Managing Recurrent Pseudomyxoma Peritonei in 430 Patients After Complete Cytoreduction and HIPEC: A Dilemma for Patients and Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial appendiceal neoplasms are uncommon peritoneal malignancies causing a spectrum of disease including pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). The optimal management is cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Despite complete CRS (CCRS), recurrence develops in almost 45% of patients. No consensus exists for the optimal treatment of recurrent disease, with treatment strategies including repeat CRS, watch-and-wait, and palliative chemotherapy. This report aims to describe evolving management strategies for a large cohort with recurrence after CCRS. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed a prospective database of patients with recurrence after CCRS for appendiceal neoplasms from 1994 to 2017 who had long-term follow-up evaluation with tumor markers and computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: Overall, 430 (37.6%) of 1145 PMP patients experienced recurrence at a median of 19 months. Of these 430 patients 145 (33.7%) underwent repeat CRS, 119 (27.7%) had a watch-and-wait approach, and 119 (27.7%) had palliative chemotherapy. The patients with recurrence had a median overall survival (OS) of 39 months, a 3-year survival of 74.6%, a 5-year survival of 57.4%, and a 10-year survival of 36.5%. In the multivariate analysis, the patients who had recurrence within 1 year after primary CRS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.55), symptoms at recurrence (HR, 3.08), a high grade of disease or adenocarcinoma pathology (HR, 2.94), signet ring cells (HR, 1.91), extraperitoneal metastatic disease (HR, 1.71), or male gender (HR, 1.61) had worse OS. The OS was longer for the patients who had repeat CRS (HR, 0.41). The patients who underwent repeat CCRS had a 3-year OS of 87.5%, a 5-year OS of 78.1%, and a 10-year OS of 67.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Dilemmas persist around the optimal management of patients with recurrence after CRS and HIPEC for appendiceal tumors. Selected patients benefit from repeat CRS, particularly those with favorable tumor biology and focal disease.

Laparoscopic Lavage in the Management of Hinchey Grade III Diverticulitis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic lavage and sigmoid resection in perforated diverticulitis with purulent peritonitis. BACKGROUND: Peritonitis secondary to perforated diverticulitis has conventionally been managed by resection and stoma formation. Case series have suggested that patients can be safely managed with laparoscopic lavage, resulting in reduced mortality and stoma formation. Recently, 3 randomized controlled trials have published contradictory conclusions. METHODS: MEDLINE from 1946 to present, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane database of Registered clinical trials and EMBASE (all via OVID) were searched using the terms "laparoscopy" AND ("primary resection" OR "Hartmann procedure", OR "sigmoidectomy"), AND "Diverticulitis", AND "Peritonitis" AND "therapeutic irrigation" or "lavage" AND randomized controlled trial and any derivatives of those terms. We included all randomized controlled trials. Data were extracted from each study using a purpose-designed template. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Revman 5. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials were identified from 48 potential studies. The analysis included 307 patients of whom 159 underwent laparoscopic lavage. Overall, the rate of reintervention within 30 days postoperatively was 45/159 (28.3%) in the lavage group and 13/148 (8.8%) in the resection group (relative risk 3.01, 95% confidence interval 1.15-7.90). There was no significant difference in Intensive Care Unit admissions, 30 and 90-day mortality, or stoma rates at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic lavage used in the management of Hinchey grade III diverticulitis leads to more reinterventions within 30 days postoperatively, but does not increase the 30 or 90-day mortality rates compared with sigmoid resection.

Vitamin C Administration by Intravenous Infusion Increases Tumor Ascorbate Content in Patients With Colon Cancer: A Clinical Intervention Study.

