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V Tomulescu

Publications and source records attributed to V Tomulescu.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Telementoring versus on-site mentoring in virtual reality-based surgical training.

BACKGROUND: Telementoring can be an adjunct to surgical training using virtual reality surgical simulation. Telementoring is hypothesized to be as effective as a local mentor for surgical skills training. METHODS: In this study, 20 Romanian medical students trained using a virtual reality surgical simulator (LapSim) with a telementor or local mentor. All the students watched an instructional module at the beginning of the exercise. The telementor, in the United States, interacted by videoconferencing. Before and after training sessions, tool path length and time for task completion were measured. RESULTS: Instructional media and training with mentoring resulted in similar levels of performance between locally mentored and telementored groups. Right- and left-hand path length and time decreased significantly within each group from the initial to the final evaluation (p < 0.05) for most tasks (grasping, cutting, suturing). No significant difference was achieved for clip-applying. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of instructional media with telementoring can be as effective for the development of surgical skills as local mentoring.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed2001

Thymectomy by thoracoscopic approach in myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: A series of 25 thoracoscopic thymectomies performed in the Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of the Fundeni Clinical Institute between April 1999 and April 2000 is analyzed. METHODS: Thoroscopic thymectomies were performed on 4 male patients (16%) and 21 female patients (84%), aged between 8 and 60 years. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 90 (+/-15) min. There were no conversions to open thymectomy. Mortality was nil, and morbidity consisted of one minor postoperative right pneumothorax probably related to a injury to right mediastinal pleura that was not observed intraoperatively. Hospital stay ranged from 2 to 4 days, with a mean of 2.28 days. The patients were transferred to the neurological department and they were usually discharged after 1 more day. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperatively, all patients had clinical improvement of their disease both in symptoms and medication requirements, but a longer follow-up is necessary. The results are edifying regarding the very low morbidity, the lack of mortality, the acceptance of the patients, and the short hospitalization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Distal splenorenal shunt (Warren's operation) in the treatment of portal hypertension. Apropos 3 cases].

Three cases of distal spleno-renal shunt (Warren operation) are reported. These are the first in the romanian medical literature. The cause of the portal hypertension was a Child A liver cirrhosis in all three cases. All patients survived. Two early postoperative complications were noticed: transient ascites and pancreatic pseudocyst and a late development of a hepatic nodule (probably hepatoma). There was no encephalopathy and no liver failure in the two cases that could be followed (for 1 year and, respectively, 6 months). Although small, these experience confirms what other studies show, that Warren shunt seems to be the operation of choice for portal hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Amputation of the rectum via laparoscopy].

We report the case of a 66-year-old woman with a bleeding adenocarcinoma of the lower thirty of the rectum. The laparoscopic procedure was initiated with mobilization of the sigmoid colon. The left ureter was identified as it crosses the left iliac vessels. The peritoneum along the right side of the rectosigmoid mesentery was transected. The superior rectal artery was divided utilizing extracorporeal ligatures. The anterior rectum was separated from the uterus, the pararectal tissue was mobilized, the middle rectal arteries were ligated and the posterior rectum was dissected from the presacral tissue. The perineal component of the procedure was simultaneously performed. The sigmoid loop was extracorporeally transected with a linear stapler. The proximal sigmoid end was exteriorized through the colostomy site (site of the left superior port). The distal sigmoid end was replaced in the abdominal cavity and was grasped through the perineal wound; the anus, rectum and sigmoid were removed through the perineal wound. The feasibility of this procedure has been well established. However, it seems to be an alternative for the classical abdominoperineal resection as treatment for adenocarcinoma of the lower rectum. His superiority has yet to be confirmed by future studies.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Laparoscopic splenectomy--lessons learned from a series of 40 cases. The advantages of the postero-lateral approach].

