Retroperitoneoscopic and laparoscopic removal of periadrenally located bronchogenic cysts--a systematic review.

UNLABELLED: Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cysts (BC) are rare clinical entities and may mimic an adrenal mass. Laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approach is widely-used in adrenal surgery. However minimally-invasive resection of a periadrenally located BC has been reported rarely. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed has been performed using the following search strategy: bronchogenic cyst AND (adrenal OR retroperitoneal OR subdiaphragmatic). 18 BC being removed via minimally invasive approach have been found. Including our own case 7 were removed retroperitoneoscopically and 12 laparoscopically. RESULTS: An index case of a 50 year old male is presented. CT revealed 2 masses above the left adrenal area. A control demonstrated an increase in size. Retroperitoneoscopic resection was performed. Pathologic finding showed a multilocular cystic lesion with a diameter of 4cm. The cysts were lined by pseudostratified ciliated epithelium. The wall contained hyaline cartilage, seromucous glands and smooth muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Because exact preoperative diagnosis of hormonally inactive adrenal masses is not possible surgical resection is recommended in case of tumor growth, symptoms and to obtain definitive histological diagnosis. Minimal invasive approach seems to be a safe way for resection of BC in experienced hands. There is no clear evidence if laparoscopic or retroperitoneoscopic approach is favourable.

Prevention of intraprocedural puncture site bleeding during arterial port implantation by use of a suture-mediated arterial closure system: a prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate a modified technique for arterial port placement that uses a suture-mediated closure system with the aim to reduce delays caused by intraprocedural oozing around the catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive patients (age, 63.9 y ± 11.8) stratified for regional arterial infusion chemotherapy were prospectively randomized to undergo conventional or modified port implantation. Time for device placement, total procedure time, number of catheters, size of largest and final catheters placed, duration of bleeding from puncture site, procedural delays, and time until hemostasis was achieved were recorded. RESULTS: Time for device placement was 3.7 minutes ± 1.1, with no complications encountered. Total procedure times were 133.0 minutes ± 62.8 for conventional port implantation and 100.0 minutes ± 49.5 for modified implantation (P = .13). No differences were found in the number of catheters or size of largest or final catheter used. Duration of groin bleeding necessitating manual compression was 21.8 minutes ± 24.4 for conventional port implantation, resulting in a mean procedural delay of 6.2 minutes ± 7.0. Hemostasis was achieved after a mean of 17.1 minutes ± 20.9. Groin hematoma was observed in three patients. In contrast, with the modified technique, mean duration of oozing and intraprocedural delays were only 0.2 minutes ± 0.6 and 0.1 minutes ± 0.5, respectively (both P < .0001 vs conventional technique). Hemostasis was achieved within 3.2 minutes ± 4.1 (P < .0001), with no cases of hematoma found. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a suture-mediated closure system facilitated arterial port implantation by effective prevention of groin bleeding while allowing the use of a sheath.

Intraperitoneal versus intravenous CPT-11 given intra- and postoperatively for peritoneal carcinomatosis in a rat model.

PURPOSE: Peritoneal recurrence after resection of colorectal carcinoma is still a major concern. We investigated whether the novel cytostatic drug, CPT-11 (Irinotecan), delivered intraperitoneally (i.p.) and intravenously (i.v.), could inhibit intraperitoneal tumor spread in a rat model. METHODS: We induced intraperitoneal tumor growth using a tumor cell transfer model (10(6) cells) and divided the rats into the following five groups of eight: group IP1, given CPT-11 i.p. immediately after intraperitoneal tumor cell transfer; group IV1, given CPT-11 i.v. immediately after intraperitoneal tumor cell transfer; group IP2, given CPT-11 i.p. on postoperative days (PODs) 5, 10, and 15; group IV2, given CPT-11 on PODs 5, 10, and 15; and a control group. The rats were killed 30 days after tumor cell transfer, and the tumor weight, number of nodes in the greater omentum and peritoneum, presence of metastases in the liver and lungs, and ascites volume were determined. RESULTS: CPT-11 inhibited peritoneal tumor growth significantly. The direct intraoperative intraperitoneal application induced a more pronounced effect than the early postoperative intraperitoneal application, but both these application modes were superior to the intravenous route, which had no significant effect. CONCLUSION: CPT-11 was highly efficacious against peritoneal carcinomatosis in this experimental model. The combination of CPT-11 with other cytostatic agents and drugs generating different effector mechanisms may diminish or even prevent intraperitoneal tumor growth.

Effect of intraperitoneal application of an endotoxin inhibitor on survival time in a laparoscopic model of peritonitis in rats.

Gram-negative sepsis due to fecal peritonitis is a hazardous disease with a high percentage having a lethal course. The inflammatory effects are induced by endotoxin release. We performed this study to evaluate the potential of direct intraperitoneal application of an endotoxin inhibitor in a laparoscopic peritonitis model in rats. The human feces specimen was prepared, and a standard fecal specimen (0.5 ml/kg b.w.) was applied via minilaparotomy. The rats were randomized to two studies. First, rats were randomized to three groups to define the survival time: (1) rats without further manipulation; (2) rats with laparoscopic lavage using NaCl; (3) rats with laparoscopic lavage using endotoxin inhibitor. Second, rats underwent the same procedure used in the first part of the study and an additional group with only NaCl lavage without peritonitis was randomized. To evaluate the immunologic or biochemical effects, animals were killed at a standard time of 20 hours until the postmortem examination was established. Interleukins 6 and 10 (IL-6, IL-10), malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl group levels in plasma and particularly in peritoneal fluid were assayed. The first part of the experiment showed significantly increased survival after endotoxin inhibitor lavage. In the second part, administration of endotoxin inhibitor intraperitoneally caused a significant reduction of IL-6 in the peritoneal fluid, in contrast to that in the other groups. Laparoscopic application of endotoxin inhibitor intraperitoneally thus produced a beneficial effect on survival and reduction of IL-6 in peritoneal fluid. Hence, it is possible to influence the inflammation cascade by causing intraperitoneal endotoxin inhibition.

