Postoperative outcomes following inguinal hernia repair in inflammatory bowel disease patients compared to matched controls.

OBJECTIVES: To assess surgical outcome in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair and to asses possible risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database including all IBD patients treated in a large tertiary center between 2008 and 2019 was conducted. IBD patients who underwent inguinal hernia surgery were matched using a propensity match scoring based on demographic and perioperative characteristics. Clinical operative data were extracted from medical records and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, out of 5467 IBD patients treated in our institute, 26 patients (0.47%) underwent inguinal hernia repair. Seventy-six matched patients with similar characteristics were compared to the IBD group. Postoperative complications were found to be more common in the IBD group (30.7% vs 11.8%; P = 0.03) compared to controls. We found no significant differences in length of stay (3.38 vs 2.83 days; P = 0.21) and hernia recurrence rate (7.6% vs 9.2%; P = 1). Within the IBD group, multivariate analysis failed to demonstrate any possible risk factor for postoperative complications, including gender [-1.53 to 2.81 95% confidence interval (CI), P = 0.52], age (-0.34 to 1.15 95% CI, P = 0.25), BMI (-0.041 to 0.019 95% CI, P = 0.43), American Society of Anesthesiologists score (-0.15 to 0.54 95% CI, P = 0.24) or medications (-0.25 to 0.28 95% CI, P = 0.88). In addition, out of various operative factors, including operation urgency, surgical approach and surgery duration, only the latter was found to be correlated with postoperative complications (0.013-0.035 95% CI, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: IBD Patients undergoing abdominal wall hernia surgery are prone to more postoperative complications.

Perineal Stapled Rectal Prolapse Resection in Elderly Patients: Long-term Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Full-thickness rectal prolapse has a significant negative impact on quality of life. The therapeutic options, specifically in elderly patients, are imperfect. Perineal stapled rectal prolapse resection is a novel operation for treating external rectal prolapse. Long-term follow-up following this procedure is lacking. In our study, we report a long-term follow-up of 30 patients, analyzing the long-term recurrence rate, morbidity, and functional outcome. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the long-term results of perineal stapled rectal resection in a population unfit for prolonged general anesthesia. DESIGN: This was a cohort study with a prospective follow-up. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a single tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing perineal stapled rectal resection from January 2010 to June 2013 were included. INTERVENTIONS: Perineal stapled rectal prolapse resection was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was prolapse recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients underwent the surgical intervention. The median follow-up period was 61 months (range, 37-65). No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Six patients (20%) had recurrent rectal prolapse, and continence was not achieved in any of the patients. Two patients who had recurrence underwent a redo perineal stapled rectal resection. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the small cohort of selected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Frail patients that can only endure a short procedure under regional anesthesia should be considered for perineal stapled rectal prolapse resection. The lack of mortality and morbidity, specifically in this population, along with the low long-term recurrence rates, make this a favorable surgical alternative. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A745.

Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel in a patient with occlusive Crohn's disease.

A 40-year-old male, diagnosed with mild Crohn's disease (CD) 11 years ago but with no prior abdominal surgeries, was diagnosed with a small bowel stricture, due to ongoing abdominal pain and intolerance of enteral diet, and referred for surgical treatment. Exploratory laparoscopy revealed a white solid mass causing a near total jejunal obstruction with significant proximal dilatation. An adjacent small node was sampled for frozen biopsy, revealing a lymph node infiltrated with adenocarcinoma. Laparoscopic assisted small bowel resection and appendectomy were carried out. Final pathological results supported the initial report of diffuse small bowel adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, once a small bowel stricture associated with CD is suspected, rapid action should be considered to avoid late diagnosis of a neoplasia.

Perforated peptic ulcer in an adolescent girl.

A perforated peptic ulcer in a child is a rare entity. Severe abdominal pain in an ill-appearing child with a rigid abdomen and possibly with signs of shock is the typical presenting feature of this life-threatening complication of peptic ulcer disease. We present a case of a 14.5-year-old adolescent girl who developed abdominal and shoulder pain that resolved after 1 day. She was then completely well for 2 days until the abdominal and shoulder pain recurred. On examination, she appeared well, but in pain. A chest radiograph revealed a large pneumoperitoneum. She underwent emergent laparoscopic omental patch repair of a perforated ulcer on the anterior wall of her stomach. Result of a urea breath test to detect Helicobacter pylori was negative. The differential diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum in children is discussed, as are childhood perforated peptic ulcer in general, and the unique clinical features present in this case in particular.

