Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Carboni

Publications and source records attributed to M Carboni.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal cystic schwannoma.

Mediastinal cystic schwannoma is of very rare occurrence. Our patient came with chest pain of 6 months duration. Abnormal shadow on chest x-ray was found. A sharp dissection space was evident by computed tomography (CT-scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between the tumor, the left pulmonary artery, and the descending aorta. The patient underwent surgical removal using thoracoscopic surgery. Postoperative discomfort was markedly reduced and hospitalization short. We can conclude that interventional thoracoscopy is a safe, well-tolerated procedure, with excellent therapeutic potentials.

Diagnostic Imaging↗

Prospective randomized evaluation of preoperative endoscopic vital staining using CH-40 for lymph node dissection in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: CH-40 is a suspension of activated carbon particles that was developed in Japan to carry anticancer drugs to regional nodes and peritoneal seedings of gastric cancer. METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients who had surgical resection and D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer over a 2-year period were randomly assigned to preoperative endoscopic submucosal injection of CH-40 (group A) or no staining (group B). A total of 21 patients in group A and 24 in group B were available for analysis. RESULTS: The number of resected nodes per patient was significantly higher (t = 6.06; 40 df; P < .0001) in group A (mean+/-S.E. = 35.3+/-1.24) than in group B (mean+/-S.E. = 25.5+/-1.02). The rate of metastatic nodes resected was significantly higher (chi2 = 6.903 ; 1 df; P = .009) in stained (22.5%) than in non-stained (14.7%) nodes of group A and also (chi2 = 6.906; 1 df; P = .009) in stained nodes of group A than in group B (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative endoscopic vital staining with CH-40 proved to be rapid, safe, and effective in all cases in this series. Its use allowed surgeons to resect a higher number of lymph nodes. and to identify and examine more metastatic nodes. It also permitted identification of nodal micrometastases on routine histopathologic examination.

Adult↗

Benign pancreatic tumor treated with duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas. Case report.

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas constitute about 9% of all cystic lesions of the pancreas and less than 1% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Authors report the case of a 70 year-old woman with microcystic cystadenoma. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen diagnosed a 5 cm multilocular septated cyst, with calcifications in the context, localized in the head-uncinate process of the pancreas. The mass was well separated by a sharp cleavage plane with portal vein and superior mesenteric vessels. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed cephalic symmetrical stenosis (diameter: 3 mm) of the main pancreatic duct (MPD), mildly dilated in the remaining tract (diameter: 6 mm). An intra-operative biopsy of the cystic wall had been performed. Therefore, it was decided to proceed with a duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas (DPPHR), including stenosis tract of the MPD in the surgical specimen. The reconstructive procedure consisted, by i.v. jejunal loop transposition, of a side-to-side pancreatico-jejunostomy, including in the anastomosis both corpocaudal stump and the resection cavity of the pancreatic head, and an end-to-side Roux-en-Y jejuno-jejunostomy. With respect to long-lasting pain relief and preservation of the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas, duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas is a highly effective surgical procedure with low early and late morbidity and mortality due to limited surgical resections. This technique, introduced into surgical practice in 1972 by Beger, is indicated in patients with chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas. The authors conclude that this procedure can also be performed in cases of pancreatic benign tumors, such as microcystic cystadenoma. Advantages of this technique make DPPHR an attractive alternative to pylorus-preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy (PPPD).

Aged↗

[Routine use of open laparoscopy: technique and results in 1006 consecutive cases].

Blind insertion of the Veress needle and/or the first trocar is one of the most frequent causes of laparoscopic surgery complications. Nevertheless, the closed technique is still more preferred than the open one. The Authors retrospectively analyzed 1006 consecutive laparoscopic procedures in which Hasson's technique was routinely utilized. The overall complication rate was 2.2%, but the vast majority of complications occurred during the learning curve (6% vs. 1.9%). The Authors conclude that after the first 50 cases the open technique is a quick and safe procedure.

