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Up until 2013 in France, practical training for DES/DESC (advanced level) residents in visceral and digestive surgery was not standardized. Since 2017, the third cycle of medical studies has been restructured around three major thematic axes: academic knowledge, and technical and non-technical skills. The curriculum now includes a practical training program by means of simulation outside the operating theater, and it is structured, uniformized and standardized nationwide. Development of this training program is derived from the deliberations of a national consensus panel working under the umbrella of the French college of visceral and digestive surgery, program presenting a training guide to all future surgeons in the specialty. Four consensus conference sessions bringing together an eight-member commission have led to the drafting of a "Resident's manual for practical teaching in visceral and digestive surgery". As a reference document, the manual details in 272 pages the objectives (phase I), the learning resources for each skill (phase II) and, lastly, the means of evaluation for the cornerstone phases as well as the in-depth phases of an advanced degree (DES) in visceral and digestive surgery. As a complement to the manual, we have conducted a review of the structuring and implementation of the program as of November 2017 on a nationwide scale; the conclusions of the review are detailed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Intestinal invasion by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is characterized by remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The parasite cysteine proteinase A5 (CP-A5) is thought to cooperate with human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) involved in ECM degradation. Here, we investigate the role CP-A5 plays in the regulation of MMPs upon mucosal invasion. We use human colon explants to determine whether CP-A5 activates human MMPs. Inhibition of the MMPs' proteolytic activities abolishes remodelling of the fibrillar collagen structure and prevents trophozoite invasion of the mucosa. In the presence of trophozoites, MMPs-1 and -3 are overexpressed and are associated with fibrillar collagen remodelling. In vitro, CP-A5 performs the catalytic cleavage needed to activate pro-MMP-3, which in turn activates pro-MMP-1. Ex vivo, incubation with recombinant CP-A5 was enough to rescue CP-A5-defective trophozoites. Our results suggest that MMP-3 and/or CP-A5 inhibitors may be of value in further studies aiming to treat intestinal amoebiasis.

We report on a case of migration inside the liver of the distal end of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter in an adult patient. A simple laparotomy permitted the surgical removal with no haemorrhagic complication. We discuss the other cases reported in the literature and we outline the need to perform an abdominal CT scan in patients carrying a VP shunt with digestive symptoms., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The extracellular matrix (ECM) and its role in the outcome of infectious diseases have been poorly investigated. In this study, we determined the impact of the collagen fibres architecture on the invasive process of the enteric parasite Entamoeba histolytica. The behaviour of E. histolytica wild-type and silenced for the cysteine protease A5 (CP-A5) were compared on a three-dimensional collagen matrix and within human colon fragments for fibrillar collagen cleavage and migration. The interstitial collagen fibres within the connective tissue of the human colon, visualized by multiphoton and second harmonic generation signals imaging, presented a dense scaffold at the subepithelial level and a loose meshwork within the chorion. To penetrate the tissue, E. histolytica migrated on the dense scaffold that remained intact, reached the crypt of Lieberkhün, migrated along and then disorganized the loose scaffold to escape into the mucosa. Interestingly, in vitro, CP-A5 was not required for collagenase activity and migration through the matrix but was necessary within the tissue environment for collagen meshwork remodelling and subsequent invasion. The data point out that further step of invasion relay with ECM destruction that requires human components induced or activated in the presence of CP-A5., (© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Goal: Present and analyze the implementation of laparoscopic teaching program at the Surgical School of Paris, introduced in 2008., Material and Methods: Evaluation of the technical capacities of 43 students in six basic tests after four, one and a half hour training sessions with a pelvic-trainer., Results: The time necessary to perform an intracorporeal knot improved significantly by 56% after four sessions. Overall, 89% of students progressed and mastered the basic skills. Asked about their formation, 74% of the students thought their training in laparoscopy was insufficient., Conclusion: The pelvic-trainer is an accessible and reliable tool for training of young residents in laparoscopy. Use of the pelvic-trainer must be promoted among young residents during their training., (Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Objective: The surgical treatment of severe attacks of sigmoid diverticulitis and the indications for prophylactic surgery are currently matters of debate. We have analysed our experience in a university hospital, bringing new information into the discussion., Method: All patients admitted to our department between 1995 and 2002 for an attack of sigmoid diverticulitis were reviewed. There were 222 who had had a first attack and these formed the basis of the study. Analysis of short- and long-term outcomes was made., Results: Of the 222 patients, 66 underwent an operation during the first admission (mainly Hartmann's operation) with no death. Twenty-five patients were operated during a subsequent admission, either for a deterioration of their symptoms or prophylaxis. One hundred and twenty-eight patients were managed conservatively, and were followed up for 5-12 years. Recurrence was observed in 43% of the patients with a trend to a higher incidence in patients under 50 years. Recurrent exacerbating diverticulitis were severe in 13% of cases., Conclusion: Complicated diverticulitis can be managed with a low mortality. Hartmann's operation was proven safe in our experience. The risk of recurrence was higher than observed in many recent studies but few recurrences were severe.