Until October 2000 in our surgical department 40 patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy. Seven patients were converted to laparotomy for completion of splenectomy. All of these occurred in the first 20 patients and were due to bleeding. There was no postoperative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients: one abdominal wall hematoma and a postoperative hernia. Indications were idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hereditary spheocytosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and others. In the last 30 cases we used the postero-lateral approach, that results in reduced blood loss, fewer patients that needed to be converted to open surgery and shorter postoperative stay. Accessory spleens can be successfully localized and with a carefull technique the capsular fractures can be minimized reducing the risk of splenosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy--preliminary results].

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) provides a new approach to thymectomy. From April 1999 to December 1999, we performed a total of 10 video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomies for myasthenia gravis (MG). There were one male and nine female patients with ages ranging from 8 to 59 years. Thymoma was present in one of the ten patients. We considered that complete thymectomy was accomplished in all cases by examination of the thymic bed and of the resected specimen. There was no mortality or intraoperative complications. The median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. Clinical improvement was observed in all patients after this short follow-up. Compared with a similar historical group of patients with MG who underwent transsternal thymectomy, the VATS group was associated with significantly less analgesic requirement and shortened hospital stay. We conclude that VAT thymectomy is technically feasible and is associated with a favorable postoperative course compared with the transsternal approach. We believe that complete thymectomy can be achieved by this approach. Further investigation with long-term follow-up is needed to further clarify the role of VAT thymectomy in thoracic surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Post-caustic esophageal stenosis].

This study treats the last 13-year experience of the Surgical Department from the Fundeni Hospital Bucharest (Romania) regarding the surgery of the postcaustical esophageal stenoses. The series is composed of 25 patients (10 males and 15 women), with ages between 19 and 58 years. The patients were admitted in our unit at an interval between 2 months and 20 years from the caustical ingestion. In 20 cases we preferred seriate procedures (gastrostomy or jejunostomy as a first operation, followed after 2 months to 20 years by a reconstructive procedure). The reconstructive operation was accompanied by resection of the stenotic esophagus in 15 cases (60%); in 10 cases we performed a bypassing (without resection) presternal esophagoplasty. Resection of the esophagus implied a combined abdomino-thoracic approach in 10 cases and an cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach in 5 (depending upon the extent of the lesions). The early postoperative course was complicated by anastomotic leakage's in 5 patients (20%) and by pulmonary complications in another 5 (20%) cases. There were no postoperative deaths. The late follow-up showed a good functional result in 24 patients with medium weight gain of 2.6 kilograms and a normal social reintegration. In conclusion, we consider that the esophagus resection in postcaustical stenoses is indicated when there are no counterindications, with a low morbidity when it is performed in specialized surgical services.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Laparoscopic liver surgery: analyze the experience on 36 cases].

We analyze the experience in laparoscopic liver surgery in the Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of Fundeni Clinical Institute between september 1998 and march 2003. This study includes 36 patients, 24 females (66.7%) and 12 males (33.3%) with ages between 25 and 67 and a mean age of 46 years. From the group of 36 patients with liver pathology considered for laparoscopic treatment 6 cases had multiple hepatic lesions with no preop diagnosis. The postoperative diagnosis was neoplasia in 4 cases, noncellular necrosis with chronic inflammation in one case and focal nodular hyperplasia in another case. The fenestration and drainage were used as laparoscopic treatment in case of 7 patients with nonparasitic liver cysts. Nine patients from our group had hydatid cysts. In 7 patients the treatment consisted in partial pericystectomy after inactivation and parasite evacuation. In 2 patients an ideal pericystectomy was performed for cysts located in segments II and III. The solid lesions selected for laparoscopic treatment were in 3 cases benign symptomatic tumors with no preoperative diagnosis, in 9 cases symptomatic hemangioma and in 2 cases malignant lesions. From these 14 patients in only 2 cases the lesions were located in the right antero lateral segments. Only in the case of metastasis a left lateral sectorectomy was performed, in all other cases a nonanatomical resection being performed. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 11.11% of cases (2 hemangioma, 2 partial pericystectomies) for bleeding control. In our study we had no mortality and 11.11% morbidity. The follow-up was available in all patients for a mean time of 18 months (10 to 36). A CT scan was made in all patients with solid lesions 6 months after surgery and an ultrasound examination in all other cases. All patients were nonsymptomatic at repeated reevaluations. We are now at the beginning of laparoscopic liver surgery and these results need to be confirmed. The benefits seem to be those of any miniinvasive surgery: reduced trauma to the abdominal wall, early mobilization, shorter hospital stay, better aesthetics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgical treatment in ulcerative rectocolitis . Analysis of a 24 years experience of 50 patients].

