Taufiek Konrad Rajab

Impact of electronic messaging on the patient-physician interaction:

Patients are interested in secure electronic communication with their health-care providers, but physicians have been slow to adopt the technique into their practice. We have therefore reviewed the literature on secure patient messaging. Relevant studies were identified by Medline search which produced 1065 publications. Of these, 71 relevant articles were read independently by two reviewers. Currently available messaging systems allow for asynchronous communication, physician reimbursement and automated supporting functions such as triaging of patient messages and integration of messaging into medical records. The review showed that patients are satisfied with the use of secure physician messaging systems and find such services to be convenient, time-saving and useful. Physicians do not report adverse effects from their use. Legal concerns with electronic messaging include compliance with privacy standards. The economic benefits of secure messaging systems are most immediately apparent for larger health-care groups and hospitals, although smaller practices will also benefit in the long run. Secure patient-physician messaging is a convenient and useful addition to the health-care infrastructure. It can be expected that the identification of secure providers, integration with reimbursement systems and initial uptake by larger health-care organizations will speed up the adoption into routine health care.

A direct comparison of seprafilm, adept, intercoat, and spraygel for adhesion prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND Commercially available agents for adhesion prophylaxis are legion but there is a lack of direct comparisons between them. Here we compare four of the most commonly used adhesion barriers against a control group in a clinically relevant rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS Standardized lesions were created in Wistar rats using electrocautery and suturing. Subsequently, the experimental lesions were treated with Seprafilm (n = 30), Adept (n = 30), Intercoat (n = 30), Spraygel (n = 30), or no barrier (n = 30). The resulting adhesions were examined 14 d postoperatively. RESULTS The mean area covered by adhesion was 77% in the control group, 46% in animals treated with Seprafilm, 54% in animals treated with Adept, 55% in animals treated with Intercoat, and 68% in animals treated with Spraygel. The adhesion-free incidence was 20% (n = 6) of lesions treated with Seprafilm, 20% (n = 6) of lesions treated with Intercoat, 3% of lesions treated with Spraygel (n = 1), and 0% of lesions treated with Adept or the control group. CONCLUSIONS There were statistically significant differences between the barriers with regards to the area covered by adhesions and the adhesion-free incidence. In spite of this, a significant adhesion burden remains with all of the tested barriers.

Current Strategies and Future Perspectives for Intraperitoneal Adhesion Prevention

IntroductionThe formation of peritoneal adhesions still is a relevant clinical problem after abdominal surgery. Until today, the most important clinical strategies for adhesion prevention are accurate surgical technique and the physical separation of traumatized serosal areas. Despite a variety of barriers which are available in clinical use, the optimal material has not yet been found.DiscussionMesothelial cells play a crucial physiological role in frictionless gliding of the serosa and the maintenance of an antiadhesive surface. The formation of postoperative adhesions results from a cascade of events and is regulated by various cellular and humoral factors. Therefore, optimization or functionalization of barrier materials by developments interacting with this cascade on a structural or pharmacological level could give an innovative input for future strategies in peritoneal adhesion prevention. For this purpose, the proper understanding of the formal pathogenesis of adhesion formation is essential. Based on the physiology of the serosa and the pathophysiology of adhesion formation, the available barriers in current clinical practice as well as new innovations are discussed in the present review.

Intraperitoneal adhesions—An ongoing challenge between biomedical engineering and the life sciences

Peritoneal adhesions remain a relevant clinical problem despite the currently available prophylactic barrier materials. So far, the physical separation of traumatized serosa areas using barriers represents the most important clinical strategy for adhesion prevention. However, the optimal material has not yet been found. Further optimization or pharmacological functionalization of these barriers could give an innovative input for peritoneal adhesion prevention. Therefore, a more complete understanding of pathogenesis is required. On the basis of the pathophysiology of adhesion formation the main barriers currently in clinical practice as well as new innovations are discussed in the present review. Physiologically, mesothelial cells play a decisive role in providing a frictionless gliding surface on the serosa. Adhesion formation results from a cascade of events and is regulated by a variety of cellular and humoral factors. The main clinically applied strategy for adhesion prevention is based on the use of liquid or solid adhesion barriers to separate physically any denuded tissue. Both animal and human trials have not yet been able to identify the optimal barrier to prevent adhesion formation in a sustainable way. Therefore, further developments are required for effective prevention of postoperative adhesion formation. To reach this goal the combination of structural modification and pharmacological functionalization of barrier materials should be addressed. Achieving this aim requires the interaction between basic research, materials science and clinical expertise.

