Background: Chest wall perforator flaps are a good option for immediate breast reconstruction after conservative surgery. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical results of an algorithm for using chest wall perforator flaps for breast reconstruction after breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. Material and methods: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study. The information was retrieved from the medical records of the patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery and required reconstruction using chest wall perforator flaps between January 2020 and March 2022. The indications included volume deficit, contour defect and asymmetry. The vascular pedicle of the flap was evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound in all cases, which allowed us to follow an algorithm for selecting the best flap option. Results: Twenty flaps were made in 19 patients. Mean age: 52 years ± 11 (range 30-76). There were no intraoperative complications. One patient required reoperation due to a hematoma with compression of the vascular pedicle of the flap with partial flap loss, and another flap presented superficial epidermolysis. There were no cases of complete flap loss. All the patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy without loss of volume or retractions. Mean follow-up was 15 months. At 6 months, patients rated the results as excellent, good, and fair in 7, 11, and 2 cases, respectively. Conclusion: The selection of local perforator flaps to correct breast defects after conservative surgery, using preoperative color Doppler ultrasound to identify the vascular pedicle and a specific algorithm, allowed us to obtain satisfactory aesthetic results without the need for alloplastic elements or subsequent revisions.
Jejunal lipomas are rare benign mesenchymal tumors made up of adipocytes confined to the submucosa layer. They are usually asymptomatic and are incidentally found during imaging or endoscopic tests. Those measuring > 2 cm may become symptomatic as a result of complications as intestinal intussusception, obstruction and bleeding. We herein report a rare case of intussusception of an ulcerated jejunal lipoma in an adult patient, that was diagnosticated in the setting of an intestinal hemorrhage.
Extramedullary hematopoietic tumors are rare and characterized by the presence of hematopoietic elements at various stages of maturity, atypical megakaryocytes, and fibroblastic proliferation. We report the case of a patient with sclerosing extramedullary hematopoietic tumor of the spleen.The patient was 71-year-old man with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and hepatitis C virus infection. Multiple spleen lesions were identified in imaging tests during workup due to abdominal discomfort. Although a vascular tumor was suspected, laparoscopic splenectomy was decided after considering other possible causes. The pathology examination revealed a sclerosing extramedullary hematopoietic tumor of the spleen, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical tests. These tumors are usually single or, less frequently, multiple lesions affecting different organs and are associated with chronic myeloproliferative syndromes. The histologic confirmation is mandatory due to their similarity to malignant tumors. Extramedullary hematopoietic tumors are rare, and there is little scientific clinical evidence regarding their diagnosis and management. The histological confirmation is mandatory due to their similarity to malignant tumors.
Background: Gastric cancer (GC) represents a public health problem in Colombia and worldwide. Since most patients are at advanced stages at the time of diagnosis, it is necessary to develop management strategies as conversion therapy (CT). Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the results of CT for treating patients with advanced and GC at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de Colombia (INC). Material and methods: We included patients with incurable gastric cancer who underwent induction chemotherapy and intended curative surgery between 2010 and 2021. The clinical and pathological data and survival of the patients included were retrospectively reviewed. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the time of initiation of chemotherapy until the date of death. Survival functions were estimated using the life table and Kaplan-Meier methods, and survival curves at 3 and 5 years were constructed. Results: 23 patients were analyzed; mean age was 56 years, and 17 (74%) were men. The most common criterion indicating unresectability was a T4b tumor in 13 cases (56.5%). All the patients underwent CT. Median follow-up was 28 months. Eleven patients developed disease recurrence (52%). Median survival was 41.2 months, and 3- and 5-year OS was 57.7% and 38.5%, respectively. Conclusions: CT provided an acceptable OS rate for selected patients with incurable advanced GC. This strategy requires a
When reading a scientific manuscript, it is common to notice a lack of a core idea throughout the work. This means that the manuscript is composed of different parts that have little relationship with each other, creating a true chimera (a mythological animal made up of parts of different animals).A research work must have a core idea, a backbone that supports and develops the project. This backbone provides coherence and cohesion to the entire scientific work and should be based on the research question. The research question is the beginning and the most important aspect of the study, and all other components should be structured around it
Subcapsular liver hematoma is a rare complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. It can be potentially fatal and may result in rupture, massive bleeding, compression of the portal vein with thrombosis, necrosis and serious infections that require aggressive management. We report the case of a patient with acute cholangitis who developed a subcapsular liver hematoma after undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, complicated with hepatic necrosis due to compression of the portal vein pedicle and infected hepatic necrosis requiring an emergency right hepatectomy.
