Ariel Halevy

The Possible Association between IVF and Breast Cancer Incidence

BackgroundThe possible association between ovulation-inducing drugs and breast cancer development has been debated. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of breast cancer in a cohort of women exposed to in vitro fertilization (IVF).MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis was performed by linkage of the computerized database of all women treated at the IVF Unit at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center between 1986 and 2003, and the Israeli National Cancer Registry. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was computed as the ratio between the observed number of breast cancer cases and the expected cases, adjusted for age and continent of birth, in the general population. Tumor characteristics of the IVF patients were studied by reviewing original medical records.Results35 breast carcinomas were diagnosed among 3,375 IVF-treated women, compared to 24.8 cases expected (SIR = 1.4; 95% CI 0.98–1.96). Age ≥40 years at IVF treatment (SIR = 1.9; 95% CI 0.97–3.30), hormonal infertility (SIR = 3.1; 95% CI 0.99–7.22), and ≥4 IVF cycles (SIR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.15–3.27) were found to be risk factors to develop breast cancer compared to the general population. Multivariate analysis revealed that women who underwent ≥4 IVF cycles compared to those with one to three cycles were at risk to develop breast cancer, although not significantly (SIR = 1.9; 95% CI 0.95–3.81). Of IVF-treated women 85% had ER(+) tumors and 29% had positive family history.ConclusionsA possible association between IVF therapy and breast cancer development was demonstrated, especially in women ≥40 years of age. These preliminary findings need to be replicated in other cohort studies.

Pyogenic liver abscess: Warning indicator of silent colonic cancer

PURPOSE: Carcinoma of the colon, manifested clinically as an enterococcal hepatic abscess, in the absence of liver metastases, is very uncommon. However, having treated a patient with such a condition, we would like to draw the attention of surgeons to this possibility. Most reports describe secondary infections of hepatic metastases only in patients with a known malignancy. However, increased awareness of colonic cancer as an underlying cause of pyogenic liver abscesses will afford earlier diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: The case was analyzed for history, presentation, laboratory data, radiologic studies, and bacteriology. RESULTS: A 66-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, fever, and chills. Imaging scans revealed a solitary liver abscess, which was successfully treated with percutaneous drainage and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Pus cultures grewStreptococcus faecalis.A search for the underlying cause led to the discovery of an adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive search for the underlying cause of pyogenic liver abscesses should be an integral part of the definitive treatment of this disease. After prevailing etiologies have been excluded, silent colonic cancer should be considered.

Carcinoma of lung with a solitary cerebral metastasis. Surgical management and review of the literature

During the years 1975 to 1980, 10 male patients and 1 female, with ages ranging between 40 to 61 years, underwent combined resection of primary lung cancer and solitary brain metastasis. In 8 patients the lung cancer was diagnosed and treated first. In those patients, craniotomy for removal of a solitary brain metastasis was carried out 8 to 60 months (mean, 27 months) after excision of the lung tumor. In 3 patients, brain metastasis was diagnosed and treated first and lung excision followed, 2 to 4 weeks after craniotomy. The most common histologic type of the tumor was adenocarcinoma (63.6%). There were no operative deaths. Three patients survived less than 6 months after surgery and were considered as a failure of surgical treatment. Seven patients lived longer than 1 year and three of them are still alive with a follow‐up period between 2 to 3 1/2 years after both operations. One of the patients underwent recently successfully second brain intervention for removal of recurrent histologically identical solitary brain metastasis and is well. Our results and those reported in literature encourage the combined surgical removal of primary lung cancer and a solitary brain metastasis.

Is male gender a risk factor for conversion of laparoscopic into open cholecystectomy

AbstractBackground: Based on a clinical observation that the conversion rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open cholecystectomy (OC) is higher in males, we decided to review our records and to verify whether a significant difference in conversion rates exists between sexes. Methods: A retrospective study on conversion rates of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) into open cholecystectomy (LC) in relation to gender was carried out in 329 patients: 267 females and 62 males. Results: Our data revealed that the probability of conversion is fivefold greater in males than females, 21% vs 4.5%, respectively (p=0.0001). We attribute this striking difference to significantly more adhesions (p=0.0002) and anatomical difficulties (p=0.003) in males during LC, leading to conversion. Conclusions: We conclude that conversion of LC to OC is more prevalent among males and is probably attributable to a greater incidence of anatomical difficulties.

Pulse oximetry in the evaluation of the painful hand after arteriovenous fistula creation

Five patients with a side-to-side arteriovenous fistula complaining of pain, numbness, and cold sensation were evaluated by pulse oximetry. Low SaO2 was noticed in all five. Closure of a major proximal venous collateral vessel eliminated the steal and resulted in SaO2 correction and was followed by clinical amelioration. Pulse oximetry proved to be a helpful adjunct in the evaluation of the painful hand after creation of an arteriovenous fistula. By applying the pulse oximeter to the patients affected limb, we were able to determine whether the pain was a result of ischemia and if the correction of the steal improved oxygenation.

