Background. Metastatic liver injury is a  distinct oncological problem, irrespective of primary malignancy. Resection surgery is not always feasible in such patients. Isolated liver chemoperfusion is a promising treatment option in multiple small-focal metastatic organic lesions. This technique is technically complex, which limits its broader evaluation and adoption in clinical practice. The diversity of isolated liver chemoperfusion techniques does not allow an adequate assessment of world experience and requires further research. The important considerations with introducing isolated liver chemoperfusion are: an optimal surgical technique, liver isolation control method, as well as physiological arterial and portal blood flow maintenance.

Materials and methods. A total of 21 patients were surveyed over June 2020 — December 2021. The patients were divided into 3 prospective cohorts: A) arteriocaval chemoperfusion, midline laparotomy access, technical-guided liver isolation, B) arteriocaval chemoperfusion, “in J laparotomy” access, ICG-guided liver isolation, C) arterio-porto-caval chemoperfusion, “in J laparotomy” access, ICG-guided liver isolation. A procedure’s tolerance was assessed with: the duration of surgery, postoperative ICU bed-days, total postoperative bed-days, hepatic cytolysis rates, chemotherapy side-effects severity.

Results and discussion. The duration of surgery shortened with “in J laparotomy”. Haemotoxicity did not differ between cohorts A and B, albeit appearing significantly lower in cohort C. The cytolytic syndrome duration statistically significantly reduced in C vs. A and B cohorts.

Conclusion. All the isolated liver chemoperfusion techniques employed are patient-safe. In ICG-guided liver isolation, the agent leakage into systemic blood flow is less likely, indicating a lower haemotoxicity. Arterioportal isolated chemoperfusion is more physiological compared to other techniques, thus facilitating lower hepatotoxicity. The use of “in J laparotomy” significantly reduces liver mobilisation and vascular cannulation times. 

Background. Diagnosis and treatment of malignant lung neoplasms are pressing issues. Peripheral lung cancer verification rate with endobronchial ultrasound varies within 30–85 %.

Aim. To advance endobronchial ultrasound precision, a modified biopsy technique has been developed and introduced into clinical practice at the Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Centre for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. The modification comprises real-time ultrasound image guidance of the biopsy forceps alignment and opening. The technique patent for invention is RU 2719666 C1.

Materials and methods. Modified endobronchial ultrasound has been performed in 66 patients with suspected peripheral lung malignancy at the Centre’s Department of Endoscopy within 2019–2021. Bioptic material was delivered for histological and, when necessary, immunohistochemical examination.

Results. Malignancy diagnosis was verified in 78.8 % cases. The modified technique is relatively safe, with complications detected in two patients (3.8 % cases) and managed conservatively with success. Discussion. The standard biopsy technique provided for a lung malignancy verification rate of 57.7 % over 2019–2021. Thus, the rate improvement by modified technique is 21.1 %. The modified technique is relatively safe, with complications reported in two patients (3.8 % cases) and managed conservatively with success. Modified endobronchial ultrasound was adequately tolerated, with no increase in patient examination time. The technique can supersede more invasive diagnostic procedures.

Conclusion. We believe that the modified technique will improve the power of endobronchial ultrasound, reduce examination time and expedite prescription of special therapies. 

Background. Epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) is the most common neurological complication in metastatic spinal tumours.

Materials and methods. The study included 87 spinal malignancy patients operated within 01.01.2014–30.09.2021. All patients had a  type of palliative decompressive and stabilising surgery: standard posterior access (SPA, 55  patients), minimally invasive posterior access (MPA, 22 patients) or anterior access (AA, 10 patients).

Results. The patient cohorts did not differ significantly by the duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, rates and types of postoperative complications. The AA cohort revealed a statistical difference by intraoperative blood loss. A Karnofsky performance status was statistically improved post- vs. pre-surgery (p < 0.05) at no significant change of Frankel neurological function status (p > 0.05). A Kaplan — Meier curve analysis showed no significant survival rate variation among the surgical techniques. Discussion. Our results suggest that posterior access interventions should be considered optimal. We report no statistical difference in the postoperative neurological and performance status dynamics between both cohorts, which encourages the MPA use in all patients with minimal epidural compression.

