Laparoscopic Instruments Research Articles

Comparison of totally robotic and totally laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a propensity score matching analysis.

With the improvements in laparoscopic or robotic surgical techniques and instruments, a growing number of surgeons have attempted to complete all digestive tract reconstruction intracorporeally; these procedures include totally robotic gastrectomy (TRG) and totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the TRG and compare the short-term outcomes of the TRG and TLG in patients with gastric cancer. Between January 2018 and June 2023, 346 consecutive patients who underwent TRG or TLG at a high-volume academic gastric cancer specialty center were included. 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce confounding bias. The surgical outcomes, postoperative morbidity, and surgical burden were compared in PSM cohort. After PSM, a well-balanced cohort of 194 patients (97 in each group) was included in the analysis. The total operation time of the TRG group was significantly longer than that of the TLG group (244.9 vs. 213.0min, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the effective operation time between the 2 groups (217.8 vs. 207.2min, P = 0.059). The digestive tract reconstruction time of the TRG group was significantly shorter than that of the TLG group (39.4 vs. 46.7min, P < 0.001). The mean blood loss in the TRG group was less than that in the TLG group (101.1 vs. 126.8mL, P = 0.014). The TRG group had more retrieved lymph nodes in the suprapancreatic area than that in the TLG group (16.6 vs 14.2, P = 0.002). The TRG group had a lower surgery task load index (38.9 vs. 43.1, P < 0.001) than the TLG group. No significant difference was found in terms of postoperative morbidity between the 2 groups (14.4% vs. 16.5%, P = 0.691). This study demonstrated that TRG is a safe and feasible procedure, and is preferable to TLG in terms of invasion and ergonomics. The TRG may maximize the superiority of robotic surgical systems and embodies the theory of minimally invasive surgery.

Can you feel the force just right? Tactile force feedback for training of minimally invasive surgery—evaluation of vibration feedback for adequate force application

BackgroundTissue handling is a crucial skill for surgeons and is challenging to learn. The aim of this study was to develop laparoscopic instruments with different integrated tactile vibration feedback by varying different tactile modalities and assess its effect on tissue handling skills.MethodsStandard laparoscopic instruments were equipped with a vibration effector, which was controlled by a microcomputer attached to a force sensor platform. One of three different vibration feedbacks (F1: double vibration > 2 N; F2: increasing vibration relative to force; F3: one vibration > 1.5 N and double vibration > 2 N) was applied to the instruments. In this multicenter crossover trial, surgical novices and expert surgeons performed two laparoscopic tasks (Peg transfer, laparoscopic suture, and knot) each with all the three vibration feedback modalities and once without any feedback, in a randomized order. The primary endpoint was force exertion.ResultsA total of 57 subjects (15 surgeons, 42 surgical novices) were included in the trial. In the Peg transfer task, there were no differences between the tactile feedback modalities in terms of force application. However, in subgroup analysis, the use of F2 resulted in a significantly lower mean-force application (p-value = 0.02) among the student group. In the laparoscopic suture and knot task, all participants exerted significantly lower mean and peak forces using F2 (p-value < 0.01). These findings remained significant after subgroup analysis for both, the student and surgeon groups individually. The condition without tactile feedback led to the highest mean and peak force exertion compared to the three other feedback modalities.ConclusionContinuous tactile vibration feedback decreases the mean and peak force applied during laparoscopic training tasks. This effect is more pronounced in demanding tasks such as laparoscopic suturing and knot tying and might be more beneficial for students. Laparoscopic tasks without feedback lead to increased force application.

Robotic platforms in gynaecological surgery: past, present, and future.

