Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on children with special needs requiring general anaesthesia for the treatment of dental disease: the experience of the Brescia Children's Hospital, Lombardy, Italy.

PURPOSE: Special needs children presenting with dental problems were penalised during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the reduction of clinical activity and the risks of nosocomial infection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on oral healthcare in paediatric special needs patients. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed and compared the outpatient clinic activity and dental procedures performed under general anaesthesia in children with special needs at Brescia Children's Hospital (Italy) in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Any delay between expected waiting time based on assigned priority and surgery was recorded. The efficacy of the protocol adopted to reduce the spread of Covid-19 was evaluated by reporting any infections in patients, parents, and health care providers. RESULTS: In 2020, 270 outpatient visits were performed, and 40 patients were treated under general anaesthesia, with a 26% and 65% reduction, respectively, compared to 2019. In 2021, 362 visits were performed (similar to 2019) and 48 patients were treated under general anaesthesia (58% compared to 2019). The mean delay in the planned treatment was 1.0 month in 2019 (pre-pandemic period), 2.1 months in 2020, and 1.1 month in 2021. No cases of Covid-19 infection were reported in the cohort of patients and parents or among the operators related to nosocomial infection. CONCLUSIONS: The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly reduced the activity of general anaesthesia in paediatric special need patients during 2020, with a gradual return to normal pre-pandemic activity in 2021. The adopted protocol prevented the spread of COVID-19 during hospitalisation.

Large postoperative umbilical hernia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A case report.

The authors report a case of large postoperative umbilical hernia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which occurred in the early postoperative period despite primary suture of the trocar insertion site. Forced dilation of the fascial layer is proposed as the etiological mechanism. This procedure should be avoided and an accurate and aseptic removal of the gallbladder should be performed in order to prevent risk of abdominal wall weakness and visceral herniation.

Laparoscopic management of symptomatic nonparasitic cysts of the liver. Indications and results.

OBJECTIVE: This clinical study evaluated the results of and defined the indications for laparoscopic fenestration of symptomatic nonparasitic hepatic cysts, either solitary or diffuse. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Different surgical treatments have been proposed for highly symptomatic hepatic cysts: enucleation, fenestration, hepatic resection, and liver transplantation. The advent of laparoscopic surgery has given new opportunities but, at the same time, has increased the uncertainties concerning the proper management of these patients. METHODS: Eight patients with solitary cysts and nine with polycystic liver and kidney disease (PLD) were seen during a period of 2 years. After a careful review of the symptoms, 6 patients were excluded from surgical treatment and 11 (4 solitary cysts and 7 PLD) were treated by laparoscopic fenestration. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, hospital stay, and clinical early and late results were evaluated. RESULTS: In the solitary cyst group, there was no surgical morbidity or deaths, and a complete regression of symptoms occurred in all patients. No recurrences were observed. In the PLD group, two patients had to be converted to laparotomic fenestration (28%). There were no deaths, and the surgical morbidity was limited to two cases of postoperative ascites. Symptomatic relief was obtained in 80% of patients, but the symptoms recurred in 60%. A subgroup of PLD at high risk for recurrence was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The best indications for laparoscopic fenestration seem to be solitary cyst and PLD characterized by large cysts mainly located on the liver surface (type 1), whereas PLD characterized by numerous small cysts all over the liver (type 2) should be considered a contraindication to laparoscopic fenestration.

Preoperative chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

In a group of 396 patients who had chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between 1984 and 1991, 67 underwent surgery (segmentary/subsegmentary resections: 31; or transplantation: 36). Morbidity was limited to hepatic insufficiency (seven), arterial thrombosis (two), vasculitis (five), cholecystitis (two), and hepatic abscess (one). Perioperative mortality was 5.5% for transplantation and 6.7% for resection. Histological examination of resected specimens showed a total or subtotal tumor necrosis in 58% of the cases, and a necrosis between 50% and 80% in another 18%. Data on recurrence and long-term survival are not significant if retrospectively compared with non-chemoembolized surgically treated patients. Chemoembolization is known to be an effective palliative treatment of HCC. Its role in the preoperative setting is sustained by a 58% of total or subtotal histological necrosis. A multicentric prospective trial to evaluate the role of preoperative chemoembolization for long-term survival and recurrence of HCC is advocated.

