Is laparoscopic antireflux surgery safe and effective in obese patients?

Background  

It is not clear whether obesity has any negative impact on the results of laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS). In this prospective study we investigated the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the surgical outcome of LARS.     

Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Resection of Large Adrenal Tumors

Background

Although recent studies have shown the feasibility and safety of robotic adrenalectomy, an advantage over the laparoscopic approach has not been demonstrated. Our hypothesis was that the use of the robot would facilitate minimally invasive resection of large adrenal tumors.

Methods

Adrenal tumors ??5?cm resected robotically were compared with those removed laparoscopically from a prospective institutional review board-approved adrenal database. Clinical and perioperative parameters were analyzed using t and chi-square tests. All data are expressed as mean?±?standard error of mean.

Results

There were 24 patients with 25 tumors in the robotic group and 38 patients with 38 tumors in the laparoscopic group. Tumor size was similar in both groups (6.5?±?0.4 [robotic] vs 6.2?±?0.3?cm [laparoscopic], P?=?.661). Operative time was shorter for the robotic versus laparoscopic group (159.4?±?13.4 vs 187.2?±?8.3 min, respectively, P?=?.043), while estimated blood loss was similar (P?=?.147). The conversion to open rate was less in the robotic (4%) versus the laparoscopic (11%) group; P?=?.043. Hospital stay was shorter for the robotic group (1.4?±?0.2 vs 1.9?±?0.1?days, respectively, P?=?.009). The 30-day morbidity was 0 in robotic and 2.7% in laparoscopic group. Pathology was similar between groups.

Conclusions

Our study shows that the use of the robot could shorten operative time and decrease the rate of conversion to open for adrenal tumors larger than 5?cm. Based on our favorable experience, robotic adrenalectomy has become our preferred minimally invasive surgical approach for removing large adrenal tumors.     

A new and safe technique for removing cervical esophageal foreign body.

Despite the recent advances in instrumentation and anesthesia, removal of esophageal foreign bodies remains a challenge. Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies has yielded a success rate of 80%. Surgical removal of these foreign bodies is necessary when the endoscopic manipulations fail. Localization and size of the bodies play a critical role in the method of treatment. Here we present a patient with a large stone with sharp edges located in the cervico-thoracic region which was removed after being pushed into the hypopharynx through the esophagus rather than being pushed into the stomach. The technique used proved to be effective and safe; this may be the first use of the procedure in the literature.     

Five years and 4 months of recurrence-free survival in hepatic angiosarcoma

A 54-year-old woman was referred with the diagnosis of hepatic angiosarcoma, made by percutaneous biopsy under ultrasonographic guidance. Ultrasonography (US) had revealed a 48 × 42 × 35?mm mass in the right lobe. Standard biochemical tests and whole blood count had yielded normal results. At our institution, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a hypervascular mass in the right lobe. Alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels were normal. Serological tests were negative for hepatitis B and C viruses. There was no evidence of metastasis. A right hepatectomy was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of angiosarcoma. However, there was a suspicion of microscopically positive margins. Relaparotomy and resection of a 1-cm-thick slice of hepatic parenchyma was performed. Histopathological examination revealed necrotic tumor cells at the previous margin. The new surgical margin was tumor free. Due to the expected poor prognosis, prophylactic chemoembolization of the remnant liver (lipiodol + adriamycin + mitomycin) was performed at 3 and 7 months postoperatively. She has been alive without recurrence for 5 years and 4 months. Hepatic angiosarcoma has two distinct presentations: multiple tumors and a solitary tumor. The reported poor results largely stem from the predominance of the multiple tumors and consequent unresectability. Long-term survival is possible in solitary resectable hepatic angiosarcomas.     

Unusual case of severe late-onset cytomegalovirus-induced hemorrhagic cystitis and ureteritis in a renal transplant patient

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common in solid organ transplant recipients and accounts for the majority of graft compromise. Major risk factors include primary exposure to CMV infection at the time of transplantation and the use of antilymphocyte agents such as OKT3 (the monoclonal antibody muromonab-CD3) and antithymocyte globulin. It most often develops during the first 6 months after transplantation. Although current prophylactic strategies and antiviral agents have led to decreased occurrence of CMV disease in early posttransplant period, the incidence of late-onset CMV disease ranges from 2% to 7% even in the patients receiving prophylaxis with oral ganciclovir. The most common presentation of CMV disease in transplant patients is CMV pneumonitis followed by gastrointestinal disease. Hemorrhagic cystitis is a common complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The condition is usually due to cyclophosphamide-based myeloablative regimens and infectious agents. Even in these settings, CMV-induced cases occur only sporadically. Ureteritis and hemorrhagic cystitis due to CMV infection after kidney transplantation is reported very rarely on a case basis in the literature so far. We report here a case of late-onset CMV-induced hemorrhagic cystitis and ureteritis presenting with painful macroscopic hematuria and ureteral obstruction after 4 years of renal transplantation. The diagnosis is pathologically confirmed by the demonstration of immunohistochemical staining specific for CMV in a resected ureteral section. We draw attention to this very particular presentation of CMV hemorrhagic cystitis with ureteral obstruction in order to emphasize atypical presentation of tissue-invasive CMV disease far beyond the timetable for posttransplant CMV infection.     

Acute suppurative thyroiditis following fine‐needle aspiration biopsy in an immunocompetent patient

The thyroid gland is remarkably resistant to infectious agents owing to several protective mechanisms. Acute suppurative thyroiditis after fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) in an immunocompetent patient is very rare. We report the case of a 50‐year‐old immunocompetent male patient who presented with painful cervical swelling, fever, and chills after an FNA of the thyroid. His physical and laboratory examination suggested an acute suppurative thyroiditis. Repeat FNA results were consistent with thyroid abscess. Physicians should be aware of the probability of acute bacterial thyroiditis after FNA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42:215–218, 2014