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ROLE OF LAPAROSCOPY IN SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF HIV PATIENTSDR. VIJAYKUMAR RAJARAM NAIK AIMS OF STUDYThe purpose of present study is to evaluate the role of laparoscopic surgery in the surgical treatment of HIV patients (related or unrelated to HIV illness in whom requiring surgical intervention) by comparing results of open surgeries with the results of review articles on laparoscopic surgeries under following headings as -
INTRODUCTIONDespite much clinical experience, there are few published accounts of the surgical manifestations of HIV/AIDS & role of laparoscopic surgery in HIV patients. More than 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. Surgical treatment of HIV-infected patients is indicated for problems both related and unrelated to HIV infection (3). The laparoscopic surgeon plays an important role in the diagnosis & management of AIDS related conditions in conjunction with physician. As most of the HIV patients are poorly nourished, immunocompromised & final outcome of the open surgeries is not satisfactory. Laparoscopic procedures provide several specific advantages over routine (open) procedures in this population. For the patient, the extent of invasiveness is diminished; incisions are limited (6), associated with better preservation of the immune system than open surgery (7) which decreases healing time and wound complications, pulmonary function is optimized; and the patient rapidly returns to regular activity. Although CO2 pneumoperitoneum affects the peritoneal response to injury, it seems to have no harmful effect in terms of intra-abdominal infection. For the surgical team, risk of exposure to body fluids is minimized (5). REVIEW OF LITERATUREA computerized Medline search was conducted from 1966 through the present and turned up only 10 papers concerning HIV positivity and surgery, none of them being in transgendered or transsexual individuals. In 1997, Flum and Wallack (1) conducted a literature search concerning the impact of the human immunodeficiency virus infection and syndrome has had on the practice of surgery. They concluded that the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection ranges from 1.3% of patients hospitalized at sentinel hospitals to 1.5/1,000 patients in lower risk environments. The rate of percutaneous injury during an operation is 5% to 6% and human immunodeficiency virus transmission after percutaneous injury with a needle contaminated with the human immunodeficiency virus is .3%. INDICATIONS OF LAPAROSCOPY IN HIV PATIENTSIndications of laparoscopy in surgical patients & HIV patients are almost same as HIV- negative patients. Laparoscopy in HIV positive patients with acute abdomen
Diagnostic laparoscopy minimizes unnecessary laparotomis & complications Laparoscopy in Trauma Patients (Blunt and Penetrating)Trauma patients with equivocal signs are always a dilemma, more so when patients are victims of "Urban violence, car accidents, intoxication by alcohol, spinal cord injury and/or head injury. Commonly used diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) has a sensitivity of > 95% and specificity of 83%. The rate of unnecessary laparotomy is still very high with a morbidity of 20% and mortality of 6%. If diagnostic laparoscopy is combined with diagnostic peritoneal lavage then the sensitivity can be increased up to 100% and specificity up to 90%. Diagnostic laparoscopy is extremely useful in patients with equivocal signs and haemo dynamically stable. It is slowly replacing the old belief that, all penetrating abdominal wounds whether stab or gunshot should be explored. Also in cases of sub capsular tears of liver or spleen or minor tears in mesentery or omental injury can now be completely conserved saving the number of non therapeutic laparotomies (NTL). Laparoscopy in ICU patients / critically ill
It is extremely difficult to diagnose above mentioned complications in a patient who is already in MOF (multiple organ failure). There are no symptoms and signs which can be elucidated as patients are on ventilation or gravely ill and delay in surgical treatment may lead to increase in morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopy in chronic abdomen in HIV patientsMost of patients presenting with chronic abdominal pain after laparatomy found to have mesenteric lamphadenopathy, or drug induced pancreatitis , here diagnostic laparoscopy can take mesenteric lymph-node biopsy without much major surgical trauma. Role of Laparoscopy in Gynecological EmergenciesLaparoscopy is useful in the early recognition of pelvic inflammatory disease and Fitz Hughes Curtis syndrome (Perihepatitis associated with PID). It is also useful in the early recognition of pelvic inflammatory disease and Fitz Hughes Curtis syndrome (Perihepatitis associated with PID) Role of Laparoscopy in Suspected Acute AppendicitisCommonest abdominal emergency all round the world is acute appendicitis. An early diagnostic laparoscopy in suspected acute appendicitis reduces the risk of appendiceal perforation, improves diagnostic accuracy and reduces the number of negative laparotomies. It helps the surgeon to rule out concomitant problems but two important groups of patients where it is immensely useful in
