One hundred thirty-eight consecutive patients undergoing elective colonic resections were treated prospectively and randomly with either a long intestinal (Cantor) tube preoperatively, a nasogastric tube placed intraoperatively, or no gastrointestinal tube at all. Patients were evaluated for length of hospital stay, duration of postoperative ileus, adequacy of intraoperative intestinal decompression, gastric dilatation, and operative complications. No significant difference could be seen in the tubed or no-tube group.

The modified lithotomy position frequently is used in general surgery because it gives excellent simultaneous access to the abdomen and perineum. There are a variety of complications that may occur including lumbosacral plexus stretch, sciatic and peroneal nerve injury, and compartment syndrome of the legs. Through preoperative nursing assessment of a patient's age, nutritional status, skin condition, pre-existing disease state, and anticipated type and length of surgical procedure, patients at risk for developing postoperative complications may be identified. The perioperative nurse's role is to use this knowledge to assist the surgical team in safe patient positioning and optimal intraoperative care.

The light microscopic and ultrastructural features of an aortico-pulmonary paraganglioma (A-PP) are presented. The tumor was characterized by organoid clustering of neoplastic chief cells to form Zellballen. Argyrophilic granules were demonstrated within chief cell cytoplasm using a modified Grimelus technique. Ultrastructurally, three distinct cell types were present within the tumor: endothelial cells, pericytes and neoplastic chief cells. Membrane-bound neurosecretory granules were present and measured 100 to 2000 nm in diameter. "Light" and "dark" chief cells were less distinct than previously reported in other head and neck paragangliomas. Analysis of the 36 documented A-PP reported in the English literature reveals that the tumor has been either incompletely excised or has been considered unresectable in one-third of the cases. The reported surgical mortality is 9%, or approximately equal to the incidence of malignant behavior. The treatment of choice is surgical resection but when this is not possible, radiation may be a useful adjunct in therapy.

The differential diagnosis of rectal pain is extensive, and etiologies range from common anorectal disorders to more complex pelvic floor dysfunctional syndromes. The authors present a case of a man with rectal pain secondary to a congenital pelvic arteriovenous malformation. These malformations are rare and, to the authors' knowledge, have not been reported in association with rectal pain.