[Gas gangrene of the abdominal wall due to underlying GI pathology: seven cases]. / Gangrène gazeuse extensive révélant une pathologie digestive: 7 observations.

OBJECTIVE: Gas gangrene of the abdominal wall is a rare clinical occurrence with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The primary source of the infection is often unknown. To analyze the primary underlying intestinal etiologies and diagnostic approaches of gas gangrene of the abdominal wall, and to highlight specific treatment problems, particularly that of constructing a colostomy exteriorized through a massively infected abdominal wall. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven cases of abdominal wall gas gangrene due to a gastrointestinal etiology were identified. (Cases arising from proctologic sources or related to recent abdominal surgery were excluded.) During the same period, 39 other patients presenting with abdominal wall gangrene from non-intestinal sources were treated. RESULTS: The etiologies were: perforated sigmoid diverticulitis (n=2), perforated appendicitis (n=1), acute pancreatitis with associated cecal perforation (n=1), and perforated colorectal cancer (n=3). Four of the seven patients died despite treatment (mortality of 57%). CONCLUSION: The clinical presentations of these seven cases demonstrate that a GI source must be suspected whenever a patient presents with abdominal wall gas gangrene, even when there are no specific GI symptoms. Imaging, particularly with CT scan, is essential both to visualize the extent of tissue necrosis and to reveal underlying primary GI pathology. This optimizes the surgical approach both by allowing for complete debridement and drainage of infected tissue, and by focussing the intervention on correction of the underlying primary GI source of infection.

[Gastrojejunocolic fistula, report of two recent cases with original management]. / Fistule gastrojéjunocolique: prise en charge originale de deux patients.

Gastrojejunocolic fistulae, ultimate complication of anastomotic peptic ulceration, are presently uncommon. We report two recent cases of postoperative gastrojejunocolic fistulas (after duodenal ulcer surgery and total duodenopancreatectomy), which were complicated at time of diagnosis (acute peritonitis and liver cirrhosis) and required a two-stage treatment.

Outpatient colectomy within an enhanced recovery program.

INTRODUCTION: The application of a fast-track recovery program after surgery can decrease the physiological impact of surgery and reduce the duration of hospitalisation compared to conventional care. This program has permitted us to consider the performance of colectomy on an outpatient basis. METHOD: After analyzing the recommendations for fast-track recovery, we developed and validated a specific protocol. Drawing on extensive experience in ambulatory surgery (inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy, adjustable gastric-banding), we formalized a protocol for outpatient colectomy. Patient selection criteria were the absence of serious or decompensated comorbidity, very good general condition, and full patient understanding of the procedure. Discharge was authorized if the patient met the exit criteria according to the Chung score. Postoperative surveillance was provided by regular home visits of a nurse trained in enhanced recovery, every afternoon until day 10. RESULTS: Five patients underwent this management strategy (4 men and 1 woman, mean age 64 years, range: 59-69), for indications including cancer of the rectosigmoid junction (1 case), sigmoid diverticulitis (3 cases), and volvulus. The postoperative course was simple and uncomplicated except for two patients who had dysuria and an incisional hematoma, respectively. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, these are the first cases of colectomy performed strictly on an outpatient basis (i.e., stay<12h). We demonstrated the feasibility of outpatient colectomy when integrated into a protocol of enhanced recovery for selected patients provided that at-home monitoring was available.

Cryosurgery as a means to improve surgical treatment of patients with multiple unresectable liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of cryosurgery in patients with multiple (five or more), heavily pretreated, unresectable liver metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with multiple unresectable liver metastases were entered into a prospective nonrandomized trial. The liver tumours were treated during surgery under ultrasound guidance. All the patients were followed-up to assess complications, treatment response and sites of recurrence. RESULTS: 140 metastases were identified in 19 patients (mean, 7; range, 5-25) and 13 patients had a synchronous liver resection. Cryosurgery was used to treat 90 metastases (mean diameter, 30 mm; range, 10-135). There were no treatment-related deaths and the overall rate of complications was 21%. During a mean follow-up of 28 months (range, 5-60), tumours recurred at the site of cryosurgery in two patients (10%), in the remaining liver in nine patients (47%) and elsewhere in five patients (26%). Three patients had no evidence of disease 48, 50 and 60 months after liver cryosurgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cryosurgery may be effective in the treatment of patients with multiple unresectable liver metastases and should be investigated in multimodality treatment programmes.

Combination of chemotherapy with radiotherapy: review of previous studies and new perspectives.

A review is made of the effectiveness of various combinations of radio- and chemotherapy in head and neck cancers and it is suggested that cisplatin combined with radiotherapy is likely to produce the most favourable results.

Experimental evaluation of lesion prediction modelling in the presence of cavitation bubbles: intended for high-intensity focused ultrasound prostate treatment.

The accuracy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) lesion prediction modelling was evaluated for a truncated spherical transducer designed for prostate cancer treatment The modelling adapted the bio heat transfer equation (BHTE) to take into account the activity of cavitation bubbles generated during HIFU exposure. This modelling was used to predict the lesions produced by three different transducer geometries: fixed-focus, concentric-ring and 1.5D phased-array. Lesions were predicted for different ultrasound exposure conditions close to those used in prostate cancer treatment. Twenty-one in vitro and nine in vitro experiments were performed on pig liver to validate the accuracy of the predictions. A good match was found between the predicted and experimental lesion shapes. Lesion dimensions (maximum depth and length, area at the centre of the lesion or central surface area) were measured on experimental and predicted lesions. The central surface area was predicted by the model with a range of error of 0.15-6.5% for in vitro tests and 0.97-9% in vivo. For comparison, BHTE without bubbles had a range of error of 0.4-55.5% (in vitro) and 9-25.5% (in vivo). The model should be accurate enough to predict HIFU lesions under ultrasound exposure conditions used in prostate cancer treatment.

