Laparoscopic approach in emergency for the treatment of acute incarcerated groin hernia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive approach for acute incarcerated groin hernia repair is still debated. To clarify this debate, a literature review was performed. METHODS: Search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, founding 28,183 articles. RESULTS: Fifteen articles, and 433 patients were included (16 bilateral hernia, range 3-8). Three hundred and eighty-eight (75.3%) and 103 patients (22.9%) underwent transabdominal preperitoneal and totally extraperitoneal repair, respectively, and in 5 patients, the defect was buttressed with broad ligament (1.1%) (not specified in 3 patients). Herniated structures were resected in 48 cases (range 1-9). Intraoperative complications and conversion occurred in 4 (range 0-1) and 10 (range 0-3) patients, respectively. Mean operative time and hospital stay ranged between 50 and 147 min, and 2 and 7 days, respectively. Postoperative complications ranged between 1 and 19. Five studies compared laparoscopic and open approaches (163 and 235 patients). Herniated structures were resected in 19 (11.7%) and 42 cases (17.9%) for laparoscopic and open approach, respectively (p = 0.1191). Intraoperative complications and conversion occurred in one (0.6%) and 5 (2.1%) patients (p = 0.4077), and in two (1.2%) and 19 (8.1%) patients (p = 0.0023), in case of laparoscopic or open approach, respectively. Mean operative time and hospital stay were 94.4 ± 40.2 and 102.8 ± 43.7 min, and 4.8 ± 2.2 and 11 ± 3.1 days, in laparoscopic or open approach, respectively. Sixteen (9.8%) and 57 (24.3%) postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy seems to be a safe and feasible approach for the treatment of acute incarcerated groin hernia. Further studies are required for definitive conclusions.

The role of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is the second most common type of primary liver cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma. Surgical resection is considered the only curative treatment for CC. In general, laparoscopic liver surgery (LLS) is associated with improved short-term outcomes without compromising the long-term oncological outcome. However, the role of LLS in the treatment of CC is not yet well established. In addition, CC may arise in any tract of the biliary tree, thus requiring different types of treatment, including pancreatectomies and extrahepatic bile duct resections. This review presents and discusses the state of the art in the laparoscopic and robotic surgical treatment of all types of CC. An electronic search was performed to identify all studies dealing with laparoscopic or robotic surgery and cholangiocarcinoma. Laparoscopic resection in patients with intrahepatic CC (ICC) is feasible and safe. Regarding oncologic adequacy, as R0 resections, depth of margins, and long-term overall and disease-free survival, laparoscopy is comparable to open procedures for ICC. An adequate patient selection is required to obtain optimal results. Use of laparoscopy in perihilar CC (PHC) has not gained popularity. Further studies are still needed to confirm the benefit of this approach over conventional surgery for PHC. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal CC (DCC) represents one of the most advanced abdominal operations owing to the necessity of a complex dissection and reconstruction and has also had small widespread so far. Minimally invasive surgery seems feasible and safe especially for ICC. Laparoscopy for PHC is technically challenging notably for the caudate lobectomy. Not least as for the LLR, the robotic approach for DCC appears technically achievable in selected patients.

Liver Transplantation and Abuse of Drugs and Alcohol: A Correlation Between Scales of the MMPI-2.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice requires an accurate psychological assessment of subjects with clinical history of alcohol abuse and/or substance abuse (abuse history [AH]) for therapeutic choice. This study aims to identify significant correlations between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 scales in patients awaiting liver transplantation. METHODS: We evaluated a personality questionnaire containing MMPI-2 scales in the sample of 308 patients (81.8% males and 18.2% females) awaiting liver transplantation. The AH group composed 44.49% of patients and in the abuse free (AF) group, 55.51%. Scales were compared using Shapiro-Wilk test and Mann-Whitney U test. Interrelationships were examined using Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: This analysis found 27 scales of the MMPI-2 that were statistically different between 2 groups (AF and AH). In the AH group, we found a significant correlation between the following pairs of scales: Schizophrenia Scale (Sc) with the Addictions Potential Scale, Social Introversion scale (Si) with the Psychopathic Deviate scale (Pd), and Social Discomfort scale with Pd; the ES scale was negatively correlated with the Sc and Si scales. This interim study showed that the understanding of these indicators is crucial both for the assessment accuracy and for a prediction of the degree of therapy compliance after the transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The scales of the MMPI-2 indicated a marked tendency to emotional rigidity, a lack of self-esteem and susceptibility judgment. Social introversion and social discomfort trends lead to impulsive behavior and deviant actions that combine poorly with good compliance with treatment.

