Short-term outcome of laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the morbidity, mortality, and short-term outcomes associated with laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (LPHR). Methods: A series of 58 consecutive LPHRs performed by the author were reviewed with an average 1-year follow-up. Morbidity and mortality rates were compared with historical series of open repairs. Anatomy and technical considerations pertinent to LPHR were reviewed. Results: There were no procedure-related or perioperative deaths in this series of patients undergoing LPHR. Four major complications occurred (7%), two of which required reoperation, all in urgently repaired patients. One patient required conversion to laparotomy (1.7%). Based on symptoms, there were no reherniations. No patients had long-term dysphagia worse than preoperatively. Preoperative symptoms of chest pain, esophageal obstruction, hemorrhage, and reflux were resolved in all patients. Conclusions: LPHR is safe, effective, and compares favorably to historical series of open paraesophageal hernia repair. Received: 24 July 1996/Accepted: 20 November 1996     

Herniation of the stomach and necrotizing chest wall infection following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

This paper addresses gastric herniation following laparoscopic fundoplication for reflux esophagitis. Case history: A 46-year-old woman underwent Nissen fundoplication. Two days postoperatively she developed gastric herniation and perforation with subsequent pleural effusion and necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall. A patent crural repair might reduce the occurrence of paraoesophageal herniation. Received: 12 April 1996/Accepted: 26 November 1996     

Laparoscopic management of lumbar hernia

We describe (for the first time) a laparoscopic approach to repair an acquired superior triangle lumbar hernia in a morbidly obese woman by using prosthetic mesh. Such a technique provides an excellent anatomic view, thus avoiding injury to structures in proximity to the hernia during repair; eventually the well-known advantages of such approach result. Received: 10 November 1996/Accepted: 20 December 1996     

Prosthetic reinforcement of posterior cruroplasty during laparoscopic hiatal herniorrhaphy

Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux after Nissen fundoplication may occur if the wrap herniates into the thorax. In an attempt to prevent recurrent hiatal hernia we employed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mesh reinforcement of posterior cruroplasty during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and hiatal herniorrhaphy. Three patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux and a large (≥8 cm) hiatal defect underwent laparoscopic posterior cruroplasty and Nissen fundoplication. The cruroplasty was reinforced with a PTFE onlay. No perioperative complications occurred, and in follow-up (≤11 months) the patients are doing well. When repairing a large defect of the esophageal hiatus during fundoplication, the surgeon may consider reinforcement of the repair with PTFE mesh. Received: 5 March 1996/Accepted: 3 June 1996     

Laparoscopic Collis gastroplasty and Nissen fundoplication

Background: The short esophagus increases the difficulty and limits the effectiveness of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. In our experience, ∼20–25% of esophagi judged by preoperative criteria to be foreshortened will, after dissection, be insufficiently long to allow 2 cm of esophagus to reside below the diaphragm without inferior distraction (i.e., tension free). Collis gastroplasty combined with Nissen fundoplication has become the standard approach for the creation of an intraabdominal neoesophagus and fundic wrap. Methods: After developing methods of performing totally laparoscopic stapled gastroplasty in the cadaver lab in 1994, we started applying the technique clinically in 1996. We performed 220 laparoscopic antireflux procedures between January 1996 and July 1997. Of these 220 patients, 26% were suspected to have esophageal foreshortening based on preoperative barium studies and/or endoscopy. Results: After hiatal dissection, nine patients, or 16% of those suspected to have esophageal foreshortening and 4% of the entire population, required the laparoscopic Collis-Nissen procedure. There was symptomatic improvement in all patients as assessed by patient-initiated symptom scores. Conclusions: The management of patients with esophageal foreshortening is a complex problem. We believe that our technique of laparoscopic Collis-Nissen provides an effective means of achieving intraabdominal placement of the fundic wrap while maintaining the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. Received: 8 September 1997/Accepted: 17 December 1997     

A new approach in the management of incarcerated hernia

The authors describe the case of a 74-year-old male presenting with an incarcerated epigastric hernia. An algorithm for successful management of such a case is proposed. Received: 18 November 1996/Accepted: 26 December 1996     

Laparoscopic repair of a diaphragmatic hernia through the foramen of Morgagni

A 78-year-old woman is described who presented with a diaphragmatic hernia through the foramen of Morgagni. A definitive diagnosis was confirmed by a sagittal view on magnetic resonance imaging prior to surgery. The hernia was repaired laparoscopically under an abdominal wall lifting technique without pneumoperitoneum, and her symptoms completely resolved postoperatively with no evidence of recurrence. The laparoscopic repair was considered a suitable and safe procedure for the treatment of a Morgagni hernia. Received: 3 April 1996/Accepted: 3 May 1996     

Ileocutaneous fistula formation following laparoscopic polypropylene mesh hernia repair

A rare case of enterocutaneous fistula caused by chronic erosion of polypropylene mesh after laparoscopic repair of a recurrent inguinal hernia is described. Successful treatment was achieved by fistulectomy, total resection of the implanted mesh, and small-bowel segmental resection. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and at follow-up 18 months later, the herniorrhaphy has remained intact. This complication needs to be added to the differential diagnosis in patients who present inflammation, abscess formation, or cutaneous fistula following laparoscopic hernia repair. Received: 7 October 1996/Accepted: 14 October 1996     

