Francesco Barberini

Loop ileostomy versus loop colostomy for fecal diversion after colorectal or coloanal anastomosis: a meta-analysis

AbstractBackgroundSphincter-saving surgery for the treatment of middle and low rectal cancer has spread considerably when total mesorectal excision became standard treatment. In order to reduce leakage-related complications, surgeons often perform a derivative stoma, a loop ileostomy (LI), or a loop colostomy (LC), but to date, there is no evidence on which is the better technique to adopt.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials until 2007 and observational studies comparing temporary LI and LC for temporary decompression of colorectal and/or coloanal anastomoses.Clinically relevant events were grouped into four study outcomes: general outcome measures: dehydratation and wound infection GOMconstruction of the stoma outcome measures: parastomal hernia, stenosis, sepsis, prolapse, retraction, necrosis, and hemorrhageclosure of the stoma outcome measures: anastomotic leak or fistula, wound infection COM, occlusion and herniafunctioning of the stoma outcome measures: occlusion and skin irritation.ResultsTwelve comparative studies were included in this analysis, five randomized controlled trials and seven observational studies. Overall, the included studies reported on 1,529 patients, 894 (58.5%) undergoing defunctioning LI. LI reduced the risk of construction of the stoma outcome measure (odds ratio, OR = 0.47). Specifically, patients undergoing LI had a lower risk of prolapse (OR = 0.21) and sepsis (OR = 0.54). LI was associated with an excess risk of occlusion after stoma closure (OR = 2.13) and dehydratation (OR = 4.61). No other significant difference was found for outcomes.ConclusionOur overview shows that LI is associated with a lower risk of construction of the stoma outcome measures.

CYP17, GSTP1, PON1 and GLO1 gene polymorphisms as risk factors for breast cancer: an Italian case-control study.

BackgroundEstrogens, environmental chemicals with carcinogenic potential, as well as oxidative and carbonyl stresses play a very important role in breast cancer (BC) genesis and progression. Therefore, polymorphisms of genes encoding enzymes involved in estrogen biosynthesis pathway and in the metabolic activation of pro-carcinogens to genotoxic intermediates, such as cytochrome P450C17α (CYP17), endogenous free-radical scavenging systems, such as glutathione S-transferase (GSTP1) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1), and anti-glycation defenses, such as glyoxalase I (GLO1), could influence individual susceptibility to BC. In the present case-control study, we investigated the possible association of CYP17 A1A2, GSTP1 ILE105VAL, PON1 Q192R or L55M, and GLO1 A111E polymorphisms with the risk of BC.MethodsThe above-said five polymorphisms were characterized in 547 patients with BC and in 544 healthy controls by PCR/RFLP methods, using DNA from whole blood. To estimate the relative risks, Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for the known risk factors for BC.ResultsCYP17 polymorphism had no major effect in BC proneness in the overall population. However, it modified the risk of BC for certain subgroups of patients. In particular, among premenopausal women with the A1A1 genotype, a protective effect of later age at menarche and parity was observed. As to GSTP1 and PON1 192 polymorphisms, the mutant Val and R alleles, respectively, were associated with a decreased risk of developing BC, while polymorphisms in PON1 55 and GLO1 were associated with an increased risk of this neoplasia. However, these findings, while nominally significant, did not withstand correction for multiple testing.ConclusionGenetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes CYP17, GSTP1, PON1 and GLO1 could be associated with the risk for BC. Although significances did not withstand correction for multiple testing, the results of our exploratory analysis warrant further studies on the above mentioned genes and BC.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in thyroid surgery: a preliminary multicentric italian experience

Post-operatory wound infections are a very uncommon finding after thyroidectomy. For these reasons international guidelines do not routinely recommend systemic antibiotic prophylaxis.The benefits of this antibiotic prophylaxis is not supported by clinical evidence in the literature. We have conducted a multicentric randomized double-blind trial on 500 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy for goitre or thyroid carcinoma. The 500 patients enrolled in the study (mean age 47 years) were randomized in two subgroups of 250 patients. 250 patients were treated with standard antibiotic prophylaxis with sulbactam/ampicillin 1 fl (3 gr.) 30 min before surgery. No antibiotic prophylaxis was instituted in the remainder 250 patients. Our RCT showed that prophylactic antibiotic treatment is not beneficial in patients younger than eighty years old, with no concomitant metabolic, infective and hematologic disease, with no cardiac valvulopathies, not under steroidal or immunosuppressive treatment, and not severely obese. Our study should be regarded only as a preliminary RCT, and should be followed by a study in which a larger number of patients should be enrolled so that statistically significant data can be obtained.