Amoebiasis (a human intestinal infection affecting 50 million people every year) is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. To study the molecular mechanisms underlying human colon invasion by E. histolytica, we have set up an ex vivo human colon model to study the early steps in amoebiasis. Using scanning electron microscopy and histological analyses, we have established that E. histolytica caused the removal of the protective mucus coat during the first two hours of incubation, detached the enterocytes, and then penetrated into the lamina propria by following the crypts of Lieberkühn. Significant cell lysis (determined by the release of lactodehydrogenase) and inflammation (marked by the secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules such as interleukin 1 beta, interferon gamma, interleukin 6, interleukin 8 and tumour necrosis factor) were detected after four hours of incubation. Entamoeba dispar (a closely related non-pathogenic amoeba that also colonizes the human colon) was unable to invade colonic mucosa, lyse cells or induce an inflammatory response. We also examined the behaviour of trophozoites in which genes coding for known virulent factors (such as amoebapores, the Gal/GalNAc lectin and the cysteine protease 5 (CP-A5), which have major roles in cell death, adhesion (to target cells or mucus) and mucus degradation, respectively) were silenced, together with the corresponding tissue responses. Our data revealed that the signalling via the heavy chain Hgl2 or via the light chain Lgl1 of the Gal/GalNAc lectin is not essential to penetrate the human colonic mucosa. In addition, our study demonstrates that E. histolytica silenced for CP-A5 does not penetrate the colonic lamina propria and does not induce the host's pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion.

Goal: The aim of this study was to perform a detailed analysis of income and expense in a department of general surgery in a French hospital under the new system of funding based on a "fee-for-service" principle., Methods: All hospital stays of year 2006 were analysed retrospectively. The conditions of admission (elective vs. emergency), the principal diagnosis, and surgical procedures were examined. We determined hospital costs and the reimbursement for every admission., Results: One thousand nine hundred and eighty-five hospitalizations generated an income of 8Meuros with a deficit of 1.3Meuros. The 775 elective admissions generated 50% of the income and 13% of the deficit (178,562euros). Seven hundred and forty-nine emergency admissions generated 45% of the income and 82% of deficit (1.1Meuros). Four hundred and sixty-one admissions for endoscopy generated 5% of the income and 5% of the deficit (67,249euros). Hospital stays of less than two days (the minimum duration of stay for total reimbursement) caused a loss of 122,624euros. Length of hospital stay below the lower limit caused a loss of 42,850euros., Conclusion: Elective surgical activity in digestive surgery can generate a balanced budget provided the length of hospital stay is reduced to the minimum, sometimes to the detriment of patient comfort. Emergency admissions result in a large deficit between cost and reimbursement; this fact may lead hospitals to avoid emergency activity in the future unless appropriate remedial measures are taken.

Aim: The indications for preoperative adjuvant therapy in rectal cancer are still a subject of debate. The objective of this study was to analyze the results of surgical resection and selective radiotherapy in a group of high-risk patients (Dukes B and C) taken from a series of 148 consecutive patients with rectal cancer., Methods: All patients with rectal cancer considered for resection during the period 1994-2004 were prospectively included. The policy was to deliver preoperative radiotherapy in cases of fixed or tethered tumors or when imaging predicted T3 tumors with positive circumferential margins. Other tumors were resected without neoadjuvant therapy. All resections were done using the total mesorectal excision (TME) technique., Results: One hundred and forty-eight consecutive patients underwent rectal resection during the study period. A sphincter-saving technique was carried out in 134 patients (90%). No patient was excluded from the analysis. The perioperative mortality was 2/148 (1.5%). Curative surgery was obtained in 135 patients. The 94 patients with a Dukes B or C tumor formed the high-risk group that was the basis of our study. The mean follow-up in this group was 58 months (range 24-120). Twenty patients (21%) received preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) and 74 (79%) underwent surgical resection alone. A positive circumferential margin, defined as one that was < or =1 mm, was found in seven of the 85 patients (8.2%) for whom this measure was available. The actuarial five-year overall survival was 74%. Local recurrence developed in eight patients (8.4%): four in the PRT group (20%), and four in the non-PRT group (5.4%). Only two patients developed an isolated local recurrence., Conclusions: Preoperative adjuvant therapy can be safely omitted in patients who demonstrate clear circumferential margins on preoperative imaging, provided that adequate surgery is subsequently performed.

