Predicting recurrence after curative resection for gastric cancer: External validation of the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer (GIRCG) prognostic scoring system.

BACKGROUND: Most nomograms for Gastric Cancer (GC) were developed to predict overall survival (OS) after curative resection. The Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer (GIRCG) prognostic scoring system (PSS) was designed to predict the recurrence risk after curative treatment based on pathologic tumor stage and treatment performed (D1-D2/D3 lymphadenectomy). This study was carried out to externally validate the GIRCG's PSS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adopting the same criteria used by GIRCG to build the PSS, 185 patients with GC operated with curative intention were selected. The median follow-up period was 77.8 months (1.93-150.8) for all patients and 102.5 months (60.9-150.8) for patients free of disease. The NRI (net reclassification improvement) was calculated to estimate the overall improvement in the reclassification of patients using the PSS in place of the TNM stage system. RESULTS: GC recurrence occurred in 70 (37.8%) patients. The mean time to recurrence was 22.2 (range 1.9-98.1) months. For patients with recurrence, the gain in the proportion of reclassification was 0.257 (p < 0.001), indicating an improvement of 26%. For patients without recurrence, the gain in the proportion of reclassification was -0.122 (p < 0.001), indicating a worsening of 12%. The NRI calculated was 0.135 (p = 0.0527). CONCLUSION: The GIRCG's PSS, which predicts the likelihood of recurrence after radical surgical treatment for GC, is more accurate than TNM system to predict recurrence mainly for high-risk patients. Yet, the PSS does not have the same effectiveness for low-risk patients, overestimating the chance of recurrence occurs even for disease-free patients.

Management of postoperative complications in gastric cancer.

Surgery is the only curative strategy for gastric cancer management and radical resection with free margins and extended lymphadenectomy seems to be the best option. Morbidity rate is usually associated with surgical treatment in about 24% of patients, and mortality in about 3%. These rates are influenced by tumor staging, patient condition, surgical strategies and surgeon experience. Their management is mostly conservative and outcome is favorable in the majority of cases. Improvement in gastric cancer treatment must consider experienced surgeons and adequate patient selection.

Robotic assisted spinal surgery--from concept to clinical practice.

After several years of product development, animal trials and human cadaver testing, the SpineAssist--a miniature bone-mounted robotic system--has recently entered clinical use. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the only available image-based mechanical guidance system that enables pedicle screw insertion with an overall accuracy in the range of 1 mm in both open and minimally invasive procedures. In this paper, we describe the development and clinical trial process that has brought the SpineAssist to its current state, with an emphasis on the various difficulties encountered along the way and the corresponding solutions. All aspects of product development are discussed, including mechanical design, CT-to-fluoroscopy image registration, and surgical techniques. Finally, we describe a series of preclinical trials with human cadavers, as well as clinical use, which verify the system's accuracy and efficacy.

Larger amounts of nitrite and nitrate-reducing bacteria in megaesophagus of Chagas' disease than in controls.

In the megaesophagus of Chagas' disease, chronic esophagitis is caused by stasis of swallowed food and saliva. In this environment, the overgrowth of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including nitrate-reducing bacteria, is observed. The reduction of nitrate into nitrite by the action of these bacteria has been associated with the formation of volatile nitrosamines in different situations of gastric bacterial overgrowth. We have hypothesized that this phenomenon could occur in the esophageal lumen of patients with megaesophagus. To evaluate the concentration of nitrite, the presence of volatile nitrosamines and the concentration of nitrate-reducing bacteria in the esophageal lumen of patients with non-advanced megaesophagus of Chagas' disease and in a group of patients without esophageal disease. Fifteen patients with non-advanced megaesophagus [megaesophagus group (MG)] and 15 patients without any esophageal disease [control group (CG)] were studied. Saliva samples were taken for nitrate and nitrite quantitative determination and esophageal stasis liquid samples were taken for nitrate and nitrite quantitative determination, volatile nitrosamines qualitative determination and reductive bacteria quantitative determination. MG and CG were equivalent in nitrate and nitrite saliva concentration and in nitrate esophageal concentration. Significant difference was found in nitrite (p = 0.003) and reductive bacteria concentration (p < 0.0001), both higher in MG. Volatile nitrosamines were identified in three MG patients and in none of the CG patients, but this was not significant (p = 0.113). There is a higher concentration of reductive bacteria in MG, responsible for the rise in nitrite concentration at the esophageal lumen and, eventually, for the formation of volatile nitrosamines.

