Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Hong-Shiee Lai

Publications and source records attributed to Hong-Shiee Lai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Clinicopathological features and prognosis in resectable synchronous and metachronous colorectal liver metastasis.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic resection may offer long-term survival for patients with colorectal metastases. However, controversies exist regarding the prognostic factors. Herein, the impact of synchronicity of liver metastasis on patient clinicopathological features and prognosis was evaluated. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-five patients who underwent hepatectomy for colon cancer metastasis, from 1995 to 2004, were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: synchronous and metachronous colorectal liver metastasis. Patient demographics, the nature of the primary and metastatic tumors, surgery-related complications, and long-term outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients included in the synchronous group tended to be younger than those in the metachronous group. Compared to the metachronous group, patients in the synchronous group showed more metastases (P = 0.008) and bilobarly distributed metastases (P = 0.016). Bile leakage was the most common surgical complication. The estimated 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 16.8 and 41.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that synchronous metastases, advanced stage of the primary tumor, bilobar distribution of the metastases, more than three metastases, and colonic versus rectal location of the primary tumor were prognostic factors of shorter disease-free survival, but not overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that synchronous metastases and the advanced stage of the primary tumor were indicators for a worse disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The synchronous presence of primary colon cancer and liver metastasis may indicate a more disseminated disease status and is associated with a shorter disease-free survival than metachronous metastasis. These patients may need more careful monitoring and aggressive chemotherapy following curative resection.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2006

Oncologic results of laparoscopic versus conventional open surgery for stage II or III left-sided colon cancers: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Minimal invasive surgical approach can achieve quick functional recovery. However, the oncologic outcome for cancer is still a concern. This study aims to compare the oncologic outcome between laparoscopic and open methods in the curative resection of Stage II or III left-sided colon cancers. METHODS: In consideration of statistical power up to 90%, 286 eligible patients with curable left-sided colon cancer (Tumor-Node-Metastasis Stage II and Stage III disease) requiring the takedown of colonic splenic flexure to facilitate a curative left hemicolectomy were recruited randomly and equally allocated to the laparoscopic and open group. The primary endpoint was time-to-recurrence of tumor. Data was analyzed according to intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Postrandomization exclusion occurred because of metastatic disease detected intraoperatively occurred in 13 patients and because of patient withdrawal from trial in 4. Therefore, 135 and 134 patients actually comprised the laparoscopic and open group, respectively. The median follow-up of patient was 40 months (range: 18-72 months). The oncologic results were similar (P = 0.362, one-sided log-rank test) in laparoscopic and open group of patients, with the estimated cumulative recurrence rate of 13.2% (9/68) versus 17.2% (11/64) in Stage II disease and 20.9% (14/67) versus 25.7% (18/70) in Stage III disease, respectively. The recurrence patterns were similar between the two groups. Both open and laparoscopic groups were comparable in the number of dissected lymph node (15.6 +/- 3.0 vs. 16.0 +/- 6.0, P = 0.489), various demographic and clinicopathologic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated cumulative recurrence rate for the surgery of Stage II or III left-sided colon cancers was the same between laparoscopic and open methods.

Colectomy↗
PubMed2006

Ultrasonography in diagnosing colorectal cancers in patients presenting with abdominal distension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective case series of consecutive adult patients with abdominal distension admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2001 and July 2004. All participants were examined by abdominal ultrasonography. Those with suspected colorectal tumours on ultrasonography had follow-up colonoscopy, while all other patients had computed tomography scans. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients with abdominal distension; incidence of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Of 511 patients eligible for inclusion in our study, 97 (19.0%) were confirmed to have colorectal cancer. For diagnosis of colorectal cancer, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 92.8% (95% CI, 85.2%-96.8%); a specificity of 98.8% (95% CI, 97.0%-99.6%); a positive predictive value of 94.7% (95% CI, 87.6%-98.0%); a negative predictive value of 98.3% (95% CI 96.4%-99.3%); and an accuracy of 97.7%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is a sensitive tool for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2006

