Diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic right paraduodenal hernia: report of a case.

We report a typical case of right paraduodenal hernia (RPH) and review the literature on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon entity. A 32-year-old woman was hospitalized with acute abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Computed tomography (CT) findings suggested RPH, which was confirmed by explorative laparoscopy. We performed an open repair by suturing the orifice after reducing the hernia. At her 2-year follow-up, the patient reported complete resolution of her symptoms. Because RPH is rare and its clinical signs are nonspecific, radiological examinations are essential for a correct preoperative diagnosis. CT is currently the most accurate diagnostic tool, but laparoscopy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis. This hernia can be repaired by simple suturing of the hernial orifice, either laparoscopically or via an open procedure, although several authors consider complete intestinal derotation to be the best option.

Functioning glucagonoma associated with primary hyperparathyroidism: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or incidental association?

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is commonly based on clinical criteria, and confirmed by genetic testing. In patients without known MEN1-related germline mutations, the possibility of a casual association between two or more endocrine tumors cannot be excluded and subsequent management may be difficult to plan. We describe a very uncommon case of functioning glucagonoma associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) in which genetic testing failed to detect germline mutations of MEN-1 and other known genes responsible for MEN1. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient, a 65-year old woman, had been suffering for more than 1 year from weakness, progressive weight loss, angular cheilitis, glossitis and, more recently, skin rashes on the perineum, perioral skin and groin folds. After multidisciplinary investigations, functioning glucagonoma and asymptomatic pHPT were diagnosed and, since family history was negative, sporadic MEN1 was suspected. However, genetic testing revealed neither MEN-1 nor other gene mutations responsible for rarer cases of MEN1 (CDKN1B/p27 and other cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes CDKN1A/p15, CDKN2C/p18, CDKN2B/p21). The patient underwent distal splenopancreatectomy and at the 4-month follow-up she showed complete remission of symptoms. Six months later, a thyroid nodule, suspected to be a malignant neoplasia, and two hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands were detected respectively by ultrasound with fine needle aspiration cytology and 99mTc-sestamibi scan with SPECT acquisition. Total thyroidectomy was performed, whereas selective parathyroidectomy was preferred to a more extensive procedure because the diagnosis of MEN1 was not supported by genetic analysis and intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone had revealed "adenoma-like" kinetics after the second parathyroid resection. Thirty-nine and 25 months after respectively the first and the second operation, the patient is well and shows no signs or symptoms of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Despite well-defined diagnostic criteria and guidelines, diagnosis of MEN1 can still be challenging. When diagnosis is doubtful, appropriate management may be difficult to establish.

[Anastomotic leak following colorectal surgery: incidence, risk factors and treatment]. / La deiscenza anastomotica in chirurgia colorettale: incidenza, fattori di rischio e trattamnento.

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and identify the risk factors associated with colorectal anastomotic leakage. A further objective was to investigate the therapeutic choices. We reviewed the clinical files of 124 patients who underwent mechanical end-to-end anastomosis after colorectal resection during the period 2000-2007. The mean age was 66.9 years and the male:female ratio was 1.2:1. Indications for surgery were malignant neoplasms in 109 cases (87.9%) and benign disease in 15 cases (12.1%). The anastomosis was always performed in an elective setting in the framework of a procedure of one or more stages (87.9% and 7.3% respectively). A pelvic drain was positioned in a routine manner and no protective ileostomies were constructed. Among the various risk factors, co-morbidities, ASA risk and low anastomotic level were the most important we examined. Student's t-test, the Chi-square test and Fisher's test were used for comparative univariate analysis, with significant results for p < or = 0.05. The incidence of anastomotic leak was 10.5% (13/124), but only 4.8% (6/124) required a second operation or failed to heal with simple conservative therapy. The pelvic drain was always effective in allowing the early diagnosis of leakages and limiting the spread of peritoneal inflammation. Mortality was 1.6% (2/124) overall, but, if leakages alone were considered, it increased to 15.4%. Among the risk factors examined, only low anastomotic level was confirmed by statistical analysis. In conclusion, the study confirms low anastomotic level as a negative prognostic factor for the healing of colorectal anastomosis. The pelvic drain proved to be effective in allowing early diagnosis and conservative management of leakages.

