[Conversion in laparoscopic surgery]

AIM

The conversion causes evaluation in dynamics.

METHODOLOGY

The study is a retrospective analysis of the conversion to open surgery in 1993-2001 period, indifferently of the moment and the determinant cause. The yearly dynamics of the conversions was divided by operation types and surgeons. There were also analysed the moment and the cause of the conversion.

RESULTS

There were realised 3961 laparoscopic operations (by 7 experienced surgeons and a lot of young surgeons), with 244 conversions (6.2%), percentage variable depending of the operation (3.3% in hernioraphies, 5.3% in cholecystectomies, 8.2% in gynecologic procedures, 12.1% in appendectomies, 33% in abdominal esophagus procedures, 33% in splenectomies) and on surgeon (until 0% and 8%); the differences until the surgeons don't depend on their experience and for the same surgeon, the experience accumulation doesn't reduce the conversion rate. The most conversions happen after a simple inspection or a minimal dissection (73.1% in cholecystectomy) caused by the existence of plastron, the discovery of a difficult anatomic situation or of another pathology; more rarely, the conversion happens in the principal time (23.4% in cholecystectomy), doing to hemorrhage, impossible dissection, visceral injury or even at the end of the operation (3.5% in cholecystectomy), doing to hemorrhage, loss piece or calculs.

CONCLUSIONS

The conversion rate depends especially on the correctness of the indication of laparoscopic approach and not on the surgeon experience, what proves that it is a moment of surgical maturity. Decide from the beginning, in the moment of the recognition of a difficult situation and not after the occurrence of a complication, modifies neither the morbidity, nor the much discussed hospital stay.

[Pseudomyxoma peritonei (gelatinous peritonitis )]

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (P.P.) is characterised by the presence in the peritoneal cavity of 3 elements--mucinous neoplasic cells, mucinous ascites and diffuses mucinous implants. We analysed the patients treated in our service and we made a literature review. The study is a retrospective analysis on the 1984-2000 period. 6 patients were diagnosed with P.P., 2 females and 4 men, with medial age 63 years (53-75). Clinical findings and biologic analysis were not specific and the imagistic explorers didn't permit the preoperative diagnosis. The patients were submitted to variate surgical procedures, based on the benign (4 cases) or malignant (2 cases) character of the disease and on the origin of the lesions: cystadenoma of the appendix with secondary tumours of the ovary (the 2 females) and, respectively, cystadenoma and cytsadenocarcinoma of the appendix, mucinous paraenteric cyst with pseudomyxoma retroperitonei, mucinous recto-sigmoidian neoplasm (the 4 men). We practiced intraperitoneal chemotherapy with Thio-Tepa in 5 cases (intraoperative in 4 cases) and systemic, with 5-FU and mytomicine, in one case. The operative morbidity and mortality were null. All the patients were follow-up (average 4.2 years). The global 5-year survival rate was 60% (100% in the benign disease and 0% in the malignant form).

CONCLUSION

P.P. is a rare disease, still poorly understood. The origin of the disease is the appendix (70-80%) and less frequently the ovary. It was divided in two distinct forms: disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis and peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis. The treatment associates radical surgery and intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia, in specialised centres, but the prognosis still remains poor (50-70% 5-year global survival rate).

[ Epidemiological and clinical-therapeutical considerations on 500 operated cases of uterine cervix cancer]

AIM

Optimization of the treatment on uterine-cervix neoplasia, in a general surgery department.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Between 1984-1999, in Colţea Surgical Department were operated 746 uterine-cervix cancers. We selected two trials of 250 females, similarly regarding age and stadium. The A trial (250 females) were treated and operated 1984-1989, the study being retrospectively, and the B trial (250 females) treated and operated between 1990-1995, the study being prospectively by introduction of cisplatyn and carboplatyne chemotherapy in the advanced steadies. In the B trial, on registrated many mutations with negative epidemiological implications as: the grow the number of new cases, the diminution of immunity, the abandon of the screening, a possible grow of irradiations (Cernobâl accident), and the belated of presentation to medical consultation.

RESULTS

The complex treatment, comparative in two trials, show a grow of lifetime, at 5 years in B trial from 82.1-93.4% in the 1st and 2nd steadies, 50.7-60.4% in the II B study and 12.9-28.5% in the III study. In the IV study the grow of lifetime was under 24 month.

CONCLUSIONS

The resumption of the screening. Complexes therapeutical protocols for each study. Widely introduction of polichemotherapy in the advanced steadies.

[Considerations on 988 breast cancers]

AIM

Therapy schedule improvement.