Conclusion. Posterior access with cytoreductive tumour removal in anterior spinal cord compression is advantageous over anterior surgery. A posterior access surgery with minimal spinal canal decompression is recommended in all patients with grade 1 tumoural epidural compression. 

Background. Ovarian cancer ranks 5th in the structure of female oncological mortality in the Russian Federation, with a first-year post-diagnosis rate of almost 35%. In 75% cases, ovarian cancer is diagnosed at stages III—IV. The disease usually represents as peritoneal carcinomatosis regarded as an advanced form that demands attention, which renders the issue highly relevant. We present a literature review and analysis of combined treatment outcomes in ovarian cancer patients hospitalised at the Kuvatov Republican Clinical Hospital within period 2020—2021.

Materials and methods. The article reviews foreign and national scientific literature, as well as reports the case data on 18 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer and treated at the Department of Oncology of the Kuvatov Republican Clinical Hospital within period 2020—2021.

Results and discussion. A complete cytoreductive surgery was performed in 100% cases. In cohort I, mean operation time was 256 vs. 364 min, mean intraoperative blood loss — 1200 vs. 1050 mL, mean hospital stay — 14.6 vs. 18.7 bed-days. Postoperative complications were 16.7 vs. 50% in cohort I vs. II. A 30-day mortality rate was 0 vs. 16.6% in cohort I vs. II. The monitoring and enrolment of patients currently continues.

Conclusion. A  HIPEC procedure is not a  radical measure and can only achieve a  maximum efficacy if coupled with a complete cytoreduction. The treatment of stage III—IV ovarian cancer patients in a concurrent combined approach is promising and requires further in-depth research and a more robust statistics. 

Background. Acute adhesive small bowel obstruction (AASBO) is a common surgical emergency requiring immediate interventions. AASBO is a usual indication for both small bowel resection and adhesiolysis. Postoperative adhesions cause 60% of small bowel obstructions.

Materials and methods. An analysis of treatment outcomes is presented for 197 acute adhesive small bowel obstruction patients; 63 patients had urgent laparotomy, and 134 were scheduled for laparoscopy. The examination included physical, laboratory, radiological methods (abdominal radiography, ultrasound, CT scan), laparoscopy and intra-abdominal pressure monitoring.

Results and discussion. Of 134 patients scheduled for laparoscopic adhesiolysis, only 46.2% had laparoscopy completed, and 53.8% required conversion to laparotomy. The main rationale for conversion were massive adhesions, intraoperative haemodynamic instability, a need for intestinal decompression, as well as rare complications. Laparoscopic operations were reported with the lower vs. laparotomy rates of surgical complications (6.4  vs. 12.69%), mortality (6  vs. 6.3%), shorter hospital stays (6.5 vs. 12 days) and operation times (75 vs. 118 min, respectively).

Conclusion. Laparoscopic surgery in acute adhesive small bowel obstruction was feasible in 31.47% patients and in 46.2% — after a diagnostic laparoscopy; however, a thorough patients selection for laparoscopic adhesiolysis is necessary. The first estimated should be the patient’s haemodynamic stability, the severities of condition, adhesions and comorbid cardiorespiratory pathology. Grade I—II adhesions are an indication for laparoscopic surgery. 

Background. Nodular goitre is the commonest pathology of thyroid gland. According to published evidence, the endemic prevalence of iodine deficiency varies within 19–76 % population. The high rates and lack of symptoms at progressive nodules growth warrant the development of effective organ-preserving treatments. Imaging techniques for local precision targeting of individual lesions enable maximum-preserving interventions at thyroid tissue. Today’s world experience of percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation is adequate. However, there exist no clear indications for sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation, and their consecutive use has not been assessed.

Materials and methods. We analyse minimally invasive organ-preserving treatments of benign thyroid nodules (ethanol sclerotherapy, RFA) in 63 patients at the outpatient and general surgery units of BSMU Clinic and MEGI Medical Centre, Ufa, during February 2019 — December 2020.

