Kubilay Dalci

Hemobilia as a result of right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture: An unusual complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has many complications which may be seen due to anatomical variations, lack of experience of the surgeon or three dimensional visualization, or insufficient exposure of the surgical field; including vascular injuries. Here we present a case of pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery leading to hemobilia after rupturing into the biliary system. PRESENTATION OF CASE A 43-year-old male patient presented to our clinic 3 weeks post laparoscopic cholecystectomy with right upper quadrant pain, melena and hematemesis. After stabilizing the patient, Doppler ultrasonography, abdominal computer tomography and selective right hepatic artery angiography were performed and a pseudoaneurysm was established on the anterior posterior bifurcation of right hepatic artery. Right hepatic artery ligation and a T-tube placement after choledocotomy were performed. The patient recovered completely. DISCUSSION Pseudoaneurysms of the hepatic artery may arise as a complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Clip encroachments, mechanical or thermal injury during the procedure are likely to be precipitating factors. Today, transarterial embolization (TAE) is the gold standard for the management of hemobilia, and if it fails, the next step in management is surgical. Surgery is limited to extra-hepatic or gallbladder bleeding, and for TAE failure. CONCLUSION In cases of GI bleeding the awareness of the surgeon should be drawn to a clinical suspicion of hemobilia and an underlying hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm that can arise as a complication. CT angiography should be performed for early diagnosis and management in such patients.

Open abdomen yönetiminde erken dönem cerrahi alternatiflerin karşılaştırılması: Randomize ileriye yönelik çalışma

Background Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by progressive intraabdominal organ dysfunction resulting from an acute increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). In the absence of prompt treatment, ACS can lead to lethal organ failure. Treatment of ACS is achieved by immediate decompression of the abdominal cavity. As to how and when decompression laparotomy should be performed depends on the clinical condition of the patients. There is limited data regarding outcomes of abdominal closure techiques. The present study aimed to investigate two different temporary closure methods, the vacuum assisted closure (VAC) and Bogota bag techniques, in 40 patients who underwent decompressive laparotomy as part of the management of ACS. Methods The study included 40 patients who developed ACS during follow-up or following trauma and abdominal surgery. As part of the treatment for ACS, these patients underwent decompressive laparotomy at the Cukurova University Medical Faculty, General Surgery Department and followed up in the Intensive Care Unit of the same hospital. VAC and Bogota bag procedures were performed as temporary closure methods for the treatment of ACS. Patients were randomly assigned to each of the two groups according to the temporary closure method performed. Clinical, laboratory, mortality and morbidity results of the patients in both groups were compared. Results Demographic features of the patients (age, sex, body mass index, co-morbidities) were similar between the two groups. The most common reason of ACS was gastrointestinal perforation in 12 (30%) patients. Decrease in incision width was significantly faster in the VAC group than in the Bogota group. Primary closure of fascia was considered appropriate in 16.9 days in the VAC group and 20.5 days in the Bogota bag group. The decrease in abdominal pressure was similar between the two groups on days 1, 4 and 7 but appeared to be significantly lower on day 14 in the VAC group. 12 patients (30%) died during the study. Among the deceased patients, 5 (12%) were in the VAC group, whereas, 7 (17.5%) belonged to the Bogota bag group. Conclusion Based on these results, it is suggested that VAC has advantages when compared to the Bogota bag as a temporary closure method in the management of abdominal compartment syndrome.BACKGROUND Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by progressive intraabdominal organ dysfunction resulting from an acute increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). In the absence of prompt treatment, ACS can lead to lethal organ failure. Treatment of ACS is achieved by immediate decompression of the abdominal cavity. As to how and when decompression laparotomy should be performed depends on the clinical condition of the patients. There is limited data regarding outcomes of abdominal closure techiques. The present study aimed to investigate two different temporary closure methods, the vacuum assisted closure (VAC) and Bogota bag techniques, in 40 patients who underwent decompressive laparotomy as part of the management of ACS. METHODS The study included 40 patients who developed ACS during follow-up or following trauma and abdominal surgery. As part of the treatment for ACS, these patients underwent decompressive laparotomy at the Cukurova University Medical Faculty, General Surgery Department and followed up in the Intensive Care Unit of the same hospital. VAC and Bogota bag procedures were performed as temporary closure methods for the treatment of ACS. Patients were randomly assigned to each of the two groups according to the temporary closure method performed. Clinical, laboratory, mortality and morbidity results of the patients in both groups were compared. RESULTS Demographic features of the patients (age, sex, body mass index, co-morbidities) were similar between the two groups. The most common reason of ACS was gastrointestinal perforation in 12 (30%) patients. Decrease in incision width was significantly faster in the VAC group than in the Bogota group. Primary closure of fascia was considered appropriate in 16.9 days in the VAC group and 20.5 days in the Bogota bag group. The decrease in abdominal pressure was similar between the two groups on days 1, 4 and 7 but appeared to be significantly lower on day 14 in the VAC group. 12 patients (30%) died during the study. Among the deceased patients, 5 (12%) were in the VAC group, whereas, 7 (17.5%) belonged to the Bogota bag group. CONCLUSION Based on these results, it is suggested that VAC has advantages when compared to the Bogota bag as a temporary closure method in the management of abdominal compartment syndrome.

