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Background/objectives: Colon cancer presents as an obstruction in almost 30% of patients. Self-expandable metallic stents emerged as an alternative to emergency surgery, despite early controversies around their use. Improved techniques led to stent incorporation in clinical guidelines. Our objective is to compare colectomies performed after the insertion of self-expandable metallic stents versus emergency surgeries in pT4 obstructive left colon cancer, analysing postoperative and oncological outcomes., Methods: This is an observational retrospective multicentre study involving 50 hospitals and analysing data from patients with pT4 obstructive tumours treated for curative intent between 2015 and 2017. Patients with left-sided obstructive colon cancer were included, with exclusion criteria being palliative surgery or incomplete resection. Primary outcomes were local, peritoneal, and systemic recurrence rates, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and the rate of surgeries without major complications., Results: In total, 196 patients were analysed, 128 undergoing emergency surgery and 68 receiving colonic stents. Stents more frequently allowed for minimally invasive surgeries: 33.8% vs. 4.7% ( p < 0.01). The stent group showed fewer major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3) at 4.5% vs. 22.4% ( p < 0.01), fewer infectious complications at 13.2% vs. 23.1% ( p = 0.1), and fewer organ-space infections at 3.3% vs. 15.9% ( p = 0.03). No significant differences in recurrence rates, 29.4% vs. 28.1% ( p = 0.8); disease-free survival, 44.5 vs. 44.3 months ( p = 0.5); or overall survival, 50.5 vs. 47.6 months ( p = 0.4), were found between groups., Conclusions: Self-expandable metallic stents are a safe alternative for pT4 obstructive left colon cancer, improving postoperative outcomes without compromising short- and medium-term oncological results. Consideration of experienced clinicians and potential referral to centres with advanced stenting capabilities may enhance patient care.

Introduction: Surgical campaigns for thyroid surgery in low-income environments are very efficient, but there is little literature reporting results. These campaigns are complex due to multiple particularities: highly evolved cases, the need for professionals to travel or an obvious socio-cultural barrier influence towards the surgical act. We describe a surgical campaign in Cameroon to treat patients with goiter and issue some medical and sociocultural recommendations in view of our experience for its implementation with guarantees., Material and Methods: An experienced group carried out an 11-day campaign at the Saint Martin de Porres Dominican Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon. Demographic data, TSH values, surgery and complications after a 12-month follow-up were analyzed., Results: Thirty-eight patients with goiter were selected for the campaign and 32 patients (mean age, 40-years-old; 30 females) were operated. Bilateral goiter, as assessed with echography, was diagnosed in 13 patients (41%). Ten patients (31%) had a WHO grade II goiter (visible with the neck in a normal position). The surgical procedures were 18 unilateral thyroidectomy with isthmectomie, 13 total thyroidectomy, and 1 totalizing thyroidectomy, due to previous unilateral thyroidectomy (cancer recurrence). A pathological study in 13 patients (40%, extra cost 60 €) showed benign multinodular goiter/thyroid nodule (12 patients) and an extensive papillary carcinoma (one patient). Six months postoperatively, 3 patients had a slight dysphonia and one patient had persistent hypocalcemia. Follow-up was completed in all patients, either face to face (75%, 24 patients) or by phone (25%, 8 patients who failed to have a TSH test because of its cost, 23 €)., Conclusions: Surgical campaigns to treat thyroid pathology can be carried out with guarantees if a series of important steps are followed: active participation of the patient's environment, thyroid ultrasound by the surgical team to decide which technique, intense awareness about monitoring and hormone replacement therapy, and the participation of local personnel for long-term follow-up., Competing Interests: Les auteurs déclarent qu'ils n'ont aucun conflit d'intérêts., (Copyright © 2024 SFMTSI.)

