Gastroduodenal Surgery in Cirrhotic Patients - Case Series and Literature Review.

Specific risk factors for gastroduodenal surgery in cirrhotic patients have been identified, which dictates for a more personalized management. The retrospective study was conducted between 2012-2019 on twelve patients (7 cases of duodenal ulcer, 2 cases of gastric ulcer and 3 patients with gastric cancer). We took into account a number of possible factors involved in the unfavorable evolution of patients, based on data published in the literature so far. In order to follow the involvement of each factor we compared two groups of patients, one with unfavorable evolutions, exitus and another with favorable evolutions. Emergency surgery, the presence of ascites at the time of intervention, a higher than 30 MELD score, alcoholic cirrhosis, liver encephalopathy and liver failure are common factors that are found in a high percentage (between 75% and 100%) in patients who have had an unfavorable evolution, exitus. The same risk factors are found in much lower percentages in patients who have evolved favorably postoperatively, most between 12.5% and 25%. We analyzed preoperative aspects, surgical approach, complications and risk factors for these patients, compared them with the results of our study and identified future therapeutic possibilities. For CHILD B or C patients, the indication for surgery should be discussed in advance with a multidisciplinary team. Endoscopic submucosal dissection or discontinuation of D2 dissection should be considered in these patients.

Therapeutic management of massive subcutaneous emphysema, bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum after anterior cordectomy for in situ vocal cord carcinoma - case report.

We present the case of a 70 year-old smoker patient, who was admitted in hospital for removal of a tumour located on the left vocal cord. After direct suspension laryngoscopy (with tumorbiopsy sampling), preliminary histopathological exam revealed an in situ carcinoma. At 2 weeks after histopathological confirmation, the left vocal cord was removed by anterior approach, under general anesthesia. In the first 24 hours after surgery, the patient presented an ischaemic stroke, with a deep coma and left hemiplegia, which necessitated mechanical ventilation and specific neurological treatment. Under mechanical ventilation, the patient developed massive subcutaneous emphysema, bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum,which required tracheostomy and bilateralpleural drainage, in order to limit suddenly installed respiratory insufficiency. After an 18-day interval of intensive care therapy,the patient was released at home, considered to be surgically cured and had a moderate remaining left brachial monoplegia,which was almost totally cured in the next six months.

Hysterectomy for benign uterine pathology: comparison between robotic assisted laparoscopy, classic laparoscopy and laparotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Hysterectomy is one of the most important surgeries in gynecology and requires a lot of care and skill. In this study we attempt to make a comparison between laparoscopic hysterectomy, robotic assisted hysterectomy and abdominal hysterectomy for treatment of uterine pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a study comparing 29 patients who were treated by robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy in Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy, 30 patients who were treated by laparoscopy in General Surgery Clinic, Craiova and 30 patients who were treated by abdominal hysterectomy in General Surgery Clinic, Craiova. RESULTS: Comparing the surgeries, it was noticed that the operative time of a robotic assisted interventions is the largest, 183.9 minutes. Even if the duration was greater, the time needed to perform vaginal suture was lower, 17.75 minutes to 22.79 minutes by classic laparoscopic approach. In terms of blood loss we concluded that intraoperative blood loss was lowest during a robotic surgery, 199.3 ml versus 285 ml in the laparoscopic group and 417 ml in the laparotomic group. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy is a feasible method that can be used very successfully to treat patients diagnosed with benign uterine pathology.

[Upside-down stomach and hiatal hernia]. / Upside-down stomach si hernia hiatala.

Hiatal hernias represent a special variant of diaphragmatic hernia in which there is a transdiaphragmatic migration of the stomach through the esophageal hiatus. There are 4 types admitted--sliding (type I), paraesophageal (type II), mixt-combining elements for both previous types (type III) and complex (type IV) and represents at most 5-15% from all hiatal hernias. Upside-down stomach is a special form of organoaxial volvulus of the entire stomach in a sac of mixt hiatal hernia (type III) or complex (type IV). There are asymptomatic forms, but the majority of the patients present signs of gastroesophageal reflux and up to one third may show complications such as bleeding, acute volvulus with obstruction or perforation. Surgical intervention is the only treatment option for the gastric volvulus and offers a durable resolution. The ideal surgical technique, the gold standard, consists in reduction of the stomach in the gastric lodge, resection of the sac and calibration of the hiatus adding a gastropexy or antireflux procedure.

