Emergency laparoscopy: a new emerging discipline for treating abdominal emergencies attempting to minimize costs and invasiveness and maximize outcomes and patients’ comfort. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014;77:338-350. [PMID: 25058263 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000000288]

Risk Factors Associated With Gangrenous Cholecystitis: A Cohort Study From Eastern India

BACKGROUND

Treating gangrenous cholecystitis (GC) can be a challenge. It necessitates urgent intervention due to its elevated mortality risk. Prompt identification of risk factors and intervention are essential for halting inflammatory cascade and preventing further complications. This study aimed to evaluate the factors for early prediction of gangrenous changes in patients with acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

A prospective study was carried out among 340 diagnosed adult acute cholecystitis patients, admitted under the Department of General Surgery of a tertiary medical college between May 2022 and April 2024. Data were compiled into Excel and analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) software (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Data were analyzed using descriptive statics, chi-square test, and unpaired t-test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Out of 340 acute cholecystitis patients, 27 (7.9%) progressed to GC. It was more prevalent among males (22/27, 81.5%), among patients in the 51-70 years age group (15/27, 55.5%), and among patients with comorbidities (diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease) (23/27, 85.2%) with a significant association (p < 0.001, p = 0.010, and p < 0.001, respectively). The presence of fever (p = 0.002) and vomiting (p = 0.040) was significantly associated with gangrenous outcomes in the patients. The mean values of lab parameters like White Blood Cells (WBCs), serum bilirubin (SBIL), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher among patients with GC. Ultrasound imaging parameters showed a significantly higher asymmetrical gallbladder (GB) wall (27, 100%), intraluminal membrane (23/27, 85.2%), pericholecystic collection (23/27, 85.2%), and acalculous GB (9/27, 33.3%) among GC patients. In the case of Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) for GC, the test demonstrated relatively high sensitivity (74.1%) and specificity (85.6%). All patients with GC underwent emergency cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted various demographic, clinical, and imaging factors linked to a high risk of developing GC, including older age, male gender, elevated laboratory markers (such as WBC count, SBIL, SGOT, SGPT, and ALP), and imaging features like GB calculi, increased GB wall thickness, wall symmetry, intraluminal membrane, and pericholecystic collection. Employing a comprehensive approach that incorporates demographic, clinical, and imaging data is essential for predicting and guiding treatment decisions effectively.

Role of laparoscopic surgery in managing hemodynamically stable abdominal trauma patients: a single level I trauma center, propensity score matching study

BACKGROUND

The role of laparoscopy in the treatment and diagnosis of penetrating thoraco-abdominal injury has been established. However, there is no clear consensus on the role of laparoscopy in blunt injury due to numerous reasons, such as concerns of missed injury and technical problems in treating various abdominal organs. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of laparoscopy and evaluate its safety in managing blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma.

METHODS

The medical records and Korean Trauma Data Base (KTDB) of patients who underwent abdominal surgery from January 2018 to December 2022 at a single level I center were collected. Patients were classified into a laparoscopy group and a laparotomy group. The laparoscopy groups were matched 1:1 with the laparotomy group by using propensity score matching (PSM). Patient demographics, injured organ and its grade, operative procedure, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, 128 patients were included. There was no significant imbalance in demographics between the two groups except sex. Injured organ and its grade showed no significant differences between the two groups except for the incidence of omentum. Small bowel and mesenteric repair were performed most often in both groups. Splenectomy, pancreatic surgery, duodenectomy, and liver resection were performed exclusively in the laparotomy group. Severe postoperative complication rate (3% vs. 20%: p = 0.004), length of stay in ICU (3.3 ± 3.2 days vs. 4.6 ± 3.7; p = 0.046), and operation time (93.9 ± 47.7 min vs. 112.8 ± 57.7; p = 0.046) were significantly lower in the laparoscopy group. The conversion rate was about 16%. There was no missed injury.

CONCLUSIONS

In hemodynamically stable abdominal trauma patients who sustained penetrating or blunt injury, laparoscopy is feasible and safe as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality in selected cohort of abdominal trauma.

The increasing use of minimally invasive surgery in acute general surgical conditions: A decade of results from a national data set

BACKGROUND

To assess the rate of uptake of acute laparoscopic surgery for common general surgical conditions using national-level data.

METHODS

The use of laparoscopic surgery in the acute management of appendicitis, cholecystitis, adhesive small bowel obstruction, and inguinal hernias was assessed between 2013 and 2022 at a national level in New Zealand.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic appendicectomy increased from 83% to 95% (P = .0002). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy increased from 94% to 96% (P = .001). Laparoscopic adhesiolysis increased from 42% to 60% (P = .001). Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair increased from 3% to 18% (P = .004). The rate of laparoscopic conversion demonstrated a decrease for appendicectomy (1.9% to 0.24%), cholecystectomy (0.77% to 0.39%), and adhesiolysis (9% to 2.4%) across this time. The laparoscopic cohorts were all associated with a shorter and less expensive length of stay compared to the open cohort. Māori and Pacific Island patients had largely equitable or superior rates of laparoscopic use compared to the rest of the population. No changes in laparoscopic use were detected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appendicectomy are similar throughout the regions. The largest difference in rates detected was for adhesiolysis, which was more common in the northern region.

CONCLUSION

There has been a statistically significant rise in the use of acute laparoscopic surgery for acute general surgical procedures. This rise is likely clinically and economically significant, particularly in appendicectomy and adhesiolysis, with rises of 12% and 17% across the 10 years, with the known associated patient and health care system benefits.

Laparoscopy for emergency abdominal surgery is associated with reduced physical functional decline in older patients: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of older patients require emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen. They are susceptible to surgical stress and lose their independence in performing daily activities. Laparoscopic surgery is associated with faster recovery, less postoperative pain, and shorter hospital stay. However, few studies have examined the relationship between laparoscopic surgery and physical functional decline. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between changes in physical function and the surgical procedure.

METHODS

In this was a single-center, retrospective cohort study, we enrolled patients who were aged ≥ 65 years and underwent emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. We assessed their activities of daily living using the Barthel Index. Functional decline was defined as a decrease of ≥ 20 points in Barthel Index at 28 days postoperatively, compared with the preoperative value. We evaluated an association between functional decline and surgical procedures among older patients, using multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

During the study period, 852 patients underwent emergency abdominal surgery. Among these, 280 patients were eligible for the analysis. Among them, 94 underwent laparoscopic surgery, while 186 underwent open surgery. Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery showed a less functional decline at 28 days postoperatively (6 vs. 49, p < 0.001). After adjustments for other covariates, laparoscopic surgery was an independent preventive factor for postoperative functional decline (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05-0.83; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In emergency abdominal surgery, laparoscopic surgery reduces postoperative physical functional decline in older patients. Widespread use of laparoscopic surgery can potentially preserve patient quality of life and may be important for the better development of emergency abdominal surgery.