More than two decades ago, the advent of robotic laparoscopic surgery marked a significant milestone, featuring the introduction of the AESOP robotic endoscope control system and the ZEUS robotic surgery system. The latter, equipped with distinct arms for the laparoscope and surgical instruments, was designed to accommodate remote connections, enabling the practice of remote telesurgery as early as 2001. Subsequent technological progress has given rise to a range of options in today's market, encompassing multi-port and single-port systems, both rigid and flexible, across various price points, with further growth anticipated. This article serves as an indispensable guide for gynaecological surgeons with an interest in embracing robotic surgery. Drawing insights from the experience of the Strasbourg training centre for minimally invasive surgery (IRCAD), this article offers a comprehensive overview of existing robotic platforms in the market, as well as those in development. Robotic surgical systems not only streamline established operative methods but also broaden the scope of procedures, including intra- and transluminal surgeries. As integral components of the digital surgery ecosystem, these robotic systems actively contribute to the increasing integration and adoption of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence-based data analysis and support systems. Robotic surgery is increasingly being adopted in clinical practice. With the growing number of systems available on the marketplace, the primary challenge lies in identifying the optimal platform for each specific procedure and patient. The seamless integration of robotic systems with artificial intelligence, image-guided surgery, and telesurgery presents undeniable advantages, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of surgical interventions. This article provides a guide to the robotic platforms available on the market and those in development for gynaecologists interested in robotic surgery.

Insights Into Laparoscopic Port Site Complications: A Comprehensive Review.

Laparoscopic surgery has become a widely accepted standard of care for numerous procedures in the modern world. Nearly every major surgical procedure previously only possible by employing open techniques may now be completed laparoscopically, attributable to the quick advancement of technology and surgeons' abilities. There are several complications associated with the laparoscopic port site, either infective, non-infective, or neoplastic. This study aims to explore the morbidity associated with the port site following laparoscopic surgery and discuss the risk factors for complications. The umbilical port was most frequently associated with port-site hernia (PSH), followed by the epigastrium and the left and right hypochondrium. Prolonged port manipulation and reinsertion, longer surgical times, failure to effectively close the fascial defect, and wound infection are responsible for the development of PSH. Port-site infection (PSI) is one avoidable adverse effect of laparoscopic surgery. Patients who have a history of diabetes, malnourishment, prolonged preoperative hospital stays, preoperative Staphylococcus aureus colonization of the nares, perioperative blood transfusions, and tobacco or steroid use are more likely to have PSI. Port-site hydatid cyst (PSHC) and port-site tuberculosis (PST) are rare but possible. While uncommon, a doctor should rule out endometriosis if a painful mass in the surgical scar, such as the trocar site, is discovered in a reproductive-age woman who has had pelvic or obstetric surgery in the past. Port-site metastasis (PSM) is the term for tumor-cell implantation at the trocar insertion site after a malignant tumor is removed laparoscopically. PSM has been reported in 1-2% of laparoscopic gynecologic surgical procedures. A few potential mechanisms for cell implantation at the port site include embolization of exfoliated cells during tumor dissection or hematogenous spread, air turbulence during long laparoscopic operations, and direct implantation onto the wound during forced, unprotected organ/tissue retrieval or from contaminated surgical instruments during tumor dissection. Nonetheless, the triggering mechanism is likely essentially multifaceted.Prevention is better than cure. Port-site hernia can be prevented using smaller trocars and meticulous rectus sheath defect closure at the end of surgery. The rest of the port site complications can be prevented by employing autoclavable laparoscopic hand instruments, utilizing autoclaved water to clean the instruments following disassembly, adhering to the recommended concentration, contact duration, and usage cycles when sterilizing instruments with liquid sterilizers, preventing bile or gut content from spilling into the operating room or the port site, using non-porous specimen retrieval bags for recovering the specimen, and thoroughly cleaning and irrigating the port site before closing the wound.

Variables associated with the prevalence of self-reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders in veterinary laparoscopic surgeons.

To investigate the relationship between physical attributes and difficulty performing laparoscopic maneuvers with the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal injury. Online survey. Surgeons (n = 140) with 3 or more years of laparoscopic experience. Electronic survey distributed via LISTSERVEs and Facebook groups. Responses collected included surgeon attributes, presence of musculoskeletal injuries, and surgical practice data. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, linear regression, logistic regression, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. A total of 52 of the 140 respondents reported a musculoskeletal injury with 38 specifying at least one injury (72%). Neck strain was the most prevalent reported musculoskeletal injury (18/52, 34.6%), followed by shoulder tendinopathies (16/52, 30.8%), arm/hand tendonitis (8/52, 15.4%), carpal tunnel (7/52, 13.5%), back pain (4/52, 7.7%) and arm/hand arthritis (1/52, 1.9%). Women were significantly more likely to report a musculoskeletal problem than men (p = .011) with the odds of women reporting a musculoskeletal injury 2.59 times greater than men. Women and surgeons with smaller glove sizes were significantly more likely to report shoulder tendonitis (p = .034, p = .1) and neck strain (p = .009, p = .001). Respondents with a musculoskeletal problem experienced significantly more difficulty using rotating cup biopsy forceps (p < .001) and perceived this as difficult a greater amount of time (p = .006). Female surgeons report more musculoskeletal injuries than their male counterparts. Surgeons with musculoskeletal injuries experience more difficulty performing particular laparoscopic maneuvers. Improving ergonomics for women and surgeons with smaller glove sizes must be prioritized to improve surgeon health and laparoscopic instrument use.