Hepatoblastoma in a 14 month-old female.

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common malignant liver tumor in children. Complete surgical resection is the best treatment choice with a good prognosis in most cases. We present the case of a 14 month-old female patient was admitted to the pediatric surgery unit due to an abdominal mass localized in the right upper quadrant. The diagnosis retained was hepatoblastoma, so the patient underwent preoperative chemotherapy. The final size of the tumor permitted a complete surgical resection through a right subcostal incision enlarged to the left. Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumor in children, more frequent in male than in female and typically presenting before 3 years of age as an abdominal mass found accidentally. Recent treatment strategies, consisting of chemotherapy combined with extensive surgery and in extreme cases liver transplantation, have improved the prognosis during the last years although HB's etiology and management are still subjects of debate.

Subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: long term outcomes of Billroth I reconstruction at a single European institute.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of Billroth I (BI) subtotal gastrectomy (SG) for gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial in Western countries. The aim of the study is to critically analyze the long term outcomes of this procedure in a large single-institution experience. METHODOLOGY: Between 1990 and 2004, 158 patients underwent BI SG for GC at the Regina Elena Cancer Institute of Rome. Evaluation focused on cancer recurrence of the gastric stump, functional outcome and endoscopic findings. RESULTS: Actuarial survival rate 10 years after resection in stage I-II was 70.7 per cent. After curative resection, primary cancer of the gastric stump occurred in one patient seven years after resection (0.7 per cent), whereas two patients had early recurrence (1.4 per cent) one and three years postoperatively. There were no oesophageal cancers. In survivors, Visick grades I and II achieved 95 per cent, and postoperative endoscopy showed no evidence of mucosal changes in 85 per cent of the patients. Twelve per cent of the patients took acid blocker regularly, however, the incidence of functional failure was 5 per cent. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, Billroth I subtotal gastrectomy is a safe and effective procedure that provides long-term survival and very good functional outcome.

Hanging of the hepatic veins septa: a safe control prior and during outflow anastomosis in liver transplantation.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) preservation during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is known as the "piggyback" technique. The end-to-side anastomosis is constructed between the graft's IVC and recipient's hepatic veins using a Satinsky side clamp applied in a transverse position. To stabilize the large Satinsky clamp and preserve a sufficient vascular stump after hepatectomy and before graft implantation, we propose a technical innovation consisting of hanging the septa between the left and middle hepatic vein and between the middle and right hepatic vein using 2 tapes. This technique showed some advantages when performing the caval outflow anastomosis, representing a further technical refinement of the piggyback end-to-side technique for the implantation on the 3 hepatic veins. From November 2001 to September 2012, we performed 272 consecutive OLT at our institution with the piggyback technique using the hanging of the hepatic veins septa in all cases. In conclusion, the hanging of the 3 hepatic veins septa presented in this study represents a simple, safe and reproducible technique for the outflow anastomosis using the piggyback technique.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young European adults.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to define the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in young European adults. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2004, 603 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in a prospective database. The findings for 51 (8.5 per cent) patients aged 45 years or less were compared with those of 457 aged between 46 and 75 years. RESULTS: In the younger group there were significantly more women (57 versus 36.3 per cent; P = 0.004), Laurén diffuse-type carcinomas (73 versus 42.7 per cent; P < 0.001), N2-3 lymph node metastases (59 versus 38.9 per cent; P = 0.005), stage IV disease (49 versus 35.7 per cent; P = 0.085) and resections that were non-curative (36 versus 18.5 per cent; P = 0.007) than in the older patients. Actuarial survival rates in younger patients at 5 and 10 years after resection were 40 and 32 per cent respectively, similar to those in older patients (P = 0.540). Unfavourable prognostic factors associated with poor 5-year survival were the degree of gastric wall invasion (T3-4 versus T1-2; P < 0.001), lymph node invasion (positive versus negative; P < 0.001), disease stage (III-IV versus I-II; P < 0.001) and curability of resection (non-curative versus curative; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Gastric cancer in young adults tends to be more advanced; however, when matched for stage, the prognosis does not differ from that of older patients.

