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W Testi

Publications and source records attributed to W Testi.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

[Early vs conservative treatment of acute cholecystitis. Personal experience and review of the literature].

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the results of early cholecystectomy and conservative treatment in acute cholecystitis. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2002, 134 patients were admitted to our Department with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Eighty-nine patients (66%, Group 1) were cured with conservative treatment (i.e. fast, broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluid and analgesic drugs), 45 patients (34%, Group 2) were submitted to early cholecystectomy. The 2 groups were matched for age, sex, laboratory results and echographic findings. RESULTS: The morbidity was 32.5% in Group 1 versus 15.5% in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Mean hospital stay was 18 days in Group 1 as compared to 10.5 days in Group 2 (p < 0.05). At follow-up (12 months) the mean period before starting again a normal working and social life was 57 days in Group 1 and 33 days in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that early cholecystectomy was the gold standard in the treatment of acute cholecystitis, since it reduces morbidity, hospital stay and absence from working and social life in a statistically important way.

Adult↗

[Endoscopic treatment of intestinal anastomotic leakage in low anterior resection of the rectum by using fibrin adhesive. Our experience].

BACKGROUND: Personal experience about treatment of anastomotic leakage in low anterior resection of the rectum by using human fibrin adhesive "Tissucol" is reported. METHODS: Eight cases of anastomotic leakage treated with using human fibrin adhesive "Tissucol", are analyzed in a retrospective study. Patients had three/six months-one year follow up. Treatment with human fibrin adhesive "Tissucol" was performed in our Endoscopic ambulatory. Six cases had either an immediate resolution or an ambulatorial follow-up; in 2 cases only, general complications forced to a prolonged hospital stay. The study concerns 58 patients subjected to low anterior resection of the rectum and endoscopic treatment of 8/58 patients with anastomotic leakage. Fistulas were sealed with human fibrin adhesive "Tissucol" by using flexible endoscope. Anastomotic leakage identification leakage was made and low anterior resection of the rectum and sealing with human fibrin adhesive "Tissucol" were performed. RESULTS: Complete sealing of fistula and rectum patent. CONCLUSIONS: The excellent results obtained with this non invasive and fast treatment, easily practicable even in ambulatorial regimen, lead the authors to consider it effective and as first-choice treatment of this dangerous complication. The cost/benefit ratio is favorable if compared with the long hospital stay required for other treatments, which also present loaded high morbidity and mortality.

Aged↗

The surgical treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. Personal experience.

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at contributing to defining a correct therapeutic management of pancreatic pseudocysts (PPCs): indications for treatment, operative timing and technical approach. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 28 patients affected by PPC, 22 males (78.5%) and 6 females (21.5%), with a mean age of 52 years (range 17-76) has been performed. The diagnosis was realised by clinical assessment and US (ultrasonography) or CT (computerized tomography) scanning. The treatment consisted in surgical drainage (internal or external) or percutaneous drainage with US guidance: the cystojejunostomy with a Roux-en-Y loop was the first choice technique. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (78.5%) under-went a surgical procedure: 19 cystojejunostomies with a Roux-en-Y loop and 3 external drainages. The mean interval between acute pancreatic event and elective surgery was 9 weeks (range 5-21). Perioperative morbidity and mortality was respectively 22.7% (5/22) and 13.6% (3/22). In 4 cases a percutaneous drainage with US-guidance, without morbidity and mortality was performed, but 2 patients required a successive surgical operation for lack of resolution of the PPC. The last 2 patients of this series recovered spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Currently the cystojejunostomy with a Roux-en-Y loop remains the first choice technique for an elective and definitive treatment of PPCs: other techniques (endoscopic internal drainage, surgical or percutaneous external drainage) should be limited to complicated PPCs or to high surgical risk patients. A waiting period of 4-6 weeks following the acute pancreatic event is considered the minimal time necessary before the elective treatment.

Adolescent↗

[Locoregional anesthesia in inguinal hernia surgery].

