First World Consensus Conference on pancreas transplantation: Part II - recommendations.

The First World Consensus Conference on Pancreas Transplantation provided 49 jury deliberations regarding the impact of pancreas transplantation on the treatment of diabetic patients, and 110 experts' recommendations for the practice of pancreas transplantation. The main message from this consensus conference is that both simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) and pancreas transplantation alone can improve long-term patient survival, and all types of pancreas transplantation dramatically improve the quality of life of recipients. Pancreas transplantation may also improve the course of chronic complications of diabetes, depending on their severity. Therefore, the advantages of pancreas transplantation appear to clearly surpass potential disadvantages. Pancreas after kidney transplantation increases the risk of mortality only in the early period after transplantation, but is associated with improved life expectancy thereafter. Additionally, preemptive SPK, when compared to SPK performed in patients undergoing dialysis, appears to be associated with improved outcomes. Time on dialysis has negative prognostic implications in SPK recipients. Increased long-term survival, improvement in the course of diabetic complications, and amelioration of quality of life justify preferential allocation of kidney grafts to SPK recipients. Audience discussions and live voting are available online at the following URL address: http://mediaeventi.unipi.it/category/1st-world-consensus-conference-of-pancreas-transplantation/246.

Pancreas-Kidney transplantation: Impact of dialysis modality on the outcome.

It remains controversial whether dialysis modality prior to SPKT (simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation) affects the outcome. We analyzed outcomes in type 1 diabetic patients undergoing SPKT, comparing peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) groups: 119 had been on HD; 39 on PD. They were comparable except regarding dialysis time, higher in HD patients (30 ± 23 vs. 21 ± 15 months, P = 0.003). Thrombosis-driven relaparotomy was more frequent in PD patients (12.8% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.014). Pancreas loss due to infection was higher in PD patients (12.8% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.042). Thrombosis-related kidney loss was more frequent in PD patients (5.1%, vs. 0% in HD patients, P = 0.058). Thirteen deaths occurred, more within the PD group (17.9% vs. 5%; P = 0.011), being infection the leading cause (13.5%, vs. 1.7% in HD patients, P = 0.010). Patient survival was inferior in PD patients. Besides PD, cardiovascular disease and graft failure were independent predictors of patient death. In conclusion, PD patients more frequently complicated with intra-abominal infection leading to pancreatic loss and with renal thrombosis, with adverse impact on survival. As a PD first strategy in end-stage renal disease patients is generally associated with good outcomes, these gloomier results after SPKT urge for careful adjustment of infection and thrombosis prophylactic protocols in PD patients.

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare cystic lesion that arises from the embryonic foregut with approximately 100 cases reported. Most commonly identified in segment IV of the liver, CHFC is typically asymptomatic and incidentally found on abdominal imaging. It is important to consider this entity in the differential diagnosis of atypical liver lesions since CHFC carries a risk of transformation into squamous cell carcinoma. A suspicion of CHFC is therefore an indication for surgical resection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old male presented to surgery consultation for further evaluation of a hepatic cyst incidentally found on abdominal ultrasound. The patient was completely asymptomatic. Both abdominal computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scan confirmed a 4 cm subcapsular cyst in segment IVa. Additional workup was unremarkable. Considering the diagnostic doubt the patient underwent laparoscopic cyst enucleation. Histology revealed a ciliated pseudostratified epithelium consistent with a CHFC. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: CHFC is a rare diagnostic entity that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic hepatic lesions, particularly those located in segment IV of the liver. Since it is frequently asymptomatic, CHFC is usually found incidentally during surgery or imaging studies. Diagnosis of CHFC preoperatively is difficult due to the lack of specific radiographic findings. Moreover, metaplasia and squamous carcinoma can occur. Therefore complete surgical excision is the recommended treatment. CONCLUSION: Despite its rarity, CHFC carries a risk of malignant transformation. Accurate diagnosis is mandatory and surgical excision is recommended even in asymptomatic CHFC.

Perforation of Meckel's diverticulum by a swallowed fish bone: case report and literature review.

Meckel's diverticulum is the commonest congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. Most cases are asymptomatic and only incidentally found. Its perforation by a foreign body is an extremely rare event. A 53-year-old female presented to Emergency Department with abdominal pain on the right iliac fossa and vomiting. CT scan was performed and showed an intestinal perforation by a foreign body. Diagnostic laparoscopy identified a perforation of a Meckel's diverticulum by a fish bone and a laparoscopic stapled diverticulectomy was performed. Meckel's diverticulum complications are more common in childhood, usually as bleeding. In adults, intestinal obstruction and inflammation are the usual manifestations. Although most swallowed foreign bodies are harmless, in a small number of cases perforation may occur. Preoperative diagnosis of complicated Meckel´s diverticulum is challenging and can often mimic other more common conditions. Laparoscopy is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated Meckel's diverticulum.