Comprehensive endometriosis care: a modern multimodal approach for the treatment of pelvic pain and endometriosis

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological disease, leading to chronic pain and inflammation, affecting 1 in 10 individuals presumed female at birth. The diagnostic journey is often arduous, marked by neglect of the right diagnosis and prolonged wait times, significantly compromising the quality of life among those affected. This review provides a nuanced exploration of endometriosis-associated pain management, encompassing medical, surgical, and holistic approaches, all guided by accurate and refined diagnostics. Our paramount goal is to empower physicians as key figures in confronting this intricate challenge with a patient-centric approach, ultimately aiming to improve treatment and quality of life. Acknowledging each patient's unique needs, we emphasize the importance of tailoring a spectrum of options informed by current literature and insights gleaned from our experience in a high-volume tertiary endometriosis center. It is imperative to recognize endometriosis as a complex and chronic disease, often occurring with co-morbid conditions and nuanced complexities, necessitating a long-term personalized multimodal approach for each case. In addition, incorporating principles such as patient autonomy, profound respect for diverse experiences, and practical education on treatment choices is pivotal in enhancing treatment outcomes and overall patient satisfaction.

Cesena guidelines: WSES consensus statement on laparoscopic-first approach to general surgery emergencies and abdominal trauma

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopy is widely adopted across nearly all surgical subspecialties in the elective setting. Initially finding indication in minor abdominal emergencies, it has gradually become the standard approach in the majority of elective general surgery procedures. Despite many technological advances and increasing acceptance, the laparoscopic approach remains underutilized in emergency general surgery and in abdominal trauma. Emergency laparotomy continues to carry a high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, there has been a growing interest from emergency and trauma surgeons in adopting minimally invasive surgery approaches in the acute surgical setting. The present position paper, supported by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), aims to provide a review of the literature to reach a consensus on the indications and benefits of a laparoscopic-first approach in patients requiring emergency abdominal surgery for general surgery emergencies or abdominal trauma.

METHODS

This position paper was developed according to the WSES methodology. A steering committee performed the literature review and drafted the position paper. An international panel of 54 experts then critically revised the manuscript and discussed it in detail, to develop a consensus on a position statement.

RESULTS

A total of 323 studies (systematic review and meta-analysis, randomized clinical trial, retrospective comparative cohort studies, case series) have been selected from an initial pool of 7409 studies. Evidence demonstrates several benefits of the laparoscopic approach in stable patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery for general surgical emergencies or abdominal trauma. The selection of a stable patient seems to be of paramount importance for a safe adoption of a laparoscopic approach. In hemodynamically stable patients, the laparoscopic approach was found to be safe, feasible and effective as a therapeutic tool or helpful to identify further management steps and needs, resulting in improved outcomes, regardless of conversion. Appropriate patient selection, surgeon experience and rigorous minimally invasive surgical training, remain crucial factors to increase the adoption of laparoscopy in emergency general surgery and abdominal trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

The WSES expert panel suggests laparoscopy as the first approach for stable patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery for general surgery emergencies and abdominal trauma.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Genitourinary Trauma: A Nationwide Outcomes-Based Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Bladder and ureteral injuries are uncommon in trauma patients but are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Patients presenting with such injuries may undergo either open surgical repair or laparoscopic repair. We aimed to compare outcomes of open surgical approach and laparoscopy in trauma patients with isolated bladder and ureteral injury. We hypothesized that laparoscopy is associated with improved outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a 2017 review of American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program and identified trauma patients with bladder and ureteral injury who underwent open surgical repair or laparoscopy. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed adjusting for demographics, emergency department vitals (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, Glasgow Coma Scale), mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score, each body region Abbreviated Injury Scale score, and transfusion units. Outcomes were rates of in-hospital major complications and mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 1,004,440 trauma patients, 384 patients (open: 192 and laparoscopy: 192) were matched and included. The mean age was 36 ± 15 y, Injury Severity Score was 27 [27-48], 77% were males, and 56% of patients had a blunt mechanism of injury, and 44% had penetrating injuries. Overall mortality was 7.3%. On univariate analysis, mortality was lower in the open group as compared to the laparoscopy group (10.4% versus 4.2%, P = 0.019) and survivor-only hospital length of stay was longer in the open group (8 [8-9] versus 7 [5-11], P = 0.008). There was no difference in overall major complications (23% versus 21%, P = 0.621). On multivariate analysis, open surgical repair was independently associated with lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.405, 95% confidence interval: [0.17-0.95], P-value = 0.038) CONCLUSIONS: In our analysis open surgical repair of bladder and ureteral injuries was associated with lower mortality with other outcomes being similar when compared to laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgical repair may not have an advantage over the open surgical repair for bladder and ureteral injuries. Further prospective studies are needed to delineate the ideal surgical approach for these injuries.

Predicting mortality and morbidity in emergency general surgery patients in a Jordanian Tertiary Medical Center: a retrospective validation study of the Emergency Surgery Score (ESS)

OBJECTIVE

The Emergency Surgery Score (ESS) is a predictive tool used to assess morbidity and mortality rates in patients undergoing emergent surgery. This study explores the ESS's predictive ability and reliability in the Jordanian surgical population.

DESIGN

A retrospective validation study.

SETTING

A tertiary hospital in Jordan.

PARTICIPANTS

A database was created including patients who underwent emergent surgery in King Abdullah University Hospital from January 2017 to June 2021.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Relevant preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables were retrospectively and systematically gathered, and the ESS was calculated for each patient accordingly. In addition, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the correlations between the ESS and postoperative mortality and morbidity along with intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.

RESULTS

Out of total of 1452 patients evaluated, 1322 patients were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age of the population was 47.9 years old. 91.9% of the patients were admitted to the surgical ward through the emergency department, while the rest were referred from inpatient and outpatient facilities. The mortality and postoperative complication rates were 3.9% and 13.5%, respectively. Mortality rates increased as the ESS score gradually increased, and the ESS was evaluated as a strong predictor with a c-statistic value of 0.842 (95% CI 0.743 to 0.896). The postoperative complication and ICU admission rate also increased with reciprocal rises in the ESS. They were also evaluated as accurate predictors with a c-statistic value of 0.724 (95% CI 0.682 to 0.765) and a c-statistic value of 0.825 (95% CI 0.784 to 0.866), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The ESS is a robust, accurate predictor of postoperative mortality and morbidity of emergency general surgery patients. Furthermore, it is an all-important tool to enhance emergency general surgery practices, in terms of mitigating risk, quality of care measures and patient counselling.

