Achalasia - position of surgery in current management.

Oesophageal achalasia is a serious cause of dysphagia. Therapeutic options for achalasia include endoscopic and surgical methods. Indications for individual methods overlap to a certain extent and require careful diagnosis. The review article describes individual methods, focusing particularly on the issues of indications of pneumatic dilatation, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and laparoscopic or robotic Hellers myotomy. Special attention is paid to revision procedures after Hellers myotomy. The main added value of POEM is the treatment of spastic disorders of the oesophagus and re-do myotomy. Type 2 achalasia can be treated with dilatation, POEM and HM; type 1 achalasia can be treated using the same modalities. For type 3, POEM is the current method of choice. Despite the current emphasis on endoscopic myotomy, surgical therapy, especially laparoscopic or robotically assisted Hellers myotomy, remains a safe therapeutic option. It is indicated especially in patients who are not suitable for endoscopic therapy or those with advanced achalasia findings. In the future, identification of the risk of postoperative complications (perforation, reflux) should lead to differentiation of the indication of the laparoscopic (robotic) approach and POEM, or it may lead to a synchronous or metachronous indication of the cuff construction.

Antibiotic therapy of postoperative bronchopneumonia in patients after lung resections - single-site experience.

INTRODUCTION: Infectious complications after lung surgery are the most important factor that affects mortality and morbidity, prolongs hospital stays and increases financial costs. According to various sources, 30-day mortality after lung resections reaches 123%. Infectious complications account for 2075% of overall mortality. The infections most often present as postoperative pneumonia (POP), and their treatment is based on empirical and targeted antibiotic therapy. Any time lag in initiating effective antibiotic therapy significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Postoperative pneumonia is defined according to current guidelines of the American Thoracic Society of 2016 as nosocomial or ventilator pneumonia in patients after surgery. METHODS: Evaluation of risk factors, infectious agents, morbidity and mortality in patients after lung resections at a single site in the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019. RESULTS: Of our group of 190 patients, 21 (11.1%) patients had POP which was severe in 6 (33% with POP) patients, and 11 patients with POP required artificial oxygenation for saturation below 92%. Two patients with POP had to be intubated for respiratory failure, and 3 patients required noradrenaline circulatory support. One patient with severe POP died of multiorgan failure after developing refractory sepsis. CONCLUSION: Early identification of lung infection and early initiation of POP therapy are critical points for reducing morbidity and mortality after lung resections. Advanced antibiotic regimens for POP stratify the risk of mortality and infection with multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. However, the regimes require modification according to the epidemiological situation at the site with individualization of the specific procedure. Other research tasks include identification of valid markers of the initial stages of infection, and targeting of antibiotic therapy according to risk stratification and the relationship with physiological flora.

Midgut volvulus in adult age associated with congenital malrotation - case report.

INTRODUCTION: Malrotation is understood as a congenital anomaly of the intestinal position formed during embryonic development. Disorders of intestinal rotation and its manifestations in adulthood are less common; the symptoms of these disorders are characteristic of childhood. An asymptomatic bowel rotation disorder occurs in up to 1 of 200 newborns and symptomatic malrotation occurs in 1 of 6,000 live newborns. The incidence of intestinal rotation disorders in adulthood is estimated to be between 0.0001% and 0.19%. Acute complications in adulthood include volvulus with ischemia of the small bowel. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old man with a previously diagnosed bowel rotation disorder with intermittent abdominal pain was examined for sudden convulsive pain. The CT scan showed volvulus of small bowel. During surgery, a small bowel volvulus with venostasis and dilated mesenteric veins rotated 360 degrees clockwise, the mesenterium commune, and the presence of Ladds bands causing partial compression of the duodenum were found. The condition was managed surgically to derotate the loops into nonrotation with preserved viability of the intestinal loops, interrupt the Ladds bands and mobilize the duodenum, including fixation of the mesentery to the retroperitoneum and invagination appendectomy. The patient has been without problems and without any signs of complications based on his 2-year follow-up from the surgery. CONCLUSION: Early surgical treatment of intestinal malrotation complications helps maintain intestinal viability and can prevent the development of the short bowel post-resection syndrome. Prophylactic surgery should be considered in symptomatic rotation disorders, although the determination of the indication for surgery and its timing remain uncertain.

