Recovery of deambulation after cardiothoracic surgery: a single center experience

BACKGROUND

Surgical procedure and postoperative bed rest lead to musculoskeletal system alterations with a possibility of new walking dependence of patients who undergo cardiothoracic surgery, which is sometimes associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased health expenditure.

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the postoperative motor disability in inpatients admitted to the cardiothoracic surgical ward, and the results of customized rehabilitation in terms of recovery of postural changes and walking capacity with respect to the preoperative condition and destination after discharge.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study was conducted.

SETTING AND POPULATION

Four hundred seventeen inpatients, who had undergone cardiothoracic surgery, were enrolled between March 2011 and January 2012 in a Hospital Unit of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

METHODS

A computerized system was used to collect data about ambulation at home, type and number of rehabilitation sessions proposed, ambulation at discharge, destination after discharge from ward of origin. All patients, who give their consent, undergone rehabilitative treatment on the ward of origin with an expert physiotherapist.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-five inpatients were examined in Cardiac Surgery. One patient (0.26%) refused rehabilitative treatment. Two patients (0.53%) died. At the time of discharge 236 (74.45%) patients had recovered the ability to walk independently. After discharge 87.64% of patients was transferred to a specialist ward for intensive rehabilitation. Forty-two inpatients were enrolled in thoracic surgery. Two patients died whilst in hospital. At the time of discharge, 36 patients (94.73%) were able to walk independently. After discharge 80% of patients returned home.

CONCLUSION

In our study, the application of an early and simple rehabilitation program on the ward of origin after surgery has made possible the recovery of ambulation of most inpatients who referred independence at home in a few days, limiting hospitalization and health expenditure.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

Data about recovery of ambulation with respect to the preoperative condition and destination after discharge resume the importance of identifying motor impairment after surgery, in order to apply an adequate, early and feasible rehabilitation protocol to inpatients, limiting hospitalization and health expenditure.

Percutaneous computed tomography-guided radiofrequency thermal ablation of small unresectable lung tumours

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) for the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and isolated pulmonary metastases (METs) from colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 31 patients (15 with NSCLCs and 16 with CRC lung METs), with 36 lung tumour nodules (mean+/-sd diameter: 22+/-8 mm, range: 10-35 mm) underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided RFTA using expandable electrodes. Contrast-enhanced CT was performed before and after (immediately and 30+/-5 days) each RFTA session to assess immediate results and complications and repeated 3 and 6 months post-RFTA, as well as every 6 months thereafter, to evaluate long-term results. Complete radiological necrosis was defined as a nonenhancing area at the tumour site that was equal to or larger than the treated tumour; persistence of enhancement at the tumour site indicated incomplete treatment. Local recurrence was defined as an increase in tumour size and/or enhancing tissue at the tumour site. Complete radiological necrosis of the 36 tumours was achieved with 39 RFTA sessions and 42 electrode insertions. No major complications or deaths were observed. Six patients experienced mild-to-moderate pain during the procedure. There were five cases of pneumothorax, none requiring drainage and four cases of pneumonia, which were successfully treated with antibiotics. After a mean follow-up of 11.4+/-7.7 months (range of 3-36 months), the overall local recurrence rate was 13.9% (20 and 9.5% for NSCLC and CRC-METs patients, respectively). Nineteen of the 31 (61.3%) patients were alive (15 apparently disease free) and 12 (38.7%) had died (three from causes unrelated to their cancer). Radiofrequency thermal ablation seems to be a safe, effective method for producing complete ablation of small nonsmall cell lung cancers and pulmonary colorectal cancer metastases.

Lung cancer resection: the prediction of postsurgical outcomes should include long-term functional results

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To assess (1) the possibility of predicting long-term postoperative lung function, and (2) the usefulness of maximal oxygen consumption (O(2)max) as a criterion for operability and as a predictor of long-term disability.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Outpatients and inpatients of a university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-two consecutive patients (mean +/- SD age, 62 +/- 8 years; 51 male and 11 female patients) were preoperatively evaluated for lung cancer resection (pneumonectomy or bilobectomy [n = 14] and lobectomy [n = 48]).

MEASUREMENTS

Clinical examination and recorded respiratory symptoms and spirometry results before surgery and 6 months after surgery. If predicted postoperative FEV(1) (ppoFEV(1)) was < 40%, patients underwent exercise testing; if O(2)max was between 10 mL/kg/min and 20 mL/kg/min, patients underwent a split-function study.

