Open sphincter-preserving surgery of extraperitoneal rectal cancer without primary stoma and Fast Track Protocol.

AIM: Fast track protocol (FTP) showed to improve perioperative care. The study aims to evaluate the impact of the FTP in the open extraperitoneal rectal cancer (ERC) surgical treatment without a primary derivative stoma (DS) and the QoL in patients with or without a secondary DS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 50 patients affected by ERC were enrolled and operated on with open low anterior resection without a primary DS. They were randomized in two groups: one was treated perioperativelly in the traditional way (group T), the other using a modif ed FTP (group FT). A QoL questionnaire was administered prior to discharge and at 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Five courses (10%) were complicated by anastomotic leakage: 3 (12%) in the FT group (2 minor and 1 maior) and 2 (8%) in the T group (1 minor and 1 maior) (p=n.s.). All the maiors and one minor were treated with a DS. Patients of the group FTP were considered dischargeable earlier that those of group T (p<0.05). Patients with DS had a significantly lower QoL score (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: FTP with minor modifications is feasible and safe in the ERC open surgery without using a DS. Better results were obtained without increasing complication rate. A secondary DS impacts detrimentally on QoL.

Individually-tailored thyroxine requirement in the same patients before and after thyroidectomy: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroxine (T4) requirement after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is a debated issue. As most of the studies in the area have been retrospective and/or performed with heterogeneous therapeutic approaches, we designed our study to determine T4 requirement in the same patients and treatment settings, before and after total thyroidectomy. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a longitudinal study including 23 goitrous patients treated with T4 in an individually tailored fashion. All patients exhibited a stable TSH (median TSH = 0.28 mU/l) at a stable T4 dose for at least 1 year before surgery (median T4 dose = 1.50 µg/kg per day). The patients underwent total thyroidectomy based on cancer suspicion or compressive symptoms. Eventually diagnosed as having DTC (pT1b-pT2N0) and following surgical and radiometabolic treatment, they were treated with the same pre-surgical doses of T4. RESULTS: Three months after surgery,using the same pre-surgical dose, median TSH increased up to 5.38 mU/l (P<0.0001) and so the T4 dose had to be increased (median T4 dose = 1.95 µg/kg per day; +30%; P < 0.0001). Once divided by patients' age, we observed that, after thyroidectomy and maintaining the same pre-surgical dose, serum TSH significantly increased both in younger and in older patients (median TSH = 4.57 and 6.11 mU/l respectively). Serum TSH was restored to the pre-surgical level by increasing the dose up to 1.95 and 1.77 µg/kg per day (+25 and +21%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Following the same treatment regimen, a thyroidectomized patient requires one-third higher therapeutic T4 dose than before surgery. Despite this increase, the dose of T4 needed in our patients remains significantly lower than that previously described in athyreotic patients.

A comparison of the outcome using Ligasure™ small jaw and clamp-and-tie technique in thyroidectomy: a randomized single center study.

PURPOSE: Hypoparathyroidism and paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) still remain the most frequent specific complications of thyroid surgery. This study evaluates the effects of employment of a recently introduced device (LigaSure™ Small Jaw, LSJ), compared to the traditional clamp-and-tie (CT) technique, on the short- and long-term outcome of the patients who underwent thyroidectomy. METHODS: This prospective, randomized study included 190 patients enrolled from October 2011 to July 2013. The numbers of patients in the LSJ group and the CT group were both 95. We studied the following: operative times, intraoperative and postoperative blood losses, intact parathormone (iPTH) and calcium serum levels, and the incidence of RLN paralysis. RESULTS: The two cohorts were homogeneous for age, sex, surgical indication, BMI, ASA score, and estimated thyroid volume. Operation time has been 73.90 ± 23.35 min in group CT and 60.20 ± 22.36 min in group LSJ (p = 0.002). Intraoperative blood losses have been 47 ± 18 ml in group CT and 38 ± 14 in group LSJ (p = 0.002), while postoperative blood losses have been 45 ± 21 ml in group CT and 40 ± 20 in group LSJ (p = 0.105). The mean calcium blood level in group CT has been 8.12, 7.79, and 7.92 mg/dl in the first, second, and third postoperative days, respectively, as well as 8.26, 7.97, and 8.22 mg/dl for group LSJ (p > 0.05). Basal and post-thyroidectomy iPTH levels have been 46.49 and 23.64 pg/ml in group CT (Δ = 49.15 %), as well as 51.06 and 27.73 (Δ = 45.69 %) in group LSJ (p > 0.05). Permanent RLN paralysis was 1.05 % in LSJ group and 0 % in CT group. CONCLUSION: The employment of LSJ reduces in a statistically significant way both operative times and intraoperative blood losses. No significant differences were found as far as postoperative RLN paralysis and hypoparathyroidism.

