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Biomedical subjects

F Stipa

Publications and source records attributed to F Stipa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Occlusion of the duct with a fibrin glue and preservation of the pylorus after resection of the duodenum and head of the pancreas for periampullary carcinoma].

Dehiscence of pancreaticojejunostomy represent the main technical postoperative complication after duodenocephalopancreasectomy for periampullary carcinoma. The incidence of this complication is particularly high in cases of narrow duct and a tender pancreatic gland. In this case the authors suggest a technique of occlusion of the residual pancreatic stump using a fibrin sealant. This approach was utilized in 6 consecutive patients affected by resectable periampullary carcinoma. No postoperative mortality was observed. Pancreatic fistula developed in 5 cases and all of them resolved spontaneously in 1-4 months. The sixth patient underwent, at 3 months p-o, a CT-guided percutaneous aspiration of an intraabdominal fluid collection and with no further complications. 3 patients died at 3, 9 and 11 months because of liver metastases. Currently 3 patients are alive and apparently disease free at 25, 7 and 5 months. Pancreatic endocrine function was assessed in 5 patients at 3 months p-o. Blood glucose and insulin, glucagon and C-peptide plasma levels, all fasting and 1 our after a standard meal, revealed a normal glucose metabolism. The authors conclude that, since fibrin sealant avoids the pancreatic fibrosis which could be induced by non-absorbable polymers and the benign evolution of this type of pancreatic fistula, this method for handling the exocrine secretion is a safe and satisfactory approach which is particularly indicated in case of a pancreatic stump at risk for intestinal anastomoses.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Indications and limitations of the surgical treatment of portal hypertension].

The authors report a review of the literature and describe their personal experience with treating esophageal varices; all types of surgical approaches (selective and total shunts, esophageal transection) are examined and compared to the results obtained with non surgical treatment (particularly endoscopic sclerotherapy). Indications and results of surgical treatment are discussed from three definitive viewpoints: prevention of first bleeding or prophylactic treatment, control of acute bleeding or emergency treatment and prevention of rebleeding or elective treatment.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

Pylorus-preserving total pancreatectomy and segmental pancreas autotransplantation.

12 patients affected by periampullary neoplasms underwent surgery consisting of modified pylorus-preserving total pancreatectomy. In 8 of these patients, a segmental pancreas autotransplantation was performed by anastomosing the splenic to the femoral vessels in the Scarpa's triangle. The pancreas was treated by irradiation to inhibit the exocrine function. Gastric emptying was studied in 9 survivors by upper gastrointestinal barium series. In 6 patients gastric emptying and pyloric function were also evaluated by radionuclide studies. In 3 patients the transplanted pancreas had to be removed within the second postoperative week because of graft thrombosis, infection or hemorrhage. In a mean follow-up of 16 months (range: 6-20 months) the remaining 5 transplants showed a good endocrine activity until the beginning of antiblastic treatment for hepatic metastasis (3 cases), pancreatic fibrosis (1 case) or the patient's death (2 case). At present no graft is still functioning.

Adult↗

Squamous-cell carcinoma of the colon. Experience at the University of Chicago, review of the literature, report of two cases.

Primary squamous-cell and adenosquamous-cell carcinoma of the colon are uncommon and their characteristics not well known. This paper reports the clinical features and pathologic findings of two colonic adenosquamous carcinomas and reviews other reports of adenosquamous and squamous carcinoma of the colon from the English medical literature. Including these two cases, 63 cases have been reported since 1927. Of these, six occurred in patients with ulcerative colitis, three occurred at the colonic opening of chronic colocutaneous fistulas, and concomitant schistosomiasis was present in two patients. Synchronous squamous-cell carcinoma of the colon was present in 3.2 percent of cases and 10 percent had either antecedent, synchronous, or metachronous adenocarcinoma of the colon. These lesions appeared to be distributed uniformly throughout the colon. The five-year survival after resective therapy for primary squamous-cell and adenosquamous-cell carcinoma of the colon calculated with life table analysis is 50 percent for Dukes' B lesions, 33 percent for Dukes' C lesions, and 0 percent for Dukes' D lesions.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Nuclear DNA analysis of insulinomas and gastrinomas.

