Transverse colon volvulus in a young patient with wandering liver.

We present the case of a 26-year-old male patient with no history of interest who consulted the emergency department due to occlusive symptoms. Urgent CT showed the presence of a transverse colonic volvulus in the context of a heterotopic liver, located in the left hypochondrium. There were no clinical or radiological signs of perforation or ischemia, so urgent endoscopic decompression was performed with subsequent elective surgery with a favorable resolution of the condition. Transverse colonic volvulus is rare (<1%) and wandering liver is an exceptional predisposing factor, with less than a hundred published cases. In these patients, endoscopic decompression carries a risk of perforation with high recurrence rates, and surgical treatment should be considered. However, in this case, in the absence of severity criteria, decompressive colonoscopy was considered an urgent treatment and subsequent elective surgery with favorable results.

[Evaluation of the gastrointestinal quality of life index as a system to prioritize patients on the waiting list for laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Evaluación del gastrointestinal quality of life index como sistema de selección para la priorización de pacientes en lista de espera de colecistectomía laparoscópica.

INTRODUCTION: We prospectively evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) through the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) as a system to prioritize patients on the waiting list for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and its correlation with a linear prioritization system developed in the General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Institute of Clínica Quirón in Valencia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 100 consecutive patients who underwent elective outpatient LC. The main outcome measures consisted of: 1) assessment of the impact of the disease, measured through the GIQLI; 2) evaluation of an objective system based on technical scientific criteria; 3) evaluation of the utility of LC in improving HRQoL through the GIQLI by analyzing expected and obtained utility through the change ratio, and 4) analysis of the correlation between the objective linear system, HRQoL and utility. RESULTS: The GIQLI was useful in evaluating the impact of the disease. LC significantly improved HRQoL in both oligosymptomatic and symptomatic patients. The objective or clinical factors did not allow perceptions of the process to be evaluated or the impact on HRQoL to be measured or inferred. A prioritization system based on GIQLI scores allows patients to be selected according to the expected utility (worsening of HRQoL) and obtained utility (improvement in HRQoL) of CL. CONCLUSIONS: Prioritization systems should include utility to guarantee equity. The GIQLI shows the impact of the disease on the patient while the clinical/objective factors are unrelated to the expectation of prioritization. Prioritization systems should include both elements to maintain the balance between impact and appropriate indication.

[Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A cohort study of 1,600 consecutive cases]. / Colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria. Estudio de cohortes de 1.600 casos consecutivos.

OBJECTIVE: A descriptive analysis of day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ALC) in a cohort of 1,600 consecutive patients performed in Instituto de Cirugía y Aparato Digestivo (ICAD), Clínica Quirón de Valencia in the period 1997-2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study of 1,601 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) provided by the regional health service and private health companies. MAIN MEASURES: Conversion rate, non-planned admissions, readmissions, surgery duration and demographics. RESULTS: ALC was successfully performed in 80.8% of cases. LC with over-night (ON) stay accounted for 13.4% of patients. Admission was necessary in 4.6%. Mortality was 0.13%, 0.08 in ALC and 0.5% in ON LC. Readmissions occurred in 2.1%, 1.6% in ALC group, 5.4% in ON stay and 4.2% in admission group. CONCLUSIONS: ALC is a reliable and safe procedure. Minimization of admission rates is the key for cost-effective optimization in the management of cholelithiasis. ALC should be considered as the reference standard in gallbladder stone disease treatment.

