[Acute abdomen : What does the nonradiologist expect from the radiologist?]

BACKGROUND

The acute abdomen is a life-threatening condition that demands urgent intervention. The required diagnostics should address the core problem and has to be chosen based upon the diagnostic strength of each diagnostic tool. Modalities with limited discriminating information regarding differential diagnosis have to be avoided. Expectancy and thoughts of the radiologist often differ from the view of the clinician in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE

The decision about which diagnostic tools are valuable or unnecessary in the emergency setting is made from a surgeon's point of view. Close communication with radiologists is mandatory. We demonstrate the importance of clinical signs and symptoms and their correlation with helpful radiologic diagnostics.

CONCLUSION

The emergency radiologic diagnostic workup of acute abdomen has to be targeted and the radiologist must answer the questions in order to clarify whether an operation is indicated and to help define the surgical strategy. In emergency surgery as in acute abdomen extended diagnostics to reach a decision is a dangerous waste of time and must be avoided at all costs. Therefore close communication with the radiologist is crucial.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Disease - Current Status

Laparoscopic procedures have advanced to represent the new gold standard in many surgical fields. Although application in pancreatic surgery is hampered by the friable nature of the gland and the difficulty of its exposure, advanced technology and surgeons' experience are leading to an expansion of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery. Addressing the whole range of main operative procedures, this review analyzes the literature data so far to give an overview about the current status of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery, its indications and limitations. In acute pancreatitis, a step-up approach from percutaneous drainage to retroperitoneoscopic necrosectomy seems beneficial. Transgastric necrosectomy also preserves the retroperitoneal compartment in contrast to the laparoscopic approach, which has widely been abandoned. In tumor pathology, laparoscopic access is adequate for small benign lesions in the pancreatic tail and body. Oncological outcome shows to be at least equal to the open procedure. Concerning laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, there is no evidence for a patients' benefit currently although several studies prove that it can be done.

Volume-outcome relationship in pancreatic surgery

BACKGROUND

Volume-outcome relationships related to major surgery may be of limited value if observation ends at the point of discharge without taking transfers and later events into consideration.

METHODS

The volume-outcome relationship in patients who underwent pancreatic surgery between 2008 and 2010 was assessed using claims data for all inpatient episodes from Germany's largest provider of statutory health insurance covering about 30 per cent of the population. Multiple logistic regression models with random effects were used to analyse the effect of hospital volume (using volume quintiles) on 1-year mortality, adjusting for age, sex, primary disease, type of surgery and co-morbidities. Additional outcomes were in-hospital (including transfer to other hospitals until final discharge) and 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of 9566 patients identified, risk-adjusted 1-year mortality was significantly higher in the three lowest-volume quintiles compared with the highest-volume quintile (odds ratio 1·73, 1·53 and 1·37 respectively). A similar, but less pronounced, effect was demonstrated for in-hospital and 90-day mortality. The effect of hospital volume on 1-year mortality was comparable to the effect of co-morbid conditions such as renal failure.

CONCLUSION

Although mortality related to pancreatic surgery is influenced by many factors, this study demonstrated lower mortality at 1 year in high-volume centres in Germany.

[Venous Access Port Implantation is an Ideal Teaching Operation - An Analysis of 1423 Cases]

AIM

The aim of this study was the analysis of total, early and late complications following venous access port implantation between 1998 and 2008 at the Department of Surgery of the University of Rostock, Germany. A comparison between different implantation techniques addressing success rate, complication rate and duration of operation was performed. These results were further analysed in regard to the level of training of the participating surgeons.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 1423 venous access port implantations between 1998 and 2008 was performed.

RESULTS

The rate of total complications was 13.8%. Among 4.7% early complications pneumothorax was the most common. The rate of late complications was 9.1%. Most common were infection (4.9%) followed by dysfunction of the catheter (3.5%). 1322 venous access port implantations were performed using puncture of the subclavian vein and Seldinger's technique. 101 operations were performed by direct access through dissection of the cephalic vein and open introduction of the catheter. Operation time in the open group was significantly longer than in the puncture group (46.5 min vs. 38.7 min, p = 0.005). There were significantly more late complications (9.6% vs. 2%, p = 0.01) and total complications (14.5% vs. 4%, p = 0.005) in the puncture group vs. the open access group. Primary success rates of open access vs. puncture were 100% and 96.8%, respectively. The rate of complications was independent of the experience status of the surgeon. However, the rate of total and late complications significantly decreases with number of performed operations.

