Renal failure parathyroidectomy - Is pre-operative imaging worthwhile?

Background: Tertiary hyperparathyroidism is a significant issue in renal failure patients and some require surgery to control their serum calcium. A number of imaging techniques are used to localise the position of the parathyroid glands prior to surgery. Currently, a combination of ultrasound and isotope preoperative localisation imaging is accepted as useful in parathyroid surgery for primary disease.

Surgeon and haematologist: a review of comprehensive care for patients with inherited bleeding disorders in Northern Ireland.

Background: Management of patients with inherited bleeding disorders has improved since the introduction of Comprehensive Care Centres (CCC) in the United Kingdom (UK). In the event such patients need surgery, the aim of the multidisciplinary team is to facilitate outcomes as good as what would be expected in a non-bleeding disorder patient. A review of such comprehensive care was carried out in patients with inherited bleeding disorders when they needed surgery at Northern Ireland CCC.

Familial multiple lipomatosis with clear autosomal dominant inheritance and onset in early adolescence.

Familial multiple lipomatosis is rare. Several modes of inheritance have been proposed but no conclusive evidence shown, although some families have suggested autosomal dominant inheritance. The authors describe a family with multiple lipomatosis showing clear autosomal dominant inheritance, and no mutations within the NF1, SPRED1 or Cowden disease (PTEN) genes.

Primary osteosarcoma of breast.

Primary osteosarcoma of breast is rare. The authors present a case of a 51-year-old female who was admitted with a large necrotising tumour involving the right breast. CT scan confirmed chest wall invasion along with a solitary lung metastasis.

Open carpal tunnel release--still a safe and effective operation.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of neurological symptomatology. Surgical decompression remains the treatment of choice in patients not responding to conservative therapies. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of standard open decompression by analysis of symptomatic and functional improvement and to assess whether a general surgeon can still perform this operation safely.

Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common peripheral neuropathies. It affects mainly middle aged women. In the majority of patients the exact cause and pathogenesis of CTS is unclear.

Chronic pain after hernia surgery--an informed consent issue.

Chronic severe pain following inguinal hernia repair is a significant post-operative problem. Its exact cause and lack of evidence-based treatment path present problems in the effective management of this surgical complication. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with chronic pain following open inguinal hernia repair between November 1995 and November 2000, who were under the care of the senior author.