The influence of biologic factors on the surgical decision in advanced neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Molecular markers greatly affect the outcome of neuroblastoma. This study evaluated the influence of Trk-A and myelocytomatosis viral-related oncogene, neuroblastoma-derived (MYCN) on the role of surgery in advanced neuroblastoma. METHODS: Ten stage 3 and 35 stage 4 neuroblastoma patients were included. Tumor resection was classified into gross total resection (GTR) and incomplete resection. Patients were classified into three biological risk groups according to Trk-A expression and myelocytomatosis viral-related oncogene, neuroblastoma-derived (MYCN) status in tumor tissues studied by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, respectively: low risk (positive Trk-A and normal MYCN), intermediate risk (negative Trk-A and normal MYCN), and high risk (positive or negative Trk-A and MYCN amplification). The effect of tumor resection on prognosis was studied and stratified according to the risk grouping. RESULTS: GTR was achieved in 21 patients (46.7%) with a higher complication rate (33% vs. 8% in the incomplete resection group, P = .036). GTR was easier to achieve in low-risk tumors than in intermediate- or high-risk tumors (12 of 13, 4 of 17, and 5 of 15, respectively; P < .001). GTR predicted a favorable prognosis for intermediate-risk patients (P = .037; log-rank test), but not for low- or high-risk patients because of the overall favorable and poor prognosis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GTR carries a potentially higher possibility of complication. Although GTR can be achieved easily in low-risk neuroblastoma patients with a favorable prognosis, surgeons should do their best to achieve GTR for intermediate-risk patients to improve outcome. Nevertheless, sacrificing vital organs to achieve GTR for high-risk patients is not justified.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2006

Specific oral medications decrease the need for surgery in adhesive partial small-bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Nothing by mouth (NPO) is the standard treatment for small-bowel obstruction. Whether oral medications should be prohibited during treatment of adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction is unclear. The goal of this study was to determine whether a combination of specific oral medications in adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction will decrease the need for operative intervention. METHODS: Of 266 consecutive adult patients with partial small-bowel obstruction admitted at a tertiary medical center, 236 were randomized into 2 groups. Group I patients were treated with intravenous hydration, nasogastric tube decompression, and NPO. Group II patients were placed on intravenous hydration, nasogastric tube decompression, and oral fluids incorporating an oral laxative, a digestant, and a defoaming agent. We compared differences between the groups in (1) the number of patients having a successful nonoperative treatment, (2) complications, and (3) recurrence of symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 116 and 120 patients comprised groups I and II, respectively. The number of patients treated successfully by a nonoperative approach was less in group I than in group II (77% vs 90%, P < .01). The complications and recurrence rate for groups I and II did not differ (4% vs 5% and 5% vs 4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The NPO status for patients with adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction may not be necessary. This cocktail of oral medications can decrease the need for operative intervention in patients with presumed adhesive, partial small-bowel obstruction.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Clinical improvement following home parenteral nutrition in pediatric patients with intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is being increasingly used to treat children with intestinal failure. This study evaluated the long-term growth, outcome and complications in Taiwanese pediatric patients with intestinal failure who were treated with HPN. METHODS: This retrospective study included 27 consecutive pediatric patients with intestinal failure who received long-term HPN between 1987 and 2002. These patients were categorized into two groups according to whether they had short bowel syndrome or a bowel motility disorder. Growth, prognosis and complications, including cholestasis, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and infections were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The median age of starting HPN was significantly younger in patients with short bowel syndrome (5 months) than in patients with motility disorders (1.9 years). The median duration of HPN treatment in the overall group was 13.5 months (range, 2.1-113.1 months); weight and height increased 1.7 +/- 2.3 and 1.0 +/- 1.6 in z score, respectively. The most common complications were cholestatic liver disease (52%), hypoglycemia (15%) and hyperglycemia (33%). All patients maintained stable serum glucose levels at follow-up. Cholestatic liver disease developed after 2.3 +/- 2.0 months of total HPN in 13 patients, which subsided after 9.7 +/- 6.9 months in 11 patients, while two patients died. The mean incidence of central venous infection was 3.0 +/- 3.3 per 1000 HPN days. The most common pathogens were Staphylococcus spp. (50%) and Candida spp. (30.6%). CONCLUSION: HPN treatment can successfully provide a bridge to enteral nutrition in pediatric patients with intestinal failure. The metabolic disturbances and cholestasis are usually transient, but infection control is important throughout the period of HPN treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Validation of a computer-based bronchoscopy simulator developed in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Conventional training in bronchoscopy may increase patient's discomfort and procedure-related morbidity. Computer-based bronchoscopy simulator (CBBS) permits the acquisition and evaluation of the necessary skills through a realistic bronchoscopic experience. This study was conducted to validate the use of a CBBS system developed in Taiwan as a learning and assessment tool. METHODS: Twenty novice bronchoscopists and 10 expert bronchoscopists were enrolled as subjects in this prospective study. The 20 novice bronchoscopists were randomized into two groups, which received conventional bronchoscopic training or CBBS training and then completed a satisfaction survey. Subsequently, the novices who received CBBS training underwent an observational performance trial and the results were compared with those of expert bronchoscopists. All 10 expert bronchoscopists completed a realism survey and observational trial after CBBS performance. RESULTS: The satisfaction survey showed that the CBBS training program significantly increased participants' satisfaction (p = 0.002) and interest in learning (p < 0.001). The realism survey by the 10 expert bronchoscopists indicated that CBBS provides a favorable degree of realism with regard to the mechanical and visual parameters examined. Analysis of the performance results showed that the following parameters were capable of differentiating the participants by level of expertise: total procedure time (p = 0.002), percentage of bronchial segments entered (p = 0.012), percentage of bronchial segments identified (p < 0.001), percentage of repeated bronchial segments entered (p = 0.004), percentage of pathologies identified (p < 0.001), number of times that the bronchoscope tip collided with airway walls (p = 0.013), and number of times oral instruction was needed (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: CBBS is a valid training method that increases interest in learning and provides a favorable degree of virtual realism. It can also distinguish various levels of competence at actual bronchoscopy and may have a useful role in the bronchoscopic training curriculum.

