0000000000009143
AUTHOR
Roberta Tutino
Clinical and Functional Outcome After Abdominal Wall Incisional Hernia Repair: Evaluation of Quality-of-Life Improvement and Comparison of Assessment Scales.
Background Hernias severely impact patient quality of life (QoL), and 80% of patients need surgical operation. The primary outcome of the study is to assess improvements in balance, posture and deambulation after abdominal hernia repair. Moreover, the study investigated the improvement in the postoperative QoL. Methods Patients operated at the Policlinico “Paolo Giaccone” at Palermo University Hospital between June 2015 and June 2017 were identified in a prospective database. The functional outcome measures and QoL assessment scales used were numeric rating scale for pain, performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) scale, Quebec back pain disability scale, center of gravity (barycenter…
Which Role for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of Fournier's Gangrene? A Retrospective Study.
PurposeIn Fournier's gangrene, surgical debridement plus antimicrobial therapy is the mainstay of treatment but can cause a great loss of tissue. The disease needs long hospital stays and, despite all, has a high mortality rate. The aim of our study is to investigate if factors, such as hyperbaric therapy, can offer an improvement in prognosis.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated data on 23 consecutive patients admitted for Fournier's gangrene at the University Hospital “P. Giaccone” of Palermo from 2011 to 2018. Factors related to length of hospital stay and mortality were examined.ResultsMortality occurred in three patients (13.1%) and was correlated with the delay between admission and su…
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
Background: Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods: This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, r…
Bowel perforation in Crohn's Disease: correlation between CDAI and Clavien-Dindo scores
Background Many studies have elaborated different kind of activity indices for Crohn's Disesase (CD) with the endpoint of univocally measure and evaluate the gravity of its lesions and symptoms. Aim Purpose of this work is to study and define the correlation that runs between the preoperative score obtained at the Crohn's Disease Activity Index, the occurrence of postoperative complications that will require re-intervention and the severity of the postoperative lesions evaluated using the Clavien-Dindo score. Patients and methods We have collected and analyzed data from 23 patients (12 males, 11 females) that in a period that spans from 2010 to 2016 had been recovered in our Operative Unit …
Conservative management of intestinal obstruction by isolated intramural duodenal hematoma: A case report and review of the literature
The duodenal injuries occur in the 3-5% of blunt abdominal traumas. The isolated intramural duodenal hematoma is a very rare lesion. An early diagnosis and an adequate therapy are crucial because a delay, beyond 24 hours, increases the mortality from the 11% to 40%. However, diagnosis is often hindered by a lack of specific symptoms. We report a case of a 21 years-old man with an intestinal obstruction from isolated intramural duodenal hematoma occurred after a blunt abdominal trauma in a sport competition. The patient was treated conservatively with total parenteral nutrition, gastric decompression and intravenous PPIs. The progressive spontaneous resolution of the hematoma was checked wit…
The non-surgical management for hemorrhoidal disease. A systematic review
The non-surgical treatments for hemorrhoids are cost and time-saving techniques usually performed in patients suffering early hemorrhoidal disease. The most used are rubber band ligation (RBL), injection sclerotherapy (IS), and infrared coagulation (IRC). We performed a systematic review in order to evaluate: do these procedures really help to avoid further more aggressive treatments? What are the common harms? What are the rare harms? How many recurrences there are? A total of 21 RCTs were included in this review: 12 on RBL, 4 on IRC and 5 on IS. In RBL bleeding stops in up to 90% and III degree hemorrhoids improves in 78%-83.8%. IV degree prolapse should have a more invasive treatment. Th…
Elective surgery system strengthening: development, measurement, and validation of the surgical preparedness index across 1632 hospitals in 119 countries
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods: First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assess…
A Stepwise Proposal for Low-Grade Hemorrhoidal Disease: Injection Sclerotherapy as a First-Line Treatment and Rubber Band Ligation for Persistent Relapses
Outpatient treatments are actually the techniques of choice in the management of low-grade hemorrhoidal disease. Among these, rubber band ligation (RBL) and injection sclerotherapy (IS) are the most frequently performed. Both techniques are used, without one having been determined to be superior over the other. We analyzed the studies that compare these two techniques in terms of efficacy and safety in order to offer a proposal for treatment choice. RBL seems to be most efficient in terms of symptom resolution for second-degree hemorrhoidal disease and equal or superior for treatment of third-degree disease. However, IS offers lower rates of severe post-operative pain and minor complication…
Surgical Emergencies in Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease, as a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that can affect any part of the alimentary canal from the mouth to the anus, has a highly variable course and a very unpredictable evolution. Even surgery does not cure CD, it has however a relevant role in its treatment in combination to medical therapy during the large course of the disease; indeed almost each patient is submitted to a surgical intervention during his life. Nowadays, surgery is considered the last treatment to use whenever medical therapy is insufficient to control symptoms; this choice involves an intervention on more serious patients with more surgical complications. Surgery finds in the Crohn’s dise…
Anal canal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma in a young patient misdiagnosed as anal abscess.
Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) are rare tumours of gastrointestinal tract, extremely rare in anal canal. We report a case of misdiagnosed MiNEN in a 38-year-old woman initially conservatively treated for a supposed anal fistula. In a second proctological evaluation, biopsy of the anal neoformation was performed and the histological specimen diagnosed a MiNEN. The complete staging showed a disseminate disease and the patient started a chemotherapy schedule. After 6 months, stable disease was revealed at the last imaging performed and radical surgery was offered to the patient that is actually on oncological follow-up without recurrence at 1 year.
Rectal bleeding and prolapse… not always benign diseases rather anal cancer. The importance of a correct decision making since primary care
Rectal bleeding is very common in general population with a prevalence of 10-20 %. Primary care physicians have to stratify patients basing on urgency and on the colo-rectal cancer risk and to conduct a decision making for the correct management. We report a case of a 61-years-old woman, complaining rectal bleeding and an anal mass attended to their family doctor who does a visit but without a digital rectal examination and diagnosed a hemorrhoidal prolapse suggesting medical therapy. For the persistence of symptoms she comes to our service from emergency attention. Inspection and digital rectal examination revealed an anal mass. CT scan was performed showing a large anal mass involving hal…
Vacuum-Assisted Wound Closure with Mesh-Mediated Fascial Traction Achieves Better Outcomes than Vacuum-Assisted Wound Closure Alone: A Comparative Study
Background Open abdomen (OA) permits the application of damage control surgery principles when abdominal trauma, sepsis, severe acute peritonitis and abdominal compartmental syndrome (ACS) occur. Methods Non-traumatic patients treated with OA between January 2010 and December 2015 were identified in a prospective database, and the data collected were retrospectively reviewed. Patients’ records were collected from charts and the surgical and intensive care unit (ICU) registries. The Acosta ‘‘modified’’ technique was used to achieve fascial closure in vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) patients. Sex, age, simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II), ab…
An investigation of bedside laparoscopy in the ICU for cases of non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia
Background: Acute mesenteric ischemia is a rare affection with high related mortality. NOMI presents the most important diagnostic problems and is related with the higher risk of white laparotomy. This study wants to give a contribution for the validation of laparoscopic approach in case of NOMI. Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients were admitted in last 10 years in ICU of Paolo Giaccone University Hospital of Palermo for AMI. Diagnosis was obtained by multislice CT and selective angiography was done if clinical conditions were permissive. If necrosis was already present or suspected, surgical approach was done. Endovascular or surgical embolectomy was performed when necessary. Twenty N…
Traumatic Isolated Intramural Duodenal Hematoma Causing Intestinal Obstruction
A 21-year-old man was admitted 36 hours after a blunt abdominal trauma occurred during a sporting competition. He complained of colic epigastric abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. He was hemodynamically stable; blood counts and metabolic panel were normal. Abdominal CT showed an intestinal obstruction caused by an 8 x 6 x 11 cm hematoma on the right lateral duodenal wall without signs of active bleeding (Figure 1). He underwent gastric decompression and started total parenteral nutrition and intravenous pump inhibitors. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) performed 48 hours after the diagnosis showed an extrinsic compression by a bluish obstruction in the first part of the duodenum resembli…
Post-ERCP pancreatitis: A single center experience and an update on prevention strategies
Pancreatitis is the most frequent complication of the ERCP; in unselected patients the incidence is 3.5%, reaching 25%, and is mild-moderate in 90%. A stratification of patients into low or high risk is important to provide adequate information to patients and to decide when refer them to tertiary centers; moreover, many prophylactic measures have been proposed over years. Our aim was to select risk factors for PEP and compare them with current literature in order to propose adequate preventive strategies.It was analyzed the occurrence of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis in a series of 492 consecutives patients treated with ERCP by two expert interventional endoscopists. The possible risk factors wer…
Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy: Analysis of Complications From a Systematic Review
Background. Nowadays, minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) is considered a safe and effective option. However, its complication rate has not been specifically discussed yet. The aim of this systematic review was enrolling a large number of studies to estimate early and late complications (transient and definitive, uni- and bilateral laryngeal nerve palsy; transient and definitive hypocalcemia; cervical hematoma; hypertrophic or keloid scar) of MIVAT compared with conventional technique. Methods. The review was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria in PubMed and Embase. Search terms were “minimally inva…
Pooled analysis of who surgical safety checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients incl…
Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study
Background Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the Globa…
Impact of structured report on the quality of preoperative CT staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: assessment of intra- and inter-reader variability
Purpose: To evaluate whether a structured radiology report improves the completeness of preoperative CT staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) compared to conventional free-text reports. Methods: We retrospectively included 27 patients (mean age, 64 ± 11.1 years) referred for pancreatic preoperative CT scan for staging of PDA between 2015 and 2018 and in whom a diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was ultimately confirmed. Four readers independently reported CT scans with both conventional free-text and structured reports. Differences in reported morphologic and vascular features with the two reports were assessed through McNemar Test. Intra-reader and inter-reader were calcula…
Risk Factors for Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Series From a Tertiary Referral Center for Thyroid Surgery and Literature Analysis
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a very rare and extremely aggressive disease with a very poor prognosis. Several risk factors have been hypothesized, but there is no clear-cut literature data on it. We reviewed the literature concerning risk factors for ATC and analyzed the institutional database from 2005 to 2022. In total, 15 papers were suitable for review, while the retrospective data collection search, conducted on our institutional database, provided 13 results. In our experience, in agreement with literature data, ATC seems to be a neoplasm peculiar to old age (in our database, mean age is 72 years), with a higher prevalence in subjects with a low level of education and a long …
SARS-CoV-2 infection and venous thromboembolism after surgery: an international prospective cohort study
SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri-operative or prior SARS-CoV-2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub-study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 da…
Surgery and Crohn’s Disease
It is known that the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) absolutely needs a multidisciplinary approach with an important relationship between gastroenterologist and surgeon. CD, in fact, is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease interesting all segments of alimentary tract showing extreme variability of clinical presentations. Medical therapy when ineffective will give way to surgical treatment, and the last one isn’t possible without adequate pharmacological support. Synthetically, it’s possible to affirm that gastroenterologist treats CD and the surgeon its complications.
Outpatient management of proctologic disease. Which techniques for local anesthesia? The experience of a single center
Introduction. Since 1899 outpatient management of surgical patients had been increasing, becoming the best option when possible. In 1988 was described the first experience of outpatient management of proctologic disease. Advances in local anesthesia techniques have improved the outpatient approach to surgical disease, particularly in patients with proctological diseases. Methods. From 2010 to 2016, 1160 patients who needed surgery for proctologic disease have been recruited: 239 hemorrhoidectomies using the variant of Milligan Morgan technique described by Phillips, 45 trans-anal hemorrhoidal DE-arterialization (THD), 315 sphincterotomies, 12 anal polypectomies, 230 loop seton positions, 65…
Outpatient Treatment of Hemorrhoidal Disease: The Alternative Way to Treat Hemorrhoidal Disease in a Simple, Safe and Effective Manner.
