Controversy of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery

Laparoscopically assisted colorectal procedures are time-consuming and technically demanding and hence have a long steep learning curve. In the technical demand, surgeons need to handle a long mobile organ, the colon, and have to operate on multiple abdominal quadrants, most of the time with the need to secure multiple mesenteric vessels. Therefore, a new surgical innovation called hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) was introduced in the mid 1990s as a useful alternative to totally laparoscopic procedures. This hybrid operation allows the surgeon to introduce the non-dominant hand into the abdominal cavity through a special hand port while maintaining the pneumoperitoneum. A hand in the abdomen can restore the tactile sensation which is usually lacking in laparoscopic procedures. It also improves the eye-to-hand coordination, allows the hand to be used for blunt dissection or retraction and also permits rapid control of unexpected bleeding. All of those factors can contribute tremendously to reducing the operative time. Moreover, this procedure is also considered as a hybrid procedure that combines the advantages of both minimally invasive and conventional open surgery. Nevertheless, the exact role of HALS in colorectal surgery has not been well defined during the advanced totally laparoscopic procedures. This article reviews the current status of hand-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery as a minimally invasive procedure in the era of laparoscopic surgery.

Appendiceal mass: is interval appendicectomy "something of the past"?

The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned. Furthermore, emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed with equal success and safety to that performed in non-mass forming acute appendicitis. There is an increasing volume of evidence -although mostly retrospective- that if traditional conservative management is adopted, there is no need for routine I.A except for a small number of patients who continue to develop recurrent symptoms. On the other hand, the routine adoption of emergency laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in patients presenting with appendiceal mass obviates the need for a second admission and an operation for I.A with a considerable complication rate. It also abolishes misdiagnoses and deals promptly with any unexpected ileo-cecal pathology. Moreover, it may prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment even without I.A due to a much shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of intravenous antibiotic administration. If emergency LA is to become the standard of care for appendiceal mass, I.A will certainly become 'something' of the past.

A case of sigmoid colon duplication in an adult woman

Colonic duplication is a rare congenital anomaly that is often diagnosed in childhood, but may go unrecognised until adulthood. It often presents with chronic abdominal pain and constipation, and the preoperative diagnosis may be difficult. We present a case of sigmoid duplication in a 33-year-old Indonesian woman who presented with right-sided colicky abdominal pain and vomiting. Clinical examination was unremarkable and radiological investigations raised the possibility of a giant colon diverticulum. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy that revealed a tubular sigmoid duplication. A sigmoid colectomy with end-to-end anastomosis was performed. She was discharged a week later and remained well at 1 year follow-up. Colon duplications rarely present in adult life and the accurate diagnosis is often made at laparotomy.

A rare cause of small bowel obstruction: Abdominal cocoon

INTRODUCTION

The clinical manifestations of abdominal 'cocoon' are non-specific and hence its diagnosis is rarely made preoperatively and the management is often delayed. Surgery remains the main stay of treatment with satisfactory outcome and comprises excision of the fibrous membrane, meticulous adhesionolysis and release of the entrapped small bowel.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 45-year-old male patient presented with 6-month history of progressive subacute small bowel obstruction. After initial radiological investigations, he underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and was misdiagnosed as abdominal tuberculosis. He was started on anti-tuberculous therapy, but exploratory laparotomy was carried out after failure to respond to anti-tuberculous therapy. At laparotomy, the abdominal 'cocoon' which was encapsulating the entire small bowel was excised, and the adhesions were carefully lysed. The patient remained well and without recurrence at 1-year follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Abdominal 'cocoon' is a rare cause of subacute, acute and chronic small bowel obstruction. Its diagnosis is rarely made preoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal 'cocoon' should be thought of as a rare cause of small bowel obstruction. It may be mistaken with abdominal tuberculosis. Surgery remains the mainstay of curative treatment.

Colonic lymphoma presenting acutely with perforated colo-splenic fistula

INTRODUCTION

Primary colonic lymphoma is rare. It comprises less than 1% of large bowel malignancies. Affected patients often present with non-specific vague symptoms with subsequent delays in diagnosis and management.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

An immuno-competent 35-year-old male presented with left iliac fossa pain, fever and constipation. Clinical examination revealed left-sided abdominal peritonism. After the initial radiological and endoscopic investigations, a provisional diagnosis of a localized perforation of a splenic flexure diverticulum was made and ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the abscess was performed. The patient failed to settle on conservative treatment and therefore exploratory laparotomy was carried out. An inflammatory phlegmon consisting of a left paracolic gutter abscess, the spleen and the splenic flexure of the colon was resected en-bloc and a primary colo-colic anastomosis was performed. His operative recovery was complicated by wound infection which was treated conservatively. The histopathology revealed colo-splenic fistula secondary to a perforated colonic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The spleen contained multiple metastatic lymphomatous deposits. He was started on chemotherapy and remained well at 5-year follow up.

