Search

The purpose of this illustrative pictorial series is to demonstrate the value of an image technique known as 3D Volume Rendering (3DVR) for the pre-operative visualization and assessment of complex abdominal hernias. A small subset of complex abdominal hernia cases were selected from our early clinical experience with 3DVR to illustrate the value of visualizing standard 2D computed tomography (CT) data from a 3D perspective. For the surgeon, pre-operative 3DVR can assist the holistic understanding of abdominal hernias and any associated fascial defects, unsuspected additional hernias, dysfunctional abdominal wall bulges/eventrations, muscle denervations or atrophic changes, mesh placements, other post-surgical changes such as scarring, and relevant skeletal changes. For the patient, 3DVR provides an easily grasped understanding of the relevant anatomy, the nature of the problem at hand, and the scale of the surgical challenge. Images of this kind can help the surgeon to more effectively manage unrealistic patient expectations or explain dysfunctional bulges that do not require surgery. A functional 3DVR approach to pre-operative imaging can provide the surgeon with a more complete understanding of any hernia defect and the relevant background status of the abdominal wall in general. This can be useful in planning a more effective operative approach and help to improve surgical outcomes., (© 2020 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.)

Background Neurological complications are well documented in association with both surgical stripping or disconnection and thermal ablation of the small saphenous vein. The sural nerve (medial sural cutaneous nerve) is most vulnerable due to its close relationship to the small saphenous vein. Objective This is a cross-sectional observational study of the sonographic anatomy of 115 Australian patients to determine the course of the sural nerve and its relationship to the small saphenous vein, and to identify its relevance in the thermal ablation of the small saphenous vein. Method Sonographic mapping of the right sural nerve was performed with a Philips L12.5 and Sonosite 10.5 MHz ultrasound machine on 115 patients. The sural nerve was traced proximally from the level of the lateral malleolus to the popliteal fossa in order to measure its distance from the small saphenous vein at four reference points in the lower leg. Results A total of 115 patients were studied (females 82, males 33). The sural nerve was identified in 100% of patients; 64 patients (55.7%) showed usual sural nerve anatomy, while 51 patients (44.3%) demonstrated a range of anatomical variations, including the sural nerve becoming epifascial at a higher point than usual. Conclusion The sural nerve was identifiable on duplex ultrasound in 100% of cases. Classic anatomical relations and the perceived protection of the sural nerve conferred by the deep fascia of the upper calf are unreliable. Preoperative strategies can help to approach and protect the sural nerve in the endovenous ablation setting.

Schwannoma (neurilemmoma) originating from the pulmonary artery has not before been described. A 65 year-old male presented with dyspnoea on exertion. CT scan was negative for pulmonary thromboembolism, but showed a well circumscribed, heterogeneous mass, 52 mm × 45 mm × 41 mm, straddling the left pulmonary artery and compressing the left atrium. The mass was found at surgery to be originating from the lateral wall of the left pulmonary artery. The tumour was completely resected, and the pulmonary artery reconstructed. The mass was found to be a benign schwannoma on histopathology., (Copyright © 2012 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this work was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients pre and post surgical treatment for epilepsy. A total of 145 patients were interviewed during their pre-surgical assessment on the telemetry unit, Queen Square. The HRQL assessment comprised the quality of life assessment schedule (QOLAS), the EuroQol EQ-5D and the epilepsy surgery inventory (ESI-55). A total of 40 patients were followed up, of which 22 had undergone surgery and achieved 75% or greater reduction in seizures. The QOLAS scores for the patients who achieved 75% or greater seizure reduction post-op were significantly lower (i.e. improved HRQL) compared to baseline. The descriptive data suggest that the EQ-5D may not be capturing all of the QOL issues of relevance to patients with chronic, intractable epilepsy and the EQ-5D may not be valid for this group. Most patients queried the visual analogue scale (VAS) which asks for an overall rating of the respondent's self-perceived health. The most frequent comments, from 42% of patients, was that 'health' did not include their epilepsy. Despite this, the group whose seizures were reduced had significantly higher VAS scores at follow-up. We can conclude that the VAS is sensitive to clinical change. The baseline EQ-5D utility and follow-up scores were compared. There were no significant changes in QOL scores for either group. The patients who achieved 75% or greater reduction in seizures post-op scored significantly higher (i.e. better QOL) on 2/3 composite scores of the ESI-55 at follow-up. The QOLAS, the EQ-5D VAS and the ESI-55 were sensitive to clinically defined outcome. The results for the EQ-5D profile and the EQ-5D utility suggest that the EQ-5D is not a valid and responsive instrument for use in patients with intractable epilepsy.