Search

Empirical evidence suggesting a link between neoplasia and chronic inflammation was first noted by Virchow more than a century ago, but the intricacies of the involved pathological processes have not yet been entirely elucidated. With a growing number of Crohn’s disease (CD) cases worldwide, it is only logical to consider that the complications of this entity would become proportionally more prevalent. We report a case of small bowel adenocarcinoma arising in a patient with longstanding CD and discuss the current differences in paradigms related to surgical decisions in patients with inflammatory small bowel disease. A 56-years-old male patient known with CD was admitted in emergency to our clinic for intense diffuse abdominal pain spontaneously and on palpation, Blumberg +, with signs of peritoneal irritation, episode apparently much more severe compared to the previous ones. Laboratory investigations confirmed the diagnosis of acute abdomen and immediate surgery was performed. Intraoperative findings were peritonitis due to ileal perforation and ileal adenocarcinoma with “signet ring” cells, moderately differentiated (G2), on the background of active inflammatory bowel disease (CD). Segmental enterectomy and ileostomy were performed. The postoperative outcome was relatively favorable, with resumption of digestive tolerance and of intestinal transit at ileostomy level. As increased evidence suggest causality between chronic inflammation and malignant transformation one should contemplate whether the old treatment paradigms applied for other conditions such as fistulae in anal and leg ulcers should not be translated to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Are we doing too much or not enough surgery for IBD? Could we diagnose small bowel adenocarcinomas in CD in early stages or there is too much risk for the patients and very few to benefit from a more aggressive surveillance?

This review discusses the evidence on diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). A systematic literature review was performed on PubMed, Medline, Springer Nature, and Scopus, following the PRISMA guidelines, using the following terms, individually or in combination: “diabetic foot ulcer” OR “diabetic foot syndrome” OR “DFU” and “diabetic retinopathy.” The initial search yielded 648 articles published between 1975 and 2020. After applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, a total of 9 articles were analyzed, assessing the correlations between DR and DFU. In all cases, DR and especially proliferative diabetic retinopathy were significantly higher in the presence of DFU, though the frequency of DR showed large variability (22.5% to 95.6%). There was a significant correlation between advanced stages of DFU and increased frequency of DR and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. On the other hand, there is a risk of accelerated progression of DR in nonhealing DFUs, possibly related to chronic inflammation and associated infection. Hence, patients with DFUs should be monitored by an ophthalmologist, and those with DR should be promptly referred to a specialized diabetic foot clinic.

Introduction. The Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for the evaluation of neuro-sensory-motor deficits after stroke represents, by completeness and adequate folding, both conceptually and methodologically, on the physio pathological and clinical-evolutionary reality of disability in this type of pathology, a widely used quantification tool for international level and well appreciated in many works in profile literature. Materials and methods. From the desire to implement the scale within the neurorehabilitation units in our country, some correspondence with the right holders of the use of the scale within the University of Gothenburg was initiated in 2019. Subsequently, the group proposed us to carry out an official translation according to an algorithm for achieving the unitary translation, agreed and recommended by the official administrators of the standardized forms of the scale, which will be included on the official website of the respective university along with other translations. Results. Following the initial steps, a constructive correspondence was maintained with the official administrators of the University of Gothenburg and in accordance with the mutual agreement, we carried out the translation from English into Romanian of the specific forms on the official site. The translation included, at the recommendation of the Gothenberg collective, only the component used for measuring the motor functions for the upper and lower extremities. In addition, Prof. Dr. Roxana Carare was co-opted in the team of. Currently, the confrontation of the translation version of our team with the one made by her (forward from English to Romanian) is underway. Within the confrontation of forward translation, different shades of formulations were found at different levels. Conclusions. In the later stages, the reverse confrontation from Romanian to English (backward) of the two translated variants is considered. At the same time, the coordinator of the administrators of the scale of the University of Gothenburg, Prof. Dr. Margit Alt Murphy, expressed her availability of assistance at all stages of the translation process. Keywords: Fugl-Meyer scale, stroke, assesment, hemiparetic patients, rehabilitation

The Covid-19 pandemic changed certain social habits and practices. The pandemic also changed the profile of polytrauma patients who presented in the emergency room. The etiology of polytraumas has undergone changes in the context of social distancing. While road accidents, falls and physical assaults, including gunshot trauma on the streets have decreased, we are confronting with an alarming increase in domestic violence. We analyzed the etiology of polytraumas from a period of 3 months that overlapped with the pandemic and compared it with the similar periods of the previous 3 years. We found an increase of about 4 times the incidence of physical aggression through domestic violence.

