BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is inflammation of pancreas in which pancreas enzymatic activity is increased. Parasym-pathetic innervation of pancreas plays an important role in several functions of pancreas. Botulinum toxin (BTx) might be a tool to suppress the pancreas activity in AP.
METHODS: In the preliminary experimental study, BTx (15U/kg) was administered directly and intraductal ways. After 10 days, blood amylase, lipase, trypsinogen, insulin, and glucagon levels were compared and no significant difference was seen between groups. Intraductal BTx administration is preferred for experimental AP model in rats; control, AP, intraductal BTx, and AP with Intraductal BTx (AP+BTx). AP was created by intraperitoneal injection of cerulean 20 µg/kg/injection (5 times). After 24 h, serum amylase, lipase, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 were measured and pancreas tissue was evaluated for inflammation and necrosis.
RESULTS: Mean serum amylase, lipase IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels of the AP group were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the amylase and lipase levels of control, BTx, and AP+BTx groups. Serum insulin and glucagon levels in AP group were significantly higher than control and BTx groups (p<0.05). However, there is no significant difference between the insulin and glucagon levels of AP and AP+BTx groups. in pathological evaluation. In AP+ BTx group, there is less amount of centrilobular necrosis and there is mild inflammation and hyperplasia of pancreatic duct epithelium.
CONCLUSION: Administration of intraductal BTx suppressed the AP without making significant suppression in endogenous activity of pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common clinical problem encountered after tourniquet ap-plication or replantation. This study investigated the effect of pheniramine maleate (Ph), which is frequently used in clinical practice to reduce IRI, and compared its efficacy in IRI with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a molecule that has been shown to be effective in IRI.
METHODS: Twenty-eight male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (sham, ischemia-reperfusion [IR], IR+Ph, IR+NAC; n=7 rats per group). Ischemia was induced in the lower right extremities of rats for 3 h using a femoral artery clamp and an elastic tourniquet. Ph and NAC were administered intraperitoneally 15 min before ischemia was terminated. At 24 h after reperfusion, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyadenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP), and neutrophil infiltration were evaluated. Inducible nitric oxide syn-thase (iNOS) density in muscle tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods after 1 week.
RESULTS: SOD, MPO, PARP, CAT, and TBARS levels in muscle tissue were significantly lower in the sham group compared with the other groups (p<0.001). All parameters except TBARS were lower in the NAC and Ph groups than in the IR group (p<0.001). Neu-trophil infiltration in the muscle tissue samples from the IR group was significantly increased compared with the NAC and Ph groups (p<0.05). iNOS staining was not observed in the sham and NAC groups.
CONCLUSION: Ph is effective at reducing experimental rat skeletal muscle IRI.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the changes in the course of acute appendicitis during the pandemic period by comparing the cases treated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with those in the pre-pandemic period.
METHODS: The study was conducted with 601 children aged 1–18 years who were operated for acute appendicitis between May 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020 (Group I) and between March 1 and December 31, 2020 (Group II). The demographic and disease characteristics as well as the treatment processes were compared between the groups.
RESULTS: It was found that 59.1% (n=355) of the cases included in the study were in Group I and 40.9% (n=246) were in Group II. During the pandemic period; due to the concerns of families about contracting a contagious disease for both themselves and their children, and warnings by health professionals and government officials that they should not leave their homes and not come to the hospital unless there is an emergency, the time to apply to the hospital has been extended. Before the pandemic, 20.3% of the patients presented to the hospital on the 1st day of their complaints, where during the pandemic, only 2% of the patients reported to the hospital on the 1st day, and 15% presented after 4 days or more. As a result, the rate of perforated appendicitis, which was formerly 10.4%, increased to 24.8% during the pandemic period (p<0.01). During the pandemic, we operated on four patients with positive COVID-19 test results. There were no complications related to COVID-19 and surgery in our patients.
