Classification of primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias.

PURPOSE: A classification for primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias is needed to allow comparison of publications and future studies on these hernias. It is important to know whether the populations described in different studies are comparable. METHODS: Several members of the EHS board and some invitees gathered for 2 days to discuss the development of an EHS classification for primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias. RESULTS: To distinguish primary and incisional abdominal wall hernias, a separate classification based on localisation and size as the major risk factors was proposed. Further data are needed to define the optimal size variable for classification of incisional hernias in order to distinguish subgroups with differences in outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A classification for primary abdominal wall hernias and a division into subgroups for incisional abdominal wall hernias, concerning the localisation of the hernia, was formulated.

Starting a new program of split liver transplantation after a low learning curve: a reality in centers with large experience in liver surgery and whole liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Split liver transplantation (SLT) is nowadays, considered an adequate surgical solution to expand the grafts from the existing pool of cadaveric donors. METHODOLOGY: A total of 897 liver transplantations were performed between 1986 and 2002; 20 were SLTs (2.3%). A 30% were children. RESULTS: Mean follow up of 15.15 months +/- 13.85. Median age was 42.27 +/- 25.65 yrs. Median recipient weight was 52.29 +/- 20.87 Kg. Mean donor weight was 76.1 +/- 13.11. The majority was "in situ" SLT (65%). There was no primary graft dysfunction. Two patients developed biliary complications (none in situ SLT). Early HAT occurred in 2 patients and delayed HAT in one. Four patients were retransplanted but none were performed because of primary graft dysfunction. Five patients died in the hospital. Fifteen patients (75%) survived the postoperative period and 3 patients died during follow-up. Mean patient survival time was 42 months (95% CI: 31-52). Actuarial patient survival was 93.3%, 84.4%, 84.4% at 6 months, 1 year and 3 years. Mean graft survival was 36 months (95% CI: 25-48). Actuarial graft survival was 87%, 72%, 72% at 6, 12, 36 months. Univariate analysis of risk factors for graft loss showed that the type of splitting technique (p=0.019), and the UNOS (1 and 2a) status of the recipient (p=0.001) were significantly associated with graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of large volume full cadaveric liver transplantation, split liver can provide adequate results (even after a short learning curve) mainly in elective cases and with the in situ technique.

[Effect of endothelin-1 on tumor arteries in patients with colorectal cancer]. / Efecto de la endotelina-1 sobre las arterias tumorales de pacientes con neoplasia colorrectal.

Endothelin-1 is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide whose plasma levels are increased in patients with colorectal cancer, and which may be involved in tumor blood flow regulation. To study whether response to this peptide is altered in tumor arteries, mesenteric arteries supplying blood flow to colorectal tumors, and mesenteric arteries far from said tumors were obtained from 13 patients undergoing colectomy; mesenteric arteries were also obtained from patients with diverticulitis (n = 4) or inflammatory bowel disease (n = 3). Arteries were prepared for isometric tension recording in an organ bath, and in this preparation it was found that endothelin-1 induced contraction in all three types of arteries, but that sensitivity to this peptide was greater in arteries supplying blood flow to the tumor than in arteries far from the tumor or arteries from patients without cancer. These results suggest that endothelin-1 may regulate blood flow to colorectal tumors by inducing a greater contraction in tumor-supplying arteries than in non-tumor arteries.

Analysis of CXCL12 3'UTR G>A polymorphism in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in developed countries. However, the genetic factors influencing its appearance remain far from being fully characterized. Recently, a G>A functional transition mapping the 3' untranslated region of the CXCL12 gene (rs1801157) has been found to be under-represented among rectal cancer patients when compared to colon cancer patients from a Swedish series. Here we present the results from an independent analysis of CXCL12 rs1801157 in a larger CRC series of Spanish origin in order to analyse the robustness of this association within a different European population. No significant difference was observed between controls and colon or rectal cancer patients. We were also unable to find a correlation between rs1801157 and different prognostic markers such as metastasis development or disease-free survival time. The epidemiologic data involving CXCL12 rs1801157 in colorectal cancer risk are discussed.

