Fatih Başak

CEA and CA 19-9 are Still Valuable Markers for the Prognosis of Colorectal and Gastric Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive effect of preoperative CEA and CA 19-9 levels on the prognosis of colorectal and gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS CEA and CA 19-9 were evaluated preoperatively in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (n=116) and gastric cancer (n=49). Patients with CEA levels <5 ng/mL were classified as CEA Group 1, 5-30 ng/mL as CEA Group 2 and >30 ng/ mL were classified as CEA Group 3. Similarly the patients with a CA 19-9 level <35 U/mL were classified as CA 19-9 Group 1, with 35-100 U/mL as Group 2 and with >100 U/mL as Group and 3. TNM stages and histologic grades were noted according to histopathological reports. Patients with a TNM grade 0 or 1 were classified as Group A, TNM grade 2 patients constituted Group B and TNM grade 3 and 4 patients constituted Group C. Demographic characteristics, tumor locations and blood types of the patients were all recorded and these data were compared with the preoperative CEA and CA19-9 values. RESULTS A significant correlation between CA 19-9 levels (>100 U/mL) and TNM stage (in advanced stages) was determined. We also determined a significant correlation between TNM stages and positive vlaues for both CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal and gastric cancer patients. In comparison between CEA and CA 19-9 levels and age, gender, tumor location, ABO blood group, and tumor histologic grade, no significant correlation was found. CONCLUSIONS Positive levels of both CEA and CA 19-9 can be considered to indicate an advanced stage in colorectal and gastric cancer patients.

A New Proposal for Learning Curve of TEP Inguinal Hernia Repair: Ability to Complete Operation Endoscopically as a First Phase of Learning Curve

Background. The exact nature of learning curve of totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia and the number required to master this technique remain controversial. Patients and Methods. We present a retrospective review of a single surgeon experience on patients who underwent totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. Results. There were 42 hernias (22 left- and 20 right-sided) in 39 patients with a mean age of 48.8 ± 15.1 years. Indirect, direct, and combined hernias were present in 18, 12, and 12 cases, respectively. The mean operative time was 55.1 ± 22.8 minutes. Peritoneal injury occurred in 9 cases (21.4%). Conversion to open surgery was necessitated in 7 cases (16.7%). After grouping of all patients into two groups as cases between 1–21 and 22–42, it was seen that the majority of peritoneal injuries (7 out of 9, 77.8%, P = 0.130) and all conversions (P = 0.001) occurred in the first 21 cases. Conclusions. Learning curve of totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair can be divided into two consequent steps: immediate and late. At least 20 operations are required for gaining anatomical knowledge and surgical pitfalls based on the ability to perform this operation without conversion during immediate phase.

Evaluation of diaphragm in penetrating left thoracoabdominal stab injuries: The role of multislice computed tomography

INTRODUCTION Penetrating left thoracoabdominal stab injuries are accompanied by diaphragmatic injury in 25-30% of cases, about 30% of which later develop into diaphragmatic hernia. This study aimed to determine the role of multislice computed tomography in the evaluation of left diaphragm in patients with penetrating left thoracoabdominal stab wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study reviewed penetrating left thoracoabdominal stab injuries managed in our clinic between April 2009 and September 2014. The thoracoabdominal region was defined as the region between the sternum, fourth intercostal space, and arcus costa anteriorly and the vertebra, lower tip of scapula, and the curve of the last rib posteriorly. Unstable cases and cases with signs of peritonitis were operated with laparotomy; the remaining patients were closely monitored. Forty-eight hours later, a diagnostic laparoscopy was applied to evaluate the left hemidiaphragma in asymptomatic patients who did not need laparotomy. The preoperatively obtained multislice thoracoabdominal computed tomography images were retrospectively examined for the presence of left diaphragm injury. Then, operative and tomographic findings were compared. RESULTS This study included a total of 43 patients, 39 (91%) males and 4 (9%) females of mean age 30 years (range 15-61 years). Thirty patients had normal tomography results, whereas 13 had left diaphragmatic injuries. An injury to the left diaphragm was detected during the operation in 9 (1 in laparotomy and 8 in diagnostic laparoscopy) of 13 patients with positive tomography for left diaphragmatic injury and 2 (in diagnostic laparoscopy) of 30 patients with negative tomography. Multislice tomography had a sensitivity of 82% (95% CI: 48-98%), a specificity of 88% (71-96%), a positive predictive value of 69% (39-91%), and a negative predictive value of 93% (78-99%) for detection of diaphragmatic injury in penetrating left thoracoabdominal stab injury. CONCLUSIONS Although diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard for diaphragmatic examination in patients with penetrating left thoracoabdominal stab wounds, multislice computed tomography is also valuable for detecting diaphragmatic injury.