CONCLUSION: Concern of the current pandemic resulted in late presentation to the hospital, increase in the number of perforated appendicitis, and prolonged hospital stay.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in major changes in health-care systems and emer-gency surgical interventions. Here, we examined patients with acute appendicitis who presented to emergency departments and com-pared diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment processes before and during the pandemic period and investigated how the pandemic affected management of acute appendicitis.
METHODS: A national, multicenter, and cohort study model was designed that included patients older than 18 years of age diag-nosed with acute appendicitis clinically and/or radiologically, with patients compared before (pre-pandemic period: January 1–April 30, 2019) and after (pandemic period: January 1–April 30, 2020) the pandemic. Our investigation included comparisons of pre-operative imaging methods, presence of plastron appendicitis/abscess, conservative/surgical approach, type of anesthesia given, laparoscopic/open surgical approach, bowel resection rates, drain insertion rates, and presence of post-operative complications
RESULTS: For the two study groups, 8972 patients from 69 centers were examined, with 4582 patients operated in the pre-pan-demic period and 4234 patients operated in the pandemic period. During the pandemic period, 63.6% of patients underwent open surgery, whereas 34.4% had laparoscopic surgery. Although 60 patients (1.3%) requested non-operative follow-up in the pre-pandemic period, 94 patients (2.2%) requested this in the pandemic period. When conditions of patients were evaluated regardless of their own wishes, 114 patients (2.4%) before and 163 patients (3.8%) during the pandemic received non-operative follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Our study did not show the direct correlation between the application of COVID-19-related restrictions and the severity of acute appendicitis. Although non-operative management rates have been increased during the COVID-19 period, the incidences of both complicated and the uncomplicated appendicitis were similar during the COVID-19 crisis period. Given this infor-mation non-operative management can be employed for patients diagnosed with appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Violence is a common issue without an exact number worldwide. The types are interpersonal, spousal, or domestic violence. We aim to reveal the demographic characteristics of cases involving violence, mechanisms of injury, and their relationship with head and face trauma.
METHODS: The files of patients presented to our University Hospital Adult Emergency Department (ED) between January 2018 and December 2020 after an assault were reviewed retrospectively. The data were analyzed with SPSS 20.0. The demographic findings, injury mechanisms, and affected areas were reported. The Chi-square test tested the differences between the groups, and p<0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS: Among the 1280 patients presented after an assault, 71% were male with a median age of 32 (IQR 25–43). In 84% of the cases, the perpetrators were unknown, while their spouses were the perpetrators in 9% of the cases. The place was most noted as home (11%). The methods used were struggling (43%) and punching (42%). The most common affected area was the head (70%) and diagnosis for nasal fracture (4%); two patients had epidural bleeding, and one had a pneumothorax. Males were more common in the 20–40 age groups (χ2, p=0.003). Most of the female victims were battered by their spouses (χ2, p<0.001). Head injury was found in 83% of patients with high blood alcohol levels (χ2, p<0.001) and 75% of male patients had head injuries (χ2, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Assault is a common problem predominantly among young males. The most commonly affected body part was the head, and nasal fractures were the diagnosis. Most of the patients with high blood levels were among the male victims. The perpetrator of the female victims was their spouses. In the ED, male patients who presented with head trauma were considered as assault victims.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous cholecystostomy is an alternative or bridge to cholecystectomy (CCY) in high-risk patients with acute calculous cholecystitis. Our primary aim was to determine the parameters that could be used in interval CCY decision-making and to predict mortality in high-risk patients.
METHODS: The medical records of 127 patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute calculous cholecystitis between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcomes were the CCY rate and the factors affecting mortality in high-risk patients. Descriptive statistics and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed using albumin and elective surgery.
RESULTS: Of the 127 patients undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy, elective CCY was performed only in 43.1% of the high-risk patients. The 30-day and 1 year mortality rates were 11% and 17.3%, respectively. The American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), the negative predictive factors described in the Tokyo Guidelines 2018, the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) expected mortality rate, and albumin level were found to be significant factors affecting mortality and elective CCY probability. No mortality was observed, and an 82% elective CCY rate was achieved in patients whose albumin levels were higher than 3.16 mg/dL at initial presentation.
