Polymer clip granuloma mimicking lymph node recurrence: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body granulomas are postoperative inflammatory reactions to surgical materials within the body. Traditionally, sutures have been the leading cause of foreign body granulomas in the abdomen, commonly referred to as "suture granuloma". However, the use of polymer clips in modern surgeries has introduced new challenges, and reports of intra-abdominal foreign body granulomas caused by surgical clips are limited. Herein, we present a case of an intra-abdominal foreign body granuloma formed due to polymer clips. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic resection for sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma subsequently developed a suspected lymph node recurrence during follow-up. Imaging showed an enlarging mass adjacent to the inferior mesenteric artery with increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. Laparoscopic surgical resection revealed the formation of a foreign body granuloma in response to the polymer clips. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that nonabsorbable polymer clips can induce granulomatous reactions postoperatively, and the appearance of lymph node recurrence may be foreign body granulomas.

The usefulness of nonabsorbable polymer clips for the closure of supra-aortic vessels' stump.

When performing translocated total arch replacement using a frozen elephant trunk, the closure of supra-aortic vessels' stump may be necessary. Herein, we describe the application of a nonabsorbable polymer Hem-o-lok clip for the closure of the stump. The supra-aortic vessels were looped using cloth tapes and clipped using Hem-o-lok clips with gentle traction of cloth tapes. Then, the supra-aortic vessels were sharply transected, leaving a 2-mm cuff of tissue. There were no incidents of clip failure during application or migration, and no significant intra-operative or post-operative bleeding occurred due to clipping failure. Hem-o-lok clips are an easy, quick, and reliable method for the closure of supra-aortic vessels' stump. Therefore, we recommend this technique for translocated total arch replacement procedures performed using a frozen elephant trunk.

Comparison between Endoloop ligature and Hem-o-lok clip (Polymer ligation) for appendiceal stump closure during laparoscopic appendicectomy.

A best evidence topic has been constructed using a described protocol. The three-part question addressed was: In patients undergoing laparoscopic appendicectomy is Hem-o-lok clip safer than Endoloop ligature for closure of appendiceal stump? The search has been devised and 6 studies were deemed to be suitable to answer the question. The outcome assessed was the safety and cost effectiveness of Hem-o-lok clip (Polymer ligation) versus Endoloop ligature for appendiceal stump closure during laparoscopic appendicectomy. We concluded that Hem-o-lok clip is a safe and feasible tool for appendiceal stump closure. It's also a cost-effective way and could be a cheaper option compared to other measures.

Migration of non-absorbable polymer clips in hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery: a report of four cases.

BACKGROUND: Ligation clips are used for vessel or tissue ligation in surgery. Although previous reports have described the migration of metallic clips after hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery, very few reports have described the migration of non-absorbable polymer clips (NAPCs: Hem-o-Lok). CASE PRESENTATION: We present 4 cases of NAPC migration that occurred after laparoscopic surgery. Case 1 was an 81-year-old woman that had undergone a laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy for an intrahepatic bile duct cyst adenocarcinoma at the age of 79 years. Two years after the operation, she underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to investigate epigastric pain. The endoscopy showed NAPCs lodged at the anterior side of the duodenal bulb. Case 2 was an 80-year-old man that had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis at the age of 77 years. Three years after the operation, follow-up computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) imaging indicated a mass in the upper bile duct. After a laparoscopic bile duct resection and reconstruction, an NAPC was found inside the inflammatory pseudotumor. Case 3 was a 63-year-old man that had undergone laparoscopic liver S4b and S5 resections and lymph node dissection for gallbladder cancer. Three months after the operation, follow-up MRCP imaging suggested a bile duct stenosis. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed, and an NAPC was found inside the bile duct. Case 4 was a 74-year-old man that had undergone a laparoscopic S5 segmentectomy, S7 partial liver resection, and cholecystectomy for liver metastasis of lung cancer and cholelithiasis. A trans-cystic drainage tube was inserted, and it was ligated and fixed with NAPCs. Three months after the operation, follow-up MRCP imaging showed common bile duct stones (CBDS). An ERCP was performed, and two NAPCs were found with the CBDS. CONCLUSIONS: Few previous reports have described complications due to NAPC migration after hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery. However, with the widespread use of NAPC, postoperative complications due to NAPC migration are expected to increase in the near future. The differential diagnosis of complications should include potential NAPC migration in patients that have undergone laparoscopic surgery.

Is there neural and functional recovery after clip removal in cervical experimental sympathectomy? / Existe recuperação neural e funcional após a retirada de clipe quando da indução de simpatectomia cervical experimental?

