Colonic carcinogenesis in vagotomyzed rats.

INTRODUCTION: An increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been reported in patients with peptic ulcer disease treated with truncal vagotomy. Inhibition of gastric acid output and its hormonal consequence, hypergastrinemia, have been considered risk factors for the development of CRC. The aim of the present study was to determine whether truncal vagotomy increases, in the short (7 days) and long term (120 days), the incidence of CRC in a model of carcinogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We used 86 Wistar rats distributed in 7 groups to which DMH (1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride) was administered for the induction of colon tumors, at doses of 5 and 20 mg/kg of weight. The first three groups were used as control groups; the rats of the four other groups underwent a truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and Heller myotomy prior to the administration of DMH. Finally, we compared the incidence of colonic tumors in vagotomized vs non-vagotomized groups receiving the same dose of DMH. RESULTS: In the non-vagotomized rats that received low doses of DMH (5 mg/kg of weight), mortality was 0% and 0% developed cancer as compared to 40% and 0%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 7 days before the administration of DMH and 20% and 0%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 120 days before the administration of DMH. After the administration of high doses of DMH, mortality was 50% and 80% developed cancer as compared to 100% and 0%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 7 days before the administration of DMH and 61.11% and 42.8%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 120 days before the administration of DMH. CONCLUSION: Truncal vagotomy does not increase the incidence of CRC induced by DMH in the rat.

Evaluation of surgical and anesthetic strategy as a key factor in the postoperative results of liver transplant.

Since the inauguration of our liver transplant program two years ago, retrospectively we can distinguish two different periods as regards postoperative results. The patients studied were distributed in two groups by chronological order and date of introduction of an improved surgical and anesthetic strategy: retrohepatic dissection during the veno-venous bypass phase and meticulous hemostasis in the anhepatic phase: Group A: 11 transplants in 10 patients and Group B: 22 transplants in 21 patients. Preoperatively, both groups were homogeneous with respect to the clinical situation. During the operation, significantly larger transfusion volumes were given in group A (25.4 +/- 10.5 ml/kg/hr) than in group B (10.0 +/- 5.7 ml/kg/hr) (p less than 0.01). The anhepatic phase lasted 1'50" +/- 20" in group B (p less than 0.05). The postoperative outcome of group B was better than that of A as regards hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, functional impairment of the graft and mortality (p less than 0.05). We conclude that the realization of retrohepatic dissection and careful hemostasis during the anhepatic phase, which prolongs the duration of venovenous by-pass but does not increase intraoperative morbidity, reduces the need for blood transfusion, and yields better postoperative results.

Transplante hepatico: avaliacao clinica de pacientes apos a alta hospitalar / Liver transplant: clinical evalueation of patients after hospital liberation

Apresentamos um estudo do seguimento de 44 pacientes adultos com transplante hepatico (TH) apos alta hospitalar. O seguimento medio foi de 13,22 +- 1,3 (limites:2-36) meses. Durante o seguimento faleceram 8 pacientes (18 por cento), 5 apos intervencoes, 2 por metastase e 1 por trombose portal. O restante dos pacientes apresentaram uma boa funcao hepatica, com hiperbilirrubinemias discretas em 11 casos (30 por cento), mas boa funcao hepatica em todos eles. Os pacientes estao em tratamento com triplice terapia imunossupressora mediante ciclosporina A (CsA), prednisona e azatioprina em 28 por cento dos casos. As complicacoes mais frequentemente observadas no pos-operatorio foram secundarias a imunossupressao. Podemos afirmar que o transplante (TH) oferece boa qualidade de vida e sobrevivencia (80 por cento) apos superar o pos-operatorio.

[Early and late results of orthotopic liver transplantation]. / Früh- und Spätresultate nach orthotoper Lebertransplantation.

