Ewa Krajewska

Laparoscopic treatment of Cushing’s syndrome in a woman in late pregnancy – a case presentation

Hypercortisolaemia during pregnancy constitutes a serious threat to life of the mother and fetus and may be associated with adrenocortical carcinoma. The objective of this study is to present the usefulness of laparoscopic procedures in treating adrenal tumours in such cases. One 21-year-old woman, 24 weeks pregnant, with hypertension and Cushings syndrome due to a left adrenal tumour, underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy followed by hydrocortisone replacement. Spontaneous delivery occurred at the 37/38th week of gestation. At 3 months postpartum the function of the remaining adrenal gland was found to be normal. Similarly, imaging tests, abdominal CT scan and chest X-ray revealed no abnormalities. Pregnancy is not a contraindication for performing complicated laparoscopic procedures unless they are planned in advance and done by an experienced team.

The effect of surgical treatment of phaeochromocytoma on concomitant arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus in a single–centre retrospective study

Introduction Phaeochromocytoma is one of the numerous causes of secondary hypertension. Furthermore, phaeochromocytoma may first present with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of adrenalectomy on patient recovery with regards to normotension and well–controlled glycaemia. Material and methods The retrospective analysis involved 67 patients with phaeochromocytoma operated between 2006 and mid-2012. The pre–operative diagnoses were made in the departments of internal medicine and endocrinology. Based on laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging, we were able to confirm the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma in 42 (62.7%) patients. We verified the influence of adrenalectomy on the level of patient recovery, with regards to normotension and glycaemic control: arterial pressure and fasting glycaemia levels were obtained on the day of hospital discharge, at follow–up 3 months post–operatively and 1 year after surgical intervention. Results Of the 67 patients operated for phaeochromocytoma, 48 (71.6%) were treated laparoscopically, whereas 19 (28.4%) underwent open adrenalectomy. Arterial hypertension was recorded in 53 (79.1%) cases. Furthermore, among this group, diabetes mellitus coexisted in 21 (31.3%) cases. Postoperatively, 70% of cases of arterial hypertension and 90% of type 2 diabetes mellitus were cured. Additionally, a high rate of patients reported a quantitative reduced use of antihypertensive medicines. Conclusions In the majority of patients, surgical treatment of symptomatic phaeochromocytoma leads to a regression of arterial hypertension, or a reduction of the number or doses of medicines taken in ones treatment, and glucose–intolerance symptoms.

Is tumour size a contraindication to laparoscopic adrenalectomy? Case report

The authors present a case report of a patient with a large, hormonally silent tumour of the right adrenal gland. Due to the patients numerous strains, the necessity of two gynaecological operations, and treatment of broken bones, adrenalectomy was contraindicated for 2 years. After that time, the size of the tumour reached 18 cm × 12 cm. The patient was selected for laparoscopic adrenalectomy, which was successful. The size of the tumour and performed abdominal surgery did not constitute substantial obstacles, and the less invasive procedure was additionally justified by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results, which demonstrated a benign lesion.

Anastomotic aneurysms- 20-years of experience from one center

UNLABELLED Anastomotic aneurysms may develop after any type of vascular surgery, in different areas of the arterial system, and require reoperation. The frequency of occurrence of the above-mentioned is estimated at 1-5%. MATERIAL AND METHODS During the period between 1989 and 2010, 180 patients with 230 anastomotic aneurysms were subject to surgical intervention at the Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, Warsaw Medical University. The study group comprised 21 (11.7%) female and 159 (88.3%) male patients, aged between 30 and 87 years (mean age - 62.8 years). In relation to the number of anastomoses aneurysms were diagnosed in 2.1% of cases. Twenty-four (10.4%) patients were diagnosed with recurrent aneurysms. RESULTS Surgical procedures performed were as follows: artificial prosthesis implantation (119), reanastomosis (40), patch plasty (25), graftectomy (19), prosthesis replacement (9), and stent-graft (7) implantation. 195 (84.8%) aneurysms were subject to planned surgery, while 35 (15.2%) required emergency intervention. 77.8% of patients were diagnosed with aseptic aneurysms, while the remaining 22.2% with infected perioperative aneurysms. Good treatment results were obtained in 149 (82.8%) patients. Limb amputations were performed in 19 (10.5%) cases. Twelve (6.7%) patients died as a consequence of infection and general complications. CONCLUSIONS Vascular reoperations are a difficult clinical problem and are burdened with a high rate of complications. The above-mentioned often require complex treatment, in order to improve therapeutic results.

A spontaneous paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma syndrome

We present a case of a 40–year old woman diagnosed with a four–place spontaneous paraganglioma–pheochromocytoma syndrome, which was treated surgically. The presence of the succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit D (SDHD) mutation that causes the pheochromocytoma was confirmed but no mutations in the family members were found. After the excision of the paragangliomas located in the areas of the division of carotid arteries, and mediastinum, as well as a tumor on the left site of the celiac trunk, the patient remains asymptomatic and is regularly followed–up.

