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Biomedical subjects

S Stipa

Publications and source records attributed to S Stipa.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

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↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health care delivery systems: effects on surgical education in Italy.

Since 1989 a national health system (NHS) has been in effect in Italy based on the constitutional principle that health care is a right of all citizens. Until 1992 the NHS had a secondary role in medical education, as the 33 medical schools for postgraduate training are under the control of the Ministry of University. The European Community legislation allowing free movement of M.D.s and specialists between member countries has resulted in standardization of teaching programs and formative curricula in the European Community. Therefore beginning in 1992, every 3 years the Ministry of Health and University establishes the number of specialists that can meet the needs of the NHS and allocates funds to each school for the salary obligations. The actual number of paid residents for surgical specialties is 941 per year (192 for general surgery). Until recently surgical training in Italy was mainly theoretic, as no legislation guaranteed that physicians in training would perform surgery. New legislation, increased exchanges with European hospitals, and improved and loyal cooperation between universities and the NHS will certainly improve the situation in coming years.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

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↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[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↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-over axillary by-pass. Treatment of subclavian or innominate artery obstructive lesions.

A 13-year experience consisting on 16 consecutive patients submitted to axillary-to-contralateral artery by-pass in the treatment of obstructive lesions of the subclavian or innominate artery is reported. Nine patients complained of typical subclavian steal syndrome. Extended patency with very satisfactory functional result was achieved in twelve patients. An extensive survey is made of the results of such procedure, as reported in the literature. The theoretical advantages in comparison with other kinds of extrathoracic procedures aiming at the same goal are briefly outlined.

Adult↗