The role of laparoscopic surgery in the management of a malfunctioning peritoneal catheter

IntroductionPeritoneal catheter malfunction is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It has a high failure rate with conservative management. Catheter replacement was historically the standard surgical treatment of choice. Nowadays, laparoscopy has been introduced as an alternative surgical modality to rescue the malfunctioning peritoneal catheter and also offers the possibility of replacement if indicated. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these two surgical modalities.MethodsThe medical records of consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for malfunctioning PD catheters (between January 2010 and April 2013) were analysed. The primary outcome included successful return to adequate PD. The secondary endpoint was length of catheter patency and the cause of catheter failure.ResultsA total of 32 cases were identified, of which 8 had open catheter replacement and 24 had a laparoscopic intervention. The overall median follow-up duration was 12.5 months. The success rate for laparoscopic surgery in terms of functioning catheter at 12 months was 62.5% but only 37.5% for open surgery. The mean length of catheter patency after laparoscopic intervention was 31.6 months compared with only 13.6 months for the open surgery group. The most common cause of catheter failure diagnosed during laparoscopic intervention was catheter migration (33.0%), followed by omental wrap and catheter blockage by fibrin/blood plug (25.0% each). Open surgery did not have any diagnostic potential.ConclusionsLaparoscopy is the treatment of choice for malfunctioning PD. Its proven benefit includes simultaneous identification of the aetiological cause of malfunction together with direct correction of this problem, thereby maximising outcome. It also allows for rapid recommencement of PD and avoidance of haemodialysis, saving cost and resources.     

单孔加一腹腔镜远端胃癌根治术应用于老年患者的初步探索

目的:探讨单孔加一腹腔镜远端胃癌根治术在老年患者中应用的近期疗效.方法:回顾分析2017年12月至2021年10月收治的49例老年胃癌患者的临床资料,根据手术方式分为单孔加一组(n=21)与常规五孔法腹腔镜手术组(n=28,常规组),比较两组围手术期指标及术后30 d内并发症情况.结果:两组均无围手术期死亡病例.两组出...     

The role of tumor size in the radiosurgical management of patients with ambiguous brain metastases

OBJECTIVE: To identify a size cutoff below which it is safe to observe obscure brain lesions suspected of being metastases so that treatment of nonmetastases can be avoided. METHODS: Medical records from patients who underwent linear accelerator-based radiosurgery from August 1991 to October 2001 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were defined as brain metastasis tumor volume less than 5 cm(3) (diameter, thick similar 2.1 cm) treated with a dose of 20 Gy or more. One hundred thirty-five patients had 153 evaluable brain metastases with follow-up imaging that met inclusion criteria. Median age was 54 years (range, 18-79 yr). Lesion primaries were non-small-cell lung (n = 39), melanoma (n = 44), renal (n = 37), breast (n = 18), colon (n = 3), sarcoma (n = 5), other (n = 5), and unknown primary (n = 2). Median tumor volume was 0.67 cm(3) (range, 0.06-4.58 cm(3)). The minimum peripheral dose was 20 Gy (n = 132) or 21 to 24 Gy (n = 21). At the time of analysis, the median follow-up for all patients was 10 months (range, 0.2-99 mo). RESULTS: The 1- and 2-year actuarial local control rates for all of the lesions were 69 and 46%, respectively. For lesions of 1 cm (0.5 cm(3)) or less, the corresponding local control rates were 86 and 78%, respectively, which was significantly higher than the corresponding rates of 56 and 24%, respectively, for lesions larger than 1 cm (0.5 cm(3)) (P = 0.0016). CONCLUSION: A convincing brain metastasis measuring less than 1 cm should be pursued aggressively. If the suspected brain metastasis is ambiguous, observation is proposed up to a diameter of 1 cm. This is the first study in the literature to identify a 1-cm cutoff for radiosurgical control of small brain metastases, and validation by additional studies is required.     

The role of palliative gastrectomy in the management of relatively asymptomatic stomach cancer with peritoneal metastases detected by staging laparoscopy

