<50 3269 (70.79%) First operator, n (%) Specialist 2589 (56.06%) Resident 2029 (43.94%) Median operative time, min (IQR) 55 (40-70) Technique, n (%) Clipping 2841 (61.64%) Suturing/ligature 453 (9.79%) Stapler 313 (6.75%) Endoloop 606 (13.11%) Röder loop 403 (8.71%) Complicated appendicitis, n (%) 1269 (27.48%) Uncomplicated appendicitis, n (%) 3349 (72.52%) Intraoperative adverse events, n (%) 104 (2.25%) Drainage, n (%) 3493 (75.64%) Postoperative morbidity, n (%) 310 (6.71%) Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications, n (%) I 146 (3.16%) II 80 (1.73%) III 77 (1.67%) IV 4 (0.09%) V 3 (0.06%) Conversions, n (%) 294 (6.37%) Reinterventions after primary procedure, n (%) 98 (2.12%) LOS 3 (2-4) Readmissions, n (%) 118 (2.56%)

BACKGROUND: Preoperative classification of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis (AA) is challenging. However, the differences in surgical outcomes necessitate the establishment of risk factors in developing, complicated AA. This study was an analysis of the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomies (LA), as well as preoperative risk factors for the development of complicated AA. METHODS: The data of 618 patients who underwent LA in 18 surgical units across Poland and Germany were collected in an online web-based database created by the Polish Videosurgery Society. The surgical outcomes of patients with complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis were compared. Uni-and multivariate logistic regression models were used to establish risk factors for the development of complicated appendicitis. RESULTS: In all, 1269 (27.5%) patients underwent LA for complicated appendicitis (Group 1) and 3349 (72.5%) for uncomplicated appendicitis (Group 2). The conversion rate, number of intra-operative adverse events, re-intervention rate, postoperative complications, and readmission rate was greater in Group 1. The preoperative risk factors associated with complicated appendicitis were:

BackgroundAn increasing number of publications are suggesting that galectin-3 (Gal-3) and soluble cadherin fragments, such as E-cadherin (sE-CAD) and N-cadherin (sN-CAD), may be considered as cancer markers. Despite the promising results of the studies, there are no data concerning their levels in the plasma of echinococcosis patients. In most cases, echinoccocosis affects the liver, and its symptoms and disease course are very similar to those of liver cancer. The aim of the present study was to observe whether echinococcosis affects the concentration of soluble sN-CAD, sE-CAD fragments and Gal-3 in plasma and to determine which of them could be considered reliable liver cancer markers for further research.MethodsThe concentrations of sN-CAD, sE-CAD and Gal-3 in the EDTA plasma of patients suffering from echinococcosis (N = 20), liver cancers (N = 10) and healthy subjects (N = 20) were measured using the ELISA method.ResultsThe plasma concentration of sE-CAD was lower (p = 0.0381), and that of Gal-3 higher (p = 0.0288), in echinococcosis than in the healthy group. However, only the concentration of sE-CAD differed significantly among the three analysed groups. In echinococcosis there was a correlation between the sE-CAD and CRP levels (rs = 0.79; p = 0.0066) as well as a correlation between the sE-CAD level and the number of leukocytes (rs = 0.65; p = 0.0210) in the blood.ConclusionsEchinococcosis affects the concentration of soluble sE-CAD fragments and Gal-3 in plasma. sE-CAD can be considered as a marker for differentiation between liver cancer and echinoccocossis, a parasitic liver disease similar in symptoms. Further study is required to confirm these preliminary results.Virtual SlidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here:http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2115657402650448.

BackgroundThrombotic involvement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) occurs in about 10 % of all patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It is treated with radical resection of tumor and thrombus. We present the results of a recent case series of 20 patients with retrohepatic IVC thrombus.MethodsOur cohort of 20 patients included 16 primary resections (radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy with and without vascular graft), three recurrences primarily operated on elsewhere (thrombectomy and vascular graft), and one recurrence due to a new liver metastasis.ResultsAll surviving patients were discharged with a patent IVC. The overall mortality rate was 10 %, and the overall complication rate was 35 %. Both are in keeping with results presented worldwide.ConclusionsOur series provides a corroborating extension to the existing dataset on RCC-related IVC thrombus removal. It confirms that the radical surgical approach can be performed safely and successfully with respect to venous patency.

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical emergency and can occur at any age. Nearly all of the studies comparing outcomes of appendectomy between younger and older patients set cut-off point at 65 years. In this multicenter observational study, we aimed to compare laparoscopic appendectomy for AA in various groups of patients with particular interest in the elderly and very elderly in comparison to younger adults.Our multicenter observational study of 18 surgical units assessed the outcomes of 4618 laparoscopic appendectomies for AA. Patients were divided in 4 groups according to their age: Group 1—<40 years old; Group 2—between 40 and 64 years old; Group 3—between 65 and 74 years old; and Group 4—75 years old or older. Groups were compared in terms of peri- and postoperative outcomes.The ratio of complicated appendicitis grew with age (20.97% vs 37.50% vs 43.97% vs 56.84%, P < .001). Similarly, elderly patients more frequently suffered from perioperative complications (5.06% vs 9.3% vs 10.88% vs 13.68%, P < .001) and had the longest median length of stay (3 [Interquartile Range (IQR) 2–4] vs 3 [IQR 3–5], vs 4 [IQR 3–5], vs 5 [IQR 3–6], P < .001) as well as the rate of patients with prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) >8 days. Logistic regression models comparing perioperative results of each of the 3 oldest groups compared with the youngest one showed significant differences in odds ratios of symptoms lasting >48 hours, presence of complicated appendicitis, perioperative morbidity, conversion rate, prolonged LOS (>8 days).The findings of this study confirm that the outcomes of laparoscopic approach to AA in different age groups are not the same regarding outcomes and the clinical picture. Older patients are at high risk both in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period. The differences are visible already at the age of 40 years old. Since delayed diagnosis and postponed surgery result in the development of complicated appendicitis, more effort should be placed in improving treatment patterns for the elderly and their clinical outcome.