An eventful course of a routine laparoscopic appendectomy: case report

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in the world. Appendectomy can be done through an open technique, but the laparoscopic approach has become the gold standard for surgical treatment of acute appendicitis. This technique has been found to be associated with decreased postoperative pain, morbidity and length of stay when compared to open appendectomy. However, complications from laparoscopic appendectomy can still occur. We present a case of an internal hernia causing a small bowel obstruction, from adhesions due to loose staples after a laparoscopic appendectomy. Laparoscopic linear cutting staples and automatic clip applier are commonly fired across the appendiceal stump. At the end of the laparoscopy, if the free intraperitoneal staples are not removed with grasper or suction, it can lead to bowel obstruction. We report the clinical presentation, diagnostic work up, treatment and management of mechanical small bowel obstruction caused by loose staples in a pediatric patient.

Sutures versus staplers for skin closure in laparotomy patients: a prospective study

Background: Every surgeon wants cosmetically acceptable scars along with optimal healing. Good tissue union and cosmetically acceptable scars are vital for ideal surgical practice. A basic need for skin closure is a good approximation. Apart from cosmetically good scars, it is also necessary that the skin closure technique should be technically easy, speedy, economical and acceptable.Methods: The study was conducted on 100 patients on whom elective abdominal surgeries were performed. Patients were divided into two groups with 50 patients in each group after matching the parameters like age, co morbid conditions, using simple random sampling technique. All operations were performed by one consultant. In group A, Skin was approximated with vertical mattress sutures while in group B, staplers were used to close the wound.Results: The age of the patients varied from 16 to 85 years. The average time taken for skin closure for suture group (A) was found to be 300sec (±20.78) and for stapler group was found to be 120sec (±16.50) respectively. Wound infection was found in 10 patients (20%). In stapler group 4 (8%) and in suture group 6 Patients (12%) had post-operative wound infection.Conclusions: Cosmesis is essential and necessary in modern surgical practice. It also reflects surgical expertise.

Retained or expelled staples after transanal stapled surgery: this is the problem! / Grampos retidos ou expelidos em seguida à cirurgia transanal com grampeador: eis aí o problema!

ABSTRACT Study objective: The aim is to assess the presence and persistence of the agraphes at the level of staple line after transanal stapled surgery. Methods: From April to December 2016 one-hundred-thirteen patients with variable follow-up (6 months-10 years) were randomly selected among all the patients undergone transanal stapled surgery for haemorrhoidal disease or functional disorders such as obstructed defecation syndrome. Only 87 patients agreed to participate this study. All the patients underwent digital exploration, anoscopy and 360° tridimensional transanal ultrasound. Main results: Different types of stapled transanal surgical procedures were performed: 48 transanal rectal resection with high volume device, 24 stapled haemorrhoidopexy, 8 Double Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy, 7 Transtarr. In 41.4% the staple line was not identified with digital examination or anoscopy and 17.2% of patients have some staples partially expelled inside the lumen. 360° tridimensional transanal ultrasound showed a complete staple line at the ano-rectal junction which appears as an interrupted hyperechoic circular layer. Conclusion: The staples after stapled transanal surgery remain at the level of the staple line independently from the device used by the surgeon leading to the necessity of a shared and adequate language, in fact the shed staples need to be considered as expelled instead of retained.

RESUMO Objetivo do estudo: Avaliar a presença e persistência dos agrafes ao nível da linha de aplicação dos grampos, em seguida à cirurgia transanal com grampeador. Métodos: De abril até dezembro de 2016, 113 pacientes com seguimentos variáveis (6 meses-10 anos) foram aleatoriamente selecionados entre todos os pacientes tratados com cirurgia transanal com grampos para tratamento de hemorroidas ou de transtornos funcionais, por exemplo, síndrome de evacuação obstruída. Apenas 87 pacientes concordaram em participar do estudo. Todos os pacientes passaram por exploração digital, anoscopia e ultrassonografia transanal tridimensional de 360°. Resultados principais: Foram realizados diferentes tipos de procedimentos cirúrgicos transanais com grampeador: 48 ressecções retais transanais com uso de grampeador de grande volume, 24 hemorroidopexias com grampeador, 8 hemorroidopexias com grampos duplos e 7 procedimentos com grampeador Transtar. Em 41,4% dos tratamentos, não foi possível identificar a linha de grampeamento com exame digital ou com anoscopia, e em 17,2% dos pacientes alguns grampos foram expelidos para o lúmen. A ultrassonografia transanal tridimensional de 360° revelou uma linha de grampeamento completo na junção anorretal, assumindo o aspecto de uma camada circular hiperecoica interrompida. Conclusão: Em seguida à cirurgia transanal com grampeamento, os grampos permanecem ao nível da linha de grampeamento, independentemente do tipo de grampeador usado pelo cirurgião, o que torna necessária uma linguagem compartilhada e adequada; de fato, os grampos soltos devem ser considerados como expelidos, em lugar de retidos.

