Pancreatic duct stones treated by Whipple as a last resort: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Chronic Pancreatitis is an irreversible inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to fibrosis and scar formation. Pseudocysts are a late complication of chronic pancreatitis and abdominal pain is the most common presenting complaint. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old male who is a known case of chronic pancreatitis presented to our department complaining of abdominal pain for a duration of three weeks. A CT scan revealed a pseudocyst in the head of the pancreas, stones in the unicate process along with dilatation of the body and tail of the pancreas. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: After multiple ERCP failures and considering other endoscopic options, the patient was indicated for the Whipple procedure with Roux-en-y reconstruction. Postoperatively, the patient stayed in the hospital for about a week. He was asymptomatic and well but had an elevated random blood sugar level. He was discharged and recommended to follow up with an endocrinologist. CONCLUSION: Whipple procedure can be used for patients with multiple pancreatic duct stones when endoscopic therapies are not effective.

Impact of body mass index on perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic major hepatectomies.

BACKGROUND: Data on the effect of body mass index on laparoscopic liver resections are conflicting. We performed this study to investigate the association between body mass index and postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic major hepatectomies. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 4,348 laparoscopic major hepatectomies at 58 centers between 2005 and 2021, of which 3,383 met the study inclusion criteria. Concomitant major operations, vascular resections, and previous liver resections were excluded. Associations between body mass index and perioperative outcomes were analyzed using restricted cubic splines. Modeled effect sizes were visually rendered and summarized. RESULTS: A total of 1,810 patients (53.5%) had normal weight, whereas 1,057 (31.2%) were overweight and 392 (11.6%) were obese. One hundred and twenty-four patients (3.6%) were underweight. Most perioperative outcomes showed a linear worsening trend with increasing body mass index. There was a statistically significant increase in open conversion rate (16.3%, 10.8%, 9.2%, and 5.6%, P < .001), longer operation time (320 vs 305 vs 300 and 266 minutes, P < .001), increasing blood loss (300 vs 300 vs 295 vs 250 mL, P = .022), and higher postoperative morbidity (33.4% vs 26.3% vs 25.0% vs 25.0%, P = .009) in obese, overweight, normal weight, and underweight patients, respectively (P < .001). However, postoperative major morbidity demonstrated a "U"-shaped association with body mass index, whereby the highest major morbidity rates were observed in underweight and obese patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic major hepatectomy was associated with poorer outcomes with increasing body mass index for most perioperative outcome measures.

Inferior mesenteric arteriovenous malformation extending to splenic flexure colonic wall presenting with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding, a case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the inferior mesenteric artery is a rare vascular pathology that accounts for 6 % of the causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. AVMs are typically classified as congenital persisting embryonic vasculature that link both systems and do not develop into arteries or veins [3], but they may also develop later in life. The majority of documented cases are iatrogenic after colon surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein we describe a 56-year-old man who presented complaining of fresh blood per rectum with passage of clots not related to defecation with no previous similar episodes, he was found to have extensive inferior mesenteric branches AVM invading the colonic splenic flexure via Computed Tomography (CT) angiography following three non-revealing upper and lower endoscopies which was later managed surgically with left hemicolectomy with primary end to end colo-colic anastomosis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Although AVMs seldom manifest in multiple sites through the gastrointestinal tract, it is more prevalent in the stomach, small intestine, and ascending colon, and very unusual to affect the Inferior mesenteric artery and vein and to extend to the splenic flexure colonic wall. CONCLUSION: Even if rare, inferior mesenteric AVMs should be suspected in a patient presenting with GI Bleeding with unrevealing endoscopies, where CT Angiography is to be considered.

Pancreatic duplication cyst misdiagnosed as distal pancreatic tumor: A case report and surgical approach.