The potential for malignancy of an islet cell tumor of the pancreas is difficult to cytologically judge when one evaluates only the primary lesion, because a malignant condition is usually determined by the presence of regional or distant metastases. Nuclear DNA cytometric measurements have proved helpful both in the evaluation of the malignant potential of other endocrine and nonendocrine lesions and in the determination of the "aggressiveness" of these tumors. Thirty-six islet cell tumors or their metastases from 25 patients were studied. Eleven patients had insulinomas and typical insulinoma syndromes, and 14 others had gastrinomas with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Tissue from each tumor was stained by the Feulgen technique, and nuclear DNA cytometry was performed by means of the microTICAS system designed by the Cytopathology Laboratory of the University of Chicago. Ploidy measurements of insulinomas, taken alone, did not discriminate well between benign and malignant states. However, the single malignant insulinoma could be clearly recognized, for it was one of only two lesions in that group with 5N-exceeding rate (5N-ER) values of 1% or greater. (5N-ER is defined as the percentage of aneuploid nuclei with nuclear DNA content greater than 5N.) On the other hand, seven of eight malignant gastrinomas had ploidy values of 2.5N or greater (our definition of an aneuploid state) and/or had 5N-ER values of 1% or greater, while five of six benign gastrinomas had ploidy values of less than 2.5N and had 5N-ER values of 0%. In addition, the two most aggressive tumors had the highest ploidy and 5N-ER values. Nuclear DNA cytometric studies appear to offer promise as an aid in the evaluation of pancreatic islet cell tumors, particularly gastrinomas.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

[Papillomatosis of the bile ducts: a clinical case].

A case of diffuse papillomatosis of the bile duct, treated with external biliary drainage, is reported on account of its rarity. The extent and anatomopathological characteristics of the lesion make radical surgery impossible, so that the above-stated surgical solution appears to the Authors to be the most suitable one for resolving the biliary stasis and consequent cirrhosis.

Aged↗

Total shunting and elective management of variceal bleeding.

A 20-year experience with treatment of esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis is reported. Considering that total shunts are well tolerated immediately after operation (hospital mortality rate for all elective procedures being 6.4%), that they offer a good protection against rebleeding (rebleeding variceal rate of 7.6%), and that they offer the same long-term survival as given by other shunts (5- and 10-year survival rates of 57% and 31%, respectively), the authors affirm that these kinds of shunts are still useful in well selected cases. Late follow-up results of a prospective randomized trial of elective mesocaval shunts compared to portacaval shunt have shown no significant differences in operative mortality, rebleeding rates, encephalopathy rates, or survival. Based on this information, the authors currently use portacaval shunt as their operation of choice.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Early MR follow-up of partial hepatectomy.

Twenty-seven patients were studied with MRI between 3 and 40 days following partial liver resection. Twenty-four patients had undergone major hepatectomy (three to six segments) and three had undergone minor hepatectomy (tumorectomy, one; bisegmentectomy, two). Indications for surgery were as follows: metastases (n = 16), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 5), hemangioma (n = 3), focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 2), and cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1). A total of 36 MR examinations were performed using a 1.5 T superconducting unit. Three patients were studied three times and three patients were studied twice. The MR images were evaluated to detect and to characterize liver parenchymal abnormalities and intraabdominal fluid or blood collections as well as to assess vascular and/or graft patency. The MR images showed hepatic ischemia in two cases and allowed differentiation between intraabdominal hemorrhagic (n = 30 and nonhemorrhagic (n = 4) fluid collections. Gradient echo images allowed assessment of polytetrafluoroethylene graft patency as well as demonstration of iliac vein (one case) and portal vein (one case) thrombosis. The presence of surgical clips at the resection margins did not affect image quality.

Adult↗

[Transverse minilaparotomy as an access route in right colon disease: a valid alternative to midline laparotomy].

