Laparoscopic gastric resection for benign and malignant conditions: lessons learned from 35 consecutive cases

INTRODUCTION: Despite significant advances in laparoscopy, gastric surgery is still generally carried out by conventional open techniques. The aim of the study was to report the short- and medium-term outcomes of gastric surgery when carried out laparoscopically for a variety of benign and malignant conditions. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out for all patients who underwent a laparoscopic gastric resection between January 2000 and September 2006. Follow up was carried out at the private consulting rooms and by telephone interview. RESULTS: Thirty-five consecutive laparoscopic gastric resection were carried out in 31 patients for a variety of benign lesions, six early gastric cancer and 13 adenocarcinomas. The totally intracorporeal laparoscopic procedures included four total, eight distal and 21 partial gastrectomies. There were two open conversions (6%). There was one in-hospital mortality (3%) and one non-fatal anastomotic leak. Median operative duration and length of stay were 75, 205 and 252 min and 5, 6.5 and 8 days for laparoscopic partial, distal and total gastrectomy, respectively. After malignant resections, there were six recurrences; however, 15 patients remained disease-free at up to 60 months follow up. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastric resection is feasible with good short- and medium-term results and may be an appropriate treatment option in selected cases.     

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: lessons learned from 100 consecutive procedures.

One hundred consecutive laparoscopic adrenal procedures for a variety of endocrine disorders were reviewed. There was no mortality, morbidity was 12%, and conversions was 3%. During follow-up, none had recurrence of hormonal excess. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the procedure of choice for adrenal removal except in carcinoma or masses > 15 cm. OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for a variety of endocrine disorders. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Since the first laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in 1992, this approach quickly has been adopted, and increasing numbers are being reported. However, the follow-up period has been too short to evaluate the completeness of these operations. METHODS: One hundred consecutive laparoscopic adrenal procedures from January 1992 until November 1996 were reviewed and followed for adequacy of resection. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients underwent 97 adrenalectomies and biopsies. The mean age was 46 years (range, 17-84 years). Indications were pheochromocytomas (n = 25), aldosterone-producing adenomas (n = 21), nonfunctional adenomas (n = 20), cortisol-producing adenomas (n = 13), Cushing's disease (n = 8), and others (n = 13). Fifty-five patients had previous abdominal surgery. Mean operative time was 123 minutes (range, 80-360 minutes), and estimated blood loss was 70 mL (range, 20-1300 mL). There was no mortality, and morbidity was encountered in 12% of patients, including three patients in whom venous thrombosis developed with two sustaining pulmonary emboli. During pheochromocytoma removal, hypertension occurred in 56% of patients and hypotension in 52%. There were three conversions to open surgery. The average length of stay has decreased from 3 days (range, 2-19 days) in the first 3 years to 2.4 days (range, 1-6 days) over the past 16 months. During follow-up (range, 1-44 months), two patients had renovascular hypertension and none had recurrence of hormonal excess. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe, effective, and decreases hospital stay and wound complications. Prior abdominal surgery is not a contraindication. Pheochromocytomas can be resected safely laparoscopically despite blood pressure variations. Venous thrombosis prophylaxis is mandatory. The laparoscopic approach is the procedure of choice for adrenalectomy except in the case of invasive carcinoma or masses > 15 cm.     

Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy

Esophagectomy is both complex and challenging, and it may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With improvements in instrumentation and increasing experience with laparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques, minimally invasive approaches to esophagectomy are being explored to determine feasibility, results, and potential advantages. Most of this experience has been with case studies or small series, with many surgeons using thoracoscopy in combination with standard laparotomy. Many of the patients have been carefully selected for these procedures because they have small tumors or high-grade dysplasia. Our technique for esophagectomy has evolved from a laparoscopic transhiatal approach to a combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic approach. Our experience with this procedure has increased, and now we offer this approach to the majority of patients with resectable cancers. We review our operative technique and the results of surgery in our first 50 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer or high-grade dysplasia.     

Minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy: lessons learned

Background Minimally invasive esophagectomy has the potential to minimize the morbidity of esophageal resection and is particularly suited to the transhiatal approach. This report details our experience with this technique and the lessons we have learned. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy was performed. Parameters assessed included patient demographics, tumor pathology, operative and postoperative course, and survival. Results Eighteen patients underwent minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy [median age = 69 years (range = 36–79)]. Seventeen were operated on for cancer, including 13 adenocarcinomas and 4 squamous cell carcinomas (median histological stage = 2, range = 1–3), and 1 for high-grade dysplasia in Barrett’s. One patient had neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients underwent nonemergency conversion to open surgery. The median duration of operation was 300 min (range = 180–450). All anastomoses were end-to-side hand-sewn. No patients received a red cell transfusion. The 30-day mortality was zero. Complications developed in 15 patients, including 7 respiratory and 10 recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries. There were two anastomotic leaks. Six patients developed stenosis requiring dilatation. The median length of stay was 15 days (range = 10–39). The median number of nodes harvested was 10 (range = 2–26). At a median follow-up of 13 months (range = 4–42), 13 patients were alive. Conclusions Minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy is feasible in our unit, with acceptable mortality. The high rate of anastomotic stenosis has resulted in a change to a semimechanical, side-to-side isoperistaltic technique. The high rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries has resulted in the avoidance of metal retractors at the tracheo-esophageal groove.     

Transhiatal esophagectomy for treatment of benign and malignant esophageal disease

Since our initial 1978 report, we have performed transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) in 1085 patients with intrathoracic esophageal disease: 285 (26%) benign lesions and 800 (74%) malignant lesions (4.5% upper, 22% middle, and 73.5% lower third/cardia). THE was possible in 97% of patients in whom it was attempted; reconstruction was performed at the same operation in all but six patients. The esophageal substitute was positioned in the original esophageal bed in 98%, stomach being used in 782 patients (96%) and colon in those with a prior gastric resection. Hospital mortality was 4%, with three deaths due to uncontrollable intraoperative hemorrhage. Major complications included anastomotic leak (13%), atelectasis/pneumonia prolonging hospitalization (2%), recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, chylothorax, and tracheal laceration (< 1% each). There were five reoperations for mediastinal bleeding within 24 hours of THE. Intraoperative blood loss averaged 689 ml. Altogether, 78% of the patients had no postoperative complications. Actuarial survival of the cancer patients mirrors that reported after transthoracic esophagectomy. Late functional results are good or excellent in 80%. Approximately 50% have required one or more anastomotic dilatations. With intensive preadmission pulmonary and physical conditioning, use of a side-to-side staple technique (which has reduced the cervical esophagogastric anastomotic leak rate to less than 3%), and postoperative epidural anesthesia, the need for an intensive care unit stay has been eliminated and the length of hospital stay was reduced to 7 days. We concluded that THE can be achieved in most patients requiring esophageal resection for benign and malignant disease and with greater safety and less morbidity than the traditional transthoracic approaches.     

Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy: initial experience and outcomes

Background: Although surgical resection currently is the preferred treatment for fit patients with resectable esophageal cancers, it is associated with a relatively high risk of morbidity and significant perioperative mortality. Currently, a range of open surgical approaches are used. More recently, minimally invasive approaches have become feasible, with the potential to reduce perioperative morbidity. This study investigated the outcomes from one such approach. Methods: Outcome data were collected prospectively for 36 consecutive patients who underwent a minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. A three-stage approach was used, with all the patients undergoing a thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization, combined with either open or hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal gastric mobilization, and open cervical anastomosis. An open abdominal approach was used for 15 of the patients and a hand-assisted laparoscopic approach for 21. A total of 34 patients had invasive malignancy, whereas 2 had preinvasive disease. A group of 23 patients (68%) who had invasive malignancies also received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Results: The mean operating time ranged from 190 to 360 min (mean, 263 min). The median postoperative hospital stay was 16 days. In-hospital mortality was 5.5% (2/36), and perioperative morbidity was 41%. The perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing an open abdominal approach and those who had hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery were similar. For the patients who underwent a hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal procedure, the total operating time was shorter (248 vs 281 min), and the blood loss was less (223 vs 440 ml). The median follow-up period was 30 months. The 4-year survival predicted by Kaplan–Meir for the 34 patients with invasive malignancy was 44%. Conclusion: The outcome for esophagectomy using thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization, with or without hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal surgery, was comparable with data from conventional open surgical approaches. These approaches can be performed with an acceptable level of perioperative morbidity. Further application of these techniques, with close scrutiny of outcome data, is appropriate.     

Endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy: lessons learned from 111 consecutive cases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy (ERA). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Minimally invasive adrenalectomy has become the procedure of choice for benign adrenal pathology. Although the adrenal glands are located in the retroperitoneum, most surgeons prefer the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach to adrenal tumors. METHODS: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 111 ERAs from January 1994 to December 1999 were evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients underwent 111 ERAs (79 unilateral, 16 bilateral). Indications were Cushing syndrome (n = 22), Cushing disease (n = 8), ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome (n = 6), Conn's adenoma (n = 25), pheochromocytoma (n = 19), incidentaloma (n = 11), and other (n = 4). Tumor size varied from 0.1 to 8 cm. Median age was 50 years. Unilateral ERA required 114 minutes, with median blood loss of 65 mL. Bilateral ERA lasted 214 minutes, with median blood loss of 121 mL. The conversion rate to open surgery was 4.5%. The complication rate was 11%. Median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days for unilateral ERA and 5 days for bilateral ERA. The death rate was 0.9%. At a median follow-up of 14 months, the recurrence rate of disease was 0.9%. CONCLUSION: For benign adrenal tumors less than 6 cm, ERA is recommended.     

Transhiatal esophagectomy for benign and malignant conditions

BACKGROUND: Experience with transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) for both benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus as practiced over an 18-year period is presented. METHODS: Between 1982 and 2000, 411 consecutive patients underwent THE for both benign (n = 44) and malignant (n = 367) diseases of esophagus. Surviving patients were followed up for a mean of 30.4 months. RESULTS: The overall operative mortality was 11% which had reduced to 6% for the last 111 patients. Operative mortality in the benign group was less than 5%. Respiratory complications were the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. Nonfatal anastomotic leaks occurred in 14%. The overall actuarial survival rates at 2, 5, and 10 years for carcinoma patients were 54%, 38%, and 18% respectively. The 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates for postcricoid cancers were 83% and 64%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Transhiatal esophagectomy is safe and effective, and its results including long-term outcome are comparable with most published series.     

Early and mid-term results of totally laparoscopic surgery for aortoiliac disease: lessons learned

The present article is the first in the literature reporting short- and medium-term results using a totally laparoscopic technique for aortoiliac disease.Forty-nine patients, 6 having an associated small aneurysm, were scheduled for totally laparoscopic surgery (TLS) for aortoiliac occlusive disease and 2 for treatment of aortic aneurysmal disease (AAA). Patients' characteristics, intraoperative, postoperative data and mid-term data were recorded.TLS was successfully completed in 45 patients. Of those patients, 41 received an aortobifemoral bypass; three, an iliofemoral bypass; and one, an aortoaortic bypass. Five patients were converted from TLS to video-assisted laparoscopic surgery using incisions varying in size from 7 cm to 11 cm. One patient underwent conversion to standard open surgery. One death occurred unrelated to the technique. Major perioperative complications related to the technique were few and presented in the early phase of the study: One intraoperative embolization to the lower limbs that needed embolectomy, and one acute aortic false aneurysm. Midterm results were favorable, demonstrating two limb graft thromboses. Hernias at trocar sites occurred in only 3.9%.The patients benefited from this procedure, which is considered definitive like its standard open counterpart. The conversion rate is lower than that reported for acute cholecystitis. Selection of patients has been less stringent during the second half of the study in term of inclusion of patients with AAA and of more TASC IV patients. Surgeons willing to learn this technique should attend dedicated courses. In the future, as this surgical innovation matures, controlled randomized studies should be initiated.     