How reliable is laparoscopic colorectal surgery compared with laparotomy for octogenarians?

BACKGROUND: Due to the current increased longevity in the elderly population and the increased size of that population, major abdominal intervention is more frequently performed among octogenarians. This study aimed to compare the surgical and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal resections with those of open surgery in the octogenarian population. METHODS: Retrospective analysis based on a prospectively maintained database of octogenarians who underwent laparoscopic or open elective colorectal resections from 2001 to 2008 was performed. Diagnosis, comorbidities, operative data, and early postoperative complications are analyzed in this report. RESULTS: Colon resection was performed for 199 octogenarians, using laparotomy for 116 patients (group 1) and laparoscopic surgery for 83 patients (group 2). The mean age was 84.3 years for the laparotomy patients and 84.7 years for the laparoscopic patients. The American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores was comparable between groups 1 and 2. Colorectal adenoma was the most common indication for surgery in both groups: for 77.6% of the group 1 patients and 54.2% of the group 2 patients. Right colectomy was the most frequently performed operation in group 2: for 57.8% of the group 2 patients and 31% of the group 1 patients (p = 0.0003). Open resections had a higher mean blood loss in both group 1 (286 ml) and group 2 (152 ml) (p = 0.0002), and more patients required intraoperative transfusions (p = 0.005) despite similar operative times. The conversion rate in the laparoscopic group was 25.3%. The patients in the laparoscopic group had less morbidity, both overall and clinically, than the open group (p < 0.05). The median hospital stay was 8 days in group 1 and 6 days in group 2 (p = 0.0065). The rate of major surgical complications was similar in the two groups of patients: 6% in group 1 and 4.8% in group 2. The reoperation rate was 2.6% in group 1 and 3.6% in group 2 (p > 0.05). The mortality rate was 3.4% in group 1 and 2.4% in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colorectal resection was effective and safe for octogenarians, with less blood loss and faster postoperative recovery. The morbidity rate is lower than for traditional laparotomy.

Infection rates in a large investigational trial of sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment options for patients with fecal incontinence (FI) are limited, and surgical treatments can be associated with high rates of infection and other complications. One treatment, sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), is approved for FI in Europe. A large multicenter trial was conducted in North America and Australia to assess the efficacy of SNS in patients with chronic fecal incontinence. The aim of this report was to analyze the infectious complication rates in that trial. METHODS: Adult patients with a history of chronic fecal incontinence were enrolled into this study. Those patients who fulfilled study inclusion/exclusion criteria and demonstrated greater than two FI episodes per week underwent a 2-week test phase of SNS. Patients who showed a > or = 50% reduction in incontinent episodes and/or days per week underwent chronic stimulator implantation. Adverse events were reported to the sponsor by investigators at each study site and then coded. All events coded as implant site infection were included in this analysis. RESULTS: One hundred twenty subjects (92% female, 60.5 +/- 12.5 years old) received a chronically implanted InterStim Therapy device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Patients were followed for an average of 28 months (range 2.2-69.5). Thirteen of the 120 implanted subjects (10.8%) reported infection after the chronic system implant. One infection spontaneously resolved and five were successfully treated with antibiotics. Seven infections (5.8%) required surgical intervention, with infections in six patients requiring full permanent device explantation. The duration of the test stimulation implant procedure was similar between the infected group (74 min) and the non-infected group (74 min). The average duration of the chronic neurostimulator implant procedure was also similar between the infected (39 min) and non-infected group (37 min). Nine infections occurred within a month of chronic system implant and the remaining four infections occurred more than a year from implantation. While the majority (7/9) of the early infections was successfully treated with observation, antibiotics, or system replacement, all four of the late infections resulted in permanent system explantation. CONCLUSION: SNS for FI resulted in a relatively low infection rate. This finding is especially important because the only other Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for end-stage FI, the artificial bowel sphincter, reports a much higher rate. Combined with its published high therapeutic success rate, this treatment has a positive risk/benefit profile.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome and stercoral ulcers.