Hyperthermic intraoperative intrapleural chemotherapy and surgical cytoreduction as part of multimodal treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma - case report M. Szkorupa1, D. Klos1, J. Chudacek1, J. Hanuliak1, M. Stasek1, O. Fischer2, R. Lemstrova3.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive malignancies with a very poor prognosis. Multimodal treatment consisting of three modalities - chemotherapy, radiotherapy and cytoreductive surgery is optimal. The use of new therapeutic modalities, such as hyperthermic intraoperative intrapleural chemotherapy or photodynamic therapy can improve the current results of mesothelioma treatment. Combined hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery as part of multimodal therapy of malignant mesothelioma has been used since 2017 at the 1st Department of Surgery of University Hospital Olomouc. The authors report the case of a 47-year-old man with malignant epithelioid mesothelioma of the left pleural cavity. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, this patient underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy with intraoperative intracavitary hyperthermic chemotherapy. The postoperative period was complicated by circulatory instability and later by tension fluidothorax with signs of heart failure. Currently, 8 months have elapsed from the surgery and the patient remains without any signs of recurrence.

[Evolution of Opinions on Chest Wall Stabilisation and Our Experience]. / Vývoj názoru na stabilizace hrudní steny a nase zkusenosti.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Rib fractures represent one of the most common fractures sustained by 10-40% of all patients with blunt chest trauma, their incidence increases with age. In the current literature, however, new indication criteria continue to emerge. The purpose of this study is to assess the indication criteria, the timing of surgery and the use of individual plates in dependence on fracture location in our patients after the chest wall stabilisation in a retrospective analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our group of patients (n = 349) included the patients who were hospitalised in the Trauma Centre of the University Hospital Olomouc from 1 January 2015 to 31 January 2019, of whom 16 patients were indicated for a surgery. In case of polytrauma, spiral CT was performed, while all patients with a more serious wall chest trauma underwent 3D CT chest wall reconstruction. The surgical approach was chosen based on the fracture location, most frequently posterolateral thoracotomy was opted for. The type of plates was chosen based on the location and type of the fracture. The most common was the lateral type of fracture. RESULTS The most common indication for surgery was multiple rib fractures with major chest wall disfiguration with the risk of injury to intrathoracic organs, present hemothorax or pneumothorax. The age of patients ranged from 44 to 92 years. 8 patients sustained a thoracic monotrauma, the remaining patients suffered multiple injuries, mostly craniocerebral trauma, pelvic or long bone fractures or parenchymal organ injury. The patients were indicated for surgery between 1 hour and 7 days after the hospital admission, on average 3 plates per patient were used and the most commonly used type of plate was the newly modified Judet plate made by Medin. All the patients underwent a surgical revision of pleural cavity, in 3 patients diaphragmatic rupture was found despite a negative preoperative CT scan. The duration of mechanical ventilation in polytrauma patients was 16 days, in thoracic monotrauma patients it was 2 days. CONCLUSIONS Prevailing majority of patients with a blunt chest trauma with rib fractures is still treated non-operatively, which is confirmed also by our group of patients. Nonetheless, correctly and early indicated stabilisation of the chest wall based on accurate indication criteria is of a great benefit to the patients. The aim of each and every trauma centre should be to develop a standardised protocol for the management of blunt chest trauma (the so-called "rib fracture protocol"), which comprises precisely defined criteria for patient admission, multimodal analgesia, indications for surgery, comprehensive perioperative and postoperative care and a subsequent rehabilitation of patients. Key words: rib fracture protocol, chest wall stabilisation, flail chest.

Current possibilities of minimally invasive therapy of oesophageal diverticula.

