Case report: rectal perforation caused by Schistosoma haematobium.

A 31-year-old woman from Cameroon was admitted to the University of Strasbourg Hospital in December 2007 with pelvic pain and fever that developed over three days. Her condition rapidly worsened and she underwent emergency exploratory celioscopy. Surgeons found peritoneal and retrouterine abscesses. The high rectum had a 4-cm perforation with infiltrated, friable, and irregular edges. A biopsy specimen of this pseudotumoral specimen showed many Schistosoma haematobium eggs with an inflammatory reaction surrounding the eggs. The patient was treated with praziquantel (40 mg/kg/day) for 5 days and a 4-week course of antibiotic therapy. Her progress was good and digestive continuity surgery was performed four months later. Schistosomiasis frequently involves rectal mucosa, but perforation is unusual. Our review of the literature found only two cases of colon perforation associated with S. mansoni infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case of rectal perforation caused by S. haematobium described in the literature.

Pancreatogastrostomy as a salvage procedure to treat severe postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.

HYPOTHESIS: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is one of the most severe surgical complications of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) reconstruction. Recently, POPF has been classified as grade A, B, or C. Relaparotomy is mandatory for POPF associated with sepsis or hemorrhage (grade C). Peripancreatic drainage and completion pancreatectomy are the procedures most commonly used, but associated morbidity and mortality remain high. We hypothesized that the results of pancreatogastrostomy (PG) for treatment of grade C POPF following PD with PJ in the rare patients for whom relaparotomy is necessary would be similar to the results in a historical series of similar patients who underwent completion pancreatectomy. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Academic research. PATIENTS: Between June 1, 1988, and June 30, 2005, 403 patients underwent PD (85 with PJ and 318 with PG). During the same period, 12 patients were treated for grade C POPF, which occurred only after PD with PJ. INTERVENTIONS: All 12 patients with grade C POPF required relaparotomy. Eight patients underwent completion pancreatectomy (group A), and 4 patients underwent salvage telescoped PG with preservation of the pancreatic remnant (group B). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: Mortality was 50% (4 of 8 patients) in group A and 0% (0 of 4 patients) in group B. Specific and general complications and the length of hospital stay were similar in both groups. One patient in group B developed grade B POPF, which was managed nonsurgically. Postoperative diabetes mellitus occurred in all patients in group A and in 1 patient in group B. CONCLUSION: In selected patients, salvage PG can be considered a safe and efficient alternative to completion pancreatectomy for the treatment of grade C POPF after PD with PJ.

Right portal vein embolization before right hepatectomy for unilobar colorectal liver metastases reduces the intrahepatic recurrence rate.

AIM: To assess the effect of portal vein embolization (PVE) on intrahepatic recurrence rate after right hepatectomy for unilobar colorectal liver metastases (CLM). SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that CLM could spread retrogradely through the portal vein. PVE may reduce tumor shedding by the occlusion of distal portal branches. However, no study reported the clinical effect of PVE on intrahepatic recurrence after CLM resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2003, 44 patients requiring a right hepatectomy for unilobar CLM were operated in our institution. Right hepatectomy was performed after PVE in 23 patients (group A) and without PVE in 21 (group B). Surgical outcome and site of recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: The postoperative mortality was nil. Overall morbidity and transitory liver failure rates were similar in groups A and B (43.4% and 17.3% vs. 33.3% and 14.2%, respectively). The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates did not differ in group A and B patients (61.2% and 43.7% vs. 49.7% and 35.5%, respectively; P = 0.862). The disease-free survival rate was similar in both groups. Thirty patients (68.2%) developed recurrences. Recurrences were intrahepatic in 22 patients (50%) and extrahepatic in 27 (61.3%). Intrahepatic recurrence rate was significantly lower in group A compared with group B (26.0% vs. 76.1% respectively; P < 0.001). PVE, number of CLM, and administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for intrahepatic recurrences. CONCLUSION: This study showed that PVE reduces intrahepatic recurrence rate after right hepatectomy for unilobar CLM.