MATERIAL & METHOD

The study includes 988 patients (which 16 men) with breast cancer who underwent surgery between 1984-1998. Out of them 63.2% were in advanced stages. The patients were divided in 2 homogenous groups: trial A = 520 patients treated between 1984-1991 (in stade: I = 2, II = 240, III = 246, IV = 32) studied retrospectively, and trial B = 468 patients treated between 1992-1998 (in stade I = 3, II = 212, III = 235, IV = 18) studied prospectively. In trial B the complex therapy schedule was improved according to disease's stade, local breast aspect and patient's biological status, straining on neoadjuvant therapy. To the entire group 945 radical mastectomies (95.6%) were performed. Only 628 (63.5%) could be properly followed up.

RESULTS

Global 5 years survival rate was 72% (improved from 69% in trial A to 72% in trial B). The survival rate varied according the stage from 100% (stade I), 88% (stade II), to 22% (stade III) and 2% (stade IV). In the advanced states, the local recurrencies at 5 years were of 22% and the methastases of 17%.

CONCLUSIONS

The neoadjuvant therapy, selectively applied upon stade and patient improves the 5 year survival rate. Every patient with an advanced breast cancer can benefit of a complex, differentiated and well guided treatment. The adequate operation earn the important role in powering the neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies. Further results improvement requires restarting the collectivities and high risk persons screening.

[The classical or laparoscopic operation in inguinal hernias]

AIM

Results evaluation in two trials of patients undergoing classical or laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We compared 2 homogeneous trials of 80 patients with inguinal hernias treated by classic procedures: Bassini, Shouldice, Lichtenstein (trial I) or by laparoscopic approach with Plastex, Mercilene or Prolene prosthesis (trial II) between 1995-1997.

RESULTS

Postoperative morbidity consisted in trial I in 5 seromas, 2 hematomas, 4 cases with neuralgic pain, 1 with testicular hypotrophy and 4 recurrences. In this trial the mean operative time was 22 min. and the mean hospitalization was 7 days. In trial II we registered a parietal bleeding at a lateral port imposing the conversion, 3 serohematomas, 2 recurrences by displacement of the prosthesis and 2 cases of neurologic pain. The mean operative time was 50 minutes and the mean hospitalization was 3 days.

CONCLUSION

In spite of the longer operative time and the higher cost (the price of the prosthesis), in trial II the benefits of shorter hospitalization, lower morbidity and rapid socioprofessional reintegration are significant.

[The place of surgery in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer]

We considered as local advanced rectal cancer (LARC) tumours invading the serosa or adherent to neighbouring organs, tumoral fistulas, histopathologically proved invasion of regional lymph nodes, peritoneal carcinomatosis with or without neoplastic ascites. Out of 146 rectal cancers submitted to surgery between 1984-1996, 47 had LARC (19 man and 28 women aged of 19 to 88 years) developed in the inferior 2/3 of rectum. We performed in these cases 11 Miles operations, 12 posterior pelvectomies, 3 Dixon resections, 16 colostomies and 5 exploratory laparotomies. To these were associated 4 partial cystectomies, 4 anexectomies, 4 partial enterectomies and 2 excisions of hepatic metastasis. In 27 patients adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy was associated. We registered 3 deaths, 6 parietal infections and 1 stercoral fistula. Postoperative survival was 3-6 months for 12 patients, 6-12 months for 13 patients, 1-2 years for 6 patients. After the complex treatment 6 patients were alive at 5 years. Surgery is the essential therapeutic act of LARC. Chemo/radiotherapy association increases the survival, but not significantly.

[Immediate and early reinterventions in the surgery of colorectal cancer]

Out of 584 cases submitted to colorectal surgery 461 (78.92%) were performed for cancer. Thirty-three patients (7.16%) necessitated immediate (1) or precocious reinterventions for bleeding, fistulae, peritoneal infections, bowel occlusion, necrosis or stenosis of the iliac anus. We are out the technical procedures chosen for each class of complications asking for reintervention. We registered 4 deaths, in aged patients with hard associated morbidity, with emergency reinterventions. We appreciate that a correct preoperative preparation reduces the rate of reintervention and an early reintervention reduces the post-operative mortality.

[Left lumbar sympathectomy via the retro-pneumoscopic approach. The technical considerations]

Retropneumoscopic lumbar sympathectomy is performed with an increasing frequency as a treatment of chronic obstructive arteriopathies; though the method has limited indications. We present the operative technique as it was performed în the Colţea Surgical Department in 2 patients. We highlights on difficulties advantages and disadvantages of the method.