Oesophageal diverticula represent a relatively rare pathology of the oesophagus requiring a specific diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Interventional therapy is indicated for symptomatic diverticula, diverticula with other pathologies (tumour in the diverticulum, gastroesophageal reflux disease, low-malignancy gastroesophageal junction tumours). The open surgical approach is being increasingly replaced by minimally invasive surgical, endoscopic and combined methods. Surgical mini-invasive methods use transaxillary, thoracoscopic or transhiatal laparoscopic approach, often with endoscopic assistance. Endoscopic and transoral surgical procedures include various diverticulotomy techniques and submucosal tunnelling techniques (variants of peroral endoscopic myotomy). The primary concern in therapy is the reduction of symptoms, improvement of the quality of life and the patient´s safety. The resulting quality of life is affected by the frequent presence of functional diseases of the oesophagus (achalasia, hypercontractile oesophagus). Although surgical minimally invasive therapy using the laparoscopic or thoracoscopic approach is safe, it nevertheless does not exclude serious risk of complications. Randomized and observational studies comparing endoscopic and surgical methods are still missing. It is, therefore, necessary to extend the records in order to update the indication algorithm of intervention therapy, focusing mainly on safety with a clear imperative for patient centralization.

Fistuloclysis as a method of nutritional management in a patient with high output enteroatmospheric fistula - a case report.

Enteric fistula is a pathological communication between the small intestine and surrounding tissue. In case of communication with body surface it is called an enterocutaneous or enteroatmospheric fistula. There are many causes of enterocutaneous/enteroatmospheric fistula occurrence. A common result is malnutrition and organ dysfunction which leads to increased morbidity and mortality of the patients. Adequate nutritional support is a very important element in the management of patients with enterocutaneous/enteroatmospheric fistulas. One of the options of nutritional support is fistuloclysis which means administration of enteral nutrition formula to the distal fistula. We present the case of 76-year-old patient with a high-localized and high output enteroatmospheric fistula in whom we were able to reach adequate nutritional status using fistuloclysis, followed by closure of the fistula.

The use of retrosternally placed colon in esophageal replacement.

The authors present a review article evaluating the use of the colon as a replacement for the esophagus. We present current indications for both benign and malignant conditions and compare the advantages and disadvantages of the technical possibilities of esophageal reconstruction. The surgical technique utilizing the vascular bundle of the left colic artery and retrosternal location of the colonic conduit is discussed and documented in detail. Furthermore, we describe both early and late complications, including their management. We conclude that the colon is a safe technical possibility for esophageal replacement with satisfactory early and long-term results in cases where gastric conduit is not available. Key words: esophageal replacement with colonic interposition - esophageal replacement complications - colon interposition for esophageal replacement technique - coloplasty - esophageal replacement surgery.

Successfull therapy of grade III leak after thoracic oesophagectomyusing endoscopic vacuum assisted closure therapy - a case study.

INTRODUCTION: Post-oesophagectomy leakage occurs in 1-30% of cases as a significant factor in postoperative morbidity and mortality, accounting for 40% of postoperative deaths. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVAC) is, besides stent therapy, clips and surgical therapy, a new endoscopic thera-peutic modality. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old polymorbid female patient with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus (T1b, N0, M0) was indicated for resection of the upper stomach and lower thoracic esophagus from laparotomy and thoracotomy with reconstruction using double-stapling anastomosis. On postoperative day 12, a 3rd degree leakage with propagation into the right pleural cavity was proven on CT. Endoscopy showed a defect affecting 30% of the circumference with a 7×3×3 cm cavity. Because of the leak morphology, EVAC was indicated. The therapy comprised 12 sessions with 3-4-day intervals for a total duration of 40 days with 5 extraluminal and 7 intraluminal applications and negative pressure of 100-125 mmHg. The condition was complicated by global respiratory failure due to severe pneumonia. Artificial ventilation was terminated on the 58th postoperative day. The patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility on the 90th postoperative day. The follow-up 3 months after discharge confirms satisfactory performance results with full replenishment. CONCLUSION: The therapy of complications of intrathoracic anastomoses after oesophagectomy has shown a trend toward reduced invasiveness and wider implementation of endoscopic methods. In spite of its shortcomings, the use of EVAC is a safe and highly effective therapeutic option even for extensive anastomotic defects. The future use, indications as well as relation to other therapeutic options require further evaluation. Key words: endoscopic vacuum therapy - esophageal leakage - esophagectomy complications - intraoperative endoscopy.

Complications and mortality of surgical therapy for esophageal cancer: 10 years single center experience.

