Functional Results Following Pylorus-Preserving Pancreatoduodenectomy with Pancreaticogastrostomy.

Background: Pylorus preserving (PP) pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has several advantages in terms of shorter operation time and improved nutritional status but with an increased risk for delayed gastric emptying. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on all patients in which PD was performed from May 2012 to May 2018. It was analyzed early postoperative outcomes and the incidence of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) syndrome for patients with pylorus PP PD technique and pancreaticogastrostomy (PG). Results: There were 47 PD, in which PP technique was performed in 42 cases. The tumour location was in the pancreatic head (n=21, 44.68%), periampullary (ampulla of Vater) (n=14,29.78%), distal bile duct (n=7,14.89%), duodenum (n=2, 4.25%) and advanced right colon cancer (n=3, 6.38%). There were 10 cases (21.2%) of grade III-V complications, grade A pancreatic fistula (PF)8 cases (17%), grade B in 3 cases (6.4%) and grade C in 1 case (2.12%). DGE was encountered in 17 cases (36.17%), grade A 2 cases (4.25%), grade B in 4 cases (8.5%) and grade C in 2 cases (4.25%). Biliary fistula occurred in 3 cases (6.4%) and in 4 cases relaparotomy was needed. Conclusions: The results of our study are concluding with the previous studies, the addition of PG to PP PD does not increase the risk of DGE.

Biliary fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: data from 1618 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies.

BACKGROUND: Biliary fistula (BF) occurs in 3-8% of patients following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). It usually pursues a benign course, but rarely may represent a life-threatening event. STUDY DESIGN: Data from 1618 PDs were collected prospectively. BF was defined as the presence of bile stained fluid from drains by post-operative day 3 and confirmed by sinogram in the majority of cases. Three classifications were validated. RESULTS: BF occurred in 58 (3.6%) patients. In 22 cases was associated with pancreatic fistula (POPF). POPF, PPH, operative time and a smaller common bile duct (CBD) were significantly associated with BF. Only CBD diameter (HR 0.55, CI 95% 0.44-0.7, p < 0.01) was an independent predictor of BF. Patients with smaller CBDs developing concomitant BF and POPF carried the highest mortality rate (34.8%, n = 8/22). All the existing classifications resulted in discrete categories of BFs when considering hospital stay and total cost as dependent variables. CONCLUSIONS: Biliary fistula is rare, but it can be life threatening when associated with POPF. As the sole independent risk factor is the CBD diameter, surgical technique is crucial. Regardless of the existing classification systems, further studies must assess the additive burden of BF when a concomitant POPF is present.

Tendencies and outcomes in endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies among people with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus in Spain, 2003-2013

We aimed to compare incidence and outcomes for endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies in people with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Spain (2003-2013). We collected all cases of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies using national hospital discharge data and evaluated annual incidence rates stratified by T2DM status. We analyzed trends over time for in-hospital mortality (IHM) as the primary outcome and a composite of IHM or procedure-related complications (key secondary outcome). In multivariate analyses, we tested T2DM as an independent factor of IHM and IHM or complications. We identified 126,885 endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies (23,002 [18.1%] in T2DM people). Crude incidence rates of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies were > 3-fold higher in people with vs without T2DM (85.5/105 vs 26.9/105 population, respectively). Annual incidence rates of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies showed 11-year relative increments of 77.5% (from 60.0 to 106.5/105) in T2DM, and 53.7% (from 21.6 to 33.2/105) in non-T2DM people (p < 0.001). We found no significant changes in mortality trends over time for the populations with or without T2DM (p = 0.15 and p = 0.21, respectively). Rates of procedural pancreatitis decreased in people without T2DM (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, older age, higher comorbidity and endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy during urgent admission were associated with a higher IHM. T2DM was associated with a lower IHM after an endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (OR = 0.82 [0.74-0.92]). Time trend multivariate analyses 2003-2013 showed significant reductions in IHM over time only in people with T2DM (OR = 0.97 [0.94-1.00]). Further studies are needed to confirm a lower IHM for endoscopic biliary sphincterotomies in people with T2DM (AU)

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[Incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure and biliary leakage : A cohort study]. / Inzidenz von Leberversagen und Galleleckagen nach Leberteilresektion : Eine Kohortenstudie.

