José Ignacio Asensio

Novel equation to determine the hepatic triglyceride concentration in humans by MRI: diagnosis and monitoring of NAFLD in obese patients before and after bariatric surgery.

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by abnormal accumulation of lipids within liver cells. Its prevalence is increasing in developed countries in association with obesity, and it represents a risk factor for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Since NAFLD is usually asymptomatic at diagnosis, new non-invasive approaches are needed to determine the hepatic lipid content in terms of diagnosis, treatment and control of disease progression. Here, we investigated the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantitate and monitor the hepatic triglyceride concentration in humans.MethodsA prospective study of diagnostic accuracy was conducted among 129 consecutive adult patients (97 obesity and 32 non-obese) to compare multi-echo MRI fat fraction, grade of steatosis estimated by histopathology, and biochemical measurement of hepatic triglyceride concentration (that is, Folch value).ResultsMRI fat fraction positively correlates with the grade of steatosis estimated on a 0 to 3 scale by histopathology. However, this correlation value was stronger when MRI fat fraction was linked to the Folch value, resulting in a novel equation to predict the hepatic triglyceride concentration (mg of triglycerides/g of liver tissue = 5.082 + (432.104 * multi-echo MRI fat fraction)). Validation of this formula in 31 additional patients (24 obese and 7 controls) resulted in robust correlation between the measured and estimated Folch values. Multivariate analysis showed that none of the variables investigated improves the Folch prediction capacity of the equation. Obese patients show increased steatosis compared to controls using MRI fat fraction and Folch value. Bariatric surgery improved MRI fat fraction values and the Folch value estimated in obese patients one year after surgery.ConclusionsMulti-echo MRI is an accurate approach to determine the hepatic lipid concentration by using our novel equation, representing an economic non-invasive method to diagnose and monitor steatosis in humans.

Características clinicopatológicas y supervivencia de los pacientes con cáncer de esófago. Resultados de 200 casos consecutivos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The esophageal cancer (EC) is a slightly frequent but serious disease. Our aim is to describe the characteristics of the patients with EC in our Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD We included 200 patients consecutively diagnosed and/or treated for CE between between January, 2003 and December, 2007. The location of the tumor was analyzed, the histological type, the proofs realized for to establish the classification, the treatments, the survival and the morbi-mortality of the surgery. RESULTS The endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) modified the therapeutic strategy in 12% of the patients. The survival to the year, 3 years and 5 years was 48%, 25% and 21%, respectively. 74 (32%) patients were operated, 48 (65%) of them was treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The postsurgical mortality was 8% (6 patients) and the morbidity was 57% (114 patients). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for traditional risk factors, were the location in the average third ( [HR, hazard ratio]=2.3; confidence interval [IC] of 95%, 1.3-4.1) and not accomplishment of surgery after the chemotherapy and radiotherapy (HR=1.9; IC to 95%, 1.15-3). CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis is realized very later. The EUS has contributed a better therapeutic strategy to our patients. The mortality continues being high.

Cáncer gástrico por laparoscopia: análisis de los datos del Registro Nacional de Cirugía Gástrica por Laparoscopia

OBJECTIVE To study the data from the Laparoscopic Gastric Surgery Spanish National Register of laparoscopic Gastric Surgery and to analyse the type of surgery, the conversion to laparotomy, postoperative complications and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHOD From March 2005 to July 2008, details of 302 laparoscopic gastric surgical interventions were sent to the Association of Spanish Surgeons web-site. Details of surgical technique, reconversion, clinical and pathological data, morbidity and mortality were collected and analysed. RESULTS A total of 245 patients had gastric adenocarcinoma, 35 of them stromal tumours and 22 other gastric pathologies. In gastric adenocarcinoma patients, resection was performed in 232 cases (95%). The most frequent histology was intestinal, mainly located in the distal third of the stomach, with 34% of the tumours being locally advanced. D2 lymphadenectomy was performed in 117 cases, D1 in 105, and D0 in 6. Reconversion was needed in 21 cases (9%), with technical difficulty being the most frequent cause. Postoperative complications were reported in 72 patients (31%), with anastomotic leak being one of the most significant. Postoperative mortality was 6%, with sepsis due to anastomotic leak and cardiac or respiratory complications the most frequent causes. The mean hospital stay of patients without complications was 9.2 +/- 3 days. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer is a feasible but technically demanding procedure. Potential benefits of minimal invasive surgery can be reduced due to a high rate of postoperative complications.

[Gastric cancer and laparoscopy: analysis of data from the national register of laparoscopic gastric surgery].

Abstract Objective To study the data from the Laparoscopic Gastric Surgery Spanish National Register of laparoscopic gastric surgery and to analyse the type of surgery, the conversion to laparotomy, postoperative complications, and mortality. Patients and method From March 2005 to July 2008, details of 302 laparoscopic gastric surgical interventions were sent to the Association of Spanish Surgeons web-site. Details of surgical technique, reconversion, clinical and pathological data, morbidity and mortality were collected and analysed. Results A total of 245 patients had gastric adenocarcinoma, 35 of them stromal tumours and 22 other gastric pathologies. In gastric adenocarcinoma patients, resection was performed in 232 cases (95%). The most frequent histology was intestinal, mainly located in the distal third of the stomach, with 34% of the tumours being locally advanced. D2 lymphadenectomy was performed in 117 cases, D1 in 105, and D0 in 6. Reconversion was needed in 21 cases (9%), with technical difficulty being the most frequent cause. Postoperative complications were reported in 72 patients (31%), with anastomotic leak being one of the most significant. Postoperative mortality was 6%, with sepsis due to anastomotic leak and cardiac or respiratory complications the most frequent causes. The mean hospital stay of patients without complications was 9.2 (3) days. Conclusions Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer is a feasible but technically demanding procedure. Potential benefits of minimal invasive surgery can be reduced due to a high rate of postoperative complications

Esofagectomía mínimamente invasiva

INTRODUCTION Currently, the bases for the treatment of esophageal cancer are surgical resection and chemotherapy. Among the various surgical techniques used, minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) aims to reduce surgical aggression and cardiopulmonary complications while maintaining basic oncological principles. We present the results of our initial experience with this technique in the treatment of esophageal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD Fourteen patients with a diagnosis of esophageal cancer were selected to undergo MIE in three stages: right thoracoscopy, laparoscopy, and left cervicotomy with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. Histological diagnosis was epidermoid carcinoma (n = 11) and high grade dysplasia (n = 3), one of which was highly suspicious of malignant transformation. After extension studies, preoperative clinical stages were as follows: stage 0 (n = 3), stage IIA (n = 10), and stage III (n = 1). Seven patients were treated with chemotherapy and neoadjuvant radiotherapy and the remainder underwent surgery without prior treatment. RESULTS The mean operating time was 299 minutes (range: 195-425). The conversion rate was 14% (n = 2). Mortality was 0% and morbidity was 50%, consisting of three major complications and four minor complications. No anastomotic dehiscence or wound infections were observed. Complete (R0) resections were achieved in 92.8% (n = 13). Transfusion needs were 1.1 U/patient. The mean number of nodes removed was 10.2/patient (range: 5-17). The mean length of hospital stay was 21 days (range: 9-64). Postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 to 17 months. All patients were alive and disease-free except for one patient with liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS Although MIE is a demanding technique, we believe that it is technically feasible in the treatment of esophageal cancer with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality. Consequently, it should be considered as an alternative to open surgery in selected patients.