Zoltán Galambos

Esophagorespiratory fistulas of tumorous origin. Non-operative management of 264 cases in a 20-year period.

OBJECTIVE Esophagorespiratory fistulas developing from malignant tumors have serious complications by maintaining continuous airway contamination. The objective was to reveal the incidence, causes and characteristics of fistula formation and to examine the possibilities and efficiency of the treatment. METHODS In a single-center study between 1984 and 2004, the data of 2113 patients with tumorous esophageal stenosis were analyzed. Esophagorespiratory fistulas were detected in 264 cases (12.5%). Successful esophageal intubation, stent correction or replacement was performed in 188 cases, while there was one lethal complication. Twenty-seven patients had an intervention for nutritional support: 25 gastrostomies, 1 jejunostomy and 1 percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. RESULTS The mean survival period of all patients was 2.8 months; patients with implanted endoprosthesis 3.4 months; with nutritional support 1.1 months and with only supportive therapy 1.3 months, respectively. The differences between the endoprosthesis implanted group and the other two groups were significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS By sealing the fistula, a successful endoscopic esophageal intubation ends the severe respiratory contamination and the inability to swallow, improving the quality of life and survival period. After the procedure, it is the malignant tumor and not the fistula that determines the future of the patient.

Cirrhosis and cholelithiasis. Laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy

UNLABELLED Recently laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard operation in case of cholelithiasis. The range of contraindications has decreased, a previous abdominal surgery, a severe cholecystitis or gravidity are not self-evident contraindications any more. The advantages and benefits of laparoscopic interventions in patients with hepatic cirrhosis are doubtful. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1996--2006, 52 patients were analyzed at the I. Department of Surgery of Semmelweis University in a retrospective study who underwent operations on hepatic cirrhosis and cholelithiasis. The female/male ratio was 2.7/1 and the mean age was 58.5 (31-87). The patients were classified according to the Child-Pugh score: A = 36, B = 14, C = 2. 23 traditional, open (OC) and 29 laparoscopic (LC) cholecystectomy were performed, in 4 out of the latter operations conversion had to be done. RESULTS In Child A and B cirrhotic patients the mean operative time was 86.5 minutes in the case of LC, whereas with the open intervention it was 86.21 minutes. In Child C cirrhotic patients, open cholecystectomy was performed in both cases, the average operative time was 81.5 minutes. Postoperative complications (Child A, B) occurred in 8 cases (LC/1), (OC/7), while in Child C patients in two cases. The average hospital stay was 7.6 (LC) and 12.45 (OC) days, respectively. The same with Child C patients increased to 28 days. In the postoperative phase 4 patients died: all of them had open cholecystectomy, suffered from Child B and Child C class hepatic cirrhosis, respectively, and they developed hepatorenal syndrome that could not be treated. CONCLUSION The results show that LC is a safe procedure in well-compensated Child A and B cirrhotic patients. Although hepatic cirrhosis greatly increases the surgical risks, as well as the likelihood of complications, and it also necessitates longer operative time and longer hospital stay, it is recommended that cirrhotic patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis should clearly be operated on.

Májcirrhosis és cholelithiasis. Laparoszkópos vagy nyílt cholecystectomiát válasszunk

UNLABELLED Recently laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard operation in case of cholelithiasis. The range of contraindications has decreased, a previous abdominal surgery, a severe cholecystitis or gravidity are not self-evident contraindications any more. The advantages and benefits of laparoscopic interventions in patients with hepatic cirrhosis are doubtful. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1996--2006, 52 patients were analyzed at the I. Department of Surgery of Semmelweis University in a retrospective study who underwent operations on hepatic cirrhosis and cholelithiasis. The female/male ratio was 2.7/1 and the mean age was 58.5 (31-87). The patients were classified according to the Child-Pugh score: A = 36, B = 14, C = 2. 23 traditional, open (OC) and 29 laparoscopic (LC) cholecystectomy were performed, in 4 out of the latter operations conversion had to be done. RESULTS In Child A and B cirrhotic patients the mean operative time was 86.5 minutes in the case of LC, whereas with the open intervention it was 86.21 minutes. In Child C cirrhotic patients, open cholecystectomy was performed in both cases, the average operative time was 81.5 minutes. Postoperative complications (Child A, B) occurred in 8 cases (LC/1), (OC/7), while in Child C patients in two cases. The average hospital stay was 7.6 (LC) and 12.45 (OC) days, respectively. The same with Child C patients increased to 28 days. In the postoperative phase 4 patients died: all of them had open cholecystectomy, suffered from Child B and Child C class hepatic cirrhosis, respectively, and they developed hepatorenal syndrome that could not be treated. CONCLUSION The results show that LC is a safe procedure in well-compensated Child A and B cirrhotic patients. Although hepatic cirrhosis greatly increases the surgical risks, as well as the likelihood of complications, and it also necessitates longer operative time and longer hospital stay, it is recommended that cirrhotic patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis should clearly be operated on.

Cirrhosis and cholelithiasis. Laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy?: Előnyös-e májcirrhosisban szenvedő betegeknél az epekövesség laparoszkópos műtétje?