The objective of the study is to assess the efect of thrombolitic therapy on clinical prognostic markers in patients with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism compared to clasic therapy, and also the assessment of the bleeding risk associated with thrombolitic therapy. Material and methods. We included 82 consecutive patients with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism, which were divided in two groups: study group (thrombolysed) and control group (treated with unfractioned heparine alone). Patients with lower bleeding risk were included in control group. Patients were assessed regarding the right ventricle dysfunction markers (both imagistic and biochemical) on admision and on 48 h. The early (7th day) mortality rate and hemodinamic instability rate were evaluated in the two groups, also the major bleeding rate. Outcomes. We proved a statistical significant lower mortality rate in the study group, with no difference regarding the major bleedings. Meanwhile, the hemodinamic instability was lower in the study group compared to control group. Conclusions. The proper patient selection with intermediate-high pulmonary embolism for thrombolitic therapy can bring important benefits in terms of mortality and bleeding complications

The postoperative digestive fistula is the most feared complication of gastrointestinal surgeries. We performed a retrospective study over a period of 6 years, in which we included 28 patients who developed postoperative esophageal, gastric or duodenal fistulae in the General Surgery Department of “Bagdasar–Arseni” Emergency Hospital. We assessed the risk factors for this complication, its management and its results. Most patients were males and the mean age was 61.1 years. For 15 patients, the surgeries were required for benign lesions while the rest of 13 patients had malignant disease. Regarding the type of the fistula, 14 were duodenal stump fistulas, 13 were anastomotic leakages and one was a dehiscence of a sutured duodenal ulcer. Six cases required emergency relaparotomy for sepsis and peritonitis. Sixteen patients had a favourable outcome while death occurred in 12 cases. The mortality was higher for patients with sepsis and peritonitis as the first clinical manifestations of fistula and with the need for an emergency reoperation.

Introduction. Schizophrenia is a surprisingly common chronic psychiatric illness in the general population affecting 1 in 100 people worldwide. Although the symptoms widely differ from one case to another, schizophrenia is quite difficult to recognize because the patient can behave normally and appropriately in different social situations. Studies in the literature highlight that the majority of the patients with SCI and pre-existing schizophrenia have suffered accidents as a result of voluntary height adjustments. Also, 37.5% of the suicide attempts with SCI are caused by schizophrenia and depression. The main difficulties encountered in the recovery of these patients are the psychiatric manifestations. At the same time, the risk of suicide in patients with schizophrenia after suffering from SCI is higher than those with SCI without schizophrenia. Therefore, the recovery of the patients with SCI and schizophrenia is a complex process which requires the control of the psychiatric symptoms. A multidisciplinary team is required for such a purpose. Material and method. Having the patient's consent and approval of the Ethics Committee of “Bagdasar-Arseni” Clinical Emergency Hospital, N.O. 3159/30.01.2020, the paper presents the case of a 23-year-old female patient with AIS/ Frankel B flaccid paraplegia after TVML after falling from height (affirmative through window-suicide attempt) operated on, in a polytraumatic context. The patient is known with schizophrenia and she was being monitored by a psychiatrist at the time of the accident, but she voluntarily discontinued treatment during that period. The patient was clinically and functionally evaluated, according to the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic, through the assessment scales (ASIA, FIM, FAC, QoL, Ashworth and Penn) and also paraclinically, in order to evaluate her biological reserve and her bearing availability of the recovery program. Results and discussions. The patient presented a slowly favorable evolution (slowed down by her severe motor deficit, but also by her psychiatric symptoms such as affective ability with depressive, negative behavior, depersonalization). Conclusions. The main difficulties encountered in the recovery of these patients are the psychiatric manifestations. Therefore, the recovery of patients with SCI and schizophrenia is a complex process that first requires the control of psychiatric symptoms. A multidisciplinary team is required for such a purpose. Keywords: Schizophrenia, spinal cord injury, multidisciplinary, suicide attempt, rehabilitation