Endobiliary metastasis of colorectal cancers are rare. We report a 36 years-old patient, operated on 5 years ago for a left colon cancer with a left colectomy. He consulted for pain in the upper right quadrant without fever nor jaundice. Ultra-sound, CTscan, RMI and PET led to the diagnosis of endobiliary metastasis and the patient underwent a right hepatectomy. A review of the literature of the endobiliary metastasis follows this case-report. These tumours can mimic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in clinical presentation, imaging or even histological examinations. The main goal of the imaging explorations is to establish the resecability of such tumours. Patients with endobiliary metastasis seem to have better survival than patients with intrahepatic metastasis.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are frequent in patients with severe immunodeficiency. We report a case of isolated digestive localization in a young woman initially non-immunocompromised. Initially, she was admitted in the intensive-care unit for a severe post-operative shock secondary to a respiratory distress syndrome. She then developed severe enterocolitis which was initially unexplained. Outcome was favorable but digestive perforations required multiple surgical digestive resections. The histological diagnosis was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and the antigenemia and specific antibodies kinetics. We emphasize the various characteristics of this pathology and point out the risk of missing this unusual cause of digestive perforation and severe bleeding.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess functional results after Orr-Loygue transabdominal rectopexy for complete rectal prolapse., Methods: Thirty-one consecutive patients operated on for complete rectal prolapse between 1995 and 1998 were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with regard to anal incontinence, constipation, evacuation difficulties, and overall satisfaction with a standardized questionnaire. Anal continence assessment was based on a clinical scoring system., Results: After a mean follow-up of 28 +/- 13 (range, 12-57) months, no prolapse recurred. Preoperative and postoperative rates of incontinence were 81 percent (25/31) and 55 percent (17/31), respectively (P < 0.03). Continence improved in 24 (96 percent) of the 25 patients who were incontinent before surgery. The mean incontinence score decreased from 11.7 +/- 7.8 preoperatively to 3.2 +/- 4.2 postoperatively (P < 0.001). The self-reported constipation rate was 61 percent (19/31) before surgery and 71 percent (22/31) after surgery (P = nonsignificant). Constipation appeared or worsened in 16 patients (52 percent), whereas it disappeared or improved in 8 (26 percent; P = nonsignificant). Evacuation difficulties increased significantly after surgery from 23 percent (7/31) to 61 percent (19/31; P < 0.003). Ninety-seven percent of patients reported good or very good satisfaction., Conclusions: Transabdominal Orr-Loygue rectopexy resulted in improved continence and a high satisfaction level. Despite a significant postoperative increase in evacuation difficulties, only a 10 percent (nonsignificant) increase in the self-reported constipation rate was observed.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis is rare in non critically ill or postoperative patients. We report a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis with secondary bile infection with Clostridium perfringens. Ultrasound and tomodensitometry revealed diffuse aerobilia. The germ in this case report is atypical and contrasts with the very discrete clinical findings. Aerobilia, secondary to the development of bacteria in the biliary tract falsely suggested a bilio-digestive fistula. Treatment included a simple cholecystectomy associated with 7 days of antibiotherapy.

Hypothesis: Proximal intestinal stomas established by the exteriorization of leaking anastomosis in the presence of peritonitis can be used to reinfuse succus entericus and provide adequate enteral nutrition., Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data from a cohort of consecutive patients admitted between January 1993 and December 1999 for postoperative peritonitis requiring laparotomy and the construction of one or more small-bowel stomas., Setting: Tertiary referral center with a surgical intensive care unit experienced in the treatment of intra-abdominal sepsis and succus entericus reinfusion., Patients: Twenty-one consecutive patients with postoperative peritonitis originating from a jejunal or ileal leak. We excluded patients with established enterocutaneous fistulae, abscesses amenable to percutaneous drainage or other conservative treatments, and postoperative peritonitis caused by ileocolic or ileorectal anastomosis., Interventions: Early laparotomy with exteriorization of small-bowel leak(s), and continuous enteral nutrition (CEN) and succus entericus reinfusion (SER) via the distal portion of the stoma until gastrointestinal continuity was restored., Main Outcome Measures: Feasibility of CEN and SER with temporary, diverting small-bowel stomas and their associated postoperative morbidity and mortality rates., Results: One patient died, and 14 experienced complications. For technical reasons, CEN and SER were discontinued early on in 7 patients. The mean duration of CEN and SER was 58 days and 61 days, respectively. Enteral feedings allowed the suppression of central venous access after a median of 28 days, with 82 days as a median time to restoration of intestinal continuity., Conclusions: Although the exteriorization of small-bowel leaks with CEN and SER is generally feasible and effective in the treatment of critically ill patients with peritonitis secondary to small-bowel leaks, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, in part relating to patients' underlying diseases.

Colonic location of actinomycosis must be distinguished from infected colonic carcinoma and other colonic inflammatory pseudotumors. The diagnosis is often made by histological examination of the tumor. Initial treatment consists in surgery, followed by an antibiotic treatment. We report the case of a 32-year old woman with a right colonic actinomycosis.

