Transsternal approach to closure of bronchopleural fistulas after pneumonectomy. A fifteen cases report.

A treatment method for main bronchus fistula after pneumonectomy via median sternotomy was described by P. Abruzzini in 1961. This operation is performed in an area not involved with infection. Fifteen patients underwent the procedure in our surgical department; one of them died of myocardial infarction while all the others survived for different periods of time, closely associated with the original disease; seven were long-term survivors. The transmediastinal approach seems an effective means of managing such a difficult complication.

Distal polytetrafluoroethylene bypasses in patients older than 75 years.

HYPOTHESIS: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) alone is justified for infrapopliteal arterial grafting in elderly patients with critical ischemia of the lower limbs who lack a suitable, autogenous saphenous vein. DESIGN: A consecutive sample clinical study with a mean follow-up of 16 months. SETTING: The surgical department of an academic tertiary care center and an affiliated secondary care center. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients older than 75 years with critical ischemia of the lower limbs received 34 PTFE bypass grafts to the infrapopliteal arteries: 12 patients to the anterior tibial, 8 to the peroneal, 8 to the posterior tibial, and 2 to the dorsalis pedis artery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative survival, primary graft patency, and limb salvage rates expressed by standard life-table analysis. RESULTS: Operative mortality rate was 3%. Cumulative survival rate was 80% at 2 years (SE, 9.2%) and 43% at 3 years (SE, 11.4%). Cumulative primary patency rate was 67% at 2 years (SE 9.1%), and 61% at 3 years (SE, 12.7%). Cumulative limb salvage rate was 77% at 2 years (SE, 8.7%) and 70% at 3 years (SE, 12.8%). CONCLUSION: Polytetrafluoroethylene alone is justified as graft material for infrapopliteal bypass grafts in elderly patients with critical ischemia of the lower limbs and without a suitable autogenous saphenous vein.

Endocaval suture of aortocaval fistula.

A case of aortocaval fistula complicating a ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysm is reported. As the length of the defect and the thickness of the aortic wall made repair from within the aorta unsafe, the defect was repaired from within the vena cava. The details of the technique are reported. It can be a useful alternative to inferior vena cava ligation, when standard repair of aortocaval fistulae from within the aorta is risky or difficult to attempt.

Local anaesthesia with eutectic cream of lidocaine and prilocaine for treatment of cicatrizial phimosis in outpatients.

The authors report their experience in ambulatory treatment of cicatrizial phimosis in outpatients, by using local anaesthesia with eutectic cream of lidocaine and prilocaine. This preliminary study shows that preparation seems to be effective and well tolerated. To the aim of getting a good analgesic result the most important aspects are a careful application of the cream all over the concerned area and an occlusive bandage for 60-90 minutes at least.

Biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) in intestinal surgery: review of 21 cases and evaluation of postoperative morbidity.

The authors report their experience with the use of biofragmentable anastomosis ring in intestinal anastomosis: 21 patients underwent intestinal resection and anastomosis by BAR. There was no operative mortality. One patient developed an anastomotic leak and three patients had symptoms of intestinal obstruction. The endoscopic follow up showed no late complications. Technical factors regarding the BAR are discussed. Advantages appear to be a safe, rapid and easy alternative to hand and stapled intraperitoneal large bowel anastomosis.

Seat-belt injuries to the supra-aortic trunks.

Five seat-belt related injuries to the supra-aortic and cervical vessels occurring in four patients are reported. All patients but one were symptomatic, none presented with stroke, and in one case arterial lesion was revealed by delayed onset of symptoms. Outcome of surgical treatment was overall good. Systematic search of such injuries and surgical repair of those without major neurological signs might be advisable.

Calcified retroperitoneal fibroma.