Purpose: Metachronous peritoneal metastases (MPM) following a curative surgery procedure for pT4 colon cancer is a challenging condition. Current epidemiological studies on this topic are scarce., Methods: A retrospective multicentre trial was designed. All consecutive patients who underwent operations to treat pT4 cancers between 2015 and 2017 were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, operative, pathological and oncological follow-up variables were included. MPM were described as any oncological disease at the peritoneum, clearly different from a local recurrence. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were constructed. A risk stratification model was created on a cumulative factor basis. According to the calculated hazard ratio (HR), a scoring system was designed (HR < 3, 1 point; HR > 3, 2 points) and a scale from 0 to 6 was calculated for peritoneal disease-free rate (PDF-R). A risk stratification model was also created on the basis of these calculations., Results: Fifty different hospitals were involved, which included a total of 1356 patients. Incidence of MPM was 13.6% at 50 months median follow-up. The strongest independent risk factors for MPM were positive pN stage [HR 3.72 (95% CI 2.56-5.41; p < 0.01) for stage III disease], tumour perforation [HR 1.91 (95% CI 1.26-2.87; p < 0.01)], mucinous or signet ring cell histology [HR 1.68 (95% CI 1.1-2.58; p = 0.02)], poorly differentiated tumours [HR 1.54 (95% CI 1.1-2.2; p = 0.02)] and emergency surgery [HR 1.42 (95% CI 1.01-2.01; p = 0.049)]. In the absence of additional risk factors, pT4 tumours showed 98% and 96% PDF-R in 1-year and 5-year periods based on Kaplan-Meier curves., Conclusions: Cumulative MPM incidence was 13.6% at 5-year follow-up. The sole presence of a pT4 tumour resulted in high rates of PDF-R at 1-year and 5-year follow-up (98% and 96% respectively). Five additional risk factors different from pT4 status itself were identified as possible MPM indicators during follow-up., (© 2023. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Many different options of neoadjuvant treatments for advanced colon cancer are emerging. An accurate preoperative staging is crucial to select the most appropriate treatment option. A retrospective study was carried out on a national series of operated patients with T4 tumors. Considering the anatomo-pathological analysis of the surgical specimen as the gold standard, a diagnostic accuracy study was carried out on the variables T and N staging and the presence of peritoneal metastases (M1c). The parameters calculated were sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios, as well as the overall accuracy. A total of 50 centers participated in the study in which 1950 patients were analyzed. The sensitivity of CT for correct staging of T4 colon tumors was 57%. Regarding N staging, the overall accuracy was 63%, with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 62%; however, the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.7 and 0.58, respectively. For the diagnosis of peritoneal metastases, the accuracy was 94.8%, with a sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 98%; in the case of peritoneal metastases, the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 24.4 and 0.61, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of CT in the setting of advanced colon cancer still has some shortcomings for accurate diagnosis of stage T4, correct classification of lymph nodes, and preoperative detection of peritoneal metastases.

Introduction: National information on the oncological results of gastric cancer surgery is scarce, so foreign figures are used, which may completely differ from local ones. The aim of our study is to analyse these results in the patients operated on in our centre., Methods: Survival results of 134 patients that underwent gastric cancer surgery with curative intent from 2004 to June 2016 were analysed., Results: A percentage of 76.8 of the patients (103/134) presented in advanced clinical stages (≥ii). Staging laparoscopy was performed in 67% of them (69/103), an extensive lymphadenectomy (≥LD1+) was carried out in 89.3% of patients (92/103), and 76.7% (79/103) received perioperative chemotherapy. The distribution by pathological stage 0, i, ii, iii and iv was 8.2, 20.2, 26.1, 37.3, and 8.2%, respectively. Median follow-up was 87 months. Median OS was 68 months and one-, 3- and 5-year OS were 81.2, 62, and 53.8%, respectively. The 5-year OS according to pathological staging was 100% for stage 0, 88.4% for stage i, 62.5% for stage ii, 23.6% for stage iii and 17% for stage iv., Conclusions: Our survival rates are in the high ranges of western literature. These results could not be compared with national ones due to the lack of information regarding oncological outcomes in gastric cancer surgery in our closest environment., (Copyright © 2021 AEC. