Colitis cystica profunda of the rectum: report of a case and review of the literature.

Colitis cystica profunda is a rare intestinal lesion. Because of its clinical expression (rectorrhagia, mucorrhea and abdominal pain) and the way it appears to current imaging techniques this disease presents features which can be associated with colon neoplasm. Its diagnosis has to be confirmed histologically, and its etiology remains unclear. The following is a case report of colitis cystica profunda recurring 20 years after a first episode in a white woman, who had had an anterior resection of the sigmoid colon and upper rectum to deal with a colitis cystica profunda-induced stenosis of the sigmoid colon and at 41 underwent the transanal removal of a polypoid lesion. A review of 20 cases in the literature showed that colitis cystica profunda has a predilection for the male and generally affects the medial and lower rectum and the sigmoid colon. The literature also confirmed the association with ulcerative rectocolitis, Crohn's disease and rectal prolapse. The type of treatment varies from surgical, medical, and endoscopic to no treatment at all.

Laparoscopic-assisted resection is safe and effective for colorectal malignancies: a single-centre experience.

The aim of the study was to evaluate laparoscopic-assisted colorectal resection for malignancies in terms of effectiveness, safety and medium-term survival, comparing our results with those reported in literature. From November 2000 to March 2004, 78 patients with colorectal malignancies underwent laparoscopic-assisted resection. All anastomoses were performed extracorporeally. Where indicated, patients underwent pre- or post-operative chemo-radiotherapy. All patients were followed up at regular intervals for a mean period of 18 months (2-42). The conversion rate was 14.1% and mean intraoperative blood loss was 120 cc. The post-operative morbidity rate was 15.3%. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 12 (3-38) and all resection margins were clear and adequate. The observed overall and "disease-free" survival rates were similar to those reported in literature. Although the body of evidence needs to be increased, our findings and the data in the literature suggest that laparoscopic-assisted resection for colorectal malignancies is safe and effective, also in the medium and long term.

Role of transperineal Doppler and ultrasound in evaluating anal sphincter injury after stapled haemorrhoidopexy.

The stapler treatment first described by Longo is considered by some authors to be a good technical solution for mucohaemorrhoidectomy. The aim of the present prospective study was to assess the function and morphology of the internal and external anal sphincters preoperatively and one month after surgery by means of a clinical examination, anorectal manometry and transperineal ultrasound. Ten patients (6 M, 4 F) underwent rectal mucosal prolapsectomy according to Longo. Anoscopy, anorectal manometry and transperineal ultrasound were performed in all patients preoperatively and again one month after surgery. The thickness and integrity of the internal and external anal sphincters were ascertained and colour Doppler was performed to assess the presence, quantity and size of any haemorrhoid swellings. All anatomical specimens underwent histological examination in search of smooth muscle fibres. Anorectal manometry revealed no postoperative sphincter tone defects. Transperineal ultrasound detected no postoperative sphincter lesions and the presence of venous swellings (always present at preoperative colour Doppler) never persisted at postoperative follow-up. The mean follow-up was 52.7 days (range: 31-151). Transperineal ultrasound proved useful in demonstrating the lifting of the mucohaemorrhoid prolapse within the ampulla of the rectum one month after surgery. The Longo procedure, in our albeit limited experience, caused no sphincter lesions.

Insertion of prolonged venous access device: a comparison between surgical cutdown and percutaneous techniques.

The use of totally implantable prolonged venous access devices (TIPVAD) in chemotherapy for oncological patients is now consolidated practice, whereas the choice between surgical cutdown and the percutaneous technique is still a controversial matter. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the validity and safety of the surgical approach by comparison with percutaneous techniques. Over a period of 17 months, 106 patients (mainly oncological cases) underwent surgical cutdown for TIPVAD placement in the cephalic vein. During a mean follow-up of 8 months (range 1-21), we evaluated the surgical and management complications and compared them with reported results obtained with the percutaneous technique. We observed a lower incidence of pneumothorax, 2 cases of malfunction due to kinking, and no catheter fractures, while management complications were similar to the findings in the literature. In expert hands, the surgical approach is a fast, safe technique with a lower rate of intraoperative complications than the percutaneous approach and less discomfort for the patient. Adequate training of medical and paramedical staff is the most important factor in making TIPVAD reliable and safe in the long term.