Dental Prosthesis in Esophagus: A Right Cervicotomic Approach.

Foreign body ingestion in the upper digestive tract is a relatively common emergency. Less than 1% have to be treated surgically. We report the case of a 68-year-old man who ingested a dental prosthesis, probably during a seizure, and thus unknowingly, and presented two days later to the emergency department complaining of a mild dysphagia. A chest radiograph showed the presence of a removable dental prosthesis in the upper esophageal tract. The patient was brought to the operating room where a multidisciplinary equipe was assembled. Two attempts of retrieval with a flexible and a rigid endoscope failed because the removable dental prosthesis was stuck in the right pyriform sinus. Therefore, the surgeon performed an uncommon right cervicotomy and retrieved the foreign body through a right-side esophagotomy. The surgical approach depends on the nature and location of the foreign body. Urgent treatment is required whenever the patient develops dyspnea or dysphagia because of the high risk of inhalation and asphyxia. Removal of any esophageal foreign body has to be performed within 12-24 h. Repeated attempts to retrieve large dental prosthesis using an endoscope may result in esophageal perforation therefore when such risk of complication is too high, a surgical approach becomes inevitable. In our opinion, surgery remains the extrema ratio after a failed endoscopic retrieval attempt but can be lifesaving despite high risk of complications.

Predictive Models for the Functional Recovery of Transplanted Kidney.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease, however, in 20% of cases, the graft develops a delayed graft function (DGF) that is associated with both early and late worsening of the outcome. The aim of this study was to examine and validate in a population of transplanted patients the appropriateness of the predictive score systems of DGF available to identify patients who might take advantage of a tailored immunosuppressive therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify articles concerning scoring systems predicting DGF to identify those applicable to the study population and subsequently comparing their appropriateness for defining the most accurate one. RESULTS: From an analysis of the scientific literature, we found 7 scoring systems predicting DGF. Of these, 3 can be calculated for the study population. We enrolled 247 renal transplants in the study. DGF was recorded in 41 cases (15.95%). The Irish score recognized 25 of 41 cases (60.98%), the Jeldres score 41 of 41 cases (100%), and the Chapal score only 7 of 41 (17.07%). Although the Irish score did not identify all cases of DGF, the analysis of data revealed that it is the most accurate, with area under the receiver operating characteristic almost overlapping. CONCLUSIONS: The study resulted in some interesting and promising conclusions about the predictability of DGF, defining the Irish score as the most reliable. This result can be considered the fundamental requirement to develop a custom therapeutic algorithm to be applied to all recipients with higher probability of developing DGF.

Indocyanine Green Angiography for Quality Assessment of the Kidney During Transplantation: An Outcome Predictor Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular damage is the main cause of delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplant. Assessing its extent may be helpful in predicting DGF to achieve better postoperative management, especially in terms of an immunosuppressive regimen. Our aim was to explore the capability of intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) angiography to examine the microvasculature of the kidney. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 37 kidney transplant recipients in a high-volume kidney transplant center. During surgery, after graft implant, an ICG angiography was performed through a high-definition Storz camera system (Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) with successive quantitative assessment of fluorescence using Icy bioimage analysis. RESULTS: All transplanted kidneys that showed immediate recovery of their function had a fluorescent intensity ≥49.953 with a mean of 96.930 ± 21. The fluorescence intensity for kidneys that showed a delayed recovery of their function never exceeded 55.648, and the mean was 37.718 ± 13. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant with a P value < .001. The only kidney that never recovered showed a fluorescence intensity consistently <25.220, the lowest detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that intraoperative ICG angiography may be used to assess the microvasculature of the graft. A statistically significant difference in terms of fluorescent intensity can be highlighted between kidneys that immediately recover their function and those with delayed recovery. Further larger studies are needed to confirm the capability of the technique to predict DGF to optimize the transplanted patients' management.

Pretransplant Nephrectomy for Large Polycystic Kidneys in ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease) Patients: Is Peritoneal Dialysis Recovery Possible after Surgery?

