Ettore Contessini Avesani

Kallikrein-kinin system activation in Crohn’s disease: differences in intestinal and systemic markers

Kallikrein-kinin system activation in Crohns disease: differences in intestinal and systemic markers

Synchronous isolated splenic metastasis from colon carcinoma.

&NA; We report the first case known to us of a synchronous isolated splenic metastasis from colon carcinoma in a 52‐year‐old woman operated on splenectomy, left colectomy, and ileal resection. The patient died of diffuse carcinomatosis 1 year after the operation. Splenectomy for isolated splenic metastasis from colon carcinoma is justified, and serum tumor markers are useful to detect metastases early during the follow‐up, as in our report.

Synchronous adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumor of the terminal ileum in a Crohn's disease patient

BackgroundSeveral malignancies have been described in association with inflammatory bowel diseases, the most common being adenocarcinoma. Carcinoid tumor and Crohn disease has also been previously reported, however the coexistence of both neoplasms is quite rare and the clinical diagnosis is very difficult. Here we report what we believe to be the fourth case of a mixed adenocarcinoid tumor coexisting with Crohns disease.Case reportThe patient presented with clinical and radiological features of intestinal obstruction. Laparotomy showed a stricturing lesion in the last 6 cm of the terminal ileum with proximal dilation. Only the histology of the resected surgical specimen proved the presence of a mixed adenocarcinoid tumor involving the terminal ileum.ConclusionCarcinoid tumor should be suspected in elderly patients with Crohns disease presenting with intestinal obstruction and laparotomy should be considered to exclude malignancy.

Inguinal hernia recurrence: Classification and approach

The authors reviewed the records of 2,468 operations of groin hernia in 2,350 patients, including 277 recurrent hernias updated to January 2005. The data obtained - evaluating technique, results and complications - were used to propose a simple anatomo-clinical classification into three types which could be used to plan the surgical strategy: Type R1: first recurrence ‘high,’ oblique external, reducible hernia with small (<2 cm) defect in non-obese patients, after pure tissue or mesh repair Type R2: first recurrence ‘low,’ direct, reducible hernia with small (<2 cm) defect in non-obese patients, after pure tissue or mesh repair Type R3: all the other recurrences - including femoral recurrences; recurrent groin hernia with big defect (inguinal eventration); multirecurrent hernias; nonreducible, linked with a controlateral primitive or recurrent hernia; and situations compromised from aggravating factors (for example obesity) or anyway not easily included in R1 or R2, after pure tissue or mesh repair.

A modified Lichtenstein hernia repair using fibrin glue

In recent years, general surgeons who perform inguinal hernia repair have paid attention to successful reduction in the recurrence rate. The Lichtenstein technique is widely used because it is easy to learn and is associated with a low rate of complication and recurrences. Today, the new objective in primary hernia surgery should be to reduce complications such as chronic pain. Chronic pain after hernia repair can be disabling, with considerable impact on quality of life and there is evidence to suggest increased use of health services by patients who have chronic pain. We have proposed an international randomized controlled trial with seven referenced European centers: The TI.ME.LI. trial. The aim of this study is to evaluate pain and further disabling complications in patients undergoing Lichtenstein technique for primary inguinal hernia repair by fixing the mesh with fibrin sealant versus sutures (control group).

Thrombotic Storm in a Teenager With Previously Undiagnosed Ulcerative Colitis

Venous thrombosis can complicate inflammatory bowel diseases, both in adult and pediatric patients, and a few adult cases of thrombotic storm, ie, thrombosis at multiple sites occurring over a period of a few days to a few weeks, have been described. However, venous thrombosis as the first manifestation of an inflammatory bowel disease is extremely rare. We report the case of a 14-year-old girl presenting with ascites and marked hypertransaminasemia resulting from hepatic vein occlusion (Budd-Chiari syndrome). Despite anticoagulant therapy, in the following days she developed criteria suggestive of thrombotic storm to include cerebral vein, right atrial thrombosis, and bilateral pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic treatment with recombinant-tissue plasminogen activator was started, with resolution of all venous thromboses and without bleeding complications. Additional examinations revealed a severely active ulcerative pancolitis, which did not respond to medical treatment and required surgery. No thrombophilia abnormality nor other risk factors for thrombosis were detected. We conclude that an underlying inflammatory state, such as ulcerative colitis, should be suspected in pediatric patients with venous thrombosis storm.

