Transcatheter arterial embolization in abdominal blunt trauma with active mesenteric bleeding: case series and review of literature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in treating traumatic mesenteric injuries with active bleeding, to report the outcome in a case series, and to compare the results with the existing data. METHODS: All consecutive patients with active mesenteric bleeding due to blunt abdominal trauma referred to a level-one Trauma Center and treated by TAE were included; the related demographic and medical data were retrospectively reported. A literature review was conducted; all reported cases were collected and analysed together with our case series. A univariate analysis of risk factors for TAE failure, bowel necrosis, complication and length of stay was performed. RESULTS: Four consecutive patients were included. Technical success was 100%. One patient developed colon ischemia after the procedure and underwent surgical treatment; another presented transient mild renal failure and late respiratory failure. No 30-day mortality was reported. These results are consistent with those reported in literature. The analysis of our cases together with case collected from literature resulted in a case series of 25 patients. Univariate analysis showed colon as site of bleeding as a significant risk factor for bowel necrosis and older age as a significant risk factor for longer length of stay. TAE failure was not significantly associated neither with a higher complication rate nor with a higher length of stay. CONCLUSION: TAE is a safe and effective procedure to control mesenteric bleeding, thus should be considered, in selected cases and in appropriate setting, as an alternative to emergency surgery.

Laparoscopic right colectomy for colon cancer after liver transplantation.

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) after liver transplantation is 0.5%-4%. Laparoscopic surgery is the standard-of-care treatment, however it is rarely performed in patients who had previously undergone liver transplantation. Few reports exist regarding minimally invasive surgery in such context and none about laparoscopic right colectomy. We present the case of a 64-year-old female with a history of liver transplantation in 2001 and who developed a right-sided CRC. A laparoscopic right colectomy was successfully performed, and the post-operative course was uneventful. Given the known benefits, we believe that laparoscopic approach should be considered in such patients.

Biliary Sepsis Due to Recurrent Acute Calculus Cholecystitis (ACC) in a High Surgical-Risk Elderly Patient: An Unexpected Complication.

Acute calculus cholecystitis (ACC) is increasing in frequency within an ageing population, in which biliary tract infection, including cholecystitis and cholangitis, is the second most common cause of sepsis, with higher morbidity and mortality rates. Patient's critical conditions, such as septic shock or anaesthesiology contraindication, may be reasons to avoid laparoscopic cholecystectomy-the first-line treatment of ACC-preferring gallbladder drainage. It can aid in patient's stabilization with also the benefit of identifying the causative organism to establish a targeted antibiotic therapy, especially in patients at high risk for antimicrobial resistance such as healthcare-associated infection. Nevertheless, a recent randomized clinical trial showed that laparoscopic cholecystectomy can reduce the rate of major complications compared with percutaneous catheter drainage in critically ill patients too. On the other hand, among the possibilities to control biliary sepsis in non-operative management of ACC, according to recent meta-analysis, endoscopic gallbladder drainage showed better clinical success rate, and it is gaining popularity because of the potential advantage of allowing gallstones clearance to reduce recurrences of ACC. However, complications that may arise, although rare, can worsen an already weak clinical condition, as happened to the high surgical-risk elderly patient taken into account in our case report.

Aortoiliac surgery concomitant with kidney transplantation: a single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Aortoiliac pathology in kidney allograft recipients is not rare but treatment timing is controversial. As most publications on this topic are case reports its difficult to evaluate long-term outcomes of those clinical challenges. Herein we report long-term results of these procedures. METHODS: From 1970 to 2006, 1544 kidney transplants were performed in our center. Thirty patients underwent aortoiliac surgery simultaneously with kidney transplantation. We analyzed their clinical records to come up with outcomes of these complex clinical challenges. RESULTS: Vascular pathology was distributed as following: 19 stenoses treated with endarterectomy (15), aortoiliac bypass (two), aorto-bi-iliac bypass (one) and aorto-bifemoral bypass (one); and 11 aneurysms treated with arterioplasty (four), aorto-bi-iliac bypass (four) and iliac-iliac bypass (three). In 24 cases (80%) the necessity of vascular surgery was established intraoperatively as vessels conditions did not permit safe anastomoses and jeopardized graft survival. Mean follow-up was 59 months (12-125). Five (16.7%) grafts were lost and three (10%) patients died in the first postoperative month: acute myocardial infarction (two) and non-viable kidney (one). Three patients died six, seven and 10 yr after the procedure. Nineteen patients are currently well with functioning grafts. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical correction of aortoiliac pathology may be performed simultaneously with kidney transplantation with acceptable outcome. This complex surgery can be performed in centers with experienced vascular surgeons. Specific vascular imaging should be performed regularly on patient at risk of aortoiliac disease before insertion and while on waiting list.

