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Background: In gastric cancer surgery, to search for a technique to remove the entire posterior mesogastric region using a standardised operation using well defined methods and anatomic-embryological planes., Methods: A concise description of the embryological evolution of the posterior mesogastrium allow the formation of the mesogastric fascia (and the supramesocolic fascia of the omentum--which is a continuation) to be documented. It is also clear that the mesogastric fascia is the embryological--anatomical equivalent of Treitz's fascia, pancreatic retro-head, and Toldt's retrocolic fascia, of which it is a structural continuation. Like Treitz's and Toldt's fascias, the mesogastric fascia also represents the surgical plane for the detachment of the region in question and allows maximum safety and radicality. By carrying out primary ligature of the arteries at the origin and the veins at the outlet, the entire posterior mesogastric region, with the relative lymph node stations, can be removed en bloc with maximum radicality and safety, and also in line with the principle of "no touch isolation". We used this technique to operate 61 cases, 17% of all cases of gastric carcinomas between 1973 and 1994., Results: Mesogastrectomy was required in 87% of cases with carcinoma in a high localisation or widespread nature of the linitis plastica type. Only 23 cases (37%) were at pTNM II and III A stages. Thirty-eight cases (63%) were at stages III B and IV. In non-selected cases and those with severe associated pathologies and undergoing emergency surgery, and those cases that were extended beyond mesogastrectomy, morbidity was above all linked to pleural effusion. There were only 2 cases (3%) of operating mortality owing to two technical errors: an esophago-jejunal anastomotic dehiscence (the only case in the series, 1.6%) caused by esophageal cancer nests in the suture and a case of necrosis in the left hepatic region following the section of the left gastric artery at the origin despite the existence of a large hepatic collateral vessel. The results for stages II and III A were excellent: stage II, 100% survival at 5, 10 and 15 years; stage III A 88% survival at 5 years, 70% at 10 years, 55% at 15 years, but only two deaths from neoplasia at 2.7 and 4.6 years. The results for stages III B and IV are comparable to large series undergoing traditional forms of surgery. Postoperative conditions of nutrition and quality of life were good and patients resumed activities with the aid of constant chlorhydric-peptic replacement treatment and the total extraction of gastric mucosa., Conclusions: We believe that mesogastrectomy represents a real advance in both technical terms and results for stages II and III A; it is debatable for stages III B and IV, although individual cases who survived for more than 10 years were also reported. The case of a stage pT3N0M1 = IV pathology, with a single hepatic metastasis that increased until one year and then spontaneously resolved leaving the patient alive and in good health 20 years and 6 months after the operation is truly amazing.