Study Aim: In surgical intensive care, the results must be analyzed both in terms of mortality and quality of life; this is particularly important in elderly patients for whom recovery remains uncertain. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the early and late prognosis in elderly patients (aged over 75 years) admitted to a digestive surgical intensive care unit (DSICU) for mortality, quality of life, patient autonomy, and also the predictive factors involved., Patients and Methods: Over a one-year period, 182 patients were admitted to a tertiary referral DSICU; 30 of these subjects were over 75 years old, and formed the basis of this study. The following data were analyzed: hospital mortality rate; mortality rate at six months, and quality of life at six months (Kamofsky scale). These factors were correlated with the severity of the patient's state at admission and also with the causal disease, circumstances connected with admission, and duration of stay in the DSICU., Results: The hospital mortality rate of patients was 23% (7/30 patients), and the overall mortality rate at six months was 40% (12/30 patients). Of the 12 patients who stayed in the DSICU for more than ten days with a simplified acute physiology score (APS) = 10, not one was alive at six months post-DSICU admission. The 18 remaining patients were still alive at six months, and 72% of them (13/18 patients) had regained their previous post-operative autonomy., Conclusion: These results provide reference data for this patient category. The results concerning long-term survival and the good functional outcome are encouraging. If the prognostic criteria defined in this investigation are confirmed by further studies, they may help in making the sometimes difficult decisions regarding elderly patients hospitalized in a DSICU.

Objective: To assess the ability of clinical or biochemical parameters to predict outcome (survival or non-survival; severe or moderate/no complication) using multiple regression analyses., Design: Prospective, descriptive cohort study with no interventions, Setting: 12 surgical intensive care units of university hospitals and large community hospitals; four medical school research laboratories in eight European countries, Patients: 128 surgical patients with major intra-abdominal surgery admitted for at least two days to an intensive care unit, Main Outcome Measures: Prediction of complications or survival based on analysis of clinical (Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score, Multi-Organ-Failure Score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores) and immunological (plasma levels of endotoxin, endotoxin neutralizing capacity, IL-6, IL-8, cell associated IL-8, Fc-receptor polymorphism, soluble CD-14) parameters, with comparison of predicted and actual outcomes., Results: APACHE II, MODS score, MOF score, platelets, IL-6, IL-8, ENC, cell ass. IL-8 were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors and patients with/without severe complications by univariate analysis. By multivariate analysis only MOF, MODS score, IL-6, platelets, comorbidity predicted complications with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 87%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only APACHE II score, plasma IL-8 and complications predicted death (sensitivity 84%; specificity 90%)., Conclusion: Immunological surrogate parameters may predict complications and death of surgical ICU patients. The use of several parameters may add to increase sensitivity and specificity in a prognostic model.

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage is the main cause of death after anterior resection. If it causes a single abscess, it may be successfully cured by percutaneous drainage, but in case of extensive peritoneal infection (multiple abscesses and generalized peritonitis), it is associated with a 40 to 60 percent mortality. This study aimed at evaluating aggressive, one-stage surgical management in such cases., Methods: All patients referred to our surgical intensive care unit during the past ten years with generalized, multilocular, intra-abdominal sepsis after anterior resection were reviewed. There were 32 patients, with a mean age of 65 years, among which 15 (47 percent) were referred from other institutions. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score on admission was 18. All patients underwent a laparotomy with complete peritoneal exploration, intraoperative lavage, fecal diversion, capillary drainage of the pelvis excluding the rectal stump or the leaking anastomosis from the peritoneal cavity, and primary closure of the abdomen. A Hartmann's operation was done in 22 cases, and conservation of the anastomosis with proximal colostomy was done in 10 cases. The choice was based on the size of the leak, the viability of the colon, and the site of the anastomosis., Results: Four patients died (12 percent), and five patients (16 percent) had recurrent sepsis. When the anastomosis had been conserved, restoration of continuity was achieved in all cases. After Hartmann's operation 8 patients of 19 survivors kept a permanent stoma; 7 had undergone a low anterior resection., Conclusions: Extensive intra-abdominal infection after anterior resection may be efficiently controlled by a surgical approach combining peritoneal debridement, fecal diversion, and capillary drainage of the pelvis. Intestinal continuity may be restored after diversion stoma or Hartmann's procedure after high anterior resection. This is not the case after a Hartmann's operation after a low colorectal anastomosis, and this procedure should be avoided whenever possible.

Background: The mortality rate associated with postoperative peritonitis remains high, especially when the source of infection cannot be eradicated. Such is the case with peritonitis arising from the duodenum, as primary closure is futile and intubation alone may be followed by local complications., Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients with postoperative peritonitis originating from a duodenal leak and a mean Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 17.7 were treated according to the following procedure: a three-channelled spiral drain was inserted through the leak and extraluminal drains were placed near the duodenal defect. Intraluminal irrigation was undertaken immediately through the infusion channel of the spiral drain., Results: Eleven patients died and 26 suffered complications. The mean duration of intubation was 21 days., Conclusion: Intubation with intraluminal irrigation has proved effective in a homogeneous group of patients with peritonitis due to duodenal leakage.

