Acute mesenteric ischemia in young adults.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is commonly seen in old patients. This study was undertaken to show that mesenteric ischemia might be seen in individuals under 40 years of age and that its diagnosis is challenging. Twenty-six patients with acute mesenteric ischemia under the age of 40 were studied. The main symptom on admission was abdominal pain. Symptom duration varied between 12 h and 5 days. The medical history of the patients revealed that 9 had no previous diseases. Other 17 had predisposing factors in the first evaluation. None of the patients had any history of narcotic or drug abuse. Ten patients presented with signs and symptoms of sepsis and septic shock. Preoperative diagnosis was acute intestinal ischemia only in 6 patients. Preoperatively, all the patients had intestinal or colonic ischemia and necrosis; one had additional ischemia of the liver, stomach, duodenum, and pancreas. Six patients had massive intestinal necrosis. The overall postoperative complication and overall mortality rates were 61.5 and 26.9 %, respectively. Complications and mortality were determined to be associated with previous pulmonary disease, acidosis, presence of septic shock, acute renal failure, extent of the ischemia and extent of resection, second look operations, previous cardiac events, and the kind of affected bowel (colon involvement).

Comparison of peritoneal tumor imaging using conventional MR imaging and diffusion-weighted MR imaging with different b values.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of DW MRI with two different b values in identifying peritoneal tumors in oncology patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with known malignancy underwent abdominal and pelvic MRI before surgery. MRI included free-breathing DWI with b values of 400 and 800 s/mm2, T1-weighted fat-suppressed spoiled gradient-echo, T2-weighted fat-saturated turbo spin-echo, and 5-min delayed gadolinium-enhanced imaging. Two observers reviewed images for peritoneal tumors at ten anatomic sites within consensus. The results of laparatomy and histopathological evaluation were compared with MRI results. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of identifying peritoneal metastases were calculated for conventional MRI, combined DWI with a b value of 400 s/mm2 and conventional MRI, and combined DWI with a b value of 800 s/mm2 and conventional MRI by consensus of two observers. RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-five peritoneal metastasis sites were confirmed by surgical and histopathological findings. Conventional MRI alone identified 72 peritoneal metastases (sensitivity, 0.58; specificity, 0.87; accuracy, 0.67). Combined DWI with a b value of 400 s/mm2 and conventional MRI revealed 106 peritoneal metastases (sensitivity, 0.85; specificity, 0.88; accuracy, 0.85). Finally, combined DWI with a b value of 800 s/mm2 and conventional MRI revealed 103 peritoneal metastases (sensitivity, 0.83; specificity, 0.94; accuracy, 0.86). CONCLUSION: DWI with a high b value provides complementary information that can improve the detection of peritoneal tumors when combined with conventional MRI. We recommend combined MRI and DWI with a high b value for increasing the sensitivity and accuracy of the preoperative detection of peritoneal tumors.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in the diagnosis of gastric tumors and discuss the diagnostic importance and potential use of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Beginning in March 2009, DW-MRI was added to the routine abdominal and pelvic MR examination for all patients imaged at our institution. A total of 21 patients (12 men and 9 women; mean age 55±6.3SD, range: 39-74 years) with known gastric malignancy were referred to our MR unit. All MRI examinations were performed using a 1.5-T MRI scanner (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens Healthcare). The evaluation of the DW-MRI examinations was made by radiologists' consensus. Changes in the signal intensity of the lesions were determined by their appearance in images at b=50, 400, and 800 s/mm(2) and in ADC maps. Results were compared with histopathological findings. RESULTS: All of the gastric tumors in this study showed high signal intensity in DW-MRI and low signal intensity in ADC maps. Mean ADC values for gastric tumor and normal gastric wall were 0.892±0.23 SD mm(2)/s and 1.453±0.35 SD mm(2)/s respectively. The mean ADC values of gastric tumors were significantly lower than that of the normal gastric wall. CONCLUSION: DW-MRI and ADC values together can successfully differentiate gastric tumors from normal gastric wall.

