Objective
To retrospectively analyze the effectiveness of percutaneous anterior odontoid and transarticular screw fixation for type II odontoid fracture treated in the elderly patients.
Methods
Between October 2009 and March 2012, 5 patients with odontoid fracture were treated with anterior triple screws fixation. There were 4 males and 1 female with an average age of 69.4 years (range, 65-74 years). Fracture was caused by falling injury from height in all cases. The average time between injury and operation was 6.8 days (range, 3-12 days). According to Anderson-D’Alonzo classification system, all 5 cases were classified as type II odontoid fractures; 1 case accompanied by anterior arch fracture. Four cases were rated as grade E and 1 case as grade D on the basis of Frankel classification system on nerve function evaluation. Percutaneous anterior odontoid and transarticular screw fixation were used in all cases. The operation time, intra-operative blood loss, X-ray exposure time, and complications were recorded. The X-ray films were taken to observe atlantoaxial stability and implant conditions.
Results
All patients were successfully complete the surgery, and no open operation was needed. The average operation time was 103.6 minutes (range, 93-114 minutes). The average intra-operative blood loss was 5.6 mL (range, 3-10 mL). The average X-ray exposure time was 24.2 seconds (range, 17-32 seconds). Good reduction of atlantoaxial joint and primary healing of incision were obtained in 5 patients. The average follow-up duration was 21.4 months (range, 12-35 months). Transient dysphagia occurred in 3 cases, and was cured after 5 days of expectant treatment. No major complications of carotid artery laceration, spinal cord injury, esophageal perforation, airway obstruction, and implant failure occurred. The X-ray films showed odontoid bony union, atlantoaxial stability and good position of screws. The average time of odontoid fracture union was 7 months (range, 5-10 months). Five patients had normal neurological function (Frankel grade E) at last follow-up. Three patients complained of neck discomfort and movement limitation and had normal daily activities without special therapy; the other 2 patients had no clinical symptom of discomfort.
Conclusion
Percutaneous anterior odontoid and transarticular screw fixation is a safe and effective procedure for treatment of type II odontoid fractures in the elderly patients with minimally invasive surgical advantages.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical characteristics of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.
MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 67 patients (elderly group) with liver cirrhosis aged ≥60 treated between January 1998 and December 2010. Then, we compared these cases with another 72 liver cirrhosis patients (non-elderly group) aged<60.
ResultsThe incidence of jaundice, ascites and albumin deficiency in the elderly patients was significantly higher than that in the non-elderly patients (P<0.05). Complications in the elderly group were relatively more, including electrolyte imbalance, infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, liver and kidney syndrome and liver and lung syndrome, and the incidence of these complications was all significantly higher than the non-elderly group (P<0.05) except the liver and kidney syndrome (P>0.05). The causes of liver cirrhosis in both groups were similar. The most common cause was hepatitis B virus infection, followed by chronic alcoholism, but in the elderly group, chronic alcoholism, cholestasis, poisoning from medicines and poisons and liver blood circulation disorders were more common than the non-elderly group (P<0.05); hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis were more common in the non-elderly group than in the elderly group (P<0.05). The elderly group had more Child-Pugh class C cases (P<0.05), while there were more class A cases in the non-elderly group (P<0.05). Twenty-six patients died in the elderly group with a mortality rate of 38.8%; while only 13 died in the non-elderly group with a mortality rate of 18.1%. The difference of mortality rate was significant between the two groups (P<0.05). Common causes of death in the elderly group were infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and electrolyte disorders and gastrointestinal bleeding, while the common causes of death in the non-elderly group were gastrointestinal bleeding and electrolyte disorders.