Surgical treatment of primitive gastro-intestinal lymphomas: a systematic review

Primitive Gastrointestinal Lymphomas (PGIL) are uncommon tumours, although time-trend analyses have demonstrated an increase. The role of surgery in the management of lymphoproliferative diseases has changed over the past 40 years. Nowadays their management is centred on systemic treatments as chemo-/radio- therapy. Surgery is restricted to very selected indications, always discussed in a multidisciplinary setting. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the actual role of surgery in the treatment of PGIL.A systematic review of literature was conducted according to the recommendations of The Cochrane Collaboration. Main outcomes analysed were overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS).There are currently 1 RCT and 4 non-randomised prospective controlled studies comparing surgical versus medical treatment for PGIL. Seven hundred and one patients were analysed, divided into two groups: 318 who underwent to surgery alone or associated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (surgical group) versus 383 who were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (medical group).Despite the OS at 10 years between surgical and medical groups did not show relevant differences, the DFS was significantly better in the medical group (P = 0.00001). Accordingly a trend was noticed in the recurrence rate, which was lower in the medical group (6.06 vs. 8.57%); and an higher mortality was revealed in the surgical group (4.51% vs. 1.50%).The chemotherapy confirms its primary role in the management of PGIL as part of systemic treatment in the medical group. Surgery remains the treatment of choice in case of PGIL acutely complicated, although there is no evidence in literature regarding the utility of preventive surgery.

Frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei monitored over time in patients with early-stage breast cancer: results of an observational study

Spontaneous chromosomal instability correlates with a high risk of cancer. The frequency of spontaneous sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes was used for evaluation of spontaneous chromosomal instability in early-stage breast cancer patients to determine whether SCE and MN frequencies are biomarkers of damage from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In 20 stage I-II breast cancer patients, SCE and MN were measured before surgery and at 4 weeks after. In patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (CTx), they were also determined before starting radiotherapy (RTx). Other assessments were done 2, 6, and 12 months after RTx in almost all patients and at 18 months in 4 patients. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to estimate population averaged effects at the different treatment and follow-up time points. Moreover, SCE and MN baseline values in patients were compared with those of a control group of 12 healthy women. A significant difference emerged between patients and healthy controls (P<0.0001 for SCE and P<0.0003 for MN; Mann-Whitney test); SCE increased significantly after CTx and MN increased significantly after RTx. In the GEE model, the smoking habit was associated with increased SCE in patients treated with CTx; age significantly affected MN frequencies. Both MN and SCE frequencies are increased in breast cancer patients and are indicators of CTx and RTx damage, respectively. The increased SCE levels in patients treated with CTx may be due to a synergic effect of smoking and chemotherapy.

Role of Damage Control Surgery in the Treatment of Hinchey III and IV Sigmoid Diverticulitis: A Tailored Strategy

Abstract Many of the treatment strategies for sigmoid diverticulitis are actually focusing on nonoperative and minimally invasive approaches. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the actual role of damage control surgery (DCS) in the treatment of generalized peritonitis caused by perforated sigmoid diverticulitis. A literature search was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published from 1960 to July 2013. Comparative and noncomparative studies that included patients who underwent DCS for complicated diverticulitis were considered. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, duration of open abdomen, intensive care unit length of stay, reoperation, bowel resection performed at first operation, fecal diversion, method, and timing of closure of abdominal wall were the main outcomes of interest. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses algorithm for the literature search and review, 10 studies were included in this systematic review. DCS was exclusively performed in diverticulitis patients with septic shock or requiring vasopressors intraoperatively. Two surgical different approaches were highlighted: limited resection of the diseased colonic segment with or without stoma or reconstruction in situ, and laparoscopic washing and drainage without colonic resection. Despite the heterogeneity of patient groups, clinical settings, and interventions included in this review, DCS appears to be a promising strategy for the treatment of Hinchey III and IV diverticulitis, complicated by septic shock. A tailored approach to each patient seems to be appropriate.

Small (≤2 cm) atypical hepatic haemangiomas in the non-cirrhotic patient: pattern-based classification scheme for enhancement at triple-phase helical CT

