[Intestinal intussusception due to ileal gastrointestinal stromal tumor--a case report]

Intestinal occlusion due to intussusception produced by intestinal tumors is a very rare condition. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are also rare digestive neopasias, with an impredictable malignant behavior, which are usually growing outside the intestinal wall, being rarely the initiators of an intestinal intussusception. We present the case of a 59 years old female, admitted in our hospital to elucidate the etiology of her iron deficient anaemia, which developed an intestinal occlusion at the intestinal preparation for colonoscopy. The abdominal CT scan performed in emergency conditions highlighted occlusive intestinal tumor complicated with intestinal intussusception. We performed an emergency laparotomy that revealed intestinal occlusion due to ileo-ileal intussusception produced by an ileal tumor. The surgical intervention consisted in segmental ileal enterectomy including the tumor with latero-lateral entero-enteral anastomosis. The patient recovered without complications. The histopathological and immunohisto-chemical examinations established the diagnose of gastro-intestinal stromal tumor with high risk malignant behavior, therefore the patient was guided in the oncological department for specific treatment and oncological surveillance.

[Insulinoma of the pancreas: analysis of a clinical series of 30 cases]

Insulinoma is the most frequent neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor and is the main cause for hypoglicemia due to endogenous hyperinsulinism. We performed an analysis of a clinical series in order to study the clinical and biological spectrum of presentation, the preoperatory imagistic diagnosis and results of the surgical approach. Between 1986-2009, 30 patients with symptoms suggesting an insulinoma were hospitalized in our department. Preoperatory localization of insulinomas was possible in 16 patients. The most sensitive imagistic methods were ecoendoscopy and magnetic resonance. Intraoperatory ultrasound was performed in 16 patients and its sensitivity in detection of insulinomas was 93%; the combination between intraoperative ultrasound and manual exploration of pancreas by the surgeon reached a 100% sensitivity. Before the intraoperatory ultrasound was used the tumor excision was predominantly done by extensive pancreatic resection, while after this was available in our centre more conservative (enucleo-resection) procedures were chosen. In 1 patient the resection was done by laparoscopy, and in 1 patient by robotic surgery. The dimensions of the tumor were less than 2 cm in most of the patients; 2 had nesidioblastosis and 2 had multiple insulinomas; all 28 patients proved to have benign insulinomas at histological specimens. Following surgery, the symptoms disappear in all patients. The most common complication following extensive pancreatic resections was acute pancreatitis, while after enucleation pancreatic fistula occurred more frequently.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to small dimensions, the preoperative diagnosis of insulinomas is usually difficult, ecoendoscopy being the most sensitive method. Intraoperative ultrasound is essential for insulinoma localization and for chosing the optimal type of excision. Enucleation is the resection method to be chosen whenever this it is technical possible. In benign insulinomas the prognosis is excellent, surgical resection being curative in all cases.

[Difficulties in diagnosis and surgical treatment of the angiodysplasia of the gastrointestinal tract]

BACKGROUND

Angiodysplasia (AD) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a rare cause of surgical GI bleeding. It frequently poses difficult problems in diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this study is to find answers to these problems for a better management of the AD patients.

MATERIALS

From 1982 to 2006 a total of 75 patients suffering of AD of the GI tract were operated in our center. They represent about 3.6% of total patients operated for GI bleeding in the same period. The age of the patients was between 9 and 81 years old, with two peaks: one between 21 and 40 years old and the other between 51 and 70 years old. The localisation of the lesions was: righ colon +/- ileum 31 patients (41.33%), stomach 13 patients (17.33%), jejunum 6 patients (8%), descendent colon +/- sigmoid 5 patients (6.66%), rectum 4 patients (5.33%), pan-colonic 4 patients (5.33%), sigmoid colon 2 patients (2.66%), cecum + transverse colon 2 patients (2.66%), ileum 2 patients (2.66%), sigmoid colon + jejunum 1 patient (1.33%), cecum + sigmoid colon 1 patient (1.33%), cecum +/- sigmoid colon + jejunum 1 patient (1.33%), jejunum + ileum 1 patient (1.33%), pan-colonic + rectum 1 patient (1.33%). According to Moore classifications 29 patients were type 1 (38%) and 45 patients were type 2 (60%). In one patient AD was associated with Crohn disease (type 4 Fowler).