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is increasingly playing a key role in obesity management. Such operations, however, carry complications sometimes including leaks. The esophageal stent is one of the frequent options used to treat leaks after a sleeve gastrectomy. The fully covered stents are the ones of choice. However, their use can result in serious consequences requiring aggressive solutions. The longer the stent is maintained, there is more risk of withdrawal, even esophageal mucosal avulsion developing stenosis afterward. Endoscopic stenting is a double-edged sword that must be handled cautiously., Materials and Methods: A 36-year-old woman with BMI 44 and obstructive apnea syndrome undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in November 2017 with a 36 Fr bougie and reinforced staplers. She presented a leak as immediate complication. It was initially treated with an esophageal stent and removed 2 months afterwards with a mucosal avulsion during the procedure. She developed after an esophageal stenosis which was treated with enteral nutrition and endoscopic dilatations for 6 months without results., Results: We present an open esophagectomy with ileocoloplasty reconstruction due to intrathoracic esophageal stricture after conservative management with partially covered metal stents and dilatations of a leak in a laparoscopic sleeve. She presented a neck leakage in the postoperative period with a good evolution after parenteral nutrition for 3 weeks and antibiotic therapy. She was discharged one month after surgery eating soft food in a reasonable manner., Conclusions: Although one of the existing options to treat leaks after a sleeve gastrectomy is the use of an esophageal stent, it is essential to choose the correct type, being the fully covered the ones of choice. The use of self-expandable metal stents appears to be a safe and effective method in the treatment of post-LSG leaks. The longer it is maintained, there is more risk in withdrawal, even esophageal mucosal avulsion. Endoscopic stenting is a double-edged sword that must be handled cautiously., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Capella ringed gastric bypass is a technical variant of gastric bypass which seeks to improve long-term outcomes with a greater restriction. Frequent complications are due to the band, due to its inclusion or slippage, without being able to reject others. Our purpose is to present the video of a revisional bariatric surgery made by laparoscopic approach in a patient with a previous open retrogastric retrocolic Capella gastric bypass., Materials and Methods: The patient presents dysphagia, gastroesophagic reflux disease (GERD), and pain, with a BMI of 36 kg/m 2 . Her supplementary tests show a hiatal hernia, GERD, and a Candy Cane Syndrome. The surgery was difficult due to multiple adhesions. Hiatal hernia was repaired and pillars were closed. The band was visualized intraoperatively close to the gastrojejunal anastomosis, although the high endoscopy did not detect neither stenosis nor difficulty of passage to the gastric pouch. It showed the retrogastric gastrojejunal anastomosis with a normal food loop and a 15-cm widened blind loop (Candy Cane Syndrome), which was resected., Results: She had a left pneumonia and damage in left hepatic lobe (LHL). She was discharged after antibiotic treatment for 7 days. The patient has improved clinically, without dysphagia nor GERD. Her current BMI is 29.8 kg/m 2 ., Conclusions: In conclusion, bariatric revisional surgery can lead to serious complications, but it is justified in patients with poor quality of life. A ringed retrocolic retrogastric bypass poses more difficulties in revisional procedures. It is mandatory to know which technique was performed before. The duration of the procedure can result in more complications like liver damage.

Introduction: National information on the oncological results of gastric cancer surgery is scarce, so foreign figures are used, which may completely differ from local ones. The aim of our study is to analyse these results in the patients operated on in our centre., Methods: Survival results of 134 patients that underwent gastric cancer surgery with curative intent from 2004 to June 2016 were analysed., Results: A percentage of 76.8 of the patients (103/134) presented in advanced clinical stages (≥ii). Staging laparoscopy was performed in 67% of them (69/103), an extensive lymphadenectomy (≥LD1+) was carried out in 89.3% of patients (92/103), and 76.7% (79/103) received perioperative chemotherapy. The distribution by pathological stage 0, i, ii, iii and iv was 8.2, 20.2, 26.1, 37.3, and 8.2%, respectively. Median follow-up was 87 months. Median OS was 68 months and one-, 3- and 5-year OS were 81.2, 62, and 53.8%, respectively. The 5-year OS according to pathological staging was 100% for stage 0, 88.4% for stage i, 62.5% for stage ii, 23.6% for stage iii and 17% for stage iv., Conclusions: Our survival rates are in the high ranges of western literature. These results could not be compared with national ones due to the lack of information regarding oncological outcomes in gastric cancer surgery in our closest environment., (Copyright © 2021 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Introduction: