Feasibility of quantitative analysis of colonic perfusion using indocyanine green to prevent anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to quantify Fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green (ICG) in colorectal cancer anastomosis, determine influential factors in its temporary intensity and pattern, assessing the ability to predict the AL, and setting the cut-off levels to establish high- or low-risk groups. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively managed database, including 70 patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer in which performing a primary anastomosis was in primary plan. In all of them, ICG fluorescence angiography was performed as usual clinical practice with VisionSense™ VS Iridium (Medtronic, Mansfield, MA, USA), in Elevision™ IR Platform (Medtronic, Mansfield, MA, USA). Parameters measured at real time or calculated were T0, Tmax, ∆T, Fmax, %pos, Fpos, and Slope. RESULTS: 70 patients were included, 69 anastomosis were performed and one end colostomy. Arterial hypertension demonstrated higher Fmax, as well as the location of the anastomosis (the nearest to rectum, the most intensity detected). A statistical relationship was found between AL and the lower Fpos and Slope. The decision of changing the subjectively decided point of division did not demonstrate statistical difference on the further development of AL. All parameters were analyzed to detect the cut-off related with AL. Only in case of Fpos lower than 158.3 U and Slope lower than 13.1 U/s p-value were significant. The most valuable diagnostic parameter after risk stratification was the Negative Predictive Value. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of ICG fluorescence in colorectal surgery is safe and feasible to stratify risk of AL. Hypertension and location of anastomosis influence the intensity of fluorescence at the point of section. A change of division place should be considered to avoid AL related to vascular reasons when intensities of fluorescence at the point of section is lower than 169 U or slopes lower than 14.4 U/s.

Unusual presentation of obstructive jaundice.

Carcinoid tumors of the ampulla of Vater grow slowly and have an excellent prognosis after complete resection of local disease. Histopathological diagnosis is definitive, and the Whipple's procedure is performed as a standard at the present time, although more novel minimally-invasive techniques may be highly useful for selected patients. While tumor size is not a reliable marker of tumor aggression, it is nonetheless related to lymphatic invasion, hence an accurate diagnosis is important if the patient is to be offered the best option available for the treatment of their disease. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the technique of choice for presurgical assessment and endocopic excision, as it may rule out vascular and nodal involvement, and establish whether submucosal invasion is present, which precludes endoscopic resection. Local resection has been shown to obtain similar results as compared to CDP in terms of overall survival in patients with small periampullary NETs, with the advantage of significantly lower morbidity in selected cases.

Hirschsprung disease with debut in adult age as acute intestinal obstruction: case report.

Hirschsprung's disease is characterized by absence of ganglion cells in submucosal and myenteric plexus of distal bowel. Most cases become manifest during the neonatal period, but in rare instances, this disease is initially diagnosed in adult age. It usually presents as severe constipation with colonic dilatation proximal to the aganglionic segment. The treatment is surgical, removing the aganglionic segment and restoring continuity of digestive tract. The disease rarely presents as an acute intestinal obstruction. We report a case not previously diagnosed, which presented as a massive colonic dilatation with a maximum diameter of 44 cm, with imminent risk of drilling that forced to perform an emergency surgery. We include a review of existing literature.

Prevention of parastomal hernia with a preperitoneal polypropelene mesh.

OBJECTIVE: To show our results with the use of a polypropylene mesh at the stoma site, as prophylaxis of parastomal hernias in patients with rectal cancer when a terminal colostomy is performed. METHODS: From January 2010 until March 2014, 45 consecutive patients with rectal cancer, underwent surgical treatment with the need of a terminal colostomy. A prophylactic mesh was placed in a sublay position at the stoma site in all cases. We analyze Demographics, technical issues and effectiveness of the procedure, as well as subsequent complications. RESULTS: A prophylactic mesh was placed in 45 patients, 35 male and 10 females, mean age of 66.2 (47-88) and Body Mass Index 29.19 (20.4-40.6). A total of 7 middle rectal carcinoma, 36 low rectal carcinoma, one rectal melanoma and one squamous cell anal carcinoma were electively treated with identical protocol. Abdominoperineal resection was performed in 38 patients, and low anterior resection with terminal colostomy in 7. An open approach was elected in 39 patients and laparoscopy in 6, with 2 conversions to open surgery. Medium follow up was 22 months (2.1-53). Overall, 3 parastomal hernias (6.66%) were found, one of which was a radiological finding with no clinical significance. No complications related to the mesh or the colostomy were found. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a prophylactic polypropylene mesh placed in a sublay position at the stoma site is a safe and feasible technique. It lowers the incidence of parastomal hernias with no increased morbidity.

[Importance of the quality of the discharge report in the management of a surgical clinical unit]. / Importancia de la calidad del informe de alta en la gestión de una unidad clínica quirúrgica.

BACKGROUND: The discharge report is a basic document at the end of a care process, and is a key element in the coding process, since its correct wording, reliability and completeness are factors used to determine the hospital production. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a hypothesis based on the analysis of the consistency between the discharge report and data collected from the routine clinical notes during admission, we should be able to re-code all those mis-coded, thus placing them in a more appropriate diagnosis-related group (DRG). A total of 24 patient outliers were analysed for the correct filling in of the type and reason for admission, personal history, medication, anamnesis, primary and secondary diagnosis, sugical procedure, outcome, number of diagnostic and procedures cited, concordance between discharge report and history and recoding of the DRG. RESULTS: From a total of 24 episodes, 6 had precise and valid reports, 4 were valid but not precise enough, 9 were insufficient, and 5 were clearly invalid. The recoded DRG after the documentation review was not significantly different, according to the Wilcoxon test, being changed in only 5 cases (P = .680). CONCLUSION: Quality in discharge reports depends on an adequate minimum data set (MDS) in concordance with the source documentation during admission. Discordance can change the DRG, despite it not being significantly different in our series. Self-audit of discharge reports allows quality improvements to be developed along with a reduction in information mistakes.

