Primary small bowel lymphoma

We present four patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the small bowel. Three of the patients were men. Two patients presented with acute abdomen due to tumoral perforation and the remaining 2 presented with abdominal pain and other effects of the mass. The tumors were located in the ileum (1 patient), jejunum (2 patients) and jejunoileum (1 patient). All patients underwent resection of the affected segment. Three patients had large B-cell lymphomas and the remaining patient had a T-cell lymphoma associated with celiac disease. Different combinations of chemotherapy were administered. Only the patient with T-cell lymphoma died due to disease progression. Clinical aspects and the therapeutic strategy used in these tumors are discussed.     

Cysto-biliary communication in liver hydatidosis

Background

Liver hydatidosis is a severe health problem in endemic areas. Due to migration from these countries to other zones, now it is a worldwide problem. Liver hydatidosis can provoke many complications (abscess, fistula to adjacent organs, migration, etc.), but the most frequent and one of the most severe complication is the communication between the cyst and the biliary tree.

Aim

The aim of this study is to perform a review on the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic options to treat the communication between the cyst and the biliary tree.

Results

Due to the lack of randomized clinical trial or meta-analysis on this topic, we performed a classical review and included our personal algorithm.

Conclusions

The communication between the cyst and the biliary tree varies from a small communication to a frank intrabiliary rupture. The percentage of patients with the communication between the cyst and the biliary tree is not well known because there is no accepted definition. The therapeutic options are multiple and related to the size of the communication, the location of the cyst, and the experience of the hepatobiliary surgeon. ERCP is now an important tool for the treatment of the communication between the cyst and the biliary tree.     

Liver metastasis of endometrial stromal sarcoma

Resection of liver metastases from gynaecological tumours is uncommon.Endometrial stromal sarcomas(ESS) are low incidence gynecological tumours which can originate in previous sites of endometriosis or following metaplasia of the pelvic peritoneal wall,and which are exceptionally associated with liver metastasis.We present a 68-year-old woman with a ESS and metachronic liver metastasis treated by liver resection.There is very little literature on clinical management about liver metastasis from ESS,but extrapolating the data obtained with liver metastasis from sarcomas and uterine tumours,we should recommend resection as this is considered a resectable extrauterine metastasis.In cases with more sites of extrauterine disease,liver resection should also be performed if the other sites are resectable.     

Cost of postoperative complications: How to avoid calculation errors

Postoperative complications(PC) are a basic health outcome, but no surgery service in the world records and/or audits the PC associated with all the surgical procedures it performs. Most studies that have assessed the cost of PC suffer from poor quality and a lack of transparency and consistency. The payment system in place often rewards the volume of services provided rather than the quality of patients' clinical outcomes. Without a thorough registration of PC, the economic costs involved cannot be determined. An accurate, reliable appraisal would help identify areas for investment in order to reduce the incidence of PC,improve surgical results, and bring down the economic costs. This article describes how to quantify and classify PC using the Clavien-Dindo classification and the comprehensive complication index, discusses the perspectives from which economic evaluations are performed and the minimum postoperative follow-up established, and makes various recommendations. The availability of accurate and impartially audited data on PC will help reduce their incidence and bring down costs. Patients, the health authorities, and society as a whole are sure to benefit.