Optimizing ischemic preconditioning for esophagogastric anastomosis: A standardized rat model to evaluate histological changes.

INTRODUCTION: A reproducible and simple model is essential for verifying gastric conduit vitality before esophagectomy. Ischemia is a major cause of esophagogastric anastomotic dehiscence and leakage. Ischemic conditioning of the stomach prior to esophageal surgery has been shown to lower the incidence of postoperative complications, including anastomotic leakage. However, the optimal timing and technique of ischemization remain uncertain. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=24) were randomly divided into four groups: ischemic group - samples collected 1 hour after ischemia (I1H), ischemic group - samples collected 1 day after ischemia (I1D), ischemic group - samples collected 7 days after ischemia (I7D), and control group (C). Ischemia was induced by ligation of the left gastric (LGA) and short gastric arteries (SGA). The samples were verified using histological and macroscopic analysis, and the number and percentage of immunocompetent cells were determined. RESULTS: One hour after ischemization (I1H), ischemic denudation with mucosal erosion was observed, and the total number of eosinophils was significantly higher (p.

Cesarean scar endometriosis: our recent experiences.

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue, endometrial glands or endometrial stroma outside the uterine cavity causing chronic inflammatory response. The prevalence of abdominal wall endometriosis is less than 1%. Cesarean scar endometriosis is the most common type of abdominal wall endometriosis. Chronic lower abdominal pain amplified during menstruation and palpable mass in the area of scar are the main symptoms. Generally, surgical resection with negative resection margins offers the best chance for definitive treatment of abdominal wall endometriosis. CASE REPORT: The authors present two female patients in fertile age with chronic pain in the area of Cesarean scar. The preoperatively assumed endometriosis was histologically confirmed after complete surgical excision. CONCLUSION: Abdominal wall endometriosis is rare. However, it is a possible cause of constant lower abdominal pain, impacting quality of life of the patient.

[Intestinal endometriosis - a case report]. / Endometrióza hrubého creva - kazuistika.

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The most common clinical symptoms of endometriosis are infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Endometriosis affects 8-10% of women of reproductive age and the condition is highly associated with infertility. Ectopic endometrial tissue is usually found in the small pelvis and the peritoneum, but endometrial tissue deposits have also been reported in other anatomical locations in the human body. We describe the case of a young patient with persistent abdominal pain and bleeding via the rectum during menstrual periods, hospitalised at the Second Department of Surgery, Pavol Jozef Safárik University, Faculty of Medicine and Louis Pasteur University Hospital Kosice.

[Meckel´s diverticulum in adults - our five-year experience]. / Meckelov divertikul u dospelých - nase 5 rocné skúsenosti.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2005 and 2009, 19 patients underwent surgery with an accidental finding of Meckel´s diverticulum (MD) at the Second Department of Surgery in Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice. Twelve patients were primarily operated on for acute appendicitis, 3 of them for ileus, 3 patients underwent an elective operation for a gastrointestinal malignity, and in 1 case Meckels diverticulum was found during a complicated cholecystectomy. The average age of the patients was 40.4 years (7 women and 12 men). With regard to the accidental finding in the majority of the cases (18), we proceeded radically with diverticulum resection; in 1 case the diverticulum was left in place. CONCLUSIONS: Meckel´s diverticulum is among the most frequently occurring congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract; in most cases it has an asymptomatic course and its finding is usually accidental during another operation in the abdominal cavity. In such a case it is up to each individual surgeon to consider all the possible risks and complications and decide on an adequate operating procedure according to the abovementioned criteria of authors defining the absolute indication or contraindication for a radical surgical intervention.

[Experimental use of the recipient's epithelial cells in tracheal allotransplantation--initial outcomes]. / Vyuzitie epiteliálnych buniek príjemcu pri allotransplantácii trachey v experimente--prvé výsledky.

The management of long tracheal lesions requires development of tracheal implants, which would enable resection combined with anastomosis. The authors' scientific study is based on tracheal allotransplantation on an animal model (sheep), using tracheal epithelial cells of the recipient. The project covers preparation of the graft, so that all components of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which participate in graft rejection, are removed. Histological examination of the allograft with cultivated epithelial cells showed its good healing with revasculatization and with no signs of graft rejection.

Immunohistochemical markers of proliferation and vascularisation in preneoplastic bronchial lesions and invasive non-small cell lung cancer.

Autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) has been shown to be sensitive to detect preneoplastic lesions in central lung airways system. In early stages of carcinogenesis, up-regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, Ki67 and/or increased angiogenesis may play a role by promoting the proliferation of tumoral cells and their resistance to apoptosis, as well as angiogenesis, tumor cell invasion and setting up of the metastatic process. The present study compared the expression of proliferative (COX-2, Ki67 and PCNA) and angiogenic markers (CD34 and NG2) between preneoplastic bronchial squamous dysplasia lesions and invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Biopsies obtained during AFB [preneoplastic lesions: low-grade (lesions up to moderate dysplasia), n=13; high-grade lesions (severe dysplasia), n=12] and surgical specimens (resections of bronchogenic carcinoma, n=11) were stained with COX-2, Ki67, PCNA, CD34 and NG2 monoclonal antibodies. Microvessel density (MVD) was analysed based on anti-CD34 immunostaining. Lesions were positive for COX-2 in 12 out of 25 preneoplastic lesions, and in 10 out of 11 invasive carcinomas (p=0.025). In preneoplastic lesions, the mean percentage of Ki67 positive cells was lower compared to invasive carcinomas (37.4+/-5.8 versus 58.6+/-8.4%, p=0.043). In addition, significant differences in MVD were observed between preneoplastic and NSCLC specimen [35.3 (25.9, 61.9) versus 22.1 (20.1, 32.6), p=0.016]. No differences were observed in the mean percentage of PCNA or NG2 positive cells between preneoplastic lesions and invasive carcinomas. Findings of the present study indicate that increases in COX-2 and Ki67 expression may be associated with the development of bronchogenic carcinomas and possibly with acquisition of an invasive phenotype. In contrast, increased CD34 expression in preneoplastic lesions suggests that increased MVD may represent an early marker of lung carcinogenesis.

[Giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura--case report]. / Obrovský solitárny fibrózny tumor pleury--kazuistika.

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare malignant pathological findings, accounting for only 5% of all pleural neoplasms. Clinical manifestations are very unspecific and over 50% of the cases are asymptomatic. The commonest clinical symptoms include cough, pains, dyspnoea, fever and weight loss. The recommended diagnostic methods include chest x-ray, CT and MRI imaging and positrone emission tomography. The CT-assissted puction biopsy yield is less than 50%. The authors present a case review of a 58-year-old female with a history of dyspnoea. Her chest x-ray and CT examination suggested a large cystoid lesion in the right hemithorax, with extensive dystelectasis of the right lung lobe. Functional pulmonary examination confirmed severe gas transfer dysfunction, with diffusion lung capacity of 47% of the normal. Stenosis of the right middle and lower lobar bronchus resulting from extramusral pressure was detected on bronchoscopy. The authors performed right-sided thoracotomy and removed an encapsulated solid tumor measuring 24 x 16 x 13.5 cm and weighting 2850 grams from the thoracic cavity. Benign solitary fibrous tumor was diagnosed on histology. The postoperative course was complicated by bleeding into the pleural cavity, which was managed conservatively and did not require subsequent surgical revision. The patient was released for home care in a good condition. The aim of the study is to draw attention to this tumorous disorder of the pleura - the solitary fibrous tumor.

[Appendicitis in pregnancy]. / Apendicitída v gravidite.

UNLABELLED: THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to highlight the problems related to acute appendicitis in pregnancy. We present our own experiences with the diagnostics and therapy of this surgical complication during gravidity. Nausea, vomiting and pain in lower right abdomen as symptoms of appendicitis are often confused with the I. trimester gravidity symptoms. The change of pain locality and the loss of somatic pain in the II. and the III. trimester cause diagnostic delay and increase the incidence of appendiceal perforation. In case of suspected appendicitis, when evaluating laboratory parameters, the common finding of leucocytosis during gravidity further complicates the differential diagnosis. In comparison to common population, ultrasonography in gravidity displays lower sensitivity and specificity. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: In the course of the last ten years, 9 gravid women in the age (25.6 +/- 3.9) underwent appendectomy in the 2nd surgical clinic FNLP in Kosice. This represents 0.6 percentage incidence of appendicitis of 1496 patients operated because of this diagnosis. One of the patient turned out to be a case of negative appendectomy while the rest had histologically confirmed gangrenous (5x), phlegmonous (1x) and catarrhalis appendicitis (2x). Perforation was encountered in one patient. In the physical examination dominated pain in the right hypogastrium, nausea and subfebrility. The diagnostic success of USG examination reached 40%. In all gravid patients leucocytosis was found, including a negative appendectomy. The average duration from hospitalization to operation was 38 hours. No maternal or fetal loss was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Correct diagnostic and early surgical intervention prevents further fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Physical examination is important in differential diagnosis. Leucocytosis is not a predictive marker of appendicitis. Visualization of appendix through ultrasonography is rather difficult in the third trimester.