[One year follow-up after doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation]. / Resultados a un año tras desarterialización hemorroidal guiada por doppler.

INTRODUCTION: The Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DG-HAL) is a non-exeresis technique for the treatment of haemorrhoids, consisting in the ligature of the distal branches of the upper rectal artery. The aim of this work is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique after one year of follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 30 patients were operated on using DG-HAL for grade II or III haemorrhoids. The mean age was 49.9 years (30-70 years). The THD® (Transanal Haemorrhoidal Dearterialisation) device was employed in all cases. The procedures were performed under intradural anaesthesia in a short-stay surgery unit. The operating time, pain, bleeding, postoperative stay, and complications and symptoms after 3-6 months and 12 months were recorded. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 23minutes (15-50). The pain according to a visual analogue scale (VAS) was 5.5 during the first day (90% required analgesia). Only 2 patients required analgesia after the second day. One patient described persistent pain up to 3 months, and 2 slight bleeding. A further operation was performed due to a haemorrhoidal thrombosis on the 10(th) day. There were no other complications and no re-admissions. The mean hospital stay was 1.4 days (0-2), and normal daily activity re-established at 7-8 days. A large majority (87%) of patients described having tenesmus, which disappeared in 3 months. After one year, two patients had had further operations, 3 had recurrences (2 slight prolapses and 1 occasional bleeding). The success rate was 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Haemorrhoidal dearterialisation using Doppler-guided arterial ligation seems to be effective after one year, with a low percentage of complications.

Analysis of frequency, type of complications and economic costs of outlying patients in general and digestive surgery. / Análisis de la frecuencia, tipos de complicación y costes económicos en los pacientes ectópicos de cirugía general y digestiva.

INTRODUCTION: The shortage of available beds and the increase in Emergency Department pressure can cause some patients to be admitted in wards with available beds assigned to other services (outlying patients). The aim of this study is to assess the frequency, types of complications and costs of outlying patients. METHODS: Using a retrospective cohort model, we analysed the 2015 general and digestive surgery records (source: Minimum Basic Data Set and economic database). After selecting all outlying patients, we compared the complications, length of stay, costs and consequences of complications against a randomized sample of non-outlying patients with the same DRG and date of episode for every outlying patient, obtaining one non-outlying patient for each selected outlying patient. Thirteen outlying patients with no non-outlying patient pair were excluded from the study. RESULTS: From a total of 2,915 patients, 363 (12.45%) were outlying patients. A total of 350 outlying patients were analysed versus 350 non-outlying patients. There were no significant differences in complications (9.4 vs. 8.3%), length of stay (4.33 vs. 4.65 days) or costs (€3,034.12 vs. €3,223.27). Outlying patients men presented a significantly higher risk of complications compared to women (RR=2.10). Outlying patients presented complications after 2.5 or more days. CONCLUSIONS: When outlying admissions become necessary, the selection of patients with less complex pathologies does not increase complications or their consequences (ICU admissions, readmissions, reoperations or mortality), hospital stays or costs. Only in cases of prolonged outlying stays of more than 2.5 days, or in males, may more complications appear. Therefore, male outliers should be avoided in general, and patients should be transferred to the proper ward if a length of stay beyond 2.5 days is foreseen.

[Colonic gallstone ileus: A rare cause of intestinal obstruction]. / Íleo biliar colónico: una rara causa de obstrucción intestinal.

BACKGROUND: A gallstone colonic ileus is a very rare condition. CLINICAL CASE: The case is reported of an 87 year-old patient who came to the Emergency Department due to an intestinal obstruction of several days onset, which was caused by a gallstone affected sigmoid colon. CONCLUSION: Colonic gallstone ileus is a rare disease that usually occurs in older patients due to the passage of large gallstone directly from the gallbladder to colon, through a cholecystocolonic fistula. It has a high morbidity and mortality.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. Case report and literature review]. / Leiomiosarcoma de vena cava inferior. Caso clínico y revisión bibliográfica.

BACKGROUND: Large vessel sarcomas are rare tumours. Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is the most common. About 300 cases have been reported in the literature. They tend to be large, and not develop metastasis. The prognosis of these tumours is poor. CLINICAL CASE: An 81 year-old woman who complained of pain in the right flank, with no other symptoms. Abdominal computed tomography showed a large retroperitoneal mass, which affected the inferior vena cava, with signs of thrombosis inside. It also encompassed the right renal vein and the right kidney. Excision of the tumour was performed in block, performing an autologous saphenous vein bypass between left the renal vein and proximal segment of inferior vena cava. DISCUSSION: Leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava are classified according to their relationship with adjacent structures. The clinical signs and symptoms are generally non-specific. Diagnosis is made using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and biopsy of the retroperitoneal mass. Surgery is the only treatment capable of providing prolonged survival. The surgical management is determined by: the level of involvement, the extension, and the presence or absence of collateral veins. The role of adjuvant therapy is controversial. CONCLUSIONS: Inferior vena cava leiomyosarcomas remain a challenge for surgeons. At present, radical resection with negative margins, offers the highest survival rate. The best results are obtained with a multidisciplinary approach by experienced teams in the management of these tumours.