a survey on peri-operative nutritional support in pancreatic and biliary surgery among Spanish hospitals in 2007 showed that few surgical groups followed the 2006 ESPEN guidelines. Ten years later we sent a questionnaire to check the current situation. Methods: a questionnaire with 21 items sent to 38 centers, related to fasting time before and after surgery, nutritional screening use and type, time and type of peri-operative nutritional support, and number of procedures. Results: thirty-four institutions responded. The median number of pancreatic resections (head/total) was 29.5 (95% CI: 23.0-35; range, 5-68) (total, 1002); of surgeries for biliary malignancies (non-pancreatic), 9.8 (95% CI: 7.3-12.4; range, 2-30); and of main biliary resections for benign conditions, 10.4 (95% CI: 7.6-13.3; range, 2-33). Before surgery, only 41.2% of the sites used nutritional support (< 50% used any nutritional screening procedure). The mean duration of preoperative fasting for solid foods was 9.3 h (range, 6-24 h); it was 6.6 h for liquids (range, 2-12). Following pancreatic surgery, 29.4% tried to use early oral feeding, but 88.2% of the surveyed teams used some nutritional support; 26.5% of respondents used TPN in 100% of cases. Different percentages of TPN and EN were used in the other centers. In malignant biliary surgery, 22.6% used TPN always, and EN in 19.3% of cases. Conclusions: TPN is the commonest nutrition approach after pancreatic head surgery. Only 29.4% of the units used early oral feeding, and 32.3% used EN; 22.6% used TPN regularly after surgery for malignant biliary tumours. The 2006 ESPEN guideline recommendations are not regularly followed 12 years after their publication in our country.

Introduction: The treatment of choice for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) when there is proper preoperative localization of the adenoma is minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. However, imaging techniques are not always able to provide the exact location. The objective is to identify potential factors that might influence the sensitivity and concordance of ultrasound (US) and 99mTc-methoxy-isonitrile parathyroid scintigraphy (MIBI-PS) and the actual location of the adenoma., Methods: We reviewed the data of patients who underwent parathyroidectomies for PHPT. All patients had undergone ultrasound and 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy as a preoperative location study. Multiple endocrine neoplasms, other hyperplasias and non-cervical ectopic adenomas were excluded. The sensitivity, PPV and concordance have been estimated for the location of the gland in both tests compared with the intraoperative location, using a multivariable analysis of the factors that might influence their localization capacity., Results: 139 patients (82% women) have been analysed. The US sensitivity was 56.7%, concordance (Kappa index) 0.387 and PPV 96.3%. The MIBI-PS sensitivity was 81.6%, the concordance (Kappa index) 0.669 and the PPV 97.4%. The factor that improved localization of the glands by US in the multivariable analysis was the absence of a concomitant thyroid pathology. The factor that improved the MIBI-PS results was a gland weight greater than 600mg., Conclusions: US sensitivity improves when there is no concomitant thyroid pathology. MIBI-PS sensitivity improves when the gland weight is greater than 600mg., (Copyright © 2019 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: To analyze the impact of systematic second-look surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) performed 1 year after resection of the primary tumor, in asymptomatic patients at high risk of developing peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC)., Methods: Between 2012-2016, 33 patients without any sign of peritoneal recurrence on imaging studies were prospectively included in the study and underwent second-look surgery aimed at treating limited PC earlier and were prospectively recorded. They were selected based on 5 primary tumor-associated criteria: resected minimal synchronous macroscopic PC (n = 10), synchronous ovarian metastases (n = 2), positive peritoneal cytology (n = 2), pT4 primary tumors (n = 15) and perforation (n = 4)., Results: PC was found and treated by cytoreduction plus HIPEC in 10 of the 33 (30.3%) patients, although it was detected in only 2/15 patients of the pT4 subgroup (13.3%). The patients without PC underwent complete abdominal exploration plus HIPEC. Median follow-up was 14.5 months. One patient died postoperatively at day 55. Severe morbidity rate (Clavien-Dindo III-V) was low (15.2%). The 3-year overall survival rate was 93% and the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 33%. Peritoneal recurrences occurred in 4 patients (12.1%), 2 of whom had macroscopic PC discovered at the second-look (20%), while the other 2 patients had no macroscopic PC (8.7%) (P = .04)., Conclusions: The second look + HIPEC strategy in our series of patients at high risk of developing PC, allows its early detection and its treatment in 