Pudendal Neuralgia: A New Option for Treatment? Preliminary Results on Feasibility and Efficacy

OBJECTIVE The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the feasibility and report the short-term results of a new procedure for treatment of pudendal neuralgia, consisting of transperineal injections of autologous adipose tissue with stem cells along the Alcocks canal. METHODS Fifteen women with pudendal neuralgia not responsive to 3-months medical therapy were examined clinically, with VAS score, validated SF-36 questionnaire, and pudendal nerve motor terminal latency (PNMTL). These patients were submitted to pudendal nerve lipofilling. Clinical examinations with VAS, SF36, and PNTML were scheduled during 12 months follow-up, with the incidence of pain recurrence (VAS > 5) as primary outcome measure. Appropriate tests were used for statistics. RESULTS All patients had preoperative increase of pudendal nerve latencies. Twelve patients completed the follow-up protocol. There was no mortality, and no complications. Two patients had no pain improvement and continued to use analgesic drugs. At 12 months VAS significantly improved (3.2 ± 0.6 vs 8.1 ± 0.9, P < 0.001), as well SF36 (75.5 ± 4.1 vs 85.0 ± 4.5 preoperative, P < 0.01), while PNTML showed a nonsignificant trend to a better nerve conduction (2.64 ± 0.04 vs 2.75 ± 0.03 preoperative, P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS The new technique seems to be easy, with low risk of complications, and with significant improvement of symptoms in the short period. A larger study with appropriate controls and longer follow-up is now needed to assess its real effectiveness.

Surgery and diagnostic imaging in abdominal Crohn’s disease

Surgery is well-established option for the treatment of Crohn’s disease that is refractory to medical therapy and for complications of the disease, including strictures, fistulas, abscesses, bleeding that cannot be controlled endoscopically, and neoplastic degeneration. For a condition like Crohn’s disease, where medical management is the rule, other indications for surgery are considered controversial, because the therapeutic effects of surgery are limited to the resolution of complications and the rate of recurrence is high, especially at sites of the surgical anastomosis. In the authors’ opinion, however, surgery should not be considered a last-resort treatment: in a variety of situations, it should be regarded as an appropriate solution for managing this disease. Based on a review of the literature and their own experience, the authors examine some of the possibilities for surgical interventions in Crohn’s disease and the roles played in these cases by diagnostic imaging modalities.RiassuntoLa chirurgia è un’opzione terapeutica consolidata per il trattamento della malattia di Crohn refrattaria alla terapia medica e per le complicanze legate a tale patologia quali stenosi, fistole, ascessi, sanguinamento non trattabile endoscopicamente, oltre che per i casi di degenerazione neoplastica. Per condizioni come la malattia di Crohn nelle quali il trattamento medico ha un ruolo primario, altre indicazioni per la chirurgia sono controverse, poiché i suoi effetti terapeutici sono limitati alla risoluzione delle complicanze, e la frequenza di recidive è alta, soprattutto a livello dell’anastomosi. Secondo l’opinione degli autori, tuttavia, la chirurgia non deve essere considerata come ultima opzione di trattamento: in diverse situazioni dovrebbe essere ritenuta come una soluzione adeguata nel trattamento multidisciplinare della patologia. Basandosi sulla revisione della letteratura corrente e sulla propria esperienza, gli autori hanno esaminato alcune possibilità di intervento chirurgico nella malattia di Crohn ed il ruolo che svolgono in queste condizioni le tecniche di imaging.

Successful open abdomen treatment for multiple ischemic duodenal perforated ulcers in dermatomyositis

IntroductionDermatomyositis is an autoimmune disease characterized by proximal myopathy, cutaneous Gottron papules and heliotrope rash; intestinal involvement associated to acute vasculitis is less common but could be a life-threatening condition.MethodsA 21-year-old woman, affected by dermatomyositis, presented to our attention with a three-day story of severe abdominal pain, no bowel movement and biliary vomit. She was diagnosed with acute abdomen. A CT scan with bowel contrast demonstrated the presence of a leakage from the retroperitoneal aspect of duodenum. The surgical and clinical management in the light of literature review is presented.ResultsOur first approach consisted in primary repair of the duodenal perforation with omentopexy. Post-operative course was complicated by hemorrhage. A reintervention showed a new perforation associated with multiple ischemic intestinal areas. We performed a gastroenteric anastomosis with functional exclusion of the damaged duodenum and positioning of drainages to create a biliary fistula. A nutritional enteric tube and an open abdomen vacuum-assisted closure system to monitor the fistula creation and to prevent abdominal contamination and collections were positioned. To reduce the amount of biliary leakage, a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was placed, with progressive fistula flow disappearance in four months.ConclusionsIn patients with dermatomyositis, when clinical findings and symptoms suggest abdominal vasculitis, it is very important to be aware of the risk of bowel and particularly duodenal perforations. Open abdomen treatment favors control of contamination by gastrointestinal contents, offers temporary abdominal closure, helps ICU care and delays definitive surgery.