[Re-expansion pulmonary edema as a complication of a spontaneous pneumothorax drainage--a case review]. / Reexpanzný pl'úcny edém, ako komplikácia drenáze hrudníka pri spontánnom pneumotoraxe--kazuistika.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema is an iatrogenic complication occurring after reinflation of the collapsed lung of a patient with pneumothorax or fluidothorax. The following risk factors have been associated with reexpansion pulmonary edema: younger age, longer duration of a lung collapse, its large extend and a quick lung reexpansion. We report a case of 26-years-old man. The patient was admited to the second surgical clinic FNLP, Kosice because of a spontaneous pneumothorax. A chest tube was inserted in local anesthesia in the right anterior axilar line and the fourth intercostal space. An active negative pressure of 20 cm H2O was applied. Dyspnea, decrease of blood pressure, tachycardia, tachypnoe and expectoration of pink sputum were recorded after negative pressure application. Oxygen saturation decreased to 90% despite the addition of oxygen. Glucocorticoids, diuretic stimulants, analgesic and bronchodilatators were administered. Chest X-rays and computer tomography showed a strong ipsilateral pulmonary edema and an incipient contralateral pulmonary edema. The patient was stabilized and after 16 hours continuous oxygen administration was not longer needed. Because of continuous pneumothorax, a video assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed on the seventh day after the chest tube insertion. After 13 days of hospitalization the patient was discharged in good condition without any further complications to the ambulatory care. Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a rare complication of the chest tube insertion and thoracocentesis because of pneumothorax and fluidothorax. The mortality of reexpansion pulmonary edema reaches up to 20%. Chest tube insertion and thoracocentesis are therapeutic procedures to be performed solely on medical department which can provide artificial lung ventilation.

[Chronic wound as a precancerosis (Ulcus marjolini--Marjolin's ulcer)--a case review]. / Chronická rana ako prekanceróza (Marjolinov ulkus).

Marjolin's ulcer is defined as a tumor arising from a chronic wound, scar or chronic inflammation. Commonly, it is histologically diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma or a basocellular carcinoma. Its management includes its excisioning including a sufficient circumferential rim and histological examination of the sentinel lymphnode. The authors present a case review of a 51-year-old male with a history of a sacral decubitus, treated for over 40 years. The patient was hospitalized to cover the defect with a skin flap. During the hospitalization, histological examinations of his inguinal lymphnodes and subsequent wound granulations were performed with an identical finding of a squamous cell carcinoma. Based on the findings, the Marjolin's ulcer was diagnosed. The patient underwent the first series of chemotherapy. However, the patient's condition deteriotated. He exited 24 days following establishment of the diagnosis. The aim of this study is to highlight one of the most dangerous complications of chronic wounds. Marjolin's ulcer is a diagnosis, which must be considered in any chronic wound of any etiology, persisting for over 3 months.

[Parenteral nutrition before surgery in patients with upper gastrointestinal tract resection]. / Parenterálna nutrícia pred resekcným výkonom na hornom gastrointestinálnom trakte.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective analysis was the evaluation of the effect of parenteral nutrition before surgery in malnourished patients on the reduction of risks during postoperative period after upper gastrointestinal tract resection. 57 patients with the diagnosis of oesophageal or stomach carcinoma were included into the selected group. Patients were divided into three groups: I. group: resecabile tumor, parenteral nutrition, malnutrition, II. group: nonresecabile tumor, parenteral nutrition, malnutrition, III. group: resecabile tumor, without parenteral nutrition, well nourished. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the group of malnourished patients, seven days after the applied parental nutrition, a statistical significant difference in the elevated values of proteins (I.: 62 +/- 3.8 --> 70 +/- 1.75, II.: 59.7 +/- 3.2 --> 69.2 +/- 1.2) and albumin (I: 32.6 +/- 1.95 --> 38.0 +/- 1.09, II.: 31.1 +/- 1.2 --> 37.5 +/- 0.9) p < 0.001 were achieved. Complications associated with the insertion of central venous catheter decreased as follows: plugged catheter (17.6%), local erythema (7.5%), pneumothorax (5%), phlebotrombosis (5%), haemothorax (0.4%). Postoperative complications did not achieve statistical significance (p < 0.05) in the groups I.-III. The highest incidence of wound and anastomosis dehiscention and sepsis was noticed in the first group, the lowest in the third group. Brochopneumonia had the highest occurrence in the second group, the lowest in the third group. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative parenteral nutrition as a prevention of complications after resection surgery on stomach and oesophagus is beneficial in the middle and high grade of malnourished patients, despite of higher costs and prolonged hospitalization, considering the comparable percentage of postoperative complications in the group of non-malnourished and malnourished patients. The nutritional supplementation should take at least seven days.

