Ertuğrul Göksoy

COLOR: A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Laparoscopic and Open Resection for Colon Cancer

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has proven to be safe and effective. However, the value of laparoscopic resection for malignancy in terms of cancer outcome can only be assessed by large prospective randomized clinical trials with sufficient follow-up. Methods: COLOR (COlon carcinoma Laparoscopic or Open Resection) is a European multicenter randomized trial which has started in September 1997. In 24 hospitals in Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, 1,200 patients will be included. The primary end point of the study is cancer-free survival after 3 years. Results: Within <2 years, more than 540 patients have been randomized for right hemicolectomy (45%), left hemicolectomy (10%) and sigmoidectomy (45%). 33 patients (6%) were excluded after randomization. The accrual rate is approximately 25 patients/month. Current survival rates for the whole study group are: stage I: 95%, stage II: 98%, stage III: 93%, stage IV: 64%. For all patients with stage I disease, the mortality was not cancer related. Conclusions: Although laparoscopic surgery appears of value in colorectal malignancy, results of randomized trials have to be awaited to determine the definitive place of laparoscopy in colorectal cancer. Considering the current accrual rate, the COLOR study will be completed in 2002.

Primary Splenic Hydatidosis

Background: A hydatid cyst is still a serious health problem in endemic areas. Invasion of the spleen is rare in hydatid disease. In the medical literature, reports about isolated splenic hydatidoses are quite rare. Also there is not a consensus about the way of treatment. Methods: Between 1978 and 2000, in our clinic approximately 900 patients were operated on for an abdominal hydatidosis; 850 of these patients were treated for a hepatic hydatidosis and 14 patients for an isolated splenic hydatidosis. Six (42.8%) of the latter patients were male and 8 (57.1%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 47.14 ± 4.9 (range 17–72) years. Ten patients (71.4%) presented with a painful mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, and the other 4 patients (28.5%) were asymptomatic and were diagnosed incidentally. Results: All of the patients underwent elective splenectomy. There was no mortality, but complications occurred in 4 (28.5%) patients. The period of hospitalization ranged from 7 to 17 days with a mean of 9.8 days. 1 patient died from an acute myocardial infarction during the 2nd postoperative year, and 1 patient died as a consequence of a traffic accident during the 5th postoperative year. Nine patients, after follow-up periods of between 2 and 14 years, are living free from disease. No recurrence occurred in any of them. In the remaining 3 patients, long-term follow-up could not be maintained. Conclusions: A hydatid cyst must be included in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the spleen. A splenic hydatid cyst should be treated surgically due to the high risk of a rupture, and the ideal procedure in adulthood is standard splenectomy.

Postoperative recurrence in hepatic hydatid disease.

Recurrence of hepatic hydatid disease is still a serious problem in endemic areas like our country. In this study, we present the causes and management of recurrences after surgical therapy of the hepatic hydatid cysts. Hepatic hydatid cyst patients treated surgically and followed afterward at Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of General Surgery between January 1998 and January 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. During this period, 172 primary patients with hepatic hydatid disease were attended to at our clinic. Morbidity and mortality rates for this series were 5.8% and 0.58%, respectively. Recurrence rate was 4.65% during the follow-up period of 60.5 months (range, 25-84 months). Primary causes of recurrence were thought to be unnoticed cysts with exophytic development due to inadequate incision and exposition and spreading of the disease during conservative operative interventions. It is concluded that selection of the proper incision allowing complete exposition, and performance of pericystectomy in solitary, peripherally located cysts prevent recurrence.

Gastric duplication cyst.

Background/Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of gastric duplication cysts. Methods: A 38-year-old female patient presented with dyspepsia and repeated episodes of epigastric pain. She was operated with the diagnosis of pancreatic pseudocyst according to her US and CT scans, and found to have a gastric duplication cyst. A cyst about 80×80 mm, localized on the posterior wall of the corpus of the stomach close to the fundus, was dissected from the surrounding tissues and partially from the gastric wall. The cyst did not have muscle layer on the common wall with the stomach, so the cystic mucosa was stripped away from the gastric muscle layer. The gastric lumen was not entered. Results: Although gastric duplication cysts do not have specific symptoms and signs, CT, MR and endoscopic ultrasonography may help the preoperative diagnosis, but the diagnosis is usually confirmed at laparotomy. Needle aspiration may cause complications. Conclusion: Because of the complications that may occur after needle aspiration and malignant potential of the tissue, the treatment of these cysts is surgical.

Comparison of PTFE, pericardium bovine and fascia lata for repair of incisional hernia in rat model, experimental study

Incisional hernia is a frequent complication of abdominal surgery developing in 11–20 % of patients undergoing an abdominal operation. Regarding morbidity and loss of manpower, incisional hernias continue to be a fundamental problem for surgeons. In this experimental study, three commonly used mesh materials (Goretex PTFE; Tutoplast Fascia lata; Tutopatch Pericardium bovine) were compared according to effectiveness, strength, adhesion formation, histological changes, and early complications. Three groups, each consisting of 14 rats, have been formed as group A: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), group B: pericardium bovine and group C: fascia lata. Evaluations were achieved at the end of the first and second postoperative week, respectively. Adhesion formation, wound maturation, bursting pressure, and tensile strength were evaluated. No statistically significant difference regarding adhesion formation was observed between groups although adhesion formation was less significant in PTFE and pericardium bovine groups than in the fascia lata group. Bursting pressure and tensile strength values were significantly higher in PTFE group than in the fascia lata group (P <0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between groups regarding wound maturation. In this experimental model, PTFE and pericardium bovine were found to be superior to fascia lata in abdominal wall repair.