The article is a review of the surgical therapies for iatrogenic bile duct lesions (IBDL). The history of the bile duct surgical procedures starts in 1882, when the first cholecystectomy is performed. There are several classifications of the IBDLs such as Bismuth, Wood et al., McMahon et al., Strasberg et al., Bergman et al., Bismuth and Majno, Stewart-Way, Hannover and Mattox. The choice of the proper surgical treatment of IBDLs depends of their type and the review describes the end-to-end repair, hepaticojejunostomy, hepaticojejunostomy without sutures, mucosal graft (Rodney Smith technique), hepaticoduodenostomy, Heineke-Mikulicz plastic repair of stricture, right and left duct hepaticojejunostomy, construction of hepatic duct bifurcation when bifurcation has been destroyed, intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy, ligamentum teres (round ligament) approach to the left hepatic duct and Longmire procedure. Even the surgical treatment of IBDLs is in continuous development and research, their best prevention is the proper training of the biliary surgeons in the performance of safe cholecystectomies or any other abdominal surgeries, complex gastrotomies, pancreatic operations, endoscopic biliary tract investigations etc.

The present study aimed to compare the clinical, paraclinical, intraoperative findings, and postoperative complications in acute cholecystitis in diabetic patients vs. non-diabetic patients. A 2-year retrospective study was performed on the patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis between 2017 and 2019 at the 4th Department of Surgery, Emergency University Hospital Bucharest. The diabetic subgroup numbered 46 eligible patients and the non-diabetic one 287 patients. Demographics, the severity of the clinical forms, biological variables (including white cell count, urea, creatinine, coagulation and liver function tests) comorbidity status, surgical approach, postoperative complications, and hospital stay were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed to assess comparative results between the aforementioned data (SPSS V 13.0). The CCI and ASA risk classes were increased in the diabetic group, with 34.78% of patients having 3 or more associated comorbidities. No statistically significant associations were demonstrated between diabetes and the severity of the cholecystitis and risk for conversion. Postoperatively both minor complications such as surgical site infections and major cardiovascular events were more common in the diabetic subgroup (P=0.0254), well associated with the preoperative status and baseline cardiovascular comorbidities. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure for diabetic patients, which can provide the best outcomes, by decreasing the risks of surgical wounds. Attentive perioperative care and good glycemic control must be provided to minimize the risk of complications.

Suspicion of lead poisoning is confirmed by its concentration in blood and protoporphyrin red blood cells. At low concentrations, lead influences the synthesis of the heme in the sense of lowering it. Acute and chronic lead intoxication is extremely polymorphic in regards to its clinical manifestations, with digestive, hematological, cardiovascular, renal hepatic and neurological features. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of lead in human whole blood and urine harvested before and during chelation treatment in the case of lead poisoning. An atomic absorption spectroscopic method for the analysis of lead was developed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS), Varian Spectra AA-880 with a hollow cathode lead lamp and a deuterium lamp for background correction, coupled to a GTA-100 atomizer and a programmable sample dispenser. Standard calibration solutions were used for the range 10-100 µg/l. The linearity range was 10.0 to 100.0 µg/l with the correlation coefficient of 0.999. We established that the method can be applied for the determination of lead in whole blood and urine, and the results obtained are useful for monitoring chelation therapy in cases of acute lead poisoning, a neglected cause of abdominal colic pain in an emergency situation.

The present study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical presentation and therapeutic management of acute surgical abdomen. A retrospective study of emergency hospitalizations with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen between April and July 2020 vs. a similar period in 2019 was performed. The observation sheets and the operating protocols were analyzed. Between April and July 2020, 50 cases of acute surgical abdomen were hospitalized and treated, compared to 43 cases in the same period last year. The main types of pathology in both groups included: Occlusions (60%, respectively 44.2% in 2019) and peritonitis (32%, respectively 41.8% in 2019). There was an increased rate of patients with colorectal cancers neglected therapeutically or uninvestigated, who presented during the pandemic period with emergencies for complications such as occlusion or tumor perforation (32 vs. 6.97%, P=0.0039). One case, with gastric perforation, was COVID-positive, with no pulmonary symptoms at admission. The number of postoperative infectious complications was lower during the pandemic (2 vs. 13.95%, P=0.0461). As the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be still far from ending, we should learn to adapt our surgical protocols to the new evidence. Oncological patients are a vulnerable group, who were neglected in the first months of the pandemic. SARS-Cov-2 infection may be a cause of abdominal pain and should be taken into account in different diagnoses of acute abdomen in surgical wards. Correct wearing of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and respecting strict rules of asepsis and antisepsis are required for preventing in-hospital transmission of infection.