Mirizzi Syndrome in a patient with an accessory hepatic duct.

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) represents an uncommon clinical condition, being characterized by a narrowing of the common hepatic duct or its erosion by stones impacted in the cystic duct or gallbladder Hartman's pouch. Very uncommonly, MS can be reported in patients with contemporaneous bile duct anomalies. The case is reported of a 76-year-old Caucasian woman with a MS with a cholecystobiliary fistula and a contemporaneous aberrant biliary duct for the right posterior segments.Due to the presence of an anatomical abnormality, an open approach was decided: also during surgery, it was impossible to clarify which part of the biliary tree the accessory duct merged into. After surgery, post-operative course was uneventful: the patient is alive without medical problems (follow-up: 16 months). MS represents a challenge for the surgeon. Contemporaneous presence of biliary abnormalities is anecdotic, increasing the risk of iatrogenic injuries. An open approach may be preferred in these conditions.

Extended criteria liver donation and transplant recipient consent: the European experience.

The organization known as ELPAT (Ethical, Legal and Psychological Aspects of Organ Transplantation) coordinated the distribution of an electronic questionnaire concerning the definition of extended criteria liver donation (ECD) and the implication for informed consent of transplant recipients to European liver transplant centers. Completed questionnaires were received from 30 centers in 13 countries. Twenty-eight centers accepted ECD liver donors. The criteria for defining a liver donor as ECD were: steatosis in 24 centers (85%); age up to 80 years in 23 centers (82%); serum sodium levels higher than 165 mmol/L in 17 centers (60%); intensive care unit stay with ventilation longer than 7 days in 16 centers (57%); serum glutamic oxalo-acitic transaminase levels higher than 90 U/L in 12 centers (42%); body mass indeces more than 30 in 10 centers (35%); serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels higher than 105 U/L in 10 centers (35%); serum bilirubin levels higher than 3 mg/dL in 10 centers (35%); and other criteria in 13 centers (46%). Twenty-three centers informed the transplant candidate of the ECD status of the donor: 10 centers (43%) when the patient registered for transplantation, 3 centers (14%) when an ECD liver became available, and 10 centers (43%) on both occasions. Ten centers required the liver transplant candidate to sign a special consent form. Ten centers informed the potential recipient of the donor's serology. Only three centers informed the potential recipient of any high risk behavior of the donor.

Two-trocar laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a reproducible technique.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually performed with a four-trocar technique. From December 1998 to March 1999, 25 of 42 admitted patients underwent a two-trocar laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In our technique, after establishing umbilical carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum, a 30 degree scope was inserted, and a second 5-mm trocar was positioned below and to the left of the xiphoid process. Then two stitches with nonabsorbable sutures were passed: one at the fundus to pull up the gallbladder, and the second through the neck of the gallbladder to expose the structure of the Calot triangle. Intraoperative cholangiography was performed with a percutaneous catheter in 15 patients. Retrograde cholecystectomy was performed and the gallbladder was extracted through the umbilical port. Scars were closed with glue, and bupivacaine was injected to reduce pain. The technique was feasible in approximately 84% (25 of 30) of patients. The mean operative time was 42 minutes, and the mean hospital stay was 1.6 days. We conclude that this method is similar to four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of safety and operation time. This technique seems to be well reproducible and offers better results in terms of postoperative pain, hospital stay without considering better cosmetic results, and cost-effectiveness.

