Acute gallbladder perforation with gallstones spillage in a cirrhotic patient

Gallbladder perforation is a rare complication of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with this condition are due to delays in diagnosis and treatment since signs and symptoms of perforation do not differ significantly from those of uncomplicated cholecystitis. We report on a patient who was affected by Child-Pugh A alcoholic liver cirrhosis and who developed an acute gallbladder perforation with spillage of stones into the peritoneal cavity and give a review of the current literature

Long term outcome and quality of life after open incisional hernia repair - light versus heavy weight meshes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mesh repair of incisional hernia is superior to the conventional technique. From all available materials for open surgery polypropylene (PP) is the most widely used. Development resulted in meshes with larger pore size, decreased mesh surface and lower weight. The aim of this retrospective non randomized study was to compare the quality of life in the long term follow up (> 72 month) after incisional hernia repair with "light weight"(LW) and "heavy weight"(HW) PP meshes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>12 patients who underwent midline open incisional hernia repair with a HW-PP mesh (Prolene^®109 g/m²pore size 1.6 mm) between January 1996 and December 1997 were compared with 12 consecutive patients who underwent the same procedure with a LW-PP mesh (Vypro^®54 g/m², pore size 4-5 mm) from January 1998. The standard technique was the sublay mesh-plasty with the retromuscular positioning of the mesh. The two groups were equal in BMI, age, gender and hernia size. Patients were routinely seen back in the clinic.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the long term run (mean follow up 112 ± 22 months) patients of the HW mesh group revealed no significant difference in the SF-36 Health Survey domains compared to the LW group (mean follow up 75 ± 16 months).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study the health related quality of life based on the SF 36 survey after open incisional hernia repair with light or heavy weight meshes is not related to the mesh type in the long term follow up.</p

Emergency percutaneous needle decompression for tension pneumoperitoneum

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tension pneumoperitoneum as a complication of iatrogenic bowel perforation during endoscopy is a dramatic condition in which intraperitoneal air under pressure causes hemodynamic and ventilatory compromise. Like tension pneumothorax, urgent intervention is required. Immediate surgical decompression though is not always possible due to the limitations of the preclinical management and sometimes to capacity constraints of medical staff and equipment in the clinic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a retrospective analysis of cases of pneumoperitoneum and tension pneumoperitoneum due to iatrogenic bowel perforation. All patients admitted to our surgical department between January 2005 and October 2010 were included. Tension pneumoperitoneum was diagnosed in those patients presenting signs of hemodynamic and ventilatory compromise in addition to abdominal distension.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Between January 2005 and October 2010 eleven patients with iatrogenic bowel perforation were admitted to our surgical department. The mean time between perforation and admission was 36 ± 14 hrs (range 30 min - 130 hrs), between ER admission and begin of the operation 3 hrs and 15 min ± 47 min (range 60 min - 9 hrs). Three out of eleven patients had clinical signs of tension pneumoperitoneum. In those patients emergency percutaneous needle decompression was performed with a 16G venous catheter. This improved significantly the patients' condition (stabilization of vital signs, reducing jugular vein congestion), bridging the time to the start of the operation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hemodynamical and respiratory compromise in addition to abdominal distension shortly after endoscopy are strongly suggestive of tension pneumoperitoneum due to iatrogenic bowel perforation. This is a rare but life threatening condition and it can be managed in a preclinical and clinical setting with emergency percutaneous needle decompression like tension pneumothorax. Emergency percutaneous decompression is no definitive treatment, only a method to bridge the time gap to definitive surgical repair.</p

Radioiodine Refractory Follicular Thyroid Cancer and Surgery for Cervical Relapse

Compared to its more common counterpart papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) has a less favorable outcome, due to its higher incidence of distant metastases and advanced stages at diagnosis. Despite radioiodine (RAI) avidity, metastatic FTC often progresses after radioiodine treatment (RAIT). We aimed at evaluating the indications and outcomes of surgery for cervical relapse of radioiodine refractory FTC. Patients receiving RAIT between 2005 and 2015 at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, were screened. Patients with FTC were identified. Demographics, clinic-pathologic characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients diagnosed with RAI refractory FTC, who underwent cervical surgery in the course of disease, were analyzed. FTC accounted for 8.8% of all thyroid carcinomas undergoing RAIT. In 35.2% of FTC patients, disease persisted or recurred despite a cumulative mean RAI activity of 18.7 GBq &plusmn; 11.6 (follow-up 83.5 &plusmn; 56.7 months). Distant metastases were diagnosed in 75% of these patients, as bone (57.6%), lung (54.6%), and liver metastases (12.1%). Cervical relapse occurred in 63.6% of these patients and was treated in 57.1% with surgery with, and without, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Despite surgery and EBRT, in 75% of patients, cervical relapse recurred again. In conclusion, surgery for cervical radioiodine refractory FTC relapse is often performed in metastatic setting. With and without EBRT, cure is rare, although metastases can appear radioiodine avid. Early biological marker and systemic treatments for these patients are still needed

Modern molecular and imaging diagnostics in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Background and objective New molecular diagnostic and radiologic imaging techniques can be used to assess the extent, risk of recurrence, prognosis and response to treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs). They therefore represent a decisive help in setting the indications for surgical treatment, especially in advanced stages. Methods This article presents a narrative assessment of the options and evidence for modern molecular and radiologic imaging diagnostics of pNENs based on the current literature. Results While circulating DNA, circulating tumor cells and microRNAs have not yet become established in everyday clinical practice, the current literature suggests a promising role for the so-called NETest. Recent studies demonstrated its possible importance for the surgical management of pNENs. Besides [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA-PET and [18]FDG-PET, which remain the gold standards for imaging NENs, radiomics represent an exciting alternative to biopsies and will possibly play an increasingly important role in the future. Discussion There are new promising alternatives to chromogranin A, which has been clinically widespread since the 1970s despite several drawbacks, to map the extent, risk of recurrence, prognosis and response to treatment of pancreatic pNENs. In terms of personalized medicine, modern molecular and radiological diagnostics should play an increasing role for indicating and planning surgical treatment and for follow-up in the future

Potassium Iodide Tablets Instead of a Saturated Solution Preoperatively for Reaching Euthyroidism Quickly in Refractory Graves' Disease

The optional use of a saturated solution of potassium iodide in the immediate preoperative period to reach euthyroidism is included both in the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and in the European Thyroid Association (ETA) guidelines for the treatment of Graves' disease (GD). The recent literature though, shows that it does not translate to more clinically meaningful differences in surgical outcome. In our experience, potassium iodide should not be seen as a means for reducing operative time or complications; it is an effective way for reaching euthyroidism quickly. Herein, we describe three selected cases in which concentrated potassium iodide 65 mg tablets - instead of a saturated solution - were administered for thyroid blocking preoperatively, as recommended in the event of a nuclear emergency. One of the patients was pregnant. After oral treatment with potassium iodide 130 mg daily (two pills), euthyroidism was reached in all three cases within 24 hours. There were no side effects and surgery was performed without complications. Although the current literature did not report a significant benefit concerning operative time and complications, in our opinion preoperative potassium iodide plays an important role in selected cases for reaching euthyroidism preoperatively quickly. Potassium iodide 65 mg tablets, which are recommended in case of a nuclear emergency, are a very effective alternative to saturated solutions, which are not always quickly available and generally need to be administered over seven to 10 days