Lower esophageal sphincter analysis using computerized manometry in patients with chagasic megaesophagus.

Due to the introduction of computer technology into manometry laboratories, three-dimensional manometric images of the lower esophageal sphincter can be constructed based on radially oriented pressures, a method termed 'computerized axial manometry.' Calculation of the sphincter pressure vector volume using this method is superior to standard manometric techniques in assessing lower esophageal sphincter function in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and idiopathic achalasia. Despite similarities between idiopathic achalasia and chagasic esophagopathy found using clinical, radiological, and manometric studies, controversy around lower esophageal sphincter pressure persists. The goal of this study was to analyze esophageal motor disorders in Chagas' megaesophagus using computerized axial manometry. Twenty patients with chagasic megaesophagus (5 men, 15 women, and average age 50.1 years, range 17-64) were prospectively studied. For three-dimensional imaging construction of the lower esophageal sphincter, a low-complacency perfusion system and an eight-channel manometry probe with four radial channels placed in the same level were used. For probe traction, the continuous pull-through technique was used. Results showed that the lower esophageal sphincter of patients with chagasic megaesophagus have significantly elevated pressure, length, asymmetry, and vector volumes compared to those of normal volunteers (P < 0.05). Aperistalsis of the esophageal body waves was observed in all patients and contraction amplitude was lower than that in normal patients. We conclude that patients with chagasic megaesophagus have hypertonic lower esophageal sphincter and aperistalsis of the esophageal body.

Congenital achalasia: facts and fantasies.

Achalasia, a poorly relaxing lower esophageal sphincter, produces a functional obstruction and the expected symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation and eventually weight loss. The cause of achalasia remains largely unknown in Western countries, Chagas' disease being the most frequent etiology in Brazil. We report on two sets of monozygotic male twins with typical manifestations of achalasia. The majority of authors attribute a limited contribution unless achalasia is related to a multisystem disorder, like the triple-A or Allgrove's syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the triad of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) resistant adrenal insufficiency, achalasia and alacrima. The four cases reported demonstrated the genetic influence of achalasia in patients without multisystem disorders. We believe that idiopathic achalasia is a syndrome with similar clinical, pathological, radiological and manometric evolution, but with a great variety of etiological agents, one of them being the congenital form.

Laparoscopic mesh repair antireflux surgery for treatment of large hiatal hernia.

SUMMARY: One of the most frequently occurring anatomic failures after laparoscopic fundoplication is migration of the wrap into the chest, with or without disruption. This so-called 'slipped' Nissen fundoplication may be the result of inadequate closure of the diaphragmatic crura or rupture of the sutures or disruption of the muscle fibers approached. From January 2000 to December 2002, a total of seven patients (four male) with a mean age of 56 years (range 22-72 years), were considered for laparoscopic antireflux procedure using DACRON mash to reinforce the crural hiatal closure. The patients were operated under general anesthesia; laparoscopy was performed by classical approach with five trocars. The mean operative time was 120 minutes (range 40-240 min). There were no deaths. The average of postoperative hospital stay was 3.5 days (range, 3-5). Patients returned to normal activities usually on postoperative day 10 (range, 7-15). The follow-up time was at least 2 years. There was only one late complication related to the use of DACRON mesh at the hiatus, due to migration of the mesh into the esophageal lumen causing disphagia. In conclusion the mesh repair antireflux surgery is a good alternative for closing the diaphragmatic defect in large hiatal hernias or to correct this problem in case of recurrence or Barrett's esophagus.

