Long-term functional follow-up after anterior rectal resection for cancer.

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective analysis including all of the patients that have undergone anterior resection for rectal cancer from January 1998 to December 2005 in two tertiary referral centers. The study aims to evaluate the long term functional results after low anterior resection and to identify the risk factors of postoperative bowel disorders. METHOD: Data were collected from the clinical records, and then the low anterior resection syndrome score which is a specific questionnaire to investigate the symptoms after surgery was submitted to the selected patients. Exclusion criteria were intra-abdominal rectal cancer, partial mesorectal excision, permanent stoma, recurrent local disease, and patients who declined the questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients were included in the analysis with a median age at the diagnosis of 66 years. The median follow-up was 13.7 years, and low anterior resection syndrome was reported in 44 patients (47.5 %), with major manifestations in 19 patients (20.5 %), and minor symptoms in 25 patients (27 %). Age more than 70 years, tumor distance from the external anal verge, neoadjuvant treatment, and interval time of closing stoma are independent prognostic factors of functional disorders after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its great impact on the quality of life of these patients, it is necessary to early identify the syndrome trying to reduce its manifestations. Moreover, the symptoms seem to remain stable 1 year after surgery; hence, it is important to have an exhaustive, preoperative counseling and an integrated post-operative functional and rehabilitational follow-up in association with the oncologic pathway.

Atypic large hepatic cyst with persistent elevated CA19.9 serum value: utility of intracystic CA72.4 dosage for a mini-invasive management.

Simple hepatic cysts are very common, but may be difficult to differentiate from a biliary cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma. Because the surgical treatment if needed, such as a hepatic fenestration or resection, depends on the diagnosis, the assay of intracystic tumor markers is useful.We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with a large hepatic cyst responsible of pain and inflammation. The combination of imaging findings, serum, and intracystic fluid tumor markers [CA72.4 (carbohydrate hydrogen)] permitted to diagnose a simple hepatic cyst despite an unusual persistent elevated serum CA19.9 level. A laparoscopic cyst fenestration was proposed with an uneventful postoperative course. The pathological findings showed a simple hepatic cyst.In case of hepatic cysts, radiological findings can discriminate between benign and (pre)malignant lesions, but in case of doubtful diagnosis, the serum and intracystic tumor markers can be helpful.The use of serum or intracystic tumor marker allows to choose the correct therapeutic strategy and to use mini-invasive approach when feasible.

Laparoscopic Management of Dilatation of Excluded Stomach After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

INTRODUCTION: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is considered as the gold standard for surgical management of morbid obesity due to its good results on weight loss and correction of comorbidities related to obesity and its few complication rates. Here, we describe a present strategy for dealing with an unusual complication after RYGB, responsible for chronic pain, as a chronic dilatation of excluded stomach. METHODS: The video shows our laparoscopic treatment of an excluded gastric fundus dilatation. A 21-year-old woman with history of RYGB was admitted in our center for recurrent abdominal pain. Many consultations have been performed before for the same reason and without explanation for this chronic abdominal pain. RESULTS: We found that a dilatation of the excluded gastric fundus was responsible for recurrent abdominal pain and thus required revisional surgery. An abdominal computed tomography with oral contrast study showed an atypical dilatation of the excluded stomach without gastro-gastric fistula or others abnormal findings. Intra-operative exploration then revealed multiple adhesions. During surgery, released of the excluded stomach allow to confirm a dilatation of the excluded fundus due to error in stapling when performing the vertical part of the gastric pouch of the RYGB. We resected the excluded dilated gastric fundus. An uneventful post-operative course enabled rapid discharge (post-operative day 3). CONCLUSION: Dilatation of the excluded gastric pouch due to staple line misfiring during RYGB is a rare complication and can explain chronic abdominal pain. Laparoscopy can be useful to confirm the diagnosis and allow treatment using gastric resection in our case.