[Spontaneous rupture of ductus choledochus in acute pancreatitis--a case report]. / Spontánna perforácia ductus choledochus pri akútnej pankreatitíde--kazuistika.

Spontaneous perforation of biliary tree is a rare disease. There are only a few case- reports published in the literature. Due to little success in the preoperative diagnosis, surgical treatment is delayed, which in a high percentage results into fatal complications. Surgeons' opinions of operative treatment in such cases are controversial, but the primary choice is decompressing drainage of biliary tree. Authors of this report present a case of 71 years old woman admitted to the second surgical clinic with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Because of developing signs of peritoneal irritation, the patient was referred for a surgical procedure with the finding of biliary peritonitis and the rupture of ductus choledochus. In the above case, the diagnosis was made peroperatively, where the surgical treatment consisted of drainage of ductus choledochus by Kehr T drain and cholecystestomy by inserting Malecoat catheter into gallbladder. Postoperative period was without complications, the T drain was removed on the 28th day after operation and Malecoat catheter was also removed two days later. Three years after the operation, the patient is in good physical condition with free bile passage according to ERCP. The aim of this report is to bring the attention to this rare, but more importantly serious cause of origin of sudden abdominal event, in order to increase the interception rate concerning preoperative periods and consequent satisfactory treatment.

[Autofluorescence videothoracoscopy--our initial experience]. / Autofluorescencná videotorakoskopia--prvé vlastné skúsenosti.

The authors present their initial clinical experience with the use of autofluorescence videothoracoscopy in diagnostics of pleural disorders. The study used Richard Wolf DAFE fluorescence endoscopy system. Preliminary results show that autofluoresence imaging is more precise in locating the pathology, which improved the diagnostic yield of videothoracoscopy in pleural disorders. The resulting indirect autofluorescence image depicts healthy tissues in a white-green colour, while tissues with a roughened surface, resulting from hyperplastic inflammatory processes (pachypleura, adhesions) and tumorous or dysplastic processes, are depicted as vivid blue high-density foci.

[Omentoplasty as a part of complex management of postpneumonectomy empyema with large bronchopleural fistula]. / Omentoplastika ako súcast' komplexného riesenia postpneumonektomického empyému s vel'kou bronchopleurálnou fistulou.

The authors present a case reivew of a patient with thoracic empyema and large bronchopleural fistula. Following preceeding failing procedures, the condition was managed using Eloesser open drainage, the pleural cavity was cleared and the main bronchus fistula was sutured using omentoplasty. A pediculated omental flap (Kiricutu) was transposed into the pleural cavity through the diaphragm. The flap was used to cover the bronchial suture and fill the pleural cavity. Finally, thoracoplasty and suturing of the thorax was performed. Postoperative course was positive, with no complications recorded and, currently, the patient is asymptomatic. Treatment of postpneumonectomic empyema with bronchopleural fistula requires complex approach in several steps. During the final phase, following the pleural cavity drainage and clearing and when the dehiscent bronchus is sutured, omental flaps, transposed from the abdominal into the thoracic cavity, may be used to cover the suture and to obliterate the postpneumonectomic pleural cavity. Significance of omentoplasty consists in its features, such as: neovascularization, resorption and absorption qualities, immunological and mechanical functions, which, finally, facilitate healing of serious postpneumonectomic complications.

[Postintubation stenosis of the trachea--case reviews]. / Postintubacná stenóza trachey--nase skúsenosti.

