Laparoscopic suture repair of a perforated gastric ulcer in a severely cirrhotic patient with portal hypertension: first case report.

BACKGROUND: Open digestive surgery in cirrhotic patients is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopy in this setting has the potential to reduce postoperative complications. Laparoscopic treatment of a perforated gastric ulcer in a severely cirrhotic patient with portal hypertension is herein described. METHODS: A 75-year-old woman affected by cirrhosis of the liver (Child class C) and chronic gastric ulcer presented with acute abdominal pain. The diagnosis of perforation was made with plain films of the abdomen and computed tomography. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed intense peritonitis due to a perforated ulcer of the anterior gastric wall, 2 cm proximal to the pylorus. Suture closure and placement of an omental patch were performed laparoscopically. RESULTS: Postoperative recovery was complicated by a minor leak of the gastric suture, managed by total parenteral nutrition. Closure of the gastric wound was demonstrated by Gastrografin studies on the 10th postoperative day. The patient was discharged on the 16th postoperative day. At 3-months follow-up, the patient is alive and free of gastric disease

Radiofrequency versus conventional diathermy Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy: A prospective, randomized study

In the past decade, several new surgical tools have revived the hope for an improved technique to treat radically hemorrhoids with less postoperative pain. Among these radiofrequency (RF), excisional surgery seems to be safe, fast, and accompanied by less postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare RF (ligasure TM) to conventional diathermy Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MMH)

[Clinico-pathological study of microcarcinoma of the thyroid]

We have analysed the results of surgical treatment for microcarcinoma of the thyroid (MCT). In sixteen patient clinical and follow-up data were retrospectively evaluated during a 35.1-month follow-up. Thyroid hyperfunctional state us was present in two subjects. A single nodule was detected by echotomography in 11 patients, while multinodular diffuse goitre was revealed in 3 patients. In the last two subjects, thyroid gland appeared completely normal at ultrasonography, despite laterocervical lymph node metastases. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 6 patients and its diagnostic accuracy was high (83,3%). MCT was classified as "incidental" in 12 patients and "occult" in the remaining 4 patients. Eight subjects underwent total thyroidectomy and 8 hemithyroidectomy plus isthmectomy. No postoperative complications were recorded. In 10 patients MCT histotype was papillar adenocarcinoma, in 5 was follicular adenocarcinoma and in the remaining case it was medullary carcinoma. Goitre was associated in 75% of the cases. Only in a patient disease progressed to death because of hematogenous metastases. In conclusion, we believe that incidental MCT is a low-grade malignancy with a benign biological behaviour. Occult MCT is a potentially lethal disease. We did not observe differences in the long-term results between different surgical treatments of MCT

[Retrospective analysis of the use of prophylactic drainage of the pelvis after anterior resection of the rectum]

Although the use of drains is common in clinical practice, its real role in the prophylaxis and therapy of postoperative complications is still not clear. In the literature we can find both supporters of drains, and many opponents who consider their use unnecessary and sometimes even dangerous. In fact, during new experimental and clinical studies, it was impossible to determine the usefulness of prophylactic abdominal drain, at least in the case of colo-rectal anastomosis, it has been demonstrated that use of drains limits the risks of an anastomotic leakage but, in some cases, the same drains could be the cause of some of the complications that should be avoided. Although there is a considerable theoretical and practical evidences in favour of drainage, the dispute about "to drain or not to drain" the peritoneal cavity after elective colo-rectal surgery remains open. This retrospective study made on 150 patients operated on elective surgery for rectal cancer demonstrates that prophylactic drain does not significantly influence the general rate of leakage (3.15% for group A and 5.45% for group B, p > 0.1); in two of the three fistulas in patients with drains, the drains have permitted the diagnosis, but have not permitted the reduction of the number of operations for fistulas