Colonic ulcerations can affect the entire colon and rectum, and have variable clinical presentation according to the anatomic location and underlying pathology. Diverse causes may lead to colonic ulceration, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, oral drugs (mostly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), local or diffuse ischemia, and different intestinal microorganisms. An ulcer may also herald a concealed malignant disease. In most cases, colonic ulcerate is associated with diffuse colitis in the acute setup or with inflammatory bowel diseases, and to the lesser extent the ulceration is defined as solitary. This article focuses on two of the less commonly diagnosed diseases: solitary rectal ulcer syndrome and stercoral ulceration, both related to local tissue ischemia and often seen in the elderly population.

Therapeutic devices for fecal incontinence: dynamic graciloplasty, artificial bowel sphincter and sacral nerve stimulation.

Fecal incontinence is a disorder with significant adverse influence on normal daily activities and quality of life. Since normal continence requires perfect coordination among several muscular systems and neural pathways, as well as normal stool consistency, various levels of incontinence can result if any of these systems malfunction. Owing to these complex interactions, therapeutic approaches vary; in mild-to-moderate cases, dietary changes and biofeedback sessions accompanied by specific medications can achieve a salutary effect. In cases of severe fecal incontinence, a conservative approach is ineffective and surgical intervention is indicated. Even today the historical rescue solution of permanent colostomy is still employed. However, several technical innovations and devices introduced over the years enable surgeons to offer patients reliable solutions for this functional disorder. While dynamic graciloplasty uses native muscle contraction ability to function as a new sphincter, the artificial bowel sphincter achieves the same goal by an inflatable cuff. A novel approach, which is suitable for selected patients with muscular and neurological defects alike, is the sacral nerve stimulator. Although the exact therapeutic sequence of these new alternatives is unclear, current success rates are encouraging. It is crucial to choose the right procedure as determined by the underlying pathology.

Recurrence patterns after first resection for stricturing or penetrating Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) usually recurs after resection, but the factors associated with this risk remain obscure. We set out to determine the role of stricturing (Montreal Classification B2) versus penetrating (Classification B3) disease behavior in predicting early (<3 years) versus late (>or=3 years) postoperative recurrence. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 34 patients seen at The Mount Sinai Hospital who had undergone a first ileocolic resection prior to December 31, 2004, who had been clinically thought to have had stricturing (B2) disease, and for whom we could verify 1) the operative and surgical pathology findings; and 2) the time of onset of symptoms attributable to recurrent CD by endoscopy, radiology, or surgery. Cases were reclassified as either "stricturing" (B2) or "penetrating" (B3) on the basis of operative and surgical pathology reports. Recurrences were classified as either "early" (<3 years) or "late" (>or=3 years) depending on the first appearance of postoperative symptoms that were verified endoscopically and histologically, radiologically, or surgically as being attributable to anastomotic recurrence of the CD. RESULTS: Among these 34 patients clinically thought to have had B2 disease, 12 had B2 disease confirmed upon review of surgical and pathology reports and none of them had recurrence within 3 years. Among the 22 patients reclassified as B3 disease, 12 (55%) had early recurrence. This difference was significant at the 0.002 level by the Fisher Exact Test. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong proclivity for early postoperative recurrence of penetrating CD compared to stricturing disease, which may not be evident by behavioral classification on clinical grounds alone. Patients with confirmed uncomplicated stricturing obstruction at their first resection seem unlikely to experience a clinical recurrence within the next 3 years.

Laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: This study reviews our experience with laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection in patients with Crohn's disease. The adequacy and safety of this procedure as measured by intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated. Special attention was paid to the group in which laparoscopy was not feasible and conversion to laparotomy was necessary. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2005, 168 laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resections were performed on 167 patients with Crohn's ileal or ileocolic disease. Follow-up data were complete in 158 patients. RESULTS: In 38 patients (24%), conversion to laparotomy was necessary. Previous resection was not a predictor of conversion to laparotomy. Average ileal and colonic length of resected specimens was 20.9 cm and 6.5 cm, respectively, in the laparoscopic group, versus 24.9 cm and 10.6 cm in the converted group. Twenty of 120 specimens (16.6%) in the laparoscopic group were found to have margins microscopically positive for active Crohn's disease. None of the 38 specimens in the converted group had positive ileal margins. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection can be safely performed in patients with Crohn's disease ileitis. The finding of positive surgical margins following laparoscopic resections compared with none among conventional resections has to be thoroughly evaluated.

