The use of porcine acellular dermal matrix for management of gastrocutaneous fistula after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Sleeve gastrectomy is an effective and single stand-alone surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. One of the most frequent and serious complications of this procedure is staple-line leak. It can usually be treated with self-expandable stents. If this process results in failure and gastrocutaneous fistula occurs, a challenging period starts for the patient and the surgeon. We describe a new, relatively simple and quick endoscopic technique for closing a chronic gastrocutaneous fistula. A plug prepared with porcine acellular dermal matrix was used for this purpose. Gastrocutaneous fistula following an obesity surgery can be successfully treated endoscopically with this technique. This method can prevent the need for aggressive reconstructive surgery following a gastrocutaneous fistula and can prompt rapid improvement while decreasing the average hospital stay for this condition.

The Effects of Hydrophilic Polyethylene Glycol-Based Adhesion Barrier Use to Prevent Intra-abdominal Adhesions in Intra-abdominal Sepsis Model.

Postoperative adhesion formation is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Hydrophilic polyethylene glycol-based adhesion barrier (SprayGel™, Confluent Surgical, Inc., Waltham, MA) is reported to prevent adhesion formation after gynecologic surgery. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of SprayGel™ on adhesion formation after laparotomy in an experimental septic peritonitis model. Wistar albino male rats with weights of 250-350 g were used in this study. Forty rats were grouped into four groups: group I (control), laparotomy and sham operation; group II, laparotomy and cecal ligation puncture (CLP); group III (SprayGel™), laparotomy, sham operation, and SprayGel™; group IV (CLP + SprayGel™), laparotomy, CLP, and SprayGel™. Intra-abdominal sepsis was achieved by perforating the cecum with a 26-gauge needle in selected groups. All animals were sacrificed after 10 days. The results were evaluated according to the score systems of Nair and Knightly. Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis was used for statistical analysis. There were significant differences for the development of adhesion between groups II (CLP) and III-IV (SprayGel™ - CLP + SprayGel™) (p < 0.02). Mortality and wound infection rates were significantly lower in the SprayGel™ treatment groups compared to control groups. Intraperitoneal administration of SprayGel™ significantly decreased the intraperitoneal adhesion formation, and it reduced mortality and wound infection as well.

What necessitates the conversion to open cholecystectomy? A retrospective analysis of 5164 consecutive laparoscopic operations.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of gallbladder disease, but conversion to open cholecystectomy is still inevitable in certain cases. Knowledge of the rate and impact of the underlying reasons for conversion could help surgeons during preoperative assessment and improve the informed consent of patients. We decided to review the rate and causes of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. METHOD: This study included all laparoscopic cholecystectomies due to gallstone disease undertaken from May 1999 to June 2010. The exclusion criteria were malignancy and/or existence of gallbladder polyps detected pathologically. Patient demographics, indications for cholecystectomy, concomitant diseases, and histories of previous abdominal surgery were collected. The rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy, the underlying reasons for conversion, and postoperative complications were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of 5382 patients for whom LC was attempted, 5164 were included this study. The overall rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy was 3.16% (163 patients). There were 84 male and 79 female patients; the mean age was 52.04 years (range: 26-85). The conversion rates in male and female patients were 5.6% and 2.2%, respectively (p < 0.001). The most common reasons for conversion were severe adhesions caused by tissue inflammation (97 patients) and fibrosis of Calot's triangle (12 patients). The overall postoperative morbidity rate was found to be 16.3% in patients who were converted to open surgery. CONCLUSION: Male gender was found to be the only statistically significant risk factor for conversion in our series. LC can be safely performed with a conversion rate of less than 5% in all patient groups.

What necessitates the conversion to open cholecystectomy? A retrospective analysis of 5164 consecutive laparoscopic operations

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of gallbladder disease, but conversion to open cholecystectomy is still inevitable in certain cases. Knowledge of the rate and impact of the underlying reasons for conversion could help surgeons during preoperative assessment and improve the informed consent of patients. We decided to review the rate and causes of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. METHOD: This study included all laparoscopic cholecystectomies due to gallstone disease undertaken from May 1999 to June 2010. The exclusion criteria were malignancy and/or existence of gallbladder polyps detected pathologically. Patient demographics, indications for cholecystectomy, concomitant diseases, and histories of previous abdominal surgery were collected. The rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy, the underlying reasons for conversion, and postoperative complications were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of 5382 patients for whom LC was attempted, 5164 were included this study. The overall rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy was 3.16 percent (163 patients). There were 84 male and 79 female patients; the mean age was 52.04 years (range: 26-85). The conversion rates in male and female patients were 5.6 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively (p<0.001). The most common reasons for conversion were severe adhesions caused by tissue inflammation (97 patients) and fibrosis of Calot's triangle (12 patients). The overall postoperative morbidity rate was found to be 16.3 percent in patients who were converted to open surgery. CONCLUSION: Male gender was found to be the only statistically significant risk factor for conversion in our series. LC can be safely performed with a conversion rate of less than 5 percent in all patient groups.

Intussusception in adult and pediatric patients: two different entities.

PURPOSE: Intussusception is one of the most common abdominal emergencies in pediatrics, but adult intussusception is an uncommon entity and most surgeons have only limited experience in treating this disease. The purpose of this study was to highlight the differences between pediatric and adult intussusception. METHODS: The records of 40 patients during 14 years were reviewed retrospectively. The symptoms, diagnosis, sites of intussusception, associated pathologies, and treatment methods of each patient were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 31 pediatric and 9 adult patients were included in the study. In the pediatric group, bloody stool and vomiting were the most common symptoms whereas adult patients commonly presented with abdominal pain. The physical examination was diagnostic in a remarkable proportion of the pediatric patients but the diagnosis was suggested based on imaging techniques in the adults, and preoperative diagnosis was more successful in the pediatric group. Intussusception was more often associated with an underlying pathology in adults and no adult patient underwent nonoperative reduction, whereas pediatric patients were managed either with hydrostatic reduction or surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although intussusceptions occur at all ages, there are major differences in the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and management between pediatric and adult populations. Intussusception is remarkably different in these two age groups and it must be approached from a different clinical perspective.

Upper gastrointestinal abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori in Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: There are few published clinical trials concerning upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Behçet's disease (BD), and most have been performed on patients with upper GI tract symptoms. AIM: We sought to determine whether routine endoscopy is indicated in asymptomatic patients with BD and whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis of BD. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with BD and 40 age- and gender-matched controls with tinea pedis were studied. All patients underwent fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Urea breath test was used to identify H. pylori. RESULTS: Abnormalities were noted in 37 patients (93%): hiatal hernia (53%), antral gastritis (33%), pan-gastritis (23%), gastric ulceration (8%), and duodenal ulceration (8%). Helicobacter pylori was found in 26 patients (65%) with BD and in 28 controls (70%) (no significant difference by chi-squared test, P > 0.05). We found a high incidence of upper GI abnormalities in BD, but the abnormalities were not specific for the disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Routine endoscopy and screening for H. pylori infection may not be necessary in asymptomatic patients with BD.