A Novel Technique for the Management of Persistent Biliary Fistulas Developing After Liver Hydatid Cyst Surgeries: Drain Clamping Technique.

BACKGROUND: External biliary fistula, where the residual cyst is associated with the biliary tree, is one of the most common complications after liver hydatid cyst surgery. Surgical procedures become a consideration for patients in whom the biliary fistula persists despite all endoscopic procedures. However, reoperation for biliary fistula after hydatid cyst surgery leads to additional complications and increases morbidity and mortality. AIM: This study aims to treat persistent biliary fistulas that develop after liver hydatid cyst surgery using a simple noninvasive technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: External drainage surgery was performed on 295 patients with liver hydatid cysts. Endoscopic treatment methods were used in patients who developed biliary fistula after surgery. Despite all endoscopic treatment methods, 14 patients developed persistent biliary fistulas. These patients were subsequently treated using the drain clamping technique. FINDINGS: All persistent fistulas occluded in 11.86 days (with a range of 8-20 days). No complications were observed in the one-year follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: Drain clamping, a novel approach to the treatment of persistent biliary fistulas developed despite all available endoscopic methods, can be safely used. This technique resulted in a complete recovery in patients without the need for surgical procedures.

How much is the long-term quality of life impaired in cholecystectomy-related biliary tract injury?

Objectives: Iatrogenic bile duct injury (IBDI) is a serious complication of cholecystectomy that may crucially affect long-term quality of life and have major morbidities. Furthermore, even after reconstructive surgical treatment, such injuries still reduce the long-term quality of life. Therefore, there remains a need to investigate long-term quality of life of the patients since it is considered that there is a long-term decrease in both physical and mental quality of life. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the clinical evaluations and long-term quality of life of the patients who had undergone reconstructive surgery for iatrogenic bile duct injury. Material and Methods: This clinical study included 49 patients (38 females/11 males) with cholecystectomy-associated bile duct injury and who underwent reconstruction surgery. Several parameters, including the type of bile duct injury, reconstructive surgical procedures, length of hospital stay, and complications were evaluated. Moreover, the effects of reconstructive surgical timing (perioperative, early postoperative, late postoperative) on quality of life were assessed. Long term quality of life (LTQL) levels were evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire in patients whose follow-ups ranged from two to nine years. The SF-36 questionnaire scores were compared to the average SF-36 norm values of the healthy Turkish population. Results: Our results showed that 73.5% of biliary tract injuries occurred after a laparoscopic surgery while 26.5% after open cholecystectomy. Of the injuries, 32.7% developed in patients with acute cholecystitis. Thirty of the patients were treated with hepaticojejunostomy. When SF-36 questionnaire scores of the study were compared to those of the healthy Turkish population, energy-vitality was found to be lower significantly in male patients (p= 0.041). However, there was no significant deterioration in female patients. Although general health perception was better in hepaticojejunostomy according to the type of reconstructive surgery performed, no significant difference was observed in the quality of life. Mental health, energy-vitality (p= 0.019), and general health perception (p= 0.026) were found to be lower in women who had E1 -E2 injuries. Only seven of the injuries were detected perioperatively. Physical function (p= 0.033) and general health perception (p= 0.035) were found to be lower in the early postoperative treatment group in male patients in terms of the time of reconstructive surgery. Conclusion: IBDIs cause serious morbidity. Furthermore, even after reconstructive surgical treatment, such injuries still reduce LTQL. Our results suggest that LTQL is lower, especially in male patients undergoing postoperative early biliary repair for Strasberg E3 -E4 type injuries.

