RSS can lead to significant medical and legal problems between the patient and the doctor. RSS may be incorrectly diagnosed preoperatively, which can lead to unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures and operations. Strict measures must be taken to prevent this complication.

The purpose of this report was to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in preoperative preparation of patients with thyrotoxicosis scheduled for either thyroid or nonthyroid surgery. We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients with thyrotoxicosis and those who prepared surgery with plasmapheresis between 1999 and 2008 at our institution. Ten patients underwent thyroid surgery and one patient was operated for femur fracture during antithyroid drug treatment. The indications for plasmapheresis in all patients with severe thyrotoxicosis were poor response to medical treatment (seven patients), agronulocytosis due to antithyroid drugs (three patients), iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (Jodd Basedow effect in one patient), and rapid preparation for urgent orthopedic operation (one patient). After TPE, we observed a marked decrease in free thyroxin (FT3) and free triiodothyronin (FT4) levels; however, the decline in the biochemical values were not statically significant (P > 0.62, P > 0.15). Although both FT3 and FT4 levels remained above the normal limits in two of 11 patients, the signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis improved in all patients and no thyroid storm observed during the perioperative period. TPE can be considered a safe and effective alternative to prepare patients with thyrotoxicosis for surgery when drug treatment fails or is contraindicated and when emergency surgery is required.

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Serum PTH levels at postoperative 12 and 24 h can predict early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Prophylactic oral calcium supplementation therapy can prevent early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia with advantages of being cost effective and safe.

In Turkey, burns represent a relatively small number of injuries overall, but they continue to be a major public health problem. Our aim in this study was to identify risk factors that affect outcome in burn patients hospitalized in the southern part of our country, with special emphasis on electrical burns. The database for 109 burn patients who were admitted to our burn center from April, 2000, through August, 2001, was retrospectively analyzed. Electrical injury was the cause of burn in 23 (21%) of the 109 cases. The burn causes differed among age groups and between the sexes, with males constituting 95% of the electrical burn patients. The mortality rate for the electrical burn group was lower than the rate for the rest of the burn patients (1/23 vs 17/86, respectively; P <.001); however, the opposite was true for complication rate (10/23 vs 5/86, respectively; P <.001), cost of treatment (8351 US dollars vs 5122 US dollars, respectively; P =.009), and length of hospital stay (39.9 vs 26.2 days, respectively; P < 0.001). The rate of electrical burn injury in Turkey has changed very little in the past two decades. This underlines the need for stronger efforts aimed at prevention, such as better public education and strict regulations regarding the distribution and use of electricity.

Objective: Assessment of frequency and clinical findings of parasitic infections for etiology of acute appendicitis. Methods: Data of 1452 patients who were carried out appendectomy between January 1999 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Appendectomy was performed in 1159 of the patients with a pre diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Demographics, physical findings, radiologic and laboratory studies, operative findings, pathological results, presence and type of parasitosis were investigated. Results: Among the 1159 patients done appendectomy with a pre diagnosis of acute appendicitis, 719 (62%) were males and 440 (38%) were females. Parasitic infection was demonstrated in 17 (1.4%) of them. Mean average age of these patients was 36.6±20.1 years. Enterobius vermicularis was present in 15 (88.2%) and Entamoeba histolytica in 2 (11.8%) of the patients. Of the pathology specimens of appendix consisting Enterobius vermicularis, 12 (80%) were normal appendix tissues, 1 (6.6%) was acute uncomplicated appendicitis and 2 (13.3%) were perforated appendicitis. One (50%) of the two specimens consisting Entamoeba histolytica was normal appendix and the other (50%) was acute appendicitis. Conclusion: Differential diagnosis of parasitic infections in etiology of acute appendicitis should be made properly. It must be remembered that this attention can save patients from a negative laparotomy and morbidity and mortality of it. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2014; 38: 12-6) (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2014; 38: 12-6)

Background:Diseases and tumors of the appendix vermiformis are very rare, except acute appendicitis.Objectives:This retrospective study was conducted to document the unusual findings in appendectomy specimens.Patients and Methods:Data of 1466 adult patients were gathered retrospectively. Appendectomy was performed in 1169 and in 297 patients following a diagnosis of acute appendicitis and during other abdominal operations, respectively. The data of 57 (3.88 %) patients who were pathologically reported to have unusual appendix findings were retrospectively collected. The records were analyzed according to patients’ age, gender, clinical presentations, operative reports, pathological reports and follow up.Results:Unusual pathologic examination findings were detected in the appendectomy specimens of 57 patients with a mean age of 48.34 ± 19. Twenty-nine patients (50.8 %) were male and 28 (49.2 %) were female. Normal appendix tissues were observed in specimens of 26 (45.6 %) patients and inflamed appendix in 31 (54.3 %). The most common unusual finding was parasitic diseases of the intestine. Pathological diagnosis of malignancy and benign features were reported in specimens of 14 and 43 patients, respectively. Macroscopic evaluation of appendectomy specimens during surgery might result in negligence of the presence of unusual pathology.Conclusions:Even if the macroscopic appearance of the specimen is normal or acute appendicitis, we suggest routine histopathological examination.

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