Abdominal Wall Actinomycosis Associated with Foreign Body Perforation.

Abdominal wall actinomycosis is a very rare infection caused by anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria Actinomyces. We present a case of a 72-year-old female with chronic pain located in the right hypochondriac region and anterior abdominal wall mass which had developed six months before. An ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen were performed and showed an inflammatory change with a strong internal linear reflection in the right upper abdomen. The tumor was located inside the rectus abdominis muscle and connected with internal organs and subcutaneous tissue. The patient qualified for surgery. En block tumor excision was made with partial resection of the transverse colon. Postoperative study revealed fishbone-associated inflammatory actinomycosis tumor. The patient was successfully managed postoperatively with penicillin and discharged on the 11th day after the surgery.

Repair of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula using pedicled pericardial flap supported by fibrin glue.

Effective closure of the postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula (PBF) with the use of different techniques still remains a challenge for thoracic surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified method of PBF closure using pedicled pericardial flap (PPF) supported by fibrin glue (FG). The efficacy of the late PBF closure with the use of two surgical methods was compared. In 10 patients, the edges of the PBF were covered with FG and PPF. In the second group of nine patients, myoplasty was used to close the bronchial fistula. Postsurgical follow-up was for 1 year. In the first group, the healing of the fistula was achieved in 100% of the cases, whereas in the second, myoplasty group, healing was achieved in only 66·67% of the cases. The number of complications was similar in both groups. Pericardial flap supported by fibrin glue can be an effective method adjunctive to the treatment of PBF in selected patients.

Efficacy assessment of the drainage with permanent airflow measurement in the treatment of pneumothorax with air leak.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the treatment of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax with air leak (AL) using two different chest drainage systems. METHODS: Patients were randomized into two groups: group A included 30 patients (23 males and 7 females, mean age 41.1 ± 16.29 y, range 17-71 y) in which digital drainage system was used, group B with 30 patients (22 males and 8 females, mean age 40.3 ± 15.74 y, range 18-72 y) in which traditional suction drainage system was applied.The following variables were evaluated: intensity of AL, duration of the chest tube drainage, delay in surgery, length of stay, and the overall hospitalization costs. RESULTS: In group A the mean drainage duration was 47.63 hours, the hospitalization time was about 5.10 days, and the cost of hospitalization was €1,495. In group B the mean drainage duration was 84.93 hours, the hospitalization time was 6.97 days, and the hospitalization cost was €1,925. CONCLUSION: The digital drainage system applied in the treatment of AL in patients with pneumothoraces reduced the duration of the drainage, the length of hospital stay, and overall hospitalization costs.

The estimation of metaloproteinases and their inhibitors blood levels in patients with pancreatic tumors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of proteolytic enzymes, MMP-2 and MMP-9, and their tissue inhibitors, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, in the blood of patients with benign and malignant pancreatic tumors. METHODS: MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were evaluated in the patients with benign and malignant pancreatic tumors before surgery and in the 30-day follow-up. The study covered 134 patients aged 54 to 76 years, who were divided into groups by TNM staging. RESULTS: Before the operation, the highest mean concentration of MMP-2 was found in patients with unresectable cancer, whereas the highest level of MMP-9 was in patients with resectable cancer. The highest level of TIMP-1 was noted in patients with inflammatory tumors. In 1 month following the operation, the highest level of MMP-2 was also in patients with unresectable cancer and the highest level of TIMP-2 in patients with inflammatory tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of the level of the studied cytokines in the pancreatic tumor patients can be diagnostically significant in the differentiation of benign and malignant changes. The changes in the levels of the studied enzymes and their inhibitors can have a prognostic value in the clinical severity of pancreatic cancer.

A case of upper gastrointestinal acute bleeding as a complication of renal carcinoma metastases to the papilla Vateri.

