In conclusion, this study confirms that laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias is effective and durable over a long period of time. Reinforcement of crura repair with ProGrip™ mesh is safe and can prevent anatomical recurrences.

Мета. Покращити діагностику та результати лікування хворих з пухлинами прямої кишки шляхом застосування тран- санальної ендоскопічної мікрохірургії і вивчення «сторожових» лімфатичних вузлів. Матеріали і методи. За період з 2009 по 2017 р. у клініці трансанальні ендоскопічні операції виконані 115 хворим у віці від 29 до 82 років. У 92 пацієнтів була тубуловорсинчата аденома прямої кишки, із них у 26 гістологічним дослі- дженням видалених пухлин виявлено малігнізацію (TisN0M0). У 23 пацієнтів до операції виявлено ранній рак прямої кишки Т1–2N0M0.  Результати. У строки спостереження від 12 до 60 міс рецидив виявили у 2 (2,2%) хворих з аденомою і у 3 (13%) з раком прямої кишки. Рецидив раку виник у хворих, які відмовилися від хіміотерапії та променевої терапії. Висновки. Ідентифікація і прицільне дослідження «сторожових» лімфатичних вузлів при раку прямої кишки умож- ливлює вірогідну (чутливість=0,89, специфічність=0,99) оцінку стадії захворювання і застосування адекватної схеми комбінованого і комплексного лікування пацієнтів.

Intraoperative diagnosis of «sentinel lymph nodes» with objective to select the surgical procedure in gastric and uterus cancers

Objective. Studying of possibility of application of a self-fixing mesh ProGrip™ while plasty performing for large hiatal hernias (HH).Маterials and methods. In the investigation 144 patients, ageing 30 – 78 yrs old, owing HH with square 10 - 20 сm2, took part. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 71 patients, to whom crurorhaphy with additional strengthening of the sutures, using a self-fixing mesh ProGrip™ was peformed. Group II consisted of 73 patients, in whom sutures of crurorhaphy were not strengthened by the mesh implant. Dynamical follow-up in patients was conducted in 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 mo after the surgical treatment.Results. Average duration of the operation in patients of Group i and Group II did not differ essentially – (94 ± 12) and (92 ± 15) min, accordingly (p > 0.1). In late terms of follow-up the HH recurrence have occurred in 3.2% in the Group I patients and in 21.5% - in the Group II patients. The quality of life index in patients of Group I, in accordance to questionnaire SF-36, was trustworthily better, than in patients of Group II (p < 0.05).Conclusion. The mesh ProGrip™ application while doing plasty of large HH permits to lower the recurrence rate significantly and to improve the operative interventions results essentially.

Introduction: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for choledocholithiasis is a popular option in many surgical institutes. Decompression of biliary system via T-tube post supraduodenal choledochotomy has been the traditional surgical practice. Primary closure of common bile duct (CBD) has been shown to reduce hospital stay but bears a risk of bile leak. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to compare complications and length of stay in patients undergoing biliary stent insertion versus T-tube drainage following LCBDE via choledochotomy. Methods and Procedures: The study involves 52 patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent LCBDE and decompression of the biliary system by either antegrade biliary stent or T-tube insertion. A 7 French biliary stent (9 "10 cm long) have been placed in 27 patients (group I), T-tube insertion have been used for 25 patients (group II). The length of hospital stay and complications were recorded. All transcystic explorations were excluded. Results: There were no significant differences between groups with respect to age, sex, comorbidities, number and size of CBD stones. Postoperative complications have been observed in 4 patients (16%) in the T-tube group (one patient needed reoperation for dislocation of T-tube),

Background: Different techniques of wrap fixation in laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) have been proposed with of the aim to reduce the complications, but the optimal technique is yet to be determined. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate several techniques of wrap fixation and determine whether the application of a combined approach to perform wrap fixation reduces the failure rate in short-term and long-term follow-up.Materials and Methods: One hundred two patients with sliding or paraesophageal hiatal hernia (type I or type II), who underwent antireflux surgery were randomized into 2 groups. In group I, LNF was supplemented with suturing the wrap to the diaphragmatic crura (35 patients) or to the body of stomach (16 patients). This was dependent on the strength of the crura (defined as weak or strong). The control group (51 patients) underwent LNF without wrap fixation. All patients were assessed using a validated symptom and quality of life (gastroesophageal reflux disease-Health Related Quality of Life) questionnaire, 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring, and barium swallow.Results: At the 48-month follow-up, the overall rate of complications was not significantly different between the 2 groups; however, there was a tendency toward a lower frequency of reoperations in the first group (P = 0.059). Fixation of the fundoplication of wrap was noted to lead to significantly lower rates of postoperative dysphagia (P < 0.05). These patients (group I) were also found to have significant improvement in gastroesophageal reflux disease-Health Related Quality of Life score (from 19.3 ± 13.2 to 4.3 ± 3.9 vs. from 18.7 ± 11.9 to 9.3 ± 7.7). Conclusion:Fixation of the Nissen fundoplication wrap has been shown to have a positive impact on the reduction of postoperative dysphagia and leads to an improvement in disease-specific quality of life.