Endoscopic treatment of thoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks by using silicone-covered, self-expanding polyester stents.

BACKGROUND: Surgery, as well as conservative treatment, in patients with clinically apparent intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks often is associated with poor results and carries a high morbidity and mortality. The successful treatment of esophageal anastomotic insufficiencies and perforations when using covered, self-expanding metallic stents is described. METHODS: The feasibility and the outcome of endoscopic treatment of intrathoracic anastomotic leakages when using silicone-covered self-expanding polyester stents were investigated. Twelve consecutive patients presented with clinically apparent intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leak caused by resection of an epiphrenic diverticulum (n = 1), esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (n = 9), or gastrectomy for gastric cancer (n = 2), were endoscopically treated in our department. The extent of the dehiscences ranged from about 20% to 70% of the anastomotic circumference. After endoscopic lavage and debridement of the leakage at 2-day intervals (mean duration, 8.6 days), a large-diameter polyester stent (Polyflex; proximal/distal diameters 25/21 mm) was placed to seal the leakage. Simultaneously, the periesophageal mediastinum was drained by chest drains. OBSERVATIONS: All 12 patients were successfully treated endoscopically without the need for reoperation. A complete closure of the leakage was obtained in 11 of 12 patients after stent removal (median time to stent retrieval, 4 weeks, range 2-8 weeks). In one patient, a persistent leak was sealed endoscopically after stent removal by using 3 clips. Distal stent migration was obtained in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of silicone-covered self-expanding polyester stents seems to be a successful minimally invasive treatment option for clinically apparent intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks.

Intraperitoneal treatment using taxol is effective for experimental peritoneal carcinomatosis in a rat model.

Following resection of colorectal carcinoma, a considerable local recurrence rate within the previous tumor bed or at the peritoneal site remains an unsolved problem. Currently, there are no established protocols for the treatment or prevention of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Taxol showed benefit in patients with advanced tumor growth, in particular, gynecological carcinomas. Taxol was used to test whether it can either prevent or treat peritoneal tumor growth derived from colon carcinoma. In rats divided in 3 groups, peritoneal carcinomatosis was induced by tumor cell transfer: Taxol (170 mg/m(2)) was given i). directly (group A); ii). on days 5, 10, 15 postoperatively (representing early administration; group B), or iii). as late intraperitoneal (i.p.) chemotherapy (15, 20, 25 days following surgery; aiming for reduction of a manifest peritoneal carcinomatosis; group C) into the abdominal cavity. Tumor growth was quantified by tumor weight of the greater omentum and the mesenteric site, number of detectable tumor lesions, occurrence of hepatic and pulmonary metastases and the amount of ascites. Taxol was highly effective in preventing or reducing i.p. tumor spread when the drug was given directly or within a short time interval after tumor cell implantation (groups A and B), whereas no significant antineoplastic potential was found in the treatment of an established peritoneal carcinomatosis. In conclusion, Taxol appears to be a promising chemotherapeutic agent to be investigated in further detail with possible potential for a later human phase-I trial in peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Outpatient therapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel for gallbladder, biliary, and cholangio-carcinomas.

PURPOSE: The prognosis of patients with biliary tree carcinomas is very poor. The diagnosis often occurs at an advanced stage, when curative resection is not possible. We combined gemcitabine and docetaxel to optimize the palliative therapy for patients with gallbladder, biliary, and cholangio-carcinomas on an outpatient basis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically proven biliary tree carcinomas and a WHO performance status <2 received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 followed by docetaxel 35 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks followed by I week of rest. RESULTS: Forty-three patients, 14 males/29 females, with an average age of 63.3 years (range, 41 to 78) have been enrolled since 1998; 37 have completed treatment. So far, 168 cycles (range, 1 to 16) have been administered. All 43 patients were included in the response and toxicity assessments. There are no complete remissions; however, 4 (9.3%) patients achieved partial remission, 1 (2.3%) had a minimal remission, and 24 (55.8%) reached disease stabilization for a median period of 5.2 months. Fourteen (32.6%) patients progressed. The median overall survival rate is currently 11.0 months. Grade 3 hematologic toxicities were infrequent, and there were no grade 4 hematologic toxicities. Grade 3 leukopenia was reported in 4 (9.3%) patients, grade 3 thrombozytopenia in 1 (2.3%) patient, and grade 3 anemia in 1 (2.3%) patient. Twenty-eight (65.1%) patients had grade 3/4 alopecia, 8 (18.6%) had nausea/vomiting, and 2 (4.6%) had mucositis. CONCLUSION: The combination of gemcitabine/docetaxel is an effective and well tolerated therapy for patients with advanced or metastatic gallbladder, biliary, and cholangio-carcinomas.