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Purpose: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) after colorectal surgery is a well-documented complication, resulting in a general recommendation of extended post discharge prophylaxis. Rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, is a daily tablet approved for treatment of VTE and prophylaxis after orthopedic surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of rivaroxaban for extended prophylaxis after major abdominal and pelvic surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients undergoing major colorectal surgery at a regional hospital in Kiev, Ukraine. Patients received peri-operative VTE prophylaxis with subcutaneous heparin and then transitioned to rivaroxaban for a total of 30 days. Occurrences of major or minor bleeding, blood transfusion, and a need for re-intervention were noted. Phone surveys were administered on post-operative day 30 to assess compliance and satisfaction with the regimen. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study with an average age of 62.4 years old. Seventy-one percent of the cases were abdominal cases, 29% were pelvic cases and 59% were done laparoscopically. There was one episode of major intra-abdominal bleeding requiring return to the operating room. There were 2 minor bleeding episodes not requiring intervention. There were no VTE events in the group. The phone survey response rate was 100%. All but one patient reported completing the full course of rivaroxaban. Patients reported that oral prophylaxis was easy to adhere to and preferable compared to injections. Conclusion Implementation of extended prophylaxis with rivaroxaban is easy, safe and does not increase rates of post-operative bleeding.

<b>Introduction:</b> Biological welding – controlled action of high frequency current on living tissues, which leads to their structural changes and weld formation – connection with unique biological properties (strength, high elasticity, insensitivity to microbial infection, stimulating effect on the regeneration process, speed and quality which surpasses the normal uncomplicated healing) [22]. This method is used in various fields of surgery, but at the moment there is no data on its use in case of esophageal cylindrocellular (intestinal) metaplasia (further esophageal metaplasia or Barrett’s esophagus). <br><b>Objective:</b> The goal of this study is to evaluate biologic welding as a treatment option for patients with Barrett’s esophagus. <br><b>Materials and methods:</b> Single-center retrospective review of patients with short-segment Barrett’s esophagus and metaplasia were treated by argon plasma coagulation (APC) or Paton’s welding. This was followed by Nissen fundoplication. Primary outcome of this study was mucosal healing with morphological confirmation of the absence of metaplasia. The groups included patients with a short segment of the esophagus Barrett’s C2-3M3-4 (Prague Classification 2004) and high dysplasia without nodule formation in combination with hiatal hernia (VI World Congress of the International Society for Esophageal Diseases; ISED) [23–25]). <br><b>Results:</b> A total of 49 patients were included in the study with 25 patients treated by APC laser and 24 by biowelding. Four patients (16.0%) in the APC group developed stenosis and 5 patients (20.0%) developed recurrence compared to none in the biowelding group. Patients in the biowelding group had a significantly faster rate of mucosal healing leading to faster progression to Nissen fundoplication (at average 53 days) compared to APC laser group (surgery at 115 days). <br><b>Conclusions:</b> Biological welding of Paton’s is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with esophageal metaplasia.

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Objective. To estimate a high-frequency welding of the living tissues as a variant of treatment for the Barrett’s esophagus. Materials and metods. Retrospective analysis of the treatment results was conducted in 73 patients, suffering Barrett’s esophagus, in 36 of whom the argon-plasm coagulation was performed (Group I), while in 37 (Group II) - a high frequency welding of living tissues. Into the investigation the patients with a short-segment Barrett’s esophagus C2-3M3-4 (the Prague Classification, 2004 yr) and a high-grade dysplasia without a nodule development (VI World Congress of International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) were included. Results. In patients of Group I a severe esophageal edema have occurred in accordance to endoscopic ultrasonography data. In this Group in 5 (13.89%) patients after performance of the argon-plasm coagulation esophageal stenosis was observed, corrected by application of the balloon dilation. In 8 (22.22%) patients of this Group the disease recurrence have occurred, necessitating performance of additional séance of the argon-plasm coagulation. In patients of Group II the above mentioned inflammatory signs were less pronounced, and mucosal regeneration have proceeded more rapidly, than in patients of Group I - during 53 and 115 days, accordingly. The disease recurrence was noted in 2 (5.41%) patients of Group II only. Conclusion. High-frequency welding of living tissues constitute a safe and effective method of treatment in patients, having esophageal metaplasia.