Totally implantable catheter migration and its percutaneous retrieval: case report and review of the literature.

Totally subcutaneous intravascular portals have been increasingly used to administer long-term chemotherapy and parental nutrition. The reported complications are rare. Accidental endovascular rupture of a fragment of catheter is one of the most formidable complications of the central vein catheterization. The Authors report a case of deployment of a Port-a-Cath catheter and its percutaneous retrieval. The catheter accidentally detached and migrated from the reservoir of the port-a-cath placed in the left subclavian vein to the right heart cavities through the blood stream. A review of the Literature is also given, focusing on the possible factors responsible for this unusual complication.

Topical hemostasis in laparoscopic surgery.

A major goal during any surgical intervention is minimization of blood loss, which reduces the need for blood transfusion. In open surgery, the possibility for the surgeon to use the hands directly in contact with the bleeding tissues for hemostasis, makes mechanical methods, such as compression, ligatures or sutures, important to achieve proper hemostasis. In laparoscopic surgery, where the intervention is performed by means of small incisions through which the surgeon's hand cannot directly achieve the tissues, the problem of hemostasis is critical and needs more attention. Either in open or in laparoscopic surgery, significant bleeding during surgery is controlled through vessel ligation, suturing, and electrocautery. Topical hemostatic agents are useful adjuncts to surgical hemostasis for controlling non-specific bleeding. The introduction of different devices and topical agents has made possible to perform more complex interventions also in laparoscopy. The Authors discuss about the type, the field of application, the side effects of the hemostatic devices and of the topical hemostatic agents.

A rare case of myeloid sarcoma presenting as anal fissure.

Myeloid sarcoma is a tumor composed of myeloblasts occurring at an extramedullary site. It may develop in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic syndrome, sometimes preceding onset of the systemic disease. Frequent sites of myeloid sarcoma are bones or various soft tissues. Gastrointestinal involvement is very rare. We report a unique case of myeloid sarcoma presenting as a painful anal fissure, in a patient with a history of acute myeloid leukemia. The diagnosis was achieved by a surgical excisional biopsy and immunoistochemical staining.

Surgical reconstructive procedures for treatment of ischial, sacral and trochanteric pressure ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are frequent complications for long term hospitalized bed-ridden patients which are not able to move or move very little. In fact, the lesion forms in a skin and muscle region which undergoes a constant pressure between an underlying bone protrusion and a support structure such as a bed or a wheelchair. Initially only the outer layers are involved but in time, the ulcer can spread to the deeper structures and reach the bone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our work we described the anatomical areas that are most often subject to developing a pressure ulcer and we considered the surgical treatment and reconstructive procedures which are applied using a logical and rigorous sequence. RESULTS: We considered 4 clinical cases (2 ischiatic sores, 1 sacral sore and 1 gluteal-trochanteric sore) which demonstrate the surgical treatment and the reconstructive procedures. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to cover the defects with a thick flap to give more support and protection to the areas which undergo pressure and to lower the incidence of recurrences.

Surgical drain after open or laparoscopic splenectomy: is it needed or contraindicated?

OBJECTIVE: The Authors report their experience with the routine use of surgical drainage in a large series of splenectomies. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Benefits and risks related to surgical drains have been always discussed, with some surgeons in favor of them and skeptic others considering not physiological their use. After splenectomy, their use is also largely debated, especially because of susceptibility of operated patients to infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two thousand nine cases have been reviewed. Indications for splenectomy, performed either by open or laparoscopic approach, included idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in 137 patients (65,4%), splenic lymphoma in 36 (17,2%), hereditary spherocytosis in 15 (7,4%), ß-thalassemia in 8 (3,7%), other diseases in 13 (6,1%). RESULTS: "Active" or "passive" drains were placed in 80% and 20% of cases, respectively. Drains were removed 2-3 days after surgery in 90,2%, within 10 days in 4,3%, within 2 months in 0,4% of cases. In 2 cases a post-operative bleeding, detected through the drainage, required re-operation. One patient developed a subphrenic abscess, successfully treated by a percutaneous drainage. One case of pancreatic fistula was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In Authors' experience, the use of drains after splenectomy does not affect the risk of subsequent infectious complications, independently on the type of the drainage system used. Early removal of drains in this series might have played an important role in the very low incidence of abdominal infections reported. The use of surgical drains after splenectomy might play an important role to early detect post-operative bleeding, as it happened in 2 cases of this series.