A case of 31-year-old male with a retroperitoneal tumor is described. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a left para-aortic calcific mass, adjacent to the left lobe of the liver and to the upper pole of the left kidney. A CT-scan of the abdomen showed the mass to originate from the left adrenal gland. At operation, a large, retroperitoneal mass, adherent to the left kidney and the spleen, but not infiltrating, was excised. Histologically the tumor was diagnosed as a calcified osteo-producing fibroma. Benign retroperitoneal tumors represent about 25% of all retroperitoneal neoplasm. This reported case represents a retroperitoneal tumor of slow growth and benign clinical course whose characteristic consists of the heavy calcifications which are normally absent in a fibroma type mass.

Acute idiopathic pancreatitis: clinical and diagnostic contribution.

Acute idiopathic pancreatitis is a term used when no underlying cause can be identified on routine investigations. However more specialized investigations, such as endoscopic, endoscopic retrocolangio pancreopathy (CPRE), may detect aetiological factors, particularly biliary sludge and pancreatic duct abnormalities. The authors, reviewing the current literature, report their caseload of idiopathic pancreatitis. They conclude that CPRE is indicated if ultrasonography shows a calibre of the common duct at the superior limits of normal values and in each idiopathic recurrent AP.

Surgical treatment of digestive arteries aneurysms.

Eight patients of a mean age of 56.4 years, have been operated on for 9 digestive arteries aneurysms in a 7-years-period. Sites of aneurysmal disease included 3 splenic, 3 superior mesenteric, 2 hepatic, and 1 left gastric arteries. Five patients (62.5%) were asymptomatic, while 3 (37.5%) presented with symptoms. Three patients (37.5%) presented associated aortic lesions consisting in 2 infrarenal aneurysms and 1 aorto-iliac stenosis. Of the 9 arteries treated, 5 were revascularized. Restaurative operations included 1 reconstructive endoaneurysmorraphy, 3 retrograde by-pass grafts (2 Dacron and 1 PTFE), and 1 antegrade by-pass graft (Dacron) from the coeliac aorta. There were no post-operative deaths. Mean length of follow-up was 47.8 months. No patient presented with late intestinal or operation related problems.

Neurinomas of the brachial plexus: case report.

Neurinomas, also referred to as neurilemmomas and schwannomas, are rare benign tumours of the peripheral nerves, a low proportion of which arise from the brachial plexus. Authors report a case of an ancient schwannoma arising from the brachial plexus. The tumour, usually asymptomatic, may cause sensory radicular symptoms, or rarely motor deficits in the involved arm. Enucleation of the tumour from the nerve without damage to any of the fascicles is the correct treatment.

Malignant tumours of the small intestine: a case of jejunal adenocarcinoma.

The Authors analyse the main problems concerning malignant tumours of the small intestine. They report a case of jejunal adenocarcinoma recently observed. They emphasise the importance of surgery, both diagnostic and therapeutic, even in advanced stages, for the treatment of this neoplasm.

Metastasis to the breast of a renal carcinoma: a clinical case.

The breast is an unusual site for metastatic disease, and generally the lesion appears same times after the diagnosis of the primary malignancy. Authors report a case of a breast metastasis from a hypernephroma, six years after nefrectomy.

Carcinoid to cecal bowel localization: a case report and literature review.

The authors report a case of cecal malignant carcinoid, diagnosticated in a 68 years old male patient. Carcinoid tumours are rare neoplasm and their behaviour seems to change with the localization. Cecal carcinoid represents only 2-3% of gastrointestinal carcinoid. Some times it is discovered incidentally at autopsy, surgery or endoscopy. The aim of this paper has been to review, in literature, the frequency, treatment and prognosis of this neoplasm.

Infectious aneurysm of the interosseous artery at the forearm. Case report.

The case of an infectious aneurysm of the interosseous artery at the right forearm is reported, with presenting symptoms consisting in pain, loss of motor functions and paresthesias. The association of occupational trauma and hematogenous bacterial grafting were the possible etiologic agents. Diagnostic evaluation included ultrasound, Doppler study, CT-scan and arteriography, but the exact origin of the mass from the interosseous artery could be detected only at operation. As good collaterals were present at preoperative evaluation, simple excision followed by debridment and ligation was performed with a good result. The isolated infecting agent belonged to the salmonella species.