Thermal Conduction, Compression, and Electrical Current–An Evaluation of Major Parameters of Electrosurgical Vessel Sealing in a Porcine In Vitro Model

Bipolar vessel sealing is pivotal in laparoscopic hemostasis. However, major coaptive desiccation parameters have yet to be investigated in detail. The current investigation aims to study the impact of compressive pressure, thermal conduction, and electrical current effects on seal quality in a randomized, controlled experimental trial in an in vitro porcine model of vessel sealing. A total of 106 porcine vessels were sealed with either bipolar current or thermal conduction. Compressive pressure on the sealing site and maximum temperature were varied and monitored. Additionally, the longitudinal vessel tension was measured. The burst pressure of the resulting seal was determined as an indicator of seal quality. In bipolar coaptation, seal quality depends on the compressive pressure applied to the coagulation site in both arteries and veins. The optimal pressure interval was around 270 mN/mm2 for arteries and 200 mN/mm2 for veins. Deviation from these optimal pressures towards low and high extremes led to significantly fewer successful seals. We also found that both maximum coaptation temperature and vessel shrinking correlated with the seal quality. This correlation was reciprocal in arteries and veins. Thermal conduction alone was less successful than sealing by bipolar current. Therefore, compressive pressure during coaptation determines the seal quality. Upper and lower pressure boundaries for safe coaptation exist for both arteries and veins. Vessel sealing by thermal conduction without electrical current effects is possible but represents a less effective method for coaptation. These findings have implications for the rational design of new electrosurgical instruments.

The extent of adhesion induction through electrocoagulation and suturing in an experimental rat study

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of three types of peritoneal trauma occurring during surgery (high-frequency bipolar current, suturing, and mechanical damage) on postoperative adhesion formation in a rodent animal model. DESIGN Randomized, controlled experimental trial in an in vitro animal model. SETTING Laboratory facilities of a university department of obstetrics and gynecology. ANIMAL(S) Thirty-five female Wistar rats. INTERVENTION(S) Bilateral experimental lesions were created on the abdominal wall in every animal. The effect of minimal electrocoagulation was examined by creating lesions (n = 14) through sweeps of a bipolar forceps with a duration of 1 second and standardized pressure. For extensive electrocoagulation standardized lesions (n = 14) were created using sweeps of a duration of 3 seconds and three times more pressure. For mechanical trauma, standardized lesions (n = 14) were created by denuding the peritoneum mechanically. To study the additive effect of suturing, experimental lesions were created by suturing plus minimal electrocoagulation (n = 14) or mechanical denuding (n = 14). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Adhesion incidence, quantity, and quality of the resulting adhesions were scored 14 days postoperatively. Adhesions were studied histopathologically. RESULT(S) Mechanical denuding of the peritoneum did not result in adhesion formation. After minimal electrocoagulation, mean adhesion quantity of the traumatized area averaged 0%. This contrasted with extensive electrocoagulation, where there was 50% adhesion. Additional suturing increased mean adhesion quantity to 73% and 64% for superficial electrocoagulation and mechanical denuding, respectively. CONCLUSION(S) We conclude that superficial trauma limited mostly to the parietal peritoneum may be a negligible factor in adhesion formation in this model. This appears to be irrespective of the mode of trauma. However, additional trauma to the underlying tissues, either by deeper electrocoagulation or suturing, leads to significantly increased adhesion formation. These data also show that there is a spectrum of electrocoagulation trauma at the lower end of which there is little adhesion formation.

