The rationale behind complete mesocolic excision (CME) and a central vascular ligation for colon cancer in open and laparoscopic surgery : proceedings of a consensus conference.

BACKGROUND: It has been evident for a while that the result after resection for colon cancer may not have been optimal. Several years ago, this was showed by some leading surgeons in the USA but a concept of improving results was not consistently pursued. Later, surgeons in Europe and Japan have increasingly adopted the more radical principle of complete mesocolic excision (CME) as the optimal approach for colon cancer. The concept of CME is a similar philosophy to that of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer and precise terminology and optimal surgery are key factors. METHOD: There are three essential components to CME. The main component involves a dissection between the mesenteric plane and the parietal fascia and removal of the mesentery within a complete envelope of mesenteric fascia and visceral peritoneum that contains all lymph nodes draining the tumour area (Hohenberger et al., Colorectal Disease 11:354-365, 2009; West et al., J Clin Oncol 28:272-278, 2009). The second component is a central vascular tie to completely remove all lymph nodes in the central (vertical) direction. The third component is resection of an adequate length of bowel to remove involved pericolic lymph nodes in the longitudinal direction. RESULT: The oncological rationale for CME and various technical aspects of the surgical management will be explored. CONCLUSION: The consensus conference agreed that there are sound oncological hypotheses for a more radical approach than has been common up to now. However, this may not necessarily apply in early stages of the tumour stage. Laparoscopic resection appears to be equally well suited for resection as open surgery.

Short term results of complete (D3) vs. standard (D2) mesenteric excision in colon cancer shows improved outcome of complete mesenteric excision in patients with TNM stages I-II.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the new method of complete mesocolic excision (CME) with a high (apical) vascular tie (D3 resection) had an immediate effect compared with a conventional (standard) approach even in those patients without lymph node metastases. METHODS: A cohort of 189 consecutive patients with tumour-nodal-metastasis (TNM) stages I-II and a mean age of 73 years were operated on in the period from January 2007 to December 2008 in three community teaching hospitals. The CME approach (n = 89), used in hospital A, was compared to the standard technique used (n = 105) in two other hospitals, B and C. Lymph node yields from the specimens were used as a surrogate measure of radical resections. Outcome was analysed after a median follow-up of 50.2 months. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality rate was 2.8 % in the CME group and 8.6 % in the standard group. The 3-year overall survival (OS) in the CME group was 88.1 versus 79.0 % (p = 0.003) in the standard group, and the corresponding disease-free survival (DFS) was 82.1 versus 74.3 % (p = 0.026). Cancer-specific survival was 95.2 % in the CME group versus 90.5 % in the standard group (p = 0.067). Age, operative technique, and T category were significant in multiple Cox regressions of OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the standard (D2) approach, introduction of CME surgical management of colon cancer resulted in a significant immediate improvement of 3-year survival for patients with TNM stage I-II tumours as assessed by OS and DFS.

Cholecystectomy improves long-term success after endoscopic treatment of CBD stones.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim was to study prospectively primary endoscopic treatment of CBD stones and further the long-term need for renewed gallstone disease interventions, defined as short- and long-term outcome. METHODOLOGY: Seven years prospective follow-up of 101 consecutive patients with CBD stones who underwent endoscopic treatment with the intent of primarily achieving duct clearance. RESULTS: Many patients underwent several endoscopy sessions before stone clearance was completed in 83%. Eleven patients were treated surgically, 2 patients received a permanent stent, and the remaining 3 became stone free with other means. Complications occurred in 47 patients. During follow-up, 31 patients were readmitted for gallstone disease and 15 of these had recurrent CBD stones. Ten percent (8/78) of patients with the gallbladder in situ had acute cholecystitis during follow-up and late cholecystectomy was carried out in 22%. Risk factors for new gallstone disease were an in situ gallbladder containing stones and previous episodes of CBD stones. CONCLUSIONS: A goal of complete CBD stone clearance with ERC and ES proved to be relatively resource consuming. Subsequent cholecystectomy after duct clearance for CBD should be advised when the gallbladder lodges gallstones, especially in younger patients. Recurrent CBD stones were not influenced by cholecystectomy.

