Computed tomography findings of pneumatosis and portomesenteric venous gas in acute bowel ischemia.

AIM: To use more representative sample size to evaluate whether computed tomography (CT) scan evidence of the concomitant presence of pneumatosis and portomesenteric venous gas is a predictor of transmural bowel necrosis. METHODS: Data from 208 patients who were referred for a diagnosis of bowel ischemia were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients who underwent a surgical intervention following a diagnosis of bowel ischemia who also had a post-operative histological confirmation of such a diagnosis were included. Patients were split into two groups according to the presence of histological evidence of transmural bowel ischemia (case group) or partial bowel ischemia (control group). CT images were reviewed for findings of ischemia, including mural thickening, pneumatosis, bowel distension, portomesenteric venous gas and arterial or venous thrombi. RESULTS: A total of 248 subjects who underwent surgery for bowel ischemia were identified. Among the 208 subjects enrolled in our study, transmural bowel necrosis was identified in 121 subjects (case group), and partial bowel necrosis was identified in 87 subjects (control group). Based on CT findings, including mural thickening, bowel distension, pneumatosis, pneumatosis plus portomesenteric venous gas and presence of thrombi or emboli, there were no significant differences between the case and control groups. The concomitant presence of pneumatosis and porto-mesenteric venous gas showed an odds ratio of 1.95 (95%CI: 0.491-7.775, P = 0.342) for the presence of transmural necrosis. The presence of pneumatosis plus porto-mesenteric venous gas exhibited good specificity (83%) but low sensitivity (17%) in the identification of transmural bowel infarction. Accordingly, the positive and negative predictive values were 60% and 17%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although pneumatosis plus porto-mesenteric venous gas is associated with bowel ischemia, we have demonstrated that their co-occurrence cannot be used as diagnostic signs of transmural necrosis.

Diagnostic value of abdominal free air detection on a plain chest radiograph in the early postoperative period: a prospective study in 648 consecutive patients who have undergone abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the predictive value of free air (on a plain radiograph) for bowel perforation in a large prospective cohort of surgical patients. METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing abdominal surgery between January 2011 and June 2012 were screened for this study. We performed an upright chest radiograph on the second and third postoperative day. Thereafter, additional radiographic evaluations were performed every 2 days until the disappearance of abdominal free air. RESULTS: Of the 648 subjects enrolled in our study, free abdominal air was found in 65 subjects on the first radiographic evaluation (2 days after surgery), 51 on the second (3 days after surgery), three on the third (5 days after surgery), and none on the fourth (7 days after surgery). The presence of free abdominal air was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal perforation. The presence of free air was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 21.54 (95% CI 9.66-48.01, p<0.001) and a HR of 23.87 (95% CI 10.68-53.34, p<0.001) at 2 and 3 days after surgery, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 70, 93, 33, and 98%, respectively, at 2 days after surgery, and similar results were confirmed at 3 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: We believe that the presence of free air at 3 days after surgery should not be considered a common finding. Here, we demonstrate that the detection of free air has a remarkable predictive value for gastrointestinal perforation, which has been overestimated in previous experience.

Interventional radiology of male varicocele: current status.

Varicocele is a fairly common condition in male individuals. Although a minor disease, it may cause infertility and testicular pain. Consequently, it has high health and social impact. Here we review the current status of interventional radiology of male varicocele. We describe the radiological anatomy of gonadal veins and the clinical aspects of male varicocele, particularly the physical examination, which includes a new clinical and ultrasound Doppler maneuver. The surgical and radiological treatment options are also described with the focus on retrograde and antegrade sclerotherapy, together with our long experience with these procedures. Last, we compare the outcomes, recurrence and persistence rates, complications, procedure time and cost-effectiveness of each method. It clearly emerges from this analysis that there is a need for randomized multicentre trials designed to compare the various surgical and percutaneous techniques, all of which are aimed at occlusion of the anterior pampiniform plexus.

