Novel Resection System for Direct Endoscopic Necrosectomy of Walled-Off Pancreas Necrosis: Have We Conquered the Final Frontier?

Surgical necrosectomy has been the traditional management for pancreatic necrosis and is done using blunt dissection. However, lack of dedicated endoscopic accessories has been a major limitation in direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN). Standard endoscopic accessories cannot effectively remove large necrotic material. Also, diameter of instrument channel of the endoscope limits the ability to use large-diameter graspers that can remove large chunks of necrotic material. In this news, we discuss a recent study that has evaluated a new powered endoscopic debridement system for DEN.

PANCREATOGENIC MORPHOSTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE HEART, LUNGS AND OTHER TARGET ORGANS IN DESTRUCTIVE PANCREATITIS

Introduction. Pathomorphological changes in destructive pancreatitis develop both in the pancreas and in various organs and tissues, it determining the clinical course and outcome of the disease. Most often in destructive pancreatitis, the cardiopulmonary system is affected, as well as the liver, kidneys, and brain. Damage to these target organs is one of the main elements of pathogenesis and thanatogenesis in destructive pancreatitis and is of interest not only for surgeons, but also for other clinical specialists, including cardiologists. Aim. To conduct a retrospective analysis of the most common morphostructural changes in the cardiopulmonary system and other target organs based on the results of autopsy reports of the deceased from destructive forms of acute and chronic pancreatitis and to identify the most characteristic morphostructural changes in the target organs. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the findings of histological examination of target organs of 203 patients who died from acute pancreatitis (K.85) and chronic pancreatitis with an outcome of pancreonecrosis (K. 86) in the in-patient surgical departments and intensive care and resuscitation units of Minsk over the period of 2015-2019 was performed. Results. In the course of study, we investigated the nature and structure of morphostructural changes in the pancreas and target organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and stomach) in destructive pancreatitis. Conclusions. In destructive pancreatitis, deep dystrophic, necrotic, circulatory and inflammatory changes are observed not only in the pancreatic tissue, but also in the target organs, which are primarily the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and brain. In the myocardium, edema, circulatory and dystrophic changes are detected, in the lungs - edema, circulatory changes and alveocyte damage. In the pancreas, necrosis, leukocyte infiltration and hemorrhages are noted, i.e. both necrotic and inflammatory changes are observed at the same time. In the liver, the most typical changes are leukocyte infiltration of the portal tracts, fatty dystrophy of hepatocytes, vascular fullness and dilation of capillaries, central veins and sinusoids. The kidney tissue is dominated by circulatory changes, necrosis and dystrophy of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules, which are the morphological substrate of acute renal failure. Edema, circulatory and dystrophic changes are detected in the brain.

Use of CT-Based Scoring System in Assessment of Pancreatitis Severity

BACKGROUND: Severity of AP is an important indicator of death rate, playing a crucial role in defining a correct dealing with a patient at his/her initial admission, in deciding on the need to transfer a patient to the intensive care unit. Many studies point out a direct relation between the death rate and the number of affected organs. In light of this, looking for the new criteria of multiple organ failure is still useful in clinical practice. Typically, assessment of multiple organ failure with patients undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit is carried out with the use of various integrated scores based both on clinical laboratory assessment of patient’s condition and on data obtained by advanced imaging methods. However, many scientists point out that the facilities of diagnostic radiology, including in particularly computerised tomography, are not used to the full extent. AIM: We developed a CT score for assessment of pancreatitis severity that takes into consideration not only alterations of the pancreas but also enables evaluation of multiple organ failure with the examined patients. METHODS: We have examined 100 patients with suspected pancreatitis. Among them 30 patients had pancreatitis without alterations of the vital organs; 70 patients had alterations of the vital organs, suffered organ or multiple organ failure and received treatment in the surgery unit and intensive care unit of the Department of Surgical Conditions of Karaganda Medical University. RESULTS: Because of CT results, based on the proposed score, we assessed a degree of pancreas necrosis, analysed the relation between organ failure and degree of pancreas necrosis. Finally, we evaluated the connection between multiple organ failure and the specific failure of one organ and the presence of necrosis and death rate. CONCLUSION: The proposed score for CT-based assessment of pancreatitis severity can be used not only for identification but also for prediction of organ failure at the early stage of pancreatitis to a high accuracy as compared to conventional CT systems for assessment of the condition of patients affected by pancreatitis. It can also be used to differentiate the severity of organ failure and the number of affected organs.