Extravisceral primary hydatid cyst of the retroperitoneum.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid cyst (HC) continues to be endemic in the Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey. Living in a rural area is an important risk factor for the disease. HC is most commonly seen in the liver and lungs, but retroperitoneal hydatid cyst is very rare. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic findings and surgical treatment of this unusual lesion. METHODS: Between 1979 and 2004, 14 cases with primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst were treated surgically at our clinic. RESULTS: Symptoms included flank pain in eight (57.1%) and palpable mass in six patients (42.8%). The cyst was located in the right retroperitoneum in seven patients (50%), left retroperitoneum in five patients (35.7%), retrovesical region in one patient (7.1%) and paravesical region in one patient (7.1%). Surgical approaches were right paramedian extraperitoneal approach in four patients, left paramedian extraperitoneal approach in two patients and midline transperitoneal approach in eight patients. Total pericystectomy was chosen as the surgical procedure in all patients except in five (35.7%), who had partial cystectomy for cysts located near the vital structures. There were no complications and mortality postoperatively. CONCLUSION: A primary HC of the retroperitoneum is a distinct clinical entity that must be considered when caring for a patient with a retroperitoneal mass in endemic regions. It should be treated after the diagnosis is confirmed without any delay because of secondary spillages due to perforations and other possible complications.

The importance of local subcutaneous fat thickness in pilonidal disease.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the local subcutaneous fat thickness in sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease. METHODS: Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured by ultrasonography in 125 patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease and 125 age-matched, body mass index-matched and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: The sacrococcygeal subcutaneous fat thickness was 14.4 +/- 2.9 mm, 18.3 +/- 3.1 mm, and 22 +/- 2.2 mm, respectively, in normal, overweight, and obese patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease and 9.1 +/- 3.1 mm, 11.3 +/- 2.6 mm, and 20 +/- 1.8 mm, respectively, in normal, overweight, and obese controls. Sacrococcygeal fat was significantly thicker in normal and overweight patients with pilonidal disease compared with controls with same body mass index (P< 0.01). There were no significant differences in fat thickness between obese patients and obese controls (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sacrococcygeal fat thickness, as a local factor, is closely associated with pilonidal disease.

Ileosigmoidal knotting: outcome in 63 patients.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to review the outcomes of 63 patients with ileosigmoidal knotting. METHODS: Sixty-three, surgically treated patients (47 males; 74.6 percent) were reviewed retrospectively. The mean age was 45.6 (range, 7-75) years. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain and obstipation, and the most common signs were abdominal tenderness and distention. The preoperative diagnosis was obstructive emergencies in 49 patients (77.8 percent) and nonobstructive emergencies in 14 (22.2 percent). RESULTS: All patients underwent emergency laparotomy. The most common type of ileosigmoidal knotting was Type 1A in 30 patients (47.6 percent), in which the active ileum encircled the passive sigmoid colon in a clockwise direction. Fifty patients (79.4 percent) developed gangrenous bowel. Resection of gangrenous segments and enteroenteric or enterocolic anastomosis combined with the Hartmann procedure was the most preferred operation, used in 34 patients (54 percent). The mortality rate was 15.9 percent (10 patients), and toxic shock was the most frequent cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: Ileosigmoidal knotting is a rare but serious form of intestinal obstruction. Its preoperative diagnosis is difficult and may present as an obstructive or nonobstructive emergency. Early and effective resuscitation, prompt surgical intervention selected on the basis of clinical and operative findings, and effective postoperative intensive care are the basis of treatment.

Periampullary diverticula causing pancreaticobiliary disease.

Our purpose was to determine if the presence of duodenal diverticula predisposes to the development of pancreaticobiliary disease. Between May 1999 and February 2001, 381 patients were examined by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. Of these patients, 51 had periampullary diverticula. In 27 patients the papilla was located inside the diverticulum (Group I), in 19 patients it was located at the edge of the diverticulum (Group II), and 5 patients it was located at a distance closer than 3 cm to the diverticulum (Group III). Seventeen patients in group I and 11 patients in group II had had a previous cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of biliary system stone disease was 22.2% in group I, 36.8% in group II, and 100% in group III. All patients were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy and three (two in group I and one in group II) developed biliary system disease (cholangitis or pancreatitis). We think that sphincterotomy should be applied regardless of the presence of stone if the papilla is located inside or at the edge of the diverticulum. If the papilla is located 3 cm or more far for diverticulum, it should be considered within the frame of general sphincterotomy indications in the absence of stone disease.