Magnetic resonance colonography versus conventional colonoscopy for the detection of colonic endoluminal lesions.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The most effective prophylaxis for colorectal cancer is endoscopic polypectomy. Prompted by the disadvantages of conventional colonoscopy (CC), we assessed the diagnostic ability of a promising alternative technique for detecting endoluminal masses: magnetic resonance colonography (MRC). METHODS: Seventy consecutive patients referred for CC underwent preliminary MRC. The diagnostic ability of this technique in detecting colonic endoluminal lesions was determined, compared with that of CC, and related to the findings from histologic examination. RESULTS: In detecting endoluminal lesions, MRC achieved a diagnostic accuracy similar to CC (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 93%; positive predictive value, 98%; and negative predictive value, 87.5%). CONCLUSIONS: MRC could be useful in screening programs of patients at high risk for colon cancer. Patients with MRC-detected endoluminal lesions must undergo CC for histologic diagnosis.

Prevention of postherniorrhaphy persistent pain: results of a prospective study.

Anterior tension-free and laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphies represent one of the most common surgical procedure. Postherniorrhaphy persistent pain due to injures of inguinal regional nerves is rare, difficult to cure, often disabling and involving malpractice litigation. In a prospective study, we evaluated the effectiveness of neurectomy of the iliohypogastric nerve in prevention of postoperative persistent pain after anterior tension free herniorrhaphy. Between 1992-1995, we performed 180 anterior herniorraphies in 151 male patients. Iliohypogastric nerve was removed in all the herniorrhaphies. Polypropylene plug and sutured mesh were employed. Postoperative pain and clinical relevance of hypo-anesthesia and paresthesia were assessed. No patient complained of postoperative persistent pain. Hypo-anesthesia, never considered incapacitating, was present in 1% of patients after 2 years. We consider neurectomy of the iliohypogastric nerve a potentially useful surgical step in preventing postoperative persistent pain after anterior tension-free herniorrhaphy.

Total compared with subtotal thyroidectomy in benign nodular disease: personal series and review of published reports.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome after total and subtotal thyroidectomy for the treatment of single and multinodular goitres in two comparable groups of patients. DESIGN: Prospective randomised study. SETTING: University hospital, Italy. SUBJECTS: 141 Patients operated on for benign goitre from 1975-85. INTERVENTIONS: 69 Patients were randomised to have total thyroidectomy and 72 subtotal thyroidectomy by standard techniques. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Temporary or permanent palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, temporary or permanent hypoparathyroidism, recurrence of the goitre, and the incidence of iatrogenic injuries after completion thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Patients were followed up for a median of 14.5 years (range 10-21). After total thyroidectomy 2 patients (3%) developed temporary palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve but there were no permanent lesions; and 24 (35%) developed temporary and 2 (3%) permanent hypoparathyroidism. After subtotal thyroidectomy 2 (3%) developed temporary and 1 (1%) permanent palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve; and 13 (18%) developed temporary and 1 (1%) permanent hypoparathyroidism. In addition, there were 10 recurrent goitres (14%). After completion thyroidectomy (n = 9) there were 2 cases of temporary and 1 of permanent palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and 2 cases of temporary and 2 of permanent hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choice for the treatment of benign nodular goitre.

Bouveret's syndrome: case report and review of the literature.

Bouveret's syndrome, or gallstone duodenal pyloric obstruction, almost always presents with abdominal pain or vomiting. It occurs more commonly in females (65%), with a median age of 68.6 years. The diagnosis is made by endoscopy (60%), upper gastrointestinal series (45%) or by direct abdominal x-ray (23%). The syndrome is mainly treated by surgery (93%), but recently, it has also been treated by endoscopy or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The mortality rate has improved from 33%, as was the case before 1968, to 12% in recent years. Herein we report the case of a 79-year-old female with Bouveret's syndrome.

