Treatment Options and the Management of Complications in Hydatid Cysts of the Liver in Endemic Regions.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid cyst of the liver induced by Echinococcus granulosus is a pervasive zoonotic disease in our region. Its incidence varies across age groups, contingent on community lifespans and hygiene standards. Therapeutic modalities include Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, Re-aspiration (PAIR), and surgery. Due the limited feasability of PAIR, we suggest that surgery represents the optimal treatment in all stages, especially in endemic regions, depending on patient-specific variables. METHOD: Patients with hydatid cyst of the liver treated with PAIR and surgery in our center between January 2016 and January 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. PAIR or cystectomy were applied in treatment. These were then compared in terms of efficacy, feasibility, and complications. RESULTS: A single hydatid cyst of the liver was detected in 184 of the 225 cases, two cysts in 33, and three or more cysts in eight. The largest cyst diameter was 233 × 124 mm in the surgery group and 100 × 90 mm in the PAIR group. One hundred thirty-three of the 225 patients underwent open surgery, and no recurrence was encountered in these. However, recurrence was observed 19 patients treated with PAIR. Allergic reaction developed in one case during surgery, postoperative abscess in two cases, biliary fistula in five, and pneumonia in one. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment should represent the standard procedure since it is safe and effective, ensures complete elimination of the parasite, involves no intraoperative shedding, preserves healthy tissues, and minimizes the risk of long-term recurrence and cavity-related complications.

Evaluation of YouTube Videos on Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: As in every field, online information has become increasingly used in health. However, it is well known that some information online containing health advice is incorrect and may even include false statements. For this reason, it is crucial for public health that individuals reach reliable, high-quality resources when they are trying to obtain health information. Studies have been conducted on the quality and reliability of online information about many diseases, but no similar study has been found in the literature on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In this descriptive study, videos on YouTube (www.youtube.com) about HCC were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the modified DISCERN tool. RESULTS: While 129 (89.58%) of the videos examined within the study were considered useful, 15 (10.42%) were misleading. The GQS scores of the videos considered useful were significantly higher than the scores of the misleading videos, with a median (min-max) score of 4 (2-5) (P < 0.001). When we compared the DISCERN scores, the scores of the useful videos were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the scores of the misleading videos. CONCLUSION: YouTube should be considered a complex structure where accurate and reliable health information can be presented, as well as erroneous and misleading information. Users should understand the importance of video sources and focus their research on videos from doctors, academics, and universities.

Primary Hepatic Actinomycosis Mimicking Neuroendocrine Tumor.

INTRODUCTION: The Actinomyces species is a fastidious, gram-positive, non-spore-forming bacteria that thrive in microareophilic and anaerobic conditions. Infection in the liver, an organ rarely affected by this pathogen, is presumed to be caused by hematogenous spread through the portal vein from a mucosal injury or other abdominal injury or a focus of infection. CASE DESCRIPTION:  A 60-year-old male patient has a mass lesion of 15 × 10 cm in the left lobe on computed tomography. A tru-cut biopsy was performed with USG, and fragmented tissue pieces were obtained. In histopathological examination, these samples were reported as tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation. The biopsy sample contains a large amount of tumor neighborhood, and tumoral area is quite small. And, therefore, a clear diagnosis could not be found. A mass lesion with mildly increased Ga 68 DOTATATE uptake was observed in the left lobe of the liver (SUVmax value 3.8) and was interpreted in favor of the primary neuroendocrine tumor of the liver. DISCUSSION: Actinomyces cases are very rare and their diagnosis is usually delayed due to its slow and insidious course, and lack of specific clinical and radiological findings. It is difficult to make a correct diagnosis even in microbiological examinations and biopsy materials obtained in the presence of imaging methods. It can mimic tumors of abdominopelvic structures. CONCLUSION: Actinomyces should be kept in mind in cases with liver masses accompanied by previous abdominal surgery, abdominal trauma, high fever, and leukocytosis.

The effect of D3 dissection on postoperative morbidity and early mortality in gastric cancer patients who underwent curative total gastrectomy.

