CYSTIC LYMPHANGIOMA ARISING FROM THE SMALL INTESTINE MESENTERY INCIDENTALLY FOUND DURING SURGERY FOR A LARGE OVARIAN TUMOR - A CASE REPORT.

The aim of this study was presenting significance of diagnostic process in doctor's daily routine. A 45-year-old patient for a planned laparotomy due to left ovarian cyst detected with a routine transvaginal ultrasound. She did not report any symptoms. Computer tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed a cystic lesion with segmental wall thick¬ening, measuring 133 ☓ 83 ☓ 135 mm, adjacent to the left ovary and the uterus on the left side. At the laparotomy exploration, a giant cyst, ca. 20 cm in diameter was found above the uterus, on the left side, in the area between the lower and middle abdomen. The histological exam results showed lymphangioma of the small and large intestine mesentery. In this case, lymphangioma was found in a rare location, in the mesentery of the ileocecal valve. It did not present any signs and symptoms. CT used in the present case failed to identify the exact point of origin of the lesion.

Effectiveness of Lichtenstein repairs in planned treatment of giant inguinal hernia - own experience.

INTRODUCTION: Occurrence of giant inguinal hernias is not frequent because of growing medical awareness in the community as well as progress in surgical treatment in this field. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of repairs using the Lichtenstein technique in scheduled treatment of giant inguinal hernias. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2006 and 2010 in the Department of Surgery with the Subdepartment of Proctology, Hospital at Solec in Warsaw, 909 repairs of inguinal hernia were performed, including 15 patients (1.65%) with the diagnosis of giant hernia. In 3 cases it was direct inguinal hernia and in 12 cases indirect inguinal hernia. All giant hernias occurred in male patients between 33 and 87 years of age (mean age 65 years old) and developed for many years, median of 14.2 years. All patients underwent scheduled repairs using the tension-free Lichtenstein technique. A non-absorbable polypropylene mesh was used for hernioplasty. Exact Fisher's test (p < 0.01) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In all cases contents of the hernial sac consisted of loops of small intestine, colon and omentum. Early complications occurred in 11 patients (73%) in the group of patients with giant hernias, whereas in the remaining group of patients early complications occurred in 53 patients (5.9%). The difference was statistically significant. In the group of patients with giant hernias no recurrence was observed over the observation period ranging from 6 months to 4.5 years. In the remaining group of patients recurrences occurred in 23 patients (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The Lichtenstein technique of repair is effective in management of giant inguinal hernias. A statistically significantly higher percentage of complications was observed in the group of patients with giant hernias as compared to the remaining group of patients with inguinal hernias. Patients with giant hernias require proper preparation for surgery, especially in relation to their respiratory efficiency.

Usefulness of electrosurgical techniques in thyroid gland surgery.

UNLABELLED: Wide propagation of new generation of electrosurgical devices such as bipolar vessel sealing systems (eg. Thermostapler® by EMED) enabled seamless closing of blood vessels with a diameter up to 7 mm while maintaining the necessary safety margin, as well as reducing the duration of the operation. We decided to verify these reports in our material. AIM OF THE STUDY was comparison of thyroid surgery performed with the electrocautery tool - Thermostapler ® by EMED with surgery using classic hemostasis technique to evaluate the operative time and complications in the form of bleeding, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, symptoms of hypoparathyroidism, and wound infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 256 patients operated in the Department of General and Proctological Surgery Solec Hospital in Warsaw due to inert thyroid goitre. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 126 patients operated in 2000, using classic techniques of hemostasis. While the second group consisted of 130 patients operated in 2007-2008 with Thermostapler®. We compared duration of surgery and the incidence of postoperative complications. RESULTS: The operative time was significantly shorter (average 18 minutes) in the second group of patients. We also recorded a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of complications in the group operated with Thermostapler. CONCLUSIONS: Use of bipolar vessel sealing system in a decisive manner shortens the duration of operation. Use of bipolar vessel sealing system also enables a radical reduction in the incidence of complications rate such as bleeding, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, symptoms of hypoparathyroidism, and wound infection. In the future, similar studies should be performed to assess the real costs resulting from the use Thermostapler®.