Rene Ramirez

A safe and reproducible anastomotic technique for minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy: the circular-stapled anastomosis with the trans-oral anvil,

OBJECTIVES In expert hands, the intrathoracic oesophago-gastric anastamosis usually provides a low rate of strictures and leaks. However, anastomoses can be technically challenging and time consuming when minimally invasive techniques are used. We present our preliminary results of a standardised 25 mm/4.8mm circular-stapled anastomosis using a trans-orally placed anvil. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated a prospective cohort of 37 consecutive patients offered minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy at a tertiary referral centre. The oesophago-gastric anastomosis was created using a 25-mm anvil (Orvil, Autosuture, Norwalk, CT, USA) passed trans-orally, in a tilted position, and connected to a 90-cm long polyvinyl chloride delivery tube through an opening in the oesophageal stump. The anastomosis was completed by joining the anvil to a circular stapler (end-to-end anastomosis stapler (EEA XL) 25 mm with 4.8-mm staples, Autosuture, Norwalk, CT, USA) inserted into the gastric conduit. Primary outcomes were leak and stricture rates. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients (mean age 65 years) with distal oesophageal adenocarcinoma (n=29), squamous cell cancer (n=5) or high-grade dysplasia in Barretts oesophagus (n=3) underwent an Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy between October 2007 and August 2009. The abdominal portion was operated laparoscopically in 30 patients (81.1%). The thoracic portion was done using a muscle-sparing mini-thoracotomy in 23 patients (62.2%) and thoracoscopic techniques in 14 patients (37.8%). There were no intra-operative technical failures of the anastomosis or deaths. Five patients had strictures (13.5%) and all were successfully treated with endoscopic dilations. One patient had an anastomotic leak (2.7%) that was successfully treated by re-operation and endoscopic stenting of the anastomosis. DISCUSSION The circular-stapled anastomosis with the trans-oral anvil allows for an efficient, safe and reproducible anastomosis. This straightforward technique is particularly suited to the completely minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats affects hydraulic conductivity in two phases that are temporally and mechanistically separate

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a major insult to postcapillary venules. We hypothesized that IR increases postcapillary venular hydraulic conductivity and that IR-mediated changes in hydraulic conductivity result from temporally and mechanistically separate processes. A microcannulation technique was used to determine hydraulic conductivity (Lp) in rat mesenteric postcapillary venules serially throughout ischemia (45 min) and reperfusion (5 h) induced by superior mesenteric artery occlusion and release. Mesenteric IR resulted in a biphasic increase in Lp. White blood cell (WBC) adhesion slowly increased with maximal adhesion corresponding to the second peak (P < 0.005). After IR, tissue was harvested for RT-PCR analysis of ICAM-1, E-selectin, and P-selectin mRNA. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA in the gut showed the most significant upregulation. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that ICAM-1 mRNA was upregulated 60-fold in the gut. An ICAM-1 antibody was therefore used to determine the effect of WBC adhesion on Lp during IR. ICAM-1 inhibition attenuated Lp during the first peak and completely blocked the second peak (P < 0.005). When rats were fed a tungsten diet to inhibit xanthine oxidase and then underwent IR, Lp was dramatically attenuated during the first peak and mildly decreased the second peak (P < 0.005). Inhibition of xanthine oxidase by oxypurinol decreased Lp during IR by over 60% (P < 0.002). Tempol, a superoxide dismutase mimetic, decreased Lp during IR by over 30% (P < 0.01). We conclude that IR induces a biphasic increase in postcapillary hydraulic conductivity. Reactive oxygen species impact both the first transient peak and the sustained second peak. However, the second peak is also dependent on WBC-endothelial cell adhesion. These serial measurements of postcapillary hydraulic conductivity may lead the way for optimal timing of pharmaceutical therapies in IR injury.

Haloperidol undermining gastroparesis symptoms (HUGS) in the emergency department

Background Gastroparesis associated nausea, vomiting & abdominal pain (GP N/V/AP) are common presentations to the emergency department (ED). Treatment is often limited to antiemetic, prokinetic, opioid, & nonopioid agents. Haloperidol (HP) has been shown to have analgesic & antiemetic properties. We sought to evaluate HP in the ED as an alternative treatment of GP N/V/AP. Methods Using an electronic medical record, 52 patients who presented to the ED w/GP N/V/AP secondary to diabetes mellitus and were treated w/HP were identified. Patients who received HP were compared to themselves w/the most recent previous encounter in which HP was not administered. ED length of stay (LOS), additional antiemetics/prokinetics administered, hospital LOS, and morphine equivalent doses of analgesia (ME) from each visit were recorded. Descriptive statistics, categorical (Chi Square Test or Z‐Test for proportion) and continuous (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test) comparisons were calculated. Statistical significance was considered for two tail p‐values less than 0.05. Results A statistically significant reduction in ME (Median 6.75 [IQR 7.93] v 10.75 [IQR12]: p = 0.001) and reduced admissions for GP (5/52 v 14/52: p = 0.02) when HP was administered was observed. There were no statistically significant differences in ED or hospital LOS, and additional antiemetics administered between encounters in which HP was administered and not administered. No complications were identified in patients who received HP. Conclusions The rate of admission and ME was found to be significantly reduced in patients with GP secondary to diabetes mellitus who received HP. HP may represent an appropriate, effective, and safe alternative to traditional analgesia and antiemetic therapy in the ED management of GP associated N/V/AP.

Effectiveness of emergency medicine in longitudinal integrated clerkships.

Objective This study investigated third-year students’ experience with the emergency medicine (EM) component in integrated longitudinal programs. The study aimed to see if EM could be integrated into third-year integrated longitudinal programs while addressing accreditation standards and increasing interest in EM. Methods The authors surveyed students who participated in an integrated longitudinal program at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF) from 2010 to 2012. The survey focused on four areas of EM: fit within an integrated longitudinal program; development of critical decision-making and judgment skills; development of differential diagnoses and treatment plans; increased interest in pursuing EM. Results Overall, students thought that EM fits well with the goals of an integrated longitudinal curriculum. They also thought that it helped them develop their decision-making, clinical judgment, differential diagnoses, and treatment plans. There was also an increased interest in pursuing EM as a career option because of the EM component. Conclusions EM can be well integrated into a third-year longitudinal curriculum. The undifferentiated patient work-up helps students develop critical skills in assessment and management. The lack of continuity did not interfere with the integrated longitudinal curriculum, instead the experience enhanced it.