0000000000066733

AUTHOR

Leonardo Gulotta

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…

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Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy: Surgical technique and perioperative clinical outcomes in a single center

Abstract Introduction Pancreatic cancer is the fourth cause of death from cancer in Western countries. The radical surgical resection is the only curative option for this pathology. The prevalence of this disease increases with age in population. The causes of pancreatic cancer are unknown, but we consider risk factors like smoke and tobacco usage, alcohol consumption coffee, history of diabetes or chronic pancreatitis. In this study we report our experience in the treatment of resectable pancreatic cancer and periampullary neoplasms with particular attention to evaluate the evolution of surgical technique and the clinical postoperative outcomes. Methods In our Department between January 20…

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The Septum Inguinalis: A Clue to Hernia Genesis?

Purpose: Double ipsilateral inguinal ("pantaloon") hernias and also the more advanced "combined" inguinal hernia involve disruption of the inguinal floor. In the case of pantaloon hernias, the medial boundary of the internal ring remains intact but in combined hernias this is fully disrupted, producing a single hernial protrusion. Deepening the pathophysiology of these hernias may be helpful in addressing hernia genesis, thus improving strategies for the treatment of this disease. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 22 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair showed double ipsilateral (pantaloon) hernia, comprising distinct direct and indirect protrusions separated by a tissue septum. I…

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Reoperation for persistent or recurrent secondary hyperparathyroidism. Surgical treatment of renal hyperparathyroidism

Background: Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common acquired disorder seen in chronic renal failure. Its pathophysiology is mainly due to hyperphosphatemia and vitamin D deficiency and resistance. When medical treatment fails, subtotal and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation are the standard procedures, although both are associated with high recurrence rates. Methods and Results: 4 patients experienced persistence and 9 relapse. The first 4 were subjected to reoperation after 6 months for the persistence of symptoms due to the finding of a supernumerary adenomatous gland while the remaining patients at the reoperation showed in 5 cases 2 more glands in over thymic position, a…

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Dedifferentiated retroperitoneal large liposarcoma and laparoscopic treatment: Is it possible and safe? The first literature case report

Highlights • We describe a case report of large retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma totally treated by laparoscopic surgery. • In literature we found few cases of laparoscopic treatment only for Well-Differentiated liposarcoma. • To our knowledge this is the first description of Dedifferentiated liposarcoma completely treated with laparoscopic technique. • Literature review was performed to identify outcomes and advantages of laparoscopic approach for.

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Laparoscopic near-total splenectomy. Report of a case

Highlights • We describe a case report of near total splenectomy managed by laparoscopy for a large lesion of the upper pole of the spleen. • When total splenectomy is performed, an increased risk of potentially lethal infections arises. Asplenia and impaired splenic function are related to the increase of morbidity and mortality from infectious complications. • The overwhelming post splenectomy infections (OPSI) are mostly represented by fulminating sepsis, meningitis or pneumonia. • laparoscopic near total splenectomy is an innovative partial splenectomy technique consisting on preserving a residual spleen volume. • The comparison between other spleen preserving techniques shows that LNTS…

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Small bowel volvulus due to a large intestinal lipoma: A rare case report

Highlights • These are rare, benign, slow-growing mesenchymal tumors originating from adipose tissue in the bowel wall. Lipomas of mesentery, mesocolon, and antimesenteric side of intestine are extremely rare. • We describe a case of small bowel obstruction secondary to volvulus due to an antimesenteric ileal lipoma. • Mesenteric lipomas are rare clinical entity, with less than 50 cases described in English language literature. CT scan is the gold standard imaging modality for diagnosis of mesenteric lipoma and other lipomatous abdominal masses. • It shows homogenous tumor of adipose tissue, gives information about features of the small bowel and if there is evidence of ischemia and can dem…

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Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: preoperative data, surgical technique and clinical outcomes

