Lateral Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Rectal Carcinoma: A Step-by-Step Description of Surgical Anatomical Planes During Cadaveric Dissection and Minimally Invasive Surgery.

PURPOSE: Total mesorectal excision (TME) is accepted as gold standard method in rectal cancer globally. But there is no standard for lateral lymph nodes. Combination of neoadjuvant treatment plus lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) in select patients might be a promising method. Our purpose is to describe the anatomic landmarks of LLND on cadavers and minimally invasive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Local advanced rectal cancer and lateral lymph node (LLN) metastasis are accepted as an indication of neoadjuvant treatment. LLND was performed according to preoperative imaging after radiochemotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (10.5%) of 267 patients with rectal cancer who had suspected lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) underwent LLND in addition to TME after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Eight of them had LLNM. Three patients had bilateral LLND and only 1 had LLNM. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 6. The rates of LLNM increased with the presence of poor prognosis markers. One regional and 1 distant recurrence were detected in patients who had no LLN metastasis compared with2 regional and 4 distant recurrences in the LLN-positive group. CONCLUSIONS: Local advanced rectal cancer cases may benefit from LLND, but it does not appear to have an effect on overall survival. There is no consensus whether size and/or morphologic criteria in MRI are the ideal guide for LLND.

Psychiatric Symptoms, Aggression, and Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients With Benign Anal Conditions.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of general psychiatric symptoms, aggression levels, and sexual dysfunction in patients with benign anorectal diseases and compare the results with those of healthy control subjects. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive adult patients who presented for treatment of benign perianal diseases and healthy control subjects between June 2017 and December 2018. All patients had either grade 3 or 4 hemorrhoidal disease or perianal fistula with active discharge who had not undergone previous anorectal surgery. We also included a control group with benign subcutaneous lumps presenting for minor surgery. We used the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised Form to evaluate general psychiatric symptoms, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) to evaluate aggression levels, and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale to evaluate sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 563 patients were assessed for eligibility; after exclusions, 94 with anal fistula, 89 with hemorrhoids, and 59 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The groups were similar with regard to age, gender, and educational level. Physical and verbal aggression, anger, and total BPAQ score were significantly higher in patients with perianal fistula than in those with hemorrhoidal disease and healthy control subjects (P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients with perianal fistula have higher levels of aggression than healthy control subjects and those with hemorrhoidal disease. One must bear this in mind during preoperative patient evaluations and obtaining informed consent. Further studies are needed to investigate the reason for this association and potential causality.

Comparing acute effects of extra virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil consumption on appetite and food intake in normal-weight and obese male subjects.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to compare acute effects of consuming extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO) as a source of medium chain fatty acids and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as a source of long chain fatty acids in normal weight and obese subjects. DESIGN: Randomised, crossover design. PARTICIPANTS: Metabolically healthy twenty male subjects (10 normal weight; 10 obese) aged 19-40 years. INTERVENTION: Subjects consumed breakfast meals containing skimmed milk, fat-free white cheese, bread and EVCO (25 g) or EVOO (25 g). OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scale evaluations, resting metabolic rate measurements and selected blood parameters analysis (glucose, triglyceride, insulin and plasma peptide YY) were performed before and after the test breakfast meals. In addition, energy intakes were evaluated by ad libitum lunch meal at 180 min. RESULTS: Visual analogue scale values of hunger and desire to eat decreased significantly after EVCO consumption than EVOO consumption in normal weight subjects at 180 min. There was an increase trend in plasma PYY at 30 and 180 min after EVCO breakfast compared to EVOO breakfast. Ad libitum energy intakes after EVCO and EVOO consumption in normal weight subjects were 924 ± 302; 845 ± 158 kcal (p = 0.272), respectively whereas in obese subjects were 859 ± 238; 994 ± 265 kcal (p = 0.069) respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study shows that consumption of EVCO compared to EVOO may have suppressive effect on hunger and desire to eat, may affect postprandial PYY levels differently and have no effect on postprandial energy expenditure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT04738929.