Background: Staging laparoscopy is increasingly accepted as a preoperative investigation for patients with stomach cancer. However, what should be done when peritoneal metastases is detected remains uncertain. Aims of study: To determine the role of palliative gastrectomy in patients with laparoscopic findings of peritoneal seedlings from otherwise asymptomatic gastric cancers. Methods: In a 5‐year period between 1994 and 1998, 291 patients with biopsy‐proven stomach cancer were examined with laparoscopy. Suspicious peritoneal secondaries identified were sampled for frozen section. If peritoneal metastases were confirmed, the mode of operative treatment was at the discretion of individual surgeon. Peri‐operative mortality, complications, overall survival, hospital‐free survival, and subsequent major events related to tumour progression were recorded prospectively and compared between patients who had undergone gastrectomy and those without gastric resection. Results: Eighty‐two patients (51 male and 31 female) with a median age of 67 years (30–89) were found to have peritoneal metastases during laparoscopy or laparotomy (if laparoscopy was unrevealing). Thirty‐four patients underwent gastrectomy (13 total, 21 partial), while the remaining 48 were managed by either bypass operation (n = 13) or no operation (n = 35). The two groups were comparable in age, gender, location of tumours, histological subtypes and ASA anaesthetic risk. Four patients died in the early postoperative period (within 30 days), with one in the gastrectomy group and three in the non‐operative group. There was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications between the two groups of patients. Using Kaplan Meier cumulative survival analysis and log‐rank test, patients undergoing gastrectomy had significantly longer overall survival (median: 238 days vs 127 days, P=0.005) and hospital‐free survival (median: 187 days vs 78 days, P=0.006) than those with conservative treatment only. In addition, the gastrectomy group had less tumour‐related bleeding or obstructive complications when compared to those without gastric resection. Conclusions: Palliative gastrectomy is recommended whenever possible even in the presence of peritoneal seedlings because it provides longer and better quality of survival.     

单孔腹腔镜胆囊切除术的学习曲线

目的:总结单孔腹腔镜胆囊切除术(single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy,SILC)的经验与体会,初步研究SILC的学习曲线。方法:回顾分析2011年7月至2014年4月40例SILC患者的临床资料,按施行手术的先后顺序分成A、B、C、D四组,每组10例,分析手术时间、出血量、术后并发症等指标。结果:本组40例患者均成功施行SILC,无中转常规腹腔镜手术或开腹手术。均未放置腹腔引流管。手术时间平均(61.0±19.7)min,A组手术时间平均(79.5±21.4)min,B组平均(68.0±15.7)min,C组平均(49.3±10.0)min,D组平均(47.3±9.2)min,其中B、C组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),A、B组,C、D组差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。手术出血量平均(15.3±21.1)ml。B组术后腹腔内出血1例,经保守治疗而愈,A组、B组、D组各有1例切口感染,B组、C组各有1例术中胆囊破裂,术后无黄疸、胆漏、胆管损伤、脐部切口疝等并发症发生,瘢痕不明显,美容效果满意。术后第1天进低脂半流质饮食,术后1~3 d出院。结论:SILC是相对安全的,随着手术例数的增加,手术时间明显缩短,学习曲线约为20例。     

The laparoscopic option in the management of peritoneal dialysis catheter revision

BACKGROUND: Long-term functioning of peritoneal dialysis catheters (PDCs) depends on maintenance of pelvic positioning and prevention of the formation of adhesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of laparoscopy as a tool for the correction of malfunctioning PDCs and to introduce our specially designed technique. METHODS: The charts of 12 patients who underwent laparoscopic revisions of malfunctioning PDCs between May 1997 and June 2000 were reviewed for perioperative complications and long-term outcomes. We describe the causes of malfunction of PDCs and the laparoscopic technique for their revision. RESULTS: Of the 12 patients studied, the malfunction of eight catheters resulted from migration of the catheter into the upper abdomen. In 4 patients, formation of adhesion of either small bowel or omentum resulted in the malfunction of the PDC. The only complication we encountered was bleeding. It occurred in 3 patients, 1 of whom needed reoperation in order to achieve hemostasis. Over a median follow-up of 21 months all PDCs treated this way are functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic management of malfunctioning PDCs is a valid option for the treatment of such a complication.     

The value of laparoscopic staging for patients with colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND: Resection offers the only chance of cure for hepatic colorectal metastases. However, preoperative staging does not always reliably detect unresectable disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the role that laparoscopy with ultrasound may have in detecting unresectable disease, thus sparing patients from unnecessary laparotomy with the associated morbidity and cost. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients considered for liver resection of colorectal metastases during a 3-year period was performed, analyzing factors likely to predict resectable disease, rates of resectability, and success of laparoscopic staging at detecting unresectable disease. RESULTS: Of 73 patients with resectable disease on computed tomography, 24 were deemed to need laparoscopy, and 49 proceeded directly to laparotomy. Those first undergoing laparoscopy had shorter disease-free intervals between diagnosis of colorectal cancer and detection of hepatic recurrence and greater numbers of hepatic metastases. Twelve of the 24 patients who underwent laparoscopy had unresectable disease, and 8 of these were detected at laparoscopy. Forty-six of the 49 patients proceeding to laparotomy directly had resectable disease. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic staging of hepatic colorectal metastatic disease detects most unresectable disease, preventing unnecessary laparotomy. The likelihood of disease being unresectable is in part predicted by the disease-free interval and the number of hepatic metastases.     

