Surgical treatment of Crohn's disease: indications, results and predictive factors of recurrence and morbidity

Background: Crohn's disease management represents a major problem in gastroenterology and general surgery because it affects young subjects and has a major impact on their quality of life. The aims of our study were to identify the indications for surgery in Crohn's disease, the results and the complications of surgery in our series, and to identify possible predictive factors of recurrence and postoperative morbidity

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study including 38 cases of patients with Crohn's disease who underwent surgical treatment in the department of surgery in Mongi Slim Hospital, during the period between January 1992 and December 2011 was performed

Results: The occurrence of stenosis was the most common indication for surgical treatment in Crohn's disease in our series, and ileocecal resection was the most performed surgery. Twenty six patients [58%] received maintenance therapy after surgery. Twenty two patients relapsed and 13 had surgical management for recurrence. In univariate analysis, predictive factors of post operative morbidity in our study were leukocytosis, penetrating phenotype and intraabdominal sepsis. Ileocecal location was the only factor that significantly improved the incidence of recurrence. In multivariate analysis, only penetrating phenotype was a predictive factor or post operative morbidity

Conclusion: Despite the development of medical treatment, surgical treatment keeps large indications for the management of complications of Crohn's disease. The surgery should be an alternative to immunosuppressive therapy. Currently, prevention postoperative recurrence is well codified, reducing the risk of complications

[What's new in rectal cancer?]

In recent years, multidisciplinary therapeutic management of rectal cancer has evolved. This progress had interest radio and chemotherapy. Aim: To describe the main spots of the progress in the therapeutic strategies of the disease, surgical techniques and standardization of these techniques, particularly regarding locoregional extension in the mesorectum. Literature review. Treatment of rectal cancer is multidisciplinary. On the surgical field, excision of the mesorectum [total mesorectal excision [TME]] has reduced local recurrence and the genitourinary sequelae. Meanwhile, chemoradiotherapy has become important. The standard now is to indicate to T3 T4 N+ tumors to decrease local recurrence without improving survival, however. Advances in the management of rectal cancer with both imaging progress and therapeutic modalities have improved the prognosis and survival of this cancer

Percutaneous treatment versus hepatic resection for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the first liver tumor worldwide. Therefore, it is a matter of debate whether surgical treatment or percutaneous treatment should be preferred for the treatment of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of our study was to compare the long-term outcome and the survival between surgically and percutaneously treated small hepatocellular carcinomas. A retrospective study was performed in the department of hepatology during a period of 2009-2012. The study included all patients carrying small hepatocellular carcinoma which were divided in: group 1 including patients who underwent surgical treatment, and group 2 including patients who underwent percutaneous treatment. Among the 63 patients who were diagnosed for hepatocellular carcinoma, 28 carried a small hepatocellular carcinoma with a mean age of 63 years and sex-ratio of 0.64. Etiology of cirrhosis was viral in 96% cases. Surgical treatment [hepatic resection] was performed in 53.5% cases while percutaneous treatment was proposed for 46.5%: radiofrequency ablation in 69% and alcoholic injection in 31%. No major complications for both surgical and percutaneous treatment occurred in our study. Overall survival was significantly lower in the surgical resection group. The corresponding 6 months and 1-year overall survival rates for the surgical resection group and the percutaneous treatment group were 100%, 100%, 20%, and 52%, respectively [p=0,04]. The disease free survival were not significantly different. Our results showed the efficacy and safety of percutaneous ablation treatments which were better than those of surgical treatment in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma

model of end-stage liver disease [MELD] score in predicting postoperative liver failure after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients: the Tunisian experience

