Laparoscopic treatment of mesenteric cysts. Report of two cases

Mesenteric cysts are rare intraabdominal tumors. Since the first report by Benevial in 1507, approximately 800 cases of mesenteric cysts have been described in the literature. Clinical presentation is variable and depends on the size and location of the cyst. This lesion are often asymptomatic or can present as an abdominal palpable mass or with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Laboratory tests are usually helpless. Ultrasonography and CT scan are the best diagnostic tools. In the past the treatment of choice was totally resection performed by open surgery. With the advent of laparoscopic surgery same authors report mesenteric cysts excised laparoscopically. The Authors report two cases of mesenteric cysts that were excised by laparoscopic surgery using. The cysts of both patients were located in the mesenterium of colon. There were no intraoperative of postoperative complications and the postoperative course was uneventful and both patients returned to full activity within a short time. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 36 months and there were no recurrences. The laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive techniques and represent an alternative safe and less invasive operation for these abdominal cysts.     

Giant mesenteric fibromatosis presenting as small bowel obstruction

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a proliferative fibroblastic neoplasia of the small intestine mesentery that may occur as a unique or multiple formation. Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm and may present with abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, weight loss, or symptoms of ureteral obstruction, mesenteric ischemia, or intestinal obstruction. It is of the utmost importance to distinguish mesenteric fibromatosis from gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Histopathology accurately differentiates between these two distinct entities. The preferred treatment is local surgical excision with a margin of uninvolved tissue. The involvement of important structures like the superior mesenteric artery and the superior mesenteric vein may pose a challenge during resection, but these tumors can be excised and the vessels repaired primarily.     

Retroperitoneal, mesenteric, and omental cysts

Retroperitoneal, mesenteric, and omental cysts are rare abdominal tumors occurring in approximately one of 105,000 hospitalized patients. These cysts have a similar pathogenesis that primarily may be ectopic lymphatic tissue. Retroperitoneal and mesenteric cysts can occur anywhere in the area between the duodenum and rectum but are most common in the small-bowel mesentery, especially the ileum. They can appear as chronic abdominal pain, a painless abdominal mass, or acute abdomen. The most common physical finding of a retroperitoneal or mesenteric cyst is a compressible abdominal mass, movable transversely but not longitudinally; omental cysts are freely movable. Diagnostic aids include abdominal computed tomography and ultrasound. The upper gastro-intestinal (GI) tract series, barium enema examination, and intravenous pyelogram exclude GI and genitourinary cysts and tumors. Treatment of choice is enucleation; resection of the adjacent bowel may occasionally be necessary. Morbidity and mortality should be very low because of modern surgical techniques and follow-up procedures.     

Laparoscopic treatment of mesenteric cysts

Mesenteric cysts are rare intraabdominal tumors. We review the diagnosis, laparoscopic management, patients outcome and follow-up of evaluation for three cases of mesenteric cyst that presented to Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School, Department of Surgery, from 1999 to 2002. All of the patients presented with nonspecific abdominal symptoms such as constipation, abdominal discomfort, and anorexia. Preoperative evaluation for differentiating mesenteric cyst from malignancy is made by abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography. The procedure was completed laparoscopically using three trocars in three patients. In one patient retroperitoneal resection was performed. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 36 months, and there were no recurrences. Currently, the surgical treatment of mesenteric cyst should be performed by laparoscopy, which offers significant advantages in terms of reduced morbidity and hospital stay. For appropriate cases in which cyst arises from mesenterium of colon, the retroperitoneal approach should be applied. Presented at the 5th National Endoscopic Laparoscopic Surgery Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, 22 April 2002     

