Selçuk Tıp Dergisi Arşiv

Introduction: Patients with neurological diseases may require intensive care support as a result of respiratory failure due to various reasons. Some of them benefit from intensive care supportive treatment while others continue to live as caregivers or need rehabilitation programs. It is important for the rational use of intensive care beds that the routing process to the palliative care, rehabilitation centers or discharge of patients with prolonged treatment in the intensive care unit should be managed well

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of our patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of primary neurological diseases in the intensive care unit and terminated with exitus or referred to home / palliative care between January 2017 and May 2018 with the permission (17073117-050.06 decision no) of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX scientific studies committee. Patients who transferred to other clinics were excluded from the study. APACHE II/SAPS II scores, hospitalization day, mechanical ventilation time, tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy requirement, home ventilator supply and the situation of discharge from intensive care unit of patients were recorded

Results: A total of 942 patient files were reviewed retrospectively and 74 (7.8%) of our patients were neurological patients who were died or discharged to directly home\palliative care. Most of the patients in the study had severe dementia (30 patients, 40.5%) and fewer number of patients had ischemic stroke (21 patients, 28.3%). Sixty of the 74 patients (81.1%) died in the intensive care unit. Only 5 patients were transferred to palliative care (6.8%).

Conclusion: Increasing transfer from intensive care to palliative care is important for the effective use of intensive care beds. Therefore, it is suggested that intensive care patients should be evaluated periodically to be directed to palliative care

Bleeding can not be absolutely terminated in spite of conventional techniques of hemostasis. In order to investigate the effect of  Ankaferd Blood Stopper^® (ABS) on persisting bleeding after conventional hemostasis, we applied topical ABS spray or plasebo on orthognatic surgery (n=19). Substances were applied to the surgical field after  conventional methods of hemostasis. In orthognatic surgery group, the association of blood loss with the operation type, age, gender, ABS usage, duration of operation and blood pressure   was analyzed. The rates of Hb and Htc decline was % 25 in ABS group and % 19 (Hb), % 20 (Htc) in placebo group. The only significant association was with gender indicating a higher blood loss with being male (p=0,01). In conclusion, this study did not reveal any ABS effect on bleeding from the surgical site persisting after  conventional hemostasis.

Abstract:

Objective: Our objective in this study was to present our four years of experience in laparoscopic surgery for urinary system accompanied by literature.

Material and Methods: Between January 2014 and October 2018, laparoscopic surgical intervention was made on urinary system for 97 patients in our clinic. 54 patients had right and 42 patients had left laparoscopic surgical intervention and 1 patient had radical prostatectomy. Patients were retrospectively examined for operation duration, average blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospitalization duration and drain installation time after separating into two groups as right and left.

Results.

Average age of the patients was 44(16-67). Male/Female rate was 54/43. Apart from radical prostatectomy, 54 patients had right and 42 patients had left kidney laparoscopic surgical intervention. Average operation duration was 145 (40-210) minutes, average drain removal time was 3.1 (1-10) days, hospitalization duration was 3.4 (1-14) days and bleeding amount was 150(20-500) cc in all interventions. Lengthened urinary drainage was observed from the drain in one patient who had pyelolithotomy and one patient who had radical prostatectomy. When all interventions were considered, the average complication ratio was found 5.1%. No differences were observed in the parameters compared among right and left laparoscopic surgery interventions.

Conclusion: For a surgeon in the first learning phase of laparoscopy, choosing relatively simpler procedures in the beginning but passing to more complex operations without much delay may quickly shorten the learning phase. Through the selection of suitable patients and adequate equipment, laparoscopic surgery can also be applied safely in peripheral centers.

Objective: Feeding gastrostomy is generally needed in the cases of oropharnyngeal dysphagia. The objective of this study is to analyze the use of surgical gastrostomy with mini laparatomy under local anaesthesia in situations where endoscopic procedure is not possible.

Methods: Stamm gastrostomy was performed in 62 patients in whom oral and nasogastric tube feeding could not be given and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy could not be performed.

