Use of Stapling Devices for Safe Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis

Many techniques are described for the ligation of a difficult cystic duct (CD). The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of stapling of a difficult CD in acute cholecystitis using Endo-GIA. From January 2008 to June 2012, 1441 patients with cholelithiasis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) at the Department of General Surgery, Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital. Of these, 19 (0.62%) were identified as having a difficult CD and were ligated using an Endo-GIA stapler. All patients were successfully treated with a laparoscopic approach. The length of hospital stay was 3.4 days. There were umbilical wound infections in 4 patients (21%). The length of follow-up ranged from 1.0 to 50.4 months. In conclusion, Endo-GIA is a safe and easy treatment method for patients with a dilated and difficult CD. The cystic artery should be isolated and ligated if possible before firing the Endo-GIA stapler. If isolation and stapling are not possible, fibrin sealant can be applied to avoid bleeding. The vascular Endo-GIA can be applied in a large CD, but for acute cholecystitis with an edematous CD, the Endo-GIA roticulator 4.8 or 3.5 stapler is preferred.Key words: Cholecystectomy, Endo-GIA, Acute cholecystitis, StaplerAfter the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in 1987,¹ LC replaced open cholecystectomy as the gold standard for the treatment of cholelithiasis in international guidelines.² LC was initially considered to be contraindicated for acute gallbladder inflammation, but it is currently a common procedure for acute cholecystitis.Some of the difficult situations a surgeon is likely to face during the performance of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy include anatomic anomalies such as a sessile gallbladder or short cystic duct and pathologic entities such as an empyema, Mirizzi syndrome, or a frozen Calot''s triangle secondary to infection and fibrosis.³It is suggested that laparoscopic surgery should be carried out within 72 hours from the onset of the symptoms because after that time there are higher rates of conversion to open procedures, increased risks of complications, and longer operative times.^4–6 The generally accepted procedure in patients whose symptoms started 72 hours before admission is to “cool down” the patient with appropriate medical therapy and to perform LC after a period of 6 to 12 weeks.^7,8 This approach aims to avoid a potentially more difficult cholecystectomy during an emergency admission and to avoid the difficulties of access to an emergency room.^9,10 However, more than 20% of patients may fail to respond to conservative treatment and require an urgent and rather more difficult cholecystectomy, and a further 25% of patients will require readmission with a severe acute complication of cholelithiasis while awaiting a cholecystectomy.^11,12 The scar formation, distortion, and organized adhesions around the gallbladder occurring secondary to the chronic inflammation in Calot''s triangle make the dissection difficult. The cystic duct (CD) is sometimes edematous, fibrous, or enlarged owing to inflammation and adhesions in acute cholecystitis and may be difficult to manage. Several methods were proposed for ligating the CD, including titanium or absorbable endoclip, endoloop, tie, ultrasonic or bipolar sealer, and the Endo-GIA stapler (Covidien, Mansfield, Massachusetts).^13–19This study proposes an effective, safe, and easy procedure for the stapling of dilated or difficult CD using the Endo-GIA.     

Effect of Acticoat® and Cutinova Hydro® on wound healing

In this study, the effects of the wound‐covering materials, Acticoat^® and Cutinova Hydro^®, on wound healing have been studied in rabbit models with open and tissue‐lost wounds with full‐thickness flank excisions. Rabbits were used as subjects with three groups of four rabbits each, and trial periods of 7, 14 and 21{\uns}days. Four circular wounds, of 1.5 cm diameter were made two on the right (one of them control) and two on the left (one of them control) of the dorsal sides of the abdomen. Acticoat^® and Cutinova Hydro^® were applied on the wounds with suture for a period of 21 days and one each placed on the right and left sides as control with gauze. Biopsy specimens were taken from the animals at the end of the research period to check the length of the epithelium, epithelial thickness, size of wounds, wound granulation tissue formation and histopathological evaluation for clarity. The Acticoat^® group showed better healing and scar formation compared to the Cutinova Hydro^® group by macroscopic examination. Epithelial wound length and clarity in terms of statistical difference occurred on day 21 (P <0.05); while the length of the wound epithelium decreased patency, epithelial thickness on days~7, 14 and 21, showed no statistical differences (P >0.05). As a result, the Acticoat^® wound dressing was determined as a more reliable for the early wound healing. This study has shown the short‐term clinical benefits of hydroactive, polyurethane dressings in the management of acute wounds. However, longer periods of wound healing procedure should be planned for reliable and safe results of wound dressing. It has also been concluded that microbiological analyses should be included for more robust and reliable comparisons.     

