Is ultrasound guidance necessary to avoid complications in the implantation of venous access ports?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to present demographic information of patients undergoing totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) implantation and to investigate the rates of early and late complications, assessing the benefits of performing the procedure underUS guidance. METHODS: From May 2018 to December 2023, the outcomes of a total of 537 TIVAP implantation procedures were analyzed retrospectively. Data of the surgeons' experiences for both puncture methods (anatomical landmarks and ultrasound guidance) are presented in the study. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 53.1±11.9 years, and 261 (48.6%) were female. The right subclavian vein was the preferred insertion site. Fourteen patients developed early complications and 11 developed late complications. Arterial puncture was the most common early complication, while catheter-related infection was the most common late complication. The age, sex, and body mass index of the patients were not independent risk factors for developing complications. Early complications increased as the number of puncture attempts did (p=0.034) and developed significantly less when ultrasound guidance was used during insertion (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: The risk of developing complications was not affected by patient's age or sex. In addition, body mass index was not shown to be an independent risk factor for patients developing complications. It may be concluded from the study that early complications in particular can be reduced with ultrasound-guided implantation.

Endovascular and surgical management of splenic artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Although true splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) are rare, due to advancements in imaging techniques, they are seen more frequently. The aim of this study is to present our strategy of managing patients with SAA. METHODS: Retrospectively, 13 patients who were treated in a tertiary university care center between 2012 and 2020 were included. Their demographic, clinical information, and post-operative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven male and six female patients were evaluated between the ages of 27 and 73. The mean age was 49.8±13.2. The diameter of the aneurysm was between 17 and 80 mm with a mean range of 31.5±16 mm. Seven patients were treated with endovascular interventions (EV). Two patients were referred to surgery with failed attempt of EV, but patients refused surgery and were followed up consequently. Patients who had larger aneurysms with an increased risk of rupture underwent aneurysmectomy and splenectomy. Conservative management was decided on two patients initially: A patient who was previously operated on for a sigmoid colon tumor, and had an aneurysm size of 15 mm and another patient with a surgical history of thoracic aortic dissection with an aneurysm size of 18 mm. One patient who underwent surgery had post-operative pancreatic fistula and was treated with percutaneous drainage. The treatment of the remaining 12 patients was completed without any further complications. CONCLUSION: Splenic artery aneurysm treatment should be individualized. Endovascular treatment can be considered for patients with stable aneurysms larger than 2 cm in the elective setting. Open surgical treatment should be considered in patients with ruptured SAA or hemodynamically unstable, complicated patients.

Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT) versus sinus laser therapy (SiLaT) for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus.

Introduction: New surgical treatment methods are being investigated in sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease. Minimal invasive methods such as endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSIT) and sinus laser therapy (SiLaT) have promising results and advantages of laparoscopic surgery. Aim: To compare the efficiency and safety of EPSIT with SiLaT. Material and methods: Seventy-three patients with pilonidal sinus who had undergone EPSIT or SiLaT within 2 years were evaluated retrospectively. Data of patients' demographics, complications and postoperative course were collected and compared between the two groups. Results: We analyzed seventy-three patients who underwent EPSIT or SiLaT, with a mean age of 23.4 ±8.4 (12-46) years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.5 ±4.5 (18-38) kg/m2. Among them, 36 patients (26 males, ten females) underwent EPSIT and 37 patients (27 males, ten females) underwent SiLaT. Mean operative time was similar for both groups (32.3 ±14.8 vs. 31.0 ±14.8; p = 0.757). Early complications (minimal bleeding) were recorded in 2 patients in the SiLaT group. The duration of analgesic use was significantly lower in the EPSIT group compared to the SiLaT group (1.3 ±0.5 (1-3) vs. 1.9 ±1.1 (1-5); p = 0.005). The mean postoperative time of total wound healing was similar for both groups: 23.6 ±14.7 (12-90) vs. 25.2 ±14.5 (14-90) days (p = 0.385). There was no significant difference in the average time of return to total daily activity (3.4 ±0.9 (2-5) vs. 3.6 ±1.2 (2-7) days, p = 0.679). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding late postoperative complications (recurrence: 7). Conclusions: Both methods have similar early and late complications. The duration of need for analgesic usage was shorter in EPSIT patients.