Acute bleeding from metastatic tumour of the papilla Vateri is an extremely rare case. In this report the case of a woman who suffered from complications after a metastatic tumour of the papilla is described. Seventeen years following resection of the kidney due to clear cell carcinoma the patient was admitted to the clinic because of massive bleeding (Forrest IB) to the upper digestive tract in the form of sanguineous vomiting. The conducted diagnostics revealed a bleeding tumour of the papilla Vateri. Endoscopic treatment could not effectively stop the bleeding. A surgical procedure was performed by Whipple's method. A histopathological examination showed a metastatic clear cell tumour of the kidney. The patient was discharged from hospital on the 8(th) day following her admission and was also referred for further oncological treatment. The discussion is based on other cases of rare bleeding from the digestive tract within tumours of the bile duct and papilla Vateri.

A comparative analysis of K-ras mutation and carcinoembryonic antigen in pancreatic cyst fluid.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Analysis of cystic fluid may be useful in distinguishing between benign and malignant cysts which has significant impact on their management. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic utility of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and K-ras gene mutation in pancreatic cysts fluid. METHODS: The study included 56 patients with pancreatic cystic fluid collected for analysis. The cysts were classified as benign (simple cysts, pseudocysts, serous cystadenoma) - 39 patients or premalignant/malignant (mucinous cystadenoma, IPMN, cystadenocarcinoma) - 17 patients. The patients history, CEA fluid concentrations and presence of K-ras mutation were analyzed. RESULTS: CEA were higher in patients with malignant cysts (mean levels 238 ± 12.5 ng/ml; range 32.8-4985 ng/ml) compared to benign lesions (mean levels 34.5 ± 3.7 ng/ml; range 3.9-693 ng/ml; p < 0.001). K-ras mutation correctly classified 11 of 17 patients with premalignant/malignant lesions. It was also detected in 1 patient with final diagnosis of benign cyst (the sensitivity 64.7% and the specificity 97.4%; p < 0.01). If CEA and molecular analysis were combined in that cysts with either CEA level>45 ng/ml or presence of K-ras mutation, than 16 of 17 premalignant/malignant cysts were correctly identified (94.1%). CONCLUSION: Molecular analysis of pancreatic cyst fluid adds diagnostic value to the preoperative diagnosis and should be considered when cyst cytologic examination is negative for malignancy.

Serum MMP 2 and TIMP 2 in patients with inguinal hernias.

BACKGROUND: More than sixty thousand inguinal hernia operations are performed every year in Poland. Despite many years of related research, the exact pathologic mechanism of this condition is still not fully understood. Recent studies suggested a pronounced relationship between the molecular structure of collagen fibers and the activity of metalloproteinases, the enzymes taking part in the degradation of collagen, as well as their tissue inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study has been established to measure serum levels of the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and Matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 (TIMP-2) in 150 males between the ages of 26 and 70. The control group (CG) consisted of thirty healthy male volunteers of a similar age distribution. RESULTS: Our results indicate that MMP-2 was highest in the direct hernia group, a statistically very significant elevation (P<0(.) 05) of 1562ng mL(-1) against the CG 684ng mL(-1) . The highest level of TIMP, 78ng mL(-1) , was found in the group with recurrent hernia, against 49(.) 5ng mL(-1) of the CG (statistical significance of P<0(.) 05). DISCUSSION: The MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels were concurrently elevated only in the recurrent hernia group. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with inguinal hernia have a statistically significant increase in serum levels of MMP-2. Our finding of the MMP-2 and TIMP-2 distinctly higher in the patients suffering from recurrence of direct inguinal hernia (reflecting a previous surgical failure) may suggest the theory that the extracellular matrix defect lies at the basis of this disorder.