WSES guidelines on blunt and penetrating bowel injury: diagnosis, investigations, and treatment

The aim of this paper was to review the recent literature to create recommendations for the day-to-day diagnosis and surgical management of small bowel and colon injuries. Where knowledge gaps were identified, expert consensus was pursued during the 8th International Congress of the World Society of Emergency Surgery Annual (September 2021, Edinburgh). This process also aimed to guide future research.

A Case of Torsion in an Otherwise-Normal Ovary with a Giant Hematosalpinx Larger than Enlarged Ovary: Utilization of Diagnostic Laparoscopy for the Accurate Diagnosis

We report a case of torsion in an otherwise-normal ovary with a giant hematosalpinx. A 23-year-old woman presented with complaints of abdominal pain and nausea. At initial visit, there was few abnormal findings of imaging tests, and we made a diagnosis of ovarian hemorrhage. Three days later, she came back with increased symptoms, and we detected the mass of a complex solid cystic structure with a unilocular cyst much larger than solid component. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed immediately, and we could make a diagnosis of torsion in an otherwise-normal ovary with a giant hematosalpinx. We performed a salpingectomy and could preserve her ovary. This is the first case of torsion in an otherwise-normal ovary with a giant hematosalpinx which enlarged to a greater extent than the ovary.

Clinical challenges and management of primary renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma of duplex kidney with paraneoplastic syndrome

Giant renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma of a duplex kidney has rarely been reported, especially in patients with paraneoplastic syndrome. The present report describes a 33-year-old man of Miao nationality who presented with a 6-month history of intermittent dull pain in the left upper abdomen that occurred after eating. Ultrasonography, intravenous pyelography, and computed tomography revealed a mass lesion localized in the left kidney and connected to the left renal artery. Radical nephrectomy was successfully performed, and the postoperative histopathological examination verified the lesion as epithelioid angiomyolipoma. Inpatient treatment for paraneoplastic syndrome was also performed. The present case is discussed in the context of the patient’s clinical presentation and imaging findings, drawing attention to the challenges and management of this condition to assist clinicians in practice.

Early parastomal evisceration of small bowel following a loop ileostomy for malignant intestinal obstruction

Evisceration of bowel through the stoma is a rare complication and only few cases have been reported. Although most cases occur in the context of long-standing parastomal hernias, early evisceration may also occur causing significant morbidity to patients. The reported patient is a 53-year-old male with bronchial asthma who was diagnosed to have metastatic colonic cancer underwent a trephine loop ileostomy for intestinal obstruction. On post-operative Day 7, he developed small bowel evisceration through the ileostomy site. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy and found to have non-viable prolapsed small bowel segment at the stoma site. Furthermore, there were extensive peritoneal deposits and large para aortic lymph node mass and ascites compromising the peritoneal space. Resection of non-viable small bowel and ileostomy refashioning was carried out. The patient was managed in the intensive care unit and he gained function of the ileostomy on post-operative Day 2. On Day 5, he died due to subsequent pneumonia and worsening acute respiratory distress syndrome. Early parastomal evisceration is an extremely infrequent life-threatening complication that requires urgent treatment. Disseminated cancer, bowel obstruction, poor nutritional status, ascites and exacerbation of bronchial asthma were additional risk factors in our patient.

New Surgical Technique for Robotic Myomectomy: Continuous Locking Suture on Myoma (LSOM) Technique

Robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RALM) has broadened the indications even in complex myomas. However, the high cost of RALM remains the main disadvantage. Therefore, a surgical technique that can reduce the cost of RALM and still has the advantages of robotic surgery is required. We propose a "locking suture on myoma (LSOM)" technique and compared the operative and perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent RALM with or without the LSOM technique. We included 337 patients who underwent RALM with (n = 160) or without (n = 177) the LSOM technique between March 2019 and August 2020. The LSOM group had low parity and gravidity, with a low rate of Cesarean sections. Myoma type was not different between the groups; however, patients in the LSOM group had larger, heavier, and higher number of myomas, although fewer patients had multiple myomas and were discharged earlier. Total operating time, estimated blood loss, pre- and postoperative hemoglobin levels, transfusion rate, and postoperative fever were not different between the two groups. In conclusion, the LSOM technique may be a viable surgical option for myomas, as it can reduce the cost of RALM by obviating the need for robotic Tenaculum forceps.

The laparoscopy in emergency general surgery (LEGS) study: a questionnaire survey of UK practice

INTRODUCTION

Recent consensus guidelines suggest that the laparoscopic approach may be a useful, safe and feasible approach in emergency general surgery. Despite this, the UK National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) suggests the rate of laparoscopy is low (9% fully laparoscopic) and slow to increase over time. A European survey found uptake to be variable. This UK survey was therefore undertaken to establish current UK practice and to determine factors affecting implementation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire survey of currently practising UK consultant general surgeons was carried out by the North West Surgical Research Collaborative, using a secure web-based database maintained by the North West Surgical Trials Centre.

RESULTS

A total of 151 completed questionnaires were returned from 22 UK centres; 18% of respondents were unaware that laparoscopic cases should be reported to NELA. Appendicectomy (97%) and cholecystectomy (87%) were routinely performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopy was infrequently used in perforation, ischaemia or obstructed hernias. There appears to be equipoise regarding laparoscopic compared with open surgery in small-bowel obstruction among all subspecialty emergency general surgeons, in perforated peptic ulcer among upper gastrointestinal surgeons and in Hinchey III diverticulitis among colorectal surgeons.

CONCLUSION

Uptake of laparoscopy in UK emergency general surgery is influenced by surgeon preference, subspecialty, patient and operative factors. Further research into outcomes may help to identify areas of greatest potential benefit. The rate of laparoscopy reported by NELA may be an underestimate due to the 18% of surgeons unaware that laparoscopic cases should be reported, which may affect the validity of analyses performed from this dataset.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Re-operations Within 30 Days After Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery: a Retrospective Comparative Study

BACKGROUND

Re-operations within 30 days after lower gastrointestinal tract surgery are associated to high morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopic approach has been reported as feasible and safe in selected patients, but comparative data to laparotomy are scarce. The aim of this study was to review our experience in laparoscopic re-operations and compare it to laparotomy.

