Robotic pelvic exenteration in males: systematization of the technique

Male pelvic exenteration is a challenging procedure with high morbidity. In very selected cases, the robotic approach could make dissection easier and decrease morbidity due to the better vision provided and higher range of movements. In this paper, we describe port placement, instruments, minilaparotomy location, and the stepwise sequence of these procedures. We address 3 different situations: total pelvic exenteration with abdominoperineal resection, colostomy and urostomy; pelvic exenteration with colorectal/anal anastomosis and urostomy; and pelvic exenteration with abdominoperineal resection, colostomy and urinary tract reconstruction.

Orbital ophthalmomiasis due to Dermatobia hominis in an immunosuppressed patient from the ecuadorian andean area

An 83-year-old Ecuadorian male, indigent with a history of malnutrition and chronic alcoholism, presented with a clinical feature characterized by progressive growth of larvae at the left eye level (LE), associated with areas of ocular tissue putrefaction. Upon admission, his vision in the right eye (RE) was of hand movement and no light perception in LE, the anterior segment of the RE showed a brunescent cataract, with no other alteration, while the LE presented edema, bipalpebral erythema and an abundant number of mobile larvae distributed throughout the orbit, associated with areas of necrosis, putrefaction and distortion of the anatomy of the ocular tissues. Orbital tomography showed a significant compromise of the orbit, indicating surgical management by left orbital exenteration with taxonomic identification of the larvae as Dermatobia hominis associated with it, antibiotic treatment was implemented and a frontal fasciocutaneous flap was performed by the plastic surgery department.

[Laparoscopic anterior pelvic exenteration in a patient with locally advanced melanoma]

BACKGROUND

Pelvic exenteration is one of the most mutilating surgical procedures with high post-operative morbidity. The laparoscopic technique aims to reduce perioperative complications and reduce post-surgical recovery.

OBJECTIVE

We present the first case of laparoscopic anterior exenteration for locally advanced melanoma, held at the National Cancer Institute and published in Mexico.

CASE REPORT

Patient 60 years of age diagnosed with invasive vulvar melanoma with bladder extension upon whom laparoscopic anterior pelvic exenteration with external urinary reconstruction was performed. Time in surgery was 505minutes and estimated blood loss was 400ml. No complications occurred during or immediately after surgery. The final histopathological study reported: nodular lesion that completely replaces the clitoris and spreads to the left labia majora, measures 3×2.5×2cm and is located relative to the free margins with perineural invasion intraepithelial spread in space and urethra and bladder trigone.

CONCLUSIONS

The laparoscopic anterior pelvic exenteration is a safe alternative in well-selected patients, with acceptable time in surgery, surgical complications and recovery time.