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after lobectomy due to non-small cell lung cancer - a single-center retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: The procedure of lung parenchyma resection may result in impairment of physical capacity and quality of life. In patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lobectomy is an elective procedure. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common coexisting condition in patients with NSCLC. Effectiveness of post-operative pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients who underwent lobectomy due to NSCLC and suffering from COPD as compared to individuals without COPD has not been determined yet. The aim of the study was to compare effectiveness of post-operative PR in patients with COPD after lobectomy due to NSCLC (COPD[+] L [+]) with individuals with COPD without lung parenchyma resection (COPD(+) L(-)) and those who underwent lobectomy due to NSCLC and not suffering from COPD (COPD[-] L[+]). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with non-small cell lung cancer (21 patients with and 16 patients without COPD) who underwent lobectomy and 29 subjects with COPD referred to the Lung Diseases Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Lodz in 2018-2019 were included in this retrospective analysis. The patients participated in a 3-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program which included breathing exercises, physical workout, relaxation exercises, education, psychological support and nutrition consulting. The evaluation included lung function measurements, six-minute walking test (6MWT) and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score. The results obtained before the rehabilitation were compared to those achieved after the 3-week PR program and compared between the study groups. RESULTS: A significant increase in the distance covered during 6MWT was observed in all the three groups studied: COPD(+) L(+) (Δ = 62.52 ± 14.58 m); COPD(-) L(+) (Δ = 73.67 ± 11.58 m); and COPD(+) L(-) (Δ = 59.93 ± 10.02 m) (p < 0.001 for all). Similarly, a statistically and clinically significant improvement in the total SGRQ score was recorded: COPD(+) L(+) ∆ = -12.05 ± 3.96 points; p < 0.05 and COPD(-) L(+) ∆ = -12.30 ± 4.85 points; p < 0.01 and COPD(+) (L-) ∆= -14.07 ± 3.36 points (p < 0.001). No significant differences in the outcome improvement between the study groups were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that COPD(+) L(+) patients gained benefits from post-operative PR comparable to COPD(+) L(-) and COPD(-) L(+) subjects by improving their physical capacity and quality of life.

[A symptomatic ectopic pancreas in the stomach--a case report]. / Objawowa ektopowa tkanka trzustkowa w zolqdku--opis przypadku.

Ectopic pancreas (heterotopic pancreas) is a congenital anomaly and the most common type of ectopic tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. It is typically located in the stomach, duodenum and jejunum. Ectopic pancreas is usually an asymptomatic and benign lesion, in a majority of cases found incidentally during endoscopy or surgery. Generally appears as submucosal lesion with characteristic central umbilication. Complications of heterotopic pancreas are secondary to pathologic changes occurring in the normal pancreatic tissue or caused by ,,mass effect". Asymptomatic cases of ectopic pancreatic tissue are seldom recognized at a preoperative stage. In this paper we reported a case of symptomatic heterotopic pancreatic tissue in a young man, requiring surgical treatment.

[Paliative procedures in cholangiocarcinomas--experience of 5 centers]. / Zabiegi paliatywne w raku pecherzyka i/lub dróg zólciowych--doswiadczenia 5 osrodków.

UNLABELLED: Cholangiocarcinomas have been often met in daily practice. Biliar tract neoplasmas are the most important group in adenomas and papillomas. There is the medical and social problem with cancer patients because they call doctor too late when cancer changes reach a high level and only paliative procedures are recommended. In the most cases the prothesis implanted by ERCP and surgical digestive bypasses are applied. AIM OF THE STUDY: was to evaluate some therapeutic methods in paliative treatment applied in patients with biliary tract cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 01.2003 to 12.2007 (5 years experience) in 4 departments of general surgery and departments of digestive tract diseases the medical treatment of 430 patients with biliary tract cancer was analyzed. All patients were divided into 3 groups: G1--prosthesis by ERCP; G2--percutaneously, transhepatic drainage of biliary tract; G3--surgical digestive bypass. RESULTS: G1 techniques were applied in 75 patients, G2 in 14 cases and G3 in 74 cases. In the last group of patients the following procedures have been performed: triple bypass (TB) in 45 cases (62%), choledochoduodenostomy (ChD) in 7 cases (9%), gastroenterostomy (GE) in 10 patients (13%) and laparotomy with Kehr drainage in 12 patients (16%). The number of complications in G1 group was observed in 31%, in G2--42%, and in G3--63%. 30 days death rate was 14% in G1, 28% in G2 and 18% in G3. Over 12 months survival rate was in G1, 3 months in G2 and 15 months in G3. Differences are statistically sagnificant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: From all applied methods of paliative treatment the best results were noticed in surgical digestive bypass and implantation of prosthesis by ERCP. After surgical treatment survival rate was higher, but the number of complications was higher in relation to another methods.

