Siewert II esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: Still searching for the right treatment transabdominal or transthoracic surgical approaches?

INTRODUCTION: To date, the discussion is still ongoing whether the Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) should be resected either by thoracoabdominal esophagectomy or gastrectomy with resection of the distal esophagus by transhiatal extension. The aim of our study was to compare the oncological and perioperative outcomes of the transthoracic approach (TTA) and the transabdominal approach (TAA). METHODS: Searches of electronic databases identifying studies from Cochrane, PubMed and Google Scholar were performed. Randomised and non-randomised studies comparing TTA and TAA approaches for surgical treatment of AEG Siewert type II were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa and Jada scales were used to evaluate methodological quality. The risk of bias was assessed using the Rob v2 and Robins-I tools. Meta-analyses were conducted for the outcomes. RESULTS: We included 17 trials (2 randomised controlled trials and 15 cohorts) involving 15297 patients. Longer three-year overall survival, five-year overall survival and R0 resection rates were observed in the TTA group. However, TTA had greater morbidity and pulmonary complications. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic approach appears to be preferable for selected Siewert II tumours. This may lead to higher survival rates and better R0 resection rate. Well-designed studies are needed to confirm the results of this systematic review.

Acute cholecystitis in pregnant women: A therapeutic challenge in a developing country center.

Backgrounds/Aims: Acute cholecystitis is a rare condition in pregnant women, potentially affecting the maternal and fetal prognosis. Our aim was to report the main clinical and paraclinical features of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy and therapeutic modalities. Methods: We conducted a case series analysis recording pregnant patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to our surgery department over a period of 11 years. We collected clinical data, paraclinical features, and management modalities related to cholecystitis. Results: There were 47 patients. Twenty-eight percent was in the first trimester of pregnancy, 40% in the second, and 32% in the third trimester. Abdominal pain was located in the right hypochondrium in 75% of cases. Fever was noted in 21% of cases. C-reactive protein was elevated in 39% of patients. Cholestasis markers were high in four patients. Abdominal ultrasound showed a distended gallbladder in 39 patients, with thickened wall in 34 patients, and gallbladder lithiasis in all cases. No patient had a dilated main bile duct. All patients received intravenous antibiotic therapy. Tocolysis was indicated in 32 patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 32 cases (68%), and open cholecystectomy in 15 cases (32%). Postoperative course was uneventful in 42 patients, and complicated in 5 patients. Rate of complications was statistically higher after open cholecystectomy (p = 0.003). Morbidity rate was higher in the third trimester (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Delay in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy can lead to serious complications. Management is based on antibiotic therapy and cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to be less morbid than open cholecystectomy.

Is There a Role for Mechanical and Oral Antibiotic Bowel Preparation for Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: To date, all meta-analyses on oral antibiotic prophylaxis (OA) and mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) in colorectal surgery have included results of both open and minimally invasive approaches. Mixing both procedures may lead to false conclusions. The aim of the study was to assess the available evidence of mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation in reducing the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) and other complications following minimally invasive elective colorectal surgery. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library from 2000 to May 1, 2022. Comparative randomized and non-randomized studies were included. We reviewed the use of oral OA, MBP and combinations of these treatments. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Rob v2 and Robins-I tools. RESULTS: We included 18 studies (7 randomized controlled trials and 11 cohort studies). Meta-analysis of the included studies showed that the combination of MBP + OA was associated with a significant reduction in SSI, AL and overall morbidity compared with the other options no preparation, MBP only and OA only.  CONCLUSION: Adding OA with MBP has a positive impact in reducing the incidence of SSI, AL and overall morbidity after minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Therefore, the combination of OA and MBP should be encouraged in this selected group of patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery.

Ruptured mature ovarian teratoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Dermoid cysts, or also known as mature cystic teratomas, are one of the most common benign ovarian tumors. Spontaneous rupture of this tumor is rare and can be suspected on imaging. CASE REPORT: we report a case of ruptured mature ovarian teratoma. A 21 years old previously healthy woman presented with recurrent pelvic pain, the diagnostic of rupture was made by imaging. The patient underwent surgery with a good follow up. DISCUSSION: Dermoid cysts are the most common benign ovarian neoplasm and its rupture is rare due to its thick capsule. Imaging has a major role in the diagnosis of dermoid cyst and in the detection of its rupture. CT scan is the most requested modality imaging especially in acute abdominal pains. MRI can performed for further characterization. CONCLUSION: the aim of the study is to report a new case of ruptured mature ovarian teratoma and to describe the imaging signs suggesting dermoid cysts rupture.