Factors Affecting Mortality in Blunt Thoracic Trauma

BACKGROUND Blunt thoracic trauma is usually associated with extra-thoracic injuries, but the effect of blunt thoracic trauma on mortality is not known. METHODS Patients with blunt thoracic trauma were evaluated with regard to clinical findings and factors affecting mortality. RESULTS There were 76 patients (37.2±15 years) in the study group. Traffic accidents (63%) were the most common cause of trauma. Pneumothorax (54%), rib fracture (42%), hemothorax (22%) and lung contusion (22%) were common thoracic injuries. Extra-thoracic injuries were most commonly seen in the extremities (46%) and abdomen (40%). Glasgow Coma, Injury Severity and Revised Trauma Scores were 14±2.6, 19±13 and 7.4±1.5, respectively. Non-operative management was effective in 37 (48.7%) patients, tube thoracotomy and thoracotomy were performed in 37 (48.7%) and 2 (2.6%) patients, respectively. Mortality rate was 10.5%. Systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mmHg and superficial and apneic respiration at the first admission, and values of trauma scoring systems were significantly associated with mortality (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The effect of thoracic trauma on mortality with regard to thoracic pathology is not shown, although it is usually associated with extra-thoracic injuries. There was a close relationship between the pattern of respiration, values of systolic blood pressure and trauma scoring systems, and mortality. Non-operative management and tube thoracotomy were effective in most of the cases.

Perkütan kolesistostomi: Yaşlı ve yüksek ASA skorlu akut kolesistitli hastalarda küratif tedavi yöntemi

BACKGROUND Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common emergency seen by general surgeons. Optimal treatment is laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); however, in cases where surgery cannot be performed due to high risk of morbidity and mortality, such as in elderly patients with comorbid diseases, other treatment modalities may be used. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is one alternative method to treat AC. PC can be used to provide drainage of the gall bladder and control infection. Subsequently, interval cholecystectomy can be performed when there are better conditions. Presently described is experience and results with PC in high risk, elderly patients with AC. METHODS Medical records of all consecutive patients who underwent PC between January 2011 and January 2014 were identified. Tokyo Guidelines were used for definitive diagnosis and severity assessment of AC. Senior surgeon elected to perform PC based on higher risk-benefit ratio due to comorbidity, age, or duration of symptoms. All PC procedures were performed by the same interventional radiologist under local anesthesia with ultrasonographic guidance. RESULTS Total of 40 PC procedures were performed during the study period. Of those, 22 (55%) were male and 18 were (45%) were female, with median age of 70.5 years (range: 52-87 years). All of the patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of either 3 or 4. Success rate of PC was 100% with complication rate of 2.5% (n=1). One patient was operated on shortly after PC procedure due to bile peritonitis complication. PC drains were kept in place for 6 weeks. Total of 16 patients (40%) had surgery following removal of PC drain. In 3 (18.8%) cases, conversion from LC was required. Remaining 23 (57.5%) patients did not have subsequent operation after drain removal. No disease recurrence was observed in follow-up. CONCLUSION When elderly patients present in emergency setting with AC and LC cannot be performed due to comorbid disease or poor general condition, PC can be performed safely. After removal of PC drain, LC may be performed with acceptable conversion rate of 18.8%.

Standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy for malposition of the gallbladder caused by right-sided ligamentum teres.

Atypical localization of the gallbladder associated with right-sided ligamentum teres is a rare anomaly of the biliary system. Although the conventional nomenclature as being a left-sided gallbladder is usually used, this definition may be incomprehensive because of lacking the anatomical detail. This report describes atypical localization of the gallbladder associated with right-sided ligamentum teres and abnormal intrahepatic portal venous branching, surgically removed laparoscopically.

