Mohamed Bekheit

Earliest signs and management of leakage after bariatric surgeries: Single institute experience

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of treatment in patients who develop gastrointestinal leaks after different bariatric surgeries. Methods Retrospective review of 632 consecutive bariatric surgical procedures performed from 1999–2009 in Alexandria University Hospital, Egypt. Results Leakage occurred in 10 patients. Symptoms and signs included tachycardia, fever, tachypnea, left shoulder pain, abdominal pain, chest pain, and/or change in the nature of the drain effluent. The earliest signs of presentation were tachycardia and unilateral decrease in air entry in all patients. The average time to diagnosis was 3.9 ± 2.6 days. In four patients contrast study was negative (40%). Six leaks occurred after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (6.3%), 2 after laparoscopic gastric bypass (3.6%), one after open gastric bypass (2.3%), and 1 after laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (2.4%). The most common leak location was at the esophagogastric junction (70%). Four patients (40%) required reoperations. A percutaneous abdominal drainage was placed in five patients (50%). In 2 patients (20%), the prophylactic drain was maintained in situ till cessation of leakage. Two patients (20%) died. Mean hospital length of stay was 13.9 ± 7.8 days. Conclusions Tachycardia and unequal breath sound in the early postoperative course are worrisome signs that warrant laparoscopic exploration even if contrast studies were negative. Patients with signs of sepsis or hemodynamic instability require emergent exploration. Leaks that are more insidious may be treated successfully with percutaneous drainage or maintenance of prophylactic drains.

Partial hepatectomy hemodynamics changes: Experimental data explained by closed-loop lumped modeling

The liver function may be degraded after partial liver ablation surgery. Adverse liver hemodynamics have been shown to be associated to liver failure. The link between these hemodynamics changes and ablation size is however poorly understood. This article proposes to explain with a closed-loop lumped model the hemodynamics changes observed during twelve surgeries in pigs. The portal venous tree is modeled with a pressure-dependent variable resistor. The variables measured, before liver ablation, are used to tune the model parameters. Then, the liver partial ablation is simulated with the model and the simulated pressures and flows are compared with post-operative measurements. Fluid infusion and blood losses occur during the surgery. The closed-loop model presented accounts for these blood volume changes. Moreover, the impact of blood volume changes and the liver lobe mass estimations on the simulated variables is studied. The typical increase of portal pressure, increase of liver pressure loss, slight decrease of portal flow and major decrease in arterial flow are quantitatively captured by the model for a 75% hepatectomy. It appears that the 75% decrease in hepatic arterial flow can be explained by the resistance increase induced by the surgery, and that no hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR) mechanism is needed to account for this change. The different post-operative states, observed in experiments, are reproduced with the proposed model. Thus, an explanation for inter-subjects post-operative variability is proposed. The presented framework can easily be adapted to other species circulations and to different pathologies for clinical hepatic applications.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy stimulates colonic stem cells and induces mucosal healing in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis: a prospective case series

Background Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is used as part of treatment in a variety of clinical conditions. Its use in the treatment of ulcerative colitis has been reported in few clinical reports. Objective We report the effect of HBO on refractory ulcerative colitis exploring one potential mechanism of action. Design A review of records of patients with refractory ulcerative colitis who received HBO was conducted. Clinical and histopathological scoring was utilised to evaluate the response to HBO therapy (HBOT). Results All patients manifested clinical improvement by the 40th cycle of HBOT. The median number of stool frequency dropped from seven motions/day (range=3–20) to 1/day (range=0.5–3), which was significant (z=−4.6, p<0.001). None of the patients manifested persistent blood passage after HBOT (z=−3.2, p=0.002). The severity index significantly improved after HBOT (z=−4.97, p<0.001). Histologically, a significant reduction of the scores of activity was recorded accompanied by a significant increase in the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index of the CD44 cells of the colonic mucosa (p=0.001). Conclusions HBOT is effective in the setting of refractory ulcerative colitis. The described protocol is necessary for successful treatment. HBOT stimulates colonic stem cells to promote healing.

Fluorescent-Guided Liver Surgery: Paul Brousse Experiences and Perspective

Real-time fluorescence evaluation using Fluobeam® is an interesting tool of evaluation of the liver condition at reperfusion during transplantation and of the oncologic radicality during hepatic surgery for cancer that has many perspectives.

Wandering hemi-spleen: Laparoscopic management of wandering spleen in a case of polysplenia

INTRODUCTION Several congenital anomalies of the spleen have been reported. The polysplenia is a rare anomaly in which the normal spleen is replaced with two or more smaller spleens. The wandering spleen is another anomaly resulting from the laxity of the splenic ligaments. The concomitance of both anomalies is very rare. PRESENTATION OF A CASE A 22-year old female patient presented with intermittent left hypochondrial pain for more than a year. After a thorough examination of the patient, she only had bilateral accessory nipples. Routine laboratory investigations were all normal. An abdominal ultrasound U/S scan was unremarkable except for a ptotic spleen. with a large splenule 5cm×3cm located near the fundus of the stomach. These findings were confirmed by a CT scan. A decision for a surgical intervention was then made, and the laparoscopic approach was chosen which revealed the condition. Laparoscopic removal of the wandering part was executed. The patient discharged on the first post-operative day. DISCUSSION The decision making in cases of wandering spleen is not always the same. The association of a wandering spleen with polysplenia is an asset to the surgical decision, along with the age of the patient. CONCLUSION The laparoscopic approach is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of wandering spleen. The diagnosis of polysplenic anomaly could provide a guidance for the surgical strategy in patients with wandering spleen.

