Cholecystoduodenal fistula, an infrequent complication of cholelithiasis: Our experience in its surgical management. / Fístula colecistoduodenal, complicación infrecuente de litiasis vesicular: nuestra experiencia en su manejo quirúrgico.

INTRODUCTION: Bilioenteric fistulas are the abnormal communication between the bile duct system and the gastrointestinal tract that occurs spontaneously and is a rare complication of an untreated gallstone in the majority of cases. These fistulas can cause diverse clinical consequences and in some cases be life-threatening to the patient. AIM: To identify the incidence of bilioenteric fistula in patients with gallstones, its clinical presentation, diagnosis through imaging study, surgical management, postoperative complications, and follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to search for bilioenteric fistula in patients that underwent cholecystectomy at our hospital center due to cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, or cholangitis, within a 3-year time frame. RESULTS: Four patients, 2 men and 2 women, were identified with cholecystoduodenal fistula. Their mean age was 81.5 years. Two of the patients presented with acute cholangitis and 2 presented with bowel obstruction due to gallstone ileus. All the patients underwent surgical treatment and the diagnostic and therapeutic management of each of them was analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of cholecystoduodenal fistula was similar to that reported in the medical literature. It is a rare complication of gallstones and its diagnosis is difficult due to its nonspecific symptomatology. It should be contemplated in elderly patients that have a contracted gallbladder with numerous adhesions.

No enterocutaneous fistula development in a cohort of 695 patients after incisional hernia repair using intraperitoneal uncoated polyproylene mesh.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of enterocutaneous fistulas (ECFs) developed after elective incisional hernia (IH) repair using intraperitoneal uncoated polypropylene (PPE) mesh. METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study of a prospective cohort of patients undergoing elective IH repair using intraperitoneal uncoated PPE mesh at the Department of General Surgery of a high complexity University Hospital. RESULTS: Between January 1992 and December 2013, 695 IH repairs were performed using intraperitoneal uncoated PPE mesh. The omentum was placed between the mesh and bowel in 507 patients (73 %). In 188 patients (27 %) it was not possible to place the omentum between the mesh and bowel; therefore, in 69 patients (9.92 %) the PPE mesh was placed over the bowel, whereas in 119 patients (17.12 %) a Vicryl® mesh was placed between the bowel and PPE mesh. Six hundred and seventy-eight (97.5 %) IH repairs were open whereas 17 (2.5 %) were laparoscopic. Postoperative complications consisted of seroma (5.9 %), hematoma (4.3 %), wound infection (4.8 %), and mesh infection (4.0 %). Recurrence of IH occurred in 52 patients (7.4 %) after a mean follow-up of 59 months. Four (0.5 %) patients required additional surgery due to intestinal occlusion. Neither acute nor chronic ECFs were encountered during follow-up in 695 patients. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, the placement of intraperitoneal uncoated PPE mesh for elective IH repair might be a safe procedure that is not associated with ECF formation.

[Treatment of open abdomen in patients with abdominal sepsis using the vacuum pack system]. / Tratamiento de abdomen abierto con el sistema de vacuum pack en pacientes con sepsis abdominal.

BACKGROUND: In abdominal sepsis, when the initial surgery fails to control infection, a good choice may be to leave the abdomen open. This is a descriptive study of a series of cases using the vacuum pack system for temporary abdominal closure. METHODS: We studied 19 patients. Demographic data were obtained, as well as those related to the vacuum pack, and the final fascial closure. We describe the technique of temporary abdominal closure. Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). RESULTS: The average length of the hospital stay was 24.7 days. Fourteen (73.7%) patients survived and five patients (26.3%) died. The mean treatment time with the vacuum pack was 12.7 days, with an average of 3.9 changes. Early fascial closing was achieved in seven patients with an average of 14.6 days. In seven patients a planned ventral hernia formed, which was repaired by separation of components on an average of 261 days or by polypropylene mesh on an average of 228 days. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, early fascial closing was achieved using the vacuum pack at a lower frequency than reported by other authors. Other parameters analyzed were similar to those reported in the literature. The vacuum pack system demonstrated to be effective, although the final selection for temporary abdominal closure will depend on the experience of the institution as well as surgeon preference. The vacuum pack system for temporary abdominal closure of the open abdomen is an effective alternative in patients with abdominal sepsis.

[Fistula following total laryngectomy. Retrospective study and bibliographical review]. / Fístula tras laringectomía total. Estudio retrospectivo y revisión bibliográfica.