腹腔镜与内镜联合技术治疗胃肠疾病

In recent years, the concept of minimally invasive surgery has become accepted by the surgical community, though there are limitations in locating small gastrointestinal tumors when laparoscopy is used alone. Meanwhile, endoscopy is an excellent tool for locating these small tumors, though one must take extreme care to avoid hollow viscus perforation. Combination of laparoscopy and gastroduodenoscopy has extensive application in the resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, sessile gastric polyps and early gastrointestinal carcinoma. During laparoscopic operation, the endoscopist can help to locate the tumor or polyp. Endoscopy can also help to determine whether or not the tumor or polyp has been resected completely. In performing traditional laparoscopic colectomy for left-sided colonic tumors, specimen retrieval necessitates a mini-incision which is often the cause of postoperative pain, wound infection, and other pain-related complications. The combination of laparoscopy with transanal endoscopic microsurgery is feasible for selected patients with left-sided colonic tumors, and complications related to mini-incision can be avoided completely. Combination of laparoscopy and gastrointestinal endoscopy also benefits patients with acute bowel obstruction prior surgical operation. With the help of perineum-bowel tube, sigmoidoscopic technique can relieve acute bowel obstruction, so that these patients may have chance for laparoscopic operation. In summary, this hybrid approach can not only decrease surgical incisions, but also avoid some of the surgical risks of emergent operations.     

Caustic acid burn of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Acute torsion of the small bowel mesentery is a diagnostically challenging cause of acute abdominal pain, which most commonly afflicts pediatric patients with midgut malrotation. We describe a case of mesenteric torsion in an adult patient that had manifested as acute abdominal pain. The patient had a remote history of prior abdominal surgery, presenting on multiple occasions with undiagnosed acute intermittent abdominal pain. Diagnosis of mesenteric torsion was made by contrast enhanced CT and the ailment was successfully treated with laparoscopic surgery without recurrence.     

Laparoscopic treatment of acute mesenteric torsion

Acute torsion of the small bowel mesentery is a diagnostically challenging cause of acute abdominal pain, which most commonly afflicts pediatric patients with midgut malrotation. We describe a case of mesenteric torsion in an adult patient that had manifested as acute abdominal pain. The patient had a remote history of prior abdominal surgery, presenting on multiple occasions with undiagnosed acute intermittent abdominal pain. Diagnosis of mesenteric torsion was made by contrast enhanced CT and the ailment was successfully treated with laparoscopic surgery without recurrence.     

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome due to Delayed Identification of a Ureteral Perforation Following Abdominoperineal Resection for Rectal Carcinoma

Abdominal compartment syndrome develops whenever the mean intraperitoneal pressure rises above the physiological pressure, leading to renal and mesenteric ischemia and respiratory decompensation due to pressure on the diaphragm. Abdominal compartment syndrome may occur after conditions such as peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, laparoscopic procedures, or abdominal tumors. Leakage from the urinary tract may cause accumulation of urine in the peritoneal cavity which commonly manifests as single or multiple urinomas, or urinary ascites. The case of a patient who had delayed identification of a ureteral perforation following the abdomino-perineal resection of a rectal carcinoma is presented. Massive urinary leakage into the peritoneal cavity led to the abdominal compartment syndrome. Peritoneal drainage and ureteral stenting improved her condition. A high index of suspicion is necessary in order to diagnose this rare condition.     

Small-Bowel Volvulus in Late Pregnancy Due to Internal Hernia After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Internal hernias are a specific cause of acute abdominal pain and are a well-known complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Although internal hernias are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, they may evolve towards serious complications, such as extensive bowel ischemia and gangrene, with the need for bowel resection and sometimes for a challenging reconstruction of intestinal continuity. The antecolic position of the Roux limb is associated with a decrease in the incidence of small-bowel obstruction and internal hernias. The best prevention of the formation of these hernias is probably by closure of potential mesenteric defects at the initial operation with a non-absorbable running suture. We present a patient in late pregnancy with a small-bowel volvulus following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity and discuss the available literature. For a favorable obstetric and neonatal outcome, it is crucial not to delay surgical exploration and an emergency operation usually is mandatory.     

