Preoperative Gastrointestinal Symptoms Research Articles

Management of Duodenal Involvement During Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Germ Cell Tumors

To describe patient characteristics and outcomes after duodenal repair during postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) and to identify treatment and management patterns. The Indiana University Testis Cancer database was used to identify all patients who underwent simultaneous partial duodenectomy and PC-RPLND from 1983 to 2013. Patient records were reviewed to describe patient and tumor characteristics, type of duodenal restoration, postoperative management, and complications. Of the 2223 PC-RPLND performed during the study period, we identified 39 patients who underwent simultaneous duodenectomy, with 1 patient requiring 2 duodenal procedures for a total of 40 duodenal procedures. The postchemotherapy median tumor mass size was 8.95 (2.5-17) cm. Fifty percent of cases were standard PC-RPLND; the remainders were redo, desperation, or late relapse cases. Preoperative gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 21% of patients and included bowel obstruction (8%) or gastrointestinal bleeding (13%). Retroperitoneal pathology consisted of teratoma (48%), cancer (33%), and necrosis (20%). Duodenal involvement was managed with primary duodenorrhaphy (68%), duodenojejunostomy (18%), duodenoduodenostomy (13%), or pancreaticoduodenectomy (3%). Starting in the year 2000, duodenostomy and gastrostomy tubes were no longer used. The most common postoperative complication was ileus (45%) with a 3% duodenal fistula rate. Duodenal tumor involvement during PC-RPLND is most commonly managed with primary duodenorrhaphy after partial duodenectomy with an acceptable duodenal fistula rate. The routine use of duodenostomy or gastrostomy tubes is not recommended.

The Influence of Alexithymia on Persistent Symptoms of Dyspepsia after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative alexithymia might play a role in the persistence of gastrointestinal symptoms after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A sample of 52 consecutive patients with gallstone disease and symptoms of dyspepsia were assessed with validated scales for alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and psychological (90-item Symptom Checklist) and gastrointestinal (GI) (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) symptoms before surgery. GI symptoms were evaluated also one year after surgery. Change from preoperative to postoperative GI symptoms and level of GI symptoms after surgery were used to form groups of improved (n = 31) and unimproved (n = 21) patients. Unimproved patients had significantly higher preoperative alexithymia, psychological distress, and gastrointestinal symptom scores than patients who had improved. Regression analyses showed that alexithymia predicted the persistence of gastrointestinal symptoms more strongly than did psychological distress, even after controlling for preoperative gastrointestinal symptoms. Alexithymia played a substantial and predictive role in the persistence of GI symptoms in gallstone patients after surgery. Treatment planning and outcome of gallstone disease might be improved by preoperative assessment of alexithymia.

Does laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication lead to chronic gastrointestinal dysfunction?

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) efficiently controls the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, other nonspecific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have been reported following LNF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of LNF on nonspecific GI complaints. The basis for this study is the prospective follow-up of 515 patients (mean age 46 +/- 13 years) who underwent a LNF between 1992 and 1998. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate GERD symptoms (i.e., heartburn, epigastric pain, regurgitation, dysphagia, and fullness, score 0-60) and nonspecific GI symptoms (i.e., vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and lack of appetite, score 0-48). Patients were assessed before surgery, at 6 months, 2 years, and 5 years after surgery. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication was associated with a significant decrease in both GERD and nonspecific GI symptoms score at 6 months and up to 5 years, in the whole group (p < 0.001). 360 patients (69.7%) had preoperative nonspecific GI symptoms and experienced a significant reduction in these symptoms following the surgery and lasting up to 5 years. The other 155 patients (30.3%) had no preoperative GI symptoms (GI symptoms score of 0). In this group, there was a small but statistically significant increase in GI symptoms score (p < 0.001). It was, however, clinically significant (defined as a score >12) in only 9.9% of the patients. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication provides an efficient treatment of GERD up to 5 years, and in a majority of patients, it is not associated with any significant increase in nonspecific GI complaints. New nonspecific bowel symptoms can develop after LNF in some patients but are unlikely to be clinically significant.