Frequency of abdominal wall hernias: is classical teaching out of date?

Objectives

Abdominal wall hernias are common. Various authors all quote the following order (in decreasing frequency): inguinal, femoral, umbilical followed by rarer forms. But are these figures outdated? We investigated the epidemiology of hernia repair (retrospective review) over 30 years to determine whether the relative frequencies of hernias are evolving.

Design

All hernia repairs undertaken in consecutive adult patients were assessed. Data included: patient demographics; hernia type; and operation details. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS.

Setting

A single United Kingdom hospital trust during three periods: 1985–1988; 1995–1998; and 2005–2008.

Main outcome measures

Frequency data of different hernia types during three time periods, patient demographic data.

Results

Over the three time periods, 2389 patients underwent 2510 hernia repairs (i.e. including bilateral and multiple hernias in a single patient). Inguinal hernia repair was universally the commonest hernia repair, followed by umbilical, epigastric, para-umbilical, incisional and femoral, respectively. Whereas femoral hernia repair was the second commonest in the 1980s, it had become the fifth most common by 2005–2008. While the proportion of groin hernia repairs has decreased over time, the proportion of midline abdominal wall hernias has increased.

Conclusion

The current relative frequency of different hernia repair type is: inguinal; umbilical; epigastric; incisional; para-umbilical; femoral; and finally other types e.g. spigelian. This contrasts with hernia incidence figures quoted in common reference books.

Normal passive viscoelasticity but abnormal myofibrillar force generation in human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, increased ventricular stiffness and impaired diastolic filling. We investigated to what extent myocardial functional defects can be explained by alterations in the passive and active properties of human cardiac myofibrils. Skinned ventricular myocytes were prepared from patients with obstructive HCM (two patients with MYBPC3 mutations, one with a MYH7 mutation, and three with no mutation in either gene) and from four donors. Passive stiffness, viscous properties, and titin isoform expression were similar in HCM myocytes and donor myocytes. Maximal Ca²⁺-activated force was much lower in HCM myocytes (14 ± 1 kN/m²) than in donor myocytes (23 ± 3 kN/m²; P < 0.01), though cross-bridge kinetics (k_tr) during maximal Ca²⁺ activation were 10% faster in HCM myocytes. Myofibrillar Ca²⁺ sensitivity in HCM myocytes (pCa₅₀ = 6.40 ± 0.05) was higher than for donor myocytes (pCa₅₀ = 6.09 ± 0.02; P < 0.001) and was associated with reduced phosphorylation of troponin-I (ser-23/24) and MyBP-C (ser-282) in HCM myocytes. These characteristics were common to all six HCM patients and may therefore represent a secondary consequence of the known and unknown underlying genetic variants. Some HCM patients did however exhibit an altered relationship between force and cross-bridge kinetics at submaximal Ca²⁺ concentrations, which may reflect the primary mutation. We conclude that the passive viscoelastic properties of the myocytes are unlikely to account for the increased stiffness of the HCM ventricle. However, the low maximum Ca²⁺-activated force and high Ca²⁺ sensitivity of the myofilaments are likely to contribute substantially to any systolic and diastolic dysfunction, respectively, in hearts of HCM patients.

Will opposites attract? Similarities and differences in students' perceptions of the stereotype profiles of other health and social care professional groups

The extent to which health and social care (HSC) students hold stereotypical views of other HSC professional groups is of great potential importance to team working in health care. This paper explores students' perceptions of different HSC professional groups at the beginning of their university programmes. Findings are presented from an analysis of baseline data collected as part of the New Generation Project longitudinal cohort study which is assessing the impact of interprofessional education over time on a range of variables including stereotyping. Questionnaires were administered to a cohort of over 1200 students from 10 different HSC professional groups entering their first year of university. Stereotypes were measured using a tool adapted from Barnes et al. (2000) designed to elicit stereotype ratings on a range of nine characteristics. The findings confirm that students arrive at university with an established and consistent set of stereotypes about other health and social care professional groups. Stereotypical profiles were compiled for each professional group indicating the distinctive characteristics of the groups as well as the similarities and differences between groups.Midwives, social workers and nurses were rated most highly on interpersonal skills and on being a team player whilst doctors were rated most highly on academic ability. Doctors, midwives and social workers were perceived as having the strongest leadership role, whilst doctors were also rated most highly on decision making. All professions were rated highly on confidence and professional competence and, with the exception of social workers, on practical skills. A comparison of profiles for each professional group reveals that, for example, pharmacists and doctors were perceived as having very similar characteristics as were social workers, midwives and nurses. However, the profiles of nurses and doctors were perceived to be very different. The implications of these similarities and differences are discussed in terms of their potential impact on interprofessional interactions, role boundaries and team working.