Background: laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the standard treatment for adrenal lesions. The better clinical outcoms of laparoscopic technique are valid for treatment of small benign masses (< 5-6 cm), instead there are still open questions in literature regarding the correct management of larger lesions (> 6 cm) or in case of potentially malignant adrenal tumors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in a referral surgical department for endocrine surgery. Methods: at the University Hospital Policlinico "P. Giaccone" of Palermo between January 2010 and December 2017 we performed a total of 81 laparoscopic adrenalectomy. We created a retr…

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“Relaparoscopic” management of surgical complications: The experience of an Emergency Center

Background/aim: Laparotomy has been the approach of choice for re-operations in patients with surgical complications. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of laparoscopic approach for the management of general abdominal surgery complications. Materials and methods: We report a retrospective review of 75 patients who underwent laparoscopic evaluation for postoperative complications over a 4-year period. Primary outcomes (resolution rate by exclusive laparoscopic approach, conversion rate, further surgery rate) and secondary outcomes (mortality, hospitalization, prolonged ileus, wounds problems and median operative time) were evaluated. Results…

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Laparoscopic treatment of mesenteric avulsion and intestinal perforation after blunt abdominal trauma: A report of a case

Highlights • Intestinal injuries are quite involved in non-penetrating abdominal trauma after liver and spleen. • The incidence of small bowel injury after blunt abdominal trauma has increased nowadays, since high-energy transfer impacts producing large abdominal wall displacements are more frequent, such as car crash. • We report a case of a 49-year-old Caucasian woman, victim of a violent car crash, resulting in multiple small bowel perforations and mesenteric avulsion treated with laparoscopic approach. • Laparoscopy is a safe and feasible tool in selected patients with blunt abdominal trauma, both for diagnosis and treatment. • The prerequisites for applying mini invasive approach are b…

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Small bowel obstruction after caesarean section: Laparoscopic management. Two case reports

Abstract Introduction Caesarean section is the most common abdominal surgery performed on women worldwide. Adhesions represent a severe complication of cesarean section and can cause different degrees of bowel obstruction. Case reports We report two unusual cases of small bowel obstruction treated with laparoscopic approach after caesarean section performed for gynecological pathologies. In the first one small bowel obstruction was due to volvulus caused by a severe pelvic adhesion syndrome; in the second one, occlusive picture was related to presence of multiple adhesion phenomena between the sigmoid colon and the right ovary as result of abdominal hysterectomy. Discussion The incidence of…

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Systemic schistosomiasis and large bowel perforation: An unexpected surgical urgency. Report of a case and literature review

Key Clinical Message In the presence of suggestive clinical picture (high eosinophil count and multiple CT scan granuloma‐like lesions), schistosomiasis should be taken into account in case of suspected bowel perforation even if common risk factors are not identified through anamnesis.

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Endometrial cancer: Robotic versus Laparoscopic treatment. Preliminary report

Laparoscopic approach is today the standard treatment for benign and malignant gynecological pathologies. To traditional laparoscopic surgery in the last 10 years we can add the possibility to use a robotic platform. The adoption of this system allows undoubted advantages as the three-dimensional vision, the absence of the physiological tremor with enhanced ergonomics and possibility of using articulable tools. In this study we analyzed the results of 18 patients with endometrial cancer (Stage I) treated with robotic approach. The results were compared with a selected sample of 26 patients, with the same characteristics, treated with traditional laparoscopic approach in the same period by t…

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Large cavernous hemangioma of the adrenal gland: Laparoscopic treatment. Report of a case

Highlights • Identify the preoperative radiologic features of adrenal hemangioma. • We examine the better surgical approach for adrenal tumors and adrenal hemangioma. • Controindication to laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

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Giant subcutaneous lipomatosis in Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers syndrome: The first literature report of “laparoscopic” excision

Background MERRF (Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers) is a rare multisystem clinical disorder due to a pathogenic variant of the mitochondrial DNA. Rare symptoms of MERRF include multiple systemic lipomatosis with symmetric uncapsulated lipomas occurs generally on the posterior cervical region and upper back. Methods We report the clinical case of a 46 years-old Caucasian man with MERRF syndrome who presented with MSL on the right cervical region. We decided to perform a mini-invasive approach using laparoscopic instruments. We performed a 10-mm incision about 5 cm under the mass and conducted a blunt dissection of the subcutaneous plane. Then we positioned a 10-mm port and started C…