The role of single-incision laparoscopic surgery in abdominal and pelvic surgery: a systematic review

Objective

This review aimed to determine the role of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) in abdominal and pelvic operations.

Data sources

The Medline, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched until October 2009 using ??single-incision laparoscopic surgery?? and related terms as keywords. References from retrieved articles were reviewed to broaden the search

Study selection

The study included case reports, case series, and empirical studies that reported SILS in abdominal and pelvic operations.

Data extraction

Number of patients, type of instruments, operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, length of hospital stay, length of follow-up evaluation, and complications were extracted from the reviewed items

Data synthesis

The review included 102 studies classified as level 4 evidence. Most of these studies investigated SILS in cholecystectomy (n?=?34), appendectomy (n?=?24), and nephrectomy (n?=?17). For these procedures, operative time, hospital stay, and complications were comparable with those of conventional laparoscopy. Conversion to conventional laparoscopy was seldom performed in cholecystectomy (range, 0?C24%) and more frequent in appendectomy (range, 0?C41%) and nephrectomy (range, 0?C33%).

Conclusion

The potential benefits of SILS include superior cosmesis and possibly shorter operative time, lower costs, and a shortened time to full physical recovery. Careful case selection and a low threshold of conversion to conventional laparoscopic surgery are essential. Multicenter, randomized, prospective studies are needed to compare short- and long-term outcome measures against those of conventional laparoscopic surgery.     

The role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of acute cholecystitis in patients with sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND: As emergency surgery in sickle cell disease patients is associated with high morbidity, the aim of the study was to assess the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the acute state for these patients. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, April 1994 till December 1998, 35 sickle cell patients with acute cholecystitis had laparoscopic cholecystectomy within the first 5 days of presentation. A retrospective study of these was undertaken. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were diagnosed as having acute cholecystitis with sickle cell disease. There were 26 female and 9 male patients; 5 patients needed preoperative and 1 patient needed postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Twenty-seven patients needed simple transfusion and 8 needed partial exchange; conversion was necessary in two cases (5.7%). The mean hospital stay was 5.3 days and the complication rate was 17.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the lack of significant complications, we believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is safe and recommended in experienced hands with adequate preoperative preparation for patients with sickle cell disease.     

A comparison of robotic single-incision and traditional single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background

Surgeons continually strive to improve technology and patient care. One remarkable demonstration of this is the development of laparoscopic surgery. Once this proved to be a safe and reliable surgical approach, robotics seemed a logical progression of surgical technology. The aim of this project was to evaluate the utility of robotics in the context of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC).

Methods

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of robotic single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (RSILC) and traditional SILC performed by a single surgeon at our institution from July 2010 to August 2013 was queried. All consecutive patients undergoing RSILC and SILC during this time period were included. Primary outcomes include conversion rate and operative time. Secondary outcomes include length of stay, duration of narcotic use, time to independent performance of daily activities and cost. Categorical variables were evaluated using Chi-square analysis and continuous variables using t test or Wilcoxon’s rank test.

Results

Thirty-eight patients underwent RSILC and 44 underwent SILC. BMI was higher in the RSILC group, and the number of patients with prior abdominal surgeries was higher in the SILC group. Otherwise, demographics were similar between the two groups. There was no difference in conversion rate between RSILC and SILC (8 vs 11 %, p = 0.60). Mean operative time for RSILC was significantly greater compared with SILC (98 vs 68 min, p < 0.0001). RSILC was associated with a longer duration of narcotic use (2.3 vs 1.7 days, p = 0.0019) and time to independent performance of daily activities (4 vs 2.3 days, p < 0.0001). Total cost is greater in RSILC ($8961 vs $5379, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

While RSILC can be safely performed, it is associated with longer operative times and greater cost.

     

使用Glove port行单孔腹腔镜胆囊切除的临床分析

目的评价使用Glove port行单孔腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）的安全性、可行性及优势。方法回顾分析2010年1～5月开展的经脐Glove port单孔LC36例,手术均采用Glove port装置完成,术中使用OLYMPUS公司高消可转弯endo-eye腔镜及部分常规腹腔镜器械共同完成手术操作,具体步骤同传统LC。结果 手术均获成功,无一例中转开腹或转为常规三孔法LC,观察24h后均顺利出院,随访半年无任何并发症。结论目前经脐Glove port单孔LC是安全、可行的,具有疤痕少、切口美观的优点,且手术时间与传统三孔法LC差异无统计学意义,一旦掌握其手术要点,学习曲线可能会缩短,对于一部分患者可为道选手术方式,适合在临床推广。     

The role of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound in the preoperative staging of patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases: a meta-analysis

