Abuzer Dirican

Short and long-term results of the Karydakis flap versus the Limberg flap for treating pilonidal sinus disease: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND Pilonidal sinus is a common disease that mostly affects young people. Although various surgical techniques have been described for treating sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD), controversy still exists as to the best surgical technique. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency and short-term and long-term results of the Karydakis flap with that of the Limberg flap for treating SPD. METHODS In this prospective randomized study, 269 patients with SPD were recruited to undergo either the Karydakis flap (n = 135) or the Limberg flap (n = 134) procedure between September 2004 and September 2008. RESULTS The mean operative time for the Karydakis group (42.32 ± 8.64 minutes) was shorter than that for the Limberg group (50.14 ± 6.96 minutes) (P = .01). The complication rate for the Karydakis group (n = 15 [11.1%]) was lower than that for the Limberg group (n = 28 [20.8%]) (P = .029). The visual analogue scale score for postoperative pain at the operation site on the 30th day was lower in the Karydakis group than in the Limberg group (2.22 ± 1.01 vs 3.23 ± 1.14, P = .01). The visual analogue scale score for satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance of the scars in the Karydakis group was 7.08 ± 1.75, whereas it was 3.16 ± 1.40 in the Limberg group at the 3rd month (P = .01). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Karydakis group than in the Limberg group (3.40 ± .94 vs 3.8 ± 1.19 days, P = .03). Only 4 patients in the Karydakis group developed recurrence (3%), whereas 9 patients (6.9%) did so in the Limberg group (P = .151). CONCLUSIONS The Karydakis flap procedure should be chosen instead of the Limberg flap for treating uncomplicated SPD because of its lower postoperative complication rate, lower pain scores, shorter operation time and length of hospital stay, and good cosmetic satisfaction. However, no differences existed between the 2 surgical procedures in terms of recurrence prevention.

Subcutaneous hydatid cysts occurring in the palm and the thigh: two case reports

IntroductionHydatid cyst disease is common in some regions of the world and is usually located in the liver and lungs. This report presents two cases of primary hydatid cysts located subcutaneously: one in the medial thigh and one in the left palm between the index and middle fingers.Case presentationsA 64-year-old male farmer visited our hospital because a swelling on the right medial thigh had grown during the last year. Superficial ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a lesion resembling a hydatid cyst. A germinative membrane was encountered during surgical excision. Pathological examination was compatible with a hydatid cyst. The second case involved a 67-year-old male farmer who complained of a swelling that had grown in his left palm in the last year. The preliminary diagnosis was a lipoma. However, a hydatid cyst was diagnosed during surgical excision and after the pathological examination. The patient did not have a history of hydatid cyst disease and hydatid cysts were not detected in other organs. There has been no disease recurrence after following both patients for 3 years.ConclusionA hydatid cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous cystic lesions in regions where hydatid cysts are endemic, and should be excised totally, with an intact wall, to avoid recurrence.

Comparison of Intracorporeal Knot-tying Suture (polyglactin) and Titanium Endoclips in Laparoscopic Appendiceal Stump Closure: A Prospective Randomized Study

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy is a well-described surgical technique. However, concerns still exist regarding whether the closure of the appendiceal stump should be done with a clip, an endoloop, staples, or other techniques. Therefore, several modifications to the original technique with new materials have been introduced for appendiceal stump closure. The aim of this study was to compare intracorporeal (polyglactin) knot-tying suture with titanium endoclips in appendiceal stump closure during laparoscopic appendectomy. Methods: The study was carried out as a prospective randomized clinical trial between April 2010 and February 2011. Patients with a presentation of appendicitis were included into the study. Two groups were defined—patients with the titanium endoclip and patients with the knot-tying (polyglactin) suture. The results in terms of operating time, complication rates, and hospital stay were analyzed. Results: Sixty-one patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy were enrolled in the titanium endoclip group (n=30) or the knot-tying (polyglactin) suture group (n=31). No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups in terms of the distribution of age, sex percentage, appendix localization, and histopathologic diagnosis (P>0.05). One patient required a second operation on postoperative day 10 because of intraperitoneal abscess. The mean operative time for the endoclip group (41.27±12.2 min) was shorter than that for the knot-tying group (62.81±15.4 min) (P=0.001). No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups in terms of hospital stay, follow-up time, and preoperative and postoperative complications (P>0.05). Conclusions: In laparoscopic appendectomy, using a titanium endoclip for optimizing and controlling the appendiceal stump closure is safe and is associated with shorter operation time. This also simplifies the procedure, so it can be a useful alternative to intracorporeal knot-tying for appendiceal stump closure.

