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Radiofrequency is a treatment option for patients suffering from fecal incontinence.To assess the one-year follow-up results following the radiofrequency procedure for fecal incontinence.Prospective, single-center, observational study.Twenty-one patients underwent the SECCA® radiofrequency procedure, 19 of who completed the one-year of follow-up (Cleveland Clinic Florida Fecal Incontinence score, Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQoL), anorectal manometry, and endoanal ultrasound).Any change in the Fecal Incontinence Score or Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scales post SECCA® radiofrequency procedure.The mean Fecal Incontinence Score significantly improved at three months' follow-up from 14.5 prior to treatment to 11.9 post-treatment, and was maintained at six months (12). A slight decrease was observed at one year (12.9), which had no impact on the global satisfaction. During the same period, only 1/4 subsets of the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life score improved. Manometry and endoanal ultrasound did not show significant changes post procedure.Limited number of patients.Radiofrequency is a valid treatment option for patients with mild-to-moderate fecal incontinence. This treatment has demonstrated clinically significant improvements in symptoms, as demonstrated by statistically significant reductions in the Fecal Incontinence Score as well as significant improvements in Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scores at six months, with a slight, though not clinically significant, decrease at one year follow-up.

The authors have created and tested a tool for performing online classes (AulaWeb, online e-learning of the Genoa school of Medicine). Described here are the results obtained from the pilot project that was performed. Two groups of 50 students each were created among the students who voluntarily signed up for the ADE on the theme of laparoscopic surgery. Each group was further divided into 2 smaller groups of 25 students, which followed respectively classic oral classes or on line classes. The experiment was divided into 2 parts. While the oral classes were the same for the 2 parts of the experiment, the online classes were characterized by the delivering of videos in the 1st part and videos and interactive web teaching in the 2nd part. Standardized questionnaires were distributed to the students, at the beginning and at the end to evaluate the effcacy of the system used to deliver the information. Both groups of students greatly improved their scores answering the questionnaires, but the on line groups expressed greater satisfaction in particular because of the fruition of free didactic contents. In conclusion we can confrm that, when used properly, the web is a fantastic learning tool for students because, not only it delivers information in a stronger way, but it also provides a faster and more enthusiastic way of learning., Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society, Vol 5, No 3 (2009): Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society

Thirty-five patients with Crohn's Disease (CD) were observed: 18 have been treated with medical therapy and 17 (48.6%) underwent to surgical treatment : 1) intolerance to the medical treatment in 5.9% (1 case); 2) local complications in 94.1% (16 cases: 6 stenosis, 2 occlusions, 3 abscesses, 3 fistulas, 1 perforation with peritonitis, 1 case toxic megacolon). The operations have been 19: resective interventions 14 (bowel and/or colon resections), conservative interventions 5. The mortality was 0, the morbidity 35,29%. The incidence of the recurrences in a follow up of 5 year was 42,9%. The Authors conclude that the surgery, indicated for the treatment of complications, can be resective surgery (perforating Crohn disease: fistulas, abscess) or conservative surgery (stenosing Crohn disease: stenosis). Recently the conservative intervention are proposed in the treatment of fistulas and abscesses too, but when the inflammation is mild and in patients that underwent to extensive intestinal resection with risk of short bowel syndrome.

Parastomal hernia is one of the most common stoma related complication, with the correlated risk of incarceration, obstruction, and strangulation. The incidence is high (30-50%) and depends on the length of follow up. Different surgical options for repairing are defective with a 25-70% failure and recurrence rate. Prevention of parastomal hernia with mesh reinforcement seems to be effective. Three available trials are recruiting patients: Prism (with matrix porcine prothesis), Prevent (with preperitoneal polypropylene mesh), and the stapled polypropylene mesh stoma reinforcement technique (SMART). We performed the SMART procedure in six patients undergoing definitive colostomy. Our cases show that the procedure is rapid (duration range 15-20 minutes), cost effective (500 euro), and safe (in our experience, there are no post-surgical complications that are procedure-related). A long term follow-up and a higher number of patients will give us confirmation of the initial hopeful results.