The choice of modality for renal replacement therapy in patients with ADPKD varies, often based on patient choice, physician-related factors, and resource availability. For a long time peritoneal dialysis (PD) was considered as relative contraindication due to the possible limited intraperitoneal space. In recent years, some studies suggested it is a valid option also in patients with ADPKD to be considered as a first line treatment in potentially fit patients. Diuresis volume lowering and potential permanent damage of peritoneal integrity, both leading to a necessary switch to haemodialysis, are the two most important dangers after nephrectomy, especially if bilateral, in PD patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of patient underwent native polycystic kidney nephrectomy in order to state the possibility to recover peritoneal dialysis after surgery.

Laparoscopic repair of voluminous symptomatic hiatal hernia using absorbable synthetic mesh.

INTRODUCTION: Hiatal hernia is a common disorder and a controversial topic. In symptomatic voluminous hernias laparoscopic surgery and use of mesh can be considered. An initial experience in voluminous hiatal hernia laparoscopic repair using absorbable glycolic acid/trimethylene carbonate synthetic mesh is reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study from an institutional database was performed to analyze laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair using absorbable synthetic mesh from January 2010 to December 2013. All preoperative symptoms and exams were collected and a standardized procedure was performed. Clinical and radiological follow-up was performed. RESULTS: Eight patients underwent laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernia performed by two highly skilled laparoscopic surgeons. One Toupet and seven Nissen fundoplications were tailored. No conversions into laparotomy, neither intraoperative complications nor mortality occurred. After a median follow-up of 23.5 months (range 14 - 44) no mesh complications occurred and all patients are asymptomatic. Two radiological recurrences (25%) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Voluminous symptomatic hiatal hernias can be successfully treated in a high-volume and long-term experienced laparoscopic surgical center by the use of an absorbable synthetic mesh. Further studies and a longer-term follow-up are necessary to confirm this preliminary report.

Laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia in a laparoscopic experienced surgical center: low recurrence rate, morbidity, and chronic pain are achievable.

PURPOSE: Recurrence rate and the perioperative outcome evaluation through laparoscopic approach for ventral (primary and incisional) hernia repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of a series of patients treated through a minimally invasive approach for ventral hernia was performed. A standardized surgical technique was adopted. All the patients were evaluated through a clinical follow-up. RESULTS: From July 2004 to June 2011, 150 videolaparoscopic ventral hernia repairs were performed. The median follow-up was 40 months. One hernia recurrence (0.7%) was detected after 55 months. The intraoperative and postoperative complication rate was 2.6% (1 conversion to open surgery) and 5.3%, respectively. Chronic pain nonresponsive to drug was registered in 2 patients (1.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The videolaparoscopic approach to ventral hernia repair is a safe technique that can guarantee a low recurrence rate; moreover, if it is performed in an experienced laparoscopic surgical center, it can be a valid alternative to the traditional open approach.

Glove technique in single-port access laparoscopic surgery: results of an initial experience.

Introduction. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is a virtually "scarless" technique. A retrospective analysis is performed to evaluate an initial experience of this surgical approach. Materials and Methods. From January 2010 to October 2011, SILS was considered as a minimally invasive approach to abdominal disease. The access was made by a standard wound protector and a size 6 glove. A series of little accesses were made on the tips of the glove-fingers to induce pneumoperitoneum and to create a working channel for the laparoscopic instruments. An analysis of costs of this technique was made too. Results. SILS was successfully completed with low cost in 34 patients: 20 appendectomy, 12 cholecystectomy, and 2 right colectomy were performed with a median operative time of 35, 45, and 67.5 minutes, respectively. In no patient any conversion to standard laparoscopy or to open surgery was needed. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. In right hemicolectomy, the oncological parameters were respected. Conclusions. In this paper the glove-port technique showed multiple advantages. The SILS is a feasible approach for some pathologies in selected patients. The glove-port is a simple, low-cost, reproducible, and sure method to perform SILS in a high-experienced laparoscopic surgical centre.