Safety in Surgery:Evaluation of Safety and Efficiency in Use of Aminoglycosides in Acute Appendicitis

Background: Aminoglycosides are used as empirical antibiotic treatment of intraabdominal infections which are caused by Gram negative bacteria and for which the treatment of choice is surgery. Aminoglycosides maintain good efficacy against these bacteria and reduce the need for prescribing fluoroquinolone, cephalosporin and carbapenem antibiotics which contribute to the development of resistant bacterial strains. In recent years, several clinical trials and international guidelines have advised against the use of aminoglycosides owing largely to doubts about their effectiveness and to the concern for their known nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Aim: In our study, we aimed to prove whether aminoglycosides are appropriate agents in the treatment of acute appendicitis. Methods: Retrospectively, patients with acute appendicitis we included in the trial. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical signs and symptoms, the type of antibiotic and surgical treatment were analyzed. The effect of independent variables on the occurrence of complications was calculated using Student’s T-test and Fisher’s precise test. The effect of aminoglycosides on the loss of kidney function was determined by means of a linear regression method. Results: 300 patients proved acute appendicitis were included in the study. Univariate statistical analysis showed that the risk factors for postoperative complications in treating acute appendicitis were: age over 76 years (p Conclusion: Aminoglycoside antibiotics are a safe and effective treatment of acute appendicitis;our not published data are positive of AGs use in acute cholecystitis and left colon diverticulitis which requires surgery. If used for a limited time period, they do not increase the risk for kidney injury and remain a stable low level of all over complications.

Three-dimensional morphometric analysis for hepatectomy of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma:A pilot study

AIM: To describe a three-dimensional model(3DM) to accurately reconstruct anatomic relationships of centrally located hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs).METHODS: From March 2013 to July 2014, reconstructions and visual simulations of centrally located HCCs were performed in 39 patients using a 3D subject-based computed tomography(CT) model with customdeveloped software. CT images were used for the 3D reconstruction of Couinaud's pedicles and hepatic veins, and the calculation of corresponding tumor territories and hepatic segments was performed using Yorktal DMIT software. The respective volume, surgical margin, and simulated virtual resection of tumors were also estimated by this model preoperatively. All patients were treated surgically and the results were retrospectively assessed. Clinical characteristics, imaging data, procedure variables, pathologic features, and postoperative data were recorded and compared to determine the reliability of the model.RESULTS: 3D reconstruction allowed stereoscopic identification of the spatial relationships between physiologic and pathologic structures, and offered quantifiable liver resection proposals based on individualized liver anatomy. The predicted values were consistent with the actual values for tumor mass volume(82.4 ± 109.1 m L vs 84.1 ± 108.9 m L, P = 0.910), surgical margin(10.1 ± 6.2 mm vs 9.1 ± 5.9 mm, P = 0.488), and maximum tumor diameter(4.61 ± 2.16 cm vs 4.53 ± 2.14 cm, P = 0.871). In addition,the number and extent of portal venous ramifications, as well as their relation to hepatic veins, were visualized. Preoperative planning based on simulated resection facilitated complete resection of large tumors located in the confluence of major vessels. And most of the predicted data were correlated with intraoperative findings.CONCLUSION: This 3DM provides quantitative morphometry of tumor masses and a stereo-relationship with adjacent structures, thus providing a promising technique for the management of centrally located HCCs.

Can intraluminal devices prevent or reduce colorectal anastomotic leakage:A review

Colorectal anastomotic leakage is a serious complication of colorectal surgery, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. In recent decades, many strategies aimed at lowering the incidence of anastomotic leakage have been examined. The focus of this review will be on mechanical aids protecting the colonic anastomosis against leakage. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Collaborative library for all papers related to prevention of anastomotic leakage by placement of a device in the colon. Devices were categorised as decompression devices, intracolonic devices, and biodegradable devices. A decompression device functions by keeping the anal sphincter open, thereby lowering the intraluminal pressure and lowering the pressure on the anastomosis. Intracolonic devices do not prevent the formation of dehiscence. However, they prevent the faecal load from contacting the anastomotic site, thereby preventing leakage of faeces into the peritoneal cavity. Many attempts have been made to find a device that decreases the incidence of AL;however, to date, none of the devices have been widely accepted.

Structural and functional aspects of the liver and liver sinusoidal cells in relation to colon carcinoma metastasis

Nowadays, liver metastasis remains difficult to cure. When tumor cells escape and arrive in the liver sinusoids, they encounter the local defense mechanism specific to the liver. The sinusoidal cells have been widely described in physiologic conditions and in relation to metastasis during the past 30 years. This paper provides an “overview” of how these cells function in health and in diseases such as

Does in-house availability of multidisciplinary teams increase survival in upper gastrointestinal-cancer?

