Laparoscopic retromuscular incisional hernia repair.

A 67-year-old male with a history of a conventional right colectomy and hypertension was referred to our department for an incisional hernia and abdominal discomfort. Physical examination also showed a supraumbilical defect that was confirmed with a computed tomography scan. Laparoscopic Rives technique repair was done to repair the defect avoiding direct contact of the mesh with the intra-abdominal viscera.

Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma in elderly patients: preliminary results in a Latin-American population.

INTRODUCTION: In melanoma, lymph node status constitutes the most important prognostic factor among patients with locoregional disease. It has been postulated that elderly patients present less metastatic involvement in sentinel lymph node (SLN). Our objective was to analyse the results and evolution of patients ≥ 70 years-old with cutaneous melanoma in whom sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was carried out. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 194 patients with primary CM who had a SLNB between 2005 and 2020 was included. Demographic and tumour data, SLN status, recurrence rate, morbidity and evolution were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to age: Group 1 (<70 years old) and Group 2 (≥70 years old). RESULTS: One hundred and fifty patients were included in Group 1 and 44 patients in Group 2. Median Breslow thickness was 1.7 mm in Group 1 and of 2 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.015).Forty-seven patients had positive SLNB; 38 (25%) belonged to Group 1 and 9 (20.5%) to Group 2 (p = 0.55). Recurrence was found in 34 patients: 25 belonging to Group 1 and 9 corresponding to Group 2 (p = 0.65). Morbidity was of 4% in Group 1 and 9% in Group 2 (p = 0.23). With an average follow-up of 30.6 months, 5-year overall survival was of 87% in Group 1 and of 63% in Group 2 (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Advanced age was not associated with differences regarding positivity of SLN and recurrence but difference in overall survival was observed. According to our results and the low morbidity rate, we consider SLNB should not be omitted in such age group, since it improves staging and gives the possibility to evaluate adjuvant treatment.

Guía de práctica clínico-quirúrgica para hemorragia digestiva baja / Clinical practice guide in lower gastrointestinal bleeding

El objetivo de esta guía clínico-quirúrgica es homogeneizar conceptos y conductas para el manejo de la hemorragia digestiva baja (HDB), con el fin de protocolizar y unificar el tratamiento multidisciplinario de dicha patología. Durante el manejo inicial del paciente con HDB, resulta prioritario determinar la estabilidad hemodinámica. Cuando el paciente se presenta hemodinámicamente estable, la videocolonoscopia (VCC) es el método diagnóstico de elección, la cual debe realizarse con preparación colónica y dentro de las 48 horas, mientras que si se trata de un paciente inestable que no responde a la reanimación debe realizarse, de ser posible, angiotomografía para localizar el sitio de sangrado y posteriormente angiografía. Si las condiciones no lo permiten, se procede directamente a la cirugía de urgencia. Si se logra reanimar al paciente, el método diagnóstico de elección es la videoendoscopia digestiva alta (VEDA). Si la VEDA es negativa y el paciente permanece estable, se prosigue con VCC. Por el contrario, si continúa sangrando, el paso siguiente es la angio-TC. En caso de localizar el sitio de sangrado, se realiza angiografía terapéutica. Si falla o la angio-TC es negativa, tiene indicación de cirugía. Esta guía fue consensuada a partir de la bibliografía, guías internacionales y la experiencia de los Servicios de Cirugía General, Coloproctología, Gastroenterología, Diagnóstico por Imágenes y Hemodinamia.(AU)