Pelvic hydatid cyst with uncommon sciatalgia manifestation: a case report

Background: Hydatid disease or echinococcosis is a common parasitic disease of human and bovine, caused by infection with larva of the cestode echinococcus. Liver is the most common organ that is involved in this disease. Pelvic involvement and neurological symptoms, due to mass effect of pelvic involvement, in lower extremities are very uncommon manifestations of the disease.Case presentation: A forty six year old man was referred to clinic of surgery at Ghaem Hospital, Medical University of Mashhad, Iran. The patient complained about weakness and motor impairment in right lower extremity accompanied by numbness and radicular pain over past two months. Physical examination demonstrated muscular atrophy and reduced muscular strength in right lower extremity. Computed tomography and ultrasonographic studies showed a cystic mass in right side of the pelvic cavity with extention to the sciatic notch and another cystic mass in right gluteal region. Surgical operation revealed a cystic mass deep in pelvic cavity with the extention to the right sciatic notch with compression of nerve roots. The cystic mass was contained of daughter cysts which confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst disease. This diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic assessment.Conclusion: Although uncommon, but hydatid disease can involve the pelvic cavity and make a pelvic, usually cystic, mass; that can make compression on nerve roots and so making neurologic symptoms in lower extremities. So in endemic areas for hydatid disease, such as Iran, pelvic hydatid cysts should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in patients presenting with the sciatic pain and neurological manifestations in whom a pelvic mass has been found too

Thoracoscopic Splanchnicectomy for Pain Control in Irresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Introduction : Severepain is a major problem in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of Thoracoscopic Splanchnicectomy (TS) on pain control in these patients suffering from unresectable pancreatic cancer. Methods:Between years 2000 to 2011, 20 patients suffering from unresectable pancreatic cancer underwent TS due to severe pain. They were studied in terms of age, sex, location of pancreas tumor, history of previous surgery, response to treatments for pain control (assessed with VAS scoring system) and complications of surgery. Results:M/F = 14/6 with a mean age of 63 years. The most common tumour site was at the pancreas head (in 8 patients). The most cause of unresectability was local expansion to critical adjacent elements (in 10 patients). Surgery was performed successfully in all patients. Post-operative complication included only pleural effusion on the left side which was cured by proper treatment. There were no post-op mortalities.  15 patients had acceptable levels of pain at the end of a six month follow-up period. ConclusionTS provides good pain control, little side effects and minimal invasiveness, the technique is recommended for pain control in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer

Case Report: Iatrogenic Seeding of Tumor Cells in Thigh Soft Tissue Upon Surgical Removal of Intracranial Meningioma

Introduction: Meningioma is a benign and slowly-growing tumor that is responsible for 20% of brain neoplasms. It can be accompanied by some genetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis type 2 and is more common among women. As a space occupying lesion, it produces a wide range of signs and symptoms by compressing the adjacent and underlying tissues in the brain. Trauma and viruses are possible etiologies for meningioma. The ideal treatment of benign meningioma is surgical resection. Case Presentation: In this case report, we present a middle-aged man with a seeding metastasis of the cranial meningioma (after its removal) in the left thigh. During the removal operation, fascia lata had been used to repair the dura mater and the skin defect was repaired primarily. Conclusion: We believe that the occurrence of meningioma at the site of incision in the thigh is related to using the same surgical instruments for the removal of the brain tumor