Analgesic effects of interpleural bupivacaine with fentanyl for post-thoracotomy pain

OBJECTIVE: The analgesic effect of bupivacaine/fentanyl with epinephrine given interpleurally after thoracotomy was investigated in a randomized placebo and intravenous controlled study. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II and III patients scheduled for posterolateral thoracotomy with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly divided into 4 groups to receive either 0.5% bupivacaine/1.5 microg/kg of fentanyl with 5 microg/mL of epinephrine (n = 15, group IPBF), 0.5 % bupivacaine with 5 microg/mL of epinephrine (n = 15, group IPB), or saline (n = 15, group IPS) in a total volume of 15 to 20 mL in 60 seconds by an interpleural catheter placed at the end of surgery by direct vision. The same volume of bupivacaine 0.25% and 1.5 microg/kg of fentanyl with 5 microg/mL of epinephrine to group IPBF, bupivacaine 0.25% with 5 microg/mL of epinephrine to group IPB or saline to group IPS was injected through the interpleural catheter every 6 hours for 48 hours postoperatively. Intravenous fentanyl (n = 15, group IVF) and interpleural saline groups received 1.5 microg/kg of fentanyl intravenously at the first complaint of pain. All patients also received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with fentanyl for 48 hours postoperatively. Metamizol sodium was used as a rescue analgesic. MEASUREMENTS and MAIN RESULTS: Adequacy of pain relief was evaluated with the "Prince Henry Pain Scale" and visual analog pain scale. Fentanyl consumption via PCA and complications were evaluated for 48 hours. Visual analog scale scores were significantly higher in the interpleural saline group at 4 and 12 hours (6.6 +/- 1.2 and 5.0 +/- 2.1, respectively) postoperatively. Significantly more patients in the IPBF group had lower pain scores during coughing and deep breathing. Fentanyl consumption via PCA device was significantly higher in the intravenous fentanyl group (1,069 +/- 96.9 microg) than the interpleural groups (577.3 +/- 72.2 microg, 651.1 +/- 61.9 microg, and 601.0 +/- 22.6 microg in IPBF, IPB, and IPS groups, respectively). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that total fentanyl consumption via PCA decreased in all interpleural groups, but pain during coughing and deep breathing was significantly reduced in only the interpleural bupivacaine/fentanyl with epinephrine group.     

CT of small bowel obstruction secondary to a cocaine-filled condom

Drug smuggling is prevalent in our society. It is now frequently seen in the emergency room as an acute life-threatening emergency. The following case describes one such patient with an emphasis on the CT findings in these cases. Electronic Publication     

Computed tomography features in malignant pleural mesothelioma and other commonly seen pleural diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the computed tomography (CT) features of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cases, comparing them to those in other malignant and benign pleural diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the CT findings of 215 patients; 99 with MPM, 39 with metastatic pleural disease (MPD), and 77 with benign pleural disease. The findings were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analysis for differentiation of pleural diseases. RESULTS: In patients with MPM, the most common CT features were circumferential lung encasement by multiple nodules (28%); pleural thickening with irregular pleuropulmonary margins (26%); and pleural thickening with superimposed nodules (20%). In the majority (70%) of cases, there was rind-like extension of tumor on the pleural surfaces. In multivariate analysis, the CT findings of "rind-like pleural involvement", "mediastinal pleural involvement", and "pleural thickness more than 1 cm" were independent findings in differentiating MPM from MPD with the sensitivity/specificity values of 70/85, 85/67, and 59/82, respectively. "Rind-like pleural involvement", "mediastinal pleural involvement", "pleural nodularity" and "pleural thickness more than 1 cm" were independent findings for differentiation of malignant pleural diseases (MPM+MPD) from benign pleural disease with the sensitivity/specificity values of 54/95, 70/83, 38/96, and 47/64, respectively. Invasion of thoracic structures such as pericardium, chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinum, with pleural disease and nodular involvement of fissures, was detected infrequently; however, since these invasions were not seen in benign pleural diseases, it was concluded these invasions, if detected on a CT scan, directly suggested malignancy. CONCLUSION: A patient has extremely high probability of malignant pleural disease if one or more of these CT findings are found and the possibility of MPM is high. These findings may be important for patients in bad state or patients who do not want any invasive biopsy procedures. It is also possible to identify cases with a low probability of malignant disease.     

The effect of zinc aspartate pretreatment on ischemia-reperfusion injury and early changes of blood and tissue antioxidant enzyme activities after unilateral testicular torsion-detorsion

Background/purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of zinc aspartate (ZA) pretreatment on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and blood and tissue antioxidant enzyme activity early after unilateral testicular torsion-detorsion (T/D).

