Burak Isik

Comparative effectiveness of several agents for preventing postoperative adhesions.

Postoperative adhesions (PAs) are usually clinically asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases, however, may present with chronic abdominal and pelvic pain, infertility, and intestinal obstruction; and they may require intensive, costly therapeutic modalities. Various agents have been used to prevent PAs, but the results indicate general suboptimal effectiveness. Our objective was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of two pharmacologic agents for preventing PA: nadroparine calcium (low-molecular-weight heparin, or LMWH) and aprotinin, as well as a barrier agent, sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethycellulose (SCMC). Our subjects were 40 male Wistar-Albino rats divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 rats, which underwent standard cecal abrasion preceding midline laparotomy. In the control group (group 1) 1 ml of 0.9% NaCl was administered intraperitoneally before abdominal closure. In the three preventive groups, 100 U AXa (anti factor X activity) LMWH, 1800 IU aprotinin, and SCMC were administered intraperitoneally to groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Relaparotomy was performed on the 14th postoperative day. Visceral and abdominal wall adhesions were scored in a blinded fashion. The adhesion scores (mean ± SD) for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 2.00 ± 0.67, 0.6.00 ± 0.84, 1.10 ± 0.74, and 0.20 ± 0.42, respectively. The differences in the adhesion scores among all three preventive groups (groups 2, 3, 4) were statistically significant when compared with the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.017, p < 0.001, respectively). Intraperitoneal SCMC and administration of LMWH were more effective than giving aprotinin.

Spontaneous Small Bowel Perforations Due to Intestinal Tuberculosis Should Not Be Repaired by Simple Closure

Intestinal tuberculosis is a major problem in many regions of the world. The incidence of it is rising in Western countries due to immigration from Third World countries and human immunodeficiency virus infection. The difference between the simple closure and resection and anastomosis was evaluated in this study. Retrospectively, 12 patients with intestinal tuberculosis diagnosed histopathologically among 50 patients with free intestinal perforations operated on between 1995 and 2003 at Turgut Ozal Medical Center were evaluated. Each patient underwent routine laboratory tests and radiologic studies. The most common symptoms of patients were abdominal pain, night sweats, and weight loss. Sites of perforation were ileum in 10 patients (multiple perforation in 4) and jejunum in 2 patients (both had multiple perforations). The perforation was closed by primary closure in 7 patients. Resection-anastomosis was performed in 5 patients. Leaks occurred in overall 3 of 7 patients with primary closure. Three of the 7 patients with leaks due to septicemia died. The mortality rate among all patients was 25%. Intestinal tuberculosis should be kept in mind as a cause in free intestinal perforations. Because of high mortality rate, the resection of the affected area and anastomosis may be the treatment of choice rather than primary closure.

A Life-saving but Inadequately Discussed Procedure: Tube Duodenostomy. Known and Unknown Aspects

ObjectiveThe most successful method of managing the difficult duodenum, including the stump leakage, has been the tube duodenostomy technique, but it has not gained wide acceptance and is rarely used. The purpose of this study is to describe the details of the procedure for indication, technical approach, and postoperative care.MethodsDuring the period from 1998 to 2006, a tube duodenostomy was performed in 31 patients for possible insecure duodenal stump closure during gastric resection, postoperative duodenal stump leakage, duodenal leak after primary closure of duodenum for perforation or injury, or anostomotic leak after choledochoduodenostomy. All of the tube duodenostomies were performed through the open end of the duodenum. We also inserted a T-tube into the common bile duct in 19 of 31 patients (61.2 %) with tube duodenostomy.ResultsA tube duodenostomy was performed in the primary operation in 15 of 31 patients. None of those 15 patients required a second operation, and there were no leaks and no deaths. Among the larger group (31 patients), there was one (3.2 %) duodenal stump leak after tube duodenostomy, and it ceased spontaneously; one patient had a subhepatic collection after removal of the duodenostomy tube, and three patients had associated incisional infections. Two patients died; one after a myocardial infarction and the other from irreversible sepsis. The mean length of hospital stay was 26.9 days.ConclusionsWe conclude that tube duodenostomy is a simple, effective, and safe method to prevent rupture of an insecure duodenal stump or to treat the leakage from the duodenal stump or primary repair on the duodenum.

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.

Abdominal actinomycosis simulating malignancy of the right colon.

Actinomycosis is a chronic, suppurative, and granulomatous disease caused by an anaerobic or microaerophilic gram-positive bacterium, Actinomyces israelii, manifesting itself as fistula, sinus, inflammatory pseudotumor, or abscess formation. The cervicofacial region (50 to 65%) accounts for the majority of the cases followed by abdomen (20%) (1–5). Abdominal infection mostly involves the cecal area and can simulate malignant tumor on clinical and radiological examinations (1, 4, 6, 7). The diagnosis is almost always ascertained after surgery and histopathological examination of the specimen. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the possibility of encountering an abdominal mass related to actinomycosis in emergency cases and the benefit of limited surgical procedure.

