Translumbar type II endoleak embolization with a new liquid iodinated polyvinyl alcohol polymer: Case series and review of current literature.

Purpose: To describe our experience with the use of a novel iodized Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer liquid agent (Easyx) in type II endoleak treatment with translumbar approach. Methods: Our case series is a retrospective review of patients with type II endoleak (T2E) treated with Easyx from December 2017 to December 2020. Indication for treatment was a persistent T2E with an increasing aneurysm sac ≥5 mm on computed tomography angiography (CTA) over a 6-month interval. Technical success was defined as the embolization of the endoleak nidus with reduction or elimination of the T2E on sequent CTA evaluation. Clinical success was defined as an unchanged or decreased aneurysm sac on follow-up CTA. Secondary endpoints included the presence of artifacts in the postprocedural cross-sectional tomographic imaging and post and intraprocedural complications. Results: Ten patients were included in our retrospective analysis. All T2E were successfully embolized. Clinical success was achieved in 9 out of 10 patients (90%). The mean follow-up was 14 3-20 months. No beam hardening artifact was observed in follow-up CT providing unaltered imaging. Conclusion: Easyx is a novel liquid embolic agent with lava-like characteristics and unaltered visibility on subsequent CT examinations. In our initial experience, Easyx showed to have all the efficacy requisites to be an embolization agent for type II EL management. Its efficacy, however, should be evaluated in more extensive studies and eventually compared with other agents.

Updates on the multidisciplinary management of elderly patients with rectal cancer: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: The burden of rectal cancer in the elderly population continues to increase. The aim of this narrative review is to assess evidence updates on the management of elderly patients with rectal cancer. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The subject of rectal cancer in patients ≥70 years old was divided into different topics and, based on the research items, the literature review searched relevant studies from MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE between January 2000 and November 2022. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, narrative reviews, randomized trials, and non-randomized cohort studies were included. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: For the fit elderly patient with preserved sphincter tone, standard-of-care surgical therapy should be pursued, whereas frail patients with more advanced disease could benefit from local excision as a palliative approach in combination with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or more intensive radiotherapy options. Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision is recommended after carefully evaluating the patient's medical history, performance status, and tumor characteristics. Conversely, local excision can be implemented when balancing frailty, oncological outcomes, functional outcomes, and life expectancy. A watch and wait strategy can be considered in selected frail elderly patients with low-rectal tumors in case of complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, with a stringent surveillance protocol, at least in the first three years. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients with rectal cancer, the adoption of strategies for patient involvement in healthcare decision-making is essential, as well as the evaluation of the social background and a discussion with the patient about therapeutic modalities.

The role of laparoscopic splenectomy in traumatic splenic injury: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Splenic injuries are one of the commonest occurrences in abdominal trauma. Nonoperative management (NOM) is the treatment of choice in hemodynamically stable patients with low grade injuries in the absence of vascular injury on CT; however, in some cases, NOM can fail and surgery is required. Traditionally, splenectomy is performed via laparotomy but, recently, the use of laparoscopy is rapidly increasing because the numerous advantages it offers for selected trauma patients. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic review of the literature was performed through Medline for papers on the laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in trauma patients, published from January 2006 to July 2022. The inclusion criteria were the study population consisted of hemodynamically stable adult patients treated with LS, as primary treatment or in case of complication or failure of NOM. The data extracted included gender, patient age, type of trauma, ISS, indication for LS and if LS was performed primary or secondary to NOM. The considered outcomes were operative time, length of stay, morbidity and mortality. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eight papers were considered suitable for the study and all the articles were retrospective studies and only one of them was multicentered. A total of 202 patients were included in the study and all of these suffered splenic trauma and all patients were hemodynamically stable or responding to fluid resuscitation. Trauma mechanism was blunt in 92.9% of cases and penetrating in 7%. Twenty-one patients underwent LS after failure of angioembolization. Operative time of LS was reported in 6 papers and the mean was 130.7 mins. Length of stay was reported in 7 papers and the mean was 8.12 days. Overall morbidity was 7.7% and the postoperative mortality was cited in 6 articles with an overall percentage of 2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy should be considered a valid alternative to open surgery, in hemodynamically stable patients and when performed by an experienced surgeon, such as the minimally invasive trauma surgeon.

Primary angioembolization in liver trauma: major hepatic necrosis as a severe complication of a minimally invasive treatment-a narrative review.

