Early gallbladder cancer: Is further treatment necessary?

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate a series of patients with early gallbladder cancer, focusing on the selection of treatment and the role of Rokitansky Aschoff sinus infiltration. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective series of 371 patients with gallbladder cancer. Specimens were reviewed by an independent pathologist to confirm the diagnosis and depth of infiltration and to evaluate the presence of Rokitansky Aschoff sinus involvement. Results: Forty-nine and 45 patients with muscular (pT1b) and mucosal (pT1a) infiltration gallbladder cancer tumors were studied respectively. Simple cholecystectomy was the treatment in all patients, with the exception of 11 patients who underwent further surgery. Rokitansky Aschoff sinus invasion was seen in seven patients with mucosa (pT1a) and three with muscular (pT1b) compromise. The 5-year survival rates of patients with muscular (pT1b) and mucosal (pT1a) infiltration were 87.6% and 86.4%

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation: Clinical features, diagnosis and role of surgical management in patients with lung resection surgery Malformatión arteriovenosa pulmonar: Caracteristicas cli ́nicas, diagnostico y rol del tratamiento quiniru ́gico en

Background: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PA VM) are rare and surgery has a role only in selected cases. Our objectives are to describe clinical features, diagnostic methods and role of surgical treatment in patients with PA VM. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients with PA VM, in whom surgery was performed in our institution, from February 2005 to February 2010. The follow up controls were done through physician or telephone contact. Results: 8 patients, six females (3:1), aged between 16-68 years were analyzed. Most common signs and symptoms were dyspnea, cyanosis and clubbing. Right lower lobe was the most frequent location. Four had multiple PA VM and four met criteria for Rendu-Osler- Weber disease. Six patients had polycythemia and two anemia. Radiography was abnormal in all and computed tomography defined anatomy in seven. Angiography was performed in three, two had contrasted echocardiography and four had scintigraphy. Most common surgical treatment was lobect

Parapneumonic empyema: Characterization and factors associated with morbidity and mortality in 242 surgical cases Empiema paraneumónico: Caracterización y factores asociados a morbi-mortalidad en 242 casos tratados quirúrgicamente

Objectives: To describe and evaluate factors associated with morbidity and mortality in surgically treated parapneumonic empyemas (PNE). Method: Retrospective review between January 2000 and August 2006. We described clinical features and we performed univariate and multivariate analysis to find the factors associated with morbidity and mortality. SPSS 15.0 program was used in the statistical analysis. Results: 242 of 343 surgically treated empyemas (70.6%) were paraneumonic. Of these 165 (68.2%) were men, average age 52.1 years, 229 (94.6%) were community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 13 (5.4%) nosocomial. Germs were isolated in pleural fluid in 57 (23.6%). Surgical procedures were: 183 (75.6%) decortications, 49 (20.2%) pleurotomies, 7 (2.9%) video-assisted surgery and 3 (1.2%) decortications with pulmonary resection. Complications occurred in 65 cases (26.9%) and 16 patients died (6.6%). We found variables associated with morbidity and mortality. Conclusions: PNE is the most common

Pleural empyema. Retrospective review of 343 patients Empiema pleural en 343 casos con tratamiento quirúrgico: Características, resultados inmediatos y factores asociados a morbilidad y mortalidad

Background: Pleural empyema still has a dismal prognosis. Aim: To describe features and prognostic factors of patients with pleural empyema subjected to surgical procedures. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of 343 patients with pleural empyema (mean age 52 years, 71% males), that were subjected to any type of surgical procedure. Criteria for diagnosis of empyema were a positive culture, a fluid pH of less than 7.2 or a compatible macroscopic appearance of the fluid. Results: Empyema was secondary to pneumonia in 243 patients (71%), secondary to surgical procedures in 41 patients (12%), secondary to trauma in 19 patients (5.5%), secondary to a lung abscess in 10 patients (3%), tuberculous in 10 patients (3%), neoplastic in two cases (0.6%), secondary to pneumothorax in 2 cases (0.6%) and of unknown origin in 13 patients (4%). A microorganism was isolated from pleural fluid in 89 patients (26%). The surgical procedures performed were 251 decortications by thoracotomy (73%), 7