Conversion rate and risk factors of conversion to open in laparoscopic appendicectomy

Purpose@#Laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) has several advantages over conventional open appendicectomy (OA). However, about 5% to 10% of LA patients still need to be converted to open surgery. Identifying risk factors that contribute to conversion to OA allows for early identification of patients who may benefit from primary OA. This study aimed to determine the conversion rate of LA to OA and to identify its associated risk factors among patients with acute or perforated appendicitis. @*Methods@#A retrospective review of medical records was performed among patients with acute or perforated appendicitis who underwent LA between December 2015 and January 2017. With the use of multivariable logistic regression analyses, the predictors of conversion from laparoscopic to OA were investigated. @*Results@#Out of 120 patients, 33 cases were converted to OA which gives a conversion rate of 27.5%. Among 33 patients who were converted to OA, 27 patients (81.8%) had perforated appendix, while in the LA group, perforated appendix cases consisted of 34.5% (P<0.001). Histopathology of the appendix was the predictor of conversion from LA to OA (adjusted odds ratio, 8.82; 95% confidence interval, 3.13–24.91; P<0.001). @*Conclusion@#The result from our study shows that the overall conversion rate for the study period was high. Patients with perforated appendicitis had a higher risk of conversion to OA. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis of perforated appendicitis may be paramount in predicting conversion to OA.

Biliary ascariasis – A vicious cycle

@#Biliary ascariasis is a rare disease in a non-endemic area. However, it is one of the possible etiological factors for retarded growth as well as malnutrition in children. It may cause intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, biliary obstruction, liver abscess, hepatolithiasis, and pancreatitis in adults. Herein, we report a patient with ascending cholangitis secondary to biliary ascariasis who was successfully managed with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreaticography.

An Aubergine in My … Case of Rectal Foreign Body

@#A 24-year-old man presented to the casualty department with a history of left-sided, colicky abdominal pain for one day. It was associated with an inability to pass flatus or motion within the same duration. There was no history of vomiting. On examination, the vital signs were within normal limits, and he was afebrile. His abdomen was soft, but a hard mass was palpable on the left side of his abdomen. There was no peritonitis. The bowel sounds were sluggish.

Radical Resection of Primary Leiomyosarcoma of Inferior Vena Cava

@#Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) is a rare soft tissue tumour which accounts for only 0.5% of all soft tissue sarcomas. The patients usually presented with non specific clinical signs and often diagnosed at advanced stage. We reported a case of a 58-year-old lady who presented with right sided abdominal pain for 6 months. CT scan showed large Level 2 IVC tumour which encased the right renal vein and had no clear plane of demarcation with the caudate lobe of the liver. She underwent radical resection of the IVC tumour with the right kidney removed en bloc. Vascular reconstruction was not performed as established collateral veins present. She was nursed in Intensive Care Unit for 2 days and discharged well at day 5 post operatively. Histopathological examination results revealed leiomyosarcoma of IVC.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) in association with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas in association with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is extremely rare, even though 10% of ADPKD patients may develop simple pancreatic cyst. The first case report was published by Yasunori Sato from Japan in 2009. Since then less than 10 case reports are available worldwide to describe about this condition. We reported such a rare case of a 67-year-old man with ADPKD who was referred to our centre because of chronic abdominal pain and diagnosed as IPMN based on the serial imaging procedures. Despite of the high risk comorbidities, he successfully underwent pylorus preserving total pancreaticoduodenectomy with splenectomy.

Extracranial Carotid Aneurysm Secondary to Takayasu Arteritis (TA): A Rare Complication

Extracranial aneurysms are a rare presentation accounting for only less than 5% of all peripheral artery aneurysms. The left common carotid artery aneurysm is considered even rarer. We present a case of a 46-year-old gentleman who presented to casualty unit with a neck mass, stridor and acute respiratory distress. Prior to this admission patient was being investigated for Takayasu arteritis (TA). Patient was subsequently intubated due to respiratory compromise. A CT angiography of the thorax was done showed a proximal left common carotid artery aneurysm with contained leakage of aneurysm with severe compression of the trachea. Patient was subsequently transferred to the vascular team in National Heart Institute for further management.