Background and Objectives: This study investigates the impact of age upon the safety and outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed for acute cholecystitis, by a multivariate approach. Materials and Methods: A 2-year retrospective study was performed on 333 patients admitted for acute cholecystitis who underwent emergency cholecystectomy. The patients included in the study group were divided into four age subgroups: A ≤49 years, B: 50–64 years, C: 65–79 years, D ≥80 years. Results: Surgery after 72 h from onset (p = 0.007), severe forms, and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification and Charlson comorbidity index scores (p &lt, 0.001) are well correlated with older age. Both cardiovascular and surgical related complications were significantly higher in patients over 50 years (p = 0.045), which also proved to be a turning point for increasing the rate of conversion and open surgery. However, the comparative incidence did not differ significantly between patients aged from 50–64 years, 65–79 years and over 80 years (6.03%, 9.09% and 5.8%, respectively). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was the most frequently used surgical approach in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in all age groups, with better outcomes than open cholecystectomy in terms of decreased overall and postoperative hospital stay, reduced surgery related complications, and the incidence of acute cardiovascular events in the early postoperative period (p &lt, 0.001). Conclusions: The degree of systemic inflammation was the main factor that influenced the adverse outcome of LC in the elderly. Among comorbidities, diabetes was associated with increased surgical and systemic postoperative morbidity, while stroke and chronic renal insufficiency were correlated with a high risk of cardiovascular complications. With adequate perioperative care, the elderly has much to gain from the benefits of a minimally invasive approach, which allows a decreased rate of postoperative complications and a reduced hospital stay.

Burnout is a state of physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. Burnout during residency training has gained significant attention secondary to concerns regarding job performance and patient care. The new COVID-19 pandemic has raised public health problems around the world and required a reorganization of health services. In this context, burnout syndrome and physical exhaustion have become even more pronounced. Resident doctors, and especially those in certain specialties, seem even more exposed due to the higher workload, prolonged exposure and first contact with patients. This article is a short review of the literature and a presentation of some considerations regarding the activity of the medical residents in a non-Covid emergency hospital in Romania, based on the responses obtained via a questionnaire. Burnout prevalence is not equal in different specialties. We studied its impact and imagine the potential steps that can be taken in order to reduce the increasing rate of burnout syndrome in the pandemics.

Development of Covid-19 pandemic infection which started in December 2019 from Wuhan, China, impacted all medical specialities and societies. Endocrine professionals are involved in this battle, as far as many patients with endocrine co-morbidities (diabetes, metabolic syndrome, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal disorders) are most affected by the disease. Specific recommendations for the management of endocrine disorders were released by European experts. Most rely on the same principles of epidemiological safety measures, delaying non emergency admissions and transforming the routine follow-up in telemedicine clinics. Special attention is required to adrenal disorders, either central in the context of pituitary patients or primary. Corticosteroids are a mainstay of treatment in Covid-19 infection, therefore it is important to consider all aspects involved by high doses, including metabolic adverse reactions especially in diabetic patients. Other endocrine disorders, thyroid dysfunctions or nodules, parathyroid, adrenal, and pituitary diseases should follow specific recommendations for management. Surgery is postponed for non-emergency situations, restricting most planned surgeries, either thyroid, pituitary or adrenal. Laparoscopic surgery, if required in emergency, is including a supplementary risk, therefore all involved in the operating theater should wear PPE. In conclusion, a coordinated response should be organized in the multidisciplinary management of endocrine patients.

Over the past six decades, abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) remained a very controversial subject, both in surgical and non-surgical specialties. Doctors failed to understand why critically ill patients died in the ICU with distended abdomens without fi nding any cause or why postoperative patients with wound defects such as dehiscence died after suturing the wound again „very tightly”. After the concept of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was established and methods for measuring it and diagnosing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) were available for clinicians to use it, it became clearer that ACS was a very serious and life threating pathology and the need for a correct treatment is essential. In this article we will try to make a literature review of the past decade and see when and how to diagnose correctly a patient with ACS and also how the diagnostic and treatments methods changed over the years.