Laparoscopy in patients with Perforated Peptic UlcersEarly diagnosis and treatment of perforated peptic ulcer within 6 hours of the incident can reduce mortality from 90% to about 10%. Diagnostic laparoscopy is much more sensitive than CT as it can determine the type of fluid along with food debris and can accurately localize the site of perforation. Perforations are closed by simple suture, omental patch, fibrinous glue, falciform ligament patch or ligamentum teres patch. The trend is towards suture less closure or ligamentous patches. A larger delay, beyond 6 hours, makes closure difficult and hazardous due to inflammatory changes and phlegmon. Main disadvantage is increased operating time and recent studies have not shown to decrease length of hospital stay, resumption of normal diet, reduction of pain in the first 24 hours, or early return to normal activities. Prospective random trials are needed to clarify these factors. Laparoscopy and Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO)Early SBO, with minimal peritonitis, single band adhesions, without obvious gangrenous changes in the bowel can be managed by therapeutic laparoscopy.
Laparoscopy and Diverticular diseaseDiagnostic laparoscopy is very useful in diagnosing severity of diverticular disease so that management decision can be taken whether to conserve or proceded to surgery. Abscesses can be drained under direct vision. Laparoscopy in biliary disordersCommonest surgical presentation in HIV patients is acalculus cholecystitis where open cholecystectomy is dangerous here laparoscopy is the best option. Also conditions like obstructive jaundice due to ca-pancreas laparoscopic Whipple's operation can be done. Laparoscopy in pulmonary diseasesLaparoscopy is also useful for diagnosis (thoracoscopy) & different therapeutic procedures in HIV patients like closure of bullies, pnuemonectomy etc. Laparoscopy for lymph node biopsyThis is most common indication for diagnosis of different conditions histopathologically, (e.g. cervical lymph nodes) during this risk of needle prick injuries are more during open surgery so laparoscopic approach is best for same. It is also useful for biopsy of mesenteric & pre & para-aortic lymph nodes avoiding major laparotomy. Anal disordersThis is the one of commonest surgical presentation in HIV patients due loss of perianal fat there develops piles & rectal prolapse which can be treated laparoscopically with minimum complications. CONTRA-INDICATIONS FOR LAPAROSCOPYContra-indications for laparoscopy are same for both HIV positive & negative patients.
MATERIAL & METHODSThe source of data was open surgeries performed on HIV patients at Bel-Air Hospital, Panchgani, during the period of November 2006 to December 2007. Bel- air Hospital is one of leading institute for HIV treatment & doctors training centre under Indian Red-Cross Society & NACO. The results of open surgeries are compared with the review articles data collected by reviews of articles laparoscopic surgeries on HIV patients by using search engine Google, Hirewire press, Springerlin Med, Yahoo & other linked references. The keywords used are HIV, laparoscopy, universal precautions, imuno-compresion, and complications. SOURCE OF DATA74 patients of HIV operated for various surgical presentations operated at BEL-AIR HOSPITAL, PANCHGANI, MAHARASHTRA forms main source of data for present study. Patients were presented to surgery OPD, referred from HIV wards for surgical problem & from other medical practitioners after diagnosis of HIV. SELECTION OF PATIENTSThe patients with surgical indication were selected as per their presentation for either emergency or planned open surgeries. For the routine surgeries patients were investigated for basic & anesthesia point. HIV confirmatory test, CD4 count was also done apart from above investigations. Preoperative single dose of antibiotics were given almost every case. OPERTIVE TECHNIQUEDuring surgery strict universal precautions were taken by whole surgical team, like use of eye protective goggles, full rubber shoes, plastic arm guards, foot cover, waterproof surgical gowns, double gloves etc. Also precautions were taken to avoid spillage on floor, needle stick injuries were prevented by avoiding direct transfer of sharp instruments from surgeon to nurse & vice a versa i.e. keeping a kidney tray between. All waste materials were disposed as per CDC guidelines. As much as disposable items were used. Postoperatively patients were transferred either to SICU or wards as per patient's condition. Usually patients were discharged on 9th or 10th day after removal of sutures. Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is antiretroviral drug treatment that is started immediately after someone is exposed to HIV. The aim is to allow a person's immune system a chance to provide protection against the virus and to prevent HIV from becoming established in someone's body. In order for PEP to have a chance of working the medication needs to be taken as soon as possible and definitely within 72 hours of exposure to HIV. Left any longer and it is thought that the effectiveness of the treatment is severely diminished (33) Tab. Lazid (Zidovudine 300mg + Lamivudine 150mg) for 28 days. .As with most anti-retrovirals these can cause side effects such as diarrhea, headaches, nausea/vomiting and fatigue. Some of these side effects can be quite severe and it is estimated that 1 in 5 people give up PEP treatment before completion (33) RESULTSTotal of 74 patients presented with surgical problems, out of them 22 patients treated with conservatively while remaining 52 treated with operative treatment forms basis of study. Time of surgery Out of 52 operated patients, 14 (26.92%) patients operated on an emergency basis & 38 (73.08%) had planned surgeries.
Type of operation Out of 52 patients 18 (26.92%) patients underwent major & 34 (47.06%) minor surgeries.
Operation Time Maximum number of patients (40) required 30 minute to one hour time, only some complicated cases (3) required more operative time i.e. 3 to 4 hours.
Blood lossThe approximately blood loss during surgery varies from minimum of 30ml to maximum of 300ml depending of type of surgery & findings. Occupational exposureDuring overall study total 4 assisting nurses subtended with needle prick injury while assisting the surgeries in Operation Theater. They all received emergency PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis). Post-operative antibioticsMost of the patients received at least 7-8 day course of postoperative higher antibiotics. Post-operative analgesicsPresent study on open surgeries analgesics were given as thee times a day for 7to 8 days. Incidence of wound infectionIncidence of wound infection was found in almost 20-25% of cases in the form of stitch abscess. It is found that incidence of wound infection was more in patients having low CD4 count (<200). One patient developed fecal fistula after resection anastomosis & treated conservatively. Incidence of respiratory complications like pneumonia observed in 12 patients (23.07%). Hospital stayHospital stay for patients underwent open major surgeries varied from 8 days to 15 days. EconomyAverage total expenses for surgery was 800 to 12000 depending upon type of surgery, hospital stay & complications. MortalityTotal 4 patients died in present study out of 52 operated patients. So overall mortality rate was 7.69%. DISCUSSIONThe literature on postoperative complications is descriptive and inconsistent and does not support a firm conclusion on the association between rates and HIV serostatus or disease stage. The ultimate outcome of surgery in HIV-infected patients is most likely dependent upon many independent variables and not just the underlying viral infection or disease stage (4). CONCLUSIONSAbove study revealed following conclusions. Compared to traditional operations, there are fewer traumas to the skin and muscles and less post-operative pain and disability with a laparoscopic procedure. Also, patients have a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery period. There is a reduced infection rate. This is because delicate tissues are not exposed to the air of the operating room over long periods of time. Video magnification also offers surgeons better exposure of the diseased organ and its surrounding vessels and nerves. As a result, delicate maneuvers can better be performed. Laparoscopy reduces risk of occupational transmission in surgical team. The disadvantages of laparoscopy include the expensive equipment involved in performing it. Not all hospitals may be able to afford certain procedures. Another issue is the need for surgeons to take special training in performing the minimally invasive operations. The need for additional training is because laparoscopic surgeons leave the familiar territory of a three-dimensional operating field to working on a two-dimensional flat video display. Learning the procedures requires some degree of practice moving the long laparoscopic instruments while handling delicate tissues. Finally, laparoscopy cannot always be performed on everyone. For example, some patients with many prior operations may have so much scar tissue within the body that a safe laparoscopic operation cannot be done. Thus in modern era of minimal access surgery laparoscopy is an asset to the HIV patients by reducing mobility & increasing their life expectancy. REFERENCES
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