Outpatient and Ambulatory Extended Recovery Robotic Hepatectomy: Multinational Study of 307 Cases.

For open minor hepatectomy, morbidity and recovery are dominated by the incision. The robotic approach may transform this "incision dominant procedure" into a safe outpatient procedure. We audited outpatient (less than 2 midnights) robotic hepatectomy at 6 hepatobiliary centers in 2 nations to test the hypothesis that the robotic approach can be a safe and effective short-stay procedure. Establishing early recovery after surgery programs were active at all sites, and home digital monitoring was available at 1 of the institutions. A total of 307 outpatient (26 same-day and 281 next-day discharge) robotic hepatectomies were identified (2013 to 2023). Most were minor hepatectomies (194 single segments, 90 bi-segmentectomies, 14 three segments, and 8 four segments). Thirty-nine (13%) were for benign histology, whereas 268 were for cancer (33 hepatocellular carcinoma, 27 biliary, and 208 metastatic disease). Patient characteristics were a median age of 60 years (18 to 93 years), 55% male, and a median BMI of 26 kg/m 2 (14 to 63 kg/m 2 ). Thirty (10%) patients had cirrhosis. One hundred eighty-seven (61%) had previous abdominal operation. Median operative time was 163 minutes (30 to 433 minutes), with a median blood loss of 50 mL (10 to 900 mL). There were no deaths and 6 complications (2%): 2 wound infections, 1 failure to thrive, and 3 perihepatic abscesses. Readmission was required in 5 (1.6%) patients. Of the 268 malignancy cases, 25 (9%) were R1 resections. Of the 128 with superior segment resections (segments 7, 8, 4A, 2, and 1), there were 12 positive margins (9%) and 2 readmissions for abscess. Outpatient robotic hepatectomy in well-selected cases is safe (0 mortality, 2% complication, and 1.6% readmission), including resection in the superior or posterior portions of the liver that is challenging with nonarticulating laparoscopic instruments.

Effect of three training programs on surgical performance in single-port laparoscopic surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three training methodologies on the acquisition of psychomotor skills for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), using straight and articulating instruments. A prospective study was conducted with subjects randomly divided into three groups, who performed a specific training for 12 days using three laparoscopic tasks in a laparoscopic simulator. Group-A trained in conventional laparoscopy setting using straight instruments and in LESS setting using both straight and articulating instruments. Group-B trained in LESS setting using straight and articulating instruments, whereas Group-C trained in LESS setting using articulating instruments. Participants' performance was recorded with a video-tracking system and evaluated with 12 motion analysis parameters (MAPs). All groups obtained significant differences in their performance in most of the MAPs. Group-C showed an improvement in nine MAPs, with a high level of technical competence. Group-A presented a marked improvement in bimanual dexterity skills. Training in LESS surgery using articulating laparoscopic instruments improves the quality of skills and allows smoother learning curves.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Smart Trocar Site Modification in Patients with Extreme Obesity.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most common bariatric surgeries performed worldwide. Although it has established itself as a satisfactory procedure on its own, it can also function as the first part of a two-stage treatment strategy. This is especially true in situations of extreme obesity (obesity grade IV or higher). One rationale for choosing a two-stage treatment is the technical difficulty of doing other types of bariatric procedures involving anastomoses due to body physique and level of visceral adiposity. LSG in patients with such a high body mass index (BMI) is comparatively simpler technically, but it does also have a degree of complexity for similar reasons. Here, we present an innovative port configuration for LSG that can significantly reduce ergonomic challenges and enhance the safety of the procedure in patients with extreme obesity. This new trocar site arrangement is generally suitable for individuals with grade IV obesity or above. It is especially effective for people with obesity at or above grade V. Only standard laparoscopic instruments are used. This design preserves the ideal manipulation and elevation angles at 60° and allows surgeons to use standard laparoscopic instruments with lowered shoulders, reducing muscular strain and fatigue. Additionally, it improves patient safety. In patients with extreme obesity, this proposed port configuration for LSG can significantly reduce ergonomic difficulties and increase surgical safety.

