Osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by arsenic trioxide therapy in a leukemia patient: A rare case report and literature review.

A patient suffering from acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was referred to the dental department before introduction of chemotherapy by all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide (ATO). A panoramic radiography showed his third upper maxillary left tooth included into the maxillary bone. The patient presented with a febrile episode. Consequently, the infectious gateway was researched. A left maxillary sinus migration of his third upper left tooth together with a bony sequestrum has been observed on a CT-scan. A surgery was then performed to remove the bony sequestrum and the tooth. The first hypothesis of tooth migration could be that the patient had an infection prior to introduction of chemotherapy. However, neither clinical or radiographic signs were observed during the initial check-up. The second hypothesis is that ATO caused osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) induced the formation of a bony sequestrum associated to the tooth migration into the sinus. ONJ could be a potential adverse of ATO chemotherapy.

Plasmablastic lymphoma: oral presentation in patient suffering from osteradionecrosis of the jaw.

INTRODUCTION: We describe here an unusual presentation of a plasmablastic lymphoma in a patient suffering from an osteoradionecrosis of the jaw. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report the case of a 64-year-old patient who was followed up on oncology because of an oropharyngeal cancer treated by a combined procedure of both surgery and radio-chemotherapy procedure. This patient developed an osteoradionecrosis of the jaw. In the vicinity of this necrotic area appeared an ulceration which could evoke a new necrotic area. Given the persistence of this ulceration, a biopsy was performed which highlighted a plasmablastic lymphoma oral localization. DISCUSSION: The plasmablastic lymphoma, belonging to the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma family, is a very aggressive and unusual form of cancer with poor prognosis. If it is found mainly in patients with positive HIV, in whom it was first described, it is also found in immunosuppressed patients such as transplanted patients or patients suffering from leukaemia. CONCLUSION: Plasmablastic lymphoma is a rare and an aggressive pathology in immunocompetent patients.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: the clinical practice guidelines of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES).

BACKGROUND: Although laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become the standard approach for most splenectomy cases, some areas still remain controversial. To date, the indications that preclude laparoscopic splenectomy are not clearly defined. In view of this, the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) has developed clinical practice guidelines for LS. METHODS: An international expert panel was invited to appraise the current literature and to develop evidence-based recommendations. A consensus development conference using a nominal group process convened in May 2007. Its recommendations were presented at the annual EAES congress in Athens, Greece, on 5 July 2007 for discussion and further input. After a further Delphi process between the experts, the final recommendations were agreed upon. RESULTS: Laparoscopic splenectomy is indicated for most benign and malignant hematologic diseases independently of the patient's age and body weight. Preoperative investigation is recommended for obtaining information on spleen size and volume as well as the presence of accessory splenic tissue. Preoperative vaccination against meningococcal, pneumococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type B infections is recommended in elective cases. Perioperative anticoagulant prophylaxis with subcutaneous heparin should be administered to all patients and prolonged anticoagulant prophylaxis to high-risk patients. The choice of approach (supine [anterior], semilateral or lateral) is left to the surgeon's preference and concomitant conditions. In cases of massive splenomegaly, the hand-assisted technique should be considered to avoid conversion to open surgery and to reduce complication rates. The expert panel still considered portal hypertension and major medical comorbidities as contraindications to LS. CONCLUSION: Despite a lack of level 1 evidence, LS is a safe and advantageous procedure in experienced hands that has displaced open surgery for almost all indications. To support the clinical evidence, further randomized controlled trials on different issues are mandatory.

Elective laparoscopic colonic resection for diverticular disease: results of a multicenter study in 179 patients.