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine by triplephase helical computed tomography (CT) the appearance of atypical small (≤2 cm) hepatic haemangiomas (HHs) in the non-cirrhotic patient.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the hepatic arterial-dominant phase (HAP), portal venous phase (PVP) and delayed-phase (DP) helical CT images of 47 patients with 52 atypical small (≤2cm) HHs associated with 34 typical small HHs. Images were assessed to identify the patterns of enhancement of atypical HHs and correlate their appearance with that of typical small HHs in the delayed phase. Interobserver variability and kappa value were calculated. Statistical significance was calculated by the Fisher exact test.ResultsThe 52 atypical small HHs were categorised as follows: type 1a (hyperattenuating in the HAP, n=17), type 1b [hyperattenuating with transient hepatic attenuation difference (THAD) around the lesion in the HAP, n=12], type 2a (homogeneously hypoattenuating in the HAP or PVP, n=9), type 2b (hypoattenuating with “bright-dot” sign in the HAP or PVP, n=13) and type 3 (hypoattenuating with central enhancing area, n=1). Interobserver agreement was perfect for HHs of types 1a, 1b, 2a and 3. On DP images, the appearance of atypical small HHs was identical to that of typical small HHs in all cases (p<0.0001), with lesions showing homogeneous isoattenuation to the aorta or liver parenchyma without peripheral capsule.ConclusionsTriple-phase helical CT scans can distinguish several types of atypical small HHs. The demonstration of patterns similar to those of typical forms on DP CT is fundamental for the diagnosis.RiassuntoObiettivoDeterminare mediante tomografia computerizzata (TC) spirale trifasica l’aspetto degli emangiomi epatici (EE) atipici di piccole dimensioni (≤2 cm) in pazienti con fegato non-cirrotico.Materiali e metodiSono stati valutati retrospettivamente gli esami TC trifasici in fase dominante-arteriosa (FA), fase venosa portale (FVP) e fase tardiva (FT), di 47 pazienti con 52 emangiomi epatici (EE) atipici di piccole dimensioni (≤2 cm) associati a 34 EE tipici piccoli. Le immagini sono state esaminate al fine di individuare i patterns di enhancement degli EE atipici e correlare in FT il loro aspetto con quello degli EE piccoli tipici. Sono state calcolate la variabilita interosservatore e le differenze statistiche mediante il test esatto di Fisher.RisultatiI 52 EE atipici di piccole dimensioni erano così distribuiti: tipo 1a EE iperdenso in FA (n=17), tipo 1b EE iperdenso con transient hepatic attenuation difference (THAD) in FA (n=12), tipo 2a EE ipodenso in FA o FVP (n=9), tipo 2b EE ipodenso con puntiforme/i iperdensita periferica in FA o FVP (n=13), e tipo 3 EE ipodenso con iperdensità centrale ad enhancement centrifugo in FVP (n=1). È stata riscontrata completa concordanza tra i tre osservatori relativamente agli EE di tipo 1a, 1b, 2a, e 3. In FT l’aspetto degli EE atipici di piccole dimensioni (isodensità rispetto all’aorta o al parenchima epatico con assenza di capsula periferica) è risultato sovrapponibile a quello degli EE tipici di piccole dimensioni (p<0,0001).ConclusioniLa TC trifasica consente di distinguere diverse forme di EE atipici di piccole dimensioni che in FT presentano aspetto analogo alle forme tipiche di piccole dimensioni.

Case series of non-operative management vs. operative management of splenic injury after blunt trauma

BACKGROUND The spleen is the most easily injured organ in abdominal trauma. The conservative, operative approach has been challenged by several reports of successful non-operative management aided by the power of modern diagnostic imaging. The aim of our retrospective study was to compare non-operative management with surgery for cases of splenic injury. METHODS We compared seven patients who were treated with non-operative management (NOM) between 2007 and 2011 to six patients with similar pre-operative characteristics who underwent operative management (OM). RESULTS The average hospital stay was lower in the NOM group than in the OM group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The NOM group required significantly fewer transfusions, and no patients in the NOM group required admission to the intensive care unit. In contrast 83% of patients in the OM group were admitted to the intensive care unity. The failure rate of NOM was 14.3% in our experience. CONCLUSION In our experience, NOM is the treatment of choice for grade I, II and III blunt splenic injuries. NOM is slightly less than surgery, but this is an unadjusted comparison and the 95% confidence interval is extremely wide - from 0.04 to 16.99. Splenectomy was the chosen technique in patients who met exclusion criteria for NOM, as well as for patients with grade IV and V injury.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in a case of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

BackgroundLaparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is rarely performed, and it has not been particularly successful due to its technical complexity. The objective of this study is to highlight how robotic surgery could improve a minimally invasive approach and to expose the usefulness of robotic surgery even in complex surgical procedures.Case presentationThe surgical technique employed in our center to perform a pancreaticoduodenectomy, which was by means of the da Vinci™ robotic system in order to remove a duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor, is reported.ConclusionsRobotic technology has improved significantly over the traditional laparoscopic approach, representing an evolution of minimally invasive techniques, allowing procedures to be safely performed that are still considered to be scarcely feasible or reproducible.

Surgery in asymptomatic patients with colorectal cancer and unresectable liver metastases: the authors' experience

Purpose In asymptomatic patients with Stage IV colorectal cancer, the debate continues over the efficacy of primary resection compared to chemotherapy alone. The aim of this study was to define the optimal management for asymptomatic patients with colorectal cancer and unresectable liver metastases. Patients and methods Patients receiving elective surgery (n = 17) were compared to patients receiving chemotherapy only (n = 31). Data concerning patients’ demographics, location of primary tumor, comorbidities, performance status, Child–Pugh score, extension of liver metastases, size of primary, and other secondary locations were collected. Results Thirty-day mortality after chemotherapy was lower than that after surgical resection (19.3% versus 29.4%; not significant). In patients with >75% hepatic involvement, mortality at 1 month was higher after receiving surgical treatment than after chemotherapy alone (50% versus 25%). In patients with <75% hepatic involvement, 30-day mortality was similar in both groups (not significant). Thirty-day mortality in patients with Stage T3 was lower in those receiving chemotherapy (16.7% versus 30%; not significant). Overall survival was similar in both groups. The risk of all-cause death after elective surgery (2.1) was significantly higher than in patients receiving chemotherapy only (P = 0.035). Conclusion This study demonstrated that in palliative treatment of asymptomatic unresectable Stage IV colorectal cancer, the overall risk of death was significantly higher after elective surgery compared to patients receiving chemotherapy alone. However, in the literature, there is no substantial difference between these treatments. New studies are required to better evaluate outcomes.