Venting direct percutaneous jejunostomy (DPEJ) for drainage of malignant bowel obstruction in patients operated on for gastric cancer

Abstract Malignant chronic bowel obstruction (MCBO) is a syndrome caused by abdomen-pelvic diffusion of neoplastic diseases of any origin. It generally occurs in an advanced disease, affecting 3–15% of patients recently operated, untreated, or submitted to radiotherapy. Patients complain of chronic pain and vomitus. The approach to this problem is multidisciplinary, involving the surgeon, the endoscopist, the oncologist, and the pain-therapy expert. Direct percutaneous jejunostomy (DPEJ) using a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is a jejunal percutaneous access procedure indicated for nutrition in those patients whose stomach cannot be used, as in cases of partially or totally gastrectomized ones. A venting PEG or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) is a solution to drain the gastrointestinal tract for MCBO even in difficult cases represented by patients with previous abdominal surgery, those with partial or total gastrectomies, ascites, or peritoneal carcinosis. We report our five-case experience of draining an MCBO in patients previously operated on for gastric cancer, using a DPEJ technique that we believe is the best technique for this purpose

Trattamento conservativo di fistola chilosa del collo in paziente sottoposta a reintervento chirurgico di linfectomia bilaterale per carcinoma midollare della tiroide: case report.

Chyle fistula is an uncommon serious complication of neck surgery, occurring in 1-3% of radical neck dissections. An untreated chyle leak is a potentially dangerous condition that may rarely lead to hypovolemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypoproteinemia and lymphopenia. Anatomic variants of the terminal portion of the thoracic duct and suction drainage in the neck wound play a primary role in causing this kind of lesion. Poor is the literature concerning chyle fistula, due to its rarity, and mostly case reports; still debated--prevalently empiric--is the management of this disease. The Authors report a case of chyle fistula following a reintervention of cervical bilateral lymphectomy for medullary carcinoma of the thyroid in a 75 years old female. In the reported case the chyle fistula was successfully treated conservatively, in early post-operative period with a low-fat diet and total parenteral nutrition, definitely followed by sclerosant therapy. The injection of a sclerosant agent (4 g of sterile medical talc diluted in isotonic sodium chloride solution) into the supraclavicular wound bed, through the drainage tube (clamped for 2 hours), determined rapid decline in fistula output, hence obviating surgical intervention

The Semi-Open First Umbilical Trocar Access Technique In Laparoscopic Surgery. Easy And Safe

Background: First access in laparoscopy still causes trouble and a small percentage of visceral and vascular injuries. Residents and surgeons-in-training often have doubts about which technique is safer and "friendlier." Semiopen technique (SO) for the first umbilical trocar access was originally described in 2002. We report our retrospective analysis using SO that shows its safety and easiness. Methods: In the period from January 2003 to November 2007, 300 unselected patients, including obese patients (body mass index > 30) were treated with laparoscopy beginning with a periumbilical approach using SO. We usually prefer to enter the cavity with a STEP cannula stiffened by an unarmed Veress needle of 1.9 mm. There were 112 men and 188 women with ages ranging from 16 to 82 years. The procedure was performed by an expert laparoscopic surgeon in 260 cases and by residents or surgeons without expertise in laparoscopy in 40 cases. Results: We experienced no injuries of the viscera or vessels (0%). The mean time to enter the abdomen was 180 seconds, including obese patients Conclusions: After our limited experience with the SO, we believe that every surgeon who tries it will experience safety of the Hasson and the comfort of the Veress

Abdominal compartment syndrome due to a giant multilobulated ovarian serous cystadenoma. Case report and review of the literature.

The Authors report a case of abdominal compartment syndrome due to a giant ovarian serous cystadenoma. Despite of the relief of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAP: 16 mmHg), mild symptomatology (clinostatic dyspnea) lead to defer the emergency surgical treatment; after CT scan of abdomen and pelvis was performed a resection en bloc of the cystic mass, oophorectomy and cholecystectomy. However it seems advisable to perform an emergency laparotomy in patients with abdominal compartment syndrome grade II (IAP: 16 mmHg)when presenting as an acute abdomen