Abdominal-pelvic pain is the dominant symptom in endometriosis, one of the most common pathologies that affect women, being also a multifactorial disorder. Exploratory laparoscopy allows the correct assessment of the location as well as severity and extent of the lesions, thus representing the current gold standard in diagnosis. The correlation of pain intensity with the evolutionary stage of endometriosis is inconstant. Surgical treatment, preferably performed laparoscopically, includes the excision of the ectopic endometrium, having as a primary objective the control of persistent pain and the removal of all endometriotic foci. This procedure helps to improve the life quality of the patient, to reduce relapses, to control postoperative pain, and to eliminate the disease. Pre- and post-operative adjuvant medical treatment is used due to its effects on the symptomatology, prolonging the asymptomatic period of the disease. Despite the use of the above procedures, there are cases in which the abdominal-pelvic pain persists even after surgery, which makes endometriosis a significant challenge for both the specialist and the patient, as well as for the medical system itself, as the study of the pathogenic mechanisms is yet the subject of numerous studies. Nutritional education in these patients is essential, given the recommendation to restrict the range of foods and to increase other foods that have an important role in reducing the risk or even leading to regression of the endometrial pathology.

Background. This study evaluated the difference between boys and girls in terms of nutritional status, lifestyle, and dietary habits during school life. Materials and Methods. A descriptive and observational study was conducted in 2016, in which 251 children, aged 7-17, from 3 elementary schools and a high school inBucharest,Romania, were evaluated. A questionnaire was used to assess food behavior, eating, and lifestyle habits. Results. Boys had a significantly higher waist circumference (71.18±9) than girls (67.46±9.91) (p=0.004). Thus 27% of boys were overweight or obese compared with only 22% of the girls. Differences were also seen between the two groups in terms of main meals and snacks and following a rhythm of meals: a statistically significant percentage of girls (36.3%) skip breakfast, while most boys (63.8%) take a food package to school. A total of 23.8% of the boys and 24% of the girls state that they eat while sitting in front of the computer or TV. Conclusions. We found that boys are more overweight or obese than girls. Obesity in the pediatric population of Romania could be explained by the country’s emergence from communism 25 years ago, pattern typical of all Eastern European countries and which currently involve an overexposure of people to fast food, fizzy drinks and sweets, as well as to a high consumption of salt and food additives. Unbalanced and highly caloric food had been preferable to healthy food in the last period. Leisure time is rather spent in front of the TV, tablet, detrimental to rational physical exercise, recreational sports or hiking. The family environment is very important and all our actions should be focused on continuous education about the risks of unhealthy food and a sedentary lifestyle.

Introduction. Disc herniation occurs most commonly in the lumbar region (95% of the cases). The current trend is to have surgery on patients with disc herniation if the kinetic treatment was not beneficial. The data from the literature suggest that early active recovery after lumbar disc herniation is more beneficial than a traditional, less active training program. Material and method. Having the patient's consent and the approval of the Ethics Committee of “Bagdasar-Arseni” Clinical Emergency Hospital, N.O. 17464 / 14.06.2019, the paper presents the case of a 75-year-old patient with paraparesis after multilevel lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis and spondylolisthesis iteratively operated, in pluripathological context (hyperplastic type II obesity, hypertension, prostate adenocarcinoma operated in 2015, Clostridium enterocolitis). The patient was clinically and functionally evaluated, according to the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic, through the assessment scales (ASIA, FIM, FAC, QoL, Ashworth and Penn) and also paraclinically, in order to evaluate his biological reserve and his bearing availability of the recovery program. Results and discussions. The patient presented a slowly favorable evolution (slowed down not only by his multiple above-mentioned comorbidities) from a dysfunctional point of view. Conclusions. Early active recovery after lumbar disc herniation surgery is more beneficial than a traditional, less active training program for operated herniated discs. Keywords: Schizophrenia, spinal cord injury, multidisciplinary, suicide attempt, rehabilitation

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is currently considered the gold standard for adrenal tumors up to 6 cm, and although with far less morbidity than the open alternative, when it comes to its complications we should not look away. The case concerns a 51-year old obese male that underwent left laparoscopic adrenalectomy for incidentaloma and developed pancreatic tail fistula. Without an evident pancreatic lesion during surgery and an uneventful early postoperative course the patient was discharged only to return 4 days later with respiratory symptoms and mild abdominal discomfort in the left upper quadrant. The CT scan diagnosed a left subphrenic fluid collection and left basal pneumonia, thus the patient underwent laparoscopic reintervention for drainage of the pancreatic fluid collection and received conventional antibiotherapy for pneumonia. The patient was discharged in good condition with the drainage tube in situ. The drainage tube was extracted 14 days later.