AIMS OF THE STUDY: 1. To evaluate the feasibility and appropriateness of transverse right minilaparotomy for right colectomy and lymphadenectomy. 2. To identify the clinical advantages, if any, of this access route compared to the more traditional midline incision. PATIENTS: 44 patients with right colon adenocarcinoma undergoing colonic resection via a transverse or midline laparotomy. METHODS: The transverse incision starts 1 cm above the umbilicus, running from the midline to the anterior axillary line. RESULTS: 17 (39%) transverse minilaparotomies and 27 (51%) midline laparotomies were performed, respectively. The mean operative time was 107 min for patients with the transverse incision and 157 min. for those with midline laparotomy. Twelve out of 17 patients (70%) with the transverse incision experienced no or only mild pain as against 11 out of 27 patients (41%) with midline laparotomy. Bowel function was slightly faster in the first group of patients, though the difference was not statistically significant. Forty-seven percent of patients with transverse minilaparotomy were discharged within 8 days postoperatively as against 4% with midline laparotomy (P = 0.001). No major complications occurred in the first group, while 2 patients (7%) operated on via the midline laparotomy experienced complications (haemorrhage, deep venous thrombosis). CONCLUSION: Although this is a preliminary study in only 44 patients, our results support the idea that transverse minilaparotomy is a less traumatic access route to the right colon, in addition to offering an adequate exposure of the operative field, faster postoperative recovery and a shorter hospital stay. We believe it to be a good alternative to midline laparotomy for right colon surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Angiogenesis as a prognostic indicator in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis has gained wide acceptance as a reliable prognostic factor in several solid tumors. However, to date, experience in pancreatic adenocarcinoma is limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens from 45 patients radically operated on at our departments from 1988 to 1997 were stained immunohistochemically with the antibodies anti-mutant p53, anti-bcl2, anti Ki67 and anti-CD31. All the slides were reviewed by the same pathologist without knowledge of the patients' outcome. RESULTS: Mutant p53, Ki67 index and vessel count were significantly related to tumoral behaviour and patients' outcome. Among patients with nodal involvement (Stage III), cumulative survival between hypovascular and hypervascular subgroups differed significantly (p = 0.03). Angiogenesis was independent from TNM in assessing the patients'prognosis at COX analysis (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, angiogenesis is a reliable indicator of tumor extension, lymph node status and survival. Its evaluation as a common procedure may contribute to a further improvement in the management of these patients and to a proper selection of those who could benefit from different follow-up protocols or adjuvant treatment.

Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal↗

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The beginning of a new era].

An important breakthrough in the field of general surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) offers significant advantages for patients. Major reasons for the rapid worldwide acceptance of this new surgical procedure is that patients experience reduced postoperative pain, ileus is virtually abolished, and the patient is able to leave the hospital the following day without a major abdominal scar. This appears to respond to patients' desire for less invasive approaches to the treatment of gallstone disease. LC is thus becoming the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallbladder disease. Its rapidly growing popularity is evident in Italy where many centers are offering LC routinely, in alternative to open cholecystectomy. A critical appraisal of this new technology is necessary, in light of recent data from centers presenting results and complications of large series of LCs. Adequate training of surgeons who will perform LC is also becoming a major concern. In this review the authors describe patient evaluation and selection for LC. Effective therapeutic strategies are illustrated, including the central, but nevertheless controversial role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as an approach to common bile duct lithiasis. Currently, LC should be performed in centers with the availability of an endoscopist with expertise in ERCP. Following the success of LC, other minimally invasive techniques will evolve in various surgical specialties. New generations of surgeons will thus have to familiarize with these emerging techniques while maintaining a critical attitude of evaluation.

Cholecystectomy↗

[Adenocarcinoma of the cardia: results of resection with nic interposition].

