Spiros Papavramidis - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Spiros Papavramidis
JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons / Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremel... more Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremely rare in adult patients. Advances in radiographic techniques have improved the ability to identify pancreatic cystic lesions. We report a case of a large and symptomatic STPC in a 47-year-old female patient who was treated successfully with spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. We also review the clinical and pathologic features of all reported STPCs within the past 25 years. To compose the review, we did a search of the international literature for STPCs that had occurred in adults. Fourteen related articles were found describing cases of STPCs. Clinical and pathologic information was collected for all of the reported pancreatic cysts, and a database was formed. STPCs are detected more frequently in women than in men. The mean age of occurrence is 43.2 years, and the mean cyst size is 5.6 cm. Fifty percent of true cysts are located in the head of the pancreas. Size and ...
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous ab... more Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is any ectopic endometrium found superficial to the peritoneum without the presence of any previous scar. Rarely, endometriosis represents a disease of specific interest to the general surgeon, on account of its extrapelvic localisations. We describe a case with spontaneous AWE presenting as a painful mass with cyclic symptoms. A 28-year-old woman presented to the day-surgery division of our department, suffering from a painful mass in the left lower abdominal quadrant. A mobile mass of 5 x 4 cm was identified. The initial diagnosis was lipoma and excision was planned. During the operation two masses were spotted, very close to one another, and were excised within healthy limits. Pathology revealed endometrial glands surrounded by a disintegrating mantle of endometrial stroma and fibrous scar tissue in which there was a scattering of leucocytes. The woman...
Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2005
Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2011
Introduction: Endometriosis is a well-recognized gynecological condition in the reproductive age ... more Introduction: Endometriosis is a well-recognized gynecological condition in the reproductive age group. Surgical texts present the gynecological aspects of the disease in detail, but the published literature on unexpected manifestations, such as appendiceal disease, is inadequate. The presentation to general surgeons may be atypical and pose diagnostic difficulty. Thus, a definitive diagnosis is likely to be established only by the histological examination of a specimen. Case presentation: We report a case of endometriosis of the appendix in a 25-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with symptoms of acute appendicitis and was treated by appendectomy, which resulted in a good outcome. Conclusions: We discuss special aspects of acute appendicitis caused by endometriosis to elucidate the pathologic entity of this variant of acute appendicitis.
Head & Neck, 2010
Background. Minimally invasive video-assisted total thyroidectomy (MIVATT) is a treating option f... more Background. Minimally invasive video-assisted total thyroidectomy (MIVATT) is a treating option for small thyroids that demands skills required for both traditional thyroidectomy and endoscopic surgery. This prospective study aims to define the learning curve for MIVATT for residents, with experience in traditional thyroid and laparoscopic surgery.
Aims The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventra... more Aims The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventral defects. The aim of this study is to present the effectiveness of two different prosthetic materials for large ventral defects. Methods In this retrospective 3-year study, 41 patients (17 males, 24 females) underwent surgical correction of large abdominal wall defects. Two subgroups were formed
JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons / Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremel... more Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremely rare in adult patients. Advances in radiographic techniques have improved the ability to identify pancreatic cystic lesions. We report a case of a large and symptomatic STPC in a 47-year-old female patient who was treated successfully with spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. We also review the clinical and pathologic features of all reported STPCs within the past 25 years. To compose the review, we did a search of the international literature for STPCs that had occurred in adults. Fourteen related articles were found describing cases of STPCs. Clinical and pathologic information was collected for all of the reported pancreatic cysts, and a database was formed. STPCs are detected more frequently in women than in men. The mean age of occurrence is 43.2 years, and the mean cyst size is 5.6 cm. Fifty percent of true cysts are located in the head of the pancreas. Size and ...
The American surgeon, 2012
The ideal method of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) should allow rapid closure, easy maintenanc... more The ideal method of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) should allow rapid closure, easy maintenance, and wound repair with minimal tissue damage. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare open abdomen outcomes between patients managed with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), and patients managed with other methods of TAC, when septic abdomen is present. Two groups of patients with septic open abdomen: 27 treated with VAC versus 31 treated with other techniques of TAC. We studied open abdomen duration, number of dressing changes, re-exploration rate, successful abdominal closure rate, overall mortality, and development of enteroatmospheric fistulas. The VAC device demonstrated its superiority concerning open abdomen duration (P < 0.001), number of dressing changes (P < 0.001), re-exploration rate (P < 0.002), successful abdominal closure rate (P < 0.0001), and development of enteroatmospheric fistulas (P < 0.00001). Compared with other methods of TAC, our experience ...