Modulating Portal Hemodynamics With Vascular Ring Allows Efficient Regeneration After Partial Hepatectomy in a Porcine Model

Objective: To investigate safety and efficacy of temporary portal hemodynamics modulation with a novel percutaneously adjustable vascular ring (MID-AVR) onto a porcine model of 75% hepatectomy. Background: Postoperative liver failure is a leading cause of mortality after major hepatectomy. Portal flow modulation is an increasingly accepted concept to prevent postoperative liver failure. Nonetheless, the current strategies have shortcomings. Methods: Resection was performed under hemodynamic monitoring in 17 large, white pigs allocated into 2 groups. Eight pigs had ring around the portal vein for 3 days with the aim of reducing changes in hemodynamics due to hepatectomy. Analysis of hemodynamics, laboratory, and histopathological parameters was performed. Results: Percutaneous inflation, deflation, and removal of the MID-AVR were safe. Two (25%) pigs in the MID-AVR group and 4 (45%) controls died before day 3 (P = NS). A moderate increase of portal flow rate per liver mass after resection was associated with better survival (P = 0.017). The portocaval pressure gradient was lower after hepatectomy in the MID-AVR group (P = 0.001). Postoperative serum bilirubin levels were lower in the MID-AVR group (P = 0.007 at day 5). In the MID-AVR group, the Ki67 index was significantly higher on day 3 (P = 0.043) and the architectural derangement was lower (P < 0.05). Morphometric quantification of the bile canaliculi revealed a significantly lower number of intersection branches (P < 0.05) and intersection nodes (P < 0.001) on day 7 compared with the preoperative specimen, in the control group. These differences were not found in the ring group. Conclusions: MID-AVR is safe for portal hemodynamics modulation. It might improve liver regeneration by protecting liver microarchitecture.

Transit time ultrasound perivascular flow probe technology is superior to MR imaging on hepatic blood flow measurement in a porcine model

BACKGROUND The hepatic hemodynamics is an essential parameter in surgical planning as well as in various disease processes. The transit time ultrasound (TTUS) perivascular flow probe technology is widely used in clinical practice to evaluate the hepatic inflow, yet invasive. The phase-contrast-MRI (PC-MRI) is not invasive and potentially applicable in assessing the hepatic blood flow. In the present study, we compared the hepatic inflow rates using the PC-MRI and the TTUS probe, and evaluated their predictive value of post-hepatectomy adverse events. METHODS Eighteen large white pigs were anaesthetized for PC-MRI and approximately 75% hepatic resection was performed under a unified protocol. The blood flow was measured in the hepatic artery (Qha), the portal vein (Qpv), and the aorta above the celiac trunk (Qca) using PC-MRI, and was compared to the TTUS probe. The Bland-Altman method was conducted and a partial least squares regression (PLS) model was implemented. RESULTS The mean Qpv measured in PC-MRI was 0.55 ± 0.12 L/min, and in the TTUS probe was 0.74 ± 0.17 L/min. Qca was 1.40 ± 0.47 L/min in the PC-MRI and 2.00 ± 0.60 L/min in the TTUS probe. Qha was 0.17 ± 0.10 L/min in the PC-MRI, and 0.13 ± 0.06 L/min in the TTUS probe. The Bland-Altman method revealed that the estimated bias of Qca in the PC-MRI was 32% (95% CI: -49% to 15%); Qha 17% (95% CI: -15% to 51%); and Qpv 40% (95% CI: -62% to 18%). The TTUS probe had a higher weight in predicting adverse outcomes after 75% resection compared to the PC-MRI (β= 0.35 and 0.43 vs β = 0.22 and 0.07, for tissue changes and premature death, respectively). CONCLUSIONS There is a tendency of the PC-MRI to underestimate the flow measured by the TTUS probes. The TTUS probe measures are more predictive of relevant post-hepatectomy outcomes.

The reference values for hepatic oxygen consumption and net lactate production, blood gasses, hemogram, major electrolytes, and kidney and liver profiles in anesthetized large white swine model

Aim: Pigs are extensively used as experimental models to study the human physiology and pathophysiological conditions. Knowledge of the normal values of the commonly used parameters is indispensable to the correct interpretation of the test results. This study reports on the normal hemogram, blood gas, major electrolytes, kidney and liver profiles, hepatic oxygen consumption, and net lactate production in a large white pig model. Methods: Twenty-five female large white pigs were included in this study. Blood gas samples were collected from the portal and hepatic veins as well as the carotid artery. Results: The mean hemoglobin level was 97.7 ± 15.8 g/L. white blood cells were 13.5 ± 3.3 10 [3] /mm [3] , and platelet count was 279 ± 104.6 10 [3] /mm [3] . The mean aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin were 83.8 ± 73.9 IU/L, 43.7 ± 5.9 IU/L, 33.6 ± 8.6 IU/L, 296.5 ± 39.7 IU/L, 5.6 ± 3.2 mmol/L, and 1.6 ± 0.73 mmol/L. The mean albumin level was 29 ± 3.9 g/L. The mean ammonia and arterial lactate levels were 49.1 ± 45.67 mmol/L and 1.5 ± 0.46 mmol/L. Kidney profile parameters were comparable to human values. Hepatic oxygen consumption was 17.3 ± 9.7 mL/100 g liver tissue/min and net hepatic lactate production was 0.017 ± 0.03 mmol/L. Conclusion: Knowledge of the normal parameters is mandatory for accurate interpretation of the experimental results that involves large white animals.