Effect of ascitic media formed by glycerin on the prevention of peritoneal adhesions.

AIM: We aimed to investigate whether or not artificial ascites media formed using glycerin are effective in the prevention of intraperitoneal adhesions. METHODS: Thirty-six Wistar albino male rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into 3 groups as follows. Group I: control group; group II (isotonic group): 3 ml of 0.9% NaCl was injected into the peritoneal cavity, and group III (glycerin group): 0.5 ml of liquid glycerin and 3 ml of 0.9% NaCl was injected into the peritoneal cavity. RESULTS: There were serious adhesions in the control group. Adhesion rates were lower in the isotonic group compared with the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). When adhesion rates of the glycerin group were compared with the control and isotonic groups, significant differences were found, especially between the glycerin and control groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of our study, the use of isotonic solution and liquid glycerin decreases postoperative adhesions. We suggest that glycerin was more effective as it has the chemical ability to draw water to its media. As such, the formation of adhesions may be decreased by increasing the amount of physiological liquid inside the abdomen.

A rare cause of ileus: invagination due to ectopic pancreas.

INTRODUCTION: Invagination is seen rarely as a cause of ileus in adults. The cause of invagination in children differs from that in adults. In adults it is mostly due to organic lesions (tumour). CASE REPORT: In a 49 years old patient, with 3 months of intermittant abdominal pain, radiologic investigations suspected a of small bowel tumour. The patient was operated on. At exploration, there was an ileo-ileal invagination on the terminal ileum over 40 cm distance A totally necrosed ileum segment was resected and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Inside the excised ileal loop their was a polyp-like lesion originating from submucosa, bordered by the wall but not protruding to the lumen. The pathological examination of the lesion revealed ectopic pancreatic tissue between the muscular layers of the bowel wall. RESULT: Intestinal invagination must be got in mind as a rare cause of ileus in adults. During it's clinical course their is enough time to reach the diagnosis. So unnecessory resections and postoperative complications can be prevented.

Rare cause of ileus in the mesenteric cavity of terminal ileum: a report of three cases.

Internal herniation is one of the rare reasons of intestine clog, which is hard to diagnose and usually needs an urgent surgical treatment. We report 3 patients with internal herniation in the mesenteric cavity of the terminal ileum. Besides intestinal congestion, they also had peritoneal irritation. Laparotomy revealed that herniation caused disorder in nutrition of the intestine and necrosis. The patients underwent subtotal small intestine resection and were discharged 10, 12 and 14 d after operation.

Omental transposition decreases ischemic brain damage examined in a new ischemia model.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether omental transposition at the time of focal cerebral ischemia can decrease ischemic brain damage produced in dogs, in a new ischemia model, which had been described by us. METHODS: In group 1 (n = 5), the left internal carotid artery and arterial circle of the brain (posterior communicating artery in humans) were occluded permanently. In group 2 (n = 5), additionally to this ischemia model, omental transposition was performed simultaneously. In the postoperative early period (first 24 h), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and in the late period (72-96 h) SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were performed. Mann-Whitney U, paired t and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used for statistical analyses, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The dogs had a neurological score (NS) of 3.6 +/- 0.5 and 3.4 +/-0.5 in groups 1 and 2, respectively, in the early period (p > 0.05). In the late period, the dogs had an NS of 4.4 +/- 0.5 and 5.6 +/- 0.5 in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.05). The NS of each group differed significantly between the early and late period (p < 0.05). Early SPECT imaging showed 50 +/- 7.0% and 52 +/- 8.4% hypoperfusion corresponding to the left middle cerebral artery territory in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p > 0.05). In the late period, the degree of hypoperfusion decreased to 34 +/- 5.5% and 12 +/- 4.8% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.05). The degree of hypoperfusion in both groups changed significantly between the early and late period (p < 0.05). In T(1)- and T(2)-weighted MRI images, the volume of the lesion in group 1 was significantly greater than in group 2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In our new ischemia model, simultaneous omental transposition is helpful in reversing the neurologic deficit and cerebral ischemic damage.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy with locking trocar: how I do it?

