Preliminary results of Polish national multicenter study on colostomy reversal - LICO (Liquidation of Colostomy) study.

Introduction: Creation of colostomy is still a commonly performed procedure in emergency settings, when intestinal anastomosis cannot be performed safely. Reversing a stoma has been linked with high rates of morbidity and also mortality. Aim: The primary goal of the study was to identify the risk of postoperative complications in patients undergoing colostomy liquidation. The secondary goal was to assess perioperative care parameters. Material and methods: The LIquidation of COlostomy (LICO) study is an open multicenter prospective cohort study that began in October 2022 and will continue until December 2023. Data from 20 Polish surgical departments were collected. Overall 45 patients were reported over the initial 3 months; based on that group we performed a preliminary analysis. Results: Mean operative time was 163 min. Patients were operated on by specialists in 93.3% of cases. Complications occurred in 15 (33.3%) patients. Wound infection was the most common complication (17.8%). In 3 (6.7%) cases anastomotic leakage was diagnosed, and in 2 of those cases reoperation was required. The overall mortality rate was 2.2%. The mean length of hospital stay was 10.1 days. Preoperative fasting was used in 53.3% of patients, and the mechanical bowel preparation rate was 75.6%. Only in 8.9% of cases was laparoscopic access used for stoma reversal, and only in 1 out of 45 cases was mesh used for incisional peristomal hernia prophylactics. The stoma site was closed by single sutures in 73.3%, and negative pressure assisted closure was performed in 6.7% of patients. Conclusions: Colostomy liquidation is associated with significant morbidity and minor mortality in the Polish population. Standardized perioperative care should be established for stoma reversal surgery.

Usefulness Assessment of Automated Strabismus Angle Measurements Using Innovative Strabiscan Device.

BACKGROUND: The variability of the obtained results of manual tests assessing the angle of strabismus depends on the experience, skills, and training of the examiner. The authors hope that this new measuring device will provide a more sensitive and repeatable method for detecting small strabismus angles compared to the gold standard-PCT. The purpose of this article is to present an innovative strabismus angle demonstration device, called Strabiscan, to provide automated measurements of eye deviation and to compare the obtained results of these measurements to the traditional manual method. METHODS: For patients with manifest strabismic disease (n = 30) and a group of healthy subjects (n = 30), a detailed history was taken and routine ophthalmologic examinations were performed, including best-corrected distance visual acuity, assessment of refractive error using an autorefractometer after cycloplegia, biomicroscopic evaluation of the anterior segment of the eye and evaluation of the eye fundus by indirect ophthalmoscopy. Subsequently, each patient and healthy subject was subjected to a prismatic cover-uncover test using a manual method, after which the presence of strabismus was detected and its angle assessed using a Strabiscan demonstration device. RESULTS: In the control group using the Strabiscan demonstration device, small-angle latent strabismus ≤ 3DP was diagnosed in 83% of patients, while >3DP was found in 13%. In contrast, using the prismatic cover-uncover test, latent strabismus ≤ 3DP was diagnosed in only 13% of patients, and latent strabismus with an angle > 3DP was found in 13% of patients. No statistically significant differences were noted in the measurements of strabismus angles made by the different methods. CONCLUSIONS: The Strabiscan demonstration device allows quick and accurate assessment of the strabismus angle. Compared to the prismatic cover-uncover test, it has a higher sensitivity for detecting low-angle latent strabismus. Measurements with the Strabiscan do not require the presence of additional assistants for the test.