Between 4/1986 to 1/1989, 74 orthotopic liver transplantation were performed in 62 patients (62 first liver transplants, 10 as second graft and two as a third graft); 57 in adults and 17 in children. The main indication for the operation was liver cirrhosis (61.4%) (the most frequent etiology was alcoholic cirrhosis, 28.5%). Six cirrhotic patients had a hepatocarcinoma (9.6%). Two received a liver and kidney transplant due to terminal renal insufficiency and hemodialysis. The most frequent indication in children was biliary atresia (33.3%). Six patients had a fulminal liver failure (9.6%). AB0 blood group compatibility was identical in 87.5%, compatible in six and incompatible in three patients. Total orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in 67 patients, and size-reduced liver was indicated in 7 patients. Extracorporeal veno-venous bypass was used in adults but never in children. In 93.1% of the transplants a single hepatic artery was anastomosed to the recipient and in 6.9% a double anastomosis was performed. In 62.5% of the patients a end-to-end choledocho-choledochostomy was performed and in 34.8% hepatico-jejunostomy was indicated. Three months postoperative mortality rate was 12.9%. Arterial stenosis and thrombosis were the most frequent complication.

Transplante hepatico: opcao terapeutica do trauma hepatico / Liver transplantation: a therapeutic option in the liver trauma

Um paciente com traumatismo hepatico consequente de um acidente automobilistico foi submetido a transplante hepatico como unica alternativa de tratamento. O transplante foi indicado ao associar-se uma lesao extensa do lobo hepatico direito a uma lesao irreparavel da porta hepatica esquerda. Pacientes com traumatismo hepatico extenso devem ser transferidos a um servico de transplante o mais breve possivel.

Transplante hepatico: experiencia do Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid / Liver transplantat: experience of the 12 de Octubre Hospital of Madrid

No periodo compreendido entre abril de 1986 e janeiro de 1989, foram realizados no Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid (Espanha), 74 transplantes hepaticos ortotopicos em 62 pacientes (38 do sexo masculino e 24 do sexo feminino). A idade media dos receptores foi de 35,7 por cento anos (limites de 18 meses a 62 anos). A indicacao mais frequente nos adultos foi a cirrose hepatica (61,4 por cento ), sendo que em 10 pacientes (28,5 por cento ) foi de origem etilica. Seis pacientes apresentavam hepatocarcinoma sobre um figado cirrotico (9,6 por cento ). Dois pacientes receberam duplo transplante hepato-renal. A indicacao preferente na idade pediatrica foi a atresia das vias biliares, seguida da insuficiencia hepatica primaria por hepatite fulminante. Foram realizados 68 transplantes totais e 6 parciais (figado esquerdo). Em todos os adultos e em um transplante pediatrico, se instalou o circuito extracorporeo parcial. Em 67 transplante se praticou uma unica anastomose arterial (93,1 por cento ) e nos cinco restantes, foi necessario realizar duas anastomoses independentes. As arterias dos receptores mais frequentemente utilizadas foram a arteria hepatica direita (23,6 por cento ) e a arteria hepatica primitiva (23,6 por cento ). A reconstrucao biliar foi realizada mediante coledoco-coledocostomia em 65,2 por cento dos transplantes. O retransplante foi realizado em 12 ocasioes.

[Evaluation of the socio-affective adaptation of patients with liver transplant]. / Valoración de la adaptación socioafectiva del paciente con trasplante del hígado.

The quality of the socio-affective adaptation of liver transplant patients is a fundamental assessment parameter in the context of postoperative recuperation. The patient's reinsertion into the socio-occupational environment, gradual recuperation of professional and recreational habits and psycho-affective reorganization represent, in our opinion, the most significant criteria for evaluation of the "modus vivendi" of the transplant patient. A total of 21 patients between 21 and 62 years were evaluated. They were divided into three groups for study and analysis. The remission of symptoms and normalization of organic activities, in addition to achievement of an adequate quality of life, constitute the basic rationale for any surgical intervention.

[Necrosis of the bile ducts as an expression of uncontrollable rejection in the liver transplant between ABO incompatible groups]. / Necrosis de los conductos biliares como expresión del rechazo incontrolable en el trasplante hepático entre grupos ABO incompatibles.

Two cases are presented of liver transplantation in adult patients with fulminant liver failure using grafts from incompatible blood group donors due to the urgency of the situation. The patients evolved well as first but later both developed ischemia and necrosis of the bile tract secondary to severe rejection. It is concluded that the use of incompatible grafts can save the patient's life in acute irreversible liver failure, but in most cases retransplantation may be necessary as the definitive treatment of postoperative complications.

[Indications and results of surgical treatment of cavernous hemangioma of the liver]. / Indikationen und Resultate der chirurgischen Behandlung von cavernösen Hämangiomen der Leber.