We present the case of a 64 years old man, who was admitted in our surgical clinic with a giant median incisional hernia after a previously colonic resection and anastomosis for a colonic tumor. We had to deal with a loss of domain giant ventral hernia. The patient was known with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic coughing, that was an aggravating condition. We did an alloplasty in Rives-Stoppa manner, accompanied by an anterior component separation. The clinical postoperative outcome was very good and we present the results. ˝

We present the case of a 82 years old women, who was admitted in our surgical clinic with two giant breast tumors, located on the left breast, with skin ulceration and suprainfection, accompanied by a big axillary mass in the left axilla. The patient was known with a previous rectal tumor, recently operated in another surgical service, for which it was an anterior rectal resection and definitive left colostomy done. The case is an atypical form of presentation of a Lynch II syndrome. The indication for total mastectomy and axillary lymphadenectomy was sustained by tumors' dimensions and suprainfection, although the case was oncologically overcome.

Introduction:The pseudo aneurysm is an accumulation of blood between the muscle and the adventitia of an artery, while a genuine aneurysm is “a permanent and localized dilation which determines an increase of more than 50% in the normal diameter of the respective vessel” [1], [2]. Aneurysms are more common in the aorta and most frequently occur in male patients aged between 65- 85 years, representing 1-3% of the total death causes in this group of age. [3], [4]. Material and methods:The paper presents the case of a 53-year old patient with incomplete paraplegia, AIS/Frankel D with a T11 neurologic level, acute post-ischemia due to a hemorrhagic shock. The patient was diagnosed in 2017 with ruptured right iliac aneurysm which required surgery. A right iliac exograft was inserted, which later became infected, thus requiring multiple surgical interventions, the patient remaining a chronic carrier of Enterococus Faecium. Subsequently, multiple pseudo aneurysms begin appear in the right and left iliac artery and aortic bifurcation. Multiple surgical inetervention ware performed. In January 2018, the patient presented himself with an emergency to the hospital, with a hemorrhagic shock. He was diagnosed with anastomotic pseudo aneurysm which communicated through a very long path with a fistula at the level of the sigma, showing small amounts of a periprosthetic collection with purulent aspect. Surgery is reinitiated by insertion of an axillo-bifemoral bypass and Hartman resection with colostomy. Another important element in the pathological history of the patient is operated pulmonary neoplasm with hepatic and bone metastases. The patient was clinically and functionally evaluated, according the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic, through the assessment scales (AIS, FIM, QoL-Quality of Life, Asworth, Penn, FAC, WISCI II) and also paraclinically, in order to evaluate his biological reserve and his bearing availability of the recovery program. Results: The patient presented a slowly favorable evolution (slowed down by his multiple above mentioned comorbidities) from an algo-dysfunctional point of view, with the improvement of the walking program and the increase of muscle force and individual autonomy. Conclusion: Although aortic aneurysms are common between 65-85 years of age, they can also appear at younger ages. The aortoenteric fistula is a rare cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding, many of them leading to the death of the patient before presentation to the doctor. Although medullary ischemia can lead to neurologic deficit of the paraplegic type, it can be corrected through a complex recovery program.

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with neurogenic bladder (NB) represent a major medical problem, which initiated the search for a non-invasive and effective treatment that is easy to apply and without side effects. A study was performed using interferential medium frequency current electrical stimulation (IMFC ES) on 332 patients shortly after SCI diagnosed with NB dysfunction. All subjects received standard care and patients of the experimental group additionally received IMFC ES. Urinary management results included volitional control of voiding, intermittent catheterization, post-voidance residuum (PVR) quantity and quantity of urine lost (LOSS). Results were assessed based on the American spinal cord injury association impairment scale (AIS). The IMFC ES included two channels of medium frequency stimulation that were marginally different. Within the body, a low frequency field was generated through the interaction of the medium frequencies, which stimulated the urinary structures. In the IMFC ES group, interference stimulation was applied for 10 min with frequencies cycling from 0-100 Hz and back in 10 sec intervals. The strength of the low frequency stimulation, achieved by the interference of the two medium-frequency fields, was adjusted to the patients' vibration sensation. The intensities triggering vibration sensation were between 20-80 mA for patients with AIS levels B, C and D. For patients with AIS level A intensities