Ileal iterative spontaneous perforation from foreign body granuloma: problems of histopathologic diagnosis.

Spontaneous ileal perforation is a very rare cause of peritonitis. It occurs, in most of the cases, as a complication of Crohn's disease or intestinal tuberculosis. We present the case of a 23-year-old female patient with multiple surgical interventions during the last year, for iterative ileal spontaneous perforation with generalized peritonitis of which cause was initially assigned to intestinal tuberculosis. Actual episode of generalized peritonitis was determined once again by an ileal perforation of 5 mm at 70 cm from the ileo-cecal valve situated on a suture scar. Distally, a bowel stricture and a non-complicated Meckel's diverticulum were also noted. We performed an enterectomy including all three aforementioned lesions with end-to-end anastomosis. The histopathologic report revealed granulomatous giant-cellular inflammation in the margins of the perforation. The tuberculous etiology was questioned because of the negativity of the PCR-test and multiple recidives of perforation under specific anti-tuberculous medical therapy. The discovery of some rests of non-resorbable suturing material in a granuloma on an ancient enterorraphy scar in the resected specimen, finally established the cause. The granulomatous giant-cellular inflammation of foreign body is a rare cause of ileal perforation. The histopathologic differential diagnosis is difficult needing correlation with clinical data. Usage of resorbable suture material avoids that risk.

Colorectal Cancer Biomarkers - A New Trend in Early Diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most widespread malignancy, posing as a great challenge due to its high incidence and mortality in both genders. Yet, it also stands as one of the most preventable diseases because of its known malignant transformation mostly from tubular adenomas or serrated polyps, therefore offering a strong incentive to the screening programs that are being developed for this disease. Current diagnosis of CRC has surely evolved along with the evolutionary step in gastrointestinal technology of flexible endoscopy. These innovations have promoted colonoscopy as a primary choice for screening programs of colonic lesions, proving to be of great benefit for patient's well-being. In this review, we present the current status of CRC screening methods from the non-invasive options to the long developed colonoscopic and imaging techniques. We search through PubMed and Medline databases and chose relevant articles on CRC with focus on blood based biomarkers and stool based tests. Additional relevant publications were also according to the reference lists of firstly identified articles.

Correlations between CD34 Immunolabelled Blood Vessels and CD34 mRNA Expression in Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the correlation between microvessel density of CD34 immunolabelled blood vessels and CD34 mRNA gene expression in colorectal cancer tissue. MATERIAL/METHODS: Standard immunohistochemistry and gene expression was perform on samples collected from 76 patients with colorectal cancer in order to determinate the number of CD34 immunolabelled blood vessels and the relative quantity of CD34 mRNA. RESULTS: For the study group, the mean CD34 immunolabelled microvascular density (MVD) was of 307/mm2, and the mean CD34 gene expression value for colon cancer was 2.303. The low p value (<0.001) of the Spearman correlation test showed a significant direct correlation between CD34 MVD and CD34 gene expression for the entire study group. CONCLUSIONS: CD34 gene`s expression can be looked at as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer.

[External biliary fistulas selectively managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement]. / Rolul tratamentului individualizat prin colangiografie endoscopica retrograda cu sfincterotomie si/sau plasare de proteze in fistulele biliare externe.