Over a period of 6.5 years, 29 patients with liver hemangiomas have been examined. In 8 patients, the most frequent symptom was pain; in 11, a tumor was found. The diagnosis was made by means of scintigraphy with 99mTc, followed by real-time sonography, computed tomography using a contrast medium, and selective arteriography. In 16 patients (15 women, 1 man), the tumor radius was more than 6 cm and in 9 of these, more than 10 cm. In 3 patients, a left lobectomy was carried out, and in 5 a right lobectomy; in an additional 5 patients, a extended right lobectomy (three segments excised) was done. In the rest, a medial lobectomy, a segmentectomy on the left side, or a segmentectomy on the right was performed. The only complications observed in the whole series were: pleural effusion (1 case), subphrenic abscess (1), and transitory biliary fistula (1). All hemangiomas with a radius of more than 10 cm should be removed operatively, as should smaller symptomatic hemangiomas and tumors that are not clearly benign.

Results of surgical treatment of esophageal achalasia. Multicenter retrospective study of 1,856 cases. GEEMO (Groupe Européen Etude Maladies Oesophagéennes) Multicentric Retrospective Study.

A retrospective analysis of 1,856 patients treated by esophageal achalasia in 23 different surgical departments from seven countries is reported. The predominant symptom was dysphagia (100%), pain, vomiting and weight loss (76.1%). The most useful diagnostic methods were: barium meal (85%), manometry (100%), endoscopy (100%) and 99mTc (100%). Conservative treatment (5.45%) was useful in 5.8% only. Dilatation (16.9%) produced amelioration in 65.9%. Thoracotomy was used in 20.9% and middle line laparotomy in 79.2%. Heller esophagomyotomy was performed in 99.52% associated with anterior fundoplasty in 79.8% and postero-lateral (Mark IV) in 9.75%. Most of the patients were controlled through barium meal, esophagoscopy, esophageal manometry, pHmetry and 99mTc ingestion. Good results after Heller's myotomy with anterior fundoplication were 81.7% and poor 7.2%. Recurrence of achalasia was present in 184 patients. A new esophagomyotomy was performed on 58.6% and distal esophageal resection in 62 (35.3%). In total, 988 patients were reviewed once a year. Absence of gastroesophageal reflux was shown in 73.9% of the explored patients.

Unselective end-to-side proximal left-gastric-caval shunt without splenectomy. Indications and technique.

From 1976 to 1982, 104 patients with bleeding esophageal varices were treated surgically. In three patients a wide left gastric vein without portal flow was demonstrated by means of arterial splenoportography. Ascites estimated at between 4-to-6 liters was observed in two patients. Anemia, leukopenia and platelet counts below 85 X 10(9)/l were shown in all of three. Liver panangiography was performed on all three patients. Given the absence of portal flow, the presence of intractable ascites and the demonstration of a wide left gastric vein, we dissect this vein disconnecting it from the stomach, and performing the anastomosis between the proximal end of this vessel and the inferior vena cava (proximal unselective left gastric caval shunt). Ascites and esophageal varices disappeared in our three patients between one and three weeks after the operation. The shunts were patent between eight months to eight and a half years after the operation. All three patients are still living.

Surgical treatment of congenital dilatation of the biliary system.

Over a total of 1612 patients undergoing surgery for biliary diseases, in 6 cases a cystic dilatation of intrahepatic bile-ducts suggestive of Caroli's disease was diagnosed. One patient with multiple dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts and septic shock was treated by external drainage without improvement and died. Two patients were treated by left hepatectomy. One case was treated by right extended hepatic lobectomy. One patient with liver cirrhosis and bleeding oesophageal varices was treated by a distal splenorenal shunt. The last patient showed the association of a choledochal cyst and cystic dilatation of the left intrahepatic bile ducts. She was treated by resection of the cyst and biliary-jejunal anastomosis. Five patients had satisfactory recovery from the operation. They are leading a normal life, and are symptom-free. The different forms of treatment are discussed confirming that the best surgical technique on patients with partial cystic dilatation of bile ducts is liver resection. When the extrahepatic bile ducts are affected, biliary-jejunal diversion is necessary. If a choledochal cyst is present, the removal of the cyst is the most radical approach. When cirrhosis and portal hypertension with bleeding varices are diagnosed, portosystemic shunt is necessary.