Predictors of Sleep Duration and Sleep Disturbance in Children of a Culturally Diverse Region in North-Eastern Greece.

Background Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the sleep characteristics of children and explore associations with various socio-demographic factors in an area of Greece characterized by cultural diversity. Methods: A questionnaire about children's sleep habits had been distributed to parents of children who visited the pediatric outpatient clinic of University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis for a medical examination and to get a health certificate for participation in sports activities. Children with chronic health conditions were excluded. Results: In the study, 449 children (27.1% belonging to minorities) were included, aged 7.6 ± 2.9 years. Most of them (81.7%) slept after 10 p.m., with a mean nocturnal sleep duration of 9.4 ± 1.2 h. The most commonly reported disturbance was snoring (26.2%). Age and high educational level of the mother were both important determinants for sleeping late [OR 1.139 (1.033-1.255); p = 0.009 and OR 1.086 (1.004-1.175); p = 0.040, respectively]. The latter was also associated with an absence of any reported sleep disorder in children [OR 0.934 (0.877-0.994); p = 0.031]. A longer sleep duration was reported among Roma children (p = 0.022), which was more overt in girls (mean sleep duration 10.4 ± 1.6 h). In the Roma group also, the prevalence of sleep disorders was higher. Conclusion: Age progression and maternal educational level, along with cultural background, seem to be correlated with variations in the sleep characteristics of children in a culturally diverse population in Greece.

Dyspnea caused by a giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma: A case report.

Liposarcomas are the most common soft tissue tumors with various histological subtypes. They usually appear in the retroperitoneal region of the abdomen, but their symptomatology remains unclear and their diagnosis, as well as treatment challenging. A case of a 55-year-old female patient with dyspnea and light diffuse abdominal pain caused by a giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma is presented. The patient had an unremarkable medical history, while the computed tomography scan revealed a large mass at the right portion of the abdomen, with its upper limits to the lower edge and the gate portion of the liver. The mass was in contact with the right kidney, the inferior vena cava and the right renal vein, causing mild dilation of the right kidney pelvis. Without any evidence of intra-abdominal metastases, the tumor was surgically resected. The histological analysis of the tumor revealed a well-differentiated liposarcoma. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the 10th postoperative day. Until today (4 years later) she remains asymptomatic, without any signs of recurrence. The retroperitoneal liposarcoma is a clinical entity with unclear clinical symptoms and the physician should consider including it in the differential diagnosis of a majority of symptoms, such as dyspnea.

A prospective randomised trial of isolated pathogens of surgical site infections (SSI).

BACKGROUND: Every surgical wound is colonized by bacteria, but only a small percentage displays symptoms of infection. The distribution of pathogens isolated in surgical site infections has not significantly changed over the last decades. Staph. Aureus, Coag(-) Staphylococci, Enterococcus spp and E. Coli are the main strains appearing. In addition, a continuously rising proportion of surgical site infections caused by resistant bacterial species (MRSA, C. Albicans) has been reported. METHODS: This prospective and randomized clinical study was performed in the 1st Surgical Clinic of Sismanoglion General Hospital of Athens, from February 2009 to February 2015. Patients undergoing elective surgery in the upper or lower digestive system were randomized to receive antimicrobial treatment as chemoprophylaxis. Each patient filled a special monitoring form, recording epidemiological data, surgery related information, surgical site infections (deep and superficial), as well as postoperative morbidity (urinary and respiratory infections included). The monitoring of patients was carried by multiple visits on a daily basis during their hospitalization and continued after they were discharged via phone to postoperative day 30. RESULTS: Our overall SSI incidence was 4,3% (31patients out of a whole of 715 patients). Specifically, the incidence of SSIs for scheduled surgery of the upper GI tract was 2,2% (11 out of 500 patients) and for the lower GI tract was 9,3% (20 out of 215 patients). Seven main pathogens were isolated from patients with SSIs: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Their growth rates were respectively: S. Aureus (17,3%), E. faecalis (19,5%), P. aeruginosa (10,5%), B. Fragilis (13,4%) E. coli (20,4%), Enterobacter cloacae (9,1%) and K. Pneumoniae (9,8%). In addition, all the SSIs were found to be multimicrobial. Several studies have already revealed that patient characteristics and coexisting morbidities such as obesity, smoking, heart or renal failure, pre-existing localized infections and patients' age (especially if age exceeds 65) seem to be independent prognostic factors for surgical field infections. Additionally, classification of the surgical wound, surgical operation complexity, preoperative hospitalization, prolongation of surgical time and need for transfusions have been proved to differentiate the incidence of SSIs. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, surgical site infections are important complications affecting the healthcare services, the cost of hospitalization and the patient himself. Future thorough studies are expected to reveal much more data, regarding predisposing and precautionary patient and hospital characteristics.

