Effect of early antibiotic prophylaxis with ertapenem and meropenem in experimental acute pancreatitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The clinical course in acute necrotizing pancreatitis is mainly influenced by bacterial infection of pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis. The effect of two antibiotic treatments for early prophylaxis was studied in the taurocholate model of necrotizing pancreatitis in the rat. METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three pancreatitis groups (15 animals each) and a sham-operated group (15 animals, control group). Pancreatitis was induced by intraductal infusion of 3% taurocholate under sterile conditions. Animals were placed on one of two different antibiotic regimens (15 mg/kg ertapenem or 20 mg/kg meropenem, one shot) after the induction of pancreatitis or received no antibiotics (control). All animals were sacrificed after 24 h to study pancreatic and extrapancreatic infection. RESULTS: Early antibiotic prophylaxis with either erapenam or meropenem significantly decreased pancreatic infection from 12/15 (control group) to 4/15 (ertapenem antibiotic group) and 3/15 (meropenem antibiotic group) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our animal model of necrotizing pancreatitis, early antibiotic prophylaxis with ertapenem and meropenem reduced bacterial infection of the pancreas. The efficacy of early antibiotic prophylaxis with ertapenem in the clinical setting should be subject to further research.

Gastrointestinal perforations following kidney transplantation.

This study reports major gastrointestinal (GI) complications among a group of 1611 patients following kidney transplantation. The immunosuppressive regimen changed somewhat during the course of the study but included azathioprine, prednisolone, antilymphocyte globulin, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and sirolimus. Perforations occurred in the colon (n=21), small bowel (n=15), duodenum (n=6), and stomach (n=4). Nearly 50% of the complications occurred while patients were being given high-dose immunosuppression to manage either the early postoperative period or acute rejection episodes. Of the 46 patients affected, 11 (24%) died as a direct result of the GI complication. This high mortality appeared to be related to the effects of the immunosuppression and the associated response to sepsis. Reduction of these complications may be achieved by improved surgical management, preventive measures, prompt diagnosis, and a reduced immunosuppressive protocol.

Hernia repair with porcine small-intestinal submucosa.

PURPOSE: Although at present nonabsorbable meshes are the preferred material for tension-free hernioplasty, some problems with their use have yet to be addressed (i.e., chronic pain and infections). In order to address these disadvantages, a collagen-based material, the porcine small-intestinal submucosa mesh (Surgisis Inguinal Hernia Matrix, Cook Surgical, Bloomington, IN, USA), has recently been developed for hernia repair. METHODS: With the aim of investigating the clinical safety and effectiveness of Surgisis IHM inguinal hernia repair, we report our experience of 45 consecutive hernioplasties with a medium-term follow-up. The surgical technique for the use of this material in hernioplasty is described in detail. RESULTS: Although some local (i.e., seromas) and general (i.e., hyperpyrexia), complications appeared in the immediate postoperative period (all of them disappeared spontaneously), no rejection or infection was observed after operations. At the 2-year follow-up, a low degree of pain and discomfort and no recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Surgisis IHM hernioplasty is feasible with promising results and, from a clinical perspective, seems safe and effective.

Use of porcine dermal collagen graft (Permacol) for hernia repair in contaminated fields.

BACKGROUND: Complicated hernias often involve contaminating surgical procedures in which the use of polypropylene meshes can be hazardous. Prostheses made of porcine dermal collagen (PDC) have recently been proposed as a means to offset the disadvantages of polypropylene meshes and have since been used in humans for hernia repairs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of incisional hernia repair using PDC as a mesh in complicated cases involving contamination. METHODS: A prospective study of hernia repair of complicated incisional hernias with contamination using PDC grafts was carried out at the Department of General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery of St Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital. RESULTS: From January 2004 up to the writing of this article, seven patients were treated for complicated incisional hernias with a PDC prosthesis. In six out of seven patients a bowel resection was carried out. There were not surgical complications. Morbidity was 14.2%. No recurrences and wound infections were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Incisional hernioplasty using PDC grafts is a potentially safe and efficient approach in complicated cases with contamination.

Experimental evaluation of Surgisis as scaffold for neointestine regeneration in a rat model.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of Surgisis (Cook Biotech Inc.), a porcine derived extracellular matrix already used in tissue engineering, as a scaffold for neointestinal regeneration in a rat model. A 3-cm length of tubular Surgisis graft was interposed with bilateral anastomoses in the middle of an isolated ileal loop of Sprague Dawley rats with an ileostomy. The grafts were harvested and analyzed using histology and immunohistochemistry at 24 weeks after operation. Macroscopic examination revealed neither stenosis nor adhesions in the area surrounding the neointestine. The regenerated small bowel showed a mean shrinkage of 30.7% (range 20%-40%). Histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation showed a well-developed three layers of mucosa and smooth muscle and serosa in the regenerated bowel wall that were similar to those of the normal bowel with evident neovascularization. Also, the regeneration of smooth muscle fibers and innervation were evident. The preliminary results of this study showed that Surgisis allowed rapid regeneration of mucosa and smooth muscle and therefore may be a promising material for the creation of a neointestine.

