Acute biliary pancreatitis in cholecystectomised patients

OBJECTIVE:

The present study is an evaluation of cases of acute biliary pancreatitis that developed subsequent to cholecystectomy.

METHODS:

Total of 44 patients were assessed in this retrospective study. Demographic characteristics, severity of illness, time elapsed between cholecystectomy and development of pancreatitis, whether endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was performed, surgical procedure used, duration of hospitalization, and mortality data were recorded.

RESULTS:

Mean age of all patients was 60.14±16.4 years (range: 20–85 years), and female:male ratio was 28:16. Mean length of time elapsed between cholecystectomy and development of acute pancreatitis was 80.6 months (range: 5–230 months). Gallstones and biliary sand were found in the choledochi of 36 patients upon endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but not observed in the remaining 8 patients. ES was performed and material was extracted in 32 of the 36 patients, but stone extraction was unsuccessful in 4 cases; 3 patients underwent open surgery with choledochus exploration and 1 patient died. Excluding this patient, mean duration of hospitalization was 7.5±2.5 days.

CONCLUSION:

Stones in bile ducts may remain asymptomatic for long periods after cholecystectomy. However, some stones trigger acute pancreatitis months or years after cholecystectomy, causing risk of mortality. ERCP and ES are the standard treatments. If these are unsuccessful, the choledochus may be explored via open or laparoscopic surgery.

A rare cause of acute abdominal disease: two reports of caecal diverticulum perforation

Diverticulum of the caecum is a rare lesion. From a clinical point of view, the inflammation it causes can mimic symptoms of acute appendicitis, causing difficulties in diagnosis and thus prescription of appropriate treatment. It is almost impossible to differentiate this disease from acute appendicitis through physical examination alone, and radiological imaging may also prove insufficient. For this reason, it is common to perioperatively diagnose diverticula of the caecum. Two cases of patients who underwent surgery for perforated caecal diverticula are presently described.

Laparoscopic vs mini-incision open appendectomy

AIM: To compare laparoscopic vs mini-incision open appendectomy in light of recent data at our centre.

METHODS: The data of patients who underwent appendectomy between January 2011 and June 2013 were collected. The data included patients’ demographic data, procedure time, length of hospital stay, the need for pain medicine, postoperative visual analog scale of pain, and morbidities. Pregnant women and patients with previous lower abdominal surgery were excluded. Patients with surgery converted from laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) to mini-incision open appendectomy (MOA) were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups: LA and MOA done by the same surgeon. The patients were randomized into MOA and LA groups a computer-generated number. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made by the surgeon with physical examination, laboratory values, and radiological tests (abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography). All operations were performed with general anaesthesia. The postoperative vision analog scale score was recorded at postoperative hours 1, 6, 12, and 24. Patients were discharged when they tolerated normal food and passed gas and were followed up every week for three weeks as outpatients.

RESULTS: Of the 243 patients, 121 (49.9%) underwent MOA, while 122 (50.1%) had laparoscopic appendectomy. There were no significant differences in operation time between the two groups (P = 0.844), whereas the visual analog scale of pain was significantly higher in the open appendectomy group at the 1^st hour (P = 0.001), 6^th hour (P = 0.001), and 12^th hour (P = 0.027). The need for analgesic medication was significantly higher in the MOA group (P = 0.001). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of morbidity rate (P = 0.599). The rate of total complications was similar between the two groups (6.5% in LA vs 7.4% in OA, P = 0.599). All wound infections were treated non-surgically. Six out of seven patients with pelvic abscess were successfully treated with percutaneous drainage; one patient required surgical drainage after a failed percutaneous drainage. There were no differences in the period of hospital stay, operation time, and postoperative complication rate between the two groups. Laparoscopic appendectomy decreases the need for analgesic medications and the visual analog scale of pain.

CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic appendectomy should be considered as a standard treatment for acute appendicitis. Mini-incision appendectomy is an alternative for a select group of patients.

