Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata: A case report of recurrent presentation and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is an uncommon disease featured by the presence of multiple nodules of smooth muscle cells scattered in the abdominal cavity. To date only about 150 cases have been reported in literature. We report a case of recurrent LPD after laparotomy. CASE PRESENTATION: In March 2016 a 36-year-old female, with a history of multiple previous laparoscopic myomectomies, consulted her gynaecologist complaining abdominal pain; a MRI was performed and reported multiple pelvic masses, subsequently excised during laparotomy. The patient refused a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy so a close follow-up was recommended. In November 2017 when a new MRI revealed recurrency of the disease, a second laparotomy is performed and all visible nodules are excised. The histological exam confirms LPD diagnosis. On follow-up after three months the patients is completely asymptomatic. DISCUSSION: Differential diagnosis of LPD is challenging due to its similarity to carcinomatosis and to other benign abdominal disorders. Malignant transformation is rare, but it may occur, so a close follow-up is necessary. Even if there is no consensus regarding the treatment, hormonal therapy is probably the best first line approach, while surgery should be the second choice. CONCLUSIONS: LPD is an uncommon but potentially severe disease. In our opinion larger studies are necessary to improve our diagnostic effectiveness and to define the best therapeutic strategy.

Role of C-Reactive Protein Assessment as Early Predictor of Surgical Site Infections Development after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are extremely common in pancreatic surgery and explain its considerable morbidity and mortality, even in tertiary centers. Early detection of these complications, with the help of laboratory assays, improve clinical outcome. The aim of the present study is to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) diagnostic accuracy as early predictor of SSIs after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODOLOGY: We considered 251 consecutive PD. We prospectively recorded preoperative clinical and anthropometric data, intraoperative details and the postoperative outcome. In the first pool of consecutive patients (n = 150), we analyzed CRP levels from postoperative day 1 to 7 and investigated the prediction of SSIs. We then validated the diagnostic accuracy on the following 101 consecutive cases. RESULTS: At multivariate analysis, high BMI and preoperative biliary stenting appeared to be independently associated with SSIs and organ-space SSI development. The CRP cutoff of 17.27 mg/dl on postoperative day 3 (78% sensitivity, 79% specificity) and of 14.72 mg/dl on postoperative day 4 (87% sensitivity, 82% specificity) was in a position to predict the course of 78.2 and 80.2% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CRP on postoperative days 3 and 4 seems able to predict postoperative course, selecting patients deserving intensification of diagnostic assessment; patients not satisfying these conditions could be reasonably directed toward early discharge.

Role of preoperative biliary stents, bile contamination and antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical site infections after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The routine use of preoperative biliary drainage before pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains controversial. This observational retrospective study compared stented and non-stented patients undergoing PD to assess any differences in post-operative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A total of 180 consecutive patients who underwent PD and had intra-operative bile cultures performed between January 2010 and February 2013 were retrospectively identified. All patients received peri-operative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis, primarily cefazolin. RESULTS: Overall incidence of post-operative surgical complications was 52.3 %, with no difference between stented and non-stented patients (53.4 % vs. 51.1 %; p = 0.875). However, stented patients had a significantly higher incidence of deep incisional surgical site infections (SSIs) (p = 0.038). In multivariate analysis, biliary stenting was confirmed as a risk factor for deep incisional SSIs (p = 0.044). Significant associations were also observed for cardiac disease (p = 0.010) and BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) (p = 0.045). Enterococcus spp. were the most frequent bacterial isolates in bile (74.5 %) and in drain fluid (69.1 %). In antimicrobial susceptibilty testing, all Enterococci isolates were cefazolin-resistant. CONCLUSION: Given the increased risk of deep incisional SSIs, preoperative biliary stenting in patients underging PD should be used only in selected patients. In stented patients, an antibiotic with anti-enterococcal activity should be chosen for PD prophylaxis.