Management of Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common causes of hospitalisation from gastrointestinal diseases. The causes of pancreatitis vary between countries. Acute pancreatitis is classified based on Revised Atlanta classification 2013 as mild, moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatic severity can be stratified by scoring systems such as Ranson’s score, BISAP score, APACHE-II score, SOFA score. In severe acute pancreatitis, to diagnose, abdominal pain raised amylase or lipase, supported imaging finding and organ failure. Organ failure can be diagnosed by using Modified Marshall Scoring System. Management is started conservatively, which are fluid resuscitation, enteral nutrition, analgesics, and antibiotics. Surgical management is indicated when infected pancreas necrosis is detected. In this review, we will discuss the current management based on recent research.

Kiterjedt, demarkált pancreas necrosis sebészi kezelése transgastricus necrectomiával

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: Akut pancreatitis miatti necrectomiát ideálisan a betegség kezdetétől számított 4–6. héten javasolt elvégezni, amikor az ún. demarkált necrosis (walled-off pancreatic necrosis –WOPN) már kialakult. A szerzők ismertetik a kiterjedt WOPN miatt végzett sebészi transgastricus necrectomiák során nyert tapasztalataikat. Betegek és módszer: Kiterjedt WOPN miatt 2012. január 1-től 2017. december 31-ig terjedő időszakban 17 (12 férfi, 5 nő, átlag életkor 64,00 ± 15,14 év) betegnél végeztek sebészi transgastricus necrectomiát. Valamennyi betegnél a műtétet megelőzően konzervatív és szemikonzervatív kezelés történt átlagosan 61,00 ± 33,47 napig. A WOPN mérete átlagosan 14,00 ± 5,23 cm volt és valamennyi esetben a retrocolicus, retroduodenalis terekbe is beterjedt. A necrosis minden esetben bakteriálisan kontaminált volt. Eredmények: A műtétekkel kapcsolatos szövődmény nem volt. Az ápolási napok száma a műtétet követően 10,00 ± 3,08 nap volt. A mortalitás 5,9% volt. Késői műtét vagy egyéb beavatkozás pseudocystaképződés, vagy pancreas fistula miatt nem volt. Két betegnél a WOPN és a gyomor közötti anastomosis-endoszkópos tágítása és öblítése történt lázas állapot miatt. Frissen kialakult diabetest nem, a meglévő súlyosbodását 6,3%-ban észleltük. Következtetés: A kiterjedt, fertőzött demarkált necrosis kezelésében a sebészi transgastricus necrectomia jó eredménnyel alkalmazható. A műtét előnye, hogy a necrectomia után nem alakulhat ki külső pancreas sipoly és pseudocysta.

Characteristics of oral probiotics – a review

Probiotics are a group of microorganisms able to have a positive influence on a host organism when applied in adequate amounts. They are grouped either as: bacteria (mainly Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium) or fungi (Saccharomyces boulardii). Recent studies have revealed many opportunities for their use in several fields of medicine, such as in: reducing the level of cholesterol in the body, cancer therapy, human immune system regulation, skin regeneration, pancreas necrosis, cirrhosis of liver treatment, regulation of post- antibiotic bowel function, constipation and digestive disorders in infants. Probiotics efficacy has also been demonstrated in oral cavity malfunctions. With the use of modern scientific methods, probiotics have the potential to become an important part of the daily diet and a natural drug supplementation in severe diseases.