BACKGROUND: We undertook a retrospective multicenter study of elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis in order to assess the safety and the results of the procedure performed by a large number of surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and April 1999, the French Society of Laparoscopic Surgery recruited retrospectively 179 patients from 10 surgical units, operated on for elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy. There were 94 men and 85 women with a mean age of 58 years (range, 30-82). The indications for surgery were acute attacks in 123 cases, complicated diverticulitis in 47 cases, and miscellaneous in 9 cases. RESULTS: The performed procedure was a successful laparoscopic assisted sigmoidectomy in 154 cases (with totally intracorporeal anastomosis in 136 cases and hand-sewn anastomosis via small incision in 18 cases). The mean operation time was 223 min +/- 79 (range, 100-480). There was no mortality and 23 complications occurred in 23 patients (14.9%). Postoperative ileus lasted 2.5 +/- 0.9 days (range, 1-6), and oral intake started after 3.3 +/- 1.3 days (range, 1-12). The mean postoperative stay was 9.3 days (range, 4-50). Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in 25 cases (13.9%). The essential causes of conversion were obesity, severe adhesions, and colonic inflammation. The mean postoperative stay for the 25 converted patients was 13 +/- 8.5 days (range, 7-42). CONCLUSION: Elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis is feasible and is safe. The complication and mortality rates are similar to those observed after open procedures. For experienced surgical teams, laparoscopic colonic resection is a good approach for selected patients suffering from symptomatic diverticulitis.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy for hematologic diseases. Study of 275 cases. French Society of Laparoscopic Surgery]. / Splénectomie laparoscopique pour maladies hématologiques. Etude de 275 cas. Société Française de Chirurgie Laparoscopique.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the results of laparoscopic splenectomy for hematologic diseases by a multicenter retrospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1991 and 1998, 275 patients (mean age: 40.4 years [18-93]) underwent splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (n = 209, 76%), for hemolytic anemia (HA) (n = 37) including hereditary spherocytosis (n = 13) and auto-immune anemia (n = 24), lymphoma (n = 12), tumor (n = 6) and uncommon hematologic syndromes (n = 11). Laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted in every patient. The lateral approach was most commonly used with an anterior approach to the splenic hilar vessels, which were cut after hemostasis using a stapling gun; other techniques were also employed. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 165 minutes (45-360); it was shorter in the case of conversion (144 minutes) and became shorter with the operator's experience. Conversion was necessary in 55 patients (20%), due to hemorrhage in 2/3 of cases, related to splenic vessels (20 cases), short gastric vessels (9 cases), or injury of the spleen (8 cases). In ten cases (2%), conversion was necessary for extraction of the spleen. Conversion rate varied from 5.3 to 46.7%, depending on the surgical team. Univariate analysis of factors predisposing to conversion identified four causes: obesity; technique used to achieve hemostasis of the splenic hilar vessels; operator's experience; and presence of splenomegaly. An accessory spleen was found in 44 patients (16%). The weight of the spleen was more than 350 g in 43 patients (15.6%). There were no deaths. There were no significant complications in 236 patients (85.8%) and the mean hospital stay was 6.4 days. In comparison with patients who had a conversion, bowel function returned significantly earlier, use of analgesia was reduced and hospital stay was shorter. The overall morbidity rate was 13.8% (n = 38); morbidity rate was only 10.4% (n = 22) for laparoscopic splenectomy. In these 22 patients, the complications were: subphrenic collections (n = 5, 2.2%), abdominal wall infections (n = 5), thromboembolic events (n = 2), anemia (n = 2), pneumonia (n = 1), peptic ulcer (n = 1), bowel obstruction (n = 1), splenic vein thrombosis (n = 1). Re-operations were required in 4 patients (1.8%) because of hemorrhage, pancreatitis and bowel obstruction. Morbidity rate was significantly increased in the case of conversion (27%), obesity (20%), malignant disease (30%) and splenomegaly (21.8%). Forty-four patients (16%) received perioperative or postoperative blood transfusion and 23 (8.3%) received platelet transfusion. Mean time to return to normal activity was 21 days and was shorter in the absence of conversion (18.5 days versus 35 days). In patients with ITP, the mean platelet count was 240,000 after 3 months, and the failure rate was 8.3%. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic splenectomy is a real alternative to conventional splenectomy for some hematologic diseases, particularly ITP and HA. The advantages are an uneventful postoperative course, a lower morbidity rate, a shorter hospital stay and an earlier return to normal activity. The limits of this technique are related to the operator's experience, the size of the spleen, the nature of the underlying disorders and patient characteristics, mainly obesity.

Laparoscopic splenectomy versus open splenectomy: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In 1993, we reported a new technique for laparoscopic splenectomy, namely the "hanging spleen" technique. The patient was placed in a right lateral supine position with the operator being located on the right of the patient. We herein report the results of 28 laparoscopic splenectomies performed with this technique until January 1996. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1993 to 1996, the results were compared with those of 28 patients operated on by open splenectomy from 1988 to 1995. The two groups were similar in terms of age, sex-ratio, and physical condition (ASA classification). Indications for splenectomy were the following in each group: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (n = 26 and 27, respectively) and hemolytic anemia (n = 2 and 1, respectively). RESULTS: Accessory spleens were found in 3 patients of the laparoscopic group and in 5 patients of the open group. Three conversions to open procedure were necessary in the laparoscopic group, but two conversions might have been avoided. We have observed significant advantages in the laparoscopic approach: shorter ileus and postoperative stay. On the other hand, the procedure was longer than with open splenectomies. Three patients had postoperative complications in the laparoscopic group, whereas nine patients had complications in the open group. Recurrence of ITP was observed in 2 patients of the laparoscopic group and in 4 patients of the open group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that laparoscopic splenectomy may be considered as a safe alternative to open splenectomy in patients with hematological diseases such as ITP and hemolytic anemia.

[Teaching digestive laparoscopic surgery in France: from education to accreditation?]. / L'enseignement de la chirurgie coelioscopique digestive en France: de la formation à l'accréditation?