Cystic duct leak after laparoscopic cholecystectomy a multi-institutional study

AbstractBackground: Cystic duct leak is a rare complication of laparoscopic surgery. To study the incidence, presentation, and management of cystic duct leak (CDL) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) a retrospective study of centers doing large numbers of LC was done. Methods: Patient information was obtained by a questionnaire sent to experienced laparoscopic surgeons. This queried demographic information, course of the original operation, presentation, diagnostic studies, and management of CDL after LC. Results: Some 22,165 LCs were performed by 24 surgeons; there were 58 cases of CDL (0.26%); 21% of the surgeons reported no CDLs; 60% of CDLs occurred in the first 25% of each surgeon’s experience, but CDLs continue to occur even in their most recent 10% of cases. Preoperative symptoms, prior surgery, and comorbid conditions did not predict CDL. Acute cholecystitis was present at initial surgery in 47%. Symptoms of CDL an average of 3.1 days post-LC were abdominal pain 78%, fever 26%, nausea 35%, vomiting 22%, abdominal distention 26%, and shoulder pain 12%. WBCs and LFTs were elevated in more than two-thirds of the cases. ERCP was most frequently used to diagnose CDL (53%) and was successful in 97%, although sonogram (40%) and HIDA scan (26%) and CT (26%) were also used. Management included ERCP and ductal decompression in 27 patients, percutaneous drainage in 13 patients, open laparotomy in 14, laparoscopy in three, and observation in two. Patients were discharged an average of 7.4 days post discovery of leak. Stents were removed an average of 30 days post ERCP. Ninety-four percent were complete cures. There was one post-treatment abscess. Two deaths due to multisystem failure unrelated to leak occurred. Conclusions: Cystic duct leak is rare and fairly easily diagnosed. It occurs more frequently during the learning curve, but also after much experience. ERCP and ductal decompression play a large role in treatment, but almost all standard methods of treatment yield successful outcomes with low morbidity.

How does infected bile affect the postoperative course of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVES To assess the rate of infected bile in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and to study the influence on the postoperative infective complications in this group of patients. METHODS Bile samples of 247 patients undergoing LC were collected and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. All patients were given prophylactic antibiotics. RESULTS The overall rate of infected bile was 12.8% (56 positive cultures); of these, 54 were aerobic and 2 anaerobic bacteria. Only 2 patients developed infection at the umbilical site, and in both, the bile was sterile. None of the patients with positive bile cultures developed any signs of infection during a mean follow-up period of 26 months. CONCLUSION The overall rate of septic complications following LC is extremely low, and at least in our study no correlation was found between infected bile and septic complications.

Mondor's Disease of the Axilla: A Rare Complication of Sentinel Node Biopsy

Abstract:  Three cases of Mondors disease of the axilla following sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) are described. In all cases we used the combination of blue dye and radiocolloid, and complete axillary dissection was not performed. The numbers of lymph nodes removed in each case were five, four, and two, respectively. All the events of Mondors disease resolved spontaneously or following a short therapy of anti‐inflammatory agents.

The accuracy of sentinel node mapping according to T stage in patients with gastric cancer

BackgroundSentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has been recently introduced to the field of gastric cancer. To the best of our knowledge, no study has dealt with the accuracy of SLN mapping according to the T stage of the primary tumor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate SLN status according to the T stage of the primary tumors.MethodsEighty patients with gastric cancer underwent SLN mapping with patent blue dye during gastric resection.ResultsForty-seven patients underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy; 17 patients, proximal gastrectomy; 14, total gastrectomy; and 2, gastric stump resection. SLNs were stained in 61/80 patients (76.3%). The number of stained SLNs varied from 1 to 16 (mean, 3.3). Patients undergoing proximal gastrectomy had a mean of 3 stained SLNs, whereas patients undergoing distal subtotal gastrectomy had a mean of 2.8 stained SLNs. In 55/61 patients (90.2%) with stained SLNs a positive correlation was found between the presence of metastases and stained or non-stained SLNs. Ten out of 11 patients (90.9%) with T1 tumors (mean, 3.27 SLNs per patient) and 15/17 patients with T2 tumors (88.2%; mean, 3 SLNs per patient) had stained SLNs as compared to only 33/48 (68.8%) of patients with T3 tumors (mean, 3.3 SLNs per patient). The positive predictive value of the SLN mapping was 100%, the negative predictive value was 76.9%, and sensitivity was 85.4%.ConclusionWhile in T1 and T2 tumors sentinel node mapping may be of assistance in the decision-making process regarding the extent of lymphadenectomy (sensitivity, 100%; negative predictive value, 90%-100%), SLN mapping in patients with T3 tumors will be misleading in a third of the patients and should not be attempted.

Selection of patients with severe pelvic fracture for early angiography remains controversial

BackgroundPatients with severe pelvic fractures represent about 3% of all skeletal fractures. Hemodynamic compromise in unstable pelvic fractures is associated with arterial hemorrhage in less than 20% of patients. Angiography is an important tool in the management of severe pelvic injury, but indications and timing for its performance remain controversial.MethodsPatients with major pelvic fractures [Pelvic Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) ≥ 3] admitted to two high volume Trauma Centers from January 2000 to June 2005 were identified and divided into two groups: Group I patients did not undergo angiography, Group II patients underwent angiography with/without embolization. Demographics, hemodynamic status on admission, concomitant injuries, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), pelvic AIS, blood requirement before and after angiography, arterial blood gases and mortality were evaluated. Patients with an additional reason for hemodynamic instability were excluded.ResultsCharts of 106 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty nine patients (27.4%) underwent angiography. Bleeding vessel embolization was performed in 20 (18.9%) patients. Patients who underwent angiography had a significantly higher pelvic AIS and a lower Base Excess level on admission. A blood transfusion rate of greater than 0.5 unit/hour was found to be a reliable indicator for early angiography.ConclusionA high pelvic AIS, amount of blood transfusions and decreased BE level should be considered as an indicators for early angiography in patients with severe pelvic injury.