Prevention of lymphocele in female pelvic lymphadenectomy by a collagen patch coated with the human coagulation factors: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prevention of lymphoceles was tested using collagen patch coated with the human coagulation factors (TachoSil) on 58 consecutive patients with endometrial cancer who had undergone hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL). METHODS: Patients were randomized in two groups: standard technique plus TachoSil (30 patients, group 1) and standard technique only (28, group 2). All surgical parameters were collected and patients underwent ultrasound examination on postoperative days 7, 14, and 28. The main outcome measures were: the development of symptomatic or asymptomatic lymphoceles, the need for further surgical intervention, as adverse effect of surgery and the drainage volume and duration. RESULTS: Same number of lymph nodes in both groups was removed; group 1 showed a lower drainage volume. Lymphoceles developed in 7 patients in group 1 and 16 in group 2, but only 3 were symptomatic in group 1 and 9 symptomatic in group 2, with statistical difference. Percutaneous drainage proved necessary in five cases: only one was in group 1 and four in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative application of TachoSil reduced rate of postoperative lymphocysts after PL, and it seems to provide a useful additional treatment option for reducing drainage volume and preventing lymphocele development after PL.

Juxta-anastomotic stenosis of native arteriovenous fistulas: surgical treatment versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

PURPOSE: Juxta-anastomotic stenosis (JAS) is a complication of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). Both surgical revision (SR) and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) may correct JAS. In this study we compare the results for SR treatment versus PTA. METHODS: From January 2005 until December 2008, 66 PTA and 68 SR were performed in 43 and 57 uremic pts with JAS of the native AVF, respectively. Efficacy of SR and PTA was evaluated measuring brachial arterial flow (BAF) by CDU. The Kaplan-Meier table of primary and assisted primary patency was analyzed. RESULTS: PTA was attempted in 50 patients. PTA failed in 7 patients and they were switched to SR. In 43 pts, PTA produced a favorable effect, with a mean increase of 99 ± 70% (p<0.001) in blood flow. Restenosis occurred in 17 pts: 2 were treated by SR and 15 by PTA. Restenosis occurred again in 6/15 pts: after second restenosis, 5/6 pts received a third PTA with stenting, 1 patient underwent SR. The failure of access occurred after 12-17 months in 3 pts. In 57/57 JAS treated by SR, a new well-functioning fistula was created upstream of the stenosis, with a mean increase of 102 ± 71% in blood flow (p<0.001). Restenosis occurred in 15 pts: 9 were treated by SR and 6 by PTA. Access failure occurred after 3-36 months in 9 pts. The Kaplan-Meier table showed a better primary patency for SR (p<0.05) without difference in assisted primary patency. CONCLUSIONS: SR showed a better primary patency then PTA, confirming the trend to stenosis relapse after PTA. So, as PTA does not exclude a later correction of the JAS, the similar assisted patency suggests to perform a PTA first, reserving SR for after its failure.

Emergency endovascular nanopharmacologic treatment in advanced gynecological cancers.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced cases of uterine carcinomas with parametrial and fornix infiltration often cause massive genital bleeding, with severe anemia, fast deterioration, and a high risk of death for patients; women with advanced uterine cancer (UC) and genital massive bleeding were treated using an endovascular therapy in local anesthesia. METHODS: Ten women with advanced UC and genital massive bleeding were hospitalized for a high risk of immediate death; after blood transfusions and resuscitation therapy, the patients were submitted to an experimental nanopharmacologic endovascular therapy in local anesthesia. RESULTS: On average, the total operative time for the procedure was 38.6 minutes, the intrasurgical blood loss was of 37 mL, the postoperative analgesic request for 48 hours was just for 3 patients (all dismissed in the second day after pelvic artery embolization), the hemoglobin level at dismissal was of 6.5 g/L, and the duration of hospital stay was 1.4 days. All patients well tolerated the procedure, with no linked complications; clinical check was at the 10th and 30th days after dismissal, with no further recurrent genital bleeding in the follow-up course stopped at the visit in the 60th day. CONCLUSIONS: Genital bleeding in advanced UC is a serious complication because it causes deterioration of the patient's general status and has a worse prognosis. The pelvic uterine embolization according to our endovascular nanopharmacologic methods is bloodless, less traumatic, and faster than a surgical procedure. Even if it requires experience in intervention radiology, it enables the continuation of external radiotherapy without delay and can replace laparotomic or laparoscopic treatment.