Severity of Diverticulitis Does Not Influence Abdominal Complaints during Long-Term Follow-Up

Background: Diverticulitis can lead to localized or generalized peritonitis and consequently induce abdominal adhesion formation. If adhesions would lead to abdominal complaints, it might be expected that these would be more prominent after operation for perforated diverticulitis with peritonitis than after elective sigmoid resection. Aims: The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of abdominal complaints in the long-term after acute and elective surgery for diverticulitis. Methods: During the period 2003 through 2009, 269 patients were opera

Effects of new anti-adhesion polyvinyl alcohol gel on healing of colon anastomoses in rats

Background: Adhesions follow abdominal surgery with an incidence as high as 95%, resulting in invalidating complications such as bowel obstruction, female infertility, and chronic pain. Searches have been performed for a safe and effective adhesion barrier; however, such barriers have impaired anastomotic site healing. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a new adhesion barrier, polyvinyl alcohol gel, on healing of colonic anastomoses using a rat model. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided in two groups. In all animals, an anastomosis was constructed in the ascending colon. The first group received no adhesion barrier, whereas in the second group, 2mL of polyvinyl alcohol gel (A-Part Gel®; Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany) was applied circularly around the anastomosis. All animals were sacrificed on the seventh post-operative day, and the abdomen was inspected for signs of anastomotic leakage. The anastomotic bursting pressure, the adhesions around the anastomosis, and the collagen content of the excised anastomosis were measured. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the incidence of anastomotic leakage, the anastomotic bursting pressure (p=0.08), or the collagen concentration (p=0.91). No significant reduction in amount of adhesions was observed in the rats receiving polyvinyl alcohol gel. Conclusions: This experimental study showed no significant differences in anastomotic leakage, anastomotic bursting pressure, or collagen content of the anastomosis when using the adhesion barrier polyvinyl alcohol around colonic anastomoses. The barrier did not prevent adhesion formation

Level of arterial ligation in total mesorectal excision (TME): an anatomical study

Introduction: High-tie ligation is a common practice in rectal cancer surgery. However, it compromises perfusion of the proximal limb of the anastomosis. This anatomical study was designed to assess the value of low-tie ligation in order to obtain a tension-free anastomosis. Materials and methods: Consecutive high- and low-tie resections were performed on 15 formalin-fixed specimens, with or without splenic flexure mobilization. If the proximal colon limb could reach the superior aspect of the symphysis pubis with more than 3 cm, the limb would be long enough for a tension-free colorectal anastomosis. Results: In 80% of cases, it was not necessary to perform high-tie ligation as sufficient length was gained with low-tie ligation. The descending branch of the left colic artery was the limiting factor in the other 20% of cases. Resecting half the sigmoid resulted in four times as many tension-free anastomoses after low-tie resection. Conclusion: In the majority of cases, it was not necessary to perform high-tie ligation in order to create a tension-free anastomosis. Low-tie ligation was applicable in 80% of cases and might prevent anastomotic leakage due to insufficient blood supply of the proximal colon limb

Pathological chemotherapy response score is prognostic in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data

There is a need to develop and validate biomarkers for treatment response and survival in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). The chemotherapy response score (CRS) stratifies patients into complete/near-complete (CRS3), partial (CRS2), and no/minimal (CRS1) response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Our aim was to review current evidence to determine whether the CRS is prognostic in women with tubo-ovarian HGSC treated with NACT.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access the full-text via the publisher's site

Postoperative Adhesion Prevention with a New Barrier: An Experimental Study

Introduction: Postoperative adhesion formation remains a major clinical problem. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a new hydrogel on adhesion formation in a rat model. Materials and Methods: A reproducible rat model was used to induce standardized adhesion formation in three experiments. In experiment 1, a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel (PVA/CMC, A-Part (R); B. Braun Aesculap, Germany) was tested in different dosages. In experiment 2, PVA/CMC gel was compared to icodextrin 4% (Adept (R); Baxter USA). In both groups, animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks. In experiment 3, histological examination after 4 and 6 weeks was performed. The percentage of adhesions to the defect was measured and the density was determined according to the Zuhlke scale. During histological examination of the abdominal wall, the formation of neoperitoneum and potential residues of the agents were assessed. Results: In experiment 1, a significant reduction in amount as well as density of the adhesions was visible with all dosages of PVA/CMC gel. In experiment 2, again quantity and density of the adhesions were diminished by PVA/CMC hydrogel compared to the control group. Icodextrin 4% showed no significant reduction in adhesion formation. In experiment 3, no residues of PVA/CMC gel or icodextrin 4% were found during histological examination after 4 and 6 weeks and neoperitoneum was present in all cases. Conclusion: PVA/CMC hydrogel appears to be a novel effective adhesion prevention agent. Together with an upcoming safety study, these data encourage to start clinical efficacy studies. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Experimental study on synthetic and biological mesh implantation in a contaminated environment