Benign nodular goiter causing upper airway obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Benign nodular goiter (BNG) can cause narrowing of the upper airway. In some rare cases, obstruction of the upper airway also occurs. The following paper reports our experiences with regard to BNG patients who experienced obstruction of the upper airway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the records of 13 patients with acute airway obstruction due to BNG who were admitted to the General Surgery Department of Ataturk University Medical School between January 2000 and December 2007. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with airway obstruction secondary to BNG were hospitalized during this period. There were two males and 11 females, and the mean age was 58.5 years (range 37-74 years). For all patients, the primary symptom upon admission was defined as respiratory distress; all patients had varying degrees of respiratory distress upon admission. Three of the patients underwent emergent endotracheal intubation in the emergency room. A preoperative radiological evaluation was performed with thyroid ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). There were retrosternal or substernal components of the BNG in nine patients. Twelve patients underwent operations, while one patient with mild respiratory distress elected not to be operated on. Ten patients underwent total thyroidectomies, while two patients underwent near-total thyroidectomies. One patient with retrosternal goiter also underwent a median sternotomy. Three patients received a tracheostomy after the operation. Suction drains were utilized in all operations. During the post-operative period, two patients suffered from voice impairment, and seven patients experienced hypocalcemia. Two patients died. Pathological examination of the thyroidectomy tissue revealed BNG in all cases. In addition, two patients had micropapillary carcinomas. CONCLUSION: Although BNG causing upper airway obstruction is rare, it is an important clinical entity because of the need for emergent operation, the increased rate of complications, and high mortality.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas, known as Frantz tumors, are rare pancreatic tumors that occur predominantly in women, with very few cases reported in men. We present the case of a 27-year-old female patient who came to the emergency room with an intense upper abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting and a palpable mass in the left upper quadrant. She was initially diagnosed with a post-traumatic pancreatic pseudocyst. The patient underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenic preservation; the histopathological report showed a pseudopapillary solid tumor of the pancreas without malignant cells. In this report, a case of rare solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is described. Our objective was to report an infrequent case of pancreatic pseudopapillary tumor and to carry out a review of the literature.

The use of harmonic scalpels in thyroidectomies: clinical experiences.

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of harmonic scalpels in thyroidectomies. Here, we present our clinical experiences with the instrument. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the General Surgery Department of the Ataturk University School of Medicine between January 2005 and July 2008. It was a prospective, randomized, controlled study. Patients with benign nodular goiter (BNG) were included in the study and randomly divided into three groups. The first group consisted of 47 patients, the second group consisted of 57 patients, and the third group consisted of 41 patients. Patients in the first group underwent the classical thyroidectomy. Those in the second group had only the superior thyroid arteries and veins ligated (with silk or polyglactin), while the other vascular structures were divided using a harmonic scalpel. In the third group, all arteries and veins of the thyroid gland were divided using a harmonic scalpel. In each group, mean operation time, amount of bleeding, amount of postoperative drainage, and other postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Operation time was significantly lower for patients in the third group. The degree of bleeding and postoperative drainage was lower in the second and third groups with respect to the first group. There was no significant difference among the groups in terms of the development of transient hypocalcemia or voice impairment. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the use of harmonic scalpels for a thyroidectomy is safe, shortens operative time, and decreases intraoperative bleeding.

Posttraumatic free intraperitoneal rupture of liver cystic echinococcosis: a case series and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: A serious complication of cystic echinococcus (CE) is the rupture of the cysts. Free intra-abdominal rupture occurs in approximately 3.2% of all cases. Posttraumatic rupture of liver CE is very rare. METHODS: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic findings and surgical treatment of this complication. RESULTS: Twenty patients with posttraumatic ruptured liver CE were treated. The incidence rate of hydatid rupture was 3.06%. The common presenting symptom was abdominal pain. All patients were operated on under emergency conditions. There were 26 cysts in 20 patients, and all of the cysts were treated surgically. CONCLUSION: Hydatid cyst rupture must be kept in mind in the management of trauma patients with cystic mass in the liver in particular and free intra-abdominal fluid, especially in the endemic area. We preferred conservative (unroofing associated with various procedures for the management of the residual cavity) rather than radical procedures such as hepatic resection or pericystectomy for the surgical treatment.

Typhoid intestinal perforations: twenty-six year experience.

BACKGROUND: Typhoid fever (TF) is a severe febrile illness caused by Salmonella typhi. One of the most lethal complications of TF is ileal perforation (TIP). Although the mortality of associated with TIP has decreased slightly over the past decade, it is still high. METHODS AND RESULTS: The records of the 82 surgically treated patients with TIP were evaluated retrospectively. There were 64 men with the mean age of 36.3 years (range: 7-68 years). In surgical treatment, debridement with primary closure was performed in 32 patients (39.0%), and wedge resection with primary closure was performed in 9 (11. 0%), resection with primary anastomosis in 9 (11.0%), and resection with ileostomy in 32 (39.0%). The most common postoperative complication was wound infection, which occurred in 24 patients (29.3%). The overall morbidity was highest in the ileostomy group. The overall mortality was 11.0% (9 patients). Age, gender, number, and localization of the perforations (p > 0.05) were not found to affect mortality, but prolonged preoperative period (p < 0.001), extended peritoneal contamination (p < 0.01), and ileostomy procedure (p < 0.001) were found to influence the increase in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early and appropriate surgical intervention with effective preoperative and postoperative care may improve survival in TIP.