Quality of life and pain in patients with acute cholecystitis. Results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis carries a higher risk of subsequent gallstone related events than symptomatic, non-complicated disease. However, it is largely unknown to what extent non-operative treatment will affect the patient's well-being as no trial has studied the possible consequences on pain and quality of life. Our aim was to study in a randomized trial how observational treatment (watchful waiting) compared to cholecystectomy. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with acute cholecystitis were randomized to observation or cholecystectomy. All gallstone related events were registered and patients answered questionnaires on quality of life (PGWB and NHP) and pain (Pain score and VAPS) at randomization and at 6, 12 and 60 months later. RESULTS: Patients were followed-up for a median of 67 months. Ten of 33 patients (30%, 95% CI 15%-46%) patients randomized to observation and 27 of 31 (87%, 95% CI 75 %- 99%) of patients randomized to operation had a cholecystectomy. Twelve of 33 (36%, 95% CI 20%-53%) patients in the observation group had a gallstone related event compared to 6 of 31 (19%, 95% CI 5%-33%) patients in the operation group, but the difference was not significant. When patients were grouped according to randomization or actual operative outcome (+/- cholecystectomy), we did not find any significant differences in pain or quality of life measurements. CONCLUSION: Although conservative treatment of AC carried a certain but not significantly increased risk of subsequent gallstone related events, this did not influence the symptomatic outcome as assessed by quality of life and pain measurements. Thus, we argue that conservative (non-operative) treatment and observation of AC is an acceptable option and should at least be considered in elderly and frail patients.

Histology of chronic pilonidal sinus.

Many theories concerning the development of chronic pilonidal sinus have been proposed. A histologic study of primary pilonidal sinus in 53 patients is presented. Subcutaneous tissue contained sinuses surrounded by chronic inflammation. Hair in sinuses was found in three quarters of the specimens examined. Examination showed that hair entered via one of the sinus openings created. Pits (defined as darker spots of varying width in the midline of the internatal cleft) were found to be indentations of the skin containing keratin plugs and debris. They may be isolated or connected with hair follicles. Pilonidal sinuses are chronic inflammatory processes of the skin caused by keratin plugs and debris clinically observed as pits, having penetrated the dermis.

The role of cefoxitin prophylaxis in chronic pilonidal sinus treated with excision and primary suture.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of chronic pilonidal sinus with excision and primary suture is followed by a relatively high proportion of wound infections. The role of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in improving results is not clear. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred fifty-three patients with chronic pilonidal sinus were operated on with radical excision and primary suture and randomized to receive a single dose antibiotic prophylaxis of 2 g cefoxitin intravenously (n = 78) or no prophylaxis (n = 75). RESULTS: The most common complications consisted of partial, slight separation of wound edges with slight discharge. In the group with cefoxitin, 34 patients (44 percent) had complications compared with 32 patients (43 percent) in the group without prophylaxis. Fifty-four patients (69 percent) healed within four weeks in the group with cefoxitin, whereas 48 (64 percent) healed within four weeks in the group without prophylaxis. After a follow-up period of six to 30 months, two patients in each group had not healed. Including these, two patients (3 percent) had recurrences in the group with cefoxitin and five patients (7 percent) in the group without prophylaxis (p = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: The immediate and short-term results after excision and primary suture for chronic pilonidal sinus are not influenced significantly by a single dose prophylaxis of 2 g cefoxitin.

Spontaneous liver hematomas induced by anti-coagulation therapy. A case report and review of the literature.