AIM: The present study presents the factors associated with early complications and mortality in patients undergoing total gastrectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included patients who underwent curative total gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2001 and December 2016 in the General Surgery Department of the Çukurova University Medical Faculty Hospital. The patients were divided into D1, D2, and D3 groups depending on the lymph node dissection width, and the demographic and clinical data and mortality were compared. In addition, mortality-associated factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The study sample included 148 (62.7%) males and 88 (37.3%) females, with a mean age of 65.5±11.4 years. There were 87 patients in the D1 group, 117 in the D2 group, and 23 in the D3 group. As expected, the duration of the operation was longer in the D2 and D3 groups (179 vs. 224 vs. 252; p<0.001), and these groups had also higher numbers of lymph nodes dissected (8 vs. 20 vs. 32; p<0.001) and metastatic lymph nodes (2.6 vs. 7.5 vs. 9.2; p<0.001). The analysis of the operation type in terms of complications revealed a significant relationship only with stump blowout, which was significantly more common after D3 dissection than following D2 and D1 dissections (p:0.01). The male gender (87.5 vs 60.9 p:0.03) was more associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: D1, D2 and D3 Lymph node dissection in gastric cancer surgery can be safely performed with low mortality and morbidity rates by surgeons with sufficient technical knowledge, and in centers with sufficient hospital volume. KEY WORDS: Complications, Gastric Cancer, Mortality, Lymph Node Dissection.

Management of the staple line bleeding in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: monopolar cautery versus oversewing.

OBJECTIVE: Staple line bleeding control (SLBC) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a serious problem. Cauterization alone is generally not preferred because of concerns about weakening the staple line. The aim of this study was to compare the suturing and monopolar cauterization methods for SLBC in LSG. METHODS: 212 patients were divided into two groups as cautery and suture groups. Demographic characteristics, intraoperative, and post-operative results were analyzed. RESULTS: Post-operative complications were seen in seven patients, four of them staple line bleeding (three patients were in the cautery group and one patient was in the suture group), and three of them leakage (all patients were in the suture group) from the staple line. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of staple line bleeding (p = 0.35), staple line leakage (p = 0.09), blood loss (p = 0.12), intraoperative complications (p = 0.16), post-operative hemoglobin decrease (p = 0.63), and length of hospital stay (p = 0.35), but the operation time was longer in the suture group. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in literature comparing monopolar cauterization with another technique. Monopolar cauterization can be used for SLBC in LSG. It is a safe and efficient method as well as inexpensive.

OBJETIVO: El control del sangrado de la línea de grapas (SLBC) después de la gastrectomía en manga laparoscópica(LSG) es un problema grave. Generalmente, no se prefiere la cauterización sola debido a preocupaciones sobre el debilitamiento de la línea de grapas. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los métodos de sutura y cauterización monopolar para SLBC en LSG. MÉTODOS: 212 pacientes fueron divididos en 2 grupos de cauterización y sutura. Se analizaron las características demográficas, los resultados intraoperatorios y posoperatorios. RESULTADOS: Se observaron complicaciones posoperatorias en siete pacientes, cuatro de ellos sangrado en la línea de grapas (tres pacientes estaban en el grupo de cauterización, un paciente en el grupo de sutura) y tres de ellos fuga (todos los pacientes estaban en el grupo de sutura) del línea de grapas. No hubo diferencia significativa entre los grupos en términos de sangrado de la línea de grapas (p = 0.35), fuga dela línea de grapas (p = 0.09), pérdida de sangre (p = 0.12), complicaciones intraoperatorias (p = 0.16), disminución de hemoglobina postoperatoria (p = 0.63), duración dela estancia hospitalaria (p = 0.35), pero el tiempo de operación fue mayor en el grupo de sutura. CONCLUSIÓN: Este es el primer estudio que compara la cauterización monopolar con otra técnica. La cauterización monopolar se puede utilizar para SLBC en LSG. Es un método seguro, eficaz y económico.

