Endoscopic negative pressure therapy for duodenal leaks.

Background and study aim: Endoscopic negative pressure therapy (ENPT) is well established in the treatment of perforations of various etiologies in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. For duodenal perforations exist only case reports and series. Different indications are possible for ENPT in duodenal position: primary therapy for leaks, preemptive therapy after surgery for example, after ulcer suturing or resection with anastomoses, or as second line therapy in cases of recurrent anastomotic insufficiencies with leakage of duodenal secretion. Methods: A retrospective 4-year case series of negative pressure therapy in duodenal position indicated by different etiologies and a comprehensive review of current literature on endoscopic negative pressure duodenal therapy are presented. Results: Patients with primary duodenal leaks n= 6 and with duodenal stump insufficiencies n = 4 were included. In seven patients ENPT was the first line and sole therapy. Primary surgery for duodenal leak was performed in n = 3 patients. Mean duration of ENPT was 11.0 days, mean hospital stay was 30.0 days. Re-operation after start of ENPT was necessary in two patients with duodenal stump insufficiencies. Surgery after termination of the ENPT was not necessary in any patient. Discussion: In our case series and in the literature, ENPT has been shown to be very successful in the therapy of duodenal leaks. A challenge in ENPT for duodenal leaks is the appropriate length of the probe to safely reach the leak and keep the open pore element at the end of the probe in place despite intestinal motility.

Hemodynamic Instability during Surgery for Pheochromocytoma: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative hemodynamic instability is one of the most common adverse events in patients undergoing adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of perioperative severe hemodynamic instability. METHODS: We present a retrospective, single-center analysis in a major tertiary hospital of all consecutive patients undergoing elective adrenalectomy from 2005 to 2019 for pheochromocytoma. Severe perioperative hypertension and hypotension were evaluated, defined as changes in blood pressure larger than 30% of the preoperative patient-specific mean arterial pressure (MAP). RESULTS: Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed in 67 patients. Intraoperative episodes of hemodynamic instability occurred in 97% of all patients (n = 65), severe hypertension occurred in 24 patients (36%), and severe hypotensive episodes occurred in 62 patients (93%). Patients with more than five severe hypotensive episodes (n = 29) received higher preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockades (phenoxybenzamine 51 ± 50 mg d-1 vs. 29 ± 27 mg d-1; p = 0.023) and had a longer mean ICU stay (39.6 ± 41.5 h vs. 20.6 ± 19.1 h, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative hypotensive, rather than hypertensive, episodes occurred during adrenalectomy. The occurrence of more than five hypotensive episodes correlated well with a significantly longer hospital stay and ICU time.

Classification und Treatment Algorithm of Small Bowel Perforations Based on a Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel perforations are a rare diagnosis compared with esophageal, gastric, and colonic perforations. However, small bowel perforations can be fatal if left untreated. A classification of small bowel perforations or treatment recommendations do not exist to date. METHODS: A retrospective, monocentric, code-related data analysis of patients with small bowel perforations was performed for the period of 2010 to 2019. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period, 267 cases of small bowel perforation in 257 patients (50.2% male and 49.8% female; mean age of 60.28 years) were documented. Perforation's localization was 5% duodenal, 38% jejunal, 39% ileal, and 18% undocumented. Eight etiologies were differentiated: iatrogenic (41.9%), ischemic (20.6%), malignant (18.9%), inflammatory (8.2%), diverticula-associated (4.5%), traumatic (4.5%), foreign-body-associated (1.9%), and cryptical (1.5%) perforations. Operative treatment combined with antibiotics was the most commonly used therapeutic approach (94.3%). The mortality rate was 14.23%, with highest rate for patients with ischemic perforations. DISCUSSION: An algorithm for diagnostic and therapeutic steps was established. Furthermore, it was found that small bowel perforations are rare events with poor outcomes. Time to diagnosis and grade of underlying disease are the most essential parameters to predict perforation-associated complications.

