Mesenteric Cyst with GI Symptoms: A Fluid Approach to Treatment-Case Report and Literature Review.

Mesenteric cysts are defined as a heterogeneous group of intra-abdominal cystic lesions of the mesentery or omentum that may be found in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract from the duodenum to the rectum. The clinical condition is entirely asymptomatic in many patients, particularly with small cysts. The diagnosis is typically incidental and secondary to imaging performed for other purposes. In symptomatic patients, the clinical picture is characterized by nonspecific gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Treatment may be surgical or via interventional radiology. We report the case of a 55-year-old female patient complaining of left-sided abdominal discomfort and constipation lasting three months. An abdominal ultrasound showed the presence of a 10 × 14 × 16 cm anechoic cystic mass filling the whole anterior and left abdominal cavity, confirmed by CT and MRI. The cyst, removed laparoscopically, was histologically a simple mesothelial cyst. We reviewed the international literature over the last 10 years of all cases with mesenteric cysts > 10 cm in evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms at diagnosis, histology, performed treatment, and outcome.

Expression and Clinical Utility of Transcription Factors Involved in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition during Thyroid Cancer Progression.

The transcription factors involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT-TFs) silence the genes expressed in epithelial cells (e.g., E-cadherin) while inducing those typical of mesenchymal cells (e.g., vimentin). The core set of EMT-TFs comprises Zeb1, Zeb2, Snail1, Snail2, and Twist1. To date, information concerning their expression profile and clinical utility during thyroid cancer (TC) progression is still incomplete. We evaluated the EMT-TF, E-cadherin, and vimentin mRNA levels in 95 papillary TC (PTC) and 12 anaplastic TC (ATC) tissues and correlated them with patients' clinicopathological parameters. Afterwards, we corroborated our findings by analyzing the data provided by a case study of the TGCA network. Compared with normal tissues, the expression of E-cadherin was found reduced in PTC and more strongly in ATC, while the vimentin expression did not vary. Among the EMT-TFs analyzed, Twist1 seems to exert a prominent role in EMT, being significantly associated with a number of PTC high-risk clinicopathological features and upregulated in ATC. Nonetheless, in the multivariate analysis, none of the EMT-TFs displayed a prognostic value. These data suggest that TC progression is characterized by an incomplete EMT and that Twist1 may represent a valuable therapeutic target warranting further investigation for the treatment of more aggressive thyroid cancers.

Effect of antithrombotic therapy on postoperative outcome of 538 consecutive emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomies for acute cholecystitis: two Italian center's study.

The risk of developing hemorrhagic complications during or after emergency cholecystectomy (EC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) in patients with antithrombotic therapy (ATT) remains uncertain. In this double-center study, we evaluated post-operative outcomes in patients with ATT undergoing EC. We retrospectively evaluated 538 patients who underwent laparoscopic EC for AC between May 2015 and December 2019 at two referral centers. 89 of them (17%) were on ATT. We defined postoperative complication rates, including bleeding, as our primary outcome. Mortality was higher in the ATT group. Morbidity was higher in the ATT group as well; however, the difference was not statistically significant. 12 patients (2%) experienced intraoperative blood loss over 500 ml and ten (2%) had postoperative bleeding complications. Two patients (< 1%) experienced both intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. On multivariate analysis, ATT was not significantly associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Antithrombotic therapy is not an independently associated factor of severe postoperative complications (including bleeding) or mortality. However, these patients still represent a challenging group and must be carefully managed to avoid postoperative bleeding complications.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: which predicting factors of conversion? Two Italian center's studies.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy represents the gold standard technique for the treatment of lithiasic gallbladder disease. Although it has many advantages, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not risk-free and in special situations there is a need for conversion into an open procedure, in order to minimize postoperative complications and to complete the procedure safely. The aim of this study was to identify factors that can predict the conversion to open cholecystectomy. METHODS: We analyzed 1323 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy over the last five years at St. Orsola University Hospital-Bologna and Umberto I University Hospital-Rome. Among these, 116 patients (8.7%) were converted into laparotomic cholecystectomy. Clinical, demographic, surgical and pathological data from these patients were included in a prospective database. A univariate analysis was performed followed by a multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, the factors significantly correlated with conversion to open were the ASA score higher than 3 and the comorbidity, specifically cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic renal failure (P<0.001). Patients with a higher mean age had a higher risk of conversion to open (61.9±17.1 vs. 54.1±15.2, P<0.001). Previous abdominal surgery and previous episodes of cholecystitis and/or pancreatitis were not statistically significant factors for conversion. There were four deaths in the group of converted patients and two in the laparoscopic group (P<0.001). Operative morbility was higher in the conversion group (22% versus 8%, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the factors significantly correlated to conversion were: age <65 years old (P=0.031 OR: 1.6), ASA score 3-4 (P=0.013, OR:1.8), history of ERCP (P=0.16 OR:1.7), emergency procedure (P=0.011, OR:1.7); CRP higher than 0,5 (P<0.001, OR:3.3), acute cholecystitis (P<0.001, OR:1.4). Further multivariate analysis of morbidity, postoperative mortality and home discharge showed that conversion had a significant influence on overall post-operative complications (P=0.011, OR:2.01), while mortality (P=0.143) and discharge at home were less statistically influenced. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that most of the independent risk factors for conversion cannot be modified by delaying surgery. Many factors reported in the literature did not significantly impact conversion rates in our results.

Cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in octogenarians: impact of advanced age on postoperative outcome.

BACKGROUND: The number of surgical operations in elderly patients is increasing due to the aging demographics of western populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the peri-operative outcome of octogenarian patients undergoing cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis including all patients who underwent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis from January 2013 to December 2017. Records were collected prospectively from two centers: 1) Unit of Emergency Surgery, St. Orsola University Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University, Bologna; 2) "Advanced Surgical Technologies" Department of Surgical Sciences, Umberto I University Hospital, La Sapienza University, Rome. Patients were divided by age (≥ or <80 years) and peri-operative outcomes were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 464 patients were operated for acute cholecystitis in the two centers. Sixty-three (14%) patients were octogenarians (group 1) and median age was 84.8±3.9 years. Four hundred and one patients (86%) were younger than 80 years (group 2) with median age of 55.3±15.3 years. Forty-four per cent of group-1 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus 81% of the younger group (P<0.01). Elderly patients had a higher percentage of overall complications (25% vs. 9%; P=0.03) and a longer median postoperative length of stay (7.2±6.8 vs. 4.6±7.7; P=0.04). Overall mortality was 1%: two patients died in group-1 and one in group-2 (P=0.50). However, on multivariate analysis age older than 80 years was not found to be an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in octogenarians is a relatively safe procedure with an acceptable risk of complications and a postoperative hospital stay comparable to younger ones.

Fluorescence image-guided lymphadenectomy using indocyanine green and near infrared technology in robotic gastrectomy.

In recent years, some researchers have tried to find a way to improve the surgical identification of the lymphatic drainage routes and lymph node stations during radical gastrectomy, thus starting a new research frontier in this field called " navigation surgery". Among the different reported solutions, the introduction of the indocyanine green (ICG) has drawn attention for its characteristics, a fluorescence dye that can be detected in the near infrared spectral band (NIR). A fluorescence imaging technology has been integrated in the latest version of the Da Vinci robotic system and surgeons have extensively reported their experiences in colorectal and hepato-biliary surgery for tumors, vascular and lymphatic structures visualization. However, up to date, the combined use of fluorescence imaging and robotic technology has not been adequately investigated during lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer.

How to reduce surgical complications in rectal cancer surgery using fluorescence techniques.

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a serious complication in colorectal surgery leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Progressively lower anastomoses are associated with a greater leak rate. Adequate bowel perfusion has been stressed as one of the key elements for suture healing. Currently, there is no widespread method to assess and quantify the perfusion of gastrointestinal anastomoses intraoperatively, besides the subjective evaluation by the surgeon. The aim of this paper is to describe the basis of Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence guided surgery applied to assessment of bowel perfusion and to highlight studies on the use of fluorescence angiography (FA) in laparoscopic rectal surgery. ICG fluorescence guided surgery has increasingly been used as a tool for intraoperative diagnostics to assess microperfusion and viability of tissues by means of a real-time FA; this technique has achieved the role of major contribution to intraoperative decision making during surgical procedures, especially in order to assess bowel perfusion before anastomosis creation in colorectal surgery. Several studies in literature already reported that ICG FA as a feasible technique to decrease AL rate in colorectal surgery; to date no randomized controlled trials have been completed but large series and prospective studies that focus on fluorescence perfusion assessment in rectal surgery have been published. Real time intraoperative ICG fluorescent angiography (FA) is a safe and feasible technique to guide the surgeon in intraoperative decision-making process. ICG FA seems to reduce AL rates following rectal surgery for cancer. However large well-designed RCTs are needed to provide evidence for its routine use.

New totally intracorporeal reconstructive approach after robotic total gastrectomy: Technical details and short-term outcomes.