Can revision of RYGB to sleeve gastrectomy be a solution to inadequate weight loss treatment?

We aimed to discuss the weight loss success of the revision of RYGB to sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Between January 2019 and June 2020, four patients' files were analyzed retrospectively. Post-RYGB mean minimal BMI was 27.4 ± 9.47 kg/m², before SG the mean BMI was 43.41 ± 4.16 kg/m2. Post-operative gastric fistula developed in two patients. The mean follow-up time after revision surgery was 17.25 ± 6.89 months, mean excess weight loss (EWL) was 74.77 ± 8.94%, and mean BMI was 32.65 ± 2.9 kg/m2. Despite high rate of major complications, revision of RYGB to SG is successful in weight loss and resolving certain complications of RYGB.

Nuestro objetivo era discutir el éxito en la pérdida de peso de la revisión de BGYR a gastrectomía en manga (SG). Entre enero de 2019 y junio de 2020, se analizaron retrospectivamente los archivos de cuatro pacientes. El IMC mínimo medio post BGYR fue 27.4 ± 9.47 kg/m², antes de SG el IMC medio fue 43.41 ± 4.16 kg/m2. En dos pacientes se desarrolló una fístula gástrica posoperatoria. El tiempo medio de seguimiento después de la cirugía de revisión fue de 17.25 ± 6.89 meses, la pérdida media de exceso de peso (PEP) fue de 74.77 ± 8.94% y el IMC medio fue de 32.65 ± 2.9 kg/m2. A pesar de la alta tasa de complicaciones mayores, la revisión de BGYR a SG tiene éxito en la pérdida de peso y la resolución de ciertas complicaciones de BGYR.

Is It Possible to Estimate the Liver Left Lobe Volume Using Preoperative Data Before Bariatric Surgery?

PURPOSE: Retraction of the left lobe of the liver (LLL) is an important step in bariatric surgical procedures. A good liver retraction will both facilitate the operation and reduce complications. The aim of the study is to identify patients with large LLL with preoperative anthropometric and laboratory data, and to reveal complications due to large LLL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 245 patients who underwent bariatric surgery in our department between April 2019 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the visibility of the caudate lobe of the liver, the left diaphragmatic artery-vein, and the fat pad on the esophagus after liver retraction. RESULTS: Univariate analyses revealed significant differences in BMI, waist and hip circumferences, TG, DM, and HbA1c values, but only BMI (p = 0.001) and the presence of DM (p = 0.017) were found to be independent predictors of LLL size. BMI ≥ 42.1 kg/m2 indicates the size of LLL with 83% sensitivity and 49% specificity. Retractor-related complications were significantly higher in the large LLL group (p = 0.036). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of complications related to trocar insertion (p = 0.014) and postoperative liver enzyme levels (p = 0.714). The operation time (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy [LSG]; p = 0.021) (laparoscopic Roux-N-Y gastric bypass [LRYGB]; p = 0.020) and the amount of bleeding (LSG; p < 0.001) (LRYGB; p = 0.011) are higher in patients with large LLL. CONCLUSION: Large LLL can be predicted and complications may be reduced with the help of preoperative data.

Isolated Roux loop versus conventional pancreaticojejunostomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the effects of isolated Roux loop (IP) versus conventional pancreaticojejunostomy (CP) techniques on the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula and its severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included retrospectively collected data from 132 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in a single institute. Collected data were compared between IP and CP groups. Postoperative pancreatic fistula and its grades were defined according to International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) definition. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients had IP and 74 patients had CP. Biochemical leak (IP 20.6% versus CP 14.9%, p=0.38) and grade B/C pancreatic fistula (IP 20.6% versus CP 32.4%, p=0.13) rates of both groups were similar. Durations of hospital stay and intensive care unit stay and 30-day mortality rates of the two groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Isolated Roux loop reconstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy is not associated with a lower rate of pancreatic fistula but may contribute to reducing the severity of pancreatic fistula. KEY WORDS: Anastomotic leak, Pancreatic fistula, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, Roux en y anastomosis.