Complete Response Evaluation of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Using Textural Features Obtained from T2 Weighted Imaging and ADC Maps.

BACKGROUND: The prediction of pathological responses for locally advanced rectal cancer using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a challenging task for radiologists, as residual tumor cells can be mistaken for fibrosis. Texture analysis of MR images has been proposed to understand the underlying pathology. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the responses of lesions to CRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer using the first-order textural features of MRI T2-weighted imaging (T2-WI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. METHODS: Forty-four patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (median age: 57 years) who underwent MRI before and after CRT were enrolled in this retrospective study. The first-order textural parameters of tumors on T2-WI and ADC maps were extracted. The textural features of lesions in pathologic complete responders were compared to partial responders using Student's t- or Mann-Whitney U tests. A comparison of textural features before and after CRT for each group was performed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to detect the diagnostic performance of the ADC. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients evaluated, 22 (50%) were placed in a partial response group and 50% were placed in a complete response group. The ADC changes of the complete responders were statistically more significant than those of the partial responders (P = 0.002). Pathologic total response was predicted with an ADC cut-off of 1310 x 10-6 mm2/s, with a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 77%, and an accuracy of 78.1% after neoadjuvant CRT. The skewness of the T2-WI before and after neoadjuvant CRT showed a significant difference in the complete response group compared to the partial response group (P = 0.001 for complete responders vs. P = 0.482 for partial responders). Also, relative T2-WI signal intensity in the complete response group was statistically lower than that of the partial response group after neoadjuvant CRT (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: As a result of the conversion of tumor cells to fibrosis, the skewness of the T2-WI before and after neoadjuvant CRT was statistically different in the complete response group compared to the partial response group, and the complete response group showed statistically lower relative T2-WI signal intensity than the partial response group after neoadjuvant CRT. Additionally, the ADC cut-off value of 1310 × 10-6 mm2/s could be used as a marker for a complete response along with absolute ADC value changes within this dataset.

Femoral artery aneurysm developed on intimal sarcoma: Case report.

Intimal angiosarcoma is a rare vascular malignancy, and diagnosis is very difficult due to nonspecific symptoms. There are controversial points regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of intimal angiosarcomas. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient diagnosed with femoral artery intimal angiosarcoma. Furthermore, in line with previous studies, it was aimed to illuminate controversial points. A 33-year-old male patient, who had been operated on due to ruptured femoral artery aneurysm, was diagnosed with intimal angiosarcoma with the pathology result. Recurrence was observed during clinical follow-up, and the patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Since there was no response to treatment, the patient underwent aggressive surgery including the surrounding tissues. No recurrence or metastasis was observed in the patient's 10th month follow-up. Although intimal angiosarcoma is rare, it should be considered in differential diagnosis when femoral artery aneurysm is detected. The most important step in treatment is aggressive surgery, but adding chemo-radiotherapy to the treatment should be considered.

The learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a comparison of three inexperienced surgeons.

INTRODUCTION: Studies with inexperienced surgeons in terms of the learning curve for laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair are limited. AIM: To compare three inexperienced surgeons in terms of the learning curve without supervision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients' data, which were from consecutive laparoscopic TEP hernioplasties between December 2017 and February 2020, were analysed retrospectively. The primary outcome was to compare the learning curve of three surgeons (Surgeon A, B, and C) in terms of complications, conversion, and duration of surgery. Secondary outcomes were recurrence rates. RESULTS: A total of 299 patients were included in the study. Conversion and intraoperative complication rates decreased after the first 60 cases (from 10% to 2.5%, p = 0.013 and from 9% to 2.5%, p = 0.027, respectively). The mean operative time reached a plateau of less than 40 min after 51-81 cases (Surgeon A 51, B 71, and C 81 cases). Ageing was a risk factor for intraoperative complications and recurrence (p < 0.001, p = 0.008, respectively), and higher body mass index (BMI) was a risk factor for conversion (p = 0.004). Age ≥ 60 years compared to age < 60 years increased intraoperative complications five-fold and recurrence six-fold (p = 0.001). On the other hand, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 increased the possibility of conversion to open surgery nine-fold (p < 0.001). In addition, a positive correlation was found between the operative time and the BMI and VAS score (p = 0.004, p = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In order to reach the plateau in the operative time during the TEP learning curve period, more than 50 cases should be experienced, whereas more than 60 cases are needed for conversion, intraoperative complications, and recurrence.