Intermittent left bundle branch block (LBBB) as a clinical manifestation of myocardial contusion after blunt chest trauma.

Injury to the heart in blunt chest trauma is dependent on a number of factors. Symptoms are often non-specific, and there is no gold standard test for diagnosis. Injuries to small areas of the myocardium may only be identified at autopsy. We report a 38 year old man who sustained a number of injuries in a road traffic accident, and in whom the single clinical or ECG abnormality was a left bundle branch block (LBBB); he had a myocardial injury rated as grade II. The patient was treated for his injuries and later discharged. As this is a difficult diagnosis, algorithms of blunt chest trauma may save time and money by avoiding misleading diagnosis and unnecessary monitoring and admissions.

Pre-and postoperative nutritional evaluation in patients with chagasic megaesophagus.

Chagasic megaesophagus is a chronic disease that courses with progressive dysphagia, regurgitation and protein-calorie malnutrition. Advanced or recurrent megaesophagus can be treated with Serra Dória's operation (cardioplasty, partial gastrectomy and gastrojejunal Roux-en-Y anastomosis). A nutritional evaluation was performed on 27 patients (mean age 58 +/- 10 years) with chagasic megaesophagus at admission and after postoperative day 90. The nutritional state was assessed through global subjective nutritional evaluation (GSNE), anthropometry and laboratorial exams, besides the analysis of alimentary intake. In the preoperative period, GSNE pointed to malnutrition in 2/3 patients, while the anthropometric and laboratorial evaluation revealed that over 60% of the patients had protein-calorie malnutrition of the marasmic type. The preoperative nutritional state as evaluated by GSNE did not correlate with complications or postoperative mortality. The postoperative evaluation showed an increase in the intake of proteins, recovery in the body mass index and a reduction in the hemoglobin levels of the peripheral blood.

Experimental esophageal carcinogenesis: technical standardization and results.

The aim of this research was to determine the occurrence of epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in Wistar rats. DEN was administered (250-300 g) in drinking water (10 mg/kg body weight) to four groups of rats for 72 h/week, for a duration of 90, 120, 150, or 200 days (groups T90, T120, T150, and T200). Ten animals whose drinking water did not contain DEN constituted the control group. All rats were sacrificed and their esophaguses studied macro- and microscopically. The control group did not exhibit either carcinomas or preneoplasic lesions. The T120 and T200 groups presented, respectively, 47 and 58 in situ carcinomas; 1 and 20 submucosal carcinomas (P < 0.05); 4 and 17 microinvasive carcinomas (P < 0.05); 4 and 11 advanced carcinomas (P < 0.05); and 1 and 1 cases of benign hyperplasia. Pulmonary and liver carcinomas were also found in the T200 group. The majority of advanced macroscopic lesions in the T200 group were polypoid, exophytic, and not microscopically invasive in the esophageal wall. This research confirms the effectiveness of the DEN in bringing about carcinogenesis in the Wistar rat esophagus and also shows that the lesions are dosage dependent.

Acute renal failure due to abdominal compartment syndrome: report on four cases and literature review.

We report on 4 cases of abdominal compartment syndrome complicated by acute renal failure that were promptly reversed by different abdominal decompression methods. Case 1: A 57-year-old obese woman in the post-operative period after giant incisional hernia correction with an intra-abdominal pressure of 24 mm Hg. She was sedated and curarized, and the intra-abdominal pressure fell to 15 mm Hg. Case 2: A 73-year-old woman with acute inflammatory abdomen was undergoing exploratory laparotomy when a hypertensive pneumoperitoneum was noticed. During the surgery, enhancement of urinary output was observed. Case 3: An 18-year-old man who underwent hepatectomy and developed coagulopathy and hepatic bleeding that required abdominal packing, developed oliguria with a transvesical intra-abdominal pressure of 22 mm Hg. During reoperation, the compresses were removed with a prompt improvement in urinary flow. Case 4: A 46-year-old man with hepatic cirrhosis was admitted after incisional hernia repair with intra-abdominal pressure of 16 mm Hg. After paracentesis, the intra-abdominal pressure fell to 11 mm Hg.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: clinical, endoscopic, and intraluminal esophageal pH monitoring evaluation.