Caudal-to-Cranial Approach for Right Colectomy with Complete Mesocolic Excision in Colon Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A newly emerging approach "caudal to cranial" with complete mesenteric excision (CME) has recently been proposed for right colectomy in patients with right colon cancer. To date, only a few studies about this approach have appeared. Our study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of this new technique. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the evidence regarding short- and long-term outcomes after the caudal-to-cranial approach (CCA). Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies was used to evaluate methodological quality. The risk of bias was assessed using Robvis tool. Meta-analyses have been conducted for the outcomes of studies comparing CCA with other techniques. RESULTS: We found six studies from 2017 to 2021 with a total of 594 patients. The postoperative complications and oncological outcomes were acceptable. Two studies comparing CCA to medial-to-lateral approach were included in the meta-analysis. No differences were found between the techniques regarding to operative time, length of hospital stay, overall morbidity, and number of lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Although the interpretation of our findings may be restrained by methodological limitations, risk of bias, and the absence of well-designed randomized controlled trials, CCA with CME in right-sided colon cancer may be a feasible and safe procedure.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the ampulla of Vater: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) usually develop in the stomach and small intestine and only rarely occur in the ampulla of Vater (AV). CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a GIST of the AV. A 21-year-old, previously healthy woman presented with a three-month history of epigastric pain, jaundice and weight loss. The diagnosis of a tumor in the second part of the duodenum was made by the computed tomography. The patient underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, the operative specimen revealed an intermediate risk group of GIST and thus, the patient didn't take adjuvant therapy. DISCUSSION: GIST rarely develops in the duodenal ampulla region and it has no specific symptomatology. Radiological investigations play an important role in the diagnosis of Stromal Tumor of the Ampulla of Vater (STAV) mainly computed tomography because STAV has a large size in the majority of cases contrary to adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study is to report a new case of STAV combined with a systematic review of reported cases published in peer-reviewed journals.

Acute pancreatitis secondary to spontaneous intramural duodenal hematoma: A case report and a review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Intramural duodenal hematoma is a rare entity, often secondary to traumatic origin, but more rarely spontaneous due to blood flow disorders, especially in the context of anticoagulant therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 66-year-old woman under anticoagulant treatment for atrial fibrillation, who was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis secondary to a spontaneous duodenal hematoma. The evolution was favorable under medical treatment. DISCUSSION: Intramural duodenal hematoma is frequently associated with abdominal pain and hematemesis, more rarely, it can be responsible for an acute pancreatitis, which is considerate as an unusual complication. We report here a case of duodenal hematoma revealed by acute pancreatitis along with a review of the literature since 2011. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of patients on oral anticoagulants helps prevent the occurrence of IDH and avoid its complications, which can be fatal.

Extra-gonadal mature teratoma: A case report of retroperitoneal location with a literature review.

Extra-gonadal mature teratoma is a benign tumor occurring rarely in adults. The retroperitoneal localization constitutes less than 4%. Treatment consists of surgical resection. Histological examination is essential for definitive diagnosis. We reported an unusual case of mature retroperitoneal teratoma discovered in a young man with abdominal pain.

Obturator hernia: A case report of intestinal obstruction with challenging diagnosis and non-standardized treatment.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Obturator Hernia (OH) is a rare clinical entity that constitue less than 1% of all abdominal hernias. It happens in elderly thin women malnourished. The diagnosis is usually delayed because symptoms are non-specific, and patients commonly have features of intestinal obstruction. There are no international guidelines for treatment and the best surgical approach still unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of strangulated OH in a 75 year woman who consulted in our service for an acute intestinal obstruction. Intra-operatively findings showed loop of ileum entering through a defect in the right obturator canal. The obturator defect was closed by approximation flap of peritoneum and covered by right ovair and fallopian tube. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case is reported because of its an uncommon type of abdominal wall hernia with high probability of bowel strangulation and highest morbidity and mortality rates. There are no international guidelines for treatment and the best surgical approach still unknown. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of OH should be suspected every time there is an intestinal obstruction of unknown origin in emaciated elderly women. Open or laparoscopic sutured repair surgery and placement of mesh remain the most common method of repair.

An unusual localization of echinococcosis: Gallbladder hydatid cyst.