Rationale and surgical technique of laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy using endoscopic staples

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLLS) has been widely accepted due to benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Some surgeons prefer to isolate glissonian pedicles to segments II and III and to control individual pedicles with surgical clips, whereas opt like to control glissonian pedicles simultaneously using endoscopic stapling devices. The aim of this study was to find the rationale of LLLS using endoscopic staples. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed and compared the clinical outcomes (operation time, drainage length, transfusion, hospital stay, and complication rate) of 35 patients that underwent LLLS between April 2004 and February 2012. Patients were dichotomized by surgical technique based on whether glissonian pedicles were isolated and controlled (the individual group, n = 21) or controlled using endoscopic staples at once (the batch group, n = 14). RESULTS: Mean operation time was 265.3 +/- 21.3 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation) in the individual group and 170 +/- 22.9 minutes in the batch group. Operation time in the batch group was significantly shorter than the individual group (P = 0.007). Mean drainage length was 4.8 +/- 1.6 and 2.6 +/- 1.5 days in the individual and the batch group. There was significantly shorter in the batch group, also (P = 0.006). No transfusion was required in the batch group, but 4 patients in the individual group needed transfusion. Mean hospital stay was 10.7 +/- 1.1 and 9.4 +/- 0.8 days in the individual and the batch groups (P = 0.460). There were no significant complications or mortality in both groups. CONCLUSION: LLLS using endoscopic staples (batch group) was found to be an easier and safer technique without morbidity or mortality.

Suturas: lo usual y lo nuevo / Sutures: the usual and the new

En la actualidad, existen numerosas estrategias para enfrentar el cierre de una herida quirúrgica. Éstas son suturas, corchetes y adhesivos, teniendo cada una de ellas indicaciones precisas. Las suturas constituyen la estrategia más antigua, existiendo en la actualidad una gran variedad de suturas absorbibles y no absorbibles con distintas características. El presente documento hará una breve revisión de las suturas existentes y abordar algunas líneas de desarrollo nuevos métodos de cierre de heridas, orientadas principalmente a reducir la incidencia de complicaciones.

Nowadays, there are numerous strategies to close a surgical wound. These are sutures, staples and adhesive materials. Each one has precise indications. Sutures are the most antique strategy and there are multiple absorbable and non-absorbable sutures with different characteristics. This document will review actual sutures and will discuss some new advances in wound closures in order to reduce complications.

Bronchopleural Fistula after Pneumonectomy: Autosuture Versus Manual Suture / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Staple closure of bronchial stump was compared with manual suture closure among 100 cases of pneumonectomy during the recent 5-year period. We have reviewed the incidence of bronchpleural fistula between autosutured group and manual sutured group. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During the recent 5-year period, 100 patients underwent pneumonectomy at Hanyang University Hospital. Staple closure of bronchial stump was performed in 65 patients and manual suture in 35 patients. There were 55 males and 10 females in the autosutured group, and 26 males and 9 females in manual sutured group, which showed no significant statistical difference between the two groups. The mean ages of patients for autosutured group and manual sutured group were 56.7+/-10.3 years and 61.4+/-9.2 years, respectively, which showed no significant statistical difference between the two groups. There were 38 cases of left pneumonectomy and 27 cases of right pneumonectomy in autosutured group, and 22 cases of left pneumonectomy and 13 cases of right pneumonectomy in manual sutured group. There were 53 cases of malignancy and 12 cases of benign imflammatory disease in autosutured group, and 27 cases of malignancy and 7 cases of benign imflammatory disease in manual sutured group. RESULT: The incidence of bronchopleural fistula was 6.1% in autosutured group and 5.7% in manual sutured group. The incidence of other postoperative complication between the two groups showed no significant statistical difference. CONCLUSION: The incidence of bronchopleural fistula between autosutured group and manual sutured group was not different stastically. Both method for closure of bronchial stump can be performed in pneumonectomy.

Anastomosis of Vessels less than 2 mm with the Vascular Clip System Clip Applier

Sutures may cause endothelial trauma and occlusion. The vascular clip system (VCS) clip applier may minimize endothelial injury. Fourteen carotid arteries of nine adult rabbits were transected and re-anastomosed with either #7-0 polypropylene (Group I, n=8) or VCS clips (Group II, n=6). The animals were sacrificed at 1, 3, 8, 14, and 30 days postoperatively. The operation time and bleeding amount were checked for each anastomosis. Carotid angiograms, photography, H&E staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. Fibrin and thrombus, inflammatory cell infiltration, endothelial disruption, luminal distortion, fibrosis, and wall thickening were compared. The luminal diameter was greater in group II. There were minimal differences in thrombosis, wall thickening and fibrosis between the two groups. However, fibrin, inflammatory cell infiltration, multinucleated giant cell formation, endothelial disruption, and luminal distortion were greater in group I. On SEM, group I showed trans-mural penetration. In contrast, group II showed suture margin eversion and no transmural penetration. Stenosis was greater in group I than in group II on carotid angiogram. The operation time was shorter in group II than in group I, i.e. 5+/-1.4 min vs. 11+/-3.8 min, respectively. The current data showed similar or superior results with VCS clips in comparison to conventional suturing with polypropylene.