Colorectal cancer in aged patients. Toward the routine treatment through laparoscopic surgical approach.

AIM: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in general population. The incidence seems to be higher in older age. Surgery remains the treatment of choice and laparoscopic approach offers numerous benefits. We report our personal experience in elderly patients operated on for colorectal cancer with laparoscopic resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2003 to September 2013, out of 160 patients aged 65 years or older and operated with minimally invasive techniques, 30 cases affected by colorectal cancer and operated on with laparoscopic approach were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: Male/female ratio was 1.35 and mean age 72 years. Constipation, weight loss, anemia and rectal bleeding were the most commonly reported symptoms. Lesions involved descending-sigmoid colon in 53% of cases, rectum in 37% and ascending colon in 10%. Among laparoscopic colo-rectal operations laparoscopic left colectomy was the most frequently performed, followed by right colectomy, abdominoperineal resection and Hartmann procedure. Operative times ranged from 3 to 5 hours depending on surgical procedure performed. Mean hospital stay was 6 days (range 4-9). Conversion to open approach occurred only in a case of laparoscopic right colectomy (3%) for uncontrolled bleeding. A single case of mortality was reported. In two cases (7%) anastomotic leakage was observed, conservatively treated in one patient and requiring reoperation in the other one. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is feasible and effective for malignancies in elderly population offering several advantages including immunologic and oncologic ones. However an experienced surgical team is essential in reducing risks and complications.

Subcutaneous cervical emphysema and pneumomediastinum due to a diastatic rupture of the cecum.

Pneumomediastinum usually occurs after esophageal or chest trauma. Subcutaneous cervical emphysema as a presentation of non-traumatic colonic perforation following colorectal cancer or diverticulitis, is very rare. We report a case of a patient with rectal cancer who developed a diastatic cecum retroperitoneal perforation with a secondary pneumomediastinum and cervical emphysema. The patient was in treatment with a neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for a low rectal cancer. Treatment consisted in an emergency right hemi-colectomy with ileostomy and performance of distal colonic fistula. The Authors discuss the occurrence of pneumomediastinum and cervical emphysema complicating rectal cancer, pointing out ethiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. The importance of performing a diverting colostomy when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is scheduled in patients with stenotic rectal cancer, although not clinically occluded.

Comparison between three mini-sling surgical procedures and the traditional transobturator vaginal tape technique for female stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To compare mini-sling and traditional tension-free operations for female stress urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of articles in the Literature published between 2002 and 2012, was conducted. A Pubmed search was performed. Primary outcomes were subjective and objective cure rates at 12 months comparing the three single-incision mini-slings techniques (TVT-Secur, MiniArc and Monarc systems) with the standard midurethral sling procedure TOT (Transobturator Vaginal Tape). Secondary outcomes included peri-operative (vaginal and/or bladder perforation, urine retention, urinary tract infection, bleeding, pain) and post-operative (mesh exposure, de novo urgency, and dyspareunia) complications. RESULTS: In term of objective cure rate at 12 month after surgery, it is evident that TOT at first, and MiniArc are the most effective procedures. The incidence of post-operative urgency and UTI was lower in TOT technique, while vaginal perforation was described in equal frequency both in TOT and in MiniArc procedures. The advantages of the three above described mini-invasive techniques seem to consist into lower cases of urinary retention, pain and bleeding. Furthermore, bladder perforation and bleeding are not described in the Literature for TVT-Secur and Monarc systems. CONCLUSIONS: Some single-incision slings look promising and as effective as conventional sub-urethral slings at short term evaluation. However, at this moment a clear statement in favor of the widespread use of single-incision slings cannot be made. More studies must define the efficacy of these techniques.