Location and Incidence Rate of Anastomotic Aneurysms – own Clinical Material and Literature Review

UNLABELLED Anastomotic aneurysms occurs at various levels of arterial system. Determining their location and incidence rate required investigation of large patient clinical material. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the years 1989-2010 in local centre 230 anastomotic aneurysms were operated in 180 patients. RESULTS For 187 (81.3%) patients anastomotic aneurysms were localised in the groin, while for remaining 43 (18.7%) they occurred in other localisations. In aortic arch branch they occurred four times (1.7), in descending aorta--three times (1.3%), in abdominal aorta--14 (6.1%) and in iliac arteries--6 (2.6%). While for anastomosis with popliteal artery they were diagnosed in 16 (7%) patients. Own clinical material was compared with literature data. CONCLUSIONS Anastomotic aneurysms in over 80% of cases occur in the groin, remaining percentage corresponds to other localisations.

Regressive changes in phaeochromocytomas and paroxysmal hypertension

IntroductionPheochromocytomas may cause life-threatening episodes of arterial hypertension and surgical treatment is obligatory following proper general medical preparation.Material and methodsThere were 63 patients in years 2006–2011 operated in the department due to pheochromocytoma. The group comprised 38 women and 25 men of the age range 16–80, mean 44,7. All the specimen were analyzed in pathological examination. The regressive changes that were found were subsequently compared with the clinical course of the pheochromocytoma both in the preoperative period and at the time of the surgery.ResultsThere were 44 laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed, out of which 5 resulted in conversions to open surgery, while 19 patients were operated primarily via open access. The indications for the open procedures: extraadrenal tumors, fibrotic-infiltrative lesions suggestive of malignancy, vast intratumoral extravasation, and respiratory failure. In all the postoperative specimens pheochromocytomas were found. In 29 cases intratumoral haemorrhages were observed, in 17 — tumoral necrosis at different stages, and in 3 cases posthaemorrhagic cystis. In 6 cases the lesions were accompanied by major fibrosis and hyalinization.ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant relationship between regressive changes observed within phaeochromocytomas and a reduction of paroxysmal hypertension at the time of adrenalectomy (p=0,012).

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in a patient with situs inversus levocardia.

The article presents a case of an adrenal adenoma (Conns syndrome) in a 50-year-old man with situs inversus with levocardia. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed and the patient made a full recovery. It has been concluded that diagnostic assessment by means of imaging techniques providing details of the organ anatomy and the experience of the medical team are the key factors determining the outcome of such surgery.

Results of general surgical treatment of patients over 80 years of age in single-site experience.

UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of general surgical treatment of patients over 80 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three hundred and four patients aged 80 to 105 years with general surgical disorders, treated in 2005-2009, were retrospectively included in the study. The collected information included demographic data, coexisting diseases, the mode of admission, the diagnosis, the method and result of treatment, and also potential complications and 30-day mortality. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS The study group included 186 women and 118 men. Two hundred patients (65.8%) were admitted in an emergency setting. The most common causes of immediate hospitalisation were: mechanical ileus (26.5%), gastrointestinal bleeding (22%), trauma (16%), and gall-bladder disorders (8.5%). The remaining 104 (34.2%) patients were operated upon on an elective basis. An emergency operation was required by 121 (60%) of the patients admitted in an emergency setting; the remaining ones were treated conservatively. Hernia plasties (27.5%), cholecystectomies (15.3%), colorectal resections (13.2%), strumectomies (11.2%) and endoscopies (6.1%) predominated among elective surgeries.The total number of complications and mortality were 19.4% and 14.5%, respectively. The number of complications and mortality were significantly higher in the group of patients admitted in an emergency setting (25.5% and 20.5%, respectively) than in patients admitted on an elective basis (8.7% and 2.9%, respectively), p<0.01.The mean duration of hospitalisation was 9.7 days (1 to 60 days), with a small difference between the groups of patients treated on an elective and emergency basis (8.5 and 10.4 days), p=0.181. CONCLUSIONS The results of surgical treatment of elderly patients do not significantly differ from the results of treatment of the general population. Much worse results, coupled with a significant increase in mortality, are observed in patients admitted and treated on an emergency basis.

Lateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with previous abdominal surgery – single-center experience

Introduction Lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy (LTA) is the most common minimally invasive technique used to treat patients with adrenal tumors. Aim To analyze intra-operative and post-operative complications and reasons for conversion to open surgery in patients who underwent LTA and had previous abdominal surgery. Material and methods Five hundred and nineteen patients underwent LTA in our center between 2005 and 2016. We identified a study group of 150 patients, with previous abdominal surgery. We analyzed the frequency of intra-operative and post-operative complications and the reasons for conversion from laparoscopic to open adrenalectomy. Results The patients’ mean age was 58; they underwent LTA due to hormonally active tumors (n = 79, 53%) and non-functioning adrenal tumors (n = 71, 47%). The size of adrenal lesions ranged from 20 mm to 90 mm. Seventy-eight (52%) adrenal lesions were found in the right adrenal gland, and 72 (48%) lesions in the left adrenal gland. The mean operating time was 130 min. The mean stay in hospital was five days. The intra-operative complications included blood pressure fluctuations (n = 32), abnormal vascular supply of the adrenal glands causing difficulties with dissections (n = 3), and respiratory problems (n = 1). Two (1.3%) patients had post-operative bleeding at the site of removed adrenal glands; 1 patient had an exacerbation of asthma postoperatively. Of the 150 patients analyzed, 3 (2%) required conversion to open adrenalectomy. The conversions were not caused by abdominal adhesions. Conclusions Lateral transabdominal adrenalectomy is feasible and safe in patients with previous abdominal surgery. In our study, conversion from laparoscopic to open adrenalectomy was not caused by abdominal adhesions.