Benign pneumatosis intestinalis with massive portomesenteric venous gas in a very old man. A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is described as the presence of air within bowel wall. PI aetiology is various: it can be associated with non-urgent or life-threatening conditions. Clinical management is based on physical examination, blood tests and radiology, in particular abdominal CT. The cause of PI suggests the correct therapy. When PI is linked to gas in portal and mesenteric venae (PMVG), bowel ischemia or infarction is possible, and surgery needed. CASE REPORT: A 91 years-old man was admitted to Emergency Department reporting abdominal pain and vomit. Acute abdominal symptoms, radiological finding of small bowel PI with massive PMVG, severe neutrophilia, and high serum lactate forced us to perform exploratory laparotomy, from which it was observed a diffuse band-like pneumatosis of all the small bowel and mesentery without ischemic or peritonitis signs. The patient was imposed to fast and treated with oxygen, intravenous fluid and antibiotic therapy, without performing further surgery, and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility after symptomatology resolution. DISCUSSION: Scientific literature underlines the importance of PMVG to consider as critic a patient with PI, but it is always essential to assess also physical examination, vital parameters, and blood exams. In our case, several signs were suggestive for bowel infarction: its absence and the swift recovery of the patient were unexpected. CONCLUSION: Although non-surgical treatment is recommended for primary PI of unknown aetiology, in case physical examination and radiological signs aren't decisive surgery is necessary to rule out bowel infarction. This case stresses the difficulty of PI management.

Incidence of Peri-implant Diseases on Implants With and Without Laser-Microgrooved Collar: A 5-Year Retrospective Study Carried Out in Private Practice Patients.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the incidence of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis around dental implants with the same body design and surface but different collar surface (laser-microgrooved vs not laser-microgrooved) after 5 years of loading in private practice patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on patients at a private dental clinic enrolled in a periodontal maintenance program, who received at least one implant with a laser-microgrooved collar surface and one implant without a laser-microgrooved collar surface. Clinical variables such as plaque, pocket depth, bleeding on probing, suppuration, and radiographic marginal bone loss at > 5 years around implants were investigated. The correlation between the prevalence of peri-implant mucositis/peri-implantitis and biotype, keratinized tissue width, prosthetic connection type, and prosthetic design type was also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 166 implants in 74 patients were investigated. At the end of the 5-year follow-up period, 38 implants presented peri-implant mucositis, accounting for 22.8% of the total, affecting a total of 24 patients (32.4%), while 13 implants (7.8%) in 10 patients (13.5%) were diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Sixteen of 82 laser-microgrooved implants (19.5%) and 24 of 84 implants (28.5%) without a laser-microgrooved collar presented peri-implant mucositis, while 3 of 82 (3.6%) of laser-microgrooved implants and 10 of 84 (11.9%) implants without a laser-microgrooved collar demonstrated peri-implantitis. Differences in implant-based incidence of peri-implant diseases between implants with and without a laser-microgrooved collar were statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION: In private practice patients enrolled in a professional, controlled oral hygiene regimen, implants with a laser-microgrooved collar, compared with implants without a laser-microgrooved collar, presented a statistically significantly lower incidence of peri-implant diseases.

Immediate versus Delayed Treatment in the Anterior Maxilla Using Single Implants with a Laser-Microtextured Collar: 3-Year Results of a Case Series on Hard- and Soft-Tissue Response and Esthetics.

PURPOSE: To compare peri-implant marginal bone loss, soft tissue response, and esthetics following single immediate implant treatment (IIT) and delayed implant treatment (DIT) in the esthetic zone of the maxilla in well-selected patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adequate bone volume and ideal soft tissue level/contour were considered requirements for implant therapy, with additional prerequisites for IIT of residual alveolar bone wall integrity and a thick gingival biotype. IIT included immediate placement and provisionalization, while DIT included extraction socket preservation followed by implant placement and provisionalization 4 months later. Cortical bone levels and peri-implant mucosal conditions were evaluated at regular intervals. The esthetic outcome was objectively rated after 3 years using the pink esthetic score (PES) and white esthetic score (WES). RESULTS: Twelve patients received an immediate Laser-Lok® implant, and 13 patients received a delayed Laser-Lok® implant. No significant differences were found between the study groups regarding survival rate (100%). The mean bone level from the implant/abutment interface was 0.35 ± 0.18 mm for IIT and 0.42 ± 0.21 mm for DIT after 3 years (p > 0.05). Mesial and distal papillae remained stable over time in DIT. A tendency for regrowth of mesial and distal papillae was found following IIT (p < 0.05). Midfacial soft tissues remained stable over time following DIT and IIT. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study (e.g., small sample size, short follow-up duration), the results suggest that regarding success rate, hard/soft tissue responses, and esthetics, DIT and IIT with single Laser-Lok® implants in the anterior maxilla are comparable and predictable options for well-selected patients.

Influence of a Laser-Lok Surface on Immediate Functional Loading of Implants in Single-Tooth Replacement: Three-Year Results of a Prospective Randomized Clinical Study on Soft Tissue Response and Esthetics.