Incarcerated amyand hernia

Amyand’s hernia is a rare condition defined by the inclusion of the appendix vermiformis within the hernia sac. Its incidence among cases of groin hernia is less than 1%. The clinical manifestation of incarcerated inguinal hernia generally masks the symptoms and signs of acute appendicitis, which renders preoperative diagnosis difficult. In this study, we present two cases of Amyand’s hernia that were diagnosed preoperatively. The patients were taken for operation with the prediagnosis of ıncarcerated inguinal hernia. We evaluated these cases along with data from prior studies.

The outcome of early laparoscopic surgery to treat acute cholecystitis: a single-center experience

AIM

The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the outcome of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with acute cholecystitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between July 2005 and December 2012, of 623 patients who had symptoms of acute cholecystitis during the first 72 h of hospital admission and who did not respond to non-operative treatment, 302 underwent surgical treatment. After initial treatment, all patients were followed up for 21 months on average (range: 5-27 months). The clinical, biochemical, radiological, and operative data of the 302 consecutive patients with acute cholecystitis were recorded and analyzed prospectively.

RESULTS

Of the 302 patients who underwent LC for acute cholecystitis, 169 were females and 133 males. Their mean ages were 47.8 years (range: 17-79 years) and 53.3 years (range: 27-90 years) respectively. Conversion to open surgery was required in 32 patients (10.5%). The mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 2 days (range: 1-3 days) in the LC group and 3 days (range: 2-6 days) in the conversion group. Significant differences between the successful LC group and the conversion group were evident terms of the length of postoperative hospitalization and gallbladder wall thickness (P=0.023). Factors associated with conversion were male gender, pericholecystic collection observed via ultrasound, gangrenous cholecystitis, and gallbladder wall thickness >1 cm. We experienced two minor bile duct injury complications that were treated via T tube placement. No mortality occurred. Ten patients suffered infections at the incisional locations, and eight patients developed lung infections.

CONCLUSION

Early LC is safe in patients with acute cholecystitis. Male gender, pericholecystic collection determined via ultrasound, gangrenous cholecystitis, and gallbladder wall thickness >1 cm are associated with a higher risk of conversion to open surgery.

Total versus bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for benign multi-nodular goiter

PURPOSE

To compare the postoperative early-stage complications of total and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for benign multi-nodular goiter.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 409 patients. The patients were divided into two groups. A total of 258 (63%) patients underwent total thyroidectomy, and 151 (37%) patients underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in six (2.3%) of the total thyroidectomy patients and in three (1.9%) of the bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy patients (P>0.05). No permanent palsy was observed in either of the thyroidectomy groups. Hypocalcemia occurred in 40 (15.5%) of the total thyroidectomy patients and in 27 (17.8%) of those who underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy (P>0.05). Also, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to the development rates of hematoma and incision site infection (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Because of its low complication rates, total thyroidectomy is a safe procedure for benign multı-nodular goiter.

A new approach: oblique excision and primary closure in the management of acute pilonidal disease

AIM

To compare incision and drainage with oblique excision and primary closure in the treatment of pilonidal abscesses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective study, one of two surgeons at the same hospital performed incision and drainage as the treatment method for patients presenting with pilonidal abscesses. (Group A). The other surgeon performed oblique excision and primary closure (Group B). The rate of development of chronic pilonidal sinus and time to return to active work were assessed using the chi-square and Student's t-tests to compare the two methods of treatment. Of the 128 patients, incision and simple drainage was applied to 69 patients and primary closure was applied to 59 patients.

RESULTS

The rate of development of chronic pilonidal sinus was 78.8% in Group A and 6.0% in Group B (P < 0.001). In Group A, the average healing time and time to return to active work were 18 and 25 days, respectively. In Group B, these times were 22 and 27 days, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Oblique excision and primary closure may be a preferable treatment for acute pilonidal abscesses because of its low rate of chronic sinus development.