The incidence of cancer of the cardia is increasing. Surgical treatment, in a small percentage of patients in early stage, consists in esophagectomy and total gastrectomy, followed by colon interposition. The operation can be performed through the thorax or by an abdominal and cervical approach. From 1982 to 1989 twenty-five patients were operated on. Between 1980 and 1982 the cancer was resected opening the thorax in 9 patients (group A), while from 1983 to 1989 the esophagus was removed through diaphragmatic hiatus in 16 patients (group B). All cases were analyzed as for histology, staging and resection margin. Average clinical follow-up was 22 +/- 32.7 months (range 1-102). Morbidity was 77.7% in group A and 68% in group B. Mortality dropped to 14% in the last 7 patients. Mean survival time was 23 +/- 34 months in group A and 11.2 +/- 13.7 months in group B (p = N.S.). Follow-up controls showed that all patients, in whom the esophagus was replaced with colon, were able to feed adequately.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Local excision of rectal tumours with transanal endoscopic microsurgery.

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) is a novel technique, first introduced by Buess and coworkers in 1983 for the treatment of large sessile polyps of the rectum. Due to the excellent results the indication was then extended also for the removal of low risk early adenocarcinomas (pT1, G1-G2). TEM allows, by using an operative proctoscope of an outside diameter of only 4 cm., all the conventional surgical manoeuvers within the rectal lumen, up to 20 cm. from the anal verge. The Authors report a consecutive series of 53 patients submitted to TEM over a 37 month period; apart from 7 patients excluded for different reasons, postoperative diagnosis showed 30 adenocarcinomas (65.2%), 15 adenomas (32.6%) and 1 epidermoidal carcinoma (2.2%). The low recurrence rate observed both for adenomas (0%) and pT1 adenocarcinomas (9%) coupled with the optimum vision allowed by the 6-fold magnified stereoscopic view, make this technique the method of choice for selected patients with these kind of pathologies.

Adenoma↗

[Unusual location of hydatid cysts: clinical and therapeutic aspects].

Among patients treated for hydatidosis, unusual sites are observed in 5-30% of cases, with highest rates in endemic areas; on these basis during the diagnostic work up of masses arising from peritoneum, spleen, mediastinum, kidney and muscle, this possibility should be always taken into account. In fact, only a preoperative diagnosis allows a correct therapeutic approach, especially when synchronous lesions coexist. In this paper the Authors report their experience in the treatment of 66 (5.2%) hydatid cysts developed in unusual sites, out of 1275 patients treated for hydatidosis from 1949 to 1993. They discuss the main pathogenetic and clinical features as well as the therapeutic management of these atypical lesions.

Echinococcosis↗

[Immunotherapy of solid tumors. Current status and prospects].

Immunotherapy is the most recent therapeutic strategy in the treatment of cancer. It has not yet achieved an elevated curative efficiency and a wide clinical application. Nevertheless the possibilities of improvement seem very promising. The knowledge of the immune response mechanisms and the first clinical trials have determined a more efficient immunotherapy. Here we will critically analyze current immunotherapeutic strategies by reviewing the latest and the most important experimental works. The latest protocols of immunotherapy have been aimed to be more integrated in the physiological immune response schemes. The orientation of the experimental works have been changed from non specific immunotherapy using lymphokines to immunotherapy with specific lymphocytes expanded in vitro and, finally, the active specific immunotherapy in vivo by modificated tumoral vaccines or by variously manipulated tumoral antigens.

Animals↗

[Immunotherapy of solid tumors. Clinical studies].

In this study we analyze the major clinical trials of immunotherapy for solid tumors. Much progress have been made in reducing the side effects and the percentage of patients which respond has increased. In immunotherapy with lymphokines the innovative orientation consist in the administration of low doses or decreasing doses and by alternative ways as regards infusion and systemically. The use of immunotherapy to stimulate the specific immune response seems to represent the most promising field from a therapeutic point of view. Studies in the field of in vitro expansion of immunocompetent cells have obtained results in the simplification of the technique and in an increase of its efficiency; moreover, at the moment, many clinical trials are involving specific immunotherapy using autologous neoplastic cells altered with adjuvant substance and the results are promising with very few side effects. In the near future immunotherapy with specific tumor antigens is sure it will play a major role.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