Adenoma of the ampulla of Vater: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Lesions of the ampulla of Vater are rare histological entities with an incidence of between 0.1 and 0.2% of gastrointestinal tumors. Until recently the main response to this kind of lesion was duodenopancreatectomy, regardless of the cellular atypia and local edema. In this study, we propose the application of transduodenal local excision of the ampulla of Vater especially in recognized cases of nonmalignant adenomas. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report we analyze the case of a 78-year-old Greek man who revealed symptoms such as icterus, abdominal pain without constipation and bloody stools. A physical examination showed painless swelling of the gallbladder (Courvoisier sign). No previous abdominal operations or hernias were identified. Blood tests, computed tomography scan analysis, gastroscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography along with biopsies and cytological tests diagnosed nonmalignant adenoma of the ampulla of Vater with high-grade dysplasia. The treatment we followed was transduodenal local excision of his ampulla of Vater. CONCLUSIONS: Transduodenal local excision of the ampulla of Vater has limited side effects and postoperative complications, suggesting this particular technique to be the proper treatment for nonmalignant cases of adenomas.

Gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal stromal tumors: report of two cases and review of the literature.

We present two cases, one of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the stomach and one of an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST) in the hepatogastric ligament, which were discovered as incidental findings during computed tomography (CT) scans performed for other reasons. In both cases the diagnosis of the tumor was confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. During the follow-up CT examinations these tumors proved to have a completely different natural course. The first case refers to an 82-year-old male patient with GIST of the stomach who refused to be operated and was followed by CT scans for a 4-year period. This patient did not show any significant changes in the morphology, size and density of the lesion. The second case refers to a 58-year-old female patient with EGIST of the hepatogastric ligament who presented with simultaneous liver metastases and remained healthy for 2 years after surgical resection, but developed local recurrence later. As a conclusion, both GISTs/EGISTs can be revealed as incidental findings in a CT scan performed for other purposes. Moreover, an untreated GIST located in the stomach can remain unchanged and without metastatic lesions for a long period of time, as in our case for a 4-year period. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature in whom a GIST was proved to remain almost unchanged for many years without any treatment, and we therefore attempt a further review of the current literature on stromal tumors.

Bouveret syndrome-the rarest variant of gallstone ileus: a case report and literature review.

We present a case report of a patient with Bouveret syndrome with interesting radiological findings and successful surgical treatment after failure of the endoscopic techniques. The report is followed by a review of the literature regarding the diagnostic means and proper treatment of this rare entity. Bouveret syndrome refers to the condition of gastric outlet obstruction caused by the impaction of a large gallstone into the duodenum after passage through a cholecystoduodenal fistula. Many endoscopic and surgical techniques have been described in the management of this syndrome. This is a case of a 78-year-old patient with severe medical history who presented in bad general condition with an 8-day history of nausea, multiple bilious vomiting episodes, anorexia, discomfort in the right hypochondrium and epigastrium, and fever up to 38,5°C. The diagnosis of Bouveret syndrome was set after performing the proper imaging studies. An initial endoscopic effort to resolve the obstruction was performed without success. Surgical treatment managed to extract the impacted gallstone through an enterotomy after removal into the first part of the jejunum.

Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum after unsuccessful ERCP: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The presence of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum simultaneously is a rare complication of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that usually indicates free perforation to the peritoneal cavity or the retroperitoneal space. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual case of a self-limited subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum following an unsuccessful ERCP for removal of a common bile duct stone. CONCLUSION: There was no radiological evidence of peritoneal or retroperitoneal perforation. This complication is distinct from pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum due to perforation, and must be recognized, because it is benign and needs no surgical or radiological intervention.