[High obstruction in strangulated diaphragmatic hernia]

Case report of a 57-year-old man, admitted in emergency, because of high occlusion and severe dyspnea. The physical examination and the imagistics explorations established the diagnostic of strangulated left diaphragmatic hernia. After a short re-equilibration, the surgical approach was made by left thoracophrenolaparotomy and on realize the visceral reduction, the treatment of visceral injuries and the plasty of the pretty high diaphragmatic defect with a nylon mesh. The postoperative evolution was difficult, with hemorrhagic gastropathy, blocked evisceration, pneumonia and left pleural empyema. The control at 10 months show a patient appearing very well, with a voluminous eventration (who need surgical treatment) with normal image on the chest radiography, left hemidiaphragm in normal position and immobile, the gastrointestinal tract sitting intraabdominal, without parietal injuries.

[The role of clivarin in the preventive therapy of thromboembolism]

Our paper represents a synopsis of the main mechanisms by which low-molecular-weight heparins act as pharmacodynamic stabilizing factors of the liquid coagulation balance, in the postoperative period. Today we note three main phases in the coagulation mechanism: 1. partial thrombin activation; 2. positive thrombin-mediated feedback; 3. explosive thrombin formation. Low-molecular-weight heparins (Clivarine-mean molecular weight = 3900 D) act as selective inhibitors an factor X a (anti-thrombotic action), and as weak inhibitors on factor II a. The authors' experience includes 321 patients, who received Clivarin as preventive therapy for thromboembolic disease. Most of the selected patients are included in groups 2 and 3 for thromboembolic risk--and have undergone general surgery and oncological surgery. The dosage and duration of the treatment have been the usual ones. The main clinical observations we noted are: 1. excellent tolerability of Clivarine; 2. no modifications of usual biological values; 3. no adverse reactions were noted. There were no deleterious interferences between Clivarine and the usual postoperative medication of the surgical patient, 4. among the incidents, we note 12 postinjection haematomas, which were spontaneously cured.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-molecular-weight heparins are considered today drugs of election in the medical and surgical thrombosis prophylaxis.

[Laparoscopic appendectomy in obese patients. A comparative study with open appendectomy]

The aim of this study is to show the advantages of laparoscopic versus classic appendectomy in obese patients. The trial includes 32 obese patients which underwent laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis in our clinic, compared to a similar trial of patients with open surgery. In both o trials we followed-up the operating time, postoperative pain, hospitalization and social and professional reintegration. We noticed that in laparoscopic appendicectomy patients postoperative pain and hospitalization are reduced, the bowel transit restants rapidly and spontaneously, there are no wound complications and patients recover faster. The disadvantages consisted in longer operative time and higher cost of the laparoscopic operation versus classic appendectomy.

[Cancer of the head of the pancreas with a unique evolution]

Case report of a 67-years-old man with cephalopancreatic carcinoma and a peculiar evolution, undergoing several operations. The diagnostic was established 3 years ago through a peroperative pancreatic bioptic puncture, followed by choledochoduodenostomy considering the tumor as inextirpable. After 2 1/2 years symptoms of high occlusion and upper digestive bleeding caused by duodenal invasion and a Wölfler precolic gastrojejunostomy was performed. After 4 month the upper digestive bleeding relapsed severely imposing the second reintervention (cephalic duodenopancreatectomy with a special montage). The evolution was favourable, the clinical, biological and imagistic control at 6 month showing the absence of recidive.

[Intra-anesthetic hypothermia]

Oesophageal temperature was recorded after induction of anesthesia, and further, at one, two and three hours. Temperature in the operation hall was continuously monitored. In relation to the temperature in the operating hall the effects on the patient were of three kinds: 1. operating halls with low temperatures (under 21 degrees C) where all the patients become hypothermic; 2. operating halls with an intermediate temperature (21-24 degrees C), where 67% of the patients remain normothermic; 3. operating halls with high temperatures (above 24 degrees C) where all the patients remain normothermic, although these temperatures are uncomfortable for the medical personnel, and increase the septic risk of the patient. When the oesophageal temperature of the patients falls by 0.5 degrees C chills will occur in 40% of the patients. Thermal falls of less than 0.5 degrees C will also determine chills but in only 10.5% of the cases. Immediate postanesthesia chills are also recorded in normothermic patients, but there is a direct relationship between the temperature in the operating hall, the degree of hypothermia and the frequency of chills, while the site of the surgery or the duration of the operation have but an unsignificant influence on intra-anesthetic temperature.