Results: A mean age of 63.7 years and 83.9% of them were ASA IV. The indications for gastrostomy were tumour obstruction, neuromuscular diseases, paralysis and cerebrovascular bleeding, oesophageal injury, metastatic tumours and hypoxic encephalopathy in 51.6, 17.7, and 16.6, 1.6 and 12.9% respectively. The mean operation duration was 34 ± 12.8 minutes. Procedure-dependent hospital morbidity and mortality were low (% 16.2- % 14.5, respectively).

Conclusion: Stamm gastrostomy with mini laparatomy under local anaesthesia is an effective alternative in situations where percutaneous or endoscopic procedures cannot be done. It can be performed in high-risk patients safely due to its short operation time, low morbidity and mortality.

Aim: JAK2 V617F mutation is determined in 95% of polycythemia vera (PV) patients. However, this test is a high-cost and time-consuming examination. In this study, a rapid, inexpensive and easily available test that can be used in addition to JAK2 V617F mutation is planned to exclude secondary polycythemia (SP).

Patients and Methods: A total of 39 PV patients and 51 SP patients, who were diagnosed according to 2016 diagnostic criteria of World Health Organization, have been included in this study. Demographics, physical examination findings and laboratory results of patients have been determined. A statistical analysis was performed between these two groups.

Results: In PV group, serum vitamin B12 level, erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, platelet count and lactate dehydrogenase levels were determined to be statistically significantly higher than SP group. Serum vitamin B12 level above 343 pg/mL has been determined as the threshold value for the differentiation of PV from SP.

Conclusion: High serum vitamin B12 level was determined to be associated with PV. However, there is a need for prospective studies performed with larger patient series supporting the data obtained in this study in order for serum vitamin B12 level to be used in the differential diagnosis of primary and secondary polycythemia.

Aim: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with an aggressive course and short survival. Conventional chemotherapy (CT) is the mainstay of SCLC treatment. However, the majority of information on chemotherapy (CT), as well as information on demographic data of patients, is based on studies from several decades ago. In this study, we aimed to determine the current demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with SCLC and to determine their responses to the treatments.

Patients and methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, cohort study. Definitions of survival were overall survival (TOS) and survival after metastasis (MOS). TOS was calculated as the time from the diagnosis to the date of death or last visit. MOS was calculated as the time from the diagnosis of metastasis to the date of death or last visit.

Results: The data of 161 patients were analyzed. Response rates obtained with 1st line CT, 2nd line CT, and 3rd line CT were 72.2%, 43.3%, and 40.4%, respectively. The median TOS and median MOS were calculated as 15.7 months (0.03-106.97) and 13.79 months (0.03-79.54), respectively. Although they were metastatic, ten patients had never received first-line CT, and the median MOS was 1.88 months and 14.62 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. Twenty-one (18.9%) of the 111 patients who needed second-line treatment did not receive CT, and the median MOS was 8.39 months and 18.45 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. Eighteen of the 65 patients (27.7%) who required the third-line treatment did not receive CT, and the median MOS was found to be 15.36 months and 23.86 months, respectively, in those who did not receive CT and received CT. The presence of metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and refusal of treatment were statistically significant parameters affecting the median TOS. And, poor performance status and refusal of treatment were statistically significant parameters parameters affecting the median MOS.

Conclusions: In this study, it was confirmed that early diagnosis of SCLC was associated with a survival advantage. It was shown that the patients who received and were able to tolerate the treatment had obtained a survival advantage, regardless of the disease phase.

Purpose : This study compares the organ doses at risk by using the Eclipse treatment planning system for two common total body irradiation techniques (TBI) at extended source skin distance.

Material and Methods: 3D treatment plans with AP-PA (anteroposterior) technique were created retrospectively for 20 patients treated bilateral TBI. For each patient, the whole body, kidneys, lungs, thyroid and liver were contoured to create (DVH) dose volume histograms and examine 3D dose volume distributions. The mean doses of thyroid, lung, kidney, liver, whole body and treatment volumes and the maximum doses of 2% volumes (D2) were calculated from the dose volume histogram and transferred to the SPSS file. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used to compare the dose values for two techniques.