WNT2b Activates Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Through FZD4: Relevance in Penetrating Crohn´s Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition [EMT] has been related to fibrosis and fistula formation, common complications associated with Crohn´s disease [CD]. The WNT signalling pathway mediates EMT, and specific WNT/FZD interactions have been related to the activation of this process in several diseases. We aim to analyse the relevance of EMT and WNT ligands and receptors in the penetrating behaviour of CD. METHODS: Intestinal surgical resections were obtained from control and CD patients with a stenotic or penetrating behaviour. Fibrosis was determined by the histological analysis of collagen deposition and EMT by confocal microscopy. The expression of WNT ligands, inhibitors, and FZD receptors was analysed by RT-PCR, WB, IH, and IF studies. The effects of WNT2b and the role of FZD4 in EMT were analysed in HT29 epithelial cells. RESULTS: Fibrosis and expression of EMT markers were detected in samples from CD patients irrespective of the clinical behaviour. However, an increased colocalisation of E-CADHERIN and VIMENTIN, an increased number of cells expressing WNT2b, and a higher expression of FZD4 and WNT2b/FZD4 interaction, were detected in intestinal tissue from the penetrating compared with the stenotic CD behaviour. WNT2b induced EMT in HT29 cells through FZD4 activation. CONCLUSIONS: An increased EMT, associated with increased WNT2b/FZD4 interaction, was detected in intestinal tissue from CD patients with a penetrating behaviour. WNT2b, through FZD4 activation, induces EMT in vitro which points to a novel pharmacological target to prevent intestinal penetrating complications of CD.

CD16+ Macrophages Mediate Fibrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fibrosis is a common complication of Crohn's disease [CD], and is related to dysregulated tissular repair following inflammation, in which macrophages play a central role. We have previously observed that STAT6-/- mice present delayed mucosal recovery after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid [TNBS]-induced colitis due to a deficiency in reparatory interleukin-4 [IL4]/STAT6-dependent M2 macrophages, which can be reverted by the exogenous transfer of this cell type. In the present study, we analyse the role of STAT6-dependent macrophages in intestinal fibrosis. METHODS: Colitis was induced by weekly intra-rectal administration of TNBS [6 weeks] to STAT6-/- mice and wild-type [WT] animals. Colonic surgical resections were obtained from CD patients and from colon cancer patients. RESULTS: Chronic colitis provoked a fibrogenic response in STAT6-/- mice, but not in WT animals. An accumulation of M2 macrophages, defined as CD206+ cells, was observed in WT mice, but not in STAT6-/- animals. Instead, the latter group showed an increase in CD16+ macrophages that correlated with the expression of fibrogenic markers. CD16+ macrophages were also increased in the damaged mucosa of Crohn's disease patients with stenotic or penetrating complications. Finally, administration of IL4-treated WT macrophages to STAT6-/- mice reduced TNBS-induced fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that STAT6 deficiency dysregulates the macrophage response to inflammatory outbursts by increasing the presence of a population of CD16+ macrophages that seems to contribute to intestinal fibrosis.

Evaluación del gastrointestinal quality of life index como sistema de selección para la priorización de pacientes en lista de espera de colecistectomía laparoscópica / Evaluation of the gastrointestinal quality of life index as a system to prioritize patients on the waiting list for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Introducción Evaluación prospectiva de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) mediante el gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) como sistema de priorización de pacientes en lista de espera para el proceso colecistectomía laparoscópica (CL) y su correlación con un sistema lineal de priorización (SP) desarrollado en el Instituto de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo (ICAD) de la Clínica Quirón de Valencia. Material y métodos Un total de 100 pacientes consecutivos a los que se les realizó CL electiva ambulatoria. Principales medidas de resultados 1) repercusión de la enfermedad mediante el GIQLI; 2) evaluación de un sistema objetivo basado en criterios científico-técnicos; 3) evaluación del valor de la CL en términos de CVRS mediante el GIQLI analizando la utilidad esperable y la obtenida en términos de change ratio (CR) y 4) análisis de la correlación entre el sistema objetivo lineal, la CVRS y la utilidad. Resultados El GIQLI es útil en la evaluación de la repercusión. La CL obtiene un beneficio en CVRS significativo en pacientes tanto oligosintomáticos como sintomáticos. Los factores objetivos o clínicos no permiten evaluar la percepción sobre el proceso ni medir o inferir la repercusión en CVRS. Un SP basado en tramos de puntuación del GIQLI permite una selección en función de la utilidad de la CL esperable (deterioro en CVRS) y obtenida (ganancia en CVRS).Conclusiones Un SP debe incluir la utilidad para garantizar la equidad. El GIQLI objetiva la repercusión sobre el paciente mientras que los factores clínicos-objetivos no tienen relación con las expectativas de priorización. Un SP debe incluir ambos a fin de mantener el equilibrio repercusión/adecuada indicación (AU)