Pancreatic trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment of this condition is controversial. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the management of distal pancreatic trauma and its complications, assessing the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The clinical course and surgical management of 38 patients with distal pancreatic trauma were analyzed in a university hospital in Paris, France. Twenty-five patients were referred after initial treatment elsewhere. As initial treatment, patients underwent external drainage (n = 25), pancreatic resection (n = 6), laparotomy alone (n = 5), and no surgery (n = 2). Nineteen patients with pancreatic duct injury and no pancreatic resection developed fistulae (n = 14) or pseudocysts (n = 5). Only four of these patients recovered without a subsequent pancreatic resection or internal drainage procedure. In the absence of duct injury, patients recovered without the need for pancreatic resection. ERCP was performed in 16 cases and provided critical information on duct status influencing surgical management. We conclude that the presence of pancreatic trauma duct injury is a major determinant of complications and outcome after pancreatic trauma. It is optimally managed by pancreatic resection. ERCP is valuable in providing a definitive diagnosis of duct injury, thereby directing treatment.

Objectives: To analyze the specific problems encountered in treating patients previously operated on for necrotizing pancreatitis and to determine the benefit of such a complex and demanding procedure., Design and Setting: Review of a case series in an academic tertiary care referral center., Patients: Forty-four consecutive patients referred and reoperated on in 10 years., Interventions: Reiterative laparotomy with complete debridement of all necrotic sites, followed by Mikulicz packing. Mikulicz packs were replaced by removable drains allowing both local prolonged lavage and open drainage of large solid necrotic debris. Enteral nutrition was performed through a feeding jejunostomy. Associated gastrointestinal tract lesions were simultaneously treated., Main Outcome Measures: Operative findings, bacteriological status of necrosis, in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalization, and surgical complications and their management., Results: Necrosis was infected in 36 (82%) of the 44 cases and associated gastrointestinal tract lesions were found in 20 (45%) of these patients. Mortality was 23%, and was significantly (P = .03) related to the preoperative clinical status. Surgical complications occurred in 31 (70%) of the 44 patients necessitating surgical treatment in 18 (41%) of these patients. Mean (+/- SD) stay in the intensive care unit was 66+/-8 days for survivors., Conclusion: This complex and demanding surgical procedure is worthwhile, yielding mortality rates comparable to those observed in de novo severe necrotizing pancreatitis.

The authors have retrospectively analysed the drainage fluid of 39 patients undergoing Whipple's operation over a 18-year period. The aim of the study was to assess whether the volume and amylase concentration of the drainage fluid were good criteria of healing of the pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis. The patients have been divided into two groups: Group I (30 patients) with no complications at the pancreatico-jejunostomy--Group II (9 patients) with a pancreatic leak. The analysis of the volume, amylase concentration and amylase index (Log of the amylase concentration x volume) showed that the groups had clearly different profiles: in group I all three criteria were rapidly decreasing, while they remained abnormally high in group II. Those criteria may help the clinician in the monitoring of individual patients; they also may prove useful in prospective studies evaluating new means of prevention of this anastomosis.

Spontaneous ischemic colitis is a frequent disease, affecting mostly elderly people and predominantly localised on the left and sigmoid colon. It is due to alterations of small vessels of the colon and/or modifications of the splanchnic blood flow. Spontaneous evolution is generally favorable with restitution ad integrum of the disease colon. The diagnosis of ischemic colitis is established from the clinical picture, CT-scan and colonoscopy. Surgery, under the form of colonic resection, is required in 15% of cases approximately, in case of colonic necrosis.

Fifteen years of experience in the management of postoperative complications following GI surgery are reviewed. In the surgical ICU of the Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris, France, a referral center for these conditions, 385 cases of postoperative peritonitis and 500 cases of enterocutaneous fistulas were observed from 1980 to 1995. Original techniques of management are described in surgical treatment: temporary stomas, intubation irrigation of leaks situated on the upper GI tract, primary closure of the abdominal wall without tension. New methods of intensive care of intestinal conditions have also been designed: control and/or obturation of complex enterocutaneous fistulas, reinfusion of chyme into the distal small bowel and continuous enteral nutrition. In accordance with their experience in this field, the authors review the most controversial points of surgical technique and intensive care.

Background: Restoring intestinal continuity in the presence of radiation-induced rectal lesions and following low colorectal anastomotic complications or low Hartmann's procedure may be fraught with difficulties. Soave's procedure avoids potentially hazardous perirectal dissection. This study examined the morbidity and mortality as well as functional results., Methods: Between January 1978 and July 1994 30 consecutive patients underwent Soave's operation as a final attempt to restore coloanal continuity. The pathology was radiation-induced lesions in 15 patients, low colorectal anastomotic complications in nine and low Hartmann's reconstruction in six., Results: Mean length of follow-up was 4.2 (range 1-16) years. There was no operative mortality. Early complications included one patient with postoperative haemorrhage, one with small bowel obstruction and four with pelvic or perineal sepsis. Late complications included four incisional hernias, three anastomotic strictures which were treated by dilatation, and one recurrent ischaemic colitis. Continence was normal in 19 of 23 evaluable patients., Conclusion: Soave's procedure obviates the need for extensive pelvic dissection, providing good technical and functional results in both the long and short term.

