[Penetrating combat injuries of the colorectal region]. / Penetrierende Kriegsverletzungen der Colorectalregion.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal war injuries can be treated with primary repair or by colostomy. We report our experience with both treatments. METHODS: During the Croatian war from July 1991 to March 1994, 155 patients with colorectal injuries were treated at the Surgical Clinic, University Hospital Split. This group represents 7% of all patients (n = 2220) with gunshot and shrapnel wounds treated in this period at our clinic. The median patient age was 24.7 years (range 14-70 years). The majority of the patients (96.7%) were male. Concomitant injuries of the colon (83.7%) and rectum (69%) were found more frequently than isolated ones. 50 patients were operated on as emergencies in our clinic, while 105 were operated on in field hospitals. In 28 patients primary repair of the colorectal injury was performed (without derivation), whereas 127 patients were treated by colostomy. In those patients 106 wounds were closed electively during a second operation. The average in hospital stay was 32.3 days (range 10-65 days). RESULTS: Using PATI and FCIS scores for colorectal injuries, 80% of our patients had life-threatening injuries. In the cases with primary repair the percentage of complications was high (92%). In the cases with the diverting colostomy it was only 34%. The high complication rate in the cases with primary repair was directly related to the presence of the anastomotic leaks and subsequent peritonitis. Explorative laparotomy was an effective diagnostic tool especially in the field hospitals. The overall mortality rate was 3.2%. CONCLUSION: In our operative strategy we preferred derivation operations in order to decrease major complications due to anastomotic leakage or peritonitis.

War injuries to the chest.

AIM: Presentation of our experiences in the treatment of war injuries to the chest at the Split University Hospital, Croatia, during the 1991-1995 war in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical and surgical data on 439 (16.3%) patients with war injuries to the chest among 2693 treated battle casualties in general. The medical data from evacuation unit, transportation, emergency department and follow-up were observed and processed by basic statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were more explosive wounds than gunshot and puncture wounds (ratio 251/158/30). Penetrating injuries were found in 348 (79%) patients and nonpenetrating in 91 (21%) patients. There were 401 (91%) men and 38 (9%) women. Thoracotomy was performed in 98 (22.3%) patients, whereas conservative surgical methods (wound treatment, chest-tube drainage, appropriate fluid therapy, antimicrobial and atelectasis prophylaxis) were used in 341 (77.7%) patients. Mean time elapsed between injury and definitive surgical repair was seven hours (range, 1 to 48 hours). Recovery on discharge was recorded in 411 (93.6%) patients, 19 (4.3%) patients were referred to other institution for further treatment, and 9 (2%) severely wounded persons died. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of respiratory insufficiency and haemorrhage shock, and prevention of infection are the basis of management of these injuries. Prompt transportation, appropriate diagnostic methods and an adequate surgical treatment can markedly reduce mortality and complications rate in war injuries to the chest. Most war wound of the lung can be successfully managed by "conservative" surgical treatment. The recovery of lung function was similar in conservatively and operatively treated patients.

Recovery of respiratory functional defects after war injuries to the chest.

AIM: Assessment of lung function before, during, and after surgical treatment of war injuries to the chest, and comparison of conservative and operative surgical approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 439 patients with war injuries to the chest inflicted during the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was performed. Patients were classified by injury mechanism and by physiologic scoring on admission, according to the cardiovascular-respiratory elements of the Injury Severity Score (ISS). "Conservative" surgical treatment with chest tube drainage, appropriate fluid therapy, and antimicrobial and atelectasis prophylaxis was performed in 358 (81.5%) and operations in 81 (18. 5%) patients. Blood gases were analyzed before, during, and after surgical treatments. Pulmonary function was assessed after the stabilization of patients' clinical condition and 3-6 months after the injury. RESULTS: On admission, blood gas profiles showed slight to moderate hypoxemia with consecutive hypercapnia related to the severity of injuries. Surgical treatment left a minimum degree restrictive disorder of ventilation without an obstructive pattern. Definitive repair of lung function presented with normalization of blood gas data, and significantly improved restrictive pattern (p<0.05). There was no difference in definitive lung function between conservatively and operatively treated patients. Mortality was 2%. CONCLUSION: The success of surgical resuscitation was related to ISS scoring. Recovery of respiratory function defects after the injury was not significantly related to the mechanism of injury or the patient's condition at arrival. The recovery of lung function was similar in conservatively and operatively treated patients.

[Splenorrhaphy and partial splenectomy as an alternative to splenectomy in trauma--overview]. / Splenorafija i parcijalna splenektomija kao alternative splenektomiji kod traume--povijesni pregled.

For many year splenectomy was considered to be the only possible surgical treatment for all laceration of the spleen, whether resulting from abdominal contusion or not. Such factors have led to changes in practical attitudes to splenic lacerations but it would seem that indications for a conservative approach must be based upon the underlaying condition and the precise nature of the lesions. Splenectomy should be done promptly in cases of concomitant splenic and cerebral injury and in patients with injury of multiple organ systems. Present knowledge of the complications of anesplenia has led to new surgical techniques for conservation of splenic tissue. Splenorrhaphy was a frequently used treatment in the non-complicated traumatic lesions. The decision of whether or not to remove an injured spleen is one which must be made intraoperatively by the surgeon. Operative splenic repair and preservation of the spleen often requires considerable experience. We conclude that surgical splenic preservation is a viable and safe procedure, especially in infants and young children.

[Bilateral malignancy of the breast]. / Obostrani malignomi dojke.

The breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women, and makes 26 percent of all malignant diseases in women. Bilateral breast cancer is very rare, especially simultaneous one. We analyzed 420 operated breast cancers in Surgical Clinic in Split within five years period. There were 8 patients with simultaneous or metachronous bilateral breast cancer. Their incidence, difficulties in diagnostics and treatment, pathologic findings and prognosis are discussed. It is justifiable to follow the contralateral breast of patients with the breast cancer.