Factors affecting the rates of incidental parathyroidectomy during thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

The most important factors affecting the development of postoperative hypocalcaemia (PH) include intraoperative trauma to the parathyroid glands, incidental parathyroidectomy (IP), and the surgeon's experience. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of IP, evaluate its effect on postoperative calcium levels and investigate the effect of surgeon experience and volume on IP incidence and postoperative calcium levels.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 645 patients who underwent thyroid surgery at the Department of General Surgery, Kütahya Health Sciences University between September 2016 and March 2020. All patients underwent surgery at a single clinic by general surgeons experienced in thyroid surgery and their residents (3-5 years).

RESULTS

Normal parathyroid glands were reported in 58 (8.9%) of 645 patients. In 5 (8.6%) of 58 patients the parathyroid gland was detected in the intrathyroidal region. PH developed in ten patients (17.2%) with incidental removal of the parathyroid glands. A statistically significant difference was found between the number of incidentally removed parathyroid glands and the development of hypocalcaemia (p<0.05). Normal parathyroid glands were reported in the pathology of 37 (7.9%) patients operated on by general surgeons and 22 (12.6%) patients operated on by their residents. PH developed in 39 (8.2%) patients operated on by general surgeons and in 8 (4.5%) patients operated on by their residents.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the complication rate during the resident training process was the same as that of experienced general surgeons. A thyroidectomy can be safely performed by senior residents during residential training.

Predictive value of neutrophiltolymphocyte ratio in the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among type 2 diabetes patients

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a progressive inflammatory disease that ultimately results in cirrhosis and liver failure. It is assosiciated with two step hit scenario; the first step is fat accumulationin liver and in the second step inflammation and fibrosis are the major compenents. The incidence of this disease is increasing worldwide, following rising incidences of obesity and diabetes mellitus.

AIM

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease andseverity and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio among the patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

This study involved 143 patients with type 2 diabetes who were placed into four groups (grade 0, 1, 2, 3) based on steatosis level due to blinded ultrasonographic evaluation. Biochemical parameters and counts of total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were determined. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was compared across the four patient groups.

RESULTS

Levels of hemoglobin A1c, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly different between the four patient groups (ANOVA p-values: p <0.001, p=0.011, p=0.002, p=0.034, p=0.002, respectively). Counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio significantly differed between the groups (p <0.001). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was positively correlated with steatosis grade (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio increases with increasing grade of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, and may be a convenient marker to follow progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (Acta gastro-enterol. belg., 2016, 79, 295-300).

A giant renal calculus treated without nephrectomy

The case of a patient with a giant renal calculus weighing 770 g in a solitary functioning kidney is reported. A 57-year-old man presented with right lumbar pain and macroscopic hematuria, and a giant stone was diagnosed in his right kidney. Nine days after a percutaneous nephrostomy placement, the patient underwent selective right renal angiography and transcatheter superselective embolization due to a sudden gross hematuria observed from both the nephrostomy tube and urethra. Embolization was successful. Right anatrophic nephrolithotomy was performed after stabilization of the patient. There were no complications during the recovery period. The case reported here is significant not only because it is the 7th biggest and the heaviest stone in the literature but also because it is the first giant stone reported to be in a solitary functioning kidney and treated without nephrectomy.

Hormonal and hemodynamic changes during percutaneous nephrolithotomy

The aim of this study was to investigate the hormonal and hemodynamic changes during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedure. Twenty-one patients between 15-65 years of age were included in the study. Invasive blood pressure and heart rate were monitored during PCNL. Serum sodium, potassium, BUN and creatinine levels were measured before and after the operation. Sodium and potassium levels were also measured during the operation. Arterial blood gases, renin, aldosterone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels were measured before and during irrigation. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) during PCNL compared to post-procedure levels while heart rate remained constant. Serum sodium, potassium bicarbonate and base-excess levels were decreased during the operation compared to the baseline levels (p < 0.001). BUN and creatinine levels remained unchanged during the study (p > 0.05). In conclusion, a tendency to hyponatremia and metabolic acidosis developed in addition to significant increases in renin, aldosterone and ACTH levels during PCNL procedures. These changes may be due to the invasive nature of the intervention to the kidney and the continuous irrigation of this vital organ. This should be taken into consideration during PCNL. More detailed studies with larger groups are needed for more precise comments on this topic.

Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum and sigmoid colon

We present an 18-year-old man with painless rectal bleeding, hematuria and diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum and sigmoid colon. Thirty units of blood were transfused during the interval preceding definitive surgery. Low anterior resection and partial cystectomy were performed. During the postoperative period no rectal bleeding occurred, but he died of massive intracerebral bleeding 10 months after the operation.

The in vitro bactericidal effect of microwave energy on bacteria that cause prostatitis

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the in vitro nonthermal effects of microwaves delivered from Prostatron 2.0 on Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae.

METHODS

The fingers of powder-free, sterile gloves were ligated, and bacterial solutions were transferred into the remaining area of the glove. The gloves were then sealed using silk ligatures. One set of gloves was subjected to the microwave treatment while another set was placed in a temperature-matched waterbath to act as control samples. The gloves containing the treatment group were taped around the probe, at the site where microwave energy exits the probe. During the treatment period, the temperatures from the urethral probe and the rectal probe were carefully monitored.

RESULTS

The mean (+/-SD) energy delivered was 46.6 +/- 9.5 kJ (range 30.0 to 59.5) for the 10 trials on E. coli and colony counts in the experimental microwaved gloves decreased significantly compared with control samples (5.26 +/- 4.5 x 10(5) versus 10.16 +/- 9.3 x 10(5) CFU/mL, P = 0.02). For the experiments on E. cloacae the mean (+/-SD) energy applied was 38.5 +/- 12.5 kJ, and a significant decrease in colony counts of microwaved samples was also observed compared with controls (11.04 +/- 4.8 x 10(5) versus 20.08 +/- 10.1 x 10(5) CFU/mL, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Microwave energy, delivered from Prostatron 2.0, independent of heat production has an in vitro bactericidal effect on laboratory-cultured E. coli and E. cloacae.