[Perianal Bowen's disease: a case report and review of the literature]. / Perianal Bowen's disease: a case report and review of the literature.

Perianal Bowen's disease is a uncommon, slow growing, intraepidermal squamous-cell carcinoma (carcinoma in situ) of the anal region and may be a precursor to squamous carcinoma of the anus. It is associated with cervical and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and have human papillomavirus as a common cause. Both sexes and all races are affected, with the highest prevalence in patients aged 20 to 45 years. The symptoms of anal Bowen's disease are unspecific and the clinical findings are uncharacteristic and include pain, itching, bleeding and a disturbing lump. Biopsy and histopathologic examination is required for diagnosis and to distinguish other perianal dermatoses; thus an anogenital warts that fail to respond to conventional therapy, or change in appearance, warrant a biopsy and, where the technique is available, DNA typing to identify the viral pathogen. Infact the etiologic agent, the human papillomavirus (HPV), has been classified by DNA techniques into at least 42 types, of which 16 and 18 are considered to carry a high risk for cancer. The intraoperative findings is a lesion at the anocutaneous line: perianal or intra-anal tumor, erosion or ulceration as well as lichenoid lesion or hyperpigmentation. The disease has a proclivity for recurrence and there are many controversies concerning treatment that effectiveness remains uncertain and range from aggressive wide local excision with skin grafting when necessary to laser vaporization (argon or CO2), radiotherapy or a new immune response modifier (Imiquimod). We report a case of a 50-years-old woman with recurrence of Bowen's disease associated with vulvar HPV infection and review the literature.

[Are small-size depressed-type colorectal neoplasias really the expression of a early stage of colorectal cancer. Apropos of a clinical case]. / Le neoplasie colo-rettali depresse di piccole dimensioni sono realmente espressione di uno stadio precoce del cancro colo-rettale? A proposito di un caso clinico.

A route of colorectal cancer development other than the adenoma-carcinoma sequence has recently become an issue due to the discovery of the depressed-type early colorectal cancers. Despite the protruding shapes of depressed-type early colorectal cancers, they probably have biological characteristics which differ from those of the usual polyp lesions. They show more aggressive behavior than the polypoid type and can arise de novo. Depressed-type lesions, in contrast to flat-type or protruded-type lesions, tend to invade the submucosa rapidly, so it is better treat them surgically from the outset. We report a case of a small depressed-type colorectal cancer involving the caecum of a 79-year-old male patient.

[Combined treatment of inoperable liver metastases from colorectal cancer]. / Combined treatment of inoperable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

AIMS: Liver resection improves survival in selected patients with colorectal liver metastases. However, the majority of patients with colorectal liver metastases have an inoperable oncological disease. The aim is to investigate whether intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapy, improves response to treatment and may convert a selected group of patients with irresectable liver metastases into an operable state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-sex patients (pts) with inoperable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy, by angiographic technique. All patients underwent a short 5-FU-based locoregional infusion and the 13 non pretreated patients also received systemic therapy. Evaluation of response was made by CT scan. RESULTS: Total cycles administered angiographically: 132 (range, 1-11). There were no complications associated with the angiographic procedure and no cases of > grade 2 toxicity. One heavily pretreated pt experienced moderate cholangitis and superficial gastric erosion. Thirty-one pts were assessable (20 pretreated and 11 not); there was 1 complete response (CR), 3 partial remissions (PR), 2 stabilizations (SD) among non-pretreated pts (6/11; CR + PR + SD = 55%) and 1 PR and 8 SD among pretreated pts (9/20; PR + SD = 45%). The remaining 16 pts progressed. Four pts became eligible for radical hepatic resection (1 refused surgery and 3 patients were operated on). There was no peri-operative deaths. Median survival of these 3 pts was 24, 28 and 39+ months. CONCLUSIONS: Our data, even if based on a relatively small case series, appear to confirm effective local disease control in this clinical setting. Regional chemotherapy used singly or in combination with systemic chemotherapy may convert a selected group of patients with irresectable liver metastases to an oncological disease that can benefit from surgical treatment.