Role of diagnostic laparoscopy in managing acute mesenteric venous thrombosis

We describe two cases with acute mesenteric venous thrombosis in which diagnostic laparoscopy helped to diagnose the possible bowel infarction. These patients presented with abdominal pain out of proportion to physical findings, and computed tomography demonstrated thrombus in the superior mesenteric vein. Anticoagulation with heparin followed by diagnostic laparoscopy was done immediately after the diagnosis was established. According to the laparoscopic findings, one was managed with full anticoagulation without laparotomy and the other was managed with full anticoagulation and surgical resection. Considering that delay in diagnosis and surgical exploration is still frequent and is a significant contributory factor to the reported high mortality rate, diagnostic laparoscopy in an early position in the management algorithm for acute mesenteric venous thrombosis can furnish a rapid precise diagnosis of bowel infarction. It can also reduce the unnecessary laparotomies in these difficult cases.     

Laparoscopic Treatment of a Huge Mesenteric Chylous Cyst

Mesenteric chylous cysts are rare pathologic entities that often present with unspecific symptoms. The preoperative diagnosis requires all the common abdominal imaging techniques, but usually the correct diagnosis may be made only at the operation stage or during the histological examination. The treatment of choice is the complete surgical excision that may be safely performed by laparoscopy. A 58-year-old man underwent laparoscopic excision of a huge mesenteric chylous cyst. The technique entails the perfect control of the major abdominal vessels running near the tumor and the complete sealing of the chylous and blood vessels to and from the cyst.     

Laparoscopic Liver Resection in Patients with a History of Upper Abdominal Surgery

Background  

The liver is the organ where tumors most frequently metastasize. Hepatic recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma also occasionally occurs. With the increasing use of laparoscopic surgery for hepatic tumors, there may be a high probability that laparoscopic liver resection can be performed in patients with a surgical history. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and clinical outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection in patients a history of upper abdominal surgery.     

Laparoscopy for abdominal emergencies

Background Emergency laparoscopic exploration can be used to identify the causative pathology of acute abdominal pain. Laparoscopic surgery also allows treatment of many intraabdominal disorders. This report was prepared to describe the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery compared to laparotomy or nonoperative treatment. Methods A panel of European experts in abdominal and gynecological surgery was assembled and participated in a consensus conference using Delphi methods. The aim was to develop evidence-based recommendations for the most common diseases that may cause acute abdominal pain. Recommendations Laparoscopic surgery was found to be clearly superior for patients with a presumable diagnosis of perforated peptic ulcer, acute cholecystitis, appendicitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. In the emergency setting, laparoscopy is of unclear or limited value if adhesive bowel obstruction, acute diverticulitis, nonbiliary pancreatitis, hernia incarceration, or mesenteric ischemia are suspected. In stable patients with acute abdominal pain, noninvasive diagnostics should be fully exhausted before considering explorative surgery. However, diagnostic laparoscopy may be useful if no diagnosis can be found by conventional diagnostics. More clinical data are needed on the use of laparoscopy after blunt or penetrating trauma of the abdomen. Conclusions Due to diagnostic and therapeutic advantages, laparoscopic surgery is useful for the majority of conditions underlying acute abdominal pain, but noninvasive diagnostic aids should be exhausted first. Depending on symptom severity, laparoscopy should be advocated if routine diagnostic procedures have failed to yield results. Paper presented at the 13th International Congress of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), Venice, Italy, June 2005 S. Sauerland and E. A. M. Neugebauer are the Conference organizers on behalf of the Scientific Committee of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), c/o EAES Office, P.O. Box 335, 5500 AH Veldhoven, The Netherlands     

肠系膜肿瘤的诊断与治疗

肠系膜肿瘤在临床实践中属于相对少见的肿瘤类型,但多数腹部外科医生在工作中都会遇到.由于肠系膜组织结构复杂,肠系膜肿瘤组织学类型多样,而不同类型的肿瘤治疗方式又有所差异.因此,肠系膜肿瘤的诊断尤为关键.影像学评估有助于明确肿瘤的性质,另外,若需手术治疗,影像学检查的另一个目的 是评估肿瘤的可切除性.组织学检查目前主要通过穿刺活检或手术活检进行评估.在精准诊断的基础上,根据肿瘤的病理类型,予以不同的治疗策略.在临床实践中,还要注意多学科协作在肠系膜肿瘤治疗中的重要意义.     