Laparoscopic approach to incarcerated inguinal hernia

The safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic treatment for incarcerated inguinal hernia have not been clarified. Six patients who underwent laparoscopic reduction and repair of incarcerated inguinal hernias were reviewed retrospectively. All operations were initiated within 1 h after establishment of the diagnosis. Laparoscopically, the incarcerated small-bowel segments could be easily returned to the abdominal cavity by a combination of pulling them with Babcock forceps while pushing back the bowels from outside the abdominal wall. The hernial portals were not cut in three patients, while they were dissected in the other three. All incarcerated bowels were congested and red immediately after reduction; however, their color returned to normal during hernia repair and unnecessary bowel resection was therefore avoided. The mean operation time was 88 min. Although one patient underwent laparotomy because of the suspicion of necrosis of the incarcerated inguinal hernia, which was finally found to be due to postoperative paralytic ileus, the postoperative courses of the remaining five were uneventful. Laparoscopic reduction and repair of incarcerated inguinal hernia was useful, and unnecessary bowel resection could be avoided. Received: 9 February 1996/Accepted: 20 May 1996     

The role of the endoscopic extraperitoneal approach in large inguinal scrotal hernias

The role of endoscopic extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy (EEPH) in the management of giant scrotal hernias has not been well defined, and the technical details relating to operations on such hernias have not been described. We present our experience with 17 patients undergoing repair of giant scrotal hernias. Foley catheter bladder decompression was routinely employed. The Retzius space was developed early in the procedure and hernia sac contents were reduced in all cases. The inferior epigastric vessels were likewise divided in all patients. The average operative time was 76 min and all patients were discharged home the same day. There have been no recurrences on follow-up. There was no mortality, and morbidity was limited to seroma formation in two patients. We conclude that with certain technical modifications, EEPH can be safely employed for the treatment of giant scrotal hernias. Received: 7 May 1996/Accepted: 12 July 1996     

Endoscopically guided percutaneous repair of inguinal hernia through a 2-cm incision

Background: The laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia is still controversial. Transabdominal preperitoneal repair violates the peritoneal cavity and may result in visceral injuries or intestinal obstruction. The laparoscopic extraperitoneal approach has the disadvantage of being technically demanding and requires extensive extraperitoneal mobilization. The Lichtenstein repair gives good long-term results, is easy to learn, can be performed under local anesthesia, but requires a larger incision. Methods: We describe a novel percutaneous tension-free prosthetic mesh repair performed through a 2-cm groin incision. The inguinal canal is traversed with the aid of a 5-mm video-endoscope and the canal is widened using specially designed balloons. Spermatic cord mobilization, identification and excision of the indirect sac, and posterior wall repair are carried out under endoscopic guidance. Results: Between October 1993 and July 1995, 85 primary inguinal hernia repairs (48 indirect and 33 direct) were performed on 81 patients (80 men, one woman) by the author (A.D.). The mean age was 41 years (range 17–83 years). Six repairs were performed under local anesthetic. Mean operative time was 42 min (range 25–74). Mean hospital stay was 1.2 days (0–3 days). The mean return to normal activity was 8 days (2–10 days). Eight complications have occurred: a serous wound discharge, two scrotal hematomas, a scrotal swelling that resolved spontaneously, wound pain lasting 2 weeks, an episode of urinary retention, and two recurrences early in the series (follow-up 1–22 months). Conclusion: The endoscopically guided percutaneous hernia repair avoids the disadvantages of laparoscopy (i.e., lack of stereoscopic vision, reduced tactile feedback, unfamiliar anatomical approach, risk of visceral injury), yet the use of endoscopic instrumentation allows operation through a 2-cm incision. The minihernia repair thus combines the virtues of an open tension-free repair with minimal access trauma. Received: 21 May 1996/Accepted: 8 August 1996     

Laparoscopic repair of a paraduodenal hernia

Paraduodenal hernias have traditionally been treated by conventional laparotomy. We report the first case of a left paraduodenal hernia treated laparoscopically. A 44-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain and nausea. Computed tomography and an upper gastrointestinal series with small-bowel followthrough showed accumulation of the small bowel on the left side of the abdomen. A laparoscopic repair was performed. The small bowel was observed beneath a thin hernia capsule. Approximately 1.5 m of jejunum was easily reduced into the abdominal cavity. The hernia orifice (5-cm diameter) was closed intracorporeally with five interrupted sutures. Good exposure of the operative field is critical to this procedure; poor exposure may limit the applicability of the laparoscopic approach. This minimally invasive operation is currently indicated in nonobstructive paraduodenal hernias, especially on the left. Received: 7 October 1996/Accepted: 11 April 1997     

First trimester of pregnancy laparoscopic procedures

Laparoscopic procedures are being performed during pregnancy with increasing frequency; however, few first-trimester operations have been published. Two first-trimester procedures are here reported, both performed with uneventful recoveries. Received: 25 March 1996/Accepted: 24 January 1997     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy for hydatid cyst