The extremely rapid development of laparoscopic surgery since 1989 has given evidence, by the increase in the number of local and vital complications, that teaching of laparoscopic surgery is absolutely necessary, especially technical and practical training. Indeed, laparoscopic surgery is not only a new and different way to attain abdominal organs, but it needs also a complete different acquiring of gestures, which are difficult since the eyes and hands are dissociated due to the videotechnics. The University post-graduate training courses (University Diploma D.U.), which were first organized by the authors in Paris and Nice since 1990, have given the best answers to this challenge: training a large number of surgeons in a minimum of time. In 1994, a new Collège of general visceral and digestive surgeons was founded and the teaching conditions have been modified since. This college courses of general and digestive surgery (D.E.S and D.E.S.C respectively) and during post-graduate formation (F.M.C). After having given recommendations for the program of theoretical and practical teaching of laparoscopic surgery, the authors suggest that this teaching should be integrated in graduate courses of general surgery and in post-graduate courses. These courses represent the best training and are the guarantee of good quality and it would be a big error to suppress them. They should continue under the constant control of the French College of Digestive Surgeons and be supervised by the French National order of medical Doctors.

Laparoscopic splenectomy. The "hanged spleen" technique.

We have now used a new patient position for laparoscopic splenectomy: The patient is placed in right lateral supine position on a "bean bag" positioning apparatus and the left arm is elevated. The operator is located on the right of the patient; the first assistant is on the same side and the second is on the left. We have a very good view of the spleen which is hung on the diaphragm by the peritoneal attachments, and we can sever successively inferior polar splenic vessels, short gastric vessels, and hilus splenic vessels. With this patient position, it is our opinion that laparoscopic splenectomy is feasible and safe if the spleen volume is not too large. To date, we have performed thirteen splenectomies with this procedure. We have had twelve good results and one conversion to laparotomy.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy. The "hanging spleen technique" in a series of nineteen cases]. / Splénectomie coelioscopique. Technique de suspension splénique. A propos de dix-neuf cas.

We have used an new patient position for laparoscopic splenectomy: the patient is placed in the right lateral supine position on a "bean bag" positioning apparatus and the left arm is elevated. The operator stands to the patient's right, the first assistant is on the patient's right and the second is on the patient's left. This position provides very good exposure of the spleen, which hangs from the diaphragm by the peritoneal attachments and the inferior pole splenic vessels, short gastric vessels and splenic hilus vessels can be released successively. We have now performed 19 splenectomies using the "Hanging Spleen Technique" with three conversions to open surgery. Splenectomy was always possible with the use of a plastic bag through the 12 mm trocar hole in 12 cases and through this enlarged hole in 2 cases. The mean post-operative stay was 4.3 days and the mean time to return to work was 19 days. Laparoscopic splenectomy is a feasible and safe procedure with this patient position. Obesity and splenomegaly are no longer absolute contra-indications.

Laparoscopic splenectomy--technical aspects.

Since the recent development of endoscopic cholecystectomy various other digestive disorders have been treated endoscopically. Using the endo-GIA stapler the authors report a case of laparoscopic splenectomy. Five trocar sheaths were used. Once detached, the spleen was cut into fragments in a plastic bag intraabdominally, which allowed its removal. Splenectomy was performed for a girl who had an autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). No operative transfusion was required. The patient was discharged after an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. The cosmetic result is good.

[Complications of cholecystectomy by laparoscopic approach. Apropos of 6512 cases]. / Complications des cholécystectomies par voie coelioscopique. A propos de 6,512 observations.

6,512 laparoscopic cholecystectomies have been performed by 141 surgeons. The lithiasis was uncomplicated in 80% of cases. Conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy was necessary in 350 cases (5.37%), for technical problems (22 cases), complications (87 cases) or surgical difficulties (241 cases): 107 cholecystitis, 68 adhesions, 14 difficulties in finding the cystic duct and 25 common bile duct stones were the principle surgical difficulties. Among the 304 complications, we have observed 35 general and 251 local complications: 58 haemorrhages, 12 common bile duct lesions (10 cases of iatrogenic trauma and 2 accidental ligations), 4 cystic duct problems and 3 cases of intestinal trauma were the principle per-laparoscopic complications. Among the 164 post-laparoscopies cholecystectomy's complications, we have observed 50 biliary fistulae with 32 requiring further surgery (damage to the common bile duct in 14 cases), 3 common bile duct strictures, 20 haemorrhages (7 requiring further surgery), 31 deep or sub-phrenic abscesses (16 requiring further surgery) and 2 peritonitis after intestinal trauma. We have had 7 deaths (0.10%). Prognostic factors are: 1) The degree of surgeon's experience; the first 50 laparoscopies cholecystectomies performed are more likely to require further surgery (P < 0.05). 2) Cholecystitis with an significantly higher rate of conversion to laparotomy (P < 0.001) and morbidity (P < 0.01). For an experienced surgeon the biliary morbidity is near to that observed in classical cholecystectomy.