BackgroundThe role of staging laparoscopy (SL) with laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) remains controversial.MethodsA meta-analysis of all studies (from 1998 to the present) on the effect of SL/LUS in patients with potentially resectable CRLM with respect to alteration in surgical management was performed.ResultsTwelve studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. A total of 1,047 patients underwent SL/LUS. The true yield of SL/LUS for CRLM was 19% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16%–22%), with a diagnostic odds ratio of 132 (95% CI, 56–310) and an overall sensitivity of 59% (95% CI, 53%–65%). Subgroup analysis for detection of other liver and peritoneal lesions showed a sensitivity of 59% (95% CI, 49%–67%) and 75% (95% CI, 63%–85%) respectively. There was major between-study heterogeneity for all analyses, with no obvious cause revealed by meta-regression.ConclusionsThe true benefit of using SL/LUS universally seems limited. It appears more useful as an adjunct in patients when peritoneal disease is suspected.     

门诊单孔腹腔镜胆囊切除术的应用

目的探讨门诊单孔腹腔镜胆囊切除术（OPSILC）的安全性、可行性及优势。方法自2008年12月至2010年10月,共完成41例OPSILC,患者的术前检查及手术均在门诊完成,术中在脐周做一个长2-2.5 cm的半圆形切口,将3个5 mm穿刺器分别经该切口穿刺进腹,采用5 mm可调节角度的腹腔镜以及超声刀、可弯曲的腹腔镜手术器械完成手术。结果本组42例患者,OPSILC 41例,中转行常规腹腔镜胆囊切除术1例。OPSILC平均手术时间为52.5 min,平均术中出血量为16.0 ml。术后平均进食流质时间为10.2 h,进食半流质时间为15.5 h。12例于手术当天出院,其余29例于术后第2天出院,平均术后院内观察时间为18.5 h。术后1例切口轻度感染,1例出现尿潴留。术后4周对全部患者进行电话问卷随访,结果显示患者均对OPSILC的美容效果表示满意,总体满意率为98%。结论 OPSILC是安全的、可行的,具有术前不适少、手术切口小、患者满意度高等优点。使用可调节角度的腹腔镜和弯曲的腹腔镜手术器械使OPSILC更简便易行,手术时间也随之缩短。     

腹腔镜下萎缩性胆囊炎切除方法的探讨

目的：总结腹腔镜下慢性结石性萎缩性胆囊炎胆囊切除的手术方法和经验。方法：总结2003年1月～2007年5月36例慢性结石性萎缩性胆囊炎患者行腹腔镜胆囊切除术中分离胆囊周围粘连、解剖Calot三角、处理胆囊管及胆囊动脉、切除胆囊的方法。结果：腹腔镜下胆囊切除30例,中转开腹6例。4例胆囊三角区广泛致密粘连,无法分离,行开腹胆囊大部切除术。腹腔镜术后胆漏2例,经腹腔引流治愈。结论：萎缩性胆囊炎腹腔镜手术治疗是安全的。仔细分离胆囊周围粘连,辨认壶腹部与胆囊管的交界,准确解剖Calot三角,合理处理胆囊管,正确掌握中转开腹时机是成功完成手术的关键。     

The expanding role of neurosurgeons in the management of brain metastases

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases are the most common type of intracranial tumor. Until recently, whole brain fractionated radiation therapy (WBRT) was the mainstay of treatment, thereby confining the role of neurosurgeons to resection of an occasional solitary, accessible, and symptomatic brain metastasis. Median survival after surgery and radiation typically ranged from 5 to 11 months. METHODS: We analyzed various demographic incidence reports and our series of brain metastasis patients treated with radiosurgery. During a 15-year interval (1987-2002), radiosurgery was performed on 5,032 patients of whom 1,088 (21.6%) had metastatic brain tumors. RESULTS: In the United States, 266,820 to 533,640 new cases of brain metastases will be diagnosed in the year 2003. Evidence to date demonstrates that radiosurgery provides effective local tumor control for brain metastases. Important prognostic factors affecting patient survival include the absence of active systemic disease, the patient's preoperative performance status, age, and the number of metastases. Survival and local tumor control rates attained with radiosurgery are superior to those of either conventional surgery or WBRT. The morbidity associated with radiosurgery of brain metastasis is very low, and the mortality rate approaches zero. CONCLUSIONS: Compelling evidence indicates that radiosurgery is an effective neurosurgical management strategy for intracranial brain metastases. Quite often, favorable tumor control and survival can be achieved without WBRT. With radiosurgery as a therapeutic option, neurosurgeons now have a vastly expanded armamentarium for treatment of patients with brain metastases. The large number of patients with brain metastases who require care by a neurosurgeon for optimal treatment has significant implications for both the patterns of neurosurgical training and practice in the United States.