External bile duct fistulas are inherent postoperative complications that usually appear after biliary tract surgery, traumatic bile duct injuries and liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease or liver transplant. The management is highly individualized, while the success and long-term results of endoscopic and surgical techniques are conflicting. The study included 32 cases with external bile duct fistulas managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement, including "rendez-vous" procedures in 2 cases. The causes of the external fistula were represented by cholecystectomy with/without retained common bile duct stones or strictures (22 cases), cholecystectomy and drainage of a subphrenic abscess caused by severe acute pancreatitis (1 case) and surgical interventions for hepatic hydatid disease (9 cases). Due to the prospective protocol of the study we were able to apply an individualized endoscopic treatment: sphincterotomy with proper relief of the bile duct obstruction (stone extraction) or sphincterotomy with large-size (10 Fr) stent placement for large-sized bile duct defects. The results consisted in closure of the fistula in 3.5 +/- 1.7 days for the subgroup of patients with sphincterotomy alone. Among the patients with stent insertion, fistulas healed slower in 14 +/- 3.5 days. There were no complications after endoscopic treatment; however the stent could not be passed in one patient that required subsequent surgery. In conclusion, endoscopic intervention is the treatment of choice for small external biliary fistulas complicating biliary tract surgery or liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease. When the fistula is large, the placement of a 10 Fr endoprosthesis becomes necessary, while failure of endoscopic treatment leads to surgery with hepatico-jejunal anastomosis.

[The pancreatic pseudocyst--late complication of the severe acute pancreatitis. Therapeutic options]. / Pseudochistul de pancreas, complicatie tardiva a pancreatitelor acute severe. Posibilitati si optiuni terapeutice.

AIM: the assessment of the therapeutical methods in the pancreatic pseudocyst occurred after severe acute pancreatitis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 30 (33.3%) pancreatic pseudocysts (18 men and 12 women aged between 28-64) occurred in the evolution of 90 severe acute pancreatitis in the last 5 years (2000-2004) were analyzed. The diagnosis was established on the clinical and imaging aspects on average 1 month after the onset of the severe acute pancreatitis. The treatment was different, depending on size, anatomo-clinical form, pseudocyst age, presence of complications and the biological status of the patient. 14 uncomplicated pseudocysts, with the diameter less than 6 cm, were treated conservatively, until their complete resorption. 6 cases were operated on (2 cysto-gastrostomy, 1 cysto-jejunostomy and 3 external drainage). We performed percutaneous external CT guided drainage in 2 cases and endoscopic drainage in other 8 cases (trans-papillary-trans-ductal drainage 3 cases and endoscopic US guided drainage in 5 cases: transgastric 2, transduodenal 2 and transesophageal 1). RESULTS: 28 (93.3%) cases had a fair evolution (complete resorption in 14 uncomplicated pseudocysts after 3-6 weeks of conservative treatment). We registered 2 gastro-duodenal bleeding during endoscopic US guided drainage, which required operation (haemostasis cysto-gastrostomy). Mortality rate was 0. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The pseudocyst is the main late complication of the severe acute pancreatitis (33.3% in our study). 2. The uncomplicated pseudocysts with the diameter less than 6 cm, benefit of the conservative treatment and monitoring in progress until their complete resolution. 3. There are 3 therapeutical methods for the pseudocysts more than 6 cm in diameter and/or complicated: the percutaneous external US/CT guided drainage, the endoscopic drainage and surgery. 4. The option for the drainage procedure must take into account the morphological and evolutionary aspects of the pseudocyst, the age and biological status of the patient.

[Postoperative biliary peritonitis--diagnosis and treatment difficulties]. / Peritonitele biliare postoperatorii--dificultati de diagnostic si tratament.

AIM: To point out the severity of the postoperative biliary peritonitis (PBP) and to established the most proper ways of diagnosis and treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 14 PBP (6 males and 8 females, age between 42 and 76 years) admitted in the last 14 years were analyzed. The PBP occurred after biliary surgery in 13 cases and after gastro-duodenal surgery in 1 case. The delay between the first operation and the establishing of the diagnosis and reoperation varied between 24 hours and more than 3 days. All the patients were operated on; the operation had to fulfill 2 main objectives: the treatment of the peritonitis and to solve the biliary lesions. RESULTS: 6 patients had a fair evolution. We registered 8 complications with a morbidity rate of 57,14% and 2 deaths with a mortality rate of 14,3%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Postoperative biliary peritonitis is one of the most severe complications of the biliary and gastro-duodenal surgery, due to preoperative unrecognized biliary lesions or occurring as postoperative accidents or complications. 2. The clinical picture, deeply modified by the complex postoperative treatment makes the early diagnosis very difficult and leads to a delay of the re-operation. 3. The treatment is exclusively a surgical one, with two main objectives: the biliary lesion repair and the treatment of the peritonitis. 4. The postoperative biliary peritonitis are charged by a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate, the delay of the diagnosis and the time of reoperation being the main risk factor.

