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Aims: To evaluate the long-term outcome and quality of life (QoL) data, and to assess the potential influence of age and different conservative procedures on laparoscopic surgery., Background: Current therapies for achalasia can palliate dysphagia, but other symptoms may persist, making it difficult to quantify and compare. To understand if they could influence results, we analyzed short- and long-term results and correlated them to age and previous conservative treatments using a specific QoL test., Methods: Functional examinations (endoscopy, 24-hr pH manometry, upper GI X-rays) and the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) were used before and after a laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Spearman's rho coefficient for bivariate correlations (p < 0.05)., Results: From January 1996 to January 2004, 31 consecutive patients out of 35 diagnosed with achalasia, in clinical stages I-III, were operated on by laparoscopy . Two groups were identified using the break point of 70 years of age, (20 younger and 15 older) and two subgroups according to the conservative therapy performed (20, none; 15, some). Patients underwent a clinical manometry evaluation at six and 12 months, and then yearly, and pH-metry at six, 24, and 60 months. In 78% of patients dysphagia disappeared and the incidence of reflux was 13%. Age and previous treatments did not influence surgical outcome. Patients completed a GIQLI questionnaire before surgery, six months after surgery, and then yearly (for five years). The median preoperative GIQLI score was 78 (range 38-109) out of a theoretical maximum score of 144. At a median follow-up of 49 months (range 24-72 months), the score had significantly improved to 115 (range 71-140). There was no significant statistical difference between the groups., Conclusions: Laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy is an effective palliation for achalasia; the long-term outcome is not significantly affected by preoperative conservative treatments or by the age of the patients. The GIQLI questionnaire is a reliable instrument to compare the impact of achalasia symptoms on health-related QoL before and after surgery.

Aims: To evaluate retrospectively the outcome of the curative open and laparoscopic surgical approach to the diverticular disease according to timed steps based on the pathologic stage., Patient and Material: From 1989 83 out of 242 outpatients underwent surgery in emergency or after medical failure and at least two acute attacks requiring hospital admittance, or complicated diverticulitis. Modified Hinchey classification staged the disease. Clinic and instrumental criteria, surgical procedures, early and late complications were statistically evaluated (Students t-test and exact Fischer test, p < 0.05) in comparison with the different steps of therapeutic strategy., Results: Twenty nine patients were classified as Hinchey 0, 26 as I, 14 as II, 11 as III, 3 as IV. Clinical characteristics of the lap and open groups overlapped, with higher rate of earlier age in first and advanced stages in the second group. 16 patients (19.3%) underwent surgery at the first attack in emergency or in delayed emergency (5 TC-guided drainages). 30 open and 53 lap procedures were done: 21 two-stage: 18 primary resections + ileostomy and 3 Hartmann; 61 single stage: 49 sigmoidectomy, 12 left colectomy. 4 conversions (7.5%), 12 early (14.5%) and 10 late (12.1%) complications were observed., Discussion: Complications rate was higher in the open group including more advanced stages. Elective surgery performed following conservative therapy, 4 weeks from the first acute attack in younger people (age < 55yrs.) and after two attacks in elder (age > 55yrs.) showed a significant lower complications' incidence (p < 0.05) compared to the 8 weeks delayed operations., Conclusion: Surgery of diverticulitis must follow standardized criteria. The laparoscopic approach could be performed in more severe stages, provided that conditions of delayed emergency were achieved.

Aims: To assess the outcome of laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy for oesophageal achalasia in two groups of patients identified by age (under and over 70 years) using functional and clinical instruments., Background: Current therapies for achalasia can't restore normal motility but can palliate dysphagia. Many other symptoms may persist difficult to quantify and to compare. In order to understand if age is a factor that influences the therapeutic outcome we tested the reliability of a specific QoL instrument for comparing outcomes of surgery for achalasia., Methods: Functional examinations and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) were used before and after laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy., Results: Starting in January 1996, 28 consecutive patients of 32 diagnosed (instrumental evidences) achalasia were operated on laparoscopically for various clinical stages of achalasia. In 78% of patients dysphagia disappeared, the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux was of 11%. The patients completed a GIQLI questionnaire preoperatively and after a minimum postoperative follow-up of 1 year. Median preoperative GIQLI score was 78(range 38-109) out of a theoretical maximum score of 144. At a median follow-up of 35 months (range 18-72), the score had significantly improved to 115 (range 71-140). All the items assessing gastrointestinal symptoms and physical, social, and emotional function were significantly improved. There is no difference between the two groups identified., Conclusions: The laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy is an effective palliation for acalasia, the medium-term outcome is not affected by the age of the patients. The GIQLI is a reliable instrument to compare the impact of achalasia symptoms on health-related QoL.