Bronchoscopy↗
PubMed2006

Long-term prognosis of patients with biliary atresia: a 25 year summary.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to delineate the long-term prognosis of biliary atresia (BA) in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: From 1976 to 2000, 185 children were diagnosed with BA, 22 underwent exploratory laparotomy without Kasai operation, and 163 underwent Kasai operation, of which 141 cases had long-term follow-up and formed the basis of this study. The outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 141 BA children studied who underwent Kasai operation, 115 (81.6%) had recoloration of stools, and 86 (61.0%) became jaundice-free (bilirubin <34 micromol/L) [corrected]. The resolution of jaundice and the absence of repeated cholangitis contributed to better outcome. Five and 10 year survival rates with native liver were 35% and 31%, respectively. Liver transplantation was performed in 19 patients (all but 2 with a living-related donor), and 15 (79%) survived. Five and 10 year overall survival rates for BA patients were 41.9% and 40.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study delineated the long-term outcome of BA in an Asian country other than Japan. Survival with native liver after a Kasai operation in Taiwan was similar to that in the American and European series. Limited donors for liver transplantation in the years of the study accounted for the poor overall prognosis of BA patients in this series.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Cecal volvulus in a child with CHARGE syndrome.

Cecal volvulus occurring in a child with CHARGE syndrome is presented. This boy was known to have CHARGE syndrome with multiple congenital anomalies, including coloboma, ventricular septal defect, choanal atresia, growth and mental retardation, bilateral cryptorchidism, dysplasia of the right ear, cleft lip, and hydrocephalus. Nissen's fundoplication had been previously performed for severe hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal regurgitation at the age of 1 year. Cecal volvulus occurred with a 540-degree clockwise rotation of terminal ileum to the right transverse colon and a displacement of the rotated loop to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen when he was 10 years old. Right hemicolectomy with divided ileo- and colostomy was performed. A second staged ileocolostomy was performed uneventfully 3 months later. The midline structural defects with nonfixation of the cecum and ascending colon, chronic constipation, and previous abdominal surgery might have been the predisposing factors.

Cecum↗
PubMed2005

Nonsurgical management of partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction with oral therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction are usually managed conservatively, receiving intravenous hydration and nothing by mouth. Previous studies have suggested that this approach is associated with longer hospital stays and an increased risk of delayed surgery. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to see if combining standard conservative treatment with oral administration of a laxative, a digestant and a defoaming agent would reduce the frequency of subsequent surgical intervention and reduce the length of hospital stay. METHODS: We identified 144 consecutive patients admitted between February 2000 and July 2001 with adhesive partial small-bowel obstruction and randomly assigned 128 who met the inclusion criteria to either the control group (intravenous hydration, nasogastric-tube decompression and nothing by mouth) or the intervention group (intravenous hydration, nasogastric-tube decompression and oral therapy with magnesium oxide, Lactobacillus acidophilus and simethicone). The primary outcome measures were the number of patients whose obstruction was successfully treated without surgery and the length of hospital stay. We also monitored rates of complications and recurring obstructions. RESULTS: Of the 128 patients, 63 were in the control group and 65 in the intervention group; the mean ages were 54.4 (standard deviation [SD] 15.9) years and 53.9 (SD 16.3) years respectively. Most of the patients were male. More patients in the intervention group than in the control group had successful treatment without surgery (59 [91%] v. 48 [76%], p = 0.03; relative risk 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.40). The mean hospital stay was significantly longer among patients in the control group than among those in the intervention group (4.2 [SD 2.7] v. 1.0 [SD 0.7] days, p < 0.001). The complication and recurrence rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. INTERPRETATION: Oral therapy with magnesium oxide, L. acidophilus and simethicone was effective in hastening the resolution of conservatively treated partial adhesive small-bowel obstruction and shortening the hospital stay.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of childhood hepatic malignancies in a hepatitis B hyper-endemic area.