CONCLUSION: The plasma albumin level, ASA score, CCI, and ACS expected mortality rate can be used to predict mortality and decide on elective CCY. Percutaneous cholecystostomy is sufficient for resolving inflammation, but medical comorbidities determine the final condition of patients.

BACKGROUND: Cross leg free flaps are one of the salvage methods used for free tissue transfer in large tissue defects in the absence of recipient vessels. The fasciocutaneous flap above the posterior tibial artery can be harvested to protect the pedicle and to advance a distance to wound, which is equal to the length of fasciocutaneous flap.
METHODS: Patients who were operated with cross leg free flap with the supporting fasciocutaneous flap on unwounded side were included in the study between years 2010 and 2020. Age, sex, location and size of the defects, arterial patencies, flap choices, fascio-cutaneous flap size, duration of operation, cross flap separation timing, complications, and time to return to work were evaluated.
RESULTS: There were six patients with the etiology of high-energy electrical burns and trauma. There was only one arterial refilling for three patients and no refilling for others. Latissimus dorsi skin muscle flap was used in all but one patient. The mean defect size was 6.6×14.8 cm. The mean size of fasciocutaneous flaps was 4.08×5 cm. The mean operation time was 360 min. There was no complication except one dehiscence and one marginal necrosis and infection which were healed with wound care. Average time to return to work was 9 months.
CONCLUSION: In similar cases, as wounded lower extremities with one or no artery refill, harvesting a fasciocutaneous flap with recipient vessels will be useful before considering the option of using a bridge free flap in medium to moderate sized defects.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the uncommon causes of acute appendicitis in analyzed post appendectomy specimens.
METHODS: Histopathology reports of 6785 removed appendices were analyzed retrospectively in order to confirm the uncommon cause of acute appendicitis in single tertiary institution.
RESULTS: Unusual cause of acute appendicitis was found in 98 (1.44%) samples (40 female and rest 58 male patients). Neuroen-docrine tumor of the appendix was the most common pathology, followed by serrated adenoma, low-grade appendicular mucinous neoplasm, hyperplastic polyp and intestinal parasite. In four patients (0.05%), appendicular adenocarcinoma was confirmed with an overall mortality of 75%. Age was significantly higher in uncommon acute appendectomies than in ordinary appendectomies. Survival analysis of unusual appendectomies showed that advanced age is of prognostic importance (Kaplan Meier p<0.0001). There was also a difference in survival between different disease groups in unusual appendectomies, but Cox multifactorial analysis showed that these two factors were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Although rare, unusual causes are the etiological factor responsible for acute appendicitis. These reasons should be kept in mind in the older age group and the diagnosis of appendicitis should be made carefully.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is an acute inflammatory disease of gallbladder and it is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain. Determining the severity of AC at hospital admission is extremely important to choose the most effective treatment method and predict vital prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of immature granulocyte percentage (IG%) in grading AC severity.
METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out on 528 patients hospitalized due to AC diagnosis. Demographic data, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IG%, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and imaging results of patients were recorded. Furthermore, patients’ length of hospital stay was determined. Tokyo Guidelines were used to grade AC severity. According to this grading, patients were classified into three groups as grade 1 (mild), grade 2 (moderate), and grade 3 (severe) AC. Differences among groups were analyzed statistically.
RESULTS: There were 386 patients (73.1%) in the mild AC group, 102 patients (19.3%) in the moderate AC group, and 40 patients (7.6%) in the severe AC group. WBC, NLR, CRP and IG% were significant parameters in discriminating mild AC from moderate and severe AC. However, only IG% was a significant parameter in discriminating moderate AC from severe AC. Moreover, the power of IG% to discriminate between patients with mild and moderate AC and those with severe AC was dramatically higher than the other parameters.