Results: Thyroid gland mean doses were significantly lower in lateral technique (11.98 and 12.64 Gy, p = 0.21). It was observed no statistically dose difference between the two techniques in terms of lung doses. Since, the lungs were protected by lead blocks in both of two techniques. The mean doses of liver and kidney were lower in the lateral TBI technique (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). D₂ doses of liver were lower in AP-PA planning technique (p = 0.032). In comparison of the hot points between the two techniques, the lateral position was significantly superior (p <0.0001).

Conclusions: In present study, it was observed that the bilateral position was superior to the AP-PA position in order to prevent the hot spots. In the AP-PA position, it is more difficult to tolerate the body irregularities. Additionally, when comparing the dose distributions of the organs (liver, kidney, thyroid), it was seen that the results were statistically better in the lateral position. The lateral position provides an advantage in terms of more homogenous dose distribution and better quality planning.

Aim: Axillary defects mostly occur after burn contracture releases or hidradenitis suppurativa debridements. Reconstruction of this type of defect is a challenge since the ultimate aim is maintaining a pliable coverage with full mobility of the shoulder joint. Scapular flap is one of the reconstructive options in axillary defect coverage. This study is aiming to present reconstruction of axillary defects with scapular island flaps for different indications and to discuss the outcomes of the donor sites so as to suggest it as a workhorse flap in axillary reconstruction.
Patients and Methods: A total of 7 patients treated with 8 scapular island flaps between 2015 and 2019 were included retrospectively. Five patients were operated for hidradenitis suppurativa and 2 patients reconstructed for axillary contracture. All scapular flap pedicles were skeletonized and transferred to the axilla through the triangular space.
Results: Flap dimensions ranged from 84cm2 to 128 cm2 without exceeding 8cm of the width. Donor site scars widened between 3 months to 6 months post-operatively and independent of patient age. Donor site scars ranged from 1.5-2.6 cm after at least 3 months of follow-up. All flaps survived without any complication except one with a tip necrosis that healed with secondary intention.
Conclusion: Scapular island flaps can cover defects of the axilla created by various causes. Horizontal extension of the flap protects it from burn scar involvements of the posterior axillary line and the arm. Although widening of the scars seems to be a disadvantage, thin and pliable skin coverage with ease

Aim: Opopanax hispidus (Friv.) Griseb plant belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is traditionally used for the treatment of hemorrhoids, female infertility, and purification of blood. We aimed to examine the histological changes in the murine ovarian tissue following the administration of a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of the Opopanax hispidus (Friv.) Griseb plant.

Materials and methods: Twelve adult female Swiss-Albino mice were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Control group received no administration. In the Opopanax hispidus group the methanolic extract (200 mg/kg/day) was administered via oral gavage for 5 days. At the end of the experiment right ovarian tissue of each subject was excised. Routine histological processing of tissue samples fixed in 10% formalin were then sectioned at a thickness of 5 µm. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined with a light microscope. The modified method of Cavalieri principle was used in the stereological measurement. The total tissue volume ratio was measured with a point counting grid provided by the Shtereom version 1.5 software package. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups.The significance level was set at 5%. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (ver: 20) software package.

Results: A significant difference was observed with respect to the number of antral follicles (p<0.05). A comparison of ovarian volumes between the groups revealed a significant decrease in the Opopanax hispidus group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: We demonstrated that Opopanax hispidus exerted positive effects on the ovarian tissue and increased the number of antral follicles, probably due to its antioxidant effect.

\r\n Locally advanced rectal cancer is one of the best example that optimal outcomes are achieved with a multidisciplinary approach. The mainstay of curative treatment remains radical surgery; however, combine with radiotherapy is the optimal treatment to control local recurrence and to improve survival. To date, preoperative radiotherapy is shown to be superior than postoperatif radiotherapy. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the application methods, advantages and disadvantages of preoperative radiotherapy.

