Techniques for performing laparoscopic liver resection in various hepatic locations

Many studies have recently reported on laparoscopic liver resection, although its development has been slow compared to laparoscopy in other fields. The indications for the location of laparoscopic liver resection have previously been limited to easily accessible lesions. Performing laparoscopic liver resection in the posterior and superior parts of the liver has been considered difficult due to inadequate exposure, the poor operative field and the difficulty with parenchymal dissection. Flexible endoscopy, high definition imaging and various kinds of equipment for parenchymal transection have been introduced for clinical use. In addition, much experience with this procedure has been accumulated at many centers. Accordingly, there are an increasing number of reports on laparoscopic liver resection in difficult locations. At our institution, the location of the tumor is no longer a limitation to laparoscopic liver resection. However, for safer laparoscopic liver resection, the patient positioning and trocar placement should be individualized according to the tumor location. The type of resection also may depend on the remaining liver’s functional capacity. We describe here the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection, including the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection for lesions located in the postero-superior segments of the liver.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术360例Calot三角解剖与临床

目的 通过腹腔镜胆囊切除术(Laparoscopic Cholecystec-tomy，LC)，探讨Calot三角的解剖关系。方法 从Calot三角分离出胆囊动脉、胆囊管，辨认胆总管和肝总管的走向。结果 我们1998年9月～2004年6月共完成360例LC术进行分析。结论 解剖Calot三角是胆囊切除术中重要的步骤，也是预防医源性损伤的关键。     

输尿管上段结石的微创手术治疗

目的：探讨输尿管上段结石的治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析输尿管镜下气压弹道碎石(URSL），后腹腔镜输尿管切开取石(RLU)、经皮肾穿刺取石(PCNL)治疗输尿管上段结石患者的临床资料。其中URSL组25例，RLU组20例。PCNL组9例。结果：URSL组碎石成功18例；7例不成功，其中3例改为开放手术，1例改为后腹腔镜取石。2例行ESWL术，1例仅留置双J管。术后1个月拔管后自行排出。2例并发输尿管穿孔。RLU组取石成功18例，2例滑入肾内，经配合输尿管镜和腹腔镜直视下经皮肾穿刺取石成功，术后15例有伤口漏尿。PCNL组成功9例，无并发症。结论：USRL创伤小。术后恢复快。是治疗输尿管上段结石的较为满意的治疗方法。PCNL创伤小，取石成功率高，在结石靠近肾盂、儿童输尿管上段结石并同侧肾结石和结石以下输尿管狭窄时应优先考虑。但技术难度较大。RLU可作为URSL不成功后的辅助治疗方法。     

腹腔镜肝切除术患者的护理

笔者报道腹腔镜肝切除术患者的护理。术前进行心理护理和呼吸训练；术后注意早期活动，加强腹腔镜CO2气腹后的观察、护理，做好皮下气肿、胆漏、出血、高碳酸血症和下肢静脉血栓等术后并发症的观察及护理。认为周到细致的护理是手术成功的重要保证。     

The efficacy and safety of laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with three or more comorbidities

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic surgery for kidney treatment is a common procedure. However, the efficacy of this procedure in patients with several comorbidities has not been well investigated. We conducted a retrospective comparison of results of laparoscopic surgery between patients with several comorbidities and patients with no comorbidity to access the efficacy and safety of this procedure. METHODS: The subjects were 20 patients with three or more comorbidities (group A) and 46 patients with less than three comorbidities (group B). These 66 patients were 48 men and 18 women with a mean age of 62.3 years (age range, 24-83 years). The data from these two groups were compared for American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status score, previous surgical history, duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, tumor size, complications during and after surgery, conversion rates, time to oral intake, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The initial ASA score and age were significantly higher for the patients with comorbidities (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0008, respectively). All other variables before, during, and after surgery were similar for both laparoscopic groups. However, the incidence of atelectasis of laparoscopy was higher than that of open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic nephrectomy for patients with comorbidities is safe and minimally invasive. Further investigation to prevent atelectasis is necessary.     

