Surgery in Greece.

The expenditure on health care reached 7.8% of the gross domestic product in Greece in 1991. Almost 9000 specialized surgeons in 11 recognized specialties provide services to more than 10 million people living in Greece and 2 million visitors annually. Medical studies comprise a 6-year course of 5000 to 5500 teaching hours in 7 medical schools and are free. Organizational reform of the health care system in vital and long overdue to move the system into the 21st century. The quality of surgical services provided is high by international standards; cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, surgical oncology, and anesthesiology are some areas of excellence. In addition, Greece has a good record in medical technology and instrumentation. Research activities cover a range of subjects, and the number of clinical medicine articles from Greece that appear in peer-reviewed journals compares favorably with other larger countries. Reforms in the postgraduate training system and ongoing education are necessary.

The impact of new technology on hepatic resection for malignancy.

HYPOTHESIS: Relatively high morbidity rates remain problematic in hepatic resection for malignant neoplasms. Technological innovations coupled with surgical expertise can ameliorate morbidity and mortality rates. DESIGN: Medical records survey. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Five hundred one patients underwent liver resection at our hospital from March 1, 1988, through November 30, 1999. Three hundred twenty-one patients (64.1%) had primary carcinoma, whereas 180 (35.9%) had metastatic disease, mainly colorectal secondary disease (83.3%). Morbidity and mortality rates were compared with those of a previous series in the same setting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Special attention was paid to the impact of new technology (eg, newer imaging techniques, ultrasonic aspiration, intraoperative ultrasonography, argon beam coagulation, and autotransfusion) and improved anesthetic and surgical management on mortality and morbidity rates. RESULTS: Five patients died after liver resection and 93 patients had various complications, representing mortality and morbidity rates of 1.0% and 18.6%, respectively. These results compare favorably with the results of a previous unpublished series (mortality, 5/55 [9.1%]; morbidity, 28/55 [50.9%]). Intraoperative ultrasonography resulted in a change in operative strategy in 7 (17.5%) of a recent group of 40 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity after major hepatic resection for malignancy can be reduced considerably by applying newer technologies to preoperative and intraoperative decision making. Advanced technology also assists in reducing intraoperative risk by minimizing bleeding during resection of the hepatic parenchyma.

Subtotal pancreatoduodenectomy: use of a defunctionalized loop for pancreatic stump drainage.

BACKGROUND: Since its introduction, pancreaticoduodenal resection for periampullary cancer has undergone numerous modifications. As a result, there has been a dramatic decline in the mortality rate. However, a high morbidity rate, mainly due to pancreatic fistula formation, is still reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of the use of a defunctionalized jejunal loop in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy to minimize both the frequency and severity of anastomotic leak. SETTING: Second Surgical Department, Athens University, Aretaieon Hospital, Athens, Greece. DESIGN: A series of retrospective cases from February 1990 to December 1997. PATIENTS: One hundred five patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy and had the pancreatic stump drained in a defunctionalized jejunal loop. METHODS: To avoid problems related to fistula formation due to erosion of the anastomoses from activated pancreatic enzymes, a defunctionalized jejunal loop was constructed and the pancreatic stump was invaginated into the end of this loop. RESULTS: Using the defunctionalized jejunal loop, the mean (+/-SD) hospitalization was 7.57+/-1.42 days, the morbidity rate was 11.2%, and the mortality rate was 0.95%. CONCLUSIONS: A modification of pancreatoduodenectomy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer resulted in an improvement in the immediate results of subtotal pancreatoduodenectomy. Careful detachment of the posterior surface of the pancreas from the anterior surface of the portal vein and performance of pancreaticojejunal anastomosis to a defunctionalized jejunal loop results in lower mortality and morbidity rates, thus making pancreatoduodenectomy a safe procedure.

Atherosclerotic aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery: report of two ruptured cases and review of the literature.

Isolated arteriosclerotic aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery are rare. In citing the literature a total of 30 cases in 28 patients in the last 25 years were found. In addition to the above cases, two aged patients with ruptured aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery are reported; these were managed successfully with partial aneurysmectomy and restoration of the circulation of the extremity with a synthetic graft. The prognosis for this type of aneurysm following surgical therapy is good, despite the advanced age of the patients, and amputation is relatively rare, occurring in only two out of the 30 aneurysms (6.6%) reported. The risk of rupture is 46.6% (14/30) and is greater than that found in peripheral aneurysms. This, in association with the possibility of the creation of thrombosis (5/30; 16.6%) or embolization (1/30; 3.3%), threatens the extremity itself as well as the life of the patient, increasing the risk of complications and even death at a rate of 66.6% (20/30). Timely diagnosis, immediate surgical reconstruction and prompt mobilization, however, can guarantee a good prognosis for these aged patients.

Right adrenal hematoma following hepatectomy.

We present the findings and possible causes in three cases of postoperative adrenal hematomas. In 16 cases of 45 consecutive patients, following segmental right or left lobe hepatectomy, CT was performed in order to evaluate possible fluid collection or other complications. In all cases imaging findings and a correlation with preoperative CT scans were done. Follow up CT examinations were also reviewed. In three cases solid suprarenal masses with attenuation values consistent with adrenal hematomas were found. Preoperative scans at the same level indicated normal adrenal glands. Follow-up scans revealed the hematoma, stable in size, for up to 12 weeks, although lower attenuation values were evident. Right adrenal hematoma is a possible postoperative complication following hepatectomy; if it remains stable in size, it can be left alone.

Endoscopic transpapillary catheterization of the gallbladder followed by external shock wave lithotripsy and solvent infusion for the treatment of gallstone disease.

Herein we describe the techniques and early results of attempted endoscopic transpapillary catheterization of the gallbladder (ETCG) in combination with external shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and solvent infusion in the treatment of 23 consecutive, symptomatic patients with gallstones. Despite anticipated difficulty in advancing wires and catheters through the cystic duct, impeded by tortuosity of its lumen, ETCG was successfully accomplished in 20 of the 23 patients (86.9%). Through an indwelling catheter, obstructed gallbladders were drained in 4 patients and combined treatment with ESWL and infused solvents was carried out in 18 patients. Combined treatment resulted in elimination of gallstones from the gallbladders of 14 of 18 patients (77.7%). Treatment was complicated by mild pancreatitis in only 1 of 20 successfully catheterized patients; there was no mortality.