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that may be cured by surgery being indicated for emergency situations resulting from complications of fulminant disease and for elective indications. We analyzed the last 24 years experience regarding 50 patients surgically treated for ulcerative colitis in the Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of Fundeni Clinical Institute. The indications for surgery were: failure of medical treatment in 22 patients, acute disease with complications in 20, chronic complications in 8 cases. We used the following surgical procedures: total proctocolectomy in all 2 cases with associated rectal cancer, total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis (one staged or two staged procedures) in 31, and restorative proctocolectomy in 17 cases (in all cases as a 2 or 3 staged procedure). In acute disease with complications we have performed total colectomy with terminal ileostomy, closure of the rectal stump, or exteriorization of the sigmoid stump in a mucous fistula. The gravity of acute complications does not justify the use of palliative procedures such as ileostomy, colostomy or Hartmann procedure because the mortality rate of these operations is higher than the postoperative mortality rate of total colectomy performed in emergency. Even in the elective surgery, when the patients are in a poor condition, nutritionally depleted, taking large doses of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs, we prefer the staged procedure. Total proctocolectomy is performed only in the cases of ulcerative colitis associated with rectal cancer, severe perianal disease, sphincter incontinence. Total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis is indicated when the rectal stump has minimal inflammatory lesions. Restorative proctocolectomy is the surgery of choice for UC, the functional results being comparable with those of total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis, but having the advantage of curing the disease. The global mortality rate was 12% (6 patients).

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The use of LapSim virtual reality simulator in the evaluation of laparoscopic surgery skill. Preliminary results].

The aim of this study is to establish if the results obtained in the evaluation of the candidates for the laparoscopic surgery competence using the LapSim virtual reality simulator are comparable with intraoperative evaluation. For this study has been evaluated in front of the LapSim and in the operating room a number of 12 surgeons who have achieved the criteria for laparoscopic surgery competence evaluation. The results of any one of the candidates have been evaluated, on Lapsim and by the exam committee in the operation room relating to four criteria: (1) utilization of 300 camera; (2) manipulation and coordination of laparoscopic instruments, suturing; (3) grasping and cutting; (4) clip applying. The evaluation has been made relating to the time need for every candidate to perform the asked task, and the subjective evaluation of the examining committee with marks from 1 to 10. The LapSim evaluation, in concordance with intraoperative evaluation managed to establish 2 candidates with deficiency in manipulation and coordination of laparoscopic instruments, and difficulty in the laparoscopic bidimensional field orientation. We consider this experiment only the beginning in the evaluation of the utility of virtual reality simulator in the training and examination of the results in laparoscopic surgery. We consider that large series of subjects with different levels of knowledge in laparoscopic surgery have to be evaluated to conclude if the benefit of laparoscopic surgery virtual reality simulator is the same as in airplane pilots.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Therapy of malignant liver tumors using microwave and radiofrequency ablation].