[The estimation of antioxidative vitamins concetrations in blood plasma of patients with neoplasms of gallblader and biliary tract]. / Ocena stezen witamin antyoksydacyjnych w osoczu krwi chorych z nowotworami pecherzyka i dróg zólciowych.

Gallbladder and biliary tract cancer is a serious clinical problem. In-spite of wide range of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, the significant improvement of treatment results, has not been noticed so far. The research about prevention methods, seems to be important, among the ways of improvement of the diagnosis and therapy outcomes of these diseases. It is related for example to study about one of the cause of biliary tract carcinogenesis--the imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their inactivation by the antioxidative barrier. One of the components of this organism protection complex are antioxidative vitamins. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of antioxidative vitamins (A, C, E, and beta-carotene) in serum, in patients with cancer of gallbladder and and biliary tract, in comparison to the results of healthy volunteers. The study groups comprised of 56 patients, both sexes with acute and chronic cholecystitis and with above-mentioned neoplasmas. The results shoved, that concentration of antioxidative vitamins in serum of patients with gallbladder and biliary tract cancer, was significantly decreased. The outcomes of this research, seem to confirm the participation of antioxidative barrier in inhibition of carcinogenesis of in those important parts of digestive system.

[Treatment of cholecysto- and choledocholithiasis--own experiences]. / Leczenie kamicy dróg zólciowych--doswiadczenia wlasne.

UNLABELLED: Cholecystolithiasis is a serious problem of contemporary medicine. The most common operations in gastroenterologic surgery are gallbladder operations because of calculosis. The most common complications after gallbladder operations are bleeding from site of the gallbladder and bile leakage, but the most serious complication is a bile ducts injury. THE AIM: The assessment of complications quantity after cholecystectomy due to cholecystolithiasis. Observation of operation's profile changes during last 10 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1997 to December 2006 in Department of Surgery in MSWiA Hospital in Lodz and in Departments of Surgery in Leczyca and Piotrkow Trybunalski 6845 cholecystectomy were made including 4215 laparoscopic operations. RESULTS: Complications were observed in 12.6% patients. Suppuration of the wound and postoperative hernias occurred more often after classic operations, in the other hand blood and bile leakage from site of the gallbladder were more often observed after laparoscopic operations. The ratio of complications after classic operations to laparoscopic operations was about 15.4% to 6.1%. Conversion was made in 11.5%. During first 5 years conversion was made in 17.6%, in the next 5 years average number of complications drop to 5.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a standard procedure in symptomatic and asymptomatic cholecystolithiasis. It's a safe operation, burden with a little amount of complications made during acute as well as chronic course of disease. Laparoscopic technique requires a lot of care and in the event of operator's doubts should be replace with classic operation.

Comparison of treatment costs of laparoscopic and open surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopy has been a standard procedure in most medical centres providing surgical services for many years. Both the range and number of laparoscopic procedures performed are constantly increasing. Over the last decade, laparoscopic procedures have been successfully applied both in emergency and oncological surgery. However, treatment costs have become a more important factor in choosing between open or laparoscopic procedures. AIM: To present the total real costs of open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy and sigmoidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1 May 2010 and 30 March 2015 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, General and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, and in the Department of General Surgery of the Saint John of God Hospital, Lodz, doctors performed 1404 cholecystectomies, 392 appendectomies and 88 sigmoidectomies. A total of 97% of the cholecystectomy procedures were laparoscopic and 3% were open. Similarly, 22% of total appendectomies were laparoscopic and 78% were open, while 9% of sigmoidectomies were laparoscopic and 91% open. RESULTS: The requirement for single-use equipment in laparoscopic procedures increases the expense. However, after adding up all other costs, surprisingly, differences between the costs of laparoscopic and open procedures ranged from 451 PLN/€ 114 for laparoscopic operations to 611 PLN/€ 153 for open operations. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, considered the standard surgery for treating gallbladder diseases, is cheaper than open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic appendectomy and sigmoidectomy are safe methods of minimally invasive surgery, slightly more expensive than open operations. Of all the analyzed procedures, one-day laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most profitable. The costs of both laparoscopic and open sigmoidectomy are greatly underestimated in Poland.