Background:: Hemorrhoidal disease is a widespread problem in healthy working patients. The traditional surgical approaches cause a loss of several working days related to the post-- operative course that is often painful. To avoid these problems while offering a symptoms resolution in patients with low degrees hemorrhoids, the non-surgical treatments are nowadays largely proposed in proctological clinics. Methods: We resume the recent literature on the issue to offer a practical and easy to use guide for clinicians. Results: Rubber band ligation, injection sclerotherapy and infrared coagulation are cost effective, safe and effective treatments for patients with II- and III-degree hemorrhoi…
Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis
Abstract Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capita…
Chronic asthenia in patients who have undergone endocrine neck surgery.
Introduction: The impact of chronic asthenia after thyroidectomy has been evaluated in two previous studies comparing total thyroidectomy and hemithyroidectomy. We compared its impact on patients undergoing thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism, and cholecystectomy. Methods: Patients recruited for surgery (233 consecutive total thyroidectomies for non-toxic multinodular goiter, Group I, 43 consecutive parathyroidectomies for primary hyperparathyroidism, group II and a sample of 43 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, group III) were compared at three times: pre-operative, 6 months after surgery, 1 year after surgery. A brief fatigue inventory (BFI) was administered to …
Is it really useful the Harmonic scalpel in axillary dissection for locally advanced breast cancer? A case series.
Background. The seroma is one of the most common complications in the axillary lymph nodal dissection (different surgical approaches have been tried to reduce the seroma incidence). In our study we evaluate the outcome of patients using or not the ultrasonic scalpel (Harmonic scalpel) according to a standardized surgical technique. Patients and Methods. From January 2011 to December 2015 120 patients underwent axillary dissection for breast cancer. Patients were divided in two groups: patients belonging to the first group underwent Harmonic scalpel dissection and patients belonging to the second group underwent classical dissection. Each group consisted of 60 patients. Quadrantectomy (QUAD)…
Histologic considerations about a rare case of recurrent incisional hernia on McBurney incision.
Incisional hernias are often related to longitudinal or transverse laparotomy with an incidence that rises from to 2 to 23 %. The oblique incision often used to surgically treat acute appendicitis has little probability to develop incisional hernia with an estimated incidence less than 2%. Some series report 0.1 - 0.9% of it. Anatomic, physiologic and histologic factors have been implicated in herniation development, such as intra-abdominal pressure or alteration on tissue components; many different risk factors can be taken into account to justify this rare condition such as female gender, diabetes, peritonitis, abscess or appendiceal phlegmon as the cause of the first operation, wound inf…
Laparoscopy is an available alternative to open surgery in the treatment of perforated peptic ulcers: A retrospective multicenter study
Abstract Background Perforated peptic ulcers (PPU) remain one of the most frequent causes of death. Their incidence are largely unchanged accounting for 2–4% of peptic ulcers and remain the second most frequent abdominal cause of perforation and of indication for gastric emergency surgery. The minimally invasive approach has been proposed to treat PPU however some concerns on the offered advantages remain. Methods Data on 184 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for PPU were collected. Likewise, perioperative data including shock at admission and interval between admission and surgery to evaluate the Boey’s score. It was recorded the laparoscopic or open treatments, the type of surgical …
Use of the KSVM-based system for the definition, validation and identification of the incisional hernia recurrence risk factors
BACKGROUND: Incisional hernia is one of the most common complications after abdominal surgery with an incidence rate of 11 to 20% post laparotomy. Many different factors can be considered as risk factors of incisional hernia recurrence. The aim of this study is to confirm and to validate the incisional hernia recurrence risk factors and to identify and to validate new ones. METHODS: In the period from July 2007 to July 2017, 154 patients were selected and subjected to incisional hernia repair. The surgical operations were conducted under general anaesthesia. Patients received antibiotic prophylaxis when indicated, according to the hospital prophylaxis scheme. Inclusion criteria of the study…
Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) and elderly population: prognostic evaluation in acute secondary peritonitis
Introduction. Acute Secondary Peritonitis due to abdominal visceral perforation is characterized by high mortality and morbidity risk. Risk stratification allows prognosis prediction to adopt the best surgical treatment and clinical care support therapy. In Western countries elderly people represent a significant percentage of population Aim. Evaluation of Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) and consideration upon old people. Patients and methods. Retrospective study on 104 patients admitted and operated for âAcute Secondary Peritonitis due to visceral perforationâ. MPI was scored. In our study we want to demonstrate efficacy of MPI and the possibility to consider older age an independent …
Utilizzo di cellule staminali autologhe mesenchimali di origine adiposa e concentrato piastrinico per uso non trasfusionale nel trattamento delle fistole perianali complesse
Questo progetto di ricerca ha voluto valutare l’efficacia del trattamento combinato con cellule staminali autologhe di origine mesenchimale e concentrato piastrinico per uso non trasfusionale, come innovativo trattamento sphincter-saving, nella cura delle fistole perianali complesse. Il reclutamento iniziale eseguito presso l’ambulatorio di colo-proctologia dell’UOC di Chirurgia generale e d’Urgenza del Policlinico “P. Giaccone” ha compreso 22 pazienti con fistole perianali complesse. I nostri criteri di esclusione sono stati: fistole non complicate curabili con semplice fistulotomia, fistole retto-vaginali, gravidanza, morbo di Crohn e rettocolite ulcerosa, HCV, HBV, HIV, neoplasie, malatt…
23-hour observation endocrine neck surgery: lessons learned from a case series of over 1700 patients
Although the surgical procedures concerning the thyroid and the parathyroid glands are considered safe, the possible occurrence of complications (mainly hematoma and hypocalcemia) limit the short stay surgery. At our institution a 23-hour-surgery with overnight hospital stay for endocrine neck surgical procedures was introduced since 2004. The present case series analyses the institutional results. Over 1913 endocrine neck surgery procedures, 1730 patients (90,2%) were managed according to this model. Among these patients, 92 suffered from hypocalcemia, 12 from airways obstruction due to the hematoma, 5 from bilateral nerve palsy. 15 more patients had unpredictable general disease compromis…
Altemeier's procedure for complete rectal prolapse; outcome and function in 43 consecutive female patients.
Background The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate morbidity, mortality, postoperative function and recurrences in patients treated by Altemeier’s rectosigmoidectomy for complete rectal prolapse in a referral center for pelvic floor functional disorders. Methods Peri-operative data on 43 consecutive female patients were reviewed. At follow-up any change in pelvic floor function and recurrences were determined. Thirty four patients were assessed at a median interval of 49 (2–135) months, six being deceased for reason not related to the prolapse and three lost to follow-up. Results Post-operative complications at 30 days occurred in 18 patients (38%). Major complication occurred i…
Uncommon localizations of hydatid cyst. Review of the literature
Introduction Hydatid disease is an endemic anthropozoonosis with usual localization in liver and lungs. Rarely it localizes in uncommon sites as spleen, skeleton, kidney, brain, cardiac muscle, peritoneum, sub cutis. Complications of uncommon localizations are the same that for usual ones. Material and methods Review of the literature on rare and atypical localization of hydatid cysts in soft tissues. Key-words used on Pub-Med [(echinococ OR hydatid) AND (soft tissue OR subcutaneous OR cutaneous)] without time limit. There were found 282 articles; 242 were excluded because of muscular or bone localizations. 40 were coherent. Results Different variables are taken into account: age, sex, geog…
Usefulness of ileostomy defunctioning stoma after anterior resection of rectum on prevention of anastomotic leakage A retrospective analysis
Anastomotic leakage is one of the major complications occurring after anterior resection of rectum. A defunctioning stoma is usually created routinely or on surgeons' discretion. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of temporary ileostomy to prevent anastomotic leakage comparing the postoperative course of patients with and without defunctioning loop ileostomy.Patients that underwent anterior resection of rectum were recruited. 140 patients were enrolled and divided in two groups: patients without and with defunctioning loop ileostomy. Patients' characteristics and other useful data were recorded. A comparison between the two groups was made. The minimum follow-up was 11 …
