Hepatotoxic effect of oxaliplatin and irinotecan on the non-tumourous liver parenchyma has been reported. These two main drugs have been linked to injuries such as vascular changes (sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)...Hepatotoxic effect of oxaliplatin and irinotecan on the non-tumourous liver parenchyma has been reported. These two main drugs have been linked to injuries such as vascular changes (sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) and chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis (CASH)). Oxaliplatin-based regimens have been associated with an increased risk of vascular lesions and irinotecan-containing regimens have been also associated with increased risks of steatosis and steatohepatitis. SOS increased morbidity after major liver resection, mostly after administration of more than six cycles of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy. CASH increased morbidity and mortality rates after hepatectomy. Preliminary results demonstrated that the addition of targeted molecular therapy (bevacizumab or cetuximab) to conventional chemotherapy does not increase the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates after hepatectomy. Furthermore, there was no additional injury to the non-tumorous liver parenchyma.
Although the prognosis of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) has improved dramatically with oxaliplatin and irinotecan, the enthusiasm for the preoperative use of these cytotoxic agents is being tempered by...Although the prognosis of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) has improved dramatically with oxaliplatin and irinotecan, the enthusiasm for the preoperative use of these cytotoxic agents is being tempered by concerns about their impact on the nontumoral liver parenchyma. Bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenic agent that specifically targets the vascular endothelial growth factor, exerts an antitumor effect by inhibiting the development of the vascular network that is promoted by the tumor and mandatory for its growth. Yet angiogenesis is also a physiologic event contributing to wound healing and tissue regeneration. To date, it is well documented that the use of bevacizumab in combination with cytotoxic agents greatly improves pathologic response. Also well described is the protective effect of bevacizumab against sinusoidal injuries induced by oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Up to now, no side effects related to the perioperative use of bevacizumab have been reported in the setting of liver resection for CLM, and bevacizumab was shown not to impair liver regeneration following portal vein embolization. The clinical consequences of the protective effect of bevacizumab against sinusoidal injuries are hard to evaluate as patient selection and preparation have improved and these improvements contribute greatly to the favorable outcomes following liver resection for CLM. Indeed, patient safety in the setting of hepatic resection for CLM mainly depends on a careful preoperative evaluation of liver volumes and a limited use of cytotoxic agents followed by a delay of at least 5 weeks before the surgery.
AIM: Patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases can benefit from preoperative chemotherapy and liver disease resection. Adjunction of bevacizumab (BV) to chemotherapy improves survival in these patients, but it...AIM: Patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases can benefit from preoperative chemotherapy and liver disease resection. Adjunction of bevacizumab (BV) to chemotherapy improves survival in these patients, but its impact on surgical complications remains to be fully determined. METHODS: We reviewed all studies addressing mortality and morbidity following hepatectomy in patients preoperatively treated with a combination of BV and chemotherapy. RESULTS: All available data are retrospective. For all patients, the interval between BV and surgery was at least one month. As compared to chemotherapy alone, they demonstrate no significant increase of the incidence of surgical complications, including wound healing delays, hepatocellular insufficiency, infections, and bleeding. CONCLUSION: We still recommend managing an interval of at least 6 weeks from discontinuation of bevacizumab to hepatic resection, and at least 4 weeks from surgery to retreatment with bevacizumab. This recommendation is based on retrospective data and small numbers of patients, all indicating that BV use has no deleterious impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Surgical resection remains the only treatment of colorectal liver metastases that can ensure long-term survival and cure in some patients, but only a minority of patients with liver metastases is directly amenable to sur...Surgical resection remains the only treatment of colorectal liver metastases that can ensure long-term survival and cure in some patients, but only a minority of patients with liver metastases is directly amenable to surgery. Cancer relapse is observed in the majority of patients after resection of liver metastases despite progress in surgical technique and improved surgical skills. In order to decrease the risk of cancer relapse, it has been proposed to combine surgery and chemotherapy, which could be administered before, after or before and after surgery. It has been demonstrated that perioperative chemotherapy can reduce the risk of cancer relapse and should be considered as the standard of care for most patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases. However perioperative chemotherapy has also potential disadvantages. This review will summarize the current data on the rationale, benefits and potential disadvantages of perioperative chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases.