A novel method of tunneling retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy: a prospective study.

To introduce the surgical technique and our team's extensive experience with tunnel method in laparoscopic adrenalectomy. From July 2019 to June 2022, we independently designed and conducted 83 cases of " Tunnel Method Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy," a prospective study. There were 45 male and 38 female patients, ages ranged from 25 to 73 years(mean: 44.6 years).The cases included 59 adrenal cortical adenomas, 9 pheochromocytomas, 6 cysts, 4 myelolipomas, 1 ganglioneuroma, and 4 cases of adrenal cortical hyperplasia. In terms of anatomical location, there were 39 cases on the left side, 42 on the right side, and 2 bilateral cases. Tumor diameters ranged from 0.6 to 5.9cm(mean: 2.9cm). Utilizing ultrasound monitoring, percutaneous puncture was made either directly to the target organ or its vicinity, and the puncture path was manually marked. Then, under the direct view of a single-port single-channel laparoscope, the path to the target organ in the retroperitoneum or its vicinity was further delineated and separated. This approach allowed for the insertion of the laparoscope and surgical instruments through the affected adrenal gland, thereby separating the surface of the target organ to create sufficient operational space for the adrenalectomy. All 83 surgeries were successfully completed. A breakdown of the surgical approach reveals that 51 surgeries were done using one puncture hole, 25 with two puncture holes, and 7 with three puncture holes. The operation time ranged from 31 to 105min (mean: 47min), with a blood loss of 10 to 220mL (mean: 40 mL). Notably, there were no conversions to open surgery and no intraoperative complications. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 6 to 28 months, during which after re-examination using ultrasound, CT, and other imaging methods, there were no recurrences or other complications detected. The completion of the tunnel method laparoscopic adrenalectomy represents a breakthrough, transitioning from the traditional step-by-step separation of retroperitoneal tissues to reach the target organ in conventional retroperitoneoscopic surgery. This method directly accesses the target organ, substantially reducing the damage and complications associated with tissue separation in retroperitoneoscopic surgery, As a result, it provides a new option for minimally invasive surgery of retroperitoneal organs and introduces innovative concepts to retroperitoneoscopic surgery.

DBH-YOLO: a surgical instrument detection method based on feature separation in laparoscopic surgery.

Accurately locating and analysing surgical instruments in laparoscopic surgical videos can assist doctors in postoperative quality assessment. This can provide patients with more scientific and rational solutions for healing surgical complications. Therefore, we propose an end-to-end algorithm for the detection of surgical instruments. Dual-Branched Head (DBH) and Overall Intersection over Union Loss (OIoU Loss) are introduced to solve the problem of inaccurate surgical instrument detection, both in terms of localization and classification. An effective method (DBHYOLO) for the detection for laparoscopic surgery in complex scenarios is proposed. This study manually annotates a new laparoscopic gastric cancer resection surgical instrument location dataset LGIL, which provides a better validation platform for surgical instrument detection methods. The proposed method's performance was tested using the m2cai16-tool-locations, LGIL, and Onyeogulu datasets. The mean Average Precision (mAP) values obtained were 96.8%, 95.6%, and 98.4%, respectively, which were higher than the other classical models compared. The improved model is more effective than the benchmark network in distinguishing between surgical instrument classes with high similarity and avoiding too many missed detection cases. In this paper, the problem of inaccurate detection of surgical instruments is addressed from two different perspectives: classification and localization. And the experimental results on three representative datasets verify the performance of DBH-YOLO. It is shown that this method has a good generalization capability.