Risk Factors of Postoperative Acute Pancreatitis and Its Impact on the Postoperative Course after Pancreaticoduodenectomy-10 Years of Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Clinically relevant acute postoperative pancreatitis (CR-PPAP) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a complication that may lead to the development of local and systemic consequences. The study aimed to identify risk factors for CR-PPAP and assess the impact of CR-PPAP on the postoperative course after PD. METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed data from 428 consecutive patients who underwent PD at a single center between January 2013 and December 2022. The presence of increased amylase activity in plasma, above the upper limit of normal 48 h after surgery, was checked. CR-PPAP was diagnosed when accompanied by disturbing radiological features and/or symptoms requiring treatment. We investigated the relationship between the occurrence of CR-PPAP and the development of postoperative complications after PD, and possible predictors of CR-PPAP. RESULTS: The postoperative follow-up period was 90 days. Of the 428 patients, 18.2% (n = 78) had CR-PPAP. It was associated with increased rates of CR-POPF, delayed gastric emptying, occurrence of intra-abdominal collections, postoperative hemorrhage, peritonitis, and septic shock. Patients who developed CR-PPAP were more often reoperated (37.17% vs. 6.9%, p < 0.0001)) and had increased postoperative mortality (14.1% vs. 5.74%, p < 0.0001). Soft pancreatic parenchyma, intraoperative blood loss, small diameter of the pancreatic duct, and diagnosis of adenocarcinoma papillae Vateri were independent risk factors for CR-PPAP and showed the best performance in predicting CR-PPAP. CONCLUSIONS: CR-PPAP is associated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications after PD, worse treatment outcomes, and an increased risk of reoperation and mortality. Pancreatic consistency, intraoperative blood loss, width of the duct of Wirsung, and histopathological diagnosis can be used to assess the risk of CR-PPAP. Amylase activity 48 h after surgery > 161 U/L is highly specific in the diagnosis of CR-PPAP.

Pancreatic head cancer - Current surgery techniques.

Pancreatic head cancer is a highly fatal disease. For now, surgery offers the only potential long-term cure albeit with a high risk of complications. However, the progress of surgical technique during the past decade has resulted in 5-year survival approaching 30% after resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. This paper presents current data on the recommended extent of lymphadenectomy, the resection margin, on the definition of resectable and borderline resectable tumors and mesopancreas. Surgical techniques proposed to improve PD are presented: the artery first approach, the uncinate process first, the mesopancreas first approach, the triangle operation, periarterial divestment, and multiorgan resection.

Macular function in patients with medium myopia.

PURPOSE: This work aims at assessing whether electrophysiological functional changes in the macular region appear in medium myopia, even in the presence of a normal macular OCT scan and how axial length correlates with macular OCT parameters in medium myopia. METHODS: The study included right eyes of 17 patients with myopia of medium degree (SE < - 6D to > - 3D). Control group consisted of 20 eyes of patients of age and sex that matched healthy controls with normal macular and optic nerve OCT results and normal axial length. Full ophthalmic examination (the distance best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, refractive error, the anterior and posterior segment of the eye in a slit lamp, the axial length of the eyeball) with OCT of the macular and optic disk and the PERG test were performed in the study and control groups. Only the patients with normal ophthalmic and OCT examination results were qualified. The interview covering questions on risk factors of myopia onset and progression such as prematurity, family history of myopia was carried out in both groups. In myopic group, the question relating to time of near work was also asked. Study and control groups were tested with the use of Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney, Student's t test, Pearson and Spearman's rank correlation tests. RESULTS: AL was significantly longer in myopia group (p < 0.01), and SE value was lower (p < 0.01). Longer implicit time of P50 was found in the study group, but amplitudes of P50 and N95 waves were not significantly reduced (p < 0.05). AL showed correlations with P50 implicit time (p < 0.05) and with reduction in retinal fiber nerve layer and ganglion cells and inner plexus layer (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with myopia of medium degree have a dysfunction of retinal cone system of the macular region even when OCT scans show no abnormalities. Elongation of AL correlates with reduction in retinal fiber nerve layer and ganglion cells and inner plexus layer. Longitudinal follow-up studies may answer the question whether this increase in implicit time may be indicative of a faster myopia progression or of myopic retinal pathology, i.e., whether it may help to determine which patient would benefit from earlier or more intensive management of myopia progression.