Mini-invasive tension-free surgery for female urinary incontinence.

The Authors describe the techniques they perform of prepubic, retropubic and transobturator mini-invasive anti-incontinence surgical procedures and point-out some technical details. The state of art and the results of these three main surgical procedure are compared and discussed. Data from the Literature have been reviewed in order to evaluate the efficacy of the techniques. A Medline search has been performed, and 65 relevant articles from 1996 to 2012 were selected. Literature showed similar cure rates among retropubic (71,4-91%), trans-oburator (77,3-95%) and prepubic (81-87,2%) anti-incontinence procedures. Cystoscopy was considered necessary in the retropubic, optional in transobturator and in the prepubic techniques. Intra-operative cough stress test was believed useful only in the retropubic and prepubic procedures. Obstruction symptoms prevailed in the retropubic, were rare in the transobturator and missing in the prepubic technique. Erosion rate was very low and similar for all the three techniques. Intra-operative vascular and perforating risks prevailed in the retropubic technique, due to the danger present in the retropubic space, whereas late infective complications overcame in the transobturator procedure. Severe complications in the prepubic procedure were not reported, but the procedure is performed only in few centers.

Laparoscopic removal of a giant paratubal cyst complicated by hydronephrosis.

Paratubal cysts represent approximately 10% of all adnexal masses. In most cases they are very small, but very few cases are reported in the literature where they exceed 15 cm of diameter. Furthermore, giant paratubal cysts complicated by bilateral hydronephrosis are unique. The Authors describe a case of a huge paratubal cyst (30 cm in diameter), in a 14 year old obese girl, treated by complete laparoscopic enucleation.

Surgical repair of rectocele. Comparison of transvaginal and transanal approach and personal technique.

Rectocele is defined as a herniation of the rectal wall inside the vagina due to a defect of the recto-vaginal septum. It is traditionally considered a posterior compartment damage with weakness of posterior vaginal wall support resulting in a bulging of the rectum into the vaginal cavity. One of the main causes of rectal prolapse is the operative vaginal birth, although the evidence of the defect may occur after many years The treatment of rectocele is surgical, and the approach can be transperineal, transvaginal, and transanal or, in selected cases, transperitoneal through open or laparoscopic techniques. In this study we compare two transvaginal surgical techniques - i.e. the perineal body anchorage to the posterior septum and the traditional Denonvilliers' transversal suture after removing of the vaginal skin, with the mostly performed transanal procedure, the STARR - comparing the data from the literature on their results. Mean hospital stay, rectal symptoms, dyspareunia, quality of life, recurrence rate and postoperative complications have been considered. Both transvaginal and transrectal surgical techniques are effective to solve posterior compartment defect and to improve the quality of life. Vaginal approach may interfere with the sexual activity; furthermore it is associated with minimal postoperative pain than the transanal approach. Better anatomic results are assured after endovaginal surgery, while better rectal function prevail after the transanal approach. Vaginal techniques are more suitable to gynecologists, whereas the transrectal ones are usually performed by colo-proctologists or general surgeons.

Laparoscopic-endoscopic rendez-vous resection of iuxta-cardial gastric GIST.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and they often require a surgical removal. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors can originate from any part of the gastrointestinal tract but gastric location is the most common. In the past the risk of rupture of pseudocapsula and peritoneal dissemination have discouraged surgeons from making a minimally invasive surgical treatment. Recently laparoscopic wedge resection has been proposed. Performance of this mini-invasive technique is however difficult in some gastric location of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, such as iuxta-cardial region. The Authors report and discuss a new technique they used to remove a gastrointestinal stromal tumor located just below the cardia, using a rendez-vous endoscopic and laparoscopic technique.

Polyp of the cecum. Laparoscopic-assisted polypectomy.