Cholecystectomy and open cholecystostomy are associated with a high mortality rate in critically ill patients. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy has a high success rate with few complications. The following method of percutaneous cholecystostomy with locking trocar (LT) under direct laparoscopic vision is seen to be an effective, safe, and practical procedure. After the abdomen is prepared from xiphisternum to symphysis pubis, the umbilicus and surrounding skin are infiltrated with 1% combined lignocaine and adrenaline. A 10-mm laparoscopy trocar is inserted via a 10-mm subumbilical incision. After a camera is inserted via the trocar, the abdomen and gallbladder are exposed. The skin of the geometric projection of fundus is infiltrated with the same solution, and a 5-mm LT is introduced via a 5-mm skin incision directed to the fundus of the gallbladder guided by the direct view of a laparoscope. When the LT has penetrated to the gallbladder, the bile and contents of the gallbladder are aspirated immediately to reduce the pressure, and the trocar is locked. The locked trocar is fixed to the abdominal wall under traction until the completion of peritonization to prevent bile leakage. The gallstones can be extracted through the trocar by a laparoscopy forceps. This technique was used for a 75-year-old woman with calculous cholecystitis and cardiopulmonary insufficiency, and her progress at this writing is good.

The effects of increased intraabdominal pressure on colonic anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: This experimental, randomized, controlled study was designed to investigate the effects of increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP) on colocolic anastomoses. To our knowledge, this is the first study to address this important issue. METHODS: For this study, 50 Wistar albino rats were randomized into five groups. The animals in all the groups underwent laparotomy and colocolic anastomosis. The rats in the control group were not subjected to increased IAP. Accordingly, IAP's of 14, 20, 25, and 30 mmHg were established by carbon dioxide insufflation and maintained for 60 min in study groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Colocolic anastomosis was realized after these periods of IAP in the study groups. Half of the surviving rats in all the groups were sacrificed on postoperative days 7 and 14 to allow comparison between the control and study groups with respect to their mean body weights, mean anastomosis bursting pressures, and histopathologic characteristics of their anastomosis sites. RESULTS: The mean body weights of all the groups were comparable at all times during the study. The anastomosis bursting pressures of the animals subjected to increased IAP were lower than that of the control group, with the differences reaching statistical relevance for the animals subjected to an IAP of 20 mmHg or higher on postoperative day 7 (p <0.0005 for study groups 2, 3, and 4 vs the control group) and becoming more pronounced by the day 14 (p <0.0005 for study groups 2, 3, and 4 vs the control group). The anastomosis bursting pressure showed an inverse correlation with IAP. The adequacy of mucosal layer formation at the anastomosis line was lower and the degree of inflammation was higher in the groups exposed to an IAP of 20 mmHg or higher in the control group (p <0.05 for both comparisons among study groups 2, 3 and 4 vs the control group). CONCLUSIONS: An IAP increased to 20 mmHg and higher was found to result in impaired strength and wound healing in colocolic anastomoses, as reflected by the decreased bursting pressure and mucosal layer formation, and by the increased inflammation at the anastomosis sites of animals subjected to high IAP values.

An internal iliac artery aneurysm causing a colonic obstruction: report of a case.

An 80-year-old male patient presented with the chief complaints of a sudden onset of pain in the right lower quadrant and constipation of 3 days' duration. In computerized tomographic examination an aneurysm of right internal iliac artery and an abnormally enlarged descending colon were seen. During an emergency operation a small rupture in the subserosa of the rectosigmoid junction was found.

Does estrogen cause low conversion rates in laparoscopic cholecystectomies for acute and chronic cholecystitis in women?

