Effect of aspirin and dipyridamole treatment on prostacyclin production by human veins.

Patients admitted for surgical removal of varicose veins were treated in a blinded manner for 48 hours prior to surgery with either placebo, low-dose aspirin (25 mg twice daily), dipyridamole (150 mg twice daily) or both. Segments of vein excised at surgery were incubated with or without sodium arachidonate and subsequent prostacyclin (PGI2) production was measured without knowledge of treatment given. During the first 5 minute period of incubation in the presence of arachidonate, veins from dipyridamole-treated patients demonstrated increased (by 75%) arachidonate-stimulated PGI2 production compared to placebo-treated patients. By contrast, PGI2 production was reduced by 64% by aspirin treatment and 67% by aspirin plus dipyridamole compared to placebo-treated patients (p = less than 0.05). In unstimulated vein segments incubated in the absence of arachidonate, spontaneous PGI2 production during the first 5 minute incubation period was increased 32% following dipyridamole treatment but was unchanged following aspirin treatment. By contrast, unstimulated (spontaneous) PGI2 production in patients treated with aspirin plus dipyridamole was reduced by 57% (p = less than 0.05), compared to both placebo- and aspirin-treated patients, and by 71% (p = less than 0.05) compared to dipyridamole-treated patients. With repeated change of incubation medium, the ability of vein walls to produce PGI2 declined. This exhaustion was not prevented by drug treatment. However, drug effects between patient treatment groups were consistent over successive incubation periods. These results suggest that certain therapeutic benefits that might be achieved by enhancement of PGI2 production from vascular endothelium following dipyridamole treatment may be reduced by simultaneous aspirin treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Methods for preparing patients to vascular surgery. Our experience]. / Metodiche di preparazione dei pazienti vascolari all'intervento. Nostra esperienza.

A personal series covering two years of vascular surgery involving 58 cases without problems of sepsis has been examined. The modalities employed for preventing wound infections and prosthesis suppuration when it occurred and consisting of showers, antibiotic prophylaxis and shaving are reported. In conclusion it is maintained that a specific, disciplined protocol must be followed in all candidates for prosthesis.

[Our choice of the method to induce pneumoperitoneum in videolaparoscopic surgery]. / La nostra scelta sul metodo di induzione dello pneumoperitoneo in chirurgia videolaparoscopica.

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic surgery, pneumoperitoneum may be obtained either by a blind or an open access technique. These two techniques and the advantages of Hasson technique are compared. METHODS: Through January 1998 and May 1999, 262 unselected patients underwent laparoscopic surgery; pneumoperitoneum was obtained with a random technique, while in the patients previously operated on the open technique was always performed. In 161 cases (61.5%) pneumoperitoneum was obtained with Hasson technique and in 101 (38.5%) with Veress technique. All the patients were clinically evaluated after surgery and then after 30-40 days. The complications encountered were always associated with the Veress needle blind access: peritoneal space insufflation in 3 cases, greater omentum insufflation in 3 cases, 4 cases of difficult management and only one case of incisional hernia on the umbilical wound. RESULTS: Our data confirm that Hasson open technique is safer than Veress blind technique as the risk of severe early and late complications is lower. CONCLUSIONS: The open laparoscopic technique with the Hasson trocar is recommended as it showed to be a quicker, safer and superior technique for obtaining pneumoperitoneum.

[Minimally invasive treatment of cholelithiasis in the elderly]. / Trattamento mininvasivo della colelitiasi nel paziente anziano.

BACKGROUND: As cholelithiasis has an incidence which is proportional to the age of the patient, it is often detected in the elderly, who have a higher operative risk. Therefore the therapeutic approach should involve low risk and low invasive techniques. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combined laparoscopic and endoscopic treatment in biliary tract lithiasis and gallstones. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven patients over 60 years old affected by cholelithiasis have been treated with minimally invasive techniques. Mean age was 68+/-5.9 years (range 60-85) and male/female ratio was 1:1.5. All the patients underwent a preoperative screening (abdominal ultrasound, liver functional tests) to evaluate the risk of choledocholithiasis associated to cholelithiasis. An ultrasound examination was performed postoperatively after 15 days and then after 6 months. RESULTS: No death due to cholecystectomy or endoscopic sphincterotomy was registered, while morbility was 5.7%. Mean hospital stay was 2+/-1.67 days which reached 5.3+/-0.7 days in case of endoscopic sphincterotomy with ERCP. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecystectomy and endoscopic sphincterotomy revealed to be low risk techniques and therefore they will to become the gold-standard treatment of cholelithiasis in the elderly.

[Stapler reconstruction after total gastrectomy contrasted with manual anastomosis]. / La ricostruzione con Stapler dopo gastrectomia totale a confronto con l'anastomosi manuale.

