Leg raise increases pressure in lower and upper esophageal sphincter among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between posturally increased intra-abdominal pressure and lower/upper esophageal sphincter pressure changes in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. We used high resolution manometry to measure pressure changes in lower and upper esophageal sphincter during bilateral leg rise. We also examined whether the rate of lower and upper esophageal sphincter pressure would increase during leg raise differentially in individuals with versus without normal resting pressure. Fifty eight patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease participated in the study. High resolution manometry was performed in relaxed supine position, then lower and upper esophageal sphincter pressure was measured. Finally, the subjects were instructed to keep their legs lifted while performing 90-degree flexion at the hips and knees and the pressure was measured again. Paired t-test and independent samples t-test were used. There was a significant increase in both lower (P < 0.001) and upper esophageal sphincter pressure (P = 0.034) during leg raise compared to the initial resting position. Individuals with initially higher pressure in lower esophageal sphincter (>10 mmHg) exhibited a greater pressure increase during leg raise than those with initially lower pressure (pressure ≤10 mmHg; P = 0.002). Similarly individuals with higher resting upper esophageal sphincter pressure (>44 mmHg) showed a greater pressure increase during leg raise than those with lower resting pressure (≤44 mmHg; P < 0.001). The results illustrate the influence of postural leg activities on intraesophageal pressure in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, indicating by means of high resolution manometry that diaphragmatic postural and sphincter function are likely interrelated in this population.

Postoperative rectal anastomotic complications.

Colorectal cancer represents the most common tumour of the gastrointestinal tract and the second most common tumour in men as well as women. The trend of increasing incidence of colorectal cancer is alerting. We undertook a retrospective study on 588 patients with rectal cancer and operated by rectal resection with anastomosis between the years 2002-2012. In our sample, we observed 54 (9.2 %) cases of anastomosis insufficiencies requiring reoperation. Out of 54 insufficient anastomoses, 36 (66 %) were in the lower two thirds of the rectum and only 18 (34 %) in the oral one. Although we have observed similar occurrences of anastomosis insufficiency in both groups - classical vs. staple suture (9.5 % and 9.0 %, respectively), the majority of stapler anastomoses (94 %) were made in the aboral part of the rectum. However, we can state that a majority of authors prefer the staple anastomosis as the one with lowest risk, mainly in the distal region of anastomosis. The high ligation of inferior mesenteric artery was performed in 182 (31 %) patients; out of these, we observed anastomosis insufficiency in 12 cases (22 %), which is exactly similar to that in the group of patients without high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. We did not observe the use of antibiotics in therapeutical doses as a positive factor for anastomosis insufficiencies, and neither was oncological therapy observed as a risk factor. In our group of patients we agreed that age, level of anastomosis and corticosteroids are high-risk factors. The purpose of these reports, is for the sake of future to share and reference our experiences with cases of rectal and rectosigmoideal resection over the last 11 years. We consider it important to reference our results, especially the risk factors regarding the healing of rectal anastomosis, because anastomotic healing is a surgical problem with potentially deadly consequences for patients (Tab. 4, Ref. 24).

Outcomes of patients with oesophageal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy, followed by tumor resection: influence of nutritional factors.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of clinical and nutritional factors on overall survival (OS) and time to disease progression of oesophageal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively studied and analysed several clinical and nutritional factors, such as performance status, weight changes before and during CRT, dysphagia, nutritional support, and serum albumin to see whether they exerted any impact on OS and time to disease progression. RESULTS: In 107 patients the average weight loss was 9.7% from the onset of signs of disease to the beginning of therapy and 3% during CRT. In univariate analysis, significant unfavorable impact on survival was proved for low performance status, severe dysphagia, need for nasogastric tube insertion, above-average weight loss before treatment, weight loss >5% during CRT, and serum albumin ≤ 35 g/l before or after CRT. Patients supported by oral nutritional supplements (ONS) had higher probability to attain full dosage of CRT and radical resection than did those obtaining dietary advice alone. In multivariate analysis, serum albumin level, nasogastric (NG) tube insertion and pretreatment body weight loss were independent prognostic factors for OS, while serum albumin level after CRT and NG tube insertion were prognosticators for time to progression. CONCLUSION: Serum albumin level can serve as a useful prognostic factor for the outcome of patients with oesophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery. Appropriate nutritional support of these patients increased the probability of attaining full dosage of CRT and radical disease resection.