Introduction We prospectively evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) through the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) as a system to prioritize patients on the waiting list for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and its correlation with a linear prioritization system developed in the General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Institute of Clínica Quirón in Valencia. Material and methods There were 100 consecutive patients who underwent elective outpatient LC. The main outcome measures consisted of: 1) assessment of the impact of the disease, measured through the GIQLI; 2) evaluation of an objective system based on technical scientific criteria; 3) evaluation of the utility of LC in improving HRQoL through the GIQLI by analyzing expected and obtained utility through the change ratio, and 4) analysis of the correlation between the objective linear system, HRQoL and utility. Results The GIQLI was useful in evaluating the impact of the disease. LC significantly improved HRQoL in both oligosymptomatic and symptomatic patients. The objective or clinical factors did not allow perceptions of the process to be evaluated or the impact on HRQoL to be measured or inferred. A prioritization system based on GIQLI scores allows patients to be selected according to the expected utility (worsening of HRQoL) and obtained utility (improvement in HRQoL) of CL.Conclusions Prioritization systems should include utility to guarantee equity. The GIQLI shows the impact of the disease on the patient while the clinical/objective factors are unrelated to the expectation of prioritization. Prioritization systems should include both elements to maintain the balance between impact and appropriate indication (AU)

Colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria. Estudio de cohortes de 1.600 casos consecutivos / Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A cohort study of 1, 600 consecutive cases

Objetivo Describir la experiencia de nuestro grupo en colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria en una cohorte de 1.600 casos consecutivos realizados en el Instituto de Cirugía y Aparato (CLA) Digestivo (ICAD) en la Clínica Quirón de Valencia durante el período 1997-2010.Pacientes y método Estudio prospectivo, observacional de 1.601 pacientes consecutivos remitidos para colecistectomía laparoscópica, procedentes de la Agencia Valenciana de Salud (AVS) y compañías aseguradoras privadas (CAP).Principales medidas de resultados: se evalúan los resultados con el análisis de índice de sustitución, tasa de ingresos no planeados, reingresos, estancia postoperatoria, duración de intervención y factores demográficos. Resultados El índice de sustitución de la serie fue de 80,8% con un porcentaje de pacientes intervenidos en régimen de estancia over-night (EON) de 13,4% y un porcentaje de ingresos en hospitalización convencional de 4,6%. La mortalidad de la serie fue de 0,13%, 0,08 en el grupo de CLA y 0,5% en el grupo de CL con EON. El índice de reingresos fue de 2,1% en la serie global, 1,6% en los pacientes ambulatorios, 5,4% en los pacientes con EON y 4,2% en los pacientes ingresados. Conclusiones La CLA es un procedimiento seguro y fiable. La reducción en la necesidad de ingreso de los pacientes es fundamental en la optimización coste efectividad del procedimiento de colecistectomía. La CLA debería ser considerada como el patrón oro del tratamiento de la colelitiasis sintomática (AU)

Objective A descriptive analysis of day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ALC) in a cohort of 1,600 consecutive patients performed in Instituto de Cirugía y Aparato Digestivo (ICAD), Clínica Quirón de Valencia in the period 1997-2010.Patients and methods Prospective observational study of 1,601 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) provided by the regional health service and private health companies. Main measures Conversion rate, non-planned admissions, readmissions, surgery duration and demographics. Results ALC was successfully performed in 80.8% of cases. LC with over-night (ON) stay accounted for 13.4% of patients. Admission was necessary in 4.6%. Mortality was 0.13%, 0.08 in ALC and 0.5% in ON LC. Readmissions occurred in 2.1%, 1.6% in ALC group, 5.4% in ON stay and 4.2% in admission group. Conclusions ALC is a reliable and safe procedure. Minimization of admission rates is the key for cost-effective optimization in the management of cholelithiasis. ALC should be considered as the reference standard in gallbladder stone disease treatment (AU)