Retroperitoneal sarcomas. An analysis of 32 cases.

Retroperitoneal sarcoma was treated in 32 patients in 1970-1986. The dominant initial symptom was pain (63%) and the most common clinical finding was a palpable mass (75%). Primary radical resection was possible in 16 cases, but the tumor recurred in 14 after 3-33 months.

Experience of surgical treatment for chronic idiopathic constipation.

Chronic idiopathic constipation requires surgical treatment in some rare cases. Seven such patients are presented. Subtotal colectomy was performed in six of them and left hemicolectomy in one.

Recurrent rectal carcinoma after anterior resection and rectal stapling.

Nine local recurrences have been diagnosed in 38 patients with carcinoma of the rectum operated on with anterior resection using the EEA-stapling instrument. The characteristics of these recurrences have been compared with those of other authors, currently a total of 27 recurrences. The presence of a locally advanced growth with extramural spread, a distal location and a short margin of clearance seems to increase the risk of local recurrence, with often distressing symptoms.

Nutritional assessment reflects muscle energy metabolism in gastric carcinoma.

Preoperative nutritional status and muscle energy metabolism were studied in 26 patients with gastric carcinoma. Fat stores were reduced in 30% and visceral proteins in 25% to 90% of the patients. According to the nutritional assessment, the patients were divided into well-nourished (group I, n = 8) with no or minor signs of malnutrition and malnourished (group II, n = 13) with signs of pronounced malnutrition.