Sigmoid Volvulus Through a Transmesenteric Hernia.

Internal hernias are a rare pathology with very low incidence. Transmesenteric hernias represent less than 10% of all cases and may occur at any age. They involve more often the small bowel and, more rarely, the colon. We present a case of a sigmoid volvulus through a transmesenteric hernia in a 19-year-old patient.

Type 2 Autoimmune Pancreatitis: A Challenge in the Differential Diagnosis of a Pancreatic Mass.

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune pancreatitis is a rare entity of unknown etiology that can mimic pancreatic cancer and whose diagnosis involves clinical, serological, imagiological, and histological findings. There are two types of autoimmune pancreatitis: type 1, in which the pancreas is involved as one part of a systemic immunoglobulin G4-related disease, and type 2, generally without immunoglobulin G4-positive cells and without systemic involvement. CASE: We report the case of a 45-year-old female, who underwent an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging for etiological study of a solid liver lesion, which revealed a tail pancreatic mass. Laboratory analyses showed normal levels of immunoglobulin G4 and negative antinuclear antibodies. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a homogeneous and hypoechogenic lesion in the pancreatic tail with a "sausage-like" appearance. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was inconclusive and the patient underwent a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Histopathology examination confirmed the diagnosis of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the challenge in the diagnostic approach of a pancreatic mass, particularly in distinguishing benign from malignant disease.

Introdução: A pancreatite autoimune é uma entidade rara, de etiopatogenia desconhecida, que pode simular cancro do pâncreas e cujo diagnóstico envolve a integração de dados clínicos, serológicos, imagiológicos e histológicos. Descrevem-se dois tipos de pancreatite autoimune: tipo 1, cujo envolvimento pancreático integra o espetro das doenças associadas à imunoglobulina G4, e tipo 2, geralmente sem evidência de células imunoglobulina G4 positivas e sem manifestações sistémicas. Caso: Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 45 anos, submetida a ressonância magnética abdominal para esclarecimento etiológico de lesão nodular hepática que revelou uma massa na cauda do pâncreas. Analiticamente apresentava imunoglobulina G4 normal e anticorpos antinucleares negativos. A ultrassonografia endoscópica revelou uma lesão homogénea e hipoecogénica na cauda pancreática com morfologia "em salsicha". A punção aspirativa por agulha fina foi inconclusiva tendo a doente sido submetida a pancreatectomia distal por via laparoscópica. O exame histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico de pancreatite autoimune tipo 2. Conclusão: Este caso destaca o desafio na abordagem diagnóstica da massa pancreática, particularmente na diferenciação entre patologia benigna e maligna.

Foramen of Winslow hernia: case report of a minimally invasive approach.

Foramen of Winslow hernias account for 8% of all internal hernias. Their non-specific presentation and often late diagnosis are associated with an estimated mortality of 50%. The use of complementary diagnostic methods facilitates the diagnosis and planning of the therapeutic strategy. Urgent surgery is the appropriate treatment due to the risk of intestinal ischemia, being laparotomy the main form of approach described. Few cases of laparoscopy are referred to in the literature.

Perforated duodenal diverticulum: Surgical treatment and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Duodenum is the second most frequent location for a diverticulum in the digestive tract. Complications are rare and perforation was only reported in less than 200 cases. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 79-year-old female was admitted to Emergency Department with abdominal pain and vomiting for the last 24h. A CT scan was performed and moderated extra-luminal air was identified. During surgery a fourth portion perforated duodenal diverticulum was diagnosed and duodenal resection was performed. DISCUSSION: First reported in 1710, the incidence of duodenal diverticula can be as high as 22%. Nevertheless complications are extremely rare and include haemorrhage, inflammation, compression of surrounding organs, neoplastic progression, cholestasis and perforation. As perforations are often retroperitoneal, symptoms are nonspecific and rarely include peritoneal irritation, making clinical diagnose a challenge. CT scan will usually present extra-luminal retroperitoneal air and mesenteric fat stranding, providing clues for the diagnosis. Although non-operative treatment has been reported in selected patients, standard treatment is surgery and alternatives are diverse including diverticulectomy or duodenopancreatectomy. CONCLUSION: Perforated diverticula of the fourth portion of the duodenum are extremely rare and current evidence still supports surgery as the primary treatment modality.