Fournier's gangrene originating from the perianal region or the urogenital area: does it make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rare and serious disorder which is associated with high mortality. In the literature, there is no study evaluating clinician-, patient- and disease-related factors affecting disease outcomes according to aetiological variation in FG. In our study, laboratory results and Uludag Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (UFGSI) score, clinical characteristics and mortality rates were compared between FG originating from perianal or from urogenital regions. METHOD: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) and UFGSI risk scores were calculated in patients with FG at presentation to the emergency department. The patients were assigned to two groups according to FG aetiology. RESULTS: It was observed that the number of debridement interventions and the need for colostomy were significantly greater in the perianal FG group, while the need for flap or reconstruction was significantly (p=0.002) higher in the genitourinary FG group. No significant difference was detected in mortality between groups and the difference in aetiology had no significant effect on the results of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, LRINEC or UFGSI scores. CONCLUSION: Laboratory results and UFGSI score were helpful in assessing disease severity independently from aetiology. The higher number of debridement interventions to protect anal function in the perianal group and the greater need for reconstructive surgery in the urogenital group were identified as factors that prolonged length of hospital stay.

Factors affecting complications and clinical outcome in patients with Mirizzi syndrome. Single center experience.

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is a syndrome that causes chronic destructive and fibrotic changes because of compression and inflammation in the main biliary tract. MS remains to be a serious problem due to its high morbidity. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the diagnostic tools, risk factors and clinical output data we apply to our patients with MS in the light of the literature. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients treated for MS in the last decade in our hospital, where an average of 1350 cholecystectomies are performed annually. Clinical, laboratory and imaging data obtained from patients' files were evaluated. We identified 76 patients with MS and classified them as type 1-5 according to the Csendes classification. Abdominal pain, fever and jaundice were the most common symptoms. 42 patients had type 1 and 2 MS. Mirizzi syndrome was diagnosed with preoperative radiological imaging methods in 24 of the patients. In 41 of the patients, the surgery first started laparoscopically, and then turned to laparotomy in 39 patients. Other 35 patients were operated with conventional methods. In 11 cases, subtotal cholecystectomy was performed Early diagnosis and surgical treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis decrease the frequency of MS. Inflammation criteria can be used as an indicative biomarker. The patient's history, USG, ERCP and MRCP findings are currently the most important diagnostic tools. Releasing the gallbladder with the "fundus first" approach can reduce the risk of trauma. In cases where MS is suspected, a stent placed with ERCP decrease bile duct trauma. KEY WORDS: Complication, Diagnosis, Mirizzi's syndrome, Prediction, Treatment.

Management of hepatic artery trauma during hepato-pancreato-biliary procedures: Evolving approaches, clinical outcomes, and literature review.

BACKGROUND: One of the most feared complications of surgeons dealing with hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery is hepatic artery (HA) injury. Here, we aimed to evaluate our clinical experience (laceration, transection, ligation, and resection) related to HA traumas, which have serious morbidity and mortality risks, in the light of literature data and the rapidly evolving management methods in recent years. METHODS: The files of 615 patients who were operated on for HPB pathologies in the last decade, in our hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data obtained from patients' files were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 13 HA traumas were detected, eight of them had HA injury and five had planned HA resection. During the post-operative follow-up period, liver abscess, anastomotic leakage, and late biliary stricture were detected. CONCLUSION: Complications and deaths due to HA injury or ligation are less common today. The risk of complications increases in patients with hemodynamically unstable, jaundice, cholangitis, and sepsis. Revealing the variations in the pre-operative radiological evaluation and determining the appropriate approach plan will reduce the risks. In cases where HA injury is detected, arterial flow continuity should be tried to be maintained with primary anastomosis, arterial transpositions, or grafts.

Clinical outcome of gallstone ileus; a single-centre experience of case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone ileus (GI) is a rare entity which is seen in 0.5% of patients with cholelithiasis. In this study, we aimed to share our clinical approach to GI, to present our long-term results and to draw clinicians' attention to this rare entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 11 patients with GI whose medical records were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Majority of the 11 patients were female (63.7%, n:7) and the mean age was 71.9 ± 14.10 (range: 50-91). Most common presenting complaints were vomiting (n: 9) and abdominal pain (n: 9). The mean interval from the onset of symptoms to the hospital admission was 3.8 ± 0.75 (range 3-5) days. Rigler triad in abdominal computed tomography (CT) was detected in all cases. Enterolithotomy, one-step procedure and conservative treatment were performed in five (45.4%), four (36.3%) and two (18.1%) patients, respectively. Enterolithotomy group was found to have higher risk according to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, shorter operation time and less intraoperative blood loss. CONCLUSION: Although enterolithotomy is the first choice for patients with GI, one-step procedure should be kept in mind as a more advantageous technique in low-risk patients.

