Barrett's esophagus is an acquired condition that predisposes to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
The aim of this study was to establish an association between the endoscopic and the histopathological findings regarding differently sized endoscopic columnar epithelial mucosa projections in the low esophagus, under 3.0 cm in the longitudinal extent.
This is a prospective study, including 1262 patients who were submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the period from July 2015 to June 2017. The suspicious projections were measured and subdivided into three groups according to the sizes encountered (Group I: <0.99 cm; Group II: 1.0–1.99 cm; and Group III: 2.0–2.99 cm), and biopsies were then performed.
There was a general prevalence of suspicious lesions of 6.42% and of confirmed Barrett's lesions of 1.17%, without a general significant statistical difference among groups. However, from Groups I and II to Group III, the differences were significant, showing that the greater the lesion, the higher the probability of Barrett's esophagus diagnosis. The absolute number of Barrett's lesions was 7, 9, and 6 for Groups I, II, and III, respectively.
The findings led to the conclusion that even projections under 3.0 cm present a similar possibility of evolution to Barrett's esophagus. If, on the one hand, short segments are more prevalent, on the other hand, the long segments have the higher probability of Barrett's esophagus diagnosis, which is why biopsies are required in all suspicious segments.
Incisional hernia is characterized by a bulging of the abdominal wall caused by the prolapse of intracavitary structures, such as a segment of the small intestine, through the trocar orifice. Ultrasonography and physical examination are used in the diagnosis of incisional hernia.
This study aimed to evaluate the difference between physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography at the diagnosis of incisional hernia in patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery.
A total of 123 patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass type bariatric surgery performed by laparoscopy were analyzed for the presence or absence of hernia by physical and ultrasonography examination at each trocar incision site.
In our results, a total of 7 hernias were detected by physical examination, while ultrasonography detected a total of 56 hernias in at least one of the incision sites. Lin's concordance analysis showed that the tests are not concordant. The association between body mass index and hernia detection (p=0.04 for physical examination and p=0.052 for ultrasonography) was observed. Ultrasonography detected more incisional hernias in 10-mm or larger trocars than in 5-mm trocars (p<0.0001, p<0.05). No differences were noted among the trocar types that were used.
Abdominal ultrasonography showed to have a higher accuracy than physical examination, resulting in a substantial increase in incisional hernia detection at the trocar sites.
The influence of body mass index on perioperative complications of hiatal hernia surgery is controversial in the surgical literature.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of body mass index on perioperative complications and associated risk factors for its occurrence.
Two groups were compared on the basis of body mass index: group A with body mass index <32 kg/m2 and group B with body mass index ³32 kg/m2. A multivariate analysis was carried out to identify independent predictors for complications. Complications were classified based on the Clavien-Dindo score.
A total of 49 patients were included in this study, with 30 in group A and 19 in group B. The groups were compared based on factors, such as age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, surgical techniques used, type and location of hiatal hernia, and length of stay. Findings showed that 70% of patients had complex hiatal hernia. In addition, 14 complications also occurred: 7 pleuropulmonary and 7 requiring reoperation. From the seven reoperated, there were three recurrences, two gastrointestinal fistulas, one diaphragmatic hernia, and one incisional hernia. Complications were similar in both the groups, with type IV hiatal hernia being the only independent predictor.
Body mass index does not affect perioperative complications in anti-reflux surgery and type IV hiatal hernia is an independent predictor of its occurrence.
Regarding postoperative pain, it remains unclear whether non-fixation of the polypropylene prosthesis in transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair produces the same outcomes as mesh fixation with glue or tackers. In addition, hernia recurrence is another aspect to be assessed in the comparison between non-fixation and mesh-fixation techniques (tackers and glue).
This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, quality of pain, and recurrence in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty (transabdominal preperitoneal) technique, comparing the fixation of the mesh with tackers versus with glue versus without fixation.
This is a prospective, double-blind study in which 63 patients presenting with primary unilateral inguinal hernia underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair and were randomized into three groups: no mesh fixation (n=21), mesh tacked (n=21), and mesh fixed with fibrin glue (n=21). Patients also responded to questionnaires in order to assess pain and pain quality and were followed up for 2 years.