Risk factor analysis for early mortality and morbidity following pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is to analyze factors affecting morbidity and mortality following pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We reviewed our institutional experience with all consecutive patients undergoing pneumonectomy for NSCLC from 1998 to 2010. Patients were analyzed with regard to hospital mortality and morbidity and long-term outcome. RESULTS: There were 310 patients following pneumonectomy. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 5.5 %. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, induction therapy, smoking habits and obesity had no statistical influence on short-term outcome. Coronary artery disease and respiratory failure were identified as risk factors for increased 30-day mortality (p<0.01). Right pneumonectomy and presence of respiratory failure with mechanical ventilation increases the incidence of bronchopleural fistula (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with right pneumonectomies are at increased risk. Coronary artery disease and respiratory failure adversely affect morbidity and mortality after this procedure (Tab. 3, Ref. 19). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.

[Esophageal perforation]. / Perforace jícnu.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of patients with acute esophageal perforations with single institution experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors evaluate the set of 64 consecutive patients with esophageal perforation treated in our department between January 2000 and December 2010. In all patients were before decision making performed CT scans and X-ray examination with contrast agent administration. For selected patients was also accompanied upper endoscopy. Excluded were patients with malignant tracheoesophageal fistula and patients with perforation of malignant stenosis treated with palliative intent. RESULTS: The mean age was 62 years (range 24-90), of which one third (34.4%) were aged 70 years or more. We received the iatrogenic perforation in 45 (70%) patients, less than one quarter (n = 15; 23%) consisted of spontaneous perforation, in three patients we have failed to determine the cause of perforation (5%) and one patient experienced perforation during removal of foreign body. Perforation of the thoracic esophagus in 41 patients, in 20 (31%) cases in the upper and middle third and 21 (33%) in the distal third of the thoracic esophagus. Cervical perforation was noted in 14 patients (22%) and abdominal of the 9 patients (14%). 92% of patients were treated surgically (n = 59). 43% (n = 27) were treated by primary suture of the perforation, esophageal resection with primary reconstruction was performed in 4 patients, esophagectomy with terminal esophagostomy and nutritional jejunostomy in 7 patients, 4 patients were treated by surgical drainage and only 7 patients, we introduced endless lavage. In 9 cases we have resected affected portion of esophagus with stapler closure in the chest. Conservative management of esophageal perforation we proceeded in 5 patients in whom a stent was introduced and the perforation successfully healed. Overall mortality in our set of patients is 23.4%. CONCLUSION: Conservative procedure in carefully selected patients could be an alternative to radical and inherently surgical procedures. Published results and our little experience are encouraging, but this topic is still under study.

Prospective non-randomized study of preoperative concurrent platinum plus 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy with or without paclitaxel in esophageal cancer patients: long-term follow-up.

