Step-Up versus Open Approach in the Treatment of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Case-Matched Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Long-Term Pancreatic Sufficiency.

Background/Objectives: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) with secondary infection of necrotic tissue is associated with a high rate of complications and mortality. The optimal approach is still debatable, but the minimally invasive modality has gained great attention in the last decade as it follows the principle of applying minimal surgical trauma to achieve a satisfying therapeutic objective. We compared clinical outcomes between the step-up approach (SUA) and open necrosectomy (ON) in the treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Methods: A prospective cohort study over the period of 2011-2021 in a university teaching hospital was performed. Results of 99 consecutive patients with ANP who required surgical/radiological intervention were collected. A case match analysis (2:1) was performed, and the final groups comprised 40 patients in the OA group and 20 patients in the SUA group. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment data were reviewed. Results: Baseline characteristics and disease severity were comparable between the two groups. The patients from the SUA group had a significantly lower morbidity rate and rate of pancreatic insufficiency. Death occurred in 4 of 20 patients (20%) in the SUA group and in 11 of 40 patients (27.5%) in the ON group (risk ratio with the step-up approach, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 1.99; p = 0.53). Conclusions: A minimally invasive step-up approach provides comparable outcomes to open necrosectomy in the treatment of ANP with infected pancreatic necrosis. While mortality and hospital stay were comparable between the groups, morbidity and pancreatic insufficiency were significantly lower in the SUA group. Further studies on a larger number of patients are required to define the place of SUA in the modern treatment of ANP.

Correlation between the liver transection line localization and future liver remnant hypertrophy in associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy.

Background and aims: Colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) represent the most prevalent form of secondary liver tumors, and insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) often leads to unresectability. To tackle this challenge, various methods for stimulating liver hypertrophy have been developed including portal vein embolization (PVE), associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) and the newest one, liver venous deprivation (LVD). ALPPS was thoroughly studied over the last decade and it has been shown to induce rapid and intensive FLR hypertrophy. The objective of this study was to assess whether the localization of the liver transection line during the initial stage of ALPPS correlates with the degree of FLR hypertrophy. Methods: A retrospective, multicentric study was conducted, and we analyzed all consecutive patients with CRLMs who underwent ALPPS over the eight-year period. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of resection-right trisectionectomy (ERH) or right hemihepatectomy (RH) respectively. The degree of hypertrophy (DH), its correlation with FLR and postoperative outcomes were assessed. Results: The cohort consisted of 136 patients (72 in the ERH group and 64 in the RH group). Baseline characteristics, hypertrophy interval, and total liver volume showed no significant differences between the groups. DH was greater in the ERH group (83.2% vs. 62.5%, p = 0.025). A strong negative correlation was observed between FLR volume and DH in both groups. Postoperative outcomes and one-year survival were comparable between the groups. Conclusions: FLR hypertrophy is influenced by the localization of the liver transection line in ALPPS. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that a smaller estimated FLR is associated with greater DH. No statistical difference in outcomes was noted between the groups.

Case report: Urgent liver pathologies: All in one.

Ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a well-known serious complication of this most common primary liver malignancy. However, when HCC rupture is associated with other focal liver lesions, the diagnosis and therapy may be very challenging. Correct differentiation of focal liver lesions is of paramount importance for successful treatment. The aim of this report is to present a unique case of HCC rupture complicated with liver abscess, hematoma and portal vein thrombosis. We discuss possible pathophysiological mechanisms and radiologic findings of such clinical scenarios and review literature related to the management of HCC rupture.

Psychological Effects of "Double Crisis" (COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquakes) on Croatian Medical Students.

INTRODUCTION: In 2020. the COVID-19 pandemic presented an additional source of stress and anxiety not just to the general population but also to medical students who are, even under normal circumstances, constantly under pressure due to demanding student duties. In addition, they experienced a series of devastating earthquakes in and around the Zagreb region which altogether could have had compromised their psychological well-being. The aim of this review was to evaluate the psychological effects of these two natural disasters on the mental health of Croatian medical students. RESULTS: According to standardized questionnaires for depression and anxiety evaluation, 75.3% of students were anxious and 65.2% were depressive during the "double crisis". No significant difference of these two outcomes was observed regarding genders, but it was found that first year students had a significantly higher anxiety score than older ones. CONCLUSION: In such stressful situations, we should emphasize the importance of mental health not just of healthcare workers, but also of medical students in order to prevent serious psychological consequences and to alleviate the negative effects on students' motivation and their educational process.

Concomitant Presence of Hydatid Cyst and Colorectal Liver Metastasis

A 65-year-old man, with signs of acute colon obstruction, was diagnosed with rectal tumour and liver hydatid cyst. Additionally, a focal liver lesion in segment 1 was detected. Moreover, physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and abdominal distension. Thus, rectal resection and small liver lesion biopsy was performed. Serological and pathohistological analyses showed concomitant presence of hydatid cyst and colorectal metastasis in the liver. Hence, the cyst was treated with anthelmintic therapy, and patient lived another year after the diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, cases of concomitant hydatid cyst and colorectal liver metastasis has never been reported; thus, this article addresses a unique case of coexistence between these two serious liver diseases.

Intramural Stomach Gas with Hepatic Portal Venous Gas Indicating Spontaneous Stomach Necrosis.

Intramural gas in the stomach associated with hepatic portal venous gas is a rare entity, which suggests ischemic or infectious pathology of the stomach. We report a case of a 73-year-old man who presented with epigastric pain and nausea of 6 hours duration followed by hematemesis. The patient had pale skin, anemia, and a diffusively tender and distended abdomen. Abdominal radiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed gas in thickened gastric wall and gas in intrahepatic portal vein branches. Surgery was indicated, which consisted of partial gastrectomy with Roux en esophago-jejunal anastomosis. Postoperative course was uneventful, and pathohistological analysis indicated stomach wall necrosis with emphysametous gastritis (EG). The patient was free of symptoms at 2 years follow-up. Intramural gas in the stomach should always be meticulously investigated to differentiate between emphysematous gastritis and gastric emphysema, as this would direct the therapeutic approach to be adopted.