Enhancing robotic telesurgery with sensorless haptic feedback.

This paper evaluates user performance in telesurgical tasks with the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), comparing unilateral teleoperation, bilateral teleoperation with force sensors and sensorless force estimation. A four-channel teleoperation system with disturbance observers and sensorless force estimation with learning-based dynamic compensation was developed. Palpation experiments were conducted with 12 users who tried to locate tumors hidden in tissue phantoms with their fingers or through handheld or teleoperated laparoscopic instruments with visual, force sensor, or sensorless force estimation feedback. In a peg transfer experiment with 10 users, the contribution of sensorless haptic feedback with/without learning-based dynamic compensation was assessed using NASA TLX surveys, measured free motion speeds and forces, environment interaction forces as well as experiment completion times. The first study showed a 30% increase in accuracy in detecting tumors with sensorless haptic feedback over visual feedback with only a 5-10% drop in accuracy when compared with sensor feedback or direct instrument contact. The second study showed that sensorless feedback can help reduce interaction forces due to incidental contacts by about 3 times compared with unilateral teleoperation. The cost is an increase in free motion forces and physical effort. We show that it is possible to improve this with dynamic compensation. We demonstrate the benefits of sensorless haptic feedback in teleoperated surgery systems, especially with dynamic compensation, and that it can improve surgical performance without hardware modifications.

Ovarian tissue biopsy for cryopreservation by vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: a new approach for a minimal invasive ovarian biopsy

Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) is an emerging surgical procedure that combines the advantages of the vaginal approach with laparoscopic vision and instrumentation. Shorter hospitalization and lesser postoperative pain associated with vNOTES may be explained by the advantages of this innovative surgical approach (e.g., absence of abdominal incisions, shorter operative time, and lower insufflation pressure). Ovarian tissue cryopreservation allows to preserve reproductive and endocrine functions in young women with oncological disease at risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) caused by gonadotoxic treatments. Ovarian tissue biopsy for cryopreservation consists of a large biopsy of 1 or both ovaries that is usually performed by laparoscopy. Then, the removed ovarian tissue is cryopreserved for the future transplant after cancer remission. The volume of ovarian biopsy ranges from 50% of the ovary for women at moderate risk of POI to 70%-100% of it for those at high risk. The inclusion criteria for ovarian tissue cryopreservation are women aged <35 years who cannot delay start of oncological treatments for follicle cryopreservation, with a moderate or high risk of POI and good chance of 5-year survival. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation cannot be performed if tumor treatments include uterine irradiation or for tumors at risk of ovarian metastases (as in the case of ovarian cancer, leukemia, neuroblastoma, or Burkitt lymphoma). Despite widespread adoption of vNOTES in gynecology, ovarian biopsy for cryopreservation has never been performed using this route. Step-by-step explanation of the procedure with descriptive text and narrated video footage. Tertiary-level referral academic center. A 27-year-old patient recently diagnosed with low-grade follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma was referred to our center for ovarian tissue cryopreservation before chemotherapy. The patient included in this study gave informed consent for publication of the video and posting of the video online including social media, the journal website, scientific literature websites (e.g., PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus), and other applicable sites. Because of the nature of the study, institutional review board approval was not required. Access to the peritoneal cavity was created by a 3-cm posterior colpotomy. The peritoneum was then opened using cold scissors and temporarily fixed to the posterior vaginal wall. The GelPOINT Mini Advanced Access Platform (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), with 1 10-mm and 2 5-mm trocars, was used as the vNOTES port. The inner Alexis ring of the GelPOINT was inserted through the colpotomy into the pouch of Douglas. A hysterometer was placed into the uterine cavity to keep the uterus anteverted during the surgery. A pneumoperitoneum was created to a pressure of 8 mm Hg, and the operating table was tilted to a 20° Trendelenburg position. A 10-mm rigid 30° camera was inserted in the inferior and larger trocar, and both ovaries were visualized. Seventy percent of the left ovary was removed with cold scissors to minimize trauma on the surgical specimen. After removal of the GelPOINT cap, ovarian biopsy was immediately picked up by the biologist of our fertility center. The ovary was coagulated with a bipolar instrument. The hysterometer was then replaced by a uterine manipulator to perform tubal patency test, and blue dye passage through both salpinges was observed. Finally, the Alexis retractor and stich on the posterior peritoneum were removed, and the vagina was sutured using interrupted stiches. The total operative time was 25 minutes. Ovarian tissue biopsy for cryopreservation by vNOTES. No intraoperative and postoperative complications were reported, and the patient was discharged after 24 hours from surgery. Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery may be a feasible alternative approach to laparoscopy for ovarian tissue cryopreservation: it allows an easy access to the ovaries and removal of different tissue volumes. Patients undergoing ovarian cryopreservation may benefit from the vNOTES approach because a rapid postoperative recovery is crucial to start chemotherapy in a short time. As for other vNOTES procedures, accurate selection of patients seems to be crucial for a successful ovarian tissue cryopreservation. We believe that the inclusion and exclusion criteria reported for other gynecologic procedures performed through vNOTES may also be valid for ovarian tissue cryopreservation by vNOTES. Women at high risk of pelvic adhesions (e.g., coexistent endometriosis, previous pelvic surgery, or inflammatory pelvic disease), those with an increased body mass index or enlarged uterus, and those with cervical, vaginal, or uterine cancer cannot be considered for this approach because all these factors are associated with failure of vNOTES. On the other hand, women with no history of surgery, endometriosis, and large myomas may benefit from the vNOTES approach, and these women represent most of patients who undergo ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Further and larger studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of this new approach.