Evaluation of Risk Factors for Distant and Lymph Node Metastasis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Purpose: Metastases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) can be found at the time of diagnosis in 20-50% of cases. Small asymptomatic tumors may be left for observation; however, they can metastasize. The aim of the study was to evaluate risk factors for distant and lymph node metastases of pNETs. Patients and methods: One hundred and fourteen patients with postoperatively confirmed pNET were analyzed retrospectively in a single ENETS Center of Excellence. The relationship between location, size, differentiation of the tumor, and occurrence of lymph node and distant metastases was analyzed. Results: pNETs' location was pancreatic head - 38 (33.3%), body or tail - 68 (59.7%), and 8 (7.0%) involved the entire organ. Fifty-six (49.1%) tumors were graded G1, 50 (43.9%) G2, and 8 (7.0%) G3. Seventy-two (63.2%) tumors were ≥2 cm in diameter, and 42 (36.8%) <2 cm. Twenty-two (19.3%) patients had distant metastases and 47 (41.2%) had lymph node metastases. In ≥2 cm tumors distant and lymph node metastases were more frequent (p < 0.05). Distant metastases incidence was significantly higher in distally located tumors (p = 0.01) and in G2 and G3 tumors (p < 0.01). In 9.5% of <2cm tumors, distant metastases were present at diagnosis. Conclusion: Distant metastases are more often found in larger, distally located pNETs grade G2 and G3, while a higher occurrence of lymph node metastases seems to be associated only with larger tumor size. A considerable number of tumors <2 cm in size have distant metastases already at the diagnosis, which might indicate the need for careful qualification of smaller lesions for observation.

Should mitral valve prolapse be considered as one of the risk factors for open angle glaucoma? A preliminary observation.

AIM: To assess the incidence of mitral valve prolapse in patients with newly diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma. METHODS: The study included 12 patients without any other comorbidities or taking any general or local medications. Each patient underwent a full ophthalmological examination with visual field assessment and optical computed tomography of the macula and optic nerve head. Carotid Doppler ultrasound was performed to exclude impaired blood flow in this region and transthoracic echocardiography with assessment of the function and morphology of the heart valves. RESULTS: In the study group, mitral valve prolapse was found in seven patients (58.3%), while mitral valve regurgitation in 11 patients (91.7%). One case of normal pressure glaucoma and four cases of juvenile glaucoma were diagnosed. There were also other risk factors for glaucoma: myopia (58.3%), migraine headaches (41.7%), a positive family history of glaucoma (16.7%). CONCLUSION: Mitral valve prolapse could be indicated as a new risk factor for glaucoma. It seems reasonable to conduct screening tests for glaucoma in patients with mitral valve prolapse in the course of echocardiography.

Correlation between retrobulbar blood flow parameters and retinal nerve fiber, ganglion cell and inner plexus layer thickness in myopia.

PURPOSE: To assess the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell and inner plexus layer (GCIPL) and blood flow parameters in retrobulbar vessels, and to analyze correlations between these parameters in myopes. METHODS: The study included forty myopic and 20 healthy eyes. Standard eye examination was supplemented with OCT of the optic nerve and macula (GCIPL, RNFL, RNFL in each quadrant and rim area of the optic nerve) and color Doppler imaging of retrobulbar arteries [peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities, pulsatile index and resistance index (RI) in the ophthalmic (OA), central retinal (CRA), nasal posterior ciliary and temporal posterior ciliary arteries]. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between blood flow parameters in the CRA, RNFL and GCIPL thickness, and axial length (AL) and spherical equivalent (SE). There were significant positive correlations between RNFL with PSV and EDV in the CRA and negative correlations between RNFL and RI in the CRA. GCIPL was positively correlated with PSV and EDV in the CRA. The decrease in RA was associated with reduced blood flow velocities in the CRA, TPCA and NPCA. CONCLUSION: The reduced retrobulbar blood flow in healthy young myopes is correlated with increasing AL and refractive value, and thinning of the RNFL and GCIPL. Reduction of the rim-area of the optic disc is associated with vascular and retinal circulatory disorders. These phenomena indicate the vascular basis of the described changes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which correlates ocular circulation with retinal structure.