AIM: To investigate the effect of the establishment of in-house multidisciplinary team (MDT) availability (iMDTa) on survival in upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGI) patients. METHODS: In 2001, a cancer centre with irradiation and chemotherapy facilities was established in the Norwegian county of West Agder with a change of iMDTa (WA/MDT-Change). "iMDTa"-status was defined according to the availability of the necessary specialists within one institution on one campus, serving the population of one county. We compared survival rates during 2000-2008 for UGI patients living in counties with (MDT-Yes), without (MDT-No), with a mix (MDT-Mix) and WA/MDT-Change. Survival was calculated with Kaplan-Meier method. Cox model was used to uncover differences between counties with different MDT status when adjusted for age, sex and stage. RESULTS: We analyzed 395 patients from WA/MDT-Change and compared their survival to 12 135 UGIpatients from four other Norwegian regions. Median overall survival for UGI patients in WA/MDT-Change increased from 129 to 300 d from 2000-2008, P = 0.001. The regions with the highest level of iMDTa achieved the largest decrease in risk of death for UGI cancers (compared to the county with MDT-Mix: MDT-Yes 11%, P <0.05 and WA/MDT-Change 15%, P < 0.05). Analyzing the different tumour entities separately, patients living in the WA/MDT-Change county reached a statisti-cally significant reduction in the risk of death [hazard ratios (HR)] compared to patients in the county with MDT-Mix for oesophageal and gastric, but not for pan-creatic cancer. HR for the study period 2000-2004 are given first and then for the period 2005-2008: The HR for oesophageal cancers was reduced from [HR = 1.12; 95%CI: 0.75-1.68 to HR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.38-0.95] and for gastric cancers from [HR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.66-1.15 to HR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.43-0.93], but not for pancreatic cancer [HR = 1.04-, 95%CI: 0.83-1.3 for 2000-2004 and HR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.78-1.3 for 2005-2008]. UGI patients treated during the second study period in the county of WA/MDT-Change had a higher probability of receiving chemotherapy. In the first study period, only one out of 43 patients (2.4%, 95%CI: 0-6.9) received chemotherapy, compared to 18 of 42 patients diagnosed during 2005-2008 (42.9%, 95%CI: 28.0-57.8). CONCLUSION: Introduction of iMDTa led to a two-fold increase of UGI patients, whereas no increase in survival was found in the MDT-No or MDT-Mix counties.

Unusual early-stage pancreatic sarcomatoid carcinoma

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the pancreas(SCP)is a very rare pathological type of carcinoma that usually has a poor prognosis.Its pathogenesis has not been elucidated.We herein report a case of an early-stage SCP involving successful treatment and a good prognosis.The patient was a 48-year-old Chinese man with a5-mo history of vague abdominal pain.Ultrasonography revealed a 93 mm×94 mm×75 mm mass of mixed echogenicity in the tail of the pancreas.Laboratory test results were within the normal range,with the exception of an obviously increased pretreatment neuron-specific enolase level.The plasma transforming growth factor(TGF)β1 and interleukin-11 levels were obviously increased according to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Microscopically,the excised tumor tissue comprised cancer cells and mesenchymal cells.Immunohistochemical analysis was positive forα-1-antichymotrypsin,pan-cytokeratin,cytokeratin 19,cytokeratin 8/18,and vimentin and negative for CD68and lysozyme.The pathogenetic mechanism of this case shows that TGFβ1 may regulate the epithelial-tomesenchymal transition in SCP.With early eradication of the tumor and systemic therapy,this patient has been alive for more than 3 years without tumor recurrence or distant metastasis.This case is also the first to show that TGFβ1 may regulate the epithelial-tomesenchymal transition in early-stage SCP.

Multi-centric clinical study of the effect of intervention time on efficacy of gastroparesis external application prescription treatment of gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis

Objective:This intervention has been shown to be clinically efficacious and safe.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different intervention times on the efficacy of gastroparesis external application prescription versus placebo for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumor postoperative,postsurgical gastroparesis.Methods:A multicenter,randomized,double-blind,placebo controlled phaseⅢclinical trial was designed to demonstrate superiority and conducted at four grade 3A hospitals in Beijing.Patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis and local cold syndrome in the abdomen were enrolled and received conventional treatment(nutritional support,gastrointestinal decompression,and prokinetic medication).Treatment and control groups respectively received gastroparesis external application prescription or placebo acupoint application over a treatment course of 14 days or until the primary efficacy endpoint(clinical efficiency)was achieved.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the treatment and control groups(n Z 60 per group),and 15 patients dropped out of the study because of skin allergies(n Z 7)or poor efficacy(nZ8).The efficacy among patients in Class B of Group A(treatment group)was marginally better than that of Group B(control group)(64.28%vs.55.56%)although the difference between the two groups was not significant.However,the efficacy among patients in Class C of Group A was significantly better than that of Group B(79.49%vs.43.33%).For Group A,the time for patients in the three classes to achieve the efficacy endpoint increased significantly with disease progression(3.00,6.78,and 8.29 days for Class A,B,and C,respectively).Conclusions:Gastroparesis external application prescription can effectively treat gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis and may be more efficacious in progressive disease compared placebo.Patients with gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis should therefore undergo intervention at an earlier stage.

Ileal loop interposition:an alternative biliary bypass technique

BACKGROUND:Obstructive jaundice is a common condition in advanced digestive cancer.Palliative procedures can improve quality of life and allow patients to attempt a systemic treatment.Bilioenteric anastomosis is still the procedure of choice for patients in many centers.When a surgical bypass is not possible,biliary drainage can be done by placing endoscopic or transparietal stents,which are less durable methods even when an expandable stent is employed. METHODS:A 47-year-old male with an excellent clinical status and a previous cholecystectomy and an exploratory laparotomy for advanced gastric cancer was referred with obstructive jaundice.A preoperative CT scan showed a dilated bile duct and a small mass at the distal hepatic hilum.No other signs of metastasis were found.A surgical bilioenteric anastomosis was indicated.At surgery,a distal choledochal obstruction and a mesenteric retraction by a lymph node mass prevented the jejunum to ascend for a bilioenteric anastomosis. Surgically,an alternative bilioenteric bypass was performed by means of an ileal loop interposition between the bile duct and the jejunum. RESULT:The recovery of the patient was uneventful and his bilirubin levels normalized after one week.The patient was then referred for systemic chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS:This alternative biliary bypass can be safely and easily performed,and may be a good alternative for patients already referred for surgery because of a better life expectancy and when the jejunum is not an alternative.

Characteristics of cancer susceptibility genes mutations in 282 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma

Objective:To reveal the distribution signature of cancer susceptibility genes in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma,offering a diagnostic and prognostic surrogate for disease risk management and therapeutic decisions.Methods:A total of 282 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma(182 males and 100 females)were enrolled in this study,with peripheral blood genomic DNA extracted.Mutations of 69 canonical cancer susceptibility genes or presumably tumor-related genes were analyzed by targeted capture-based high-throughput sequencing.Candidate mutations were particularly selected for discussion on tumor pathogenesis according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics(ACMG)guidelines.Results:In this study,7.1%(20/282)of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were found to harbor mutations of canonical or presumable cancer susceptibility genes.The detection rate in male patients(3.8%,7/182)was significantly lower than that in female patients(13%,13/100)(P=0.004).The most recurrent mutations were in AT mutated(ATM)(1.1%,3/282),followed by BRCA1,BRIP1 and RAD51D,all showed a detection rate of 0.7%(2/282).Mutations in three genes associated with hereditary gastric cancer syndromes were detected,namely,PMS2 and EP CAM associated with Lynch syndrome and CDH1 associated with hereditary di ffuse gastric cancer.The detection frequencies were all 0.4%(1/282).Notwithstanding no significant difference observed,the age of patients with pathogenic mutations or likely pathogenic mutations is slightly younger than that of non-carriers(median age:58.5 vs.60.5 years old),while the age of patients with ATM mutations was the youngest overall(median age:49.3 years old).Conclusions:Our study shed more light on the distribution signature and pathogenesis of mutations in gastric cancer susceptibility genes,and found the detection rate of pathogenic and likely pathogenic mutations in male patients was significandy lower than that in female patients.Some known and unidentified mutations were found in gastric cancer,which allowed us to gain more insight into the hereditary gastric cancer syndromes from the molecular perspective.

A New Technique for The Therapy of Complicated Deep Tissue Infection(with 4 Cases)

Objective: The objective of this study was to discuss the effect of double perfusion cannula accompanied with low negative pressure drainage in the treatment of complexity of abdominopelvic and perineal infections. Methods: The technology of the double perfusion cannula accompanied with low negative pressure drainage was used to treat complexity of abdominopelvic and perineal infections. Results: Double perfusion cannula accompanied with low negative pressure drainage can be applied to the treatment of complexity of abdominopelvic and perineal infections. It has an obvious effect on infection control and reduces recovery time. Conclusion: Double perfusion cannula accompanied with low negative pressure drainage has a good effect on complexity of abdominopelvic and perineal infections; it can be used in wider surgical fields to prevent infections.