Stenoses of the respiratory tract are life threatening conditions of various origins. The authors give referrence on 21 patients operated for postintubation stenoses of their trachea at the IInd Surgical Clinic of the UPJS Medical Faculty, the Faculty Hospital of L. Pasteur in Kosice, from 01. 01. 1999 to 30. 06. 2005. All patients had a tracheobronchoscopic examination and a CT examination completed prior to the procedure. Within 24 hours of their admission, 9 patients were operated, 7 underwent resection procedures and 2 patients had Montgomery's T-cannula introduced. 12 patients had their procedures planned, and were operated later than 24 hours after their admission. 10 patients underwent resections of the trachea, 2 had Montgomery's T-cannula implanted. The postoperative course following the resection of the trachea was without complications in 14 patients, 1 patient experienced transitional oedema in the anastomosis and 2 patients suffered restenoses. In this patient group, no fatal case was recorded. The authors stress up multidisciplinary approach in the diagnostics and treatment of the postintubation stenoses of trachea. In cases of postintubation stenoses of trachea, resection of the trachea with primary anastomosis represents the most advantageous treatment approach for the patient.

Shock deformation of face-centred-cubic metals on subnanosecond timescales.

Despite its fundamental importance for a broad range of applications, little is understood about the behaviour of metals during the initial phase of shock compression. Here, we present molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of shock-wave propagation through a metal allowing a detailed analysis of the dynamics of high strain-rate plasticity. Previous MD simulations have not seen the evolution of the strain from one- to three-dimensional compression that is observed in diffraction experiments. Our large-scale MD simulations of up to 352 million atoms resolve this important discrepancy through a detailed understanding of dislocation flow at high strain rates. The stress relaxes to an approximately hydrostatic state and the dislocation velocity drops to nearly zero. The dislocation velocity drop leads to a steady state with no further relaxation of the lattice, as revealed by simulated X-ray diffraction.

[Tracheal tumor--a case review]. / Tumor trachey--kazuistika.

Tracheal tumors make a histologically variant group of tumors. Our case review describes a case of a forty-five year-old female patient with an endoscopically and CT- diagnosed tracheal tumor. The patient was hospitalized at the IInd Surgical Clinic of the UPJS LF, the Faculty Hospital of L. Pasteur in Kosice, with symptoms of dyspnoea and stridor, in the orthopnoic position. Following the neccessary pre- operative procedures, her trachea was resected, followed by end-to-end anastomosis. The histological examination of the resected tissue revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. The postoperative course was positive with no complications.

Direct observation of the alpha-epsilon transition in shock-compressed iron via nanosecond x-ray diffraction.

In situ x-ray diffraction studies of iron under shock conditions confirm unambiguously a phase change from the bcc (alpha) to hcp (epsilon) structure. Previous identification of this transition in shock-loaded iron has been inferred from the correlation between shock-wave-profile analyses and static high-pressure x-ray measurements. This correlation is intrinsically limited because dynamic loading can markedly affect the structural modifications of solids. The in situ measurements are consistent with a uniaxial collapse along the [001] direction and shuffling of alternate (110) planes of atoms, and are in good agreement with large-scale nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations.

Onset of void coalescence during dynamic fracture of ductile metals.

Molecular dynamics simulations in three-dimensional copper are performed to quantify the void coalescence process leading to fracture. The correlated growth of the voids during their linking is investigated both in terms of the onset of coalescence and the ensuing dynamical interactions through the rate of reduction of the distance between the voids and the directional growth of the voids. The critical intervoid ligament distance marking the onset of coalescence is shown to be approximately one void radius in both measures.

[Surgical treatment of paraesophageal hernia]. / Chirurgická liecba paraezofageálnej hernie.

Four types of hernia may occur in the area of esophageal hiatus. Type I is represented by hiatus slipping hernia. Type II is represented by hernia, which is generally known as paraesophageal hernia. In this type of hernia, cardia and distal stomach remain under diaphragm. The weakened tissue in phreno-esophageal membrane is the place, where stomach fundus penetrates into thorax above the diaphragm. The authors present 10 patients with paraesophageal hernia, who were operated on at the 2nd Surgery Clinic of Medical Faculty, UPJS, Faculty Hospital L. Pasteur in Kosice. These were adult patients, five man and five women. In four patients, so called "upside-down stomach" was the case. Hernias were operated on in all cases by laparotomy, after reposition of the stomach into abdominal cavity the area of hiatus and diaphragm was reconstructed. One patient was operated on under emergency conditions for bleeding from stomach ulcer. Immediate postoperation results were good, the postoperation course was favorable in all patients, no complications occurred. In conclusion, the authors are of the opinion that every diagnosed paraesophageal hernia should be indicated for surgical intervention. An anti-reflux operation should be executed in symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux. The question of operation approach (thoracotomy or laparotomy) is a matter of continuous discussion, each of them having its advocates. However, in recent years laparoscopic solution of paraesophageal hernia is getting increasing attention.