Rupture of suppurated liver hematoma into the anterior abdominal wall in a patient with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome.

We report a case of ruptured liver hematoma as a result of suppurated arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in a patient with Rendu-Osler-Weber (ROW) syndrome. The patient presented with unexplained fever and upper right abdominal pain associated with microcytic anemia. A computed tomography scan revealed increasing subcapsular liver hematoma and features of liver abscess. Intraoperatively, a left liver hematoma mixed with pus was found that was attached to the anterior abdominal wall. Surgery included left lateral bisegmentectomy, while pathohistological analysis showed AVM and genetic tests confirmed ROW. This is the first such life-threatening surgical case of ROW complication reported in the scientific literature.

Reportamos el caso de una paciente con síndrome de Rendu-Osler-Weber y rotura de un hematoma hepático supurado como resultado de una malformación arteriovenosa. La paciente presentó fiebre inexplicable y dolor abdominal superior derecho asociado con anemia microcítica. La tomografía computarizada reveló un aumento del hematoma hepático subcapsular y las características del absceso hepático. Durante la cirugía se encontró un hematoma hepático izquierdo mezclado con pus que estaba unido a la pared abdominal anterior. La intervención incluyó bisegmentectomía lateral izquierda. El análisis histopatológico mostró malformación arteriovenosa y las pruebas genéticas confirmaron el síndrome de Rendu-Osler-Weber. Este es el primer caso quirúrgico potencialmente mortal de complicación de síndrome de Rendu-Osler-Weber reportado en la literatura científica.

Abdominal wall reconstruction after emergent surgery for fistulizing incarcerated ventral wall hernia in morbidly obese patient.

BACKGROUND: Incarcerated abdominal wall hernias may have a variety of manifestations and the most dreaded consequence is strangulation leading to obstruction and perforation of hollow viscus. Very rarely, such a perforation presents with fistulization into the abdominal wall and skin, which is often not considered but may complicate the management approach. <br/>Case presentation: We reported on presentation and management of a 56-year-old morbidly obese male with a fistulizing incarcerated ventral wall hernia and postoperative abdominal wall necrosis. <br/>Discussion: Contained bowel perforations caused by ventral hernia incarceration are a rare and not well recognized problem and are confined to a handful of case reports in the surgical literature. <br/>Conclusion: The most recognized complications of ventral hernias are incarceration and strangulation leading to obstruction and consequent perforation; however, as the case described below reveals, intestinal perforation and bowel-skin fistulization may occur as unusual incident. Management should involve operative reduction, resection of the involved bowel and staged repair of abdominal wall defect.

Urgent Surgical Treatment of GIST of Esophago-Gastric Junction in a Patient with Giant Hiatal Hernia.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), being the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, arise most commonly in stomach (60-70%) and small intestine (20-25%) while other sites of origin are rare. In most cases, they are diagnosed accidentally due to their indolent clinical course; however, 10-30% have malignant potential. Gastric and esophageal GISTs carry a better prognosis than small bowel GISTs of similar size and mitotic rate. Complete surgical resection is the only potentially curative procedure, but despite its success, at least 50% of patients develop recurrence or metastases. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib gave positive results in treatment of unresectable, metastatic or recurrent GISTs. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with a large unresectable GIST of esophago-gastric junction with multiple bilobar liver metastases who underwent an emergent palliative surgery due to diffuse bleeding from the tumor. Twelve months after the surgery, patient is still alive and stable under imatinib therapy with no signs of local recurrence of the disease. This example suggests that patients with locally advanced GISTs with distant metastases may benefit from surgery in terms of prolonged survival and quality of life.

Fatal Case of Spontaneous Rectus Sheath Hematoma Caused by Anticoagulant and Steroid Therapy during Hospital Admission.

BACKGROUND: Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) is a rare but potentially dangerous clinical entity that requires medical supervision. CASE REPORT: Here we discuss one such case which describes the fatal course of spontaneous RSH during hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Usually, RSH presents as a minimal abdominal wall swelling with self-limiting course but in the case of hematoma and size progression, specific conservative or invasive measures are necessary to prevent serious complications including hypovolemic shock and death.

A Synchronous Occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Echinoccocal Liver Cyst - Can Parasite Promote Carcinogenesis? Literature Review and Classification Proposal.

Concomitant presence of hydatid cyst and hepatocellular carcinoma is a very rare clinical scenario especially in a previously non-diseased liver. Including our case here reported, there are 12 cases of synchronous HCC and hydatid cyst found in the scientific literature and 3 of them were found in a patient with non-diseased liver. We provide detailed review of all reported cases with additional highlights on etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of both HCC and echinococcal disease. Although there is a small number of patients, possible relation between these 2 liver lesions should be investigated and standardized classification should be established. This will help us to understand the nature of HCC carcinogenesis, identify diagnostic features of liver lesions and choose the most appropriate type of treatment.

Cystic echinococcosis of lung and heart coupled with repeated echinococcosis of brain--a case report.

Echinococcosis is rarely encountered as a cystic brain disease. In this article we are presenting a case of a young woman repeatedly operated due to echinococcosis of lung, heart and brain. Recurrent brain ecchinococcosis developed despite preoperative and postoperative albendazol therapy after first and combined therapy with albendazol and praziquantel after the second brain surgery. The mechanism of recurrence remains unclear (primary infestation, dissemination after spontaneous or intraoperative cyst rupture or new infestation).