Totally laparoscopic pericystectomy in hepatic hydatid disease.

Hepatic hydatid disease is still a commonly seen problem in endemic areas as well as in our country. There is a wide spectrum of therapeutic modalities ranging from simple medical treatment to radical liver resection. Progress in laparoscopic procedures made it possible to consider laparoscopic approaches in selected patients with hepatic hydatid disease. The current laparoscopic approach seems to be limited to cystotomy and drainage. There are fewer reports on hepatic resections or pericystectomy in the literature. In this article we present a case of laparoscopic pericystectomy performed in a selected patient.

Effects of nimodipine and pentoxyfylline in prevention of hepatic ischemic damage in rats at normal and hypothermic conditions

Hepatic ischemia should be considered in serious liver injury, liver tumor resection and liver transplantation. There are other conditions that decrease hepatic blood flow and cause hepatic ischemia, such as hemorrhagic shock, sepsis, hepatic artery ligation, trauma, and certain vascular lesions. In this study, effects of nimodipine (a calcium channel blocker) and pentoxyfylline (a derivative of methylxanthine) on duration and degree of hepatic ischemia in rats at normothermic and hypothermic conditions are investigated. This study was performed on 6 groups of Wistar Albino type rats, each group consisting of 7 rats. Groups were separated into normothermic (A) and hypothermic (B) conditions AI-Control group, AII-Nimodipine group and AIII-Pentoxyfylline group, B IV-Control group, BV-Nimodipine group and BVI-Pentoxyfylline group respectively. After hepatic pedicle occlusion lasting 45 min, blood samples were drawn from the rats for evaluation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values. Moreover, hepatic biopsies were taken to assess pathological changes under electron microscopy. These changes were evaluated through a grading system. As a result; it has been shown that both nimodipine and pentoxyfylline delayed effects of hepatic ischemia in a statistically significant manner in comparison with the control group and these effects were found to be more significant in hypothermic conditions.

Characteristics of Patients With Spontaneous Splenic Rupture

In the present study, we aim to share our clinical experience in patients with spontaneous splenic rupture. Splenic rupture without trauma is known as spontaneous splenic rupture. The major problems in the management of spontaneous splenic rupture are missed or delayed diagnosis due to the lack of trauma in most cases. The records of all patients, who were admitted to Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, were retrospectively reviewed from January 2000 to March 2013. Twelve patients were admitted to the emergency department and they were diagnosed with spontaneous splenic rupture. The mean age was 47.6 years. All patients had complaints of abdominal pain. The mean hematocrit value was 22%. Radiologic assessment revealed hemoperitoneum and/or subcapsular hematoma in 8 patients while splenic abscess was diagnosed in 2 patients. Eleven patients underwent splenectomy whereas one was managed conservatively. The most common cause of spontaneous splenic rupture was determined to be use of anticoagulants. Etiology was considered to be idiopathic in 1 patient. Two patients died in the postoperative period. Although rare, spontaneous splenic rupture must be suspected in emergency patients who have used especially anticoagulants and antiaggregants and who have had no recent history of trauma. One of the important causes of mortality is missed or delayed diagnosis.

Lactulose to Prevent Bacterial Translocation in Biliary Obstruction

Previous studies demonstrated the occurrence of bacterial translocation in biliary obstruction (BO). In this study, we investigated the effect of lactulose on the prevention of bacterial translocation in rats with BO. The study was performed in 4 groups of rats consisting of 15 animals each: (1) sham-operated controls, (2) sham-operated lactulose-treated, (3) BO physiologic-saline-treated and (4) BO lactulose-treated rats. Lactulose was given perorally by orogastric intubation in a dose of 2 ml of 33.5% solution/day. Fourteen days after BO, bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, spleen and portal venous blood (PVB) was investigated. In sham-operated controls, 1 bacterial translocation to the PVB was observed. In the BO physiologic-saline-treated group, the rate of bacterial translocation to the MLN (p

Contents Vol. 17, 2000

421 Postgraduate Course: Common Laparoscopic Procedures from Revolution to Standard of Care Chairpersons: Hunter, J. (USA); Lacy, A. (Spain) Ongoing Clinical Trials Section Editor: S. Galandiuk, MD, Louisville 427 Oncology 431 Inflammatory Bowel Disease 431 Surgical Infection/Sepsis 433 Miscellaneous 435 Questionnaire for Trial Submission 437 EDS News 438 Announcement Review 439 Human Islet Autotransplantation to Prevent Diabetes after Pancreas Resection White, S.A.; Robertson, G.S.M.; London, N.J.M.; Dennison, A.R. (Leicester)