A single-center retrospective study the complication and mortality of surgical treatment of esophageal cancer 2006 to 2015 is presented. A total of 212 patients with esophageal cancer were operated at the First Department of Surgery University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic in the period between 2006 and 2015. Adenocarcinoma was histologically described in 127 patients (59.9%), squamous cell carcinoma in 82 patients (38.7%), and other types of carcinoma were described in 3 cases. According to the preoperative staging of esophageal cancer, the patients with early stage disease (T1-2N0M0) had primary surgery, while the patients with advanced stage (T3-4N0-2M0) were indicated for neoadjuvant chemoradiation with the surgery being performed subsequently. Transhiatal laparoscopic esophagectomy was performed in 183 patients, and Orringer esophagectomy in 4 patients. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed in 17 patients and thoracotomy in 30 patients. Respiratory failure with the development of ARDS syndrome accompanied by multiple-organ failure occurred in 21 patients. Statistically significant association between mortality and ASA (p = 0.009) and between respiratory complications and ASA (p = 0.006) was demonstrated. The majority of patients who died were under 60 years of age (p = 0.039). Further, significant association between 30-day mortality and tumor stage (p = 0.021), gender (p = 0.022) and age (p = 0.018) was evident. A significant association between tumor stage and fistula in anastomosis, (p = 0.043) was observed. Esophagectomy is a procedure, which should be performed in specialized high-volume centers experienced in treatment of this serious malignancy and by certified oncology surgeons with long time experience in esophageal surgery.

Esophageal cancer results of surgical treatment at the Department of Surgery I. at the University Hospital Olomouc.

The authors present the results of surgical treatment of esophageal cancer at Department of Surgery I, University Hospital Olomouc between 20062016. The aim of the study was to use retrospective analysis to evaluate the results of patients operated for esophageal cancer and statistically evaluate the results based on the type of surgical approach (transhiatal, transthoracic). Method: A total of 240 patients with esophageal cancer were operated at Department of Surgery I between the beginning of 2006 and the end of 2016. We evaluated respiratory complications, the incidence of anastomotic fistula and complications based on the Clavien-Dindo classification of complications, based on the type of surgical approach selected (transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomy). Results: The patient set included 207 men (86.3%) and 33 women (13.7%). The mean patient age was 60.4 years. The histological type was adenocarcinoma in 145 (60.4%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 90 (37.5%) patients; another type of carcinoma was observed in 5 cases. Transhiatal esophagectomy was performed in 194 patients (80.2%) (transhiatal laparoscopic in 190 and classic Orringer in 4 patients). Transthoracic approach was used in 46 patients (19.2%), thoracoscopic in 16, and thoracotomic in 30 patients. A gastric conduit was used in 236 patients and coloplasty was performed in 4 patients. The mean duration of surgery was 217 min for the transhiatal approach, 239 min for the thoracoscopic approach and 277 min for the thoracotomic approach. Total blood loss per patient was 562 ml on average for all the operated patients. Peri- or postoperative blood transfusions were administered to 148 patients. Lymphadenectomy was performed as part of the procedure in all patients; the mean of 16.1 lymph nodes were removed. The average hospital stay was 20.7 days. In the patient set, 30-day mortality included 12 patients (respiratory complications 10, MI 1, conduit necrosis 1) and 90-day mortality included 4 (multi organ failure during ARDS). Based on statistical analysis, the incidence of respiratory complications significantly correlated with ASA classification (p=0.0001) and Clavien-Dindo classification (p.

[Combined treatment of early tracheobronchopleural fistula after right tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy]. / Kombinované resení casné tracheobronchopleurální pístele po pravostranné sleeve pulmektomii.

Extended tracheo-bronchoplastic resection for lung cancer with carinal involvement ranks among technically demanding procedures. Despite certain progress in oncological therapy, this type of resection remains the only potentially curative treatment of NSCLC in this localization. However, given the severity of complications postoperative mortality is relatively high (711%). The main cause of death is tracheobronchopleural fistula complicated by thoracic empyema, bronchopneumonia and septic shock. If ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) develops, the mortality rate rises up to 70%. The treatment of tracheobronchopleural fistula is arduous, long-term and essentially multidisciplinary. In this case report, the authors present the case of a 58 years old patient developing the tracheobronchopleural fistula early after carinal resection and sleeve pneumonectomy for a centrally localised squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung. The fistula was primarily sutured and secured using a muscular flap. For recurrence of the fistula, tissue adhesive glue was applied in combination with the introduction of a plastic stent, which resulted in healing of the tracheobronchopleural fistula.Key words: sleeve pulmonectomy carinal resection tracheobronchopleural fistula tracheobronchial stenting.