The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficiency for thermo-ablation with microwave and radiofrequency on patients with malignant liver tumors. From January 2002 to January 2005, in our Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation in 53 patients 70 sessions of thermoablation were carried out. The mean age was 58 years (25-79 years). Sex ratio men: women was 1.8 (34:19). The diagnosis was hepatocarcinoma in 38 patients (72%), liver metastases from colorectal cancer in 9 (17%) and from non-colorectal cancer (6-11%). The most tumors were single (36-68%). The mean diameter was 39.5 mm (9-94 mm). Percutaneous approach was used in 14 interventions (20%), laparoscopic in 2 (3%) and open approach in 54 cases (77%). We performed 54 sessions of microwave ablation in 42 patients and 8 sessions of radiofrequency ablation in 5 patients. Both methods were applied in 6 patients during 8 sessions. Tumor ablation was done together with liver resection in 10 patients (19%) and resections of other organs in other 8 patients (15%). Morbidity was 12%. The encountered complications were ascites, right pleural effusion and liver abscesses. There was no death. Total and partial necrosis was observed in 27, respectively 20 patients. Local recurrence occurred in one patient but distal liver recurrences were diagnosed in 13 patients. After thermoablation for partial necrosis, local or distal recurrences patients received arterial chemoembolization (5), systemic chemotherapy (23), liver resection (1) and transplantation (1). The mean survival at 1 year and 3 years was 77% and respectively 38%. Microwave or radiofrequency ablation is a simple treatment method, with proved efficiency and minimal risks whose main indication is unresectable tumor.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thoracoscopic thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis].

A series of 151 thoracoscopic thymectomy performed in the Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation of the Fundeni Clinical Institute between April 1999 and April 2004 is analyzed. These were 89.34% from all the thymectomies performed in our department in this period. Thoracoscopic thymectomies were performed on 131 female patients (86.75%) and 20 male patients (23.25%), aged between 8 and 60 years. All patients were previously treated in the Neurological Department of the Fundeni Clinical Institute for at least 3 months. The thoracoscopic thymectomy was indicated for: myasthenia gravis without thymic neoplasia (141 cases), stage I Masaoka thymoma (8 cases), remnant postoperative thymic tissue (3 cases). We have used a left thoracoscopic approach in 73 cases and a right thoracoscopic approach in 76 cases. In 2 cases a mixed cervical and thoracoscopic approach was needed.. No mortality and morbidity 6.62% (10 cases). From this 151 patients 100 have been constantly followed for more then one year. From the other 51, 32 are in the first postoperative year, and the other 19, 12.58% have been lost in surveillance. The one year evaluation regarding the Research Standards of Myasthenia Gravis Task Force Foundation shows: improvement--90% (complete stable remission--14%; pharmacological remission--20%; minimal manifestation--56%), unchanged--8%, worsened--2%. Our results with a complete stable remission of 14% at the end of the first year and 50% at 5 years are at least comparable with literature results with other open or thoracoscopic approaches.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Analysis of a series of 123 cases over a 5-year period].

We analyze a 123-cases experience over a 5-year period in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver resection, transplantation and hyperthermic ablation of the tumor were used according to the indication and patient selection. Systemic chemotherapy followed resection in 18 cases and hyperthermic ablation in 5 cases. Chemo-embolisation was performed in patients to be transplanted and in other two patients with tumor destruction. A number of 86 liver resections were performed in 84 patients (2 re- resections in 1 patient, subsequently transplanted) - 43 on normal liver and 41 on cirrhotic liver. Postoperative mortality was 4.7% in non-cirrhotic and 4.9% in cirrhotic patients. Survival in non-cirrhotic patients was 77% at 1 year, 65% at 2 years, and constant - 45% at 3 and 4 years, whereas in cirrhotic patients it was 60%, 56%, 56% and 36% (Kaplan-Meyer actuarial survival rates). Nine patients underwent liver transplantation (4 OLTs, 3 living donor LT, 1 split LT and 1 "domino" LT); postoperative mortality was 11% (1 patient). At present five patients are alive and well. One patient died by peritoneal carcinomatosis at 10 months; another patient died at 6 months by severe cholestatic recurrent C virus hepatitis and one patient was discharged with permanent severe neurologic disturbances. In 31 patients hyperthermic ablation of the tumor was used with zero mortality. Actuarial survival rates were 75% at one year and 67% at 2 years. In conclusion, in non-cirrhotic patients with HCC resection is the treatment of choice. In cirrhotic patients limited resections should be preferred and liver transplantation is the best solution in selected cases; local ablative methods may be used for some unresectable tumors. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy has to be determined in future comparative studies.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy--a method of pain palliation in non-resectable pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis].

