Transanal haemorrhoidal artery echodoppler ligation and anopexy (THD) is effective for II and III degree haemorrhoids: a prospective multicentric study.

AIM: We report a multicentric prospective study which aimed to evaluate Doppler-assisted ligation of the terminal haemorrhoidal arteries (THD) for II and III degree haemorrhoids. METHOD: A total of 112 patients from five colorectal units, including 81 men, mean age 48 +/- 13 years, with II degree (39) and III degree (73) haemorrhoids were treated by Doppler-guided transanal de-arterialization and anopexy using a new device (THD). RESULTS: The mean operative time was 33.9 +/- 8.8 minutes, and the mean number of ligatures applied was 7.2 +/- 1.5. Postoperatively, 72% of patients did not need analgesics and the other 28% used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs 1-3 times/day for less than 2 days. All the patients were operated as a day case. Early postoperative complications included haemorrhoidal thrombosis (2 patients), bleeding (1) treated by haemostatic suture, dysuria (6) and acute urinary retention (1). After a mean follow-up of 15.6 +/- 6.5 months (range 6-32), 2/105 (20.9%) patients complained of minor bleeding, while mild pain was still present in 4/51 patients (7.8%). There were no statistically significant differences in the sample population regarding the gender or stage of the disease. Tenesmus was cured in 15/17 patients, dyschaezia in 20/22 patients and mucous soiling in 10/10 patients. No new cases of altered defaecation or faecal incontinence were recorded. Overall, 85.7% of patients were cured and 7.1% improved. Residual haemorrhoids were treated by elastic band ligation in nine (8%) patients and by surgical excision in further five patients (4.5%). CONCLUSION: Doppler-assisted ligation of the terminal branches of the haemorrhoidal arteries for II and III degree haemorrhoids is highly effective and painless. Complications are few and the technique can be performed as a day case.

Transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialisation: nonexcisional surgery for the treatment of haemorrhoidal disease.

BACKGROUND: Transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialisation (THD) is a nonexcisional surgical technique for the treatment of piles, consisting in the ligation of the distal branches of the superior rectal artery, resulting in a reduction of blood flow and decongestion of the haemorrhoidal plexus. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term efficacy of this treatment. METHODS: The procedure was carried out using a proctoscope with a Doppler probe. The terminal branches were located with Doppler and then sutured. RESULTS: From January 2000 to May 2006, we performed THD in 330 patients (180 men; mean age, 52.4 years), including 138 second-degree, 162 third-degree and 30 fourth-degree haemorrhoids. There were 23 postoperative complications (7 cases of bleeding, 5 thrombosed piles, 4 rectal haematomas, 2 anal fissures, 2 cases of dysuria, 1 of haematuria and 2 needle ruptures). The mean postoperative pain score was 1.32 on a visual analog scale. 219 patients were followed for a mean of 46 months (range, 22-79), including 100 patients with second-degree, 104 with third-degree and 15 with fourth-degree haemorrhoids. The operation completely resolved the symptoms in 132 patients (92.5%) with preoperative bleeding and in 110 patients (92%) with preoperative prolapse. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and relapse rate of this procedure appears to be similar to that of traditional surgery and stapled haemorrhoidopexy. The technique was effective and safe for all degrees of haemorrhoids because of the excellent results, low complication rate and minor postoperative pain.

[Lichtenstein's technic in the repair of inguinal hernias]. / La tecnica di Lichtenstein nella riparazione delle ernie inguinali.

Since the first true herniorrhaphy was performed by Bassini 100 years ago, all modifications and surgical techniques have shared a common disadvantages--suture line tension. This is the prime etiologic factor behind hernia recurrence. By using modern prosthetics mesh, it is now possible to repair all hernias without distortion of normal anatomy and with no suture line tension. The technique is simple, rapid, less painful, and effective; allowing prompt resumption of unrestricted physical activity.

[A voluminous prevesical hemangiopericytoma. A clinical case report]. / Un voluminoso emangiopericitoma prevescicale. Presentazione di un caso clinico.

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare and solitary solid tumor originating from pericytes, which are contractile pericapillary cells, first identified and described by Zimmermann in 1923. Although macroscopically the aspect is benign, this tumor has a recognised ability for local invasion and distant dissemination. The authors describe the case of a patient affected with giant prevesical hemangiopericytoma. Echographic and computed tomographic scans have been fundamental in defining location and size of the neoplasma as well as its relations to the surrounding structures. The authors emphasize the difficulty of reliably predicting the biological behaviour of these tumors and the necessity for radical surgery.