Hemobilia due to hepatic artery aneurysm as the presenting sign of fibro-muscular dysplasia.

Fibro-muscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare but well documented disease with multiple arterial aneurysms. The patients, usually women, present with various clinical manifestations according to the specific arteries that are affected. Typical findings are aneurysmatic dilatations of medium-sized arteries. The renal and the internal carotid arteries are most frequently affected, but other anatomical sites might be affected too. The typical angiographic picture is that of a "string of beads". Common histological features are additionally described. Here we present a case of a 47-year-old woman, who was hospitalized due to intractable abdominal pain. A routine work-up revealed a liver mass near the portal vein. Before a definite diagnosis was reached, the patient developed massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In order to control the hemorrhage, celiac angiography was performed revealing features of FMD in several arteries, including large aneurysms of the hepatic artery. Active bleeding from one of these aneurysms into the biliary tree indicated selective embolization of the hepatic artery. The immediate results were satisfactory, and the 5 years follow-up revealed absence of any clinical symptoms.

Endovascular treatment of ileocolic pseudoaneurysm after a laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection for Crohn disease.

Since the introduction of laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection for Crohn disease more than 15 years ago, it has become established as a challenging but feasible and safe procedure. A crucial step in the operation is the division of the thick and chronically inflamed mesentery, which in many cases is performed extracorporeally. We report a case of a 32-year-old man with a 14-year history of Crohn ileitis who underwent elective laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection. His procedure and the postoperative course were uneventful. A computed tomography scan 2 weeks later revealed a 3-cm-diameter asymptomatic mesenteric pseudoaneurysm, which was successfully treated by transcatheter coil embolization. Pseudoaneurysm of mesenteric arteries has not been documented before in relation to bowel resection by conventional or minimally invasive approaches. It is likely that the thick vascular mesentery of this patient with Crohn disease was a contributing factor to this complication.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 preferentially targets human colon carcinoma: role of extracellular matrix.

Viral therapy of cancer (viral oncolysis) is dependent on selective destruction of the tumor tissue compared with healthy tissues. Several factors, including receptor expression, extracellular components, and intracellular mechanisms, may influence viral oncolysis. In the present work, we studied the potential oncolytic activity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), using an organ culture system derived from colon carcinoma and healthy colon tissues of mouse and human origin. HSV-1 infected normal colons ex vivo at a very low efficiency, in contrast to high-efficiency infection of colon carcinoma tissue. In contrast, adenoviral and lentiviral vectors infected both tissues equally well. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the preferential affinity of HSV-1 for the carcinoma tissue, intracellular and extracellular factors were investigated. Two extracellular components, collagen and mucin molecules, were found to restrict HSV-1 infectivity in the healthy colon. The mucin layer of the healthy colon binds to HSV-1 and thereby blocks viral interaction with the epithelial cells of the tissue. In contrast, colon carcinomas express small amounts of collagen and mucin molecules and are thus permissive to HSV-1 infection. In agreement with the ex vivo system, HSV-1 injected into a mouse colon carcinoma in vivo significantly reduced the volume of the tumor. In conclusion, we describe a novel mechanism of viral selectivity for malignant tissues that is based on variance of the extracellular matrix between tumor and healthy tissues. These insights may facilitate new approaches to the application of HSV-1 as an oncolytic virus.

Minimally invasive procedures for diagnosis of traumatic right diaphragmatic tears: a method for correct diagnosis in selected patients.

Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm is no longer uncommon. Because of the increasing frequency of motor vehicle accidents, the rate of blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen, which are the most common causes of diaphragmatic rupture, is increased as well. However, the diagnosis is frequently missed or delayed because of the lack of sensitivity and specificity of imaging modalities. Diagnostic laparoscopy is considered a standard tool for penetrating injuries to the left diaphragm and is widely practiced in selected cases. Right diaphragmatic tears, however, are more difficult to diagnose because of the sealing effect of the liver. Blunt abdominal trauma can cause large right diaphragmatic tears, causing liver incarcerations and respiratory compromise, therefore demanding the need for a comparable diagnostic tool. A high index of suspicion, together with knowledge of the mechanism of trauma, is the key factor for the correct diagnosis. Once the diagnosis has been considered, diagnostic laparoscopy and/or diagnostic thoracoscopy should be performed to confirm or rule out this injury. Factors suggestive of a right diaphragmatic tear include newly or progressive elevation of the right diaphragm and respiratory distress without underlining lung injury. The timing of the procedure should be in accordance with the hemodynamic and respiratory status of the patient. This procedure should be performed semielectively if there are no other indications for surgical intervention.