The American surgeon, 2012
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous ab... more Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is any ectopic endometrium found superficial to the peritoneum without the presence of any previous scar. Rarely, endometriosis represents a disease of specific interest to the general surgeon, on account of its extrapelvic localisations. We describe a case with spontaneous AWE presenting as a painful mass with cyclic symptoms. A 28-year-old woman presented to the day-surgery division of our department, suffering from a painful mass in the left lower abdominal quadrant. A mobile mass of 5 x 4 cm was identified. The initial diagnosis was lipoma and excision was planned. During the operation two masses were spotted, very close to one another, and were excised within healthy limits. Pathology revealed endometrial glands surrounded by a disintegrating mantle of endometrial stroma and fibrous scar tissue in which there was a scattering of leucocytes. The woman...
The New Zealand medical journal, Jan 22, 2008
The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventral def... more The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventral defects. The aim of this study is to present the effectiveness of two different prosthetic materials for large ventral defects. In this retrospective 3-year study, 41 patients (17 males, 24 females) underwent surgical correction of large abdominal wall defects. Two subgroups were formed based on the possibility of peritoneal preservation. In the first group (24 patients) the bifilament polypropylene mesh was used, while in the second group (17 patients) the expanded polytetrafluroethylene patches were used. The mean hospitalisation time was 7.8 days (SD 9.2 days) for the first and 10 days (SD 4.2 days) for the second group (p=ns). Group A presented the following complications: Two seromas, 1 fistula, 2 wound infections. Removal of the mesh was necessary in one case. Two recurrences were noticed during the 5-year follow-up period. Group B presented a seroma and an infection, but no recurrenc...
Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 2004
Gastrocutaneous fistula is an uncommon and difficult to treat complication that occurs in 0.5% to... more Gastrocutaneous fistula is an uncommon and difficult to treat complication that occurs in 0.5% to 3.9% of patients who undergo gastric surgery. Sepsis usually follows, and, when it is not managed effectively, the associated mortality rate can be as high as 85%. A fibrin sealant was used to endoscopically manage gastrocutaneous fistulas that developed in 3 morbidly obese patients after bariatric surgery. Two of 14 (14.29%) patients who underwent vertical gastroplasty (MacLean procedure) developed a non-healing gastrocutaneous fistula. In addition, one of 24 (4.17%) patients who had a biliopancreatic diversion with preservation of pylorus developed a gastrocutaneous fistula. Endoscopic application of a fibrin sealant was performed under direct vision via a double-lumen catheter passed through a forward-viewing endoscope. Treatment was successful in all patients after one or more endoscopic sessions in which the fibrin sealant was applied; no evidence of fistula was found at follow-up ...
Obesity surgery, 2001
Fibrin glue was used in a various fields of surgery during the last 15 years, but its use has not... more Fibrin glue was used in a various fields of surgery during the last 15 years, but its use has not been reported in bariatric surgery yet. In 2 out of 215 morbidly obese patients who underwent vertical banded gastroplasty, a non-healing gastrocutaneus fistula (GCF) developed. In both patients sepsis occurred, caused by a leak of the posterior gastric wall, which was managed by means of an unsuccessful reoperation. After that, sepsis recurred, and a non-healing GCF developed. These GCF were managed endoscopically by the use of a fibrin sealant (Beriplast P 2 ml set, Behring) as a tissue adhesive. One injection was needed for the first case and six for the second in achieving full healing of the fistulas. No evidence of fistula was observed at gastroscopy 3 and 24 months after the end of therapy. Endoscopic use of human fibrin sealant is simple, safe, effective and in some cases life-saving. This is a therapeutic option in high output GCF in morbidly obese patients.
Hernia, 2002
Various prosthetic materials have been proposed for the repair of abdominal wall defects. These m... more Various prosthetic materials have been proposed for the repair of abdominal wall defects. These materials offer tension-free repair and significantly lower recurrence rate. Their respective properties are related to such complications as seroma, infection, fistula formation, intestinal adhesions and removal. We compared the final outcome in treating abdominal wall defects in 56 patients with three different prosthetic materials: conventional polypropylene in a preperitoneal location, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh, and hydrophilic membrane coated polyester mesh in an intraperitoneal location. The hydrophilic coated polyester group exhibited the lowest complication rate and the polypropylene group the highest.
Pancreatic neoplasms are well-known pathological entities with generally poor prognosis. Mesenchy... more Pancreatic neoplasms are well-known pathological entities with generally poor prognosis. Mesenchymal tumors comprise 1 to 2% of all pancreatic tumors, and lipomas are a very rare variant of them. There are benign mesenchymal tumors consisting of mature adipose cells and thin collagen capsule. Most of the cases are generally published as sporadic case reports. The present review aims to elucidate the morphological entity named pancreatic lipoma, which is nearly unknown to most of surgeons.