What are the implications of the spontaneous spleno-renal shunts in liver cirrhosis?

BACKGROUND: Although significant advances are expected to be made in the assessment of the portal hypertension-related complications, the prognostic role of spleno-renal shunts has not been fully explored so far. Clarifying this aspect could help tackle the life-treating events occurring in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between the spleno-renal shunts presence at doppler ultrasound and the liver cirrhosis complications. DESIGN: eighty one patients out of 129 formed the study population (35 females). Chronic liver damage in these patients was caused by HCV (66), HBV (2), alcohol abuse (2) or unknown etiology, likely non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (11). SETTING: two Liver Units of university/primary hospitals in Southern Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: grading of esofageal varices; detection of ascites: assessment of hepatic encephalopathy; evaluation of liver cirrhosis severity; tracking hepatocellular carcinoma; doppler features of spleno-renal shunts and splenic flow velocity; spleen longitudinal diameter at sonography. RESULTS: The prevalence of spleno-renal shunts was 18.5%, without no difference concerning the etiology (HCV versus non-HCV, p = 0.870); the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with spleno-renal shunts was superior to that of patients without them (Pearson Chi-square, p = 0.006, power of sample size 74%), also after adjustment for liver decompensation (p = 0.024). The median score of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with and without spleno-renal shunts was similar, i.e., 0 (range, 0-2) versus 0 (0 - 3), p = 0.67. The median splenic vein flow velocity in patients with spleno-renal shunts was significantly inferior to that of patients without them, i.e., 13 cm/sec (95% confidence intervals, 6-18) versus 21 cm/sec (17-24), p < 0.0001. By far the largest percentage of large esophageal varices was in patients without spleno-renal shunts (p = 0.005). In contrast, the frequency of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy severity was overlapping in the two groups. BMI values but not Child-Pugh's classification predicted spleno-renal shunts (Ors = 1.84, 95% confidence intervals = 1.28-2.64, p = 0.001 and 1.145, 95% confidence intervals = 0.77-1.51, p = 0.66). CONCLUSION: Taking into consideration the relatively small sample size, patients with spleno-renal shunts are burdened by an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. BMI predicted the spleno-renal shunts presence.

Is uterine artery embolization for cervical ectopic pregnancy always safe?

The study objective was to assess the feasibility and the efficacy of bilateral uterine artery embolization (BUAE) for the treatment of cervical pregnancy. The design was a series of 3 cases of viable cervical pregnancy diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasonography and treated by means of BUAE and subsequent uterine curettage. Three women with viable cervical pregnancy underwent BUAE and subsequent uterine curettage in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, High Risk Pregnancy Center, University "Federico II" of Naples. Measurements included surgical outcomes and preservation of fertility. The treatment was effective in all cases. Two patients resumed normal menstruation about 1 month after the procedure, whereas 1 patient underwent a hysterectomy 2 weeks after embolization because of acute ischemic degeneration of a concomitant myoma. The conservative management of cervical pregnancy with angiographic BUAE is a feasible and effective option, even if subsequent hysterectomy may be required. Counseling is necessary.

Stop Flow in abdominal and pelvic cancer relapses.

To determinate MTD, DLT and safe doses for phase II study, a dose finding study with Mitomycin and Adriamycin Stop-Flow administration was carried out. A phase II study focused on resectability of pelvic colorectal relapses is in progress. From November 1995, 84 pts, 52 male and 32 female (94 treatments), with advanced not resectable abdominal (14 pts) or pelvic (70 pts) relapses, and resistant to previous systemic chemotherapy, were enrolled in the study. 46 pts entered the phase I-early phase II study, while subsequently 38 pts were recruited in ongoing phase II study. Safe dose were: MMC 20 mg/mq and ADM 75 mg/mq. The phase II study focused on colorectal relapses registered very promising responses: 90% pain control, 1 pCR and 26 PR / 63 (OR 43%), 8 NC (13%) 9/27 responder patients (33%) obtained a complete resectability of colorectal relapses. Stop-Flow is a safe and feasible technique very useful as a palliation treatment.