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis. Severe local inflammation and scar formation are commonly responsible for conversion to open surgery. Fibrosuppressive effects of estrogen on peritoneal inflammatory conditions could provide low, dense fibrosis or scar formation around the gallbladder and make laparoscopic cholecystectomy easier in women and we believe that male sex is a conversion factor in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The management of liver hydatid cysts by percutaneous drainage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of percutaneous drainage on liver hydatid cysts. DESIGN: A retrospective case study. SETTING: Department of Surgery, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. PATIENTS: Forty-five patients with 83 liver hydatid cysts (types I and II according to the classification of Gharbi and colleagues) followed up for a mean of 30 months (range from 14 to 36 months). INTERVENTION: The cysts were drained percutaneously with ultrasonographic guidance and then irrigated with 0.05% silver nitrate solution through a fine needle. Albendazole was administered 48 hours before percutaneous drainage and for 2 months after the procedure to prevent the implantation of spilled scolices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications of the procedure, decrease in size of the cyst cavity, recurrence and dissemination of the cysts. RESULTS: All the cysts were treated successfully by percutaneous drainage. Anaphylactic shock developed in 1 (2.2 %) patient, and mild allergic reactions were observed in 2 (4.4 %) patients during the interventional procedure. Follow-up ultrasonography and CT demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the mean cyst size. Recurrence and dissemination were not observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration and drainage is effective for managing cystic liver hydatid disease in selected cases.

A comparison of the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of extraperitoneal carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide insufflation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of extraperitoneal carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and nitrous oxide (N(2)O) insufflation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen dogs were used in the experiment. All the animals were intubated under general anesthesia. A catheter was placed into the right jugular vein for central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP), and heart rate (HR) monitorization. End-tidal CO(2) pressure was measured by a capnometer connected to the endotracheal tube. Another catheter was inserted into the left femoral artery for arterial blood gas analysis and blood pressure monitorization. The preperitoneal dissection was made from a 1.5 cm subumbilical incision by using a preperitoneal dissection balloon. A laparoscope was placed in the preperitoneal space and the gas insufflation was kept at a constant pressure of 12 mm Hg throughout the experiment. All the study parameters were measured at the beginning of the insufflation and at every 15 minutes for 1 hour. RESULTS: Mean artery pressure increased with time in both groups, but the increase was only significant in the CO(2) group. PWP, CVP, PAP, and HR increased slightly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. The end-tidal CO(2) increased in the CO(2) group but decreased from the baseline in the N(2)O group. A significant acidosis was observed in only the CO(2) group. PaCO(2) significantly increased in the CO(2) group; hence, PaCO(2) slightly decreased in N(2)O group. The difference between the groups was significant. CONCLUSIONS: N(2)O insufflation of the extraperitoneal space in dogs avoided the unwanted metabolic and hemodynamic side effects of CO(2) insufflation. Thus, N(2)O insufflation in the extraperitoneal space is a safer alternative to CO(2) insufflation experimentally, and can be preferred especially in patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases.

Whole gut washout ameliorates the progression of acute experimental pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Septic complications are mainly responsible for deterioration of a patient with acute pancreatitis. Intestinal tract is accepted as the main source of pancreatic or peripancreatic infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Acute pancreatitis was induced in 40 Sprague-Dawley rats by ligation of the main biliopancreatic duct. Animals were divided into two groups. The first group of animals (n = 20) received high volume polyethylene glycol-3500 (GoLYTELY) for 6 hours through a silastic catheter introduced into the proximal part of the jejunum from a puncture gastrostomy during the initial laparotomy. The second group animals (n = 20) did not receive any treatment. Half of the animals from each group were sacrificed 72 hours later and tissue samples were taken from mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, spleen, and liver for bacteriologic cultures. Cecum cultures were also prepared. Blood samples at 72 hours were obtained for the measurement of amylase, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), lactic acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, calcium, arterial pH, base excess, partial oxygen pressure, bicarbonate, leucocyte count, and hematocrit levels. The pancreas was examined histopathologically. The remaining half of the animals from each group were allowed to survive until death. RESULTS: The levels of amylase, LDH, ALT, lactic acid, pH, pO(2), bicarbonate and base excess for the rats in group I were significantly lower when compared with the rats in group II (P<0.05). Positive mesenteric lymph node cultures were detected in 30% of group I animals whereas they were positive in 90% of group II animals (P = 0.0198). Distant organ cultures were positive in 8 animals (liver 5, spleen 2, pancreas 1) in group II, whereas only one positive distant organ culture (liver) was established in group I (P>0.05). Histopathological scoring observed in the pancreas were less severe for the rats in group I when compared with the rats in group II (P = 0.012). The rats in group I survived longer than the rats in group II (median survival 6.8 days versus 17.3 days, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Whole gut washout with high-volume polyethylene glycol in pancreatitis reduced the blood levels of enzymes and increased the survival. Whole gut washout for acute pancreatitis appears effective to ameliorate the prognostic factors in blood and this modality may be a promising treatment method in acute pancreatitis.