The use of high dose ascorbate infusions in cancer patients is widespread, but without evidence of efficacy. Several mechanisms whereby ascorbate could affect tumor progression have been proposed, including: (i) the localized generation of cytotoxic quantities of H2O2; (ii) ascorbate-dependent activation of the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases that control the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and that are responsible for the demethylation of DNA and histones; (iii) increased oxidative stress induced by dehydroascorbic acid. We hypothesize that the dysfunctional vasculature of solid tumors results in compromised delivery of ascorbate to poorly perfused regions of the tumor and that this ascorbate deficit acts as an additional driver of the hypoxic response via upregulation of HIFs. Using a randomized "therapeutic window of opportunity" clinical study design we aimed to determine whether ascorbate infusions affected tumor ascorbate content and tumor biology. Patients with colon cancer were randomized to receive infusions of up to 1 g/kg ascorbate for 4 days before surgical resection (n = 9) or to not receive infusions (n = 6). Ascorbate was measured in plasma, erythrocytes, tumor and histologically normal mucosa at diagnostic colonoscopy and at surgery. Protein markers of tumor hypoxia or DNA damage were monitored in resected tissue. Plasma ascorbate reached millimolar levels following infusion and returned to micromolar levels over 24 h. Pre-infusion plasma ascorbate increased from 38 ± 10 µM to 241 ± 33 µM (p < 0.0001) over 4 days and erythrocyte ascorbate from 18 ± 20 µM to 2509 ± 1016 µM (p < 0.005). Tumor ascorbate increased from 15 ± 6 to 28 ± 6 mg/100 g tissue (p < 0.0001) and normal tissue from 14 ± 6 to 21 ± 4 mg/100 g (p < 0.001). A gradient of lower ascorbate was evident towards the tumor centre in both control and infusion samples. Lower expression of hypoxia-associated proteins was seen in post-infusion tumors compared with controls. There were no significant adverse events and quality of life was unaffected by ascorbate infusion. This is the first clinical study to demonstrate that tumor ascorbate levels increase following infusion, even in regions of poor diffusion, and that this could modify tumor biology. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR Trial ID ACTRN12615001277538 (https://www.anzctr.org.au/).

Concurrent presentation of appendicitis and acute cholecystitis: diagnosis of rare occurrence.

A 67-year-old woman presented with a 2-day history of central abdominal pain migrating to the right upper and lower abdomen. On examination she was normothermic but tachycardic. Inflammatory markers were noted to be elevated with a white cell count of 18.5×10(9)/L and C reactive protein of 265 mg/L. A CT scan revealed dual pathology of appendicitis and acute cholecystitis, which was confirmed intraoperatively and histologically.

Gallstone pancreatitis secondary to a pathological cystic duct stump in a setting of chronic pain syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma.

A 32-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain. She was a patient with chronic pain syndrome and had visited the emergency department several times over the past year. She did not drink alcohol. She had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone pancreatitis 4 years ago. Her lipase was 2020 with normal bilirubin. MR cholangiopancreatography revealed a cystic structure resembling a gallbladder in the gallbladder fossa. This was in connection with the biliary system. The structure also contained stones. A review of the histology did confirm the gallbladder had been removed. She proceeded to have a laparoscopic re-cholecystectomy and made an unremarkable recovery.

Abdominal wall abscess: more than meets the eye.

An 83-year-old, mildly demented rest home resident presented to the emergency department with a 2 day history of a right sided abdominal wall mass. He had a mechanical fall 2 days previously and landed on his right side and had attributed the mass to this. He had no symptoms apart from feeling bloated and not being able to pass wind for a day. He had passed a normal bowel motion the day before presentation. On abdominal examination there was an 11 × 4 cm mass in the right lower quadrant. It was firm in consistency, non-fluctuant and non-tender to touch. There was mild erythema over the area but no skin breaks. Chest radiograph was unremarkable. The abdominal film showed dilated small bowel and no large bowel could be seen. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a thick walled gallbladder with multiple calculi and air present. There was also an extensive air and fluid collection in the layers of the abdominal wall and subcutaneous fat which arose from a perforation of the gallbladder. The patient was not a surgical candidate due to multiple comorbidities. The patient was treated with antibiotics and underwent a CT guided percutaneous cholecystostomy. Despite the radiological intervention and antibiotics the patient progressively deteriorated and died peacefully 5 days after admission.

Natural killer cell leukaemia.