Severe upper abdominal pain is a dominant and distressing feature in advanced pancreatic cancer and in chronic pancreatitis. A way of palliation needs to be practiced in the non-resectable pancreatic cancer in order to control the pain. Between the many methods of palliation the thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy seems to be the best due its simplicity, no risk to the patient and the good results. In the Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation from Fundeni Clinical Institute we have practiced 50 thoracoscopic splanchnicectomies in a number of 49 patients during a period of 3 years. The morbidity was 2% and the mortality 0. We noticed a significant improvement in the pain score, the quality of sleep and the overall quality of life and consecutively a quick social reintegration of these patients. The quality of life is greatly improved (with a significant reduction of the pain score in 92% of the cases) after this minimally invasive procedure, a fact the qualifies this procedure as the technique of choice in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Total proctocolectomy with an ileoanal anastomosis and reservoir].

The following report documents the initial experience (13 cases) and the one year functional and quality of life results after restorative proctocolectomy procedures in the Surgery Clinic of Fundeni Hospital. The histologic preoperative diagnosis was ulcerative colitis in 7 patients (53.84%) and familial polyposis in 6 patients (46.16%). 80% of patients experienced at least one postoperative complication after pouch construction or ileostomy closure. There was a single death in our patient group. This occurred in a patient with malignized polyposis, who died in the first 24 hours after operation from bilateral pulmonary emboli. The necropsy exam has shown also a metastatic nodule of the liver. The most frequent complication in our series was the small bowel obstruction and the pouch-anal anastomosis leak (30.76%). Patients' follow-up was achieved by means of a questionnaire which assessed pouch function at follow-up visit at 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and one year after the ileostomy closure. Quality of life was also assessed by that questionnaire and included injury into aspects of occupational, social and sexual function. The functional and quality of life results in this series was very similar to that reported by other authors who have performed restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anterior resection of the rectum via laparoscopy].

Of the newer laparoscopic procedures for colorectal cancers the abdominoperineal resection of the rectum was previously communicated in this journal. The laparoscopic anterior resection is a more technically demanding operation. We report the case of 63 years old women with a rectal cancer at 9 cm from the anus. The procedure was realised under general anaesthesia, with a urinary catheter in place. An blunt obturator was introduced into the uterine cavity and used to manipulate the uterus during the procedure. After establishing of the pneumoperitoneum, a 30 degrees telescope was introduced through the umbilical port (10 mm). The 30 degrees telescope allows visualization of the splenic flexure and rectal side wall. The main steps of the procedure were the exploration of the abdominal cavity, mobilization of the descendent colon and sigmoid, exposure of the left ureter, division of the left sided peritoneal leaf and division of the inferior mesenteric vessels. The anterior dissection of the rectum was facilitated by manipulation of the uterus. The rectum was then mobilized with the "abdominalization of the tumor". A 5 cm left paramedian vertical incision was performed; through this incision a stapler was introduced and the rectum was transected 5 cm under the tumor. The rectum with the tumor, the sigmoid and mesosigmoid were exteriorized through the incision; the sigmoid was divided with a linear stapler cutter 20 cm above the tumor and the specimen was removed extracorporeally. The anvil of a circular stapler was secured in the left colon and returned in the abdominal cavity. The body of the stapler was inserted into the rectal stump through the anus and connected intracorporeally to the anvil. The postoperative evolution was simple; flatus and feces were passed at 48 hours. The patient was discharged to home after 6 days, 13 months after operation she has no morbidity.

Adenocarcinoma↗