Laparoscopy-assisted Procedure Research Articles

Intracorporeal hand-sewn anastomosis following pylorus-preserving gastrectomy: surgical technique and short-term surgical outcome.

Although several procedures for mechanical anastomosis have recently been reported, intracorporeal manually hand-sewn anastomosis for totally laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (TLPPG) is considered technically difficult. Here, we report a new technique for laparoscopic reconstruction using hand-sewn sutures. Together with a proper lymphadenectomy, the stomach was detached and resected using separate two-layer incisions, similar to the original laparotomy method. An approximately 5-cm antral cuff was left in place. The essential concept of this new method was to align the anastomotic site by rotating each clamped gastric stump. This allowed us to perform a secure, hand-sewn, two-layer anastomosis successfully. The short-term surgical outcome after TLPPG was retrospectively compared with that for patients who underwent a conventional laparoscopy-assisted procedure (LAPPG). Of the 20 consecutive patients who underwent pylorus-preserving gastrectomy in our department between 2014 and 2021, the first 8 patients and the subsequent 12 patients underwent LAPPG and TLPPG, respectively. The operation time was significantly longer in the TLPPG group (median, 302 vs. 269min). The morbidity was comparable (8.3% in TLPPG vs. 12.5% in LAPPG). Postoperative delayed gastric emptying was only observed in one patient in the LAPPG group. TLPPG reduced the cost of the operation by reducing the number of linear stapler cartridges required. A purely hand-sewn gastrogastrostomy is safe, feasible, and cost-effective, and it omits the need for a mini-laparotomy in the upper abdomen.

Successful laparoscopy-assisted repair of a rectovaginal fistula after low anterior resection for rectal cancer: a report of two cases

BackgroundRectovaginal fistula (RVF) after low anterior resection for rectal cancer is troublesome and refractory. Although various surgical procedures have been previously described, no definitive procedure has shown a satisfactory outcome. We present two consecutive Japanese patients who underwent successful surgery for an RVF after low anterior resection.Case presentationThe patients were two women (61-year-old and a 64-year-old). They were admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of fecal discharge from the vagina after low anterior resection using the double-stapling technique for rectal cancer. They were diagnosed with RVF. Local surgical procedures, including diverting ileostomy, were unsuccessful in previous hospitals. Therefore, we performed laparoscopy-assisted repair of the RVF. In both patients, laparoscopically robust pelvic adhesions were dissected, and the sigmoid colon was transected at just oral side to the RVF. Thereafter, in combination with a perineal approach, the rectum, along with a previous anastomosis and fistula, were completely removed. Surgeries were completed after vaginal repair, redo coloanal anastomosis, and interposition of the dissected connective tissue. In both patients, the postoperative courses were uneventful. They complained of neither recurrence of any RVF nor fecal incontinence 1 year and 10 months after diverting stoma closure.ConclusionsA laparoscopy-assisted procedure with reanastomosis and interposition of the perineal connective tissue can be an effective treatment for RVF after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Secondary Omental Torsion as a Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen in a Child and the Advantages of Laparoscopic Approach

Omental torsion is an underdiagnosed cause of acute abdomen in children. Most cases occur in adults, with only 15% presenting in children. It is estimated that omental infarct is found in approximately 0.1 to 0.5% of children undergoing operations for appendicitis. It may present with various signs and symptoms, although the clinical presentation usually mimics that of acute appendicitis. Definitive diagnosis is often established during surgery. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy who came to our attention for acute abdomen. We performed a laparoscopy-assisted procedure suspecting acute appendicitis. We therefore identified a secondary omental torsion associated with patency of the right inguinal duct and herniated omentum. Laparoscopy allowed a correct diagnosis and therapy.

Laparoscopy-assisted surgery for neonatal intestinal atresia and stenosis: a report of 35 cases

Jejunal-ileal atresias are the most common causes of intestinal occlusion in neonatal period. Treatment is classically performed by a right upper quadrant transverse laparotomy. Our study aimed to present our initial experience of intestinal atresia in newborn treated with laparoscopic assisted approach. Overall 35 small intestinal atresias, which occurred in infants from September 2009 to July 2012 in our hospital, were treated by laparoscopy-assisted procedure. After carefully inspecting through laparoscope by a multi-port or single-site approach, these were definitely diagnosed. The anastomosis of intestinal atresia was manually performed after exteriorization of the bowel via the umbilical port site incision. There were no conversions to an open procedure and no intraoperative various complications. The incision of umbilical port was about 2-2.5 cm. The post-operative course was uneventful. Laparoscopy-assisted procedure could be safely accomplished in neonates with intestinal atresia. Comparing to open surgery, parents were extremely satisfied with the cosmetic results. The early experience suggests that the outcomes are excellent.