Background: Implantation of meshes in a contaminated environment can be complicated by mesh infection and adhesion formation. Methods: The caecal ligation and puncture model was used to induce peritonitis in 144 rats. Seven commercially available meshes were implanted intraperitoneally: six non-absorbable meshes, of which three had an absorbable coating, and one biological mesh. Mesh infection, intra-abdominal abscess formation, adhesion formation, incorporation and shrinkage were evaluated after 28 and 90 days. Histological examination with haematoxylin and eosin and picrosirius red staining was performed. Results: No mesh infections occurred in Sepramesh (R), Omyramesh (R) and Strattice (R). One mesh infection occurred in Parietene (R) and Parietene Composite (R). Significantly more mesh infections were found in C-Qur (R) (15 of 16; P <= 0.006) and Dualmesh (R) (7 of 15; P <= 0.035). Sepramesh (R) showed a significant increase in adhesion coverage from 12.5 per cent at 28 days to 60.0 per cent at 90 days (P = 0.010). At 90 days there was no significant difference between median adhesion coverage Conclusion: Parietene Composite (R) and Omyramesh (R) performed well in a contaminated environment. Strattice (R) had little adhesion formation and no mesh infection, but poor incorporation. Some synthetic meshes can be as resistant to infection as biological meshes. Copyright (c) 2012 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Decreases Formation of Adhesions in a Rat Model of Peritonitis

Background: Adhesion formation after surgery for peritonitis-related conditions, with such associated complications as intestinal obstruction, pain, and infertility, remains an important problem. Applying a liquid barrier intra-peritoneally might reduce initial adhesion formation. Methods: A combination of the cecal ligation and puncture model of peritonitis with the side-wall defect (SWD) model of adhesion formation was performed. Forty rats were assigned randomly to receive no barrier or 1 mL or 2 mL of the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethylcellulose (PVA/CMC) hydrogel A-Part (R) Gel (B. Braun Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany). After 14 days, the animals were sacrificed, and adhesion formation and abscess formation were scored. Results: Thirty animals survived, distributed equally among the groups. There were significantly fewer adhesions to the SWD in the PVA/CMC groups (median 0) than in the control group (median 26%-50%) (p < 0.05). The median tenacity of the adhesions was significantly higher in the control group (Zuhlke score 2) than in the PVA/CMC groups (Zuhlke score 0) (p < 0.05). The amount and size of intra-abdominal abscesses were not significantly different in the three groups. Conclusion: In this experiment, PVA/CMC hydrogel reduced the amount of adhesions to the SWD and between viscera significantly with equal risk of abscess formation

Colorectal Anastomotic Leakage: A New Experimental Model

Background. Anastomotic leakage is the major complication after colorectal surgery. To date, animal experiments concerning colorectal anastomosis focus on anastomotic healing instead of anastomotic leakage. This study aims to develop a new experimental model for colorectal anastomotic leakage. Methods. A control group, receiving an anastomosis with 12 interrupted sutures, was compared to a group receiving an anastomosis with 6 interrupted sutures. When the leakage rate was observed to be too low, the number of sutures was decreased stepwise, to 5 or less. Each group contained 9 "C57B16-mice". After 7 d the Anastomotic Bursting Pressure (ABP) was determined. Results. In the first experiment, one mouse (11.1%) in the case group and none in the control group developed leakage. Average ABP was 152,2 mmHg in the control group and 138,8 mmHg in the case group (P = 0,111). In the second experiment, case group receiving an anastomosis with 5 sutures, 4 mice (44.4%) in the case group developed leakage. This experiment was repeated twice resulting in leakage rates of 33.3% and 44.4%. The average overall ABP in the case group was 142,7 mmHg vs. 179,9 mmHg (P = 0,022) in the control group. The mice without leakage showed a stabilization of average weight loss around day 2 and 3 and a decrease afterwards. The mice with leakage showed a decrease only after day 5. The difference in wellness-scores between the groups with- and without leakage was 2 points, increasing during follow-up. Conclusions. The model of anastomotic leakage caused by creating an anastomosis with 5 interrupted sutures is feasible. Weight loss and wellness-scores are good predictors of leakage. 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved