Laparoscopic colorectal procedures: a multicenter Brazilian experience.

An evaluation of the results of the Brazilian experience in colorectal laparoscopic procedures in a multicenter prospective protocol done by the Brazilian Society of Colo-Proctology is presented. From December 1991 to August 1998, 1,161 patients (583 men and 578 women; mean age, 49.8 years), were operated on laparoscopically. Most of the procedures (40.5%) were for cancer, and the most common procedure was anterior resection (22.5%). The mean operative time was 189 minutes (3.1 hours). There were 42 (3.6%) perioperative complications; visceral injuries were the most common (1.4%). Conversions occurred in 122 (10.5%) cases. There were 148 (12.7%) postoperative complications; wound infections were the most common (5.2%). A liquid diet was started at a mean time of 1.4 days after the operation, and the mean hospitalization period was 6.4 days.

Urinary incontinence: two cases of electronic stimulation after failing the Leadbetter technique.

Two cases of urinary incontinence treated by electrical stimulation after failing the Leadbetter technique are presented. Both were first seen bearing imperforated anus. They suffered several operations for correcting this pathology and further attempting to relieve complete urinary incontinence. After a trial with intrarectal stimulation one of them received an implant. The other continued to use the anal plug. In both cases the result has been satisfactory. Cine radiological documentation of the sphincteric action of the stimulated muscles was performed.

[Anaphylaxis after dextran 40 infusion: report of a case and review of the literature]. / Anafilaxia após infusão de dextran 40: relato de caso e revisão bibliográfica.

Anaphylactic reactions to colloid volume substitutes, such as dextran, are rare, however, with their increasing utilization in clinical practice an increasing awareness of their potential antigenicity is required. This article reports a severe allergic reaction induced by infusion of dextran 40 during the beginning of a general anesthesia in a 59 year old patient who was going to be submitted to an operation for treatment of chagasic megacolon. The patient died from this complication after 28 days. A review of literature of this complication and a discussion about its physiopathological mechanism and prevention is presented.

Volvulus of the sigmoid colon in Brazil: a report of 230 cases.

Etiologic and physiopathologic aspects of volvulus of the sigmoid colon in Brazil are presented. It is believed that sigmoidal volvulus in Brazil is a frequent complication of megacolon caused by Chagas' disease, differing in some characteristics from volvulus found in other countries. A review of 230 cases treated between 1938 and 1974 in the Surgical Department of Hospital das Clinicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, is presented. The successive variations used to treat this disease occurred parallel to those introduced in the surgical treatment of uncomplicated megacolon. From the results, the following treatment is recommended: endoscopic emptying in cases without clinical, roentgenographic or endoscopic signs of intestinal ischemia. Laparotomy should be performed when a complicated volvulus is suspected or when it is not possible to empty the loop. When a simple volvulus is found, the loop should be untwisted and the gaseous contents siphoned off by menas of a rectal catheter. When there is necrosis of the colon, the Hartmann operation is recommended. It is important to submit patients to a definitive treatment of the megacolon soon after endoscopic emptying or surgical detorsion of the volvulus, since recurrences following these measures are frequent.