Ganglioneuromas arise from the neural crest and are highly differentiated and benign. The case of... more Ganglioneuromas arise from the neural crest and are highly differentiated and benign. The case of a 43-year-old female who presented with a 6.5 cm primary extra-adrenal retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma (RGN) is presented, and the relevant English literature from the last decade is reviewed. Histology showed mature ganglion cells and nerve fibers without any malignancy (S-100 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) positive). Hospitalization lasted four days. The patient has shown no signs of recurrence. Radical excision of the tumor is unnecessary, especially when vascular structures are endangered. RGN-related hospitalization is short and the prognosis is good. Kp F1 AQ:2-3 balt3/zsq-smj/zsq-smj/zsq99908/zsq4772-08z xppws S1؍ 6/30/09 12:13 4/Color Figure(s): F2 Art: SMJ201989 Input-me
Tropical Doctor, 2012
This is a typical case of a splenic hydatid cysts. We present the clinical features, the diagnost... more This is a typical case of a splenic hydatid cysts. We present the clinical features, the diagnostic work-up and the management of the disease.
Background. The sodium bicarbonate infusion test evaluates the function of the parathyroid glands... more Background. The sodium bicarbonate infusion test evaluates the function of the parathyroid glands. The present study aims to evaluate the range of parathyroid response in healthy individuals and the potential influence of various factors. Methods. Fifty healthy volunteers were subjected to the test. Levels of vitamin D, calcium, albumin, and PTH were measured before infusion. PTH was measured at 3, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after infusion. Results. A curve describing the response of parathyroids to the test was drawn. Twenty percent of the subjects had blunted PTH response. No significant difference was observed between normal and blunted responders concerning age, BMI, baseline PTH, or calcium levels. Nonetheless, there was a significant difference in vitamin D levels ( = 0.024). Interpretation. The test is easy to perform and may be used for everyday screening. It has to be clarified whether our observations are, at least partly, produced due to the presence of individuals with a constitutively blunted response or if low levels of vitamin D decrease the ability of the parathyroids to respond. Whichever the case, PTH response of normal individuals to sodium bicarbonate infusion test is more varied than previously thought and vitamin D levels influence it.
JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons / Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremel... more Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremely rare in adult patients. Advances in radiographic techniques have improved the ability to identify pancreatic cystic lesions. We report a case of a large and symptomatic STPC in a 47-year-old female patient who was treated successfully with spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. We also review the clinical and pathologic features of all reported STPCs within the past 25 years. To compose the review, we did a search of the international literature for STPCs that had occurred in adults. Fourteen related articles were found describing cases of STPCs. Clinical and pathologic information was collected for all of the reported pancreatic cysts, and a database was formed. STPCs are detected more frequently in women than in men. The mean age of occurrence is 43.2 years, and the mean cyst size is 5.6 cm. Fifty percent of true cysts are located in the head of the pancreas. Size and ...
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous ab... more Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is any ectopic endometrium found superficial to the peritoneum without the presence of any previous scar. Rarely, endometriosis represents a disease of specific interest to the general surgeon, on account of its extrapelvic localisations. We describe a case with spontaneous AWE presenting as a painful mass with cyclic symptoms. A 28-year-old woman presented to the day-surgery division of our department, suffering from a painful mass in the left lower abdominal quadrant. A mobile mass of 5 x 4 cm was identified. The initial diagnosis was lipoma and excision was planned. During the operation two masses were spotted, very close to one another, and were excised within healthy limits. Pathology revealed endometrial glands surrounded by a disintegrating mantle of endometrial stroma and fibrous scar tissue in which there was a scattering of leucocytes. The woman...
Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2005
Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2011
Introduction: Endometriosis is a well-recognized gynecological condition in the reproductive age ... more Introduction: Endometriosis is a well-recognized gynecological condition in the reproductive age group. Surgical texts present the gynecological aspects of the disease in detail, but the published literature on unexpected manifestations, such as appendiceal disease, is inadequate. The presentation to general surgeons may be atypical and pose diagnostic difficulty. Thus, a definitive diagnosis is likely to be established only by the histological examination of a specimen. Case presentation: We report a case of endometriosis of the appendix in a 25-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with symptoms of acute appendicitis and was treated by appendectomy, which resulted in a good outcome. Conclusions: We discuss special aspects of acute appendicitis caused by endometriosis to elucidate the pathologic entity of this variant of acute appendicitis.