Background: Since the first attempts at resection of Klatskin tumours, an increasingly aggressive surgical treatment has been proposed. Results obtained after examination of the specimen have shown that a significant proportion of resections were palliative. Curative resection appears to be difficult to perform selectively., Methods: This retrospective study evaluates the results of a surgically-oriented management of hilar bile duct cancers. Thirty-nine patients were operated on in the period 1982-1994. Eighteen resections were carried out, requiring liver resection in 13 cases. Pathology of the specimen showed that the resection had been curative in 14 cases. The remaining 21 patients had surgical palliation, i.e. bypass and/or stenting., Results: In the resection group, there was no death but four patients suffered severe complications. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 67 and 47 per cent respectively, with a median survival of 26 months. In the palliation group, the mortality rate was 14 per cent and median survival was 7 months., Conclusion: In the absence of evident contraindications, surgical exploration is worthwhile as it allows detection of the cases where curative resection is possible. Curative resection often requires a major hepatectomy, but mortality and morbidity may be kept low, and it offers a real hope of cure.

Carcinoma of the upper third of the extrahepatic bile ducts (Klatskin's tumors) are difficult to manage and there is still no consensus on the best means of diagnosis and therapy. The objective of this general review was to determine the state of the art about the pathology and the available diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Prognostic factors and outcome of pouch-related fistula were analysed from a series of 21 patients, 20 of whom had an ileal J pouch manually anastomosed to the dentate line following mucosectomy. Fistula occurred more often after pouch formation for ulcerative colitis than for familial adenomatous polyposis. In 6 patients the fistula occurred more than 5 months after closure of the diverting loop ileostomy. The origin of the leak was the anastomosis in 14 patients, the vertical staple line in two and the end of the efferent limb in five. Nine forms of treatment were utilized and these were successful in 11 patients and unsuccessful in ten including three pouch excisions. Adverse prognostic factors were late fistula, the presence of an enterocutaneous or a pouch-vaginal fistula track, and diagnosed or suspected Crohn's disease. Resolution of the fistula followed none of six diverting loop ileostomies performed alone, three of 33 attempted drainage procedures, four of ten direct closures, and four of five repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomoses. It is concluded that an aggressive therapeutic approach using repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis increases the success rate.

Objectives: Evaluate the surgical approach of curative resection in patients treated for cancer of the hepatic hilus., Methods: We made a retrospective analysis of 50 cases collected between 1982 and 1994. Preoperative work-up was progressively centered on ultrasonography and Doppler examinations together with transhepatic cholangiography. Surgery was performed in 39 patients; surgery was not attempted in 11 patients in poor health status or with advanced stage disease., Results: Curative resection was performed in 14 of the 39 operated patients. There were no hospital deaths and mean survival at 5 years was 60%. Median survival was 23 months. A palliative procedure was used in 25 patients with 3 deaths and a 7-month median survival. Transhepatic intubation of the bile ducts was performed in the 11 non-operated patients: there were 3 deaths and median survival was 3 months., Conclusions: A surgical approach, based on a simple preoperative work-up and extensive surgical exploration together with extemporaneous pathology can detect cases in which curative surgery is indicated. Care for operated patients given only palliative treatment is not compromised with this attitude and results are at least as good as those obtained with endoscopic or transhepatic intubation.

Background: Internal fistulas in Crohn's disease join a diseased intestinal segment to a "victim organ" (VO) that is affected by proximity. While the diseased segment is resected, the other can be sutured in selected cases., Study Design: Seventy-four patients with 100 internal fistulas were retrospectively reviewed to assess the results of this conservative operative approach., Results: Closure of the fistulous defect of the VO was achieved by resection (n = 41) or suture (n = 59). The VO was histologically unaffected by Crohn's disease in 86 cases. One patient died postoperatively. Three patients had postoperative fistulas after suture of the VO. There was no long-term recurrence of an internal fistula., Conclusions: Surgical treatment of internal fistulas can be achieved safely by resection of the source of the fistula and suture repair of the VO when the latter is not affected by active Crohn's disease and when local conditions make it feasible.