The purpose of the present prospective randomized study was to evaluate the influence of Laser-Lok microtextured surface on soft tissue peri-implant parameters and esthetics around immediate, functionally loaded implants for single-tooth replacement in the esthetic zone. This study included 77 patients divided into two groups based on different implants used: the control group had BioHorizons tapered internal non-Laser-Lok-type implants (NLL; n = 39) and the test group had BioHorizons tapered internal Laser-Lok-type implants (LL; n = 39). Outcome measures were survival, radiographic marginal bone-level changes, soft tissue parameters, and esthetics. One implant was lost in the test group and one in the control group, for a total survival rate of 96.1% after 3 years. Radiographically, mean crestal bone loss ± standard deviation was 0.59 ± 0.27 mm in the LL group compared with 1.17 ± 0.31 mm in the NLL group. A mean gain in papilla level of 0.41 ± 0.34 mm and 0.17 ± 0.36 mm was observed in the LL and the NLL groups, respectively, while the level of the midfacial peri-implant mucosa remained stable in both groups with no statistically significant differences (0.08 ± 0.42 mm for the LL group vs 0.06 ± 0.36 mm for the NLL group). The mean probing depth values in the LL and NLL groups were 0.58 ± 0.2 mm and 1.89 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. Within the limitations of this study, it was demonstrated that the clinical and esthetic outcome of immediate functional loading was more favorable for LL implants than for NLL implants.

Single-tooth replacement in the anterior maxilla by means of immediate implantation and early loading: clinical and aesthetic results at 5 years.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis of the present study was that the early loading of single implants-supported restorations, replacing single extracting teeth in the anterior region of the maxilla in case of fresh extraction sockets with residual hard and soft tissue preservation, could be a successful procedure. METHODS: Twenty-one implants were placed into maxillary anterior fresh extraction sockets using a flapless technique. Temporary restorations, which were fabricated from the impression taken immediately after implant placement, were connected within 2 weeks. These temporary restorations were adjusted in order to avoid any direct occlusive contacts. Six months after implantation, the implants were restored with single-teeth all-ceramic prostheses. Patients were followed for 5 years. Radiographic and clinical examinations were made at baseline, at time of definitive crowns delivery, and each subsequent year. Survival rate, cortical bone responses, and peri-implant mucosal responses were evaluated. RESULTS: One implant was lost at 6 months. Clinical osseointegration of 20 implants was achieved (95.2% implant survival rate after 5 years) with minimal gingival recession and papillae preservation. The mean change in marginal cortical bone level was 0.40 mm at 6 months and 0.83 mm at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limit of the present study, the data indicate that, under a strictly controlled oral hygienic regimen, single-tooth implants, with immediate placement and early loading protocol, may be used in anterior maxillary fresh extraction sockets with residual hard and soft tissues preservation, if patients are selected carefully and if high primary stability is strictly followed.

The impact of a laser-microtextured collar on crestal bone level and clinical parameters under various placement and loading protocols.

PURPOSE: Physical attachment of connective tissue fibers to a laser-microtextured (8- and 12-µm grooves) surface on the collar of an implant has been demonstrated using human histology. Related clinical research has suggested that this microtextured surface may help to decrease initial bone loss after implant placement. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare crestal bone heights and clinical parameters between implants with laser-microtextured and machined collars placed and loaded with different protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated 300 single implants in 300 patients (155 men, 145 women; mean age: 49.3 years; range: 45 to 75 years). One hundred sixty implants with laser-microtextured collars (L) and 140 with machined collars (M) were used. Implants were grouped into the treatment categories of immediate placement, delayed placement, immediate nonocclusal loading, and delayed loading. For all groups, crestal bone level, attachment level (CAL), Plaque Index, and bleeding on probing were recorded at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months after loading with the definitive restoration. RESULTS: Nine implants were lost (four L and five M). The type of implant and timing of placement and loading showed no significant influence on survival rates. A mean CAL loss of 1.12 mm was observed during the first 2 years in the M group, while the mean CAL loss observed in the L group was 0.55 mm. Radiographically, L group implants showed a mean crestal bone loss of 0.58 mm, compared to 1.09 mm for the M group. CONCLUSION: A laser-microtextured surface on the implant collar may mitigate the negative sequelae associated with peri-implant bone loss, regardless of the placement and loading protocols used.

Clinical, radiographic, and esthetic evaluation of immediately loaded laser microtextured implants placed into fresh extraction sockets in the anterior maxilla: a 2-year retrospective multicentric study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical, radiographic, and esthetic outcomes of implants with a laser microtextured collar placed in the anterior region of the maxilla at the time of tooth extraction and immediately temporized. METHODS: Forty-six Tapered Internal Laser-Lok BioHorizons implants were immediately placed and immediately restored with nonfunctional loading in 46 patients (24 men and 22 women) with a thick gingival biotype, ideal gingival level/contour, and postextraction intact walls. Survival rate, cortical bone loss, and periimplant mucosal responses were evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: Survival rate was 95.6%. Mean mesial and distal marginal bone loss, 24 months after installation, were 0.58 mm (SD = 0.53; range, 0.17-1.15) and 0.57 mm (SD = 0.70; range, 0.42-1.10), respectively. A mesial and distal papilla regrowth mean of 1.8 and 1.5 mm, respectively, were found. The midfacial soft tissue levels showed 0.12 mm of mean recession after 24 months. CONCLUSION: Immediate implants with a laser microtextured surface restored at the day of surgery, may be considered as a predictable procedure in terms of implant survival and hard and soft tissue remodeling.