Effectiveness of Treatment with Antibiotics Alone in Patients with Acute Diverticulitis and Pelvic Abscesses.

Introduction: The available evidence regarding the treatment of acute diverticulitis (AD) with pelvic abscess using antibiotics alone is very limited. The objective of this study was to determine whether the short- and long-term outcomes of AD with pelvic abscesses treated exclusively with antibiotics are comparable to those of pericolic abscesses. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with AD and either pelvic or pericolic abscesses, as confirmed by computed tomography, who were treated solely with antibiotic therapy between 2011 and 2021. Cases involving percutaneous drainage as part of conservative treatment were excluded. Results: Fifty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria, comprising 12 with pelvic abscesses and 46 with pericolic abscesses. Both groups exhibited similar baseline characteristics and radiological findings, except for a more frequent presence of free fluid in pelvic abscesses. The success rate of antibiotic therapy was 91.7% for pelvic abscess cases and 96.7% for pericolic cases (p = 0.508). No significant differences were observed in recurrence or elective surgery. In the subgroup of abscesses with a diameter ≥4 cm, the evolution was similar in both locations (treatment success rate of 87.5% in pelvic and 94.4% in pericolic; p = 0.529), although recurrence was slightly higher for pericolic abscesses (38.4% vs. 14.3%; p = 0.362). Conclusions: Antibiotic therapy alone proves to be effective and safe for pelvic abscesses, demonstrating a course similar to pericolic abscesses, even in the case of large abscesses. Although the analyzed patient cohort is small, this study provides additional evidence that percutaneous drainage is not always essential for treating this complication.

Free perforation during the first episode of acute diverticulitis: can it be avoided?

The aims of the present study are to compare the severity of acute diverticulitis in the first episode and in later bouts, and to determine whether there are risk factors for the presence of free perforation at the onset of diverticulitis. A single-center retrospective study was conducted of patients who developed a first episode of acute diverticulitis between January 2011 and August 2021 diagnosed by computed tomography and followed up for at least 1 year. Free perforation was considered to be present in patients with diverticulitis stage III and IV according to the Hinchey classification (modified by Wasvary). The analysis included 394 patients (224 men and 170 women) with a mean age of 58 years. Forty-eight patients (12.2%) presented free perforation at some point in the course of the disease, 43 during the first episode and 5 during subsequent bouts. The perforation subgroup showed higher rates of stoma creation and mortality (relative risks of 12.3 and 23.5, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, age (OR: 1.041 95% CI 1.016-1.067), lung disease (OR 2.154 95% CI 1.038-4.472) and immunosuppression (OR: 2.812 95% CI 1.315-6.015) were independent factors for free perforation at diverticulitis onset. Free perforation occurs more frequently during the first episode of acute diverticulitis. Older patients, immunosuppressed patients and those with respiratory disease have a greater risk of presenting freely perforated diverticulitis. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a high level of clinical suspicion in these patients to activate early focus control and thus avoid fatal outcomes.

Convined clinical prognostic model in colorectal cancer.

Current staging systems in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) utilize relatively few patient characteristics in comparison to the breadth of information available. The objective of our study is to analyze the heterogeneous set of variables that may influence mortality and recurrence independently in patients with CCR, and prepare a predictive model of survival and recurrence. Data from 288 patients who had undergone scheduled surgery for stage I-III cancer of the colon and upper rectum were used to construct Cox models for DFS and overall CSS at five years. We have jointly examined clinical variables, serological markers and histological variables with the aim of identifying new prognostic factors. Internal and external validation was carried out on each of the nomograms obtained. Perineural invasion; high platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the pN stage were the variables that emerged as an independent risk factor of recurrence. The variables related independently to overall CSS were the presence of blood in stools, high PLR and nodal involvement. We have created a predictive model of recurrence and mortality at 5 years with data that is easily available (clinical, analytical and histological variables) which can help personalize the treatment and follow-up of patients with CRC. We also conducted an adequate internal and external validation.

Side-to-side duodenojejunostomy after resection of third and fourth duodenal portions with pancreatic preservation.

Infra-ampullary duodenal lesions are rare and surgical management is controversial. Reconstruction after resection is usually performed by end-to-end or end-to-side duodenojejunostomy. The goal was to analyze our experience, perioperative management, and results after side-to-side duodenojejunostomy. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated short- and long-term results of surgical resections of third and fourth duodenal portions for several kinds of lesions and reconstruction through duodenojejunostomy performed in our facilities between January 2012 and December 2018. In total, 12 patients were selected for our study, six were male. The median age was 66.3 (IQR: 77.3-59.4). Lesion classification was as follows: 6 cases (50%) of duodenal adenocarcinoma, 4 cases (33.3%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and 2 cases (16.7%) of benign pathology. The most frequent clinical presentation was obstruction with vomiting. The surgical technique of choice was resection of third and fourth duodenal portions with a segment of proximal jejunum. Digestive continuity was restored through side-to-side duodenojejunostomy in 11 cases (91.6%). The median operation time was 182.5 min (IQR 237.5-136.3 min). Nine of the 12 patients (75%) did not receive intra- or postoperative blood transfusions. Six patients (50%) experienced complications during post-op. Four of them (33%) experienced major complications (Clavien-Dindo > IIIa) and three required re-op. The median follow-up was 58.3 (95% CI 15-101.5) months. Of the 11 patients with long-term follow-up, 10 have remained asymptomatic during follow-up. The average disease-free survival (DFS) was 43.1 months for adenocarcinoma, and 93 months for GIST. Based on the results of our series, although small, pancreas-sparing duodenectomy could be considered a feasible and safe technique with adequate oncological results. Side-to-side duodenojejunostomy appears to be a safe technique, is easy to perform, and has good functional outcomes. More studies with a larger number of patients are necessary to confirm these findings.

Esteatosis hepática focal multinodular / Multinodular focal hepatic steatosis

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Malrotación intestinal inusual en paciente adulto / Unusual intestinal malrotation in an adult

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Tumor neuroendocrino primario hepático no funcionante con extensión a tronco celiaco / Non-functioning primary neuroendocrine tumor of the liver with extension to the celiac trunk

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Endoprótesis libre en cavidad abdominal / Free stent in the abdominal cavity

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