Gunshot injuries in Benghazi–Libya in 2011: The Libyan conflict and beyond

BackgroundSince independence, Libya has never experienced personal ownership of arms. That changed during the Libyan conflict where weapons became widespread in the society. As a result gunshot injuries became a concern for surgeons at our principal surgical hospital (Al-Jalaa). This study aims at analyzing the gunshot injuries that took place during 2011 and highlighting the peculiarities in the Libyan scenario.MethodsPatient records were obtained and gunshot injuries were analyzed for various parameters. Statistical analyses were made taking into consideration situations faced by neighbouring countries.ResultsIn 2011, 1761 patients were admitted with over 95% being male and over 97% were Libyan. The average age of a GSI patient was 28.32 ± 10.01 years. Patients aged 18–35 formed over 70% of the cases with half of all cases being treated by the orthopedics department. Sixty-eight percent of cases were injured in the extremities followed by chest (12.5%) and abdomen injuries (7.8%). The mortality rate for GSI's was found to be 5.6% overall with young age, site of injury (i.e. chest and head) and cause of injury (i.e. war or civilian fighting) being important risk factors.ConclusionsTaking into consideration the difficult operating conditions and limited resources, surgeons at our hospital were able to maintain a low mortality rate. Disarmament needs to begin as soon as possible because these injuries will continue to occur so long firearms are available in society.     

Spezifika der Lehre in der Gefäßchirurgie im interdisziplinär-chirurgischen Setting

Die Chirurgie - Es sollen die komplexen Veränderungen in der gefäßchirurgischen Lehre, Gemeinsamkeiten/Unterschiede zur Allgemeinchirurgie, Spezifika der Lehre/Lehrinhalte sowie...     

Risk of wound hematoma at carotid endarterectomy under dual antiplatelet therapy

Background and purpose

This study aims to assess perioperative incidence of wound hematoma and bleeding in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) under dual antiplatelet therapy.

Methods

Consecutive patients with initial CEA receiving aspirin, clopidogrel, or a combination of both were subjected to standard patch endarterectomy. Postoperative wound hematoma was assessed as moderate (subcutaneous bleeding, nonspace-occupying hematoma, and oozing suture bleeding) or severe, i.e., needing operative re-exploration.

Results

Six hundred eighty-four (80.9?%) patients with one of the three types of antiplatelet therapy out of 844 patients registered from 1995 to 2010 were enrolled. Wound hematoma occurred in 27 of 112 (24.1?%) patients under combined aspirin and clopidogrel, 33 of 162 (20.4?%) under clopidogrel, and 48 of 410 (11.7?%) under aspirin. Relative risk compared to aspirin was 2.4 (95?% CI, 1.4 to 4.1) for aspirin and clopidogrel and 1.9 (95?% CI, 1.2 to 3.1) for clopidogrel. Severe space-occupying hematoma needing operative re-exploration occurred in four (3.6?%) patients under aspirin and clopidogrel, seven (4.3?%) under clopidogrel, and five (1.2?%) under aspirin. Corresponding relative risks were 3.0 (95?% CI, 0.8 to 11.4) for aspirin and clopidogrel and 3.7 (95?% CI, 1.1 to 11.7) for clopidogrel. Relative risks remained without relevant change after adjustment for potentially confounding variables.

Conclusions

Dual antiplatelet therapy with combined aspirin and clopidogrel as well as clopidogrel is associated with an increased incidence of perioperative wound hematoma compared to aspirin but on an acceptable low level of incidence. The latter may be achieved by adapting operative procedures to more intensive antiplatelet regimes.     

Myogenous sarcoma of the gallbladder with a hemangiopericytomatous pattern

Primary sarcoma of the gallbladder is a very rare neoplasm, and there are few instances of its diagnostic and therapeutic management. We describe a 66-year-old male patient with a sarcoma of the gallbladder. He initially underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, converted to an open procedure. Histology showed a primary sarcoma of the gallbladder (NOS). A relaparotomy, with resection of the cystic stump, anatomical hepatic resection of the fifth segment, including the bed of gallbladder, and lymphadenectomy was performed a few days later. The two surgical interventions were done with no major complications, and a radical resection status was achieved. Histological investigation revealed a malignant mesenchymal tumor lesion, which was classified as a myogenous sarcoma with a hemangiopericytomatous pattern. After an 11-month, uneventful, postoperative course, local tumor recurrence was diagnosed. Palliative chemotherapy was scheduled, but the patient died of advanced tumor recurrence 10 days after this diagnosis. Despite a poor overall prognosis, extensive surgical resection is favored for myogeneous sarcoma of the gallbladder; this procedure is based on precise clarification of the histopathological diagnosis, and can be followed by attempts with radiation of chemotherapy if early diagnosis-finding has failed. This approach allowed, in our patient with this rare neoplasm, a remarkable tumor-free survival of almost 1 year.     