The Transanal Approach with Laparoscopy or Laparotomy for the Treatment of Rectal Strictures in Crohn's Disease

Rectal strictures in patients with Crohn's colitis are common and options described for their treatment include direct steroid injection, injection of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, endoscopic balloon dilatation, use of Hegar dilators, stricturoplasty, and proctectomy. Adequate treatment is a challenge, especially with respect to the prevention of stricture recurrence. We present an option for the surgical treatment of these strictures using a transanal resection of the rectum with the addition of laparoscopy or laparotomy. Three patients who had medically refractory or chronic Crohn's colitis with rectal strictures were referred to us after failed medical management, rectal dilation, and balloon dilation of the strictures. In each case, we performed a transanal sphincter preserving dissection in the prone position and used the lithotomy position for intraabdominal mobilization, completion of the rectosigmoid resection, pull-through of the left colon, and coloanal anastomosis. We resected the rectal strictures transanally in all three cases. One case provided the opportunity to perform a laparoscopy-assisted procedure, whereas the other 2 patients had laparotomy-assisted rectosigmoid resections. We did a coloanal anastomosis in 2 patients with healthy left colon. In the third case, the anal canal was preserved, but the patient was left with a stoma. Transanal resection is feasible in the surgical treatment of rectal strictures in patients with Crohn's colitis. It preserves the anal sphincteric mechanism and may help in avoiding a permanent stoma in a subgroup of patients. We found the prone position very helpful in performing the transanal rectal dissection.

Outcomes after laparoscopic surgery in children with inflammatory bowel disease

The utility and efficacy of the laparoscopic approach to the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children are not clearly known. We conducted a retrospective descriptive cohort study of children with a diagnosis of IBD who underwent a laparoscopic or laparoscopy-assisted procedure at a quaternary pediatric referral center between 1999 and 2007. One-hundred thirty-six children underwent 154 operations (85 small bowel/ileocolic and 69 colorectal) over the 8 years of the study. Median age was 14.8 years (range = 1.8-18.8). The diagnosis was Crohn's disease in 83, ulcerative colitis in 50, and indeterminate colitis in 3. Median time to regular diet was 5 days (range = 1-19), and median postoperative stay was 7 days (range = 1-70). Seven patients undergoing a small bowel/ileocolic resection (8.2%) were converted to an open procedure. Overall morbidity for the small bowel/ileocolic procedures was 27.1%. The conversion rate during subtotal colectomy (STC) was 7.1% (3/42), and it was 0% for the 22 patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) procedures. Overall morbidity associated with STC was 62.8%, and following IPAA it was 63.6%. Sixteen percent (7/69) of those who underwent a colorectal procedure developed a late postoperative bowel obstruction with three patients requiring operative intervention. A laparoscopic approach is feasible with a low conversion rate in most children with IBD. Despite superior cosmesis, perioperative morbidity is similar to that seen with open procedures. Laparoscopic colorectal IBD procedures are associated with an unexpectedly high incidence of postoperative bowel obstruction, although the rates are comparable to those seen with open surgery.

A Comparative Study of the Long-term Outcomes After Laparoscopy-assisted and Open Left Lateral Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Laparoscopic hepatectomy was initially reported in 1992. However, the reported experiences are scarce, and this operation has not been a standard procedure until now. The aims of this study were to assess our results of laparoscopy-assisted left lateral hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to compare them with those of open conventional procedures. From 1984 to 2002, left lateral hepatectomy for HCC less than 5 cm in diameter was carried out in 21 patients. Ten patients received a laparoscopy-assisted procedure, and remaining 11 patients received an open procedure. There were no significant differences in the operation time, blood loss, resected liver weight, and resection margin between the 2 groups. The total time that analgesics were given, body temperature on postoperative day 1, weight loss on postoperative day 7, and postoperative hospital stay in the laparoscopic group were significantly better than in the conventional group. With regard to the long-term prognosis, there were no differences in patient survival or disease-free survival rates between the 2 groups. Laparoscopy-assisted left lateral hepatectomy for HCC is superior to the conventional open surgery in terms of its short-term results and does not cause the long-term survival to deteriorate. Therefore, laparoscopic hepatectomy may be an alternative choice for treatment of HCC.

Laparoscopy-assisted orchiopexy for recurrent undescended testes in children

Objective Reoperative orchidopexy is a technical challenge to pediatric surgeons. The laparoscopy-assisted procedure is described for securing the testis in the scrotum in patients with a past history of open orchidopexy and testes in an unsatisfactory position. Patients and Methods Thirty-one patients with 35 abnormally positioned testes (4 bilateral) were evaluated. All patients had a past history of inguinal surgery, and ages ranged between 2.5 and 13 years (mean, 5.5 years). Previous surgical procedures included 32 orchiopexies and 3 testicular detorsion of undescended testis. If needed, inguinal dissection was performed to loose the adherence between the cord and inguinal canal. Laparoscopic orchidopexy was applied to allow the testis to remain in the scrotum without tension. Patients underwent follow-up every 3 months after the operation with physical and ultrasound examinations. Results Ten low inguinal testes were treated directly with open inguinal redo orchidopexy, whereas laparoscopy-assisted orchidopexy was possible in 23 (92%) of the remaining 25 reoperations. In 2 (8%) of these cases, severe scarring was present between the cord and the inguinal canal impeding the laparoscopy-assisted orchidopexy. For laparoscopy-assisted procedure, the operation time was 42 to 67 minutes (mean = 52 min). After the laparoscopy-assisted reoperations, 23 (92%) testes remain within the scrotum after a mean follow-up of 22 months (range, 6-32 months). Conclusion When feasible, laparoscopy-assisted orchiopexy is a simple and effective technique for securing testicles in reoperative orchiopexy procedures.