BACKGROUND: It is a current opinion that local anesthesia (LA) is the primary choice in surgical treatment of the inguinal region, particularly herniorrhaphy. The LA technique personally used for herniorrhaphy is described: it consists of iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal and genito-femoral nerve blocks, and incision line anesthetic infiltration. METHODS: From January 1998 to April 1999, 95 patients underwent inguinal herniorrhaphy employing LA: 77 (81%) in elective surgery, 18 (19%) in emergency; 2 cases with bilateral hernia (97 total LA procedures). RESULTS: Partial success was obtained in only 8 cases (8.4%), which required an association with a hypnotic drug ("blended anesthesia": propofol or midazolam): there were no cases of conversion to general anesthesia. Specific complications of local anesthetic drugs infiltration developed in 8 cases on 97 LA procedures (8.2%), but none required reoperation: 6 inguinal hematomas, 1 female external genitalia hematoma, 1 hematocele. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it is stressed that LA is the technique of choice in herniorrhaphy and surgery of other inguinal pathologies, associating high success rates, rare complications and rapid dismissal: this allows for easy management of the patients and a very important reduction of sanitary costs. The association of LA-hypnotic drugs (blended anesthesia) represents another important resource, since it avoids general anesthesia in many cases and allows a rapid psychophysical recovery.

Adult↗

[Severe acute pancreatitis. Clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to define the actual role of surgical therapy in severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis has been carried out on the surgical treatment of severe acute pancreatitis at the Institute of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties, University of Siena (Italy). From January 1980 to December 1997, 230 patients affected by acute pancreatitis were admitted to institution: 24 patients affected by severe disease (necrotizing pancreatitis: clinical and radiological diagnosis, by CT-scan) was choosen for this study. Of 24 patients, 15 were males and 9 females, with mean age of 55 years (range 30-80). In all cases, surgical procedure consisted in pancreatic necrosectomy, multiple abdominal and retroperitoneal drainage and closed management; operated patients with biliary pancreatitis underwent colecystectomy and, if necessary, common biliary duct drainage. RESULTS: The patients underwent surgical procedure, but the remaining 14 were treated by intensive medical care: mortality in these two groups was respectively 40% (4 cases) and 21% (3 cases). CONCLUSION: The conclusion is drawn that intensive medical care is the first therapeutic approach in severe acute pancreatitis, reserving surgery only to selected cases, as those affected by pancreatic infectes necrosis or those who get worse despite of conservative therapy. As to surgical technique, closed procedures vs open or semiopen, and conservative surgery (necrosectomy, multiple drainage and abdominal washing) vs anatomical resection are preferred.

Adult↗

[Tubercular enteral fistulas].

Personal experience in the treatment of two cases of postoperative tubercular enterocutaneous fistula is reported. This complication of abdominal tuberculosis is rather rare and may be a consequence of tubercular enteritis or of an extraintestinal localisation.

Cecal Diseases↗

[Surgical treatment of pancreatic carcinoma. Our experience].

BACKGROUND: Currently, pancreatic exocrine carcinoma presents high mortality, poor survival after curative surgery and poor resectability rates at the time of diagnosis. The factors which mostly influence prognosis and therapeutic management (curative surgery or palliative treatments) of the patient affected by pancreatic carcinoma, particularly the peroperative stage, are analyzed and discussed in this article. METHODS: From 1969 to 1997, 142 patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma were admitted to our Department: at the time of diagnosis only 32 patients (22.5%) were considered resectable, and 30 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD), 1 distal pancreatectomy (DP) and 1 total pancreatectomy (TP) were performed. RESULTS: Postoperative morbidity and mortality was 53.1% and 12.5% respectively; the survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 45.5%, 36.4% and 17.6% respectively. The worst prognosis was seen in N+ and T4 patients, with a mean survival of 9 and 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results and of the literature, the indications for curative surgery, the operative strategy and the lymphoadenectomy extension are discussed: these problems are still open and not resolved definitively. The authors conclude by indicating the need for curative surgery for T1/2 N0 M0 tumors: for T3/4 and/or N+ tumors a careful evaluation of single case is necessary, because of high risk/benefit rate. Pancreatic resections (PD, DP) and standard lymphoadenectomy (D1) are performed by the authors, rather than total pancreatectomy and radical lymphadenectomy (D2-3).

Adult↗