30.3% of cases, with a very low rate of peritoneal recurrence. It is important to continue evaluating the results to increase the accuracy of the inclusion criteria, especially the pT4 criterion that in this series has a low predictive power for the occurrence of PC., (Copyright © 2017 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the early and late complications of laparoscopic gastric bypass (GBP) with manual versus stapled gastrojejunal anastomosis. Eighty-two patients with morbid obesity and body mass index (35-56 kg/m2) who underwent GBP were divided into two groups: manual gastrojejunal anastomosis (Group 1) and stapled anastomosis (Group 2). Early and late complications were evaluated. No differences were found between both groups in age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesia classification, and comorbidity. The mean operative time was 184.8 minutes [standard deviation (SD) = 61]; 203.5 minutes (SD = 51.9) in Group 1 and 167.4 minutes (SD = 64.2) in Group 2 (P = 0.001). The average length of stay was 5.9 days (SD = 3.9) in Group 1 and 5 days (SD = 2.1) in Group 2 (P = 0.039). Early complications were recorded in 9.7 per cent of the cases, without any differences between the two groups: 12.2 per cent in Group 1 and 7.3 per cent in Group 2 (P > 0.05). Late complication rate was 8.5 per cent, significantly higher in Group 1 (14.6%) than in Group 2 (2.4%; P < 0.05). However, in the logistic regression analysis these differences were not statistically significant (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.03-8.37; P = 0.61). In our series, the GBP with stapled gastrojejunal anastomosis has shown lower hospital length of stay and operative time than the hand-sewn anastomosis. We have not found significant differences between both groups in early complications or in the need for reoperation. Fewer late complications were found in the group of stapled anastomosis; however, this has not been confirmed in the logistic regression analysis.

Background: There are a growing number of patients who require revisional bariatric surgery due to the failure of their primary procedures. The aim of this video is to present a laparoscopic revisional procedure for dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after an uncommonly performed bariatric surgery, Salmon's technique, consisting of a vertical banded gastroplasty and a horizontal stomach stapling with a Roux-en-Y bypass., Methods: A 42-year-old obese male, with a history of dyslipidemia and a current body mass index (BMI) of 33, presented with severe dysphagia to solids and frequent spitting 10 years after the primary bariatric surgery (Salmon's procedure) with a BMI of 43. Endoscopy revealed a hiatal hernia. The endoscope passed down without difficulty to the antrum-duodenum and to efferent loop of the small bowel, demonstrating the presence of a fistula in the horizontal stapling of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori was negative. Esophageal transit showed the contrast passing adequately through the esophagogastric junction. Esophageal manometry revealed a hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter (mean pressure of 8 mmHg) and an ineffective peristalsis (40% of waves with normal amplitude and duration). Esophageal pHmetry showed severe GERD with a DeMeester score of 88.5 and a pH less than four, 18.7% of the total time. The patient was on PPIs at the time of symptom evaluation, but stopped the treatment before the performance of the pH study. Laparoscopic conversion to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was successfully performed. An extensive adhesiolysis was needed. The esophageal hiatus was dissected and the stomach was partially descended to reduce the hiatal hernia. A subsequent hiatal closure was performed. The efferent loop of the small bowel was freed from the gastric pouch. The new gastric pouch was performed stapling superiorly to the gastric ring and medially to the vertical gastroplasty. The new gastrojejunal anastomosis was performed using a mechanical linear stapler, in an antecolic fashion, and checked for leaks using methylene blue dye., Results: The procedure took 300 min and no intraoperative complications occurred. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, with a hospital stay of 4 days. One month after the revisional surgery, the patient presented with a stenosis of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, which was successfully solved after two endoscopic dilations. A year and a half after revisional surgery, the patient is completely asymptomatic, has a BMI of 29, and dyslipidemia as the only comorbidity., Conclusions: Salmon's technique is an uncommon bariatric procedure. Revisional surgery might be needed in case of late complications, like dysphagia and reflux, as it was the case in our patient. In addition, a fistula in the previous horizontal partitioning of the stomach was present. Laparoscopic conversion from Salmon's technique to a gastric bypass was decided. This procedure was successful in solving patient's symptoms and resulted in an increased weight lost. Laparoscopic revisional surgery after an open Salmon's technique is a complex procedure with an increased risk of complications. Our patient developed an anastomotic stenosis 1 month after surgery, probably due to the use of the same gauge as in non-fibrotic tissues.