Laparoscopic vs. open surgery for acute adhesive small-bowel obstruction: patients’ outcome and cost-effectiveness

Numerous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of laparoscopy in the management of acute adhesive small-bowel obstruction (AASBO). However, comparative data with laparotomy are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopy and laparotomy for the treatment of AASBO in terms of patient outcome and cost-effectiveness. A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent surgery for AASBO from 1999 to 2005 was conducted. Data recorded included operative and postoperative course, among others. Operative and total hospital charges were estimated from the Patient Accounting System. Thirty-one patients who underwent laparoscopy were matched to a similar group of patients who underwent laparotomy. In the laparoscopy group, four patients (13%) had a laparoscopy-assisted procedure and ten patients (32%) were converted. The laparoscopy group was subdivided into laparoscopy, laparoscopy-assisted, converted, and assisted-converted subgroups. In the majority of the patients, AASBO was secondary to a single band. Overall morbidity was significantly higher in the laparotomy group (p = 0.007). Morbidity rates were statistically significant between the laparoscopy and assisted-converted subgroups (p = 0.0001) but not between the laparotomy group and assisted-converted subgroup (p = 0.19). Median hospital stay and median time to first bowel movement were significantly shorter in the laparoscopy group. Charge data were available for only the last three years of the study. Operative charges and total hospital charges were similar between the laparoscopy and the laparotomy groups (p = 0.14 and p = 0.10, respectively). There was a significant difference in total hospital charges between the laparoscopy subgroup and laparotomy group (p = 0.03). Laparoscopy for AASBO is associated with reduced hospital stay, early recovery, and decreased morbidity. Laparoscopy-assisted and converted surgeries do not differ significantly from laparotomy in regard to patient outcome. Operative and total hospital charges are similar for both laparoscopy and laparotomy.

Laparoscopic Management of Acute Small Bowel Obstruction

Conventional surgical management of acute small bowel obstruction involves laparotomy. The laparoscopic approach has not been favoured due to the presumed increased risk of bowel injury. A retrospective review of our experience of laparoscopic management of acute small bowel obstruction was undertaken. Nine patients were identified from 1997 to 2003. The aetiology of obstruction was identified laparoscopically in all cases. Eight cases were caused by bands or local adhesions and one patient had a bezoar. Laparoscopic treatment was successful in 78% of patients including one laparoscopy-assisted procedure. Conversion to laparotomy was performed in two patients, one due to difficult adhesiolysis and one due to iatrogenic bowel injury during adhesiolysis. The mean operating time was 74 minutes. There were no postoperative complications and the mean length of hospital stay was 4.3 days. This small series demonstrates that laparoscopy can serve as a good diagnostic tool as well as treatment of acute small bowel obstruction. In an appropriately selected patient, laparoscopic management of small bowel obstruction is a feasible therapeutic approach and appears to convey the benefits of a short postoperative hospital stay, reduced postoperative complications and possibly reduced subsequent adhesion formation.

Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of nontraumatic acute abdominal pain in women.

We reviewed the records of 77 women treated for nontraumatic acute abdomen by the principal author between June 1991 and June 1996. All patients presented to either the surgeon's office or the emergency room at Northwest Hospital, which is an urban community hospital in North Seattle. Our objectives in the study were to determine the effectiveness of diagnostic laparoscopy for nontraumatic acute abdomen and the percentage of cases managed using laparoscopic technique exclusively. The mean patient age was 36.5 (range 12-65) years. The majority of these women (92%) were premenopausal. Seventy-two (93.5%) were Caucasian, and the remaining 5 (6.5%) were Asian. Thirty-eight of the women (49%) had undergone at least one prior pelvic or abdominal operation, and 28 (36%) had undergone more than one. The principal author performed preoperative clinical evaluations, then diagnostic laparoscopy for all 77 patients. Laparoscopy provided a definitive diagnosis in 76 of the 77 cases. In 70% of the cases (54 of 77) the preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by diagnostic laparoscopy, and in 29% (22 of 77), the diagnosis was confirmed, yet augmented or clarified, by diagnostic laparoscopy. In the remaining case, diagnostic laparoscopy ruled out any acute etiology. Ninety-five percent of the patients (72 of 76) were treated exclusively by laparoscopy (70 cases) or a laparoscopy-assisted procedure (2 cases). Four patients (5%) required conversion to laparotomy. The remaining patient required no therapeutic surgery. Mortality was 0 and morbidity 4%. A high proportion of women presenting with acute abdominal pain can be managed using a laparoscopic technique exclusively.