Blunt splenic trauma: predictors for successful non-operative management.

BACKGROUND: Non-operative management of blunt splenic trauma is the preferred option in hemodynamically stable patients. OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors for the successful non-operative management of patients with blunt splenic trauma. METHODS: The study group comprised consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of blunt splenic trauma to the Department of Surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem over a 3 year period. Prospectively recorded were hemodynamic status, computed tomography grade of splenic tear, presence and extent of extra-abdominal injury, number of red blood cell units transfused, and outcome. Hemodynamic instability and the severity of associated injuries were used to determine the need for splenectomy. Hemodynamically stable patients without an indication for laparotomy were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and monitored. RESULTS: There were 64 adults (45 males, mean age 30.2 years) who met the inclusion criteria. On univariate analysis the 13 patients (20.3%) who underwent immediate splenectomy were more likely to have lower admission systolic blood pressure (P= 0.001), Glasgow Coma Scale < 8 (P= 0.02), and injury to at least three extra-abdominal regions (P= 0.06). Nine of the 52 patients (17.3%) who were successfully treated non-operatively suffered from grade > or = 4 splenic tear. Multivariate analysis identified admission systolic BP (odds ratio 1.04) and associated injury to less than three extra-abdominal regions (OD 8.03) as predictors for the success of non-operative management, while the need for blood transfusion was a strong predictor (OR 66.67) for splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Admission systolic blood pressure and limited extra-abdominal injury can be used to identify patients with blunt splenic trauma who do not require splenectomy and can be safely monitored outside an ICU environment.

Percutaneous liver biopsy complicated by hemobilia-associated acute cholecystitis.

Liver biopsy is generally considered a safe and highly useful procedure. It is frequently performed in an outpatient setting for diagnosis and follow-up in numerous liver disorders. Since its introduction at the end of the 19th century, broad experience, new imaging techniques and special needles have significantly reduced the rate of complications associated with liver biopsy. Known complications of percutaneous biopsy of the liver include hemoperitoneum, subcapsular hematoma, hypotension, pneumothorax and sepsis. Other intra-abdominal complications are less common. Hemobilia due to arterio-biliary duct fistula has been described, which has only rarely been clinically expressed as cholecystitis or pancreatitis. We report a case of a fifteen year-old boy who developed severe acute cholecystitis twelve days after a percutaneous liver biopsy performed in an outpatient setting. The etiology was clearly demonstrated to be hemobilia-associated, and the clinical course required the performance of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The post operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home. Percutaneous liver biopsy is a safe and commonly performed procedure. However, severe complications can occasionally occur. Both medical and surgical options should be evaluated while dealing with these rare incidents.

Clinical outcomes of surgical resections for primary liver sarcoma in adults: results from a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Primary hepatic sarcoma is a rare tumour with a poor prognosis. METHODS: From 1997 to 2002 eight patients had liver resection for primary sarcoma of the liver at our institution. The clinical characteristics, imaging findings, surgical procedures, adjuvant therapy and outcome were retrospectively reviewed. There were two patients each with angiosarcoma (AS), leiomyosarcoma (LMS), and undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma (UES), one patient with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and one patient with malignant peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma (PNSS). RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms were right upper quadrant pain and fever. Typical imaging findings were a heterogenous mass with poorly defined margins, pseudocapsule and aberrant vasculature. Preoperative diagnosis of a primary liver sarcoma was made in 7/8 cases, either by fine needle aspiration (n = 5) or angiography (n = 2). Five right hepatectomies and three trisegmentectomies were performed. An R (0) resection was possible in three cases. Two patients developed complications and there was one death. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was administered to 5/7 patients. Systemic chemotherapy led to tumour regression in both patients with UES which enabled a second hepatic resection. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with primary liver sarcoma present with right upper quadrant pain, fever and a liver mass. Differentiating the rare primary liver sarcoma from the much more common hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may aid in planning therapy. Patients with resectable tumours should be referred for surgery. Liver resection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy are the mainstays of treatment for UES in the adult.