The tip of the iceberg of colorectal perforation from enema: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although rare, perforation following an enema used to treat constipation is a dangerous complication. However, no recommendations or guidelines for enema use are available. So, in common clinical practice, the diagnostic approach and the treatment are not standardized. In an attempt to resolve this clinical dilemma associated with high mortality and potential medicolegal claims for malpractice, we have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting on colorectal perforation secondary to enema use for adult patients with constipation. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus was performed according to the PRISMA statement up until February 2020. Studies that reported on colorectal perforation from enema use in adult patients with constipation were included. The primary outcomes were the rate of hospital mortality and pooled prevalence estimates of mortality from perforation secondary to enema use. The secondary outcomes were the administration of rectal enemas, site of visceral perforation, signs, symptoms, radiological evaluation, and type of treatment RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included in the final analysis (49 patients). Across all studies, the pooled prevalence estimate of mortality for patients with perforation secondary to enema use was 38.5%, (95% CI [22.7%, 55.5%]). This rate was lower in patients who had surgery (35%) than in patients treated conservatively (57.1%). The sites of perforation were intraoperatively reported in 84% of cases, but in 16% of patients the rectal perforation was undiagnosed, and surgical decision making was problematic. The primary location of the perforation was the rectum in 80.9% of the patients. The enema was administered by a nurse in 90% of the cases, self-administered in 7.5% and a family doctor in 2.5%. The main objective of emergency surgery in this setting is resection of the perforation caused by the enema; when it is not possible to resect the perforated rectum, faecal diversion is needed. Hartmann's procedure was most commonly performed by the surgeons in this review (60.7%), with other reported treatments included a diverting proximal loop colostomy and sigmoid segment exteriorization CONCLUSIONS: Considering the studies available, it is not possible to undertake a thorough evaluation of enema use, including the associated complications and their management. Further data are required to allow the development of guidelines to advice on safe enema use and management of complications.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the anatomical variants of the left colic artery.

AIM: To provide a comprehensive evidence-based assessment of the anatomical variations of the left colic artery (LCA). METHOD: A thorough systematic search of the literature up until 1 April 2019 was conducted on the electronic databases PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science (WOS) to identify studies eligible for inclusion. Data were extracted and pooled into a meta-analysis using the Metafor package in R. The primary outcomes of interest were the absence of the LCA and the anatomical variants of its origin. The secondary outcomes were the distance (mean ± SD) between the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (OIMA) and the origin of the left colic artery (OLCA). RESULTS: A total of 19 studies (n = 2040 patients) were included. The pooled prevalence estimate (PPE) of LCA absence was 1.2% (95% CI 0.0-3.6%). Across participants with either a Type I or Type II LCA, the PPE of a Type I LCA was 49.0% (95% CI 40.2-57.8%). The PPE of a Type II LCA was therefore 51.0%. The pooled mean distance from the OIMA to the OLCA was 40.41 mm (95 CI% 38.69-42.12 mm). The pooled mean length of a Type I LCA was 39.12 mm (95% CI 36.70-41.53 mm) while the pooled mean length of a Type IIa and Type IIb LCA was 41.43 mm (95% CI 36.90-43.27 mm) and 39.64 mm (95% CI 37.68-41.59 mm), respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the absence of the LCA is a rare occurrence (PPE 1.2%), it may be associated with an important risk of anastomotic leakage as a result of insufficient vascularization of the proximal colonic conduit. It is also necessary to distinguish variants I and II of Latarjet, the frequency of which is identical, with division of the LCA being technically more straightforward in variant I of Latarjet. Surgeons should be aware that technical difficulties are likely to be more common with variant II of Latarjet, as LCA ligation may be more difficult due to its close proximity to the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV).

Retained sponges in abdomen: an analysis of the judgments of the Italian Supreme Court.

The administration of justice in Italy includes first, second and third instance. The first and second instances are represented by the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal: these are judgment of Romamerit. The court of last appeal for both the civil and the criminal jurisdiction is the Court of Cassation, the Italian Supreme Court. It is a court of legitimacy that should provide for a consistent and uniform interpretation of the law and that only on points of law, not on factual evidence. The Court of Cassation can confirm the sentence of second instance, can dismiss it without referral, can deciding and closing the trial definitively, or dismiss it referring the case to the judge of merit that must decide according to the principles set out in the legitimacy. The aim of this study is to analyze the Supreme Cassation Court's judgments on the legal proceedings about retained sponges in abdomen.

Is it possible to identify the inguinal nerves during hernioplasty? A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of cadaveric and surgical studies.

