Comparison between laparoscopy and laparotomy in the surgical re-staging of granulosa cell tumors of the ovary.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of laparoscopic (LPS) and laparotomic (LPT) re-staging in patients with incompletely surgically staged ovarian granulosa cell tumors (OGCT). METHODS: We conducted a medical chart retrospective analysis of all patients with sex cord stromal tumors (SCSTs) who were managed in our division between March 1994 and March 2017. After a complete review of surgical and pathological notes, patients with incomplete staging were restaged according to the FIGO guidelines. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package version 20.0 for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, Illinois). RESULTS: Out of a total of 170 patients SCSTs, 84 patients (49,5%) received primary surgery that included a hysterectomy; 86 patients (50,5%) underwent fertility-sparing surgery. Eighty-one patients (48%) with diagnosis of OGCT were incompletely surgically staged at another institution. We evaluated our results in terms of laparoscopic approach (56 patients) and open treatment (25 patients). Among the IA patient's group, 1 was upstaged to IIB stage and 2 to IIIB; among patients with IC stage, 1 was upstaged to IIA, 2 to IIB and 1 to IIIB stage. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to the upstaged patients with final stage IIB-IIIC. No statistically significant difference between laparoscopy and open-surgery was detected in terms of upstaged patients after second surgery (p = 0,36). CONCLUSION: According to our series, laparoscopic restaging compared to the open approach seems to be a feasible and efficient technique to complete surgical staging in patients with GCTs incorrectly staged. Surgical restaging seems to upstage a considerable number of OGCT, mainly in the initial stage IC group of patients. However, the impact of restaging on final outcome and survival remains to be demonstrated.

Mechanical support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO-VA): Short-term and long-term prognosis after a successful weaning. / Soporte mecánico con membrana de oxigenación extracorpórea veno-arterial (ECMO-VA): evolución a corto y a largo plazo tras la retirada de la asistencia.

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) affords mechanical circulatory assistance associated to high mortality. However, weaning from such mechanical support may not imply improved short- or long-term survival. This study describes the characteristics and evolution of patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS) subjected to venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) in a hospital with a heart transplant program. DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was carried out. SETTING: The cardiovascular ICU of a tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-six patients consecutively subjected to VA-ECMO over 6 years. INTERVENTIONS: Hospital mortality after weaning from ECMO and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (33%) died with VA-ECMO and 31 (67%) were weaned after 8 days of support (IQR: 5-15). Fourteen patients under went transplantation. Hospital mortality in these patients was 32% (10/31), and was associated to age (P=.001), SAPS II score (P=.009), cannulation bleeding (P=.01) and post-acute myocardial infarction RCS (P=.001). After a median follow-up of 27 months (IQR: 11-49), 91% of the patients discharged from hospital were still alive. Overall survival after weaning from assistance was associated to the type of cardiac disease (P=.002). Patients with RCS after acute myocardial infarction had a poorer prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, VA-ECMO can be used as mechanical assistance in the management of RCS. The technique is associated to high early mortality, though the long-term survival rate after hospital discharge is good.

Comparison of HE4, CA125 and ROMA algorithm in women with a pelvic mass: correlation with pathological outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The quality of first surgery is one of the most important prognostic factors in ovarian cancer patients. Pre-surgical distinction of benign and malignant pelvic mass plays a critical role in ovarian cancer management and survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of ROMA algorithm and of CA125 and HE4 in the triage of patients with a pelvic mass undergoing surgery, in order to discriminate benign from malignant disease. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-nine pre- and post-menopausal women, aged 18 years or older undergoing surgery because of a pelvic mass were enrolled: serum concentrations of CA125 and HE4 were determined and ROMA was calculated for each sample. RESULTS: Median serum CA125 and HE4 levels were higher in patients with EOC compared to subjects with benign disease (p<0.0001). The resultant accuracy (using Receiver Operating Characteristics, ROC Area) values for HE4, CA125 and ROMA showed a good performance ranging from 89.8% for CA125 in pre-menopausal patients to 93.3% for ROMA in post-menopausal patients: AUC for ROMA resulted significantly higher in comparison to CA125 alone (93.3% vs 90.3%, p=0.0018) in post menopausal patients. A sub-analysis considering the 40 patients with endometrioid disease showed the highest accuracy of HE4 in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Data presented confirm the accuracy of HE4 and of the ROMA algorithm in the distinction of ovarian carcinoma from benign disease, with a trend towards better performance for ROMA than for CA125 alone, statistically significant in postmenopausal patients.