[Tumor cells transfer between the patient and laboratory animal as a basic methodological approach to the study of cancerogenesis and identification of biomarkers]. / Transfer nádorových bunek mezi pacientem a laboratorním zvíretem jako základní metodický prístup ke studiu kancerogeneze a identifikace biomarkeru.

INTRODUCTION: The investigation of prognostic and predictive factors for early diagnosis of tumors, their surveillance and monitoring of the impact of therapeutic modalities using hybrid laboratory models in vitro/in vivo is an experimental approach with a significant potential. It is preconditioned by the preparation of in vivo tumor models, which may face a number of potential technical difficulties. The assessment of technical success of grafting and xenotransplantation based on the type of the tumor or cell line is important for the preparation of these models and their further use for proteomic and genomic analyses. METHODS: Surgically harvested gastrointestinal tract tumor tissue was processed or stable cancer cell lines were cultivated; the viability was assessed, and subsequently the cells were inoculated subcutaneously to SCID mice with an individual duration of tumor growth, followed by its extraction. RESULTS: We analysed 140 specimens of tumor tissue including 17 specimens of esophageal cancer (viability 13/successful inoculations 0), 13 tumors of the cardia (11/0), 39 gastric tumors (24/4), 47 pancreatic tumors (34/1) and 24 specimens of colorectal cancer (22/9). 3 specimens were excluded due to histological absence of the tumor (complete remission after neoadjuvant therapy in 2 cases of esophageal carcinoma, 1 case of chronic pancreatitis). We observed successful inoculation in 17 of 28 tumor cell lines. CONCLUSION: The probability of successful grafting to the mice model in tumors of the esophagus, stomach and pancreas is significantly lower in comparison with colorectal carcinoma and cell lines generated tumors. The success rate is enhanced upon preservation of viability of the harvested tumor tissue, which depends on the sequence of clinical and laboratory algorithms with a high level of cooperation.Key words: proteomic analysis - xenotransplantation - prognostic and predictive factors - gastrointestinal tract tumors.

[Proximal gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction in a selected set of patients immediate and long-term results]. / Proximální gastrektomie u selektovaných pacientu s adenokarcinomem gastroezofageální junkce, bezprostrední a dlouhodobé výsledky operacní terapie.

INTRODUCTION: The authors present the results of surgical resection in the form of proximal gastrectomy in a selected set of patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. The selection criteria included: ASA III-IV, internal comorbidities and elderly patients. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2015, 28 patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction underwent proximal gastrectomy at the 1st Department of Surgery. The patient set consisted of 19 (67.8%) men and 9 (32.3%) women aged 5289 years with the median age of 72.5 years. Endoscopic examination revealed a tumour of the gastroesophageal junction, which was evaluated according to the Siewert classification: type I was present in 4 (16.7%) cases, type II in 12 (42.3%), and type III in 12 (42.3%). Histological analysis revealed adenocarcinoma in all cases. Proximal gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed in all patients. Splenectomy was performed in eleven patients. The continuity of the gastrointestinal tract was ensured by esophagogastroanastomosis, and pyloromyotomy was performed as a standard procedure. Cryostatic examination revealed positive resection margins in the esophagus in five patients, which led to the resection of the distal esophagus from the right-sided thoracotomy. RESULTS: Injury to the biliary tract was observed in one case in the perioperative period, which was treated by hepaticojejunoanastomosis onto an excluded jejunal loop. The following complications were observed postoperatively: bleeding, respiratory complications, anastomotic dehiscence, laparotomy wound dehiscence, and inflammatory infiltration in the abdominal cavity. Thirty-day mortality was 10.7% in our patient set. CONCLUSION: Proximal gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy is an appropriate alternative for polymorbid patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction and provides good short- and long-term results.Key words: cancer of gastroesophageal junction proximal gastrectomy complications of therapy.

Strategies of treatment of chest wall tumors and our experience.

