EUS-guided transmural endoscopic drainage is commonly used in the treatment of WOPN in the late phase of ANP. The role of endoscopic intervention remains unclear in the early phase of ANP. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate early endoscopic treatment of ANCs compared with endoscopic drainage of WOPN. Overall, 71 patients with ANP who underwent transmural endoscopic drainage for necrotic collections were included. Endoscopic intervention was performed within the first four weeks of ANP in 25 (35.21%) patients with ANC (Group 1) and in 46 (64.79%) patients after four weeks since the onset of ANP with WOPN (Group 2). The overall mean age of patients was 49.9 (22–79) years and 59 of them were males. The mean time of active drainage and duration of total endoscopic treatment was 26.8 and 16.9 days (P = 0.0001) and 270.8 and 164.2 days (P = 0.0001) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average total number of endoscopic interventions was 9.5 and 4.5 in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.0001). The clinical success rate, frequency of complications of endoscopic interventions, long-term success rate, and recurrence rate were not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05 for each). Transmural endoscopic drainage is effective method of treatment of early ANCs within the first four weeks of ANP. However, compared with endoscopic intervention in WOPN, more interventions and longer duration of drainage are required.

Introduction. Acute mesenteric ischemia, although rare, is associated with numerous complications and death. This work presents acute mesenteric ischemia treatment based on an analysis of various management strategies and identifies prognostic factors that influence therapy effectiveness. Material and Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who were diagnosed with acute mesenteric ischemia due to occlusion and hospitalized between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2018. Results. Acute ischemia of the bowel mesentery was diagnosed in 41 patients (27 women and 14 men; mean age, 65.4 years). All patients underwent laparotomy. For 13 (31.71%) patients, surgery was performed within the first 24 hours of the clinical symptom onset. Mesenteric artery embolectomy without intestine resection was performed for 7 (17.07%) patients. Partial intestine resection due to necrosis was performed for 21 (51.22%) patients. Exploratory laparotomy without a therapeutic procedure was performed for 13 (31.71%) patients. Fifteen (36.59%) patients were discharged home in good general condition. Twenty-six (63.41%) patients died. The time from the clinical symptom onset until intervention exceeded 24 hours for all patients who died. Surgery within the first 24 hours reduced mortality associated with acute mesenteric ischemia (P=0.001). Female sex, age older than 65 years, obesity (body mass index>30), diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and smoking were adverse prognostic factors for increased mortality for patients with acute bowel ischemia. Conclusion. The time from clinical symptoms to acute mesenteric ischemia treatment was the main prognostic factor and helped determine appropriate management. Early diagnosis and rapid intervention improved treatment outcomes and survival.

IntroductionEsophageal hiatal hernias are the most frequent types of internal hernias. This condition involves disturbance of normal functioning of the stomach cardiac mechanism and reflux of the gastric contents to the esophagus.Aim: To evaluate postoperative results in our Clinic and the comparison of these results to data from the literature.Material and methodsOne hundred and seventy-eight patients underwent surgery due to esophageal hiatal hernia at the Clinic of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland, from 2006 to 2011. All operations were performed using laparoscopy. Fundoplication by means of the Nissen-Rossetti method was carried out in 172 patients while Toupet's and Dor's methods were applied in 4 and 2 patients, respectively.ResultsAverage time of the surgery was 82 min (55–140 min). Conversion was performed in 4 cases. No serious intraoperative complications were noted. In the postoperative period, dysphagia was reported in 20 patients (11.2%). Postoperative wound infection was observed in 1 patient (0.56%). Hernias in the trocar insertion area were reported in 3 patients (1.68%). Ailments recurred in 6 patients. The recurrence of esophageal hiatal hernia was confirmed in 2 patients. Patients with recurrent hernia were re-operated using a laparoscopic approach.ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery is a simple and effective approach for patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms due to diaphragmatic esophageal hiatus hernia. The number of complications is lower after laparoscopic procedures than after “open” operations.

Background Transpapillary biliary drainage in ERCP is an established method for symptomatic treatment of patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage frequently remains the treatment of choice when the transpapillary approach proves ineffective. Recently, EUS-guided extra-anatomical anastomoses of bile ducts to the gastrointestinal tract have been reported as an alternative to percutaneous biliary drainage. To assess the usefulness of extra-anatomical intrahepatic biliary duct anastomoses to the gastrointestinal tract as endotherapy for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction and to determine factors affecting the efficacy of treatment. Methods A prospective analysis of the treatment results of all patients with unresectable biliary obstruction treated with EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy at our institution in the years 2016–2019. Results Transmural intrahepatic biliary drainage (EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy) was performed due to the ineffectiveness of ERCP in 53 patients (38 males, 15 females; mean age 74.66 [56–89] years) with unresectable biliary obstruction. Technical success of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy was achieved in 52/53 (98.11%) patients. Complications of endoscopic treatment were observed in 10/53 (18.87%) patients. Clinical success of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy was achieved in 46/53 (86.79%) patients. Bismuth type II–IV cholangiocarcinoma, hepatic metastases, ascites, suppurative cholangitis, and high blood bilirubin levels exceeding 30 mg/dL were independent factors for increased complications and inefficacy of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy. Conclusions In the event of transpapillary biliary drainage proving ineffective, extra-anatomical anastomoses of intrahepatic bile ducts to the gastrointestinal tract provide an effective method for the treatment of patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Background Surgery is the gold standard for the treatment of malignant tumors of the rectum. Intestinal anastomotic leakage remains a serious complication of colorectal surgery. The efficacy and safety of transrectal endoscopic drainage by vacuum therapy in patients with intestinal anastomotic leakage after surgical treatment of middle and distal rectal tumors were assessed. Methods Prospective analysis of treatment outcomes among patients undergoing surgery for middle and distal rectal tumors at the Department of General, Gastroenterological, and Oncological Surgery of the Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz and Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun from 2016 to 2019 was conducted. Results Seventy-nine patients with middle and distal rectal tumors underwent laparoscopic resection. Intestinal anastomotic leak was identified in 18 (22.79%) patients [all men, mean age 61.39 (43–86) years] during the postoperative period. Primary protective ileostomy was performed in 8/18 (44.44%) patients. All 18 patients were treated with endoluminal vacuum therapy via transrectal endoscopic drainage. The mean time from surgery to the diagnosis of leakage and initiation of endoscopic treatment was 16 (3–728) days. The mean number of endoscopic procedures per patient was 6 (1–11). The mean duration of endoscopic treatment was 22 (4–43) days. Complications of endotherapy occurred in 2/18 (11.11%) patients treated endoscopically for bleeding from the abscess cavity. Success of endoluminal vacuum therapy was achieved in 17/18 (94.44%) patients. Moreover, 5/18 (27.78%) patients required ileostomy during the endoscopic treatment. The mean follow-up period was 368 (118–724) days. Long-term success of transrectal endoscopic drainage using vacuum-assisted therapy was achieved in 15/18 (83.33%) patients. Conclusions Endoscopic rectal drainage using vacuum-assisted therapy is an effective and safe minimally invasive treatment in patients with intestinal anastomotic leaks following resection procedures within the middle and distal rectum.