Effect of laparoscopic handle size on surgical performance: A randomized crossover trial

Laparoscopic instrument handles design and dimensions are crucial to determine the configuration of surgeons' hand grip and, therefore, can have a deleterious effect on overall surgical efficiency and surgeons' comfort. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of laparoscopic handle size and hand surface area on surgical task performance. A single-blind, randomized crossover trial was carried out with 29 novice medical students. Participants performed three simulated tasks in "black box" simulators using two scissor-type handles of different sizes. Surgical performance was assessed by the number of errors and time required to complete each task. Hand anthropometric data were measured using a 3D scanner. Execution time was significantly higher when cutting and suturing tasks were performed with the smaller handle. In addition, hand surface area was positively correlated with peg transfer task time when performed with the standard handle and was correlated with cutting task time in small and standard handle groups. We also found positive correlations between execution time and the number of errors executed by larger-handed participants. Our findings indicate that laparoscopic handle size and hand area influence surgical performance, highlighting the importance of considering hand anthropometry variances in surgical instrument design.

Laparoscopy training of novices with complex curved instruments using 2D- and 3D-visualization

PurposeBeside many advantages, disadvantages such as reduced degrees of freedom and poorer depth perception are still apparent in laparoscopic surgery. 3D visualization and the development of complex instruments are intended to counteract the disadvantages. We want to find out whether the use of complex instruments and 3D visualization has an influence on the performance of novices.Methods48 medical students with no experience in laparoscopic surgery or simulator-based laparoscopy training were included. They were randomized in four groups according to a stratification assessment. During a structured training period they completed the FLS-Tasks “PEG Transfer”, “Pattern Cut” and “Intracorporeal Suture” and a transfer task based on these three. Two groups used conventional laparoscopic instruments with 3D or 2D visualization, two groups used complex curved instruments. The groups were compared in terms of their performance.ResultsIn 2D laparoscopy there was a better performance with straight instruments vs. curved instruments in PEG Transfer and Intracorporeal Suture. In the transfer task, fewer errors were made with straight instruments. In 2D vs. 3D laparoscopy when using complex curved instruments there was an advantage in Intracorporeal Suture and PEG Transfer for 3D visualization. Regarding the transfer exercise, a better performance was observed and fewer errors were made in 3D group.ConclusionWe could show that learning laparoscopic techniques with complex curved instruments is more difficult with standard 2D visualization and can be overcome using 3D optics. The use of curved instruments under 3D vision seems to be advantageous when working on more difficult tasks.