Adolescent↗

Pre-operative angiography in gastric cancer surgery with extended lymphadenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The value of pre-operative angiographic evaluation in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery with extended lymphadenectomy was assessed in a prospective study comparing exposed and unexposed groups of patients. METHODOLOGY: During the period from July 1991 to October 1997, 76 patients (Group A--exposed) were pre-operatively submitted to a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) after informed consent. Concurrently, 94 patients (Group B--unexposed) were included as an unexposed reference group. All patients underwent total or subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy according to the guidelines proposed by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer (JRSGC). RESULTS: In 34 (45%) exposed patients (Group A), DSA detected an atypical vascular anatomy. Major anatomical variations of the celiac axis, its branches and the superior mesenteric artery were discovered in 4 subjects (5%). Vascular anomalies affecting the surgical tactics of lymphadenectomy were detected in less than 8% of patients. Five post-operative deaths (6.6%) were registered between patients of the Group A, exposed to pre-operative angiography, 8 in the unexposed Group B (8.5%). Post-operative morbidity was significantly higher (P = 0.038) in the Group B (34%) in comparison to Group A (20%) but no difference in risk of individual complications was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Although useful in the presence of major vascular anomalies, it appears that pre-operative angiography did not significantly reduce intra- and post-operative complications associated with radical gastrectomy combined with extended lymphadenectomy. Arteriography is therefore not routinely recommendable but its use is mandatory in specific operations for gastric cancer.

Aged↗

[Acute biliary pancreatitis. Role of laparoscopy after 30 years of traditional surgery experience].

The authors herein show their own experience in the treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of the "early" laparoscopic approach to the mild to moderate acute biliary pancreatitis. The authors studied sixty cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative colangiography for acute biliary pancreatitis (M/F 1:1.2; mean age 59.6 yrs, range 29.79). The patients were divided in two groups on the basis of the severity of the pancreatitis, defined through Ranson's score and Balthazar classification. The mortality rate was nil. Intraoperative morbidity rate was 6.6% in the group I (3/45), and 13.3% in the group II (2/15). Postoperative morbidity rate was 6.7% (3/45) in the group I and 40% in the group II (6/15). The authors show an original diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for the treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy with I.O.C. is proposed as the gold standard treatment for mild to moderate acute biliary pancreatitis. This approach appears to be effective and safe in their experience. In case of severe acute biliary pancreatitis, further investigations are mandatory to evaluate the role of laparoscopic approach.

Acute Disease↗

[Towards a new classification of hemorrhoidal disease].

The generally accepted classification of hemorrhoids presents some rather wide gaps which may either be due to expressions of intrinsic limits or recent moves of the Colonproctology field. The authors of this paper would like to present their proposal for a new classification that considers the results of the National Multicentric Study that was performed in collaboration with nineteen centres and a total of 1,494 patients. In addition, a comparative study was conducted on the two forms of classification. Nineteen patients (1.28%) were considered unclassifiable with the new classification system while 49 were (3.29%) with the presently used one. These results were found significant with the MacNemar Chi-Square test. The description of type 2 and 3 in the new classification system was found useful in 69% of 2nd degree, 77% of 3rd degree and 28% of 4th degree using the present system. Acute events (type 5,6 and 7) proposed with the new classification were found in the present system with several different rates. We have also included the data taken from a national and international survey we conducted on the usefulness of the new classification that provoked intense debate within two of the most important national institutes. The result was the elaboration of a design on the new classification.

Europe↗

[A case of intestinal occlusion caused by endometriosis of the cecum].

The purpose of this study is to heighten awareness of intestinal endometriosis, a disease that may mimic other abdominal pathologies (bowel carcinoma, intestinal inflammatory disease, diverticulitis), sometimes found in the emergency setting. The Authors report a case of acute bowel obstruction due to coecal endometriosis with appendix mucocele, peritoneal pseudomyxoma and ovarian endometrioma. The patient was operated on in the emergency setting, a right colectomy was performed and she then received pharmacological suppressive treatment with Gn-RH analogues and danatrol. We remark that preoperative diagnosis is very difficult in those cases that do not have a past history of pelvic endometriosis. An accurate anamnesis regarding the chronology of pain onset (typically only during the menstruation at first), but especially intraoperative histopathologic examination are useful for diagnosis. An increased awareness of intestinal endometriosis in reproductive age women with acute bowel obstruction, associated with an accurate anamnesis of menstrual history may allow pre- or intraoperative diagnosis, which is the clue to a less aggressive operation. Postoperative follow up and hormonal therapy are mandatory.

