Wandering spleen as a cause of sinistral portal hypertension

Wandering spleen (WS) is a rare entity characterized by laxity of peritoneal ligaments that hold the spleen stationary. It is most commonly diagnosed in children and young women. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic to acute abdomen. A 19-year-old woman came to the emergency department with history of progressive abdominal pain. She also had previous episodes of hematemesis. A computed tomography scan showed an ectopic spleen with a "whirlpool sign." Laparotomy and splenectomy were performed. WS is characterized by a long vascular pedicle and laxity of peritoneal attachments of the spleen. The etiology is usually congenital. Splenopexy is the main treatment; however, splenectomy is indicated when splenic infarction is present. Despite being rare, this condition may be considered in some cases of abdominal pain. An earlier diagnosis would have allowed us to perform a splenopexy, thus reducing morbidity. (AU)

Pyoderma gangrenosum postlaparoscopy: a rare complication.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, chronic, often destructive, inflammatory skin disease in which a painful nodule or pustule breaks down to form a progressively enlarging ulcer. There are only 4 reported cases of postlaparoscopic PG and the purpose of this case report is to describe a patient found to have the disease after elective laparoscopy. Although rare, the occurrence of PG after surgery, even where incisions are small such as in laparoscopic surgery, is a diagnosis that cannot be neglected, especially due to the high morbidity, which increases if the diagnosis is not made and the patient is subjected to debridement.

Late intestinal obstruction due to an intestinal volvulus in a pregnant patient with a previous Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

This is a case of a 33 weeks pregnant woman, presented 2 years after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, with abdominal pain for 2 days. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed 1 day earlier in another hospital, without improving the pain. She presented at our hospital with acute abdominal pain and clinical signs of intestinal obstruction, undergoing an exploratory laparotomy that revealed a volvulus and necrosis of the jejunum from the gastroenteroanastomosis through the lateral enteroenterostomy, which was resected with the reconstruction of the Roux-en-Y limb performed at the same operation. Patient and neonate presented with improvement after surgery and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 15. Internal hernias after bariatric surgery have been reported as the cause of acute abdomen problems during pregnancy, which may progress to necrosis and perforation. The delay of surgical intervention could have brought a tragic outcome for mother and neonate.

Effect of nicotine and cigarette smoke on an experimental model of intraepithelial lesions and pancreatic adenocarcinoma induced by 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene in mice.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke exposure on mice submitted to 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) model of pancreatic carcinogenesis. METHODS: One hundred fourteen male mice were divided into the DMBA-n and DMBA-s groups: the DMBA-n group was given 2 mg/kg per dose of nicotine ([3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridine]) subcutaneously for 45 days, and the DMBA-s group was exposed to 100 mg/m of cigarette smoke. At day 16, 1 mg of DMBA crystals was implanted in the pancreatic head of both groups. Euthanasia was performed in all mice 30 days after the surgery. The specimens were evaluated according to the following criteria: normal ducts, reactive hyperplasia, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm 3 (PanIN-3), and carcinoma. For statistical analysis, DMBA-exclusive ([DMBA-e] historical control group) was included. RESULTS: The frequency of PanIN in the 3 groups was almost the same when considering the higher-grade lesions: DMBA-e (16 [66.7%]), DMBA-s (20 [66.7%]), and DMBA-n (12 [44.4%]). Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a higher frequency in the DMBA-n group (14 [51.9%]) than in the DMBA-e (4 [16.7%]) and DMBA-s (4, 13.3%) groups. The DMBA-s group has the highest score of PanIN-3 (40%). The differences among the groups were statistically significant (P = 0.05, Fisher exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine but not cigarette smoke promotes pancreatic DMBA carcinogenesis in mice. Pancreatic adenocarcinomas and PanINs have the same phenotypic appearance as those that occur in humans.

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and ductal adenocarcinoma induced by DMBA in mice: effects of alcohol and caffeine.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of alcohol and caffeine in a pancreatic carcinogenesis mouse model induced by 7,12-dimethylbenzantracene (DMBA), according to the PanIN classification system. METHODS: 120 male, Mus musculus, CF-1 mice were divided into four groups. Animals received either water or caffeine or alcohol or alcohol + caffeine in their drinking water. In all animals, 1 mg of DMBA was implanted into the head of the pancreas. After 30 days, euthanasia was performed; excised pancreata were then fixed in formalin, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and categorized as follows: normal ducts, reactive hyperplasia, PanIN-1A, PanIN-1B, PanIN-2, PanIN-3 or adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: PanIN lesions were verified in all groups. Adenocarcinoma was detected in 15% of animals in the caffeine group, 16.6% in the water group, 23.8% in the alcohol + caffeine group and 52.9% in the alcohol group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The experimental pancreatic carcinogenesis mouse model using DMBA effectively induces PanIN lesions and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This study verified the association between alcohol use and pancreatic adenocarcinoma; caffeine did not present the same effect.

