Kayıhan Günay

Traumatic rupture of hydatid cysts : A 12-year experience from an endemic region

BACKGROUND Trauma as a cause of hydatid cyst rupture leads to various clinical sequelae. However, extensive data in the current literature regarding clinical presentation and management of such patients are lacking. METHODS This article is a retrospective review of 16 patients with traumatic rupture of hydatid cysts treated at a university hospital in an endemic area. RESULTS Falls (44%) were the most common cause of trauma. The ruptured cysts were located in the liver in 13 patients (81%), in the spleen in 2 patients, and in the lung in 1 patient. Computerized tomography had a sensitivity of 100% in demonstrating cyst rupture; whereas, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 85%. Ten patients (62%) had rupture into the peritoneal cavity and 5 patients (31%) into the biliary tree. Five (31%) of the cysts were infected. Surgical procedures included introflexion (five patients), pericystectomy-choledochoduodenostomy (three patients), external drainage-choledochoduodenostomy (two patients), unroofing-external drainage (two patients), splenectomy (two patients), unroofing (one patient), and right hepatectomy (one patient). Mean length of hospitalization was 15.9 days (range, 5-61 days). One patient (6%) died, and eight patients (50%) developed complications. Nine patients (56%) were followed-up for an average of 30 months (range, 3-72 months), and there was no recurrence. CONCLUSION Computed tomography is currently the most sensitive diagnostic tool for demonstrating hydatid cyst rupture. The surgical options vary depending on intraoperative findings. Allergic reactions and recurrence as a result of intraperitoneal spillage are not as common as once believed. Biliary rupture is associated with an increased rate of wound infection.

Abdominal stab wounds: the role of selective management.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of a selective approach to the operative treatment of abdominal stab wounds. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING University hospital, Turkey. SUBJECTS 387 patients with stab wounds of the abdomen, who presented between January 1992 and January 1995. INTERVENTIONS After local exploration of the wound, 200 patients in whom the wound had penetrated the peritoneum, underwent diagnostic peritoneal lavage. The lavage fluid was examined for white cells, red cells, and amylase and alkaline phosphatase activity. The severity of the injury was evaluated with the penetrating abdominal trauma index (PATI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Morbidity and mortality. RESULTS The main complications were wound infection (n=15), wound dehiscence (n=5), pneumonia (n=3) and renal failure (n=1). Five patients died. The median hospital stay was 6.1 days when patients were operated on, and 1.5 days when they were not. CONCLUSIONS We managed to minimise the number of negative and unnecessary laparotomies. We emphasise that the selective approach may easily be applied in teaching hospitals.

Endoscopic ligation for patients with active bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears.

Background: Only a few patients with active nonesophageal variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding have been treated with endoscopic ligation. To further address this issue, four patients with active bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears who underwent endoscopic band ligation are presented. Patients and Methods: Endoscopic ligation was performed in four patients with a median age of 52 years (range, 40-93 years) after a diagnosis of active bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears (MWTs). A 45-year-old man with massive persistent upper gastrointestinal bleeding as a cause of a MWT underwent therapeutical endoscopic band ligation after an unsuccessful endoscopic injection trial. On the contrary, injection therapy should have been performed on a 93-year-old woman with multiple myeloma because of an actively bleeding MWT caused by the fibrotic tissue after an unsuccessful endoscopic ligation trial, although her other actively bleeding MWT lesion had been ligated successfully. Results: After endoscopic ligation, all patients achieved complete hemostasis, and rebleeding did not occur. They were discharged without complications after a control endoscopy. Conclusions: Endoscopic ligation can be performed easily and without any complications such as perforation or delayed hemorrhage in patients with actively bleeding nonfibrotic MWTs.