Adult↗

[Benign thyroid disease: 20-year experience in surgical therapy].

This retrospective study compares recurrence and postoperative complication rates after isthmo-lobectomy and subtotal thyroidectomy (group I) vs near-total and total thyroidectomy (group II) for benign thyroid disease. Seven hundred and forty-three patients were operated on for thyroid diseases over the period from 1977 to 1998. We considered 202 patients operated on for benign thyroid disease from 1988 to 1998. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years (mean: 3.4 yrs). One hundred and thirty-two patients (65.3%) were operated on for bilateral nodular goitre, 35 (17.3%) for unilateral nodular goitre, 14 (6.9%) for toxic goitre and 21 (10.4%) for thyroiditis. Over the period 1988-1992, 19 patients underwent isthmo-lobectomy and 71 subtotal thyroidectomy (group I). From 1993 to 1998, 39 patients underwent near-total thyroidectomy and 61 total thyroidectomy (group II). The relapse rate was 14.4% in group I, while there were no recurrences in group II (p = 0.000064). Temporary hypocalcaemia was significantly higher (p = 0.000001) in group II (29%) than in group I (2.2%). Within group II, the rate was significantly higher (p = 0.0013) after total thyroidectomy (37.7%) than after near-total thyroidectomy (15.4%). In our experience, near-total and total thyroidectomy are an appropriate approach for preventing recurrence in patients with benign thyroid disease despite the fact that the risk of temporary hypocalcaemia is higher than after less radical surgery. Near-total thyroidectomy and the exercise of all due care in the surgical technique may help to reduce its incidence.

Adult↗

[1,000 prosthetic hernia repairs: experience of a dedicated team].

The authors report on their 8-year experience with inguinal prosthetic repair. Their personal experience includes 1000 hernioplasties, 639 of which performed using the "plug and patch" technique. The postoperative morbidity was 2.7% and patients were unsatisfied only in 1.8% of cases (self-evaluation test). Follow-up was carried out by means of phone enquiries supplemented by a clinical examination in selected cases and in a control group of asymptomatic patients. 85.4% of the study population and 94.8% of patients operated on in the last 38 months were contacted by phone. The recurrence rate after "plug and patch" repair was statistically adjusted according to the maximal bias test, taking into account the percentage of patients lost to follow-up. Other late complications were severe neuralgia (0.9%) and rejection of the prosthesis (0.1%). Migration of the plug was never observed. The authors confirm that the aims of inguinal hernia surgery (significant reduction of recurrences and minimal discomfort for the patient) can be best achieved in suitable facilities (hernia centres) by a dedicated team of experienced professionals.

Adolescent↗

[The treatment of laparocele by means of a reticulo-laminar prosthesis (Composix Mesh). A technical note].

In this paper, the authors present a modified Rives' technique for the treatment of incisional hernias. This technique requires the use of a nonabsorbable prosthesis (Composix Mesh) made of a double-knit layer of monofilament polypropylene bonded with a single layer of low-porosity e-PTFE inserted behind the rectus muscles and fixed by metallic clips. The outer side (polypropylene) encourages complete host tissue incorporation to reduce recurrences, the inner side (e-PTFE) minimizes tissue attachment and, therefore, visceral complications.

Abdominal Muscles↗

[Anesthesia for inguinal hernioplasty: a comparison of techniques].

