Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided placement of central venous port systems via the right internal jugular vein in elderly oncologic patients: our single-center experience and protocol.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guidance has become the routine method for internal jugular vein (IJV) catheterization reducing dramatically failure and complication rates for central venous port (CVP) placement. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided IJV CVP placement in elderly oncologic patients. METHODS: Between January 2013 and December 2015, 101 elderly oncological patients underwent right IJV CVP placement under ultrasound-guidance. The length of catheter introduction ranged from 18 to 21 cm. Intraoperative fluoroscopy (IF) was always performed intraoperatively. Chest X-ray (CXR) was always performed 30 min after the end of the procedure. RESULTS: The morbidity rate was 1.98%; two arterial punctures were reported with one self-limiting hematoma. Two patients (1.98%) had catheter misplacements, recognized by intraoperative IF. No patients (0%) experienced pneumothorax (PNX), confirmed at CXR. Patients were all discharged at maximum 6 h from the procedure. DISCUSSION: The risk of catheter misplacement, PNX, and arterial/nerve puncture remains present with this technique. Lower rates of catheter misplacement have been reported after right IJV puncture, probably for its straight vertical course. Our results are in accordance with literature (1 counter-lateral subclavian vein and 1 counter-lateral internal jugular vein misplacements). All misplacements were detected intraoperatively. The PNX rates after cannulation of the IJV vary between 0.0 and 0.5%. We had no PNX occurrence. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography (US) has improved safety and effectiveness of port system placements. While routine post-procedural CXR seems avoidable, IF should be considered mandatory.

[Laparoscopic total fundoplication is not an obstacle to oesophageal emptying after oesophago-gastric myotomy for the surgical treatment of achalasia]. / La fundoplicatio totale non ostacola lo svuotamento esofageo dopo miotomia esofago-gastrica estesa per il trattamento chirurgico dell'acalasia esofagea.

There are different surgical possibilities for the treatment of oesophageal achalasia ranging from a short extramucosal oesophagomyotomy to an extended esophago-gastric myotomy combined with a partial fundoplication to restore the main antireflux barrier. A total 360 degrees fundoplication is generally regarded as an obstacle to oesophageal emptying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and efficacy of total 360 degrees laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication after oesophago gastric myotomy in the treatment of oesophageal achalasia. From 1992 to January 2008, a total of 245 patients (112 males, 133 females), mean age 45.1 years (range: 12-79), were submitted to laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication after a Heller myotomy with endoscopic and manometric intraoperative monitoring. In 3 patients (1.2%), conversion to laparotomy was necessary. Mean operative time was 60 +/- 15 minutes. No mortality was observed. The overall morbidity rate was 1.6%. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.5 +/- 1.0 days (range: 1-12 days). A mean clinical follow-up of 100.2 +/- 7 months (range: 3-177) was possible for 228 patients (93.1%), and an excellent or good outcome was observed in 209 patients (91.7%) (DeMeester dysphagia score 0-1). No improvement in dysphagia was observed in 5 (2.2%) patients. Pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux was absent in all patients. Laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication after a Heller myotomy is a safe, effective treatment for oesophageal achalasia with excellent results in terms of dysphagia resolution, affording total protection from the onset of gastrooesophageal reflux.