Benign biliary strictures: a review of 21 years of experience.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of patients with benign biliary strictures remains a challenge for even the most skilled biliary surgeons. Within the wide range of causes of benign biliary strictures, iatrogenic lesions represent one of the major ones. Biliary reconstruction with Roux-en-Y anastomosis remains the treatment of choice for most cases of benign biliary strictures despite recent reports about endoscopic or percutaneous management that have been quite encouraging. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively evaluated 194 patients who underwent surgery for benign biliary strictures over a 21-year period. The biliary strictures were classified into eight different types according to their level. The surgical procedures had been tailored mainly to the site and the extent of the structure as well as the overall status of the patient. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 2.6 percent and 20.1 percent, respectively. The results we obtained were 79.6 percent good, 8.9 percent moderate, and 11.5 percent unsatisfactory. The mean follow-up was 9.3 years. In particular, hepati-cojejunostomy performed in low- and mid-level strictures had the best prognosis (good, 85.5 percent), while high and diffuse strictures had worse results (good, 70 percent), although with only hepaticojejunostomy according to Hepp-Couinaud, this percentage increases to 81 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Correct preoperative assessment of the site and extent of the biliary stricture is important in the choice of the gold-standard surgical procedure. Hepaticojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy according to Hepp-Couinaud are the treatments of choice in most instances of benign biliary strictures. Cholangiojejunostomy and hepatic resections are rarely indicated and are performed mostly for highly complicated and intrahepatic strictures. Endoscopic or percutaneous balloon dilation should be reserved for high-risk patients.

Antioxidant agents and colorectal carcinogenesis: role of beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C.

In consideration of findings reported in the literature and of our study, we examined the correlation between antioxidants (beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E) and colorectal carcinogenesis. Although diagnostic progress has been made in the last decades, no significant improvements in death rates have been achieved in the western world. Exogenous factors might be responsible for a complex alteration process of might be responsible for a complex alteration process of normal colonic mucosa into adenoma and carcinoma. Free radicals and reactive oxygen metabolites, due to increased production or to reduced inactivation, following a decrease in the antioxidant burden in the mucosa, might cause damage to DNA, thereby resulting in genetic alterations. This might represent the cause of the transformation process: normal mucosa --> adenoma --> carcinoma. In a prospective study, we observed a reduction of beta-carotene levels in normal colonic mucosa in patients with polyps and colorectal cancer. We also showed that beta-carotene supplementation raises levels of this micronutrient in the colonic mucosa of these patients. Findings from the literature and our trials show a significant decrease in the antioxidant capacity of colorectal mucosa in patients affected by colorectal cancer, although there is a significant interindividual variability. Such results suggest a possible chemopreventive role of antioxidant agents in colorectal cancer.

Retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma. A case report.

The isolated retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma unassociated with Von Recklinghausen's disease is an unusual neoplasm, representing 0.01% of all retroperitoneal malignant neoplasms, with a poor prognosis, and an average survival at 5 years of 50% in patients treated by radical exeresis. At present, it is impossible, without histologic and immunohistochemical examinations, to differentiate it from other isolated retroperitoneal sarcomatous neoplasms. The authors report a case of retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma 20 cm in diameter in a 62-year-old woman surgically treated by radical exeresis. Postoperative complications were absent, and the patient, discharged from the hospital on the 12th postoperative day, died 8 months later of diffuse metastases, without local relapse. Despite the patient's short survival, the authors believe radical surgery to be the best therapeutic choice. Only surgery can establish a final diagnosis and can offer the best chance of survival and a significant and sometimes prolonged relief of symptomatology.

[Substernal goiter: new diagnostic methods and treatment]. / Il gozzo immerso: attualità terapeutiche sulla base dei nuovi mezzi diagnostici.

