PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

A Maffei-Faccioli

Publications and source records attributed to A Maffei-Faccioli.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Splenic Doppler impedance indices: influence of different portal hemodynamic conditions.

The spleen plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and maintenance of portal hypertension. Few data exist about splenic hemodynamics evaluated by duplex sonography in this condition. Twenty-six normal subjects, 207 patients with portal hypertension of various causes, and in different splenoportal hemodynamic conditions, and 31 patients with liver transplantation were evaluated. In each patient the splenic resistive index (RI = peak systolic--end diastolic velocity/peak systolic velocity) and pulsatility index (PI = peak systolic--end diastolic velocity/mean velocity) were measured. In 17 cirrhotic patients, splenic indices were compared with portal hemodynamics as invasively evaluated by hepatic vein catheterization. In the various groups, RI and PI were respectively: normal subjects, 0.51 +/- 0.05 and 0.72 +/- 0.11; cirrhotic patients with hepatopetal portal blood flow (n = 167), 0.64 +/- 0.08 and 1.03 +/- 0.24; cirrhotic patients with hepatofugal portal flow (n = 3), 0.74 +/- 0.08 and 1.27 +/- 0.08; cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis (n = 9), 0.74 +/- 0.08 and 1.36 +/- 0.34; patients with noncirrhotic obstruction of the portal system (n = 7), 0.69 +/- 0.11 and 1.16 +/- 0.28; cirrhotic patients with surgical decompression of splenic vein system (n = 21), 0.54 +/- 0.07 and 0.76 +/- 0.15; patients with liver transplantation (n = 31), 0.50 +/- 0.08 and 0.70 +/- 0.15. Both RI and PI were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients with hepatopetal portal flow compared with controls (P < .0001), and even higher in cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis (P < .004 and P < .001 in comparison with RI and PI values of cirrhotic patients). In patients with noncirrhotic portal vein thrombosis, splenic impedance indices were higher than those in controls (RI and PI P < .0001). Cirrhotic patients who underwent surgery for the therapy of portal hypertension showed splenic impedance indices significantly decreased compared with other cirrhotic patients (RI and PI P < .0001). In patients who underwent liver transplantation, splenic impedance indices were the same as those in controls. In 23 of the 52 patients surgically treated (surgical shunt or liver transplantation), impedance indices were evaluated both before and after surgical treatment. All these patients showed a decrease in splenic impedance indices (RI and PI, P < .0001) after surgical treatment. RI and PI values were higher in patients with large esophageal varices as compared with patients without or with small varices (P < .02 and P < .01). RI and PI values were not related to age, mean arterial pressure, sex, Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, presence of ascites, or cause. A significant correlation was found between splenic impedance indices and portal resistance as evaluated by hepatic vein catheterization (r = .80, P < .001 for RI values; r = .87, P < .001 for PI values). In conclusion, this study shows that splenic impedance indices are increased in cirrhotic patients, and seems to demonstrate that in patients with cirrhosis these indices reflect portal vein blood flow resistance.

Adult

Implication of laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology in the staging of early pancreatic cancer.

Staging of pancreatic cancer still represents a challenge for surgeons involved in this field. Diagnostic methods of radiological imaging used routinely (CT, NMR, angiography) may understage this neoplasm. In fact, the presence of peritoneal or subglissonian hepatic micrometastases (< 2 cm) is a frequent surprise at laparotomy and forces the surgeon to use a palliative procedure. Actually this policy has not to be followed because the possibility to perform non-surgical palliation of jaundice or pain respectively by percutaneous radiological stent insertion and celiac alcoholization. In this viewpoint, preoperative staging has acquired an important role for a correct treatment, be it surgical or medical. Laparoscopy allows it to overcome the understaging produced by the more common diagnostic means, with the possibility to view directly the celomatic space and the surface of the abdominal viscera; moreover, during this procedure it is possible to perform a peritoneal washing to obtain other information about the cancer stage. In our experience, 56 patients were judged as resectable by radiologic methods; 31 were excluded from surgery by laparoscopy; 10 of the remaining 25 cases were submitted to radical resection. The operative resectability rate resulted in 40%, against 18% in cases where we submitted to surgery all the patients. Seven patients underwent peritoneal washing, always with a negative result; all were submitted to surgery and radically resected. In our opinion, laparoscopy and peritoneal washing represent useful tools in the staging of patients affected by pancreatic cancer.

