Splenic volume as a biomarker of hepatic damage after chemotherapy in patients with resected colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-associated liver injury (CALI) is a matter of concern for hepatobiliary surgeons as it can entail postoperative liver failure after an extensive hepatectomy. Recent studies have taken special interest in liver function parameters which can correlate with CALI to decrease this adverse event. Therefore, the current study investigates the usefulness of splenic volume as a biomarker of CALI through a portal hypertension mechanism, in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a study in patients with CRLM operated on between 2009 and 2014 in our center. All samples of healthy liver were graded for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sinusoidal obstructive syndrome. Computarized tomography scans for spleen volumetry were analyzed for each patient at CRLM diagnosis, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 1 and 6 months after resection. RESULTS: A group of 65 consecutive patients with CRLM of large bowel adenocarcinoma submitted to liver resection were included. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a greater spleen volume increase than those who did not receive treatment (p = 0.053), finding a statistically significant spleen growth in patients with NAFLD (p = 0.036). There was no correlation between spleen enlargement and postoperative complications or average stay. However, survival was decreased in patients with spleen growth and CALI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy for liver metastasis surgery have a greater splenic volume increase, which correlates with NAFLD and a lower survival.

Bariatric Surgery Waiting Lists in Spain.

Bariatric surgery is one of the most common general surgery procedures in countries that, like Spain, have public healthcare systems, but is also one of the procedures for which patients have to wait the longest. The Spanish Society of Obesity Surgery (SECO) conducted a survey to estimate the situation of bariatric surgery waiting lists in Spain's public hospitals and to gather information on a number of related aspects. METHODS: An online survey was sent to the members of the SECO. The survey received 137 visits, all via the click-through link provided, from 52 health centers (47 public and 5 private). The data collected were included in a database and later analyzed using the SPSS18.0 statistical software package. RESULTS: A total of 4724 patients were on bariatric surgery waiting lists (BWLs), at an average of 100 per public hospital. Sixty-eight percent had been waiting for more than 6 months. The mean delay per patient was 397 days, and the longest wait was 1661 days. A further 46.2% of respondents were able to recall cases of patients who in the past 5 years had suffered cardiovascular events with sequelae while awaiting surgery, and 21.2% recalled at least one fatal cardiovascular event in that time. CONCLUSION: Our data revealed an unacceptably long wait for obesity surgery. Notwithstanding the limitations and potential biases of our research, the long wait for surgery in our context inevitably has serious consequences for a potentially significant number of patients.

Morgagni-Larrey parasternal diaphragmatic hernia in the adult.

With a prevalence of 0.3-0.5/1000 births, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains a serious, poorly understood abnormality with a high mortality rate that cannot always be effectively managed. Its reported frequency in Spain is 0.69%00 with a yearly decreasing trend of 0.10%00 during the period 1980-2006. Up to 5% of cases are incidentally identified in adults undergoing studies for other reasons.We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with vomiting for three months due to parasternal diaphragmatic hernia of Morgagni-Larrey (retrochondrosternal, retrocostoxyphoid, retrosternal, subcostal, substernal or subcostosternal hernia), which allowed us to report an update on this condition in the adult, and on thoracoabdominal diaphragm morphogenesis. It is in the embryology of the diaphragm where an explanation may be found for some morphological changes and clinical manifestations, even though a number of uncertainties remain. We also analyze the extent of controversy persisting on some aspects of surgical treatment (access routes, mesh use, hernial sac reduction). Overall, minimally invasive techniques predominate. We consider laparoscopy the approach of choice for adult patients with parasternal hernia eligible for surgery.

Hernia diafragmática paraesternal de Morgagni-Larrey en adulto / Morgagni-Larrey parasternal diaphragmatic hernia in the adult

Con una prevalencia de 0,3-0,5/1.000 nacimientos, la hernia diafragmática congénita (HDC) sigue siendo una anomalía grave, no bien entendida, alta mortalidad y tratamiento no siempre efectivo. En España se ha informado de una frecuencia del 0,69%oo con una tendencia decreciente en el periodo 1980-2006 del 0,10%oo por año. No obstante, hasta un 5% se diagnostican en adultos durante la realización de un reconocimiento por otra causa. Presentamos un cuadro de vómitos de tres meses de evolución en una mujer de 74 años por hernia diafragmática paraesternal de Morgagni-Larrey (retrocondroesternal, retrocostoxifoidea, retroesternal, subcostal, subesternal o subcostoesternal), que nos ha permitido realizar una actualización de esta patología en adultos y de la morfogénesis del diafragma toracoabdominal. Es en la embriología del diafragma donde encontramos explicación de algunas de sus alteraciones morfológicas y características clínicas, si bien persisten aspectos confusos de la misma. También analizamos el grado de controversia que persiste en algunos aspectos de su tratamiento quirúrgico (vías de acceso, uso o no de mallas y reducción o no del saco herniario). Por lo general priman las técnicas mínimamente invasivas. Consideramos el abordaje laparoscópico como de elección en pacientes adultos con hernia paraesternal candidatos a la cirugía(AU)

With a prevalence of 0.3-0.5/1000 births, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains a serious, poorly understood abnormality with a high mortality rate that cannot always be effectively managed. Its reported frequency in Spain is 0.69%oo with a yearly decreasing trend of 0.10%oo during the period 1980-2006. Up to 5% of cases are incidentally identified in adults undergoing studies for other reasons. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with vomiting for three months due to parasternal diaphragmatic hernia of Morgagni-Larrey (retrochondrosternal, retrocostoxyphoid, retrosternal, subcostal, substernal or subcostosternal hernia), which allowed us to report an update on this condition in the adult, and on thoracoabdominal diaphragm morphogenesis. It is in the embryology of the diaphragm where an explanation may be found for some morphological changes and clinical manifestations, even though a number of uncertainties remain. We also analyze the extent of controversy persisting on some aspects of surgical treatment (access routes, mesh use, hernial sac reduction). Overall, minimally invasive techniques predominate. We consider laparoscopy the approach of choice for adult patients with parasternal hernia eligible for surgery(AU)

Recidiva local tras cirugía del cáncer de pulmón / Local recurrence after lung cancer lung

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Demora en el tratamiento quirúrgico del cáncer de pulmón / Delay in the surgical treatment of lung cancer

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Enfermedad diverticular de colon y cirugía laparoscópica / Diverticular diseae of the colon and laparoscopic surgery

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Gastrointestinal fistulas: pathology and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal fistulas are a serious complication of gastrointestinal tract surgery: they are often accompanied by high levels of morbidity and mortality. Among other things, some fistula characteristics (anatomical site, type of tract, time elapsed to fistula appearance and volume of output) are being considered as of great importance. New therapeutic approaches such as somatostatin are nowadays being tested in order to clarify the benefits of its use. METHODS: A multi-centre, randomized, controlled and prospective trial was carried out (n = 40, March-December, 1988) to evaluate the effectiveness of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) versus TPN + somatostatin in the conservative management of postoperative gastrointestinal fistulas. Since January 1989, wider inclusion criteria have been followed, and all patients (n = 63) who have fulfilled inclusion criteria have been admitted to TPN plus somatostatin treatment. RESULTS: Closure time of fistulas in patients receiving TPN + somatostatin was significantly shorter (13.86 +/- 1.84 versus 20.4 +/- 2.89 days) than in those receiving TPN alone. In the second phase of the study, more time was needed to obtain complete closure of fistulas (15.8 days). CONCLUSION: Somatostatin is a useful therapeutic complement in the management of postoperative gastrointestinal fistulas, since it accelerates their spontaneous closure.