Head & Neck, 2010
Background. Minimally invasive video-assisted total thyroidectomy (MIVATT) is a treating option f... more Background. Minimally invasive video-assisted total thyroidectomy (MIVATT) is a treating option for small thyroids that demands skills required for both traditional thyroidectomy and endoscopic surgery. This prospective study aims to define the learning curve for MIVATT for residents, with experience in traditional thyroid and laparoscopic surgery.
Aims The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventra... more Aims The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventral defects. The aim of this study is to present the effectiveness of two different prosthetic materials for large ventral defects. Methods In this retrospective 3-year study, 41 patients (17 males, 24 females) underwent surgical correction of large abdominal wall defects. Two subgroups were formed
JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons / Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremel... more Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremely rare in adult patients. Advances in radiographic techniques have improved the ability to identify pancreatic cystic lesions. We report a case of a large and symptomatic STPC in a 47-year-old female patient who was treated successfully with spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. We also review the clinical and pathologic features of all reported STPCs within the past 25 years. To compose the review, we did a search of the international literature for STPCs that had occurred in adults. Fourteen related articles were found describing cases of STPCs. Clinical and pathologic information was collected for all of the reported pancreatic cysts, and a database was formed. STPCs are detected more frequently in women than in men. The mean age of occurrence is 43.2 years, and the mean cyst size is 5.6 cm. Fifty percent of true cysts are located in the head of the pancreas. Size and ...
The American surgeon, 2012
The ideal method of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) should allow rapid closure, easy maintenanc... more The ideal method of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) should allow rapid closure, easy maintenance, and wound repair with minimal tissue damage. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare open abdomen outcomes between patients managed with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), and patients managed with other methods of TAC, when septic abdomen is present. Two groups of patients with septic open abdomen: 27 treated with VAC versus 31 treated with other techniques of TAC. We studied open abdomen duration, number of dressing changes, re-exploration rate, successful abdominal closure rate, overall mortality, and development of enteroatmospheric fistulas. The VAC device demonstrated its superiority concerning open abdomen duration (P < 0.001), number of dressing changes (P < 0.001), re-exploration rate (P < 0.002), successful abdominal closure rate (P < 0.0001), and development of enteroatmospheric fistulas (P < 0.00001). Compared with other methods of TAC, our experience ...
The American surgeon, 2012
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous ab... more Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. Spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is any ectopic endometrium found superficial to the peritoneum without the presence of any previous scar. Rarely, endometriosis represents a disease of specific interest to the general surgeon, on account of its extrapelvic localisations. We describe a case with spontaneous AWE presenting as a painful mass with cyclic symptoms. A 28-year-old woman presented to the day-surgery division of our department, suffering from a painful mass in the left lower abdominal quadrant. A mobile mass of 5 x 4 cm was identified. The initial diagnosis was lipoma and excision was planned. During the operation two masses were spotted, very close to one another, and were excised within healthy limits. Pathology revealed endometrial glands surrounded by a disintegrating mantle of endometrial stroma and fibrous scar tissue in which there was a scattering of leucocytes. The woman...
The New Zealand medical journal, Jan 22, 2008
The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventral def... more The use of prosthetic material is a well-accepted practice for the treatment of large ventral defects. The aim of this study is to present the effectiveness of two different prosthetic materials for large ventral defects. In this retrospective 3-year study, 41 patients (17 males, 24 females) underwent surgical correction of large abdominal wall defects. Two subgroups were formed based on the possibility of peritoneal preservation. In the first group (24 patients) the bifilament polypropylene mesh was used, while in the second group (17 patients) the expanded polytetrafluroethylene patches were used. The mean hospitalisation time was 7.8 days (SD 9.2 days) for the first and 10 days (SD 4.2 days) for the second group (p=ns). Group A presented the following complications: Two seromas, 1 fistula, 2 wound infections. Removal of the mesh was necessary in one case. Two recurrences were noticed during the 5-year follow-up period. Group B presented a seroma and an infection, but no recurrenc...
Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 2004
Gastrocutaneous fistula is an uncommon and difficult to treat complication that occurs in 0.5% to... more Gastrocutaneous fistula is an uncommon and difficult to treat complication that occurs in 0.5% to 3.9% of patients who undergo gastric surgery. Sepsis usually follows, and, when it is not managed effectively, the associated mortality rate can be as high as 85%. A fibrin sealant was used to endoscopically manage gastrocutaneous fistulas that developed in 3 morbidly obese patients after bariatric surgery. Two of 14 (14.29%) patients who underwent vertical gastroplasty (MacLean procedure) developed a non-healing gastrocutaneous fistula. In addition, one of 24 (4.17%) patients who had a biliopancreatic diversion with preservation of pylorus developed a gastrocutaneous fistula. Endoscopic application of a fibrin sealant was performed under direct vision via a double-lumen catheter passed through a forward-viewing endoscope. Treatment was successful in all patients after one or more endoscopic sessions in which the fibrin sealant was applied; no evidence of fistula was found at follow-up ...