We report on a case of massive bleeding into the liver parenchyma during treatment with a combination of warfarin sodium and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. A fifty-five-year-old woman was put on long-term anticoagulant therapy with warfarin sodium. Two years later a course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was given to treat bronchitis. Following a bout of severe epigastric pain, ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) then showed an enlarged liver containing several large hematomas. Subsequent CT scans, after tentative treatment only, showed regression of the liver hematomas, with almost complete disappearance after eight months. Bleeding complications and drug interactions related to this case are discussed, together with a review of the only six previous reports in the world literature of liver hematomas following anticoagulant therapy. Also mentioned are five patients in whom thrombolytic therapy gave rise to the same adverse reaction.

The result of liver resection for colorectal metastases in a small volume hospital in western Norway.

AIM: Our aim was to compare liver resection for colorectal metastases in a non-referral, small volume unit with a dedicated staff, with results from larger units. METHODS: Thirty patients (15 men and 15 women) with a median age of 64years (range 29-78) underwent hepatic resection during a 5-year period from 1997 to 2003 in a teaching hospital in western Norway. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent (19/30) of the colorectal tumours were Dukes stage C (n=19) and CEA was increased in seven patients (23%), of which four (13%) had values above 50microg/l. The metastases were synchronous with the colorectal tumours in 11 patients (37%). Non-anatomical (wedge) resections were the dominant type of surgeries and the resection margins were clear in all patients. A 77-year-old man (3%) died of MOF after right hemihepatectomy. Morbidity was encountered in eight other patients (28%). In 22 patients (76%) with recurrent disease, metastases first appeared in the liver in 18 (82%) of these patients. Seven patients (23%) have had resections for recurrences. Mean time to recurrence was 20months (range 3-87). The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 42%. Six patients (20%) are currently disease free. CONCLUSION: Although our unit has treated a small number of patients compared with specialized units elsewhere, the survival rate, as well as morbidity and mortality, were comparable. However, 62% have had recurrent liver disease and this may suggest a role for neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy in selected cases.

Ultrasound examination shows disturbed proximal gastric function in symptomatic gallstone patients with dyspepsia and improvement after cholecystectomy--gallstones and gastric emptying.

AIM: The aim of our study was to examine gastric function, gallbladder emptying, and dyspepsia in symptomatic gallbladder stone patients (SGBS) to see if a motility disorder, expressed by gastric function and gallbladder emptying, may cause dyspepsia in SBGS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gastric function and gallbladder emptying in 21 SGBS referred for surgical treatment were measured by ultrasound after ingestion of 500 ml of a meat soup (bouillon). Dyspeptic symptoms were simultaneously recorded on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The patients were re-examined 10 months after cholecystectomy. Hospital staff (n = 14) served as control subjects (C). RESULTS: In SGBS, the frontal diameter of the proximal stomach was wider than in C at both 10 minutes (55.7 vs. 48.3 mm; p = 0.053) and 20 minutes (49.3 vs. 39.5 mm; p = 0.002), and the sagittal area of the proximal stomach was larger at 10 minutes (25.0 vs. 20.9 cm (2); p = 0.03). The postprandial frontal diameter decreased significantly after cholecystectomy (immediately after the meal: 51.3 mm; p = 0.03, at 10 minutes: 47.6 mm; p = 0.05, and at 20 minutes: 39.1 mm; p = 0.004). Twenty minutes after meal ingestion, gallbladder emptying was significantly less in SGBS than in C with a mean (SD) emptying of 20 % (17) versus 33 % (18); p < 0.04. In the fasting state, SGBS felt more hunger than C (VAS 67 mm vs. 39 mm; p = 0.03). After cholecystectomy, the feeling of hunger decreased (VAS 27 mm; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: SGBS had a wider proximal stomach and more hunger in the fasting state than C. After cholecystectomy the proximal stomach function and the hunger score improved. Our results suggest a physiological link between symptomatic gallstone disease and dyspepsia expressed by impaired proximal gastric function.

Treatment of biliary fistula by percutaneous transhepatic drainage. Case report.

