The parachute design as a new extraperitoneal method of closing a recalcitrant high-output enterocutaneous fistula: report of a case.

We introduce a new method for closure of a recalcitrant high-output jejunal enterocutaneous fistula. First, a transposed rectus abdominis muscle is sutured into the fistula opening using a parachuting technique, then the muscle is covered with a skin graft and temporarily immobilized to the fistula wall and abdominal wall with a negative pressure device. This extraperitoneal method provides tension-free closure of the fistula with well-vascularized tissue, without compromising the intestinal lumen. No bowel is resected. This new technique allows for early mobilization and recommencement of enteral nutrition.

New specific molecular targets for radio-chemotherapy of rectal cancer.

Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer often receive preoperative radio-chemotherapy (RCT). The mechanisms of tumour response to radiotherapy are not understood. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of RCT on gene expression in rectal tumour and normal rectal tissue. For that purpose tissue samples from 21 patients with resectable adenocarcinomas were collected for use in whole genome-microarray based gene expression analysis. A factorial experimental design allowed us to determine the effect of RCT on tumour tissue alone by removing the effect of radiation on normal tissue. This resulted in 1327 differentially expressed genes in tumour tissue with p<0.05. In addition to known markers for radio-chemotherapy, a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed a significant enrichment in gene sets associated with cell adhesion and leukocyte transendothelial migration. The profound change of cell adhesion molecule expression in rectal tumour tissue could either increase the risk of metastasis, or decrease the tumour's invasive potential.

Allowing normal food at will after major upper gastrointestinal surgery does not increase morbidity: a randomized multicenter trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this trial was to investigate whether a routine of allowing normal food at will increases morbidity after major upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Nil-by-mouth with enteral tube feeding is widely practiced for several days after major upper GI surgery. After other abdominal operations, normal food at will has been shown to be safe and to improve gut function. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to a routine of nil-by-mouth and enteral tube feeding by needle-catheter jejunostomy (ETF group) or normal food at will from the first day after major upper GI surgery. Primary end point was rate of major complications and death. Secondary outcomes were minor complications and adverse events, bowel function, and length of stay. All patients were invited to a follow-up at 8 weeks after discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-three patients who underwent major open upper GI surgery in 5 centers were enrolled between 2001 and 2006. Four hundred forty-seven patients were correctly randomized. Of 227 patients 76 (33.5%) had major complications in the ETF group compared with 62 (28.2%) of 220 patients allowed normal food at will (P = 0.26, 95% CI for the difference in rate from -3.3 to 13.9). In the ETF group, 36 (15.9%) patients were reoperated compared with 29 (13.2%) in the group allowed normal food at will (P = 0.50) and 30-day mortality was 10 (4.4%) of 227 and 11 (5.0%) of 220 patients, respectively (P = 0.83). Time to resumed bowel function was significantly in favor of allowing normal food at will (P = 0.01), as were the total number of major complications, length of stay, and rate of postdischarge complications. CONCLUSIONS: Allowing patients to eat normal food at will from the first day after major upper GI surgery does not increase morbidity compared with traditional care with nil-by-mouth and enteral feeding.

The sandwich design: a new method to close a high-output enterocutaneous fistula and an associated abdominal wall defect.

Fistulas draining through large abdominal wall defects are exceptionally difficult to treat and are associated with a very high mortality. This case report describes a new method for closure of these fistulas where prior conservative and surgical treatment had failed. Initial use of a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system optimized wound care and led to coverage of the exposed intestines with granulation tissue. The serratus muscle of a composite free latissimus dorsi-serratus flap was used to close the fistula, while the large abdominal wall defect was closed with the musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap. Temporary placement of a VAC system between the serratus muscle and the latissimus dorsi muscle immobilized the serratus to the fistula and counteracted changes in abdominal pressure. The layering of muscle, VAC system, and muscle resembles a sandwich. The advantage of the sandwich design is an extraperitoneal approach that provides tension-free closure of the fistula and abdominal wall, with well-vascularized tissue.

Clinical evaluation of a new ultrasonic Doppler instrument (SonoDoppler) for the detection of blood flow during laparoscopic procedures.

Complications may be avoided by exactly clarifying the structures in the operative field during laparoscopic surgery. We aimed to study the efficiency of a new ultrasonic Doppler device, SonoDoppler, which offers an easy and efficient way of mapping the anatomy. The design of the study was prospective, open observational and carried out on a sample of 51 patients who were operated on in four hospitals. The surgeons were asked to identify a common hepatic artery, cystic artery and portal vein during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and corresponding structures during other laparoscopic procedures using the SonoDoppler, instrument. Total operation time (skin-to-skin) and duration of the SonoDoppler, use were measured. The main outcome measures were gain of additional safety and clinical value. A number of evaluations concerning the ergonomics, functionality and interactions with other instruments were also carried out. The SonoDoppler, instrument has the potential to help to assess and clarify the anatomy during laparoscopic procedures. Its use can be advocated not only for inexperienced surgeons, to help them map the vessels during surgery, but also for experienced surgeons during complicated cases and advanced procedures.