Gunshot wounds to the colon: predictive risk factors for the development of postoperative complications, an experience of 172 cases in 4 years.

BACKGROUND: In our study, we have defined and evaluated risk factors for the development of post-operative complications in patients with gunshot wounds to the colon. The purpose of the study is to identify the most influential risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective study of 172 patients admitted with gunshot wounds to the colon from 17 February 2011 to 31 December 2014. Age, gender, shock upon admission defined by vital signs and haemoglobin level, blood transfusion, injured site of the colon, the colon injury score, faecal contamination, surgical procedure, colon diversion, multiple organ injuries, delay time pre-operation and duration of the operation were considered as risk factors. All patients were observed for any postoperative complications. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-six patients (96.5%) were males, and six (3.5%) were female. The mean age was 28.5 years. On admission 104 (60.5%) patients were in shock, 89 (51.7%) required blood transfusion. Forty-four (25.5%) patients had an injury to the ascending colon, while 53 (30.8%), 13 (7.6%), 23 (13.4%), 21 (12.2%) and 18 (10.5%) patients had an injury in transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum and multiple colon injuries respectively. A colon diversion was used in 64 patients (37.2%). Post-operative complications documented in 67 (38.9%) patients, 35 (20.3%) required re-exploratory laparotomy, while the disability occurred in 18 (10.4%)) cases, and post-operative mortality was 12 (6.9%). CONCLUSION: Surgeons should be aware that shock state upon admission and blood transfusion are risk factors for postoperative complications in a patient with a gunshot penetrating injury to the colon.

Routine histopathological examination of gallbladder specimens after cholecystectomy: Is it time to change the current practice?

OBJECTIVES: Routine histopathological examination of all gallbladder specimens, regardless of the clinical characteristics of the patient or macroscopic aspect of the gallbladder, is the current approach to detect the presence of gallbladder carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to assess whether or not it would be safe to adopt a policy of processing only gallbladder specimens with preoperative or intraoperative suspicion for malignancy without compromising patient safety. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2009 to June 2017, all histopathology reports of 3423 consecutive gallbladder specimens after elective and emergency cholecystectomies were retrospectively analyzed in two university hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 3423 gallbladder specimens submitted for histopathological examination during the study period were included into the study. The results of histopathological examination of these gallbladder specimens showed that chronic cholecystitis was found in 2792 (81.6%), acute cholecystitis in 237 (6.9%), and cholesterolosis in 223 (6.5%) patients. Dysplasia was found in 5 (0.14%) patients, and gallbladder carcinoma was detected in 4 (0.11%) patients. All patients with gallbladder carcinoma were diagnosed either preoperatively or intraoperatively, and none of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma were diagnosed from the histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: A strategy of selective approach for histopathological examination of gallbladder specimens may be safe in areas with very low incidence of gallbladder carcinoma. Such selective strategy is more cost-effective, reduces the workload of pathologists, and does not appear to compromise patient outcome.

Mini-cholecystectomy versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a retrospective multicentric study among patients operated in some Eastern Libyan hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to analyze the difference between Mini-Cholecystectomy (MC) and Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) in terms of feasibility and postoperative outcomes to determine if MC could be accepted as a good alternative procedure to LC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective comparative study of 206 consecutively operated patients of chronic cholecystitis (138 LC and 68 MC), in Al-Jalaa, Ajdabiya and Almrg Teaching hospitals between January 2014 and December 2015 was performed. All cases within the two groups were balanced for age, sex, co-morbidities, ultrasound and intraoperative findings. Exclusion criteria were acute cholecystitis, preoperative jaundice, liver cirrhosis, suspicion of malignancy, previous upper abdominal surgery and pregnancy. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients in the study was around 37 years. Female patients represented 88.84%. Intraoperative complications occurred in about 2% of the patients with bleeding in three cases (one in MC, two in LC) and injury to the bile ducts occurred in one case who underwent LC. Operative duration was longer in LC (mean values 64 minutes for LC and 45 minutes for MC). Rate of conversion to classical cholecystectomy in LC was 5% while it was 0% in MC. Only one case of wound infection was registered in the LC group. Postoperative hospital stay was insignificantly longer for LC versus MC (1.97 days for MC and 2.63 days for LC). CONCLUSION: Mini-cholecystectomy is a feasible technique, which can be considered as a good alternative method for gallbladder removal for surgeons who have no experience with laparoscopic techniques and in peripheral hospitals where LC is not available.

Impact of routine histopathological examination of appendectomy specimens on patient management: a study of 4012 appendectomy specimens.