One hundred and twenty-two patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease were studied (90 with and 32 without esophagitis) with the objective of analyzing possible differences between those with and without esophagitis. Evaluation consisted of clinical interview, endoscopy of the high digestive tract, esophageal manometry, and pH monitoring. There was no significant difference between the groups in age, sex, or symptoms. The incidence of hiatal hernia was greater in the group with esophagitis. Although the frequency of motor changes was similar, the type of anomaly was different. The reflux pattern was very similar in both groups. Therefore, the concept of reflux disease, esophagitis, and pathological reflux still needs a broader definition for greater diagnostic precision and for comparing the results of different studies on the subject. Normal reflux (confirmed using pH esophageal monitoring) in 12.2% of patients with esophagitis suggests that other factors are implicated in the etiology of the disease besides those measured using this examination.

[Gastroesophageal reflux disease: comparison between patients with and without esophagitis, concerning age, gender and symptoms]. / Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico: comparação entre as formas com e sem esofagite, em relação aos dados demográficos e às manifestações sintomáticas.

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease may or may not have endoscopic esophagitis; there are few studies comparing these groups among themselves. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed in order to evaluate differences between patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease with and without esophagitis. PATIENTS/METHODS: A hundred and twenty-two patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease characterized by esophageal endoscopy and pHmetry were included, 90 with and 32 without esophagitis. Assessment involved an anamnesis, including the following data: age, sex, heartburn, dysphasia, non-cardiac chest pain and respiratory symptoms. Heartburn was analyzed in more detail, its duration, intensity and periodicity being determined. RESULTS: No statistical significant difference was observed between the groups, regarding age, sex or presence of symptoms. However, in the group with esophagitis, heartburn classified as severe or very severe was more frequent. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The groups of patients with or without esophagitis analyzed were very similar concerning age, gender and presence of symptoms. However, regarding the heartburn's intensity, it was more intense in the group with esophagitis. 2. Among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, there is a large number of cases without esophagitis (26.2%) and that prolonged pH-monitoring is fundamental in its identification; 3. A better definition of reflux disease, esophagitis and pathological reflux is needed, in order to allow better diagnostic accuracy and comparisons in different studies on this subject.

The treatment of portal hypertension by videolaparoscopy in situs inversus totalis.

A rare case of a 32-year-old male with situs inversus totalis viscerum admitted to hospital for hematemesis owing to portal hypertension of Laennec cirrhosis was treated for the first time by videolaparoscopic surgery. Situs inversus diagnosis was confirmed by thoracic radiography, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, abdominal echography and computed tomography. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed esophageal varices and large varices in the fundus of the stomach. A successful operation (azygo-portal disconnection, splenic artery ligation without splenectomy; transesophageal suturing of esophageal varices without opening the esophagus and cholecystectomy), was performed by videolaparoscopy. The uneventful postoperative evolution (4-day hospitalization) reinforces the viability of the videolaparoscopic approach and the possibility of the application of this procedure even to situs inversus totalis organorum.

Chagasic megacolon and proximal jejunum microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Among other factors, control of jejunal microflora depends on intestinal emptiness, and it can be impaired by Chagas disease. This study was developed to identify the microecology of the proximal jejunum in chagasic megacolon. Our objective was to characterize both the jejunal microbial stasis before surgery and the microflora after surgical treatment in patients with chagasic megacolon. METHODS: The intestinal fluids were collected, and the proximal jejunum microflora was analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative microflora had shown an increase in bacteria compatible with bacterial overgrowth syndrome, mainly facultative and strict anaerobes microorganisms and fungi. The microflora had changed in the postoperative period in 83% of these patients, with significant decrease in the number of transient microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS: Chagasic megacolon was related to an increase in jejunal microflora. By removing the impairment of the colon there was a transient decrease in the proximal jejunum microflora.