Combined modality treatment for esophageal carcinoma seems to improve survival over surgery alone. Different combinations of cytotoxic drugs have been studied to improve antitumor efficacy and limit the toxicity of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with inconsistent results. We present a prospective study of neoadjuvant CRT with or without paclitaxel in chemotherapy schedule. One hundred seven patients (93 males, 14 females), median age 59 years (range 44-76), with operable esophageal cancer were enrolled. They received the following neoadjuvant therapy: Carboplatin, area under curve (AUC) = 6, intravenously on days 1 and 22, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 200 mg/m(2)/day, continuous infusion on days 1 to 42, radiation therapy 45 grays/25fractions/5 weeks beginning on day 1. Forty-four patients (41%) were furthermore non-randomly assigned to paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2)/3 h intravenously on days 1 and 22. Nutritional support from the beginning of the treatment was offered to all patients. Surgery was done within 4-8 weeks after completion of CRT, if feasible. All patients were evaluated for grade 3 plus 4 toxicities: leukopenia (28%), neutropenia (30%), anemia (6%), thrombocytopenia (31%), febrile neutropenia (6%), esophagitis (24%), nausea and vomiting (7%), pneumotoxicity (8%). Seventy-eight patients (73%) had surgery and 63 of them were completely resected. Twenty-two patients (20%) achieved pathological complete remission, and additional 20 (19%) had node-negative and esophageal wall-positive residual disease. There were 10 surgery-related deaths, mostly due to pulmonary insufficiency. Twenty-nine patients were not resected, 15 for early progression, 14 for medical reasons or patient refusal. After a median follow-up of 52 months (range 27-80), median survival of 18.0 months and 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival of 56.7, 37.5, 27.0 and 21% was observed in the whole group of 107 patients. Addition of paclitaxel to carboplatin and continual infusion of FU significantly increased hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity, but treatment results as overall survival or time to progression did not differ significantly in groups with and without paclitaxel. Patients achieving pathological complete remission or nodes negativity after neoadjuvant therapy had favorable survival prognosis, whereas long-term prognosis of node positive patients was poor. Distant metastases prevailed as a cause of the treatment failure. Factors significant for survival prognosis in multivariate analysis were postoperative node negativity, performance status, and grade of dysphagia. Addition of paclitaxel to carboplatin and continual FU significantly increased hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity without influencing efficacy of the treatment. This study confirmed improved prognosis of patients after achieving negativity of nodes. Distant metastases prevailed as cause of the treatment failure. Prospectively, it is important to look for a therapeutic combination with better systemic effect.

[Our experience with diverticulectomy in symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum]. / Unsere Erfahrungen mit der Zenkerdivertikelresektion.

INTRODUCTION: The frequency of endoscopic procedures for management of Zenker's diverticulum has increased rapidly in the last years. Endoscopic methods are highly effective. We tried to answer the question whether the development of endoscopic methods means the end of open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study 30 patients (11 men, 19 women) with an average age of 70.9 (49-88) years with Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) were included. All patients were treated with an open transcervical approach between October 2000 and July 2005. In all cases the region of ablation of the diverticulum was closed with a primary handmade suture. In two cases an additional myotomy was performed. For evaluation of the long-term results the patients were sent a questionnaire. To objectify the findings, all patients underwent postoperatively an X-ray examination of the esophagus. The literature was searched by PubMed. RESULTS: 30 patients underwent 32 operations. 91 % of the inquired patients evaluated the operation as successful. An anastomotic leakage was observed in 3 patients, a lesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve occurred in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Despite the rapid development of endoscopic methods the open surgical approach remains a reliable and minimal invasive solution of ZD with excellent results and low complication rate. In patients that cannot undergo endoscopic procedures the surgical approach represents the only therapeutic option. Therefore surgical training for repairing ZD is also necessary for the future.

[Paliative managment of oesophageal carcinomas--our experience]. / Paliativmní osetriení karcinomu jícnu--nase zkusenosti.

The authors of this presentation explain their experience with methods of paliative care of oesophagus carcinoma. The indication criteria are described and compared advantages and disadvantages of those methods. There is an accent in most frequent method--oesophagus stent implementation. The results in the group of patients after the stent implementation are described, also complications and other solutions.

[The cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix]. / Kystadenokarcinom apendixu.

