שמואל ארגוב, אלגה לבנדובסקי

בתי החולים "אלישע" ו"חורב", חיפה

הוראת "צום מחצות הליל" היא שיגרה נפוצה, הנרשמת בגיליון כל חולה במחלקות רבות לכירורגיה, לקראת הניתוח למחרת בוקר. חולים רבים עלולים לצום לפי הוראה זו במשך 10-12 שעות לפני הגעת תורם לניתוח. נשאלת השאלה, האם יש צורך בצום ממושך כל כך, מהם נזקיו ומהו משך הצום המיקטי לפני ניתוח, הרדמה כללית ופעולה פולשנית תחת סמי הרגעה. מובא בזה נסיוננו בלמעלה מ-5,000 ניתוחים פרוקטולוגיים אמבולטוריים בהרדמה מקומית, בתנוחת trendelenburg, עם צום "מקוצר" לפני הניתוח.

Surgery in Patients over 100 Years of age 5-Year Experience (1995-2000)

Victor Ginzburg¹, Gabriel Szendro¹, Luis Golcman¹, Natan Weksler², Shemuel Yurfest¹, Yefim Charach¹

The Departments of Vascular Surgery¹ and Anesthesiology², Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheba, Israel

The age distribution of a given national population is of utmost importance when dealing with public health and analyzing the use of various national health facilities. This is based on the totally different use of health sources by different age groups. Despite continuous prolongation of life expectancy and the related aging of the western hospitalized population the sub-group of patients over 100 year old of age is unusual demographically and accounts for only a very small portion of the total number of patients hospitalized in surgical wards. During the 5 year experience between 1995 and 2000 seventeen such patients were admitted to our surgical departments. Eight of those underwent 11 operations with zero peri-operative mortality and no significant complications. These 11 operations in this elderly population are the basis of our report.

אורי שולמן, רם סילפן, אברהם אמיר, דניאל האובן

המח' לכירורגיה פלסטית והיח' לכוויות, קמפוס בילינסון, מרכז רפואי רבין, פתח-תקווה

מלאנומה ממארת של העור (ממ"ע) היא שאת ששיעור היארעותה עולה בקצב מהיר בעולם כולו והיא מהווה אתגר טיפולי נרחב. כיום, הניתוח הוא הטיפול העיקרי בממ"ע, ואם השאת מאובחנת ומטופלת בשלב מוקדם, לפני חדירה עמוקה לשיכב הדרמיס, היפגעות קישיות לימפה והתהוות גרורות מרוחקות, הרי שסיכויי ההישרדות גבוהים.

ממ"ע באזור ראש-צוואר המתהווה בשכיחות של כ-20% מתוך כלל החולים במלאנומה ממארת, שונה במספר מובנים מאשר באזורים אחרים בגוף: כריתה נרחבת של השאת מוגבלת בגודלה עקב המיקום האנטומי באזור ראש-צוואר, הניקוז הלימפטי עשיר ביותר, ההשלכות האסתטיות עלולות להיות מרחיקות לכת וההשפעות התיפקודיות יכולות להיות בלתי הפיכות.

ממ"ע באזור ראש-צוואר מתרחשת בשכיחות שווה בנשים ובגברים. השאת ממוקדת בעיקר בפנים, ובשכיחות יורדת באזור הצוואר, הקרקפת והאוזניים.

קיימים מספר גורמי סיכון להתהוות מלאנומה ממארת בכל אזורי הגוף, ביניהם אנשים עם שומות מלאנוציטיות מרובות, שומה מלידה גדולה בקוטר מעל 20 ס"מ (giant congenital nevi), שומה דיספלסטית (dysplastic nevi) בעלי עור, עיניים ושיער בהירים עם נטייה להיכוות לאחר חשיפה קצרה לקרני השמש, בעלי עור עם נמשים, אנשים שנחשפו רבות לקרני השמש במהלך חייהם, אנשים בעשור החמישי לחייהם ואילך, אנמנזה משפחתית של מלאנומה ממארת המגבירה את הסיכון ללקות במחלה בשיעור של פי 2-8, אנמנזה של סרטני עור בעבר ואנשים עם דיכוי המערכת החיסונית. הסיכון במהלך החיים להתהוות מלאנומה ממארת בפעם השנה הוא 1%-8%.