AIM: To show outcomes of our series of patients that underwent a total gastrectomy with a robotic approach and highlight the technical details of a proposed solution for the reconstruction phase. METHODS: Data of gastrectomies performed from May 2014 to October 2016, were extracted and analyzed. Basic characteristics of patients, surgical and clinical outcomes were reported. The technique for reconstruction (Parisi Technique) consists on a loop of bowel shifted up antecolic to directly perform the esophago-enteric anastomosis followed by a second loop, measured up to 40 cm starting from the esojejunostomy, fixed to the biliary limb to create an enteroenteric anastomosis. The continuity between the two anastomoses is interrupted just firing a linear stapler, so obtaining the Roux-en-Y by avoiding to interrupt the mesentery. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were considered in the present analysis. Estimated blood loss was 126.55 ± 73 mL, no conversions to open surgery occurred, R0 resections were obtained in all cases. Hospital stay was 5 (3-17) d, no anastomotic leakage occurred. Overall, a fast functional recovery was shown with a median of 3 (3-6) d in starting a solid diet. CONCLUSION: Robotic surgery and the adoption of a tailored reconstruction technique have increased the feasibility and safety of a minimally invasive approach for total gastrectomy. The present series of patients shows its implementation in a western center with satisfying short-term outcomes.

Minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer: A comparison between robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery.

AIM: To investigate the role of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer and determine surgical, clinical, and oncological outcomes. METHODS: This is a propensity score-matched case-control study, comparing three treatment arms: robotic gastrectomy (RG), laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG), open gastrectomy (OG). Data collection started after sharing a specific study protocol. Data were recorded through a tailored and protected web-based system. Primary outcomes: harvested lymph nodes, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, complications rate. Among the secondary outcomes, there are: operative time, R0 resections, POD of mobilization, POD of starting liquid diet and soft solid diet. The analysis includes the evaluation of type and grade of postoperative complications. Detailed information of anastomotic leakages is also provided. RESULTS: The present analysis was carried out of 1026 gastrectomies. To guarantee homogenous distribution of cases, patients in the RG, LG and OG groups were 1:1:2 matched using a propensity score analysis with a caliper = 0.2. The successful matching resulted in a total sample of 604 patients (RG = 151; LG = 151; OG = 302). The three groups showed no differences in all baseline patients characteristics, type of surgery (P = 0.42) and stage of the disease (P = 0.16). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the LG (95.93 ± 119.22) and RG (117.91 ± 68.11) groups compared to the OG (127.26 ± 79.50, P = 0.002). The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was similar between the RG (27.78 ± 11.45), LG (24.58 ± 13.56) and OG (25.82 ± 12.07) approach. A benefit in favor of the minimally invasive approaches was found in the length of hospital stay (P < 0.0001). A similar complications rate was found (P = 0.13). The leakage rate was not different (P = 0.78) between groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic and robotic surgery can be safely performed and proposed as possible alternative to open surgery. The main highlighted benefit is a faster postoperative functional recovery.

Robotic right hemicolectomy: Analysis of 108 consecutive procedures and multidimensional assessment of the learning curve.

PURPOSE: Surgeons tend to view the robotic right colectomy (RRC) as an ideal beginning procedure to gain proficiency in robotic general and colorectal surgery. Nevertheless, oncological RRC, especially if performed with intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis confectioning, cannot be considered a technically easier procedure. The aim of this study was to assess the learning curve of the RRC performed for oncological purposes and to evaluate its safety and efficacy investigating the perioperative and pathology outcomes in the different learning phases. METHODS: Data on a consecutive series of 108 patients undergoing RRC with intracorporeal anastomosis between June 2011 and September 2015 at our institution were prospectively collected to evaluate surgical and short-term oncological outcomes. CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) and Risk-Adjusted (RA) CUSUM analysis were performed in order to perform a multidimensional assessment of the learning curve for the RRC surgical procedure. Intraoperative, postoperative and pathological outcomes were compared among the learning curve phases. RESULTS: Based on the CUSUM and RA-CUSUM analyses, the learning curve for RRC could be divided into 3 different phases: phase 1, the initial learning period (1st-44th case); phase 2, the consolidation period (45th-90th case); and phase 3, the mastery period (91th-108th case). Operation time, conversion to open surgery rate and the number of harvested lymph nodes significantly improve through the three learning phases. CONCLUSIONS: The learning curve for oncological RRC with intracorporeal anastomosis is composed of 3 phases. Our data indicate that the performance of RRC is safe from an oncological point of view in all of the three phases of the learning curve. However, the technical skills necessary to significantly reduce operative time, conversion to open surgery rate and to significantly improve the number of harvested lymph nodes were achieved after 44 procedures. These data suggest that it might be prudent to start the RRC learning curve by treating only benign diseases and to reserve the performance of oncological resection to when at least the initial learning phase has been completed.