Acute traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures: A retrospective study of 48 cases

PurposeTraumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, and the preoperative diagnosis is difficult.MethodsForty-eight patients with TDR were treated in our department between January 2000 and May 2009. The cause, location, size of rupture, associated morbidity and mortality, surgical material for repair, and predictive factors for overall outcome were evaluated.ResultsThere were 41 male patients (85%) and 7 female patients (15%) with a mean age of 33.8 years (range 17–69 years). Blunt trauma accounted for the injuries of 15 patients (31%) and 33 patients (68%) had penetrating injuries. The diagnosis was preoperatively established in 12 patients (25%) with a plain chest X-ray or/and computed tomography. The location of rupture was on the left side of the diaphragm in 35 patients (73%), on the right side in 10 (21%), and was bilateral in 3 patients (6%). Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture was repaired with interrupted nonabsorbable sutures or polypropylene mesh (8 patients). Postoperative complications were observed in 18 patients (38%). Overall mortality was observed in 7 patients (15%). The mortality was associated with hemorrhagic shock (P = 0.002), a high injury severity score (P = 0.002), and having additional injuries (P = 0.015).ConclusionThe outcome of the patients is associated with presence of hemorrhagic shock, a high injury severity score, and additional organ injury.

Donor Complications Among 500 Living Donor Liver Transplantations at a Single Center

INTRODUCTION Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become necessary because of the shortage of cadaveric organs. We retrospectively analyzed 500 living donor hepatectomies using the Clavien classification system for complications to grade their severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified and applied the Clavien classification to 500 consecutive donors who underwent right for LDLT left hepatectomy between January 2007 and August 2011. RESULTS The 149 complications were observed in 93 of 500 (18.6%) donors who were followed for a mean 30 months. There wan no donor mortality. Complications developed in 85 (18.6%) right 5 (35.7%) left, and 3 (10%) left lateral segment hepatectomy donors. The overall incidence of reoperations was 7.2%. Seventy-seven of 149 complications were grade I (51.6%) or 9 grade II (6%). The major complications consisted of 27 (18.1%) grade IIIa, 35 (23.4%) grade IIIb, and 1 (0.6%) grade IVa. Grade IVb and grade V complications did not occur. The most common problems were biliary complications in 14 of 181 donors (7.7%). CONCLUSION Donors for LDLT experienced a range of complications.

Isolated cecal necrosis mimicking acute appendicitis: a case series.

IntroductionSpontaneous non-occlusive ischemic colitis involving the cecum alone (isolated cecal necrosis) is a rare condition that is generally due to a low-flow state: shock. It presents with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and may resemble acute appendicitis. Little is known about postoperative ischemic necrosis of the remaining colon after surgical treatment of isolated cecal necrosis. We report four cases of isolated cecal necrosis mimicking acute appendicitis seen at our institution within a 4-year period.Case presentationThe patients were two men and two women with a mean age at diagnosis of 59 years (range 46-68). The patients were of Turkish ethnic origin. All patients presented to the emergency room with acute abdominal pain and had symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The medical histories for three of the patients revealed end-stage renal failure requiring hemodialysis. The other patient had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Right hemicolectomy with anastomosis was performed in three patients and cecal resection with ileocolostomy was performed in the remaining one patient. All of the patients healed without complications. Median follow-up of patients was 24.5 (range: 17-37) months. There was no recurrence of ischemia in the remaining colon during the follow-up period of the patients.ConclusionIsolated cecal infarction should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, especially in those patients on chronic hemodialysis. While diffuse ischemic disease of the intestine has high morbidity, mortality and recurrence rates, patients with isolated cecal necrosis have a good prognosis with early diagnosis and surgical treatment compared to those with diffuse ischemic disease.

