Abstract Introduction Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) is an infrequently encountered, benign, polypoid proliferation of Brunner's glands. Usually these lesions are asymptomatic, just only ...occasionally presenting with duodenal obstruction or bleeding signs and mimicking a tumoral lesion. Case presentation A 72-year-old male, referred for recurrent vomiting and epigastralgia, was investigated and all preoperative findings were suggestive of a tumour of the duodenum. During the scheduled pancreaticoduodenectomy a mass, resultant to a polyp, was palpatory felt inside the duodenum and then successfully and completely resected through a duodenotomy avoiding surgical overtreatment and connected postoperative morbidities. Histological analysis showed hyperplasia of Brunner's glands correspondent to a Brunner's gland hamartoma. BGH was undiagnosed before surgery, due to its particular sub-mucosal growth simulating an expanding process starting from the duodenum, and secondly due to unsuccessful biopsies performed during endoscopic procedure. Conclusion BGH is a rare lesion featuring, when symptomatic, obstructive or bleeding symptoms. Surgical treatment represents the gold standard approach in case of lesions that are technically impossible to remove endoscopically or in case of an undiagnosed lesion. Herein, we report a case of a patient presenting with a duodenal lesion mimicking, in all preoperative findings, a tumour of the duodenum. Duodenotomy and resection of the BGH provided a definitive cure avoiding surgical overtreatment. An intraoperative deep analysis of all surgical cases still remain crucial for a right therapeutic choice even in a new era for surgical technology. For similar intraoperative findings we recommend this technique.
Abstract Study objective The study objective is to identify differences in postoperative pain management according to different analgesic treatments, targeting 2 main pathways involved in pain ...perception. Design The design is a randomized, parallel groups, open-label study. Setting The setting is in an operating room, postoperative recovery area, and surgical ward. Patients There are 200 patients undergoing open inguinal hernia repair (IHR) with tension-free technique (mesh repair). Interventions The intervention is a randomization to receive ketorolac (group K) or tramadol (group T) for 3 days after surgery. Measurements The measurements are differences in analgesic efficacy (numeric rating scale NRS) in the postoperative (up to 5 days) period, chronic pain incidence (1 and 3 months), side effects, and complications. Main results We found no differences in analgesic efficacy (NRS value ≥ 4 in the first 96 hours: 26% in group K vs 32% in group T, P = .43); the proportion of patients with NRS ≥ 4 was similar in both groups, and the time trajectories were not significantly different ( P for interaction = .24). Side effects were higher (12% vs 6%) in the tramadol group, although not significantly ( P = .14), with a case of bleeding in the ketorolac group and higher incidence of constipation in tramadol group. One patient in each group developed chronic pain. Conclusions Ketorolac or weak opioids are equally effective on acute pain and on persistent postsurgical pain development after IHR, and drug choice should be based on their potential side effects and patient's comorbidities. Further studies are needed to standardize the most rational approach to prevent persistent postsurgical pain after IHR.
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