Transhiatal esophagectomy for benign disease

Transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy has been performed in 65 adult patients with dysphagia from benign esophageal disease: strictures (30), neuromotor dysfunction (24), acute iatrogenic perforation (five), acute caustic injury (four), and recurrent gastroesophageal reflux (two). Nearly 70% (45) had undergone at least one prior esophageal operation, and 26% (17) had a history of between two and four esophageal operations. The esophagus was replaced with stomach in 53 patients (82%), colon being used only when there was a history of either prior gastric resection or caustic injury to the stomach (10 patients). Intraoperative blood loss averaged 1,050 ml. Intraoperative complications included pneumothorax in 38 patients (58%) and a tracheal laceration in one patient. Postoperative complications included transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis (11 patients, 17%), chylothorax (four patients, 6%), anastomotic leak (four patients, 6%), and small bowel obstruction (two patients). There were five hospital deaths (8% mortality), none related to the technique of esophagectomy. Follow-up ranges from 1 to 84 months (average 28 months). Of 46 patients with a cervical esophagogastric anastomosis in the original esophageal bed, 42 have had an excellent functional result although 17 have required at least one postoperative esophageal dilation. Two have developed true anastomotic strictures. Clinically significant gastroesophageal reflux has not occurred. Transhiatal esophagectomy for benign disease is feasible and safe, even after multiple previous esophageal operations. The stomach appears to be a better visceral esophageal substitute than colon, because it allows an initially easier technical operation and superior long-term functional results.     

Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: lessons learned

OBJECTIVE: Repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula has traditionally been performed via thoracotomy. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and pitfalls of the thoracoscopic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six consecutive patients with type C tracheoesophageal fistulae underwent thoracoscopic repair. The operation was approached through the right chest using a three-trocar technique (two 5-mm and one 3-mm) with the patient placed in a three-quarter prone position. Patient characteristics, operative time, duration of narcotic usage, conversion factors, postoperative complications, and long-term follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Five of six patients were successfully operated on thoracoscopically. The average operative time was 143 minutes (range, 75-215 minutes) with repair of long-gap defects requiring significantly longer times than short-gap defects (200 vs. 129 minutes, P < 0.05). There were no intraoperative complications. Mean duration of narcotic use was 52 hours (range, 24-72 hours). There were no anastomotic leaks. One patient developed an anastomotic stricture at the third postoperative week, which resolved with two dilations. One patient died on the first postoperative day from respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula is feasible, but is technically challenging. Long-gap defects require more extensive dissection and difficult anastomosis, and are therefore associated with longer operative times. More data are needed for further evaluation of this approach.     