The Authors discuss on a laparoscopic-assisted approach for excision of a sessile villous adenomatous polyp of the cecum, unresectable by endoscopy. Because of the large implant of the polyp, endoscopic polypectomy was considered at high risk and a surgical laparoscopic procedure was scheduled for removal of the lesion. After right colon mobilization, an intraoperative endoscopy confirmed the location of th polyp in the posterior wall of the cecum, closed to the ileo-cecal valve. A small 10 cm laparotomy, through which the cecum was pulled out the abdominal cavity, was performed. Then, a minimal colotomy along the intestinal taenia was carried out to allow a safe and complete excision of the polyp. This laparoscopic approach differs from the other laparoscopic-assisted methods reported in the Literature since it provides at the same time the postoperative advantages associated with minimal access surgery and a safe oncological removal of the polyp with low risks of complications.

Laparoscopic treatment of mucinous adenocarcinoma of jejunum associated with celiac disease. Case report.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the small bowel is very rare, and only few cases have been described in the literature. Association of this tumor with celiac disease has never been published. The authors report a unique case of jejunal mucinous adenocarcinoma in which a concomitant celiac disease has been histologically recognized. The difficult diagnosis, the role of laparoscopic surgery and the relationship between small bowel tumors and celiac disease are discussed. A 49-year-old man presented with recurrent melena, nausea, vomiting and anemia. A stenosis of the jejunum was documented by means of CT scan and video capsule enteroscopy. A laparoscopy was scheduled. A tumor, found in the first jejunal loop, was removed by laparoscopic surgery. Histopathology revealed a rare mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with epithelial changes secondary to celiac disease. Although small bowel tumors are rare entity, in patients with celiac disease complaining of symptoms related to altered intestinal transit or occult bleeding, an appropriate work-up should be planned for diagnosis. Mucinous type intestinal adenocarcinoma, even if never published before, could be observed. Laparoscopic surgery is often essential for the diagnosis and treatment.

Laparoscopic splenectomy in patients under the age of eighteen. Experience in 18 cases.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric surgery is now in the forefront of minimal access procedures. Although pediatric surgeons have been skeptic about laparoscopic splenectomy, recently minimally invasive approach for spleen removal has been revaluated also in young patients. Purpose of this study was to report Authors' personal experience in patients under eighteen who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy. Results of the procedure were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken in 18 splenectomised patients under the age of eighteen. Indications were hereditary spherocytosis in 10 patients, ß-thalassemia in 4, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in 3 and a splenic cyst in 1 child. RESULTS: No intra-operative complications occurred. No conversion to open surgery was reported. During the follow-up one case of portal vein thrombosis, treated by medical therapy, was encountered and no other postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic approach has to be preferable for all those children undergoing spleen surgery. In experienced hands, it is of beneficial effects with a very reasonable rate of complications.

Laparoscopic left colectomy: from the perfect knowledge of surgical anatomy to the proper surgical technique.

Laparoscopic colo-rectal surgery has been increasingly accepted and performed in several surgical centres. However, there are still concerns about the intra-operative risks and therefore on the safety of the procedure especially during the learning curve. As a matter of fact, in approximately one third of laparoscopic colo-rectal procedures, an intra-operative complication, mainly bleeding or iatrogenic injuries, may occur. In this paper, according to our experience, we analyse step by step the surgical technique of the laparoscopic left colectomy and evaluate the technical difficulties and complications in order to avoid them.

How to prevent intraoperative risks and complications in laparoscopic splenectomy.

Since its introduction in 1992 laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become the technique of choice for surgical removal of the spleen in several centres. The procedure, however, is associated with risks and complications, either during surgery or in the postoperative phase. Although the incidence of intraoperative complications is unknown, intraoperative risks in patients undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy are not uncommon. In this article, we reviewed the literature on risks and complications during LS, and we point out, based on our personal series and on the experiences reported by other Authors, how to prevent, whenever possible, these complications.