The authors present a case-review of a patient with a large retroperitoneal tumor. A right-sided hemicolectomy with a removal of a large retroperitoneal cyst extending behind the liver up to the diaphragm on the right side, was conducted. Histology confirmed a mucous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. Furthermore, the authors discuss this fairly rare type of the GIT carcinoma. This tumor is low-invasive, mucus producing and rarely metastazing. During the tumor progression, the tumorous cells enter the peritoneal cavity and cause, so called, pseudomyxoma peritonei. The treatment principle is to complete a radical surgical removal of the tumor and, furthermore, in case of the pseudomyxoma periotenei, also application of the local peroperative chemotherapy.

[Hemipelvectomy for a desmoidal tumor]. / Hemipelvektomie pro desmoidální tumor.

A case- review describing a desmoid in a young female. The tumor originated at the tendinuous attachment of the m. rectus abdominis on the pubic bone, which had had two relapses. During the third--so far the latest--procedure it required left-sided hemipelvectomy with resection of the rectum and a part of the vagina. The patient was instructed about the serious character of the disease, the requirement for the radical resection and about the requirement for a careful long-term follow-up of the patient after the procedure.

[Appendectomy--classical or laparoscopic?]. / Apendektomie--klasicky nebo laparoskopicky?

The authors demonstrate on a group of 219 patients, who had in last two years the appendectomy performed, results of care while using open and laparoscopic technique. They compare these depending on chosen parameters, which is the usage of analgetic, the time patients have to stay in hospital after performed operation and comparison of spirometry within specific patients before and after operation. Based on these parameters the authors did not prove clear advantages of laparoscopic appendectomy.

[Lymphoma of the small intestine]. / Lymfom tenkého streva.

The authors analyze on a case-history the problem of lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract. The patient was a female who was operated on account of a suspected perforation. On operation multiple perforations of the small intestine were found. A resection was performed. According to the histological results it was a giant-cell B-lymphoma of the small intestine. The postoperative course was without major complications. The patient was referred to the oncological department without further treatment.

[Ampulloma of Vater's papilla--case report]. / Ampulom Vaterské papily--kazuistika.

The authors discuss, based on a case-report, the diagnostic problems of malignities of the pancreas and ampulla of Vater. In the same patient they found an interesting complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCHE). It was a female patient who had LCHE four years previously where an ampulloma of the ampulla of Vater was diagnosed with invasion into the pancreas and a suspect secondary in the lower lobe of the right lung. On operation a pulmonary abscess was detected from a retained concrement. Duodenopancreatectomy which was performed did not reveal any tumour in the pancreatic area.

[Surgery of esophageal achalasia--possible complications]. / Operace achalázie jícnu--mozné komplikace.

The authors demonstrate on a group of patients operated by a miniinvasive method possible complications of treatment of achalasia of the oesophagus. On a group of 61 patients they analyze all complications and try to detect their causes. They divide complications into peroperative, early and late postoperative ones. The most frequent peroperative complications are perforation of the oesophagus which are as a rule treated by the laparoscopic route. After surgery the most frequent problem is a relapse of achalasia. The latter is sometimes due to inadequate myotomy. This can be prevented by careful surgical technique along with peroperative endoscopic control.

[Urogynecologic findings in patients following abdominal radical operation for cervix cancer]. / Urogynäkologische Befunde bei Patientinnen nach abdominaler Radikaloperation wegen Zervixkarzinom.

Two collectives of patients of the I. Gynecological-obstetrical clinic Praha/CSSR suffering from cervical cancer are examined after abdominal radical hysterectomy Wertheim-Meigs. Group 1 contained 125 women treated in the years 1957 to 1966, group 2 included 89 women undergoing the operation in the years 1981 to 1986. In group 2 we found a lower rate of perioperative injuries and early and late disturbances of the urinary tract following radical hysterectomy. This may be a result of more careful preparation of the ureter and intensive postoperative care. We examined 56 women of group 2 by urodynamics. There are statistical significant changes of the maximum urethral pressure and bladder compliance after the operation. This values returned to normal limits with increasing distance between operation and follow-up.