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms characterized by a common embryonic origin and highly variable clinical outcome.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to demonstrate our experience at a volunteer surgical program in Cameroon, which is of special interest given to the inability to adopt international treatment guidelines for thyroid surgery in areas of limited resources due to the lack of preoperative testing and to the difficulty to obtain sustitutive hormonal treatment., Methods: This is a prospective observational study that includes 16 cases of thyroid surgery in Dschang (Cameroon) during June 2015. The patients were previously selected by a local medical team. All patients were black, 15 women and one man, with a mean age of 41 years. The surgical technique used for the removal of unilateral disease was hemithyroidectomy with isthmectomy and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for bilateral disease., Results: Five subtotal thyroidectomies, 9hemithyroidectomies and 2isthmectomies were performed. Prethyroid muscles were divided only in one case. We visualized 86% of the parathyroid glands and 84% of the recurrent laryngeal nerves. The main complications observed were one symptomatic cervical haematoma that required reoperation and 2surgical wound infections. There were no clinical episodes of hypocalemia or recurrent nerve lesion. The mean length of stay was 2.3 days. At follow-up, all bilateral thyroidectomies developed high TSH levels., Conclusions: Thyroid surgery is safe in developing countries adopting protocols and techniques we use in our environment (avoiding total thyroidectomy). Bilateral thyroidectomies should not be performed unless functional studies are available in the follow-up and a thyroid hormone supplement stock guaranteed whenever necessary., (Copyright © 2016 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Schwannoma is a rare benign tumor derived from nerve sheaths. When derived from the cervical sympathetic chain, it usually presents itself as an asymptomatic mass located in the posterior cervical region, at paravertebral level. Its diagnosis is not easy, usually requiring multiple imaging tests. Its differential diagnosis includes parathyroid adenoma., Clinical Case: A new case of schwannoma of the cervical sympathetic chain in a patient with a synchronous overactive parathyroid adenoma is reported. This case adds to the sixty described in the literature, although to our knowledge no association between schwannoma and parathyroid adenoma has been reported to date., Conclusions: Despite being a benign tumor, its treatment is a complete surgical resection. The most common complication after the surgery needed for these tumors is ipsilateral Horner syndrome., (Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Background: The high prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI) in colon surgery, and the clinical and economic impacts of such infections, make its monitoring and prevention a priority., Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study to estimate the rate of SSI in colon surgery and the degree of compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis and pre-operative preparation protocols. The study population comprised patients who underwent colon surgery at the University Hospital of the Alcorcon Foundation in Alcorcon, Spain, from October 2007 to December 2009. Risk factors, the observance of antibiotic prophylaxis, and compliance with pre-operative preparation protocols were monitored; and their influence on SSIs was followed for 30 days after surgery. The main outcome measure was comparisons of the rates of SSI in patients undergoing colon surgery in Madrid and across the whole of Spain and in the United States, as determined in accordance with the surveillance parameters of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) index., Results: Among a total of 132 patients, we found a 10.6% rate of SSI. The indirect standardization rate at our hospital was 1.75-fold for the United States and 0.64-fold and 0.61-fold, respectively, the rates for Madrid and all of Spain. The rates of compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis and pre-operative preparation protocols were 93.6% and 56.8%, respectively. No relation could be established between these data and the rate of infection. The risk factors for SSI found in a multivariable analysis were the degree of contamination in surgery and the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; p<0.05)., Conclusions: The rate of SSI in our study population was below that for Madrid and Spain but higher than that for the United States. Thorough adherence to the monitoring system was essential for obtaining these results.