ColorectalcarcinomainaSouthernMediterraneancountry:The Libyanscenario

AIM: To study the salient features of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Libya.METHODS: Patients records were gathered at the primary oncology clinic in eastern Libya for the period of one calendar year (2012). Using this data, various parameters were analyzed and age-standardized incidence rates were determined using the direct method and the standard population.RESULTS: During 2012, 174 patients were diagnosed with CRC, 51.7% (n = 90) male and 48.3% (n = 84) females. The average age was 58.7 (± 13.4) years, with men around 57.3 (± 13) years old and women usually 60.1 (± 13.8) years of age. Libya has the highest rate of CRC in North Africa, with an incidence closer to the European figures. The age-standardized rate for CRC was 17.5 and 17.2/100000 for males and females respectively. It was the second most common cancer, forming 19% of malignancies, with fluctuation in ranking and incidence in different cities/villages. Increasingly, younger ages are being afflicted and a higher proportion of patients are among the > 40 years subset. Nearly two-thirds presented at either stage III (22.4%) or IV (38.4%).CONCLUSION: Cancer surveillance systems should be established in order to effectively monitor the situation. Likewise, screening programs are invaluable in the Libyan scenario given the predominance of sporadic cases.     

Sealing of the hepatic resection area using fibrin glue reduces significant amount of postoperative drain fluid

AIM: To investigate whether the routine use of fibrin glue applied onto the hepatic resection area can diminish postoperative volume of bloody or biliary fluids drained via intraoperatively placed perihepatic tubes and can thus lower the complication rate. METHODS: Two groups of consecutive patients with a comparable spectrum of recent hepatic resections were compared: (1) 13 patients who underwent application of fibrin glue immediately after resection of liver parenchyma; (2) 12 patients who did not. Volumes of postoperative drainage fluid were determined in 4-h intervals through 24 h indicating the intervention caused bloody and biliary segregation. RESULTS: Through the first 8 h postoperatively, there was a tendency of higher amounts of fluids in patients with no additional application of fibrin glue while through the following intervals, a significant increase of drainage volumes was documented in comparison with the first two 4-h intervals, e.g., after 12 h, 149.6 mL +/-110 mL vs 63.2 mL +/-78 mL. Using fibrin glue, postoperative fluid amounts were significantly lower through the postoperative observation period of 24 h (851 mL +/-715 mL vs 315 mL +/-305 mL). CONCLUSION: For hepatic resections, the use of fibrin glue appears to be advantageous in terms of a significant decrease of surgically associated segregation of blood or bile out of the resection area. This might result in a better outcome.     

Myogenous sarcoma of the gallbladder with a hemangiopericytomatous pattern

Primary sarcoma of the gallbladder is a very rare neoplasm, and there are few instances of its diagnostic and therapeutic management. We describe a 66-year-old male patient with a sarcoma of the gallbladder. He initially underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, converted to an open procedure. Histology showed a primary sarcoma of the gallbladder (NOS). A relaparotomy, with resection of the cystic stump, anatomical hepatic resection of the fifth segment, including the bed of gallbladder, and lymphadenectomy was performed a few days later. The two surgical interventions were done with no major complications, and a radical resection status was achieved. Histological investigation revealed a malignant mesenchymal tumor lesion, which was classified as a myogenous sarcoma with a hemangiopericytomatous pattern. After an 11-month, uneventful, postoperative course, local tumor recurrence was diagnosed. Palliative chemotherapy was scheduled, but the patient died of advanced tumor recurrence 10 days after this diagnosis. Despite a poor overall prognosis, extensive surgical resection is favored for myogeneous sarcoma of the gallbladder; this procedure is based on precise clarification of the histopathological diagnosis, and can be followed by attempts with radiation of chemotherapy if early diagnosis-finding has failed. This approach allowed, in our patient with this rare neoplasm, a remarkable tumor-free survival of almost 1 year.     

Radiogenomics: bridging imaging and genomics

Abdominal Radiology - From diagnostics to prognosis to response prediction, new applications for radiomics are rapidly being developed. One of the fastest evolving branches involves linking imaging...