Aortic graft in the jejunum without bleeding. A real surprise at endoscopy.

It is known that prosthetic infection, graft-duodenal fistula, and erosion are possible late complications after aortic reconstruction, and that all these reported complications are accompanied generally by variable bleeding with different presentations. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who underwent a diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for investigation of nausea, anorexia, asthenia, fever, and mild leukocytosis. The patient's medical history included a gastric resection for ulcer, with Billroth II gastrojejunostomy reconstruction and implantation of a Dacron vascular graft for abdominal aortic aneurysm 20 years and 3 years earlier, respectively. Abdomen ultrasonography showed hypoechoic area around an aortic prosthesis. Endoscopy found a foreign body corresponding to the vascular graft at the jejunum. No signs of bleeding were recorded. The patient was hospitalized and submitted to surgery that involved extra-anatomic axillofemoral bypass, bowel resection with a gastrojejunum Roux anastomosis, and prosthesis removal.

Large hyperplastic polyps of the colon.

Hyperplastic polyps are the most frequent nonneoplastic lesions of the colon. Typically, they are small sessile polyps (5 mm) located in the rectosigmoid area. Recently, they have been identified as markers of neoplastic polyps. Herein we describe four cases of large (20 mm in size) hyperplastic polyps found at our institution over a 9-year period. All four polyps were excised by endoscopic polypectomy on an outpatient basis without complications. Two polyps were in the right colon; one was pedunculated, none of them was associated with synchronous neoplastic polyps or polyposis. Up to now, follow-up in three patients has been negative for metachronous polyps. We conclude that a large hyperplastic polyp is an unexpected and rare finding, difficult to distinguish, and not related to particular colonic sites or synchronous adenomatous lesions. These polyps should be removed with a standard technique, and patients need to be followed with successive endoscopies.

Agenesis of the gallbladder found at laparoscopy in an adult patient with cardiac congenital malformation.

We report a case of gallbladder agenesis in a 30-year-old woman affected by a cardiac congenital malformation who had been operated on at the age of 12. The patient was sent for laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to a preoperative diagnosis of cholelithiasis using clinical and instrumental examinations such as ultrasonography and cholangiography. During laparoscopy, the gallbladder was not found, and laparotomy with intraoperative cholangiography and ultrasonography was performed which also resulted negative. The preoperative possibility of a diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis, the association with other malformations and the steps to be taken to discover agenesis of the gallbladder are discussed.

Endoscopic preoperative colonic tattooing: a clinical and surgical complication.

Endoscopic colonic tattooing is the simplest and most economic technique for identifying small lesions or polypectomy sites during open and laparoscopic surgery. Moreover, it is useful for the endoscopic follow-up of polypectomy sites. India ink is the agent of choice because of its long-lasting stain and the low risk of adverse reaction and toxicity. Very few cases of complications have been reported. We report here the case of a patient in whom colonic tattooing in preparation for surgical resection was followed by clinical complications such as fever and abdominal pain. An abscess-type inflamed pseudotumor was found at laparotomy. Histological examination revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation.

Endoscopic treatment of colorectal benign-appearing lesions 3 cm or larger: techniques and outcome.

PURPOSE: Colonoscopic polypectomy is the preferred technique to remove the majority of polyps. The authors evaluate feasibility, safety, and the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment of colorectal benign-appearing polyps equal to or larger than 3 cm. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with 104 giant polyps underwent polypectomy within a nine-year period. The majority of these procedures were performed on an outpatient basis, all on unsedated patients. Gross appearance, size, location, histologic characteristics, synchronous lesions, modality, and adequacy of removal of giant polyps were analyzed. The follow-up was achieved in 89 percent of patients during a period ranging from 6 to 96 months (median, 38). RESULTS: Of the 104 removed polyps, 75 (72 percent) were adenomatous, 2 (2 percent) were hyperplastic, and 27 (26 percent) were malignant polyps. Six patients had more than one giant polyp. Several additional smaller polyps were found in 52 patients and a synchronous cancer in 4. Twenty-one (20 percent) giant polyps were equal to or larger than 4 cm. Forty-nine were pedunculated, 20 were short-stalked, and 35 were sessile. Sixty-one polyps were excised in one piece, and forty-three were excised using a piecemeal technique. Only four complications (3.8 percent) were recorded; all cases were treated endoscopically. Fifty-eight (75 percent) adenomas and eighteen (67 percent) malignant polyps were completely excised. Surgery was performed in 7 of 27 patients (27 percent) with malignant polyps, where there was a doubtful, infiltrated margin or poorly differentiated cancer. Postpolypectomy surveillance permitted the detection and treatment of 25 metachronous or recurrent polyps and a metachronous cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that polypectomy of giant colorectal polyps, performed by an expert endoscopist, is feasible, effective, and safe, even on an outpatient basis. The authors confirm that malignant polyps with incomplete excision, lymphovascular invasion, and poor differentiation require bowel resection. Postpolypectomy surveillance is useful for all patients who have undergone colonoscopic resection of giant adenomatous or malignant polyps.

Low and ultra-low rectal resection: results and prospectives.

We present our experience in the treatment of middle-lower rectal cancer particularly in reference to the use of those operative techniques which permit to save the sphincteric system. From 1990 to April 1995 seventy-two patients were operated on for middle-lower rectal cancer applying the Knight-Griffen technique. Such a method has already demonstrated the characteristics of a valid anastomosis, being simple, fast and safe. The introduction of stapler devices in the rectal surgery, particularly in its middle-lower tract has significantly modified the quality of life of such patients, reducing drastically the number of colostomies. The possibility to extend the rectal resection towards the anus with colo-anal anastomosis has showed a loco-regional recurrence rate not different from abdominal-perineal resection, even though with some sphincteric troubles due to incontinence. The satisfying surgical results obtained with low and ultra-low recta resections, by now widewordly accepted, should not anyway mask the importance of an early diagnosis as the main factor governing the prognosis (i.e. the overall mortality).