Moulded calculus of common bile duct mimicking a stenosis.

Bile duct stenosis, in most cases, appears to be the consequence of pancreatic head, ampulla of Vater and bile duct tumours, cholangitis sclerosans, as well as iatrogenic damages, which may all be diagnosed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In very rare cases the restriction may result from an atypically shaped wedged stone. This situation creates many diagnostic problems, which in the majority of cases can be solved using imaging studies. However, in some patients even a significant extension of diagnostic procedures may not lead to a correct diagnosis. We present a diagnostically difficult case of a deposit imitating restriction. We present a 70-year-old woman with common bile duct restriction undiagnosed despite several ultrasound examinations (USG), computed tomography (CT), double magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Only after the third ERCP examination a fragmented, by formerly introduced prosthesis, deposit, imitating narrowing, was revealed. Identification of bile duct deposits depends on their composition, localisation and the imaging techniques used. Pigment calculi with atypical shape, bile density, air density or surrounding tissue density are very difficult to diagnose. Thus, the sensitivity of common bile duct stone detection in USG, CT, MRCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is 5-88%; 6-88%; 73-97%; and 84-98%, respectively. Moreover, ERCP may not diagnose the character of the restriction even in 5.2% up to 30% of the patients. Consequently, assessment of diagnosis in a number of patients is difficult. A deposit imitating common bile duct (CBD) restriction is a rare, difficult to diagnose phenomenon, which should be taken into account during differential diagnosis of CBD restrictions.

Utility of serum IgG, IgG4 and carbonic anhydrase II antibodies in distinguishing autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) can mimic pancreatic cancer in its clinical presentation, imaging features and laboratory parameters. The aim of our study was to compare IgG, IgG4 and anti-CAIIAb serum levels in patients with AIP, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) and to assess their clinical significance and utility in differential diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. PATIENT/METHODS: The study included 124 patients: 45 with PA, 24 with AIP and 55 with CP. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from all analyzed patients at the time of hospital admission and total IgG, IgG4 and anti-CAIIAB serum levels were measured using ELISA tests. RESULTS: Serum levels of IgG, IgG4 and anti-CAIIAb were significantly higher in patients with AIP compared to PA and CP patients (p<0.001). In AIP patients the median IgG levels were 19.7 g/l, IgG4 levels - 301.9 mg/dl and anti-CAIIAb - 81.82 ng/ml, compared to 10.61 g/l, 123.2mg/dl and 28.6 ng/ml, respectively, in PA patients. IgG4 for the cut-off 210 mg/dl showed the best sensitivity and specificity (83.8% and 89.5%) in AIP diagnosis compared to IgG (69.3% and 87.3%, respectively) and anti-CAIIAb (45.3% and 74.3%). However, 16 (35.5%) patients with PA and 14 (25.4%) patients with CP had IgG4 levels greater than 140 mg/dl. Moreover, in 3 (6.67%) patients with pancreatic cancer those values were greater than 280 mg/dl. No patients with CP had IgG4 more than 280 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4 at cut-off 210 mg/dl showed the best sensitivity and specificity in AIP diagnosis compared to IgG and anti-CAIIAb, however elevations of serum IgG4 may be seen in subjects without AIP, including pancreatic cancer.

Application of biochemical markers CA 19-9, CEA and C-reactive protein in diagnosis of malicious and benign pancreatic tumors.

