A New Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Gel for Preventing Adhesion After Thyroid Surgery: An Animal Study.

BACKGROUND: Revision of any neck surgeries is usually associated with increased rate of complications compared to the initial surgery due to adhesions. Especially, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism are most important postoperative complications of thyroid revision surgery. This study aimed to reveal anti-adhesive effects of cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel (NCHAG) in thyroid surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed in 16 adult male rats who underwent hemithyroidectomy in the right lobe and randomized into two experimental groups: Group I (control group) was given any substance and Group II (NCHA group) received NCHA spray into their perithyroidal area. The rats were sacrificed after three weeks of thyroidectomy for assessment. RESULTS: Gross adhesions score (x̄ = 2.500) was significantly higher in Group I than Group II (x̄=1.750; P = 0.031). Group II showed significantly less fibrosis compared to the Group I (P = 0.002). The rate of inflammation was found to be significantly higher in group I (P = 0.008). Vascular proliferation was not different between two groups (p=0.083). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that NCHA can reduce postoperative adhesion and might be effective in preventing fibrosis after the thyroidectomy. Although this study could not demonstrate that application of NCHA is able to reduce complication rate in revision neck surgery, it could be safely used after thyroidectomy and neck surgeries to prevent adhesions.

The Role of Ozone Therapy in Hepatic Fibrosis due to Biliary Tract Obstruction.

PURPOSES: In this experimental study, we investigated the role of ozone therapy in hepatic fibrosis caused by biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 21 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into three groups. In the control group, only laparotomy was performed and intraperitoneal cavity is washed with 1 mL of saline. In the sham group (SG), common bile duct is binded with laparotomy and no treatment is given afterward. In the experimental group (EG) after the binding of common bile duct with laparotomy, 1 mg/kg dose and 50 mg/mL concentration of ozone were applied rectally for 21 days. Hepatic tissue sample and intracardiac blood samples were collected from all animals at postoperative 21st day with relaparatomy. RESULTS: When we compared the experiment to SG, we detected a decrease in aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphate (ALP), total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels in the EG, however, only the decrease in total bilirubin levels were statistically significant (p = 0.025). Histopathological examination of livers of rats in the EG showed lower level of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation. In the SG, incomplete cirrhosis was detected in 57.1% of the rats, whereas in the EG, no cirrhosis was detected. Immunohistochemically, periportal inflammation was 100% in the SG, whereas it was seen (3/7) 42.9% in the EG. A significant decrease in positive α-smooth muscle actin reaction was observed in ozone-treated group compared with SG. CONCLUSION: We suggest that ozone can decrease the hepatic destruction levels in experimental model of biliary obstruction.

Guidelines for extended lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer: a prospective comparative study.

AIMS: To assess the efficacy of extended lymph node dissection in gastric cancer and to identify factors affecting lymph node detection. METHODS: A prospective study of 126 gastric cancer patients was conducted. Patients eligible for curative resection received total gastrectomy and extended lymphadenectomy (D2) and paraaortic lymph node sampling as the standard of care (study group). Supramesocolic total lymphadenectomy of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed on 23 autopsy cases as a control group. RESULTS: Fifty-five gastric carcinoma patients were included in the study group. Median age was 58 years (range 31-80 years); 14 patients were female (25%), and 41 were male (75%). The median number of lymph nodes harvested from the specimen was 47 (24-95), and the median number of metastatic lymph nodes was 15 (1-71). In contrast, in the autopsy comparative group, the median number of harvested lymph nodes was 72 (50-91). The median number of stational lymph nodes excised (lymph nodes excised from stations 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, and 16) was significantly higher in the control group than in the study group (P<0.05). Lymph node detection was adversely affected by body mass index (BMI) (P<0.03). In the study group, stations 5, 12, 11, and 10 had the highest lymph node absence (LNA) (noncompliance) ratio with percentages of 53, 36, 33, and 22%, respectively. In the autopsy group, LNA (noncompliance) was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph nodes should be dissected by surgeons with sufficient technical and anatomical experience, and then examined and counted by experienced pathologists to reduce the occurrence of LNA. The results of this anatomical study can serve as a guideline to assess the success of lymph node dissection during gastric cancer surgery. Similar studies should be conducted in every country to establish national guidelines.

Portal gastropathy and duodenopathy in children with extrahepatic and intrahepatic portal hypertension: endoscopic diagnosis and histologic scoring.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of portal gastropathy (PG) and duodenopathy (PD) in children, to document the correlation of various clinical and laboratory parameters associated with portal hypertensive gastroduodenal lesions, to compare the endoscopic portal hypertensive lesions with different histologic findings, and to evaluate the use of a possible histologic scoring system. METHODS: All children undergoing endoscopic investigation for portal hypertension (PH) between January 2006 and November 2007 were analysed retrospectively. Clinical and demographical data and endoscopic and histologic findings were recorded. Histologic findings suggestive of PG and PD (capillary dilation, increased numbers of capillaries, histologic bleeding, and edema) were scored. RESULTS: Of 51 consecutive children (29 boys, mean age 10.1 ± 3.6 years [range 2.5-15.8 years]), 28 were cirrhotic. PG was diagnosed in 58.8% endoscopically. Children with cirrhotic PH had the highest rate of PG (64.3%), whereas those with extrahepatic or intrahepatic noncirrhotic PH were alike (50% and 54.5%, respectively). Baveno PG scores were higher in children with cirrhosis with higher Child-Pugh scores. Capillary dilation was the only histologic finding showing significant association with the endoscopic diagnosis. Only 9% had PD on endoscopy. None of the histologic findings correlated with endoscopic diagnosis of PD. CONCLUSIONS: PG and PD are seen in children with extrahepatic and intrahepatic PH at rates similar to those reported in adult studies. Baveno PG scores increased in parallel with Child-Pugh class in children with cirrhosis. Capillary dilation was the only histologic finding showing significant association with the endoscopic diagnosis of PG in this study.