The therapeutic approaches to the impairments of the faecal continence not depending from organic lesions of the anal sphincters or the pelvic floor are often unsuccessful, particularly as far as long distance outcome is concerned. The direct setting to the sacral roots of a magnetic stimulation modulating the reflex activity of the Autonomic Nervous System, firstly applied successfully by the urologist in the bladder incontinence, could correct indefinitely the effects of such a defect implying also a social cost in terms of quality of life and linen clothes expenses. Here details of the Interstim, Medtronic devices are reported, discussing the instrumental and clinical indications and the steps of the protocol of its application, in agreement with the Italian Group of Sacral Neuromodulation (GINS), as well as the most recent data of the literature and the early results of our own experience in the treatment of faecal incontinence. It is stressed the aspect of "work in progress" peculiar to this technique, as clearly shows the difficulty to explain the pathway with which neuromodulation effects on anal sphincters and pelvic floor, and moreover on the colorectal motility, as some ongoing applications to patients with refractory constipation seems to evidence. Data of a long standing follow-up are not yet available but the early and intermediate results are in the main successfully in terms of complete recovery or improvement as clearly show both clinical evidence and subjective evaluation assessing the Quality of Life.

Background and Objectives: The incidence of locoregional recurrences (LR) following radical surgery of rectal cancer varies from 5% to 30% according to the literature. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the outcome of the Abdomino-Perineal Excision (APE) vs. the Anterior Resection (AR) in a consecutive series of 188 patients who underwent surgery for cure from 1980 to the end of 1992 (81 APE and 107 AR), followed for 5 years, evaluating their influence on the incidence of the recurrences., Methods: The patients were enrolled at random in the two surgical groups, provided that a radical excision of the tumour, with only two limits: the level of the lesion from the anal verge and the presence of a severe incontinence instrumentally proven. TNM, Dukes staging, grading, and tumour location were statistically evaluated. Further primary suture vs. packing of the perineal wound in APE and handsewn vs. stapled anastomosis in AR were compared in relation with the incidence of LR., Results: The overall local recurrence rate was 19.2% (32/167), in details 19.7% for APE and 18.5% for AR. Similar recurrence rates were observed following both procedures, matching the patients according to the Dukes stage and different details of techniques. A slight statistically significant difference was found as far as the tumour location is concerned in the group treated with anterior resection (p = <0.05) because of the higher recurrence observed in AR performed for tumours of the lower third of the rectum in comparison with the more proximal level., Conclusions: The AA conclude that the choice of the right surgical procedure in the rectal carcinoma depends on the characteristics of the tumour and the conditions of the patients, provided that the oncologic indications were respected, because recurrence and survival rate are independent from the surgical approaches.

Out of a total of 365 operations for colo-rectal disease performed during the period 1980-1989 at the III and V Division of General Surgery of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Naples, 181 (49.6%) patients had rectosigmoidal cancer: 95 (52.5%) underwent anterior resection and 86 (47.5%) Miles' operation. In 46 patients who underwent mechanical anterior resection during the period 1986-1989, pre and postoperative sphincter function was studied through a complete anamnesis, physical examination, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy and balloon manometry. All data were analyzed considering both the distance of the anastomosis from the anal verge and the patient age in order to stress possible relations with incontinence. The low incidence of incontinence registered after 12 months (6.5%), confirms the importance of manometry and rehabilitation, both necessary to improve the quality of life in old patients who undergo low anterior resection.

In view of the growing number of examinations proposed and employed for the diagnosis of diseases of the thyroid, a retrospective evaluation was made of their validity in a series of 2500 patients (1500 operated). Attention was paid to scintiscanning, oncotropic indicators, echography, needle biopsy, thyrolymphography and thyroid hormones as aids to determining the nature of thyroid lesions and the planning of their treatment. Scintiscanning and needle biopsy proved of primary importance in determination of the nature of a lesion. Echography supplied additional, though not necessarily indispensable information. Oncotropic indicators and thyrolymphography do not appear to be useful. They do not provide data enabling a diagnostic problem to be solved, but can only help to increase any doubts that may exist. Determination of thyroid hormones is clearly indicated when planning the management of hot lesions (single, multiple or disseminated nodes), in cold lesions where thyroiditis is suspected, and in all cases where the clinical evidence suggests hypothyroidism. In euthyroid subjects requiring surgery with no objective signs of hypofunction, preoperative determinations appear to be unnecessary, where as post-operative values are of assistance in assessing the functional efficiency of the residual thyroid tissue. The conclusion to be drawn, therefore, is that diagnostic examinations should be employed in a more selective and discriminating manner.