METHODS

From January 2012 to December 2016, patients undergoing a re-operation within one month after lower gastrointestinal tract surgery were included and divided into laparoscopy and laparotomy groups. The primary endpoint was successful re-operation, defined as recovery without any of the following: conversion to laparotomy, need of further invasive treatments or death. Secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay and 30-day morbidity and mortality. Demographic, clinical and surgical characteristics were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of 114 patients who underwent a re-operation, 71 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty (42%) patients underwent laparoscopy and 41 (58%) laparotomy. Thirty (42%) patients were male and median age was 72.0 years-old. The initial operation was elective in 24 (34%) patients, and 50% of the initial operations were colorectal resections in both groups. Multivariate analyses showed that type of approach did not affect the re-operation success rate. Laparotomy was an independent predictor of prolonged hospital stay (OR 3.582, 95%CI 1.191-10.776, p = 0.023) and mortality (OR 13.123, 95%CI 1.301-131.579, p = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Re-operations within 30 days after lower gastrointestinal tract surgery may be safe in selected patients, as effective as laparotomy, and associated with shorter hospital stay and lower mortality rates.

A special acute care surgery model for dealing with dilemmas involved in emergency department in China

There was a fast growth in the number and the formation of emergency department (ED) visits in China during the twenty-first century. As a result, engaging special medical model will be essential to decompressing the ED visits. To do this, it will be important to understand which specific aspects to focus interventions on for the greatest impact. To characterize the emergency surgery patients who were seen and discharged from ED. Retrospective cohort study of hospitalized emergency surgery patients currently under the care from specialists presenting to an urban, university affiliated hospital between 01 January 2018 and 1 January 2019. This study will highlight some of the controversies and challenges and key lessons learned. During the study period there were 231,229 ED visits; 4100 of these patients were admitted for Acute care surgery (ACS) service. Multivariate analysis identified age ≧ 65 (p = 0.023; odds ratio, OR = 2.66), ACS model (p = 0.000, OR = 0.18), ICU stay (p = 0.000, OR = 118.73) as factors associated with in-hospital mortality. There was a increase in length of stay between young and elderly postoperative patients when stratifying patients by age (11.67 ± 9.48 vs 13.95 ± 9.11 p < 0.05). ED overcrowding is not just an ED problem. ED overcrowding is a systems problem requiring a systematic facility-wide multidisciplinary response. Continuous and high-quality surveillance data across China are needed to estimate the acute care surgery model which used to deal with ED overcrowding.

Gallbladder Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Gallbladder disorders encompass a wide breadth of diseases that vary in severity. We present a comprehensive review of literature for the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, and management of cholelithiasis-related disease, acute acalculous cholecystitis, functional gallbladder disorder, gallbladder polyps, gallbladder hydrops, porcelain gallbladder, and gallbladder cancer.

Laparoscopic splenectomy after trauma: Who, when and how. A systematic review

Importance:

A deep knowledge of the indication for laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in trauma case can lead trauma surgeon to offer in a wider number of situations a minimally invasive approach to a common injuries.

Objective:

To present and review the advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic approach for spleen trauma and to identify patient whose can benefit from a minimally invasive approach versus patient that need open surgery to assess the whole severity of trauma.

Evidence Review:

A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA statement in order to identify articles reporting LS after trauma. A literature search was performed through MEDLINE (through PubMed), Embase and Google Scholar from January 1990 to December 2018. Studies conducted on animals were not considered. All other laparoscopic procedures for spleen trauma were excluded.

Results:

Nineteen articles were included in this study, reporting 212 LS after trauma. The most study includes blunt trauma patient. All LS were performed in haemodynamically stable patient. Post-operative complications were reported in all articles with a median post-operative morbidity rate of 30 patients (14.01%), including 16 (7.5%) post-operative deaths.

Conclusions and Relevance:

This article reports the feasibility and safety of a minimally invasive approach for common trauma injuries which can help non-advanced laparoscopic skill trauma surgeon to develop the best indication to when to adopt this kind of approach.

Short- and long-term outcomes for primary anastomosis versus Hartmann's procedure in Hinchey III and IV diverticulitis: a multivariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors

Purpose

The management of perforated diverticulitis with generalized peritonitis is still controversial and no preferred standardized therapeutic approach has been determined. We compared surgical outcomes between Hartmann’s procedure (HP) and primary anastomosis (PA) in patients with Hinchey III and IV perforated diverticulitis.

Methods

Multicenter retrospective analysis of 131 consecutive patients with Hinchey III and IV diverticulitis operated either with HP or PA from 2015 to 2018. Postoperative morbidity was compared after adjustment for known risk factors in a multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Sixty-six patients underwent HP, while PA was carried out in 65 patients, 35.8% of those were defunctioned. HP was more performed in older patients (74.6 vs. 61.2 years, p < .001), with Hinchey IV diverticulitis (37% vs. 7%, p < .001) and in patients with worse prognostic scores (P-POSSUM Physiology Score, p < .001, Charlson Comorbidity Index p < .001). Major morbidity and mortality were higher in HP compared to PA (30.3% vs. 9.2%, p = .002 and 10.6% vs. 0%, p = .007, respectively) with lower stoma reversal rate (43.9% vs. 86.9%, p < .001). In a multivariate logistic regression, PA was independently associated with lower postoperative morbidity and mortality (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06–0.96, p = .044).

Conclusions

In comparison to PA, HP is associated with a higher morbidity, higher mortality, and a lower stoma reversal rate. Although a higher prevalence of risk factors in HP patients may explain these outcomes, a significant increase in morbidity and mortality persisted in a multivariate logistic regression analysis that was stratified for the identified risk factors.

[Membrane protection of intestine and liver cells in the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery for acute peritonitis]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of membrane protective effect in intestine and liver cells for the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery for acute peritonitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with acute peritonitis undergoing laparoscopic (n=60) and open (n=50) surgery are analyzed. Functional characteristics of liver and bowel, disorders of homeostasis were evaluated in early postoperative period.

RESULTS

Reduced negative impact of surgical aggression on the state of liver and intestine is essential to improve treatment outcomes in patients with acute peritonitis undergoing minimally invasive surgery. Fast recovery of intestine inevitably results reduced release of endotoxins while restoration of liver function is associated with rapid elimination of these toxins. These processes prevent severe intoxication and facilitate accelerated recovery. Functional restoration of liver and bowel is associated with reduced oxidative stress during laparoscopic operations. It is also important because peritonitis causes activation of free-radical processes per se. Therefore, an additional source of oxidative phenomena is extremely undesirable in these cases.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery for acute peritonitis minimizes surgical aggression and is associated with more favorable recovery of liver and bowel function. Undoubtedly, these findings should be considered to choose surgical approach in this severe category of patients.