New surgical and modern anaesthesia techniques for inguinal hernioplasty have significantly reduced the duration of the procedure and the postoperative length of hospital stay. From 1994 to 1998, 405 patients with a mean age of 54.7 years (range: from 18 to 90) undergoing inguinal hernioplasty were studied. Four different anaesthetic techniques were used: (i) surgical field infiltration (SFI) with 0.5% carbonated lidocaine + 0.125% bupivacaine (193 pts.) in which monitored anaesthesia care was administered with propofol (3 to 4 mg/kg/h) when necessary; (ii) epidural anaesthesia with 2% lidocaine + fentanyl 100 mg (137 pts.); (iii) general anesthesia with isoflurane and fentanyl in N2O:O2 (48 pts.); and (iv) intrathecal anaesthesia with 1% hyperbaric bupivacaine 1-2 ml (25 pts.). Intra- and postoperative complications, intraoperative sedation, postoperative supplemental drugs for analgesia and postoperative length of hospital stay were recorded. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using Student's t-test Anova, Bonferroni post hoc analysis, chi square, and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Intraoperative hypotension/brachycardia were observed in 4 patients (2%) in the SFI group and in 6 patients (4%) in the epidural group. Sedation was required in 29.5% of patients in the SFI group and in 15.3% in the epidural group (P < 0.05). Postoperative supplemental analgesic drugs administered and length of hospital stay were similar in the 4 groups. No difference in intra- and postoperative complications was observed among the 4 groups. Patients who required sedation in the SFI group were significantly more numerous than those with epidural anaesthesia. In conclusion, both SFI and epidural anaesthesia are safe and suitable for the inguinal hernioplasty procedure, without intra- or postoperative complications.

Adolescent↗

[Resective surgical treatment of exocrine pancreas neoplasms. Retrospective study of 294 cases and review of the literature].

Authors report their own experience on the treatment of pancreatic neoplasms. Two-hundred-ninety-four patients were observed during the years 1959-95. Resectability rate was 18%. Fifty-three patients underwent pancreatic resection: 22 distal pancreatectomies (41.5%), 2 total pancreatectomies (3.7%) and 29 pancreaticoduodenectomies (54.7%) (7 PPPD). Overall morbidity rate was 15.6% with decrease during the years of major postoperative complications. More frequent complications were renal failure (4%), bleeding (1.7%) and acute pancreatitis (5.6%), which was absent during the 1981-95 period. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 5.6%, but in the years 1981-95 only one patient suffered from it (1.8%). During the years 1959-70 operative mortality rate after pancreatic resection was 22.7%, during 1971-80 was 12.5% and during 1981-95 decreased to 4.3%. Patients with stage I tumours survived curative pancreatic resection for about 18.2 months, compared with those with stage II and III tumours, who survived for about 15 and 13 months, respectively. Recent studies have demonstrated a reduction in the morbidity and mortality of pancreatic resections and improvement in the actuarial 5-year survival for patients with resected ductal adenocarcinoma. In the presence of lymphnode metastases, pancreaticoduodenectomy offers good palliation and meaningful survival. In the absence of lymphnode metastases, pancreaticoduodenectomy offers encouraging long-term survival rates and a chance for cure.

Aged↗

[Objectives of a bloodless surgery program. A comparative study (major surgery vs. minor-medium surgery) in 51 Jehova's Witnesses patients].

AIM: The purpose of this retrospective review of the charts of 51 Jehovah's Witness patients, who underwent surgery without blood transfusions, was to compare two study groups (major surgery vs minor-medium surgery). METHODS: We compared the following variables: age, sex, length of stay, type of surgical operation, use of intraoperative red cell salvaging devices, hemodilution, number of drainages and their stay, postoperative blood loss, complications, need of reoperation and mortality rate. Between medical variables we focused on blood production therapy and nutritional support (administration of iron, folate, erythropoietin and albumin) and blood tests (at the first day of admission; intraoperative; at the first postoperative day; at the discharge). RESULTS: In the two study groups, we detected statistically significant differences in the following variables: total of postoperative blood loss (p < 0.00001), complications rate (p = 0.0122) and in Hgb values (intraoperative: p = 0.0197; at the first postoperative day: p = 0.0028; at the discharge: p = 0.0100). DISCUSSION: The aims of a bloodless surgery program are: 1) minimize blood loss, reducing iatrogenic anemia and intraoperative hemorrhage loss; 2) maximize blood production by administration of erythropoietin, iron and folate; 3) maximize cardiac output by alternatives to blood transfusions, as crystalloids, colloids and blood substitutes; 4) increase oxygen content; 5) decrease metabolic rate. We focused on advantages and disadvantages of the suggested procedures. Most interesting techniques are the normovolemic hemodilution and the intraoperative red cell salvaging devices, indispensable in emergency. CONCLUSIONS: A close team-work between surgeons, anesthesiologists and hematologists is determinant in a reference center that guarantees experience, organization, professionality, respect for the patients' will and, above all, low morbidity and mortality rates, as those reported by our series.

Adolescent↗