Play to become a surgeon: impact of Nintendo Wii training on laparoscopic skills.

BACKGROUND: Video-games have become an integral part of the new multimedia culture. Several studies assessed video-gaming enhancement of spatial attention and eye-hand coordination. Considering the technical difficulty of laparoscopic procedures, legal issues and time limitations, the validation of appropriate training even outside of the operating rooms is ongoing. We investigated the influence of a four-week structured Nintendo® Wii™ training on laparoscopic skills by analyzing performance metrics with a validated simulator (Lap Mentor™, Simbionix™). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a prospective randomized study on 42 post-graduate I-II year residents in General, Vascular and Endoscopic Surgery. All participants were tested on a validated laparoscopic simulator and then randomized to group 1 (Controls, no training with the Nintendo® Wii™), and group 2 (training with the Nintendo® Wii™) with 21 subjects in each group, according to a computer-generated list. After four weeks, all residents underwent a testing session on the laparoscopic simulator of the same tasks as in the first session. All 42 subjects in both groups improved significantly from session 1 to session 2. Compared to controls, the Wii group showed a significant improvement in performance (p<0.05) for 13 of the 16 considered performance metrics. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The Nintendo® Wii™ might be helpful, inexpensive and entertaining part of the training of young laparoscopists, in addition to a standard surgical education based on simulators and the operating room.

Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic Morgagni hernia. Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Morgagni's hernia is a rare and congenital type of diaphragmatic hernia. The majority of these are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during evaluation or treatment for other conditions. When diagnosis is made surgery is mandatory. The Authors report the laparoscopic repair of small Morgagni hernia, followed by review of the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case of 55-year-old woman complaining a sensation of tightness in her chest, but especially an oppressive epigastric pain with episodes of fainting fit and breathless is described. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed by laparoscopy. The hernia was repaired laparoscopically using a mesh fixed by hernia stapler after excision of the sac. RESULTS: In the postoperative patients has presented an episode of heart condition due to pericarditis treated pharmacologically. The patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day symptom-free. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic technique must be considered as a first line approach for the treatment of Morgagni hernia, easy and safe by carry out. We recommend do not excise hernia sac, even if small, and particular cure in the use of the mesh fixed by metal staples.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for stage I non-seminomatous testicular tumors.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is the most accurate method to evaluate the presence and extent of retroperitoneal nodal metastases in clinical stage I non-seminomatous germ cell testicular carcinoma. In our Department the open "nerve sparing" RPLND is already the standard surgical treatment for these tumors and laparoscopic technique is employed in surgical treatment of digestive diseases as cholelithiasis, hiatal hernias and gastrointestinal tumors; we report our first experience with laparoscopic RPLND in patients with low stage non-seminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (NSGCTT). A laparoscopic modified template RPLND was performed in 5 high-risk patients with non-seminomatous germ cell clinical stage I tumors by a transperitoneal approach. In 4 of the 5 cases a template dissection was performed. In one pathological stage II tumor a limited lymph node dissection was performed and the patient underwent postoperative chemotherapy. Mean operative time was 190 minutes (range 160-210). No retrograde ejaculation occurred. The mean number of dissected nodes was 21 (range 16-25). At mean follow-up of 16.3 months (range 12-21) the 4 operated patients with pathological stage I NSGCTT are disease free without ejaculatory or urinary dysfunction. Our preliminary experience suggests that laparoscopic RPLND for stage I NSGCTT is feasible and safe for surgeons largely trained in either laparoscopic digestive surgery or open RPLND for whom the learning curve of that minimally invasive approach is lower than expected.

[Small bowel stromal tumors. Report of two cases]. / I tumori stromali dell'intestino tenue. Presentazione di due casi clinici.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The Authors report on two cases of small bowel stromal tumours and underline more recent findings regard to histogenesis, etiopathogenesis and classification as well examine the problems related to diagnosis, surgical management and prognosis of these pathology. CONCLUSIONS: At present, surgical treatment is the best therapy even in patients with local relapse and/or metastasis. Whereas in unresectable patients a new therapeutic possibility is given to the use of Imatinib mesylate, nevertheless is still to prove its effectiveness in regard to survival or as adyuvant treatment in resectable patients with high risk of relapse.