Laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined using miniaturised instruments in transgastric gall bladder removal: performed on 63 patients

A Case Series of Laparoscopic Colorectal Resections with Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction and Systematic Literature Review

Background  Minimal access surgery is associated with improved cosmetic and other short-term outcomes. Conventionally, an abdominal incision is made for specimen extraction. We assessed the feasibility of specimen extraction through one of the natural orifices and analyzed its impact on short-term outcomes.

Methods  A prospectively collected data were reviewed on consecutive patients who underwent natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) after laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The results were compared with a matched group who had transabdominal extraction (TAE) of the specimens. A systematic literature review was performed to compare our results.

Results  The combined median operating time for right and left colectomies was significantly higher in the NOSE group as compared with TAE group (260 vs. 150). There was no mortality in either group and no conversions to TAE in the NOSE group. No local metastasis or major iatrogenic injuries were reported at the time of retrieval. The results were comparable to those of a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Conclusion  The results of NOSE are comparable to those of TAEs. The absence of a minilaparotomy for specimen extraction may lead to a speedy recovery and better cosmesis.

Transgastric removal of a polycystic liver disease using mini-laparoscopic excision

Surgical treatment is often necessary for patients with symptomatic or complicated polycystic liver diseases (PLD). In this paper, we describe a 52-year-old female with symptomatic PLD that had resulted in the formation of liver cysts, the largest of which was 23 cm in diameter. The patient underwent mini-laparoscopic fenestration through 5-mm abdominal trocars. The walls of the cysts were unroofed using a harmonic scalpel. Four thickened rubber-like pieces of specimens (sizes ranged between 9 × 6 × 0.5 cm and 6 × 3 × 0.1 cm) were not suitable for extraction through the 5-mm trocars. A gastrotomy was performed, and the specimens were extracted through the stomach with the help of an endoscope. Transoral removal of the specimens was completed without any complications, and the gastrotomy was closed intracorporeally. The patient was permitted to take fluids on day one, and oral intake was gradually increased. She was discharged on day four and was asymptomatic after two months of follow-up. The combination of mini-laparoscopy and intraoperative endoscopic specimen extraction represented a minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of PLD. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first case report of the transoral extraction of a liver specimen.