Is elective cancer surgery feasible during the lock-down period of the COVID-19 pandemic? Analysis of a single institutional experience of 404 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the feasibility and short-term clinical outcomes of surgical procedures for cancer at an institution using a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-free surgical pathway during the peak phase of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center study, including cancer patients from all surgical departments, who underwent elective surgical procedures during the first peak phase between March 10 and June 30, 2020. The primary outcomes were the rate of postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and 30-day pulmonary or non-pulmonary related morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease. RESULTS: Four hundred and four cancer patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were analyzed. The rate of patients who underwent open and minimally invasive procedures was 61.9% and 38.1%, respectively. Only one (0.2%) patient died during the study period due to postoperative SARS-CoV2 infection because of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The overall non-SARS-CoV2 related 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 19.3% and 1.7%, respectively; whereas the overall SARS-CoV2 related 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Under strict institutional policies and measures to establish a COVID-19-free surgical pathway, elective and emergency cancer operations can be performed with acceptable perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Single-Incision Versus Conventional Multiport Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy: A Single Institution Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Single-incision laparoscopic procedures have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their minimal incisional morbidity and improved cosmetic outcomes. Herein, we will compare the feasibility and outcomes of single-incision and conventional multiport laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. METHODS: This study involves consecutive patients who underwent either single-incision or conventional multiport laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy from March 2007 to February 2014. The patients were divided into two groups, based on the surgical approach: single-incision laparoscopic surgery (Group 1) and conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery (Group 2). The parameters evaluated included estimated blood loss, operative time, postoperative pain, duration of hospital stay, complications, conversion, and final pathology. RESULTS: There were a total of 20 patients, 10 in each study group. Baseline characteristics were similar, and there was no mortality in either of the groups. The low-flow pancreatic fistula was the most commonly seen morbidity, but it was ceased spontaneously in each group by a ratio of 30%. The operative time was significantly shorter in Group 2, with a mean of 116 minutes versus a mean of 180 minutes for Group 1 (p<0.001). One of the procedures in Group 2 was converted to open surgery due to peroperative bleeding. The median follow-up periods of the patients were 22 months and 56 months. The spleen was preserved in only 1 patient from Group 1, whereas in Group 2, the spleen preservation was achieved in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: The single-incision laparoscopic technique is a safe and effective alternative to standard laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

The diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography in detecting diaphragmatic injury secondary to thoracoabdominal penetrating traumas: a comparison with diagnostic laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography (CT) for the detection diaphragmatic injury in cases undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy in left thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries. METHODS: Demographic properties, stabbed body region, additional injuries, hemodynamic parameters, time to admission, diagnostic examinations, and type of treatment were retrospectively reviewed in one hundred and eight patients presenting with left thoracoabdominal injury after penetrating sharp object injury between April 2010 and December 2014. Preoperative CT scans of all patients were reviewed blind to the results of surgical evaluation. The relationship between diaphragmatic injury and hemothorax, pneumothorax, abdominal free fluid, and solid organ injuries were analyzed. All patients underwent physical examination, complete blood count monitoring, and hemodynamic assessment prior to surgery. RESULTS: The most common finding on physical examination was anterior left thoracoabdominal injury. The injury was detected surgically in 36% of twenty-five cases with lateral injury. Diaphragmatic injury was present in twenty-five (23.1%) of all cases, all of whom were treated with laparoscopic repair. An analysis of all CT findings in relation to surgical results revealed that CT had a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 95%, a PPV of 83%, and a NPV of 94% for the detection of diaphragmatic injuries. Mean duration of hospital stay was 5.4 days (range, 1-16 days) in the entire study population. CONCLUSION: CT is still associated with diagnostic challenges in penetrating diaphragmatic injuries. Nevertheless, CT showed a high specificity and a negative predictive value in our study. Detection of a diaphragmatic defect and fatty tissue herniation makes the definitive diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury in penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries. Prospective studies with a larger sample size are necessary to further clarify the role of CT in detection of diaphragmatic injuries in thoracoabdominal sharp penetrating object injuries.