Antiviral Combination Therapy With Low-Dose Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin for the Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Recurrence in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES This study presents the overall long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence rate with possible associated factors after hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) was given in combination with 4 different antiviral (lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, and tenofovir) drugs. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between September 2000 and October 2013, the medical records of 42 adult patients who underwent liver transplantation at the Cukurova University Medical Hospital for chronic liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to chronic HBV were reviewed retrospectively. The analyses of risk factors for recurrence were performed based on the efficacy of hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), HBV DNA, preoperative prophylaxis, and the presence of HCC. Posttransplantation HBV recurrence was defined as persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity after orthotopic liver transplantation, or the reappearance of HBsAg and HBV DNA after initial HBsAg undetectability despite prophylaxis. RESULTS The mean follow-up of 28 patients having HBIG and lamivudine prophylaxis was 73.25 ± 37.5 months with a recurrence rate of 3.5%. The mean follow-up of 2 patients having HBIG and adefovir prophylaxis was 90 ± 46.6 months with a 50% recurrence rate. The mean follow-up of each 6 patients who received prophylaxis with entecavir and tenofovir groups were 27.5 ± 16.1 and 16.17 ± 5.3 respectively, with no posttransplantation recurrence for both groups. On univariate analysis, preoperative factors such as anti-HBc, HBV DNA, preoperative prophylaxis, and the presence of HCC did not show any correlation with recurrence. However, HBeAg showed statistical significance for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose HBIG in combination with antiviral agents (lamivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir) is efficacious in preventing recurrence of HBV in posttransplantation patients.

Unusual Presentation of Meckel’s Diverticulum: Gangrene due to Axial Torsion

Meckels diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the small bowel. The majority of cases are asymptomatic; however, life-threatening complications can also take place. We present a case of a 37-year-old male who was admitted with symptoms of acute, severe abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa. The patient was operated on with the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis but the operative findings were consistent with torted Meckels diverticulum due to presence of mesodiverticular band and he was treated successfully with surgical resection.

The prognostic value of pro-calcitonin, CRP and thyroid hormones in secondary peritonitis: a single-center prospective study

BACKGROUND Infections and sepsis remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in secondary peritonitis. Clinicians are still challenged with the task of finding an early and reliable diagnosis of septic complications. The role of inflammatory markers (Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive Protein (CRP) and thyroid hormones in determining the severity of secondary peritonitis was evaluated in this study. METHODS On the preoperative and first, third, fifth, seventh, and fourteenth postoperative days, PCT, CRP, and thyroid hormone concentrations were measured in serum taken from eighty-four consecutive patients who were operated on for secondary peritonitis between January 2008 and January 2010. All data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 15.0 and clinical parameters were compared using the students t-test. RESULTS For the groups diagnosed with perforated viscus, PCT concentrations were significantly low in contrast to high thyroid hormone levels in patients who developed postoperative complications or died when compared to patients whose postoperative course was uneventful or discharged. The PCT concentration significantly correlated with the CRP concentration and WBC count. CONCLUSION In the absence of postoperative complications, PCT is a better predictor of outcome than CRP in secondary peritonitis. Our study showed that a low thyroid hormone level can serve as an important prognostic parameter of disease severity in secondary peritonitis.

Primary gastric tuberculosis mimicking gastric cancer.

A 42-year-old female patient with no previous known diseases who had complaints of postprandial epigastric pain and weight loss and who could not be diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy, although gastric cancer was suspected radiologically and endoscopically, was diagnosed with primary gastric tuberculosis by laparotomy and frozen section. Following anti-tuberculosis treatment, a complete clinical, radiological, and endoscopic response was achieved.

Challenges, Prognosis and Outcomes of Surgical Resection for Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis: A Single Centre Experience

Objective: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an aggressive and potentially fatal infection, which affects the liver primarily and presents as a tumor-like lesion. Outcomes associated with surgical procedures for this infection have been rarely reported. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate long-term surgical treatment outcomes associated with hepatic AE. Methods: Between 2001 and 2013, the management and outcomes of twelve consecutive hepatic AE patients who were considered feasible for complete hepatic resection with/without metastasectomy were described. In all patients, pre-operative diagnosis of AE was based on clinical findings, imaging studies, and serological tests. Antibodies against antigens of Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes were screened as specific markers for the serological diagnosis of AE by Western blot. The oral albendazole protocol was administered for hepatic AE patients who had complete resection. Results: Twelve patients (F/M=7/5) underwent complete resection for pathologically confirmed hepatic AE during the study period. Median follow-up was 82 (32-164) months. The most common initial symptom was abdominal pain (n=9) followed by jaundice (n=4). Four patients had metastasis: Brain, surrenal, splenic and colon. One patient was lost due to massive pulmonary emboli despite appropriate interventions. All other complications that emerged were treated successfully. Conclusion: Long-term favorable outcomes can be achieved by complete surgical resection followed by chemotherapy with albendazole in advanced hepatic AE cases.

Esophageal schwannoma: report of a case and review of the literature

SummaryBackgroundEsophageal schwannomas are very rarely seen neurogenic tumors and constitute less than 2 % of all esophageal tumors. The current study reports a case of benign esophageal schwannoma and re-evaluates esophageal schwannomas including our case with the other 42 cases in the literature.MethodsA 61-year-old female patient was referred to our clinic with the complaints of dysphagia and a weight loss. In her upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy, a 20–25-cm submucosal lesion was seen, which compressed the esophagus from outside. On computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax, a mass lesion was detected at the posterior mediastinum. After a preoperative detailed evaluation, a right posterolateral thoracotomy was performed. The mass was excised with the enucleation technique. The diagnosis of benign esophageal schwannoma was made with immunohistochemical examination.ResultsPostoperative period was uneventful.ConclusionsGenerally, the prognosis of esophageal schwannomas is excellent. Complete removal of the mass producing a negative surgical margin, and in malignant cases, excision of the regional lymph nodes, should be essential for long-term disease-free survival.