Background: 46 cases of perforated colonic neoplasm (4.6% of the entire series): 11 (24%) of the right colon, 35 (76%) of the left colon; 19 males (41%) and 27 females (59%); mean age 67 years old, range 32-92 years. pTNM: stage II, 1 case (2%); stage III: 27 cases (59%); stage IV, 18 cases (39%). The aim of this study was to resolve the perforation and to treat the neoplasm in a single operation., Methods: The various types of perforation included: 35/46 = 76% perforations in situ; 6/47 = 13% recent perforations upstream; and 5/46 = 11% at a distance from the neoplasia. The following types of peritonitis were observed: purulent localised 10/46 = 22%, purulent generalised 12/46 = 26%, fecaloid 18/46 = 39%, fecal 6/46 = 13%. In 24 cases/46 = 52% the perforation had occurred in an occluded colon. The preoperative finding of pneumoperitoneum in 12/46 = 26% indicated generalised fecaloid-fecal peritonitis. Surgery commenced by suturing the perforation followed wherever possible by standard colectomy: on the right in all 11 cases = 100%, on the left in 15/35 = 43%; only in the event of prohibitive local or in particular general conditions was Hartmann's segmentary colectomy used in 10 cases/35 = 29%, or a definitive preternatural anus in 10/35 = 29%. The following aspects are essential in this single-stage surgery: the emergency nature of the operation; massive dose antibiotic treatment limited to the pre- and perioperative stages and above all peritoneal cleansing using accurate, methodical, repeated and abundant lavage with 8-10-20 or more litres of polysaline isotonic solution at 37 degrees C, but only used 500 ml at a time. This lavage is essential to reduce bacterial load contributes to the rapid hydroelectrolytic re-equilibrium in severe conditions of peritonitis. When necessary, colonic preparation was carried out using direct colostomic perioperative lavage. The peritonisation of the retroperitoneum with the omentum is important, as is the protection of the anastomosis using omental wrapping and active lavage and aspiration of the colorectal anastomosis, even using the 3-way tube, in a transanal trans- or subanastomotic position. Total parenteral feeding is useful and almost indispensable for 6-8 days., Results: Postoperative morbidity was negligible and mortality occurred in 14/46 cases = 30%, of whom 13/32 = 41% were over 60 and 1/14 = 7% under 60; if the cases are divided into two periods, pre-Gullino tube (1974-84) mortality was 8/22 = 36% and with Gullino's tube (1985-95) it was 6/24 = 25%; postoperative stay was 18 days in the first period and only 11 days in the second. The 11 cases at stage IV who survived the operation all died following the spread of neoplasms within 2-30 months, mean 10 months; the over-5-year survival rate for the only case at stage II and the 19 at stage III was 38% (Kaplan-Meier)., Conclusions: By using this courageous single-stage surgery and operating patients at such a severe stage, both the immediate and long-term results appear to be more than satisfactory. It is important to underline, however, that not all neoplastic perforations appeared to be caused by endoluminal hypertension-ischemia; in those cases with non-occluded colon, about half might have been the consequence of biological problems of immune hyperreactivity of a rejection reaction type (Arthus, Snarelli-Shwartzman phenomenon and similar).

Background and Aim: 133 cases of occluded colorectal neoplasms (14% of the entire series): 30 (23%) of the right colon, 103 (77%) of the left colon-rectum; 69 males (52%) and 64 females (48%); mean age 67.5 years old, range 33-91 years. pTNM: stage II, 28 cases (21%); stage III: 43 cases (32%); stage IV, 62 cases (47%). The aim of this study was to resolve the occlusive symptoms and to treat the neoplasm in a single operation., Methods: In the 62 cases at stage IV, surgery was solely palliative: 49 (79%) derivations, 13 (21%) entero-enterostomies and 36 (58%) preternatural anus; 11 (18%) standard hemicolectomies, extended in two cases to hepatic resection, and 2 (3%) Hartmann's operations. In the 71 cases at stages II and III, surgery took the form of standard colic exeresis with primary ligature of the colonic vessels at source and at the outlet; 15 (21%) right colectomies, 50 (70%) left colectomies, extended in 6 cases (8%) to abdomino-perineal amputation; 6 segmentary colectomies, 3 (4%) of the transverse colon and 3 (4%) Hartmann's operations. The following aspects are essential in this single-stage surgery: urgency; massive dose antibiotic treatment limited to the pre- and perioperative stages; peritoneal cleansing using accurate, methodical, repeated and abundant lavage; perioperative colonic preparation using direct colotomic perioperative lavage or using a trans-buccoenteric access (using Grosz-Dennis tube); the peritonisation of the retroperitoneum with the omentum and the protection of the anastomosis using omental wrapping and active lavage and, for colorectal anastomosis, even using the 3-way tube, lavage and active aspiration, in a transanal trans- or sub-anastomotic position. Total parenteral feeding is useful for 6-7 days., Results: In the 62 cases at stage IV, postoperative morbidity was 3 cases (6%): 3 suppurations of laparotomy, and mortality occurred in 10 cases (16%): one case of anastomotic disunion (pre-Gullino's tube), 3 cases of septic shock and 6 cardiorespiratory failures. Mean postoperative hospitalisation was 14 days. All these patients died owing to the spread of neoplasms within 1-40 months, mean 13 months. The worst results were obtained in entero-enterostomies: 1-9 months, mean 5 months. In the 71 cases at stages II and III, postoperative morbidity was 3 cases (4%): a small anastomotic filtration after right colectomy and 2 suppurations of the laparotomic incision; mortality amounted to 10 cases (14%): one case of septic shock, one of acute hepatitis, one intestinal infarction and one cardiac infarction, 3 pulmonary embolisms and 3 cardiorespiratory failures. Mean postoperative hospitalisation was 13 days, only 10 in cases of left colectomy with anastomosis protected by Gullino's tube. The long-term results were very good in these 71 patients: over 5-year survival of 50% (Kaplan-Meier)., Conclusions: Using this courageous single-stage surgery, the results are optimal even at a distance, together with reduced surgical trauma and a shorter hospital stay.