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is one of the most frequent cancers in the world. Factors associated with prognosis following resection remain ill defined. The model for end-stage liver disease [MELD] is considered as an index of hepatic functional reserve. This study evaluates the reliability of the MELD score in the prediction of liver failure after hepatic resection for HCC in cirrhotic patients. A retrospective chart review was undertaken of patients with HCC and cirrhosis undergoing hepatic resection between January 1991 and December 2007. A total of 26 cirrhotic patients underwent curative hepatic resection for HCC at our department. Patient information included demographic features, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] class, etiology of cirrhosis, laboratory test results, type of surgical procedure, duration of hospitalization, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh and MELD score. Six patients [23.1%] developed postoperative liver failure. AS much as 66.66% of liver failures were seen in patients who have had major hepatectomy. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we identified that a MELD score equal to or above 9.5 is the best cut-off value for predicting postoperative liver failure. Patients were divided into two groups: MELD below 9.5 [group A] and MELD equal to or above 9.5 [group B]. The highest prevalence of postoperative liver failure of 83.33% was observed in group B. MELD score >/= 9.5 and low serum sodium are strongly predictive of increased postoperative liver failure in patients with cirrhosis undergoing hepatic resection of HCC. The presence of liver cirrhosis is an important factor that affects the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Cirrhotic patients with a high MELD score are at high risk of postoperative liver failure and complications and should be referred for non-surgical treatment

[Epidemiological study, pathologic evaluation and prognostic factors of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma VS non mucinous [about a series of 196 patients]]

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the main causes of cancer death in the worldwide with a decrease survival rate in relationship with a later diagnosis of advanced disease. This study highlights the particular epidemiological, clinicopathological and immunohistochemical colorectal cancer profile. Indeed, our results differ markedly from that reported in the literature. We underwent a retro and prospective study interesting 196 patients with colorectal carcinoma diagnosed in the pathological and cytological laboratory of Mongi Slim Hospital [Tunisia]. Age at diagnosis, mode of presentation, sex, tumour location, macroscopic and histological features, TNM and Astler Coller stage were assessed and evaluated. we report here a particular epidemiological pattern which is characterised by younger age of the patients, equally distribution between men and women, predominant sporadic carcinomas and preponderance of rectosigmoid location. The poorer degree of differentiation and mucinous subtype are correlated with an advanced stage. It is also correlated with more frequent vascular embols, neural invasion and metastatic nodes. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of galectin-3 showed a significant difference between mucinous and non mucinous adenocarcinoma. Based on the presented data, the epidemiological pattern and the anatomic distribution especially in the rectosigmoid region suggest diet and lifestyle to be primordial risk factors of colorectal tumorigenesis

[Pulmonary lymphangiomatosis revealed by an interstitial syndrome in a young adult]

The p73 gene encodes a nuclear protein that is highy homologous to p53. p73 also shares some common functions with p53 protein indicating that p73 gene is a p53-like tumor suppressor. In this study, we examined by immunohistochemistry the p73 expression on 120 cases of colorectal carcinomas and evaluated its implication in carcinogenesis. Retrospective study. The results show an increase of intensity and distribution of p73 in common adenocarcinoma from the normal mucosa, to primary tumors and to metastases. However, in mucinous adenocarcinomas, immunostaining of p73 decrease in primary tumor and completely diseappears in isolated cells and metastases compared with matched normal mucosa. These observations are further reinforced by the fact that in adenocarcinoma with mucinous component less than 50%, the positivity of p73 persist in well-differentiated areas and dramatically decreases or completely deseappears in mucinous areas. In conclusion, p73 would be a prognosic marker for the common adenocarcinomas and an ethiopathogenic factor for the mucinous subtype

[Postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy comparison of the preoperative administration of celecoxib with paracetamol?]

The goal of this study was to evaluate the preventive analgesic effectiveness of paracetamol and celecoxib in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Randomized prospective study was undertaken, 75 patients of class ASA I and II were included, divided into three groups: P [Paracetamol 1000 mg]. C [Celecoxib 200 mg] given orally one hour before induction and group T [without preoperative analgesia]. The VAS at rest and effort was noted on arrival in the recovery room then with regular intervals [T 30mn to T h24]. A morphine titration was carried out during the first 12 postoperative hours. Hemodynamic parameters. Ramsay score and the adverse effects were noted. The three groups were comparable for the demographic data, the duration of anesthesia and peroperative morphine consumption. The evolution of VAS scores shows a significant difference between the groups P and T with the effort of cough at t24h [p = 0.04], and between the groups C and T at postoperative T 4h [p = 0.016]. In our study the group C consumed to a significant degree less morphine 5.44 +/- 3.00 Mg against 7.83 +/- 4.00 Mg for the group P [p <0.03] and 8.04 +/- 3.00 Mg for the group T [p <0,008]. The administration of 200 Mg of celccoxib in the preoperative period of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy allows a significant decrease in morphine consumption in the postoperative period and a reduction in the scores of the VAS at rest and at the effort of cough compared to the groups which received only one placebo or paracetamol