[Nongynecologic abdominal emergencies during pregnancy]

The paper reports on the authors' experience in the surgical emergency of a special category of patients: pregnant women with acute affections requiring surgery. The clinical aspects, sometimes deceptive, diagnosis difficulties and tactile and technical surgical attitudes are presented in detail.

[Primary exertion thrombophlebitis of the upper extremities: clinical and therapeutic aspects]

The authors present 4 cases of "effort" thrombophlebitis of the upper limb that were diagnosed both clinically and thrombophlebographically, and in whom classical therapy was applied: total rest, anticoagulants, elevation of the limb. All the cases had sequels of variable intensity, and in 2 of the patients Roos' transaxillary route was used which revealed a double anterior scalenus muscle insertion, and compressive fibro-sclerous tissue. The pathogeny of the affection makes mandatory the removal of extrinsic or intrinsic factors which may generate a new thrombosis or vascular and neurologic sequels.

[Anesthesiologic aspects of surgical interventions in patients with liver diseases]

The authors review the anesthesiology problems in hepatic patients on the one hand, and on the other hand they present their personal experience in anesthesia of patients with jaundice, upper digestive haemorrhage and hepatic coma. The conclusions of the study are the following: 1. The major hepatic functions which can interfere with anesthetic drugs and techniques are related to changes in the hepatic blood flow, the synthesis of proteins, homeostasis of carbohydrates, and especially the metabolization of medicinal drugs. 2. Hepatic patients presenting with jaundice, upper digestive haemorrhage, and hepatic coma raise special problems concerning preoperative preparations and anesthetic technique. Considering the risk factors which occur in the patient with jaundice denutrition, hypoalbuminemia and partially angiocholitis can be corrected by medical means. Hemostasis on hepatic patients with upper digestive haemorrhage is the most difficult problem, and also very controversial. There are not, at present, either infallible solutions or arguments in favor of hemostatic techniques (by compression, endoscopic haemostasis, or surgical hemostasis). The comatose patient is usually the final evolutive stage of the hepatic disease, and the mortality in this category of patients, indifferent of the therapy, is higher than 80%.

[Perforated and hemorrhagic duodenal ulcer: the problems of the surgical procedure and technic]

The authors analyze five cases of concomitant development of two major complications of duodenal ulcers: perforation and haemorrhage. Particular problems of surgical tactic and technique are discussed.

Ultrarapid induction

We report 250 rapid induction anesthesias performed for the purpose of preventing regurgitation and vomiting in patients with full stomach. The anesthetic technique includes administration of morphine 20 mg and droperidol 5 mg intravenously 10-15 minutes before induction, a voluntary air hyperventilation at the anesthetist's command, during which induction drugs are introduced and an induction with a mixture containing suxamethonium 2 mg/kg and thiopentone 1.4 mg/kg, administered within 1-2 seconds. Eighteen seconds after the onset of injection the loss of lid reflex is observed followed 7 seconds later by masseter muscle relaxation. Within the following 5-10 seconds intubation is carried out in full fasciculation process, before cardia relaxation. With this technique, a mean intubation time of 35 seconds is achieved. The interval of maximum regurgitation risk is lowered to 15 seconds, so that ventilation by mask and cricoid pressure are no more necessary. The technique is indicated in the young and vigorous adult and contraindicated in the old and tainted patient, in coronary patients, in those with low heart output and slowing of circulation.

Stress ulcers in intensive care (etiology, symptomatology and therapy)

The authors present a group of 48 patients with stress ulcers (36 men, 13 women) average age 56.2 years. The analysis of the cases allowed to establish, for the first time in medical literature, a correlation between the etiology, the symptomatology and the moment of onset of the haemorrhage, with important practical implications in the adoption of a treatment regime. These considerations permitted us to delineate four categories of stress ulcers: The first category included stress ulcers caused by a cerebral lesion and manifested through cerebral hypertension. The upper digestive haemorrhage occurred within 24-48 h after the aggression and required the correction of the cerebral hypertension and of the anaemia. The second category comprised stress ulcers brought about by a hypovolaemic shock through myocardial infarction, burns, frost-bite and multiple traumas. Haemorrhage in the upper digestive tract appeared within 3-6 days after the moment of aggression and required surgical control unless it was caused by myocardial infarction. The third category was represented by post-operative stress ulcers. These forms occurred usually late, between the eighth and the thirty-seventh day after the aggression, and were due to the super-imposition of the septicaemia on the post-aggressive systemic reaction. The chief aim of treatment here was the surgical control of infection. The fourth category encompassed the stress ulcers occurring after protracted coma, especially in patients with ventilatory assistance. In these conditions, the ulcers of the digestive tract and the consequent haemorrhage represented terminal elements of irreversible diseases, in which no treatment was effective.