Towards engineering a portable platform for laparoscopic pre-training in virtual reality with haptic feedback

BackgroundLaparoscopic surgery is a surgical technique in which special instruments are inserted through small incision holes inside the body. For some time, efforts have been made to improve surgical pretraining through practical exercises on abstracted and reduced models. MethodsThe authors strive for a portable, easy to use and cost-effective Virtual Reality-based (VR) laparoscopic pre-training platform and therefore address the question of how such a system has to be designed to achieve the quality of today's gold standard using real tissue specimens. Current VR controllers are limited regarding haptic feedback. Since haptic feedback is necessary or at least beneficial for laparoscopic surgery training, the platform to be developed consists of a newly designed prototype laparoscopic VR controller with haptic feedback, a commercially available head-mounted display, a VR environment for simulating a laparoscopic surgery, and a training concept. ResultsTo take full advantage of benefits such as repeatability and cost-effectiveness of VR-based training, the system shall not require a tissue sample for haptic feedback. It is currently calculated and visually displayed to the user in the VR environment. On the prototype controller, a first axis was provided with perceptible feedback for test purposes. Two of the prototype VR controllers can be combined to simulate a typical both-handed use case, e.g., laparoscopic suturing. A Unitybased VR prototype allows the execution of simple standard pre-trainings. ConclusionsThe first prototype enables full operation of a virtual laparoscopic instrument in VR. In addition, the simulation can compute simple interaction forces. Major challenges lie in a realistic real-time tissue simulation and calculation of forces for the haptic feedback. Mechanical weaknesses were identified in the first hardware prototype, which will be improved in subsequent versions. All degrees of freedom of the controller are to be provided with haptic feedback. To make forces tangible in the simulation, characteristic values need to be determined using real tissue samples. The system has yet to be validated by cross-comparing real and VR haptics with surgeons.

Retracted: Outcome of Gynecologic Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery with a Homemade Device and Conventional Laparoscopic Instruments in a Chinese Teaching Hospital.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/5373927.].

Specialized Laparoscopic Devices in the Treatment of Hydatic Hepatic Cysts: A Retrospective Analysis and Review of the Literature.

Background and objective While hydatid disease is associated with a high prevalence only in certain endemic areas, it can be encountered in any geographical region. The characteristics of this parasitic disease, and its implications during development, such as the risk of seeding, and the complications caused by cyst rupture, means that its therapeutic management should adhere to strict principles and may sometimes require approaches specially tailed for this type of pathology. In this study, we aimed to provide a comparative analysis of conventional laparoscopic techniques vs. treatment withspecialized instrumentation in these patients. Methods Our study involveda retrospective evaluationof a cohort comprising 41 patients diagnosed with hepatic hydatid cysts, who underwent procedures with both conventional laparoscopic techniques and specialized instrumentation tailored for this particular pathology. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature examining alternative types of laparoscopic instrumentation specifically crafted for the management of hydatid cysts. This review employed an extensive search utilizing PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Results The examination of cases within our study revealed a high prevalence of hydatid disease among male patients (63.41%) and a predominance of instances originating from rural regions necessitating emergent admissions (p<0.05). Notably, in 58.54% of cases, surgical interventions employed specialized instrumentation, with a notable discrepancy in conversion rates to open surgery favoring the standard approach: 12.2% vs. 2.44% (p=0.025). Additionally, the laparoscopic approach was associated with prolonged surgical durations compared to the dedicated technique (p=0.002), besides a higher incidence of postoperative complications (12.2% vs 7.32%). Furthermore, patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures with standard instrumentation experienced lengthier hospital stays (p=0.002). Our comprehensive review of the literature identified six distinct surgical methodologies utilizing specifically tailored instrumentation for addressing hydatid cysts. Analysis of these findings underscored a preference for single localizations and selective cases. Postoperative complication rates ranged from 6.66% to 22.22%, with conversion rates to open surgery reaching up to 23.33%, and recurrence rates observed to be as high as 7.81%. Conclusions The patented approach, which uses special trocars that provide stable anchorage and allow a safe puncture-aspiration, reaspiration, and fragmentation processes, has superior characteristics compared to the laparoscopic approach with standard instrumentation. Comparative analysis with other similar procedures described in the literature has shown similar results regarding the frequency of complications, with our technique being superior in terms of approaching multiple cysts and recurrence rate. It has been successfully applied even in unselected cases.

