Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology

Read article Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States (1). Moreover, approximately 20% of patients are diagnosed with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs)(2). For patients with CRLM, the 5-year survival rate with after chemotherapy alone is approximately 11 percent (3). However, the 5-year and 10-year survival rates after surgical resection are reported as 38% and 26%, respectively (4). Therefore, surgery is considered a potentially curative intervention in CRLM.
Unfortunately, not all CRLM patients are candi....[more]

Read article Low anterior resection for rectal cancer is associated with high morbidity, permanent stomas and functional impairment. Different strategies to avoid this surgery in low rectal cancer are being pursued.
Several prospective trials have explored a strategy of neoadjuvant treatment to downstage rectal cancer and allow for local resection of the tumor. In this paper we review these trials and the published results of this strategy in regards of patient selection, successful downstaging, oncologic outcomes, morbidity and functional outcomes.
In selected patients, this new strategy....[more]

Read article Gastric cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer- related death in Europe, causing 107.000 deaths every year. Locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) can be defined as clinical T2 disease and beyond with or without confirmed nodal involvement.
Surgery is the cornerstone of therapeutic strategies with curative intent, but a significant amount of patients relapse after surgery and 5-year survival rates remain poor (1).
Active research on multimodality approach, adding chemotherapy and or radiotherapy to optimal surgery allowed improvement....[more]

Read article Background: Preoperative staging of rectal cancer (RC) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) made it possible to individualize treatment and select high-risk patients who will benefit from neoadjuvant treatment, by identifying prognostic risk factors, which were previously established only through histopathological studies.
Among these prognostic risk factors, emphasis should be given to extramural venous invasion (EMVI) and extramural depth of tumor (EMDT). < br>
Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the following issues: first the accuracy of MRI for detection....[more]

Read article Background: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of pancreas is a rare tumor, predominantly affecting young women, usually with a favorable prognosis.

Methods: We present a retrospective observational case-series study of eight patients diagnosed and treated in a dedicated hepatobiliary and pancreatic unit, describing the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Results: seven patients were female, with a mean age of 31 years; the most frequently performed procedure was distal pancreatectomy in six cases. The lesions were well defined, ....[more]

Read article Background: Electrocautery has been used worldwide for performing MRM as it is associated with less blood loss rapid operative time and cost-effectiveness with conflicting results about increased seroma formation. Its use is combined with ligation of the medium sized blood vessels from internal mammary artery and axillary vein.

Methods: 100 mastectomies was performed from June 2015 to Apr 2019 using monopolar electrocautery only for skin flaps elevation axillary dissection and control of all included blood vessels as well as hemostasis

Results:....[more]

Read article Most of the papers focusing on the history of transplant (Tx) surgery point to Joseph Murray as a surgeon who has performed the first successful human kidney allotransplant in 1954.
Later on in 1990, he was awarded the Nobel Prize shared with other scientists. However very few papers mention physician who did this surgery first in 1933, as well as successful case series in 1940s. This article is presumed to clear this up.