Obesity surgery, 2001
Fibrin glue was used in a various fields of surgery during the last 15 years, but its use has not... more Fibrin glue was used in a various fields of surgery during the last 15 years, but its use has not been reported in bariatric surgery yet. In 2 out of 215 morbidly obese patients who underwent vertical banded gastroplasty, a non-healing gastrocutaneus fistula (GCF) developed. In both patients sepsis occurred, caused by a leak of the posterior gastric wall, which was managed by means of an unsuccessful reoperation. After that, sepsis recurred, and a non-healing GCF developed. These GCF were managed endoscopically by the use of a fibrin sealant (Beriplast P 2 ml set, Behring) as a tissue adhesive. One injection was needed for the first case and six for the second in achieving full healing of the fistulas. No evidence of fistula was observed at gastroscopy 3 and 24 months after the end of therapy. Endoscopic use of human fibrin sealant is simple, safe, effective and in some cases life-saving. This is a therapeutic option in high output GCF in morbidly obese patients.
Hernia, 2002
Various prosthetic materials have been proposed for the repair of abdominal wall defects. These m... more Various prosthetic materials have been proposed for the repair of abdominal wall defects. These materials offer tension-free repair and significantly lower recurrence rate. Their respective properties are related to such complications as seroma, infection, fistula formation, intestinal adhesions and removal. We compared the final outcome in treating abdominal wall defects in 56 patients with three different prosthetic materials: conventional polypropylene in a preperitoneal location, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh, and hydrophilic membrane coated polyester mesh in an intraperitoneal location. The hydrophilic coated polyester group exhibited the lowest complication rate and the polypropylene group the highest.
Pancreatic neoplasms are well-known pathological entities with generally poor prognosis. Mesenchy... more Pancreatic neoplasms are well-known pathological entities with generally poor prognosis. Mesenchymal tumors comprise 1 to 2% of all pancreatic tumors, and lipomas are a very rare variant of them. There are benign mesenchymal tumors consisting of mature adipose cells and thin collagen capsule. Most of the cases are generally published as sporadic case reports. The present review aims to elucidate the morphological entity named pancreatic lipoma, which is nearly unknown to most of surgeons.
Ganglioneuromas arise from the neural crest and are highly differentiated and benign. The case of... more Ganglioneuromas arise from the neural crest and are highly differentiated and benign. The case of a 43-year-old female who presented with a 6.5 cm primary extra-adrenal retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma (RGN) is presented, and the relevant English literature from the last decade is reviewed. Histology showed mature ganglion cells and nerve fibers without any malignancy (S-100 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) positive). Hospitalization lasted four days. The patient has shown no signs of recurrence. Radical excision of the tumor is unnecessary, especially when vascular structures are endangered. RGN-related hospitalization is short and the prognosis is good. Kp F1 AQ:2-3 balt3/zsq-smj/zsq-smj/zsq99908/zsq4772-08z xppws S1؍ 6/30/09 12:13 4/Color Figure(s): F2 Art: SMJ201989 Input-me
Tropical Doctor, 2012
This is a typical case of a splenic hydatid cysts. We present the clinical features, the diagnost... more This is a typical case of a splenic hydatid cysts. We present the clinical features, the diagnostic work-up and the management of the disease.
Background. The sodium bicarbonate infusion test evaluates the function of the parathyroid glands... more Background. The sodium bicarbonate infusion test evaluates the function of the parathyroid glands. The present study aims to evaluate the range of parathyroid response in healthy individuals and the potential influence of various factors. Methods. Fifty healthy volunteers were subjected to the test. Levels of vitamin D, calcium, albumin, and PTH were measured before infusion. PTH was measured at 3, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after infusion. Results. A curve describing the response of parathyroids to the test was drawn. Twenty percent of the subjects had blunted PTH response. No significant difference was observed between normal and blunted responders concerning age, BMI, baseline PTH, or calcium levels. Nonetheless, there was a significant difference in vitamin D levels ( = 0.024). Interpretation. The test is easy to perform and may be used for everyday screening. It has to be clarified whether our observations are, at least partly, produced due to the presence of individuals with a constitutively blunted response or if low levels of vitamin D decrease the ability of the parathyroids to respond. Whichever the case, PTH response of normal individuals to sodium bicarbonate infusion test is more varied than previously thought and vitamin D levels influence it.