An incidental giant preperitoneal fibrolipoma diagnosed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Preperitoneal lipomas are rare in clinical practice. Here we report an unexpected diagnosis of a giant preperitoneal fibrolipoma detected intraoperatively during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a 56-year-old woman. The mass was excised and a histopathological examination confirmed fibrolipoma. No recurrence was found on follow-up. In the literature, there have been many cases with unexpected diagnoses during laparoscopy. Here, we present an incidental giant preperitoneal fibrolipoma, which was overlooked by ultrasound and physical examination, but was detected during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Sinistral Portal Hypertension Due to Pancreatic Hydatid Cyst

Hydatid disease is caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Hydatid cysts are commonly located in the liver and lungs. The occurrence of pancreatic hydatid cysts is very rare, even in endemic areas. Sinistral portal hypertension, which is rarely seen, occurs when a pathological process causes splenic vein occlusion. A 26-year-old male patient presented with abdominal pain. He had a history of operation for hydatid cyst of the lung 15 years ago. A left thoracotomy incision scar was observed during his physical examination. Laboratory findings revealed no abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a 96×69-mm lobular, contoured, well-circumscribed cystic lesion with thickened septation. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 100×76-mm smooth, bordered cystic lesion containing septations in the body and tail of the pancreas compressing the splenic artery and vein, causing sinistral portal hypertension. Dilatation was noted in the left gastroepiploic vein. The patient underwent cystotomy. Pancreatic fistula developed during the postoperative follow-up. The patient was discharged in 20 days without postoperative complications. No complications were observed during the follow-up period of 7 months. Surgery should be considered as a more conservative approach.

Evaluating factors affecting survival in colon and rectum cancer: A prospective cohort study with 161 patients

Context: Colorectal cancers are frequent among cancers of gastrointestinal system. Whether there are any differences between survival in rectum and colon cancer patients is controversial. Aims: In this study, we aimed to compare survival in surgically treated rectum and colon cancers and determine the factors affecting survival. Subjects and Methods: The patients with colon and rectum cancer operated between 2009 and 2013 were examined retrospectively using prospective database. Patients were categorized as colon and rectum according to the tumors location. Survival was identified as the primary outcome. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests in survival assessment were used. Results: One hundred and sixty-one patients with a mean age of 62.8 ± 12.7 years were included in the study. Male/female ratio was 1.6. Colon and rectum patients were counted as 92 (%57.1) and 69 (%42.9), respectively. Both groups were similar in demographic data (P > 0.05). It was observed that in 46 months (mean) of follow-up, 39.7% (n: 64) died, and 60.3% (n: 97) survived. Median survival time was 79 months, and 5-year cumulative survival rate was 60.8%. Five-year cumulative survival rates in stages for 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 88.2%, 64.7%, 48.5%, and 37.0%, respectively. It was noted that median survival time for colon cancer was 78 months and for rectum cancer was 79 months. Five-year cumulative survival rates for colon and rectum cancers were calculated as 56.7% and 63.4%, respectively. There were no significant differences in colon and rectum cancers in the means of survival rate (P: 0.459). Conclusions: While location of colorectal cancers shows no significant effect on survival, treatment in the early stages increases survival rate.

Does it matter if it is appendix mucocele instead of appendicitis? Case series and brief review of literature

Aims: Appendiceal mucocele (AM) is a rare pathology, and its reported incidence is 0.3% in all appendectomy specimens. Here, we report a case series of AM and make a brief review of literature. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected data of patients who diagnosed as AM by histopathological evaluation between January 2009 and June 2015 were demographic data including age and gender, intraoperative findings, and histopathological reports were recorded. All cases were followed-up by routine examination and telephone interview. Statistical Analysis Used: Definitive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation, median, frequency, and percentage) were used to evaluate the study data. Results: Twelve patients were examined in the study with diagnose of AM. The mean age was 51.8 ± 18.6 years (26–83). Female-to-male ratio was 1.4 (7/5). Indications for surgery were acute abdomen in 8 (72.7%) patients with presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis and were AM in four patients diagnosed by imaging. Histopathological evaluation revealed mucinous cystadenoma in eight patients, simple retention cysts in three, and borderline mucinous tumor (pseudomyxoma peritonei) in one. The neuroendocrine tumor was obtained on the remaining portion of the appendix in one of the simple retention cysts patients. None of the patients died because of the AM with an average follow-up of 43 months (range: 7–74). Conclusions: Surgical resection is the first choice therapy for AM. Precise treatment modality can remain unclear in some patients because of insufficient preoperative diagnosis. It is nonmalign AM mostly however having mucocele matters because of the significant association with synchronous tumors.