דן ליבוביץ, אמנון זיסמן, יהודית קליינמן, אריה לינדנר

המח' לאורולוגיה, מרכז רפואי אסף-הרופא, צריפין

סרטן הערמונית הוא המחלה הממארת השכיחה ביותר בגברים והיארעותה מגיעה לכדי 900 חולים חדשים לכל 100,000 לשנה. איבחון מוקדם של המחלה בשלב בו השאת מוגבלת לבלוטת הערמונית, מאפשר ריפוי מלא בחלק ניכר מן החולים. האפשרויות הטיפוליות כוללות כריתת ערמונית רדיקלית, טיפול קרינתי והקפאה קריוגנית.

בניתוחים קריוגניים (נ"ק), מבוצעת הקפאת השאת בתוך הגוף על ידי החדרת גלאי לאיבר המטרה והשראת טמפרטורה נמוכה קיצונית בסביבות 180 – מ"צ. כדור הקרח הנוצר סביב הגלאי כולל בתוכו את ריקמת המטרה, וחשיפתה לטמפרטורה נמוכה קוטלת כל ריקמה ביולוגית. כיום, מהווים נ"ק אפשרות טיפולית מקובלת בחולים בסרטן הערמונית, והפעולה קיבלה את אישור מינהל המזון והתרופות בארה"ב (FDA). בסקירתנו, נדון הניסיון העולמי בנ"ק כטיפול בלוקים בסרטן הערמונית.

ירון הר-שי, נטע שינפלד

היחידה לכירורגיה פלסטית, מרכז רפואי כרמל, הפקולטה לרפואה ע"ש רפפורט, הטכניון – מכון טכנולוגי לישראל, חיפה

Alibert היה הראשון שתאר בשנת 1806 התהוות ריקמת צלקת משגשגת כשאת ממאירה, המונח קלואיד (keloid) נגזר מהמלה היוונית chele שמשמעותה צבת הסרטן המדמה את הצלקת הקלואידית כנוגסת בתוך העור הבריא וסביבו.

Mancicni וחב' הגדירו בשנת 1962 ו- Peacock בשנת 1970 את הצלקת המשגשגת כצלקת היפרטרופית – צלקת מורמת מהעור המתוחמת לגבולות הצלקת. קלואיד היא צלקת מורמת המתפשטת מעבר לגבולות הצלקת. בנוספת צלקת היפרטרופית עוברת תסוגה עצמית עם הזמן ואין הישנות שלה לאחר כריתה ניתוחית; אין הדבר כך לגבי צלקת קלואידית.

בשנת 1990, דיווחו Muir וחב' על סוג ביניים של צלקת...
 

Histoacryl Vs Dermabond Cyano- Acrylate Glue for Closing Small Operative Wounds

Zvi Steiner, Jorge Mogilner

Dept. of Pediatric Surgery, Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Acrylate glues used in a childrens' day care unit to close small surgical wounds were compared. In 157 children, aged 12 weeks to 3.7 years, either Histoacryl or Dermabond was used (respectively, H: Ethicon Inc., Johnson & Johnson, NJ or D: Dermabond, Braun Surgical Gmbh, Melsungen, Germany). Operations were for inguinal hernia (110 cases), hydrocele (25), undescended testis (16), umbilical hernia (13) and funiculocele (3).

1 week after surgery the wounds were evaluated in terms of integrity of closure, redness or infection, need for antibiotics, wound granuloma, and parental satisfaction with instructions and actual method of wound caring. 3 months after surgery the wound/scar was reexamined.

The margins of the wounds were separated partially or completely in 8 of 85 in group H (9.4%) while in the D group, 2 wounds (2.4%) had partially opened (p<0.05). There were no differences between the glues with regard to wound infection or cosmetic results. Parental satisfaction was higher with D (96%) than H (82%) but the difference was not statistically significant.

