New paradigm of oral rehydration in patients affected by irritable bowel syndrome with chronic diarrhea

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea is a very frequent clinical condition characterized by disabling intestinal symptoms.This disease presents with daily abdominal pain for at least 3 months related to defecation and associated with a change in the frequency of bowel movements and the shape of the stool.International surveys about this disease report a global prevalence of about 1.5%.A new amino acid based electrolyte solution has recently been commercialized for oral rehydration in diarrhea.It is composed of water,electrolytes,and five selected amino acids that function as sodium co-transporters without containing glucose.In recent years,some studies explored the effectiveness of the amino acid based electrolyte beverage in oncologic patients with gastrointestinal mucositis,reporting good results.Recently,a prospective study to evaluate the clinical impact of the amino acid based medical beverage was conducted in patients with diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome.The research was based on a real-life methodology minimizing the disruption of the routine care.One hundred patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea drank a solution based on selected amino acids twice a day for 2 wk.Each enrolled patient completed the study and showed a significant response rate with regard to stool consistency and pain reduction.Based on this data,we can hypothesize that the amino acid based oral rehydration solution could be a valid tool in the treatment of patients affected by irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.It is certainly necessary to plan highquality clinical trials comparing glucose based oral solutions and amino acid based solutions in patients with persisting diarrhea.Probably in the near future all oral rehydration solutions will contain amino acids.

Robotic surgery in colon cancer: current evidence and future perspectives – narrative review

In the last 10 years,surgery has been developing towards minimal invasiveness;therefore,robotic surgery represents the consequent evolution of laparoscopic surgery.Worldwide,surgeons’performances have been upgraded by the ergonomic developments of robotic systems,leading to several benefits for patients.The introduction into the market of the new Da Vinci Xi system has made it possible to perform all types of surgery on the colon,an in selected cases,to combine interventions in other organs or viscera at the same time.Optimization of the suprapubic surgical approach may shorten the length of hospital stay for patients who undergo robotic colonic resection.From this perspective,single-port robotic colectomy,has reduced the number of robotic ports needed,allowing a better anesthetic outcome and faster recovery.The introduction on the market of new surgical robotic systems from multiple manufacturers is bound to change the landscape of robotic surgery and yield high-quality surgical outcomes.

Left colonic metastasis from primary hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)accounts for 5-6%of all human cancers.Considering the extrahepatic metastasis,the main organs involved are lymphnodes,lung,bone and adrenal gland.Usually colon metastasis is very rare,especially on the left sided colon.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 70 years-old man hepatitis B carrier with HCC treated four times with trans-arterial chemoembolization,presented to our surgical department complaining of gastrointestinal bleeding.A colonoscopy revealed a mass of 4 cm of the sigmoid colon with signs of bleeding.The computed tomography showed a mass originated from the sigmoid colon of 3.5 cm,and the presence of HCC in segment VI and VII,without portal vein thrombosis.Due to the large size of the mass and the active bleeding,the patient underwent a left colectomy.The postoperative period was uneventful,and the patient was discharged in fifth post-operative day.Histological examination revealed that the neoplasm was characterized by a diffuse proliferation of epithelial cells with an hepatoid differentiation.So,the presence of a history of HCC of the liver and the histopathological features supported the diagnosis of metastasis from the liver.CONCLUSION Although rare,colon metastasis from an HCC can be left-sided and can present with acute bleeding.