Predictors of the need for necrosectomy in patients with walled-off pancreatic necrosis treated with lumen apposition metal stents.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic necrosectomy through lumen apposition metal stents (LAMS) is increasingly being used for complicated walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), but the need for necrosectomy after stent placement is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic predictors of the need for necrosectomy in patients treated with LAMS.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with WOPN treated with LAMS from 2014 to 2017.

Influence of antrum size on gastric emptying and weight-loss outcomes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (preliminary analysis of a randomized trial).

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has increased in popularity in recent years as a definitive bariatric procedure. Despite its growing popularity worldwide, the surgical technique is not well standardized. There is a lack of evidence on the matter of the antrum size and its relation to gastric emptying and weight-loss outcomes.

Imaging-Guided Preoperative Localization of Intra-Abdominal Local Recurrences of Colorectal Cancer Using the Harpoon Technique.

Background And Aims: Intra-abdominal local recurrences of colorectal cancer can be difficult to localize and excise because they are not easily visible or palpable.

Materials And Methods: We report on our experience using the computed tomography-guided harpoon technique to locate and resect these nodules in seven patients.

Results: No complications were recorded during the procedures.

Pelvic MRI findings in relapsed prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose/objective: Little is known about the clinical impact of using multiparametric MRI to plan early salvage radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and location of recurrence based on pelvic multiparametric MRI findings and to identify clinical variables predictive of positive imaging results.

Materials And Methods: We defined radiological criteria of local and lymph node malignancy and reviewed records and MRI studies of 70 patients with PSA recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Predicting the pathological features of the mesorectum before the laparoscopic approach to rectal cancer.

Pelvic anatomy and tumour features play a role in the difficulty of the laparoscopic approach to total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer. The aim of the study was to analyse whether these characteristics also influence the quality of the surgical specimen. We performed a prospective study in consecutive patients with rectal cancer located less than 12 cm from the anal verge who underwent laparoscopic surgery between January 2010 and July 2013.

Long-term outcome and quality of life after laparoscopic treatment of large paraesophageal hernia.

Background: Laparoscopy has been widely used for surgical repair of large paraesophageal hernias (PEHs). The technique, however, entails substantial technical difficulties, such as repositioning the stomach in the abdominal cavity, sac excision, closure of the hiatal gap, and fundoplication. Knowledge of the long-term outcome (>10 years) is scarce.

Pancreatoduodenal junction: review of anatomy and pathologic conditions.

Introduction: The pancreatoduodenal junction is a small anatomic area where pathologic processes involving the distal bile duct, duodenum, pancreatic head, ampulla de Vater, and retroperitoneum converge. Differential diagnosis includes a spectrum of entities that ranges from anatomical variants to malignancies.

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to review the anatomy and different pathologic conditions, whether tumoral, inflammatory, or congenital in origin, in this specific area that involves the pancreatic head, duodenum, duodenal ampulla, distal pancreatobiliary tract junction, and retroperitoneum.

Effect of probiotic supplementation on immunoglobulins, isoagglutinins and antibody response in children of low socio-economic status.

Background: Antigen exposure is one of the major exogenous factors modulating human immunocompetence acquisition. Decline in family size and improvements in public health and hygiene in developed countries, may deprive the immune system of appropriate antigen input by diminishing infectious stimuli. Probiotics are a large group of microorganisms defined by their beneficial effects on human health and with stimulating effects on different functions of the immune system.

NOTES-assisted transvaginal splenectomy: the next step in the minimally invasive approach to the spleen.

Hypothesis: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has marked yet another step forward in less-invasive surgical procedures. Access to solid organs located deep in the left hypochondrium can be difficult using this technique but the transvaginal approach with the patient positioned in full lateral decubitus may be an option.

Material And Methods: We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with a symptomatic splenic polycystic tumor.

Can we predict immediate outcome after laparoscopic rectal surgery? Multivariate analysis of clinical, anatomic, and pathologic features after 3-dimensional reconstruction of the pelvic anatomy.

Objectives: The laparoscopic approach for colon resection is widely accepted but its definitive role in rectal tumors is controversial due to the technical difficulties associated with this procedure. Tumor size and volume, and pelvic dimensions may influence intraoperative and/or immediate outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of anatomic and pathologic features on immediate outcome after laparoscopic rectal resection.

Can we predict immediate outcome after laparoscopic splenectomy for splenomegaly? Multivariate analysis of clinical, anatomic, and pathologic features after 3D reconstruction of the spleen.

The laparoscopic approach is the treatment of choice for splenectomy, but its definitive role in splenomegaly is controversial. Factors that influence immediate outcome are clinical, anatomic, and pathological. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive factors on outcome after laparoscopic splenectomy in splenomegaly.

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas diagnosed in postpartum.

Background: Cystic tumors of the pancreas are uncommon. They account for 10-15% of all pancreatic cystic masses and only 1% of pancreatic malignancies. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is the most frequent pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma and it is mainly seen in women, suggesting a sex hormone influence.

CT features of abdominal plasma cell neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to describe the CT features of abdominal plasma cell neoplasms. We reviewed CT imaging findings in 11 patients (seven men, four women; mean age 62 years) with plasma cell neoplasms and abdominal involvement. Helical CT of the entire abdomen and pelvis was performed following intravenous administration of contrast material.

Pancreatic duct after pancreatoduodenectomy: morphologic and functional evaluation with secretin-stimulated MR pancreatography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of secretin-enhanced MR pancreatography in evaluating morphologic changes and pancreatic function after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy were evaluated with secretin MR pancreatography. Single-shot fast spin-echo T2-weighted dynamic MR pancreatograms were obtained before and every minute for 10 min after secretin injection.

Retromammary fluid collection as a late complication of breast implants: magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Imaging examinations, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play an important role in the diagnosis of breast implant complications. Two cases of retroprosthetic serous-like fluid collection, an unusual late complication that has not been described previously in the literature, are presented. It is important for radiologists to know the MRI findings of this complication, which suggest the correct diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary additional procedures.

Fecal lactate and short bowel syndrome.

In patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS), the carbohydrate overload to the colon may disturb the normal pattern of colonic fermentation with production of D-lactic acid and subsequent development of a metabolic D-lactic acidosis. We measured D-lactic acid in blood, urine, and feces, as well as the composition of fecal water and fecal reducing substances from 11 patients with SBS, comparing the results with those from normal subjects. The fecal water from patients with SBS was characterized by low pH, potassium, and volatile fatty acids, high osmotic gap, and high concentration of L- and D-lactic acid.

[Cancer of the larynx and 5 years survival].

Between the years 1971 and 1984, 428 patients with the diagnosis of laryngeal carcinoma were operated at the ENT Department of Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital (Murcia, Spain). All of them submited to laryngectomy. The 5-years actuarial recurrence-free rate and its correlations with host factor are studied.