Neither mesh-fixation nor non-fixation techniques were found to affect postoperative chronic pain (p=0.535), but patients undergoing tacker fixation reported more pain descriptors (p=0.0021) and a higher pain index (p=0.002) on the McGill scale in the first 15 postoperative days (T0 and T1). No hernia recurrences were observed.
Both mesh-fixation techniques (tackers and glue) used with the transabdominal preperitoneal approach did not influence the onset of inguinodynia, but tacker fixation was more likely to increase patient sensitivity to pain. Mesh placement without fixation produced the same pain and recurrence outcomes as mesh-fixation techniques. Also, no recurrence was observed in patients without mesh fixation in this study. Consequently, it has become an alternative therapy deserving consideration for hernia repair.
3D-CT angiography has made it possible to reach a qualitatively new level in the determination of treatment tactics for patients with colorectal cancer.
This study aimed to analyze the clinical and radiological aspects that need to be discussed before surgery by a multidisciplinary team in patients with right-sided colon cancer.
This study involved 103 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent preoperative 3D-CT angiography from 2016 to 2021
All patients underwent radical D3 right hemicolectomy. The median quantity of removal lymph nodes were 24.71±10.04. Anastomotic leakage was diagnosed in one patient. We have identified eight most common types of superior mesenteric artery. The ileocolic artery crossed the superior mesenteric vein on the anterior surface in 64 (62.1%) patients and on the posterior surface in 39 (37.9%). In 58 (56.3%) patients, the right colic artery was either absent or was a nonindependent branch of superior mesenteric artery. The distance from the root of the superior mesenteric artery to the root of the middle colic artery was 37.8±12.8 mm and that from the root of the middle colic artery to the root of the ileocolic artery was 29.5±15.7 mm. The trunk of Henle was above the root of the middle colic artery in 66 (64.1%) patients, at the same level with the middle colic artery in 16 (15.5%), and below the middle colic artery in 18 (17.5%) patients.
Preoperative analysis of 3D-CT angiography is a key pattern in assessment of vascular anatomy and can potentially show the complexity of future lymphadenectomy and reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage.
Nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis is found in most obese patients and has a strong association with metabolic syndrome. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy are the two techniques of bariatric surgery. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery have regression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis due to a reduction in body mass index and changes in incretin hormones.
This study aimed to analyze the acuity of elastography in the regression of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy 2 months after surgery.
Patients in the preoperative period of bariatric surgery underwent an anthropometric evaluation and hepatic elastography to quantify fibrosis and hepatic steatosis. Two months after surgery, the same evaluation was performed again.
All 17 patients who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Out of this, nine underwent sleeve gastrectomy, and eight underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group had lower fibrosis levels postoperatively compared to preoperatively (p=0.029, p<0.05). As for steatosis, patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had lower postoperative values (p=0.01, p<0.05). There was also a reduction in fibrosis postoperatively in the sleeve gastrectomy group compared to preoperatively (p=0.037, p<0.05).
Elastography accurately demonstrated decreased hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the early postoperative period of bariatric surgery. Moreover, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are suitable surgical methods to improve hepatic steatosis and fibrosis within 2 months postoperatively.
Hydatidosis is a rare and endemic parasitic disease in Brazil that causes the proliferation of cysts mainly in the liver, leading to many complications, such as compression of vessels and biliary ducts, liver failure, portal hypertension, and cirrhosis. The treatment of choice is the resection of the lesions combined with albendazole therapy. This disease is a rare indication for liver transplantation, a feasible treatment option in more advanced stages.
The purpose of this study was to describe two cases of patients from northern Brazil who underwent liver transplantation due to hepatic hydatidosis.
This is a retrospective study with data collected from medical records.
Case 1: A 51-year-old female patient presented pain in the right hypochondriac, dyspepsia, consumptive syndrome, and obstructive jaundice, with a previous diagnosis of Caroli’s disease with no possibility of surgical resection and a MELD score of 24. She underwent liver transplantation, and the anatomopathological result demonstrated hydatidosis. Case 2: A 52-year-old female patient presented multiple episodes of cholangitis in 30 years, with three liver resections and clinical treatment with albendazole for hydatidosis. She underwent liver transplantation due to recurrent cholangitis with a MELD score of 20. Both patients underwent post-transplant clinical therapy with albendazole, had good outcomes, and remain in follow-up without complications after 5 and 96 months, respectively.
