Surgical management of Gynaecomastia: outcomes from our experience

The study aims to assess the morbidity and outcomes associated with gynaecomastia surgery. Between 1998 and 2007, 748 males with a mean age 44.67 years (10–90) were referred to us with breast-related symptoms. From these only 65 patients (102 breasts), with a median age of 26 years (11–82) had an operation for gynaecomastia.We considered for the purpose of the study each operated breast as an individual case. Overall, 42 cases of grade I gynaecomastia, 40 with grade II and 20 with grade III were treated mainly with subcutaneous mastectomies, 22 with skin reduction.Acute major complications requiring intervention occurred in 12 cases. Twenty-three cases required a late corrective operation for unsatisfactory results. The surgical approach appears to be the most important determinant of good cosmesis with the circumareolar approach to give the better results. The majority of the patients can be managed conservatively. Surgical candidates should be made aware of the significant morbidity.     

Gynaecomastia: A decade of experience

Background

Gynaecomastia is the most common benign condition of the male breast and accounts for up to 80% of male breast referrals. We sought to identify any changes in the number of patients referred with the condition and assess its impact on clinical practice.

Methods

Patients were identified from two prospectively maintained databases. Diagnosis of gynaecomastia was based on clinical findings, ultrasound scan (USS) assessment and/or histology.

Results

There was a significant increase in the number of men referred to a specialist unit and diagnosed with gynaecomastia. Gynaecomastia was more prevalent in the under twenties age group. Core biopsy (CB) became the histological investigation of choice for men with unilateral disease and there was no change in the percentage of men undergoing surgery.

Conclusion

Most men are looking for reassurance that their condition is benign and that no intervention is required. Thus it is important to offer these men psychological support as part of their treatment.     

Hysteroscopic myomectomy: our experience and review.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of hysteroscopic myomectomy in our center and to compare the results to those published in the literature. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of the clinical histories of patients who had undergone hysteroscopic myomectomy with a resectoscope between January 1992 and December 1999. Procedures were performed at a hysteroscopic clinic in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Public Hospital in Madrid's south zone. One hundred twenty pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women with submucous myomas were included in the study. All patients underwent hysteroscopic resection with a monopolar loop. RESULTS: We performed 120 hysteroscopic myomectomies. The patients' median age was 44.8 years (23 to 74). Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) was the most frequent indication (84.1%). Inability to reproduce was the indication in 14 (11.6%) cases. GnRH analogue preparation was used in 60% of cases. We operated on 52 (43.3%) type 0, 51 (42.5%) type I, and 17 (14.1%) type II myomas, according to Wamsteker and Blok classification. A median of 32.5 (10 to 105) minutes was required for the interventions. The myomectomy was combined with another operation (12 polypectomies, 24 endometrial resections, and 1 laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy) in 32 patients. The median retention of glycemia was 281 cc (0 to 1300). We could not complete the resection in 22 patients. Twelve underwent reoperation (3 hysterectomies and 9 second myomectomies). No serious complications occurred, and the median hospital stay was 25.4 hours. The histological study confirmed leiomyoma in all the cases. The intervention results were satisfactory after a follow-up period of 12 months to 7 years, AUB being controlled in 88.5% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopic myomectomy is a reliable procedure that is effective in controlling abnormal uterine bleeding. It is a good alternative to hysterectomy and has an acceptable surgical time and minimum hospital stay. To reduce the need of reintervention, appropriate patient selection and improved technique are necessary. The technique also offers significant economic savings compared with the conventional surgical methods.     

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy: a review of our early experience

Treatment of hemorrhoids may safely be accomplished by using a circular stapler instead of the conventional open procedure for large symptomatic hemorrhoids. Our purpose was to assess the safety and early post-op results of this new surgical technique as it was introduced into clinical practice. Medical records from 62 patients treated by circumferential mucosectomy/stapled hemorrhoidectomy were obtained from 6 surgeons. Preoperative factors assessed included demographics, comorbidities, prior anorectal surgery, hemorrhoid grade, and the indications for surgery. Operative factors examined included operating time, use of perioperative antibiotics, and oversewing of the suture line. Postoperative factors included complications and date of last follow-up. Sixty-two patients underwent this operation, and complications were reported in six patients (10%). There was one death unrelated to the hemorrhoid surgery. Postoperative pain, defined as requiring pain control with intravenous medication, hospital admission, or an emergency department visit, occurred in two patients. Two patients reported postoperative bleeding. One patient experienced bleeding the first evening, and the second patient had bleeding 1 week postoperatively. The first patient was admitted overnight and required no blood transfusion or further intervention. The second patient was subsequently found to have a bleeding diverticulum. One patient experienced urinary retention that resolved with conservative management. Postoperative follow-up was available for over 90 per cent of the patients at a median of 4 weeks postoperatively. No additional complications were discovered at follow-up. This data suggests that stapled hemorrhoidectomy is a safe and effective approach to hemorrhoidal disease. Our findings indicate an acceptable complication rate among a group of surgeons beginning to integrate this modality into clinical practice.     

