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Biomedical subjects

L Bonavina

Publications and source records attributed to L Bonavina.

136 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Thoracoscopic removal of benign tumours of the oesophagus.

Thoracoscopic excision of an oesophageal leiomyoma was successfully performed in 4 patients. The tumours were enucleated easily without intraoperative complication. A patient in whom the muscular layer was not sutured after removal of the myoma presented with a pseudo-diverticulum one year after the operation and required a thoracotomy for resection. This new procedure which reduces the operative trauma and postoperative pain and allows quick recovery, is described.

Adult↗

Laparoscopic treatment of functional diseases of the esophagus.

The possibilities of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of functional esophageal diseases (gastroesophageal reflux, achalasia and epiphrenic diverticula) are illustrated with special emphasis on the technical aspects, including intraoperative complications and postoperative care. Results are discussed on the ground of the following experience. Thirty-seven laparoscopic fundoplications were performed with 13% conversion rate, 2.7% postoperative morbidity (1 slipped Nissen requiring redo laparoscopic surgery). Median operative time was 140 min. One patient complained of dysphagia relieved by endoscopic dilation (2.7%). All patients are not asymptomatic after a median follow-up of 16 months although one has gastroesophageal reflux (GER) at 24-hrs pH monitoring. forty laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedures: 7% conversions, 5% postoperative morbidity. Median duration 120 min. One patient complained of persistent dysphagia requiring endoscopic dilation (2.5%) and asymptomatic GER was detected in 8% of patients. Finally, 2 patients underwent laparoscopic diverticulectomy, esophagomyotomy and Dor fundoplication without morbidity and excellent postoperative result. Laparoscopic treatment of functional diseases of the esophagus is safe and effective, provided it is performed by an experienced surgeon with respect for some important technical details. Further follow-up is needed to evaluate long-term results.

Adolescent↗

Endoscopic ultrasonography for preoperative staging of gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the accuracy and limitation of endoscopic ultrasonography in preoperative staging of gastric cancer, we performed a prospective study on 99 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with gastric cancer had preoperative staging with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and CT. RESULTS: The depth of infiltration (T parameter) was correctly defined by EUS in 58/65 patients (89%). The lymph node involvement (N parameter) was correctly classified in 44/65 patients (68%), the sensitivity was 74% and the specificity was 54%. The most frequent cause of understaging T parameter was microscopic tumor invasion, whereas overstaging was due to peri-tumor inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that EUS is a reliable method, superior to all diagnostic tools, in the evaluation of locoregional extension of gastric cancer.

Endosonography↗

[Surgical treatment of esophageal stenosis caused by reflux].

From 1976 to 1993, among 582 patients with reflux esophagitis seen at our Institution, 164 (28%) presented with an esophageal stricture, and 68 of these (41%) underwent surgical treatment. The male to female ratio was 1.6:1, and the median age 51 (range 15-78). Thirteen of the 68 patients (19%) had an associated Barrett's esophagus. Esophageal manometry revealed scleroderma in nine individuals (13%). In 11 patients (16%) observed before 1985 the stricture was not dilatable. Surgical therapy consisted of fundoplication (n = 39), Collis gastroplasty plus fundoplication (n = 10), total duodenal diversion (n = 4), and esophageal resection (n = 15). The mortality rate was 4.4%: two patients died of necrosis of the colon transplant and one of acute pancreatitis. The median follow-up was 27 months (6-129). Esophageal sparing procedures significantly reduced the need of further endoscopic dilatation (p < 0.001). Standard fundoplication was successful in 30 of 39 patients (77%). Regression of Barrett's epithelium was not recorded after any of the conservative surgical procedures.

Adolescent↗

Primary multiple epithelioid leiomyosarcoma of the liver.

Sarcomas represent only 1-2% of primary malignant tumors of the liver. We report the twenty first case of primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma in the literature. Metastases from gastrointestinal tract, female genital system and lung have to be excluded before confirming diagnosis of a primary neoplasm. Extensive involvement of the liver parenchyma contraindicated surgery, the treatment of choice when the tumor is solitary or multiple but located in one lobe. Chemotherapy, as employed in our patient, is the alternative therapeutic option in inoperable cases, but its role has to be clarified.

Adult↗

Evaluation of leiomyoma of the esophagus with endoscopic ultrasonography.

Fourteen patients with suspected leiomyoma of the esophagus were studied by endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, endoscopy and barium swallow. The results were correlated with the histology of the resected specimens: in 2 patients with a peduncolated leiomyoma originating from the second echographic layer, endoscopic resection was performed. Endoscopic ultrasonography was superior to other imaging techniques in detection and staging of leiomyoma because it can determine the layer of origin, the direction of the growth and the consistency of the tumor.

Adult↗

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the evaluation of leiomyoma and extramucosal cysts of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Leiomyoma is the most common type of benign esophageal tumor, whereas extramucosal cysts of the esophagus are congenital anomalies frequently asymptomatic in the adult and in most cases detected incidentally on chest x-ray. It is worthwhile considering these conditions together, because they present similar diagnostic and surgical problems. Conventional imaging tests do not lead to a precise diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of, and planning of treatment modalities for, these conditions. METHODOLOGY: Fifteen patients with esophageal leiomyoma and seven patients with extramucosal esophageal cysts were studied with endoscopic ultrasonography using an Olympus GF- EU-M3 instrument with a 7.5-12 MHz echoprobe. In all patients, the results of endoscopic ultrasonography were compared with the histology of the resected specimens. RESULTS: The histology of the resected specimens confirmed the endosonographic diagnosis in all patients. No malignancy was found in any specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic ultrasonography is very accurate in visualizing these lesions and differentiating cystic from solid submucosal esophageal masses; in addition, the test can establish the exact location of the mass in relation to the esophageal wall and mediastinum. Therefore, endoscopic ultrasonography has a great impact in confirming the diagnosis of leiomyoma and extramucosal cysts of the esophagus and facilitates therapeutic decision-making because of its capacity to clearly define the size, layer of the origin, and pattern of the mass.

Adult↗

Surgical therapy in patients with failed antireflux repairs.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Failure of antireflux surgery may be due to errors in patient selection, errors in the choice of the operation, or technical errors in the performance of the operation. The purpose of this work was to review a series of patients surgically treated for a failed antireflux procedure over the past two decades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients (62%) out of 113 consecutive individuals presenting with symptoms after one or more operations for gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent reoperation. Five patients had been operated on laparoscopically. The indications for reoperation were based on severity of symptoms and results of objective investigation. Surgical therapy was tailored to the individual patient based on pathophysiological abnormalities and on the results of intraoperative assessment. RESULTS: Reflux symptoms and dysphagia represented the major complaint in 62.8% and 35.7% of patients, respectively. The most common pathophysiological abnormality was an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter. Intraoperative assessment showed a disrupted or misplaced repair in 77% of the patients. The most common reoperation performed was a partial or total fundoplication (54.3%), followed by antrectomy and Roux-en-Y anastomosis (25.7%). There was no mortality. Postoperative morbidity rate was 8.5%. At a median follow-up of 48 months, 87% of patients were scored as Visick 1-2 and 90% declared themselves satisfied with the results of reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Management of patients with failed antireflux procedures is challenging. However, detailed physiological evaluation and a surgical approach tailored to residual anatomy and function of the foregut can provide excellent results.

Adolescent↗