The use of meshes for abdominal wall repair has been widely accepted worldwide; however, serious complications may occur, such as foreign body reaction, mesh migration, penetration into the peritoneal cavity and even migration into the preperitoneal space mimicking colorectal cancer. The aim of this paper is to report a case of intestinal obstruction secondary to mesh migration into the peritoneal cavity in a previously asymptomatic patient who underwent left inguinal hernia repair 10 years prior to admission.
Background: Different publications have examined the pathophysiology of bile duct injury (BDI), bur few studies have investigated the effects of BDIs and their subsequent repair on psychosocial and health-related quality of life Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life of patients before and after definitive BDI repair. Material and methods: The SF-36 Health Survey was used as an instrument to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a series of patients operated on between December 2015 and June 2019 for BDI repair. Results: Of 48 patients who underwent BDI repair, 22 (46%) responded to the survey. The SF-36 items, which includes different domains (physical functioning, physical role functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role functioning, mental health, and health transition) were compared. All domains demonstrated statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) following repair. On univariate analysis, mental health was affected by the presence of a complex injury (p = 0.019), and physical and emotional role functioning before BDI repair were associated with the type of injury of the Strasberg classification (p = 0.001 and p = 0.032, respectively). An associated vascular injury had a negative correlation with physical functioning (p = 0.019), vitality (p = 0.033), mental health (p = 0.005), and pain (p = 0.026) prior to repair. Conclusion: The definitive resolution of BDIs at a center specialized in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery resulted in a significant improvement of patients’ quality of life
Background: Non-invasive conservative treatment of splenic trauma reduces the rate of unnecessary surgical interventions and depends on the type of healthcare center involved. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the outcomes of non-invasive conservative treatment in patients with blunt abdominal trauma and splenic injury and their correlation with the preoperative variables. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective and observational study of patients admitted with blunt abdominal trauma and splenic injury between 2012 and 2022. The variables analyzed were kinematics of trauma, lesion severity on computed tomography images, amount of hemoperitoneum, type of unit of hospitalization and results of non-invasive conservative treatment. Results: Among 102 patients, the most common kinematics of trauma was motorcycle-to-car collisions (47.1%); the success rate of non-invasive conservative treatment was 66.6%, and was associated with lesion severity on computed tomography images (p < 0.001), amount of hemoperitoneum (p < 0.001), presence of other injuries (p < 0.001), severe trauma brain injury (p < 0.009), and type of unit of hospitalization (p < 0.002). Conclusion: Despite the absence of recommended human and technological resources, the results of non-invasive conservative treatment in this series were comparable to those obtained in high complexity centers.
Caroli’s disease is a congenital disorder caused by a defect of the ductal plate. The clinical picture includes intrahepatic duct lithiasis and recurrent cholangitis usually in young people. The imaging tests reveal the presence of multifocal and segmental dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma can develop as a long-term complication of chronic bile duct inflammation and should always be considered as a differential diagnosis. We describe a rare case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with bile duct obstruction after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and required resection of liver segments II and III due to Caroli’s disease with a favorable outcome.
Nodular fasciitis is a rare and benign neoplasm of the soft tissues that can occur in any region of the body and require surgical treatment. We report the case of a 41-year-old female patient with a lateral neck tumor which reached a size of 74.7 × 32.5 mm after two years. The tumor was completely removed under general anesthesia. The pathological examination reported proliferation of myofibroblasts, suggestive of nodular fasciitis. The patient evolved homolateral Claude Bernard Syndrome, without local complications and mild weakness of the ipsilateral arm which improved after 60 days with kinesiotherapy. This condition should be considered among the differential diagnoses of lateral neck tumors.