Mezenter Ven Trombozuna Yaklaşım: Tek Merkez Deneyimi

BACKGROUND Mesenteric vein thrombosis occurs rarely and is responsible for approximately 5-15% of all cases of acute mesenteric ischemia. The aim of this report was to discuss the management of mesenteric vein thrombosis based on our experience with 34 patients. METHODS In the present study, 34 patients who were admitted to our emergency surgery department between January 2007 and January 2010 with a diagnosis of acute mesenteric vein thrombosis were assessed retrospectively. Patients with peritoneal signs first underwent diagnostic laparoscopy to rule out perforation or bowel gangrene. We performed a second-look laparoscopy within 72 hours of the first operation. All patients were administered 100 mg/kg of the anticoagulant enoxaparin twice daily. In the 6th and 12th months of follow up, CT angiography was performed to evaluate recanalization of the veins. RESULTS CT angiography revealed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in 25 (73%) patients, portal vein thrombosis in 24 (70%) patients, and splenic vein thrombosis in 12 (35%) patients. Eleven patients with peritoneal signs underwent diagnostic laparoscopy; eight of the patients underwent small bowel resection, anastomosis, and trocar insertion. During second-look laparoscopy, small bowel ischemia was found in two patients and re-resection was performed. CONCLUSION Early diagnosis with CT angiography, surgical and non-surgical blood flow restoration, proper anticoagulation, and supportive intensive care are the cornerstones of successful treatment of mesenteric vein thrombosis.

The Effect of Beta-Aminopropionitrile and Prednisolone on the Prevention of Fibrosis in Alkali Esophageal Burns: An Experimental Study

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and prednisolone on the prevention of esophageal damage and stricture formation after caustic esophageal burn. Method. Twenty-eight rats were divided into four equal groups. In groups 1, 2, and 3, caustic esophageal burns were generated by applying NaOH to the 1.5 cm segment of the abdominal esophagus. Group 4 was for the sham. Normal saline to group 1, BAPN to group 2, and prednisolone to group 3 were administered intraperitoneally as a single daily dose. Results. Treatment with BAPN decreased the stenosis index (SI) and histopathologic damage score (HDS) seen in caustic esophageal burn rats. The SI in group 4 was significantly lower compared with groups 1, 2, and 3. Group 2 had the minimum SI value in corrosive burn groups. The differences related to SI between groups 1, 2, and 3 were not statistically significant. The HDS was significantly lower in group 4 compared with groups 1, 2, and 3. The HDS in group 2 was significantly lower compared with groups 1 and 3. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that BAPN was able to decrease the development of stenosis and tissue damage better than prednisolone.

The course and outcomes of complicated gallstone disease in pregnancy: Experience of a tertiary center

Objective: To evaluate the course and outcomes of pregnant patients with complicated gallstone disease and to reveal the experience of a tertiary center. Materials and Methods: The records of 92.567 patients were evaluated using searches for diagnoses with the terms of pregnant, pregnancy, gallstone, cholecystitis, cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in pregnancy in the hospital database. Patients’ age, week of gestation, parity, body mass index, definitive diagnosis, attack episodes, treatment modalities, and obstetric and neonatal complications were evaluated. Results: Overall, 59 women were diagnosed as having complicated gallstone disease in pregnancy. Acute cholecystitis was the most commonly diagnosed complicated gallbladder disease (62.7%). Cholecystectomy was performed in 15 women during gestation. Perinatal outcomes were as follows: one (1.7%) maternal death, 4 (6.8%) preterm deliveries, 5 (8.5%) low-birth-weight fetuses, and 1 (1.7%) missed abortion were encountered. No fetal abnormalities were encountered. Conclusion: A significant proportion of women experience biliary disease during pregnancy. Herein, we presented our clinical experience because the diagnosis, course, and management of complicated gallstone disease in pregnancy is complicated.

A penetrating dorsal thoracic injury that is lucky from every aspect: A case report

Graphical abstract

The role of colorectal stent placement in the management of acute malignant obstruction.