The impact of oral feeding on the severity of acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: In the management of acute pancreatitis, oral feeding is prohibited and either enteral or parenteral feeding is commenced for the patients in an effort to not increase the secretion of the pancreatic enzymes. PURPOSE: This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the impact of oral feeding on the severity of acute pancreatitis and to compare this impact with that of parenteral feeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. In both groups, acute pancreatitis was induced by ligation of the main biliopancreatic duct. The rats in group I were fed orally and the rats in group II were fed parenterally. The rats were sacrificed at 48 hours, and blood samples were obtained from the heart upon exposure of the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The pancreas and the left lung were removed for histopathological examination. The levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glucose, calcium and blood urea nitrogen, base deficit, partial oxygen pressure, leukocyte count, and hematocrit level among Ranson criteria and the level of amylase were measured. The pancreas and the lung were examined under a light microscope. RESULTS: The levels of LDH, SGOT, and calcium for the rats in group I were significantly higher when compared with the rats in group II (P <0.05). Similarly, the levels of amylase for the rats in group I were found to be higher when compared with the rats in group II, but the difference was not significant. Inflammatory changes observed in the pancreas were less severe whereas inflammatory changes observed in the lung were more severe for the rats in group I when compared with the rats in group II. CONCLUSION: The blood levels of the enzymes were adversely affected for the rats fed orally. In contrast, inflammatory changes observed in the pancreas were more severe for the rats fed parenterally. The study suggests that certain hormones released from the duodenum upon stimulation by oral nutrient intake lessens the severity of pancreatitis through protective effects on the pancreas, whereas the elevated levels of the enzymes cause endothelial damage resulting in destruction in distant organs such as the lung.

Open drainage versus overlapping method in the treatment of hepatic hydatid cyst cavities.

In order to compare the results of open drainage and overlapping methods, 58 consecutive patients with uncomplicated hepatic hydatid disease were investigated between January 1990 and January 1997. The cavities were obliterated by overlapping method in 26 patients and were left open into the peritoneal cavity following partial pericystectomy in 32 patients. Postoperative complications and follow-up results of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) were compared between the two groups. In total, there were 56 cysts in the obliterated group and 83 cysts in the open drainage group. There was no significant difference in age, sex, mean diameter of the cysts, US features of the cysts according to the Gharbi classification, and median follow-up. Mean hospital stay was 10 days in the overlapping group and 7.5 days in the open drainage group (P = 0.033). No postoperative complication was observed in the obliterated group and nearly half of the cyst cavities could not be detected in the early postoperative period by US and CT. Pleural effusion (n = 1) and biliary fistula (n = 1) were detected in the open drainage group which disappeared spontaneously. In the open drainage group, US and CT surveillance revealed that the cyst cavities were reduced in size and the echo pattern was changed in the early postoperative period, whereas the appearance changed into pseudotumor view in the late postoperative period. In conclusion, the cyst cavities disappear perfectly in the overlapping group. Treating the cyst cavity by open drainage is an easy, effective and safe technique. Open drainage can be a 'method of choice' for patients with multiple hydatid cysts and for cysts where management is difficult or unamenable to other methods, but the residual cyst cavities may be misinterpreted as a new cyst by an inexperienced radiologist.