Duodenal stromal tumor: report of a case.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that arise from primitive mesenchymal cells. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors account for approximately 80% all of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors. Duodenal stromal tumors (DSTs) manifest with unexplained melena, pain, bleeding, anemia, sometimes a partial duodenal obstruction and, rarely, with obstructive jaundice. If the tumor is successfully treated, its prognosis is usually good because of its non-aggressive nature. If resected, the prognosis is favorable in a majority of cases, and it is much better than in carcinomas of the duodenum. In this article, we report a case of DST originating from the first and second portion of the duodenum. Our patient did not have any problems postoperatively and remained symptom-free at 18 months after surgery.

An algorithm for the management of sigmoid colon volvulus and the safety of primary resection: experience with 827 cases.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to review the outcomes of emergent treatment of sigmoid colon volvulus. METHODS: The records of 827 patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.9 years (range, 10 weeks to 98 years), and 688 patients (83.2 percent) were male. Nonoperative reduction was applied in 575 patients (barium enema in 13, rigid sigmoidoscopy in 351, and flexible sigmoidoscopy in 211, with rectal tube placement in all patients). The results were as follows: success of 78.1 percent, mortality of 0.9 percent, complication of 3 percent, and early recurrence of 3.3 percent. Surgical treatment was performed on 393 patients (detorsion in 46, mesosigmoidopexy in 56, exteriorization in 4, resection with Hartmann's procedure in 146, resection with Mikulicz procedure in 14, resection with primary anastomosis in 51, tube cecostomy and colonic cleansing with resection in 75, and laparotomy in 1). The results were as follows: mortality of 15.8 percent, complication of 37.2 percent, early recurrence of 0.8 percent, and late recurrence of 6.7 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Nonoperative reduction is the initial treatment of sigmoid colon volvulus, and flexible sigmoidoscopy with rectal tube placement can be used successfully. Patients in whom bowel gangrene or peritonitis is present or nonoperative treatment is unsuccessful need emergency surgery. In surgical treatment, resection and primary anastomosis is the first choice, and it can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates if the patient is stable and a tension-free anastomosis is possible. Nondefinitive procedures have high recurrence rates; thus, definitive surgical techniques must be preferred.

Ileosigmoidal knotting in children: a review of 9 cases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to review nine pediatric cases of ileosigmoidal knotting (ISK), which is an unusual form of intestinal obstruction common in adults, characterized by double-loop obstruction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was designed to examine preoperative, operative, and postoperative findings of the nine children with ISK who were surgically treated in a university hospital throughout a 38.5-year period. RESULTS: The mean age was 10.6 years (range: 7-16 years). Seven patients (77.8 %) were male. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, distention, obstipation, and vomiting, and the most common signs were abdominal tenderness and distention. The most common form was type 1A in 4 patients (44.4%) in whom the active ileum encircled the passive sigmoid colon in clockwise direction. There was a gangrene in both ileum and sigmoid colon in 7 patients (77.8%), one patient (11.1%) had gangrene in only the sigmoid colon, and the bowels were viable in 1 patient (11.1%). In the gangrenous cases, nonviable small bowel segments were resected, and anastomosis was performed, while gangrenous sigmoid colon was resected and Hartmann procedure or primary anastomosis was used. In the nongangrenous case, detorsion was performed and sigmoidopexy was added. One patient in this series (11.1%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Ileosigmoidal knotting is a rare disease in children. Its preoperative diagnosis is not easy. It is generally misdiagnosed as an obstructive emergency. Aggressive preoperative resuscitation, effective and prompt surgery, and postoperative support are the basic principles of treatment. Although resection with primary anastomosis is advised in gangrenous cases, stomas may be lifesaving in unstable patients. In nongangrenous cases, definitive surgical procedures are generally used.

Sigmoid colon volvulus in children: review of 19 cases.