Results and discussion. Ethanol sclerotherapy was highly effective in 46.5 % patients, as evident from discontinued nodule’s blood supply in CDI and B-mode ultrasound, which remained stable in 10.5 % and restored after 3–4 weeks in 25 % patients. Sclerotherapy in colloid goitre was efficient only in 37.5 % patients. Ethanol sclerotherapy was RFA-followed in 25.4 % patients. RFA was favoured at a low-effective sclerotherapy providing for a weak positive dynamics of nodule size, local parietal blood flow preservation and intranodular vessels recanalisation at re-examination.

Conclusion. Sclerotherapy was high-effective in cystic nodules. Radiofrequency ablation can be considered most adequate for treating solid nodules. RFA-followed sclerotherapy is a rational choice in treatment of large cystic nodules (>5 cm3 ). 

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a  5-year overall survival rate of 9 %, with an outlook of becoming the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA by 2030. Familial pancreatic cancer and genetic predisposition syndromes have attracted more interest in the perspective of targeted therapy. Various authors estimate genetic causes to account for 10–15 % of pancreatic cancers. The BRCA gene mutations comprise the today’s most relevant genetic predisposition syndrome. The frequency of BRCA1/2 and PALB2 germinal mutations in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma constitutes about 5–9 %. Over recent years, PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have composed a new targeted therapy class with a significant effect in breast and ovarian cancers. With the mechanism of action of the PARP inhibitor and platinum drugs targeting different DNA repair pathways, their combination therapy has been suggested as promising. We report studies of a combination treatment with veliparib, gemcitabine and cisplatin in germinal BRCA1/2-mutation patients with advanced wild-type pancreatic adenocarcinoma (WT). Recent advances have identified patients with germinal and somatic mutations in the BRCA1/2 and other genes. HRD-targeted therapy, including platinum and PARP inhibitor drugs, can significantly improve survival. 

Introduction. We have come a long way from the era of conventional rectal surgery, with most high-volume centres now practising various degrees of laparoscopy assisted colorectal surgeries, via extracorporeal suturing, ex vivo anastomoses, hand-assisted laparoscopic resection anastomoses to robotic rectal resections. However, the limitation to most such techniques remains the fact that these are not ‘completely’ laparoscopic, with varying degrees of open assistance being required, from mobilization, suturing and anastomoses to specimen extraction via separate abdominal incisions or port-site enlargements. These ‘large’ incisions negate some of the advantages of minimal access surgery and lead to complications at such sites, such as wound breakdown, infections, and incisional herniae. This led to the origin of NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery) and the still fairly new concept of NOSE (Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction).

Aim. We aim to describe our application of this new frontier in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, doing away with large scars prone to complications.

Materials and methods. We describe a case of completely laparoscopic resection rectopexy and trans-rectal extraction of the specimen, with a modified technique of anvil insertion, enabling the faster creation of a larger anastomosis with probably lower anastomotic morbidity.

Results and discussion. The patient underwent a ‘completely’ laparoscopic resection rectopexy and had an uneventful immediate post-operative recovery. She had no delayed post-operative complications or recurrence of the rectal prolapse and remained free of constipation as well, over a follow-up period of 6 months.

Conclusion. We conclude that this modification of the surgical technique reduces operative time, allows use of larger circular staplers, theoretically reducing the incidence of anastomotic stricture, and being easily reproducible, can be widely applied for better cosmetic and functional outcome. 

Background. The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection is understudied; despite its worldwide prevalence, case reports of organ transplant recipients are rare.

Aim. A dynamics evaluation and treatment outcome improvement in a transplanted cadaveric kidney patient with 100% parenchymal lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus bilateral pneumonia.

Materials and methods. We describe a successful treatment case of a transplant kidney patient having the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) (of 03.12.2020). COVID-19 pneumonia was diagnosed on day 7 of the early post-transplant period. On day 14, the patient was admitted to an infectious ward and transferred to intensive care upon disease aggravation. Despite ongoing treatment, pulmonary parenchymal lesion reached 100% in CT scan on 24.12.2020. The patient was transferred to Surgery Unit No. 3 for further therapy on 11.01.2021 upon revealing a clinical improvement, positive laboratory dynamics and SARS-CoV-2-negative smear PCR tests. The patient was discharged for outpatient treatment on day 10.

Results and discussion. No evidence of focal infiltrative pulmonary change was detected in control chest CT after 4 months. Within 5 months since discharge, there were observed a general well-being improvement, 98% oxygen saturation, absent oedema, satisfactory transplanted kidney function.