Cystic pancreatic neoplasms: 12-year surgical experience.

Cystic pancreatic neoplasms have been increasingly diagnosed in the last years. Resection is recommended in most cases, but their management has not been standardized since an accurate nonoperative differentiation is often difficult. A retrospective review of 30 patients undergoing surgical resection for cystic pancreatic neoplasms between 1993 and 2005 was performed. Median age of the patients was 63 years and 63.5% were female. Twelve patients (40%) were asymptomatic. Twenty-nine had curative resections. Pathologic analysis revealed 13 serous cystadenomas, 9 mucinous cystadenomas, 3 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 4 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and 1 solid pseudopapillary neoplasm. Overall mortality was 6.5% (2 patients). Postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients (41%). Pancreatic fistula occurred in 7 cases (24%). Reoperation was required in 2 patients (6.5%). Two patients operated for mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms died of recurrence at 24 and 7 months postoperatively. Excluding another patient died from other cause, all others are currently alive with no evidence of disease. Diagnostic accuracy for cystic pancreatic neoplasms is still limited. Considering the good prognosis and acceptable morbidity and minimal mortality after surgical treatment in specialized centers, resection seems still justified in most cases.

[Isolated resection of the caudate lobe in metastasis of colorectal cancer]. / Resezione isolata del lobo caudato per metastasi da cancro colorettale.

The presence of metastatic lesions confined to the caudate lobe (CL or segment I) is quite a rare event. Even more rare is the decision to perform an isolate CL resection. Segmental resection in the liver is justified by the evidence that primary and secondary lesions, in early stage, are confined to the originating segment, and therefore a segmentectomy can be considered for the CL as well. Anatomy of the CL was deeply studied through the years since the surgical approach to this liver segment requires a detailed knowledge of its surgical anatomy and only after 1985 the surgical technique for CL isolate resection was established. We report our experience with 1 case of isolate colo-rectal metastasis confined to the caudate lobe and describe the surgical technique employed.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic metastatic melanoma.

Isolated pancreatic metastatic melanoma is a rare occurrence. Even more rare is the surgical treatment of this lesion. However, considering the lack of effective systemic treatment and the decreasing morbidity and mortality rates of pancreatic resections in specialized centers, selected patients, especially if symptomatic, may be considered for surgical resection to achieve good palliation or improve survival. We performed a pancreaticoduodenectomy in a patient with a bleeding pancreatic metastasis from cutaneous melanoma excised 10 years before and reviewed the recent literature.

Resection and transplantation: evaluation of surgical perspectives in HIV positive patients affected by end-stage liver disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the opportunity of surgical treatment in terms of liver resection or liver transplantation in HIV positive patients affected by an end stage liver disease that referred to our liver unit. METHODS: Among 1350 outpatients who referred to our liver unit from January 2002 to September 2003, thirty-two (2,4%) were HIV positive. The routes of transmission of the viral infection, the related co-infections and the underlying liver disease were recorded. The therapeutic pathway was analysed. The kind and the duration of the surgical procedures were assessed. RESULTS: Fourteen (44%) of these thirty-two patients were not suitable for surgical treatment. Surgery was planned in 9 of 32 HIV positive patients (28%). Four patients (12%) were submitted to liver resection and OLT was performed in five patients (15%). Hepatocellular Carcinoma was present in 4 (44%) of the HIV positive patients considered for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion in our centre the 28% of HIV positive out patients had the opportunity to receive a surgical treatment. The candidate to this surgery is mostly young, HCV and/or HBV coinfected and affected by HCC in 44% of cases.

