Thomas H. Gouge

Experience with the grillo pleural wrap procedure in 18 patients with perforation of the thoracic esophagus

Perforation of the thoracic esophagus may be fatal unless diagnosed promptly and treated with an effective operation. The wide mortality range in different reports reflects the importance of these two factors. This range spans from as low as 11%, if operation is within 24 hours, to greater than 50% after two to three days. The high mortality with delayed treatment is principally due to inability to surgically close the perforation. Eighteen patients (aged from 31 to 78 years) were treated four hours to 14 days after thoracic esophageal perforation (less than 24 hours: 7 patients; 24 to 72 hours: 7 patients; greater than 72 hours: 4 patients). In 14 patients the perforation was sutured, after which the suture line was buttressed with a circumferential wrap of parietal pleura, originally described by Grillo. Underlying esophageal pathology was corrected and wide mediastinal drainage was instituted. All 14 patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital after a median stay of 20 days. Two patients had minor leaks at the suture line that soon closed. Four patients had perforations too extensive to close. Of these, one was resected, the Urschel procedure was used in two, and the Abbott T-tube drainage was used in one. Three of the four patients died. It was quite significant that the pleural wrap was equally effective with both early (6 patients) and delayed perforations (8 patients). These data indicate that the pleural wrap should be used routinely. Extensive perforations that cannot be closed should probably be treated by resection and drainage, followed by esophageal reconstruction at a later time.

Angiosarcoma at the site of a Dacron vascular prosthesis : a case report and literature review

Four of 32 reported sarcomas related to the aorta have arisen around previously placed aortic vascular prostheses suggesting that the graft may have been an etiologic factor. Our recent experience with such an angiosarcoma arising around a Dacron aortic graft prompted a review of the lesion to identify risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options. The diagnosis of these sarcomas is seldom made before operation. Animal studies have implicated plastic polymers including Dacron as carcinogenic materials capable of inducing sarcoma in 7% to 50% of exposures. Because of the rarity of these tumors and the thousands of vascular implants used over the past 30 years, it is unlikely that this degree of risk can be extrapolated to humans. However, a tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis of any mass or thromboembolic event associated with a vascular prosthesis.

Hepatic resection for metastatic colon and rectal cancer. An evaluation of preoperative and postoperative factors.

Hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer has been reported in over 700 patients. However, approximately 5000 patients each year are candidates for surgical excision. Since 1972, 25 patients have undergone hepatic resection for colorectal metastases at New York University. Potentially curable synchronous lesions were detected by preoperative liver chemistries and operative palpation. Patients were screened for metachronous lesions by serial liver chemistries and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) determinations; when clinical findings or laboratory findings were either positive or equivocal, then scanning techniques were used. Most patients had solitary lesions (20). Thirteen of 25 lesions were synchronous; 12 were metachronous. Anatomic lobectomy was performed in 13 patients (6 extended resections); and wedge resection was performed in 12. The operative mortality rate was four per cent; the 2-year survival rate, 65%; the 5-year survival rate, 25%. Hypertonic dextrose solutions were administered during and after operation. Post-operative albumin requirements ranged from 200 to 300 grams/day. Coagulation factors II, V, VII, and fibrinogen decreased after surgery to 30 to 50% of their preoperative levels. Subsequent elevation of these factors correlated with increased bile production and improvement in liver chemistries 10 to 14 days after operation. At present, hepatic resection for colorectal metastases provides the only potential method of salvage, offering a 20 to 25% long-term survival rate.

Perforated diverticula of the jejunum and ileum

Over a ten year period, four patients with inflammation or perforation of non-Meckelian, small intestinal diverticula were treated on the surgical services of Bellevue Hospital. This entity remains uncommon but may be increasing in incidence. The patients presented with a short history of severe abdominal pain, usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Each patient also gave a longer preceding history of less well defined abdominal symptoms. The pathogenesis of the small intestinal diverticula is uncertain but may be related to disturbed muscular peristalsis in the small bowel analogous to the changes implicated in esophageal and colonic diverticular disease. The diverticulum may be difficult to demonstrate at operation, and careful exploration for this possibility should be carried out at the time of operation for peritonitis of obscure origin. Segmental resection and end-to-end anastomosis is the treatment of choice.

Abdominosacral resection for carcinoma of the midrectum: ten years experience.

Abdominosacral resection allows curative resection of midrectal cancer with excellent preservation of sphincter function. In the last ten years 427 patients underwent resection for rectal carcinoma at University Hospital by one surgeon. (SAL) The operation, selected by preoperative sigmoidoscopic measurement, was anterior resection (AR) in 239, abdominosacral resection (ASR) in 100, and abdominoperineal resection (APR) in 88. Operative mortality was 1.7% for AR, 2% for ASR and 2.3% for APR. All patients were completely continent of stool and flatus after AR and ASR. Follow-up is complete in 194 of 195 patients treated five to ten years ago. Five year survival for curative resection (no distant metastases) was 67.3% after AR (66/98), 58.3% after ASR (21/36), and 50% after APR (15/30). For patients without tumor in lymph nodes, survival rates were 78.3% for AR, 64.3% for ASR and 63.2% for APR. With involvement of regional nodes, survival fell to 41.4% for AR, 37.5% for ASR and 27.3% for APR. For lesions at 5-8.5 cm, five year survival was 61.1% for ASR and 58.3% for APR. No statistical difference in survival time was noted when patients were matched for age, sex, level of lesion and extent of spread. Pelvic recurrences were detected in 16.7% after ASR, 15.3% after AR and 33.3% after APR. All of the pelvic recurrences after ASR and the majority of those after AR and APR occurred in patients with tumor invasion of perirectal fat. These data strongly support the applicability of ASR as an important advance in the treatment of midrectal cancer. Although technically demanding, ASR has permitted preservation of anal continence without sacrifice of long-term cure in approximately 50% of patients who would otherwise have required APR.