BACKGROUND: The International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) defined posthepatectomy liver failure as pathological values for the international normalized ratio (INR) and bilirubin 5 days after liver resection. The occurrence of biliary leakage was defined as a drainage bilirubin to serum bilirubin ratio > 3 at day 3 or later after resection or interventional surgical revision due to biliary peritonitis. A confirmatory explorative analysis was carried out. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved an evaluation of primary liver resection from the years 2009 and 2010. Primary endpoints were the incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure and biliary leakage in accordance with the ISGLS definition. Secondary endpoints were complications and 90-day mortality. Results are displayed as median values (minimum and maximum). RESULTS: A total of 214 liver resections were included from the years 2009 and 2010. Patients were an average of 61.5 years old (min. 18, max. 83 years). The incidence of liver failure was 7.4 % (16 out of 214) and fatal in 7 patients. In 31 % (65 out of 214) a biliary leakage occurred, 14 (23 %) patients developed a type B, 1 patient(5 %) a type C leakage and 50 leakages were clinically inapparent. The incidence of clinically relevant biliary leakages was 7 % (15 out of 214). The sensitivity of the definition was 100 % and the specificity 75 %. The incidence of Dindo-Calvien complications > 3b was 10.2 %, of sepsis 5.6 % and the 90-day mortality was 6.5 %. Multivariate analysis did not reveal independent predictive factors for biliary leakage or liver failure. CONCLUSION: The definition for posthepatectomy liver failure was found to be valid in this cohort. The incidence of postoperative biliary leakage is over-estimated with the current definition and delivers a large number of false positive results without clinical relevance.

Surgery for gallstone ileus: a nationwide comparison of trends and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Gallstone ileus is a mechanical bowel obstruction caused by a biliary calculus originating from a bilioenteric fistula. Because of the limited number of reported cases, the optimal surgical method of treatment has been the subject of ongoing debate. METHODS: A retrospective review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2009 was performed for gallstone ileus cases treated surgically by enterotomy with stone extraction alone (ES), enterotomy and cholecystectomy with fistula closure (EF), bowel resection alone (BR), and bowel resection with fistula closure (BF). Patient demographics, hospital factors, comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes were reported. Multivariate analysis was performed comparing mortality, morbidity, length of stay, and total cost for the different procedure types. RESULTS: Of the estimated 3,452,536 cases of mechanical bowel obstruction from 2004 to 2009, 3268 (0.095%) were due to gallstone ileus-an incidence lower than previously reported. The majority of patients were elderly women (>70%). ES was the most commonly performed procedure (62% of patients) followed by EF (19% of cases). In 19%, a bowel resection was required. The most common complication was acute renal failure (30.44% of cases). In-hospital mortality was 6.67%. On multivariate analysis, EF and BR were independently associated with higher mortality than ES [(odds ratio [OR] = 2.86; confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-7.07) and (OR = 2.96; CI: 1.26-6.96) respectively]. BR was also associated with a higher complication rate, OR = 1.98 (CI: 1.13-3.46). CONCLUSIONS: Gallstone ileus is a rare surgical disease affecting mainly the elderly female population. Mortality rates appear to be lower than previously reported in the literature. Enterotomy with stone extraction alone appears to be associated with better outcomes than more invasive techniques.

Gallstone ileus: revisiting surgical outcomes using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical management remains the mainstay of therapy for gallstone ileus, the optimal approach--enterolithotomy alone or combined with biliary-enteric fistula disruption--is controversial because of the reliance on small single-center series to describe outcomes. Using the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we sought to (1) review the outcomes of patients undergoing surgical management of gallstone ileus and (2) determine if cholecystectomy in addition to enterolithotomy increased morbidity or mortality rate. METHODS: We analyzed the demographics, comorbidities, acuity, operative time, postoperative hospitalization length, and 30-d morbidity and mortality rates of 127 patients from 2005 to 2010 who underwent a procedure for the relief of gallstone ileus. We identified a subset of 14 patients who underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy. We compared the "no cholecystectomy" and "cholecystectomy" groups using standard statistical methods. RESULTS: The overall 30-d postoperative morbidity and mortality rate was 35.4% and 5.5%, respectively. Superficial surgical site infection and urinary tract infection were the most common complications. There was no significant difference in mortality rate between the no cholecystectomy and the cholecystectomy groups (5.3% versus 7.1%, respectively; P = 0.78), but the latter group did experience more minor complications, longer operations, and longer postoperative hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Other recent studies on this topic have collected data or reviewed literature across several decades, making this study in particular one of the largest truly modern series. Perhaps reflecting changes in perioperative management, surgical treatment of gallstone ileus is less morbid than previously described, but there is still insufficient evidence to favor concurrent cholecystectomy.