Transhiatal surgical resection for adenocarcinoma of the cardia.

Aim of this study is to define feasibility and effectiveness of the transhiatal esophagogastric resection in cardia adenocarcinoma. From 1981 to 2001, we submitted to surgery 85 patients affected by cardia adenocarcinoma. Since 1994, 34 patients, in consideration of clinical, anatomosurgical (Siewert II-III) and pathologic (T1-3, cN mediastinal negative) findings, underwent transhiatal esophagogastric resection according to Pinotti's technique. This consisted in the midline opening of the central tendon of the diaphragm, ligature and section of the left inferior phrenic vessels, exposure and anterior retraction of the pericardium. The approach allowed in all cases a satisfactory esophageal mobilization and a good dissection of the inferior mediastinal structures avoiding thoracotomy. Postoperative complications were observed in 8 patients (24%). In 4 cases the complications were medical (11.8%) and in 4 cases surgical (11.8%). Death occurred in 4 cases (11.8%): in 3 patients (8.8%) for local complications (2 anastomotic leaks and 1 hemorrage) and in 1 (2.9%) for cardiac failure. The 26 non complicated cases had an uneventful postoperative course and were discharged 12 days after surgery. Middle and long term results were evaluated in terms of locoregional recurrence rate and actuarial survival. At 1 and 2 years locoregional recurrence occurred in 8.8% and 11.8% of cases respectively. Five-year overall survival was 22.5%. In selected cases (Siewert type II-III, T1-3 tumors with clinically negative mediastinal lymphnodes) the procedure in study appears technically feasible, it provides a satisfactory volume of esophageal exeresis and an adequate extension of mediastinal lymphadenectomy, representing a safe and effective alternative to thoracotomy in cardia cancer surgery.

[Experience of 10 years with the surgical treatment of lung cancer in elderly patients]. / Esperienza di dieci anni nel trattamento chirurgico del cancro del polmone nel paziente anziano.

The surgical treatment of lung cancer in elderly patients is correlated with a lot of complications that in most cases are cardiopulmonary type; for this reason, in past times these patients were left out of the surgical treatment. Today, the progress of surgical, diagnostic and anesthetic techniques permit to execute pulmonary resections in patients older than 70 years too. The aim of this study is to evaluate postoperative complications and long-term and long-term survival in patients under and over the age 70. Between January 1990 and June 2000 we have assessed 172 patients with lung neoplasm. We have divided patients in two groups: those younger than 70 years of age (group 1, n = 119) and those older than 70 years of age (group 2, n = 53). Postoperative mortality for group 2 was 7.5% and for group 5.1%. The overall postoperative complication rate for group 2 was 30.2% and for group 1 10.9%. Within group 1 main complications have been of surgical type (61.5%) while in group 2 medical type (cardiopulmonary), with higher frequency in patients ASA 3 or ASA 4. The mortality at 12 months for non-neoplastic causes was 10.2% for group 2 and 2.5% for group 1. On the contrary, the mortality at 12 months for neoplastic causes was 8.2% for group 2 and 6.7% for group 1. We haven't noticed an important correlation between the extension of the resection and the recurrence of disease. The survival at 3 years was 46.5% for group 1 and 41% for group 2 and associated with neoplastic causes.