[Histological criteria of esophagitis in the gastroesophageal reflux disease. Reevaluation of the sensitivity of the esophageal 24-hours pHmetry]. / Critérios histológicos de esofagite na doença do refluxo gastroesofágico. Reavaliação da sensibilidade da pHmetria esofágica de 24 horas.

Little change was observed in the histological criteria of reflux esophagitis since the studies of Ismail-Beiji, Pope (1970) and Weinstein (1975). The 24-hour esophageal pHmetry has been proposed as a high sensitivity method in diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease patients. In this study we selected 35 patients with histological esophagitis and submitted them to 24-hour esophageal pHmetry. We determined histological differences according to reflux pattern, endoscopic esophagitis grades and age. The sensitivity of 24-hour esophageal pHmetry was 60.0% in our patients. There are higher histological alterations in patients with more severe patterns of reflux (supine and combined) and significant difference (P < 0.05) in observed quantitative exocytosis between moderate and severe endoscopic esophagitis. There are no difference between histological esophagitis criteria and age groups.

[The importance of age as determining factor in hiatus hernia and gastroesophageal reflux. Cross-sectional study]. / Importância do fator etário no determinismo da hérnia hiatal por deslizamento e a doença do refluxo gastroesofagiano. Estudo transversal.

This prospective study involve a total of 77 patients distributed according age. The patients were divided in three groups: Group A > or = 14 e < or = 24, Group B > or = 25 e < or = 54, and Group C > or = 55 e < or = 64 years old. Each group of patients had similar alterations in 24 h-pHmetry parameters such as total episodes number, number of episodes with duration more than 5 minutes, the longest episode, Johnson and DeMeester Score, reflux patterns (orthostatic or supine or combined) (P > 0.05 NS). The hiatal hernia was present in 10.00% of the patients between 14 and 24 years old, 43.40% between 25 and 54 years old, and 64.29% between 55 and 64 years old (P < 0.0001). The conclusion is that hiatal hernia do not participate in gastroesophageal reflux disease etiopathogenesis. Although the older age is a risk factor for development of gastroesophageal reflux disease complications, it is speculated if the continuous acid aggression in the distal esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease is the only factor responsible for the higher incidence of hiatal hernia in patients with 55 and 64 years old than the younger groups of patients.

Reflux esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of gastroesophageal reflux disease patients by age group.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the intensity of acid reflux and severity of esophageal tissue damage in a cross-sectional study of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Seventy-eight patients with were selected in accordance with the strict 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pHmetry (24h-pHM) criteria and distributed into three age groups: Group A: 14-24 years of age. Group B: 25-54; and Group C: 55-64. The 24h-pHM was carried out in accordance with DeMeester standardization, and the Savary-Miller classification for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis was used. The groups were similar in 24h-pHM parameters (p > 0.05), having above normal values. For the study group as a whole, there was no correlation between age group and intensity of acid reflux, and there was no correlation between intensity of acid reflux and severity of esophageal tissue damage. However, when the same patients were sub-grouped in accordance with the depth of their epithelial injury and then distributed into age groups, there was a significant difference in esophagitis without epithelial discontinuity. Younger patients had less epithelial damage than older patients. Additionally, although there was a significant progression from the least severe to the moderate stages of epithelial damage among the age groups, there was no apparent difference among the age groups in the distribution between the moderate stages and most severe stages. The findings support the conclusion that the protective response of individuals to acid reflux varies widely. Continued aggression by acid reflux appears to lead to the exhaustion of individual mechanisms of epithelial protection in some patients, but not others, regardless of age or duration of the disease. Therefore, the diagnosis and follow-up of GERD should include both measurements of the quantity of refluxed acid and an assessment of the damage to the esophageal epithelium.