Extending the Indication for Laparoscopic Surgery in Patients With Pan-Peritonitis

BACKGROUND

There have been reports of favorable results in patients with peritonitis who underwent laparoscopic surgery. The present study evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in patients with pan-peritonitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled 148 patients who underwent open and laparoscopic surgery for pan-peritonitis between January 2015 and December 2017 at Hanyang University Guri Hospital. Patients with appendicitis or cholecystitis were excluded from this study because of the simplicity of the technique and the favorable postoperative prognosis. Surgical outcomes including open conversion, morbidity, mortality, risk, and prognostic factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

During the study period, 125 patients (84.5%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. The conversion to open surgery occurred in 7 (5.3%) patients. In the laparoscopic surgery group, 27 patients (21.6%) experienced postoperative complications, and 6 died (4.8%). Multivariate analysis showed that age of older than 75 years was a risk factor for postoperative complications. Especially, preoperative shock (<90 mm Hg) and a longer time from symptom onset (over 2 d) to surgery were prognostic factors for postoperative mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of our results and experiences, we believe that laparoscopic surgery is applicable to surgery of pan-peritonitis. And, preoperative shock and longer time from onset are prognostic factors of mortality in laparoscopic group. Therefore, we are confident that careful patient selection and specialized laparoscopic team should be considered in order to have best results.

The role of emergency laparoscopic colectomy for complicated sigmoid diverticulits: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nowadays sigmoidectomy is recommended as "gold standard" treatment for generalized purulent or faecal peritonitis from sigmoid perforated diverticulitis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic access versus open sigmoidectomy in acute setting.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs published in PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science.

RESULTS

The search yielded four non-RCTs encompassing 436 patients undergoing either laparoscopic (181 patients, 41.51%) versus open sigmoid resection (255 patients, 58.49%). All studies reported ASA scores, but only four studies reported other severity scoring systems (Mannheim Peritonitis Index, P-POSSUM). Level of surgical expertise was reported in only one study. Laparoscopy improves slightly the rates of overall post-operative complications and post-operative hospital stay, respectively (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.80 and MD -6.53, 95% CI -16.05 to 2.99). Laparoscopy did not seem to improve the other clinical outcomes: rate of Hartmann's vs anastomosis, operating time, reoperation rate and postoperative 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

In this review four prospective studies were included, over 20 + year period, including overall 400 + patients. This meta-analysis revealed significant advantages associated with a laparoscopic over open approach to emergency sigmoidectomy in acute diverticulitis in terms of postoperative complication rates, although no differences were found in other outcomes. The lack of hemodynamic data and reasons for operative approach hamper interpretation of the data suggesting that patients undergoing open surgery were sicker and these results must be considered with extreme caution and this hypothesis requires confirmation by future prospective randomised controlled trials.

Laparoscopic lavage and drainage for Hinchey III diverticulitis: review of technical aspects

The surgical treatment for patients with generalized peritonitis complicating sigmoid diverticulitis is currently debated; particularly in case of diffuse purulent contamination (Hinchey 3). Laparoscopic lavage and drainage (LLD) has been proposed by some authors as a safe and effective alternative to single- or multi-stage resective surgery. However, among all the different studies on LLD, there is no uniformity in terms of surgical technique adopted and data show significant differences in postoperative outcomes. Aim of this review was to analyze the differences and similarities among the authors in terms of application, surgical technique and outcomes of LLD in Hinchey 3 patients. A bibliographical research was performed by referring to PubMed and Cochrane. "Purulent peritonitis", "Hinchey 3 diverticulitis", "acute diverticulitis", "colonic perforation" and "complicated diverticulitis" were used as key words. Twenty-eight papers were selected, excluding meta-analysis, reviews and case reports with a very small number of patients. The aim of this review was to establish how LLD should be done, suggesting important technical tricks. We found agreement in terms of indications, preoperative management, ports' positioning, antibiotics, enteral feeding and drain management. On the contrast, different statements regarding indications, adhesiolysis and management of colonic hole and failure of laparoscopic lavage are reported. A widespread diffusion of LLD and standardization of its technique are impossible because of data heterogeneity and selection bias in the limited RCTs. It is necessary to wait for long terms results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in progress to establish the efficacy and safety of this technique. More importantly, an increased number of highly skilled and dedicated colorectal laparoscopic surgeons are required to standardized the procedure.

[Early clinical care strategy for severely injured patients with abdominal trauma]

BACKGROUND

The presence of abdominal injuries has a major impact on the mortality of severely injured patients. For injuries that require surgery, laparotomy is still the gold standard for early surgical care; however, there is increasing evidence that laparoscopy may be an alternative in the early clinical care of polytrauma patients.

OBJECTIVE

The present registry-based study analyzed the utilization and the outcome of laparoscopy in severely injured patients with abdominal trauma in Germany.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 12,447 patients retrieved from the TraumaRegister DGU^® (TR-DGU) was performed. The primary inclusion criteria were an injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 9 and an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) [abdomen] ≥ 1. The included patients were grouped according to early treatment management: (1) laparoscopy, (2) laparotomy and (3) non-operative management (NOM). Finally, group-specific patient characteristics and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were treated by NOM (52.4%, n = 6069), followed by laparotomy (50,6%, n = 6295) and laparoscopy (0.7%, n = 83). The majority of laparoscopies were performed in patients with an AIS [abdomen] ≤ 3 (86.7%). The ISS of the laparoscopy group was significantly lower compared to that of the laparotomy and NOM groups (ISS 23.4 vs. 34.5 vs. 28.2, respectively, p ≤ 0.001). The standardized mortality rate (SMR), defined as the ratio between observed and expected mortality, was lowest in the patients receiving laparoscopy followed by laparotomy and NOM (SMR 0.688 vs. 0.931 vs. 0.932, respectively, p-value = 0.2128) without achieving statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Despite being rarely employed the data indicate the effectiveness of laparoscopy for the early treatment of severely injured, hemodynamically stable patients with an AIS [abdomen] ≤ 3.

"Pop in a scope": attempt to decrease the rate of unnecessary nontherapeutic laparotomies in hemodynamically stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries

BACKGROUND

Management of patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries is challenging. Thoracoabdominal penetrating trauma may harbor hollow viscus injuries in both thoracic and abdominal cavities and occult diaphragmatic lesions. While radiological tests show poor diagnostic performance in these situations, evaluation by laparoscopy is highly sensitive and specific. Furthermore, minimally invasive surgery may avoid unnecessary laparotomies, despite concerns regarding complication and missed injury rates. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic performance of laparoscopy in stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of hemodynamically stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating wounds was managed by laparoscopy. We collected data regarding the profile of the patients, the presence of diaphragmatic injury, perioperative complications, and the conversion rate. Preoperative imaging tests were compared to laparoscopy in terms of diagnostic accuracy.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were included, and 26 (84%) were victims of a stab wound. Mean age was 32 years. Ninety-three percent were male. Diaphragmatic lesions were present in 18 patients (58%), and 13 (42%) had associated injuries. There were no missed injuries and no conversions. Radiography and computerized tomography yielded an accuracy of 52% and 75%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopy is a safe diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating wound, with low complication rate, and may avoid unnecessary laparotomies. The poor diagnostic performance of preoperative imaging exams supports routine laparoscopic evaluation of the diaphragm to exclude injuries in these patients.

