Raúl Almenara

MA-NOS radical sigmoidectomy: report of a transvaginal resection in the human

BackgroundWith available laparoscopic and endoscopic instruments/technology a standard radical sigmoid resection is feasible and safe using transvaginal minilaparoscopic-assisted natural orifice surgery (MA-NOS).MethodsThe intervention was a transvaginal MA-NOS sigmoidectomy in a 78-year-old woman with a sigmoid adenocarcinoma. Maintaining triangulation the surgeon positioned himself at the right side of the patient and used the transvaginal trocar for dissection and stapling of both the inferior mesenteric vessels and the upper rectum. The colonic resection was performed extracorporeally in the conventional fashion and was followed by an intra-abdominal endoscopically assisted stapled anastomosis.ResultsAdvantages of minimally invasive surgery seemed to be enhanced with this hybrid laparoscopic approach. Postoperative course was uneventful. All oncological principles governing resection and management were accomplished and the pathology examination confirmed a T3N1 lesion. The patient was discharged on the fourth postoperative day.ConclusionTransvaginal MA-NOS radical sigmoidectomy is a feasible and oncologically safe procedure. MA-NOS is a realistic option for avoiding the need of assisting incisions and related morbidity in the laparoscopic resection of large intra-abdominal lesions. Combined hybrid laparoscopic NOS in humans (MA-NOS) currently provides a safe and reliable way of defining future clinical applications and advantages of NOS and NOTES. Additionally, it stimulates the active development and evaluation of the underpinning technologies and instrumentation.

The Effect of Normothermic Recirculation is Mediated by Ischemic Preconditioning in NHBD Liver Transplantation

We have evaluated the involvement of hepatic preconditioning mediators (adenosine, adenosine A1 and A2 receptors) during normothermic recirculation (NR) in a model of liver transplantation from non‐heart‐beating donor (NHBD) pigs.

Hepatic xanthine levels as viability predictor of livers procured from non-heart-beating donor pigs.

Background. The aim of the present study was to evaluate hepatic content of adenine nucleotides and their degradation products in non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) pigs and its relationship with recipient survival. Methods. Thirty animals were transplanted with an allograft from NHBDs. After warm ischemia (WI) time (20, 30, or 40 min), cardiopulmonary bypass and normothermic recirculation (NR) were run for 30 min. Afterward, the animals were cooled to 15°C and liver procurement was performed. Results. Survival rate was 100% in the 20WI, 70% in the 30WI, and 50% in the 40WI. Livers from non-surviving animals had higher levels of xanthine after NR than livers from surviving animals. Logistic regression analysis revealed that xanthine at the end of NR was the only variable able to predict survival with a calculated sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 60%. Prolongation of warm ischemic period leaded to a greater xanthine accumulation as well as increased plasma &agr;-glutathione S-transferase levels at reperfusion. Xanthine at NR and &agr;-glutathione S-transferase at reperfusion significantly correlated, indicating that donor xanthine contributes to some extent to the severity of the lesion by ischemia-reperfusion. Conclusions. It is suggested that xanthine content in the donor is able to predict survival after transplantation. Xanthine is significantly involved in the hepatic lesion elicited by warm ischemia and subsequent ischemia-reperfusion associated to liver transplantation from a NHBD.

Hepatic preconditioning after prolonged warm ischemia by means of S-adenosyl-L-methionine administration in pig liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors.

Background. This study ascertained the effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) administration on the ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with pig liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) after prolonged warm ischemia. Method. Twenty-five animals underwent transplantation with an allograft from an NHBD. After donor cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary bypass and normothermic recirculation (NR) were performed for 30 min. Ten animals were given SAMe during NR. Donors were cooled to 15°C, and liver procurement was performed. Results. SAMe reduced histologic liver damage 5 days after transplantation. The necrotic area affected 15.9%±14.5% of the liver biopsies in controls and 7.4%±9% in SAMe livers. Six of eight controls and only one of eight survivors in the SAMe group developed ischemic cholangitis. SAMe reduced apoptosis of hepatocytes 5 days after transplantation and apoptosis of sinusoidal endothelial cells at reperfusion and at 5 days. SAMe increased energy charge at the end of NR and favored the balance between adenosine and xanthine. It was also associated with higher portal blood flow (740±59.2 vs. 475.2±65.0 mL/min−1/m−2), hepatic hyaluronic acid extraction (132±72.2 vs. −205.8±64.6 &mgr;g/L), and lower levels of &agr;-glutathione-S-transferase after reperfusion (2,601%±581% with respect to baseline vs. 6,488%±5,612%). Conclusion. SAMe administration during liver procurement from NHBDs prevents liver endothelial, parenchymal, and biliary tract damage. The protective role of SAMe may be partially mediated by the effect of adenosine during liver procurement.

Giant Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) represent 0.1–3 % of gastrointestinal malignancy. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, but in high-risk tumors, imatinib can help to achieve better oncological outcomes. We present a rare case of a patient with gastric GIST with very aggressive evolution in a short period of time despite the use of neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib.

Efectos del bypass gástrico sobre el riesgo cardiovascular estimado

INTRODUCTION The major goal of surgical treatment in morbid obesity is to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with excess weight. In this sense, the main factors of death are cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of gastric bypass on cardiovascular risk estimation in patients after bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated pre and postoperative cardiovascular risk estimation of 402 morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass. The major variable studied is the cardiovascular risk estimation that is calculated preoperatively and after 12 months. Cardiovascular risk estimation analysis has been performed with the REGICOR Equation. REGICOR formulation allows calculating a 10 year risk of cardiovascular events adapted to the Spanish population and is expressed in percentages. RESULTS We reported an overall 4.1±3.0 mean basal REGICOR score. One year after the operation, cardiovascular risk estimation significantly decreased to 2,2±1,6 (P<.001). In patients with metabolic syndrome according to ATP-III criteria, basal REGICOR score was 4.8±3.1 whereas in no metabolic syndrome patients 2.2±1.8. Evaluation 12 months after surgery, determined a significant reduction in both groups (metabolic syndrome and non metabolic syndrome) with a mean REGICOR score of 2.3±1.6 and 1.6±1.0 respectively. CONCLUSION The results of our study demonstrate favorable effects of gastric bypass on the cardiovascular risk factors included in the REGICOR equation.