INTRODUCTION: We would save many lives and spare a lot of suffering if we could only detect and accurately determine the character and TMN staging of pancreatic tumors (PTs). With improved diagnosis, we could offer specific treatment that would result in better treatment outcome. The aim of study was to determine the significance of neoplastic markers CA 19-9 and CEA for prognosis in inflammatory and carcinomatous PTs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We based our research upon a group of 170 patients. The patients were treated in our Oncologic Surgery Department from January 2007 to December 2010 for PTs. The patients were divided into four groups depending on the character of the tumor and underwent the following treatments: group 1 - 34 patients with carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater, group 2 - 64 patients with PTs at different stages (1, 2, 3) according to TMN classification, group 3 - 62 patients with PTs at stage 4 on the TMN scale (unresectable tumors), group 4 - 28 patients with inflammatory PTs. RESULTS: The results of Ca 19-9 in group 2 were 736.00 (25-75% 220.40-4285.00) ng/ml before surgery, 53.00 (25-75% 12.60-84.00) ng/ml in the 7 days after surgery, 29.4 (25-75% 7.90-113.00) ng/ml at day 30, and 119.00 (25-75% 96.30-621.00) ng/ml 3 months after the operation. These results were significantly higher than the control group but were significantly lower than the results for group 3 (unresectable tumors). The highest average concentration and median for CA 19-9 and CEA were noted in patients with unresectable PTs (the 3(rd) group). The average concentration for CEA was lowest in group 4, but much higher than the lab limits. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of the CA 19-9 marker may be as high as 88%. Values of CA 19-9 above 852 U/ml may indicate TNM stage 4, consistent with an unresectable PT. In the cases where CA 19-9 is within normal limits but C-reactive protein is above normal limits (often thirty times the upper limit), in comparison to the control group and to patients with pancreatic neoplasms, strong consideration should be given towards the inflammatory characteristics of the pancreatic changes and conservative treatment should be applied.

Pancreatic cyst fluid analysis for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions.

The majority of pancreatic cysts are detected incidentally when abdominal imaging is performed during unrelated procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic utility and clinical value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and amylase analysis in pancreatic cyst fluid. The study included 52 patients with pancreatic cystic lesions, who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy to collect cystic fluid for cytological and biochemical analysis. Cysts were classified as benign (simple cysts, pseudocysts and serous cystadenomas) in 36 patients or premalignant/malignant (mucinous cyst-adenomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystadenocarcinomas) in 16 patients. CEA and CA 19-9 were elevated in patients with malignant cysts (238±12.5 ng/ml and 222±31.5 U/ml, respectively) compared with benign lesions (34.5±3.7 ng/ml and 18.5±1.9 U/ml, respectively; P<0.001). Based on these results, the sensitivity and specificity of CEA were 91.8 and 63.9% and of CA 19-9 were 81.3 and 69.4%, respectively. Mean amylase levels in benign lesions (27825.7±91.9 U/l) were higher compared with malignant pancreatic cysts (8359.2±32.7 U/l; P<0.05). Cyst fluid analysis may prove a safe and useful adjunct for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions. In the present study, promising results for CEA and CA 19-9 have been demonstrated, however, the clinical value of these molecules must be confirmed.

Comparison of early results of surgical treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer.

