Iskender Alacayir

Direct trocar insertion versus veress needle insertion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND Direct insertion of the trocar is an alternative method to Veress needle insertion for the creation of pneumoperitoneum. The safety of direct disposable shielded trocar insertion for the creation of pneumoperitoneum was assessed by comparing with Veress needle insertion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS One thousand five hundred patients undergoing LC with pneumoperitoneum were included in this study. In 470 patients the Veress needle insertion technique was used, and in 1,030 patients direct trocar insertion technique was used. Patients having indications for open trocar insertion were excluded from the study. RESULTS Complication rate was significantly higher in the Veress needle group (14% versus 0.9%; P <0.01), and the two major complications, gastric perforation and iliac artery laceration, were also encountered in this group. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that with a lower complication rate, direct insertion of the disposable trocar is a safe alternative to Veress needle insertion technique for the creation of pneumoperitoneum. Such an approach has further advantages such as less cost/instrumentation and rapid creation of pneumoperitoneum.

Surgical Treatment of Peripheral Aneurysms in Patients with Behcet's Disease

INTRODUCTION Our aim was to report our experience with 23 patients presenting with 32 peripheral aneurysms secondary to Behcets disease (BD) and their outcome after vascular surgery. METHODS The study was retrospective in nature. Except for those presenting with aneurysm rupture, patients underwent surgery after treatment of acute inflammatory lesions. All aneurysms appeared to be pseudo-aneurysms. Graft interposition with polytetrafluoroethylene or saphenous vein was most commonly employed. Postoperatively, all patients were put on immunosuppressive and antiplatelet therapy. Follow-up was done every 6-12 months, complications recorded and managed appropriately. RESULTS All the patients were males. The mean age at diagnosis of a peripheral aneurysm was 41.0 ± 9 years. There were 17 (53%) femoral, 8 (25%) popliteal, two carotid, two external iliac, two brachial and one internal iliac aneurysms. Fourteen (61%) patients had a single peripheral aneurysm while nine had two. Surgery was performed for all initially presenting 23 aneurysms. Six patients with multiple peripheral aneurysms had surgery for their second asymptomatic aneurysm. The mean follow-up period was 84 ± 62 months. Of 29 aneurysms operated on, 7 (24%) anastomotic pseudo-aneurysms and 11 (38%) graft occlusions developed. Five (22%) patients underwent major lower extremity amputations. Six (26%) mortalities were recorded. CONCLUSION Surgery for peripheral aneurysms in BD is warranted in many instances. Results of operation can be improved by prolonged monitoring. However, despite all efforts, peripheral aneurysm involvement in BD worsens the prognosis.

Treatment of External Biliary, Pancreatic and Intestinal Fistulas with a Somatostatin Analog

Somatostatin and its long-acting analog octreotide (SMS 201-995) inhibit several gastrointestinal functions. Their effects have been studied in the treatment of small numbers of external pancreatic, intestinal and biliary fistulas. We treated 8 biliary, 4 pancreatic and 5 intestinal cutaneous fistulas with octreotide. Mean decreases in fistula output before octreotide treatment were not significant (p > 0.01 for each group). On the 1st day of octreotide treatment, mean fistula output decreased from 412 +/- 60.4 to 234 +/- 57.7 ml in the biliary, from 457.5 +/- 57.5 to 217.5 +/- 11.8 ml in the pancreatic and from 564 +/- 49.2 to 217.5 +/- 11.8 ml in the enterocutaneous fistula groups (p < 0.01 for each). No serious side effects were recorded. We conclude that octreotide is an important adjunct in the conservative treatment of external biliary, pancreatic and intestinal fistulas, by decreasing their output.

Suprarenal Symplastic Leiomyoma of the Inferior Vena Cava

We report on a case of a leiomyoma in the inferior vena cava that appeared in the image to be located in the adrenal gland. En bloc excision of the tumor with the right adrenal gland and the involved segment of the vena cava was carried out. Histopathological work-up of the tumor revealed smooth muscle fibers and marked nuclear pleomorphism consistent with symplastic leiomyoma. This case report presents a distinct histological variant of the rarely seen primary smooth muscle tumor of the inferior vena cava.

The endothelium-derived relaxing factor-mediated acetylcholine response of the arterial perfusion pressure after cold storage of the isolated rabbit kidney.

The vasodilatation induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in a rabbit isolated perfused kidney was abolished when the tissue was exposed to cold ischemia for 72 h in Euro-Collins (EC) solution. This vasodilatation is due to the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) from renal vasculature as evidenced by the attenuation following methylene blue pretreatment. When kidneys were preserved in EC solution containing UK 38 485, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor, or nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, ACh-induced vasodilatation persisted after 72 h of cold ischemia. These results were taken as evidence of tissue protective activity of UK 38 485 and nicardipine and have promising implications for cadaveric kidney transplantation.

An Unusual Manifestation of Renal Angiomyolipoma: Pulmonary Fat Embolism

Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is the most common benign renal mesenchymal tumors. AMLs are usually asymptomatic and frequently affect women. Only epithelioid variant has malignant potential. Although life-threatening complications related to retroperitoneal bleeding and massive hematuria are possible, it is often detected incidentally. Pulmonary embolism as the first symptom is extremely rare. Herein, we present a case of renal AML who admitted with pulmonary embolism symptoms.

Aortobifemoral Graft Causing Complete Intestinal Obstruction in a Patient with Behçet’s Disease: Report of a Case

A 50-year-old man with Behçet’s disease and a history of aortobifemoral (ABF) bypass grafting for an abdominal aortic aneurysm was admitted to our Emergency Room with ileus. Upon exploration we found that the ABF graft was occluding the jejunal passage. To the best of our knowledge this is the first such case ever to be reported.

Embolic Type of Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome Case Report and Literature Review

A case of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) with distal embolization is reported in a twenty-two-year-old man. PAES is caused by an abnormal relationship between vessels and muscle within the popliteal fossa. This syndrome is increasingly described as a cause of lower limb ischemia. Approximately 300 cases have been reported in the world literature. However, distal embolization to the leg and foot vessels is not emphasized. Also presented is a review of 7 other cases with distal embolization found in the literature.