Gangrenous cholecystitis in male patients: A study of prevalence and predictive risk factors

Backgrounds/Aims

The prevalence and risk factors of gangrenous cholecystitis in male are unknown.

Objective

To verify the prevalence and risk factors of gangrenous cholecystitis in males.

Methods

This cross-sectional study includes 95 patients (59.5±17.1 years), with clinical and histopathological diagnosis, operated laparoscopically on 2012–2016. Eligibility was decided based on the variables of age; tachycardia (>100 bpm); leukocytosis (>10,000/mm³); Murphy's sign; gallbladder wall thickness (>4 mm); biochemical tests, morbidities (diabetes, alcoholism, smoking) and mortality. Multivariate regression, the chi-squared and Prevalent Chances Ratio (PCR) were used to define a few parameters.

Results

The prevalence of gangrenous cholecystitis in men older than 50 years was 29.3%. The risk factors for the disease were as follows: diabetes mellitus (p=0.006, RCP=4.191), leukocytosis (p=0.003), gallbladder thickness greater than 4 mm (p=0.035, RCP=3.818), which increased mortality [(p=0.04) (RCP=8.001)]. Murphy's sign showed a negative association (p=0.002, RCP=0.204). Values close to significance were observed in relation to gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.083, RCP=3.125) and hospital stay (p=0.061, RCP=2.765).

Conclusions

Male gender, and age older than 50 years, were correlated with a high prevalence of necrosis, higher than that reported in females. The risk factors for developing necrosis are the same as those described for female patients.

LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY DOES NOT INCREASE THE RATE OF NEGATIVE APPENDECTOMY along with a lower rate of perforated appendicitis - RESULTS IN 1899 PATIENTS at Zagreb UHC

SUMMARY – Laparoscopic appendectomy is the method of choice of many professional societies owing to its many advantages. The question arises whether surgeons urge more easily to laparoscopic exploration due to its less invasiveness, faster recovery and adequate exploration of the entire abdominal cavity than to observation in unequivocal cases. This retrospective analysis (2009-2016) included 1899 patients undergoing laparoscopic (lap) or gridiron intra-abdominal approach treated at Zagreb University Hospital Centre. The analysis included total negative appendectomy, negative-negative appendectomy (normal appendix and no other pathology found), and negative-positive appendectomy (normal appendix but another pathology found) in children (≤16 years) and adults. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of negative appendectomy (children) – lap vs. open (p=0.24); negative appendectomy (adults) – lap vs. open (p=0.15); negative-negative appendectomy (children) – lap vs. open (p=0.36); negative-negative appendectomy (adults) – lap vs. open (p=0.21); negative-positive appendectomy (children) – lap vs. open (p=0.53); negative-positive appendectomy (adults) – lap vs. open (p=0.56); and laparoscopy group negative appendectomy in children vs. adults (p=0.56). There was a statistically significantly higher perforation rate with the open approach in total (p<0.0001), in children (p<0.0001) and in adults (p=0.02). There was no statistically significant difference between adults and children in the perforation rate with laparoscopic approach (p=0.24) and perforation rate with open approach (p=0.29). Results confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of negative appendectomy in all subgroups. It is concluded that laparoscopic appendectomy should be offered as the method of choice in any patient population with suspicion of acute appendicitis.

Laparoscopy for Trauma and the Changes in its Use From 1990 to 2016: A Current Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of stable abdominal trauma patients is still a matter of serious debate and only incomplete data are available.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature between January 1990 and August 2016.

RESULTS

Overall, 9817 laparoscopies were performed for abdominal trauma; only 26.2% of the cases were converted to a laparotomy. The incidence of therapeutic laparotomies showed a reduction from 69% to 47.5%, whereas the incidence of therapeutic laparoscopies increased from 7.2% to 22.7%.The overall perioperative mortality rate was significantly lower in the laparoscopy group [odds ratio (M-H, random); 95% confidence interval, 0.35 (0.26-0.48)]. The same group showed shorter length of hospital stay [odds ratio (M-H, random); 95% confidence interval, -3.48 (-8.91 to 1.96)].

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review shows a significant decrease in the use of laparoscopy in trauma patients. Most likely the widespread use of imaging techniques allows a more accurate selection of patients for diagnostic laparoscopy. Infact, a reduction in incidence of nontherapeutic laparotomies is evident in these selected patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy. Moreover, the literature reported an increasing trend of therapeutic laparoscopy, demonstrating that it is safe and effective. The small number and poor quality of the studies identified, the retrospective observational nature of the studies (low level of evidence), the high risk of bias, and the high heterogeneity of some outcomes make the applicability of the results of this meta-analysis unclear.

Use of laparoscopic colectomy increasing in trauma: comparison of laparoscopic vs. open colectomy

Laparoscopy accounts for > 70% of general surgical cases. Given the increased use of laparoscopy in emergent colorectal disease, we hypothesized that there would be an increased use of laparoscopic colectomy (LC) in trauma patients. In addition, we hypothesized increased length of stay (LOS) and mortality in trauma patients undergoing open colectomy (OC) vs. LC. This was a retrospective analysis using the National Trauma Data Bank (2008-2015). We included adult patients undergoing LC or OC. A multivariable logistic regression model was used for determining risk of LOS and mortality. We identified 19,788 (96.8%) patients undergoing OC and 644 (3.2%) who underwent LC. There was a 21-fold increased number of patients that underwent LC over the study period (p < 0.05), with approximately 119 per 10,000 trauma patients undergoing LC. The most common operation was a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (27.5%). LC patients had a lower median injury severity score (ISS) (16 vs. 17, p < 0.001). There was no difference in LOS (p = 0.14) or mortality (p = 0.44) between the two groups. This remained true in patients with isolated colorectal injury. The use of LC has increased 21-fold from 2008 to 2015, with laparoscopic right hemicolectomy being the most common procedure performed. There was no difference in LOS, in-hospital complications, or mortality between the two groups. We suggest that LC should be considered in stable adult trauma patients undergoing colectomy. However, future prospective research is needed to help determine which trauma patients may benefit from LC.