Primary necrotizing fasciitis of the breast. Case series with 5 patients.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an aggressive, necrotic, life-threatening infection of the soft tissues. The delay on treatment is generally accompanied by almost 90 % lethality according to the development of septic shock and its associated complications. Primary Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Breast (PNFB) is seen extremely rare. To date, breast necrotizing fasciitis have been reported only as a limited number of case reports in the literature. PNFB is commonly misdiagnosed as cellulitis, mastitis, abscess or inflammatory breast cancer. Although PNFB is a very rapid and aggressive disease, which can be fatal. Delayed cases were unfortunately resulted in mortality due to several consequential reasons. Therefore, careful and detailed evaluation of all cases irrespective of age, especially those with risk factors and comorbidities, could be life saving in respect of early diagnosis and timely treatment. Our aim is to to present the analysis and treatment modalities of five primarily seen PFNB, in this case series.

Development and Implementation of a Novel Computer-Based Training Module for the Standardization of Splenic Flexure Mobilization.

BACKGROUND: Computer-based training modules use various multimedia components such as text, graphics, animation, and videos that can theoretically facilitate the learning process. Splenic flexure mobilization (SFM) is a crucial step for tension-free colorectal/anal anastomosis that can be a technically demanding step. This study is designed to demonstrate our novel training module for SFM with high-vessel ligation during surgery and present the anatomical landmarks and embryological plans for SFM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A step-by-step educational video was prepared to standardize and teach the technical steps of the SFM. 3D animation was prepared and cadaveric dissection was performed in a step-by-step manner similar to minimally invasive surgery. This is followed by the laparoscopic technique. Since we have started this modular training program in our department, a consecutive of 100 patients underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection and coloanal anastomosis with covering stoma. Demographics, characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Surgical anatomical planes and important vascular structures/variations are both shown by 3D animation, cadaveric dissection, and laparoscopic surgery. Out of 100 consecutive cases, there were no mortality, 5 anastomotic leakages 1 of which necessitates reoperation, and 2 splenic injuries which were managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: This unique educational video module for SFM demonstrates surgical anatomical planes and important vascular structures/variations. The employment and implementation of time-independent multimedia components lead to effective training and can theoretically facilitate the learning process.

Iliocaval outflow obstruction in patients with venous ulcers in a small comparison study between patients with primary varicose veins and chronic deep vein disease.

OBJECTIVE: Iliocaval outflow obstruction was investigated in patients with venous ulcers caused by primary superficial disease and chronic deep vein disease METHODS: After clinical assessment, patients with healed or active venous leg ulcers underwent lower extremity duplex ultrasound examination to identify the presence of venous disease in the superficial, deep and perforating systems. Bilateral contrast venography and intravascular ultrasound examination were then performed to determine the presence and degree of iliocaval obstructive lesions. RESULTS: This retrospective study included a total of 59 patients with 71 legs presenting active or healed ulcer. There were 16 limbs (22.5%) with superficial venous reflux associated with normal infrainguinal deep veins (group I) and 55 limbs (77.5%) with infrainguinal post-thrombotic deep venous disease (group II). Using venography and intravascular ultrasound examination, the incidence of >50% of venous obstruction in the iliocaval system in groups I and II were 75% and 83.6%, respectively. All obstructive lesions in group I were nonthrombotic. However, group II included thrombotic, nonthrombotic and combinations of the two types of obstructions. Group II had more ulcers (1.73 ± 1.3 vs 1.17 ± 0.5; P = .03), larger ulcers (>6 cm in 34.1% vs 8.3%), longer duration of ulcers (71.3 ± 110.5 months vs 37.9 ± 40.4 months; P = .03), smaller diameter of refluxing superficial veins (7.7 ± 2.6 mm vs 15.1 ± 6.6 mm; P = .001), and higher incidence of occluded iliocaval systems (18 [32.7%] vs 0; P = .003) than group I. After the exclusion of bilateral cases and thrombotic obstructions, the incidence of >50% nonthrombotic obstruction in ipsilateral and contralateral sides was 76.5% and 24.4%, respectively (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed that the majority of patients with venous ulcers with either infrainguinal primary superficial or post-thrombotic deep venous disease had an element of iliocaval venous obstruction.

Role of Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring in Postoperative Muscle and Nerve Function of Patients Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy.

