Intestinal stoma creation is one of the most common surgical procedures. The most common long-term complication following stoma creation is parastomal hernia, which according to some authors is practically unavoidable. Statistical differences of its occurrence are mainly due to patient observation time and evaluation criteria. Consequently, primary prevention methods such as placement of prosthetic mesh and newly developed minimally invasive methods of stoma creation are used. It seems that in the light of evidence-based medicine, the best way to treat parastomal hernia is the one that the surgeon undertaking therapy is the most experienced in and is suited to the individuality of each patient, his condition and comorbidities. As a general rule, reinforcing the abdominal wall with a prosthetic mesh is the treatment of choice, with a low rate of complications and relapses over a long period of time. The current trend is to use lightweight, large pore meshes.

Background In patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with impaired LV function, which is called uremic cardiomyopathy (UC) is often observed. The UC historically has been considered a contraindication for kidney transplantation (KTx). Currently, moderate LV dysfunction does not exclude the possibility of KTx. The amelioration of uremia after KTx improved cardiac function in patients with LV dysfunction. There is a little information on the function of the left atrium (LA) after the KTx procedure. There are no studies evaluating (LA) changes in patients with UC after KTx and determining the possibility of inhibiting the occurrence of LA unfavourable changes (remodelling) and even a possible LA recovery process (reverse remodelling) as a result of a successful KTx. The aim of the study was to assess the LA reverse remodelling in patients with ESRD undergoing KTx. Methods The study group consisted of 42 patients, aged 43.3 ± 12.6 followed for 36 months after a deceased donor KTx. The patients were studied at five time points: 1, 3, 6, 12 and 36 months after KTx. In all patients transthoracic echocardiography was performed in order to assess the following LA planimetric parameters: LA max , LA min , LA waveP . LA shortmax , LA shortmin , LA shortwaveP , LA longmax , LA longmin , LA longwaveP , LA circmax and LA areamax , volumentric parameters: LA volume (LAV), LA volume index (LAVI), and hemodynamic indices: LA ejection fraction (LA EF ), LA active emptying fraction (LA AE ), LA passive emptying fraction (LA PE ), LA index of expansion (LA IE ) and LA fractional shortening (LA FS ). Results The LAVI values were 34.63 ± 10.34 ml/m 2 , 32.24 ± 9.59 ml/m 2 ( p < 0,001), 31.36 ± 9.20 ml/m 2 ( p < 0,001), 28.29 ± 8.32 ml/m 2 ( p < 0,001) and 27.57 ± 8.40 ml/m 2 ( p < 0,001), after: 1, 3, 6, 12 and 36 months after KTx, respectively. The reduction of the LA size was accompanied by gradual LA contractility improvement, which was manifested as an increase of the LA hemodynamic indices such as LA EF , LA AE , LA IE , LA FS and a decrease of LA PE . Conclusions LA remodelling secondary to ...