AIM: To examine the differences of clinical behaviors between hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and hepatoblastomas (HB) in children. METHODS: From 1979 to 1997, we collected 73 HCC and 54 HB from two major medical centers in Taiwan. Demog-raphic, laboratory and radiological data, and survival curves were statistically compared. RESULTS: HCC clinically differed from HB in mean age (10.6 vs 2.5 years; P<0.001), status of hepatitis B infection (56/56 vs 4/35, P<0.001) and accompanying liver cirrhosis (26/40 vs 0/30, P<0.001), portal vein thrombi (22/56 vs 5/38, P = 0.006) and para-aortic lymphadenopathy (10/56 vs 1/38, P = 0.026). Due to a higher recurrence rate (7/12 vs 2/13, P = 0.041), stage I HCC compared poorly in survivals with stage I HB (P = 0.0183). Chemotherapy could only benefit HB as evidenced by 66.7% of resectability conversion and improve survivals for advanced HB, even with unsuccessful conversion. The survival difference between stage I HB and advanced HB with delayed complete resection was of borderline insignificance (P = 0.0507). CONCLUSION: HCC and HB were preliminarily distinguishable by some clinical clues. Delayed resection after chemotherapy was only possible for HB. However, further studies are needed to strengthen our observation that appropriate reliance upon chemotherapy to subsequently resect advanced HB could achieve the comparable survival to that of stage I HB.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Fecal elastase 1, serum amylase and lipase levels in children with cholestasis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The pancreatic functions of children with cholestatic liver diseases were unclear. Due to anatomic vicinity and common ontogenic origin, hepatobiliary disorders of infancy may also affect pancreatic function. The aim of the study was to evaluate the exocrine pancreatic function and common pancreatic function tests in children with cholestatic disorders. METHODS: In 40 children with cholestasis, fecal elastase 1 (FE1) concentrations were measured. Serum amylase and lipase values were tested. The diagnoses included 32 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis (biliary atresia (BA) and choledochal cyst), and 8 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis (progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and Alagille syndrome). None had renal insufficiency or clinical symptoms/signs of acute pancreatitis. RESULTS: All the patients had normal FE1 (>200 microg/g). Nineteen percent (7/37) had elevated serum amylase levels (>100 U/l). Thirty-two percent (12/37) had elevated serum lipase levels above the normal (>120 U/l). Seventy-three percent (8/11) of BA patients with bilirubin >2 mg/dl had elevated serum lipase levels compared to 18% (3/17) with bilirubin < or = 2 mg/dl (p = 0.0036). None had detectable pancreatic abnormality on ultrasonography and magnetic resonance images. CONCLUSIONS: None of the cholestatic children in this study had exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as detected by FE1. Hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia were frequently found. In children with BA, those with impaired biliary excretion tended to have elevated serum pancreatic enzymes as compared with those who had no jaundice. A decreased hepatic metabolism may be the cause.

Alagille Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

GRP78 expression correlates with histologic differentiation and favorable prognosis in neuroblastic tumors.

Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), an endoplasmic reticulum protein, is essential for the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells and is selectively induced when the cells are undergoing apoptosis. These findings suggest that GRP78 may affect the tumor behavior of neuroblastoma. Our study evaluates the association of clinicopathologic factors and patient survival with the expression of GRP78 in patients with neuroblastoma. GRP78 expression in 68 neuroblastic tumors was investigated semiquantitatively by immunohistochemistry. GRP78 mRNA and protein levels in 7 tumor tissues were also quantified by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively and correlated well with the immunohistochemical results. Forty (58.8%) of the 68 neuroblastic tumors showed positive GRP78 expression. The percentage of positive GRP78 immunostaining increased as the tumor histology became differentiated (p = 0.001). Furthermore, positive GRP78 expression strongly correlated with early clinical stages (P = 0.002) but inversely correlated with MYCN amplification (p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with positive GRP78 expression did have better survival than those with negative expression (5-year survival rate, 72.9% and 23.4% respectively, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis further showed that GRP78 expression was an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, GRP78 expression predicted better survival in patients with either undifferentiated or differentiated histologies. GRP78 expression still had significant prognostic value when the analysis was restricted to tumors of advanced stages or without MYCN amplification. Thus, GRP78 can serve as a novel independent favorable prognostic factor for patients with neuroblastoma.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Quantitative gene expression analysis by cDNA microarray during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats.