Long-term outcome of laparoscopic ablation therapies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a single European center experience of 426 patients.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is widely used as a first-line option in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, since percutaneous approach of RFA may be, in some cases, unfeasible by the tumor size and its location, laparoscopic ablation therapies (LATs) were used as an alternative. Objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of laparoscopic ultrasound examination in addition to LATs in the treatment of HCC in patients not eligible for percutaneous RFA or surgical resection. METHODS: Four hundred and twenty-six patients who underwent LATs were analyzed. Laparoscopic approach was offered to patients fulfilling at least one of the following criteria: (a) patients with a single nodule or up to three nodules smaller than 3 cm not suitable for liver transplantation or not eligible for HR because of severe portal hypertension, impaired liver function, or coexistent comorbidities; (b) patients not suitable for percutaneous RFA because of inconvenient tumor location; and (c) short-term recurrence of HCC (<3 months). RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in one session in 396 patients (93 %). One-month mortality and morbidity rates were 0.23 % (1 patient) and 25 % (106 patients), respectively. During a median follow-up of 37.2 months (range 2-193) in the remaining 425 patients, 276 (65 %) developed intra-hepatic recurrence: It appeared as a local tumor progression in 65 cases (15 %). Patients median survival was 39 months (95 % CI 34.8-47.2), while overall survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years were 88, 55, and 34 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of HCC, LATs proved to be a safe and effective technique, as they permit to treat with low-morbidity-rate lesions not manageable by percutaneous approach. Moreover, they allow achieving a more accurate staging of the disease in one-fifth of patients, thus better redefining the prognosis of such individuals.

Laparoscopic colonic resection for splenic flexure cancer: our experience.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of colon cancer located in splenic flexure is not standardized. Laparoscopic approach is still considered a challenging procedure. This study reviews two Institutions experience in laparoscopic treatment of left colonic flexure cancer. Intraoperative, pathologic and postoperative data from patients undergoing laparoscopic splenic flexure resection were analyzed to assess oncological safety as well as early and medium-term outcomes. METHODS: From October 2005 to May 2014 laparoscopic splenic flexure resection was performed in 23 patients. RESULTS: Conversion rate was nihil. In 7 cases the anastomosis was performed intracorporeally. Specimen mean length was 21.2 cm, while the distance of distal and proximal resection margin from tumor site was 6.5 and 11.5 respectively. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 20.8. Mean operative time was 190 min and mean estimated blood loss was equal to 55 ml. As regard major postoperative complications, one case of postoperative acute pancreatitis and one case of postoperative bleeding from the anastomotic suture line were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Although our experience is limited and appropriate indications must be set by future randomized studies, we believe that laparoscopic resection with intracorporeal anastomosis appears feasible and safe for patients affected by splenic flexure cancer.

Laparoscopic anterior resection with transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: preliminary experience and impact on postoperative bowel function.

AIM: Transanal total mesorectal excision (TME) and the "down-to-up" mobilization concept might be possible alternatives to the standard TME, particularly in cases of narrow pelvis or bulky tumors in obese patients. Our aim was to test the feasibility and safety of transanal TME and to evaluate its impact on short-term functional outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six consecutive patients with histologically proven low/middle rectal adenocarcinoma were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent laparoscopic anterior resection with transanal TME. Intraoperative complications, postoperative morbidity, and oncologic adequacy of the surgical specimen were evaluated in all patients. A bowel function questionnaire using information from the Wexner's score continence grading scale was administered to all patients 1 week before surgery and 6 months following operation. RESULTS: Laparoscopically assisted transanal TME was successful in all patients. Mean operative time was 236 minutes (range, 200-270 minutes). There were no intraoperative complications. The anastomotic leak rate was 16.6%. Clear distal and circumferential margins and proper lymphadenectomy were obtained in all surgical specimens (mean number of nodes harvested, 32; range, 19-68). In no patients was a major incontinence observed; the median (range) Wexner score at 6 months after surgery was 3 (1-7). CONCLUSIONS: Transanal TME is safe and feasible. Preliminary outcomes meet oncologic criteria. Moreover, the transanal approach does not have an adverse impact on functional outcome. Further long-term evaluation of results and clinical trials should be performed.

Intracorporeal versus extracorporeal anastomosis. Results from a multicentre comparative study on 512 right-sided colorectal cancers.