Surgical gastrostomy when percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is not feasible: indications, results and comparison between the two procedures.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the procedure of choice in patients unable to eat owing to neoplastic or neurological diseases. In a few cases, however, PEG is not feasible and on such occasions a surgical gastrostomy (SG) proves mandatory to prevent starvation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cases submitted to SG when PEG could not be performed and to compare the results of the two procedures. We reviewed the medical records of 52 patients who required clinical nutrition in the years 2000-May 2007: 41 cases underwent PEG and 11 SG. Surgery was adopted when PEG failed or was deemed not to be feasible Analysis of the two series included sex, age, indications, associated diseases, mortality, complications, hospital stay and survival. Head and neck malignancies were the main indication to SG (81.1%), while PEG was adopted mainly for neurological diseases. In two cases, SG was required after failure of PEG due to lack of transillumination. A tracheostomy was present in 54.4% of the SG group and in 17% of the PEG group. Thirty-day mortality was nil in SG and 12% in PEG; morbidity was 9 and 7.3%, respectively. Hospital stay was 7 days in SG and 3 days in the PEG group. Survival at 24 months was poor in both series: 10% in SG and 25% in PEG. In case of PEG failure or contraindication, SG is more than satisfactory in terms of effectiveness, mortality and morbidity.

[Fournier's gangrene in an HIV-positive patient. Therapeutic options]. / Gangrena di Fournier in paziente HIV positivo: considerazioni terapeutiche.

Fournier's gangrene is a life-threatening necrotising infection of the perineal and genital regions. The case presented here refers to an HIV-positive 42-year-old man, admitted in emergency to our department with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis related to gangrene of the perineum and scrotum. An early wide surgical necrosectomy was performed under epidural anaesthesia. Treatment was completed by intensive care, broad-spectrum antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The wound was managed with advanced dressing (AQUACEL Hydrofiber) until complete healing was obtained, and the scrotum was reconstructed with skin flaps. The disease did not involve the testes, spermatic cord or anorectal canal. The satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcome prompts the authors to stress a number of features of the therapeutic approach adopted: (i) the advantages of epidural anaesthesia with an indwelling catheter that allows further necrosectomy and wound dressing to be performed totally painlessly; (ii) the possibility of avoiding faecal diversion by means of synthetic opioid drugs which are useful to reduce the frequency of defecation; and (iii) the positive impact of advanced dressing on the wound healing process in relation to patient satisfaction and cost management.

Uncommon pathologies discovered during exploratory laparoscopy for malignant diseases.

In spite of the most sophisticated diagnostic tools, the final diagnosis in malignant diseases may require an exploratory laparoscopy for confirmation. The aim of this study was to report our experience with exploratory laparoscopy and to describe two unexpected cases of uncommon pathologies discovered during this procedure. From January 2003 to December 2005, 7 exploratory laparoscopies were performed to confirm and stage carcinoma with peritoneal involvement (4 cases) and to obtain histological evidence of lymphoma (3 cases). Uncommon pathologies were detected in two cases (28%): the first was a black man presenting with multiple tubercular lesions mimicking neoplastic spread, and the second an elderly Caucasian woman with a pre-pancreatic mass suspected of being a lymphoma, which was due to previous subclinical pancreatitis. The effectiveness of laparoscopy was confirmed in the present experience. A tissue specimen is mandatory when the differential diagnosis is hard to achieve.

[Inflammatory complications of colon diverticular disease: current therapeutic challenges]. / Le complicanze infiammatorie della malattia diverticolare del colon: problematiche terapeutiche attuali.

Inflammatory complications of diverticular disease are still responsible for high mortality rates. The aim of the present study was to analyse the factors that primarily influence the type of treatment and prognosis of such pathologies. From 1996 to 2006, 88 patients were admitted to our department for inflammatory complications secondary to diverticular disease. The majority of the patients were emergency room referrals, and nearly half of them were elderly (over 65 years of age). The most frequently observed complications were acute diverticulitis (45.5%), which was almost always resolved with medical therapy, and diverticular perforations (43.2%), for which surgical therapy was always necessary. The main treatment for localised peritonitis was one-stage colorectal resection, whereas for generalized peritonitis a two-stage resection was the procedure of choice. The highest degrees of peritonitis were observed in elderly patients. Restoration of bowel continuity was performed in nearly all patients below 65 years of age, but was not possible in 44.4% of those aged above 65. Postoperative mortality occurred in two cases, both with diffuse peritonitis, advanced age, and elevated anaesthetic risk. The present series seems to confirm the findings of other Authors, namely that the prognosis of diverticular perforation is influenced more by patient-related factors (older age, sepsis, comorbidity) than by the type of surgical procedure. Thus, it is probable that a decrease in the mortality rate and improvements in the quality of life can be achieved through more aggressive diagnostic protocols and new preventive strategies.