[Lower limb varicosity in patients, with indication for total knee arthroplasty]. / Boala varicoasa a membrelor inferioare la pacientii cu indicatie pentru artroplastia totala de genunchi.

Preoperative treatment of the peripheral venous pathology in patients with indication for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would reduce the risk of postoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Between 1997 and 2004, 110 patients were evaluated for TKA. 35 had also varicose veins in the lower limbs. 4 patients were excluded because of absolute contraindications for surgery. 31 patients presented varicose disease, in different stages according with CEAP. The patients were treated surgically (Babcock or Muller technique), phlebotomy drugs and mechanical contention. In a single case the TKA was done without any preoperative treatment of the varicosities. TKA was done after 8-12 weeks. DVT prophylactic measures were undertaken in all 95 cases. Results were good except 2 cases of DVT and 1 case or pulmonary embolism in patients with preoperative treatment of the venous disease. The patient with no preoperative treatment of its varicose veins developed DVT with chronic, persistent oedema. Preoperative treatment of the varicose veins in the lower limb is mandatory for a successful TKA.

[Severe acute pancreatitis--diagnostic and therapeutic strategy]. / Pancretitele acute severe--strategie diagnostica si terapeutica.

To establish the optimal diagnosis and therapeutical strategy in severe acute pancreatitis. 94 (56.9%) severe acute pancreatitis (79 males and 15 females, aged between 26 and 81), selected from 165 acute pancreatitis admitted in the last 5 years (2000-2004) were analyzed. The disease was assigned as severe when one or more of the following criteria were present: Ranson score >3 on admission or at 48 hours, APACHE II score >8, visceral failures, Balthazar CT score C, D or E and local complications (infected necrosis, pseudocyst or pancreatic abscess). Medical treatment (aggressive supportive intensive care therapy, minimizing pancreatic secretion and antibiotic therapy) was the first therapeutical step in all cases. 49 (52.1%) patients were operated on: 20 as early surgery imposed by biliary sepsis (16 cases) or by an acute abdomen with uncertain etiology and unfavourable evolution, and 22 as late surgery (at least 12 days after onset), imposed by the presence of the infected pancreatic necrosis, visceral failures or other local complications, the necrosectomy being the main surgical procedure for infected necrosis. 77 (81.9%) cases had a fair evolution. The conservative treatment led to a complete recovery in 37 (37.2%) cases. We registered an overall mortality rate of 12.7% and postoperative mortality rate of 14%; we also registered 5 (10.2%) postoperative complications: 4 pancreatic and 1 colonic fistulae. (1) The treatment of the severe acute pancreatitis must be performed only in the specialized multidisciplinary well equipped centers with very well trained staff. (2) Medical conservative treatment (aggressive supportive intensive care therapy and antibiotic therapy) is the main therapeutical method within the acute phase (first two weeks). (3) Very restrictive surgical indications within the acute phase. (4) Necrosectomy is the main surgical procedure for the infected necrosis.

Endomicroscopy with Fluorescent CD105 Antibodies for "In Vivo" Imaging of Colorectal Cancer Angiogenesis.

The aim of this case report was to evaluate the feasibility of in vivo acquisition of microscopic images using fluorescent CD105 antibodies for molecular imaging in human colorectal cancer. After excluding the presence of tissue autofluorescence, the antibody solution was topically administered through a spray-catheter. The targeted area was analyzed by eCLE and images were recorded. The fractal dimension of tumor vessels and the vessel density were determined using ImageJ software. Immunohistochemistry was used as a gold standard. In vivo CLE analysis of CD105 expression enabled the study of tumor vascular network, revealing a chaotic structure.