Echinococcosis is endemic in Mediterranean countries. Liver then lungs are the most affected organs. Gallbladder hydatid cyst is an exceptional localization. A 64-year-old patient was referred to our surgical outpatient department by his physician for suspicion of liver hydatid cyst based on right upper quadrant abdominal pain, associated with nausea. Physical examination showed mild tenderness of the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. A computed tomography abdominal scan showed a multivesicular cystic lesion of the segment IV measuring 9.5 × 7.5 × 13 cm with exophytic component abutting the gallbladder. The patient underwent right subcostal laparotomy. The exploration has found that the hydatid cyst is developed from the fundus of the gallbladder, without any connections or fistulas to nearby organs. A cholecystectomy was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of gallbladder echinococcosis. Primary gallbladder hydatid cysts (PGHC) is an extremely rare condition, occurring in less than 0.4% of echinococcosis localizations. After literature research of case reports, only twenty-three such cases, including our case, have been reported in English literature. Due to its uncommon nature, radiologists rarely consider a PHGB as the first diagnosis. Preoperative diagnosis of hydatid cyst was possible only in 50% of cases. Therefore, a careful attention is necessary to assist in making the diagnosis preoperatively, leading to the appropriate treatment.

Primary Echinococcus Hydatid Cyst of the Uterus: An Unusual Location.

Hydatidosis is a widespread anthropozoonosis. It can affect almost any part of the body, but it occurs most commonly in the liver (75%) and the lungs (15%). Its occurrence in female genital tract, especially the uterus, is very rare. Diagnosing hydatid disease at these unusual locations can be difficult. Hereby, we report two cases of primary hydatid cyst of the uterus. The first case is that of a 62-year-old woman, G7P5A2, who presented with an eight-month history of chronic pelvic pain. Clinical examination and radiological explorations revealed the presence of a uterine fibroid and a serous cystadenoma of the left ovary. She underwent a hysterectomy and a bilateral adnexectomy. Anatomopathological examination concluded that a serous cystadenoma of the left ovary was a calcified subserous hydatid cyst of the uterine fundus. The second case is that of a 69-year-old woman, G6P4A2, who consulted for chronic pelvic pain that had been evolving for 3 months. The clinical examination and radiological explorations doubted a hydatid cyst of the uterus, with a positive hydatid serology. She underwent a resection of the salient dome. The anatomopathological examination was in favor of a hydatid cyst of the uterus. Hydatid disease is endemic in Tunisia. The pelvic region is rarely affected with an incidence ranging from 0.3 to 0.9%, 80% of which involves the genitals. The uterus is more rarely affected than the ovaries. Most often, it is a contamination secondary to the intra-abdominal rupture of a hydatid cyst of the liver. However, primary uterine hydatid cysts have been reported. Surgery is the Gold Standard for the treatment of uterine hydatid cysts. Exploration of the abdominal cavity is essential in the search for other localizations, particularly hepatic. Postoperative medical treatment with Albendazole can be discussed. The ideal approach to deal with this public health concern is to emphasize the need for improved preventive measures. Modern imaging techniques have significantly improved the detection rates of hydatid cysts in atypical localizations. Indeed, the preoperative diagnosis of uterine hydatidosis requires a meticulous approach which is necessary to initiate an adequate treatment and thus guarantee a better management of the patient.

Can we predict mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis in esophagogastric junction cancer? Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to define clinical indicator that predicts mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis (MLNM) in patients with Esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC) to select patient population requiring esophagectomy. METHODS: A systematic and electronic search of several electronic databases was performed up to August 2020. Studies containing information on risk factors for MLNM in patients diagnosed with EJGC and who underwent curative surgery were included. RESULTS: Two predictors, including undifferentiated type (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.07-3.10, p = 0.03) and esophageal invasion length (EIL) (OR = 10.95, 95% CI = 6.37-18.82, p < 0.00001) were identified as significant predictors for the risk of MLNM. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the associations of these clinicopathological features with MLNM can be useful in determining operative strategy for EGJC.