CONCLUSION: Increased IG% is seen as an effective and reliable predictor in the early determination of AC severity.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the complications and clinical outcomes after intertrochanteric femoral fracture surgery, and the Singh index (SI), canal-calcar ratio (CCR), cortical thickness index (CTI), and canal flare index (CFI) – the radiological indices defining proximal femoral morphology in the literature – among patients over 60 years of age.
METHODS: The data of 350 patients who were operated between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The study included patients who underwent dual lag screw proximal femoral nailing and had good intraoperative reduction quality according to Fogagnolo’s criteria. The relationships among radiological indices measured on radiographs acquired after trauma, and post-operative complications, Barthel activity index, and Harris hip score (HHS) were assessed statistically.
RESULTS: Among 121 patients who met the study criteria, there were 63 (52.07%) female and 58 (47.93%) male patients. The mean length of follow-up was 37.09 (36–60) months. The patients had a mean age of 79.78 (60–97) years. At least one mechanical complication developed in 32 (26.4%) patients in the study group. No significant relationship could be established between radiological indices and post-operative complications (p>0.05). The relationship between SI and HHS was statistically significant (p<0.05). CCR, CTI, and CFI did not have a statistically significant relationship with and HHS (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: No statistically significant relationship could be established between radiological indices and post-operative complications. It should be considered that SI may be a parameter that affects clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effect of bone morphology on fracture type and treatment result in patient with inter-trochanteric fracture (IFF) treated with intramedullary nailing (IMN) aged over 65 years. Primary outcome of study was to investigate the relationship between fracture type (stable or unstable) and bone density.
METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at single trauma center which included patients aged >65 years, minimum 3 months’ control postoperatively, patients with simple fall by evaluating the patient data from 2010 to 2021. All fractures were classified based on the AO classification system. Proximal femoral nail anti-rotation was used between 2010 and 2016, while InterTAN was used after 2016 in our clinic practice. For the evaluation of the bone morphology, we measured the canal-to-calcar ratio (CCR) and cortical thickness index (CTI) and classified with Dorr morphology on anteroposterior (AP) hip radiograph of both the fracture side and contralateral sides. Complications were also evaluated on radiological view. Failures were defined as non-union or failure of fixation. Excessive collapse and screw/blade prominence also evaluated by hip radiograph on the 3rd month control visit.
RESULTS: One hundred and fifty females and 59 males were included in this study. The average age was 81.6±8.8 years. One hundred and forty-four patients were treated with InterTAN and 65 patients with helical blade type IMN (PFN-A®). There were 78 patients with stable IFF type A1 fracture and 131 patients with unstable IFF (109 patients with A2 and 22 patients with A3 AO type fracture). The mean CTI was 0.469±0.09 and 0.510±0.09 in the fracture and unaffected side femurs, respectively (p<0.001), the CCR was 0.636±0.15 and 0.568±12 in the fracture and unaffected side femurs, respectively (p<0.001). There were 36 patients with Dorr type A, 115 patients with Dorr type B, and 48 patients with Dorr type C in fracture side and 65 patients with Dorr type A, 123 patients with Dorr type B, and 21 patients with Dorr type C in non-affected side (p<0.001). There were 29 (13.9%) patients with screw (n=14) and blade (n=15) prominence. Excessive collapse was seen 30 patients (14.4%) and 16 patients (7.7) evaluated as a failure.
CONCLUSION: We found a significant difference in the failure rate between unstable group than stable group which higher in unstable group according to the AO classification. In addition, the mean CTI, CCR, and Dorr index were significant difference in fractured side than unaffected side which indicated lower bone quality at fracture side.