[Sclerotherapy and hydrocelectomy for the management of hydrocele in outpatient and day-surgery setting]. / Il trattamento chirurgico e scleroterapico dell'idrocele in regime ambulatoriale e di day-surgery.

The purpose of this report was to compare two different procedures in the treatment of idiopathic hydrocele, namely, hydrocelectomy and percutaneous sclerotherapy, both of which performed in the outpatient or day surgery setting. A detailed description of the technical local anaesthesia steps is reported together with the sclerotherapy method. The study was conducted in 71 patients with a total of 77 hydroceles treated from 1993 to 2004. Surgery was carried out in 53 cases and sclerotherapy in 24. The latter was more frequently opted for elderly subjects as well as in those patients who requested it. Local or locoregional anaesthesia was reserved to patients treated surgically. The two treatments were compared on the basis of the following parameters: age, operative time, length of hospital stay, success rate and complications. The efficacy of the two procedures was comparable (sclerotherapy 95.8% vs surgery 100%), but sclerotherapy proved more favourable in terms of simplicity, rapidity of execution, shortness of hospital stay and risk of complications. However, 41.7% of patients required more than one treatment to obtain a radical cure, whereas surgery was effective in all cases in just one step. Hospital stay and morbidity were almost the same when surgery was performed under local anaesthesia. Sclerotherapy is an efficient alternative to the classic hydrocelectomy. The choice between the two treatment modalities should be made, taking into account above all the patient's individual preference.

[Small bowel obstruction caused by postoperative adhesions: personal experience and review of the literature]. / L'occlusione intestinale da aderenze postoperatorie. Esperienza personale e analisi della letteratura.

Small bowel obstruction due to postoperative adhesions still remains an important matter in terms of frequency, diagnostic and therapeutic commitment and costs. The Authors report on a series observed over 14 years consisting of 63 patients (71 cumulative hospital admissions). Surgery was required in 42 cases (59.2%), 23 cases were treated in emergency and 19 cases after failure of conservative treatment. In 29 cases (69%) the surgical procedure was limited to adhesiolysis, whereas in 13 cases (31%) an intestinal resection was performed. During operation the mechanisms responsible for obstruction were: strangulation by an adhesive band (39.4%), angulation (34%), bowel loops and volvulus glued together (13.2% in each case). The operative mortality was 4.7% (2 cases). In 29 cases (40.8%), after medical treatment, the obstruction was completely resolved within a mean period of 4.15 days (range: 2-8). The results lead to the conclusion that diagnostic accuracy in cases of obstruction due to postoperative adhesions is still uncertain. The main aspects of treatment and surgical timing are left to the surgeon's personal experience. Medical treatment, however, should be the first therapeutic option and, in case of doubt, further diagnostic investigations are necessary (mainly CT) to identify those cases amenable to surgical treatment.

[Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: an account of 3 cases in the same family and a review of the literature]. / Sindrome di Peutz-Jeghers: osservazioni su 3 casi clinici della stessa famiglia e analisi della letteratura.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant polyposis characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentation, intestinal hamartomas and an increased risk mainly for gastrointestinal and gynaecological cancer. Our interest in this syndrome is due to the observation of three cases in the same family, two of whom presented the classic Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, while the other had perioral pigmentation only. Therefore, the main clinical elements emerge in the two first cases presenting with recurrent abdominal pain and sub-occlusion. The condition was managed by a combination of radiological, endoscopic and surgical procedures which enabled us to map and remove several gastrointestinal polyps. On histopathological examination the polyps were mainly hamartomas, though some presented both hamartomatous and adenomatous features, while others, removed endoscopically during the follow-up, were identified as true adenomas with initial carcinomatous changes. Furthermore, in one case follow-up examination allowed the early diagnosis and treatment of a cervical carcinoma. In agreement with the literature, our experience suggests that simple polypectomy, via an endoscopic and/or surgical approach, is the treatment of choice in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. However, if gangrene due to invagination or neoplastic change occurs, an intestinal resection is mandatory. Cancer surveillance must be the first aim of follow-up.

Femoral hernia repair with Bard Mesh Dart Plug.