Large mesenteric cyst mimicking an ovarian cyst in an 8-year-old: A case report

Introduction and importancePediatric mesenteric cysts, rare and usually benign intra-abdominal tumors, are a difficult preoperative diagnosis due to ambiguous clinical characteristics. The final diagnosis is typically established only during surgery or histological analysis.Case presentationAn 8-year-old female presented with five days of worsening abdominal pain, associated with nausea, vomiting, and fever, as well as vague tenderness in the right quadrants on examination. Computed tomography imaging showed a 10.5 × 8.7 × 7 cm abdominal mass, most suspicious for a cystic mass of ovarian origin. Upon diagnostic laparoscopy, a mesenteric cyst extending to the root of the mesentery was visualized and entirely resected after conversion to an exploratory laparotomy. Histopathological examination of both the cystic fluid and specimen suggest a benign mesenteric cyst.Clinical discussionAlthough mesenteric cysts are noticeably rare, it is important differential to consider in pediatric patients with non-specific symptoms like abdominal pain and distention, intestinal obstruction, or a palpable abdominal mass. Notably, these cysts can be managed successfully by complete surgical resection with an excellent outcome.ConclusionThis report recounts an interesting case of a large mesenteric cyst that mimicked an ovarian cyst in a pre-pubertal girl.     

腹部无切口经肛门切除标本的腹腔镜低位直肠癌根治套入式吻合手术配合

目的 探讨腹腔镜低位直肠癌根治腹部无切口经肛门切除标本套入式吻合保肛术手术配合方法及配合模式.方法 对30例低位直肠癌经腹腔镜下根治腹部无切口经肛门切除标本行套入式吻合保肛术的手术配合,均采用统一的整体规范管理模式,四做到：术前访视患者、术前与手术医师沟通、术前熟悉解剖与手术程序、术前特殊仪器和器械准备.六配合：手术体位配合、气腹建立配合、上夹切断肠系膜下动静脉配合、游离直肠下段配合、肛门显露与切除标本配合、套入式吻合配合.结果 本组30例低位直肠癌患者,平均手术时间为178 min,腹部手术时间约为132 min,经肛门套入式吻合操作时间46 min,术中无任何意外发生,无中转手术,均顺利完成手术.结论 腹部无切口经肛门切除标本的腹腔镜低位直肠癌根治套入式吻合是一个创新手术,手术配合强调规范化,四做到、六配合模式是有效配合手术医师顺利完成手术的重要保证.     

The role of laparoscopy in diagnostics and treatment of acute surgical diseases and traumas of organs of the abdominal cavity

Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 588 patients with acute surgical pathology and 165 patients with abdominal traumas as a diagnostic procedure in order to differentiate and define further strategy of treatment. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed in 207 patients, laparoscopic appendectomy being fulfilled in 72 of them. In 103 out of 165 patients with abdominal trauma injuries of internal organs were diagnosed, in the other 62 patients injuries were excluded. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 40 patients, 28 of them underwent different laparoscopic procedures. Laparoscopy allowed the diagnosis of acute disturbances of mesenteric blood circulation in 16 patients.     

Surgical removal of multiple mesenteric fibroids (Kg 4,500) by abdominal spread of previous laparoscopic uterine myomectomy

Introduction

Huge and multiple mesenteric fibroids (4,500 Kg weight) are very unusual. In many cases they are mistaken for subserosal fibroids of the womb due to the proximity with uterine walls. When they have a rapid growth, the risk of becoming malignant (sarcoma) has not to be underestimated. Surgery is challenging to remove abdominal nodes.

Case report

A case of a 40-year old woman, admitted to the hospital with abdominal masses occupying the entire cavity was reported. Both computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasounds (US) were not diriment for belonging of tumours. Clinical history of patient reports a laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids, using the morcellator. Laparoscopy was performed four years before. Open surgery by means of a large transversal suprapubic laparotomy according to Pfannestiel was carried out. Multiple and huge mesenteric, peritoneal and intestinal tumours spread in the whole abdominal cavity were found, removed and examined by frozen section histology; in addition a series of small conglomerated myomas in the site of previous laparoscopic transumbilical route was taken away as well (the largest fibroid weighed Kg 3.500 and the all tumors removed 4,500 Kg); the result was benign (fibroids) and genital apparatus was preserved. Operation was challenging. Postoperative course was uneventful; after five days patient was discharged.