ConclusionThe etiology, clinical manifestations and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients. We must pay more attention on treating complications of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect and prognosis of laparoscopic complete mesocolic resection (CME) in the treatment of elderly patients with stage Ⅲ right colon cancer.MethodsClinical data of 280 elderly patients (aged 60 years or older) who underwent stage Ⅲ right hemicolectomy in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from 2010 to 2015 were collected. Among them, 160 patients underwent laparoscopic CME treatment were set as the observation group, and 120 patients underwent conventional laparotomy were set as the control group. The mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative first anal exhaust time, number of lymph nodes dissection, number of positive lymph nodes, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The postoperative local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate, 3-year cumulative survival rate and postoperative recurrence risk factors were analyzed.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between the observation group and the control group in operative time, number of lymph node dissection, number of positive lymph nodes and postoperative distant metastasis rate (P>0.05). The amount of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative anal first exhaust time, days of hospitalization, and postoperative recurrence rate in the observation group were less or shorter or lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The 3-year survival rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (log-rank χ2 =11.865, P=0.001), and the disease free survival in the observation group was also higher than that in the control group (log-rank χ2=7.567, P=0.006). Logistic regression was used to analyze the cases of postoperative recurrence in the two groups, and it was found that the degree of tumor differentiation, vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for postoperative tumor recurrence.ConclusionLaparoscopic CME in the treatment of elderly patients with stage Ⅲ right colon cancer is effective, it is safe and feasible, which can effectively prolong the survival time of patients.
ObjectiveVideo electroencephalography (VEEG) monitoring for health education of elderly patients based on a process-based communication model, and explore the impact of this model on the success rate, negative emotions, nursing satisfaction, and active cooperation rate of such patients.MethodsFrom September 2017 to September 2019, 118 patients with suspected epilepsy, encephalitis and other diseases who required VEEG monitoring in Suining Central Hospital were selected for this study (patients aged 61 to 73 years; 54 males and 64 females). Patients were divided into 2 groups using a random number table method, 59 patients in each group.A group received routine nursing, and B group received health education based on the process communication model. The monitoring success rate, negative emotion, active cooperation rate, and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe total effective rate in the B group was 86.44%, which was significantly higher than 76.27% in the A group (P<0.05). After nursing intervention, the scores of anxiety and depression in the two groups were significantly decreased, but the decline was greater in the B group (P<0.05). The active cooperation rate and nursing satisfaction of the B group were significantly higher than those of the A group (P<0.05).ConclusionCompared with conventional nursing, health education based on process communication mode can significantly improve the success rate of VEEG monitoring in elderly patients, alleviate the negative emotions of patients, improve the active cooperation rate and nursing satisfaction.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of patient-controlled analgesia and sedation (PCAS) with propofol and remifentanil for colonoscopy in elderly patients.
MethodsSixty elderly patients preparing for painless colonoscopy between May and September 2015 were randomly allocated into PCAS group and total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group with 30 patients in each. In the PCAS group, the mixture of remifentanil and propofol at 0.6 mL/(kg·h) was pumped continuously after an initial bolus of 0.05 mL/kg mixture. The examination began three minutes after the infusion was finished. Patients could press the self-control button. Each bolus delivered 1 mL and the lockout time was 1 minute. In the TIVA group, patients received fentanyl at 1 μg/kg and midazolam at 0.02 mg/kg intravenously, and accepted intravenous propofol at 0.8-1.0 mg/kg two minutes later. The examination began when the patients lost consciousness.
ResultsA significant decline of mean arterial blood pressure was detected within each group after anesthesia (P < 0.05). The decrease of mean blood pressure in the TIVA group was more significant than that in the PCAS group (P < 0.05). The heart rate, pulse oxygen saturation and respiratory rate decreased significantly after anesthesia in both the two groups (P < 0.05), while end-tidal CO2 increased after anesthesia without any significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The induction time, time to insert the colonoscope to ileocecus, and total examination time were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). As for the time from the end of examination to OAA/S score of 5 and to Aldrete score of 9, the PCAS group was significantly shorter than the TIVA group (P < 0.05).
ConclusionPCAS with remifentanil and propofol can provide sufficient analgesia, better hemodynamic stability, lighter sedation, and faster recovery compared with TIVA.