Educational changes present a challenge for teachers in terms of how to effectively teach and enhance student performance. Surgery demands manual dexterity that reflects critical thinking and the ability to make efficient decisions quickly in complex situations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a tool that can enhance the performance of both undergraduate and graduate students and improve clinical outcomes. The role of traditional teaching and the future of surgical education need to be addressed.
Insulinomas are rare pancreatic tumors usually benign with an incidence of 0.4%. They are more common in women with a female-to-male ratio of 2:1. It is the most common functioning neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas and is responsible for 70-75% of hyperinsulinemia in clinical practice1. The diagnosis is often a challenge, and a delay in diagnosis can have serious consequences for the patient. Surgical treatment is curative in more than 90% of cases, and the conservative approach is the treatment of choice whenever possible. We report the case of a cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy (CPD) due to an insulinoma in a male patient with a previous misdiagnosis of a neuropsychiatric disorder treated with anticonvulsants.
Background: The absence of the penis causes serious physical limitations and psychosocial distress. Phallic reconstruction (PR) is a complex procedure because it involves the restoration of morphological and functional aspects. The radial forearm flap (RFF) is one of the best options for PR. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the results of a series of patients undergoing PR using RFF. Material and methods: We conducted a descriptive observational study by reviewing the records of patients who underwent PR with RFF not related to gender dysphoria between July 2014 and July 2017. Results: Three patients aged 27, 36, and 22 years underwent reconstruction for traumatic amputation, oncologic treatment sequelae, and congenital defect, respectively. None of the patients developed flap necrosis. Somatic sensation was effective in all three cases and erogenous sensation in one. All patients reported overall satisfaction with the procedure. Conclusion: The use of RFF for PR by a multidisciplinary team produced satisfactory and uncomplicated results. Urethral reconstruction should be decided depending on each patient.
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we observed an increase in morbidity and mortality secondary to surgical procedures. The mortality rate for elective surgery is estimated at 19.1% and is 26% for emergency procedures. Additionally, approximately half of patients who undergo surgery while infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience postoperative pulmonary complications. Due to limitations caused by the health emergency, cancer treatments in our country have been affected in terms of hospitalization capabilities and implementation of chemotherapy treatments. We report the first ALPPS (associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy) procedure performed in northeastern Argentina on a patient with multiple colorectal metastases during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with successful outcomes.
Background: Major abdominal surgeries may present serious postoperative complications that require early diagnosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) for the early diagnosis of major abdominal surgery complications. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational and descriptive study using data obtained from the medical records of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery in a private hospital. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of symptoms suggesting a postoperative complication. Patients with symptoms were classified into 3 groups: without CT, with CT with positive findings and with CT without abnormal findings. Results: A total of 154 patients were analyzed; mean age was 61.3 ± 12.5 years and 83 (54%) were male. Of 48 patients (31%) with symptoms suggestive of complications, 6 had very evident symptoms and were re-operated without CT, 7 had positive findings on CT and CT was negative in 14/41. All the patients had findings that supported the decision to re-operate. There were 27 cases (17.5%) with grade 3b complications of the Clavien-Dindo classification and 3 patients (2%) died. Conclusion: Computed tomography was useful to confirm a complication, but not to rule it out. Clinical parameters remain of utmost importance in patients with symptoms and absence of abnormal findings in post-operative CT.
Analytical observational studies are epidemiologic research designs in which the investigator merely observes the natural course of events without active intervention in the research subject or strict control of the environment. They are often used when it is not feasible or ethical to intervene or manipulate study variables1,2. The term analytical refers specifically to those studies that analyze and compare two groups of subjects and, if well designed, can be used to make inferences about the general population. The research design that is chosen is closely related to the research question that needs to be answered and the objectives of the study. For instance, cross-sectional studies are used to evaluate the prevalence of a condition at a specific point in time, while cohort studies are utilized to analyze the impact of various exposures, including risk and protective factors, on an event of interest.