BACKGROUND: The pharyngocutaneous fistulae is troublesome and the most common complication following total laryngectomy. Our objective was to determine the incidence of pharingocutaneous fistulae after the total laryngectomy in our serie and to make review of the medical literature. METHODS: We made a retrospective study of a serie of 81 consecutive cases of laryngeal carcinoma treated between 1995 and 2008 in our section. Total laryngectomy was performed in 29 cases and 52 patients treated with organ preservation approach, were excluded. In 14 cases, the procedure was combined with radical neck dissection, pharyngeal resection or myocutanenous flaps. Nasogastric tube for feeding in the postoperative period was used in all patients and surgical gastrostomy was performed in 5 cases. RESULTS: Our incidence of fistulas when total laryngectomy was the alone procedure is 20 % and 34.5 % when simultaneous surgical proceedings were associated. Spontaneous closure was noted in 80 % of the cases and the mean hospitalization time was 23 days. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the fistulas can be managed with conservative treatment. Pectoralis major myocutanenous flap is appropriate when conservative treatment has failed. In small fistulas, nasogastric or gastrostomy tube for feeding can be successfully managed in the ambulatory follow up. The cost-benefit relation must be better analyzed.

[Incidence, diagnosis and treatment of colovesical fistula]. / Incidencia, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la fístula colovesical.

BACKGROUND: Enterovesical fistula, also known as vesicoenteric fistula, is an abnormal communication of the vesical bladder with a segment of the digestive tract. We undertook this study to describe diagnostic and therapeutic methods to treat colovesical fistula (CVF) in patients who attended the Coloproctology Unit of the Gastroenterology Service of the General Hospital in Mexico City. METHODS: This is a descriptive study in CVF patients carried out from January 2001 to June 2006; descriptive statistics were used for analysis of information. RESULTS: Eleven patients were identified (10 males and 1 female). Average age was 54.72 years (range: 39-73 years). Time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was on average 11.9 months. The most frequent signs and symptoms were fecaluria, pneumaturia, dysuria, hematuria and chronic abdominal pain in hypogastric and left iliac regions. Nine patients were submitted to sigmoidectomy and primary colorectal anastomosis. Hartmann procedure was carried out in one patient with restoration of intestinal transit 6 weeks later. In one patient, a loop colostomy was built as a first operation, with sigmoidectomy with fistula resection as a second operation, and restoration of intestinal transit as the third. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is the only treatment that assures cure and avoids relapses. Sigmoidectomy and primary anastomosis must be considered as the treatment of choice. Mortality, although low, continues being a negative factor when surgery is indicated in these patients.

Impacto de la esófagoyeyunoanastomosis mecánica en la gastrectomía total / Esophagojejunostomy in the radical gastrectomy

Introducción: El cáncer gástrico, es la principal causa de mortalidad masculina por cáncer en Chile. Su tratamiento, la gastrectomía total radical, se ha visto revolucionada por la introducción de la sutura mecánica, que supone disminuye la morbimortalidad y tiempo operatorio. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo. Se revisaron todas las gastrectomías totales por cáncer gástrico con sutura mecánica, realizadas en el Hospital Regional de Valdivia y se compararon con igual número realizadas con sutura manual, mediante análisis estadístico por software STATA 10.0. Resultados: Se recolectaron 45 casos, 21 con sutura manual y 24 con sutura mecánica. La edad promedio fue de 61 años para cada grupo. El sexo predominante fue el masculino. La frecuencia de fístulas de la anastomosis esofagoyeyunal fue igual en ambos grupos. Tanto el tiempo operatorio como la estadía postoperatoria también fueron similares. Conclusión: La introducción de la sutura mecánica en la anastomosis esofagoyeyunal, no ha producido un impacto importante en el descenso de la morbilidad, incluyendo la fistula anastomótica; como tampoco en la mortalidad ni en el tiempo operatorio.

[Mechanical preparation in elective colorectal surgery, a usual practice or a necessity?]. / Preparación mecánica en cirugía electiva colo-rectal. Costumbre o necesidad?

UNLABELLED: Pre-operative preparation of the colon is carried out with oral and/or intravenous administration of antibiotics and through the mechanical preparation of the colon using various substances to decrease the intraluminal bacterial concentration and remove the larger quantity of fecal material as possible, thus decreasing the risk of anastomosis dehiscence due to an increase in the intraluminal pressure. The role of antibiotics has been completely established while that of mechanical preparation is still questioned. The objective of this study is to assess the actual impact of mechanical preparation on colorectal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty seven patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery were prospectively evaluated, out of which only 24 had mechanical preparation. We compared variables such as age, sex, preoperative hemoglobin, albumin and leukocyte values, surgery characteristics and type of anastomosis, as well as complications in both groups. RESULTS: We found a higher incidence of fistulas, dehiscences and general complications in the group undergoing mechanical preparation of the colon. CONCLUSION: The results show that mechanical preparation of the colon does not provide any benefit and may result in a higher incidence of complications in colorectal surgery.

Es útil controlar radiológicamente las anastomosis colonicas? / Is effective the radiologic control for the colonic anastomosis?