PURPOSE: Patients who undergo inguinal hernioplasty may suffer from persistent postoperative pain due to inguinal nerve injuries. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide comprehensive data on the prevalence (identification rates), anatomical characteristics, and ethnic variations of the ilioinguinal (IIN), the iliohypogastric (IHN) and the genital branch of the genitofemoral (GNF) nerves. METHODS: The systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. RESULTS: A total of 26 articles (5265 half-body examinations) were included in this study. The identification rate of the IIN was 94.4% (95% CI 89.5-97.9) using a random-effects model. Unweighted multiple regression analysis showed that study sample size (ß = - 0.74, p = .036) was the only statistically significant predictor of lower prevalence. The identification rates of the IHN and GNF was 86.7% (95% CI 78.3%-93.3%) and 69.1% (95% CI 53.1%-83.0%) using a random-effects model, respectively. For those outcomes, a visual analysis of funnel and Doi plots indicated irregularity and provided evidence that larger studies tended to have lower identification rates. In terms of the synthesis of anatomical reference points, there was a large and statistically significant amount of heterogeneity for most outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The identification rates of the inguinal nerves in our study were lower than reported in literature. The lowest was found for GNF, suggesting that this nerve was the most difficult to identify. Knowledge regarding the anatomy of the inguinal nerves can facilitate their proper identification and reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury and postoperative pain.

[Problem of differential diagnosis between Crohn's disease and colitis in Behçet's disease: a case report]. / Problemi di diagnosi differenziale fra malattia di Crohn e colite in Behçet: descrizione di un caso clinico.

Crohn's disease is a chronic intestinal inflammation which can involve all the gastrointestinal tract, but it prefers the terminal ileum and ascendant colon. It is often associated with autoimmunity systemic findings (oral ulcer, arthritis). Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitis of the small vessels. Its intestinal involvement causes bleeding diarrhoea until possible perforation. It's not easy clinically to distinguish between Behçet's colitis and Crohn's disease. We describe a case report in which the problem of differential diagnosis is still open after two years from the first findings.

Preventive effect of commercial desensitizing toothpastes on bovine enamel erosion in vitro.

This study evaluated in vitro commercial desensitizing toothpastes with respect to the prevention of erosion and explored the effect of their agents alone or in combination with fluoride. Bovine enamel blocks were randomly allocated to five groups of 20 and exposed to: Sensodyne ProNamel (1,425 ppm F as NaF, 5% KNO(3)), Sensodyne Original (no fluoride, 10% SrCl(2)), Colgate Sensitive (1,450 ppm F as sodium monofluorophosphate, 5% K citrate), Crest (fluoride-only toothpaste, 1,100 ppm F as NaF) and water (negative control). A second experiment was conducted with experimental dentifrices containing fluoride (NaF, 1,100 ppm F), 10% SrCl(2), 5% KNO(3 )or 5% K citrate alone or the latter three combined with F. The samples were submitted to four cycles, alternating demineralization (cola, 10 min) and remineralization (artificial saliva, 1 h). Before and between cyclic de- and remineralization, blocks were treated with slurries of the respective toothpastes or water (1 min). Erosive tissue loss was analyzed by profilometry. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests (p < 0.05). The mean erosion depth (+/- SE, mum) was significantly less for Colgate Sensitive (0.04 +/- 0.00), Sensodyne Original (0.06 +/- 0.01) and Crest (0.07 +/- 0.01) than for Sensodyne ProNamel (2.36 +/- 0.25) or water (2.92 +/- 0.24), which did not significantly differ from each other. Both F and the desensitizing agents alone reduced erosion, but no additive effect was found. In addition, the combination of F and KNO(3) did not reduce erosion. These in vitro results suggest that the presence of fluoride or desensitizing substances in toothpastes, alone or in combination, can reduce erosion of enamel, but this is not valid for all the formulations.

Role of planimetric analysis in diagnosing thyroid follicular lesions on fine needle aspiration biopsies: a study with histologic correlation.

BACKGROUND: Follicular lesions represent a gray area of interpretation in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid, with as much as 25% inconclusive reports. We identified "predominantly follicular lesions" (PFLs) as the cytologic category most apt to take advantage of planimetric analysis to reach a more definitive diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-eight cases of FNAB were diagnosed as PFL among the 1,296 FNABs submitted to our institution between January 1994 and June 1995. These cases underwent planimetric analysis with a Leica semiautomatic image analyzer. A smear from a colloid nodule was used as a reference slide. Nuclear areas, perimeters, form factors and maximum diameters were evaluated. Cases in which nuclear areas and maximum nuclear diameters values were found to be > or = 30% higher than the corresponding values found in the reference slide were reported to the clinician as suspicious for malignancy ("flagged" by the computer). These cases required closer follow-up with repeat FNAB within a month, ultrasound and nuclear imaging studies. Nineteen of these cases underwent surgical resection. RESULTS: Histologic reports diagnosed 9 cases of follicular carcinomas, 4 cases of follicular adenomas and 6 cases of nodular hyperplasia. When nuclear areas, perimeters and maximum diameters were all utilized, all the malignant lesions were reported correctly by the computer analysis as flagged, and all the benign lesions were reported as "not flagged." The sensitivity and specificity were 100%, and statistically significant correlations were proven. CONCLUSION: Although the above data provide strong evidence for the value of planimetric analysis in differentiating between follicular lesions, we cannot reach definitive conclusions on the basis of such a limited number of cases. However, the results stimulated our current efforts in applying planimetry along with the evaluation of other biologic markers to a larger set of cases.