Esophageal transection and paraesophagogastric devascularization for bleeding esophageal varices

The Sugiura procedure is feasible in an unselected, high risk population of alcoholic patients with cirrhosis who have bleeding esophageal varices and poor hepatic reserve. The Sugiura procedure controlled variceal bleeding in every patient with active bleeding and prevented early rebleeding, however, the operation is tedious, time-consuming, and has a high complication rate related to the thoracic approach. The rate of anastomotic leakage of 8.6 percent (4.8 percent in elective cases) is not as high as might be anticipated, but led to death in every case. The long-term outlook for these patients is poor, and the rebleeding rate of 37 percent in our lowest risk patients is disappointingly high. Similar results can be achieved with simpler procedures.

GANGRENE OF MECKEL'S DIVERTICULUM SECONDARY TO AXIAL TORSION: A RARE COMPLICATION

A Meckels diverticulum may result in a number of complications including hemorrhage, obstruction, and inflammation. We report a case of a gangrenous Meckels diverticulum secondary to axial torsion, which has been reported only four times in adults and once in children in the past 28 years.

Fundoplication and gastrostomy in familial dysautonomia

Fundoplication with gastrostomy has become a frequent treatment for patients with familial dysautonomia, so we evaluated the use of both procedures in 65 patients. Although patients differed widely in presenting signs and age, from 5 weeks to 40 years, gastroesophageal reflux was documented in 95% of patients by cineradiography or pH monitoring. Panendoscopy was a useful adjunct. Preoperative symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux included vomiting, respiratory infections, and exaggerated autonomic dysfunction. Severe oropharyngeal incoordination frequently coexisted and resulted in misdirected swallows with aspiration, dependence on gavage feedings, or poor weight gain and dehydration. Follow-up after surgical correction ranged from 3 months to 11 years; 55 patients (85%) were available for a 1-year postoperative assessment. We had no instances of surgical death. The long-term mortality rate was 14%, primarily related to severe preexisting respiratory disease. Beyond the first postoperative year, 30 patients had pneumonia attributed to continued aspiration, exacerbation of preexisting lung disease, or recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux. Of 11 patients who vomited postoperatively, six had recurrence of reflux. Recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux was documented in eight patients (12%), and we revised the fundoplication in three patients. The number of patients with cyclic crises was reduced from 18 to 7; retching replaced overt vomiting in all but two of these seven patients, neither of whom had recurrence of reflux. Because oropharyngeal incoordination was prominent, concomitant use of gastrostomy and an antireflux procedure was especially effective in the treatment of younger patients with familial dysautonomia, before the development of severe respiratory disease. Despite the development of severe morning nausea in 15 patients, the combination procedure resulted in significantly improved nutritional status, decreased vomiting, and decreased respiratory problems. Appropriate use of gastrostomy feedings also contributed to success of the operation. The generally good outcome of fundoplication with gastrostomy confirms the benefit of this procedure in familial dysautonomia.

Management of diverticulitis of the ascending colon. 10 years' experience.

Diverticulitis of the ascending colon is an uncommon disease which mimics appendicitis. The correct diagnosis is rarely made, but can be suggested by the patterns of signs and symptoms and confirmed by barium contrast study. Diverticulitis of the ascending colon should be treated by the same plan as diverticulitis of the left colon. If the diagnosis is established, nonoperative management is indicated initially. Operation is indicated when the diagnosis is in doubt, when perforation has occurred, or when the patient does not respond to nonoperative treatment. At operation, ascending colon diverticulitis can be recognized as an inflammatory mass involving the wall and mesentery of the colon. The inflammatory mass is best treated by resection with primary anastomosis of the ileum to the ascending or transverse colon in an area removed from the site of infection.

Safety of Hepatic Resections in Obese Veterans

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) on outcomes after liver resection performed at Veterans Affairs medical centers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS We queried the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for liver resections (2005-2008) and grouped the patients into 5 BMI categories: normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9), obese class 1 (BMI 30.0-34.9), obese class 2 (BMI 35.0-39.9), and obese class 3 (BMI ≥ 40.0). Differences in risk factors and perioperative complications across groups were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Of 403 patients who underwent hepatectomy, 106 (26%) were normal weight, 161 (40%) were overweight, 94 (23%) were obese class 1, 31 (8%) were obese class 2, and 11 (3%) were obese class 3. Among these groups, higher BMI was associated with increased rates of hypertension (52%, 61%, 77%, 77%, and 73%, respectively; P = .002) and diabetes (18%, 27%, 36%, 39%, and 45%, respectively; P = .04) and lower incidence of smokers (53%, 35%, 30%, 16%, and 9%, respectively; P < .001). The BMI groups were similar in demographic characteristics and metrics correlating with preexisting liver disease. There were no differences across BMI groups in overall and specific morbidity or in length of stay. Compared with the other groups, obese class 3 patients received more blood transfusions (mean [SD], 4.3 [2.7] in obese class 3 patients vs 1.1 [0.2] in normal-weight patients; P = .02) and had a higher 30-day mortality (27% in obese class 3 patients vs 6% in normal-weight patients; P = .05). Multivariate analyses confirmed obese class 3 as an independent predictor of postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS Obesity did not increase postoperative complications after liver resection in veterans. After adjusting for other clinical factors, extreme obesity (BMI ≥ 40.0) was an independent risk factor for increased mortality.