ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of early enteral nutrition containing ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids combined with intravenous infusion of alanyl-glutamine on inflammatory response and immune function of postoperative gastric cancer patients.MethodsA total of 110 patients, accepting radical operation for gastric cancer in West China Hospital of Sichuan University during October 2017 to December 2018, were prospectively incorporated in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups equally. Patients in the control group were enterally fed with a formula containing ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for 6 consecutive days after surgery. Patients in the experimental group accepted the same enteral feeding but combined with intravenous infusion of alanyl-glutamine (20 g/d). Both enteral feeding and intravenous infusion started within 24 hours after surgery. Peripheral venous blood was gathered within 3 days before surgery and on the morning of the first, third, and seventh postoperative days to detect inflammatory, immunological, and nutritional indexes. Complications, length of hospital stay, and hospital cost were also taken notes.ResultsFifty-two patients in the control group and fifty-two patients in the experimental group respectively finished the study. In both groups, 3 patients withdrew from the study for inadequacy of radical operation. Neutrophilic granulocyte percentage, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on the third postoperative day, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), IL-6, and TNF-α on the seventh postoperative day, were significantly lower in the experimental group (P<0.05). Immunological indexes including immunoglobulin G (IGG), immunoglobulin A (IGA), percentage of CD3+ T cells, and percentage of CD4+ T cells, nutritional markers including total protein (TP), plasma albumin (ALB), and prealbumin (PAB) were significantly higher in the experimental group on the seventh postoperative day (P<0.05). When the study ended, none significant differences of the rates of both infectious complications (wound infection, intra-abdominal infection, pulmonary infection, urinary system infection, blood system infection, and anastomotic fistula) and noninfectious complications (diarrhea, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain) were observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Time of the first anal discharge, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization cost between the two groups were not significantly different neither (P>0.05).ConclusionEarly enteral nutrition containing ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids combined with intravenous infusion of alanyl-glutamine contributes to reduce inflammatory response and improve immune function and nutrition status of patients with gastric cancer after surgery.
Objective To compare the postoperative outcomes of elderly and non-elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair in same-day surgery mode, and explore the utility and safety of same-day surgery mode in inguinal hernia repair. Methods Patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair in Day Surgery Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 1st 2021 and October 31st 2021 were prospectively included. The patients were divided into elderly group (≥60 years old) and non-elderly group (18-59 years old). The preoperative conditions, postoperative outcomes, discharge readiness and social support of the two groups were analyzed. Results A total of 451 patients were enrolled, including 111 elderly patients and 340 non-elderly patients. The male proportion, prevalence rates of preoperative comorbidities, and bilateral inguinal hernia proportion in the elderly group were significantly higher than those in the non-elderly group (P<0.05), and the body mass index in the elderly group were significantly lower than that in the non-elderly group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in anesthesia method, analgesic method, bleeding volume, or surgery time between the two groups (P>0.05). The postoperative pain score of the non-elderly group was higher than that in the elderly group (Z=–2.226, P=0.026), but there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of postoperative unplanned analgesia, rate of discharge delay, pain score on the third day after discharge, re-consultation within one month after discharge, complications within one month after discharge, or post-discharge satisfaction (P>0.05). The total score of social support was higher in the elderly group than that in the non-elderly group (31.77±3.04 vs. 29.75±4.78; t=4.182, P<0.001). Conclusion The same-day surgery mode for inguinal hernia repair is feasible and safe in elderly patients and worthy of implementation.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of predicting proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in adults after spinal deformity surgery based on back-forward Bending CT localization images and related predictive indicators. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 31 adult patients with spinal deformity who underwent posterior osteotomy and long-segment fusion fixation between March 2017 and March 2020. There were 5 males and 26 females with an average age of 62.5 years (range, 30-77 years). The upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) located at T5 in 1 case, T6 in 1 case, T9 in 13 cases, T10 in 12 cases, and T11 in 4 cases. The lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV) located at L1 in 3 cases, L2 in 3 cases, L3 in 10 cases, L4 in 7 cases, L5 in 5 cases, and S1 in 3 cases. Based on the full-length lateral X-ray film of the spine in the standing position before and after operation and back-forward Bending CT localization images before operation, the sagittal sequence of the spine was obtained, and the relevant indexes were measured, including thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), local kyphosis Cobb angle (LKCA) [the difference between the different positions before operation (recovery value) was calculated], kyphosis flexibility, hyperextension sagittal vertical axis (hSVA), T2-L5 hyperextension C7-vertebral sagittal offset (hC7-VSO), and pre- and post-operative proximal junctional angle (PJA). At last follow-up, the patients were divided into PJK and non-PJK groups based on PJA to determine whether they had PJK. The gender, age, body mass index (BMI), number of fusion segments, number of cases with coronal plane deformity, bone mineral density (T value), UIV position, LIV position, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, osteotomy grading, and related imaging indicators were compared between the two groups. The hC7-VSO of the vertebral body with significant differences between groups was taken, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate its accuracy in predicting the occurrence of PJK. Results All 31 patients were followed up 13-52 months, with an average of 30.0 months. The patient’s PJA was 1.4°-29.0° at last follow-up, with an average of 10.4°; PJK occurred in 8 cases (25.8%). There was no significant difference in gender, age, BMI, number of fusion segments, number of cases with coronal plane deformity, bone mineral density (T value), UIV position, LIV position, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and osteotomy grading between the two groups (P>0.05). Imaging measurements showed that the LL recovery value and T8-L3 vertebral hC7-VSO in the PJK group were significantly higher than those in the non-PJK group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in hyperextension TK, hyperextension LL, hyperextension LKCA, TK recovery value, LL recovery value, kyphosis flexibility, hSVA, and T2-T7, L4, L5 vertebral hC7-VSO (P>0.05). T8-L3 vertebral hC7-VSO was analyzed for ROC curve, and combined with the area under curve and the comprehensive evaluation of sensitivity and specificity, the best predictive index was hC7-L2, the cut-off value was 2.54 cm, the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 60.9%. Conclusion Preoperative back-forward Bending CT localization image can be used to predict the occurrence of PJK after posterior osteotomy and long-segment fusion fixation in adult spinal deformity. If the patient’s T8-L2 vertebral hC7-VSO is too large, it indicates a higher risk of postoperative PJK. The best predictive index is hC7-L2, and the cut-off value is 2.54 cm.
Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of cervical kyphosis and spinal cord compression in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with cervical kyphosis and the influence on effectiveness. Methods The clinical data of 36 patients with single-segment CSM with cervical kyphosis who were admitted between January 2020 and December 2022 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the positional relationship between the kyphosis focal on cervical spine X-ray film and the spinal cord compression point on MRI: the same group (group A, 20 cases, both points were in the same position), the adjacent group (group B, 10 cases, both points were located adjacent to each other), and the separated group (group C, 6 cases, both points were located >1 vertebra away from each other). There was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05) in baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, lesion segment, disease duration, and preoperative C2-7 angle, C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-7 SVA), C7 slope (C7S), kyphotic Cobb angle, fusion segment height, and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. The patients underwent single-segment anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF). The occurrence of postoperative complications was recorded; preoperatively and at last follow-up, the patients’ neurological function was evaluated using the JOA score, and the sagittal parameters (C2-7 angle, C2-7 SVA, C7S, kyphotic Cobb angle, and height of the fused segments) were measured on cervical spine X-ray films and MRI and the correction rate of the cervical kyphosis was calculated; the correlation between changes in cervical sagittal parameters before and after operation and the JOA score improvement rate was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. Results In 36 patients, only 1 case of dysphagia occurred in group A, and the dysphagia symptoms disappeared at 3 days after operation, and the remaining patients had no surgery-related complications during the hospitalization. All patients were followed up 12-42 months, with a mean of 20.1 months; the difference in follow-up time between the groups was not significant (P>0.05). At last follow-up, all the imaging indicators and JOA scores of patients in the 3 groups were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). The correction rate of cervical kyphosis in group A was significantly better than that in group C, and the improvement rate of JOA score was significantly better than that in groups B and C, all showing significant differences (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the other groups (P>0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the improvement rate of JOA score was negatively correlated with C2-7 angle and kyphotic Cobb angle at last follow-up (r=−0.424, P=0.010; r=−0.573, P<0.001), and positively correlated with the C7S and correction rate of cervical kyphosis at last follow-up (r=0.336, P=0.045; r=0.587, P<0.001), and no correlation with the remaining indicators (P>0.05). Conclusion There are three main positional relationships between the cervical kyphosis focal and the spinal cord compression point on imaging, and they have different impacts on the effectiveness and sagittal parameters after ACDF, and those with the same position cervical kyphosis focal and spinal cord compression point have the best improvement in effectiveness and sagittal parameters.
ObjectiveTo discuss the efficacy of type Ⅱ hybrid aortic arch repair for type A aortic dissection in patients of different age groups.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 126 patients with type A aortic dissection admitted to the Fuwai Hospital between January 2016 and December 2018, including 78 (61.9%) males and 48 (38.1%) females, with an average age of 61.8±6.9 years. The patients were divided into an elderly group (≥60 years, n=82) and a non-elderly group (<60 years, n=44). The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data of patients in the two groups were compared.ResultsThe age between the elderly and non-elderly group was significantly different (65.9±4.1 years vs. 54.3±4.1 years, P<0.010), and no significant difference was found between the two groups in other preoperative baseline data. There were 6 (4.8%) patients of early death, 3 (2.4%) patients of stroke and 2 (1.6%) patients of paralysis. A total of 194 stents were implanted, and the average dimeter of the stents was 33.6±1.8 mm and the average length was 199.0±6.7 mm. The non-elderly group had shorter mechanical ventilation time (31.9±41.7 h vs. 61.0±89.2 h, P=0.043) and ICU stay time (77.8±51.4 h vs. 143.1±114.4 h, P<0.001) than the elderly group. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality rate, reoperation rate or survival rate between the two groups (P>0.05). Follow-up time was 1-43 (22.6±10.8) months, and 3 patients were lost. There were 104 (82.5%) patients of complete thrombus formation of false lumen in stent and endoleak was reported in 11 (9.2%) patients.ConclusionType Ⅱ hybrid aortic arch repair offers an alternative approach to acute type A aortic dissection with acceptable early and mid-term clinical effects. The non-elderly patients have a similar early treatment effect to the elderly patients, but have a better mid-term outcome.