Ruptured Hydatid Cysts into the Peritoneum: A Case Series.

Introduction:The rupture of a hydatid cyst into the abdominal cavity is a rare and serious complication.Methods:In this retrospective study, we evaluated ten patients who were surgically treated for ruptured hydatid cysts into the peritoneum at a university hospital in an endemic area between 2003 and 2008.Results:There were three female and seven male patients, with a mean age of 34.2 years (range 20–79). Ruptured cysts were located in the liver (7), pelvis (2), and spleen (1). Eight patients had other nonperforated hydatid cysts. Perforations were spontaneous in seven patients and traumatic in three. Patients’ diagnoses were done with abdominal ultrasound (3), computed tomography (6), and laparotomy (1). The surgical treatment of perforated cysts were radical (pericystectomy) in one patient and conservative (partial pericystectomy) in the other nine patients. There was postoperative morbidity (surgical site infection) in one patient and one postoperative recurrence of disease in another patient. Mortality was seen in one patient 2 months after operation due to pulmonary hydatid cyst and infection.Conclusion:The rupture of hydatid cysts into the peritoneal cavity should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in endemic areas. Perforation in a young patient may be the first presentation of hydatid cyst. Multiple hydatid cysts may be a predisposing factor for perforation. Location of the cyst on segment VI of the liver may be a predisposing factor as well. Emergency surgery is the main treatment for intraperitoneal rupture of hydatid cysts and medical treatment should be given postoperatively.

Living donor liver transplantation for acute liver failure in pediatric patients caused by the ingestion of fireworks containing yellow phosphorus

Yellow phosphorus is a protoplasmic toxicant that targets the liver. The ingestion of fireworks containing yellow phosphorus, either by children who accidentally consume them or by adults who are attempting suicide, often results in death due to acute liver failure (ALF). We present the outcomes of 10 children who ingested fireworks containing yellow phosphorus. There were 6 boys and 4 girls, and their ages ranged from 21 to 60 months. One patient remained stable without liver complications and was discharged. Three patients died of hepatorenal failure and cardiovascular collapse, and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) was performed for 6 patients. The patients had grade II or III encephalopathy, a mean alanine aminotransferase level of 1148.2 IU/L, a mean aspartate aminotransferase level of 1437.5 IU/L, a mean total bilirubin level of 6.9 mg/dL, a mean international normalized ratio of 6.6, a mean Pediatric End‐Stage Liver Disease score of 33.7, and a mean Child‐Pugh score of 11.3. Postoperatively, 2 patients had persistent encephalopathy and died on the second or third postoperative day, and 1 patient died of cardiac arrest on the first postoperative day despite a well‐functioning graft. The other 3 patients were still alive at a mean of 204 days. In conclusion, the ingestion of fireworks containing yellow phosphorus causes ALF with a high mortality rate. When signs of irreversible ALF are detected, emergency LDLT should be considered as a lifesaving procedure; however, if yellow phosphorus toxicity affects both the brain and the heart in addition to the liver, the mortality rate remains very high despite liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 17:1286–1291, 2011.

Conversion to Stoppa Procedure in Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair

The Stoppa technique for abdominal wall hernia repair was found to be an effective rescue procedure for difficulties arising during laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

Perforated Hepatic Hydatid Cyst into the Peritoneum with Mild Symptoms

Rupture into the abdominal cavity is a rare but serious complication of hydatid disease that necessitates emergency surgical intervention. We present herein a case with mild abdominal symptoms due to hydatid cyst rupture into the peritoneum after trauma. A 24-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room with mild abdominal pain. His symptoms had started after a fall four days earlier. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed cystic lesions in the liver and peritoneum with intraabdominal free fluid. He was treated surgically with partial cystectomy and falciformoplasty. Postoperative albendazole therapy was given for two months. There was not recurrence four months postoperatively at control computed tomography.