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Biomedical subjects

M Bezzi

Publications and source records attributed to M Bezzi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Sexual and bladder dysfunctions following surgery for rectal carcinoma.

A series of 475 patients who underwent surgery for rectal carcinoma were followed up and entered this study. Sexual and bladder function before and after surgery with respect to the surgical procedure was considered. 221 patients gave suitable information about their urinary function: bladder dysfunction was observed in 20% of amputated patients as against 13-14% of resected patients. 144 patients (103 males and 41 females) were available for a follow-up study of the sexual function. Sexual intercourse, libido, erection, ejaculation, dyspareunia, vaginal humidification, orgasm were the parameters examined. Almost all of them were more affected after abdominoperineal resection than after low anterior resection with manual or stapled anastomosis, although the difference was not always significant. In a few instances the rates were inverted. It is believed that these dysfunctions are not related to the type of surgery, but to required extent of radicality. Extreme care should be always taken when dissecting the end portion of the rectum to avoid injuries to the hypogastric plexus and the pudendal nerve.

Ejaculation↗

Preoperative staging of rectal cancer: validity of the abdominopelvic angio-C.T.

The role of preoperative staging in the treatment of rectal cancer is emphasized. To this purpose, the use of abdominopelvic angio-C.T., which was carried out in 14 cases, is examined. Preoperative staging obtained by this method is compared with the postoperative one assessed by UYCC classification, modified by AYCC. Its diagnostic and prognostic role is evaluated in relation to the other methods. The validity of abdominopelvic angio-C.T. for a correct therapeutic approach is confirmed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Surgical treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

The experience with 28 patients undergoing hepatic resection for metastases from colorectal cancer is reported. In 15 cases the metastases were synchronous, in 13 metachronous, appearing 12 to 60 months after surgery of primary cancer. Six patients underwent right lobectomy, 2 left lobectomy, 9 left lateral segmentectomy, 6 right wedge resection and 2 bilateral wedge resection. In 20 cases the lesions were solitary, in 8 multiple. Overall operative mortality was 14.2%. Mean survival for synchronous metastases was 16 months with 3 patients living beyond 12 months, and 26 months for metachronous metastases with 4 patients living beyond 12 months. The obtained results are analyzed on the basis of staging of primary cancer, of the metastatic disease and type of resection, examining the morbidity and cause of long term mortality. It is evidenced that, even if correct pre- and intraoperative staging of metastatic disease is impossible, an aggressive surgical approach is the treatment of choice in surgically resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Intraoperative high-resolution hepatosonography in the detection of occult metastases in colorectal carcinoma.

During surgery of colorectal cancer, real time B-mode high resolution ultrasound scanning was employed intraoperatively in 25 consecutive patients free of metastases at preoperative evaluation, to localize hepatic deposits. Results showed that intraoperative ultrasonography is a safe and simple technique providing the surgeon with accurate informations which may affect surgical technique as for -) extended indications for hepatic resection -) reduction of resections oncologically useless -) a more correct staging of resected colorectal cancer -) reduction of false positives at second look guided by CEA elevation.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

Intraoperative high-resolution ultrasonography in the localization of occult endocrine pancreatic tumours.

Intraoperative pancraticosonography was employed in six patients to localize suspected endocrine tumours and to study the specific ultrasonic features. The cases included four insulinomas, one case of occult G-cell apudoma and one case of beta-cell microadenomatosis. Endocrine tumours are generally hypoechoeic and well defined with smooth borders. The study confirms that real-time operative high resolution sonography is a reliable technique to assist in the diagnosis of occult endocrine tumours and to guide the surgical approach.

Adenoma↗

Percutaneous management of benign biliary strictures with balloon dilation and self-expanding metallic stents.

Seventy patients with benign biliary strictures were treated by means of percutaneous balloon dilation and stenting. Patients with stenoses relapsing during catheter stenting (18/70) were treated with self-expanding metallic stents. Results were evaluated in 56 patients; in patients without sclerosing cholangitis (n = 47) the patency rate with both modalities of treatment was 96%, while in the patients with secondary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 9), it was 33%, for a total success rate of 86%. The average follow-up was 23 months (range 3-72 months). Major complications included one death for septic shock (1%), three severe hemorrhages (4%), two of which required arterial embolization, two pleural effusions (3%), and one liver abscess following arterial embolization. Moderate fever for 1-2 days was a common finding after percutaneous puncture and balloon dilation. Percutaneous management of benign biliary strictures so far has been attempted only in surgical failures or in complicated cases. In view of our midterm results it may well become the initial treatment in many patients.

Adult↗

Metallic stents in benign biliary strictures: three-year follow-up.

Eighteen patients with recurrent benign biliary strictures (BBS) were selected for metallic stents placement because they failed to respond to percutaneous balloon dilatation. None were candidates for surgical corrections. We used "Z" single or double stents in 17 cases and a Wallstent in 1 case. After more than 3 years of follow-up (average period 37 months, range 30-41 months), 10 patients (55.5%) were asymptomatic without signs of bile stasis; 5 patients (27.7%) had recurrence of symptoms and were eventually retreated; and 3 patients (16.6%) died, 2 of obstructive jaundice and liver failure and 1 of metastatic gastric cancer. Recurrence was due to stent occlusion by tissue ingrowth in 3 cases, stent migration in 1 case, and an inflammatory lesion of the papilla of Vater in another case, with patency of the metallic stent. The overall patency rate, at 3-year follow-up was 68.7%. In our series, the main factor determining long-term patency of metallic stents has been reactive tissue ingrowth. Nevertheless, long-term results obtained with metallic stents in recurrent benign biliary strictures should be considered satisfactory. In selected patients, metallic stents may represent the only long-term treatment available for maintaining bile flow.