Clinical Analysis of Pancreaticoduodenectomies for Benign Pathologies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical, laboratory and imaging data of patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for proven benign pathologies. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of General Surgery, Izmir Katip Celebi University, School of Medicine, Turkey between January 2015 and June 2020. METHODOLOGY: All patients who underwent PD, and were found to be benign histopathologically, were included in the study. Patients who had to undergo PD due to trauma during operations performed for other reasons, were also included in the study. The data was collected as per objective. RESULTS: Diagnosis of benign pathologies was made histopathologically in 27 of the 248 patients (10.89%). It was found that 8 of 17 patients, who had biopsy in the preoperative period, were operated with a pre-diagnosis of malignancy, nine were performed PD due to accompanying clinical findings despite the detection of non-diagnostic cytology, and ten patients were taken into surgery; because of the malignancy risk could not be ruled out. CONCLUSION: Patients with benign pathology were found to have better parameters of CRP and total bilirubin. PD was performed in patients with mass in the pancreas; and whose cancer risk could not be ruled out. To reduce PD due to benign causes, patients with undiagnosed lesions should be evaluated with a multidisciplinary approach, and diagnostic tools should be cross-checked. PET/CT may also be useful in the differential diagnosis. Key Words: Benign, Diagnosis, Pancreas, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, Pathology.

The role of portoenterostomy in the treatment of patients with multiple bile duct trauma: Case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hepaticojejunostomy is a challenging and complex procedure to be administered with the confidence, in conditions which contain a large number of bile duct damaged by benign pathologies or major bile duct trauma. METHODS: Here, our clinical series of portoenterostomy (PE), in which we applied in patients who had aggressive hilar dissection for hilar benign biliary pathologies and major bile duct traumas during laparoscopic cholecystectomies were discussed in the light of the literature. The PE procedure was performed in the presence of three or more bile ducts that could not be merged. The classic Roux-en-Y style hepaticojejunostomy was performed to prevent postoperative ascending cholangitis. The ropeway system was used when sewing. 6-8 stitches were laid on the back or anterior wall and the sutures were tied on the outside. Thin-long silicone stents placed in the small diameter (2 mm) bile ducts coinciding with the anastomosis line were extended into the jejunum. RESULTS: This study included six patients who underwent PE between 2015-2019. Five of the cases were male and one was female and the mean age was 70.33 years. Hepaticojejunostomy was performed in two of the four cases with biliary trauma, but the endoscopic and surgical revision was performed due to developing strictures and bile flow was corrected with stents. In these two cases coming from the external center, PE was applied to multiple bile ducts resulting from aggressive hilar dissection. In two patients who developed major biliary tract trauma (Strasberg-Bismuth-E4) at our hospital underwent PE in the same session. In the other two cases, PE was performed due to a large number of bile ducts caused by benign pathology-related complications (Mirizzi syndrome, Type 4). The mean follow-up period for six patients was 20.1 months (range 11 to 37 months). CONCLUSION: Portoenterostomy can be performed as a salvage procedure in cases where multiple biliary tracts occur and hepaticojejunostomy is inadequate. PE can be safely used in selected cases that had benign pathologies, major bile duct trauma, in the presence of intense fibrosis, inflammation, very thin bile ducts and more fragile tissues in the liver hilum. PE should be performed in centers with surgeons experienced in hepatobiliary surgery. However, to better understand the efficacy of PE, large multicentric clinical series and patient follow-up are required.

The Role of Portoenterostomy with Aggressive Hilar Dissection in Biliary Tract Tumors: Report of Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Hepaticojejunostomy is a challenging and complex procedure to be done with confidence in conditions that contain a large number of segmental bile ducts. Portoenterostomy can be defined as the joining of multiple bile ducts into a single cavity using segmenter bile duct ends, stents, and surrounding connective tissues. During surgery, in cases with advanced stage biliary tract tumors that cannot be performed hepatectomy, after aggressive dissections to provide a negative surgical margin, a large number of segmental bile ducts can be revealed and needs to ensure the continuity of bile flow. Here, our clinical series of portoenterostomy (PE) in which we applied in patients who had aggressive hilar dissection and resection for hilar cholangiocarcinomas and biliary tract tumors were discussed. The study included 15 patients who underwent PE for biliary tract tumors and hilar cholangiocarcinomas between 2015 and 2019. Six of the patients had a tumor-negative surgical margin, with a mean follow-up of 14.4 months (range 2 to 28 months). Nine of the patients had a tumor-positive surgical margin, with a mean follow-up of 7.7 months (range 2 to 17 months). Portoenterostomy instead of hepaticojejunostomy in small and multiple biliary radicles and bile duct cancers has been successfully performed in 15 patients of bile duct cancer and Klatskin tumor. In the presence of active inflammation, fibrosis, major bile duct trauma, and thin bile duct radicles, this method, which is described in detail, provides an excellent salvage surgical procedure with less morbidity.