An improved laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy technique (with video)

Choledochojejunostomy is an important procedure in hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery. It is used in pancreaticoduodenectomy, biliary strictures, liver transplantation, and other surgical reconstructions involving bile duct resection. Safe and reliable anastomosis under laparoscopic guidance is important for good postoperative recoveries. There are some difficulties owing to the limited angle of laparoscopic instruments. Standardized anastomosis methods are currently lacking, especially for cases with thin bile duct walls and small diameters. We modified the traditional laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy by combining the advantages of interrupted and continuous sutures using continuous sutures of the posterior and anterior walls followed by intermittent knot-tying of the anterior walls. The technical aspects of this anastomosis method and the related experiences of high-volume centers are summarized. An experienced laparoscopic surgeon can safely perform laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy by following a programmed anastomosis procedure. This modified anastomotic technique simplifies the procedure, reduces the difficulty of laparoscopic anastomosis, and yields satisfactory results. Larger-scale studies are necessary to validate whether it can definitively reduce complications and enhance outcomes.

Stereotactic Navigation-Assisted Laparoscopic Resection of Challenging Low Pelvic Tumors: A Case Series.

(1) Introduction: The laparoscopic approach to low pelvic tumors is challenging and hindered by suboptimal tumor visualization and dissection, with possible oncological failure. Stereotactic navigation provides real-time image guidance that may optimize safety, accuracy, and precision when dissecting challenging low pelvic tumors. (2) Methods: Preoperative CT images were acquired with eight skin-fixed fiducials and loaded into a navigation system. A patient tracker was mounted on the bed side. Patient-to-image paired point registration was performed, and an instrument tracker was mounted on a laparoscopic instrument and calibrated for instrument tracking. Surgical operations were performed with real-time stereotactic navigation assistance. (3) Results: Three patients underwent stereotactic navigation surgery. Fiducial registration errors were good to optimal (±1.9, ±3.4, and ±3.4 mm). Lesions were easily identified and targeted with real-time navigation. Surgeries were uneventful. Histopathology examinations identified one retro-rectal schwannoma, one lateral pelvic recurrence from rectal adenocarcinoma, and one advanced anal canal carcinoma. No navigation-related complications, readmissions, or postoperative mortalities were observed. (4) Conclusions: The application of laparoscopic stereotactic navigation surgery to complex low pelvic tumors is feasible and could impact oncological surgical quality by enabling tumor targeting and ensuring resection margins. Further wider series are needed to confirm stereotactic navigation's impact on challenging low pelvic tumors.

Myomectomy with ArtiSential fully articulating laparoscopic instruments: A prospective multicenter study.

ArtiSential, a class of innovative laparoscopic instrument, has been developed to overcome the limitations of conventional laparoscopic surgery by enabling free, 360°-unrestricted movement of the wrist joint, as in robotic surgery. The aim of the present study was to describe the initial experiences with these devices in myomectomy and to report the surgical outcomes. A total of 77 women undergoing laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy between January 2021 and June 2022 were included in this multicenter prospective study. The ArtiSential instruments used by the surgeons were those chosen according to their respective preferences. The baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, trocar placement options, and operator survey results were scrutinized. The mean age of the patients was 39.9 ± 6.3, and the mean body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) was 22.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2; 46.8% of the patients underwent robotic surgery, while 53.2% underwent laparoscopic surgery. The number of removed myomas was 3.3 ± 3.0, the size of the largest myoma was 7.1 ± 2.3 cm, and the operative time was 130.0 ± 54.0 min. No transfusions or laparotomy conversions were required. Other than one case of ileus, there were no postoperative complications. In most cases, the instruments were inserted through the umbilicus trocar, and the fenestrated forceps, needle holder, and bipolar fenestrated forceps, in that order, were frequently employed. According to a surgeon survey, 29.9% moderately or strongly agreed that the ArtiSential devices utilized were more convenient than conventional laparoscopic instruments, while only 9.7% moderately or strongly agreed that they were more convenient than robotic instruments. Myomectomy as performed with an ArtiSential instrument seems to be feasible and safe. Further studies are necessary in order to comparatively assess the outcomes and potential benefits of ArtiSential, robotic, and conventional laparoscopic myomectomy.