Pancreas-sparing, ampulla-preserving duodenectomy for major duodenal (D1-D2) perforations

BACKGROUND

Ideal surgical treatment for acute duodenal injuries should offer a definitive treatment, with low morbidity and mortality. It should be simple and easily reproducible by acute care surgeons in an emergency. Duodenal injury, due to major perforated or bleeding peptic ulcers or iatrogenic/traumatic perforation, represents a surgical challenge, with high morbidity and mortality. The aim was to review definitive surgery with pancreas-sparing, ampulla-preserving duodenectomy for these patients.

METHODS

Pancreas-sparing, ampulla-preserving D1-D2 duodenectomy was used for patients presenting with major duodenal injuries over a 5-year interval. The ampulla was identified and preserved using a transcystic/transpapillary tube. The outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Ten patients were treated with this technique; seven had perforated or bleeding peptic ulcers, two had iatrogenic perforations and one blunt abdominal trauma. Their mean age was 78 (range 65-84) years. Four patients were haemodynamically unstable. The location of the duodenal injury was always D1 and/or D2, above or in close proximity to the ampulla of Vater. The surgical approach was open in nine patients and laparoscopic in one. The mean duration of surgery was 264 (range 170-377) min. All patients were transferred to the ICU after surgery (mean ICU stay 4·4 (range 1-11) days), and the overall mean hospital stay was 17·8 (range 10-32) days. Six patients developed major postoperative complications: cardiorespiratory failure in five and gastrointestinal complications in four. Surgical reoperation was needed in one patient for postoperative necrotizing and bleeding pancreatitis. Two patients died from their complications.

CONCLUSION

Pancreas-sparing, ampulla-preserving D1-D2 duodenectomy for emergency treatment of major duodenal perforations is feasible and associated with satisfactory outcomes.

Laparoscopic adhesiolysis: not for all patients, not for all surgeons, not in all centres

ASBO is a common cause of emergency surgery and the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of these patients is still under debate and conflicting results have been published, in particular regarding the high risk of iatrogenic bowel injury. In fact, although over the last few years there has been an increasing enthusiasm in the surgical community about the advantages and potential better outcomes of laparoscopic management of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO), recently published studies have introduced a significant word of caution. From 2011 in our centre, we have started to systematically approach ASBO in carefully selected patients with a step-by-step standardized laparoscopic procedure, developed and performed by a single operator experienced in emergency laparoscopy, collecting data in a prospective database. Inclusion criteria were: stable patients (without diffuse peritonitis and/or septic shock with suspicion of bowel perforation), CT scan findings consistent with a clear transition point and therefore suspected to have a single obstructing adhesive band. Patients with diffuse SB distension in the absence of a well-defined transition point and suspected to have diffuse matted adhesions (based on their surgical history and radiological findings) should be initially managed conservatively, including gastrografin challenge. Up to date, 83 patients were enrolled in the study. The rate of iatrogenic full-thickness bowel injury was 4/83 (4.8%); two of these cases were managed with simple repair and the other two required bowel resection and anastomosis. Conversion to open was performed in 3/4 of these cases, whereas in one a repair of the full-thickness injury was completed laparoscopically. All the iatrogenic injuries were detected intraoperatively and none of the reoperations that occurred in this series were due to missed bowel injuries. At 30 days follow-up, none reported incisional hernias or SSI or death. With the described accurate selection of patients, the use of such standardized step-by-step technique and in the presence of dedicated operating surgeons with advanced emergency surgery laparoscopic expertise, such procedure can be safe and feasible with multiple advantages in terms of morbidity and LOS. A careful preoperative selection of those patients who might be best candidates for laparoscopic adhesiolysis is needed. The level of laparoscopic expertise can also be highly variable, and not having advanced surgical expertise in the specific subspecialty of emergency laparoscopy, ultimately resulting in performing standardized procedures with proper careful and safe step-by-step technique, is highly recommended.

Complications of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Children: A Prospective Morbidity and Mortality Analysis Using the Clavien-Dindo Classification

There is a lack of information about evaluation of pediatric minimal access surgery complications; the Clavien-Dindo classification was never used for a large series of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic pediatric procedures. With a prospective Morbidity and Mortality database, all the minimal access surgical procedures carried out between 2012 and 2016 were included in this study. Statistical analyses were used to valuate modification of surgical techniques in to 2 periods (period 1: January 2012 to February 2014; period 2: February 2014 to February 2016). A total of 1374 minimal access procedures were performed on 1371 patients. The overall complication rate was 2.9%. No differences, in terms of complications, were observed between elective and emergency procedures (P=0.3). There was a significant difference between the complication rate of thoracoscopic surgery (P=0.027). These results provide the relevance of adequate recording system and standardized classification for analyses and reduction of complications for pediatric minimal access procedures.

The Multidisciplinary Management of Acute Complicated Diverticulitis

BACKGROUND

Acute complicated diverticulitis (ACD) is an important and increasing issue in Western countries that leads to a significant impact and burden for patients, but also for the society due to its effects on hospital costs. In recent years, essential progression has been made regarding the research and implementation of novel or improved treatment strategies for the various disease entities of ACD. Much debated topics in the multidisciplinary approach of patients with ACD, such as the choice for nonoperative treatment options, the role of percutaneous drainage for diverticular abscesses, the role of laparoscopic lavage for perforated diverticulitis with purulent peritonitis, and the role of sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis for patients with perforated diverticulitis, require clinicians to attentively follow and participate in these discussions.

SUMMARY

The aim of this review article is to provide clinicians with a structured overview of the recent literature on the multidisciplinary management of complicated diverticulitis by a panel of experts on the topic. By performing an extensive literature search in the online medical databases MEDLINE (Ovid) and Embase, insights into nonoperative treatment, percutaneous drainage, minimally invasive and open surgical treatment of ACD are provided. Furthermore, a comprehensive algorithm for the treatment of ACD has been developed.

KEY MESSAGES

Accurate patient evaluation and selection based on patient and disease characteristics is of paramount importance to determine the appropriate treatment strategy for patients with complicated diverticulitis. The presence of an experienced surgeon with advanced skills in laparoscopic emergency colorectal surgery is crucial for the treatment of patients with perforated diverticulitis in order to properly evaluate, select and treat patients suitable for nonoperative or operative treatment with an open or laparoscopic approach.

