Treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms associated with pancreatic tumors: personal experience and review of the literature (1967-2006).

The aim of the present study was to discuss the approach to a rare, but challenging, clinical situation: the coexistence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and a pancreatic tumor. The authors present their experience and a review of the literature of the last 40 years. From January 1988 to December 2006 the authors faced 3 cases of associated AAA and pancreatic neoplasia. Through a Medline search the authors found 15 cases of this comorbidity reported in the literature from 1967 to 2006, obtaining a total number of 18 cases. The treatment of the two diseases was in a single stage in 4 cases (22%) and in two stages in 5 cases (28%), while only one pathology was treated in 7 cases (39%) and no treatment at all was attempted in 2 cases (11%). Mortality was 0%, while morbidity was 22%, i.e. in 4 cases out of 18, although no aortic prosthesis infection was recorded. From literature analysis and their experience the authors concluded that the surgical strategy in cases of AAA and a pancreatic tumor is to be chosen depending on the pancreatic tumor prognosis, the AAA dimensions and the schedule of chemotherapy. According to the authors, AAA surgical repair is recommended in case of pancreatic cystic adenoma and neuroendocrine neoplasia, in view of their good prognosis, while endovascular repair (EVAR), when feasible, is better in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with colorectal cancer: presentation of 14 cases and literature review.

PURPOSE: The coexistence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and cancer is observed with increasing frequency, raising several questions about therapeutic and surgical strategies for management of both diseases. In this study, we present our experience on 14 patients affected by both colorectal cancer (CRC) and AAA, and we have also reviewed the literature from 1988 to 2005 for clinical experiences on this matter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1988 to May 2006, 1,012 AAA and 1,480 CRC were observed and treated in our department; in 14 patients (1.3% of AAA and 0.9% of CRC), both diseases were coexistent. We also performed a literature review from 1987 to 2005, and we found 254 cases of AAA associated with CRC. RESULTS: Priority was given for treatment of vascular disease. The diseases were treated in one stage in nine cases and in two stage in four patients; in the remaining case, only the CRC was treated due to patient's poor cardiac conditions. Postoperative (30-day) complications were seen in 1 of 14 patients (7.1%), whereas there were no postoperative deaths or prosthetic infections. In the literature review, treatment in one stage was performed in 102 cases and in two stage in 118 cases; in the remaining 25 cases, only one disease was treated (in 24 cases, for different reasons, only CRC was treated, whereas in the last case, only the AAA was treated, and the patient died in the postoperative period). Postoperative (30-day) morbidity and mortality in one-stage treatment were 8 and 4.5%, respectively, and 21.3 and 6% in two-stage treatments, respectively. In patients treated for only one disease, 30-day morbidity and mortality were 4 and 24%, respectively. Only one case of prosthetic infection was reported after a two-stage treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the analysis of the literature and our experience, it is evident that, when AAA and CRC are coexistent with preoperative diagnosis of both diseases, single-stage intervention, when feasible for patient in general and local conditions, has to be preferred due to the lower morbidity. Single-stage treatment avoids a second surgical and anesthesiologic trauma and eliminates the risks joined with the non-treated lesion, increasing, however, the magnitude of the operation. Endovascular therapy, for its less invasiveness, appears to be an adequate solution for one-stage treatment of the two diseases but its role is still subject of ongoing discussions.

Right subcostal incision in liver transplantation: prospective study of feasibility.

Little is known about incidence and risk factors for incisional hernia after liver transplantation (OLT). More frequently this problem occurs at the junction of midline and transverse incisions. We prospectively and consecutively used three different types of abdominal incisions in 47 OLTs. The results were compared in order to identify the type of incision and risk factors that determine herniae after OLT. The overall incidence was 17%. It occurred in 6 out of 19 patients (31.3%) with a transverse and right subcostal both with upper midline incision versus 2 out of 26 patients (7.7%) with only a right subcostal incision. In conclusion, a subcostal incision is sufficient to perform OLT and reduce hernia incidence after OLT.

Caval anastomosis in liver transplantation: prospective experience of Verona liver transplantation program.

Caval anastomosis in liver transplantation has been modified to avoid outflow complications. Classic cava replacement is rarely indicated; most liver transplantation teams use a piggy-back (PB) technique. At the start of our liver transplantation program, we opted for a latero-lateral (L-L) caval anastomosis. In our prospective experience, the L-L caval anastamosis was safe and feasible in all 24 adult patients. No vascular complications occurred. Graft and patient survival rates were both 96% at 11 months follow-up.