ABSTRACT Background: The surgical treatment of hyperhidrosis by thoracic sympathectomy has brought, in addition to symptomatic relief for many, its main adverse effect: compensatory or reflex sweating. The clipping technique in place of the sympathetic nerve section gave rise to the hope of reversibility, but the positive results showed to be quite divergent, evidencing the academic deficiency regarding the study of this phenomenon. Aim: To observe micro and macroscopic damage caused by the polymer clip on sympathetic nerve of rabbits seven days after their clipping and the findings after three weeks of clip removal. Method: In this experimental study, 20 rabbits were divided into two groups of 10, group 1 (clipping) and group 2 (de-clipping). The right cervical sympathetic nerve of all animals was clamped with polymeric clip, and in group 2 the nerve was unclipped seven days later. Group 1 rabbits were induced to death on the 7th postoperative day, and group 2 on the 21st after removal of the polymer clip. Macroscopic variables were: clip appearance, presence of discontinuity lesion, infection and adhesions around the nerve. H&E was used in the evaluation of the phases and degree of the inflammatory process and presence of necrosis, and picrosirius red F3BA for quantification of collagen. Results: The cervical sympathetic nerve was intact, without necrosis or infection in all animals of the experiment; there were adhesions in both groups, being minimal in eight animals of each group and moderate or intense in two; the clip was completely closed in all animals at the 7th postoperative day; the inflammatory process shown was chronic, with monomorphonuclear predominance. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the intensity the inflammatory process, but the amount of collagen type I and type III was significantly higher in group 2. Conclusions: The injury caused by the polymer clip on the sympathetic nerve may be reversible, allowing functional return in the areas involved in the simulated cervical sympathectomy. Clipping of the cervical sympathetic nerve using a polymer clip does not cause discontinuity injury.

RESUMO Racional: O tratamento cirúrgico da hiperidrose pela simpatectomia torácica trouxe além do alívio sintomático para muitos, também seu principal efeito adverso: o suor compensatório ou reflexo. A técnica de clipagem do nervo simpático no lugar de sua secção deu margem à esperança de reversão do procedimento; porém, os resultados mostram-se bastante divergentes e pouco conclusivos Objetivo: Observar a lesão provocada pelo clipe de polímero em nervo simpático de coelhos sete dias após sua clipagem, comparando-a com os achados após três semanas da retirada do clipe. Método: Estudo experimental, com amostra formada por 20 coelhos, divididos em dois grupos de 10, sendo o grupo 1 chamado clipagem e o 2, desclipagem. Todos foram submetidos à clipagem do nervo simpático cervical direito com clipe polimérico, e no grupo 2 realizou-se a desclipagem sete dias após. Os coelhos do grupo 1 foram submetidos à eutanásia no 7º dia de pós-operatório, e os do grupo 2 no 21º dia após a remoção do clipe. Observou-se na macroscopia o aspecto do clipe, a presença de lesão de descontinuidade, infecção e aderências ao redor do nervo. Para estudo microscópico utilizou-se a coloração H&E na avaliação das fases, grau do processo inflamatório e presença de necrose, e a de picrosirius red F3BA para quantificação de colágeno. Resultados: O nervo simpático cervical foi identificado íntegro, sem necrose ou infecção em todos os animais do experimento; havia aderências em ambos os grupos, sendo mínimas em oito de cada grupo e moderadas ou intensas em dois; em toda a amostra o clipe encontrava-se completamente fechado no 7º dia de pós-operatório; o processo inflamatório presente foi do tipo crônico, com predomínio monomorfonuclear, não se observando diferença significativa em relação ao grau do processo inflamatório entre os grupos; porém, a quantidade de colágeno tanto do tipo I quanto do tipo III foi significativamente maior no grupo 2. Conclusões: A lesão provocada pelo clipe de polímero em nervo simpático pode ser reversível possibilitando o retorno funcional nas áreas envolvidas na simpatectomia cervical simulada. A clipagem do nervo simpático cervical com uso de clipe de polímero não causa lesão de descontinuidade.

Radiologic advantages of potential use of polymer plastic clips in neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Plastic clips are made of diamagnetic material and may result in fewer computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance artifacts than titanium clips. Considering that polymer plastic clips are increasingly being used in endoscopic surgery, our study examined the CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of plastic clips after application in the neurocranium and compared them with titanium clips. METHODS: Craniotomy was performed on the heads of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica), and, at an angle of 90°, a permanent Yasargil FT 746 T clip was placed in a frontobasal, interhemispheric position. A plastic polymer medium-large Hem-o-lok clip was placed in the same position into another animal. After this procedure, CT of the brain was performed using Siemens 16 slice, followed by an MRI scan, on Philips MRI, 1.5 Tesla. The CT and magnetic resonance scans were analyzed. RESULTS: On axial CT sections through the site of placement of titanium clips, dotted hyperdensity with a high value of Hounsfield units (HUI) of about 2800-3000 could be clearly seen. At the site where the plastic polymer clips were placed, discrete hyperdensity was observed, measuring 130-140 HUI. MRI of the brain in which titanium clips were used revealed a hypointensive T1W signal in the interhemispheric fissure, with a hypointensive T2W signal. On the other hand, upon examination of the MRI of the brain in which plastic clips were used, the T1W signal described above did not occur, and there was also no T2W signal, and no artifacts observed. CONCLUSIONS: The plastic clips are made of a diamagnetic, nonconductive material that results in fewer CT and MRI artifacts than titanium clips.