Pancreaticojejunostomy vs. pancreaticogastrostomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy: results of comparative study.

AIM: Several techniques have been proposed for reconstructing pancreatico-digestive continuity, which the first goal is reducing the rate of pancreatic leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Only a limited number studies have been carried out. Our objective is to compare the results of pancreaticojejunostomy versus pancreaticogastrostomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: This is a retrospective and comparative study about 80 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. These patients were divided into two groups: pancreaticojejunostomy (group PJ) and pancreaticogastrostomy (group PG). RESULTS: The PJ group included 39 patients, while 41 patients were included in the PG group. There were no differences between the two groups concerning: patients' demographics, risk factors, indication, mean duration of surgery, texture of pancreatic tissue, need for intraoperative blood transfusion and postoperative prophylactic octreotide. Overall, the mortality postoperative rate was 7.5% (N.=6), the incidence of surgical complications was 50% (51.3% in PJ, 48.8% in PG; P=0.823, not significant). Pancreatic fistula was the most frequent complication, occurring in 17.5% of patients (25.6% in PJ and 9.8% in PG; P=0.062, almost significant). 7.7% of patients who underwent PJ and 14.6% of patients who underwent PG required a second surgical intervention (P=0.326, not significant). There were no differences between the two groups PG and PJ concerning: Postoperative hemorrhage (P=0.63), biliary fistula (P=0.09), acute pancreatitis (P=0.95), delayed gastric emptying (P=0.33). The mean postoperative hospitalisation period stay was similar in both groups (P=0.63) CONCLUSION: There were not any significant differences between the two groups in the overall postoperative complication rate, the incidence of postoperative haemorrhage, biliary fistula, acute pancreatitis, and delayed.

Percutaneous management of postoperative bile leaks after upper gastrointestinal surgery.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the benefit of percutaneous interventional management of patients with postoperative bile leak on clinical outcome. Primary study endpoints were closure of the bile leak and duration of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) treatment. Secondary study endpoints were necessity of additional CT-guided drainage catheter placement, course of serum CRP level as parameter for inflammation, and patients' survival. METHODS: Between January 2004 and April 2008, all patients who underwent PTBD placement after upper gastrointestinal surgery were analyzed regarding site of bile leak and previous attempt of operative bile leak repair, interval between initial surgery and PTBD placement, procedural interventional management, course of inflammation parameters, duration of PTBD therapy, PTBD-related complications, and patients' survival. RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent PTBD placement for treatment of postoperative bile leaks. In 12 patients (40%), PTBD was performed secondary to a surgical attempt of bile leak repair. Additional percutaneous drainage of bilomas was performed in 14 patients (47%). CRP serum level decreased from 138.1 ± 73.4 mg/l before PTBD placement to 43.5 ± 33.4 mg/l 30 days after PTBD placement. The mean duration of PTBD treatment was 55.2 ± 32.5 days in the surviving patients. In one patient, a delayed stenosis of the bile duct required balloon dilation. Two PTBD-related complications (portobiliary fistula, hepatic artery aneurysm) occurred, which were successfully treated by embolization. Overall survival was 73% (22 patients). CONCLUSIONS: PTBD treatment is an effective therapy. PTBD treatment and additional CT-guided drainage of bilomas helped to reduce intraabdominal inflammation, as shown by reduction of inflammation parameters.

Gallstone ileus: analysis of eight cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: We hereby analyzed a series of gallstone ileus cases operated on in our department starting from a Bouveret syndrome case. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of all gallstone ileus cases who underwent surgery in our department during the last 26 years. We took into consideration diagnostic elements, time from admission to surgery, type of surgery and post-operative outcome. RESULTS: During this period 9,143 gallstones were deferred to surgery; 27 biliary-digestive fistulae were discovered during surgery; gallstone ileus complicated fistula in 8 patients. Gallstone ileus was exclusively present in elderly women with associated comorbidities. Diagnosis was suggested by clinical features of acute or incomplete intestinal obstruction; it was sustained by imagistic studies with different degrees of relevance. The average time from admission to surgery was 2.6 days. Surgical approach varied from simple enterolithotomy to additional fistula repair. The outcome was uneventful in most of the cases with only one exception. CONCLUSIONS: gallstone ileus is a rare condition, occurring in elders with important comorbidities. The choice for surgical procedure depends on the obstructive syndrome's gravity and associated comorbidities; the type of intervention does not significantly influence post-operative morbidity and mortality rates.