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of Morgagni hernia: report of three cases.

Morgagni hernia is a rare congenital disorder, which is usually asymptomatic, but may cause respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. We reviewed the clinical findings of three patients with a Morgagni hernia, diagnosed and treated in our department between 1997 and 2000. The Morgagni hernia caused various symptoms in all three patients and surgery was performed via posterolateral thoracotomy in two, and via laparatomy in one. The hernial defect was closed by primary suturing in two patients and by synthetic mesh in one. All three patients had an uneventful postoperative recovery. We believe that the transthoracic approach is an effective way of repairing Morgagni hernia.

Levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and total sialic acid in serum of patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and total sialic acid (TSA) are related to the metastatic potential of cancer cells. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine sICAM-1 and TSA levels in colorectal carcinoma and correlate their levels with the cancer stage. METHODS: The sera from 65 patients with colorectal cancer (18 at Dukes' B, 24 at Dukes' C, 23 at Dukes' D) were extracted before treatment. The concentrations of sICAM-1 and TSA were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay and the thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, and compared with those from a healthy control group (n = 42). RESULTS: Mean serum sICAM-1 and TSA levels were found to be higher in the total patient group than in the control group (P < 0.0001). The concentrations of sICAM-1 and TSA were significantly higher in patients with Dukes' C and Dukes' D. The correlations between sICAM-1 and TSA became more significant as the stage of the disease increased (r = 0.58, P < 0.05 in Dukes' B, r = 0.88, P < 0.01 in Dukes' C and r = 0.81, P < 0.01 in Dukes' D). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation indicate that sICAM-1 and TSA are the best of the tested markers. These markers should prove useful for monitoring malignant disease stage and for evaluating the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches for colorectal carcinomas.

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: clinical report from an endemic region.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical management of alveolar echinococcosis. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: A university-affiliated hospital in Turkey. PATIENTS: Forty patients treated for alveolar echinococcosis between 1987 and 2000. INTERVENTIONS: Curative resection followed by chemotherapy, or medical palliation with chemotherapy only. Palliative procedures such as bilioenteric or external drainage were done for cholestatic jaundice and liver abscess. OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of medical and surgical treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had a resectable tumour and all underwent curative resection. Of the other 23 patients with nonresectable tumour, 11 underwent palliative surgical procedures such as bilioenteric or external drainage for cholestatic jaundice or liver abscess. All patients received long-term albendazole therapy. Four patients with nonresectable tumour died because of chronic liver failure. In a 6.5-year follow-up, there was no recurrence in patients who underwent curative resection. The efficacy of chemotherapy is limited in nonresectable disease. CONCLUSIONS: To increase the rate of early detection and curative resection, screening programs are essential. Research on new chemotherapeutic approaches should be made to improve survival in patients with nonresectable disease.

Hydatid disease in childhood.

To review the results of different modalities of treatment of hydatid disease of the liver (HDL) in pediatric patients, 31 children treated surgically between 1990 and 2000 at the departments of general surgery and pediatric surgery, Atatürk University School of Medicine, were reviewed retrospectively; 19 were male and 12 were female. The mean age was 8.4 years (range 4-12 years). The most common complaints were an abdominal mass and right-upper-quadrant pain, which were present in 35.5% and 77.4% of cases, respectively. Twenty-five cysts were in the right lobe, 2 in the left lobe, and 4 in both lobes; 8 patients had multiple hepatic cysts and 5 had coexisting cysts in other organs. Surgical procedures were: unroofing plus tube drainage (UTD); capitonnage; omentoplasty; and pericystectomy. Of the patients treated by UTD, 2 developed cholangitis and 1 developed a biliary fistula. Of the patients with capitonnage, 1 developed cholangitis. Surgery is still one of treatment modalities for management of HDL. Omentoplasty and capitonnage are the most effective modalities for the management of the cyst cavity.