 The most seen pathophysiological mechanism of acute coronary syndrome is intracoronary thrombus after plaque rupture. ST elevation myocardial infarction is caused by occlusion of coronary arteries. The treatment is based on fibrinolytic treatment or coronary intervention. If there is massive thrombus burden in coronary artery we can use manuel thrombus aspiration. In our case, we treated patient, who referred to hospital with ST elevation myocardial infarction, by manual thrombus aspiration without using stent.  

\r\n External ophthalmomyiasis is infestation of ocular surface with fly larvae. In our report, we described a 47-year-old man who presented with complaints of foreign body sensation, itching and redness in the right eye. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed tiny larvae crawling on the conjunctival surface. A total of four larvae were removed under topical anesthesia and sent to laboratory where they were identified as first stage larvae of oestrus ovis. Topical antibiotic-steroid combination drop was prescribed. The patient had no complaints in the follow-up examinations. External ophthalmomyiasis should be remembered in the differential diagnosis of red eye as myiasis may also occur in healthy people living in city centers.

The presence of cardiac disease in pregnancy is still one of the most important reason of maternal mortality. The possibility of acute coronary syndrome increases in pregnancy. Birth with caesarean section provides proper hemodynamic monitoring and management in parturients with cardiac disease. However the ideal anesthetic to be applied to parturient with cardiac disease is controversial. Although regional anesthesia is usually preferred method, general anesthesia may be applied in some special cases. Invasive monitoring reduces mortality and morbidity in cardiac patients undergoing general anesthesia. Opioid use reduces the stress response to surgery and intubation. If the use of opioid is required before birth, remifentanil is the ideal agent because of its rapid onset of action and metabolism. In this case, we aimed to present our general anesthesia experience on a parturient with high cardiac risk where regional anesthesia is contraindicated because of the use of anticoagulation.

Tension free transvajinal tape operation has become popular in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence because of its short hospitalisation time and ease of application. Although tension free transvajinal tape is a successful and safe procedure in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, several intraoperative and postoperative complications might be seen. In our study, we described a case of bladder stone that developed secondary to mesh erosion after tension free transvajinal tape operation for stress incontinence and reconstructive surgery (anterior colporrhaphy) for pelvic organ prolapse performed 7 years previously and who was successfully treated.

Bronchogenic cysts (BC) are rare congenital malformations arising during the development of the ventral foregut. Bronchogenic cysts form as a result of abnormal budding of the bronchial tree during embryogenesis (between 4th-6th weeks). Most bronchogenic cysts originate in the mediastinum, while 15% to 20% occur in the lung parenchyma. According to the literature, most intrapulmonary cysts occur in the lower lobes. But bronchogenic cysts are commonly found in the middle and superior mediastinum. The bronchogenic cyst in our patient was subcarinal. It was striking in terms of its giant size and laying on two hemithoraxes.The bronchogenic cysts are usually asymptomatic and often diagnosed incidentally during routine chest roentgenogram for other reasons.They may not be detected until adulthood. Our patient was 56 years old. She had no obvious symptoms . The patient was referred to our clinic because of cough,and her bronchogenic cyst was determined. Basic treatment of bronchogenic cyst consists of surgical excision. However, in cases where resection cannot be performed, the epithelium should be peeled as in our case.

Erector spinae plane block (ESPB), one of the popular regional anesthesia techniques in recent years, has first been used for upper thoracic neuropathic pain. Later, it has been used in many different indications for both acute and chronic pain treatment at different lower thoracic and lumbar levels. Our limited experience demonstrates that bilevel bilateral sacral ESPB is an easy and effective method in the treatment of perianal chronic intermittent pain. However, many issues, such as the application site, the volume of local anesthetics and the sensory blockade, still remain being investigated. Due to the lack of clinical research, our review is currently unable to support the evidence and routine use of sacral ESPB. We consider that anatomical radiological and  clinical studies are needed to elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of action of sacral ESPB