[Villous adenoma of the rectum. Review of the literature and personal experience]. / Gli adenomi villosi del retto. Revisione della letteratura ed esperienza personale.

Potential malignancy of rectal villous adenomas is referred as varying from 20 to 30%; an appropriate surgical excision is required in order to insure an effective cancer prophylaxis and to improve the accuracy of the pathologic assessment. The Authors review their series concerning 15 patients with one or more polyps of villous type, located at the lower third of the rectum and with precise indications for transanal excision. In 13 cases histology demonstrated the presence of an adenoma with different grade of dysplasia, which simply entered a follow-up together with a case of an adenoma with carcinoma in situ. The latter, because of the presence of invasive carcinoma, underwent radical surgery. No postoperative morbidity was observed. Recurrence rate was 8%. After an accurate review of the Literature, a radical management of the rectal villous tumour performed on routine basis seems unjustified. The Authors suggest the indication for a modern proceeding.

[Solitary splenic abscess. Clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment]. / L'ascesso splenico solitario. Quadro clinico, diagnosi e trattamento.

Splenic abscess, especially the solitary type, is a rarely seen condition, although it has been seen more frequently in recent years. On the basis of a case of splenic abscess with unusual features, the literature on the subject, 171 cases published in Italy, Britain, France and Spain in the past 10 years, is reviewed. It is pointed out that the diagnosis is generally difficult only because abscess is not considered. The diagnostic methods with the best results are ultrasonography and CT scanning, although a checkup after the event showed that straightforward X-ray of the chest, if correctly interpreted, may be enough. Scintigraphy is not indicated and arteriography should only be used in the event of special problems. The clinical picture is scanty and insignificant. The various aetiological agents and changes in these over recent years are illustrated, with special attention with regard to immunodepressed patients. The usual treatment is surgical removal. Other methods with more limited indications, such as drainage and medical treatment, are described.

One-stage operation for diverticular disease.

The experience with 59 patients affected by diverticular disease who underwent surgery after failure of medical treatment, is reported. 40 patients showed one or more postoperative complications, 19 none. The operations performed were: in 46 cases one-stage resection with anastomosis, Hartmann's operation in 8 and other procedures in 5. Six patients died: 3 after Harmann's operation, 2 after colostomy and one after anastomosis. The mean stay in bed for complicated cases was 24 days after anastomosis and 36 after Hartmann's operation. Therefore anastomosis is preferred in all cases including those with stenosis, fistula or abscess provided that peritonitis is not present. The anastomosis is performed away from the site of abdominal sepsis. In cases with peritonitis the selected surgical procedure is usually Hartmann's operation.

[Introduction of a disposable dermatome]. / Présentation d'un dermatome à jeter.

Skin grafts in vascular pathology, which were until now the prerogative of surgeons when the technique is complex and requires specific devices, are currently becoming available to all mainly with the use of the disposable Sanchez dermatome, at a very reasonable cost. This dermatome is characterized by a sharp edge which is only but a common razor blade, easy to get. Its use is so simple that it may be used even without a large experience of the grafting technique. The authors describe their technique in ambulatory. They point out its efficacy, its simpleness, its reduced cost for the patient as well as for social bodies. They insist on: preparation of the ulcer bed, the graft itself, the treatment of the cause. "A closed ulcer is not a cured ulcer".

[Use of digitalis in geriatrics: is it effective on the heart in sinus rhythm?]. / L'uso della digitale in geriatria: è utile nel cuore in ritmo sinusale?

The therapeutic activity of digitalis in cardiac failure is linked to its positive inotropic effect on the myocardium and its ability to control cardiac activity in atrial fibrillation. Chronic stimulation with digoxin in aged subjects with sinus rhythm, however, is of debatable utility Reference is made to a series of 35 subjects (mean age 76.5 yr) in sinus rhythm, 30 of whom had been taking digoxin for over 3 yr. Clinical and instrumental parameters were assessed and heart function was classified according to the NYHA arrangement. Subjects were randomly placed in two groups matched for sex, age and cardiac condition. The first group received digoxin, the second a placebo. No significant differences between the two groups were noted over a 3-month period. In keeping with the recent literature, it is felt that digitalis is not necessary for the dynamic cardiac control of aged subjects in sinus rhythm. In addition, it is suggested that hydrosaline retention in such subjects can be controlled by restriction of salt intake, rest and diuretics.