UNLABELLED Recently laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard operation in case of cholelithiasis. The range of contraindications has decreased, a previous abdominal surgery, a severe cholecystitis or gravidity are not self-evident contraindications any more. The advantages and benefits of laparoscopic interventions in patients with hepatic cirrhosis are doubtful. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1996--2006, 52 patients were analyzed at the I. Department of Surgery of Semmelweis University in a retrospective study who underwent operations on hepatic cirrhosis and cholelithiasis. The female/male ratio was 2.7/1 and the mean age was 58.5 (31-87). The patients were classified according to the Child-Pugh score: A = 36, B = 14, C = 2. 23 traditional, open (OC) and 29 laparoscopic (LC) cholecystectomy were performed, in 4 out of the latter operations conversion had to be done. RESULTS In Child A and B cirrhotic patients the mean operative time was 86.5 minutes in the case of LC, whereas with the open intervention it was 86.21 minutes. In Child C cirrhotic patients, open cholecystectomy was performed in both cases, the average operative time was 81.5 minutes. Postoperative complications (Child A, B) occurred in 8 cases (LC/1), (OC/7), while in Child C patients in two cases. The average hospital stay was 7.6 (LC) and 12.45 (OC) days, respectively. The same with Child C patients increased to 28 days. In the postoperative phase 4 patients died: all of them had open cholecystectomy, suffered from Child B and Child C class hepatic cirrhosis, respectively, and they developed hepatorenal syndrome that could not be treated. CONCLUSION The results show that LC is a safe procedure in well-compensated Child A and B cirrhotic patients. Although hepatic cirrhosis greatly increases the surgical risks, as well as the likelihood of complications, and it also necessitates longer operative time and longer hospital stay, it is recommended that cirrhotic patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis should clearly be operated on.

[Pathological characteristics of esophago-respiratory fistulas of esophageal tumor origin].

Esophago-respiratory fistulas, evolving as a result of esophageal tumors, are serious and lethal complications on account of the constant respiratory contamination and the inability to swallow. They can develop either as the complication of the end stage disease or sometimes even in the first stage of the malignancy. The objective was to reveal the characteristics of the disease. In a prospective single-center study in the period between 1984 and 2004, 243 fistulas were diagnosed. Their data were analyzed using multivariate analysis. The mean age of patients with fistula was 56.9 years, the male-to-female ratio was 4.3:1. The average time of the complaints was 5.2 months, while the time of manifestation of the fistula was 7.5 months. Dysphagia was diagnosed in 97.5% of the patients, fever in 36.9%, and cachexia in 59.5%, respectively. The average loss of weight was 10.4 kg and the average size of the tumor was 7.7 cm. Endoscopic intubation was performed in 176 cases. The average survival was 3.4 months. Patients with fistula were divided into two groups, where the characteristics of the disease were significantly different. Only in 66.3% was the fistula a late complication. In the other 33.7% of the cases the fistula was diagnosed in younger patients at the early stage of the disease, with a more aggressive, less differentiated histology. In these patients the weight loss, the grade of dysphagia and the size of the tumor were smaller, the possibilities of treatment were fewer, and survival were shorter.

Nyeloc sotumo r-eredetu oesoph ago-respiratoriCus fistulák kórtani jellemzoi

Esophago-respiratory fistulas, evolving as a result of esophageal tumors, are serious and lethal complications on account of the constant respiratory contamination and the inability to swallow. They can develop either as the complication of the end stage disease or sometimes even in the first stage of the malignancy. The objective was to reveal the characteristics of the disease. In a prospective single-center study in the period between 1984 and 2004, 243 fistulas were diagnosed. Their data were analyzed using multivariate analysis. The mean age of patients with fistula was 56.9 years, the male-to-female ratio was 4.3:1. The average time of the complaints was 5.2 months, while the time of manifestation of the fistula was 7.5 months. Dysphagia was diagnosed in 97.5% of the patients, fever in 36.9%, and cachexia in 59.5%, respectively. The average loss of weight was 10.4 kg and the average size of the tumor was 7.7 cm. Endoscopic intubation was performed in 176 cases. The average survival was 3.4 months. Patients with fistula were divided into two groups, where the characteristics of the disease were significantly different. Only in 66.3% was the fistula a late complication. In the other 33.7% of the cases the fistula was diagnosed in younger patients at the early stage of the disease, with a more aggressive, less differentiated histology. In these patients the weight loss, the grade of dysphagia and the size of the tumor were smaller, the possibilities of treatment were fewer, and survival were shorter.

Nyelőcsőtumor-eredetű oesophago-respiratoricus fistulák kórtani jellemzői@@@Pathological caracteristics of esophago-respiratory fistulas of esophageal tumor origin

Esophago-respiratory fistulas, evolving as a result of esophageal tumors, are serious and lethal complications on account of the constant respiratory contamination and the inability to swallow. They can develop either as the complication of the end stage disease or sometimes even in the first stage of the malignancy. The objective was to reveal the characteristics of the disease. In a prospective single-center study in the period between 1984 and 2004, 243 fistulas were diagnosed. Their data were analyzed using multivariate analysis. The mean age of patients with fistula was 56.9 years, the male-to-female ratio was 4.3:1. The average time of the complaints was 5.2 months, while the time of manifestation of the fistula was 7.5 months. Dysphagia was diagnosed in 97.5% of the patients, fever in 36.9%, and cachexia in 59.5%, respectively. The average loss of weight was 10.4 kg and the average size of the tumor was 7.7 cm. Endoscopic intubation was performed in 176 cases. The average survival was 3.4 months. Patients with fistula were divided into two groups, where the characteristics of the disease were significantly different. Only in 66.3% was the fistula a late complication. In the other 33.7% of the cases the fistula was diagnosed in younger patients at the early stage of the disease, with a more aggressive, less differentiated histology. In these patients the weight loss, the grade of dysphagia and the size of the tumor were smaller, the possibilities of treatment were fewer, and survival were shorter.