Vito M. Stolfi

Percutaneous Liver Biopsy Using an Ultrasound-Guided Subcostal Route

Percutaneous biopsy is considered one of the most important diagnostic tools to evaluate diffuse liver diseases. The introduction and widespread diffusion of ultrasounds in medical practice has improved percutaneous bioptic technique, while reducing postoperative complications. Although ultrasonography has become almost ubiquitous in prebiopsy investigation, only one third of biopsies are performed under ultrasound control. Moreover, the one-day procedure, reported in several studies to be safe and cost effective, accounted for only 4% of biopsies done. We report our experience of 142 percutaneous US-guided biopsies performed on 140 patients affected by chronic diffuse liver disease over a four-year period. Liver biopsies were performed under US guidance at the patients bed using an anterior subcostal route. We evaluated postoperative pain, modifications of blood pressure and red cell count, hospital stay, morbidity and mortality rates, and adequacy of specimens for histologic examination. There was no operative mortality. As for major complications, one case of hemobilia occurred. As for minor complications, two cases of persistent postoperative pain required analgesic therapy. Patients were discharged the day following the procedure in all cases but two, who were discharged on the third and fifth postoperative days. Liver specimens were suitable for histologic diagnosis in all but one case, in which there were no portal spaces. According to our experience, we believe that hepatic biopsy guided by ultrasonography could replace blinded biopsy in the diagnosis of diffuse liver disease. The procedure is suitable to be performed safely on an outpatient basis.

Reinterventions for specific technique-related complications of stapled haemorrhoidopexy (SH): a critical appraisal.

IntroductionStapled haemorrhoidopexy (SH) is an attractive alternative to conventional haemorrhoidectomy (CH) because of reduced pain and earlier return to normal activities. However, complication rates are as high as 31%. Although some complications are similar to CH, most are specifically technique-related. In this prospective audit, we report our experience with the management of some of these complications.MethodsData on patients undergoing SH at our unit or referred to us are prospectively entered in a database. The onset or duration of specific SH-related complications as well as reinterventions for failed or complicated SH was recorded.ResultsFrom 1/03 to 10/07, 110 patients underwent SH, while 17 patients were referred after complicated/failed SH. Overall early and late complication rates after SH were 12.7% and 27.2%, respectively. Overall reintervention rate was 9.1%. Among the referred SH-group, one patient underwent Hartmann’s procedure because of rectal perforation. The remaining 16 patients experienced at least one of the following: recurrence, urgency, frequency, severe persistent anal pain, colicky abdominal pain, anal fissure and stenosis. Four patients underwent CH with regular postoperative recovery. Two patients underwent exploration under anaesthesia because of persisting pain. One patient underwent anoplasty.ConclusionsSH presents unusual and challenging complications. Abuses should be minimized and longer-term studies are needed to further clarify its role.

Retroperitoneal sepsis with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema complicating stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR).

The STARR procedure was introduced a few years ago for the treatment of obstructed defaecation syndrome secondary to internal rectal intussusception and rectocele. We present a case of severe retroperitoneal sepsis with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema complicating STARR, treated by transperineal pelvic drainage and a loop sigmoid colostomy.

Intragastric Balloon Followed by Biliopancreatic Diversion in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Liver transplantation is a life-saving procedure for end-stage liver disease. In liver transplant recipients, morbid obesity influences post-operative survival and graft function. In 1996, our patient underwent a successful liver transplantation because of a HCV-related liver failure (body mass index (BMI) 31). Follow-up showed a functional graft and the development of severe obesity up to a BMI of 61 in January 2006. In January 2007, he was submitted to intragastric balloon therapy for 6 months, reaching a BMI of 54. In September 2007, he underwent a biliopancreatic diversion. During follow-up to March 2008, he reached a BMI of 42 with ameliorations of comorbidities. In May 2008, during a hospital admission, he suddenly died of a heart attack. Post mortem study revealed a myocardial infarction. This is the first world case report for this approach. According to our opinion, patient’s death was not related to bariatric surgery.

Metachronous splenic metastasis from colonic carcinoma five years after surgery: a case report and literature review.

Metastatic lesions of the spleen are a rare finding and are generally associated with widespread disease. Moreover, solitary metastases of the spleen are exceptional. In this paper, we describe the case of a patient who developed an isolated splenic metastasis from colon carcinoma five years after surgery, and was successfully treated by splenectomy. We also review the scant literature experience discussing clinical diagnosis and approaches to this uncommon event.

Surgical treatment of gastric outlet obstruction due to gastroduodenal tuberculosis.

Gastroduodenal tuberculosis is a very rare location of abdominal tuberculosis; it is usually secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis and is often associated with HIV infection. We report a case of a 45-year-old woman with no HIV infection and no evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis, with a history of duodenal ulcer treated for several months, who presented at the emergency department with severe gastric outlet obstruction of recent onset caused by ulcerohypertrophic antroduodenal tuberculosis. The lesion was misdiagnosed at endoscopy as a malignancy, although histological examination of biopsies showed only chronic inflammation. The diagnosis was established at surgery, when a frozen section of an enlarged lymph node showed the presence of giant cells and caseating granuloma. The treatment was gastric resection with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunal anastomosis. In this patient the rare gastroduodenal location of tuberculosis occurred as primary disease in the absence of other organ involvement.

Modified Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection (Starr) for Full Thickness Excision of Rectal Tumour

IntroductionTraditionally, adenomatous rectal lesions and unexpected malignant polyps that could not be removed endoscopically are referred to surgery. Local excision is the treatment of choice, and several techniques have been proposed. The choice of the approach requires that the tumour is excised intact, with a low recurrence rate and limited morbidity. Local excision can be a straight forward or conversely a demanding procedure due to the restricted space in which the surgeon must work and the difficulty of achieving a satisfactory exposure.MethodsWe describe a modified stapled transanal rectal resection for the excision of flat lesions with a diameter up to 2 cm and located between 5 and 12 cm from the anal verge.Discussion and ConclusionIn our experience, it is quick, simple, and easy to teach but it has not previously been reported. It provides full thickness resection with adequate lateral margins. It overcomes some of the limits of the incomplete surgical field exposure and difficult manipulation, since after the confectioning of double half purse-string suture, the suture and sectioning is made by the stapler device.

449 Medical and Surgical Treatment of Chronic Anal Fissure: Prospective Longer-Term Results

In this video presentation we are presenting a patient with a submucosal mass at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). At time of laparoscopic surgery, the mass was adherent to the GEJ and extended into the distal left esophagus. Resection of the mass included a portion of the lower esophageal sphincter and distal left esophagus. This area was then reconstructed primarily over a 42 Fr tapered Bougie with running 3.0 and 2.0 Vicryl® suture in two layer fashion. The patient did well post-operatively and was discharged home on day six.