A personal series (1985-1987) of 22 cases of total gastrectomy for cancer is analysed, a comparison being made between 11 cases treated with manual anastomosis and 11 reconstructed using a stapler. The advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques are examined and although no substantial difference is noted between the two reconstructive modalities, at least as regards morbidity and mortality, stress is laid on the unquestionable advantages of mechanical staplers. These are essentially speed of execution, suture perfection and excellent long-term results.

[Retroperitoneal tumors. Description of a clinical case]. / Tumori retroperitoneali. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The paper reports a case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma; it appeared following the onset of left lumbocruralgia pain which was recacitrant to medical and physical therapy and was followed by loss of weight and endoabdominal swelling. The paper also discusses retroperitoneal tumors, paying particular attention to their diagnosis and surgical treatment.

[A case of pleuro-pericardial celomic cyst]. / Su di un caso di cisti pleuro-pericardico celomatica.

Reference is made to a case of coelomatic pleuropericardiac cyst in an account of the relative clinical silence of this form and the difficulties involved in its differential diagnosis. The aetiology, pathological anatomy, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of this patient are also described.

[Surgical treatment of diverticular disease of the colon. Our experience in the last decade]. / Il trattamento chirurgico della malattia diverticolare del colon. Nostra esperienza relativa ad un decennio.

The authors analyse their personal experience of diverticular disease of the colon and, comparing it with that of other authors, draw attention to some fundamental data relating to the type of management chosen. Having underlined the high incidence of disease in relation changed living conditions, the authors point out that this pathology is becoming more frequent as a result of the increased average age and that subacute and acute clinical manifestations of the disease are also more common-place. Attention has often been drawn to the presence of non-evolved phlogistic symptoms which it is possible to treat medically thus enabling the operation to be postponed in some cases to a time which is more convenient for the patient, whereas in other cases it has resulted in the remission of symptoms. Surgical therapy need not be used in "silent" cases, but is obligatory in recurring or complicated forms. The authors also affirm that surgery is not burdened by particular postoperative complications which, if present, are linked essentially to peritonitis due to perforation or to other associated pathologies. The use of mechanical staplers has also restricted the number of derivative operations and those performed in several stages.

[Transperitoneal anterior access in video-laparoscopic adrenalectomy]. / Accesso anteriore transperitoneale nella surrenalectomia videolaparoscopica.

BACKGROUND: The more wide spread laparoscopic technique to operate on the adrenal gland is transabdominal approach with a lateral flank adrenalectomy. However, the transabdominal anterior approach can be a sure and safe alternative in selected patients. METHODS: From 1997 to 1999, 18 selected patients underwent laparoscopic anterior adrenalectomy. Mean age was 43 years (range 25-63) with a male/female ratio of 1:1. Indications were Conn's adenoma in 10 patients, pheochromocytoma in 3 cases, Cushing syndrome in 1 and incidentaloma in 4. All the procedures were carried out laparoscopically and only one patient required conversion to an open adrenalectomy for clear signs of malignancy. The mean time for adrenalectomy was 140 minutes and the shorter times were recorded in the right-sided procedures (mean time 84 minute). Estimated blood loss was minimal and no transfusion was done. There were no postoperative complications related to the surgical technique and the hospital stay was 4 days in average. RESULTS: Our data confirm, according with other authors, that this method is feasible in selected patients. Longer times recorded for the left-sided lesions were due to the more difficult dissection required to gain the left adrenal gland. CONCLUSIONS: Transabdominal adrenalectomy with patient in the supine position is feasible, but its use is restricted to the cases with suspect bilateral or multifocal pheochromocytoma, to patients with concomitant abdominal pathologies that can be operated on laparoscopically, to surgeons who prefer to have a frontal view of the operative field.

[The role of laparoscopy in the identification of peritoneal carcinosis from abdominal neoplasms. Analysis of our initial experience]. / Ruolo della laparoscopia nella identificazione della carcinosi peritoneale da neoplasie addominali. Analisi della nostra esperienza iniziale.

BACKGROUND: The authors reviewed the experience on the use of laparoscopy performed since January 1997 in malignant neoplasms at their institution. The aim of the study was to evaluate the real effectiveness of this procedure in the staging of abdominal neoplasms which were considered resectable at preoperative examinations and in particular in the detection of peritoneal metastases not evidenced with traditional imaging techniques. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with malignant neoplasms: colo-rectum (15), stomach (5), pancreas (4), gallbladder (2), cardias (1), liver (1), were studied. All the patients were preoperatively examined with abdominal computed tomography (CT). In the 2 patients with gallbladder neoplasm a MR cholangiography was also performed. An explorative laparoscopy with peritoneal washing was then performed in all the patients. The diagnostic and therapeutic choices were subsequently done on the basis of laparoscopy results. RESULTS: Therapeutic approach was modified in 21% of cases, as a result of the detection of peritoneal metastases which were not evidenced with imaging examinations. On the contrary, peritoneal washing was not responsible of any preoperative evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy performed in patients with abdominal neoplasms allows the detection of peritoneal micrometastases not previously evidenced through preoperative CT, thus modifying the therapeutic approach.