Adult↗

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in portal vein thrombosis: role of the right gastric vein with anomalous insertion.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was performed in two patients with portal vein thrombosis. In both patients, hepatopetal flow had been maintained by an anomalous insertion of the right gastric vein (RGV) into the portal vein bifurcation and into the left portal branch respectively. In one patient, the main portal trunk could not be recanalized and the RGV was used as an accessory portal vein to place one stent for TIPS. In the other case, access through the partial portal-vein occlusion was gained and three stents were placed from the hepatic vein to the main portal vein distal to the thrombus. In portal vein thrombosis, the aberrant insertion of the RGV into the left or right portal branches may maintain patency of the intrahepatic portal system and, in case of unsuccessful recanalization of the porta, may represent the sole pathway for placing a TIPS.

Collateral Circulation↗

Clinical experience with covered wallstents for biliary malignancies: 23-month follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of partially covered metallic Wallstents to prevent tumoral ingrowth in patients with neoplastic obstruction of the biliary tract. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with malignant obstructive jaundice have been treated with Wallstents partially covered with a polyurethane polymer. In total, 36 covered stents (8 and 10 mm in diameter, 70 and 90 mm long) were deployed. All the stents were free from covering at both ends. RESULTS: Jaundice was successfully treated in 100% of cases. There were no problems related to the releasing system during stent positioning, no major complications, and no incompatibility reactions to the materials composing the endoprostheses. At 23-month follow-up, 6 patients are still alive and 15 are dead; of these 15 patients, 11 died in the first 6 months and the last 4 died between 6 and 23 months. Seven patients had an obstructed stent; in four of these, cholangioscopy showed the presence of tumoral ingrowth and in one it showed necrotic tissue with biliary pigments and inflammatory cells. No biopsy specimen was obtained in the remaining two patients with stent obstruction. The follow-up, ranging from 7 to 23 months, showed a primary patency of 46.8% and 24.6% and an assisted patency of 66.3% and 59% at 6 months and 23 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Covered metallic stents are effective and may produce improved survival in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (27. 8% at 23 months). Stent patency, however, is similar to that of uncovered stents. Modifications in the design of the covering membrane may reduce stent obstruction resulting from disruption of the plastic covering.

Aged↗

Metallic stents in malignant biliary obstruction: results of a multicenter European study of 240 patients.

PURPOSE: In this retrospective multicenter study, the authors analyzed the clinical efficacy of different metallic stents in the palliative treatment of patients with neoplastic obstructive jaundice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred forty patients were treated in four European centers. Causes of obstruction were pancreatic carcinoma (n = 84), biliary neoplasm (n = 99), metastases in hilar nodes (n = 34), primary or secondary liver tumors (n = 4), and other tumors (n = 19). A total of 388 metallic stents were used: 300 Wallstents, 35 nitinol Strecker stents, 40 Gianturco-Rosch Z stents, and 13 tantalum Strecker stents. RESULTS: Overall 25- and 50-week survival rates were 42% and 16%, respectively; the 30-day mortality rate was 14.6%. Two deaths were related to the procedure (0.8%); 19 patients (8%) had major complications. The 25-week patency rate was significantly higher for the nitinol Strecker stents and the Wallstents (78% and 67%, respectively) than for the Z stents and the tantalum Strecker stents (30% and 20%, respectively) (P < .01 and P < .001, respectively). Average patency was 8.3, 5.9, 2.3, and 4.0 months, respectively. Reintervention due to stent obstruction was necessary in 53 patients. CONCLUSION: The Wallstent and the nitinol Strecker stents were the most effective in achieving long-term palliation. Patency was significantly affected by the level of obstruction but not by the type of obstructing tumor.

Aged↗

Self-expandable nitinol stent for the management of biliary obstruction: long-term clinical results.

PURPOSE: Technical characteristics and clinical efficacy of a new metallic stent for the management of biliary obstruction were investigated in a clinical study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1991 to January 1993, 35 self-expandable, nickel-titanium alloy wire-mesh stents (diameter, 10 mm; length, 6 cm) were placed in 19 patients with obstructive jaundice due to cholangiocarcinoma (n = 6), pancreatic carcinoma (n = 5), lymph node metastasis to the liver hilum (n = 5), gallbladder carcinoma (n = 2), and intraductal papillary mucosal hyperplasia (n = 1). RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in 18 of 19 patients. In one patient, stent dislodgement occurred after correct release; no other procedure-related complications or deaths occurred within 30 days following the procedure. Two (11%) of the remaining 18 patients are alive at 11 months; 16 (89%) died after a mean survival of 7.4 months. Two of three patients with stent obstruction underwent repeated intervention. Adequate palliation from jaundice was achieved without further intervention in 83% of cases. The mean stent patency was not less than 7 months. CONCLUSION: Use of these metallic stents reestablished bile flow in the occluded biliary tree. Their efficacy and patency rate were also adequate.

Aged↗