[Interruption of the inferior vena cava in the prevention of pulmonary embolism]. / Interruzione della vena cava inferiore nella prevenzione dell'embolia polmonare.

Pulmonary thromboembolism constitutes the third cause of death after cardiovascular accidents and malignant tumours. Prevention is regarded as the most appropriate and effective therapeutic option. Medical antithrombotic therapy is the most common approach, but when antithrombotic therapy with heparin cannot be performed, vena cava filters are necessary devices in many patients and situations. Over the period from 1995 to 2003, 72 patients were admitted to the Surgical Sciences, Orthopaedics, Trauma and Emergency and Biomorphological and Functional Sciences Departments of the Federico II University of Naples. On the basis of their clinical condition and thrombus characteristics, different filters were applied (definitive, temporary, tempofilter). Thorough clinical and imaging follow-up examinations showed the efficacy of vena cava interruption in the prevention of pulmonary embolism, as well as a low complication rate and convenient risk-benefit ratio. Tempofilter, which allows partial interruption of the vena cava for more than 6 weeks, would appear to be the best filtration device. It is effective in the prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism, is durable and does not entail any significant increase in recurrent venous thrombosis, as is the case with definitive vena cava filters.

Value of MR cholangiography in patients with iatrogenic bile duct injury after cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the diagnostic role of MR cholangiography in the evaluation of iatrogenic bile duct injuries after cholecystectomy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients (14 women and five men; mean age, 47 years; age range, 24-75 years) with suspected bile duct injury as a result of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (17 patients) and open cholecystectomy (two patients) underwent MR cholangiography. MR images were evaluated for bile duct discontinuity, presence or absence of biliary dilation, stricture, excision injury, free fluid, and collections. Bile duct excision and stricture were classified according to the Bismuth classification. Final diagnosis was made on the basis of findings at surgery in 15 patients, on percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) in one patient, and on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and at clinical follow-up until hospital discharge in the remaining three patients. RESULTS: In 16 patients, injury of the bile duct was observed. Two patients had Bismuth type I injury; one patient, type II injury; 11 patients, type III injury; and one patient each, type IV and V injuries. Three patients showed findings suggestive of leakage from the cystic duct remnant, which were confirmed on ERC. CONCLUSION: MR cholangiography is an accurate diagnostic technique in the identification of postoperative bile duct injuries. This technique allows exploration above and below the level of obstruction, a resource provided by neither ERC nor PTC, and allows the accurate classification of these injuries, which is essential for treatment planning.

CT guided percutaneous fine needle biopsy of small lung lesions in outpatients. Safety and efficacy of the procedure compared to inpatients.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and efficacy of CT-guided fine needle biopsy (FNAB) of small (<15 mm) lung lesions in inpatients and outpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 108 consecutive inpatients (69 M, 39 F, mean age 56) and 121 consecutive outpatients (90 M, 31 F, mean age 50) who underwent CT-guided FNAB of small lung lesions were included. Lesion size, depth, number of needle passes, presence of emphysema were recorded. 22 G Chiba needles and the roll-over technique were used for all patients; if no significant pneumothorax was detected after FNAB, outpatients were allowed to go home and instructed to return in case of complications. The incidence of pneumothorax and other complications, sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: 12 inpatients and 33 outpatients were lost to follow-up. No statistical differences were observed in lesion size, depth, needle passes, presence of emphysema between the groups. We had 15 pneumothoraces in inpatients, 4 requiring a chest tube, 12 in outpatients, 2 requiring a tube. Diagnostic accuracy was 92.7% in inpatients and 90.9% in outpatients. There were 7 false negatives in inpatients and 8 in outpatients, with negative predictive value of 79% and 78%, respectively. There were no false positives. All differences are nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided FNAB of small lung lesions is an equally safe and effective procedure in inpatients and outpatients; outpatient performance of FNAB can decrease costs.