against infection.

Preferring Lateral Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection Over Classic Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Penis: Lessons Learnt from Twenty-One Patients at a Single Center.

Inguinal lymphadenectomy is essential for staging and disease control. Minimally invasive techniques are recently replacing open techniques to reduce complications. We present our experience and lessons learnt from 21 patients who underwent lateral video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (L-VEIL) for penile malignancy. All patients above 18 years of age with histopathology-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma penis with stages ≥ T1b and T1a with persistent lymphadenopathy who underwent L-VEIL over a period of 2 years (2020-2022) were included. The data were analyzed on the basis of intraoperative and postoperative complications, lymph node yield, hospital stay, and histopathology report. Forty-one lower limbs of 21 patients underwent L-VEIL during the abovementioned period. Median age was 52 years. Mean operative time (on 1 side) was 80 minutes. Median lymph node yield per side was 7.2. Intraoperatively, 1 patient had a vascular injury at the saphenofemoral junction, requiring conversion to open. Postoperative complications were superficial surgical site infection (n=4), lymphedema (n=1), and lymphocoele (n=3), one of which was drained by pigtail catheter. One patient required exploration on the second postoperative day because of vascular injury. Average duration of hospital stay was 3 days. The median time of drain removal was 13 days. Histopathology suggested seminoma in 1 patient and mature teratoma in 1 patient; the rest of the patients' reports were negative for malignancy. The L-VEIL is safe and feasible, and there is a reduction (~30%) in complications; oncological outcomes are also not affected. It has better ergonomics, resulting in ease and comfort for surgeons when compared with classical VEIL.