A 42-year-old white woman, who was a general practitioner referral to the medical team, presented with a 3-day history of left upper quadrant pain; an urgent private ultrasound scan had showed splenomegaly. She was initially admitted with sepsis without an obvious cause but with a differential diagnosis of a haematological malignancy. Her admission blood tests showed a mildly reduced white cell count and low platelets. Her symptoms progressed and she developed right upper quadrant pain. Her blood counts deteriorated showing a disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) picture and mildly deranged liver function tests. Blood films were non-diagnostic. A CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis showed splenomegaly and also hepatomegaly and ascites, not seen in her initial ultrasound scan. Multiple cultures of blood/urine/ascites and infective serology were unremarkable.She was transferred to a larger tertiary centre under the care of the surgeons with presumed abdominal sepsis and underwent an open laparotomy, which showed a big firm liver and spleen but no obvious cause for sepsis. The infectious disease team were unable to find a cause, and haematology became involved to investigate the possibility of a haematological malignancy. The patient underwent two bone marrow biopsies, a percutaneous liver biopsy and had flow cytometry of her ascitic fluid, which revealed the diagnosis of a natural killer cell leukaemia. After some slight improvement on steroids, the patient was given cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, rituximab (CHOP-R) chemotherapy. The patient had an initial response to chemotherapy, with reduction in ascitic volume and hepatosplenomegaly, and normalisation of her coagulation. This was accompanied by an overall improvement in her physical condition. She had a second cycle of CHOP-R, but unfortunately approximately 2 weeks after that, she deteriorated rapidly. She was too weak for salvage chemotherapy, so she was put on comfort care. She died peacefully.

Epiploic appendagitis.

A 25-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) with a 1-day history of crampy left iliac fossa (LIF) abdominal pain. It was associated with both nausea and vomiting. On examination she was tender in the LIF with some guarding. Her observations were satisfactory and she was apyrexial. Urine dipstick and pregnancy stick were negative. The case was a diagnostic quandary. On ultrasound scan (USS) no acute gynaecological problems were found. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed epiploic appendagitis. This was managed conservatively with analgesia and antibiotics and the patient was discharged home pain free. She was followed up in the general surgical clinic 1 week later where she continued to be symptom free. She was discharged from general surgical care.

Fraturas supracondilares tipo III do úmero em crianças: tratamento com braço reto / Type III supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children: straight-arm treatment

INTRODUÇÃO: As fraturas supracondilares de Gartland tipo III são as lesões comuns em crianças. Apresentamos um método de redução manipulativa, imobilização e fixação usando gesso-de-Paris, com o cotovelo em extensão total (braço reto). MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo analisando todos os pacientes com fraturas supracondilares de Gartland tipo III no Wellington Public Hospital, durante o período de fevereiro de 1999 a março de 2007. Os sete pacientes foram tratados pela técnica do braço reto, e os desfechos clínicos foram revisados neste estudo. RESULTADO: Todos os pais ficaram satisfeitos com os resultados. Usando os critérios de Flynn,6 seis pacientes atingiram excelentes resultados e um teve resultado bom quando se analisou o ângulo de alinhamento. Ao verificar a amplitude de movimento, quatro pacientes tiveram resultados bons, um moderado e dois, ruim. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento com braço reto das fraturas supracondilares de Gartland tipo III parece ser uma alternativa não-invasiva e segura da fixação com fio K.

OBJECTIVE: Gartland type III supracondylar fractures are a common injury in children. We present a method of manipulative reduction, immobilization and fixation using Plaster of Paris with the elbow in full extension (straight-arm). METHOD: Retrospective study analyzing all patients with Gartland type III supracondylar fractures at the Wellington Public Hospital during the period from February 1999 to March 2007. The seven patients had been treated with the straight-arm technique, and the clinical outcomes are reviewed in this study. RESULT: All the parents were satisfied with the results. Using the Flynn criteria6, six patients achieved excellent results and one good, in relation to the carrying angle. With regard to the range of motion, four patients had good results, one fair, and two poor. CONCLUSION: Straight-arm treatment of Gartland type III supracondylar fractures appears to be a non-invasive and safe alternative to K-wire fixation.