Objective Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) polymorphisms (XbaI and PvuII) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms (FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI) are the most frequently studied regarding the correlations with the infertility in males, but the results are controversial.The purpose of this study is to evaluate possible correlations between hormonal markers, VDR and ESR1 genotypes and semen analysis, in order to bring new data for a better understanding of male infertility. Subjects and methods 42 infertile men and 28 controls were enrolled. The polymorphisms of VDR gene (ApaI, TaqI, BsmI and FokI) and ESR1 (XbaI and PvuII) were performed by PCR-RFLP, along with hormonal markers. Results An important correlation between PvuII polymorphism and infertility status was revealed. A significant difference between control and infertility group regarding the presence of BsmI (A>G) and ApaI (G>T) polymorphisms was observed in infertile group, prolactin and DHEA were found to correlate significantly statistic with BsmI GG genotype, whereas ApaI AA genotype correlates with prolactin and SHBG levels. Conclusions By a multivariate analysis, we demonstrated a cumulative effect of some genetic variants in the hormonal status of infertile patients. Therefore, we show that specific genetic variants of ESR1 and VDR genes may jointly influence human spermatogenesis.

Melatonin, the hormone synthesized mainly by the pineal gland, is a key member of the complex monoaminergic signaling system, and a circadian regulator with pleiotropic functions. This ubiquitary lipophilic and hydrophilic molecule acts both at cellular and subcellular level, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities, extremely important in the nervous system, given its high vulnerability to oxidative injury. Melatonin deprivation and the consecutive chronodisruption are associated with multiple behavioural abnormalities, psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The present review summarizes the available information concerning the link between melatonin, monoaminergic neurotransmission and the pathophysiological bases of these conditions.

Nowadays, surgical innovations incorporate new technological conquests and must be validated by evidence-based medicine. The use of augmented reality-assisted indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has generated a myriad of intraoperative applications such as demonstration of key anatomical landmarks, sentinel lymph nodes, and real-time assessment of local blood flow. This paper presents a systematic review of the clinical evidence regarding the applications of ICG near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence in colorectal surgery. After we removed duplicate publications and screened for eligibility, a total of 36 articles were evaluated: 23 on perfusion assessment, 10 on lymph node mapping, and 3 on intraoperative identification of ureters. Lack of homogenous studies, low statistical power, and confounding evidence were found to be common amongst publications supporting the use of ICG in colorectal surgery, raising concerns over this seductive technique′s cost efficiency and redundancy. The compiled data showed that ICG NIR fluorescence may be a game-changer in particular situations, as proven for low colorectal anastomosis or lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, but it remains controversial for routine use and sentinel lymph node assessment. Further randomized studies are needed to confirm these conclusions. Future research directions include tumor-targeted fluorescence imaging and digital software for quantitative evaluation of fluorescence.

Introduction: Cardiac embolism is one of the most common causes of embolic CVA. The recovery of patients with cardio-embolic stroke is a complex process which requires taking into account all associated pathologies (e.g. diabetes mellitus) that can play a decisive role in the evolution of the patient. A multidisciplinary team is required for such a purpose. Material and methods: The paper presents the case of a 63-year old patient with hemiplegia after an ischemic cardio-embolic stroke within a poly-pathological context. In January 2019, the patient suffered from an ischemic stroke in the carotid region with an ataxic spastic hemiparesis and left facial paresis with cerebrasthenia and bradylalia and he was admitted to “St. Ioan” Clinical Emergency Hospital in Bucharest. After the patient was stabilized and received specialized treatment, following the investigations and the interdisciplinary consultations, he received indication of neuromuscular recovery and for this reason he was admitted to our clinic. The patient was clinically and functionally evaluated, according the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic, through the assessment scales (MMSE, GOS-E and Rankin, MoCA, FIM, FAC, QoL, Asworh and Penn) and also para-clinically, in order to evaluate his biological reserve and his bearing availability of the recovery program. Results: After a complex neuro-recovery program undertaken by a multidisciplinary team formed by doctors, kinesiotherapists, medium healthcare and paramedical personnel, the patient displayed a slowly favorable evolution (hardened by his multiple associated diseases due to the above-mentioned co-morbidities) from a functional point of view with the improvement of the walking program and the increase in the muscle force and self-autonomy. Conclusion: The recovery of patients with cardio-embolic stroke is a complex process, which requires taking into account all associated pathologies that can play a decisive role in the evolution of the patient. A multidisciplinary team is required for such purposes. Key words: stroke, hemiplegia, poly-pathologic, ischemic