Portal and Hepatic Venous Territorial Mapping in Healthy Human Livers: Virtual Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Size-Shape-Topography Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess portal and hepatic venous volumes as related to the planning of complex liver resections and segmental liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 3-dimensional computed tomography of portal and hepatic vein territorial maps of 140 potential living related liver donors. Portal and hepatic vein maps were simulated both separately and in overlap (cross-mapping) to calculate inflow and outflow volumes. RESULTS: In total liver volume, the right hemiliver was always dominant (mean 64.7 ± 4.8%) and the right medial sector (mean 36.4 ± 6.8%) and segment 8 (mean 19.1 ± 4.3%) accounted for the largest volumes, whereas the left medial sector(mean 13.5 ± 3.1%) and segment 4A (mean 5.8 ± 1.8%) accounted for the smallest volumes (with exclusion of caudate lobe). The right hepatic vein was dominant for both right hemiliver and right lateral sector and had the largest drainage volume in total liver volume (mean 40.0 ± 11.2%). The left hepatic vein was dominant for both left hemiliver and left lateral sector but had the smallest drainage volume fortotal liver volume (mean 21.3 ± 5.0%). The middle hepatic vein drained 50.2 ± 12.5% of the right medial sector and 75.8 ± 15.4% of the left medial sector. In 67 cases, an accessory vein (inferior hepatic vein) drained 16.5 ± 13.2% ofthe right hemiliver, 31.4 ± 25.1% ofthe right lateral sector, 26.6 ± 23.2% of segment 7, and 37.4 ± 31.3% of segment 6. CONCLUSIONS: The portal and hepatic vein territorial anatomy was characterized by extensive individual variability. An extremely smallremnant volume (<25% of total liver volume) precluded a minority of virtual extended left and a majority of extended right hepatectomies. Left trisectionectomy was associated with risky drainage from the middle hepatic vein, extensive segment 6 remnant congestion volume in 8% of cases, and right lateral sector-favorable inferior hepatic vein large drainage pattern in 13% of livers.

Comparison of Two Endoscopic Therapeutic Interventions as Primary Treatment for Anastomotic Leakages after Total Gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: An esophagojejunal anastomotic leak following an oncological gastrectomy is a life-threatening complication, and its management is challenging. A stent application and endoscopic negative pressure therapy are possible therapeutic options. A clinical comparison of these strategies has been missing until now. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 14 consecutive patients endoscopically treated for an anastomotic leak after a gastrectomy between June 2014 and December 2019 was performed. RESULTS: The mean time of the diagnosis of the leakage was 7.14 days after surgery. Five patients were selected for a covered stent, and nine patients received endoscopic negative pressure therapy. In the stent group, the mean number of endoscopies was 2.4, the mean duration of therapy was 26 days, and the mean time of hospitalization was 30 days. In patients treated with endoscopic negative pressure therapy, the mean number of endoscopies was 6.0, the mean days of therapy duration was 14.78, and the mean days of hospitalization was 38.11. Treatment was successful in all patients in the stent-based therapy group and in eight of nine patients in the negative pressure therapy group. DISCUSSION: Good clinical results in preserving the anastomosis and providing sepsis control was achieved in all patients. Stent therapy resulted in anastomosis healing with a lower number of endoscopies, a shorter time of hospitalization, and rapid oral nutrition.