Background: The incidence of perforative diverticulitis of the left colon is steadily increasing. Today the decision is generally taken to perform two-stage surgery: segmentary resection without (Hartmann's operation) or with anastomosis, but protected by a colostomy ("limited intervention"). This study aimed to examine standard colectomy performed in a single operation ("ideal intervention")., Methods: Left colectomy with primary ligature of the lower mesenteric artery and vein at the source and outlet, en bloc removal of the colon-mesocolon and immediate transverse colorectal anastomosis. Anastomosis protected by the omentum which is also used to peritonise the retroperitoneum and to wrap around the anastomosis, and anastomosis also protected by the author's three-way lavage and active aspiration tube in either a trans- or subanastomosis and transanal position. Urgency is essential for this single-stage operation, together with massive dose antibiotic treatment limited to the pre- and postoperative stages, but above all peritoneal cleansing using accurate, methodical, repeated and abundant lavage with 8-10-20 or more litres, but only used 500 ml at a time. Of these 65 cases, 40 (62%) were purulent localised peritonitis and 25 (38%) were generalised (14 purulent, 4 fecaloid and 7 fecal). 8 cases (12.3%) underwent surgery in three stages and 16 (24.6%) underwent sigmoidectomy in one or two stages ("limited intervention"), 41 cases (63%) (1985-95, when Gullino's three-way tube became available) underwent standard colectomy in a single stage., Results: Morbidity in 10 cases/65 (15%) and septic mortality in 5 cases/65 (7.7%) (limited to generalised peritonitis alone) only affected patients undergoing "limited interventions", but none of the 41 patients undergoing "ideal intervention". Mortality was significantly influenced by age: 50% of over 80 year-olds, none below 60. Postoperative hospitalisation was 17.1 days (in the first stage) of "limited interventions" and 9.7 days for "ideal interventions"., Conclusions: The results argue clearly in favour of the "courageous" ideal colectomy with peritoneal lavage and protection of the colorectal anastomosis using Gullino's three-way tube.

Personal experience is reported of 59 hepaticojejunostomies performed on an excluded Roux loop in the treatment of benign pathologies of the main bile duct. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach are discussed. Several particular cases are described as is the surgical technique adopted. Complications arising in 5 patients included 3 duodenal ulcers, one of them bleeding and 2 cases of anastomotic stenosis. In all other cases the operation was satisfactory. Follow-up involved echographic and cholescintigraphic examinations. It is concluded that Roux en Y hepaticojejunostomy is the treatment of choice in benign pathologies of the main bile duct when transduodenal papillostomy is contraindicated.

Among Crohn's disease complications, perforation in free peritoneum is extremely rare, this being due to the disease's anatomopathological characteristics. Three cases of free perforation are described: one of the colon and two of the intestine. On the basis of the results of surgical treatment, straightforward suture of the perforation is contraindicated. The most rational treatment, when possible, is resection with immediate or deferred reconstruction.

The results of a study conducted on 24 patients given biliodigestive shunts are reported. Follow-up involved cholescintigraphy using 99m-IDA technetium. This examination provided valuable information about the morphodynamics of biliary flow and when the biliary peak and intestinal appearance times were lengthened, it was also able to identify significant obstructions. The technique is considered highly significant.

A series of 4 patients with gallbladder cancer encountered in 1977-86 is presented. Carcinoma accounted for 2.5% of all biliary surgery with a higher incidence among female (F = 22, M = 12). Most of the tumours had reached an advanced by the time they reached the operating theatre. Given the difficulty in diagnosing tumours at an early stage, prophylactic cholecystectomy is highly recommended in patients with gallstones whether they are symptomatic or not.