IntroductionWe previously showed that erythropoietin (EPO) attenuates the morphological signs of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in swine [1] without, however, improving neurological function. The clinical use of EPO has been cautioned most recently due to serious safety concerns arising from an increased mortality in acute stroke patients treated with EPO and simultaneously receiving systemic thrombolysis [2]. Carbamylated EPO (cEPO) is an EPO derivative without erythropoietic activity and devoid of the EPO side eff ects, but with apparently well maintained cytoprotective qualities [3]. We therefore tested the hypothesis whether cEPO may be equally effi cient as EPO in reducing morphological as well as functional aortic occlusion-induced spinal cord I/R injury. Methods In a randomized and blinded trial pigs received either vehicle (control, n = 9), EPO or cEPO, respectively (n = 9 each; 5,000 IU/kg over 30 minutes before and during the fi rst 4 hours of reperfusion). Animals underwent 30 minutes of thoracic aortic balloon occlusion with catheters placed immediately downstream of the A. subclavia and upstream of the aortic trifurcation. Spinal cord function was assessed by motor evoked potentials (MEP as percentage of the amplitude before aortic occlusion) and lower limb refl exes (assessed as the subjective strength of response) for a period of 10 hours after reperfusion. Tissue damage was evaluated using Nissl staining. Results Both EPO-treated and cEPO-treated animals presented with attenuated spinal cord injury in the Nissl staining (median (quartile) percentage of damaged neurons in the thoracic segments: control 27 (25,44), cEPO 8 (4,10), and EPO 5 (5,7), P <0.001 vs control group; in the lumbar segments: control 26 (19,32), cEPO 7 (5,13), EPO 8 (5,10), P <0.001 vs control group). However, while only cEPO treatment was associated with recovery of the MEP amplitude to pre-occlusion values when compared with the control group (P <0.05), lower limb refl ex response was comparably restored stronger in both treatment groups (P <0.05 vs control). Conclusions In a clinically relevant porcine model mimicking aortic crossclamping during vascular surgery repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm, cEPO protected spinal cord function and integrity as eff ective as EPO when applied at equipotent doses. Acknowledgements Supported by the Deutsche Forschungs gemeinschaft (SCHE 899/2-2). References Introduction Unfolded protein response (UPR)-mediated apoptosis plays a pivotal role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) has been reported to act as a chemical chaperone inhibiting UPR-mediated apoptosis triggered by ischemia in various organs other than the heart. Therefore we investigated whether PBA reduces UPR-mediated apoptosis and protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 30 minutes LAD ischemia followed by reperfusion. PBA (100 mg/kg) or PBS (control) was administrated intraperitoneally just before ischemia. Apoptosis, infarct ...

Objective. To analyze the results of treatment of patients with retrosternal goiter. Materials and methods. During the period from 2010 to 2019, 62 patients with thoracic goiter were operated on, which was 6.2% of all patients operated in relation to goiter. There were 48 women (77.4%) and 14 men (22.6%). Age of patients varied from 21 to 87 years (average age - 47 years). Computed tomography was mandatory in terms of research. The size of the sternal goiter and the degree of operative risk were determined by G. Mercante (2011). Results. In 39 patients (1st group) the operation was performed by cervicotomy according to standard techniques. Video endoscopic support was used in 23 patients, thanks to which in 15 patients (group 2) it was able to cross all blood vessels with the help of an electro coagulator and isolate nerve structures and parathyroid glands. In 8 patients (group 3) there was a massive bleeding after attempts of finger dissection. They underwent tamponade and temporarily stopped bleeding. After that, a video endoscope was inserted into the wound and hemostasis was performed with the help of an electrocoagulation. Bleeding from the surgical wound, which required revision, was not observed. Temporary tracheostomy in the postoperative period was imposed in 3 patients, later it was closed. Hypocalcemia occurred in 12 (19.3%) patients (in 11 it was transient). Transient paresis of the recurrent nerves was observed in 3 patients of the 1st, 2 of the 2nd and 2 of the 3rd groups. Permanent paresis of the recurrent nerve occurred in only 1 patient of the 3rd group. According to histological examination, 21 patients were diagnosed with cancer (19 - papillary, 2 - follicular). They subsequently underwent standard treatment for highly differentiated thyroid cancer. Conclusions. The use of cervical access with video endoscopic support during surgery for thoracic goiter avoids performing a sternotomy, reduces blood loss and operational trauma, improves the nerve structures and parathyroid glands identification, and reduces the duration of surgery. The use of modern methods of electrocoagulation significantly expands the capabilities of endoscopic techniques.