Conclusions

This case is very interesting for many factors: A) many extra-uterine fibroids spread throughout abdominal cavity; B) considerable weight of the masses C) intraoperative and postoperative danger. Finally, due to involvement of previous laparoscopic transumbilical incision together with other findings, the hypothesis of post laparoscopic dissemination has to be considered. A case of so large extragenital abdominal fibroids following laparoscopic uterine myomectomy has never been published so far.     

Mesenteric vascular occlusion resulting in intestinal necrosis in children

PURPOSE: The records of 4 patients who had necrotic bowel secondary to acute mesenteric vascular occlusion affecting various levels of mesenteric vasculature were reviewed to determine the clinical manifestations, diagnostic investigations, predisposing factors, complications, and outcome of mesenteric vascular thrombosis in children. METHODS: The medical records of the patients (3 boys, 1 girl) treated between 1981 and 1996, inclusive, for bowel infarction secondary to mesenteric vascular thrombosis, were reviewed with regard to signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, radiological investigations, surgical findings, histopathologic examinations, and outcome. RESULTS: The ages of the patients ranged between 1 and 14 years with a mean age of 8.2 years. Initial symptoms, present in all patients, were abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and tenderness. Laboratory and radiological findings including abdominal radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography were nondiagnostic. Selective superior mesenteric angiography showed complete obliteration of the superior mesenteric artery with absence of venous return in 1 case. Three patients with massive intestinal necrosis died of multiorgan failure or the complications of short bowel syndrome. Histological examination of the resected intestinal segments showed the typical findings of polyarteritis nodosa in 2 patients. One patient had a previous history of right femoral vein thrombosis, whereas 1 patient had no known underlying disorders predisposing vascular thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mesenteric vascular occlusion is a rare but serious disease leading to death in children. The patients present with similar clinical signs, most frequent and important are acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and distension. Mesenteric vascular occlusion is a rare cause of acute abdomen in childhood, which requires urgent diagnosis and intervention. In suspected mesenteric vascular insufficiency, angiography should be performed followed by intraarterial thrombolytic infusion therapy in selected cases. When intestinal infarction is suspected, immediate surgical resection of compromised bowel is necessary with appropriate postoperative anticoagulation or treatment of any underlying disease.     

Laparoskopie bei Dünndarmileus

Today laparoscopic procedures are routinely performed in patients with intestinal adhesions from previous abdominal surgery. Does laparoscopy have a potential benefit in acute small-bowel obstruction? Theoretically, a lower rate of wound complications and incisional hernias, as well as less subsequent adhesions with a lower incidence of recurrent intestinal obstruction, can be expected. However, laparoscopy is successful in only 50-70% of selected patients, thereby representing the highest rate of conversion in minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopic management of severe abdominal distension with massively dilated and fragile small-bowel or dense adhesions is extremely difficult even when performed by experienced surgeons. Significantly prolonged operating time, the high risk of bowel injury (> 6-10%) and an increased frequency of early reoperations jeopardize the patient's safe outcome. However, in strictly selected patients the laparoscopic approach may be promising. In acute intestinal obstruction without a history of previous abdominal surgery, laparoscopy is--in the absence of adhesions--an excellent diagnostic tool and may also be a successful therapeutic modality in a variety of bowel-obstruction etiologies. Furthermore, the laparoscopic option should be considered in patients who previously had undergone small laparotomies (e.g., appendectomy) or laparoscopic surgery. We recommend "postlaparoscopic" intestinal obstruction as the ideal case for laparoscopic reexploration. Incarcerated hernias at the site of trocar insertion or adhesions due to peritoneal tears are easily identified as the cause of obstruction and successfully cured with the laparoscope. In conclusion, we advocate the laparoscopic approach in acute small-bowel obstruction exclusively for selected patients. Clinical studies are required to define appropriate surgical indications objectively.