Analysis of failures and clinical outcome of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in patients with microscopic residual disease at second-look reassessment following primary cytoreductive surgery and first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

AIM: To assess the pattern of failure and survival of advanced ovarian cancer patients with microscopic residual disease at second-look following cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine-five women were retrospectively analyzed. Residual disease after initial surgery was > one cm in 58 (61.1%) patients, first-line chemotherapy was paclitaxel/platinum-based in 70 (73.7%) patients, second-look findings showed no macroscopic residuum but positive random peritoneal biopsies and/or positive washing ("true" microscopic residual disease) in 79 (83.2%) patients, and a macroscopic residuum which was completely resected (converted complete response) in 16(16.8%) patients. RESULTS: Eight-one (85.2%) patients developed recurrent disease after a median time of 14 months (range four to 51). The abdomen (29.6%) and the pelvis (28.4%) were the most common sites of failure. Two- and five-year survival after second-look were 78.1% and 31.0%, respectively. The clinical and pathological features with prognostic relevance at presentation (age, histotype, and tumor grade), as well as type of first-line chemotherapy and treatment after second-look were not related to the clinical outcome. There was a trend for a better survival in patients with optimal primary cytoreduction compared with those with suboptimal primary cytoreduction (five-year survival = 42.7% vs 23.4%). There was no significant difference in survival between the converted complete responders and the patients with "true" microscopic residual disease. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the unsatisfactory clinical outcome of patients with microscopic residual disease after first-line chemotherapy and the limited benefit of second-look reassessment.

A phase II, randomized trial of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy comparing a three-drug combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) versus paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma: the Snap-02 Italian Collaborative Study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and tolerability of the regimen containing paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) in the neo-adjuvant treatment of locally advanced squamous cell cervical cancer are unknown. The TIP regimen (TP plus ifosfamide) showed high efficacy but high toxicity and it is used as an internal control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 154 patients were randomized to TP (paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) + cisplatin 75 mg/m(2); n = 80) or TIP (TP + ifosfamide 5 g/m(2); n = 74), three cycles, followed by radical surgery. Pathological response to chemotherapy was classified as optimal [no residual tumor (complete response) or residual disease with < or = 3 mm stromal invasion (PR1)] or suboptimal response. RESULTS: Patient characteristics (TP/TIP): stage IB2 (56%/64%), IIA (18%/14%), IIB (20%/19%), III-IVA (5%/4%) and median age (42 years/45 years). The optimal response rate in the TP group was 25%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 16% to 37% and 43%, 95% CI = 31% to 55% in the TIP group. Grades 3-4 leukopenia (6%/53%) and neutropenia (26%/76%) were significantly more frequent on TIP. CONCLUSION: TP performance was below expectation since the lower 95% confidence limit of the optimal response rate failed to reach the prespecified minimum requirement of efficacy, i.e. 22%. The TIP regimen confirmed its activity but was associated with higher haematological toxicity than TP.

Early oral versus "traditional" postoperative feeding in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing intestinal resection: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A randomized controlled trial was performed to assess the outcome of early oral postoperative feeding (EOF) compared with traditional oral feeding (TOF) in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy with associated intestinal resection. METHODS: Patients aged 18-75 years, undergoing elective laparotomy, and with preoperative diagnosis of gynecologic malignancy, were eligible. Exclusion criteria included infectious conditions, intestinal obstruction, severe malnutrition, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score > or =4, and postoperative stay in the intensive care unit lasting >24 h. Patients allocated to EOF received liquid diet in the first postoperative day and then regular diet. Patients received traditional feeding scheme until resolution of postoperative ileus to start liquid diet. The primary end-point of the trial was length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Between January 1st, 2007 and March 15th, 2008, 40 patients were randomized to receive either EOF or TOF. Hospital stay in patients who received EOF (n = 18) was 6.9 days versus 9.1 days in the TOF group (n = 22) (P = 0.022). Requirements for analgesic and antiemetic drugs, intensity of pain, intestinal function recovery, mean levels of postoperative satisfaction, postoperative complications, and quality-of-life scores did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Early resumption of oral intake is feasible and safe in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing intestinal resection as part of a planned surgical procedure. Moreover, significant reduction in length of hospital stay was demonstrated.