Enteric duplication cysts (EDCs) are a benign and uncommon congenital malformation, with a nonspecific and extremely variable clinical presentation. EDCs associated with the pancreas are called pancreatic duplication cysts (PDCs). They are especially rare and can present with recurrent abdominal pain or even severe pancreatitis. These cysts often get confused with pancreatic neoplasms or pseudocysts, thus posing diagnostic and surgical challenges. Here, we report a case of a 20-year-old male patient with a 14-year history of recurrent abdominal pain and many hospital admissions, who had several imaging studies revealing a persistent focal heterogeneous lesion affecting the tail of the pancreas, surrounding a small pseudocyst. An ultrasound (U/S) guided biopsy was avoided due to the location of the mass. Surgical resection was carried out for the suspicion of malignancy and final pathology report showed benign findings while revealing that what was thought to be a pseudocyst turned out to be a gastric-type PDC, and after reviewing the available literature, we encountered 16 similar cases regarding misdiagnosing PDCs. We conclude that PDCs are very rare and have a variable clinical presentation as well as a likelihood of being confused with other pancreatic neoplasms. Therefore, PDCs need a high index of suspicion to avoid recurrent hospital admissions and unnecessary procedures due to the fact that sometimes a simple cystectomy is adequate.

Resection of Primary Renal Leiomyosarcoma Involving the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) with IVC Resection and Reconstruction.

Renal leiomyosarcoma is a rare, aggressive tumor of the smooth muscles of the kidney. In our case, the tumor has special characteristics that made it highly challenging, as it involved major vessels and other adjacent vital structures. The rarity of the tumor type itself and the special challenging features we faced intraoperatively encouraged us to report the case including the management plan for R0 resection. Our patient is a forty-two years old previously healthy female, with vague nonspecific presenting complains, ended up with a major highly advanced surgery necessitating the need for vascular reconstruction of IVC. The surgery was performed by a multidisciplinary team of highly specialized surgeons in related fields. The surgery went well, and the outcome was promising. The patient was followed up for about four months later, with uneventful course.

Implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery for pancreatoduodenectomy increases the proportion of patients achieving textbook outcome: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy is associated with reduced length of stay (LOS) and morbidity. However, external validating of the impact is difficult due to the multimodal aspects of ERAS. This study aimed to assess implementation of ERAS for pancreatoduodenectomy with a composite measure of multiple ideal outcome indicators defined as 'textbook outcome' (TBO). METHODS: In a tertiary referral center, 250 patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy were included in ERAS (May 2012-January 2017) and compared to a cohort of 125 patients undergoing traditional perioperative management (November 2009-April 2012). TBO was defined as proportion of patients without prolonged LOS, Clavien-Dindo ≥ III complications, postoperative pancreatic fistula, postpancreatectomy hemorrhage, bile leakage, readmissions or 30-day/in-hospital mortality. Additionally, overall treatment costs were calculated and compared using bootstrap independent t-test. RESULTS: The two cohorts were comparable in terms of demographic and surgical details. Implementation of ERAS was associated with reduced median LOS (10 days vs 13 days, p < 0.001) and comparable overall complication rate (62.0% vs 61.6%, p = 0.940) when compared to the traditional management group. In addition, a higher proportion of patients achieved TBO (56.4% vs 44.0%, p = 0.023) when treated according to ERAS principles. Furthermore, ERAS was associated with reduced mean total costs (£18132 vs £19385, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Implementation of ERAS for patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy is beneficial for both patients and hospitals. ERAS increased the proportion of patients achieving TBO and reduced overall costs. TBO is a potential measure for the evaluation of ERAS.

Desmoplastic Melanoma of the Periorbital Region.

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare subtype of melanoma and an even smaller proportion of periocular melanomas. Here, the authors report 2 cases of DM in the periocular region. Staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) eighth edition classification, patient 1 presented with a stage IIIC (pT4apN1cM0) DM in the left lateral canthus with upper and lower eyelid and patient 2 presented with a stage IIIB (T4aN1bM0) DM in the left brow and supraorbital region with a parotid lymph node metastasis. In both patients, the lesions were amelanotic, with inflammatory appearance, and had been noted for several years before the correct diagnosis was made. In both patients, wide excision led to large surgical defects, and perineural invasion prompted adjuvant radiation therapy postoperatively. Patient 2 was treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor for his parotid metastasis. Ophthalmologists should be aware of DM, its neurotrophic nature, and potential to metastasize with locally advanced lesions.