[Locoregional chemotherapy of locally advanced breast cancer in a pre-treated patient: case report]. / Chemioterapia locoregionale nel carcinoma mammario localmente avanzato in paziente pre-trattata: case report.

We report of the use of intra-arterial chemotherapy in one case of locally advanced breast cancer, that had been systemically pre-treated. Locoregional chemotherapy was delivered via percutaneous access. The catheter tip was placed into the subclavian artery and into origin of the internal mammary artery; it was removed after every cycle of treatment. The schedule of chemotherapy was: epirubicin 30 mg/m2, mitomycin 7 mg/m2 and 5 fluouracil 1000 mg. Three cycles were administered, and the treatment was well tolerated. The patient responded to intra-arterial chemotherapy, and she subsequently underwent complete surgical resection. Intra-arterial chemotherapy for breast cancer in an uncommon approach to the treatment of locally advanced disease. Nevertheless, in selected cases, it could be a more effective therapeutic option for patients with systemic chemotherapy-resistant disease.

[Adjuvant adoptive immunotherapy in patients with stage III and resected stage IV melanoma: a pilot study]. / Adjuvant adoptive immunotherapy in patients with stage III and resected stage IV melanoma: a pilot study.

Adoptive immunotherapy trials with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were carried out in the treatment of advanced melanoma with a 34% of overall responses (OR). However, theoretically it should be of greater benefit as adjuvant therapy, especially in high-risk stages (stage III and resected stage IV). In a pilot study, 22 patients (aged 23-72 years) with stage III-IV melanoma who underwent radical metastasectomy were reinfused with TIL cultivated and expanded in vitro with IL-2 from surgically removed metastases. IL-2 (starting dose 12 x 10(6) IU/m2) was co-administered as a continuous infusion according to West's scheme. A total of 8/22 (36.3%) patients were disease-free (DF) at a median follow-up of 5 years. DF survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in the remaining 14 patients were 44% and 37% and 52% and 45% at 2 and 3 years, respectively. The CNS was the only site of disease recurrence in 57% of patients who relapsed. DF patients received a higher median dose of IL-2 than those who progressed (total dose 110 x 10(6) vs 86 x 10(6) IU/m2, respectively). The progressive reduction in IL-2 dosage allowed all patients to complete treatment without permanent grade 4 toxicity. The effects of tumor immunosuppression in lymphocytes inside the tumor (TCR z and e chains, p56lck, FAS and FAS-ligand) confirmed that the potential function of TIL, immunodepressed at the time of metastasectomy, was significantly restored after in vitro, culture with IL-2. Adjuvant adoptive immunotherapy with TIL and IL-2 seems to improve DFS and OS, in comparison with literature data. Further studies are required to determine its role in the adjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk melanoma.

Results of distal revascularization in elderly patients for critical ischemia of the lower limbs.

Thirty eight patients over 75 years of age were operated upon of 40 distal arterial revascularizations for critical ischaemia of the lower limbs. Arterial reconstruction was proposed to ambulatory, self sufficient patients, with a patent artery of the leg or the foot in continuity with pedal arch, at arteriography. The revascularized artery was the peroneal in 14 cases, the anterior tibial in 11, the posterior tibial in 9, the dorsalis pedis in 5, and the external plantar artery in 1 case. Postoperative mortality was 2.6%. No postoperative arterial occlusion occurred and no postoperative amputation needed to be performed. The mean follow-up of 37 patients surviving operation was 21 months (ext. 2-52 months). At 36 months interval, patients' survival was 43%, primary patency rate was 57%, and limb salvage rate was 76%, at life-table analysis. Distal revascularization enables a good number of elderly patients in critical ischaemia of the lower limb, to enjoy an active, independent life, with a viable limb.