The liver is the second most commonly solid organ injured in blunt abdominal trauma. Liver injuries are classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Injury Scale. The choice of Non-Operative Management is based on generalized clinical patients' conditions combined with the evidence on CT scan imaging. To date, there are no consensus guidelines on appropriate patient selection criteria for those who would benefit from angiography and angioembolization. Major hepatic necrosis is a clinical condition of extended liver damage and is the most common complication after angioembolization. Large amounts of necrotic liver require therapy, but it is unclear if the better technique is debridements supplemented by percutaneous drainage procedures or definitive resection. A systematic review of the literature was performed with a computerized search in a database such as Medline for published papers on the use of angioembolization in trauma patients with hepatic injuries and on the most common complication, the major hepatic necrosis. The systematic review was conducted according to the recommendations of the 2020 updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 3643 patients were included in the study, suffering liver trauma and 1703 (47%) were treated with Non-Operative Management; angioembolization was performed 10% of cases with a variable rate between 2 and 20%. Patients developed different complications. Hepatic necrosis accounted for 16% ranging from 0 to 42%. 74% of patients underwent operative management with a mortality rate of 11%. High-grade liver injuries pose significant challenges to surgeons who care for trauma patients. Many patients can be successfully managed nonoperatively. In hemodynamically stable patients with arterial blush, without other lesions requiring immediate surgery, selective and super-selective AE of the hepatic artery branches is an effective technique. However, these therapies are not without complications and major hepatic necrosis is the most common complication in high-grade injures. Level III, Systematic review.

Laparoscopic versus open colectomy for locally advanced T4 colonic cancer: meta-analysis of clinical and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review the early postoperative and oncological outcomes after laparoscopic colectomy for T4 cancer compared with open surgery. METHOD: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for any relevant clinical study comparing laparoscopic and open colectomy as treatment for T4 colonic cancer. The risk ratio (RR) with 95 per cent c.i. was calculated for dichotomous variables, and the mean difference (m.d.) with 95 per cent confidence interval for continuous variables. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was implemented for assessing quality of evidence (QoE). RESULTS: Twenty-four observational studies (21 retrospective and 3 prospective cohort studies) were included, analysing a total of 18 123 patients: 9024 received laparoscopic colectomy and 9099 underwent open surgery. Laparoscopic colectomy was associated with lower rates of mortality (RR 0.48, 95 per cent c.i. 0.41 to 0.56; P < 0.001; I2 = 0 per cent, fixed-effect model; QoE moderate) and complications (RR 0.61, 0.49 to 0.76; P < 0.001; I2 = 20 per cent, random-effects model; QoE very low) compared with an open procedure. No differences in R0 resection rate (RR 1.01, 1.00 to 1.03; P = 0.12; I2 = 37 per cent, random-effects model; QoE very low) and recurrence rate (RR 0.98, 0.84 to 1.14; P = 0.81; I2 = 0 per cent, fixed-effect model; QoE very low) were found. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic colectomy for T4 colonic cancer is safe, and is associated with better clinical outcomes than open surgery and similar oncological outcomes.

Colonic cancer is a common condition, and in 10-20 per cent of patients the tumour has grown beyond the bowel wall or invaded other organs at diagnosis (called locally advanced colonic cancer). This study reviews the use of laparoscopic (minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery) to treat these locally advanced tumours. Medical databases were searched for research publications on the subject. In total, 24 studies (including data on 18 123 patients) comparing laparoscopic with traditional open surgery were identified. Analysing the data of the studies together found that laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower rates of mortality and surgical complications. No difference in survival or cancer recurrence was found.

Machine Learning to Predict In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19 Patients Using Computed Tomography-Derived Pulmonary and Vascular Features.

Pulmonary parenchymal and vascular damage are frequently reported in COVID-19 patients and can be assessed with unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT), widely used as a triaging exam. Integrating clinical data, chest CT features, and CT-derived vascular metrics, we aimed to build a predictive model of in-hospital mortality using univariate analysis (Mann-Whitney U test) and machine learning models (support vectors machines (SVM) and multilayer perceptrons (MLP)). Patients with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and unenhanced chest CT performed on emergency department admission were included after retrieving their outcome (discharge or death), with an 85/15% training/test dataset split. Out of 897 patients, the 229 (26%) patients who died during hospitalization had higher median pulmonary artery diameter (29.0 mm) than patients who survived (27.0 mm, p < 0.001) and higher median ascending aortic diameter (36.6 mm versus 34.0 mm, p < 0.001). SVM and MLP best models considered the same ten input features, yielding a 0.747 (precision 0.522, recall 0.800) and 0.844 (precision 0.680, recall 0.567) area under the curve, respectively. In this model integrating clinical and radiological data, pulmonary artery diameter was the third most important predictor after age and parenchymal involvement extent, contributing to reliable in-hospital mortality prediction, highlighting the value of vascular metrics in improving patient stratification.