Laparoscopic Splenopexy Due to Wandering Spleen: Feasible Technique.

Wandering spleen (WS) is a rare disease caused by the looseness of the splenic ligaments. A 29-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and a palpable mass in the abdomen. A diagnosis of WS was made as a result of preoperative imaging. We performed urgent laparoscopic splenopexy with non-absorbable mesh in a patient with torsioned WS. WS is a disease that must be operated on urgently because it causes ischemia and necrosis in cases where it causes torsion in the splenic pedicle. Many researchers also recommend surgery in asymptomatic patients. While splenectomy was previously recommended for WS, current recommendations advocate for splenopexy. As a result, the only and definite treatment option in the case of WS is surgery. Splenopexy with minimally invasive techniques should be the first choice if possible. Splenopexy with non-absorbable mesh is an inexpensive and feasible method to prevent re-torsion. The use of non-absorbable mesh in laparoscopic splenopexy has not been shared before in the literature.

Coronavirus Precautions: Experience of High Volume Liver Transplant Institute.

BACKGROUND: To present the struggle of a high volume liver transplant center against coronavirus infectious disease-2019 pandemic. METHODS: Between March 2020 and December 2020, the demographic and clinical data of staff and liver transplant candidates diagnosed with coronavirus infectious disease-2019 in our Liver Transplant Institute were prospectively analyzed. RESULTS: First, 32 healthcare staff were diagnosed with coronavirus infectious disease-2019, and 6 of them were surgeons. Six staff were asymptomatic, while 24 staff had mild or moderate and 2 staff had severe coronavirus infectious disease-2019. All the staff recovered from the disease without any permanent sequela and returned to duty after 2 consecutive negative polymerase chain reaction results within 24-hour intervals. Second, during the preoperative investigation, 6 living liver donor candidates and 13 recipients were tested positive for coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (son = 6, unrelated = 3, cousin = 3, daughter = 2, cadaveric = 1). Eleven patients received favipiravir and 8 did not receive any treatment because they were asymptomatic. Only one recipient who had severe coronavirus infectious disease-2019 died due to multiple organ failure syndrome. One recipient died in the early postoperative period. The median duration from the initial diagnosis of the patients till the transplant procedure was 21 days (min-max: 14-105 days). During the time of operation, the polymerase chain reaction tests of the donors and the recipients were negative, and the thorax tomography images showed no signs of viral pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Meticulous precautions, multidisciplinary approach, team effort, and organization of facilities can increase the quality of care of these patients in the coronavirus infectious disease-2019 era. Healthcare workers have shown tremendous effort and are the true heroes of this era.

Is Prognostic Nutritional Index an Indicator for Postoperative 90-Day Mortality in Laparoscopic Gastric Cancer Surgery?

Gastic cancer is a life-threatening malignancy in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a guiding marker for gastric cancer patients with laparoscopic gastrectomy. We retrospectively examined the medical records of 138 gastric cancer patients who had adenocarcinoma pathological diagnosis and operated laparoscopically. Patients were divided into two groups (survived and death) and these groups were compared with clinical and laboratory parameters results. The PNI was calculated as 10 × serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (per mm3). Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of 90-day mortality. The median age of the study cohort was 62.5 (19-91) years, 98 (71%) were males, and 9 (6.5%) patients died during the 90-day after laparoscopic gastrectomy. The PNI levels were significantly lower in death group compared with survived group 37.5 (25-47.1) to 46.9 (22.8-64.9). The PNI (Odds Ratio = 0.81, 95% Confidence Interval 0.70-0.92, p = 0.003) was found as an independent factor for 90-day mortality in multivariate analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that 45.15 is the best-cutoff value for 90-day mortality after laparoscopic gastrectomy. 90-day mortality rate of PNI > 45.15 was 2.2% and PNI ≤ 45.15 was 13.6% found. Lower PNI is associated with increased 90-day mortality in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The PNI may be a useful marker for predicting the 90-day mortality of gastric cancer patients after laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Transvaginal Specimen Extraction After Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Tumors.