Surgical site infection in mesh repair for ventral hernia in contaminated field: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Given the risk of surgical site infection (SSI), the use of mesh in contaminated ventral hernia repair (VHR) is not standardized and still a clinical dilemma. This meta-analysis aimed to assess whether mesh use increased the risk of SSI in patients following VHR in contaminated field. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of published literature. Studies comparing the mesh repair and anatomic repair, the use of mesh in different Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wound classes and mesh repair with synthetic mesh or other type of meshes to treat complicated and contaminated VHR were considered for analysis. The main outcome was SSI incidence. RESULTS: Six studies compared mesh and suture repairs. No significant difference in SSI incidence was observed between patients with complicated VHR in the mesh and suture repair groups.Five studies analyzed mesh repair in patients by field contamination level. There was no significant difference between the use of mesh in clean-contaminated, contaminated and dirty field versus clean wound class. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the use of mesh in clean-contaminated and contaminated cases.Four studies compared mesh repair technique with synthetic mesh or other type of meshes were included. The incidence of SSI was significantly lower in the synthetic mesh group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mesh repair in the management of complicated VHR compared to suture repair is not associated with an increased incidence of SSI even in potentially contaminated fields.

A randomised clinical trial to compare octyl cyanoacrylate with absorbable monofilament sutures for the closure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy port incisions.

Tissue adhesives have gained increasing use as a possible method of wound closure. We compared the use of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (OCA) or subcuticular suture in incisions sutures for the closure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy port incisions. A prospective randomised controlled trial was performed. Patients were randomised to have closure of laparoscopic port sites using either OCA or sutures. Patients were reviewed at 24 hours and returned for follow-up 1 week and 1 month after postoperatively. At these times, different wound characteristics were documented: Two tools were used to measure the cosmetic result using Hollander wound evaluation scale (HWES) and the patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS). A total of 70 patients, 35 in each group were enrolled. The wounds were closed significantly faster in the OCA group (mean 229.16 [±43.7] seconds versus 258.82 [±51.7] seconds, P = .01). Statistically significant difference in favour of using OCA was found for dehiscence (17.1% versus none in the suture group, P = .025) after 1 week. However, no difference was found for wound dehiscence after 1 month. OCA and suture groups did not differ significantly on patient satisfaction. There were no differences in the percentage of wounds achieving optimal scores on the HWES (suture 85.7% versus OCA 74.2%, P = .169). Nerveless, wound evolution was judged to be significantly better in the OCA group using POSAS. Patients' median POSAS was 9.45 (6-11) and 11.43 (10-13) in the OCA and suture groups, respectively (P = .005), and surgeon's median POSAS was 9.42 (6-11) and 11.48 (10-13) in the OCA and suture groups, respectively (P = .006). N-butyl-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive is an acceptable technique for the closure of laparoscopic wounds with less operative time, and cosmetic results are comparable to suturing.

Conservative approach to the acute management of a large mesenteric cyst.

Mesenteric cysts are rare, benign gastrointestinal cystic lesions, which are often non-troublesome and present as an incidental radiological finding. However, surgery is often performed in the acute setting to remove lesions that are symptomatic. This report highlights the case of a large, symptomatic mesenteric cyst managed successfully with initial conservative measures followed by planned elective surgery. A 44-year-old female presented with a four-day history of generalised abdominal pain associated with distension, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. Computer tomography revealed a large (21.7 cm × 11.8 cm × 14 cm) mesenteric cyst within the left abdomen cavity. She was admitted and treated conservatively with intravenous fluids and antibiotics for four days, which lead to complete symptom resolution. Follow-up at intervals of one and three months revealed no return of symptoms. An elective laparotomy and excision of the mesenteric cyst was then scheduled and performed safely at nine months after the initial presentation. Compared to acute surgery, acute conservative management followed by planned elective resection of a symptomatic mesenteric cyst may prove safer. The withholding of an immediate operation may potentially avoid unnecessary operative risk and should be considered in patients without obstructive and peritonitic symptoms. Our case demonstrated the safe use of initial conservative management followed by planned elective surgery of a mesenteric cyst found in the acute setting, which was symptomatic but was not obstructive or causing peritonitic symptoms.

Ingested cylindrical batteries in an incarcerated male: a caustic tale!

A 37-year-old incarcerated man presented to the accident and emergency department following the deliberate ingestion of eight cylindrical batteries. He also admitted to inserting a razor blade wrapped in cling-film into his rectum; in addition, he sustained a self-inflicted laceration to his left antecubital fossa, using the metal casing from a battery. His medical history included a borderline and emotionally unstable personality disorder. He had ingested several batteries 12 months previously and required an emergency laparotomy to retrieve them. On the present admission, as there was no clinical evidence of small bowel obstruction, he was treated conservatively with serial radiographs. Following conservative management, the batteries failed to progress through the gastrointestinal tract, hence a laparotomy was performed and all the batteries were extricated. This paper discusses the management and associated sequelae of patients presenting following the intentional ingestion of a battery.