Amiodarone and hypokalemia. A dangerous combination.

We describe the appearance of long QT interval and polymorphous ventricular tachycardia in a patient treated with amiodarone who presented with hypokalemia secondary to chronic diuretic therapy. Ventricular pacing was initiated upon admission. The hypokalemia was corrected and amiodarone was discontinued. After three days the patient showed a normal QT interval and was free of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Although hypokalemia could itself have been the arrhythmogenic factor in this particular patient, the additional toxic effect of amiodarone cannot be ruled out. It seems reasonable to consider the combination of both as dangerous when we take into account that the majority of patients cited as having amiodarone-induced torsade de pointes had also potassium depletion.

First case of prophylactic salpingectomy with single port access laparoscopy and a new diode laser in a woman with BRCA mutation.

•Single port access laparoscopy may be suggested for prophylactic salpingectomy in BRCA carriers.•Diode laser salpingectomy could preserve ovarian function as it can cut and coagulate with extreme precision and minimal thermal damage.

Robotic-assisted transperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy as part of staging procedure for gynaecological malignancies: single institution experience.

Introduction. This study was designed to confirm the feasibility and safety of robotic-assisted transperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy as part of staging procedure for gynecologic malignancies. Methods. Chart review of 51 patients who had undergone robotic staging with aortic lymphadenectomy for different gynaecologic malignancies was performed. Results. The primary diagnosis was as follows: 6 cases of endometrial cancer, 31 epithelial ovarian cancer, 9 nonepithelial ovarian cancer, 4 tubal cancer, and 1 cervical cancer. Median BMI was 23 kg/m(2). Except for a single case of aortic lymphadenectomy only, both aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomies were performed at the time of the staging procedure. All the para-aortic lymphadenectomies were carried out to the level of the renal veinl but 6 cases were carried out to the level of the inferior mesenteric artery. Hysterectomy was performed in 24 patiens (47%). There was no conversion to LPT. The median console time was 285 (range 195-402) with a significant difference between patients who underwent hysterectomy and those who did not. The median estimated blood loss was 50 mL (range 20-200). The mean number of removed nodes was 29 ± 9.6. The mean number of pelvic nodes was 15 ± 7.6, whereas the mean number of para-aortic nodes was 14 ± 6.6. Conclusions. Robotic transperitoneal infrarenal aortic lymphadenectomy as part of staging procedure is feasible and can be safely performed. Additional trocars are needed when pelvic surgery is also performed.

Management of recurrent cervical cancer: a review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this narrative review is to update the current knowledge on the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer based on a literature review. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A web based search in Medline and CancerLit databases has been carried out on recurrent cervical cancer management and treatment. All relevant information has been collected and analyzed, prioritizing randomized clinical trials. RESULTS: Cervical cancer still represents a significant problem for public health with an annual incidence of about half a million new cases worldwide. Percentages of pelvic recurrences fluctuate from 10% to 74% depending on different risk factors. Accordingly to the literature, it is suggested that chemoradiation treatment (containing cisplatin and/or taxanes) could represent the treatment of choice for locoregional recurrences of cervical cancer after radical surgery. Pelvic exenteration is usually indicated for selected cases of central recurrence of cervical cancer after primary or adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy with bladder and/or rectum infiltration neither extended to the pelvic side walls nor showing any signs of extrapelvic spread of disease. Laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) for the treatment of those patients with a locally advanced disease or with a recurrence affecting the pelvic wall has been described. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of recurrences of cervical carcinoma consists of surgery, and of radiation and chemotherapy, or the combination of different modalities taking into consideration the type of primary therapy, the site of recurrence, the disease-free interval, the patient symptoms, performance status, and the degree to which any given treatment might be beneficial.

Poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma of the vagina: a case report and a clinical literature review.

Synovial sarcomas (SS) account for 5-10% of soft-tissue sarcomas and typically arise in the para-articular regions of adolescents and young adults. Nonetheless, SS can occasionally occur in other regions of the body. Here, we present a first clinical literature report of a patient with an SS arising from the vaginal wall. A 40-year-old patient who presented a necrotic polypoid lesion, measuring 50 mm and extending from the external urethral meatus to the middle part of the anterior vaginal wall. The biopsy showed a poorly differentiated SS with abundant necrosis and a SYT-SSX1 mutation. A staging CT scan was negative for distant metastases. The patient, prior to the radical surgery, received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ifosfamide and epirubicin) for three cycles. She underwent post-operative external radiotherapy and brachytherapy (50 Gy) due to close margins (<1 mm) in the pathologic specimen. She relapsed 11 and 16 months later with lung metastases, which, both times, were successfully removed by surgical resection. At 24 months from diagnosis, the patient is alive without further evidence of disease. In summary, in the presence of unfavourable prognostic factors, neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be the primary approach to reduce the tumour size and the risk of distant micro-metastases allowing a less aggressive radical surgery if the tumour is located in a non-extremity site. Hence, a multidisciplinary approach, if not influencing overall survival and disease-free survival, may improve the quality of life. In fact, in our patient we obtained a complete clinical control in the pelvis, avoiding pelvic exenteration with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Robotic modified radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Radical hysterectomy, the complete removal of a woman's uterus, is usually performed via an abdominal incision that requires a 3-5 day hospital stay and a 6-8 week recovery period. Now, in a handful of hospitals around the world, new robotic technology allows doctors to perform this procedure through small incisions that require a recovery time of only one night in the hospital and a significantly shorter recovery period at home. Watch such a procedure being carried out at the European Institute of Oncology.

[Neurological complications in cardiac surgery post-operative period]. / Complicaciones neurológicas en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca.

The incidence of neurological complications after cardiac surgery continues to be elevated, although this is variable in the different studies published, fundamentally because of the different populations studied and the different definitions of neurological dysfunction. The etiology of these alterations is attributed to a multifactorial origin, aortic artherosclerosis, cerebral hypoperfusion and inflammatory phenomenon secondary to the technique. This review arises from the recognition of the personal, economic, and socio-health care repercussion entailed by these complications, with high rates of mortality and morbidity recorded, and it tries to give an objective view of the current literature on the subject. Having knowledge of the risk markers and understanding the pathogenesis is important to try to plan strategies that may minimize the appearance and development of these complications and contribute to the decrease of their serious consequences. The data and the experience obtained by our group are shown at the end of the review.

Laparoscopic excision of posterior vaginal fornix in the treatment of patients with deep endometriosis without rectum involvement: surgical treatment and long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study is to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of complete laparoscopic excision of deep endometriosis, without rectum involvement, with the opening and partial excision of the posterior vaginal fornix. METHODS: Thirty-one patients were included in the study with symptomatic extensive disease including involvement of the cul-de-sac, rectovaginal space and posterior vaginal fornix without rectum involvement. Endoscopic surgery was performed with complete separation of rectovaginal space and in-block resection of the diseased tissue, opening and partial excision of the posterior vaginal fornix and vaginal closure either by laparoscopic or by vaginal route. Patients filled in questionnaires on pain before and 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after surgical treatment. RESULTS: No intraoperative complications were observed; 65% were free of analgesic on post-operative day 2, 38% had total remission of chronic pain and 22% were improved; 38% had total remission of dysmenorrhoea and 22% were improved; 45% had total remission of dyspareunia and 25% were improved. Follow-up improvement of symptoms was statistically significant and was maintained for 5 years without recurrence of the disease or repeated surgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Complete surgical resection of deep infiltrative endometriosis with excision of the adjacent tissue of the posterior vaginal fornix improves quality of life with persistence of results for long time in patients not responsive to medical treatment.