Se presenta un estudio prospectivo de 50 anastomosis colónicas controladas radiológicamente entre el séptimo y duodécimo día de postoperatorio. Se controlaron 12 complicaciones anastomóticas (24%0, de las cuales solo 4 (8%) fueron detectadas clínicamente y 10 (20%) radiológicamente. La mortalidad fue de 3 pacientes (6%) de los cuales 2 tenían dehiscencias anastomóticas. El colon por enema sistemático puso en evidencia un mayor número de fístulas anastomóticas, pero no resultó útil para fijar estrategias terapéuticas postoperatorias, pudiendo ser responsable de imágenes falsamente negativas que retardan una reintervención. Se recomienda limitar su utilización a aquellos casos donde la evolución postoperatoria es de interpretación difícil

Es útil controlar radiológicamente las anastomosis colonicas? / Is effective the radiologic control for the colonic anastomosis?

Se presenta un estudio prospectivo de 50 anastomosis colónicas controladas radiológicamente entre el séptimo y duodécimo día de postoperatorio. Se controlaron 12 complicaciones anastomóticas (24%0, de las cuales solo 4 (8%) fueron detectadas clínicamente y 10 (20%) radiológicamente. La mortalidad fue de 3 pacientes (6%) de los cuales 2 tenían dehiscencias anastomóticas. El colon por enema sistemático puso en evidencia un mayor número de fístulas anastomóticas, pero no resultó útil para fijar estrategias terapéuticas postoperatorias, pudiendo ser responsable de imágenes falsamente negativas que retardan una reintervención. Se recomienda limitar su utilización a aquellos casos donde la evolución postoperatoria es de interpretación difícil

Fístulas intestinales externas: revisión estadística / External intestinal fistulae: statistic review

Se realizó una revisión estadística de 50 pacientes tratados por fístulas intestinales externas, en el Hospital Clinicoquirúrgico Docente "Comandante Manuel Fajardo" en el período de 1980 a 1987. El 98 % (49 pacientes) de los enfermos tenían intervención quirúrgica previa a la aparición de la fístula, y fue la más frecuente la apendicitis, en 12 pacientes (24 %). La secreción por la herida quirúrgica o el orificio del drenaje es el signo físico más frecuente que orientó al diagnóstico en el 50 % de los pacientes; 28 fístulas eran de bajo gasto (56 %) y 22 de alto gasto (44 %), Las complicaciones más frecuentes encontradas fueron los desequilibrios hidrominerales (62 %), La desnutrición (58 %) y la sepsis (56 %). El tratamiento empleado fue médico en 19 casos y quirúrgico en 31. La tasa total de curación, con ambos tipos de tratamiento, fue de 38 pacientes (76 %) y la mortalidad global ocurrió en 12 pacientes (24 %)

[The somatostatin analog SMA (201-995) as adjuvant treatment in patients with external fistulae of the digestive system]. / El análogo de somatostatina SMS (201-995) como tratamiento adyuvante en pacientes con fístulas externas del aparato digestivo.

Six patients with gastrointestinal fistulae treated with a potent inhibitor of gastrointestinal hormones, the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 are reported. All patients had severe intraabdominal diseases and underwent a mean of 3.5 surgery procedures during their hospital stay. When the patients were analyzed individually a mean reduction of 42.5% (P < 0.050 of basal fistulae output was observed after treatment. In three patients the fistulae closed after seven and ten days of treatment with the analogue; the other three patients died after a protracted hospital stay which included multiple admissions to the Intensive Care Unit. When the output of all fistulae treated where analyzed together it showed a tendency to decrease, but it didn't reach statistical significance.

Choledochoduodenal fistulas.

In 2,012 ERCP studies reviewed in the period between 1976 and 1989, we observed 14 choledochoduodenal fistulas found in the upper portion of the papilla of Vater. Two fistulas occurred spontaneously due to necrosis of the duodenal wall caused by stones located in the distal common bile duct above the sphincter of the papilla. In these two cases the stones were removed endoscopically. The twelve remaining cases were iatrogenic, caused during surgical papillotomy which resulted in a false tract. All patients showed raised AP and gamma GT. Eight had acute cholangitis, 7 were jaundiced, there was one case each of acute pancreatitis and chronic recurrent pancreatitis. Nine patients had stones located in the distal common bile duct. In eight cases it was possible to cannulate the papillary opening and do a papillotomy thereby connecting the fistulous orifice with the opening of the papilla. The other patient was treated surgically. Two patients had papillary stenosis. One was successfully treated with papillotomy through the papillary opening. In the other, the fistulous orifice was joined with the papillary opening using a diathermy scalpel. This patient suffered a posterior duodenal wall perforation. One patient with acute pancreatitis and common bile duct stones distal to the fistula improved with papillotomy and stone removal. The patient with chronic recurrent pancreatitis without lithiasis refused any form of treatment.