The authors report 47 cases of substernal goiters operated between 1971 and 1990. Forty-five patients had mediastinal-cervical-goiters (g.c.m.) and 2 had ectopic goiter (g.e.). Cervicotomy was performed in the 45 g.c.m., in 3 cases associated with sternal "split". The g.e. were treated with thoracotomy. Computed Tomography (TC) has been performed since 1984 in 26 patients; Magnetic Resonance (RM) since 1987 in 6 patients. The diagnostic accuracy for TC was 84.6% and 100% for MR on anatomical-topographic-definition, and 80.8% and 83.3% for presumptive diagnosis of nature, respectively. Considering the high diagnostic accuracy, the possibility to reconstruct the images in sagittal and coronal planes, the RM seems to be the elective diagnostic procedure for all substernal goiters.

Historical evolution of the surgical anatomy of the liver.

The authors report the history of the anatomy and surgical anatomy of the liver from the paleolithic age up to now. Particular emphasis has been reserved to the changing anatomical knowledge in these last decades which represents the basis of the modern surgery of the liver.

[Esophageal manometry and pH-monitoring for surgical indications]. / La manometria e la pH-metria esofagea nell'indicazione chirurgica.

The Authors report a review of the data gathered by manometry and pH-metry in the functional esophageal diseases. Manometric and pH-metric patterns of gastro-esophageal reflux, Barrett esophagus, diverticula, achalasia, aspecific motility disorders and non-cardiac chest pain, are analyzed. Data conditioning the choice of surgical treatment in the literature and in the authors' experience are reported in detail.

Insertion of the Coloshield through a colotomy after completion of a colonic anastomosis.

A modified technique of an intracolonic bypass procedure after an anastomosis has already been completed is described. Its use would be in place of those situations where the surgeon is contemplating protecting the completed anastomosis with a temporary colostomy/ileostomy.

Effect of fecal loading with/without peritonitis on the healing of a colonic anastomosis: an experimental study.

An experimental randomized prospective study was carried out in 64 dogs to evaluate the effect of intraluminal fecal matter at the anastomosis with/without peritonitis on the healing of a colonic anastomosis. The animals, none of whom had bowel preparation, were randomized in four groups: group I sigmoid resection and anastomosis, group II sigmoid resection and intraluminal fecal diversion from the anastomosis, group III induced fecal peritonitis, sigmoid resection and anastomosis and group IV induced fecal peritonitis, sigmoid resection and intraluminal fecal diversion from the anastomosis. Forty-eight hours before sacrifice at 5, 10 and 15 days, 10 microCi/kg C14 proline was given intravenously. Specimens were analyzed for hydroxyproline content, tissue counts and specific activity. The tissue counts and specific activity were analyzed by three-way analysis of variance. Overall, regardless of the groups, there was a statistically significant decrease in specific activity and tissue count from day 5 to day 15 and day 10 to day 15 at the anastomosis (p less than 0.05). When comparing groups II and IV to groups I and III, there was a significant increase in specific activity and tissue count at the anastomosis of group II and IV (p less than 0.05). This experimental study demonstrates that early anastomotic healing can occur even in presence of treated peritonitis as long as the fecal matter is diverted and prevented from coming in contact with the anastomotic site without disrupting the bowel continuity or function.

The value of endoluminal ultrasonography and computed tomography in the staging of rectal cancer: a preliminary study.

A prospective study was carried out in 14 patients with rectal cancer. Tumors were staged preoperatively by endoluminal ultrasonography (EU) and computed tomography (CT). Patients were followed postoperatively for 2 years by the same modalities. Extramural spread was 100% (9/9), accurately assessed by EU and 77.8% (7/9) with CT. Lymph node sensitivity was 87.5% for EU and 37.5 for CT (P less than 0.05). Overall accuracy of lymph node metastases was 85.7% for EU and 57.1% for CT (P less than 0.1). In conclusion, the study shows EU to be statistically more accurate for nodal metastases than CT; therefore, its routine use can be recommended in the preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma in those patients for whom a sphincter-saving procedure is considered.