It is convenient to use glue to close operative wounds in children after ambulatory surgery. The use of D significantly reduced wound ruptures compared to H. Long-term cosmetic results were similar.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - 1,000 Procedures in a Surgical Department

Uri Freund, Ami Mayo, Ivan Schwartz, David Neufeld, Haim Paran

Dept. of Surgery A, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba; and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The first 1,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed in our department were reviewed. There was no operative mortality; conversion to open cholecystectomy was necessary in 2%. In the last 600 cases the rate of conversion had decreased to 0.5%. There was common bile duct injury in 0.3%, with the injuries identified during primary surgery. This clinical experience is consistent with previous studies, which proved that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and should replace open operation as the procedure of choice. 

Coloring the Floor of Schlemm's Canal in Deep Sclerectomy

Ben Zion Silverstone

Eye Dept., Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem

Increased intraocular pressure in glaucoma, resistant to maximal tolerated medical therapy, can be relieved by deep sclerectomy. Its advantage over classical trabeculotomy is fewer postoperative complications. This probably results from its being relatively noninvasive, since the anterior chamber is not penetrated.

Successful deep sclerectomy requires preservation of the trabeculo-descemetic membrane, which forms part of the floor of Schlemm's canal. Aqueous flows from the anterior chamber across the trabeculo-descemetic membrane and into the ocular venous drainage. Despite the importances of its preservation, during deep sclerectomy it is perforated in 10-15% of cases.

Coloring the endothelium lining the floor of the canal with gentian violet solution improves visualization of the membrane and thus aids in its preservation. Its use makes the procedure easier and should improve results.

Burch Laparoscopic Procedure for Repairing Proven Stress Incontinence

Moshe Bustan, Shabtai Romano, Raed Salim, Jacob Rosenman, Eliezer Shalev

Depts. of Obstetric and Gynecology and of Urology, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula

There are more than 200 procedures for repairing stress urinary incontinence. We evaluated the safety and efficiency of the Burch laparoscopic procedure in 32 women with urodynamically proven genuine stress incontinence.

Mean operating time was 40 minutes and mean hospitalization time after the procedure was 30 hours. The cure rate was 97%, similar to that rin other studies (80-95%). The major complications w2 cases (6.2%) of unintended bladder injury, diagnosed and repaired laparoscopically. Although follow-up has only been for 3-42 months, the high cure rate and safety and advantages of laparoscopy over laparotomy, make laparoscopic Burch colposuspension the procedure of choice for repairing stress incontinence.

Physicians' Opinions about the Patient Rights Law - A Qualitative Study 

D. Steinmetz, H. Tabenkin

Dept. of Family Medicine, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula

A qualitative analysis of the question "what is your general opinion of the Patient Rights Law?" showed that most physicians think it a good law that contributes to improved relations with patients.

Physicians surveyed raised several issues relating to implementation of the law: conditions, time required to implement it and problems with language and comprehension. Fears were expressed about possible abuse of the law by patients and their lawyers, which could put medicine on the defensive.

Nevertheless, most physicians think the law positive, that it has not negatively affected their work, and contributes to improved relationships with patients. They recommend that working conditions be improved in order to fully implement the law.

Mortality in Fractures of the Hip 

Y. Titiun, Z. Eshkol, Z. Horesh, M. Soudry

Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva

Prevalence of hip fractures is increasing world-wide, as the mean age of populations increases. Despite advances in anesthesia, nursing care, and surgical techniques, hip fractures remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly.

We operated on 65 cases of hip fractures from 1995 to the end of 1997: average age was 82.9, 72% were women, average waiting time for operation was 1.6 days, perioperative mortality was 3.5% and postoperative mortality 26.2%.

Concomitant Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and Pulmonary Lobectomy 

Amit Korach, Uzzi Izhar, Ehud Rudis, Amir Elami

Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

Coronary artery disease amenable to percutaneous interventions or coronary artery bypass grafting, and resectable lung cancer are major causes of morbidity and mortality. We present our experience in the treatment of 3 patients (men aged 64 and 66 and a woman of 77) who each had significant coronary artery disease and a resectable lung tumor. They underwent combined coronary artery bypass grafting and pulmonary lobectomy.

We conclude from our experience and review of the literature that concomitant surgery in such cases is safe and effective, decreases suffering, and decreases the cost of 2 separate invasive procedures.