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed in two patients with bile-duct injury resulting from surgery. A fistula healed without surgical intervention in both cases. This type of drainage seems to be therapeutically suitable for selected cases of iatrogenic bile duct lesion.

A prospective study of the length of the distal margin after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

The length of distal margin between the lower border of the tumour and the level of division during low anterior resection may be related to the rate of local recurrence. The method of measuring the distal clearance is not usually stated in reports of the operation. The distal margin was measured prospectively in 5 different ways in 20 patients. A difference was observed between various methods of measurement of the same specimen in situ, unpinned and pinned out before and after fixation. The margin was significantly less (p less than 0.001) in unpinned compared with pinned specimens. There was poor correlation between the in situ measurement and that determined by the pathologist in both unpinned and pinned specimens. There was no significant difference before and after fixation if the specimen had been pinned but significant (p less than 0.001) shrinkage occurred with fixation when the specimen had not been pinned.

Traumatic and postoperative ischemic liver necrosis: causes, risk factors and treatment.

BACKGROUND: To study the cause and outcome of ischemic liver necrosis and suggest treatment of these patients. METHODS: Retrospective study of 13 patients with ischemic liver necrosis treated at our departments from 1990 until 1997. RESULTS: Ischemic liver necrosis was caused by general hypoxia (n = 1) or acute arterial occlusion (n = 12) of the celiac and superior mesenteric artery (SMA, n = 3), proper hepatic artery (PHA, n = 1), right hepatic artery (RHA, n = 2), left hepatic artery (LHA, n = 2) and intrahepatic vessels (n = 4). Six of the cases were related to surgical procedures, 5 of these (38%) were unintended arterial injuries after biliary surgery. Ten patients (77%) had risk factors contributing to the development of liver necrosis: septicemia (n = 4), jaundice and septicemia (n = 2), shock and hypoxia (n = 3) and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 1). Five patients (38%) needed resection of the liver necrosis due to infected necrosis. Three patients (23%) died; two of these had celiac/SMA occlusion. One died due to complete gastrointestinal ischemia and severe lactacidosis, two died of multiorgan failure after bile leakage and septicemia. CONCLUSION: Ischemic liver necrosis is mainly caused by arterial occlusion due to arteriosclerosis, arterial transection during biliary surgery or blunt liver trauma, and seldom occurs without additional risk factors. 50% of the patients develop infected necrosis and need liver resection. Patients with sterile necrosis may recover without surgical procedures of the liver. The mortality in patients with central (celiac/SMA) and peripheral (CHA, PHA, RHA, LHA, intrahepatic branches) occlusions was 67% (2/3) and 11% (1/9), respectively.

Severe ARDS may cause right heart failure with extreme hepatomegaly but without hepatic failure.

A young trauma patient developed severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), right heart failure, hepatic congestion and an extreme hepatomegaly but no hepatic failure. The patient needed 100% oxygen during ventilatory support for 80 days and was weaned from the ventilator after more than 100 days. The hepatomegaly gradually disappeared. Four months after the injury, the anatomical shape of the lungs, heart and liver were normalized. This case illustrates that severe ARDS may cause right heart failure and extreme hepatomegaly due to venous congestion in the liver and spleen, but without hepatic failure.

[Diagnosis and treatment with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography]. / Diagnostikk og behandling med endoskopisk retrograd kolangiopankreatikografi.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was carried out for the first time in 1968. Five years later endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed. Since then both modalities have become established as necessary adjuncts in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pathology in the bile duct or pancreas. The main indication is common bile duct stone, and as a consequence of this treatment fewer patients are now treated surgically. Patients with malignant bile duct obstruction can be given reasonable palliation of both jaundice and pruritus and therefore improved quality of life. Some reports indicate that endoscopic drainage may be useful for pancreatic stenosis. Complications are few, but vigilance and prompt treatment is necessary to keep morbidity at a minimum. Follow-up after several years shows that sphincterotomy is successful also in the long term. The authors discuss the present diagnostic and therapeutic situation.