Management of recurrent inguinal hernias: a prospective study of 163 cases.

There remains debate as to how recurrent inguinal hernias should be managed. This study aimed to establish a management plan for recurrent hernias. From 1991-2000, 163 patients were operated on for recurrent inguinal hernias. The average interval from the initial surgery to recurrence was 46 months (range 10 days-13 years). The initial surgery prior to recurrence was Shouldice and other techniques without mesh in 142 cases, a Stoppa or a Lichtenstein procedure in ten and three cases, respectively, and laparoscopic repair in eight cases. The recurrent hernias were treated with a Shouldice repair in 52 cases (31.9%), the Lichtenstein technique in 48 cases (29.4%), a totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic repair in 40 cases (24.5%), and a Stoppa procedure in 23 (14.1%). The approaches to management evolved with time: the use of prostheses for recurrent hernia repair increased from 10% in 1991 (2/10) to 100% in 2000 (22/22). In contrast, the Shouldice repair decreased from 90% (18/20) in 1991 to 0% (0/22) in 2000. The Lichtenstein technique was first employed in 1993, in patients with a history of a conventional, laparoscopic, or Stoppa repair and has increased to represent 77% of cases (17/22) in 2000. The Stoppa technique has not been used since 1998. The use of a totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach went from 11% (2/18) in 1992 (introduction of the technique) to 23% (5/22) in 2000 and is reserved for recurrence after a Lichtenstein procedure or after conventional repair in working and/or physically active patients without any contraindications to general anesthesia. Prosthetic reinforcement has become the norm in the treatment of recurrent hernias. Given a previous conventional repair, the prosthesis can be placed by either an anterior or posterior approach. The approach is dependent on the level of activity and operability of the patient. If the recurrence follows a totally extraperitoneal or a Stoppa procedure, then the Lichtenstein intervention is recommended. A recurrence after a Lichtenstein procedure should be treated by a totally extraperitoneal approach.

[Gastroduodenal artery aneurysm broken in duodenum. A rare cause of upper digestive tract hemorrhage]. / Anevrismul arterei gastroduodenale rupt în duoden. Cauza rara de HDS.

The authors present a case of recidivated upper digestive tract hemorrhage, in which the bleeding initially stopped under conservative treatment. Imagery showed a piloro-duodenal stenosis. During the preoperative care the hemorrhage is resumed abruptly imposing emergency operation. The lesion was an intraoperative surprise imposing the hemostasis at first, and then the surgical management of lesions of the digestive tract.

[Postoperative intestinal fistulae]. / Fistulele intestinale postoperatorii.

58 (6.25%) intestinal fistulae raised after 928 operations performed for varied surgical small bowel diseases were studied. The primary operation was performed for bowel obstruction, acute peritonitis, small bowel tumours, postoperative eviscerations and for entro-mesenteric infarction. We also noticed that the surgery was performed for the small bowel diseases in 47 (81%) acses and for the diseases belonging to other abdominal viscera in the rest, having an emergency character in 81% of cases. The small bowel fistulae were single (51 cases) or multiple having the following topographic distribution: jejunal fistulae in 25 (43.4%) cases and ileal fistulae in 33 cases (56.6). The coming out of the fistulae was directly in 41 (70%) cases and trough an intermediate route in 17 (30%) cases. The onset of the fistulae was certainly pointed by the coming out moment, early only in 39.6% of cases. This underlining the importance of an active exploration of the operative wound, imposed by the general and/or local premonitory symptoms. The treatment was complex, using conservative and/or surgical procedures; 23 (39.6%) patients were operated on. The mortality rate was of 29.4%. The parenteral nutrition and the therapeutical option for the conservative methods were the main therapeutical acquisitions, which improved the results and the prognosis of the intestinal fistulae.

[Resuscitation principles in severe acute pancreatitis complicated by multiple organ dysfunctions]. / Principii de reanimare în pancreatitele acute grave complicate cu disfunctii multiorganice.

The first part renders very synthetically a few of the principal pathogenetical mechanisms implicated in PA, as well as general data about MODS, and then tackles therapeutical principles of great organic disfunction, the therapy of septic states and nutrition in PA. Hemodynamics dysfunction--the therapeutical objectives are correlated with the principal mechanisms implicated in cardio-vascular disfunction (the grown level of some myocardial depressive factors, the shortcoming of peripheral vascular resistance, a.s.o.). The therapeutical principles covets the volemic restoration, inotropic therapy, the correction of hydro-ionic and acido-basic disorders, the vasomotor therapy, the CID's correction, the myocardium protection against the free radicals of oxygen. The therapy is recommended to be individualized depending on the clinical data and the monitoring of some parameters (T.A, P.V.C., intrapulmonary pressure, EKG, hematocrit value, a.s.o.). Pulmonary disfunction--includes the therapy of some clinical forms of pulmonary complications, the restrictive syndrome, infections, the pulmonary shunt, the atelectasis and insists on ARDS which is a complication with vital implications. The therapy of curdling disorders--recommends blood, derivatives, antiprotease, the substitution of the consumed curdling factors, as well as the removal of the pathogenic factors which disturb the coagulation-coagulolysis equilibrium. Purge proceedings--covet the elimination from the organism of the toxic agents which generate cell-organic lesions. That's why it is moot the elimination of the pancreatic toxins before reaching the circulation (the thoracic tube draining and peritoneal lavage) as well as extrarenal purge proceedings (hemodialysis, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration) with their benefits and limits. The sepsis and the immunotherapy--are tackled based on recent data from literature which besides antibiotherapy insists on the neutralization of various toxins and mediators by means of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, anti TFL antibodies, IL, a.s.o. Nutrition--is different presented, parenterally and enterally, each of them with their benefits and limits and with the recommendation to be used by means of the clinical form. There are mentioned some other additional treatments (pain removing, antagonisms of H2 receptors, inflammation and cytotoxicity inhibition, gastric decompression, a.s.o.).

[Exceptional etiologies in upper digestive tract bleeding ]. / Exceptii etiologice în HDS.

7 cases, considered as being true etiological exceptions selected from 756 upper gastrointestinal bleeding, are presented. The causes of bleeding were: pancreatic pseudocyst with intracystic hemorrhage broken into duodenum (2 cases), the nonepithelial gastroduodenal tumor (3 cases), the aneurysm of gastroduodenal artery broken into duodenum (1 case) and the aortoduodenal fistula in one patient with a bilateral aorto-iliac by-pass (1 case). The etiological diagnosis could not be established in any cases before the operations. All the cases were operated on, the operation being imposed by the severity of bleeding and having the haemostasis as a main purpose.

[Retroperitoneal Castleman's disease]. / Boala castleman retroperitoneala.

We present 2 cases of retroperitoneal localisation of Castleman's disease--hyalino-vascular histologic type. A 65 years old woman and a 67 years old man were admitted with the diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumour. The clinical findings were not specific. Surgical removal of the tumour is the treatment of choice. Focal recurrences didn't occur.

[Transhiatal esophagectomy]. / Esofagectomiile transhiatale.

Between 1991-2001, 40 patients underwent esophagectomy without thoracotomy for: caustic esophageal stenosis (26 cases), cervical esophageal cancer (1), lower esophageal cancer (7), and acute post-caustic oesophagitis (2). Thirty-four patients underwent transhiatal esophagectomy, 3 patients had an esophagectomy by "stripping" and in 3 other patients a combination of stripping and transhiatal esophagectomy. Postoperative complications included: injuries of the laryngeal recurrent nerve (2), pulmonary complications (13), anastomotic leakage (5). Two patients died in the postoperative period one from a myocardial infarction and the other from an acute myocardial dilatation. Trans-hiatal esophagectomy can be considered as a viable alternative to transthoracic esophagectomy in the management of the benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus. Transhiatal esophagectomy is a safe method of resection because of its reported lower morbidity and mortality and similar survival rates compared to transthoracic esophagectomy.