Surgical technique and haemodynamic changes in adrenalectomy for secreting neoplasia. Personal experience and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is now used worlwide and is a great advance in laparoscopic technology. The reported benefits of this approach include decreased blood loss, better intraoperative haemodynamic control and shorter hospital stay, however some doubts on its indication for adrenal secreting tumors are still present. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the physiologic alterations on blood pressure during laparoscopic and laparotomic adrenalectomy in patients with adrenal secreting adenoma, the intraoperative blood loss and mean hospital stay in the 2 groups of patients. A review of the literature is included. METHODS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 13 patients (Conn's syndrome with adrenal adenoma in 10, pheochromocytoma in 3). Laparotomy was used for adrenalectomy in 9 patients: 4 with pheochromocytoma and 5 with Conn's adenoma. All the selected patients in the 2 groups had benign adenoma with tumor size less than 6 cm. During surgery the following data were determined: blood pressure before inducing anaesthesia, pressure peaks, episodes of hypertension and of hypotension, blood loss and operating times. The mean hospital stay was also recorded. RESULTS: No differences were found in the blood-pressure values of the 2 groups of patients. The blood loss was minimal in all but 2 patients. The mean hospital stay was significantly longer in those patients who underwent laparotomy. No significant differences were recorded in the mean operating time. CONCLUSIONS: The 2 techniques seem to have the same physiological consequences in the cardiovascular system, and the operating times for laparoscopic and laparotomic adrenalectomy are not so different. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe technique to treat small benign adrenal secreting adenomas.

[Pneumoretroperitoneum due to pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. An etiopathogenetic and clinico-diagnostic assessment. A clinical case report]. / Pneumoretroperitoneo da pneumatosi cistica intestinale. Valutazioni etiopatogenetiche e clinico-diagnostiche. Presentazione di un caso clinico.

A case of pneumoretroperitoneum which came out to be caused by pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, after careful and proper diagnostic evaluation, is described. Physiopathology, etiopathogenesis and clinical peculiarities of this infrequent pathology are examined; most useful tests to be performed in diagnostic differential evaluation, and clinical and surgical therapeutic approaches are also described, especially facing rare complications of PCI, such as pneumoperitoneum and pneumoretroperitoneum.

[Complicated jejunoileal diverticulosis. A clinical case report]. / La diverticolosi digiuno ileale complicata. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The diverticulosis of jejunum ileum is an uncommon pathology, that is often revealed just from the complications which it presents. The clinical case reported by the Authors describes a woman who reached to admission for a serious condition of shock secondary to a jejunum bleeding diverticulosis and who underwent an intestinal resection. The patient was discharged home on IX p.o. day. From the review of literature results that the incidence of the diverticulosis of jejunum ileum consists of 0.1%-0.11% of all the gastrointestinal's diverticula and the predominance is for the female, especially in the middle age. The diverticulosis of jejunum ileum can be congenital or acquired; the first one came to the antimesenteric side of the intestines, the second one to the mesenteric side of the same. The diverticulosis is generally asymptomatic, but often produces many complications as the intestinal occlusion, secondary to a bridle, a volvulus, an invagination, also if the peritonitis caused by a diverticulosis's perforation represents the most frequent complication of them. Others rarest complications are the massive haemorrhage of diverticula, the stagnant loop syndrome, the malabsorption's syndrome due to lack of B12 vitamin and growth of bacteria within them, the diverticulitis caused by infection. The therapy of all complicated cases of jejunum ileum diverticula is necessarily the surgery only and exactly the intestinal resection.

[Aberrant pancreas: description of a clinical case and review of the literature]. / Pancreas aberrante: descrizione di un caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

Aberrant pancreas is a rare finding pathology. Authors reviewed this problem after their personal observation of a specific case, pointing out the behaviour of the disease, particularly the difficult for a careful preoperative diagnosis. They also point out the necessity to make a diagnosis of "suspect" in presence of a symptomatology with the referred characters and when there aren't instrumental findings for evident pathologies.

A case of "silent" pheochromocytoma presenting as spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma.

Pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland can be the cause of massive and lethal retroperitoneal haemorrhage presenting as acute abdomen. Here we report a case of retroperitoneal hematoma, with concomitant peritoneal spillage, due to the spontaneous rupture of a silent pheochromocytoma. The main clinical findings of this disease will be described. Therapy and prognosis will be also discussed.