This study reports a case of pyoderma gangrenosum arising at a drainage orifice after a colostomy for cancer. The initial clinical presentation suggested intra-abdominal sepsis but the clinical assessment did not fit wit...This study reports a case of pyoderma gangrenosum arising at a drainage orifice after a colostomy for cancer. The initial clinical presentation suggested intra-abdominal sepsis but the clinical assessment did not fit with laboratory findings or the CT scan. Forty hours later, the patient developed a reddish-purple ulcer at the drainage orifice. A diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum was made and systemic corticosteroid therapy was started. A dramatic response occurred over the next two days, obviating the need for surgical re-intervention. Pyoderma gangrenosum is an ulcerating necrotizing skin disorder of unknown etiology. It usually arises in association with underlying disease (mainly inflammatory bowel disease) and often occurs in para-stomal sites. Pyoderma gangrenosum arising at surgical sites is often mistaken for a postoperative infection and treated inappropriately with debridement and reopening of the wound which only exacerbates the pathology. Pyoderma gangrenosum is effectively treated with systemic corticosteroids.
Medical practice has undergone a significant evolution over the last decade due to two important factors: (1) the theory and practice of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) has become widely established; (2) the relationship b...Medical practice has undergone a significant evolution over the last decade due to two important factors: (1) the theory and practice of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) has become widely established; (2) the relationship between health-care professionals and patients or clients has been profoundly modified. In this review, we discuss the heterogeneity and variability of patient preference and the need to develop a doctor-patient relationship, which facilitates shared decision-making in preference to previous models based on patient information without choice and paternalistic attitudes. Thus, this modern concept of care based on EBM shifts the focus of interest from the disease entity itself to that of the patient suffering from a disease. The patient has a right to information concerning his illness; this information helps the patient to participate in medical decisions through the laying out of clinical practice guidelines. These aspects of the patient's role in care management are illustrated by a national program in the field of oncology which empower the patient in the decisions arrived at by a multi-disciplinary oncology team.
PET-CT scanning has been proposed as part of the pre-treatment evaluation of GI cancers with equivocal radiologic findings. PET-CT has also been prosposed for the evaluation of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel di...PET-CT scanning has been proposed as part of the pre-treatment evaluation of GI cancers with equivocal radiologic findings. PET-CT has also been prosposed for the evaluation of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We report the case of a patient with IBD and a new diagnosis of rectal cancer; PET-CT overestimated the degree of tumor extension due to false-positive increased uptake in areas of chronic inflammation from IBD. This observation underlines the need for cautious interpretation of PET-CT results for cancer in patients with associated inflammatory illness.
Portacath implantation with introduction of a catheter into the superior vena caval system is a commonly performed procedure. Catheterization of the internal jugular vein can be difficult due to anatomical variation, ind...Portacath implantation with introduction of a catheter into the superior vena caval system is a commonly performed procedure. Catheterization of the internal jugular vein can be difficult due to anatomical variation, individual patient morphology, or as a result of previous catheterization. Use of 2D ultrasonography facilitates localization of the internal jugular vein and decreases the risks of catheter placement.
Peri-operative smoking history is an important risk factor, which is often under-appreciated by surgeons. In the first place, tobacco use predisposes patients to specific pathologies, which may require surgical intervent...Peri-operative smoking history is an important risk factor, which is often under-appreciated by surgeons. In the first place, tobacco use predisposes patients to specific pathologies, which may require surgical intervention. Secondarily, smoking has been shown to increase surgical risks of mortality, morbidity and length of hospital stay. Of particular importance in general surgery is the increased risk of anastomotic leak with fistula formation, of deep infections, and of abdominal wall complications (infection and ventral hernia). If the patient can stop smoking prior to surgery, there is a concomitant decrease in post-operative complications. Surgeons should be familiar with the pharmacologic and behavioral interventions, which may help the patient with smoking cessation and should not hesitate to defer elective surgery for four to eight weeks so that the patient may have the full benefit of smoking cessation.