Head-to-head comparison of retropubic, perineal and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE: As more patients are diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage, it is becoming increasingly important to refine the technique of surgical excision. For this purpose we have generated objective data comparing three different surgical approaches used by three experienced surgeons. METHODS: We prospectively compared three contemporary personal series of 50 consecutive radical prostatectomy (RP) patients. The health-related quality of life was evaluated preoperatively and in months 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24. RESULTS: Considering in turn the patients undergoing retropubic, perineal and laparoscopic RP, the median procedure time was 2 h and 27 min, 1 h and 50 min and 4 h, with a transfusion rate of 2, 0 and 8%, respectively. In the perineal group there were more wound infections. Median catheter drainage was 7, 10 and 7 days and zero, 13 and one patients needed reinsertion of a catheter. Early continence varied considerably, with 57.4, 11.4 and 6.3% of patients pad-free after 1 month, but there were no differences in social continence (zero or one pad) with 97.8, 97.8 and 91.9% after 2 years. The Litwin score for incontinence (preoperative minus postoperative) was -24, -41 and -63% after 1 month and -13, +3 and -29% after 2 years. Twenty-nine, five and 15 patients had a preoperative five-item version of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score of > or = 17 points and a nerve-sparing procedure. After 2 years, 48.1, 0 and 0% had an IIEF-5 score of > or = 17 points without the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, but when including patients using inhibitors there were no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: A comparison of morbidity, short-term convalescence and long-term side-effects of different surgical techniques is strongly biased by both the preoperative status of patients and the skill of the surgeons. Overall, we found some differences in the short-term results (e.g. early continence) and comparable long-term results.     

腹腔镜下良性卵巢囊肿手术50例探讨

目的探讨腹腔镜下卵巢囊肿手术的适应证及手术技巧.方法腹腔镜下行卵巢囊肿剥除术、卵巢-卵巢囊肿切除术和输卵管-卵巢切除术50例.结果卵巢囊肿剥除术46例（92%）,卵巢囊肿切除术2例（4%）,输卵管一卵巢切除术3例（6%）.手术时间30～120min,平均58min.术中出血＜20ml,无中转开腹者,无气栓、出血、感染等严重并发症发生.术后病理诊断：卵巢巧克力囊肿23例（46%）、良性畸胎瘤10例（20%）、卵巢冠囊肿8例（16%）、黄素囊肿5例（10%）、浆液性囊肿3例（6%）、纤维瘤1例（2%）.结论腹腔镜手术治疗良性卵巢囊肿具有微创手术的优点.     

The Influence of a New Timing Strategy of Band Adjustment on the Vomiting Frequency and the Food Consumption of Obese Women Operated with Laparoscopic Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding (LAP-BAND)

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a new timing strategy of band adjustment on the short-term outcome of obese women operated with adjustable silicone gastric banding. Subjects: The outcome of 30 women without binge-eating disorder operated with laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding with a wider intraoperatory band calibration (LAP-BAND) was compared to that of 30 body mass index-matched women without binge-eating disorder previously operated with adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) applied by laparotomy with the usual intraoperatory band calibration. The patients were evaluated 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Measurements: (1) weight loss; (2) total daily energy intake; (3) percent as liquid, soft or solid food; (4) vomiting frequency; (5) rate of postoperative percutaneous band adjustments; (6) rate of band-related complications. Results: Both the weight loss and the daily energy intake did not differ between patients with LAP-BAND and patients with ASGB. After surgery, the patients with LAP-BAND ate more solid food and less liquid food than the patients with ASGB. Vomiting frequency was higher in patients with ASGB than in patients with LAP-BAND. The total number of percutaneous band adjustments was higher in women with LAP-BAND than in women with ASGB. Band inflation because of weight stabilization was performed in six (20.0%) women with ASGB and in 19 (63.3%) women with LAP-BAND. Neostoma stenosis occurred in one women with ASGB, but in none of the women with LAP-BAND. One patient with LAP-BAND presented band slippage. Conclusions: The wider intraoperatory band calibration performed in patients with LAP-BAND did not reduce the short-term efficacy of adjustable silicone gastric banding. This new timing strategy of band adjustment required more postoperative percutaneous band inflations, but it improved the eating pattern of the patients (low vomiting frequency and high intake of solid food).     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience with hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (HALN) for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma and compare our results with a contemporary series of open nephroureterectomy (ON) performed at our institution. METHODS: Between August 1996 and May 2003, 90 patients underwent nephroureterectomy for upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Thirty-eight patients underwent HALN, while 52 had an ON. End-points of comparison included operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, pathologic grade and stage of tumor, and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 72.3 and 70.6 years in the ON and HALN groups, respectively. Mean operative duration was 243 minutes (ON) and 244 minutes (HALN), with an EBL of 478mL in the open group versus 191 mL in the hand-assisted group (P<0.001). No intraoperative complications occurred, but postoperative complications occurred in 4% and 11% of the ON and HALN groups, respectively (P=0.21). The mean hospital duration was 7.1 days (ON) versus 4.6 days (HALN) (P<0.01). No difference existed in the pathologic grade or stage distribution of urothelial tumors between the 2 groups. The mean follow-up was 51.0 months in the ON group and 31.7 months in the HALN group. Recurrence of urothelial carcinoma occurred in 50% of patients who underwent ON and 40% treated by HALN (P=0.38) at a median interval of 9.1 and 7.7 months, respectively, after surgery. CONCLUSION: Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is an effective modality for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Patients benefited from less intraoperative blood loss and a shorter hospitalization with an equivalent intermediate-term oncologic outcome compared with that of the open approach.