[Liver metastasis of breast carcinoma. Results of surgical resection. Analysis of 15 operated cases]. / Metastasi epatiche da carcinoma mammario. I risultati della resezione chirurgica. Analisi di 15 casi operati.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to define the efficacy of liver resection for metastases from operated breast cancer by means of analysis of the results of a single institution compared to the literature data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over the period from 1990 to 1998, 15 patients with liver metastases from operated breast cancer were submitted to surgical resection. Thirteen patients were operated on for single metastases and two for multiple liver metastases. In the first group, a simple metastasectomy or wedge resection was sufficient, while in the second a bisegmentectomy and a right hepatectomy, respectively, were performed. Nine patients were subsequently submitted to adjuvant chemotherapy, two to chemo- and hormonotherapy, and two to hormonotherapy alone, while two other patients received no systemic treatment. RESULTS: No major complications or postoperative mortality were observed. Median survival was 44 months. The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 38.3%. Eight patients are still alive, and 7 patients have died as a result of their liver and systemic metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic metastasis from breast cancer is a good indication for surgical resection. Resection is capable of providing curative treatment and better results in terms of quality of life and survival rates, as compared to chemotherapy and hormonotherapy, especially in patients operated on for primary tumours more than three years earlier.

Nerve-sparing surgery in rectal cancer: feasibility and functional results.

Traditional rectal cancer surgery has been burdened with a high rate of sexual and urinary dysfunctions due to intraoperative injury or the cutting of the sympathetic and/or parasympathetic nerves. The experience acquired in the last ten years with total mesorectal excisions has permitted the use of the "nerve-sparing" technique. The present study regards 239 patients from two surgical centres, most of whom underwent sphincter-saving radical surgery between 1994 and 1998 with the above mentioned technique for resectable colon cancer. Details regarding the technique were recorded in the last 58 patients, in order to examine the severity of the surgical damage. The subgroup with the longest follow-up, which included 36 patients, was diagnostically evaluated by a surgeon, psychologist, urologist and neurologist to analyze the risk of sexual and urinary dysfunctions. A complete nerve-sparing was performed in 86.3% of the cases. The parasympathetic nerve trunks were those most often damaged because of perineural tumor spreading. Partial to complete sexual impotence was observed in 44% of the patients and surprisingly, preoperative dysfunctions were detected by means of the multidisciplinary approach in one third of these patients. Therefore, only 30.5% of the patients presented with strictly postoperative sexual impotency, above all, those who had undergone high-dose preoperative chemoradiation for T3 or T4 middle to low rectal cancer. A prospective study was initiated to evaluate the genitourinary dysfunctions after rectal cancer surgery in all of the clinical phases by means of a multidisciplinary approach aimed at functional recovery and improved quality of life.

Pancreatic resections: early results and functional behaviour of the stapled pancreatic stump.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the standard surgical treatment for patients with pancreatic head cancer. Morbidity and mortality rates following this procedure have constantly decreased over the past several years. Leakage of the pancreaticoenteric anastomosis is one of the most serious complications, often responsible for a fatal outcome. Several methods for the management of the pancreatic stump have been described in order to reduce the worrisome incidence of this complication, with variable results. In this series, the Authors review their experience of 75 pancreatic resections and analyze the early results and functional behaviour of 6 patients in which the pancreatic stump was stapled without pancreaticoenteric anastomosis.

[The role of surgery in the treatment of appendicular abscesses]. / Il ruolo della chirurgia nel trattamento degli ascessi appendicolari.

The management of appendiceal abscesses is still discussed and many different approaches are nowadays adopted. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively our experience with this disease to value the results of drainage of the abscess and appendectomy in one stage in presence of appendiceal abscesses. We studied 44 patients consecutively observed in our Department of General Surgery all submitted to drainage of the abscess and appendectomy for acute appendicitis with periappendiceal abscess. Preoperative ultrasonography showed an accuracy of 85.7% in detecting the presence of an abscess. Mean size of the abscesses were 5 cm (from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm). The mean duration of surgical operation was 48 minutes (min 35'-max 95'), with a mean in-hospital stay of 6.2 days. Morbidity rate was 9% and was due in 75% of cases to wound infection and in 25% of cases to wound dehiscence. Neither major morbidity nor mortality were observed. In consideration of the results the authors conclude that even in presence of an appendiceal abscess, appendectomy with abscess drainage is not only a safe operation with a low morbidity rate but the procedure of choice allowing a significative reduction of hospitalization and health cost.