BackgroundAtherosclerosis is regarded as a combination of two major separate diseases: atherosis and sclerosis. Sclerotic component depends on deterioration of elastic properties of the aortic wall and is called aortic stiffness. The most valuable, non-invasive method of aortic stiffness assessment is echocardiography, which allows to calculate the aortic stiffness index (ASI). ASI is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in different groups of patients. The main aim of study was the assessment of the aortic reverse remodeling in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after renal transplantation (RT).MethodsStudy group involved 42 patients aged 43.3 ± 12.6 years, including 19 women aged 49.9 ± 10.9 years and 23 men aged 41.5 ± 12.91 years, who have undergone RT from non-related renal transplant donors, The study protocol has been consisted of 5 stages: 1 week after RT, 3 months after RT, 6 months after RT, 1 year after RT and 3 years after RT. The echocardiographic examination was performed and measurements of Aomax, Aomin were done. On the base of obtained parameters ASI, aortic distensibility (AD) and aortic strain (AS) were calculated according to adequate formulas.ResultsThe improvement of indices characterizing the elastic properties of aorta were noted. These changes attained the statistically significant level only at the end of the observation. ASI just after RT was equal – 4.65 ± 1.58, three months after RT – 4.54 ± 1.49, six months after RT – 4.59 ± 1.61, one year after RT – 4.35 ± 1.21 and three years after RT – 3.35 ± 1.29, while AD reached respectively – 6.55 ± 3.76 cm2/dyn−110−6 just after RT, − 6.38 ± 3.42 cm2/dyn−110−6 three months after RT, − 6.53 ± 3.60 cm2/dyn−110−6 six months after RT, − 6.48 ± 2.79 cm2/dyn−110−6 one year after RT and – 8.03 ± 3.95 cm2/dyn−110−6 three years after RT. Noted AS values were equal – 6.61 ± 4.05%, just after RT, − 6.40 ± 3.58% three months after RT, − 6.56 ± 3.76%, six months after RT, − 6.45 ± 2.80% one year after RT, − 8.01 ± 3.97%. and three years after RT. The exact analysis of parameters concerning aortic function showed that to achieve ASI, AD and AS improvement, long time was needed, because the most significant changes of these indices were observed only between 1 year and 3 years after RT.ConclusionsThere is a relationship between renal transplantation and improvement of the aortic elastic properties. The recovery of the renal function allows to initiate the reparative processes leading to at least partial restitution of the structure and features of the aorta, which is called reverse remodelling. Improvement of aortic wall elastic properties after renal transplantation is a continuous and prolonged process.

BackgroundSuccessful renal transplantation (RT) reverses some of the cardiac changes and reduces cardiac mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Widened QRS-T angle reflects both ventricular repolarization and depolarization. It is considered a sensitive and strong predictor of heart ventricular remodeling as well as a powerful and independent risk stratifier suitable in predicting cardiac events in various clinical settings. The study aimed to assess the influence of the RT on QRS-T angle and to evaluate factors influencing QRS-T changes in renal transplanted recipients (RTRs).MethodsFifty-four selected HD patients who have undergone RT were included. Blood chemistry, echocardiography, and QRS-T angle were evaluated 5 times: about 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 3 years after RT.ResultsAn improvement of echocardiographic parameters was observed. The dynamics of changes in individual parameters were, however, variable. QRS-T angle correlated with echocardiographic parameters. The biphasic pattern of the decreases of QRS-T angle was observed. The first decrease took place in the third month of follow-up. The second decrease of QRS-T angle was observed after 1 year of follow-up. The QRS-T angle was higher in RTRs compared with controls during each evaluation. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the decrease of left ventricle enddiastolic volume was an independent predictor of early QRS-T angle improvement. The increase of left ventricle ejection fraction was found to be the independent predictor of the late QRS-T angle improvement.ConclusionsRT induces biphasic reverse electrical remodeling as assessed by the narrowing of QRS-T angle. Early decrease of QRS-T angle is mainly due to the normalization of volume status, whereas late decrease is associated predominantly with the improvement of cardiac contractile function.

A fifty-nine year-old male was hospitalized for exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. As a gigantic cyst of the pancreatic tail was identified, it was fused with the jejunal loop. Due to persistent fever and severe symptoms in the storage and voiding phases, the patient was referred to a urologist. Because transrectal ultrasound examination revealed a fluid collection resembling the left seminal vesicle filled with purulent material, a transrectal puncture procedure was performed. The analysis of computed tomography scans led to the diagnosis of duplicated collecting system of the left kidney with the enormous ureter of the upper moiety that entered the prostate gland. In order to permanently decompress the hydronephrosed upper moiety of the left kidney, the patient was deemed eligible for endoscopic treatment. A transurethral incision through the bladder wall and the adjacent segment of the ectopic ureter was made with holmium laser under transrectal ultrasonography guidance, thus creating a neo-orifice of this ureter.