Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under epidural anesthesia: a feasibility study

vNOTES as a salvage method for adnexectomy and high uterosacral ligament suspension after vaginal hysterectomy under epidural anesthesia: A feasibility and safety study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) for performing adnexectomy and high uterosacral ligament suspension (HUSLS) after vaginal hysterectomy (VH) under epidural anesthesia.

METHOD

This was a retrospective case series of 42 women who underwent VH for stage II or greater apical prolapse according to pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q); however, adnexectomy could not performed and replace the vNOTES technique. The procedure continued with vNOTES adnexectomy and bilateral HUSLS under epidural anesthesia. Patient demographics, operation outcomes, and short-term and long-term complications were analyzed. Patients' quality of life was assessed with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) at the 24-month visit.

RESULTS

vNOTES procedures were performed successfully under epidural anesthesia in all patients. One patient was converted to general anesthesia due to ureter injury. The mean age of the patients was 54 years. The mean operating time for all procedures was 55 min (range 42-122). The mean blood loss was 90 ml. All patients ambulated 6 h later. The mean pain score 24 h later according to the visual analog scale (VAS) was 2 (range 0-5). The median length of hospital stay was 1 night (range 1-3). There were no complications or morbidities during the postoperative period. Each POP-Q score significantly improved at the 6-month visit (p < 0.05). While the preoperative mean total PFDI-20 score was 20.4 ± 6.6, it significantly decreased to 8 ± 1.2 24 months later (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The vNOTES technique is a good option when adnexectomy can not be performed after VH. The procedure can be completed safely under epidural anesthesia by performing HUSLS for apical support along with adnexectomy. In this way, patients combine the advantages of scarless minimally invasive surgery with the advantages of epidural anesthesia. Introductıon.

Awake laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is one of the most widely practiced surgical procedures in abdominal surgery. Patients undergo LC during general anaesthesia; however, in recent years, several studies have suggested the ability to perform LC in patients who are awake. We report a case of awake LC and a literature review.

CASE SUMMARY

A 69-year-old patient with severe pulmonary disease affected by cholelithiasis was scheduled for LC under regional anaesthesia. We first performed peridural anaesthesia at the T8-T9 level and then spinal anaesthesia at the T12-L1 level. The procedure was managed in total comfort for both the patient and the surgeon. The intra-abdominal pressure was 8 mmHg. The patient remained stable throughout the procedure, and the postoperative course was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

Evidence has warranted the safe use of spinal and epidural anaesthesia, with minimal side effects easily managed with medications. Regional anaesthesia in selected patients may provide some advantages over general anaesthesia, such as no airway manipulation, maintenance of spontaneous breathing, effective postoperative analgesia, less nausea and vomiting, and early recovery. However, this technique for LC is not widely used in Europe; this is the first case reported in Italy in the literature. Regional anaesthesia is feasible and safe in performing some types of laparoscopic procedures. Further studies should be carried out to introduce this type of anaesthesia in routine clinical practice.

High-Volume, Low-Concentration Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine Study in Emergency Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Double-Blinded, Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) often results in postoperative pain, especially in the abdomen. Intraperitoneal local anesthesia (IPLA) reduces pain after LC. Acute cholecystitis-associated inflammation, increased gallbladder wall thickness, dissection difficulties, and a longer operative time are several reasons for assuming a benefit in pain scores in urgent LC with IPLA application. The aim was to determine the postoperative analgesic efficacy of high-volume, low-dose intraperitoneal bupivacaine in urgent LC. Materials and Methods. Fifty-seven patients who were American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were randomly assigned to receive either normal saline (control group) or intraperitoneal bupivacaine (test group) at the beginning or end of urgent LC. The primary outcome was the postoperative pain score of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes included Visual Rating Prince Henry Scale (VRS), patient satisfaction, and analgesic consumption. Results. Postoperative VAS scores at the first and fourth hours were significantly lower in the test group than in the control group (P < .001). Postoperative VRS scores at the first, fourth, and eighth hours were significantly lower in the test group than in the control group (P < .001, P = .002, P = .004, respectively). Analgesic use was significantly higher in the control group at the first postoperative hour (P < .001). Shoulder pain was significantly lower, and patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the test group relative to the control group (both P < .001). Conclusion. High-volume, low-concentration intraperitoneal bupivacaine resulted in better postoperative pain control and reduced incidence of shoulder pain and analgesic consumption in urgent LC.