Methods

Forty prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight 160 to 220 g) were divided into 4 groups each containing 10 rats. Surgery was conducted under intraperitoneal 1-shot ketamine (50 mg/kg) anesthesia. The scrotum was entered through a midline incision. Rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction was the model of the testicular torsion. Group 1 was for the basal values. Group 2 had 4 hours T/D. Group 3 also had 4 hours T/D and pretreated with 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal ZA injection half an hour before detorsion. Group 4 was designed as a sham group. In the Group 2 and Group 3, the tunica vaginalis was opened, and left testicles were rotated clockwise 720° and maintained in this torsion position by fixing with a silk suture to the scrotal wall. The scrotum was closed and 4 hours later reentered for testicular detorsion. After spermatic cord detorsion, the scrotum was closed. At the end of 4 hours detorsion period, bilateral orchiectomies were performed, and 5-mL intracardiac blood samples were taken. Blood and tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured, and histopathologic examination was performed.

Results

Group 2 and group 3 had decreased blood SOD and CAT activities and elevated MDA levels indicating I/R injury. The 2 groups were also different from each other for these parameters reflecting the beneficial effect of ZA pretreatment (P < .05). The decreased ipsilateral tissue SOD and CAT activities in group 2 were different from the other groups including group 3 (P < .05). Ipsilateral tissue MDA levels of both group 2 and group 3 were elevated. Group 2 had higher values than group 3 (P < .05). In addition, specimens from group 2 had a significantly greater histologic injury than group 3 (P < .05). These findings were also supporting the beneficial effect of ZA pretreatment. All measurements of contralateral tests were similar to the basal values for all groups (P > .05).

Conclusions

ZA pretreatment reduces I/R injury by its antioxidant effects after unilateral testicular T/D and affects the antioxidant enzyme systems.     

Inter- and intraobserver reliability of the Crowe and Hartofilakidis classifications in the assessment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in adult patients

Background

The purpose of this study is to investigate the inter- and intraobserver reliability of Crowe and Hartofilakidis classifications in the assessment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in adult patients.

Materials and methods

Two consultant orthopedic surgeons classified 141 dysplastic hips on 103 standard anterior–posterior pelvis radiographs according to the Crowe and Hartofilakidis classifications. Assessments were performed in random order by each observer on two separate occasions, at least 4?weeks apart. Kappa statistics were used to establish a relative level of agreement between observers for the two readings and between separate readings by the same observer.

Results

At the first readings, interobserver reliability analysis revealed kappa coefficient of 0.71 for the Crowe classification and 0.54 for the Hartofilakidis classification. At the second reading, the kappa coefficient was 0.72 for the Crowe classification and 0.75 for the Hartofilakidis classification. Intraobserver reliability analysis revealed kappa coefficients of 0.71 for the Crowe and 0.80 for the Hartofilakidis classification for observer A, and 0.76 and 0.70 for observer B.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we have found substantial inter- and intraobserver agreement for Crowe classification and substantial to moderate agreement for Hartofilakidis classification in this study. Both classification systems assess the different aspects of developmental dysplasia of hip in adults. Each system has advantages and disadvantages. We suggest using both of these classifications together to increase the accuracy.     

A rare complication of lumbar disk surgery: Ureteral avulsion

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with high fever, left lumbar pain and a mass at the flank following spinal surgery for disk disease. Complete left ureteral avulsion with urinoma formation was detected and she was treated with ureteroureterostomy. As in this case shows that the possibility of ureteral injury to the ureter during surgery for a disk hernia should be familiar to all neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and urologists. When the diagnosis is made during early postoperative period, good results with preservation of the kidney can be achieved.     

Tumours in End-Stage Kidney

Objective

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) show a greater risk for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which tends to be multifocal and bilateral. The malignant potential is unclear. The question is whether to remove both kidneys in patients with a tumor on one side only diagnosed by computed tomography (CT).

Materials and Methods

Kidney tumors were found in 14 patients with ESKD from January 2002 to December 2006. One was unfit for surgery. Thirteen patients underwent nephrectomy and 6 a bilateral procedure of whom only 2 had bilateral tumors on CT, 3 multiple tumors on the contralateral side, and 1 uncontrollable hypertension with tumors as an incidental finding. Tumors were found in all 19 specimens.

Results

In 13 kidneys (68.4%), the tumors were multiple; in 6 (31.6%), solitary. The types of tumor were: 13 (68.4%) papillary RCCs (PRCC), 9 (47.4%) clear RCCs (CRCC), a combination of PRCC and CRCC in 4 (21.0%), and myxoid liposarcoma (with solitary PRCC contralaterally). The mean follow-up was short (19 ± 15 months; maximum, 54 months). Only 1 patient died due to a tumor at 16 months after operation.

Conclusions

There is a high risk for bilateral involvement. Patients who undergo unilateral nephrectomy must be regularly followed and contralateral nephrectomy carefully considered, mainly in transplanted patients on immunosuppression. Further studies are needed to give a definitive answer about the indications for surgery and the indications for contralateral nephrectomy as well. To date, prophylactic contralateral nephrectomy should not be a therapeutic standard.