The evaluation of gallstone formation in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass due to morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate gallstone formation, prophylactic and selective cholecystectomy and the effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in morbid obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Files of 60 patients who underwent LRYGB between October 2006 and March 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were evaluated for formation of gallstones. RESULTS: Fifty-three (88.3%) patients were female and seven (11.7%) were male. Eight of the 60 patients (13.3%) had previously undergone cholecystectomy. Six patients (11.5%) underwent cholecystectomy in addition to LRYGB due to preoperatively detected gallstones by ultrasonography. The remaining 46 patients were followed up for a mean duration of 28.57 months (5-56 months). In 10 (21.7%) of these patients, gallstones were detected and five patients with symptomatic gallstones underwent cholecystectomy. Patients who did and did not develop gallstones after LRYGB did not show a significant difference regarding age, gender and the new body mass index (BMI). Three patients were started on ursodeoxycholic acid and the treatment was continued for six months. Gallstones were not detected in these patients. CONCLUSION: In light of these data, since only a very small portion of patients develops symptomatic gallstones after LRYGB, we recommend cholecystectomy in patients with symptomatic gallstones or the use of ursodeoxycholic acid rather than a prophylactic approach. Prospective randomized controlled studies in larger series are required to support these results.

Effects of resveratrol on incisional wound healing in rats.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on the healing process after midline laparotomy in rats. METHODS: The study was performed on adult female Wistar-Albino rats. The study group was orally administered 0.5 mg/kg resveratrol once a day for 7 days before the operation until 12 h before surgery and then the treatment was maintained throughout the study. Each rat was anesthetized, and a 4-cm midline laparotomy was performed. Ten animals in each group were sacrificed on postoperative days 7, and 14. A tensile strength analysis was performed, hydroxyproline levels were measured, and the abdominal incision wounds were examined histologically. RESULTS: Resveratrol administration significantly increased the tensile strength of the abdominal fascia, and increased the hydroxyproline levels on postoperative day 14. The acute inflammation scores, collagen deposition scores and the neovascularization scores on postoperative days 7 and 14 were found to be significantly higher in the resveratrol treatment group compared to the control group. The amount of granulation tissue and the fibroblast maturation scores were found to be significantly higher only on postoperative day 14 in the treatment group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that resveratrol may have a beneficial effect on incisional wound healing.

Simvastatin improves incisional wound healing in a rat model: an experimental study.

UNLABELLED:  This study investigated the effect of simvastatin on the heal- ing process of abdominal wall wounds in rats. METHODS: The study was performed with adult female Wistar-Albino rats. Control group (n = 20) rats were fed standard laboratory diet until 12 hours before sur- gery. Study group (n = 20) rats received oral simvastatin therapy with an orogastric tube (10 mg/kg once a day) for 7 days until 12 hours before surgery. Each rat was anesthetized, and a 4 cm-long midline laparotomy was performed. Ten animals from each group were killed at postoperative days (PODs) 7 and 14. Breaking strength analysis was measured, and the abdominal incision wounds were examined histolog- ically. RESULTS: Hydroxyproline levels and tensile strength of abdominal fascia were significantly higher in the study group on PODs 7 and 14 compared to the control group. The granulation tissue fibroblast matu- ration scores on POD 7, and both collagen deposition scores and neo- vascularization scores on PODs 7 and 14, were found to be statistically significantly higher in the simvastatin treatment group compared to the control group, based on the results of the histologic tissue examina- tions. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin can be used as a supporting therapy in wound healing. .

Early Reverse Cardiac Remodeling Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the early postoperative benefits of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on the left ventricular (LV) function and left atrial (LA) structural, mechanical, and electrical functions in severely obese patients. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with severe obesity who were consecutively scheduled for LSG and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. LV global longitudinal strain (LGS), peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), and strain rates (S-Sr, E-Sr, and A-Sr) of the lateral and septal LA walls, and intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony periods for all subjects were evaluated using strain echocardiography. The measurements were repeated in patients 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: LGS of the LV was significantly depressed in the patient group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). LA peak septal and lateral wall strain values were significantly lower in patients than in controls (both p values <0.001). LA intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony periods were longer in patients than in controls (p = 0.012 and p = 0.004, respectively). LGS significantly improved after LSG (p < 0.001). Significant reductions were noted in the LA antero-posterior diameter (p < 0.001), LA volume index (LAVI, p = 0.001), and in the mitral velocity to the early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus ratio (E/e' ratio, p = 0.046). The PALS of the septal and lateral LA walls significantly increased (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). S-Sr, E-Sr, and A-Sr values of the septal LA wall (p = 0.049, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively) and the lateral LA wall (p = 0.009, p = 0.007, and p = 0.002, respectively) significantly improved postoperatively. Intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony significantly decreased (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Weight loss positively correlated with changes in LGS (R = 0.39, p = 0.039), LAVI (R = 0.39, p = 0.034), intra-atrial dyssynchrony (R = 0.45, p = 0.021), interatrial dyssynchrony (R = 0.42, p = 0.038), septal LA wall peak strain (R = 0.44, p = 0.027), lateral LA wall peak strain (R = 0.46, p = 0.017), septal LA wall A-Sr (R = 0.43, p = 0.028), and lateral LA wall A-Sr (R = 0.46, p = 0.019). The comparison of postoperative findings of the patients with controls revealed that the LA diameter, both LA volume and volume index (LAVI), E/e' ratio, S-Sr and E-Sr of both lateral and septal LA walls, intra- and interatrial LA dyssynchrony of the patient group became similar to the control group (all p value >0.05). Postoperative A-Sr values of both LA walls (both p value <0.001) were higher in patients than controls. CONCLUSION: The benefits of LSG on LV and LA function may be observed even in the early postoperative phase. The resulting weight loss correlates with LV and LA reverse remodeling in severely obese patients.

Diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder perforation.

AIM: To present our clinical experience with gallbladder perforation cases. METHODS: Records of 332 patients who received medical and/or surgical treatment with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in our clinic between 1997 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Sixteen (4.8%) of those patients had gallbladder perforation. The parameters including age, gender, time from the onset of symptoms to the time of surgery, diagnostic procedures, surgical treatment, morbidity, and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Seven patients had type I gallbladder perforation, 7 type II gallbladder perforation, and 2 type III gallbladder perforation according to Niemeier's classification. The patients underwent surgery after administration of intravenous electrolyte solutions, and were treated with analgesics and antibiotics within the first 36 h (mean 9 h) after admission. Two patients died of sepsis and multiple organ failure in the early postoperative period. Subhepatic abscess, pelvic abscess, pneumonia, pancreatitis, and acute renal failure were found in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and emergency surgical treatment of gallbladder perforation are of crucial importance. Upper abdominal computerized tomography for acute cholecystitis patients may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder perforation.

Ligation under vision in the management of symptomatic hemorrhoids: A preliminary experience.

AIM: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of 47 patients who underwent hemorrhoidal arterial ligation under vision (LUV) for symptomatic Grade II and Grade III hemorrhoids. METHODS: A total of 47 patients who underwent LUV between May 2005 and February 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were evaluated with regard to demographic data, grade of the disease, symptoms, medical and/or surgical treatment previously received, operation time, pain scores, analgesic requirement, length of hospital stay, and complications related to the procedure. RESULTS: The study population (n = 47) included 31 (65.9%) men and 16 (34.1%) women with a median age of 37.4 ± 11.7 (range, 19-63) years. Of these 47 patients, 18 (38.3%) patients had Grade II hemorrhoidal disease (HD) and 29 (61.7%) patients had Grade III HD. On average, six ligatures (range, 3-8) were used. The mean operation time was 27 ± 4.8 (range, 15-35) minutes. No major complication that required surgical intervention occurred in the early postoperative period for any of the patients except for two patients with rectal submucosal hematoma. The mean hospital stay was 1.2 ± 0.65 (range, 1-4) days. The median follow-up period was 21.5 ± 7.7 (range, 12-44) months. At the last follow-up, 38 (80.8%) patients remained asymptomatic; two (4.2%) patients with Grade II HD and four (8.5%) patients with Grade III HD were still suffering from bleeding but with a reduction in the frequency; prolapsed hemorrhoids were detected only in three (6.3%) patients. CONCLUSION: LUV is a safe and easily applied alternative technique with low postoperative complications for the surgical treatment of symptomatic Grade II and III HD.

Gallbladder perforation: clinical presentation, predisposing factors, and surgical outcomes of 46 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to investigate the clinical features and the relation between patient characteristics and the different types of gallbladder perforation and to determine the predisposing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical records of 478 patients who received urgent surgical treatment with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and underwent urgent surgery in our clinics between January 1997 and November 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic data of patients, time elapsed from the onset of the symptoms to the time of surgery, comorbidity status, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, laboratory data, imaging results, surgical procedures, postoperative complications, and postoperative length of stay of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 46 (9.6%) patients with the diagnosis of gallbladder perforation. Morbidity and mortality occurred in 15 (32.6%) and 7 (15.2%) patients, respectively. Advanced age, male gender, fever >38°C, high white blood cell count, and presence of cardiovascular comorbidity were found to be significant risk factors for gallbladder perforation. CONCLUSIONS: While early diagnosis and early surgical intervention are the keys to managing gallbladder perforation, we suggest that patients having the above-mentioned clinical features should be carefully investigated.

Spontaneous healing of gallbladder perforation: report of a case.

Gallbladder perforation is a serious complication of acute cholecystitis. Spontaneous healing is very rare, and only three cases have been reported in the English literature. In this study, we present a 73-year-old female patient who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy years after a gallbladder perforation and spontaneous healing.

The relationship between vasopressor dose and anastomotic leak in colon surgery: an experimental trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of vasopressors on the healing of gastrointestinal anastomoses is still controversial. The purpose of our study was to research the relationship between dose of dopamine, which is used generally as a vasopressor in shock status, and anastomotic leak in colonic surgery. METHODS: Forty-two male New Zealand rabbits were included in the study. Under general anesthesia, the right colon was identified, incised, and divided 5 cm distal to the ileocecal valve. Colonic integrity was then established with end-to-end anastomosis in all animals. The animals were randomized into 6 groups. While group 1 was not given any vasopressors, groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were administered 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 microgkg(-1)h(-1) dopamine infusions, respectively, for 2h. On the 4th postoperative day, relaparotomy was performed under general anesthesia. The bursting pressures of anastomoses (BPA) were measured in situ, and then the lines of anastomoses were excised. The levels of hydroxyproline and collagen were measured in this tissue. RESULTS: When compared with the control group (140+/-39 mmHg), BPA were found to be statistically increased only in group 5 (238+/-91 mmHg) (p=0.03) and group 6 (277+/-64 mmHg) (p=0.002). There were no differences between groups in terms of the hydroxyproline and collagen levels in the tissue (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although vasopressors appeared to increase the risk of anastomotic leakage as a result of splanchnic vasoconstriction, deterioration of microcirculation, and local hypoxia, we found that BPA were increased with high doses of vasopressor. We speculated that the use of vasopressors without shock might increase blood supply to the anastomotic line by increasing cardiac output.