A review of perioperative complications during frameless stereotactic surgery: our institutional experience

Purpose  Frameless stereotactic neurosurgery is increasingly being used for the biopsy of intracranial tumors and the resection of deep-seated lesions where reliance on surface anatomic landmarks can be misleading, as well as in movement disorders, psychiatric disorders, seizure disorders, and chronic refractory pain. Nascent biological approaches, including gene therapy and stem-cell and tissue transplants for movement disorders, also utilize neuronavigational techniques. These procedures are complex and involve understanding of the basic principles and factors affecting neuronavigation. The procedure may appear to be simple, but serious complications may occur. Methods  The purpose of this study was to review the intraoperative and postoperative complications occurring during frameless stereotaxy at our institution from January 2003 to July 2007. Results  Seventy-eight patients underwent various neurosurgical procedures under general anesthesia. Intraoperative complications seen were intraoperative brain bulge (n = 3), seizures (n = 3), failure to extubate (n = 4), and fresh neurodeficits (n = 6). No hemodynamic disturbances such as hypertension or hypotension or bradycardia or tachycardia requiring active intervention were observed. Conclusion  Awareness and vigilance can help in the early identification and better management of the above intraoperative complications.     

Spinal subarachnoid hematomas: our experience and literature review

Summary Study design. Spinal subarachnoid hematomas are unusual and difficult to diagnose and the outcome of treatment is influenced by the lesions that frequently accompany them.Objectives. To clarify the neuroradiological diagnostic aspects of spinal subarachnoid hematoma as well as the results of treatment.Background. Only recently has subarachnoid hematoma been clearly distinguished from more common subarachnoid hemorrhage and its characteristics have still not been dealt with in detail.Methods. A total of 69 cases (3 personal case, 66 published cases) were revised in terms of etiology, diagnostic imaging and the results of both surgical and conservative treatment.Results. The most common causes of spinal subarachnoid hematoma are coagulopathies (either pharmacologically-induced or resulting from systemic diseases) (40.5%), lumbar puncture for diagnostic or anesthesiological purposes (44.9%) and traumatic injuries (15.9%): these factors may be present singly or variously combined. They may be spontaneous (17.3%) or, in rare cases, associated with aortic coarctation or degenerative vascular diseases. Overall mortality is 25.7%. In the 50 cases in whom long-term follow-up was possible, the outcome of treatment, which is almost exclusively always surgical, was good in 93.5% of 31 patients in whom neurological status on admission was satisfactory and in 15.8% of 19 cases with severe neurological deficits.Conclusions. MRI and CT are not usually diagnostic because they are not able to differentiate between a subarachnoid lesion and a subdural one. However, diagnosis may be possible when these investigations detect the CSF or the contrast medium surrounding the hematoma. Although the risks of producing spinal subarachnoid hematoma as a result of LP are remote, this is, in fact, the primary cause in patients with coagulopathies. The results of treatment depend on the patient’s initial neurological condition, the severity of any concomitant pathologies, the position of the hematoma and the eventual association of a subdural hematoma.     

Integrated treatment of breast cancer: review of our experience

In the industrialized West countries the breast cancer represents the most frequent malignant neoplasia in the women. From over 30 years we have a progressive increase of frequency of breast carcinoma. Mortality is substantially unchanged. The Authors, on the base of casuistry accumulated in five years of activity, trace a diagnostic-therapeutic run to the purpose to favour a line of behavior, practice and actual, for the management of breast cancer.     

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: our experience with review of published reports

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with review of published reports. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all nephrectomy specimens during February 1995 to January 2006. We found 26 cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. We prepared a chart of these cases consisting of preoperative symptoms, laboratory findings, radiological imaging results and preoperative diagnosis. Open nephrectomy was carried out in all cases. RESULTS: Age group of the patients was 6-65 years and male : female ratio was 1.6:1. Twenty-two patients presented to us with intermittent high-grade fever, 21 with flank pain, 18 with loin mass, 2 with haematuria and 1 was detected during screening of vague gastrointestinal symptoms. Twenty-five patients had pyuria and only 10 had sterile urine culture. In all patients, only one kidney was affected. All patients had renal calculi 10-42 mm in size with bilaterally enlarged kidneys. Ipsilateral kidney was enlarged because of hydronephrosis or pyonephrosis in all cases and contralateral kidney was enlarged because of compensatory hypertrophy in 13 cases. Ipsilateral kidney had severely compromised renal function in all cases. Associated psoas abscess was present in one and tuberculosis in another. CONCLUSION: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a relatively rare entity that is associated with obstruction, stones and infection of the urinary tract. Late presentation leads to loss of renal parenchyma. It cannot be differentiated preoperatively with renal tumours (renal cell carcinoma and Wilms' tumour), pyonephrosis, infected hydronephrosis and renal lymphoma. Nephrectomy and antibiotics are the treatment of choice.     

Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: our experience and review of literature

Aim

After the revolution in the surgery of gallbladder stones represented by the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we tried a new technique that further maximize the aesthetic results and that at the same time is of easy learning for young surgeons.