BACKGROUND: Although nowadays considered as feasible and effective surgery in terms of short- and long-term results and oncological radicality, laparoscopic right colectomy is performed by a small number of surgeons, and in the vast majority of cases, this technique was performed with an extracorporeal anastomosis. Current literature failed to solve the controversies between intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis after laparoscopic right colectomy. METHODS: A multicenter case-controlled study has been designed, including 286 patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) compared with 226 matched patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis (EA). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in terms of age, sex, BMI, and ASA score between the two groups. Surgical post history, tumor localization, and stage of disease according to AJCC/UICC TNM were similar too. Although similar oncologic radicality in term of number of lymph nodes harvested (25.7 ± 10.7 of IA group vs. 24.8 ± 8.7 of EA group; p = 0.3), as well as similar operative time (166 ± 43.7 min. in IA group vs. 157.5 ± 67.2 min in EA group) have been registered, time to flatus was statistically lower after intracorporeal anastomosis (40.8 ± 24.3 h in TLRC group vs. 55.2 ± 19.2 h in LARC group; p < 0.001) Laparoscopic colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis was associated with a lower rate of post-operative complications (OR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.44, 0.95, p = 0.027). However, when stratifying according to clavien classification, the difference was consistently confirmed for less severe (class I and II) complications (OR 0.63, 95 % CI 0.42, 0.94, p = 0.025), but not for class III, IV, and V complications (OR 1.015, 95 % CI 0.64, 1.6, p = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Our results are encouraging to consider the intracorporeally approach the better way to fashion the anastomosis after laparoscopic right colectomy. This study clearly provides the rationale for a randomized clinical trial, which would be useful to give definitive conclusion.

Morphohistological features of pancreatic stump are the main determinant of pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic surgery is challenging and associated with high morbidity, mainly represented by postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and its further consequences. Identification of risk factors for POPF is essential for proper postoperative management. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of the role of morphological and histological features of pancreatic stump, other than main pancreatic duct diameter and glandular texture, in POPF occurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2011 and April 2013, we performed 145 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies. We intraoperatively recorded morphological features of pancreatic stump and collected data about postoperative morbidity. Our dedicated pathologist designed a score to quantify fibrosis and inflammation of pancreatic tissue. RESULTS: Overall morbidity was 59,3%. Mortality was 4,1%. POPF rate was 28,3%, while clinically significant POPF were 15,8%. Male sex (P = 0.009), BMI ≥ 25 (P = 0.002), prolonged surgery (P = 0.001), soft pancreatic texture (P < 0.001), small pancreatic duct (P < 0.001), pancreatic duct decentralization on stump anteroposterior axis, especially if close to the posterior margin (P = 0.031), large stump area (P = 0.001), and extended stump mobilization (P = 0.001) were related to higher POPF rate. Our fibrosis-and-inflammation score is strongly associated with POPF (P = 0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic stump features evaluation, including histology, can help the surgeon in fitting postoperative management to patient individual risk after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Surgical management of pediatric Graves' disease: an effective definitive treatment.

PURPOSE: The optimal treatment for pediatric Graves' disease (GD) is controversial. Antithyroid drugs are often used initially, but they are associated with a high failure rate. Therefore alternative therapies have become important. In the present study, we analyze our institution's experience regarding the safety and efficacy of thyroid surgery among pediatric patients with GD. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of 27 pediatric patients (age ≤ 18 years) with GD who underwent thyroid surgery between 1991 and 2009 at a single academic Institution. We recorded preoperative, intraoperative, and short-term postoperative data. RESULTS: All 27 patients were initially treated with thionamides. The high rate of hyperthyroidism relapse after discontinuation of medical treatment, age < 5 years, adverse reaction to medical therapy, severe ophthalmopathy, and patient preference justified the final decision to proceed with surgery as definitive therapy. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy. We had no mortality; surgical complications were rare: 4 (14.8 %) cases of transient hypocalcemia, 1 (3.7 %) of permanent hypocalcemia, 3 (11.1 %) of transient RLN neuropraxia, and 2 (7 %) of keloid scar. No bleeding, permanent RLN palsy or relapse hyperthyroidism were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical therapy for pediatric GD performed by experienced thyroid surgeons is a safe, definitive and cost-effective treatment.