Isolated adenomatous polyposis of the appendix. Report of two cases

Adenomas are rarely diagnosed in the appendix and may be isolated or may coexist with other neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract. This emphasizes the need for postoperative colonoscopy when a polyp of the appendix is found. Moreover, the polyps are considered to be premalignant lesions. Report two new cases of adenomas of the appendix. We report the cases of 23-year-old and 22-year-old men, for whom appendicectomy performed for acute appendicitis. In both cases, histologic studies revealed adenomas in moderate dysplasia colonoscopy did not reveal any polyps

Phlegmonous appendicitis revealed by pyogenic liver abscesses

Pyogenic liver abscesses are rare and severe. Early diagnosis and treatment lead to a better prognosis. Biliary cause of liver abscesses is the most frequent. Portal origin is secondary to a portal bactremia. Appendicitis was the most cause of portal infection, but actually, diverticulitis is most common. The aim of this study was to report a new case of pyogenic liver abscesses secondary to phlegmonous appendicitis We report a case of 47 years old man presented with fever and weight loss without abdominal pain. Laboratory investigations show signs of inflammation with high leukocyte and neutrophile rates. The diagnosis of liver abscesses was made on abdominal ultrasound and tomodensitometry witch shows also an inflammatory appendix. The outcome was good after antibiotics associated with percutaneous drainage of abscesses and laparoscopic appendectomy witch found a phlegmonous appendix. One month later, the CT scan showed a markedly decrease of the size of the abscesses

[About a uncommen trichoepithelioma: the giant solitary trichoepithelioma]

A case of giant solitary trichoepithelioma of the perianal region is described so to drow attention to this rare benign neoplasme and to discuss its clinical and histopathologycal caracteristics

[Inflammatory fibroid polyp of the ileum presenting as intussusception: a case report in an adolescent]

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is an uncommon and benign submucosal lesion of the gastrointestinal tract. The maximal incidence is in the fifth and sixth decades. The main histological characteristics are diffuse inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils and highly vascularized fibrocystic stroma. We report a case of 15-year-old woman who underwent emergency surgery because of acute intestinal obstruction as a results of an intussusception. The macroscopical study after segmental ileal resection showed a nodular lesion 3x2x2 cm, arising from the submucosa with an ulcerated surface. The pathologic diagnosis was ileal inflammatory fibroid polyp. Immunohistochemically, the cells reacted with vimentin and CD34. It has no malignant potential although extensive infiltration may occur. The aetiology is unknown. We prepose to discuss the clinical, the pathological aspects and the possible aetiological factors of the inflammatory fibroid polyp

[Concurrent occurrence of a gasteric cancer with a hepatocellulary carcinoma: report of a case: incidental or causal association?]

Little information regarding synchronous gastric cancer associated with hepatocellular carcinoma is available and has been sporadically reported. We report a new case of 60 years old patient operated for gastric carcinoma. The radiological investigations revealed a hepatic nodule which correspond to a hepatocellular carcinoma on histological examination. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinicopathologic and therapeutic features of this association

[Intestinal T cell lymphoma in coeliac disease: a case report]

Primary intestinal T-celI lymphomas account for about 5% of all primary gastrointestinal lymphomas and are mostly associated with coeliac disease. Intestinal lymphomas are usually discovered during the 4 th to5 th decade and constitute an exceptional complication of coeliac disease. This lymphoma is generally a high grade pleomorphic cell lymphoma with large cells. Our case concerned a 30 year old woman with a history of coeliac disease who developed a gastro-enteromesenteric lymphoma. Anatomopathological and immunohistochemical analysis showed an enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma. We suggest that patients with coeliac disease unresponsive to a gluten free diet or with deteriorating clinical condition be investigated for complications such as enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma. It is also important to avoid this complication by detecting asymptomatic form of coeliac disease that needs a gluten-free diet