Relation of computed tomography features of the pancreatic tissue and development of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic density and steatosis detected in pre-operative computed tomography (CT) may be a risk factor for PF development after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). There is insufficient data available on the relationship between PF and atherosclerosis in pancreatic vasculature of pancreatitis. This study aims to investigate whether PF development in patients undergoing PD can be predicted by preoperative CT findings. MATERIAL-METHOD: Pancreas and spleen densities were measured on non-contrast CT images and pancreatic index (PI) was calculated to detect pancreatic steatosis. Pancreatic density and Wirsung diameter (WD) were measured on portal venous phase. Pancreatic fistulae were identified as biochemical leak (BL), grade B and grade C using ISGPF classification. The findings were compared between the fistula and non-fistula groups and ISGPF subgroups. RESULTS: Of 148 patients, PF was detected on 31 (20.9%). In PF group, mean pancreatic density and PI were significantly lower than non-PF group, while pancreatic steatosis was detected at a higher rate. The WD was significantly narrower in the PF group. No significant relationship was found between the development of PF and the findings of atherosclerosis in the CT and SMA or acute pancreatitis. There was no significant difference between the PF subgroups for pancreas density. CONCLUSION: In preoperative CT examinations, measuring the pancreatic density, PI index and WD can be used as a noninvasive quantitative method to predict the possibility of postoperative PF development.

Endoscopic and surgical management of iatrogenic biliary tract injuries.

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic biliary tract injury (BTI) is a rare complication but has high risks of morbidity and mortality when it is not early noticed. Although the treatment varies depending on the size of injury and the time until the injury is noticed, endoscopic and percutaneous interventions are usually sufficient. However, it should be remembered that these interventions may cause major complications in the following years, such as biliary stricture, recurrent episodes of cholangitis and even cirrhosis. In this paper, we aimed to present our approach to BTI following cholecystectomy and our treatment management in the light of the literature. METHODS: The medical records of 105 patients who were treated for BTI between January 2015 and July 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The majority of the patients consisted of the patients who underwent cholecystectomy at an external medical center and were referred to our clinic due to biliary leakage (BL). Patients were grouped according to Strasberg classification determined by the place of leakage. RESULTS: Among 105 patients included in this study, 55 were male, and 50 were female. Mean age was 55.2±16.26 years (range, 21-93 years). According to Strasberg classification, type A, B, C, D and E injuries were detected in 57, 1, 3, 29 and 15 patients, respectively. Eighty-five patients were successfully treated with endoscopic and percutaneous interventions, while 20 patients underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: In all patients with suspected BTI, a detailed screening and appropriate treatment provide a significant decline in morbidity and mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis is very important for both early and late outcomes.

A Rare Complication of Anticoagulant Therapy: Intramural Hematoma of the Small Bowel.

BACKGROUND: Non-traumatic intramural hematomas of the small bowel (IHSB) are rare conditions which occur due to anticoagulant therapy. In this study, we aimed to explain our clinical approach to non-traumatic IHSB due to anticoagulant overdose and to present the long-term outcomes of the cases who were hospitalized. METHODS: Sixteen patients with non-traumatic IHSB were included and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Our patients included ten women and six men, with a mean age of 77.5 ± 8.4 (range: 65-95) years. All patients had been using oral anticoagulants (OACs) due to various cardiovascular and cerebral comorbidities. Common complaints at the time of admission included abdominal pain, vomiting and weakness. Ten patients (62%) had anemia, fifteen (94%) had leukocytosis and all patients (100%) had high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) established the final diagnosis of IHSB in all patients. Fourteen patients (87%) were followed up with conservative therapy. Since the clinical course did not improve in two patients (12%), surgery was mandated. The mean duration of hospitalization was 10.25 ± 3.6 days (range: 3-17 days). Mortality occurred in two patients (12%). CONCLUSION: IHSB should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal complaints and increased levels on coagulation tests. The diagnosis should be confirmed by abdominal CT scan, if possible. Accurate and timely diagnosis allows patients to be successfully treated without need for surgery.

Treatment of chronic anal fissure: Is open lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) a safe and adequate option?

BACKGROUND: Anal fissure which is defined as a longitudinal tear in anoderm under the dentate line is one of the most common benign diseases of anorectal area, and due to the severe pain during the defecation and emotional stress that it causes may reduce people's quality of life. There are several treatment methods such as medical substances and surgical procedures. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the safe and adequate option of lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) in chronic anal fissure treatment. METHODS: This study is a retrospective study in which 417 patients who were treated for chronic anal fissure were included. RESULTS: Of 417 patients included in the study, 228 (54.7%) were female and the mean ± SD age was 36.1 ± 8.96 years (ranging from 17 to 73 years). Major complaints of patients; pain, bleeding, constipation, pruritus, perianal discharge. Recurrence occurred in 15 patients (3.6%) (12 males, three females) and eight patients (1.9%) developed incontinence (four with gas, four with soiling and seven females, one male). The complaints of all patients with gas incontinence and a patient with fluid incontinence regressed, whereas three patients had permanent fluid incontinence. CONCLUSION: LIS is still the gold standard for the treatment of chronic anal fissure when the physicians would like to avoid recurrence and obtain the best pain relief.