Patients and methods

From January 2011 to December 2012 we performed at our department 320 cholecystectomy: 27 in laparotomy and 293 in laparoscopy. Of these, 88 underwent to Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS), namely the Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (SILC), in recruited patients aged between 19–65 years; 56 patients were females and 32 were males.

Results

The laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the SILS methodology is a safe technique. Respect to multi-port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC), we have cosmetic advances. The pain is less in extra-umbilical sites, and the major umbilical pain can be prevented by local anaesthesia.The times are slightly longer, especially at the beginning of training, but after a few of operations it is reduced to about one hour.We didn’t found any other difference in vantage and advantage between the two technics, only a case of postoperative umbilical hernia in SILS.

Conclusion

We found the SILS a safe and effective technique for the cholecystectomy.     

Mirror foot and our surgical experience: A case report and literature review

Preaxial mirror polydactyly of foot is a rare congenital anomaly with even fewer documentations for definitive treatment. To provide a sensate, near normal foot with ability to wear shoes is difficult to achieve in this variant with fibular dimelia and calcaneal duplication, with a delayed presentation at 6 years. Our case obtained satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome upon excision of accessory calcaneum and the medial three toes along with covering the defect with local full thickness skin flap: a first of its kind mentioned in literature. We report this case because of its rarity and to share our surgical experience and its acceptable outcome.     

Vesicouterine fistulae: our experience of 17 cases and literature review

Aim

A retrospective study of vesicouterine fistulae managed from 1996 to 2011 analyzed the incidence, symptomatology, diagnosis, and surgical outcome.

Patients & methods

During the study period, 17 patients were managed, of whom 14 underwent abdominal repair and three underwent vaginal repair. Mean patient age was 31.1 years and mean follow-up 7.3 years.

Results

Vesicouterine fistulae resulted following cesarean section in 13 patients and vaginal delivery in four. Eleven patients presented with urinary leakage via the vagina and seven with menouria. All patients had successful outcomes irrespective of treatment approach. The uterus was conserved in ten patients, of whom seven had completed their childbearing. The remaining three conceived spontaneously and underwent elective cesarean section.

Conclusion

The majority of vesicouterine fistulae occur following cesarean section, and it is feasible to achieve 100 % successful repair. Though the majority require abdominal repair, a few selected cases can be successfully repaired vaginally.     

Postoperative acute pancreatitis: our experience and review of the literature

AIM: Acute postoperative pancreatitis is a rare event, but, at the same time, it represents one of the most frightening complications, because it is associated with high mortality risk. METHODS: From January 1985 to December 2005, we observed 30 cases (12 males, 18 females) of acute postoperative pancreatitis. Twenty cases of low and medium gravity have been treated with only medical therapy, 10 cases, instead, have requested surgical therapy (necrosectomy and application of abdominal drains in 7 cases, necrosectomy and ileostomy in 1 case, necrosectomy and colostomy in 1 case, ligation of pancreatic vessels in 1 case of haemorrhagic pancreatitis). RESULTS: In the form of low and medium gravity, fast and pharmacological support (somatostatin and gabexate mesilate) are enough to resolve the event. In the form of high gravity the early surgical treatment has represented the clinical solution in 7 patients, while 3 others patients have died for septic and metabolic complication. CONCLUSIONS: Still today acute postoperative pancreatitis represents a frightening complication associated with high mortality risk that the surgeon has to treat with great care to avoid each bilio-pancreatic injury.     

TPN-induced fulminant beriberi: A report on our experience and a review of the literature

Fulminant beriberi, once considered a rare disease, is now being encountered more frequently, yet little is known about its clinical features. This study was undertaken to determine the clinical features of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-induced fulminant beriberi by reviewing the clinical data on 10 of our own patients who developed this complication, and 33 cases documented in the literature. TPN-induced fulminant beriberi became evident 4–40 days after the initiation of TPN, and was more likely to develop in patients with malignancies, ulcerative colitis, and short bowel syndrome, as well as in those receiving chemotherapy. Although the patients manifested various symptoms, very few developed the classical signs of beriberi or the constant findings seen in alcoholic patients. The severity of metabolic acidosis was extremely high and refractory to bicarbonate administration, but it responded quickly to intravenous (i.v.) thiamine. Thus, rapid i.v. administration of at least 100 mg of thiamine is imperative, and the patient must be transferred to the intensive care unit when TPN-induced fulminant beriberi develops.     

Cystic lymphangioma of the adult: our experience and review of literature

Cystic lymphangioma is an uncommon benign pathology, usually reported in children, rarely in adult. Its embryopathogenesis is still controversial: it seems to arise from the lymphatic vessels, mainly in the cervico-cranial district. It is macroscopically characterised by multiple cystic non-communicating concamerations. Definitive diagnosis used to be intraoperative and was usually an unexpected finding. Nowadays, with modern imaging technologies, CT and MRI, diagnosis can be assumed before intervention even though certain diagnosis can still be reached only with histological examination. Imaging techniques can help for a precise mapping of the lesion and definition of its limits with the other structures, improving therapeutic success. Various therapeutical options are reported in literature, but complete surgical excision is still considered the best approach and the most successful. The Authors report their experience and review the literature on cystic lymphangioma in adult.