100 consecutive minimally invasive Heller myotomies: lessons learned

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the authors' first 100 patients treated for achalasia by a minimally invasive approach. METHODS: Between November 1992 and February 2001, the authors performed 95 laparoscopic and 5 thoracoscopic Heller myotomies in 100 patients (age 49.5 +/- 1.5 years) with manometrically confirmed achalasia. Before presentation, 51 patients had previous dilation, 23 had been treated with botulinum toxin (Botox), and 4 had undergone prior myotomy. Laparoscopic myotomy was performed by incising the distal 4 to 6 cm of esophageal musculature and extended 1 to 2 cm onto the cardia under endoscopic guidance. Fifteen patients underwent antireflux procedures. RESULTS: There were eight intraoperative perforations and only four conversions to open surgery. Follow-up is 10.8 +/- 1 months; 75% of the patients have been followed up for at least 14 months. Outcomes assessed by patient questionnaires revealed satisfactory relief of dysphagia in 93 patients and "poor" relief in 7 patients. Postoperative heartburn symptoms were reported as "moderate to severe" in 14 patients and "none or mild" in 86 patients. Fourteen patients required postoperative procedures for continued symptoms of dysphagia after myotomy. Esophageal manometry studies revealed a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) from 37 +/- 1 mm Hg to 14 +/- 1 mm Hg. Patients with a decrease in LESP of more than 18 mm Hg and whose absolute postoperative LESP was 18 or less were more likely to have relief of dysphagia after surgery. Thirty-one patients who underwent Heller alone were studied with a 24-hour esophageal pH probe and had a median Johnson-DeMeester score of 10 (normal <22.0). Mean esophageal acid exposure time was 3 +/- 0.6% (normal 4.2%). Symptoms did not correlate with esophageal acid exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results after minimally invasive treatment for achalasia are equivalent to historical outcomes with open techniques. Satisfactory outcomes occurred in 93% of patients. Patients whose postoperative LESP was less than 18 mm Hg reported the fewest symptoms. After myotomy, patients rarely have abnormal esophageal acid exposure, and the addition of an antireflux procedure is not required.     

Transhiatal (blunt) esophagectomy for malignant and benign esophageal disease: clinical experience and technique

"Blunt" transhiatal esophagectomy was performed in 23 selected patients. Nineteen had squamous carcinoma of the esophagus (upper third, 1; middle third, 12; distal third, 6), and 2 had adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus. The other 2 patients had severe lye strictures. Resection with reconstruction was performed in one stage. Esophagogastric continuity was restored using the stomach in the posterior mediastinal position in 20 patients and in the substernal position in 2. The colon in the posterior mediastinal position was used in 1 patient with a lye stricture. Transmural tumor extension or cervical or celiac nodal metastases or both were present in 18 of 21 patients with carcinoma. There was 1 hospital death due to pericardial tamponade. Morbidity included a transient cervical anastomotic leak in 3 patients, one temporary and three permanent unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies, one intraoperative splenic injury, and severe hemorrhage requiring sternotomy for control in 1 patient. Pulmonary complications occurred in 4 patients: aspiration pneumonia (1) and moderate atelectasis (3). Three patients have died (11, 12, and 17 months postoperatively) in the group with cancer, with follow-up time of 3 to 30 months (mean, 15 months). Transhiatal blunt esophagectomy is a safe and effective procedure in many patients with either esophageal cancer or extensive, benign esophageal strictures.     

Mentorship in urological laparoscopic surgery: lessons learned

OBJECTIVE

To review the results of our experience with a mentorship programme in laparoscopic nephrectomy, set up in 1999 by the British Association of Urological Surgeons Section of Endourology.

METHODS

Mentors were contacted in 2007 to submit data on the number of visits and the outcome, which included whether a urologist was able to establish an independent laparoscopic practice and sustain it.

RESULTS

Four urologists acting as mentors reported a total of 164 procedures carried out in the training of 39 urologists during 148 visits. There were no conversions to open surgery and only one major complication. Overall, 29 of 39 mentored consultants were able to establish an independent laparoscopic practice and 23 continue to do so. The number of visits was associated with initial success, although this was not statistically significant. Working in a large department was associated with being able to sustain a laparoscopic practice. More experienced consultants were less likely to have initial success, but were more likely to sustain a successful practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Mentorship for laparoscopic nephrectomy has been carried out safely thus far. Sustaining a laparoscopic practice requires a critical volume of cases. Future efforts should be focused on trainees rather than consultants.     

