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Biomedical subjects

O Goletti

Publications and source records attributed to O Goletti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intrasplenic posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm: echo color doppler diagnosis.

Nonsurgical conservative treatment of blunt splenic trauma has gained widespread consensus in the last few years. It has been demonstrated that 60% of patients with blunt abdominal trauma with spleen lesion achieve the best therapy by using conservative therapy. Despite the accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography in detecting and grading the spleen lesions, the evolution of the lesion is often unexpected. In 15 to 30% of patients, a two-stage splenic rupture may be expected within 2 weeks. Delayed complications, such as splenic abscesses and pseudoaneurysms of the splenic artery and its branches, have been observed. To prevent complications, a short follow-up has been scheduled for these patients by using US and US color Doppler. The authors propose routine echo Doppler evaluation for all patients affected by intraparenchymal hematoma after blunt abdominal trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Single and double stapled anastomoses in rectal cancer surgery; a retrospective study on the safety of the technique and its indication.

Low anterior resection is commonly believed the main indication to double stapled (DS) technique, because placing the purse-string suture on the distal rectum is difficult or impossible. This study was designed to figure out the safety of the DS technique and to better define its role in rectal cancer surgery. The data of 34 patients that had a DS anastomosis were retrospectively compared to those of 43 that had a single-stapled (SS) anastomosis after anterior resection. Three deaths after SS (7%) and one after DS procedures (3%) were recorded (p = 0.62). Rates of clinical leaks were 12% (four cases) in the DS group and 14% (six cases) in the SS group (p = 0.41). The mean distance of the rectal tumour from the anal verge was significantly lower for DS (mean = 7.7 cm) respect to SS (mean = 12.7 cm) anastomoses (p < 0.0001) and the blood consumption at surgery was significantly greater in patients that had DS (mean = 375 ml) compared to SS-anastomoses (mean = 180 ml) (p = 0.028). Thus, the DS technique was mostly used in patients at high risk for leakage. The study shows that DS technique is a safe and reliable method to perform colorectal anastomosis after anterior resection for cancer. For cancers located in the upper rectum the routine adoption of the DS increases the cost of surgery and does not offer advantages over the SS technique with the exception of making feasible end-to-end mechanical anastomoses involving bowel segments having different diameters.

Aged↗

Association between perioperative blood transfusion and dehiscence of anastomosis after rectal resection for cancer.

Perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) has proved to increase the risk of sepsis after surgery. The hypothesis that PBT also might increase the occurrence of leak of rectal anastomoses has been tested. The data of 94 patients undergone low anterior resection for rectal cancer were reviewed. Thirty-nine of them (41%) received one or more packed red cells (PRC) units perioperatively. The total dehiscence rate was 14% (13 cases), and it was significantly lower in not-transfused (4%) compared to transfused patients (28%) (p < 0.005). The risk of dehiscence was increased by six-fold if up to two, and by fifteen-fold if more than two PRC units were given. These findings suggest that leakage of rectal anastomoses should be considered among the detrimental effects of PBT. The risk of dehiscence increases with the number of units transfused. A judicious administration of blood might contribute to reduce this complication.

Aged↗

Laparoscopic compared with open appendicectomy for acute appendicitis: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefits of laparoscopic appendicectomy over open appendicectomy and to evaluate the impact of the severity of appendicitis and of peritonitis on the advantages of the laparoscopic approach. DESIGN: Prospective unrandomised study. SETTING: University hospital, Italy. SUBJECTS: 137 consecutive patients with acute appendicitis, 60 of whom were treated by open and 77 by laparoscopic appendicectomy. Patients were subdivided according to the severity of appendicitis and the presence of peritonitis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of operation, consumption of analgesics, duration of hospital stay, overall complications, wound infection. RESULTS: Hospital stay (median 2.5 days, range 1-18 compared with 4, range 2-22 p < 0.0001). and wound infection (3/77 (4%) compared with 13/60 (22%), p 0.02) were significantly lower after laparoscopic operation. The incidence of wound infection was significantly lower when subgroups were analysed separately. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital stay and wound infection rates were significantly lower after laparoscopic appendicectomy. With the exception of the wound infection rate, the variables studied may differ depending on the severity of the appendicitis and the presence of peritonitis. Result of comparative studies should be carefully interpreted when the two groups are not stratified for these features.