Morphologic and planimetric diagnosis of follicular thyroid lesions on fine needle aspiration cytology.

During 1989-1992, 2,729 fine needle aspiration biopsies were performed; 585 with histologic controls were reviewed. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the incidence of carcinoma in follicular-structured smears without nuclear enlargement, evaluated with planimetric techniques, and to suggest a new cytodiagnostic classification. Of 398 follicular-structured smears, 188 were colloid nodules, 38 were thyreocytic hyperplasias without nuclear atypia, 146 were predominantly follicular lesions (PFL) and 26 were follicular lesions with nuclear pleomorphism. The last showed a high incidence of neoplasia (69.2%) and carcinoma (46.1%) and the largest planimetric values for nuclear area, perimeter and maximum diameter. The second and third categories showed only a difference in the incidence of benign neoplasms (32.9 vs. 15.8%). These results suggest that six months of expectant management might be useful in simple follicular lesions, whereas a follicular pattern with nuclear enlargement requires surgical treatment for the strong possibility of carcinoma.

[Preoperative cytodiagnosis by needle aspiration of follicular thyroid lesions]. / La citodiagnosi preoperatoria su agoaspirato nelle lesioni follicolari tiroidee.

In the period 1989-92, 2729 F.N.A.B. were performed: 585 with an histological control were reviewed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of carcinomatous occurrence in the follicular-structured smears and to suggest a new cytodiagnostic classification. Out of 398 follicular-structured smears, 188 were colloid nodules (CN), 38 thyreocytic hyperplasias without nuclear atypia (THWNA), 146 predominantly follicular lesions (PFL), 26 follicular lesions with nuclear pleomorphism (FLWNP). The last one showed a high incidence of neoplasia (69.2%) and carcinoma (46.1%); the second and the third only a difference in the incidence of benign neoplasms (32.9 vs. 15.8%), with almost the same percentage of occurrence of malignancies (2.6 vs. 2.1%). Such results suggest that a six-months dilatory strategy might be useful in simple follicular lesions (THWNA and PFL) whereas a cytological follicular pattern with nuclear pleomorphism requires a surgical treatment for the high risk of carcinomatous occurrence.

[Experience with the combined diagnosis and therapy of locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix (stage FIGO IIB-III). Transrectal ultrasonography and CT in the staging and in follow-up after therapy. Preliminary results]. / Esperienza dell'integrazione diagnostica e terapeutica nel carcinoma della cervice uterina localmente avanzato (stadi FIGO IIB-III). Ecografia transrettale e TC nella stadiazione e nel controllo dopo terapia. Risultati preliminari.

The diagnosis, staging, therapy and follow-up of advanced epidermoid cervical carcinoma (FIGO stages IIB-III) have been studied in our university since January 1990. By December 1992, a team of specialists including radiologists, radiotherapists, gynecologists and pathologists divided 54 patients into two random treatment groups: group A patients, after systemic chemotherapy (CDP, 2 cycles) and diagnostic reevaluation, underwent radical surgery; group B patients received conventional radiotherapy alone (ERT 45 Gy+IRT or END-RT 20-25 Gy). All patients were examined by means of transrectal US (TRUS) and CT, after clinical examination under sedation, at staging and during the follow-up. The exams were performed periodically for group B patients and after systemic chemotherapy for group A patients. Imaging findings were compared with pathology only in group A. All imaging results were filed. The results confirm some literature data--e.g., 62% diagnostic accuracy for CT and 69% for TRUS, with higher diagnostic accuracy of the latter to evaluate cervical volume and to diagnose local relapses. As for parametrial involvement, both imaging methods tend to understage the early involvement, but only CT tends to overstage the lesions, especially in irradiated patients, due to fibrosclerosis phenomena. TRUS exhibited 69% accuracy, 70% sensitivity and 69% specificity, versus 61%, 62% and 60%, respectively, for CT; clinical examination under sedation had 58%, 60% and 60%, respectively. Both TRUS and CT are faster than endoscopic methods in evaluating vesical and/or rectal involvement. Lymph node metastases at staging, especially those in lumboaortic locations, proved to be unfavorable prognostic signs, as demonstrated by lumboaortic lymph node relapses in 5 group B patients (only 2 of them presented with lymph node metastases at staging; 3 patients had micronodules near the renal vessels), in spite of good local response after radiotherapy. In conclusion, we would like to point out that our team has had an MR unit at its disposal only recently: since the method is considered as the gold standard of imaging, especially in this kind of lesions, the study is still in progress.