RESULTS

The main symptom in AD was repetitive GI bleeding, of various amplitude, often obscure in origin, the patients having many hospital entries. The medical examination that give us the best help was selective angiography which was positive in 34 of 40 patients (85%). Upper and lower endoscopy were give to 50 surgical patients, being diagnostic in 32 (64%). Histopathologic examinations confirm the diagnosis of AD in all cases, without using injection techniques. All patients were operated for symptomatic AD. Other 11 patients non included in this study were find to have angiodysplastic lesions on operatory specimens for other diseases. The main indications for operative in AD were: continuing digestive hemorrhage of growing amplitude with detected source (54 patients = 72%), inefficient endoscopic and angiographic hemostasis (8 patients = 10.66%) and patients with massive bleeding without any preoperative evaluation (13 patients = 17%). Intraoperative exploration produced little information because of the mucosal and submucosal localisation of the lesions. Operative panendoscopy was the most rewarding investigation. Various types of resections were practiced depending on the site(s) known or presumed of the lesions. Perioperative morbidity was 23% (21 patients), rebleeding being in 4 patients (5.33%). Perioperative mortality was 12% (9 patients) a consequence of advanced age, comorbid conditions and frequent extreme emergency of the operations.

CONCLUSIONS

Although rare as a cause of surgical digestive bleeding, AD poses often difficult problems of diagnosis and treatment. In patients with GI bleeding, without evident cause, multiple investigated, especially elderly but not always, we must think of an AD.

[Risk factors for malignant evolution of gastrointestinal stromal tumors]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most frequent non-epithelial digestive tumors, being classified in the group of primitive mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. These tumors have a non predictable evolution and where stratified regarding the risk for malignant behavior in 4 categories: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk and high risk. We performed a retrospective non randomised study including the patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated in the Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of Fundeni Clinical Institute in the period January 2002 - June 2007, to define the epidemiological, clinico-paraclinical, histological and especially evolutive features of the gastrointestinal stromal tumors from this group, with a special regard to the risk factors for their malignant behavior. The most important risk factors in gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the tumor size and the mitotic index, based on them being realised the classification of Fletcher in the 4 risk categories mentioned above. In our group all the local advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors, regardless of their location, were classified in the group of high risk for the malignant behavior. The gastric location and the epithelioid type were positive prognostic factors, and the complete resection of the tumor, an other important positive prognostic feature, was possible in about 80% of the cases, probably because the gastrointestinal stromal tumors in our study were diagnosed in less advanced evolutive situations, only about one third being metastatic and about 14% being locally advanced at the time of diagnose. The association with other neoplasias was in our cases insignificant, only 5% of the patients presenting concomitant malignant digestive tumors and 7.6% intraabdominal benign tumors. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors remain a challenge for the medical staff, regarding their diagnose and therapeutical management, the stratification of the risk for their malignant behavior being essential for the evolution of these patients.

[Severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage of a rare cause: aorto-esophageal fistula successfully treated]

Aorto-esophageal fistula is a rare entity, determining huge digestive bleeding with a very poor prognostic most often. We present the case of a patient with aorto-esophageal fistula of unknown origin, treated successfully in the Center of Surgery and Liver Transplantation from Fundeni Clinical Institute. A young man, 21 years old, was admitted in our clinic from another hospital for repetitive severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding, with hematemesis and melena, pale, asthenia, without any pain; the bleeding stopped when he was admitted. The upper digestive endoscopy and esophago-gastro-duodenal radioscopy with barium did not show any lesion. During the 7th day the patient presents sudden massive hematemesis with hemodynamic instability; during the surgery we found two subcardial ulcers (stress ulcers?) for which we have done excision and suture which temporary stopped the bleeding. After 14 days, the patient had another massive bleeding; the upper endoscopy shows 28 cm far from the dental arch a protrusive formation of 6-7 mm with a telangiectasis aspect and with a white spot (possibly a central ulceration); 1 ml pure alcohol was injected inside it with temporary bleeding ceasing. After 3 days the patient is bleeding again, with marked decrease in blood pressure; a Blakemore tube stopped the bleeding until surgery was performed. During the intervention an aorto-oesophageal fistula is detected; we made the excision of the fistula with simple suture of the aorta, subtotal esophagectomy, cervico-stoma and gastrostomy, with good postoperative evolution. After 4 months the digestive transit is restored by esophagoplasty with tubulized stomach placed behind the sternum. The diagnostic and treatment difficulties encountered in these kind of cases need to consider also an aorto-esophageal fistula diagnosis, especially for the cases with Chiari triad (mild thoracic pain, sentinel digestive bleeding and exsanguination). The Blakemore tube can save patient's life by ensuring temporary hemostasis and allowing the time for a definitive surgical intervention. The subtotal esophagectomy with cervicostoma and feeding gastrostomy, followed after few months by a esophageal reconstruction , is a solution for this extreme severe cases.