AIM: The aim was to evaluate the feasibility of transvaginal specimen extraction after laparoscopic gastrectomy for tumors. METHOD: Inclusion criteria were females not planning to deliver a child and an accessible vaginal entry. Exclusion criteria were benign gastric pathologies and emergency cases. RESULTS: There were 24 females with a mean age of 54.5±12.0. Subtotal, total, central, and vertical gastrectomies were implemented in 17, 4, 2, and 1 patients, respectively. There was no conversion to open or conventional laparoscopic surgery. Specimens were removed from the vagina in all cases successfully. Histopathologies were adenocarcinoma in 20, gastrointestinal stromal in 3, neuroendocrine tumors in 2 and high-grade dysplasia in the rest. Mean blood loss and duration of surgery were 122.5±163.4 (range: 10 to 800) ml. and 287.7±95.9 (range: 120 to 440) minutes, respectively. No patient required intraoperative blood transfusions. The median length of hospital stay was 7 days (range: 3 to 22). The mean tumor size was 7.8±6.5 (range: 0.5 to 24) cm. Fourteen of 24 cases were advanced gastric cancers. Mean dissected lymph node numbers in the patients with radical gastrectomy was 35.3±12.9 (range: 18 to 62). There were no early or late complications related to the specimen extraction and no wound-related problems were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In the selected cases, transvaginal specimen extraction was feasible after laparoscopic gastric resections in patients with stomach tumors. As far as we know, this was the largest study on the transvaginal extraction of gastric tumors.

Helicobacter pylori Increases Gastric Compliance on Resected Stomach After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between high body mass index (BMI) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) was reported previously. But the mechanism is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of HP on gastric compliance and volumes in obese patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred fifty-nine patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy due to morbid obesity were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups as HP+ (n = 86) and HP- (n = 73) according to the HP status in resection materials. Demographics, pathological data, specimen sizes, volume, and compliance were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the study group was 34 years (17-64 years) while the median BMI was 43 kg/m2 (35-64, 3 kg/m2). Most of the patients (n = 134, 84.3%) were female. The median diameter of the widest point of the specimen was 22.5 cm (14-32 cm), and the median volume of the specimen was 790 cc (330-1920 cc). Both the diameter of the widest point and the volume of the specimens were significantly increased in the HP+ group compared to the HP- group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). In addition, the median compliance was 52.6 cc/mmHg, and the compliance was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the HP+ group. There were no significant differences in specimen sizes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study showing that HP increases gastric compliance in obese patients who underwent LSG. The etiology and the effects of this increase in compliance have not been fully clarified yet. Further studies are needed to shed light on these effects.

Omentopexy versus falciformopexy for peptic ulcer perforation.

BACKGROUND: Open or laparoscopic Graham's omentopexy is frequently used in the treatment of peptic ulcer perforation (PUP). The technical difficulty of applying the omental plug, especially in patients with previous omentum resection, has led to the use of falciform ligament for the PUP, and some studies have reported that PUP may even be a more advantageous technique than omentopexy. Here, in this study, we aimed to compare the retrospective results of patients who underwent falciformopexy or omentopexy for PUP. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2018, 303 patients who were followed-up and treated for PUP were included in this study. Patients who had malignancy, gastric resection, definitive ulcer surgery, laparoscopic surgery and nonoperative treatment were excluded from this study. In the remaining patients, either open ometopexy or falciformopexy were applied based on the surgeon's choice. These two techniques were compared for intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Falciformopexy (n=46) and omentopexy (n=243) groups had similar demographics, but ASA scores were lower in the falciformopexy group. For ulcer size and localization, duration of operation, no difference was found between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups concerning general postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, atelectasis was more frequently observed in the omentopexy group, whereas the pexia failure was more frequent in the falciformopexy group (2.6% and 8.7%, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Falciformopexy is an alternative technique that can be used in situations where it is not possible to use the omentum. Falciformopexy is not superior to omentopexy for the repair of the PUP.