[Electronographic changes in general anesthesia]

Using the electronograph, a special device which is capable to record luminous effects of the Corona and Kirlian types, the authors investigated 9 patients (6 males and 3 females) both before and during anesthetic sleep, and after arousal from anesthesia. In all the patients the studies were made on black-and-white, as well as on colour films.

Risk of pulmonary complications in surgical patients

The pulmonary complications in a group of more than 20 000 surgical patients between 1971 and 1980 were examined, as well as the pulmonary state of 100 surgical patients who died within 10 days of operation. The factors related to the patient's constitutions, nature of the surgical disease, operation and anaesthesia. Equal and homogeneous groups were considered in respect of each factor which were analyzed retrospectively from 1980 to 1971. The mean frequency of pulmonary complications in the Department of General Surgery was 12%. The main risk factors of pulmonary complications were: the duration beyond 4 h of the operation (59%), age over 70 years (48%), obesity (35%). They were followed in decreasing order by sepsis, hypovolemia and particular sites of operation. Severe pulmonary complications, bronchopneumonia, pneumonia and thromboembolism contribute to mortality.

[Subarachnoid anesthesia with pethidine]

The authors present their experience about spinal anesthesia with pethidine as the sole medication. 713 patients whose mean age was 56.5 years received 1 mg . kg-1 of pethidine in 50 p. 100 aqueous solution administered by subarachnoid route. Indications were surgical procedures involving upper and lower abdomen, perineum and lower limbs. The set up of anesthesia is quite similar to those obtained with local anesthetics. Sensitivity disappears during the first three minutes in the area below the puncture site and in the following two or three minutes areflexia and paralysis is noted. The duration of the motor and sensory block is 90 to 120 minutes. Recovery appears to be in a reverse order. Spinal anaesthesia with pethidine exhibit the following characteristics: --sensory and motor blockade with minimal adverse reactions giving good and very good results in more than 90 per cent of cases, when involving perineum and lower limbs; --the most frequent adverse effect is a syndrome including hypotension, bradycardia and hypoxemia, appearing 20 to 30 minutes after injection, reversal is easily obtained by administration of pressure drugs and artificial ventilation. Neither delayed respiratory depression nor neurologic damage were noted; --a long lasting post-operative analgesia. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that: --1 mg . kg-1 of pethidine administered by subdural route realize a complete spinal anesthesia including motor, sensory and sympathetic blockade allowing surgical procedures in good conditions of security; --increasing the dosage of pethidine over 1 mg . kg-1 is not wise in order to avoid the occurrence of adverse side effects such as hypotension, bradycardia and bradypnaea; --this technic is only indicated for surgery in perineum and lower limbs.

[Hyperlipoproteinemia, a factor of severity in acute pancreatitis]

The authors make a retrospective analysis of 95 cases of acute pancreatitis hospitalized between 1975 and 1979. In 3,8% of all the cases the acute pancreatitis was associated with hyperlipoproteinemia. The study of the 4 patients involved revealed the primary origin of hyperlipoproteinemia as a result of alimentary abuse in 3 of the cases. In a fourth case the increased serum lipoproteins were due to prolonged use of contraceptives. From the clinical viewpoint, pancreatitis associated with hyperlipoproteinemia was more severe, with signs of shock and collapse, respiratory failure, high serum nitrogen an hyperglycemia. The blood and the serum had a lactescent aspect, with a thick layer of chylomicrons. The serum and blood values for lipids were higher than 4000 mg%. The increase in the amount of lipids was especially due to high triglycerides values. From the anatomopathologic viewpoint the 4 patients presented as acute cases of cholecysto-pancreatitis with major and extensive haemorrhagic necrosis which involved almost the entire pancreas. The evolution of the four patients was difficult. Two of the patients recovered after a long hospitalization, and had definitive sequels - insulin-dependent diabetes. The other two patients died following septic complications (bronchopneumonia and visceral gangrene), and hypovolemia due to upper digestive haemorrhage.

[So-called biliary lithiasis after vagotomy]

Reconsidering the problem of biliary lithiasis in the patient operated for gastroduodenal ulcers, and carrying out an analysis of 1 200 vagotomized patients, biliary lithiasis was noted in 11 of them. The authors make a review of the pathologic physiology of this association. The fact is stressed that biliary lithiasis following vagotomy is more likely a case of biliary lithiasis that has not been known to exist before surgery and that was not recognized during the surgical intervention. A larger statistical analysis could demonstrate that the incidence overlaps the general frequency of biliary lithiasis in a randomly investigated population.