UNLABELLED: Pancreatic tumours are a serious medical and social issue. Patients come to the doctor too late, when the disease is well advanced. The most frequently applied method of surgical treatment is pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure). The most frequently used technique of pancreatoduodenectomy is the Child-Waugh method. The procedure can be performed in a classic way or as modified by Traverso (with preservation of the pylorus). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 2008 and June 2011, in the Department of Thoracic, General and Oncologic Surgery of Medical University in Lódz, a total of 79 patients with pancreatic tumours were hospitalized. In 61, pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on the diagnosis and the procedures performed: group 1 comprised patients in whom the pylorus was resected (n = 43); group 2 comprised patients in whom the pylorus was preserved (Traverso-Longmire procedure; n = 18). RESULTS: Mean duration of surgery was about 3 hours and 50 minutes in both groups. Mean duration of hospitalization after the procedure was 15.6 days in group 1 and 12.2 days in group 2 (p < 0.05). Early complications (within 30 days of the procedure) were observed in 33.2% of patients in both groups. Blood transfusion was necessary in 21% of patients in group 1 and 28% of patients in group 2 (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There are specific indications for each method of surgical treatment, however, it seems that both techniques of pancreatic resection can be recommended as standard surgical treatment, and the number of complications after both procedures is similar.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis of hands and armpits using the measurement of skin resistance.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating beyond the needs of thermoregulation. It is disease which mostly affects young people, often carrying a considerable amount of socio-economic implications. Thoracic sympathectomy is now considered to be the "gold standard" in the treatment of idiopathic hyperhidrosis of hands and armpits. AIM: Assessment of early effectiveness of thoracic sympathectomy using skin resistance measurements performed before surgery and in the postoperative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 20 patients with idiopathic excessive sweating of hands and the armpit was enrolled in the study. Patients underwent two-stage thoracic sympathectomy with resection of Th2-Th4 ganglions. The skin resistance measurements were made at six previously designated points on the day of surgery and the first day after the operation. RESULTS: In all operated patients we obtained complete remission of symptoms on the first day after the surgery. Inhibition of sweating was confirmed using the standard starch iodine (Minor) test. At all measurement points we obtained a statistically significant increase of skin resistance, assuming p < 0.05. To check whether there is a statistically significant difference in the results before and after surgery we used sequence pairs Wilcoxon test. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic sympathectomy is an effective curative treatment for primary hyperhidrosis of hands and armpits. Statistically significant increase of skin resistance in all cases is a good method of assessing the effectiveness of the above surgery in the early postoperative period.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with non-operated pancreatic cancer after videothoracoscopic splanchnicectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic tumours are a crucial medical issue. The majority of patients report sick in the late stage of carcinoma clinical advancement, which considerably limits the possibility of surgical treatment. Pancreatic cancer patients with no other alternative but palliative treatment constitute a large group. AIM: To assess pain intensity levels and quality of life of pancreatic cancer patients after videothoracoscopic splanchnicectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2001 January and 2010 November in the Department of Thorax, General Surgery and Oncology of the Medical University of Lodz 262 patients with pancreatic tumours were hospitalized. In 121 cases grade 3 and grade 4 tumours were observed. Hundred and twenty-one videothoracoscopic procedures of sympathetic trunk and ganglion excision were performed in 89 patients. RESULTS: Before the procedure the pain intensity level according to VAS was 5.66 (3.9-7.2; SD 1.24) in the trial group and 5.46 (4.1-7.1; SD 1.15) in the control group. The quality of life average assessment in both groups did not differ statistically (p = 1.07) and was 46.3 (32-66; SD 0.92) in patients before the operation and in the control group 50.3 (41-63; SD 0.75). On the 7(th) postoperative day the pain intensity on average was 2.33 (1.2-3.9; SD 0.78) and 4.57 (3.6-5.5; SD 0.69) respectively. One week after the procedure the quality of patients' life was estimated at 64.1 (39-83; SD 1.38) and in the control group at 52.2 (42-65; SD 0.71); the differences are significant (p < 0.05). Thirty days after the procedure 12 patients did not take any painkillers (13.5%), and in the others a considerable decrease of the taken drugs was observed. On average, the pain intensity was estimated at 1.78 (0.6-3.6; SD 0.68). The quality of life, on the other hand, improved considerably in relation to the state prior to the procedure, but increased insignificantly in relation to the state on the 7(th) postoperative day to 70.9 (52-88; SD 1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Splanchnicectomy is a safe method of cancer pain treatment in patients with advanced pancreatic tumours. Videothoracoscopic excision of visceral nerve thoracic section contributes to the statistically significant decrease of cancer pain intensity and considerably improves the quality of patients' lives.