Background: appendicovesical fistula is a rare complication of advanced acute appendicitis and represents a rare type of enterovesical fistula. Its symptoms are vague and imprecise and its diagnosis is difficult, requiring a high level of suspicion. Exploratory laparotomy has been the key for diagnosis and definitive treatment for many years, but recently the laparoscopic approach is standing out among different experienced groups as the method of choice., Clinical Case: we report a new case of appendicovesical fistula in a 45 year old female, who was remitted from Urology with symptoms of persistent dysuria and pyuria. She was finally diagnosed by computerized tomography and the appendicovesical fistula was resolved by laparoscopic surgery. This case adds to the one hundred and fifteen cases published so far and to the four treated by the laparoscopic approach., Discussion: conventional imaging methods are not reliable for the diagnosis of enterovesical fistula. Since most appendicovesical fistula are found to be secondary to non-diagnosed and advanced acute appendicitis in the majority of the consulted publications laparotomy is the key for the diagnosis of apendicovesical fistula. However laparoscopy is described as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in few articles. We only found three articles in the literature referring to the laparoscopic approach as a therapeutic option., Conclusion: computerized tomography is the diagnostic method of choice when communication between the digestive tract and urinary tract is suspected, particularly if the suspected fistula is an appendicovesical one. The laparoscopic approach of an appendicovesical fistula is able to confirm the radiological diagnosis and provide a definitive treatment.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the digestive tract. They originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal and are characterized by the overexpression of KIT protein (tyrosine kinase). Their prognosis has improved significantly with the discovery of imatinib mesylate for advanced GIST treatment., Methods: We carried out a retrospective, descriptive study of GISTs diagnosed in our center during the past 5 years. We excluded patients with incidental diagnoses in the context of other pathologies because GIST did not affect outcome or prognosis. The variables studied were clinical characteristics, location, size, imaging techniques, resectability, neoadjuvant imatinib, surgical technique, histology, immunohistochemistry, prognostic classification of Fletcher, morbidity, monitoring, and disease-free and overall survival., Results: Nineteen patients were diagnosed (14 males/5 females) with a mean age of 63 years (range: 30-84 years). Diagnosis was incidental in eight patients (42%). Tumor location of the remaining 11 patients (58%) was six tumors of the small intestine (55%), four gastric (36%) and one rectal (9%). Predominant gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia were diagnosed mainly by abdominal computed tomography (CT). At diagnosis, nine patients were considered resectable with radical intent (82%) and the other two patients (18%) received neoadjuvant treatment with a favorable response after 6 months. Three patients were treated with imatinib after surgery (33%). Median survival was 34 months (range: 5-58 months)., Conclusions: Diagnosis of GIST is often incidental. The predominant clinical symptom is usually gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia and the most widely used imaging test is CT. Treatment is surgical unless advanced GIST is diagnosed, which will be treated with imatinib mesylate neoadjuvant therapy. A multidisciplinary approach to this pathology is essential, a fact that affects prognosis and patient survival.

We present two cases of acute cholecystitis occurring more than two years after renal transplantation. The course of the acute event was complicated by the presence of hemobilia in one of the patients and severe hemoperitoneum in both patients. We comment the possible etiologic factors, the high efficiency of the diagnostic procedures and the importance of prompt cholecystectomy as the best treatment method.

We present a case of cancer of a choledochal cyst in a patient with antecedents of cholecystectomy, who complained of pain in the right hypochondrium. Echography and CAT disclosed a cystic mass of biliary location, and the diagnosis was confirmed by intraoperative cholangiography and biopsy of the cyst margin. Cysto-jejunostomy on a Roux-en-Y loop was performed. The patient survived 11 months and died of tumoral dissemination. We reviewed 130 cases of cancer of a choledochal cyst published up until 1986 and possible etiopathogenic causes, and we discuss the diagnostic problems and related treatment.

Pancreatic heterotopia is pancreatic tissue with no direct or vascular connection to the pancreas that results form a ontogenic anomaly. It is usually an incidental findings, although it has been sometimes associated to nonspecific symptoms or symptoms due to its location. Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to pancreatic ectopia has been described occasionally and is considered an infrequent form of presentation. Two cases are presented of massive digestive hemorrhage associated with pancreatic duodenal ectopia that were treated surgically by excision of the ectopic tissue. The patients remain asymptomatic after surgery. A review is made of the literature on this topic.

A case is presented of fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma in a 12 year-old male treated by liver transplantation; there is no evidence of tumoral recurrence at 28 months. Donos and receptor were ABO incompatible. The immunosuppressive regimen used was cyclosporine A and low doses of steroids. Fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma is an infrequent histologic variety that usually affects young people and is generally not associated with hepatitis B infection or cirrhosis. It is often a single tumor, is more susceptible to surgical resection than other varieties of hepatocarcinoma, and is characterized by a relatively unagressive tumoral biology.