Nutritional Assessment of Gynecological Cancer Patients in China

Background Malnutrition is common among cancer patients,but few studies have evaluated the nutritional status among gynecological cancer patients in China.This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of women with gynecological cancer using the patient-generated subjective global assessment(PG-SGA).Methods Data for gynecological cancer patients treated at 44 tertiary hospitals were retrieved from a multicenter study on tumor nutrition.The R Software was used for statistical analyses.Univariate analyses of PG-SGA scores were performed using the Chi-squared test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon-rank sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables,as appropriate.The significance level was 0.05.Results Data for 1962 women with three types of gynecological cancer(cervical,uterine and ovarian cancer)were used for the data analysis.The median PG-SGA score was 4(interquartile range,IQR:1,8),the median participants’age was 51(IQR:46,59)years old,and the patients had a median BMI of 22.9(IQR:20.7,25.4).The percentages of women who had a medical co-morbidity,or had undergone any radical resection,chemotherapy,or radiotherapy were approximately 27.7%,55.4%,52.5%,and 30.2%,respectively.The levels of serum albumin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were 40.1g/L(IQR:36.8,43.1)and 1.2mmol/L(IQR:1.0,1.5),respectively.The identified risk factors for malnutrition based on the PG-SGA score were age(0.05±0.01,p=0.002),BMI(-0.34±0.04,p<0.001),having a medical co-morbidity(0.95±0.33,p=0.004),receiving radiotherapy(1.52±0.31,p<0.001),the serum albumin level(-0.18±0.03,p<0.001),and the HDL-C(-1.12±0.35,p=0.001)as indicated by a linear regression analysis.Conclusions A higher PG-SGA score is positively associated with the age of the patient,having a medical co-morbidity,and receiving radiotherapy,and is negatively related to the patients’BMI and serum albumin and HDL-C levels.

Trimming the fat myth: adipose tissue’s role in liver regeneration

We read with great interest the paper from Jena(Germany)recently published in Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition by Deeb et al.,which caught our attention,given its clinical relevance.In fact,post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF)remains nowadays a significant clinical challenge,occasionally leading to death or potentially requiring,in highly selected cases,rescue liver transplantation(1).Within quaternary care centers,the incidence of PHLF fluctuates from 5%to 20%,depending on the criteria employed,the underlying liver parenchyma quality and the type of hepatectomy(2).Hence,liver regeneration(LR)holds paramount importance in hepatic surgery as it directly impacts post-operative outcomes(3):it is a strictly orchestrated phenomenon that entails the activation of hepatocytes and hepatic progenitor cells,as well as the regulation of cell-cycle genes and growth factors.Features contributing to PHLF include pre-operative,intra-operative and post-operative elements,leading to careful patient selection(4).

Evaluation of quality of clinical management of neuroendocrine tumors

Background:Neuroendocrine tumors(NETs)are a group of biologically and clinically heterogeneous neoplasms predominantly found in the gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary tractus.Despite a rising incidence,implementation of evidence-based standardized care for this heterogenous group remains challenging.The European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society regularly reviews guidelines regarding diagnostic and treatment strategies for NETs.The aim of this study is to shed light on the care of patients with a NET in Belgian Limburg,to provide data as a basis for future studies and to check whether data and results are according to consensus guidelines and outcomes described in literature.Methods:Our study concerned a detailed observational data collection of two large Belgian hospitals(Jessa Hospital Hasselt and Hospital Oost-Limburg Genk)with special interest in patient profile,quality of pathology reports,use of diagnostic imaging,and overall survival.Data on 188 patients were assembled between January 2010 and December 2014 with follow-up until June 2016(median follow-up:33.6 months).Results:Fifty percent of patients were male.NETs were located mainly in the digestive tract(63.8%)and lung(20.2%).Appendiceal NETs were diagnosed at a significantly younger age than other tumors(41.3 vs.64.0 years).Overall,a mean pathology report quality score of 3.0/5 was observed with the highest scores for small bowel NETs.Diagnostic and nuclear imaging was performed in 74.5%and 29.8%of cases,respectively.Seventy-four percent of the population survived until the end of the observation period with highest survival rates for appendiceal and small bowel NETs.Conclusion:Overall,epidemiological results were comparable with findings in the literature.Gastrointestinal NETs met most of the requirements of qualitative pathology reporting and diagnostic imaging as listed in the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society consensus guidelines.However,consensus with regard to bronchopulmonary NETs is still scarce and remains an objective for future research.Moreover,discussing treatment strategies in specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards would facilitate regional care.