Gallstone ileus: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction -- case report and literature review.

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon complication of cholelithiasis with a high morbidity and mortality rate. We report a rare case of small bowel gallstone obstruction in an 87-year-old female patient with cholecystoduodenal fistula. We performed an enterolithotomy, repair of fistula and cholecystectomy. During the postoperative course a wound dehiscence appeared, which required suturing and prolonged hospitalisation. We review the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects, given that the diagnosis of this condition is usually difficult and often made intraoperatively.In fact, here is no standard surgical procedure for this disease. The one-stage procedure should be reserved for stabilized patients, but in cases with associated comorbidities,only enterolithotomy can represent the best option..

Laparoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer -- a multicenter study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of the laparoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer performed in 6 Romanian surgical centres with experience in the field of laparoscopic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1996 and 2005, 186 patients with perforated duodenal ulcer were operated on in the centers participating in this retrospective study, all patients being ASA I-II. Thirty-nine patients (20.0%) presented mild peritonitis, 120 (64.5%) medium peritonitis and 27 (15.5%) severe (20.0%) simple suture was performed, in 110 (59.1%) suture with epiplonoplasty, for 1 (0.5%) only epiplonoplasty and 1 (0.5%) underwent excision of the perforation and suture. RESULTS: The operative time was between 30-120 minutes, with an average of 75 minutes. No death was noted. Average hospitalization time was 6 days, with periods varying between 3 and 18 days. Postoperative complications included: 5 patients (2,6%) presented infections of the abdominal walls, 1 patient (0.5%) duodenal fistula, 1 patient (0.5%) intra-abdominal abscess, 1 patient (0.5%) a superior digestive hemorrhage by "mirrored ulcer" and 1 patient (0.5%) duodenal stenosis 6 months after operation. The patients were administered 50% less analgesics, used 70% less dressings, 30% less antibiotics and had 60% less complications in comparison with those operated by the classical approach. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach of perforated duodenal ulcer constitutes the first choice for patients without important co-morbidities, allowing a quick recovery and a significant reduction in the consumption of analgesics, antibiotics and dressing materials.

[Heterotopic accessory pancreas in surgical pathology: review of 23 years experience]. / Pancreasul accesor heterotopic in patologia chirurgicala: experienta a 23 de ani.

BACKGROUND: The abnormal presence of the pancreatic tissue in other digestive organs is rare but sometimes is the cause of some surgical diseases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This retrospective study is focussed on heterotopic pancreas cases diagnosed in 2nd Surgical Clinic of "Sf. Spiridon" Emergency Hospital from Iasi between Jan. 1986 and Dec. 2008. RESULTS: 22 patients (15 males/68.2% and 7 females/31.8%) aged between 23 and 76 years were grouped in A group--clinical symptomatic cases (3 patients/13.6%), group B--coincidental cases (17 patients/77.3%) and group C--incidental cases (2 patients/9%). Group A patients presented with obstructing prepyloric polypoid tumors and recquired antrectomy and gastroduodenal anastomosis. 13 patients of group B (76.4%) recquired surgery for pyloroduodenal stenosis and in 4 cases of this group with severe upper-GI bleeding, a subtotal gastric resection (3 patients) or antrectomy (1 case) was performed. In group C patients jejunal HP was histopathologically diagnosed during extensive intestinal resection for colonic malignancies (ascendant colonic and transverse colonic cancers) with jejunal invasion. HP cases were categorized as type I in 40.9% cases (ducts, acini and pancreatic islets), type II in 45.4% cases (ducts and acini) and type III (exclusively with ducts) in 13.6% cases. In 76% patients HP was localized in mucosal and submucosal layers, in 16% intramucosal and in 8% in subserous layer. CONCLUSION: HP is most often an unexpected symptomless coincidental diagnosis during gastrointestinal surgical diseases.

The histopathologic type of the periampullary tumors. Is it important for survival?

