Asian J Surg
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Case Reports
Cervicofacial, retropharyngeal and mediastinal emphysema: a complication of orbital fracture.
Retropharyngeal and mediastinal emphysema is associated with traumatic aerodigestive tract injury, and may be associated with potentially severe and even life-threatening complications. Retropharyngeal emphysema or pneumomediastinum, in the absence of severe trauma to the visceral organs, is rare following facial fractures. We report a case of extensive subcutaneous emphysema extending to the retropharyngeal space and mediastinum following an orbitozygomatic fracture.
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Extragonadal teratomas and germ cell tumours are uncommon. Most teratomas of the head and neck present in the paediatric age group. Occurrence of such tumours in an adult is extremely rare and, to date, less than 40 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a young man presenting with impending airway obstruction secondary to a malignant teratoma of the neck.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Role of enteral immunonutrition in patients with gastric carcinoma undergoing major surgery.
To evaluate the influence of postoperative immunonutrition on immune and nutritional parameters in patients with gastric carcinoma. ⋯ Compared with standard enteral nutrition, enteral immunonutrition can improve defence mechanisms and modulate inflammatory action after major elective surgery for gastric carcinoma.
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Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is now the procedure of choice for symptomatic gallbladder disease. Although many recent studies, mostly from abroad, report that it can be performed safely in the outpatient setting, the experience of outpatient LC in Hong Kong is still limited. This retrospective study evaluated the feasibility, safety and patient acceptance of outpatient LC in Hong Kong Chinese patients. ⋯ LC is a safe and feasible outpatient procedure in Hong Kong, with high levels of patient satisfaction. A prospective study with a larger patient population is warranted to verify whether it should be recommended as treatment for gallstone disease in selected patients in future.
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Comparative Study
Use of elderly donors (> 60 years) for liver transplantation.
As the demand for liver transplantation has become greater than the availability of donor livers, the criteria for donor selection or rejection are more important than ever before. In view of an increasing number of patients on the waiting list, some centres are expanding their donor pool by relaxing the criteria, such as by using organs from elderly (> 60 years) brainstem-dead donors. In this study, we reviewed our experience of using elderly brain-dead donor livers, investigating the potential prognostic factors of the donor, and analysing the influence of donor age on early graft function and graft survival. ⋯ Old age is not a contraindication for liver donation. Liver grafts from donors older than 60 years can be used safely.