Objective To discuss the safety and clinical differences among elderly people being treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with operation. Methods To analyze retrospectively the data of patients diagnosed definitely as colorectal cancer in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2007 to December 2007, and to compare the clinical effect differences between elderly group (≥60 years) and non-elderly group (lt;60 years) with combined therapy. Results Among preoperative indexes, the constituent ratios of elderly group combined with cardiac vessels system diseases, endocrine system diseases or other system diseases were all obviously higher than those of non-elderly group, the differences showed statistical significance (Plt;0.05); Constituent ratio of elderly patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus was also higher than that of non-elderly patients, there were still statistical significance (Plt;0.05), but no statistical significances among other preoperative indexes (Pgt;0.05); Differences of indexes during operation between two groups showed no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). But during postoperative indexes, complications in elderly group were higher than those of non-elderly group, and the differences had statistical significance (Plt;0.05), and the time of removing gastric canal, urinary catheter and drainage tube between two groups showed no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05); Meanwhile, the intake time, venting time and defecation time after operation and out-of-bed activity time after operation also had no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). As to the adverse effect relate to chemotherapy, there were no statistical significances (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Elderly patients may have more poor physical condition and it maybe more difficult to treat them. In spite of this, the comprehensive treatment of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgical operation will not lead to the delay of surgical therapy, in addition, operating modus during surgical intervention will not be effected and its therapeutic effect in the near future was optimistic. So the application of this combined therapy has some clinical effects and would be safety.
Objective
To investigate the effectiveness of repairing hallux metatarsophalangeal skin and soft tissue defect with medial flap with double blood supply system in elderly patients.
Methods
Between June 2011 and March 2012, 9 cases (9 toes) of skin and soft tissue defect at hallux metatarsophalangeal joint were treated with medial flap with double blood supply system. There were 7 males and 2 females, aged 60-70 years (mean, 65.4 years). Injury included crush injury in 5 cases, traffic accident injury in 4 cases. The interval of injury and operation ranged from 3 hours to 5 days (mean, 35 hours). The patients had bone or tendon exposure with pollution of wounds. The size of defects ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm. The size of flaps ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.7 cm to 3.0 cm × 2.2 cm. Medial dorsal nerves were anastomosed with toe nerves to recover flap sensation. The donor site was repaired with skin grafting.
Results
All 9 flaps and skin grafting survived completely, and primary healing of wounds were obtained. Nine patients were followed up 6-8 months (mean, 7 months). The colour, texture, and contour of the flaps were good. The two-point discrimination of the flaps was 12-16 mm (mean, 14 mm) at last follow-up. The patients could walk normally. No scar contracture formed at donor site. No wear occurred.
Conclusion
The medial flap with double blood supply system can be used to repair hallux metatarsophalangeal skin and soft tissue defect in elderly patients because the flap can be easily obtained, has good blood supply, and has no injury to the main artery and nerve.
Objective To investigate the effects of different ventilation modes on postoperative pulmonary complications in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Methods The patients who underwent upper abdominal surgery under general anesthesia in Chengdu Office Hospital of the People’s Government of Tibet Autonomous Region between February 2020 and February 2021 were selected. Patients were randomly divided into volume controlled ventilation (VCV) group, pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) group, and pressure controlled ventilation-volume guarantee (PCV-VG) group according to the random number table method. All the three groups adopted the internationally recognized lung protective ventilation strategy. The transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation and respiratory mechanics indicators of three different time periods, as well as pulmonary symptoms and signs and laboratory imaging examinations 7 days after surgery were recorded. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in the three groups of patients were evaluated using the Melbourne Group Scale Version 2. Results A total of 120 patients were included, with 40 in each group. There was no statistically significant difference in the general situation of the three groups of patients (P>0.05). The platform pressure and compliance of three different time periods all changed over time (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the occurrence of pulmonary complications and hospital stay among the three groups 7 days after surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion Under the internationally recognized lung protective ventilation strategy, PCV-VG mode can significantly reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications 7 days after abdominal surgery, shorten the length of hospital stay, and improve the quality of life in elderly patients.
