The management of rectovaginal fistula of Crohn's origin should involve both gastroenterologists and coloproctologists, with the best surgical results being achieved in patients receiving optimum medical therapy. More focused studies targeting these patients with the use of combined medical and surgical therapy are necessary.

Simple cutaneous advancement flap anoplasty should be considered as a first-line surgical treatment of chronic anal fissure, irrespective of patient gender and anal tone.

The statistical analysis of our series shows that, the laparoscopic approach reliable even in the management of malignant and nonmalignant blood diseases.

Placement of a feeding jejunostomy tube is indicated for patients who need enteral access but where a gastrostomy is not feasible. This paper presents the technique and results of laparoscopic placement of feeding jejunostomy tubes in patients presenting with esophagogastric cancer. From December 2002 to February 2004, patients diagnosed with esophagogastric cancer with a potentially resectable lesion underwent staging laparoscopy. Laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy was performed on patients who were potential candidates for chemotherapy with palliative intent or neoadjuvant treatment prior to resection surgery. Surgical technique, recovery of bowel function, commencement of feeding jejunostomy, total time tube was in situ, and perioperative complications were analyzed. Of the 22 patients who underwent staging laparoscopy, a feeding jejunostomy tube was placed in 18. The remaining 4 patients were deemed to have advanced disease precluding any therapeutic options and underwent placement of esophageal stents. Feeding tubes remained in situ for a median time period of 76 days. Fourteen patients required enteral support and tubes were used for a median of 30 days. Complications from tube placement included 2 cases of wound infections, 1 of minor leak and 1 tube dislodgment. Patients were followed up for a median time of 112 days. Findings from current series suggest that placement of a feeding jejunostomy tube at the time of staging laparoscopy is a safe and reliable means of providing and maintaining nutrition for patients presenting with esophagogastric cancers.

KEYWORDSIntraoperative ultrasonography; Liver resection; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver metastases.Abstract Introduction: Intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) is the gold standard for tumor staging and operative decision making in liver surgery. Providing dynamic information on tumorevessel relationships and distribution of intrahepatic veins, IOUS is also an important support for guiding the resection. Few authors report an extensive use of IOUS-guidance as a safe and effective approach. The aim of this study is to investigate the short-term results of an early experience of ultrasound (US) guided liver resection. Methods: From December 2005 to December 2007 an extensive use of IOUS-guided resection was applied in 11 consecutive patients (8 males and 3 females; median age 74 years). Perioperative data were collected prospectively to assess the influence of this approach on mortality, morbidity and early recurrence. Results: Four patients had hepatocellular carcinoma, 4 liver metastases, 1 peripheral cholangiocarcinoma, 1 hemangioma and 1 inflammatory pseudotumor. A median of 1 (range: 1e4) nodule per patient was resected. Median lesion size was 44 mm. Liver procedures included: 3 wedge resections, 3 subsegmentectomies, 4 segmentectomies and 3 bisegmentectomies. Median blood loss was 235 ml. Median surgical margin in cancer patients was 5 mm (range: 1e12). An average of 1 unit of blood transfusion was administered in 5 patients. Median postoperative hospital stay was 9 days. There was no mortality. Major complications occurred in 1 patient and minor complications in 5 patients. During a median follow-up of 14 months no recurrences were observed. Conclusions: In this study, use of IOUS-guided liver resection performed in a district general hospital proved to be a safe and effective approach in terms of short-term outcome.Sommario Premessa: Nell'ambito della chirurgia epatica l'ecografia intraoperatoria svolge un ruolo ben codificato nella stadiazione e nella pianificazione della strategia operatoria. L'importanza dell'ampio utilizzo di questa metodica anche durante la resezione è stata riportata solo da alcuni autori. Questo studio ha come scopo di verificare quali siano i risultati a breve termine di un ampio utilizzo dell'ecografia durante la resezione stessa in un ospedale periferico. Metodi: Nell'arco di 24 mesi 11 pazienti consecutivi sono stati sottoposti a resezione epatica ecoguidata. I dati perioperatori sono stati raccolti in modo prospettico per valutare l'influenza di questa metodica sulla mortalità, morbidità e recidive locali. * Corresponding author. via Peschiera 40/7, 16122 Genova, Italia.E-mail address: pietrogrondona@yahoo.com (P. Grondona). Risultati: Otto pazienti erano maschi. Età mediana 74 anni. Quattro HCC, 4 metastasi, 1 colangiocarcinoma periferico, 1 emangioma, 1 pseudotumore infiammatorio. Sono state eseguite 3 resezioni a cuneo, 3 subsegmentectomie, 4 segmentectomie e 3 bisegmentectomie. La perdita ematica mediana è stata 235 ml. In caso di tumore il margine di exeresi mediano è st...