INTRODUCTION: The only curative treatment of tumors of the chest wall (primary or secondary),despite all the progress in oncological therapy, is a surgical radical resection. The goal of the paper is the identification of a complication occurring after chest wall resections for a tumor (evaluation of morbidity and mortality). Furthermore, the tumor type and employed reconstruction method were analyzed. METHODS: A group of patients who underwent resection of the chest wall for primary or secondary tumors at the 1st Dept. Of Surgery, University Hospital Olomouc, was retrospectively analyzed. Age, diagnosis, procedure, histopathology of the tumor, preoperative and postoperative oncological treatment, preoperative co-morbidities, postoperative complications, the use of artificial lung ventilation and recurrences were recorded for all patients. RESULTS: 57 patients aged 16 to 86 years underwent a chest wall resection, 51% for a primary tumor and 49% for a secondary tumor. Resection of at least one rib or partial resections of the sternum were performed in every patient. Reconstruction with a mesh was employed in 22 patients; in 10 patients the mesh was covered with a muscle flap. Postoperative complications occurred in 10 patients (17.5%). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to follow the basic principles of treatment of chest wall tumors; therefore surgery of these tumors should be concentrated to specialized centers. Always before surgery, diagnosis should be established by means of a biopsy and generalization of the disease should be excluded, ideally using PET/CT. Most important for successful treatment is experience and interdisciplinary cooperation of the team. This results in a low mortality and morbidity rate, which was confirmed by our results. KEYWORDS: chest wall tumors chest reconstruction sternum resection - treatment of chest wall tumors chondroma.

The benefit of PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the significance of PET/CT for the initial staging of esophageal cancer with emphasis on metastatic lymph node affection and detection of distant metastases. Furthermore, the aim of the work was to analyze the significance of PET/CT examination when evaluating the effect of neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: A set of 354 patients with esophageal cancer treated at the 1st Department of Surgery, University Hospital Olomouc and Medical Faculty at Palacky University in Olomouc between the years 20062012 were analyzed in a prospective study. The initial PET/CT examination was performed in 349 patients. We analyzed the benefit of this examination in regard to disease staging and based on the result, therapeutic strategy was determined. The initial PET/CT showed varying degrees of disease generalization in 102 patients, these patients were indicated for palliative or symptomatic therapy. In 247 patients, the disease was limited only to the esophagus and /or regional lymph nodes. After considering the patients overall condition and taking into account the wishes of the patient, 188 patients were indicated for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT); 32 patients did not complete this treatment. In 156 patients a follow-up PET/CT scan was performed after an average of 8.4 weeks following completion of neoadjuvant therapy. Based on this examination, a complete response- CR, was observed in 38 patients (24.4%), regression of the tumor in 89 (57.0%), stationary findings were seen in 10 (6.4%), and progression in 19 (12.2%). Ninety-seven patients were indicated for surgical resection; however, esophagectomy was only possible in 85 patients, in the remaining 12 patients only an explorative laparotomy was performed due to disease progression. RESULTS: The initial PET/CT examination performed in 349 patients correctly described the extent of the disease in accordance with the histologically confirmed diagnosis in virtually all patients. A false positive result was seen in only 5 patients (1.43%). When evaluating the effect of neoadjuvant therapy, the patients were divided into groups based on the findings of the follow-up PET/CT after neoadjuvant therapy and their overall survival was evaluated. A significant difference (p=0.0004) in survival was observed between the groups based on the different reactions to neoadjuvant therapy (CR (n=38), regression (n=89), stationary findings (n=10), progression (n=19)) without taking into account the following treatment the patient received after neoadjuvant therapy. Patients who had a better response to neoadjuvant therapy had better survival results. There was also a significant difference in survival between the group of patients who completed neoadjuvant therapy and underwent radical surgical resection (n=85) versus those patients who completed neoadjuvant therapy but did not undergo subsequent surgery (n=59). The operated group had a significantly higher overall survival (p=0.003). The longest mean survival, 38.6 months (median 29.0 months), was achieved by the group of patients who completed neoadjuvant therapy, showed a complete response on the follow-up PET/CT, and underwent surgical resection. However, a significant difference was not observed (p=0.587) between the groups who underwent surgical resection and whose follow-up PET/CT results differed (regression or stationary findings). To date, the number of cases in the individual groups is not great enough to consider the obtained results conclusive, and we will continue to include more patients into the study and continue with the analysis. CONCLUSION: The work documents the significance and benefit of PET/CT in the initial staging of esophageal cancer, especially in detecting metastatic disease- positive lymph nodes as well as distant metastases. PET/CT has great importance in determining therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, the significance of PET/CT in evaluating the effect of neoadjuvant therapy was also studied.Key words: esophageal cancer PET/CT neoadjuvant therapy esophagectomy.