Splenic hydatidosis is a rare condition. We performed a hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy for a large hydatid cyst localized in the center of the spleen. We discuss the advantages of the ``helping hand.' Received: 27 September 1996/Accepted: 19 November 1996     

Complications of surgical endoscopy

Background: This study examines the notion that gastrointestinal endoscopy performed by supervised surgical residents is safe. Methods: We reviewed all gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures performed by surgical residents with faculty supervision for complications and deaths occurring up to 30 days following the procedures. Results: The overall complication rate for 9,201 upper and lower endoscopy procedures was 1.4% and 0.42%, respectively. Overall mortality rate was 0.76% for upper endoscopy and 0.6% for lower endoscopy. No mortality was a direct result of a procedure-related complication. Intestinal perforation, drug overdose, bleeding, and aspiration were the most common procedure-related complications. Each resident completed an average of 75 upper endoscopies and 79 lower endoscopies during their training period. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal endoscopy can be performed safely by surgical residents with appropriate supervision. The higher morbidity and mortality of upper endoscopy are most likely related to the underlying disease rather than the procedure. Awareness of common complications and application of appropriate precautions and instruction are critical for minimizing complications. Received 25 March 1996/Accepted: 24 April 1996     

Conversions and complications in 185 laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding cases

Background: Kuzmak's gastric silicone banding technique is the least invasive operation for morbid obesity. The purpose of this study was to analyze the complications of this approach. Methods: Between September 1992 and March 1996, 185 patients underwent laparoscopic gastroplasty by the adjustable silicone band technique. A minimally invasive procedure using five trocars was performed. Results: In 11 patients exposure of the hiatus was impeded because of hypertrophy of the left liver lobe which led to conversion in eight patients and abortion of the procedure in three other patients. Anatomical complications: We observed two gastric perforations and one band slippage at the early stage, one infection and three rotations of the access port. Functional complications: There were eight (4%) cases of irreversible total food intolerance resulting in pouch dilation and eight cases (4%) of esophagitis. One fatality on the 45th day in a patient with a Prader-Willi syndrome. Conclusion: The most disturbing complications of gastric banding technique are gastric perforation and pouch dilation. Their incidence may be reduced by improving the technique and by considering pitfalls of the procedure. Received: 28 May 1996/Accepted: 25 July 1996     

Laparoscopic treatment of large paraesophageal hernias

Background: We set out to evaluate the results of the laparoscopic treatment of large paraesophageal hernias in 22 patients. Methods: Between 1993 and 1998, we operated on 22 consecutive patients. Preoperative assessment consisted of endoscopy, barium esophagogram, 24-h pH testing, manometry, and gastric emptying times. Results: In the first three patients, the sac was not excised and gastropexy was not performed. Because of recurrences, we decided to change the technique in an attempt to avoid further complications. During middle- to long-term follow-up, only three recurrences were seen in the subsequent 19 patients. There were no deaths in this series. Conclusions: Laparoscopic treatment of large paraesophageal hernias is feasible. Because recurrences may occur after successful laparoscopic treatment, both resection of the sac and some form of gastropexy are imperative. Received: 22 March 2000/Accepted: 30 April 2000/Online publication: 20 September 2000     

Gastrointestinal problems in the immunocompromised host

As the immunocompromised patient population grows, the gastrointestinal surgeon is increasingly called upon to make complex diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. The surgeon should first identify the patient as immunocompromised and then categorize the probable degree of immunocompromise as mild, moderate, or severe. Mildly immunocompromised patients tend to present late and with minimal symptoms, but the disease entities are the same ones seen in the general population. Moderately and severely immunocompromised patients may also develop the usual surgical problems, but the differential diagnosis is expanded to include complications of the immunocompromised state or complications of the underlying problem which caused the immune compromise. The expanded differential diagnosis includes infections with atypical organisms, opportunistic neoplasms, neutropenic enterocolitis, complications of medications, and forms of biliary tract disease not seen in the general population. Advances in oncology, transplantation, and the treatment of AIDS, have extended the life expectancy of these patients and increased the immunocompromised population. Prompt appropriate operative therapy may be lifesaving when surgical complications develop. Received: 11 April 1996/Accepted: 1 May 1996     

Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia in Israel: A Preliminary Report

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) is often considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism, but is rarely diagnosed. So far, FHH has not been documented in Israel. This report presents preliminary evidence for the occurrence of FHH in Israel. Received: 11 June 1996 / Accepted: 31 December 1996     

A new sealing device (Sandwich-disc) for rapid recreation of pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic assisted surgery

We have developed a new device which enables rapid sealing of a minilaparotomy during laparoscopic assisted surgery to recreate an airtight condition. This device consists of a center rod and two discs (7 cm in diameter) which form an airtight condition by compressing the inner and outer surfaces of the abdominal wall. Advanced laparoscopic procedures requiring both pneumoperitoneum and minilaparotomy are facilitated with the use of this device. This new device is called the Sandwich-disc: Takasago Medical Industry Co., Ltd. Received: 11 January 1996/Accepted: 22 March 1996