Acute Disease↗

Presence of endothelin-1 in the normal and pathological human thyroid.

An immunohistochemical study with two rabbit polyclonal antibodies I-AR76 and CA-08-351 against Endothelin-1 (ET-1) was performed in 133 human thyroid specimens: 5 normal thyroids, 30 multinodular goiters (15 toxic and 15 nontoxic), 20 Graves' diseases, 5 Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 26 adenomas (6 Hürthle cell, 16 toxic and 4 nontoxic), 30 classic papillary carcinomas, 3 minimally invasive follicular carcinomas, 1 widely invasive follicular carcinoma, 3 undifferentiated carcinomas and 10 medullary carcinoma. All normal thyroids, non toxic multinodular goiters and non toxic adenomas, 4 (66%) Hürthle cell adenomas, 3 (15%) Graves' diseases, 1 (33%) case of minimally invasive follicular carcinoma showed rare follicular cells with weak cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. Many immunoreactive follicular cells, with or without oxyphilic changes, were observed in all specimens of Hashimoto's disease, while the lymphocytic infiltrate was always negative. Twenty-seven (90%) classic papillary carcinomas were positive. Immunoreactivity was intracytoplasmic, weak in 14 cases and intense in 13. The cells of toxic adenoma and toxic multinodular goiter were negative, whereas the acellular stroma was intensely positive in both cases. Medullary and undifferentiated carcinomas were negative. These results show ET-1 immunoreactivity in normal and pathological human thyroids. In particular, the high content of this peptide in the thyroid papillary carcinoma suggests that ET-1, whose mitogenic role has recently been emphasized, could be involved in the growth of this tumor.

Adenoma↗

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has already been described by various authors. The present series consists of 25 consecutive, nonselected cases operated on in the Department of Surgery, University of Pisa. All operations were carried out using a minimal access technique, and there were no conversions to open surgery. The mean operative time was 109 min. The median postoperative stay was 3 days (range 2-5). There were no complications, and none of the patients required blood transfusion. This technique proved to be as safe as open surgery and caused less distress and allowed more rapid return to normal activity. Increased experience and the development of new laparoscopic equipment are expected to further reduce operative time.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Laparoscopic sonography in screening metastases from gastrointestinal cancer: comparative accuracy with traditional procedures.

The wide use of operative and diagnostic laparoscopy has led to a greater use of the laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) as a complementary procedure. A preliminary study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of LUS using a linear array laparoscopic probe characterized by double frequency, mechanical flexibility, and availability of Doppler analysis. LUS was performed in 36 patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms and compared with preoperative sonography, computed tomography, and with laparoscopy alone. LUS identified liver metastases with a sensitivity of 100% versus 60% for preoperative diagnostic means and laparoscopy. Nodal metastases were identified with a sensitivity of 96.1% and a specificity of 66.6%. Therapeutic planning was modified as result of LUS in 8 of 35 cases (22.9%). In patients with abdominal malignancy, LUS improves staging (cancer spread, nodal metastases, liver metastases), modifying therapeutic decisions. LUS represents a complementary, indispensable diagnostic method during laparoscopic surgery.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗

The role of ultrasonography in blunt abdominal trauma: results in 250 consecutive cases.

The accuracy of ultrasonography (US) in detecting abdominal lesions and free fluid collections in patients with blunt abdominal trauma was evaluated in 250 patients. Particular attention was paid to the role of associated US-guided paracentesis in doubtful cases and in those referred for nonsurgical therapy. The overall sensitivity of US in detecting free fluid collection was 98% (51 of 52 cases) with a specificity of 99% and a positive predictive value of 100%. The overall sensitivity was 93% in spleen injuries, 80% in liver injuries, and 100% in kidney lesions with a positive predictive value of 93%, 100%, and 100%, and a specificity of 99%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Three stable patients underwent celiotomy on the basis of the results of US-guided paracentesis. The versatility, sensitivity and, repeatability of US, along with its feasibility at bedside and the possibility of performing a guided paracentesis represent the main characteristics that make US the first diagnostic approach to patients with blunt abdominal trauma.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy for thyroid cysts.