Solitary metastasis from melanoma causing bowel perforation
Skin melanoma can metastasize to any organ or tissue. The median survival in patient with intestinal metastases is inferior to 7 months compared to other sites metastasis. A wide intestinal resection including the resection of the mesentery with lymph nodes remains the main treatment due to the low morbidity and mortality rate it is also associated with.We took under analysis a recent case of acute abdomen for small bowel perforation from intestinal metastases in a patient with metastatic melanoma who was under treatment with Pemrolizumab. A bowel resection was performed and no other lesions were found in the abdominal examination. However, the chemotherapy was stopped due to the advanced a…
Open versus laparoscopic approach in the treatment of abdominal emergencies in elderly population
AIM: To evaluate the role of laparoscopy in the treatment of surgical emergency in old population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over-70 years-old patients submitted to emergency abdominal surgery from January 2013 to December 2014 were collected and grouped according to admission diagnoses. These accounted small bowel obstruction, colonic acute disease, appendicitis, ventral hernia, gastro-duodenal perforation, biliary disease. In each group it was analyzed the operation time (OT), the morbidity rate and the mortality rate comparing open and laparoscopic management using T-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: 159 over 70-years-old patients underwent emergency surgery in the General and Emergency sur…
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Role of Endoscopy in Crohn’s Disease
Endoscopy plays a very important role in the management of Crohn’s disease (CD). It is an extremely important diagnostic tool in the period of symptoms onset, allowing the evaluation of the activity and of the extent of the disease; moreover, it is very useful in follow-up giving an evaluation of the response to the medical therapy, a detection of recurrences following surgery, and providing an oncological screening. Several procedures like traditional colonoscopy, single- and double-balloon enteroscopy, endocapsule examination, and endoscopic ultrasound are today available. CD can be diagnosed with endoscopy by a skilled gastroenterologist in the setting of a suggestive clinical presentati…
Deep SSI after mesh-mediated groin hernia repair: Management and outcome in an Emergency Surgery Department
Aim. Mesh-mediated groin hernia repair is considered the goldstandard procedure. It has low recurrence rate. Rarely a deep Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is seen when a synthetic prosthesis is used. Case report. We describe a rare case of bilateral deep SSI after mesh- mediated groin hernia repair. Diagnosis was performed through the physical examination and radiological exams. Microbiological samples identified a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus responsible of the infection. Target therapy was performed and re-operation performed in order to remove the infected prosthesis and to apply a biological one to create the fibrous scaffold. During follow-up time, right side recurrence wa…
FISSIT (Fistula Surgery in Italy) study: A retrospective survey on the surgical management of anal fistulas in Italy over the last 15 years
Background: Surgical treatment of anal fistulas is still a challenge. The aims of this study were to evaluate the adoption and healing rates for the different surgical techniques used in Italy over the past 15 years. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective observational study of patients affected by simple and complex anal fistulas of cryptoglandular origin who were surgically treated in the period 2003–2017. Surgical techniques were grouped as sphincter-cutting or sphincter-sparing and as technology-assisted or techno-free. All patients included in the study were followed for at least 12 months. Results: A total of 9,536 patients (5,520 simple; 4,016 complex fistulas) entered the stu…
Use of the Martius advancement flap for low rectovaginal fistulas
