A review on the role of laparoscopy in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUD

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and leads to an estimated 227,000 deaths per year worldwide. Palliative and curative treatments are used for pancreatic cancer by laparoscopic or open techniques. The role of laparoscopy in pancreatic cancer is evaluated in this study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Electronic databases, such as PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched to identify reports of trials for laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. Articles written in English including the maximum number of patients published -between 2010 and 2014 were included.

RESULTS

Recent reports on laparoscopic surgery of the pancreas are encouraging and support the advantages of laparoscopy. Although large series have been reported for benign pancreatic -tumors treated with laparoscopic procedures, only limited data are available for malignant lesions. Most of these studies are retrospective, but the results encourage laparoscopic procedures.

CONCLUSION

Over the last decade laparoscopic pancreatic surgery has emerged as an alternative to open surgery with many advantages. There are limited data on about laparoscopic approach for the treatment of malignant lesions. The results are in favor of laparoscopy.

Brain Death and Organ Donation: Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitudes of Medical, Law, Divinity, Nursing, and Communication Students

BACKGROUND

Throughout the world, there is a shortage of suitable organs for organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of medical, law, divinity, nursing, and communication students, who will be involved in this issue in the future, regarding brain death and organ donation.

METHODS

Data were collected with the use of a 30-item questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of the 341 participants, 228 (66.8%) were female and overall average age was 21.6 ± 2.8 years. Nearly one-half of them (51.3%), especially nursing and medical students, wanted to be a donor, but only 2% had an organ donation card; 78.3% emphasized that family must have the right to make the decision for organ donation, and the vast majority of the participants considered that the organs could not be taken without any permission. Kidney and heart were the most commonly identified transplantable organs; the less frequently known organ was intestine. Only 71 participants, most of them medical, divinity, and law students, correctly answered all questions about brain death; 68.6% stated that organ donation is allowed by religion, and 5% expressed that it is religiously forbidden; 37.3% did not have confidence in health care policy. Law students were more confident, nursing students less confident.

CONCLUSIONS

Better understanding of organ donation and concepts by the doctors, nurses, legislators, religious officials, and mass communications professionals who will give direction to society's behaviors and beliefs would help to spread positive attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation in the public.