Benign thyroid cysts often recur after aspiration; the effectiveness of tetracycline instillation in the case of recurrence has been questioned. We, therefore, tested the efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection in 20 patients with "pure" cyst relapsing after aspiration. After evacuation, 95% ethanol was instilled under sonographic guidance and re-aspirated 5 min later. The procedure was performed twice for larger cysts. Follow-up studies were carried out after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. In case of recurrence at 1 month, patients (n = 5) were submitted to a second session. A slight burning sensation was the only adverse effect. No recurrences were observed at 3 and 6 month follow-up; only one patient with recurrence after 1 month had relapsed at 12 months. A significant shrinkage (P < 0.0001 vs. pretreatment) was observed in all other cases at 12 months; cysts were not detectable in seven patients (35%). No significant variations in thyroid hormone levels were detected during treatment or follow-up. Serum thyroglobulin levels markedly increased 3 h after ethanol injection. One month after treatment, thyroglobulin returned to pretreatment levels, thus excluding progressive thyroid damage. Percutaneous ethanol injection may prove a safe and effective tool for the therapy of thyroid cysts.

Adult↗

Omeprazole versus ranitidine plus somatostatin in the treatment of severe gastroduodenal bleeding: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

In a randomized, controlled clinical trial omeprazole was compared with ranitidine plus somatostatin in the treatment of severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic pathology. Intravenous infusion of the drugs was administered until clinical stabilization or surgical operation. The two regimens were equally effective in controlling bleeding. The need for blood transfusion and surgical operation together with the mortality rate did not differ significantly between groups. No toxic effects were observed as a result of the infusion of omeprazole. In this study the infusion of omeprazole alone showed an efficacy comparable to the association of ranitidine and somatostatin in the treatment of severe acute peptic bleeding.

Acute Disease↗

Echolaparoscopy: an indispensable procedure for laparoscopic surgery.

The widespread use of operative and diagnostic laparoscopy leads to growing use of laparoscopic ultrasound as a complementary procedure. A preliminary study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic ultrasound using a linear array laparoscopic probe characterised by double frequency, mechanical flexibility and availability of Doppler analysis. Twenty-five cases of cholecystolithiasis were evaluated during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in comparison with laparoscopic cholangiography: no differences were observed. Nine cases of gastrointestinal neoplasms (gastric, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancer) were evaluated in comparison with preoperative sonography and computed tomography. Laparoscopic sonography improves abdominal malignancy detection (cancer spread, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis), thus modifying therapeutic decisions. The possibility of moving the probe in flexion extension movements allows a complete, multiplane exploration of operative fields. Laparoscopic sonography represents a complementary, indispensable diagnostic method during laparoscopic surgery.

Aged↗

Intraoperative sonography of biliary tree during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The use of routine cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still under debate. Previous reports have suggested that intraoperative sonography can replace cholangiography in the evaluation of common duct lithiasis during open cholecystectomy. The present study was performed to evaluate the possible role of sonography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thirty patients underwent intraoperative sonography of the biliary tree during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In cases with a diagnosis of common bile duct lithiasis, intraoperative cholangiography was performed. In 26 cases, sonography did not show the presence of stones; in three cases, stones were identified at both sonography and cholangiography; in one case, stones were diagnosed by sonography alone. In this last case, stones were confirmed on later review of cholangiogram. No complications related to the method were observed. We suggest that intraoperative sonography can represent an adequate substitute for intraoperative cholangiography as a screening procedure for stone identification during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Adult↗

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses.