Background: The choice between ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) in the treatment of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis remains controversial. The aims of this study were to assess our 10-year experience with proctocolectomy, endoanal mucosectomy, construction of an ileal reservoir pouch, and IPAA in a series of 171 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and to compare the functional results after IPAA with those after IRA., Methods: Data from patients treated by IPAA at one institution were prospectively accumulated from October 1983 to October 1993. Medical records of 171 consecutive patients were studied regarding morbidity and functional results. These functional results were compared with those of a series of 23 patients who underwent IRA at the same institution., Results: One patient (0.6%) died after operation. Sixty-two patients (36%) had concomitant colorectal carcinoma, 36 of which tumors were invasive (15 stage A, 13 stage B, and 8 stage C). Forty-six patients (27%) had at least one postoperative complication, with 14 patients requiring reoperation (8%). Twenty-six patients (15%) had obstruction. Seven patients (4%) had pelvic sepsis, and one had transient impotence (0.6%). Only two patients (1%) had a typical episode of pouchitis. The mean follow-up was 29 months (range, 3 to 100 months); 101 patients were monitored for more than 1 year. Little difference was noted between bowel function after IRA and that after IPAA. The mean daytime stool frequency after IPAA was 4.2 with 26% of patients having an average of 1 bowel movement at nighttime, compared with a stool frequency of 3.0 and 13% of patients having night evacuation after IRA. Daytime continence was normal for 98% of patients after IPAA and for all the patients after IRA. Nighttime continence was normal in 96% and 98% of patients, respectively., Conclusions: Morbidity and functional results after IPAA for familial adenomatous polyposis do not differ from those reported after IRA. For this reason and because of the risk of rectal cancer after ileorectal anastomosis, IPAA with endoanal mucosectomy is our first choice in the treatment of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Infected pancreatic necrosis, developing in the early stages of severe acute pancreatitis is a diffuse suppurative process and is difficult to eradicate. Pancreatic abscess, on the other hand, is a late appearing and easily drainable localised infection. Our rule of thumb is that the later the operation, the shorter the course of antibiotics. Following an operation for infected pancreatic necrosis we recommend a 5-week course of antibiotics. After drainage of a pancreatic abscess antibiotics are given for at least 10 days.

Purpose: Surgical treatment of ileosigmoid fistulas in Crohn's disease remains controversial and can be radical (resection of both segments) or conservative (ileal resection with suture or wedge resection of the sigmoid). At our institution, the sigmoid defect is sutured if the sigmoid is not affected by primary Crohn's disease or by important stricture; otherwise, the sigmoid is resected. We reviewed our experience to evaluate our results with this procedure., Methods: Thirty patients with ileosigmoid fistulas underwent operation. Among them, 15 had a preoperative colonoscopy, whereas others had no endoscopic work-up. In nine patients, the sigmoid was thought to be affected by Crohn's disease (n = 7) or stricture (n = 2) and was resected. In 21 patients, the sigmoid was thought to be affected by proximity, and a simple suture (n = 15) or wedge resection (n = 6) was performed. Eleven patients had a temporary stoma (37 percent). One had coloprotectomy., Results: One patient died postoperatively. One patient had postoperative sigmoidocutaneous fistula after conservative treatment. Histology of the sigmoid specimen showed Crohn's disease in 8 patients (27 percent), including 5 of 9 resected specimens, and 3 of 21 conservative procedures. All patients with Crohn's misdiagnosis did not have preoperative colonoscopy. Nine of 11 stomas were closed in a median delay of four months. With a median delay of nine years, four patients have again undergone surgery for recurrent colonic Crohn's disease, all of whom underwent surgery initially without preoperative colonoscopy., Conclusion: Preoperative endoscopic assessment of the colon is a reliable guide to use when choosing between sigmoid resection or a conservative approach and can result in reduced morbidity and improved long-term results.

Pilonidal sinus, acute or chronic suppuration of the sacrococcygeal region, is a common benign disease. Its treatment, usually surgical, remains controversial, between wide excision and limited excision and between primary closure and secondary closure. On the basis of our experience and a review of the literature, we propose limited excision with immediate closure for non-infected operations and exposure with immediate resection for pilonidal abscesses. Regardless of the technique used, the morbidity is high, associated with a recurrence rate of between 5 and 40%.

Internal fistula is a complication of Crohn's disease. Among 589 patients operated upon at Hôpital Saint-Antoine between 1970 and 1992, 17 (2.9%) had entero-vesical fistula. Ileovesical fistulas were twice as frequent as sigmoidovesical fistulas. Typical symptoms were pneumaturia, fecaluria, and recurrent urinary tract infection. Cystoscopy was performed in 8 patients and determined the site of the fistula in each case. The indication for operation was the fistula itself (35%) or another complication of Crohn's disease (65%). Associated lesions were as follows: 6 entero-enteral, 2 ileogenital, 5 enterocutaneous fistulas and 6 intraabdominal abscesses. Resection of the bowel segment responsible for the fistula was performed in every case, with primary anastomosis in 9 cases and enterostomy in 8 cases. The vesical opening was excised and sutured in 10 cases and left open in 7 cases. An urethral catheter was left in place for at least 7 days. There was no postoperative death; one postoperative external vesical fistula healed without reoperation. Seven enterostomies have been closed, one is definitive. There were no late recurrences of vesical fistula.