Several tension-free femoral hernia repair techniques are currently available with different approaches and prosthetic devices, all of which, however, largely yielding excellent results. The aim of this report was to describe the technical aspects of femoral hernia repair via an infrainguinal approach using the Bard Mesh Dart Plug, and to evaluate the short- and medium-term results in our experience. From May 2000 to December 2003, 25 patients (F/M ratio 2.1:1; mean age 66.4 years) underwent femoral hernia repair with the Bard Mesh Dart Plug. Fourteen patients (56%) were operated on as emergency cases for irreducible hernias and in 3 cases a bowel resection under general anaesthesia was necessary. The other 11 patients underwent surgery on an outpatient day surgery basis under local or spinal anaesthesia. Topical antibiotic prophylaxis was administered in all cases, while short-term prophylaxis with ceftazidime was limited to emergency patients. The main phases of the operation are described. The mean operative time was 40 minutes and the patients were mostly discharged within 2 hours of surgical treatment. No general or local intraoperative complications were registered. Postoperative mortality occurred in a single case (a 98-year-old woman, ASA IV, affected by strangulated hernia). Postoperative morbidity included 4 seromas and 1 haematoma. No recurrences were observed over a mean follow-up period of 24 months (range: 5-46 months). The femoral hernia repair with the Bard Mesh Dart Plug is a simple, safe, fast and effective procedure which can often be carried out in the day surgery setting. It can therefore be regarded as a valid alternative to other tension-free techniques.

[Basedow's disease associated with benign and malignant nodular disease of the thyroid: diagnosis and treatment]. / Il morbo di Basedow associato alla patologia nodulare benigna e maligna della tiroide: diagnosi e trattamento.

Nowadays the prevalence of thyroid nodules in Graves' disease (GD) is estimated as ranging from 15 to 33% and several studies support a high risk of thyroid cancer in this condition. The present study presents a retrospective analysis of 41 cases of GD submitted to total thyroidectomy from 1995 to 2003, aimed at discovering the most useful elements for an optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategy. We identified 23 patients with coexisting nodular goitre (nodular variants of GD) and among these we carried out a comparative study of 12 cases with only benign nodules and 7 with thyroid carcinoma detected prior to the operation. Four cases were not considered because of incidental microcarcinomas. We found no significant differences in the number, average size and radionuclide imaging of nodules in the two groups. In contrast, analysis of ultrasonographic findings showed that hypoechogenicity correlated closely with malignancy, particularly if associated with ill-defined margins, microcalcifications and intranodular vascular patterns, whereas hyperechogenicity was a typical appearance of benign lesions. Our study suggests that routine thyroid US scans should be considered for complete evaluation of GD, since this pathology frequently implies the development of thyroid nodules which are not always detectable at clinical or radionuclide examination. Surgery is mandatory when nodules with suspicious ultrasonographic features are found and if malignancy cannot be excluded at fine needle aspiration cytology.

[Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder. Personal experience and analysis of the literature]. / L'adenomiomatosi della colecisti. Esperienza personale ed analisi della letteratura.

Gallbladder adenomyomatosis is a pathological condition due to parietal thickening and intramural diverticulosis. Though it has always been considered a hyperplastic benign disease, the possibility of malignant transformation is currently admitted. Through an analysis of their personal experience and of the relevant literature, the authors draw attention to anatomical and clinical features, diagnostic interpretations and up-to-date trends in the therapy of this condition. Over the period from 1990 to 2001, 13 patients with adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder were observed, amounting to 4% of all cholecystectomies performed over the same period. According to the extent of the disease three forms have been identified: diffuse (26%), segmental (26%) and localized (48%). The clinical presentation appears to be mainly conditioned by the frequent association with gallstones (84%), and for this reason ultrasonographic features were commonly interpreted as being signs of chronic inflammation or suspected neoplasia, though retrospective ultrasound evaluation revealed pathognomonic signs of gallbladder adenomyomatosis. Indications to surgery were therefore mainly based upon the presence of stones and chronic inflammation. Cholecystectomy is currently also indicated in symptomatic cases of non-lithiasic gallbladder adenomyomatosis, whereas there appears to be no such clear-cut rule for the treatment of asymptomatic cases. Nevertheless, prophylactic laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be justified considering the evolution, the uncertain nature of the disease and the difficult differential diagnosis versus malignant lesions.