BACKGROUND: The ampulla of Vater is a junction with four histologic epithelial types: ampullary, duodenal, pancreatic and biliary. The tumors of this region are named periampullary adenocarcinomas, but the histologic type of these malignancies seems to have an important significance for survival. AIM: Our purpose is to determine whether the histologic type of the resectable vaterian adenocarcinomas is a prognostic factor. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 38 patients who underwent RO-R1 pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary adenocarcinomas between 1998 and 2007 in one single surgical center. The histopathologic reports and the microscopic samples were reevaluated independently by two senior pathologists. Using our database we assessed the overall survival based on histologic type, tumor stage, lymph nodes involvement, tumor size and the level of differentiation. RESULTS: The histologic type of the adenocarcinomas was intestinal in 23 cases (60.5%) and pancreatobiliary in 15 cases (39.5%). The median overall survival was significantly higher in patients with well differentiate intestinal-type in T1-T2 stage without nodes involvement. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis the regional lymph nodes involvement and the differentiation degree remained significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The intestinal type of periampullary adenocarcinomas has a long survival, but the lymph nodes involvement and the lower degree of differentiation are associated with a high risk of death in these malignancies.

[Abdominal wall endometriosis after gynecologic procedures: an under-appreciated diagnosis in general surgery]. / Endometrioza parietala abdominala dupa chirurgia ginecologica: un diagnostic subapreciat in chirurgia generala.

UNLABELLED: Incisional endometriosis is a clinical entity described in the gynecologic literature but it is not well recognized among general surgeons. The preoperative diagnosis is often mistaken for a suture granuloma, abscess, lipoma, cyst or incisional hernia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a retrospective review of six cases of incisional endometriosis in our hospital aimed at determining which, if any, factors would suggest the diagnosis preoperatively. All general surgery patients with a diagnosis of endometriosis in their pathology specimens from January 1990 to February 2006 were reviewed. RESULTS: All six patients had previous cesarean sections through either a Pfannenstiel (n = 4) or lower midline (n = 2) incision. Ages ranged from 28 to 43 years (mean 34.3 years). All patients presented with a palpable painful lesion located in the area of cesarean section incision. Three of the patients had a change in symptoms with their menstrual cycle. The duration of symptoms ranged between 2 months to 6 years. All patients underwent surgical excision. The size of the excised endometrioma ranged from 3 cm to 9 cm (mean 5.3 cm). CONCLUSION: Incisional endometriosis seems to be common in women with a history of cesarean section. Most patients presented with a painful abdominal mass. Three patients presented cyclic changes in pain and size of the mass with menses, but this may be due to physician's lack of awareness and questioning. The management of choice is to remove the lesion completely even if fascial excision is required.

[Long-term results after surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma, stage I-III. Problems of prognosis]. / Rezultate la distanta dupa tratamentul chirurgical al adenocarcinomului colo-rectal stadiile I-III. Probleme de prognostic.

UNLABELLED: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study on 142 consecutively cases with stage I to III colorectal adenocarcinomas (TNM AJCC/UICC) in which patients underwent potentially curative surgery in one single public health service (1st Surgical Clinic Iasi, Romania) between 2004 and 2005. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The mean follow-up was 23.26 +/- 9.78 months (range 2 to 42 months). There were 85 men (59.9%) and 57 women (40.1%) with mean age 63.38 +/- 11.84 years (range 28 to 88 years). The surgical procedures performed were the following: right colectomy (n = 54; 30%); transverse colectomy (n = 2; 1.4%); left colectomy (n = 19; 13.4%); segmental colon resection with anastomosis (n = 5 ; 3.5%); Hartmann procedure (n = 18; 12.7%); anterior rectal resection (n = 11; 7.7%) and abdominoperineal resection (n = 33; 23.2%). With regard to postoperative adjuvant therapy most patients were given chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid. The mean overall survival (months) and 42-months survival rates were calculated. The patients were censored in the survival calculation (Kaplan-Meier method) and Cox regression if they were alive at the endpoint of the follow-up. Some patients were censored because they were "lost to follow-up". Statistical significance is p < 0.05. RESULTS: The factors with a significant negative influence in overall survival and 42-months survival rates were: the age over 70 years, the emergency surgery related to cancer's complications, the advanced AJCC/ UICC stage, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, the recurrence of disease, the moderate and lower differentiated adenocarcinoma and incomplete or not performed chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Even with a radical surgical approach the advanced stage of colorectal adenocarcinoma has a low prognostic, but some other factors have also a high significance in postoperative outcome. Related to other prognostic factors we performed a review of literature.