[Endosonography of the oesophagus in the diagnosis and treatment of oesophageal tumours]. / Endosonografie jícnu v diagnostice a lécbe tumoru jícnu.

Endoscopic ultrasound examination (EUS) in oesophageal tumours is a widely used method with the need for further study of its benefits and indication. EUS plays an important role in the staging and management of further therapy. Following on from current world literature, we review the current importance of EUS in oesophageal tumours. We point out contemporary technical possibilities and comment on the importance of endosonography for early oesophageal carcinoma management, T-staging of primary tumour, benefits for N-stage diagnosis, the potential for the detection of generalised disease in comparison with CT and PET/CT, and the possibilities of histological evaluation. We mention in particular the impact of EUS on mesenchymal oesophageal tumour management. We consider EUS to be the golden standard for submucosal oesophageal tumour diagnosis. EUS has a special importance for early oesophageal carcinoma evaluation and the detection of celiac trunk lymph node involvement. Furthermore, EUS is a complementary method for higher-stage oesophageal carcinoma diagnostics. The benefits of the method, however, need further scientific evaluation. Key words: oesophageal endoscopic ultrasound - early oesophageal carcinoma - oesophageal carcinoma staging - submucosal oesophageal tumour.

[The importance of early surgical intervention in the treatment of necrotizing vasculitis]. / Význam vcasné chirurgické intervence v terapii nekrotizující vaskulitidy.

Vasculitides are an etiologically heterogeneous group of vascular affections leading to vascular wall damage followed by ischaemia of the tissues supplied by the affected vessels. Damage to the vessels of lower extremities is frequent; in serious cases a complete destruction of soft tissue as well as skeletal lesions may occur. This then results in a situation which, without a well-timed surgical intervention, often requires an amputation of the limb. We are presenting a case of a 61-year-old female patient with a large plantar defect of the right foot and gangrene of three toes of the same limb which developed as a result of necrotizing vasculitis.

[Non-pigmented subungual malignancies--crux chirurgiae minoris]. / Nepigmentované subunguální malignity--kríz malé chirurgie.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of amelanotic subungual malignancies is small, but they are not extremely rare and are often omitted in the diagnostic algorithm of subungual lesions. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of four amelanotic subungual tumours--2 subungual melanomas and 2 spinocellular carcinomas. Diagnosis was made by surgeon and pathologist. RESULTS: We have observed frequent traumatic history, patients' symptomatology underrating, inconspicuous clinical manifestation with unusual macroscopic morphological features and a risk of diagnostic delay. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to consider possibility of subungual malignancies in diagnostic algorithm of nail unit pathologies. Early diagnosis enables the reduction of amputation rate. We recommend excision biopsy with low indication threshold. There is fatal risk of delayed diagnosis especially in subungual melanoma cases, and mostly mutilation risk in spinocellular carcinoma cases.

[The role of external fixation in treatment of diabetic foot syndrome]. / Zevní fixace v lécbe syndromu diabetické nohy.

BACKGROUND: Charcot osteoarthropathy and osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot syndrome patients belong among the most serious states often indicated to amputation treatment. Target of the work is to consider possible treatment indication of external fixation. METHODS: Retrospective study of 5 cases of Charcot osteoarthropathy and osteomyelitis with border indication of high amputation treated in our department using frame external fixation. RESULTS: We reached long-term stabilisation of the disease in all patients with adequate technique and length of fixation and comprehensive treatment. We did not have to perform high amputation. We distinguished pin track irritation as common complication, in one case we observed pin tract infection. Treatment was well tolerated by the patients despite its demanding course and long-term duration. CONCLUSION: External fixation is often omitted modality in the treatment of Charcot osteoarthropathy and/or osteomyelitis in diabetic foot syndrome. It offers predictable and positive treatment results in thoroughly indicated cases.