[Value of preoperative drainage of the bile ducts in obstructive jaundice]. / Intérêt du drainage préopératoire des voies biliaires en cas d'ictère obstructif.

Hepato-biliary surgery for obstructive jaundice is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Experimental and clinical studies on obstructive jaundice revealed endotoxaemia, coagulation disorders and depressed immune function. Many studies have been carried out to identify the operative risk factors. The serum bilirubin level seemed to be a significant factor. Biliary decompression via a percutaneous or endoscopic retrograde approach was therefore proposed to improve the surgical outcome. The first retrospective studies have suggested a reduction of morbidity and mortality. Subsequent randomized studies have not confirm the benefit of preoperative biliary drainage because of procedure-related complications. The article reviews the literature on preoperative biliary drainage and proposes the indications, choice of method and optimal duration of biliary drainage.

[Three-luminal nasojejunal tube in digestive surgery: preliminary feasibility study]. / Sonde nasojéjunale triple lumière en chirurgie digestive: étude préliminaire de faisabilité.

STUDY AIM: The benefit of enteral nutrition is an established fact for severely burned or multiple injured patients with a reduction of septic morbidity. Enteral nutrition is now possible in upper gastrointestinal tract surgery with the development of nasojejunal triple lumen tube and we report a new application with an operative placement. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nasojejunal triple lumen tube in digestive surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From November 1999 to August 2001, a nasojejunal triple lumen tube was placed during surgery for high surgical risk patients (n = 17) or under radioscopic control for the treatment of post operative complications (n = 6). RESULTS: The surgical placement was possible in all cases. The radioscopic placement failed in two cases, one of which being solved with endoscopic procedure. There was no morbidity during the tube placement. Four patients were excluded because of early post operative death (n = 3) or premature removal of the tube by the patient (n = 1). The enteral nutrition was early in 18 patients and its mean duration was 18.2 days (range 3-75). Technical problems occurred in 9 patients and the replacement of the tube was necessary in 8 cases. CONCLUSION: The nasojejunal triple lumen tube is a feasible, safe and relatively well-tolerated procedure in upper gastrointestinal tract surgery.

[High intensity focused ultrasonic destruction of hepatic parenchyma]. / Destruction de parenchyme hépatique par ultrasons focalisés.

OBJECTIVE: High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an effective and precise method of focal tumoral destruction since it is associated with imagery. This method is widespread for the endorectal treatment of prostatic adenocarcinomas. HIFU seem appropriate for the treatment of liver tumors but its use needs to be experimentally tested in vivo. The aim of the work is to study the feasibility, tolerance and effectiveness of the destruction of porcine liver by HIFU. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten pigs had liver destruction by HIFU after coeliotomy. Four to 5 2,3 cm(3) HIFU lesions were performed per animal under ultrasonographic control. The study included biological surveillance and an autopsy was performed 4 to 24 hours later for histological examination of the liver. RESULTS: The destruction of the liver was feasible in all cases and the 4 lobes of the liver could be treated. The general and biological tolerance of the procedure was excellent. Ultrasonographic features of the HIFU lesions were defined. The histological examination of the lesions showed well-circumscribed necrosis areas associated with cavitation or histological deficiencies of various degrees. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrated that liver destruction by HIFU is a feasible and effective method with low morbidity. A long-term experimental study is necessary before comtemplating its clinical use.

[Cryosurgery of primary and metastatic cancers of the liver]. / Cryochirurgie des cancers primitifs et métastatiques du foie.

Cryosurgery is a method of in situ destruction of tissue by a freezing process. Results of hepatic cryosurgery are now available for more than 2100 patients and allow to assess its place in the treatment of hepatic malignancies. Mechanisms of tissue destruction and indications of cryosurgery are detailed. With a peri-operative mortality rate of 1.5%, the safety of hepatic cryosurgery is now admitted. Cryosurgery has its own morbidity: increase of transaminases levels, platelets drop, myoglobinuria and rarely renal failure or cryoshock. In selected patients, hepatic cryosurgery is feasible with a laparoscopic or percutaneous approach. Long term results do not support cryosurgery as an alternative to liver resection. This technique enlarges possibilities of surgical treatment for patients with primary and metastatic liver cancers.

[The problem of malignant branchioma. A description of three cases of degeneration or epitheliomatous metastasis within amygdaloid cervical cysts (author's transl)]. / Le problème du branchiome malin. A propos de 3 observations de dégénérescence ou de métastase épithéliomateuse à l'intérieur de kystes amygdaloïdes cervicaux.

The authors describe three cases of malignant degeneration observed within amygdaloid cysts in two male and one female patient aged sixty. In one of the cases in which the cyst had been present for more than two years, there was apparently some primary degeneration, the theory favoured was that of Veau's malignant branchioma; two other cases showed metastasis of a homolateral tonsillar epithelioma within an hitherto sub-clinical amygdaloid cyst.