Temporary Abdominal Closure in the Critically Ill Patients with an Open Abdomen

The emergent abdominal surgeries from either of traumatic or non traumatic causes can result in situations in which the abdominal wall cannot initially be closed. Many techniques have been reported for temporary coverage of the exposed viscera, but the result of various techniques remains unclear. During 94 months, 19 critically ill patients whit an open abdomen underwent surgery using plastic bags (Bogotá bag). The study population comprised of 11 (57.9%) male and 8 (42.1%) female with an average age of 32.26+14.8 years. The main indications for temporary abdominal coverage were as follows: planned reoperation in 11 (57.9%) patients, subjective judgment that the fascia closure is too tight in 6 (31.6%) patient's damage control surgery in one patient (5.3%) and development of abdominal compartment surgery in one patient (5.3%). Surgical conditions requiring temporary abdominal closure was severe post operative peritonitis in 9 (47.4%) patients, post operative intestinal fistula in 4 (21.1%) patients, post traumatic intra abdominal bleeding in 3 (15.8%) patients and intestinal obstructions in 3 (15.8%) patients. Length of hospitalization was 45+23.25 days and the mean total number of laparotomies was 6.2+3.75 times per patient. Three bowel fistulas occurred due to a missed injury at the time of initial operation that was discovered during changing the plastic sheet. They were unrelated to coverage technique. All of them were treated by repair of the defect and serosal patch by adjacent bowel loop. Only one (10.0%) patient underwent definitive closure within 6 months of initial operation. The remaining survivor has declined to have hernia repaired. There were 4 (%21.1) early postoperative deaths that were not related to the abdominal coverage technique. Also, there were 5 (26.3%) late deaths that were due to dissemination of malignancy with a mean survival time of 20.8+13 (range 2-54) months. Currently 10 patients (52.6%) are alive at a follow up of 45 (range 1-94) months. Only one (10.0%) patient underwent definitive closure within 6 months of initial operation. The remaining survivor has declined to have hernia repaired. Bogotá bag technique is a rapid, simple and inexpensive technique for temporary abdominal coverage

Long-term results of open gastric bypass with Roux-en-Y method for morbid obesity: brief report

Background: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes and late complications of open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in the treatment of morbid obesity. Methods: Over a 15 year-period between May 1997 and May 2012, we reviewed our experiments with 39 patients who underwent open gastric bypass for morbid obesity. The weight of the patient and surgical complications were recorded. Ideal weight, body mass index, weight loss and excess weight loss were calculated. Results: The follow up period ranged from 6 to 180 months with a mean of 100 months after operation. Average weight loss was 3.9 and 0.28 kg per month during the first and second years after operation weight loss was slower from the third year on-wards. Weight loss generally was stabilized between 12 and 18 months after operation. Only one patient (2.6%) had a weight loss failure criterion. Concomitant condition ex-isted in 14 patients (48.2%) of our series. These included hypertension in 3 cases (10.3%) that was resolved in 100%, diabetes mellitus in 4 (13.7%) that was resolved in 75%, cholelithiasis in 7 cases (24.1%) that was resolved by cholecystectomy during the operation. There was no early postoperative death. Early complications occurred in 2 patients (5.1%), including pulmonary embolism (2.6%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (2.6%). The late complications occurred in 7 patients (17.9%) involved 2 patients with anastomotic stricture at the gastrojejunostomy (5.1%), One patient with symptomatic cholelithiasis (2.6%), three patient with anemia (7.7%), and one patient had Wernicke ’s disease who died of this complication (2.6%). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is an effective procedure in the treatment of morbid obesity with minimal late complications

Corrosive Injury of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: Review of Surgical Management and Outcome in 14 Adult Cases

Introduction: Caustic ingestion is responsible for a spectrum of upper gastrointestinal tract injury from self-limited to perforation. This study conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics as well as surgical outcomes in patients with caustic ingestion.   Materials and Methods: Between Nov1993 to march 2011, 14 adults with a clinical evidence of corrosive ingestion were admitted into our institutions (Omid and Ghaem hospitals). Patients evaluated for etiology of erosion, location, type of surgery, morbidity and mortality after surgery.   Results: 14 patients (10men and 4 women) with a age range between18-53 years were evaluated. In 6 patients, the injury was accidental and in 8 patients ingestion was a suicide attempt. Ingested agent included nitric acid in 4 patients, hydrochloric acid in 7 patients, sulfuric acid in 2 patients and strong alkali in one patient. The location and extent of lesion varied included esophagus in 13 cases, stomach in 7 cases and the pharynx in 3 cases. Acute abdomen was developed In 2 patients and a procedure of total gasterectomy and blunt esophagectomy was performed. In the remaining patients, substernal esophageal bypass in 2 patients, esophageal resection and replacement surgery in 9 patients and gastroenterostomy in one patient performed to relieve esophageal stricture. Two patients died of mediastinitis after esophageal replacement surgery. Postoperative strictures were developed in 2 survived patients with hypopharyngeal reconstruction that was managed by per oral bougienage in one patient and KTP Laser and stenting in the other patient.   Conclusion:  Esophageal resection with replacement was safe and good technique for severe corrosive esophageal stricture with low mortality and morbidity