Managing injuries of hepatic duct confluence variants after major hepatobiliary surgery: an algorithmic approach.

AIM: To investigate injuries of anatomy variants of hepatic duct confluence during hepatobiliary surgery and their impact on morbidity and mortality of these procedures. An algorithmic approach for the management of these injuries is proposed. METHODS: During a 6-year period 234 patients who had undergone major hepatobiliary surgery were retrospectively reviewed in order to study postoperative bile leakage. Diagnostic workup included endoscopic and magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (E/MRCP), scintigraphy and fistulography. RESULTS: Thirty (12.8%) patients who developed postoperative bile leaks were identified. Endoscopic stenting and percutaneous drainage were successful in 23 patients with bile leaks from the liver cut surface. In the rest seven patients with injuries of hepatic duct confluence, biliary variations were recognized and a stepwise therapeutic approach was considered. Conservative management was successful only in 2 patients. Volume of the liver remnant and functional liver reserve as well as local sepsis were used as criteria for either resection of the corresponding liver segment or construction of a biliary-enteric anastomosis. Two deaths occurred in this group of patients with hepatic duct confluence variants (mortality rate 28.5%). CONCLUSION: Management of major biliary fistulae that are disconnected from the mainstream of the biliary tree and related to injury of variants of the hepatic duct confluence is extremely challenging. These patients have a grave prognosis and an early surgical procedure has to be considered.

Internal biliary fistula due to cholelithiasis: a single-centre experience.

AIM: To discuss about the perioperative problems encountered in patients with internal biliary fistula (IBF) caused by cholelithiasis. METHODS: In our hospital, 4,130 cholecystectomies were carried out for symptomatic cholelithiasis from January 2000 to March 2004 and only 12 patients were diagnosed with IBF. The perioperative data of these 12 IBF patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of IBF due to cholelithiasis was nearly 0.3%. The mean age was 57 years. Most of the patients presented with non-specific complaints. Only two patients were considered to have IBF when gallstone ileus was observed during the investigations. Nine patients underwent emergency laparotomy with a pre-operative diagnosis of acute abdomen. In the remaining three patients, elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy was converted to open surgery after identification of IBF. Ten patients had cholecystoduodenal fistula and two patients had cholecystocholedochal fistula. The mean hospital stay was 13 d. Two wound infections, three bile leakages and three mortalities were observed. CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy has to be performed in early stage in the patients who were diagnosed as cholelithiasis to prevent the complications like IBF which is seen rarely. Suspicion of IBF should be kept in mind, especially in the case of difficult dissection during cholecystectomy and attention should be paid in order to prevent iatrogenic injuries.

Thoracic rupture of hepatic hydatidosis (123 cases).

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease is frequently endemic in countries with poor environmental sanitation and in geographic areas where interaction between humans and animals is common. Pulmonary complications result from the proximity of hydatid cysts in the liver and the diaphragm. METHODS: The medical records of 123 patients, with established hydatid disease manifesting abnormal chest roentgenograms, were retrospectively analyzed for the period January 1990 to December 1999. RESULTS: Chest roentgenogram and abdominal ultrasound provided a correct preoperative diagnosis in 108 patients (87.8%). Expectoration of bile, demonstration of fistula by ultrasound, expectoration of cyst contents, and additional ultrasound or imaging findings were the criteria used to establish the preoperative diagnosis. The remaining 15 cases were confirmed at operation. Men outnumbered women nearly 3:1. Mean age was 36.2 years. Pulmonary resection was performed in 67 cases. Sixty-eight patients presented with a bronchobiliary fistula (55.3%). Morbidity rate was 14.6% and mortality rate was 8.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracotomy offers adequate simultaneous access to both the chest and hepatic lesions with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic sphincterotomy undertaken preoperatively is useful in reducing biliary complications.

External biliary fistula.