Ascitic Fluid

Pancreatic cancer and retroperitoneal neural tissue invasion. Its implication for survival following radical surgery.

To analyze the implication of retroperitoneal perineural lymphatic infiltration (rpli) for the survival of patients affected by exocrine pancreatic cancer, we considered 17 cases which underwent radical resection at our Institute from 1980 to 1993. Histology of specimens showed an rpli in 15 cases, without any correlation between this anatomopathologic aspect and the neoplasm size or the presence of lymph node metastases. The 2 patients without rpli are both alive and have been free from disease during a follow-up period of more than 5 years. In the group of 15 patients with positive rpli, 3 (21.4%) have remained free from disease (2 alive and 1 dead for other reason). Eleven remained with disease (1 is alive and 10 have died). One died in the postoperative period and could not be included in the evaluation. These observations have led the surgeon to consider the necessity, during resection, of an accurate dissection not only of the regional lymph nodes but also of the retropancreatic tissue and the neural structures present in this area. This approach may lead to a more correct staging of the neoplasia, a better radical surgery and perhaps a longer survival. Moreover it may represent an important marker for an adjuvant protocol of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Duodenum

[Isolated rupture of the right hemidiaphragm with complete herniation of the liver into the thorax. Considerations of diagnosis and therapy].

The Authors report a case of right diaphragmatic hernia due to road-traffic accident. They discuss the problems of early diagnosis because it is delayed for multiple associated lesions or a low index of suspicion. The ratio of laceration of the left side to that of the right is twenty to one. The clinical and diagnostic data best able to lead to a rapid preoperative diagnosis are considered. The Authors recommended early operative treatment and the thoracic approach; thoracoabdominal incisions are more suitable whenever abdominal lesions are coexisting. The Authors stress the use of safety belts with three point fastener which have significantly decreases cranial and abdominal lesions, particularly if associated with two rolls up.

Accidents, Traffic

Selective variceal decompression and its role relative to other therapies.

Seventy patients, selected from 265 patients with proved variceal bleeding, underwent a distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) procedure with or without splenopancreatic disconnection (SPD). Alcoholic cirrhosis was the cause of portal hypertension in 57% of the patients. The operative mortality was 13% (Child's classes A and B 2%, class C 66%). Despite fewer varices in all of the patients, variceal rebleeding and death occurred in one patient (2%). Late portal perfusion was observed in 91% of the patients, with worsening in 23%, compared with the preoperative study. Persistent hepatocyte necrosis and incomplete SPD were the most significant prognostic factors for decreased perfusion (presence and absence of necrosis, 38% and 12%, respectively; DSRS and DSRS with SPD, 43% and 12%, respectively). SPD also decreased ongoing hepatocyte damage. Post-shunt encephalopathy was clinically evident in 7% of the patients, but after electroencephalographic evaluation, it increased to 24.6%. Significant factors in its development included decreased portal perfusion (62% versus 14%), active hepatitis (48% versus 17%), and incomplete SPD (43% versus 14%). The higher late liver-related mortality was associated with a lack of or decreased portal perfusion and the absence of SPD.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices

[Surgical treatment of post-traumatic mobile costal flaps].

Twelve cases of surgical management of post-traumatic mobile costal flap are reported. An account is given of the indications for surgery and the various types of costal immobilisation suitable for the anatomical features of the flap. The technique is described in detail and the results are discussed.

Adult

[Sulfobromophthalein clearance and survival of cirrhotics after an elective porto-systemic shunt].

Preoperative clearance of a single dose of BSP was assessed in 72 candidates for porto-systemic shunt in cirrhosis of the liver. Comparison between those who had died (24) and those who had survived (48) several years later showed statistically significant differences with regard to equivalent liver volume, first uncorrected exponential (Ki), absolute clearance, and 45' retention. A certain degree of differentiation could be made out among the survivors, whereas those who had died could not be distinguished from the series as a whole, nor could correlations be established with the length of survival. No practical advantage was displayed by the more complex, computer-processed parameters as opposed to those that were more immediately available.

Adolescent