A case of rectal endometriosis, presenting in the form of acute obstruction, is described. The primary diagnosis was malignancy, but endometriosis was discovered at emergency operation. The diagnosis and management of rectal endometriosis are reviewed.

Purpose: This paper intends to stress the importance of early diagnosis and discuss surgical treatment of Type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS-4), an autosomal dominant connective tissue disease characterized by typical features of the face and extremities, inappropriate and easy bruising, and extreme tissue fragility, which may lead to dramatic and often fatal complications, mostly spontaneous arterial or intestinal rupture., Methods: We report the case of a 41-year-old female who presented with spontaneous perforation of the sigmoid colon., Results: The patient was seen over a nine-year period, during which time she required six operations and presented with a great number of surgical complications including stenosis of an end-colostomy, repeated subocclusive episodes caused by intraperitoneal adhesions, and enterocutaneous fistulas, finally ending with an ileostomy and short bowel syndrome. It is only after a difficult laparotomy for ovarian cyst excision, marked by numerous adhesions and friable bowel, that the diagnosis of EDS-4 was considered and established., Conclusions: In case of "idiopathic" spontaneous perforation of the colon in a young adult, features of EDS-4 should be thoroughly looked into and, if found, skin fibroblast culture with collagen Type III analysis performed. The surgical treatment of choice consists of subtotal colectomy and permanent end-ileostomy. In case of patient refusal, a second-stage ileorectal anastomosis can be performed but carries the high risk of anastomotic leakage.

Eighty-three patients underwent colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis for Crohn's disease of the large bowel. There were two postoperative deaths and seven anastomotic leaks. Fifty-two patients retained a functioning anastomosis with a mean follow-up of 8 years. Forty had an excellent or good functional result. The cumulative proportion of patients with a functioning ileorectal anastomosis was 77 and 63 per cent at 5 and 10 years respectively. Patients presenting with perforating Crohn's disease had a significantly increased risk of failure of the anastomosis. Perianal Crohn's disease following ileorectal anastomosis was significantly related to the need to defunction or excise the rectum.

Acalculous cholecystitis, a recognized manifestation of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), causes abdominal pain which can be relieved by cholecystectomy. The indications for cholecystectomy have remained undefined, however, because the cholecystitis is usually accompanied by generalized cholangitis and it is difficult to distinguish the relative clinical importance of the two problems. Since 1985, we have performed cholecystectomy on 8 patients with AIDS who had clinical manifestations of acute cholecystitis associated with a thickening of the gallbladder wall by 5 mm to 12 mm. Two of the 8 had gallstones and 4 had associated cholangitis. All had been treated with antibiotics for 20 to 180 days before surgery, but physical deterioration had progressed in every case. At the moment of surgical intervention, 4 patients had multiple organ failure. One patient died 3 days postoperatively, but the rest recovered rapidly with resolution of the abdominal pain and sepsis. Two patients died 20 days after surgery due to complications of AIDS. The remaining 5 died due to AIDS at 6, 9, 10, 12, and 14 months after surgery. Two of this group developed progressive cholangitis with raised serum alkaline phosphatase. Our experience indicates that cholecystectomy should be considered for the treatment of severe and persistent symptoms of hepatobiliary manifestations of AIDS notwithstanding the presence of cholangitis.

Objectives: Conventional surgery and non-surgical methods have given unsatisfactory results for the treatment of acute necrotic pancreatitis. We therefore adoptive active prolonged drainage with the aim of controlling both acute enzyme toxicity and secondary necrosis., Methods: One hundred fifty-seven patients with necrotic pancreatitis defined as the presence of extensive pancreatic or peripancreatic necrosis at laparotomy were divided into three groups according to previous care: group 1 no prior medical or surgical treatment (n = 46, 29%), group 2 prior medical but no surgical treatment (n = 48, 31%) and group 3 prior medical and surgical treatment (n = 63, 40%). Spiral drains were placed in the drainage grooves after necrosectomy and post-operative drainage with Mikulicz bags. Continuous lavage-drainage was then maintained for 45 days. Enteral nutrition was initiated on day 7 (mean) and increased progressively to 75 kcal/kg/day so parenteral nutrition could be interrupted 8 days later., Results: There were 28 deaths (18%) including 6 in group 1, 10 in group 2 and 12 in group 3 (13, 21 and 19% respectively). Deaths were due to early multiple organ failure (n = 16), progressive degradation of the clinical situation (n = 8) and sudden death despite improvement (n = 4). Complications requiring re-operation occurred in 44 patients (28%). Among the 129 survivors, mean duration of hospitalization was 70 days including 60 days in the intensive care unit., Conclusions: Compared with results from former series, active prolonged drainage appears to be more adapted to the natural history and anatomic presentation of acute necrotic pancreatitis.