We report 210 cases of external biliary fistula treated in our clinics between 1970-1992. In 7 cases, fistulas were formed after iatrogenic bile duct injury, in 4 cases after exploration of common bile duct, in 4 cases due to disruption of biliary-intestinal anastomosis, and in 2 cases due to liver trauma. In 85 cases bile leak was observed after cholecystomy, in 103 cases after hydatid disease surgery, and in 4 cases after the passage of P.T.C. catheter. In one patient the appearance of the fistula was due to spontaneous discharge of a gallbladder empyema. 173 cases were managed conservatively, and 37 cases surgically.

[Therapy and follow-up of injuries after laparoscopic operations]. / Therapie und Verlauf von Verletzungen nach laparoskopischen Operationen.

From May 1993 to September 1997 we treated 22 patients with complications after laparoscopic surgery. We report on 18 patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, three patients after diagnostic laparoscopy and one after TAPP. Two patients died (hepatic failure and without any possibility of definitive therapy) and the injuries of the other 20 patients were repaired.

Bile leak after cholecystectomy significance and treatment: results from the National Norwegian Cholecystectomy Registry.

From April 1993 to July 1995, altogether 3860 procedures were enrolled in the Norwegian National Cholecystectomy Registry (NNCR), 777 (20.2%) being open operations. 3083 (79.8%) were initiated laparoscopically, 313 (10.2%) of these converted to open technique. Mortality within 30 days after open cholecystectomy was 1.9%, after a converted procedure 1.0% and 0.14% after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (p<0.01). According to the intention to treat principle, converted procedures should be included in the laparoscopic group. This gives seven deaths after 3083 procedures, i.e. 0.23%. Postoperative death still occurs approximately 10 times more frequently after open cholecystectomy (p<0.01). However, this is partly due to selection of high risk cases to open technique. Postoperative bile leak was observed in 25 patients (0.9%) in the laparoscopic, 13 (4.2%) in the converted and 19 (2.4%) in the open group. Bile leak contributed significantly to serious complications. 37 major problems were observed in 25 of the patients (44%). Five patients died (8.8%). Among the 57 bile leak patients, common bile duct (CBD) injury was found in 13 (22.8%). Additional 19 CBD injuries occurred, presenting with other symptoms such as icterus, or being recognised during the first operation. The frequency of CBD injury in the laparoscopic group was 14 (0.5%), in the converted group 12 (3.8%) and in the open group 6 (0.8%). None of the patients with CBD injury underwent intraoperative cholangiography. The present results firstly show that open cholecystectomy cannot be considered a safe procedure for high risk patients, secondly, that postoperative bile leak contributes significantly to postoperative mortality and hence is a serious condition generating from CBD injury in about 1/5 of all cases.

Nuevo enfoque en el tratamiento de las fístulas enterocutáneas postquirúrgicas / New approach in the treatment of the postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas

Entre 1985 y 1990 se trataron 14 pacientes con 27 fístulas enterocutáneas postcirugía, mediante un sistema original por vacío y compactación(SIVACO). Se basa en el uso de muy bajas presiones atmosféricas, que compacta una masa de fibras poliméricas(TFP) sobre el orificio, ocluyéndolo como una tapa o "pared dique". El sesgo grave de la población está dado por el alto caudal promedio de las fístulas (1500cc/día), una mortalidad esperada del 43% por APACHE II y por ser 7 pacientes con supuraciones peritoneales, 8 con desnutrición severa, 6 con m160s de una fístula y 12 con signos claros de sepsis. Los resultados fueron: el caudal cayó a 67cc/día a las 24 hs. y 0cc/día a los siete días. Este método resolvió las colecciones intraperitoneales sin punciones o cirugía. Siete de los ocho pacientes desnutridos recuperaron más del 55% del peso perdido a los 20 días. De las 27 fístulas tratadas 22 cerraron con este procedimiento y 4 con cirugía. El 93% de los pacientes se alimentaba por vía enteral, deambulaba y se encontraba sin vía venosa central a los 9 días de tratamiento. El tiempo de tratamiento fue de 14 a 365 días. Once enfermos curaron las fístulas entre 14 y 44 días, 2 con fístulas múltiples, algunas de ellas cerradas antes de los 90 días y que se reoperaron al año de las fístulas persistentes, con buen estado general y alta a los 15 y 20 días sin complicaciones. Trece pacientes fueron dados de alta curados. Uno falleció por bronconeumonía. La mortalidad del método fue 0