Laparoscopic splenectomy as a definitive management option for high-grade traumatic splenic injury when non operative management is not feasible or failed: a 5-year experience from a level one trauma center with minimally invasive surgery expertise.

Technique, indications and outcomes of laparoscopic splenectomy in stable trauma patients have not been well described yet. All hemodynamically non-compromised abdominal trauma patients who underwent splenectomy from 1/2013 to 12/2017 at our Level 1 trauma center were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected and analysed with per-protocol and an intention-to-treat comparison between open vs laparoscopic groups. 49 splenectomies were performed (16 laparoscopic, 33 open). Among the laparoscopic group, 81% were successfully completed laparoscopically. Laparoscopy was associated with a higher incidence of concomitant surgical procedures (p 0.016), longer operative times, but a significantly faster return of bowel function and oral diet without reoperations. No significant differences were demonstrated in morbidity, mortality, length of stay, or long-term complications, although laparoscopic had lower surgical site infection (0 vs 21%).The isolated splenic injury sub-analysis included 25 splenectomies,76% (19) open and 24% (6) laparoscopic and confirmed reduction in post-operative morbidity (40 vs 57%), blood transfusion (0 vs 48%), ICU admission (20 vs 57%) and overall LOS (7 vs 9 days) in the laparoscopic group. Laparoscopic splenectomy is a safe and effective technique for hemodynamically stable patients with splenic trauma and may represent an advantageous alternative to open splenectomy in terms of post-operative recovery and morbidity.

Is the minimally invasive trauma surgeon the next (r)evolution of trauma surgery? Indications and outcomes of diagnostic and therapeutic trauma laparoscopy in a level 1 trauma centre.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend in use, feasibility and safety of laparoscopy in a single level 1 European trauma centre. Laparoscopy in abdominal trauma is gaining acceptance as a diagnostic and a therapeutic tool as it reduces surgical invasiveness and may reduce post-operative morbidity. All trauma patients who underwent a laparoscopic procedure between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively analysed. A sub-analysis of isolated abdominal trauma was also performed. There has been a significant increase in the use of this technique in the considered time period. A total of 40 patients were included in the study: 17 diagnostic laparoscopies and overall 32 therapeutic laparoscopies. Conversion rate was 15%. All patients were hemodynamically stable. The majority of patients were younger than 60 years, with an ASA score of I-II and sustained a blunt trauma. Mean ISS score was 17. Colon and diaphragm were the most commonly laparoscopically diagnosed injuries, while splenectomy was the most common operation. The average operating time was 106 min. There were no missed injuries, no SSI, no re-interventions and no mortality related to the surgical procedure. The average length of stay was 14 days. No significant difference was found in the isolated abdominal trauma group. Laparoscopy is an emergent safe and effective technique for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in selected stable abdominal penetrating or blunt trauma patients. However, these results need to be put in relation with the level of the centre and the expertise of the surgeon.

Outcomes and indications for emergency thoracotomy after adoption of a more liberal policy in a western European level 1 trauma centre: 8-year experience.

The role of emergency thoracotomy (ET) in blunt trauma is still a matter of debate and in Europe only a small number of studies have been published. We report our experience about ET both in penetrating and blunt trauma, discussing indications, outcomes and proposing an algorithm for patient selection. We retrospectively analysed patients who underwent ET at Maggiore Hospital Trauma Center over two periods: from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2012, and from January 1st, 2013 to May 31st, 2017. Demographic and clinical data, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score, site of injury, time of witnessed cardiac arrest, presence/absence of signs of life, length of stay were considered, as well as survival rate and neurological outcome. 27 ETs were performed: 21 after blunt trauma and 6 after penetrating trauma. Motor vehicle accident was the main mechanism of injury, followed by fall from height. The mean age was 40.5 years and the median Injury Severity Score was of 40. The most frequent injury was cardiac tamponade. The overall survival rate was 10% during the first period and 23.5% during the second period, after the adoption of a more liberal policy. No long-term neurological sequelae were reported. The outcomes of ET in trauma patient, either after penetrating or blunt trauma, are poor but not negligible. To date, only small series of ET from European trauma centres have been published, although larger series are available from USA and South Africa. However, in selected patients, all efforts must be made for the patient's survival; the possibility of organ donation should be taken into consideration as well.