Elderly patients have similar short term outcomes and five-year survival compared to younger patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in elderly patients in the United Kingdom (UK) remain uncertain. This study aimed to analyse peri-operative outcomes in the elderly, and investigate the impact of age on five-year survival following PD in a UK tertiary centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent PD in a single Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic unit in the UK between January 2007 to December 2015 were analysed from a prospectively collected database. Individuals were divided into two groups (Group A <75 years and Group B ≥ 75 years "elderly") and outcomes compared. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty-four patients were included (Group A n = 422, Group B n = 102). Post-operative cardiac events and peri-operative mortality were higher in the elderly (10.8 vs 3.6%, p = 0.008 and 5.9 vs 1.9%, 0.037, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed only ASA score (OR 0.279, 95% CI 0.063-1.130), post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage (OR 0.055, 95% CI 0.006-0.518) and pulmonary embolism (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.00-0.148) as independent risk factors for peri-operative mortality. Age was not (OR 0.978, 95% CI 0.911-1.049). Median survival was 22 months in Group A and 19 months in Group B (p = 0.165). Predictors of five-year survival included vascular resection (OR 0.171, 95% CI 0.053-0.549), positive margin (OR 0.256, 95% CI 0.102-0.641), lympho-vascular invasion (OR 0.392, 95% CI 0.160-0.958) and lymph node ratio (OR 67.381, 95% CI 3.301-1375.586), but not age (OR 1.012, 95% CI 0.972-1.054). CONCLUSION: Older patients have similar peri-operative outcomes and five-year survival compared to younger counterparts after PD in a UK tertiary centre, and should be considered for surgical resection of pancreatic and periampullary cancers.

Impact of obesity on short and long term results following a pancreatico-duodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The impact of obesity on short and long term outcomes following a pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD) is still unclear and needs further clarification. METHODS: Demographic, operative and outcomes data in 524 patients undergoing PD were analysed. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (18.5%) had BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (group A) and 427 patients (81.5%) had BMI less than 30 kg/m2 (group B). Group A had a significantly greater operative duration, (375 vs 360 min, p = 0.024) and a higher intra-operative blood loss, (660 vs 500 ml, p = 0.005). Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) were more common in Group A (28.9% vs 16.2%, p = 0.006), this difference was also observed when considering only major POPF (Grade B and C) (16.5% vs 8.0%, p = 0.020). Intra-abdominal collections were higher in Group A, 28.9% compared to 19.0% in Group B (p = 0.037). On multivariate analysis BMI (OR 2.006; 95% CI 1.147-4.985, p = 0.040), small pancreatic duct (OR 2.755; 95% CI 1.589-2.968, p = 0.026) and soft pancreas (OR 2.289; 95% CI 1.126-3.665, p = 0.040) were found to be independent factors for POPF. The median survival for adenocarcinomas was 20 months in Group A and 22 months in Group B, (p = 0.109). CONCLUSION: Patients with BMI ≥ 30 are at an increased risk of developing pancreatic fistula following PD. Obesity does not appear to have an impact on long term outcomes in patients undergoing a PD for adenocarcinomas.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass for emergency myocardial revascularization.

Emergency coronary artery bypass is associated with increased operative mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of off-pump emergency coronary artery bypass, and to compare the outcome with that of the conventional on-pump procedure. Data of 79 patients who underwent emergency isolated coronary artery bypass were reviewed retrospectively; 45 had off-pump coronary bypass and 34 had conventional surgery. In the off-pump group, mean ejection fraction was significantly lower (28% +/- 9% vs. 39% +/- 10%), and there were fewer grafts per patient (1.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.2 +/- 0.8). Early mortality was higher in the conventional surgery group (14.7% vs. 8.9%), but late mortality was similar in both groups. Patients who had on-pump surgery had lower rates of recurrent angina (16% vs. 34%) and symptoms of heart failure (20% vs. 51%). Re-hospitalization was more common in off-pump patients, but cardiac re-interventions were similar. There was no significant difference in 5-year survival rates. The results of off-pump coronary bypass were better than the preoperative predicted EuroSCORE, thus it was concluded that patients treated on an emergency basis should have an off-pump revascularization procedure.