RESULTS

All the patients with ppoFEV(1) > or = 40%-even those patients (26%) with FEV(1) < 80%-underwent thoracotomy without further tests. Seven patients with ppoFEV(1) < 40% underwent exercise testing, and three of them underwent a split-function study. Nine patients (15%; including six patients with COPD and one patient with asthma) had immediate postoperative complications (pneumonia [n = 5] and respiratory failure [n = 4]); seven of these patients had ppoFEV(1) > or = 40%. ppoFEV(1) significantly underestimated the actual postoperative FEV(1) (poFEV(1); p < 0.001) 6 months after pneumonectomy or bilobectomy but was reliable for actual poFEV(1) after lobectomy. Two patients with predicted postoperative O(2)max > 10 mL/kg/min became oxygen dependent and had marked limitation of daily living.

CONCLUSIONS

ppoFEV(1) > or = 40% reliably identifies patients not requiring further tests and not at long-term risk of respiratory disability. O(2)max, effective for defining the immediate surgical risk, is not useful in predicting long-term disability.

Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease: a case report with bronchoalveolar lavage findings

We report a case of respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease in a young asymptomatic heavy cigarette smoker. Diagnosis was achieved by examination of specimens obtained from open lung biopsy, but retrospective evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage findings offer some circumstantial suggestions. We provide evidence for the nature of inclusions contained in alveolar macrophages. Problems related to the classification of respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease are also discussed.

[The use of the expanded PTFE (Gore-Tex) prosthesis with progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum in the repair of massive inguinal hernias and large laparoceles]

The authors present two cases of massive inguinal hernia and large recurring abdominal wall defect, in which hernia repair and wall reconstruction is made possible thanks to the use of large patches of expanded PTFE (Gore-Tex). The authors moreover insist on the efficacy of using the progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum as a technic to prepare the patient to surgery together with respiratory physiotherapy, for the purpose of preventing the occurrence of unfavourable repercussions falling upon the cardiorespiratory apparatus with the repositioning into the abdomen of the hernias.

[Long-term results of the surgical treatment of ileo-colonic Crohn disease]

18 patients with Crohn's disease primarily treated with excisional surgery were studied. The crude recurrence and reoperation rate were analyzed. The influence of sex, age and length of history prior to operation was in this respect also studied.

[Carcinoma of the common bile duct]

The clinical courses of 18 patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma operated on between 1960 and 1979 are reviewed retrospectively. The preoperative and intraoperative diagnostic difficulties due to marked peritumor sclerosis are pointed out. The location of the lesion appeared to bear the most important relationship to prognosis: the lesions located in the upper and middle thirds of the extrahepatic biliary system are often invasive of adjacent vascular structures and, hence, unresectable, necessitating a proximal biliary-enteric anastomosis or intubation to alleviate jaundice and pruritus. A more aggressive operative approach, however, will result in a higher survival rate, as shown in personal experience for lower third lesions resected by Whipple's procedure.

[Comparative analysis of manual and mechanical sutures in the surgery of neoplasms of the esophagus and the cardia]

The authors analyse 50 sutures by hand and 50 by stapling device in oesophagocardial surgery, and compare them as to time of performance, number and quality of complications and influence on the protraction of stay in hospital after operation. The conclusions indicate the sutures by device as the most reliable and safe, susceptible to supplant, although not totally, the techniques by hand.

[The surgical consequences of topographical variations of the implantation of the papilla in the duodenum]

The Authors underline the importance of anatomical variations concerning the location of the duodenal papilla. In roughly 75% of cases this structure pierces the duodenal mucosa at D2 and at the level of the lower flexure, in 20% at D3 and in about 6% at D1. Intraoperative cholangiography is most useful to spot the papilla, its position is fundamental from an anatomo-surgical point of view both when this structure is placed at a high level (when performing a gastro-duodenal resection), and when located at D3 level, if sphincterotomy is required. In this latter case the usual incision at 12 hours should be carried out at 9 hours instead in order to avoid surgical damage to the canal of Wirsung running vertically and along the common bile duct.

[A rare case of esophageal pathology: leiomyosarcoma (author's transl)]

The AA. report a clinical case of rare oesophageal pathology: the leioomyosarcoma sole case on 200 oesophageal neoplasms that they have observed. The clinical likeness with oesophageal carcinoma and the complete superimposition of reports that have been obtained in this case with instrumental examinations respect to the oesophageal carcinoma, didn't permit to do the diagnosis of histotype, while this diagnosis could be done only after the preparation of an histopathologic preparation. The patient who was operated on for superior polar esophago-gastrectomy, after 18 months is in good general conditions. THe AA. draw their conclusions after a short discussion. We must show in these paragraphs the particular macroscopic form of neoplasm that they have observed and the great difficulty of a diagnosis of leimyosarcoma without an histopathologic preparation. Agreeing with the most part of other Authors, they point out that the best therapy for these forms is surgical therapy.