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and ductal adenocarcinoma induced by DMBA in mice: effects of alcohol and caffeine

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of alcohol and caffeine in a pancreatic carcinogenesis mouse model induced by 7,12-dimethylbenzantracene (DMBA), according to the PanIN classification system. METHODS: 120 male, Mus musculus, CF-1 mice were divided into four groups. Animals received either water or caffeine or alcohol or alcohol + caffeine in their drinking water. In all animals, 1 mg of DMBA was implanted into the head of the pancreas. After 30 days, euthanasia was performed; excised pancreata were then fixed in formalin, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and categorized as follows: normal ducts, reactive hyperplasia, PanIN-1A, PanIN-1B, PanIN-2, PanIN-3 or adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: PanIN lesions were verified in all groups. Adenocarcinoma was detected in 15 percent of animals in the caffeine group, 16.6 percent in the water group, 23.8 percent in the alcohol + caffeine group and 52.9 percent in the alcohol group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The experimental pancreatic carcinogenesis mouse model using DMBA effectively induces PanIN lesions and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This study verified the association between alcohol use and pancreatic adenocarcinoma; caffeine did not present the same effect.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do álcool e da cafeína na carcinogênese pancreática induzida pelo 7,12-dimetilbenzantraceno (DMBA) em camundongos, descrevendo as lesões de acordo com a classificação das neoplasias pacreáticas intraepiteliais (PanIN). MÉTODOS: 120 camundogos machos, Mus musculus, CF-1 foram divididos em quatro grupos. Animais receberam água ou cafeína ou álcool ou álcool + cafeína para beber. Em todos animais, 1 mg de DMBA foi implantado na cabeça do pâncreas. Após 30 dias, eutanásia foi realizada, o pâncreas foi removido, fixado em formalina e corado com hematoxilina e eosina sendo classificado em: ductos normais, hiperplasia reativa, PanIN-1A, PanIN-1B, PanIN-2, PanIN-3 ou adenocarcinoma. RESULTADOS: Neoplasias pancreáticas intraepiteliais foram encontradas em todos grupos. Adenocarcinoma foi detectado em 15 por cento dos animais do grupo cafeína, 16,6 por cento do grupo água, 23,8 por cento do grupo álcool + cafeína e 52,9 por cento do grupo álcool (P<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: O modelo experimental de carcinogênese pancreática em camundongos utilizando DMBA induz neoplasias pancreáticas intraepiteliais (PanIN) e adenocarcinoma pancreático. Este estudoverificou associação entre álcool e adenocarcinoma pancreático, enquanto a cafeína não demonstrou este efeito.

Ressecções pancreáticas: experiência do grupo de vias biliares e pâncreas do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre entre 2000 e 2003 / Pancreatic resections: experience of the pancreato-biliary group at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, between 2000 and 2003

Este trabalho apresenta a experiência de 20 ressecções pancreáticas e tem como objetivo principal ressaltar a importância dos centros de referência para doenças de tratamento cirúrgico complexo, como é o caso dos portadores de neoplasia da confluência biliopancreática. De 60 doentes com neoplasia biliopancreática tratados no período de janeiro de 2000 a janeiro de 2003, 20 foram submetidos a ressecção: 16 a duodenopancreatectomia, três a ressecção corpo-caudal e um a ressecção da Papila de Vater. As complicações mais freqüentes foram: cinco fístulas pancreáticas, sete abscessos intra-abdominais e oito infecções do aparelho respiratório. A mortalidade foi de 0 por cento. Nos Estados Unidos, em hospitais com pequena experiência, nos anos de 1984 a 1991, a mortalidade foi de 21,8 por cento; já em centros de referência, foi de 4 por cento. Em série anterior do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, referente ao período de 1988 a 1999, a mortalidade foi de 20 por cento. A presente série confirma a experiência internacional: o resultado das ressecções pancreáticas é melhor em centros de referência. A indicação da cirurgia, os cuidados pré e pós-operatórios e a experiência de uma equipe que realiza o procedimento no mínimo de 10 a 15 vezes por ano são fundamentais para a obtenção de bons resultados, com a gradativa diminuição do tempo de internação e dos custos hospitalares

Effects of octreotide in experimental acute pancreatitis

O octreotide, um analogo sintetico de longa duracao da somatostatina, foi avaliado na prevencao e tratamento da pancreatite aguda experimental induzida pela tecnica da alca duodenal fechada. Quarenta ratos machos da raca Wistar (peso medio de 361 g) foram alocados em quatro grupos. Nos grupos nao-tratado (2), tratado (3) e profilatico (4), induziu-se a pancreatite aguda atraves da tecnica da alca duodenal fechada, enquanto que no grupo controle (1), o procedimento cirurgico foi...

Estenoses biliares iatrogênicas: experiência cirúrgica com 36 pacientes / Iatrogenic biliary strictures: surgical experience with 36 patients

É apresentada a experiência com o tratamento cirúrgico de 36 pacientes portadores de lesäo acidental da via biliar principal. As lesöes foram agrupadas na classificaçäo de Bismuth e o tratamento padronizado de acordo com a localizaçäo da lesäo. O total de cirurgias realizadas, incluindo as indicadas para correçäo de reestenoses, foi de 42: 21 hepaticojejunoanastomoses, dez cirurgias de Hepp e Couinaud, quatro coledocojejunoanastomoses, três hepaticojejunoanastomoses direita e esquerda isoladas, uma hepaticojejunoanastomose com enxertia de mucosa (Smith), uma colangiojejunoanastomose intra-hepática (Longmire), uma coledocoduodenoanastomose e uma coledocoplastia. Os resultados foram considerados satisfatórios quando se constatava a ausência de sintomas, de icterícia ou de episódios de colangite, com fosfatasemia alcalina inferior a duas vezes o valor normal. O período mínimo de seguimento exigido foi de dois anos (obtido em 32 pacientes). Dos 27 pacientes que se submeteram a apenas uma cirugia, 23 ( 85 por cento) apresentaram bom resultado, e dos cinco submetidos a mais de uma correçäo, três apresentaram bom resultado (60 por cento), perfazendo 26 bons resultados (81 por cento). Dada a complexidade do tratamento, é fundamental a adoçäo de cuidados para a prevençäo das lesöes. A experiência do cirurgiäo, a localizaçäo da estenose e o diâmetro da anastomose säo destacados como fatores relacionados ao prognóstico