Introduction Neuroendocrine renal carcinoma represents less than 1% of all primary neoplasia of the kidney. Most frequently poorly differentiated carcinoma is diagnosed in advanced stages and they have an aggressive evolution and limited survival rate. Neuroendocrine carcinomas that arise from the renal pelvis are frequently associated with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Material and method We present the case of a female patient, known for 3 years before with an undefined retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, being diagnosed at present with a left large cell neuroendocrine renal carcinoma, who initially had lymph node metastasis. Results Until now, 118 cases of primary neuroendocrine renal carcinomas have been reported. A limited number of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas have been reported. Discussion Due to the clinical and biological findings, the aggressive evolution with early metastasis of lung and bone, the patient is included in the group of poorly differentiated carcinomas. In these cases, multimodal treatment is a gold standard. After surgical treatment and palliative chemotherapy with platinum salts, we obtained a partial remission of the disease and the control of symptoms. Conclusions Regarding large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, the surgical treatment remains the treatment of choice. Chemotherapy can determine limited results, improve the quality of life and enhance the overall survival rate.

Highlights • Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is encountered in about 25% of cases. • Metastases are usually found in lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones and brain. • Sometimes the metastasis can have unusual sites. • We present a 35 year old patient with a painful left axillary mass, appeared 2 years after nephrectomy for a left renal cell carcinoma. • Although the patient received tyrosin kinase inhibitors the metastasis appeared two years after treatment in an unusual site – axilla., Introduction Metastatic diseases are seen in approximately 25% of all cases with renal cell carcinoma and sometimes they can appear in unusual sites. Case presentation We present a 35-year old patient with a painful left axillary mass which causes the functional impairment of the left arm. The axillary mass appeared 2 years after the nephrectomy performed for a left renal cell carcinoma. Numerous metastases have been identified through CT scans during the postoperative evolution of the disease for which the patient underwent adjuvant therapy with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Discussions Particular to our case is not just the rare metastatic site but also the fact that the tumor appeared despite the adjuvant therapy with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Unfortunately, the prognosis of metastatic RCC with skin metastasis is in most cases unfavorable. Conclusions We believe that our case could add more information to subsequent measures, complete the frame of rare oncologic cases and consolidate the data published on the topic so far.

Introduction: Ogilvie syndrome, or acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), represents a pathological entity, potentially with a severe outcome, due to the acute important dilation of the large bowel, in the absence of a mechanical luminal obstruction. Usually, it occurs in patients admitted in intensive care unit, that associate severe surgical or medical pathologies. The mechanism of the ACPO has not been completely explained, but it is assumed that the motor function of the colon may be affected, as a result of autonomic regulation disturbance. Early diagnosis and treatment help reduce the risk of severe outcome, such as ischemia or perforation. Material and Method: In addition to our experience, a literature search was elaborated in order to evaluate the incidence, the etiology, the clinical presentation and the diagnosis of the ACPO. Results and Conclusions: The present study may be of help in the process of guiding the optimal management of a critically ill patient is at high risk of developing colonic pseudo-obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Retrosternal goitre enlargement can cause compression of several mediastinal structures, especially the trachea and the superior vena cava. Retrosternal goitre as a cause of superior vena cava syndrome is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a middle aged man that underwent surgery for retrosternal goitre with compression of both innominate veins presenting as superior vena cava syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50 year old man presented with a 2 year history of cyanosis of the upper limbs, head and neck, marked facial edema, plethora, dyspnea on exertion and choking sensation. Pemberton’s sign was present. Computer tomography diagnosed retrosternal goitre at the level of the aortic arch, tracheal compression and important collateral circulation. Endocrine evaluation showed normal thyroid function (fT4 15.8 pmol/L) with low-normal TSH (0.5mU/L), normal calcitonin (

Periampullary duodenal diverticula are associated with the presence of common bile duct stones, being encountered more frequently with the increase of age. We present the case of a 76 years old female patient, who underwents emergency surgery for a perforated lithiasic gangrenous acute cholecystitis and for whom we perform a cholecystectomy and an external biliary drainage using a transcystic tube. Both preoperative and postoperative imaging and endoscopic examinations certify the presence of a periampullary duodenal diverticulum. Postoperative cholangiography performed on the transcystic tube raises the suspicion of retained common bile duct lithiasis. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is performed, initially failing to cannulate the common bile duct. A precut sphincterotomy fistula technnique is performed, using as reference a guide inserted on the transcystic tube, with the extraction of biliay sludge from the common bile duct, and with subsequently favorable development. Association between common bile duct lithiasis and a periampullary duodenal diverticulum may represent a therapeutic challenge because of the increased risk of failure of the endoscopic treatment.