The patients benefited from the procedure and have a good prognosis due to the absence of metastasis, early reintroduction of antiparasitic drugs, and continuous follow-up.
The twisting of the gastric tube is one of the main causes of persistent reflux and food intolerance after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). To date, there is no classification for gastric twist after SG.
This study aimed to propose an endoscopic classification for this condition and outline the clinical profile of these patients with sleeve gastrectomy.
Patients in the postoperative period of SG presenting endoscopic findings of gastric twist were included. All patients underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy 12 months after SG. The classification proposed consists of three degrees: degree I: mild rotation of the staple line without relevant shrinkage of the gastric lumen; degree II: moderate rotation of the staple line, leading to a focal area of fixed narrowing that requires additional maneuvers for its transposition; and degree III: severe rotation of the staple line leading to stenosis, with increased difficulty for transposition or complete blockage.
Out of 2,723 patients who underwent SG, 45 (1.6%) presented gastric twist. Most patients were female (85%), with mean age of 39±10.4 years. In all, 41 (91.1%) presented degree I, 3 (6.7%) presented degree II, and 1 (2.2%) had degree III. Most patients were asymptomatic (n=26). Vomiting was the most prevalent symptom (15.5%). Statistically significant correlation of twisting degrees was not observed for both the presence of symptoms and the degrees of esophagitis.
Gastric twist after SG is rare, with generally mild and asymptomatic presentation. The endoscopic classification was not statistically related to clinical presentation but set the ground for further analysis.
Surgical patients constitute a group of individuals who are commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated, where nutritional impairment can be either a preexisting finding or a result of the hypercatabolic and hypermetabolic state.
The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition, according to the GLIM criteria, and its association with clinical and nutritional factors, in individuals admitted to a surgical unit of a general hospital.
A cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted, involving patients in the preoperative period due to gastrointestinal diseases. Demographic, clinical, and nutritional data were collected from adult and elderly patients admitted to a surgical unit between March and December 2019. Nutritional risk was assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening tool (NRS-2002). The prevalence of malnutrition was found using the GLIM criteria. Binary logistic regression modeling was performed to determine the association between the diagnosis of malnutrition using the GLIM method and clinical and nutritional variables.
The majority of the sample presented nutritional risk (50.2%) according to the NRS-2002. The prevalence of malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria was 32.3%, with severe malnutrition being predominant (21.2%) in all age groups. There was an association between malnutrition and nutritional risk detected by the NRS-2002 (OR: 5.791; 95%CI 3.201-10.478). There was a predominance of patients undergoing cancer surgery (64%) and these patients were more likely to be diagnosed with malnutrition (OR: 2.068; 95%CI: 1.161-3.683), after statistical adjustment.
An important prevalence of nutritional risk assessed by the NRS-2002 and of malnutrition assessed by the GLIM method was identified, especially in its severe form. In addition, preoperative patients with nutritional risk, as detected using the NRS-2002 nutritional screening tool, and candidates for oncologic surgery are more likely to be diagnosed as malnourished using the GLIM criteria.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopies and colonoscopies are the main diagnostic examinations for esophageal, stomach, and colorectal tumors.
This study aimed to evaluate the estimates of the incidence of esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancer; population growth; and esophagogastroduodenoscopies and colonoscopies performed by the Unified Health System (SUS), from 2010 to 2018, in the five regions of the country, and to analyze the relationship between these values.
The colorectal tumor had a significant elevation, while the esophageal and gastric maintained the incidences. In the five regions, there was a significant increase in the number of colonoscopies; however, this increase did not follow the increase in the population in the North and Northeast regions. There was no significant increase in the number of esophagogastroduodenoscopies in the North, Northeast, Midwest, and South regions, and in the North region there was a decrease. In the Northeast region, there was a decreasing number, and in the South and Midwest regions, the number of examinations remained stable in the period. The Southeast region recorded an increase in the number of examinations following the population growth.
The current number of esophagogastroduodenoscopies and colonoscopies performed by the SUS did not follow the population growth, in order to attend the population and diagnose esophageal, stomach, and colorectal tumors. Therefore, the country needs to have adequate and strategic planning on how it will meet the demand for these tests and serve the population well, incorporating new technologies.
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