Conclusion. Post-kidney-transplant patients are particularly susceptible to infection due to inherent chronic immunosuppression. The presented case of a kidney transplant patient having a favourable COVID-19 outcome demonstrates the efficacy of a timely treatment. 

Background. Cervical cancer is among the commonest malignancies and a top fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The five-year survival rate in locally advanced cervical cancer is 91.5%, and only 17.2% — in distant metastasis. Primary cervical cancer metastasis to brain is very rare. Report and analysis of quite rare clinical cases may shed light on this issue, helping formulate relevant therapeutic and diagnostic interventions.

Materials and methods. The article describes a case of cervical cancer metastasis to brain. The patient received modern 3D conformal intensity-modulated (IMRT) and image-guided (IGRT) radiation therapies on an Elekta Synergy highenergy linear digital accelerator instrument.

Results. Clinical effect has been achieved by end of treatment. Time since diagnosis of primary cervical cancer was 13 months, and 7 months — since diagnosis of brain metastasis.

Discussion. The survival rate in brain metastasis is marginal-low and depends on the patient’s age, primary tumour state, presence of extracranial metastases, as well as volume, number and location of metastases in brain parenchyma. An integrated approach including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is considered superior to improve survival and the quality of life.

Conclusion. Despite sheer coverage of therapies available, the mean survival rate in intracranial metastasis remains subtle. Thereby, research and discovery of relapse and metastasis biomarkers of cervical cancer is relevant. 

Background. Clinically distinct Riedel’s fibrosing thyroiditis is extremely rare, accounting for only 0.05 % of histologically verified thyroiditis cases, as follows from the real clinical practice and literature. Classic Riedel’s thyroiditis is typified by a marked compression syndrome, which may lack at initial disease stages. A problematic verification often conduces to a diagnostic and, especially, therapeutic malpractice, as illustrated by the two hereby analysed clinical cases.

Materials and methods. The article presents two clinical cases of fibrosing thyroiditis, specifying the diagnosis and treatment choice in patients with this pathology. Diagnosis verification and therapy correction facilitated a favourable outcome.

Results and discussion. Riedel’s fibrosing thyroiditis can be reluctant to diagnosis due to asymptomatic thyroid dysfunction, the lack of strict radiological diagnostic criteria and rarity in clinical practice. This provokes diagnostic and later therapeutic malpractices, which correction permitted a favourable outcome.

Conclusion. Since treatment for compression syndrome-aggravated Riedel’s fibrosing thyroiditis is exclusively surgical, it continues posing a challenge as associated with likely severe complications. Essentially, the first treatment stage was inadequate in both cases. In the first case, the patient withdrew a thyroid hormone therapy already in 4 days, which precluded serious iatrogenic complications, while in the second case, the long-term drug misuse had conduced to cardiovascular pathology. 

Background. According to some studies, nutrient deficiencies reach an over-70% prevalence in ovarian cancer, among other gynaecological malignancies, thus constituting an important risk factor for postoperative mortality, surgical complications and longer hospital stays. Therefore, effective nutrient deficiency correction methods are warranted to improve the ovarian cancer outcomes, especially in patients following radical surgical interventions. New systematic evidence emerges in literature on the impact of such novel methods on the critical status of variant-category patients. Meanwhile, such evidence bears a recommendatory value only, with no current standard or protocol assumed for nutrient deficiency management. This issue presently remains open and requires careful research and analysis.

Materials and methods. The clinical case demonstrates the efficacy of nutrient deficiency correction in an ovarian cancer patient following an individualised radical surgery.

Results and discussion. The energy supplied on day 1 was >42%, >83% on day 3, and the target values had been achieved by day 7 of intensive therapy. The nutrient deficiency marker dynamics revealed the growth of transferrin, triglycerides and peripheral blood lymphocyte counts as early as by day 3 post-surgery. Albumin was the latest to respond, increasing only on day 7.

Conclusion. The introduction of novel nutrition strategies and knowledge of their impact depend on further high-quality research, especially prospective studies, incorporating a  greater homogeneity of intervention types and clinical outcomes, as well as wider sampling of female ovarian cancer.