[Our experience regarding a series of adrenal surgical diseases]

AIMS

The problems of positive and differential clinic-pathologic diagnosis, the optimal therapeutic decision and importance of surgery in a series of patients with adrenal gland (AG) diseases was studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 1987-1999, 91 patients (pts.) with adrenal diseases were operated on. Sex ratio was 63 f/28 m and the medium age 42.3 years (extremes 14 and respectively 75 years old). The lesions were localized in medullar, cortical and in the both components of AG. 1) The cortical determinations were represented by 40 (44%) pts. with: a) Cushing's syndrome 37 pts. histologically grouped: 24 pts. (63%/37) with benign, diffuse hyperplasia of cortico-adrenal glands; 4 pts. with cortical benign adenoma; 7 adenocarcinoma; 2 with borderline lesions. b) Conn syndrome--3 pts. 2) Medullary lesions (Phaeochromocytoma)--30 pts. (33%/91) with following microscopically lesions: 22 typical phaeochromocytoma; 3 benign adenoma; 5 carcinoma and 1 medullo-adrenal paraganglioma. One patient have had bilateral medullo-adrenal lesions: left carcinoma and right benign adenoma). 3) Non functioning tumors (Incidentaloma)--21 pts. (23%/91) (17 malignant and 5 benign). The distribution of the whole group of 91 pts. was: 62 with benign lesions (diffuse hyperplasia or tumors), 26 malignant tumors, 1 both of them and 2 borderline lesions. The diagnosis was the result of clinically, biochemical-hormonal tests and imagery examinations (computed tomography especially) with postoperative pathological confirmation. The surgery applied was:--bilateral adrenalectomy 16 pts.;--right adrenalectomy 20 pts.;--left 26 pts. (two through laparoscopic approach);--tumor exeresis 26 and--3 biopsy of the tumors. The dimensions of the operatory specimens were: < 10 cm--67 pts.; 10-20 cm--16 pts.; > 20 cm--2 pts.; undetermined 6 pts. For malignant lesions the main parameters (in various associations) were: neighborhood invasion--18 pts.; distant metastasis--5; metastatic lymphnodes--13; the microscopic grading (G1-1; G2-9; G3-7 pts.). Three cases imposed iterative interventions for a recurring adenoma of the cortically AG or for restant tissue in Cushing's syndrome. There were necessary 28 supplementary operative (partially or totally) organs exeresis. All pts. with malignant lesions were postoperative treated with chemio- or/and radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Postoperative morbidity: 18 (20%) pts.; depending of the surgery 8 pts., secondary of the patient general status 12. General postoperative mortality 4 (4.8%) pts. determined by severe cardio-vascular complications.

CONCLUSIONS

1--The surgical diseases of adrenal glands are difficult to diagnose and are based primarily on the clinical information's and confirmed by the hormonal and imagery examinations (errors are possible). 2--Operatory indications, especially for hyperplasic bilateral forms in Cushing's syndrome (one step or two steps surgery) must be very well documented and carefully established. 3--There are cases which impose recurrent operations. 4--A correct operative indication and technical surgery procedure are followed by good results. 5--The laparoscopic approach of the surgical lesions of the AG is a good alternative for the open surgical approach with the condition of a very correct indication. 6--Postoperative, the malignant lesions must be mandatory submitted to the adjuvant treatment.

[Palliative total gastrectomy in advanced malignancies of the stomach]

The diagnosis of the malignancies of the stomach is generally late (stages III and IV to a medium value of 80% of patients). Therefore it is necessary a surgical treatment in order to effectuate the extirpation of the lesions and to warn or to treat the complications in course of the neoplastic disease. The indications and the results of the palliative total gastrectomy (PTG) are analyzed in the present study. Between 1992 and 1999 there were studied retrospectively and prospectively during three successive periods of time, 217 patients (pts.) with PTG. This group of pts. represents 22.1% of the total number of pts. operated on for gastric malignancies (carcinoma particularly). The indication of PTG was established only after one complex evaluation of the every patient from the point of view of his general and biological status. 142 (65.4%/217) of the analyzed pts. presented at the admission in the hospital various complications of the malignant disease (gastric different stenosis, digestive hemorrhages, loco-regional invasion). The lymph nodes metastases and the systemic metastases (in the liver especially) as well as the invasion in the neighbouring viscera imposed sometimes the extension of the PTG with partial or total extirpation of the invaded organs. A proportion of 61% pts. were submitted to those type of enlarged surgical interventions without radical intentions; all the operated pts. remained by necessity in R1 or R2 types of operations. The reconstructive preferred anastomosis was effectuated with an Y jejunal ansa à la Roux completed or not by a "J" reservoir. Microscopically pathologic lesions were: adenocarcinoma and carcinoma (82%), followed by primitive lymphoma (11.5%), and others malignant forms of lesions (approximately 6%). The general perioperative morbidity was 32.5% divided in: 12.3% having a surgical cause (the majority anastomotic leakages +/- septically complications or precocious occlusions); 20.2% complications depending by the general status and altered biology of the patients. Perioperative mortality was 10.1% (22 pts.) comparable with other experiences published in the international literature in those forms of advanced gastric cancer operated by PTG. The average outcome of the operated followed pts. was 16-18 month (extremes 12 months and 29 months). A better quality of life and a variable disease-free period was obtained. As a conclusion we think that the PTG is a advantageous modality of surgical treatment with an acceptable rate of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The outcome of operated pts. is superior comparable with that of nonoperated pts. or with that secondary to other palliative surgical interventions. The importance of adjuvant treatment (chimeo- or radiotherapy) remain to be appreciated in the future.