Internal supravesical hernia is a rare type of internal abdominal hernia with overall incidence <4% of all internal abdominal hernias. The clinical diagnosis is a major preoperative diagnostic challenge for both the surgeon and the radiologist. It is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction, but in case of strangulation it can be fatal and it necessitates urgent surgical intervention. In this case study, we report a case of intravesical type of supravesical hernia in a 63-year-old man with acute intestinal obstruction and an accidental finding of a kid-ney tumor. In the article, we discuss the clinical picture, diagnosis, risk factors, treatment strategy and complications of this rare entity.

Appendix epiploica without a colon in the hernia sac is a rare condition, which is even rarer if it has hypertrophy and presents as an irreducible hernia. We describe a case of appendix epiploica in a 37-year-old male patient with a strangulated right inguinal hernia that was herniated to the right inguinal canal. Considering the superiority of laparoscopy to open technique for viewing the hernia contents, we planned laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal surgery. In the exploration, an indirect hernia was observed in the right groin. Inside was the strangulated appendages epiploica, which extended from the sigmoid colon wall. Anterior wall inguinal hernioplasty was performed. In conclusion, it should not be ignored that there may be appendix epiploica within the hernia sac in inguinal hernias and laparoscopic approaches should be the treatment method of choice.

Mediastinal masses can compress the respiratory or cardiovascular system, especially when anteriorly located. Obtaining histological material for diagnosis poses a challenge due to the major risk of cardiorespiratory collapse following anesthetic procedure. Our case shows the utility of rescue with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) after occurrence of such an event and demonstrates the feasibility of administering chemotherapy during VV-ECMO. A 4-year-old boy was referred to the pediatric oncology clinic of our hospital after a large mediastinal mass was observed on chest radiography ordered due to persistent cough. Computed tomography of the thorax revealed a 100×85 mm mass in the anterior mediastinum, surrounding the heart, and showed that there was compression to the trachea, bronchiole, and vascular structures. Percutaneous needle biopsy accompanied by ultrasonography was planned for diagnostic purposes. Low-dose ketamine and midazolam were administered for procedural sedation in the operating room. After the biopsy procedure, the patient developed sudden airway obstruction requiring intubation. Despite 100% oxygen support with a mechanical ventilator, pulse oximeter saturation remained below 80%. Chest X-ray revealed total collapse of the left lung, and the patient’s oxygen saturation did not increase with selective left bronchial intubation. Bi-caval dual-lumen ECMO cannula was placed in the internal jugular vein and VV-ECMO was initiated, resulting in swift improvement in hypoxemia. The patients’s anterior mediastinal mass shrank rapidly and left lung improved with chemotherapy. The patient remained on ECMO for a total of 9 days and was extubated 2 days after ECMO termination, followed by discharge to the pediatric oncology ward on the 20th day of pediatric intensive care unit stay. It is well known that large, anteriorly-located mediastinal masses carry a considerable risk of causing cardio-pulmonary collapse during procedures involving anesthesia. All life-saving options, including emergency ECMO, should be available before any planned invasive procedures in these patients.

This case report defines an infrequent complication of unicompartmental knee replacement. Periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fracture after total knee replacement is a challenging problem for orthopedic surgeon. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only case describing periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fracture after unicondylar knee replacement.

Mesanenin inguinal kanal içine herniasyonu nadir görülen bir klinik antitedir ve tüm inguinal hernilerin yaklaþýk %1–4’ünü oluþturmaktadýr. Genellikle yaþlý erkek hastalarda ve sað tarafta sýk görülmektedir. Hastalar çoðunlukla asemptomatik olduðundan, intraoperatif olarak taný almaktadýr. Preoperatif süreçte tanýnýn doðrulanmasý, olasý mesane yaralanmalarýnýn önüne geçebilmek adýna önem teþkil etmektedir. Biz de bu çalýþmamýzda; akut mekanik intestinal obstrüksiyon ve strangülasyon semptomlarýyla acil servise baþvuran hastada, mesane herniasyonunun eþlik ettiði nadir bir pantolon herni olgusunu literatür eþliðinde sunmayý amaçladýk.