Factors predicting hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy - A retrospective cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy is the most frequent complication resulting in prolongation of hospitalisation. Therefore we aimed to analyse clinical risk factors predictive for hypocalcemia and its long term persistence after total thyroidectomy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy from 2005 until 2013. Outcome measures were initial postoperative hypocalcemia defined as serum calcium below 2.0 mmol/l after total thyroidectomy within 48 h and persistent hypocalcemia defined as serum calcium below 2.0 mmol/l above six months and/or the need for additional calcium and vitamin D supplementation. RESULTS: Initial postoperative hypocalcemia was present in 160 of 702 patients (22.8%) with 91 patients (13%) developing symptoms. 48 patients (6.8%) had a persistent hypocalcemia above six months. Patients with an initial symptomatic postoperative hypocalcemia showed significantly more often a persistent hypocalcemia compared to asymptomatic patients with biochemical hypocalcemia (38 patients (41.8%) vs. 10 patients (14.5%), p < 0,001). In the binary logistic regression analysis, female gender (OR 2.4; CI95% 1.5-3.8), prolonged surgery time >189 min (OR 1.8; CI95% 1.2-2.6) and parathyroid reimplantation (OR 2.4; CI95% 1.2-4.7) were associated with initial hypocalcemia while only initial symptomatic hypocalcaemia was shown to be independently associated with persistent hypocalcemia (OR 40.9; CI95% 18.5-90.4). CONCLUSION: Prolonged surgery time seems to correlate with initial postoperative hypocalcemia independently of the underlying disease and surgical expertise but does not affect the persistence of hypocalcemia. Initial symptomatic postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy is associated with a high rate of persistent hypocalcemia.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: Case report and systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary squamous cell cancer (PSCC) of thyroid is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis. It is mandatory to exclude secondary involvement of the thyroid by panendoscopy, CT-scan and immunohistochemical analysis. As treatment surgery, radiation and rarely chemotherapy is employed. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted searching medline and embase database using the medical subject headings "primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid" and "primary squamous cell cancer of thyroid", for articles published until April 2016 (n=1733). Of interest were the used treatment modalities and survival outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 35 publications reporting on 50 cases including ours were finally analyzed. A curative treatment approach was described in 24 patients (48%). Additional radiotherapy, chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy was applied in 17, 7 and 7 patients respectively. Median overall survival was 6 months [range 0-48] for 47 patients. Disease free survival was only achieved in 8 patients with disease limited to the thyroid gland, complete surgical resection and additional radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy [reported median 20 months; range 12-48]. CONCLUSION: Reported disease free survival of PSCC of the thyroid was only achieved in patients with complete surgical resection in combination with adjuvant radio- and/or chemotherapy. However long term survival has not been reported in the literature yet.

Differential Effects of Axin2 Deficiency on the Fibrogenic and Regenerative Response in Livers of Bile Duct-Ligated Mice.

BACKGROUND: Wnt signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Axin2 is a negative regulator of the canonical Wnt pathway by promoting ß-catenin degradation. ß-Catenin-activating and loss-of-function mutations of Axin2 are thought to be functionally relevant for liver diseases and cancer. Thus, we hypothesized that Axin2 deficiency promotes fibrogenesis. METHODS: As the functions and mechanisms of how Axin2/ß-catenin signaling participates in the progression of liver fibrosis are unclear, we investigated the progression of liver fibrosis in Axin2-deficient mice using Axin2-LacZ reporter mice (Axin2+/-, Axin2-/-, and Axin2+/+) which underwent bile duct ligation (BDL). RESULTS: Here, we show that the expression of Axin2 is downregulated during fibrogenesis in wild-type mice, which is consistent with a decreased expression of the reporter gene LacZ in Axin2+/- and Axin2-/- mice. Surprisingly, no alteration in active ß-catenin/Wnt signaling occurs in Axin2-deficient mice upon BDL. Despite a less pronounced liver injury, Axin2 deficiency had only minor and no significant effects on the fibrogenic response upon BDL, i.e. slightly reduced hepatic stellate cell activity and collagen mRNA expression. However, livers of Axin2-/- mice shared a stronger cell proliferation both already at baseline as well as immediately after BDL. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest, contrary to expectation, that a deficiency in Axin2 is not equivalent to an increase in active ß-catenin and target genes, indicating no functional relevance of Axin2-dependent regulation of the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in the progression of cholestatic liver injury. This also suggests that the negligible effects of Axin2 deficiency during fibrogenesis may be related to an alternative pathway.