Complete rectal prolapse clinical and functional outcome with Delorme's procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Many surgical techniques -both through the perineal and abdominal routes- have been described for the treatment of rectal prolapse. The aim of this work is to evaluate the clinical and functional outcome with Delorme's perineal procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with complete rectal prolapse were studied from July 2000 to October 2005. Age, gender, anesthetic risk, and accompanying symptoms were all assessed. Diagnostic tests performed included: colonoscopy, anorectal manometry before and after surgery, and 360 masculine endoanal ultrasonography. Delorme's procedures were carried out by only one surgical team. RESULTS: No mortality occurred, and morbidity was minimal. Prolapse relapse rate was 9.52% with a mean follow-up of 34 months. Anal continence improved in 87.5% of patients, and no surgery-associated constipation ensued. Mean hospital stay was 2 (range 1-4) days. During the postoperative period no pain developed in 17 patients, and 4 patients had mild pain. Satisfaction with surgery was high in 16 cases (76.19%), moderate in 3 (14.28%), and low in 2 (9.52%). CONCLUSIONS: Delorme's procedure for the management of complete rectal prolapse is associated with low morbidity, improves anal continence, gives rise to no postsurgical constipation, and has an acceptable relapse rate. Patient satisfaction with this procedure is high because of its high comfortability (intradural anesthesia, short hospital stay, and little postoperative pain) and optimal results.

Subcutaneous venous reservoir implant: our experience in 1200 cases.

We present our experience in subcutaneous venous reservoir (SVR) implanting, laying emphasis on the surgical technique, the protocol followed for assessing difficulty, implant care and per- and post-implant complications and their management. Between March 1996 and December 2002 we installed 1200 SVRs on an outpatient basis, with subsequent result follow-up. The reservoir was successfully installed by the standard procedure in 99.33% of cases (1194), while in the remaining six patients (0.67%) the participation of the Intervention Radiology Department was required for correct implantation. Results were excellent with a morbidity of 3.3% and we had to single out two cases of immediate infection (0.16%), nine of tardive infection (over three months); twelve cases of pneumothorax (1%); seven episodes of venous thrombosis (0.58%) and four cases of catheter migration (0.3%). SVR implanting is possible on an outpatient basis but requires strict measures of asepsis and an experienced team and personnel responsible for its handling and maintenance, although there are a small number of complications inherent in the patient's general state.

Angiosarcoma in the small intestine. Apropos of a particular case.

Presentation of a case of small intestine primary angiosarcoma in a 70-year-old male. There is question of an extremely rare tumor in the gastrointestinal tract. Its symptomatology is similar to that of other tumors in the small intestine. An immunohistochemical study is usually essential for its anatomopathological diagnosis. The diagnosis is generally arrived at in its advanced stages, and that makes for a bad prognosis. The bibliography has been revised from this case on.

Pancreatic cancer. Management.

Pancreatic cancer still represents a serious medical concern for which no adequate solution has thus far been found. Surgery is the only appropriate therapy, but has a survival rate of around 30-35% at three years, with an operative mortality below 3% and an operative morbidity approaching 10% of radically resected patients, all of which applies to surgery performed by expert teams in highly experienced sites.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome: current medical-surgical management]. / Síndrome de Budd-Chiari: manejo médico-quirúrgico actual.

The Budd-Chiari syndrome or obstruction of the hepatic veins and/or suprahepatic inferior vena cava is a rare process, frequently associated with hypercoagulable states. There exist several clinical presentations, being most common the acute and subacute forms and rarely seen the fulminant and chronic forms (cirrhosis or fibrosis associated). We present here a female patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome produced by polycythemia, resolved by mesentericocaval interposition "H" shunt using internal jugular vein, after analyzing the current different modalities of medical-surgical treatment, specially portal system shunts and liver transplantation, related to presentation form.

Management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in colonic diverticular disease.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical course, diagnostic approach, therapeutic measures and results, in a series of 13 patients with colonic bleeding diverticula. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1973 to 1995, 72 patients were admitted with the diagnosis of lower gastroin testinal bleeding. Thirteen presented a colonic diverticula bleeding. Mean age was 65.2 years. Medical history, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment (conservative or surgical) and pathology were recorded. RESULTS: Main bleeding time was 3 days. Eight patients needed blood transfusion. All patients underwent colonoscopic examination and it was diagnostic in every patient. Four patients underwent surgery: one case, because of massive hemorrhage and the other three cases due to bleeding recurrence. Pancolectomy was performed in one patient, ileal resection in another and the other two were treated with a sigmoidectomy and a left hemicolectomy. Pathology analysis corroborated colonic diverticula diagnosis. There was no postoperative mortality. Bleeding recurrence did not occur either in postoperative period or in the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic diverticular bleeding usually stops spontaneously, obtaining high rates of preoperative diagnosis with colonoscopy. Less than a third of the cases requires surgical resection.