An in vivo autotransplant model of renal preservation: cold storage versus machine perfusion in the prevention of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

There is increasing proof that organ preservation by machine perfusion is able to limit ischemia/reperfusion injury in kidney transplantation. This study was designed to compare the efficiency in hypothermic organ preservation by machine perfusion or cold storage in an animal model of kidney autotransplantation. Twelve pigs underwent left nephrectomy after warm ischemic time; the organs were preserved in machine perfusion (n = 6) or cold storage (n = 6) and then autotransplanted with immediate contralateral nephrectomy. The following parameters were compared between the two groups of animals: hematological and urine indexes of renal function, blood/gas analysis values, histological features, tissue adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) content, perforin gene expression in kidney biopsies, and organ weight changes were compared before and after preservation. The amount of cellular ATP was significantly higher in organs preserved by machine perfusion; moreover, the study of apoptosis induction revealed an enhanced perforin expression in the kidneys, which underwent simple hypothermic preservation compared to the machine-preserved ones. Organ weight was significantly decreased after cold storage, but it remained quite stable for machine-perfused kidneys. The present model seems to suggest that organ preservation by hypothermic machine perfusion is able to better control cellular impairment in comparison with cold storage.

Hepatic resection for primary or secondary malignancies with involvement of the inferior vena cava: is this operation safe or hazardous?

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated surgical techniques and results of patients with tumors who had undergone liver resection with partial resection and reconstruction of the IVC. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent combined liver and IVC resection and reconstruction at a single institution. We identified 19 patients and two categories of tumors, primary (n = 8) and metastatic (n = 11). In 12 patients, a direct suture of the IVC was performed; in 3 patients a pericardium bovine patch was applied; in another 4 patients the IVC was replaced by PTFEt prosthesis. In nine patients, total hepatic vascular occlusion was required. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was 5.9%, related to technical complications and hepatic insufficiency. Postoperative morbidity was 57.9%. Median survival time was 32 months (range 3 to 125 months). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 78.9%, 68%, and 49.1%, respectively. Tumor recurrence appeared in 13 patients and was the main cause of death (55.5%). Among the seven patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma, three are still alive at 31, 60, and 125 months after resection. In this group, 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 71.4%, 57.1%, and 38.1%. Among the 11 patients resected for colorectal liver metastases, the 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 81.8%, 62.3%, and 51.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection combined with IVC resection and reconstruction is a feasible procedure that can be performed with an acceptable operative risk leading to longterm outcome in selected patients.

Radical surgical treatment of recurrent hepatic hydatidosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The treatment of relapsing hydatidosis must aim at the reduction of both morbidity and mortality rates and the risk of new recurrences. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-three patients with recurrence of hepatic ecchinococcosis were observed between January 1975 and May 2001. All selected patients received a first conservative surgical treatment, and recurrences developed in a period ranging from 1 to 46 years from the therapy. All patients with secondary hydatidosis were then submitted to radical surgical treatment. Ultrasound examinations, the first after 3 months from surgery, were performed to evaluate disease recurrence. Intraoperative morbidity and mortality were also evaluated. RESULTS: No intraoperative mortality was encountered. Intraoperative and postoperative morbidity were 6% and 12% respectively. During follow-up, (mean duration 53 months) no recurrences were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Radical surgical approach is the best treatment of recurrent hydatid cysts as it represents a valid compromise between the need of a surgical radicality and a low intraoperative and postoperative morbidity.