This study aimed to postoperatively evaluate the effects of intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) on muscles and nerves in patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM). In the 11 patients included in the study, nerves were determined and protected by nerve monitoring during the axillary dissection (IONM group). In another 11 patients, nerve monitoring was not performed; however, protection of the same nerves was attempted through careful nerve dissection (cautious nerve dissection [CND] group). The control group consisted of 22 healthy subjects. Muscle and nerve functions were blindly evaluated by an experienced physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist using electromyography (EMG) and ultrasonography (US) methods. The EMG values of the pectoralis major muscle were similar in the IONM and control groups (1.97 mV/1.98 mV, p = 0.97) but significantly lower in the CND group (1.57 mV, p < 0.05). Significant differences were found in the US values of the pectoralis major and minor muscles between the IONM and CND groups. No significant difference was found between the IONM and control groups in terms of EMG values of the serratus anterior muscle. This is the first prospective randomized study to objectively evaluate preservation of the nerve through nerve monitoring and its functional results. Monitoring of nerves during MRM is of great importance in terms of demonstrating the positive effects on muscle and nerve functions.

Factors affecting mortality in traumatic diaphragm ruptures.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic diaphragm ruptures (TDR) are rarely seen. Although TDR does not cause morbidity in the acute period, undiagnosed TDR may cause clinical states, such as herniation, strangulation, pneumonia, pleural effusion, empyema, and cardiac tamponade, which have high morbidity and mortality rates in the late period. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment methods of TDR encountered in thoracoabdominal trauma and to identify the factors affecting mortality. METHODS: A retrospective examination was carried out on the patients who were operated in our clinic because of traumatic diaphragm injury between January 2012 and December 2017. Each patient operated because traumatic diaphragm injury was evaluated in respect of age, gender, manner of injury, preoperative examination findings, laboratory test results, imaging methods, time of diagnosis, operation findings, concomitant injuries to other organs, operations performed, length of stay in hospital, the development of postoperative morbidity and mortality, and the calculated Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS). RESULTS: Between January 2012 and December 2017, a total of 1066 patients were operated in our clinic because of thoracoabdominal trauma, and of 1066 patients, 45 of the patients were determined with TDR. Of the 45 patients, surgery was applied because of penetrating trauma in 32 cases (7 firearms injuries, 25 penetrating cutting injuries), blunt trauma in nine cases, and in four cases, diaphragm rupture was seen to have developed associated with iatrogenic injury during an operation. The most common injuries concomitant to traumatic diaphragm rupture were hemopneumothorax (70%), liver (43%), spleen (32%), colon (20%), stomach (17%) injuries and rib fractures (15%), respectively. Mortality developed in seven (17%) patients; five patients were lost because of hemorrhagic shock intraoperatively or in the early postoperative hours, and two because of multiorgan failure during follow-up in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: In high energy blunt and penetrating thoracoabdominal traumas, diaphragm injuries should be suspected. Factors affecting mortality were found to be the AISS, ISS, number of concomitant organ injuries and the combination with pneumohemothorax.

Abdominal palpation and percussion maneuvers do not affect bowel sounds.

OBJECTIVES: Medical textbooks suggest that the frequency of bowel sounds may be altered by performing auscultation after palpation or percussion. We hypothesize that the frequency of bowel sounds is not affected by the order of abdominal examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Both healthy volunteers (n= 80) and patients (n= 100) were enrolled in this crossover randomized study. Two different examination orders, one as inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation (IPPA) and the other order as inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion (IAPP) were used by two observers, one of which was blinded to the order of the physical examination and only performed auscultation. Bowel motilities of 40 participants were analyzed with duplex Doppler USG by a radiologist. The effects of changing the order of abdominal examination and palpation-percussion maneuvers on the frequency of bowel sounds were evaluated. RESULTS: Gender distribution was similar between the healthy patients and controls, and mean age of the entire study population was 47 (18-60) years. Differences between the mean bowel sound frequencies for abdominal examinations in order IPPA-IAPP versus IAPP-IPPA were evaluated for both healthy subjects and the patients. There were no differences between the first and second listening, nor were there differences between examinations performed in either order. Duplex Doppler Ultrasonographic (USG) assessments were performed on 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients before and after palpation and percussion; there were no statistically significant differences between the two listenings (p= 0.694). CONCLUSION: According to both abdominal examinations and Doppler USG, the order of auscultation, whether performed before or after palpation or percussion, did not change the frequency of bowel sounds in this subject population.