Successful anesthetic management during abdominal wall-lifting laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with hereditary angioedema

Background

Hereditary angioedema is a rare genetic disorder resulting from an inherited deficiency or dysfunction of the C1-esterase inhibitor. In the anesthetic management of such patients, special caution should be exercised while attempting tracheal intubation because it may cause mucosal edema in the upper airway.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old female with hereditary angioedema was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. C1-esterase inhibitor, Danazol, tranexamic acid, and prednisolone were administered on the day of surgery. An epidural catheter was inserted through the intervertebral space at T9/10, and spinal anesthesia was instilled via the L3/4 intervertebral space. A single-hole, Nishii-type lifting laparoscopic surgery, without pneumoperitoneum (i.e., gasless) was completed uneventfully.

Conclusion

This report described the successful management of a patient with hereditary angioedema who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using spinal-epidural anesthesia without tracheal intubation and lift type laparoscopic surgery. This approach to anesthetic management could be indicated in cases with a similar presentation.

Comparison of the effects of spinal epidural and general anesthesia on coagulation and fibrinolysis in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial: VSJ Competition, 2nd place

Introduction

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is usually performed under general anesthesia. Recently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy under regional anesthesia has become popular, but this creates a serious risk of thromboembolism because of pneumoperitoneum, anesthesia technique, operative positioning, and patient-specific risk factors.

Aim

This randomized controlled trial compares the effects of two different anesthesia techniques in laparoscopic cholecystectomy on coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Material and methods

This randomized prospective study included 60 low-risk patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who underwent elective LC without thrombo-emboli prophylaxis. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the anesthesia technique: the general anesthesia (group 1, n = 30) and spinal epidural anesthesia (group 2, n = 30) groups. Measurement of the prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and blood levels of D-dimer (DD) and fibrinogen (F) were recorded preoperatively (pre), at the first hour (post 1) and 24 h (post 24) after the surgery. These results were compared both between and within the groups.

Results

The mean age was 51.5 ±16.7 years (range: 19–79 years). Pneumoperitoneum time was similar between group 1 (33.8 ±7.8) and group 2 (34.8 ±10.4). The TT levels significantly declined postoperatively in both groups. The levels of PT, aPTT, INR, D-dimer and fibrinogen dramatically increased postoperatively in both groups.

Conclusions

While there was not any DVT, there was a significant decline in TT. There was a dramatic rise in the PT, INR, D-dimer, fibrin degradation products (FDP), and fibrinogen following LC. This may be attributed to the effects of pneumoperitoneum and anesthesia techniques on portal vein flow.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under spinal-epidural anesthesia vs. general anaesthesia: a prospective randomised study

Purpose

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is usually performed under the general anesthesia (GA). Aim of the study is to investigate the availability, safety and side effects of combined spinal/epidural anesthesia (CSEA) and comparison it with GA for LC.

Methods

Forty-nine patients who have a LC plan were included into the study. The patients were randomly divided into GA (n = 25) and CSEA (n = 24) groups. Intraoperative and postoperative adverse events, postoperative pain levels were compared between groups.

Results

Anesthesia procedures and surgeries for all patients were successfully completed. After the organization of pneumoperitoneum in CSEA group, 3 patients suffered from shoulder pain (12.5%) and 4 patients suffered from abdominal discomfort (16.6%). All these complaints were recovered with IV fentanyl administration. Only 1 patient developed hypotension which is recovered with fluid replacement and no need to use vasopressor treatment. Postoperative shoulder pain was significantly less observed in CSEA group (25% vs. 60%). Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was less observed in CSEA group but not statistically significant (4.2% vs. 20%). In the group of CSEA, 3 patients suffered from urinary retention (12.5%) and 2 patients suffered from spinal headache (8.3%). All postoperative pain parameters except 6th hour, were less observed in CSEA group, less VAS scores and less need to analgesic treatment in CSEA group comparing with GA group.

Conclusion

CSEA can be used safely for laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Less postoperative surgical field pain, shoulder pain and PONV are the advantages of CSEA compared to GA.