OBJECTIVES: For a suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis, appendectomy is one of the most common emergency abdominal operations performed. However, the need for routine histopathological examination (HPE) of all appendectomy specimens has recently been questioned. The aim of this study was to assess whether a routine HPE of appendectomy specimens is needed and whether routine HPE has an impact on further management of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2009 to June 2017, all histopathology reports of 4012 consecutive appendectomy specimens for a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis were retrospectively analyzed in two university hospitals. RESULTS: Out of the 4012 cases, 3530 (88%) patients showed findings consistent with acute appendicitis on HPE. Perforation rate was 5.8% and was significantly higher in male patients (p <0.001) and higher in the > 30 years age group (p= 0.024). Negative appendectomy rate was 5.6% and was significantly higher in female patients (p <0.001). There were 256 (6.4%) patients who demonstrated unusual findings in their HPE, which included chronic appendicitis (n= 207; 5.2%) patients, Enterobius vermicularis (n= 14), Schistosoma (n= 8), Crohn's disease (n= 1), neuroma (n= 10), carcinoid tumour (n= 5) and mucinous cystadenoma (n= 5), mucocele (n= 4) and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (n= 2). CONCLUSION: HPE of the appendix does not only confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, but also detects other unusual diagnoses that may have an impact on a patient's management. A number of patients with unusual histopathological findings require anti-helmentic treatment, colectomy, gastroenterology follow-up or periodic surveillance. Hence, all appendectomy specimens must be submitted for routine HPE.

Routine histopathological examination of gallbladder specimens after cholecystectomy: Is it time to change the current practice?

OBJECTIVES: Routine histopathological examination of all gallbladder specimens, regardless of the clinical characteristics of the patient or macroscopic aspect of the gallbladder, is the current approach to detect the presence of gallbladder carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to assess whether or not it would be safe to adopt a policy of processing only gallbladder specimens with preoperative or intraoperative suspicion for malignancy without compromising patient safety. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2009 to June 2017, all histopathology reports of 3423 consecutive gallbladder specimens after elective and emergency cholecystectomies were retrospectively analyzed in two university hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 3423 gallbladder specimens submitted for histopathological examination during the study period were included in the study. The results of histopathological examination of these gallbladder specimens showed that chronic cholecystitis was found in 2792 (81.6%), acute cholecystitis in 237 (6.9%), and cholesterolosis in 223 (6.5%) patients. Dysplasia was found in 5 (0.14%) patients, and gallbladder carcinoma was detected in 4 (0.11%) patients. All patients with gallbladder carcinoma were diagnosed either preoperatively or intraoperatively, and none of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma were diagnosed from the histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: A strategy of selective approach for histopathological examination of gallbladder specimens may be safe in areas with very low incidence of gallbladder carcinoma. Such selective strategy is more cost-effective, reduces the workload of pathologists, and does not appear to compromise patient outcome.

Study on colorectal cancer presentation, treatment and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the second most common cancer in women and men affecting 9.7 % population worldwide. Although CRC mortality has been progressively declining since 1990 at a rate of about 3 % per year, it still remains the third most common cause of cancer deaths. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the patterns of clinical presentation, treatment options and follow-up of colorectal carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Medical records of patients with colorectal carcinoma admitted at St. Luke's Hospital Kilkenny from January 2009 to December 2014 were included in the study. RESULTS: Out of 113, 57 were males and 28 were 75 years or older. Sixty-seven percent presented in the outpatient clinic. The main presentation symptom was bleeding per rectum (40 %), followed by abdominal pain, altered bowel habit, bowel obstruction and weight loss. Mean time delay was 4.79, 6.20 and 4.83 weeks for surgical outpatient department (SOPD), colonoscopy and surgery, respectively. Ninety-eight percent of patients underwent preoperative staging with computed tomography of thorax, abdomen and pelvis (CTTAP) and 78 % had preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) measurement. Thirty-four percent of cancers had already metastasized to distant organs. Twenty five percent underwent a right hemicolectomy. Seventy-eight percent received a primary anastomosis. Ninety-five percent achieved a R0 resection. Sixty-two percent were given adjuvant chemotherapy. Seventy-six percent had surgery follow-up and 57 % had excellent follow-up. Cancer recurred in two patients. Thirty day mortality was 2 %. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the mean age group at risk for colorectal cancer is 65 years (range 54-75). Still, 33 % of patients present to acute surgical assessment units with advanced disease. Though we did well in terms of operative resections, follow-up still remains a challenge.