Non-Penetrating Deep Sclerectomy without Collagen Implantfor Glaucoma

Ben Zion Silverstone, Isaac Aizenman, Carmit Landau, Yaacov Rozenman

Ophthalmology Dept., Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem

Deep sclerectomy (DS) can be used in glaucoma with increased intraocular pressure when medical treatment fails. It involves removing part of the ocular drainage apparatus. Resistance to intraocular fluid drainage is decreased, improving drainage and decreasing intraocular pressure. By avoiding anterior chamber penetration, DS diminishes frequency of the complications of filtering surgery.

24 eyes of 23 patients underwent DS for primary or secondary open angle glaucoma with elevated intraocular pressure not controlled medically. It included preparation of a 4.0 x 4.0 mm limbal-based external scleral flap, dissecting and removing most of an internal scleral flap (leaving it 1 mm smaller than the external flap), unroofing Schlemm's canal and removing fine endothelial tissue lining its inner walls. The external scleral flap was then repositioned and sutured. Collagen implants were not used. In some cases DS was combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and intra-ocular lens implantation.

Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 24.8‏3.9 mmHg initially to 12.8‏4.4 mmHg 6 months after operation (p<0.0001). There was no difference in postoperative intra-ocular pressure between DS as a single procedure or as part of a combined operation. Comations were mild and of short duration.

If long-term follow-up shows that lowered intraocular pressures are maintained, DS should be a surgical option in earlier stages of glaucoma.

Brief Preoperative Radiotherapy reduces Local Recurrences and Improves Survival in Rectal Cancer

T. Peretz, Z. Weshler,* Y. Goldberg, A.L. Durst, H.R. Freund

Depts. of Surgery and Oncology, Hadassah University Hospitals, and Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Ein Kerem and Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem

Locoregional recurrence of rectal cancer ranges between 20%-50% following apparently radical surgery. Radiation has the potential of reducing this high rate of recurrence and residual disease. A retrospective analysis of 78 patients with locally advanced, biopsy proven, adenocarcinoma of the rectum treated between 1980-1987 was conducted. 28 (36%) were treated by surgery alone (surgery); 29 (37%) by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (post-op); and 21 (27%) by surgery and preoperative radiotherapy (pre-op). 41 were females and 37 males. The median age was 62 years (range 25-90).

All tumors were resectable. 42 patients (54%) underwent abdomino-perineal resection and 36 (46%) anterior resection patients [8 Dukes B₁ (10%); 37 B₂ (47%); 2 C₁ (3%); 31 C₂ (40%]. Local recurrences were verified by transanal or ultrasound guided needle biopsy.

The 5-year actuarial survival rates by the Kaplan-Meier method for 75 evaluated patients was 55%. Overall 5-year actuarial survival was significantly higher (p=0.001) in pre-op radiotherapy (95%) compared to surgery alone (45%), or surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (32%). The data were significant (p=0.006) for patients with stage B tumors, but not stage C. This trend of improved survival held also at 8-year follow-up (80% pre-op; 32% post-op; 27% surgery). The 5-year actuarial local control was significantly better (p=0.03) for the pre-op irradiated patients (22%), compared with surgery only (56%) and post-op radiotherapy (38%). Local control was better (p=0.02) for Dukes B tumors in the preoperative group, but not Dukes C tumors.

Actuarial 5-year survival of those without distant metastases was 87% for pre-op patients, 62% for surgery alone and 48% for post-op radiotherapy. As all patients were clinically classified as advanced rectal tumors, tumor downstaging by preoperative radiotherapy seems to be paramount for local control. Improved local control translates into a siginificant advantage in overall actuarial survival.

*DECEASED.

Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Procedure for Female Stress Incontinence

David Gordon, Asnat Groutz, Joseph Lessing

Lis Maternity Hospital, Sourasky-Tel Aviv Medical Center

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT) in 20 consecutive women with urodynamically proven genuine stress incontinence. Mean operating time under spinal analgesia was 37.2‏13 minutes and 80% were discharged within 24 hours. There were 5 uncomplicated, intraoperative bladder perforations, but no defects in healing nor tape rejection. The objective cure rate was 95%, while the subjective rate was 100%. Although follow-up was short (9-16 months), the TVT method seems to be safe and effective for stress urinary incontinence.