The records of 19 patients with sigmoid colon volvulus (SCV) who were treated surgically in a 36.5-year-period were reviewed. Seven of them (37 %) had ileosigmoidal knotting (ISK). The age range was between 10 weeks and 17 years (mean 10 years), and 17 patients (90%) were male. In two cases (11%) there was previous SCV history. The mean symptom duration was 57 h (range 24-96), and three patients (16%) were in shock. The main symptoms were abdominal pain (90%), distention (79%), vomiting (74%), and obstipation (58%), and the main signs were abdominal tenderness (90%), distention (79%), absence of stool in the rectum and hypo- or akinetic bowel sounds (58%), muscular rigidity (53%), hyperkinetic bowel sounds (32%), and melanotic stool in the rectum (21%). The torsion was found in a clockwise direction in 47%, and the torsion degree was 360 in 42%. In four patients (21%) there was no gangrene (one with ISK), whereas in 15 (79%) sigmoid colon was gangrenous (six with ISK, in whom small bowel was also gangrenous). In nongangrenous cases, detorsion (11%) or sigmoidopexy (11%) was performed. In gangrenous cases, gangrenous sigmoid colon was resected, and Hartmann's procedure (74%) or primary anastomosis (5%) was performed. In those with associated gangrene of the small bowel, resection and enteroenteric anastomosis were done. Four patients (21%) died, with the most common cause of death being toxic shock. In 11 patients, including five with SCV and six with ISK, no recurrence was seen in a mean 18-year follow-up period (range 8-39). As a result, preoperative resuscitation, prompt surgery, and postoperative support are important in emergent SCV in children.

Ileosigmoidal knotting: outcome in 63 patients.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to review the outcomes of 63 patients with ileosigmoidal knotting. METHODS: Sixty-three, surgically treated patients (47 males; 74.6 percent) were reviewed retrospectively. The mean age was 45.6 (range, 7-75) years. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain and obstipation, and the most common signs were abdominal tenderness and distention. The preoperative diagnosis was obstructive emergencies in 49 patients (77.8 percent) and nonobstructive emergencies in 14 (22.2 percent). RESULTS: All patients underwent emergency laparotomy. The most common type of ileosigmoidal knotting was Type 1A in 30 patients (47.6 percent), in which the active ileum encircled the passive sigmoid colon in a clockwise direction. Fifty patients (79.4 percent) developed gangrenous bowel. Resection of gangrenous segments and enteroenteric or enterocolic anastomosis combined with the Hartmann procedure was the most preferred operation, used in 34 patients (54 percent). The mortality rate was 15.9 percent (10 patients), and toxic shock was the most frequent cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: Ileosigmoidal knotting is a rare but serious form of intestinal obstruction. Its preoperative diagnosis is difficult and may present as an obstructive or nonobstructive emergency. Early and effective resuscitation, prompt surgical intervention selected on the basis of clinical and operative findings, and effective postoperative intensive care are the basis of treatment.

Periampullary diverticula causing pancreaticobiliary disease.

Our purpose was to determine if the presence of duodenal diverticula predisposes to the development of pancreaticobiliary disease. Between May 1999 and February 2001, 381 patients were examined by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. Of these patients, 51 had periampullary diverticula. In 27 patients the papilla was located inside the diverticulum (Group I), in 19 patients it was located at the edge of the diverticulum (Group II), and 5 patients it was located at a distance closer than 3 cm to the diverticulum (Group III). Seventeen patients in group I and 11 patients in group II had had a previous cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of biliary system stone disease was 22.2% in group I, 36.8% in group II, and 100% in group III. All patients were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy and three (two in group I and one in group II) developed biliary system disease (cholangitis or pancreatitis). We think that sphincterotomy should be applied regardless of the presence of stone if the papilla is located inside or at the edge of the diverticulum. If the papilla is located 3 cm or more far for diverticulum, it should be considered within the frame of general sphincterotomy indications in the absence of stone disease.

Recombinant human growth hormone modulates the hepatic acute-phase response and P-selectin in burned rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on serum constitutive proteins, cytokines, P-selectin, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in the thermally injured rats.Sprague-Dawley rats (64 males) were given 30% total body surface area full thickness scald burn. They were randomly divided to receive either 2.5mg/kg per day im rhGH or saline (control). Rats were sacrified on postburn days 1, 2, 5, and 7, and serum constitutive proteins, cytokines, P-selectin, and IGF-1 levels were measured.Serum IGF-1 levels were increased on days 2, 5, or 7 after burn in rhGH-treated rats compared with controls (P<0.001, <0.01 and <0.001, respectively). Serum transferrin and albumin levels were increased on days 7 after burn in rhGH-treated rats compared with controls (P<0.05). The cytokines increased after thermal injury. The rhGH decreased serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on postburn days 1 compared with controls (P<0.001). Serum levels of interleukin-1 were decreased on days 1 and 2 after burn in rhGH treated rats compared with controls (P<0.001, <0.01, respectively). Rats receiving rhGH showed significantly increased P-selectin levels at 5 and 7 postburn days compared with controls (P<0.001). Our data indicate that rhGH, given after thermal injury, increased albumin, transferrin, IGF-1, and P-selectin levels and decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 levels.