[Cervico-mediastinal hematoma secondary to extracapsular hemorrhage of parathyroid carcinoma. Clinical case and review of the literature]. / Ematoma cervico-mediastinico secondario ad emorragia extracapsulare di carcinoma paratiroideo. Caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

Extracapsular parathyroid haemorrhage is a rare but ominous occurrence, which may cause cervico-mediastinal haematoma and a severe calcaemia imbalance. We identified only 23 cases reported in the literature and these were always secondary to adenoma, hyperplasia or cysts, and never to carcinoma. We describe a case of a 56-year-old man who was admitted to our Institute because of the sudden development of an anterior neck swelling, together with dysphagia, dyspnoea and hoarseness. Physical examination revealed a large ecchymosis extending from the anterior neck to the upper chest, while the early symptoms had disappeared. Laboratory studies, ultrasonography and 99mtTC-Sestamibi scintiscan demonstrated the presence of primary parathyroidism due to a right inferior parathyroid neoplasm. At operation, the parathyroid was excised en bloc with the right thyroid lobe because they were joined together by an extensive fibrous reaction. Histological examination showed a well-differentiated parathyroid carcinoma with evidence of recent haemorrhage. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of extracapsular haemorrhage due to a parathyroid carcinoma. In summary, although parathyroid haemorrhage is a rare condition, it should always be suspected when a painful mass or diffuse swelling suddenly occurs in the anterior neck, with or without ecchymosis, especially when serum calcium and phosphorus are abnormal.

[Treatment of inguinal hernia with the Prolene Hernia System (P.H.S.)]. / Il trattamento dell'ernia inguinale con il Prolene Hernia System (P.H.S.).

Among the several techniques available for the treatment of inguinal hernia, the Prolene Hernia System (P.H.S.) has gained widespread acceptance over the past few years. This is an original prosthetic device that combines, in a single step, what other techniques offer separately, namely an underlay patch (preperitoneal placement), an onlay patch (subfascial placement) and a connector that joins them together and works as a plug. The aims of this study were to specify the indications and the technique of this method and to evaluate its efficacy in our experience. From January 1999 to July 2003 we performed 156 inguinal herniorraphies with the P.H.S. in 152 patients (143 male, 9 female; mean age 62.4 years). One hundred and thirty-six cases were primary hermias (mainly types III, IV and VI according to the Rutkow and Robbins classification) and 18 were recurrences (mainly type R3 according to the Campanelli classification). In 56.5% of cases the operations were performed in the day surgery setting, 37.5% as ordinary admissions and 6% as emergency procedures. Locoregional (62.5%) or local (34.2%) anaesthesia were mainly given. Early postoperative complications (7%) were 7 haematomas and 4 seromas. In 125 patients with a follow-up of at least 6 months, the late postoperative complications included 4 cases of persistent inguinocrural pain among the primary hernias (3.7%) and a new recurrence among the recurring hernias. The Authors believe that hernia repair with the P.H.S. is a valid choice comparable to the other common techniques but they suggest its use particularly in primary hernias with major relaxation of the posterior inguinal wall of the inguinal canal or of the entire myopectineal orifice.

The treatment of Spigelian hernia with the Prolene Hernia System: notes on techniques.

Spigelian hernia repair techniques use prostheses both in the traditional and the videolaparoscopic approach; only in selected cases direct suturing of the parietal defect is performed. The aim of this study is to describe a technique that uses a device proposed specifically for inguinal hernias, but which has not yet been described in the literature, namely the Prolene Hernia System (P.H.S.). Our personal experience consists of 7 cases (5 females and 2 males; mean age: 58 years) operated on from January 2002 to May 2003. Four patients were operated on in the ordinary hospitalisation regime with selective spinal anaesthesia and three patients were treated in the day surgery setting with local anaesthesia. With this technique, the underlay patch is positioned in an adequately prepared preperitoneal space and the onlay patch above the internal oblique muscle, while the connector acts as a plug positioned in the parietal defect. The method has proved simple, safe, and fast. It causes minimal discomfort to the patient in terms of postoperative pain and allows rapid rehabilitation. Moreover, it can also be performed in the day surgery setting. The authors conclude that the P.H.S. Spigelian hernia repair technique is a valid alternative to any of the other methods used to date.

[Endometriosis of umbilical cicatrix: a case report and review of the literature]. / Endometriosi della cicatrice ombelicale: descrizione di un caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

The present report refers to a case of "primitive" endometriosis of the umbilical scar in a 50-years-old woman who complained of the appearance at the umbilicus of two nodules measuring 7 and 2 mm in diameter. These nodules, which were brownish in colour, were responsible for prickly pain and itching unrelated to the menstrual cycle. Both nodules were excised after a preoperative non-specific diagnosis of granuloma. Pathology findings revealed "cutaneous endometriosis". The authors believe that the appearance of a nodular swelling at the umbilicus of a woman of child-bearing age should lead to a suspicion of endometriosis among the possible diagnoses.