Partial hepatectomy is curative for the localized type of Caroli's disease: A case report and review of the literature

The case of a 58-year-old woman who was diagnosed with the localized type of Carolis disease is presented. This disease involves the whole of the left half of the liver. A left hepatectomy was followed by complete resolution of symptoms. The current article suggests that hepatic resection may be aggressively performed in selected patients with the localized form of Carolis disease.

Resveratrol, a Red Wine Constituent Polyphenol, Protects Gastric Tissue Against the Oxidative Stress in Cholestatic Rats

This experimental study was designed to determine the effects of resveratrol on the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) in gastric tissue after bile duct ligation (BDL). Swiss albino rats were divided into three groups: Group 1, sham (n = 7); Group 2, BDL (BDL only group; n = 7); and Group 3, BDL plus resveratrol (n = 7). Animals in the resveratrol group were treated with 10 mg/kg resveratrol (i.p.) once a day throughout 28 days. In the resveratrol group, levels of MDA and NO in gastric tissue were significantly lower than in the BDL-only group (P < 0.001). The level of GSH in the resveratrol group was significantly higher than in the BDL-only group (P < 0.001). The present study demonstrates that intraperitoneal administration of resveratrol maintains antioxidant defenses and reduces oxidative gastric damage. This effect of resveratrol may be useful to preserve gastric tissue under oxidative stress due to cholestasis.

The Effect of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Bacterial Translocation and Intestinal Damage in Cholestatic Rats

We investigated the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in rat ileum injury induced by chronic biliary obstruction. Swiss albino rats were divided into three groups: Group 1, sham (n=7); Group 2, common bile duct ligation (n=7); and Group 3, common bile duct ligation plus caffeic acid phenethyl ester (n=7). In the caffeic acid phenethyl ester-treated rats, ileum tissue levels of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase were significantly lower than those of the bile duct-ligated rats (P < 0.001). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1α in the caffeic acid phenethyl ester group were significantly lower than those in the bile duct ligation group (P < 0.03, P < 0.01, and P < 0.02 respectively). The present study demonstrates that intraperitoneal administration of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in bile duct-ligated rats reduces intestinal oxidative stress. This effect may be useful in the preservation of intestinal damage in cholestasis.

Chylous ascites after liver transplantation: Incidence and risk factors†‡

In this study, we evaluated the diagnosis, epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of chylous ascites developing after liver transplantation (LT). Between 2002 and 2011, LT was performed 693 times in 631 patients at our clinic. One‐hundred fifteen of these patients were excluded for reasons such as retransplantation, early postoperative mortality, and insufficient data. Chylous ascites developed after LT (mean ± SD = 8.0 ± 3.2 days, range = 5‐17 days) in 24 of the 516 patients included in this study. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we examined whether the following were risk factors for developing chylous ascites: age, sex, body mass index, graft‐to‐recipient weight ratio, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score, vena cava cross‐clamping time, total operation time, Child‐Pugh classification, sodium level, portal vein thrombosis or ascites before transplantation, donor type, albumin level, and perihepatic dissection technique [LigaSure vessel sealing system (LVSS) versus conventional suture ligation]. According to a univariate analysis, a low albumin level (P = 0.04), the presence of ascites before transplantation (P = 0.03), and the use of LVSS for perihepatic dissection (P < 0.01) were risk factors for developing chylous ascites. According to a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, the presence of pretransplant ascites [P = 0.04, hazard ratio (HR) = 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1‐13.5] and the use of LVSS for perihepatic dissection (P = 0.01, HR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.5‐34.4) were independent risk factors. In conclusion, the presence of preoperative ascites and the use of LVSS for perihepatic dissection are independent risk factors for the formation of chylous ascites. To our knowledge, this study is the most extensive examination of the development of chylous ascites. Nevertheless, our results should be supported by new prospective trials. Liver Transpl, 2012.

Influence of Liver Transplantation on Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Wilson Disease.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the effect of liver transplantation on the neuropsychological manifestations of Wilson disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine of 42 Wilson disease patients had neuropsychological symptoms before liver transplantation. They were 7 male and 2 female subjects with a median age of 19 years (range 10 to 25). They were analyzed for their preoperative and postoperative hepatic, neurological, and psychological scores described by the Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale after a mean 36.6 months of follow-up. RESULTS Preoperative mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease and Child-Pugh scores were 18.3 (range 15 to 26) and 8.9 (range 6 to 12), respectively. One patient had acute postoperative ischemic stroke unrelated to Wilson disease and was excluded from the statistical analysis. Preoperative and postoperative hepatic, neurological, and psychological scores of the remaining 8 patients were 7.4 ± 2.3 vs 2.4 ± 1.3 (P = .0005), 17.7 ± 11.7 vs 12.7 ± 12.5 (P = .055), and 9.0 ± 1.7 vs 7.0 ± 2.1 (P = .033). CONCLUSIONS Liver transplantation for Wilson disease can provide some improvement of the neuropsychological symptoms in addition to the hepatic recovery.