A retrospective review of 200 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses treated by percutaneous ultrasound-guided drainage is reported. Abscesses were simple in 151 patients (75.5 per cent) and complex in 49 (24.5 per cent). In 12 patients the abscess communicated with the gastrointestinal tract. There were 17 critically ill patients for whom percutaneous drainage was the only therapeutic option possible. The success rate was 94.7 per cent (143 of 151 patients) for simple abscess and 69 per cent (34 of 49) for complex abscess. The overall success rate was 88.5 per cent. The mortality rate was 1.3 per cent (two patients) for simple and 16 per cent (eight patients) for complex abscess. The overall mortality rate was 5.0 per cent. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided drainage should be the initial drainage procedure in patients with a simple abdominal abscess. The presence of a complex abscess should not prevent an attempt at percutaneous catheter drainage, particularly in high-risk patients, although the risk of failure is greater in such cases.

Abdomen↗

Scintigraphic evaluation of biliary leakage following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Three patients with biliary leakage following coelioscopic cholecystectomy after percutaneous drainage of abdominal collection underwent 99m Tc TRIMETHYL-BROMO IDA biliary scintigraphy. In all cases, scintigraphy showed the site of the leak with a good dynamic evaluation of tracer confirming the adequacy of percutaneous drainage. Two patients were treated conservatively; one underwent surgical repair of a common bile duct lesion because of the high output of bile despite nasobiliary drainage. Biliary scintigraphy provides useful information in case of suspicious biliary leakage after coelioscopic cholecystectomy.

Adult↗

[Treatment of hyperfunctioning thyroid adenoma: current trends].

Thyroid adenoma is commonly associated with surgery and radiometabolic treatment; recently, according to previous successful reports, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy under sonographic guidance, has been introduced as an alternative. This technique has already been favourably used in the treatment of focal lesions, such as liver cancer and hyperparathyroidism. In our experience, we have treated with such therapy 69 patients affected by thyroid adenoma (55 females, 14 males; 28 pretoxic, 41 toxic). Ethanol (0.5-2.8 mL/mL nodular tissue) was injected, under sonographic guidance, in 4-9 sessions (1 weekly). Thyroid hormone profile was assessed during treatment and at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Apart from local transient pain in 21% sessions, two cases of pyrexia (38.5 degrees-1 day) and 3 cases of transient dysphonia, no relevant adverse effects were observed. A slight thyroid hormone increase was seen in both groups immediately following treatment. Six months after therapy a biochemical and clinical remission of hyperthyroidism was observed in 33 out of 41 toxic patients (80%); a significant increase of TSH levels was seen in both groups (p < 0.001). With follow-up, significant volume shrinkage (70-80% volume reduction--p < 0.0001) as well as structural alterations of the nodule, were consistently recorded at sonography, in both groups; a linear relationship (p < 0.0001) between pretreatment volume and volume reduction was found. At scintiscan functional activity of extranodular parenchyma was found in 75% of patients affected by pretoxic adenoma and in 63.1% of patients with toxic adenoma. These data confirm that percutaneous ethanol injection therapy is effective in obtaining functional ablation and in inducing remission of hyperthyroidism, when present; so it represents a valid and safe alternative to standard therapeutic tools of thyroid adenoma.

Adenoma↗

[Echo-guided percutaneous alcohol injections of cold non-neoplastic thyroid nodules. Preliminary experience].

Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) has been recently used with excellent results to treat toxic and pretoxic thyroid adenomas. We investigated PEI efficacy also in the treatment of "cold" thyroid nodules in 31 patients with nodular goiter. All nodules were proved to be cold on thyroid scintigraphy. There was no clinical or cytologic suspicion of cancer. Informed consent to the experimental study was always obtained. Each patient received 24 +/- 4.1 ml of ethanol, injected once or twice a week. No significant side-effects were observed during treatment. All nodules shrank 66-97.6% (mean: 85.5%, p < 0.001 vs pretreatment volume). US-guided cytologic sampling was repeated at 3 months' follow-up. PEI was precautionally repeated in 4 patients exhibiting sparse follicular cells. Further data about this group are not available yet. These preliminary results prove PEI to be an effective and safe technique to treat thyroid nodules and to make a valuable alternative to surgery and L-thyroxine.

Adolescent↗