[Effects of total gastrectomy on the nutritional status]. / Efectos de la gastrectomía total sobre el estado nutricional.

In this study, we have analyzed a series of 88 patients who underwent total gastrectomy followed by two different reconstructive procedures, Roux-en-Y jejunal interposition (57%) and interposition of a jejunal limb between the oesophagus and the duodenum (38%) (Henley procedure). We examined diet, intestinal transit, symptoms of dumping syndrome and body weight curves. Patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction presented post-prandial sweating more often (48%) than patients with the Henley procedure (21%). Forty percent patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction suffered post-prandial nausea whereas this finding was not associated with patients after the Henley procedure. The reconstructive method has to be chosen considering the age and general condition of the patient, stage of the neoplasia and its curability. We currently favor Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy. However, in selected patients the Henley procedure may prove useful in order to prevent reflux and dumping symptoms.

[The incidence, prognostic factors and survival in young adults with colorectal adenocarcinoma]. / Incidencia, factores pronósticos y supervivencia de los adultos jóvenes con adenocarcinoma colorrectal.

The incidence of colorectal cancer is low in young patients. Because of the infrequent occurrence of this disease in those less than 40 years of age many of the published reports give conflicting results. The aim of this report is to study colorectal cancer in patients < or = 45 years old, a group rarely considered by other authors. We analyzed retrospectively the clinical features of our patients with special reference to the clinical data, personal and family history, site of lesion, and Duke's classification. Potential risk factors were analyzed for their effect on the survival of these patients. Finally, to evaluate the prognostic influence of potential risk factors and detect any interaction, a multivariate analysis was performed. We found 26 (17.2%) patients less than 45 years old with colorectal cancer. The clinical presentation, tumor site, and Duke's grade were similar in the young adult and in the general population but morbidity, mortality and postoperative complications were lower. There were no differences in resection or survival rates. Potential risk factors were no different from those of the general population.

Surgical treatment of congenital dilatation of the biliary system.

Six out of 1,612 patients operated on for biliary diseases between January 1974 and January 1985, had Caroli's disease. A summary of the clinical records is included. The treatment performed was: external drainage in a patient with sepsis, who did not improve and died; left hepatic lobectomy and biliary-jejunal diversion in two patients; right extended lobectomy in one patient; distal spleno-renal shunt in a patient with severe biliary cirrhosis and recurrent hemorrhage from esophageal varices. The last patient suffered from a combination of a choledochal cyst and dilatation of the left intrahepatic branches, and underwent complete resection of the choledochal cyst, and biliary jejunal anastomosis on a porta-hepatis using a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop. Currently, five patients are recovering and are free of symptoms. The authors discuss the indications for liver resection and resection of a choledochal cyst.

Results of surgical treatment of hepatic hydatidosis: current therapeutic modifications.

Hepatic hydatidosis is an endemic disease that affects vast segments of the populations of various countries in the Mediterranean region, South America, the Pacific, and temperate zone nations that possess large numbers of sheep. Four hundred and ten patients bearing 561 hydatid cysts were treated at 2 major hospitals in Madrid, Spain in the period 1974-1989. In order to establish the modifications in diagnostic and therapeutic management introduced as a result of modernization of our clinical facilities and improved technological standards, they were divided into 2 groups: group A corresponded to the period 1974-1984, and group B, corresponded to the period 1985-1989. Since no effective parasiticide agent is available, hepatic hydatidosis must be treated surgically. Today's better knowledge and advancements in liver surgery have made it possible to extirpate the cyst completely with little risk and improved results; hepatic resection should only be considered in exceptional cases; aspiration, drainage procedures, or partial resections of the cyst yield inferior results. We have had no relapse of the hydatid disease in the liver or in any other abdominal site.