Adhesion prophylaxis using a copolymer with rationally designed material properties

BACKGROUND Physical barriers are the only licensed adjuncts for adhesion prophylaxis in the United States and Europe. Here, we investigate D,L-polylactide-epsilon-caprolactonetrimethylenecarbonate (PCT copolymer), which is a rationally designed biomaterial, as an adhesion barrier. METHODS PCT copolymer membranes were produced by polymerization of the monomers, dissolution in organic solvents, and subsequently processing them by means of modified phase inversion and freeze drying. In vitro cytotoxicity was assayed by fibroblast culture. In vivo adhesion prophylaxis was studied in a rat model that involved standardized traumatization by electrocautery and suturing. The quantity and quality of the resulting adhesions were scored 14 days postoperatively. Complete autopsy was performed in each animal, and the implantation sites were examined histologically. The suitability for human laparoscopic application was investigated in a patient admitted for routine myomectomy. RESULTS The PCT copolymer had no effect on the proliferation of cultured cells in vitro. The in vivo model showed that the quantity of adhesions that cover the traumatized areas was significantly less in animals treated with PCT copolymer membrane (32%) than in untreated animals (78%) (P < .01). Adhesions of both dense and filmy quality were affected. In the animals, autopsy and histologic examination of the relevant tissues revealed no indication of adverse reactions to the PCT copolymer. Human laparoscopic application was successful. CONCLUSION The PCT copolymer membrane is biocompatible with the abdominal cavity and decreased adhesions in the animal model. It is also suitable for human laparoscopic application. Therefore, the PCT copolymer represents a candidate for additional clinical evaluation.

Ovarian ectopic pregnancy: diagnosis, treatment, correlation to Carnegie stage 16 and review based on a clinical case

OBJECTIVE To present a case of a vital ectopic pregnancy after 8 weeks that was located in the right ovary. DESIGN Case study and literature review. SETTING Hospital outpatient clinic. PATIENT(S) A 29-year-old primigravida presented with lower abdominal pain and mild vaginal bleeding at 8 weeks after her last menstrual period. INTERVENTION(S) Wedge resection of the ovary which did not affect subsequent fertility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Conservative treatment options and preservation of patients reproductive capacity. RESULT(S) The embryo was laparoscopically removed in toto and visualized. Therefore, macroscopic correlation to Carnegie stage 16 of development was possible. CONCLUSION(S) Approximately 3% of all ectopic pregnancies are located in the ovaries. Preoperative diagnosis of this extremely rare condition is challenging, because the ectopic tumor often resembles cysts of the corpus luteum. At surgery, the trophoblast tissue or the embryo can rarely be visualized completely.

Impact of increasing operative time on the incidence of early failure and complications following free tissue transfer? A risk factor analysis of 2,008 patients from the ACS‐NSQIP database

There is a scarcity of externally valid data that investigate the utility of operative time, a common clinical parameter, as a predictor of free flap failures. Our aim was to assess whether prolonged operative time correlates with early flap failure following free tissue transfer in the acute care setting using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Implications of late complications from adhesions for preoperative informed consent

Summary The process of informed consent is a critical aspect of the doctor–patient relationship. Doctors have a professional duty to provide patients with sufficient information if a treatment is associated with a significant risk. NHS guidelines advise doctors to mention risks that occur more frequently than 1–2% or risks that are serious even if the likelihood is very small. In the case of abdominal and pelvic surgery, risks can broadly be divided into early and late complications. Early complications, such as bleeding and infection, have a close temporal relationship with the operation. Such complications are routinely mentioned during the consent process. In contrast, postoperative adhesions cause changes in the normal anatomy that can adversely affect function many years and even decades after the original operation, leaving patients at lifelong risk for late complications. These late adhesive complications, namely bowel obstruction, mechanical female infertility and chronic pain, are often neglected during the consent process. However, the risks to patients from late adhesive complications are serious and well in excess of the accepted threshold where it could be considered a breach in the duty of care not to inform patients. This is reflected by a number of claims against the NHS based on consent issues regarding late adhesive complications of surgery. Therefore, late complications of surgery from adhesions should be included in the pre-operative consent process. This would decrease litigation costs but more importantly also underpins the doctor–patient relationship.