Lichtenstein repair of inguinal hernia with Surgisis inguinal hernia matrix soft-tissue graft in immunodepressed patients.

While polypropylene mesh remains the preferred prosthesis material for hernioplasties, there are some problems with infections, intestinal obstruction and fistulization, and migration particularly in immunodepressed patients. A new degradable and reabsorbable material, the porcine small intestinal submucosa (Surgisis) has been developed for hernia repairs in humans. This prospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Lichtenstein hernioplasty using the Surgisis inguinal hernia matrix soft-tissue graft as a mesh in ten immunodepressed subjects. Six subjects were HIV-positive in the immunodepressive phase, and the other four had undergone transplantation (three kidney, one liver). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, recurrences, or wound infections. Thus Lichtenstein's hernioplasty using the Surgisis inguinal hernia matrix soft-tissue graft in immunodepressed patients promises safety and efficacy.

[Ruptured aortic aneurysm presenting as acute abdomen: particular case report]. / Rottura aortica tamponata presentantesi come addome acuto: report di un caso particolare.

AIM: Ruptured aortic aneurysm can be a cause of acute abdomen. Nowadays using modern diagnostic techniques diagnosis is very easy. We report a particular case of a misdiagnosed ruptured aortic aneurysm. CASE REPORT: Man 65 y.o. admitted to hospital for abdominal pain and stipsis. After 1 week he developed acute abdomen with muscular rigidity and mild acute anemia. Few days before contrast studies showed a sigmoid diverticular disease. At laparotomy a ruptured aortic aneurysm sealed from retroperitoneal fascia and extended to abdominal walls up to rectus abdominis muscles was found. CONCLUSIONS: In case of acute abdomen with muscular rigidity and acute anemia the diagnosis of rectus abdominis muscles hematoma caused by ruptured aortic aneurysm must be considered.

Pulsatile perfusion of kidney allografts with Celsior solution.

BACKGROUND: Use of pulsatile perfusion (PP) to optimize outcomes in deceased donor renal transplantation remains controversial. This prospective analysis describes all cadaveric renal allografts transplanted at our center that were preserved with PP using Celsior solution. METHODS: We used the LifePort Kidney Transporter (Organ Recovery Systems) perfusion machine. Study outcomes included 1-year graft and patient survivals as well as rates of delayed graft function and need for posttransplant dialysis. RESULTS: Graft survival for PP was 90% and patient survival 100%. The incidences of delayed graft function was 10% and of posttransplant dialysis, 10%. CONCLUSION: These data support the use of PP with Celsior solution.

Importance of renal mass on graft function outcome after 12 months of cadaveric donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have measured cadaveric kidney weight to investigate its relation to recipient kidney function related to it. The aim of this study was to evaluate kidney weight (cadaveric donor) and its relationship to creatinine clearance (CrCl) after 12 months posttransplantation. METHODS: We evaluated 81 renal transplantation recipients from cadaveric donors. We collected donor and recipient demographic, clinical and anthropometric data. Data about kidney weight were obtained through kidney measurement using an electronic machine at the moment of transplantation. RESULTS: The mean kidney weight was 201.4 +/- 10.2 g (200.5 +/- 11.6 g in women and 210.3 +/- 14.1 g in men). Kidney weight correlated with CrCl at 12 months (0.001). The CrCl at 12 months showed a significant correlation of graft weight/recipient weight ratio (P < .01). CONCLUSION: The cadaveric donor kidney weight significantly influenced the CrCl at 12 months after transplantation.

Best indications for local anaesthetics: bupivacaine.

Bupivacaine is a local anaesthetic of great potency and long duration but has also well known cardio-and CNS toxic side-effects. For many years it was nearby the only local anaesthetic with these characteristics, making it applicable to almost all kind of loco-regional anaesthetic techniques, and still nowadays, for economical reasons it is in many occasions the only alternative available. In this review, departing from analysis of the physical, chemical and pharmacological properties of this molecule and considering also its toxic potencies we wanted to analyze all clinical situations in which it is used. But above all we have reviewed the most recent international literature, which are actually the best indications for this drug, that in the last years with the appearance of first ropivacaine and then levobupivacaine, seemed to have lost its field of elective application. According to these analysis we concluded that this drug, though still remaining a good alternative in many fields of loco-regional anaesthesia (like peripheral blocks), as well as an efficient drug equal to the above mentioned ones in any sector like epidural analgesia in caesarean section, its best indication is subarachnoideal anaesthesia (combined and not) where it is the best available drug in hyperbaric solution without doubts. It might be interesting in the next future the comparison with hyperbaric solutions of levobupivacaine (not yet available).