Intraoperative colonoscopy facilitates safe dissection of the rectal pouch in a case of male imperforate anus.

INTRODUCTION: In an imperforate anus, colostography often fails to identify recto-urethral fistula (RUF). Thus, surgeons must always assume an RUF is present, despite colostography findings, and dissect the distal rectal pouch (RP) with caution. We report the usefulness of intraoperative colonoscopy (IOC) for excluding RUF and, thus, facilitating safe dissection of the RP. METHODS: We used IOC in six cases of imperforate anus. All had right transverse colostomy initially after birth. Distal colostography excluded RUF in five cases and was inconclusive in one. Laparoscopy was used to free the RP carefully from the bladder neck in all cases. Near the prostate, a 4-mm fine, flexible colonoscope was inserted into the RP through the anterior rectal wall to observe the laparoscopic dissection of the RP, which was attached closely to the prostate/bulbar urethra intraluminally to prevent injury to the urethra. The mucosa of the distal end of the RP was mucosectomized or diathermied, and the colon was pulled-through. Mean age at surgery was 11 months. RESULTS: IOC excluded RUF under direct vision in all cases, which enabled the dissection of the RP to be monitored and to proceed smoothly. At follow-up (mean: 31 months), all cases were well. CONCLUSIONS: IOC can be used to exclude RUF and facilitate safe dissection of the RP in imperforate anus.

CO2 modulates the inflammatory cytokine release of primary human pleural macrophages.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that CO (2) used during laparoscopy affects the peritoneal surface and local inflammatory response, including the inflammatory reactivity of peritoneal macrophages. However, little is known about the local effects of CO (2) during thoracoscopy. In a previous study we have shown that in healthy adolescents, macrophages are the dominant cell population on the pleural surface. Therefore, we examined the effects of CO (2) on the inflammatory response of primary human pleural macrophages. METHODS: Human primary macrophages were harvested lavage from healthy adolescents undergoing elective surgery for pectus bar correction (n=8). After purification and 24 h resting, cells were incubated for 2 h in 100% CO (2), 5% CO (2) or 95% inert helium with 5% CO (2) as hypoxic control. After incubation cells were stimulated with LPS for 4 h and 24 h. The release of TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1 beta were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: CO (2), but not hypoxia, induced a significant reduction in the release of TNF-alpha and IL-8 as well as a significant increase in the release of IL-10 and IL-1 beta within the first 4 h after incubation. The levels of IL-6 and the release of cytokines at 24 h after incubation were not significantly affected. CONCLUSIONS: CO (2) directly modulates the immediate inflammatory response of pleural macrophages. Therefore, CO (2) insufflation during thoracoscopy could lower the local stress response, but does not appear to have a lasting effect.

CO2 pneumoperitoneum increases survival in mice with polymicrobial peritonitis.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic techniques are commonly used in patients with bacterial peritonitis. CO2 is known to suppress local and systemic inflammatory responses. Nonetheless, an active immune system is needed to contain bacterial contamination of the abdominal cavity. Therefore, we investigated the early and late effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on the ability of mice to overcome polymicrobial peritonitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male C57/B6 mice were subjected to pneumoperitoneum with CO2 or helium, or underwent a midline laparotomy. In a first set, changes of arterial blood gases were monitored. In further experiments, polymicrobial peritonitis was induced after 1 h of pneumoperitoneum/laparotomy by cecal ligation and puncture. In a second set of experiments polymicrobial peritonitis was induced 4 h prior to exposure to pneumoperitoneum/laparotomy. After the interventions, survival rates (early survival: 6 to 48 h; late survival > 48 h) were monitored for 7 days. RESULTS: There was no significant effect of pneumoperitoneum or laparotomy on arterial blood gas parameters. CO2 pneumoperitoneum significantly reduced the early (6 to 48 h) mortality of subsequent peritonitis after CO2 pneumoperitoneum compared to laparotomy (2/20 vs. 9/25; p < 0.05). The protective effect did not reach significance after 7 days (late mortality). The application of a helium peritoneum did not show any beneficial effect. Application of a CO2 pneumoperitoneum during polymicrobial peritonitis significantly reduced overall mortality (p < 0.05) compared to laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The modulation of immune responses by CO2, but not helium pneumoperitoneum, has a significant positive impact on survival during abdominal sepsis in a mouse model. Thus, application of a CO2 pneumoperitoneum may be beneficial in conditions with bacterial contamination of the abdominal cavity.

[A remarkably improved multimetastatic gastric cancer with the use of TS-1 and CDDP].

A 62-year-old male presented to our hospital with jaundice. On the abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT, there was evidence of multiple, massive liver metastases with dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts, thickened wall of the stomach from the body to the antrum, direct invasion to the pancreas, multiple lymph node metastases, and ascites. We believed it was Stage IV and too far advanced for surgery. Therefore, ST-1 60 mg bid was started, and CDDP 50 mg was infused in the seventh week. On the follow-up CT and ultrasound three months later, the thickening of the gastric wall and the lymph node metastasis had improved and the border between the stomach and the pancreas had become clearer. The liver metastases seen on both lobes had decreased significantly both in size and number. The dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts disappeared, and the liver function normalized. No side effects were evident during the treatment with the medications.