Aim: The percentage recurrence after any surgical treatment for low rectovaginal fistula (LRVF) is unacceptably high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of the Martius procedure in a carefully selected series of patients with a LRVF of at least 1 cm diameter who had had at least two previous surgeries or in the presence of chronically inflamed local tissues. Method: Between January 2009 and April 2017, 24 patients with the abovementioned features were prospectively included in this study. Success was defined both as the absence of any subjective symptoms and the fistula, as confirmed by evaluation under anaesthesia. Postoperative complications were assess…
Laparoscopic ileocecal resection in acute and chronic presentations of Crohn's disease. A single center experience
Introduction The terminal ileum is the most involved tract in Crohn's disease. The obstruction in this location is the most frequent complication. Acute or chronic presentations can occur. Surgery finds a role in the management of chronic strictures and in acute clinical presentations with complications not improving with conservative therapy. Patients and methods We investigate the outcome of patients with obstruction of the ileo-cecal bowel tract laparoscopically managed. It was analyzed the average operative time (OT), the conversion rate and the occurrence of re-operation due to surgical complications. Results 21 patients underwent an ileocecal resection for complicated Crohn's disease …
P-POSSUM score: a prognostic instrument for postoperative complications in Crohn's disease
The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the correlation between the p-POSSUM score and the severity of Crohn's Disease (CD) postoperative complications, evaluated by using the Clavien-Dindo score.We have selected data of 22 patients (11 males, 11 females) that had been recovered in the Operative Unit of General Surgery of the University of Palermo General Hospital and undergone surgery for CD from 2010 to 2017.Patients who underwent surgery for complicated CD was divided in three different group on the base of Clavien Dindo score, C1 (Clavien-Dindo ≤ 1), C2 (Clavien Dindo = 2), and C3 (Clavien Dindo ≥ 3). ANOVA one way statistic analysis was used to investigate the presence of statistic …
Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Active Surveillance Against Surgery. Considerations of an Italian Working Group From a Systematic Review
IntroductionActive surveillance is considered a viable option for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Since the last decade of the 20th century, this method has spread from Japan to other countries, but has not yet been fully accepted and validated by the major Western Scientific Societies. In 2016, a systematic review on the results of active surveillance was published, based on two articles that showed encouraging results. Other reviews published subsequently, were mainly based on articles from the Far East. The aim of this review is to assess the most recent results published from 2017 to 2020 on this subject.Materials and MethodsA systematic literature search was performed on MEDLINE via …
Update in laparoscopic approach to acute mesenteric ischemia
AMI is an uncommon but serious disease often associated with a bad prognosis, associated with occlusion of Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) for embolism or thrombosis (67.2 %), mesenteric venous thrombosis (15.7 %), and non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (15.4 %). Clinical markers are often aspecific and symptoms low suggestive. The gold standard for the diagnosis is multidetector CT Angiography (CTA) with sensibility of 93.3 % and specificity of 95.9 %. Abdominal exploration could be useful to confirm cases of AMI without signs of SMA occlusion at CTA. Few reports have been found on the diagnostic role of Exploratory Laparoscopy. To increase the sensibility of laparoscopy in the diagnosis o…
Delayed Coloanal Anastomosis for rectovaginal fistula after colorectal resection for deep endometriosis
The deep infiltrating endometriosis, defined as a subperitoneal infiltration of endometrial implants of ≥ 5 mm involving not only the colorectal tract but also rectovaginal septum, vagina and bladder often requires a challenging surgery. Endometriosis nodes of the rectovaginal septum, if symptomatic, need a resection of the involved colorectal tract with colorectal or coloanal anastomosis. Unfortunately in these cases is not uncommon the possibility of a postoperative rectovaginal fistula (RVF), caused by the weakness of the septum that must be skeletonized to completely remove the endometriosis nodes. Here we present a case of anastomotic leakage with high RVF after colorectal resection an…
Additional file 1: of Altemeierâ s procedure for complete rectal prolapse; outcome and function in 43 consecutive female patients
Data on follow-up and recurrences. Pre and post-operative functional scores and data above recurrences and time to recurrences collected from each patient. (XLSX 20 kb)