[Congenital cystic disease of the biliary system in adults]. / Dilatatia chistica congenitala a cailor biliare la adult.

Congenital cystic disease of the biliary system is a complex syndrome of ectasies of the intra-, extra- or both situation of biliary tree. This disease has an unsure etiopathogeny. It is uncommon through the third age, with a greater incidence in child, teen-ager and young adult. The goal of our study is to evaluate the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and histological aspects of the congenital biliary cysts. We performed a retrospective study from March 1988 to July 2003 about 11 patients with this disease treated in our surgical clinic. Clinical features, methods of diagnosis and surgical treatment were assessed. All patients were females with mean age 51 years (extreme 26-77 years). The symptoms were: right upper quadrant pain--11 cases (100%), jaundice--6 cases (54.5%), fever--3 cases (27%), palpable abdominal mass--2 cases (18%), weight loss--1 case (9%). The imaging diagnosis was helpful (ultrasonography, CT, ERCP, percutaneous cholangiography and preoperative cholangiography). In concordance with Todani classification the patients were included in the following types: Ia--3 cases (27%), I b--1 case (9%), I c--3 cases (27%), IV a--2 cases (18%), IV b--1 case (9%), V--1 case (9%). All patients were operated on: after cholecystectomy and transcystic cholangiography (11 cases--100%) we performed the total excision of the cyst--9 cases (82%) with choledochal jejunostomy (Roux-en-Y)--6 cases (54.5%), choledochal jejunostomy (omega)--1 case (9%) and choledochal duodenostomy--2 cases (18%). In one case of neoplasic cyst with portal invasion we performed a cyst-jejunostomy (omega) and in one case of Caroli disease with total obstruction of the distal choledoc, the solution of choice was choledocal-duodenostomy. The microscopic pathology of the cyst wall showed: chronic intramural inflammation--9 cases (82%) and the absence of the nervous intramural terminations--1 case (9%). The additional lesions was: hepatic cirrhosis--1 case (9%) and hepatic fibrosis--3 cases (27%). We found three cases with neoplasia: malign cyst with advanced local invasion--1 case (9%), pancreatic carcinoma--1 case (9%) and gallbladder carcinoma (microscopic finding)--1 case (9%). The postoperative morbidity includes biliary fistula--2 cases (18%) and wound infection--2 cases (18%). Long-term follow-up revealed cholangitis in one case--9%. The cystic dilatations of the common bile duct is an exclusive indication for surgery as soon as it was discovered.

[Laparoscopic esophagomyotomy in cardial achalasia]. / Esofagomiotomia laparoscopica în achalazia cardiei.

Two patients underwent a transabdominal laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia. All patients had barium esophagograms. preoperative endoscopy, esophageal manometry. There were no surgical morbidity and the average hospital stay was 5 days. Excellent result was reported by one patients and good result by one. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is a safe and effective treatment for achalasia.

[Problems of therapeutic management of cancer of the superior pole of the stomach]. / Probleme de conduita terapeutica în cancerul polului superior al stomacului.

This cancer is rare (17-30%) and has the worst prognosis. In the interval 1970-1987 to the I-st Surgical Clinic of Iasi were admitted and treated 648 patients with gastric cancers of which 98 (15.2%) with adenocarcinomas of the cardiac end of the stomach. In most patients the diagnosis was late: stage II and III-40 patients; stage IV-58 patients. Given the extension of the tumoral process, the exeresis was possible but in 36 cases (36.7%), as compared to 26-70% mentioned in the literature. The therapeutical management of these cases and the obtained results are presented.