Soft tissue tumors are commonly encountered in all surgical departments. The authors present a case of a very rare large tumor lesion, with macroscopic signs of liposarcoma.

As the commonest type of cancer in Europe and the third most common type of cancer worldwide, colorectal carcinoma (CRC) poses a challenge for numerous scientific studies. At present, the cause of this disease is remains to be elucidated, but early diagnosis is only one solution to prevent serious health complications. As a structural scaffold, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is in direct contact with tumour cells and significantly interferes with tumour progression. During the process of tumorigenesis, the ECM undergoes structural changes in which collagens serve an important role. Their life cycle is regulated by proteolytic enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are controlled by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The present study analysed the gene expression of MMPs (MMP1-2-8-10-13), TIMPs (TIMP1-2-4) and collagens (COL1A1 and COL3A1) and the correlation with biochemical parameters in the adjacent rectal tissue (ART) of patients with CRC. The patients who underwent standard neoadjuvant pre-therapy showed increased concentrations of collagen in the normal ART. The mRNA levels of COL3A1, TIMP1 and TIMP2 were significantly higher in the ART of CRC patients (with or without pre-therapy) when compared with the control group. This finding suggested that TIMPs served an important role in the regulation of MMPs and in the modification of collagen content in the ECM. Despite the small data set, the present study provided insights into the transcriptomic relationships between the individual genes that are an integral part of the ECM.

IntroductionThe objective of the study is to share the results and development findings on the laparoscopic closure technique applied in our centre during a 15-year period (1998–2012).AimTo compare statistically the standard parameters (hospitalization, duration of operation) versus conventional surgery, and at the same time we compared mainly morbidity and mortality.Material and methodsDuring the period under review we operated on a total of 259 patients, 115 (44.4%) of them laparoscopically, and 144 (55.6%) of them conventionally. The sample was divided into two groups: patients with ASA physical status classification system 1–3, and patients with ASA 4–5.ResultsThe results favour laparoscopy within the group with ASA 1–3 in terms of several parameters, namely: duration of hospitalization – 7.7 days in the case of laparoscopic intervention, vs. 10.6 days for conventional surgery (p < 0.05); and duration of operation – 61 min vs. 85.1 min respectively (p < 0.05). Total morbidity was 27.5% in the case of patients with conventional surgery, vs. 10.9% with laparoscopic intervention (p < 0.05). The sample of patients with ASA 4–5 suffered a high mortality of 82.7%.ConclusionsLaparoscopic closure of perforated ulcer is a safe therapeutic method, as confirmed by the results of many other studies around the world, which in many aspects favour the laparoscopic technique.

Dehiscence of colorectal anastomosis is a serious complication that is associated with increased mortality, impaired functional and oncological outcomes. The hypothesis was that anastomosis reinforcement and vacuum trans-anal drainage could eliminate some risk factors, such as mechanically stapled anastomosis instability and local infection. Patients with rectal cancer within 10 cm of the anal verge and low anterior resection with double-stapled technique were included consecutively. A stapler anastomosis was supplemented by trans-anal reinforcement and vacuum drainage using a povidone-iodine-soaked sponge. Modified reinforcement using a circular mucosa plication was developed and used. Patients were followed up by postoperative endoscopy and outcomes were acute leak rate, morbidity, and diversion rate. The procedure was successfully completed in 52 from 54 patients during time period January 2019–October 2020. The mean age of patients was 61 years (lower–upper quartiles 54–69 years). There were 38/52 (73%) males and 14/52 (27%) females; the neoadjuvant radiotherapy was indicated in a group of patients in 24/52 (46%). The mean level of anastomosis was 3.8 cm (lower–upper quartiles 3.00–4.88 cm). The overall morbidity was 32.6% (17/52) and Clavien–Dindo complications ≥ 3 grade appeared in 3/52 (5.7%) patients. No loss of anastomosis was recorded and no patient died postoperatively. The symptomatic anastomotic leak was recorded in 2 (3.8%) patients and asymptomatic blind fistula was recorded in one patient 1/52 (1.9%). Diversion ileostomy was created in 1/52 patient (1.9%). Reinforcement of double-stapled anastomosis using a circular mucosa plication with combination of vacuum povidone-iodine-soaked sponge drainage led to a low acute leak and diversion rate. This pilot study requires further investigation.Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov.: Trial registration number is NCT04735107, date of registration February 2, 2021, registered retrospectively.