Laparoscopic resection of large adrenal tumors.

Background: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has rapidly replaced open adrenalectomy as the procedure of choice for benign adrenal tumors. It still remains to be clarified whether the laparoscopic resection of large (≥ 8 cm) or potentially malignant tumors is appropriate or not due to technical difficulties and concern about local recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcome of 174 consecutive laparoscopic and open adrenalectomies performed in our surgical unit.

Pheochromocytoma associated with neurofibromatosis type 1: concepts and current trends.

Background: Neurofibromatosis Type 1(NF-1) has autosomal dominant inheritance with complete penetrance, variable expression and a high rate of new mutation. Pheochromocytoma occurs in 0.1%-5.

Fascia iliaca block prophylaxis for hip fracture patients at risk for delirium: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

Background: Recent studies have indicated that unmanaged pain, both acute and chronic, can affect mental status and might precipitate delirium, especially in elderly patients with hip fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) for prevention of perioperative delirium in hip surgery patients who were at intermediate or high risk for this complication.

Materials And Methods: On admission, all included patients were divided into three groups according to low, intermediate or high risk for perioperative delirium.

Open and laparoscopic approach in incisional hernia repair with ePTFE prosthesis.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the results of incisional hernia laparoscopic and open surgery, focusing on the morbidity and postoperative implications.

Materials And Methods: A group of 106 (42 men, 64 women) patients suffering from incisional hernias were treated with either a laparoscopic (30) or an open (76) placement of a prosthetic mesh between January 1997 and December 2004. The age and gender of the patients, the size and type of the mesh, operation note, the length of postoperative hospital stay, and morbidity were recorded.

The four-year functional result after a displaced subcapital hip fracture treated with three different surgical options.

According to the literature, hip function after hip fracture is affected by the type of surgery. Our aim was to determine the correlation between surgical treatment of hip fracture and postoperative function in the elderly. Inclusion criteria were displaced hip fracture and age over 70 years.

Ecology of the microbial community removing phosphate from wastewater under continuously aerobic conditions in a sequencing batch reactor.

All activated sludge systems for removing phosphate microbiologically are configured so the biomass is cycled continuously through alternating anaerobic and aerobic zones. This paper describes a novel aerobic process capable of decreasing the amount of phosphate from 10 to 12 mg P liter(-1) to less than 0.1 mg P liter(-1) (when expressed as phosphorus) over an extended period from two wastewaters with low chemical oxygen demand.

Rupture of adductor longus tendon due to ciprofloxacin.

We present a rare case of spontaneous rupture of the adductor longus tendon induced by ciprofloxacin. A 35-year-old man was diagnosed with pneumonia and was recommended ciprofloxacin 500 mg iv twice a day for 7 days. Three days after receiving the initial dose, he developed discomfort in his left medial thigh, and pain and swelling in the same area followed ten days later.