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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 …

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The diagnostic accuracy of circulating tumor DNA for the detection of EGFR-T790M mutation in NSCLC: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AbstractThis pooled analysis aims at evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of circulating tumor (ct) DNA for the detection of EGFR-T790M mutation in NSCLC patients who progressed after EGFR-TKIs. Data from all published studies, reporting both sensitivity and specificity of plasma-based EGFR-T790M mutation testing by ctDNA were collected by searching in PubMed, Cochrane Library, American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society of Medical Oncology and World Conference of Lung Cancer meeting proceedings. A total of twenty-one studies, with 1639 patients, were eligible. The pooled sensitivity of ctDNA analysis was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.64–0.70) and the pooled specificity was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.77–0…

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Feasibility and Safety of Laparoscopic Complete Mesocolic Excision (CME) for Right-sided Colon Cancer

OBJECTIVE The aim of this prospective clinical study is to compare short-term outcome of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy using the Complete Mesocolic Excision (CME group) with patients who underwent conventional right-sided colonic resection (NCME group). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Although CME with central vascular ligation in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy is associated with a significant decrease in local recurrence rates and improvements in cancer-related 5-year survival, there may be additional risks associated with this technique because of increased surgical complications. As a result, there is controversy surrounding its use. METHODS In this randomized controlled trial, several prim…

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TAS-102 in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): efficacy, tolerability, and quality of life in heavily pretreated elderly patients: a real-life study

Background: TAS-102 is an oral monotherapy, combining trifluridine and tipiracil hydrochloride, indicated for the treatment of pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The aim of this real-life study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in heavily pretreated elderly patients with mCRC whose disease has progressed with standard therapies. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we enrolled 50 elderly patients >70 years of age (median age 78 years) with a diagnosis of mCRC who were previously treated or were not considered candidates for treatment with other available therapies. Patients aged >70 years with advanced colorectal cancer and with an ECOG perf…

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Electrospun Polyhydroxyethyl-Aspartamide-Polylactic Acid Scaffold for Biliary Duct Repair: A Preliminary In Vivo Evaluation

Abstract Tissue engineering has emerged as a new approach with the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. The objective of this study was to test whether our polymeric scaffold is able to resist the corrosive action of bile and to support a cell's infiltration and neoangiogenesis with the aim of using it as a biodegradable tissue substitute for serious bile duct injuries. In particular, a resorbable electrospun polyhydroxyethyl-aspartamide–polylactic acid (90 mol% PHEA, 10 mol% PLA)/polycaprolactone (50:50 w/w) plate scaffold was implanted into rabbit gallbladder to assess the in vivo effects of the lytic action of the bile on the scaffold structure and then as a tu…

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Unusual giant chromophobe renal cancer totally managed with laparoscopic technique: Report of a case

Highlights • We describe a case report of giant renal cell chromophobe carcinoma totally treated by laparoscopic surgery. • The size of renal lesion represents a critical point in surgical approach because to perform a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy can be challenging even for skilled surgeons in giant renal tumors. • A brief review of literature was performed to identify outcomes and potentially surgical advantages of laparoscopic approach for retroperitoenal liposarcoma. • The possibility of the laparoscopic approach derives from from the preoperative identification of adipose cleavage, from the absence of invasion of major vascular axes, from the absence of distant metastatic lesions.

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Difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and preoperative predictive factors

AbstractLaparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard technique for treatment of gallbladder disease. In case of acute cholecystitis we can identify preoperative factors associated with an increased risk of conversion and intraoperative complications. The aim of our study was to detect preoperative laboratory and radiological findings predictive of difficult LC with potential advantages for both the surgeons and patients in terms of options for management. We designed a retrospective case–control study to compare preoperative predictive factors of difficult LC in patients treated in emergency setting between January 2015 and December 2019. We included in the difficult LC group the surge…

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