PURPOSE: It is speculated that genetic regulation plays an important role during liver regeneration. We conducted this study to analyze quantitative gene expression during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into ten groups of six. One group of rats was killed preoperatively and the other nine groups were killed 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, and 5 and 7 days after 70% partial hepatectomy, respectively. The remnant livers were isolated for mRNA extraction. A mass survey of gene expression by cDNA microarray carrying 6144 polymerase chain reaction-amplified cDNA fragments was prepared by an arraying machine. The microarray images were scanned, digitized, and analyzed using a flatbed scanner. RESULTS: The variations in gene expression were classified into 72 different patterns including a pattern with a single peak, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 72 h, and 5 and 7 days after partial hepatectomy. The other patterns included double peaks, enhancing trend, diminished trend, protruding curve, excavated curve, and various mixed types. Each category of gene expression pattern contained 40-218 different proto-oncogenes. CONCLUSION: The quantitative gene expression profiles have important implications, warranting further investigation of the genetic mechanisms involved in the process of liver regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Progressive increase of bowel wall thickness is a reliable indicator for surgery in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether progressive increase of bowel wall thickness during nonoperative treatment is a reliable indicator for surgery in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction. METHODS: The study consisted of a prospective case series of 121 patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction who underwent an abdominal ultrasonographic examination. The results of ultrasonographic examinations were classified into two groups according to the presence (Group I) or absence (Group II) of bowel wall thickening. Bowel wall thickening was recognized as a visible small bowel wall > or =3 mm in width as seen by ultrasonographic examination. The findings of subsequent ultrasonographic examinations taken 24 hours later were compared with those taken at admission. Surgery was determined based on the presence of any toxic signs or the failure of nonoperative treatment. The number of patients who had successful nonoperative treatment, the number of patients who underwent surgeries, and the number of complications in each group were calculated to correlate with the ultrasonographic findings. RESULTS: There are 49 and 72 patients in Groups I and II, respectively. The number of patients who had successful nonoperative treatment and number of patients who underwent surgeries in Group I are 40 (81.6 percent) and 9 (18.4 percent) and in Group II the numbers are 68 (94.4 percent) and four (5.6 percent), respectively (P = 0.036). All 12 (100 percent) patients with progressive increase of bowel wall thickness underwent surgery. Progressive increase of bowel wall thickness as an indicator for surgery has a sensitivity of 92.3 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 62.1-99.6 percent) and a specificity of 100 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 95.7-100 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with initial bowel wall thickening have a higher incidence of surgery, and progressive increase of bowel wall thickness that appears 24 hours later is a reliable indicator for surgery in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Plasma free amino acid profile in cancer patients.

Redistribution or translocation of plasma free amino acids (PFAAs) to support visceral or tumor protein synthesis is an essential feature in cancer patients. An abnormal PFAA profile might be presented via the total reflection of cancer-induced protein metabolism in tumors, skeletal muscle and the liver in cancer patients. Clinical data from 13 studies have demonstrated a cancer-related PFAA profile, especially in digestive organ cancers. The PFAA profile can differ between the early and late stages of cancer. The profile is also affected by the type of cancer. Therefore, it is postulated that a detailed analysis of the PFAA profile may serve as one of the biological markers for cancer patients.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2005

Ultrasound may decrease the emergency surgery rate of incarcerated inguinal hernia.

OBJECTIVE: Manual reduction is the standard procedure for incarcerated inguinal hernia reduction. The role of ultrasound in incarcerated inguinal hernia reduction has not been defined. The aim of this study was to determine whether ultrasound can improve the ability to reduce incarcerated inguinal hernia safely when manual reduction fails and thereby decrease the emergency surgery rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and December 2003, 112 adult patients with incarcerated inguinal hernias were admitted to a university medical center and classified into two groups. Group I consisted of 61 patients who received emergency surgical reduction after the failure of two attempts at manual reduction. In Group II, comprising 51 patients, ultrasound-guided reduction was performed when two attempts at manual reduction failed. Emergency surgical reduction was scheduled if both ultrasound-guided reduction and two attempts at manual reduction failed. The difference in emergency surgery rates between groups I and II was compared. RESULTS: In group I, manual reduction was successful in 55 cases (90.2%) and 6 patients underwent emergency surgery. In group II, manual reduction was successful in 45 cases, ultrasound-guided reduction in 4 cases, 1 reduction was avoided after ultrasonic examination, and 1 patient underwent emergency surgery. The emergency surgery rates in groups I and II were 9.8% and 2.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound can improve the ability to reduce incarcerated inguinal hernia safely when manual reduction fails and may decrease the rate of emergency surgery.

Adult↗