Adrenomedulline improves ischemic left colonic anastomotic healing in an experimental rodent model

BACKGROUND: Leakage from colonic anastomosis is a major complication causing increased mortality and morbidity. Ischemia is a well-known cause of this event. This study was designed to investigate the effects of adrenomedullin on the healing of ischemic colon anastomosis in a rat model. METHODS: Standardized left colon resection 3 cm above the peritoneal reflection and colonic anastomosis were performed in 40 Wistar rats that were divided into four groups. To mimic ischemia, the mesocolon was ligated 2 cm from either side of the anastomosis in all of the groups. The control groups (1 and 2) received no further treatment. The experimental groups (3 and 4) received adrenomedullin treatment. Adrenomedullin therapy was started in the perioperative period in group 3 and 4 rats (the therapeutic groups). Group 1 and group 3 rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 3. Group 2 and group 4 rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 7. After careful relaparotomy, bursting pressure, hydroxyproline, malondialdehyde, interleukin 6, nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were measured. Histopathological characteristics of the anastomosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The group 3 animals had a significantly higher bursting pressure than group 1 (p<0.05). Hydroxyproline levels in group 1 were significantly lower than in group 3 (p<0.05). The mean bursting pressure was significantly different between group 2 and group 4 (p<0.05). Hydroxyproline levels in groups 3 and 4 were significantly increased by adrenomedullin therapy relative to the control groups (p<0.05). When all groups were compared, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide were significantly lower in the control groups (p<0.05). When vascular endothelial growth factor levels were compared, no statistically significant difference between groups was observed. Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were significantly decreased by adrenomedullin therapy (p<0.05). The healing parameters and inflammatory changes (e.g., granulocytic cell infiltration, necrosis, and exudate) were significantly different among all groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Adrenomedullin had positive effects on histopathologic anastomotic healing in this experimental model of ischemic colon anastomosis

Jejunogastric Intussusception: A Rare Complication of Gastric Surgery

Jejunogastric intussusception is a rare complication of gastric surgery. It usually presents with severe epigastric pain, vomiting, and hematemesis. A history of gastric surgery can help in making an accurate and early diagnosis which calls forth an urgent surgical intervention. Only reduction or resection with revision of the previously performed anastomosis is the choice which is decided according to the operative findings. We present a case of JGI in a patient with a history of Billroth II operation diagnosed by computed tomography. At emergent laparotomy, an efferent loop type JGI was found. Due to necrosis, resection of the intussuscepted bowel with Roux-en-Y anastomosis was performed. Postoperative recovery was uneventful

Cecal diverticulitis mimicking acute Appendicitis: a report of 4 cases

Diverticulum of the cecum is a rare, benign, generally asymptomatic lesion that manifests itself only following inflammatory or hemorrhagic complications. Most patients with inflammation of a solitary diverticulum of the cecum present with abdominal pain that is indistinguishable from acute appendicitis. The optimal management of this condition is still controversial, ranging from conservative antibiotic treatment to aggressive resection. We describe four cases that presented with symptoms suggestive of appendicitis, but were found at operation to have an inflamed solitary diverticulum

Case Report Jejunogastric Intussusception: A Rare Complication of Gastric Surgery

Jejunogastric intussusception is a rare complication of gastric surgery. It usually presents with severe epigastric pain, vomiting, and hematemesis. A history of gastric surgery can help in making an accurate and early diagnosis which calls forth an urgent surgical intervention. Only reduction or resection with revision of the previously performed anastomosis is the choice which is decided according to the operative findings. We present a case of JGI in a patient with a history of Billroth II operation diagnosed by computed tomography. At emergent laparotomy, an efferent loop type JGI was found. Due to necrosis, resection of the intussuscepted bowel with Roux-en-Y anastomosis was performed. Postoperative recovery was uneventful

Coughing May Lead to Spontaneous Chylothorax and Chylous Ascites

Chylous ascites is a rare form of ascites resulting from the accumulation of lymph in the abdominal cavity. It is due to an interruption in the lymphatic system. Surgical management is indicated in cases of recurrence or failure after conservative treatment. We report a case of spontaneous chylous peritonitis after chylothorax, which is a rare clinical event. The primary reason was unclear and the outcome of medical and surgical treatment was successful

Parasitic infestation as cause of acute appendicitis

Scopo dello studio è di verificare il ruolo, tuttora controverso, delle infestazioni parassitarie come possibile causa di appendicite acuta. Pazienti e metodi. Nello studio retrospettivo sono stati inclusi 5.100 pazienti operati per appendicite acuta tra il 1998 e il 2005. I pazienti sono stati divisi in due gruppi, a seconda della presenza (gruppo I, n = 24) o meno (gruppo II, n = 5.076) di parassiti nel lume appendicolare. Risultati. In 24 pazienti (0,5%) l’esame istologico ha dimostrato la presenza di infestazione parassitaria: in 12 casi (50%) da Enterobius vermicularis, in 6 (25%9 da schistostomi, in 4 (17%) da Ascaris lumbricoides, in 2 (8%) da Taenia saginata. Le percentuali di pazienti con appendicite flemmonosa, gangrenosa o perforata sono risultate sovrapponibili nei due gruppi, mentre la percentuale di esami istologici del pezzo operatorio negativi è risultata significativamente maggiore nel gruppo I (25% vs 4,8%, p 0.001). Conclusioni. Pur potendo l’infestazione parassitaria dare sintomi simili a quelli dell’appendicite acuta, raramente ne è causa