Nuevo enfoque en el tratamiento de las fístulas enterocutáneas postquirúrgicas / New approach in the treatment of the postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas

Entre 1985 y 1990 se trataron 14 pacientes con 27 fístulas enterocutáneas postcirugía, mediante un sistema original por vacío y compactación(SIVACO). Se basa en el uso de muy bajas presiones atmosféricas, que compacta una masa de fibras poliméricas(TFP) sobre el orificio, ocluyéndolo como una tapa o "pared dique". El sesgo grave de la población está dado por el alto caudal promedio de las fístulas (1500cc/día), una mortalidad esperada del 43% por APACHE II y por ser 7 pacientes con supuraciones peritoneales, 8 con desnutrición severa, 6 con m160s de una fístula y 12 con signos claros de sepsis. Los resultados fueron: el caudal cayó a 67cc/día a las 24 hs. y 0cc/día a los siete días. Este método resolvió las colecciones intraperitoneales sin punciones o cirugía. Siete de los ocho pacientes desnutridos recuperaron más del 55% del peso perdido a los 20 días. De las 27 fístulas tratadas 22 cerraron con este procedimiento y 4 con cirugía. El 93% de los pacientes se alimentaba por vía enteral, deambulaba y se encontraba sin vía venosa central a los 9 días de tratamiento. El tiempo de tratamiento fue de 14 a 365 días. Once enfermos curaron las fístulas entre 14 y 44 días, 2 con fístulas múltiples, algunas de ellas cerradas antes de los 90 días y que se reoperaron al año de las fístulas persistentes, con buen estado general y alta a los 15 y 20 días sin complicaciones. Trece pacientes fueron dados de alta curados. Uno falleció por bronconeumonía. La mortalidad del método fue 0

External fistulas arising from the digestive tract.

External abdominal fistulas that arise from the digestive tract are associated with high mortality and prolonged morbidity in terms of infection, malnutrition, and skin excoriation. Such external fistulas most commonly follow anastomotic leak after gastrointestinal surgery. We identified 58 patients seen over a 5-year period at the University of Louisville Hospitals because of external abdominal fistulas that arose from the stomach (8), duodenum (4), small intestine (26), colon (14), biliary tract (9), and pancreas (7). Fifteen patients had multiple fistulas and 32 had high-output fistulas (greater than 200 mL/day). Closure was achieved in 48 patients, and eight of the 10 patients whose fistulas remained open died. Overall mortality was 19%. Principles of management include control of infection, correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalance, nutritional support, proper wound care, and often operative intervention. Multiple staged operations over many months were particularly important in managing complex wounds with large abdominal wall defects and multiple fistulas. Fistula closure is the ultimate goal, and patience is important to achieve it.

Hepatic trauma: experience with 135 consecutive liver injuries (1982-1989) and arguments for conservative surgery.

Most hepatic traumas are easily cured, but the series of 135 consecutive hepatic wounds reported in the present paper is unusual in that the patients were specifically recruited from among patients subjected to neurosurgical or spinal operations, 25% of whom sustained severe hepatic injuries (classes IV and V) as a result of the surgery. The postoperative mortality was analyzed according to such potentially predictive factors as severity of the hepatic wound, the concomitant extraabdominal lesions, the initial shock, and the kind of surgical treatment. The statistical comparison of the factors affecting the results was analyzed by the Chi-square test. The postoperative mortality rate was 24.4% (33 deaths). This mortality rate is evidently related to the severity of the hepatic lesions and to the frequent associated lesions. The 14 deaths from benign and moderate hepatic injuries were due to concomitant lesions. Among the 19 deaths from severe lesions, 12 were directly related to the severity of the hepatic injury and 7 to associated wounds. Complications directly related to the hepatic trauma occurred in 39 cases with 16 deaths. In general, conservative surgical treatment can be performed with quite low mortality. Among the patients who require hepatic resection one of two dies of hemorrhage or coagulopathy. Among conservative procedures, perihepatic packing has proved to be efficient and safe. If perioperative cholangiography has excluded any leak from a major bilde duct, septic complications are rare. Therefore, the surgical treatment of hepatic trauma should be as conservative as possible, because this can stop hemorrhage and decrease the risk of coagulopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)