BACKGROUND In recent decades, the use of colorectal stents for palliation or as a bridge to surgery in acute malignant colorectal obstruction has increased. We aimed to evaluate the technical and clinical efficacy, safety and clinical outcomes of endoscopic stenting for the relief of acute colorectal obstruction secondary to cancer. METHODS From March 2006 to December 2012, among 100 patients with acute malignant colorectal obstruction, stenting procedures were performed on 42 patients for relief of obstruction. Uncovered self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) were placed endoscopically under fluoroscopic guidance in all patients. Using the patient database, a review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the procedure and the short- and long-term complications. RESULTS Stent placement was technically successful in 39/42 (92.8%) and clinically successful in 38/42 (90.4%) patients. Sixteen patients later underwent an elective surgical resection, and in 26 patients with metastatic disease or comorbidity, stent placement was palliative. Complications occurred in 10 (23.8%) patients, and the most common was tenesmus (n=3). Migration, bleeding, and recto-sigmoid perforation occurred in two patients each. Stent obstruction due to fecal impaction was seen in one case. CONCLUSION Stent placement for colorectal obstruction is an effective and relatively safe procedure, with minor complications. It not only allows subsequent elective resection, but is also definitive for palliative treatment in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.

Damage-control laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy with an endoscopic linear stapler

OBJECTIVE Several damage-control procedures have been described in the literature in case of severe Calots triangle inflammation and fibrosis. In this report, we describe patients who underwent laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy using an endoscopic linear stapler. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five patients with acute cholecystitis underwent laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy in our clinic between January - December 2011. All patients had severe fibrosis and inflammation of Calots triangle. The anterior and posterior walls of the gallbladder were totally resected if possible. The gallbladder was transected at its neck or Hartmanns pouch, leaving a remnant gallbladder pouch behind. RESULTS Five patients had laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy with an endoscopic linear stapler. The main symptom of all patients on admission to the emergency room was abdominal pain. The mean time for the surgical procedure was 140 minutes (range, 120-180 minutes). Inflammation and fibrosis of Calots triangle was detected in all patients during surgery and a phlegmonous gallbladder was detected in one patient. Surgical drains were used in all patients and no biliary leakage was detected. Remnant common bile duct calculi were detected in one patient and this patient underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography one month after surgery. CONCLUSIONS When a reliable view of Calots triangle cannot be obtained due to severe inflammation and fibrosis during laparoscopy, laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy seems to be a safe and feasible alternative to open surgery with an acceptable morbidity rate.

SHOULD ANGIOGRAPHY BE ROUTINELY EMPLOYED IN HIGH GRADE LIVER INJURIES UNDERGOING DAMAGE CONTROL SURGERY

Objective : The management of traumatic liver injuries involves various strategies ranging from observation to operative intervention and includes various options such as angiography and/or damage-control surgery. In this study, we aimed to clarify whether routine angiography is necessary or can be reserved for selected patients with persistent bleeding after depacking. Methods: During the 11-year period from January 2000 to December 2010 all patients with blunt or penetrating trauma who sustained a liver injury and underwent a damage control laparotomy in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Following variables were extracted from patient charts: demographics, the mechanism of injury, shock status, Injury Severity Score, liver injury grades, associated injuries, angioembolization, duration of hospitalisation, time to depacking, mortality. Angioembolization.was performed when persistent bleeding was encountered after depacking. Results: A total of 513 patients with hepatic injury were admitted during the study period. Damage control surgery was undertaken in 60 patients, of whom 21 patients underwent angioembolization. The factors associated with a high Injury Severity Score were admission in shock status (p=0.009) and associated organ injuries (p<0.001). Extremity injury was the most commonly encountered associated injury (n=15, 25.0%). In the damage control surgery group, mortality was not significantly different between angioembolization (n=4, 19%) and non-angioembolization (n=14, 33%) groups (p=0.369). Conclusion: The most patients with abdominal packing after liver trauma may not require routine angiography. Angioembolization may be used selectively in patients with persistent bleeding after depacking. Key words: Angiography; embolisation; trauma; packing