Differential diagnoses of magnetic resonance imaging for suspected acute appendicitis in pregnant patients

BACKGROUND

Accurate and timely diagnosis of acute surgical disease in pregnant patient is challenging. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most accurate modality to diagnose acute appendicitis in pregnant patients, it is often used as a last resort because of high cost and long scan time. We performed this study to analyze differential diagnoses of appendix MRI and to investigate if there are any blood tests that can predict surgical condition in pregnant patients.

METHODS

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 46 pregnant patients who underwent non-enhanced appendix MRI in suspicion of acute appendicitis from 2010 to 2016. Differential diagnoses of appendix MRI were analyzed and blood tests were compared between those who had surgical and non-surgical disease.

RESULTS

Appendix MRI differentiated two surgical disease; acute appendicitis and ovarian torsion; and various non-surgical conditions such as uterine myoma, hydronephrosis, ureterolithiasis and diverticulitis among clinically suspected acute appendicitis in pregnancy. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI for acute appendicitis in this study was 93.5%. Patients who had surgical disease showed significantly higher WBC count (≥11,000/mm³), proportion of neutrophils in the WBC (≥79.9%), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR≥6.4), levels of C-reactive protein (CRP≥1.82 mg/dL) and bilirubin (≥0.66 mg/dL) than those who had non-surgical disease.

CONCLUSION

MRI can reliably differentiate surgical conditions and several blood tests (WBC, proportion of neutrophils in the WBC, NLR, CRP, bilirubin) can help anticipate acute surgical condition among pregnant patients suspected to have acute appendicitis.

Comparative Analysis of Laparoscopic and Open Approaches in Emergency Abdominal Surgery

The objective of this study was to evaluate usage and outcomes of emergency laparoscopic versus open surgery at a single tertiary academic center. Over a three-year period 165 patients were identified retrospectively using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program results. Appendectomies and cholecystectomies were excluded. Open and laparoscopic approaches were compared regarding preoperative and operative characteristics, the development of postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, and length of hospital stay. Indications for operation were similar between groups. Patients who underwent open surgery had more severe comorbidities and higher ASA class. Laparoscopy was associated with reduced complication rates, operative time, length of stay, and discharges to skilled nursing facilities on univariate analysis. In a multivariate model, surgical approach was not associated with the development of complications. Older age, dependent status, and dyspnea were predictors of conversion from attempted laparoscopic to open approaches.

Management of complicated diverticulitis of the colon

Diverticular disease of the colon occurs quite frequently in developed countries, and its prevalence has recently increased in Japan. The appearance of diverticulosis increases with age, although mostly remaining asymptomatic. Approximately 20% of cases require treatment. As the Western lifestyle and number of elderly people increase, the need for medical treatment also increases. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for diagnosing diverticulitis. Complicated diverticulitis is classified by the size and range of abscess formation and the severity of the peritonitis. Each case should be classified based on clinical and computed tomography (CT) findings and then treated appropriately. Most patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis (stages 0–Ia) can be treated conservatively. Diverticulitis with a localized abscess (stages Ib–II) is generally resolved with conservative treatment. If the abscess is larger or conservative treatment fails, however, percutaneous drainage or surgery should be considered. Operative treatment is considered standard therapy for severe diverticulitis with perforation and generalized peritonitis (stages III–IV). Colonic diverticulitis treated conservatively frequently recurs. Elective surgery after recovery should be considered carefully and decisions made on a case‐by‐case basis. Because cases of colonic diverticulitis will undoubtedly increase in Japan, it is likely that we will be confronted with increasing numbers of treatment decisions. We therefore need to have a systematic strategy for treating the various stages of colonic diverticulitis appropriately. We herein review the management of complicated diverticulitis.

Acute calculous cholecystitis: Review of current best practices

Acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) is the most frequent complication of cholelithiasis and represents one-third of all surgical emergency hospital admissions, many aspects of the disease are still a matter of debate. Knowledge of the current evidence may allow the surgical team to develop practical bedside decision-making strategies, aiming at a less demanding procedure and lower frequency of complications. In this regard, recommendations on the diagnosis supported by specific criteria and severity scores are being implemented, to prioritize patients eligible for urgency surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the best treatment for ACC and the procedure should ideally be performed within 72 h. Early surgery is associated with better results in comparison to delayed surgery. In addition, when to suspect associated common bile duct stones and how to treat them when found are still debated. The antimicrobial agents are indicated for high-risk patients and especially in the presence of gallbladder necrosis. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and in some cases with antifungal agents is related to better prognosis. Moreover, an emerging strategy of not converting to open, a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and performing a subtotal cholecystectomy is recommended by adept surgical teams. Some authors support the use of percutaneous cholecystostomy as an alternative emergency treatment for acute Cholecystitis for patients with severe comorbidities.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Abdominal Trauma: A Case-Matched Study

BACKGROUND

The use of laparoscopic surgery in abdominal emergencies, such as in trauma, has had a slow acceptance. The advantages described with this approach include less postoperative pain, faster recovery, quicker return to everyday activities, and fewer wound complications. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare outcomes following laparoscopic versus open surgery for abdominal trauma (either blunt or penetrating).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nineteen patients with abdominal trauma who underwent laparoscopic surgery from January 2013 to May 2016 were compared with 19 patients undergoing open surgery during the same time period. Patients were matched (1:1) for age, gender, body-mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, hemodynamic stability, and injury mechanism. Intra- and postoperative variables were compared between groups.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic group displayed a significantly shorter operative time (93.3 versus 134.2 minutes; P < .009), lower estimated blood loss (100 versus 600 mL; P < .019), faster return to normal diet (1.6 versus 2.4 days; P < .039), and shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) (3.8 versus. 5.6 days; P < .042). There were no statistical significant differences in 30-day mortality between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic surgery for abdominal trauma, either blunt or penetrating, is safe and technically feasible in hemodynamically stable patients. We found in our study that laparoscopic surgery was associated with shorter operative time, lower estimated blood loss, faster return to normal diet, and shorter hospital LOS.

Adult ileocolic intussusception caused by Burkitt lymphoma

Ileocolic intussusception due to Burkitt lymphoma is extremely rare in adults. A man aged 17 years presented with a history of recurrent abdominal pain over the past 3 weeks. The abdomen was distended with diffuse tenderness, and bowel sounds were present. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scans showed evidence of small bowel obstruction with marked wall thickening in the ileocecal region and 'target' signs suggestive for intussusception. At laparoscopy, a mass involving the caecum and the terminal ileum was found, along with multiple locoregional nodes, which was highly suggestive of malignancy. A typical en bloc right colectomy with intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis was performed. Histopathological examination showed a high-grade B-cell Burkitt lymphoma that was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The patient was subsequently treated with adjuvant combination chemotherapy and is alive and disease-free at the 3-year follow-up.