[The periampullary carcinoma. Clinical and therapeutic alternatives]

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

An analysis of the diagnosis difficulties in periampullary carcinoma (PAC) is done, the consequences being the possible therapeutically insufficiencies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

During 10 years (1990-1998) 54 patients have been operated on for a PAC. Sex ratio: 34 males (63%)/20 females (37%). The pick of frequency was in the decade 61-70 years (20 patients) with extremes ages between 20 and 80 years. The main symptom was the cholestatic progressive jaundice with or without neoplasic pain (39 patients--72%). The intermittent jaundice was present only to 7 patients (13%) and the clinical forms without jaundice were manifested to other 8 (15%); superaded colangitic syndrome was present to 17 patients (31%). Other concomitances manifestations of the neoplasic disease were record to 23 cases (43%). Historical evolution of the illness until the cholestatic jaundice appearance was under 2 month to 23 cases, between 2 and 4 months to 24 patients and not sure determined to other 8. The biological preoperative investigations confirmed the clinically evident biliary retention syndrome in 85% of the cases and not yet clinically visible to other 15% of the cases. The ultrasonography was the most conclusive method from the imaging examinations because it have suggested the diagnostic of PAC to 43.5% from the patients submitted to this exploration. Computed tomography was diagnosis relevant only for the in site-regional invasion of the tumors or for the nodes or systemic metastases. Endoscopy and the endobiopsy proved to be valuable especially associated with ERCP (our experience regarding ERCP is not conclusive yet). Therefore the real preoperative diagnostic was established to 11 patients (20%), and for the rest of the cases there have been another presumptive preoperative diagnosis: cancer of the pancreatic head (11 patients), retentive jaundice without determined origin (24 patients), others (8 patients). Intraoperative exploration detected the periampullary tumor through palpation in 30 (55%) cases, through palpation and exploratory duodenectomy in 8 (15%) cases and/or by accessory signs (hydropic gallbladder, dilatation of the main biliary duct etc.). Organic metastases or duodenal stenosis was present in nine cases (6 with nodes metastases). The practiced surgery was: Whipple operations (in one--the majority--or two steps)--35 cases (65%); palliative surgery for biliary drainage 16 (30%) cases; others 3 (6%) cases. The postoperative staging of pT parameter (in situ or ex situ dimensional determined) reveled: pT1-12 patients; pT2--9 patients; pT3--14 patients; pT4--19 patients. Histopathological examinations confirmed the diagnostic of periampullary adenocarcinoma (32 patients) or carcinoma (3 patients) for the 35 patients with resectional operations. The determination of the tissular origin of the periampullary tumor was initially possible only in 11 (31%) operative specimens. A secondary study with many repeated sections in the wax included blocks specified the histogenesis of the tumors to other 10 patients, therefore for a total of 21 cases. We think that this histogenetically diagnosis aspect is important only for some predictive appreciations regarding the outcome of the operated patients and not for the elected therapeutically surgical method.

RESULTS

The globally perioperative mortality was 8 (15%) patients. Three from this deceased were a consequence of palliative surgery applied to patients with advanced stages of neoplasic disease. The medium outcome for patients submitted to Whipple operation--in course of evaluation--is between 32 and 41 months to the patients which we can followed. For the patients with palliative operations the same distant survival is between 12 and 24 months.

[Scheduled reinterventions in the treatment of acute peritonitis]

This is a clinical series of 83 cases, admitted in the Surgical Department of Fundeni Hospital between 1988-1996 of severe acute peritonitis in which scheduled reoperations (at least one planned reoperation at 24-48 hours after the first operation) were performed. The main criteria for scheduled reoperations were; unresolved source of contamination, acute peritonitis older than 48 hours and the presence of multiple system organ failures. 63 cases (76%) were postoperative peritonitis. 203 planned reoperations were performed (minimum: 1, maximum: 10, mean: 2,4 reoperations per patient). In 12 cases (14,4%) a laparotomy "on demand" was necessary after the scheduled reoperations were stopped. The source of peritonitis was resolved in 61 cases (73,5%) and unresolved in 22 cases (26,5%). In 9 cases (10%) specific complications of the method (hemorrhages, fistulas) were encountered. The global mortality was 65,06%, with 55,73% mortality when the source of peritonitis was resolved and 90,9% mortality when the source was not resolved.

CONCLUSION

scheduled reoperations have to be reserved for the most severe cases of acute peritonitis in which the mortality after the "classical" methods of treatment is extremely high.