INTRODUCTION: In 1994, a technique of omental flap development and interposition to cover the celiac and mesenteric vessels was described. Its aim was to isolate the pancreatic anastomosis from the vessels dissected duri...INTRODUCTION: In 1994, a technique of omental flap development and interposition to cover the celiac and mesenteric vessels was described. Its aim was to isolate the pancreatic anastomosis from the vessels dissected during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and thereby to reduce the consequences of postoperative pancreatic fistula - particularly the risk of postoperative bleeding. TECHNIQUE: We describe this technique adding a simple modification consisting of passage of the pancreatic remnant through an omental window before completion of the pancreaticodigestive anastomosis. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients underwent PD using an omental flap to cover the celiomesenteric vessels. No postoperative deaths occurred. The rate of PF was 23% and the rate of postoperative hemorrhage was 3% (two patients). No complications related to the omental flap were observed. All postoperative hemorrhages originated from the transected surface of the pancreatic remnant and were successfully treated by transgastrotomy simple suture. CONCLUSION: This simple technique has no specific morbidity; it isolates the celiac and mesenteric vessels from the pancreatic anastomosis and therefore may reduce the risk of severe postoperative bleeding after PD.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and inguinal hernia repair performed in a single session. METHODS: Data was obtained retrospectively for 31 patients (mean age...OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and inguinal hernia repair performed in a single session. METHODS: Data was obtained retrospectively for 31 patients (mean age 65 years) who underwent simultaneous TURP and inguinal hernia repair. Most patients had lower urinary tract symptoms related to BPH such as acute urinary retention, recurrent bladder retention, or severe dysuria. Twenty-one patients had simple inguinal hernia and ten had large inguinoscrotal hernia. Operations were performed in 23 patients under spinal anesthesia. Bassini's operation was the most common herniorrhaphy technique (23 patients). RESULTS: We observed good outcomes in 86% of the patients. The morbidity rate was 10.7%, the mean postoperative stay was 3.6 days (2-6 days). There was no recurrence of inguinal hernia. CONCLUSION: Combining TURP and inguinal hernia repair in one session decreases the number of procedures and anesthesias, hospital stay, and thus direct health costs and does not result in an increase in operative or postoperative morbidity.
BACKGROUND: The authors studied a cohort of 154 patients with unilateral vocal cord paresis following thyroidectomy, analyzing the pathogenesis, symptomatology, spontaneous evolution, and management of this complication....BACKGROUND: The authors studied a cohort of 154 patients with unilateral vocal cord paresis following thyroidectomy, analyzing the pathogenesis, symptomatology, spontaneous evolution, and management of this complication. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study distinguished between vocal cord paresis due to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or due to injury of the cricoarytenoid articulation. We assessed the influence multiple variables on therapeutic management. The results and complications of currently-employed surgical techniques to remedy unilateral vocal cord paresis were defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve was the cause of vocal cord paresis in 98% of cases; injury to the cricoarytenoid articulation accounted for only 2% of cases. When the recurrent laryngeal nerve had not been actually transected, spontaneous recovery of vocal cord function occurred in 36% of cases. No spontaneous recovery was noted when the nerve had been divided. The interval to recovery of cord function ranged from 2 to 15 months (median: 4 months). Spontaneous recovery of vocal cord function had occurred in 90% of these patients by the 9th postoperative month. Three factors significantly influenced the decision to perform a median transposition of the injured vocal cord: known transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, the interval to consultation with an ENT specialist, and the severity of dysphonia. Medial transposition of the injured vocal cord resulted in an immediate improvement in the quality of voice and speech with no major complications. CONCLUSION: Unilateral vocal cord paresis occurring after thyroidectomy is not always symptomatic and is not uniformly due to injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Management does not always require surgical reintervention. The practical and medico-legal consequences of these injuries are discussed.