Cryopreservation of osteo-chondral grafts in rabbits.

To study the cryopreservation of osteoarticular allografts, a lateral femoral condyle of the rabbit was transplanted fresh, after uncontrolled freezing to -80 degrees C with 4 weeks preservation, and after freezing 1 degree C per min to -100 degrees C in 10 per cent dimethylsulphoxide medium with 4-week storage in liquid nitrogen. Autografts were used as controls. After 3 months, the incorporation of the grafted bone was good in all technically successful cases. The NADH2 diaphorase activity and 35S sulphate uptake indicated well-functioning chondrocytes in all autografts. In the allografts, areas lacking enzyme activity and lacking 35S uptake were observed in cartilages with otherwise normally functioning chondrocytes. No differences were found between the three allograft groups. We conclude that freezing permits reasonably good short-term bank preservation of cartilage. We found no difference between conventional freezing and controlled slow freezing with preservative.

A comparative study of polydioxanone (PDS) and polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) in colonic anastomoses in rats.

The use of polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) in colonic anastomoses is theoretically undesirable because its short dissolution time and multifilament structure may lead to local sepsis and anastomotic leakage. We have compared Vicryl with a newly introduced monofilament absorbable suture which has a longer dissolution time than Vicryl. In a study of 98 rat colonic anastomoses no difference was found in complication rates or cellular reaction to the suture material between Vicryl and polydioxanone (PDS). The use of monofilament suture with longer dissolution time does not necessarily imply added security for colonic anastomoses.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with liver resection. Case report.

In a patient who underwent extended right hemihepatectomy for a mass in the right liver lobe, the lesion proved to be primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma. When recurrence was diagnosed 9 months later, chemotherapy was begun. Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the liver is rare, with only c. 55 cases reported in the world literature.

Morbidity and short term results in a randomised trial of open compared with closed treatment of chronic pilonidal sinus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morbidity and short term results after open compared with closed treatment of chronic pilonidal sinus. DESIGN: Randomised control trial. SUBJECTS: 120 of 164 patients with chronic pilonidal sinus treated between April 1987 and April 1989. INTERVENTIONS: 60 patients were treated by excision and primary suture, and 60 by excision and open packing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of early complications (bleeding that needed treatment, wound breakdown, infection, haematoma, or wound pain), number of postoperative visits required, and length of sick leave taken. RESULTS: Those patients who underwent excision and suture had slightly but not significantly fewer early complications (16/60, 27%, compared with 23/60, 38%). Most of the early complications were the result of infection (8, 13% compared with 18, 30%, respectively). They also required fewer followup visits and less sick leave, and their wounds healed more quickly. At one year the numbers of late complications were 19 (32%) and 14 (23%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Excision and primary closure of chronic pilonidal sinus causes less morbidity and is more cost effective than excision and open packing. We plan a three year follow-up to see if these results are maintained.

Value of computed tomography in preoperative evaluation of resectability and staging in oesophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate computed tomography (CT) as a method of staging patients with oesophageal carcinoma. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway. SUBJECTS: 85 patients who presented with oesophageal carcinoma between February 1982 and December 1989. INTERVENTIONS: Assessment by CT was made in all patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation with findings at operation, and histological examination of operative specimens. RESULTS: From the findings at operation in the 46 patients who were operated on (resection, n = 39; exploration only, n = 7) the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT staging of the growth were 80%, 91%, and 88%, and when histological confirmation of infiltration was taken into consideration the figures were 25%, 84%, and 54%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT detection of lymph node metastases were 22%, 95%, and 55%. CONCLUSION: Staging of oesophageal cancer with CT before operation is useful in judging resectability, but the smaller tumours should be assessed with caution. CT is unreliable in the diagnosis of the depth of infiltration and the presence of lymph node metastases compared with histological examination.