DISCUSSION

Colon non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may present initially with an acute abdomen due to perforation. It mimics any acute surgical condition. Perforation and fistulaization into the spleen is very rare.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the delay and difficulty in diagnosing primary colonic lymphoma without resorting to surgical resection.

A rare approach to entero-atmospheric fistula

PATIENT

Female, 60 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Recurrent incisional hernia Symptoms: -

MEDICATION

- Clinical Procedure: Limited ileo-cecal resection Specialty: Surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Diagnostic/therapeutic accidents.

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic entero-atmospheric fistula is devastating and its management is extremely difficult because it is often associated with fluid and electrolyte disturbances, nutritional problems, and life-threatening sepsis.

CASE REPORT

A 60-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic repair of a recurrent incisional hernia that was complicated by iatrogenic cecal injury necessitating a limited ileocecal resection and onlay prosthetic mesh repair of the hernia. Postoperatively, sloughing of the overlying skin led to mesh exposure. An attempted rotational flap coverage was complicated by small bowel injury, which was recognized and repaired. However, an entero-atmospheric fistula developed after the removal of contaminated mesh. The fistula was initially treated by vacuum-assisted closure dressing and later was converted to a 'stoma'. Six months later, the small bowel segment bearing the fistula was excised and bowel continuity was restored.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected cases, the conversion of entero-atmospheric fistula to a 'stoma' allows the patient to be discharged home early and maintain good nutritional status while awaiting the definitive surgical intervention.

Boerhaave's Syndrome: Delayed Management Using Over-the-Scope Clip

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of Boerhaave's syndrome is often missed or delayed. This subsequently leads to a high mortality rate, which could be greatly reduced if treatment is instituted early, within 24 hours of perforation. Treatment ranges from conservative management to operative intervention depending on the time of presentation and the patient's clinical condition. Endoscopic intervention in the form of over-the-scope clip (OTSC) application is gaining popularity with very promising results. CASE REPORT A 43-year-old male was diagnosed with Boerhaave's syndrome and treated initially by insertion of bilateral chest drainage, intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics, and total parenteral nutrition. He was transferred to our facility 9 days later. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 1.5 cm deep longitudinal ulcer involving the distal esophagus and extending to the Z-line. Due to the perforation site, a size 12 OTSC clip was used. Application of a second clip was needed to achieve complete closure of the perforation site. Contrast swallow was done 4 days later showed no leak. The patient was started on oral intake and was discharged home in good general condition after a hospital stay of 16 days. CONCLUSIONS Delayed presentation of Boerhaave's syndrome can be treated safely by an over-the-scope clip. This endoscopic method hastens recovery and shortens the hospital stay.

Portal vein thrombosis after restorative proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis and sigmoid cancer

Postoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is rare, but has been described after various open as well as minimal access abdominal operations, especially splenectomy and colorectal surgical procedures. We report the case of a 39-year-old female who underwent restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for familial adenomatous polyposis with sigmoid cancer. She presented 14 days later with vague upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and high output stoma. Doppler ultrasonography confirmed PVT and therefore anticoagulant therapy was started. Her condition improved dramatically and she underwent closure of ileostomy after finishing adjuvant chemotherapy. She remained well at 3-year follow-up with good pouch function and no local or distant recurrence. A high index of suspicion is essential for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of postoperative PVT after restorative proctocolectomy. Early anticoagulation is essential to avoid subsequent complications.

Congenital right diaphragmatic hernia in an adult

Diaphragmatic hernia in the absence of trauma in adults is very rare. It occurs as a result of unilateral diaphragmatic agenesis. The diagnosis of this rare condition is typically made in early infancy. However, in asymptomatic patients, the diagnosis is often delayed for months and even years. We present a case of a 27-year-old female, who was referred 48-hours after Caesarean section with suspected pulmonary embolism. Computed tomography scan revealed herniation of the liver as well as bowel loops into the right hemi-thorax. Exploration through a right thoracotomy revealed right diaphragmatic agenesis. The contents were reduced into the abdomen, and the defect was repaired using a mesh. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged home 10 days later. This case highlights the acute late presentation of right diaphragmatic eventration with abdominal visceral herniation in adulthood. The condition may be triggered by the increasing size of gravid uterus.