Ten years of laparoscopic adrenalectomy: lesson learned from 104 procedures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of 104 consecutive laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed during a period of 10 years in two specialist centers. One hundred four patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy in two specialist centers in Italy between 1994 and 2003. Indications to laparoscopic adrenalectomy were aldosterone-secreting adenoma (20%), pheochromocytoma (24%), cortisol-secreting adenoma (11.5%), incidentaloma (26.9%), multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A (2.8%), adrenal metastases from lung cancer (3.8%), adrenal cyst (6.7%), and angiomyolipoma (3.8%). Transperitoneal anterior and lateral approaches were adopted in 17 and 84 patients, respectively. Retroperitoneal approach was adopted in three patients. Mean operative time was 108 +/- 39.1 minutes (range, 40-300 minutes). There was no correlation between adrenal tumor diameter and operative time. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 106 mL (range, 40-600 mL). Intraoperative complication rate and conversion rate were 4.8 per cent (5 cases). Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure. After a relatively short learning curve, it can be performed successfully by any surgeon with low operative morbidity and mortality. The size of the adrenal tumor should not be considered a contraindication to this procedure.     

Limits and advantages of fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy: lessons learned

BACKGROUND: Fundus-first cholecystectomy is well recognized as a safe technique during open cholecystectomy (OC) because it minimizes the risk of injuries to the biliary structures at the Calot's triangle. Fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (FFLC), like the OC, has been proposed as a safe method to approach the cystic duct in cases of difficult anatomy in order to limit biliary injuries and to reduce the conversion rate. The aim of our study was to highlight the limits and advantages of the FFLC, in order to evaluate whether the potential complications are counterbalanced by the expected reduction of the conversion rate. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1965 consecutive cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed for gallbladder disease from 1994 to 2005. Reasons for adoption of the FFLC, conversion to OC, and complications were compiled. RESULTS: The FLC was performed in 29 cases (1.5%) and was successful in 23 patients (80%). The median operating time for the FFLC was 65 minutes (range, 40-170). In 6 patients (20%), FFLC was eventually converted to open operation. Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) was performed successfully in 17 cases (74%). Common bile duct (CBD) stones were found in 6 cases (20%). Minor complications occurred in 6 patients (20%). No CBD injuries occurred. Two cases of residual CBD stones were treated postoperatively. Mortality rate was nil. CONCLUSIONS: The FLC remains a safe option when dealing with patients with difficult anatomy at the Calot's triangle, but its adoption needs a good surgical judgment. Considering the high incidence of CBD stones in this series, the high failure rates in performing an IOC represent the most important limiting factor.     

Transhiatal esophagectomy for treatment of benign and malignant esophageal diseases

In 1978 the technique of transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy was rediscovered and now it is widely used in certain, selected, cases. Between 1987 and 2003 we have performed transhiatal esophagectomy in 35 patients with intrathoracic esophageal disease: 13 (37.14%) for benign lesions of the esophagus and 22 (62.85%) for malignant lesions (22.72% upper, 9% middle and 68.18% lower third of the thoracic esophagus). The reconstruction was performed at the same operation in all but two patients. The esophageal substitute was stomach in all but one patient when left colon was used. Hospital mortality was 14.28% with one death due to uncontrollable intraoperative hemorrhage. Major complications included anastomotic leak, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, atelectasis/pneumonia. The advantages of this approach over standard transthoracic esophagectomy are avoidance of a combined thoracoabdominal operation in a debilitated patient and fewer postoperative pulmonary complications and also avoidance of an intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic leak with high mortality due to mediastinitis.     

Seconds from disaster: lessons learned from laparoscopic release of the median arcuate ligament

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare entity that manifests as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The median arcuate ligament is a fibrous band that connects the crura of the diaphragm. In some people, the ligament is positioned in a way that compresses the celiac axis, which in a subset of individuals causes the symptoms associated with MALS. Surgical release of the ligament can relieve these symptoms. After viewing a video that described the laparoscopic median arcuate ligament release technique at the 2006 SAGES meeting and reviewing the online video, we report our experience with two cases and discuss the lessons learned in performing the procedure within a training program. We also discuss the extent to which surgical resident participation contributes to intraoperative complications during a new and complex surgery. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.