CONCLUSION

Venous port implantation is a relatively simple procedure despite its possible complications. An open access technique is safer than puncture. The rate of complications significantly decreases with increasing number of performed operations. Therefore venous port implantation and especially the open access method is an ideal teaching operation in a structured surgical training programme.

Degradation and inactivation of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha by pancreatic proteases in experimental acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Release of TNFalpha is thought to play an important role in mediating systemic effects in acute pancreatitis (AP). We have been unable to find an elevation of plasma TNFalpha in AP and hypothesize that it is susceptible to catabolism by circulating pancreatic proteases.

METHODS

(1) AP was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by cerulein hyperstimulation preceded by intraductal infusion of saline (mild) or glycodeoxycholic acid (severe). Healthy and sham-operated animals served as controls. Severity of pancreatitis was confirmed by histology. Plasma TNFalpha levels were measured at various time points after induction of AP with competitive ELISA. (2) Recombinant rat TNFalpha (rrTNFalpha) was incubated with trypsin, elastase, chymotrypsin and pepsin. Western Blot was performed to visualize TNF degradation. (3) RrTNFalpha was incubated in a concentration and time-dependant manner with proteases and TNF bioactivity was evaluated with a cytotoxicity assay.

RESULTS

(1) Plasma TNFalpha levels in severe pancreatitis were significantly lower than in sham-operated controls after 0.5 and 6 h. (2) Incubation with proteases showed degradation in the presence of trypsin, elastase and chymotrypsin and no effect of pepsin. (3) There was a concentration dependent inactivation of rrTNFalpha in the presence of pancreatic proteases and a complete time-dependent inactivation in the presence of trypsin.

CONCLUSION

Plasma TNFalpha does not rise in experimental AP, and levels are significantly lower in severe pancreatitis compared to sham-operated controls. Our study demonstrates degradation and inactivation of TNFalpha by pancreatic proteases, suggesting that it is unlikely it plays an important role in the development of distant organ failure.

Glutathione depletion with L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine demonstrates deleterious effects in acute pancreatitis of the rat

A common pathway in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is the generation of free oxygen radicals. The most important defense mechanisms are free radical scavengers, especially glutathione. This study evaluates the influence of the inhibition of glutathione synthesis with L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) on the course of experimentally induced acute pancreatitis in rats and the effects on isolated pancreatic acini and their secretion pattern. Thus acute necrotizing pancreatitis was induced with intraductal infusion of low-dose glycodeoxycholic acid and subsequent hyperstimulation with cerulein with and without pretreatment with BSO. In vitro pancreatic acini were isolated and stimulated with different concentrations of cerulein with and without BSO. The BSO-treated group showed a significantly reduced survival, more necrosis, and a decreased secretion of amylase in vivo. No effect on secretion pattern in either groups was seen in vitro and BSO did not exert toxic effects. Based on the data presented, this study demonstrates deleterious effects of scavenger depletion on the course of experimental pancreatitis. This is due to the systemic effects of free oxygen radicals rather than to local effects.

Standardized measurement of the future liver remnant prior to extended liver resection: methodology and clinical associations

BACKGROUND

There is no agreement regarding the preoperative measurement of liver volumes and the minimal safe size of the liver remnant after extended hepatectomy.

METHODS

In 20 patients with hepatobiliary malignancy and no underlying chronic liver disease, volumetric measurements of the liver remnant (segments 2 and 3 +/- 1) were obtained before extended right lobectomy (right trisegmentectomy). The ratios of future liver remnant to total liver volume were calculated by using a formula based on body surface area. In 12 patients, response to preoperative right trisectoral portal vein embolization was evaluated. In 15 patients who underwent the planned resection, preoperative volumes were correlated with biochemical and clinical outcome parameters.

RESULTS

The future liver remnants increased after portal vein embolization (26% versus 36%, P < .01). Smaller size liver remnants were associated with an increase in postoperative liver function tests (P < .05) and longer lengths of hospital stay (P < .02). Preliminary data indicates an increase in major complications for liver volumes < or = 25% (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

A simple method of measurement provides an assessment of the liver remnant before resection. It is useful in evaluating response to portal vein embolization and in predicating the outcome before extended liver resections.