Test performance of endobronchial ultrasound and transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy for mediastinal staging in patients with lung cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) with transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is becoming widely used for mediastinal lymph node staging in patients with known or suspected lung cancer. While a substantial number of case series have evaluated test performance of this investigation, the small sample sizes limited the ability to accurately evaluate the precision of EBUS-TBNA as a staging modality. A systematic review was performed of published studies evaluating EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph node staging to ascertain the pooled sensitivity and specificity of this investigation.

METHODS

A literature search was constructed and performed by a professional medical librarian to identify the literature from 1960 to February 2008. Pooled specificity and sensitivity was estimated from the extracted data with an exact binomial rendition of the bivariate mixed-effects regression model.

RESULTS

Of 365 publications, 25 were identified in which EBUS-TBNA was specifically focused on mediastinal node staging. Of these, only 10 had data suitable for extraction and analysis. The overall test performance was excellent with an area under the summary receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.99 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.00); similarly, EBUS-TBNA had excellent pooled specificity of 1.00 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.00) and good pooled sensitivity of 0.88 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

EBUS-TBNA has excellent overall test performance and specificity for mediastinal lymph node staging in patients with lung cancer. The results compare favourably with published results for computed tomography and positron emission tomography.

Two common mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms are highly associated with migraine headache and cyclic vomiting syndrome

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hypothesized component in the multifactorial pathogenesis of migraine without aura (MoA, 'common migraine') and the related condition of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). In this study, the entire mitochondrial genome was sequenced in 20 haplogroup-H CVS patients, a subject group studied because of greater genotypic and phenotypic homogeneity. Sequences were compared against haplogroup-H controls. Polymorphisms of interest were tested in 10 additional CVS subjects and in 112 haplogroup-H adults with MoA. The 16519C-->T polymorphism was found to be highly disease associated: 21/30 CVS subjects [70%, odds ratio (OR) 6.2] and 58/112 migraineurs (52%, OR 3.6) vs. 63/231 controls (27%). A second polymorphism, 3010G-->A, was found to be highly disease associated in those subjects with 16519T: 6/21 CVS subjects (29%, OR 17) and 15/58 migraineurs (26%, OR 15) vs. 1/63 controls (1.6%). Our data suggest that these polymorphisms constitute a substantial proportion of the genetic factor in migraine pathogenesis, and strengthen the hypothesis that there is a component of mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine.

Development, impact and outcomes of the Hull Bacteraemia Service

BACKGROUND

Bacteraemia is a significant cause of mortality and healthcare expenditure. Evidence suggests that consultation by an infection specialist may improve outcomes.

AIM

To review the characteristics and outcomes of patients seen by a newly implemented bacteraemia service.

METHODS

Retrospective review of data collected at time of consultation. Economic analyses and benchmarking of outcomes were also performed.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-one patients were seen by the service over an 18-month period. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate and central venous lines the most common source. Antibiotics were changed and additional investigations suggested in 62% and 61% of patients, respectively. The 30-day mortality was 19%. Implementation and delivery of the service over the 18-month study period cost pound 22,663 (pound 15,109 per year). The cost per change in antibiotic prescription was pound 244. The cost per 'near-miss' detected was pound 1193. Overall mortality was no higher and possibly lower than in published studies.

CONCLUSION

We believe that this model of care may be suitable for the management of patients with bacteraemia. A study assessing the cost-effectiveness of this approach is required.

Another look at breast projection after breast reduction

A controversy exists between vertical mammoplasty and the "traditional" keyhole\inferior pedicle method of breast reduction. This article examines factors affecting breast projection by considering the difference in concept between vertical mammaplasty (using the modification proposed by Hall-Findley as an example) and the inferior pedicle\keyhole pattern. This article is not about "how to do" but rather about "why" things are done in a certain way. The emphasis is on understanding what is done and its effects rather than on technique. The breast can be considered a cone. Breast projection then is the ratio between the nipple projection and the breast base. Two key concepts need to be considered: the orientation of the ellipses during excision of breast tissue in breast reduction and the role of the breast base\inframammary fold. Breast projection is not determined by the scars. After an examination of each technique, methods to enhance projection are discussed.