[Radiological support for diagnosis of acute appendicitis: use, effectiveness and clinical repercussions]. / Empleo, eficacia y repercusión clínica del apoyo radiológico al diagnóstico de la apendicitis aguda.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the increasing need of radiological support in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA), the clinical repercussions associated, and the parameters of diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan for AA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational and analytical study. Cohort, patients operated on for suspected AA at a tertiary referral hospital. Pregnancy and <14 years were exclusion criteria. STUDY GROUP: January 2010-December 2011 (n1=419). CONTROL GROUP: set of patients aged 18 to 65 years old operated between October 2001-September 2003 (n2=237). Variables analyzed in both groups: 1) percentage of radiological support for diagnosis of acute appendicitis; 2) sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of ultrasound and CT scan; 3) rate of surgical explorations with negative result or with diagnosis other than acute appendicitis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS software, χ(2) test, statistical significance accepted with P<.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Age, gender, percentage of atypical locations and gangrenous/perforated episodes were similar in both groups. The number of radiological examinations needed for diagnosis was significantly higher in the study group (78.8% vs. 30.4%, P<.0,000). Sensitivity was significantly superior for CT than for ultrasound scan (97% vs. 86%), but PPV was similar in both tests (92% vs. 94%). Surgical exploration percent values with diagnosis of acute appendicitis was significantly higher in the study group (94.5% vs. 88.6%; P<.006, OR 2.2; CI 95% 1.25-4). CONCLUSIONS: CT and ultrasound scan are excellent diagnostic tools for acute appendicitis, and have contributed to a significant increase in surgical explorations with correct diagnosis.

[Development and evolution of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in an specialized team: from the beginning to the outpatient setting]. / Desarrollo y evolución de la suprarrenalectomía laparoscópica en una unidad especializada: de los casos iniciales al hospital de día.

BACKGROUND: After the first reports in 1992, laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has evolved technically until becoming the standard approach for the treatment of most of the adrenal gland diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study of 67 patients who underwent 68 LA between January-1998 and December-2008 in the Laparoscopic Surgery Unit of the General and Digestive Surgery Service in a third level hospital (only one case of bilateral LA). The group was divided in 2 periods, P-1 (1998-2003, 22 cases) and P-2 (2004-2008, 45 cases), which have been compared to evaluate the evolution of the LA technique. RESULTS: Indications for LA were: 19 incidentalomas, 19 primary hyperaldosteronism, 18 pheocromocitoms, 5 cases of symptomatic and non-functioning adrenal masses, 4 Cushing adenomas and 2 metastases. There was no mortality, only 4 patients had minor complications (6%) and conversion rate was only 3% (2 cases). Mean size of adrenal glands resected was 3.83 cm and the mean operative time was 86 minutes. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 3 days and in P-2 seventeen patients were discharged on an outpatient basis (hospital stay less than 23 hours). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, LA for the treatment of adrenal diseases has shown to be safe, effective and reproducible with low complications and excellent tolerance by patients. When the learning curve is overcome, hospital stay and operative time clearly decrease. As a consequence, LA can be planned in selected cases as outpatient surgery with good results.

Radiofrequency Ablation of the Surgical Bed After Lumpectomy in Breast-conserving Surgery. / Ablación por radiofrecuencia del lecho quirúrgico tras tumorectomía en cirugía conservadora del cáncer de mama.

INTRODUCTION: Obtaining tumor-free margins during breast conservative surgery (BCS) is essential to avoid local recurrence and frequently requires reoperation. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of surgical margins after lumpectomy seems to be a helpful tool to avoid reoperations, but evidence is insufficient. This study analyzes the efficacy and safety of RFA after BCS to obtain free surgical margins. METHODS: Non-randomized experimental study performed in an intervention group of 40 patients assigned to receive RFA after lumpectomy and successive resection of surgical margins, and a historical control group of 40 patients treated with BCS alone. In the intervention group, the RFA effect on tumor cell viability in the surgical margins was analyzed. Also, reoperation rate, complications and cosmetic results were compared in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 240 excised margins were analyzed after RFA, obtaining a high number of tumor-free margins. Compared to the control group, the reoperation rate decreased significantly (0% vs 12%; P=.02), without differences in terms of postoperative complications (10% vs 5%; P=.67) or cosmetic results (excellent or good 92.5% vs 95%; P=.3). CONCLUSIONS: RFA after lumpectomy is a reliable, safe and successful procedure to obtain tumor-free surgical margins and to decrease the reoperation rate without affecting complications or compromising cosmetic results.

Posterior approach (Kraske procedure) for surgical treatment of presacral tumors.

Presacral tumors are rare, but can comprise a great variety of histological types. Congenital tumors are the most common. Once the diagnosis is established, surgical resection is essential because of the potential for malignancy or infection. Previous biopsy is not necessary or may be even harmful. To decide the best surgical approach (abdominal, sacral or combined) an individual and multidisciplinary analysis must be carried out. We report three cases of cystic presacral masses in which a posterior approach (Kraske procedure) enabled complete resection, the only way to decrease local recurrence. All patients had a satisfactory recovery. A brief overview of retrorectal tumors is presented, focusing on classification, clinical presentation, diagnosis and surgical management.