"To stent or not to stent?": immediate emergency surgery with laparoscopic radical colectomy with CME and primary anastomosis is feasible for obstructing left colon carcinoma.

Great debate exists in the initial acute management of large bowel obstruction from obstructing left colon carcinoma. While endoscopic stenting is well established as the first approach in the setting of palliative care of patients with advanced metastatic disease as well as a bridge to elective surgery in elderly patients who have an increased risk of postoperative mortality (age >70 years and/or ASA status ≥3), controversies exist regarding oncological safety and long-term outcomes of endoscopic colonic stenting in younger patients and ESGE Guidelines do not recommend SEMS placement in patients <70 and fit for curative surgery. Particularly, the Consensus Panelists currently state that SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery is not recommended as the standard treatment because (1) it does not reduce the postoperative mortality in the general population, (2) SEMS may be associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence, and (3) acute resection is feasible in young and fit patients, with an acceptable postoperative mortality rate. A 32-year-old lady was admitted with complete LBO from obstructing sigmoid carcinoma. Initial i.v. CE-CT scan detected a large bowel partial obstruction with fecal impaction in the entire colon until sigmoid with some mildly dilated SB loops. The presence of a thickened area in the colonic wall could not be assessed because the patient was young and thin and in such patients the CT appearance of bowel wall cannot be clearly appreciated. She was initially managed with laxatives and gastrografin. The patient's obstruction did not improve and abdominal distension worsened with nausea and colicky pain. Urgent endoscopy detected a friable mass, consistent with completely obstructing carcinoma of the mid sigmoid. Biopsies were taken and distal ink marking was made. Whole-body urgent CT scan with i.v. contrast was performed in order to obtain full preoperative staging and to rule out distant metastases. CT scan and the previously given oral gastrografin confirmed complete large bowel obstruction with a tight stricture in the sigmoid. Cecum was markedly distended.

Laparoscopic splenectomy with selective intra-corporeal ligation of splenic hilar vessels for high grade splenic injury - video vignette.

A 59-year-old hemodynamically stable female is admitted following a domestic fall with blunt left sided thoraco-abdominal trauma. She lived alone and had multiple comorbidities including hepatitis C virus positive splenomegaly, chronic psychosis with a history of opioid and alcohol abuse. A CT-scan of thorax and abdomen with IV contrast showed left lung contusions and multiple left rib fractures with no pneumothorax, a high grade splenic injury with intra-parenchymal hematoma and small arterial blushes in the superior splenic pole associated with celiac trunk stenosis, mild intra-abdominal free fluid and grade II injury to the left kidney. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The challenge of extraabdominal desmoid tumour management in patients with Gardner's syndrome: radiofrequency ablation, a promising option.

Desmoid tumours are benign, myofibroblastic stromal neoplasms common in Gardner's syndrome, which is a subtype of familial adenomatous polyposis characterized by colonic polyps, osteomas, thyroid cancer, epidermoid cysts, fibromas and sebaceous cysts. The primary treatment is surgery, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, but the local recurrence rate is high, and wide resection can result in debilitating loss of function. We report the case of a 39-year-old man with Gardner's syndrome who had already undergone a total prophylactic colectomy. He developed desmoid tumours localized in the mesenteric root, abdominal wall and dorsal region, which were treated from 2003 through 2013 with several surgical procedures and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. In 2008 and 2013, RFA was applied under ultrasonographic guidance to two desmoid tumours localized in the dorsal thoracic wall. The outcomes were low-grade pain and one case of superficial skin necrosis, but so far there has been no recurrence of desmoid tumours in these locations. Surgical resection remains the first-line therapy for patients with desmoid tumours, but wide resection may lead to a poor quality of life. Radiofrequency ablation is less invasive and expensive and is a possible therapeutic option for desmoid tumours in patients with Gardner's syndrome.