Omer Gunal

Lymph-node metastasis is the most important predictor of survival in stage III rectal cancer. The number of metastatic lymph nodes may vary depending on the level of specimen dissection and the total number of lymph nodes harvested. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the lymph node ratio (LNR) is a prognostic parameter for patients with rectal cancer. A retrospective review of a database of rectal cancer patients was performed to determine the effect of the LNR on the disease-free survival (DFS) and the overall survival. Of the total 228 patients with rectal cancer, 55 patients with stage III cancer were eligible for analysis. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analyses, after adjustments for potential confounders, were used to evaluate the relationship between the LNR and survival. According to the cutoff point 0.15 (15%), the 2-year DFS was 95.2% among patients with a LNR < 0.15 compared with 67.6% for those with LNR ≥ 0.15 (...

The endoscopic excision of adenomas of the papilla of Vater has gained increased popularity in the recent years. Temporary pancreatic drainage has been advised to accompany snare papillectomy in order to prevent ductal obstruction and serious pancreatitis. We evaluated treatment outcome of patients who had undergone endoscopic papillectomy without pancreatic drainage. Three consecutive adult patients with adenomas of the papilla of Vater presented with jaundice and pain were treated by endoscopic snare excision between October 2013 and February 2014 in a single center. ERCP procedures revealed papillary tumors and endoscopic biopsy specimens revealed tubular adenoma the papilla of Vater. Adenomas were treated by snare papillectomy method and a biliary stent was inserted as a prophylactic procedure immediately after excision of the adenoma in each case. In addition to physical examination, laboratory tests were repeated in the follow-up period after papillectomy in order to document ...

Melatonin is a potent free radical scavenger of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and a well-known antioxidant secreted from pineal gland. This hormone has been reported to protect tissue from oxidative damage. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of melatonin on kidney cold ischemia time when added to preservation solution. Thirty male Wistar albino rats were divided equally into three groups; Ringer Lactate (RL) solution, University of Wisconsin (UW) solution with and without melatonin. The serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) activities of the preservation solutions at 2(nd), 24(th), 36(th), and 48(th) hours were determined. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured and a histological examination was performed at 48(th) hour. Melatonin that added to preservation solution prevented enzyme elevation and decreased lipid peroxidation in preservation solution when compared to the control group (p<0.05). The histological examination reveal...

Anal manometry is a useful tool for testing the effectiveness of surgical treatment. However, most techniques for anal pressure measurement are not easily available because of high cost. The aim of the present study was to introduce an easy and reproducible method for measuring anal pressures in testing the effectiveness of surgical procedures. We used a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube connected to a mercury manometer. After calibration of the system by inflating the distal (gastric) balloon and filling connection lines to the mercury manometer with 0.9% NaCl solution, resting and squeezing anal pressures were measured. The system was used on 50 human subjects (35 with anal fissure and 15 normal volunteers). Left lateral internal sphincterotomy had been performed in the anal fissure cases. Anal pressures were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days (POD) 2 and 20. Preoperative resting anal pressures in the group with anal fissure (83.4 +/- 1 mmHg) were significantly higher than those in the group of normal individuals (52 +/- 1.2 mmHg; p = 0.001). Resting anal pressures after the sphincterotomy (29 +/- 1 mmHg) were found to be significantly lower on POD 2, and resting anal pressure measurements (47 +/- 1 mmHg) on POD 20 were lower than the corresponding preoperative values. These values are closer to those of normal volunteers (p = 0.016). Anal manometry can be performed with this easily constructible and inexpensive system. This reproducible method can be used in the assessment of the results of surgical treatment in patients with anal and perianal diseases.

The current study was done to compare the effect of spinal and epidural anesthesia on surgical outcome measures of inguinal herniorrhaphy. Ninety-eight male patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair were randomized to either spinal (SA; n = 39) or epidural (EA; n = 59) anesthesia groups anesthetized with either glycosylated bupivacaine (20 mg) or 0.5 % bupivacaine (100 mg). Anesthesia onset time (AOT), postoperative stand-up time (SUT), first pain sensation time (FPT), operation time (OT), analgesic requirement (AR), hospital stay (HS), visual analogue scores of pain (VAS), per- and postoperative complications, and postanesthesia complications were recorded and compared with each other. FPT was 6.6 +/- 0.6 h and 3.1 +/- 0.4 h and OT was 40 +/- 2 min and 33.1 +/- 1 min in the EA and SA groups, respectively (p < 0.05). SUT was also longer in EA group. VAS scores at 12 and 24 h were significantly higher in the EA group (28 +/- 4 mm and 24 +/- 5 mm in EA and 16 +/- 4 and 5 +/- 1 mm in SA; P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the SA and EA groups with respect to the other outcome measures that were considered. Spinal and epidural anesthesia show some differences from each other with respect to outcome measures such as OT, SUT, FPT, and 12- and 24-h VAS scores.

To evaluate the protective effect of l-carnitine on liver tissue preserved in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Twenty Wistar Albino rats were divided into two groups, a control (UW) group and a UW plus l-carnitine group. Retrieved liver grafts were preserved in UW and UW plus l-carnitine solutions at +4 degrees C. Preservation solution samples were assessed at 2, 24, 36, and 48 h to measure alanine aminotransferase and acid phosphatase activity. Tissue injury was scored on paraffin sections. No micro or macrovacuolar fat droplets were observed in the tissue slices. l-Carnitine effectively decreased enzyme release when added to UW solution (P < 0.05). In addition to fatty liver, l-carnitine might be a metabolic adjunct in preservation solutions for non-fatty liver within UW solution.

Endoscopically unextractable common bile duct stones may be challenging for the endoscopist. In this study, we investigated the rate of stone removal after the endoscopic insertion of a biliary stent in patients with common bile duct stones unextractable via ERCP. Records of patients with common bile duct stone/s who underwent ERCP at single center were retrospectively analyzed. Only patients with common bile duct stone/s who had a stent placed due to unyielding stone removal were eligible for inclusion into this study. Endoscopic biliary stents were placed in cases of unextractable stone. After a follow-up period, a second ERCP procedure was performed. Major outcomes were the rate of stent insertion because of unextractable bile duct stones, the rate of spontaneous stone passage and the rate of stone extraction after the endoscopic insertion of a biliary stent. A total of 66 (28 %) patients had a stent placed due to unyielding attempts for stone removal, and 43 patients were includ...