Surgical Repair of Small Bowel Fistulas: Risk Factors of Complications or Fistula Recurrence.

BACKGROUND Definitive surgical repair of persistent fistulas of the small intestine remains a surgical challenge with a high rate of re-fistulation and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the type and incidence of complications after definitive surgical repair, and to identify factors predictive of severe postoperative complications or fistula recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of 42 patients who underwent elective surgical repair of a persistent fistula of the small intestine. The analysis included preoperative and intraoperative parameters. RESULTS The healing rate after definitive surgery was 71.4%. Postoperative complications developed in 88.1% of patients. The mortality rate was 7.2%. Fistula recurrence was recognized in 21.4% of cases. Overall, 93 complications occurred in 37 patients. The most common complications were septic (48.0%). Hemorrhagic and digestive tract-related complications accounted for 19.0% and 15.0% of all complications, respectively. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III-V) made up 28.0% of all complications. In univariate analysis, multiple fistulas (p=0.03), higher C-reactive protein level (p=0.01), and longer time interval from admission to definitive surgery (p=0.01) were associated with an increased risk of severe complications or fistula recurrence. In multivariate analysis, only multiple fistulas were an independent risk factor for severe complications or fistula recurrence (OR=8.2, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Fistula complexity determines the risk of severe postoperative complications or fistula recurrence after definitive surgical repair of the persistent small intestine fistulas. Inflammatory parameters should be normalized before definitive surgery.

Infeasibility of endoscopic transmural drainage due to pancreatic pseudocyst wall calcifications - case report.

Postinflammatory pancreatic pseudocysts are one of the most common complications of acute pancreatitis. In most cases, pseudocysts self-absorb in the course of treatment of pancreatitis. In some patients, pancreatic pseudocysts are symptomatic and cause pain, problems with gastrointestinal transit, and other complications. In such cases, drainage or resection should be performed. Among the invasive methods, mini invasive procedures like endoscopic transmural drainage through the wall of the stomach or duodenum play an important role. For endoscopic transmural drainage, it is necessary that the cyst wall adheres to the stomach or duodenum, making a visible impression. We present a very rare case of infeasibility of endoscopic drainage of a postinflammatory pancreatic pseudocyst, impressing the stomach, due to cyst wall calcifications. A 55-year-old man after acute pancreatitis presented with a 1-year history of epigastric pain and was admitted due to a postinflammatory pseudocyst in the body and tail of pancreas. On admission, blood tests, including CA 19-9 and CEA, were normal. An ultrasound examination revealed a 100-mm pseudocyst in the tail of pancreas, which was confirmed on CT and EUS. Acoustic shadowing caused by cyst wall calcifications made the cyst unavailable to ultrasound assessment and percutaneous drainage. Gastroscopy revealed an impression on the stomach wall from the outside. The patient was scheduled for endoscopic transmural drainage. After insufflation of the stomach, a large mass protruding from the wall was observed. The stomach mucosa was punctured with a cystotome needle knife, and the pancreatic cyst wall was reached. Due to cyst wall calcifications, endoscopic drainage of the cyst was unfeasible. Profuse submucosal bleeding at the puncture site was stopped by placing clips. The patient was scheduled for open surgery, and distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. The histopathological examination confirmed the initial diagnosis of postinflammatory pancreatic pseudocyst. Endoscopic transmural drainage is a highly effective procedure for treating postinflammatory pancreatic pseudocysts. In some patents, especially with large pseudocysts, pseudocysts with calcified walls, and cysts of primary origin, resection should be performed.

Comparison between minimally invasive and open surgical treatment in necrotizing pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Minimal access techniques have gained popularity for the management of necrotizing pancreatitis, but only a few studies compared open necrosectomy with a less invasive treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of minimally invasive treatment for necrotizing pancreatitis in comparison with open necrosectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 70 patients who underwent minimally invasive intervention or open surgical debridement for necrotizing pancreatitis between January 2007 and December 2014. Data were analyzed for postoperative morbidity and outcome. RESULTS: Of 70 patients, 22 patients underwent primary open necrosectomy and 48 patients were treated with minimally invasive techniques. Percutaneous and endoscopic drainage were successful in 34.9% and 75.0% of patients, respectively. The rates of postoperative new-onset organ failure and intensive care unit stay were significantly lower in the minimally invasive group (25.0% versus 54.5%; P = 0.016, and 29.2% versus 54.5%; P = 0.041, respectively). Gastrointestinal fistulas occurred more frequently after primary open necrosectomy (36.4% versus 10.4%; P = 0.009). Mortality was comparable in both groups (18.6% versus 27.3%; P = 0.420). Mortality for salvage open necrosectomy was similar to that for primary open debridement (28.6% versus 27.3%; P = 0.924). The independent risk factors for major postoperative complications were primary open necrosectomy (P = 0.028) and shorter interval to first intervention (P = 0.020). Mortality was independently associated only with older age (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive treatment should be preferred over open necrosectomy for initial management of necrotizing pancreatitis.

[Dietary prevention and treatment of diverticular disease of the colon]. / PostEpowanie dietetyczne w profilaktyce i leczeniu choroby uchyLkowej jelita grubego.

Diverticular disease is more often categorized as a civilization disease that affects both women and men, especially at an old age. The pathophysiology remains complex and arises from the interaction between dietary fiber intake, bowel motility and mucosal changes in the colon. Obesity, smoking, low physical activity, low-fiber diet (poor in vegetables, fruit, whole grain products, seeds and nuts) are among factors that increase the risk for developing diverticular disease. Additionally, the colonic outpouchings may be influenced by involutional changes of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the fiber rich diet (25-40 g/day) plays an important role in prevention, as well as nonpharmacological treatment of uncomplicated diverticular disease. The successful goal of the therapy can be achieved by well-balanced diet or fiber supplements intake. Research indicate the effectiveness of probiotics in dietary management during the remission process. Moreover, drinking of appropriate water amount and excluding from the diet products decreasing colonic transit time - should be also applied.

Sister Mary Joseph nodule: a tip of an iceberg.

A Sister Mary Joseph nodule represents a cutaneous metastasis into the umbilicus. This clinical sign of intra-abdominal malignancy is frequently overlooked or misinterpreted by both patients and their physicians. We report 4 patients with a Sister Mary Joseph nodule. The umbilical metastases appeared sonographically as hypoechoic masses with irregular margins and small internal hyperechoic foci. Further evaluation revealed disseminated malignancy, and the umbilical nodule was just "a tip of an iceberg."