Open splenic artery aneurysm repair in a patient with previous laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

We present the case of a female patient in her 40s who underwent a splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) repair following a previous laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG). We aim to discuss the management approach to SAAs and considerations in the setting of previous bariatric surgery.The patient consented to this case report. We include preoperative and postoperative radiological images and intraoperative images.While pseudoaneurysms following bariatric surgery have been reported, we present a case of a likely true SAA following SG. Our experience may assist others who come across similar cases in the future.

Acute severe cholecystitis with empyema presenting as a gallbladder mass, jaundice and Mirizzi Syndrome: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute severe cholecystitis with empyema presenting as a gallbladder mass, jaundice and Mirizzi Syndrome (MS) is a complex surgical problem both diagnostically and in terms of management as it mimics both xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) and gallbladder carcinoma. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 48-year-old gentleman was referred to us with biliary colic and weight loss with ultrasound findings of gallstones. At subsequent follow-up he became deeply jaundiced with deranged liver function and a CT showing a gallbladder mass and dilated biliary tree. Follow-up MRCP suggested XGC and concomitant MS, but a malignant process could not be excluded. Pre-operative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) at the time of percutaneous biliary drainage for his jaundice demonstrated XGC with no evidence of malignancy. Given the dense inflammation and a tense empyema at laparoscopy, he underwent a subtotal fenestrating cholecystectomy. The final histopathological diagnosis was acute cholecystitis. DISCUSSION: Our patient likely had unrecognised acute cholecystitis which progressed to a complex mass with empyema and type I Mirizzi Syndrome, ultimately resulting in severe obstructive jaundice mimicking gallbladder carcinoma. Given that a laparoscopic total cholecystectomy is dangerous in these cases of severe inflammation, a laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy has been shown to be a safe alternative to more invasive strategies and was successfully utilised in our patient. CONCLUSION: Acute severe cholecystitis with empyema presenting as a gallbladder mass, jaundice and Mirizzi Syndrome is a rare manifestation that requires adequate pre-operative work-up to exclude malignancy. Subtotal fenestrating cholecystectomy is a safe and effective alternative to open surgery in these cases of complex inflammation.

Recurrent pancreatitis in the setting of gallbladder agenesis, ansa pancreatica, Santorinicoele and eventual intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN).

Gallbladder agenesis is a rare condition. Patients with gallbladder agenesis can present with biliary type symptoms and rarely pancreatitis. We present the case of a 35-year-old gentleman who was admitted and treated for recurrent pancreatitis on a background of gallbladder agenesis, ansa pancreatica and Santorinicoele. He has had several admissions with pancreatitis and has had multiple imaging modalities during these admissions which we delineate. We discuss this rare anatomical variant and describe the course and management of his illness leading up to his eventual diagnosis of intraductal papillary neoplasia (IPMN).

Unusual Presentation of a Sigmoid Mass with Chicken Bone Impaction in the Setting of Metastatic Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of foreign bodies can cause various gastrointestinal tract complications including abscess formation, bowel obstruction, fistulae, haemorrhage, and perforation. While these foreign body-related complications can occur in normal bowel, diseased bowel from inflammation, strictures, or malignancy can cause diagnostic difficulties. Endoscopy is useful in visualising the bowel from within, providing views of the mucosa and malignancies arising from here, but its ability in diagnosing extramural malignancies arising beyond or external to the mucosa of the bowel as in the case of metastatic extramural disease can be limited. CASE SUMMARY: We present the case of a 60-year-old female with an impacted chicken bone in the sigmoid colon with formation of a sigmoid mass, on a background of metastatic lung cancer. On initial diagnosis of her lung cancer, there was mild Positron Emission Tomography (PET) avidity in the sigmoid colon which had been evaluated earlier in the year with a colonoscopy with findings of diverticular disease. Subsequent computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated thickening of the sigmoid colon with a structure consistent with a foreign body distal to this colonic thickening. A repeat PET scan revealed an intensely fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avid mass in the sigmoid colon which was thought to be inflammatory. She was admitted for a flexible sigmoidoscopy and removal of the foreign body which was an impacted chicken bone. She had a fall and suffered a fractured hip. During her admission for her hip fracture, she had an exacerbation of her abdominal pain. She developed a large bowel obstruction, requiring laparotomy and Hartmann's procedure to resect the sigmoid mass. Histopathology confirmed metastatic lung cancer to the sigmoid colon. CONCLUSION: This unusual presentation highlights the challenges of diagnosing ingested foreign bodies in patients with metastatic disease.

Cholecystoduodenal Stenting: An Option in Complicated Acute Calculous Cholecystitis in the Elderly Comorbid Patient.

We describe the course of an 84-year-old lady with acute calculous cholecystitis. She was unable to have a cholecystectomy due to multiple comorbidities including morbid obesity, type 2 diabetes, Guillain-Barrè syndrome, chronic sacral pressure ulcer, and severe cardiac disease. Conservative treatment with intravenous antibiotics was initially successful; however, she subsequently re-presented with an empyema of the gallbladder. She was readmitted for further intravenous antibiotics and underwent percutaneous gallbladder drainage. The patient did not want a permanent catheter for drainage, nor the prospect of repeat drainage procedures in the future for recurrent cholecystitis. Following a discussion of the rationale and risks involved with other minimally invasive techniques, she underwent cholecystoduodenal stent placement following disimpaction and removal of cystic duct stones. The procedure restored antegrade gallbladder drainage, and at 18 months she remains symptom-free from her gallbladder. Long-term management of recurrent cholecystitis in elderly comorbid patients commonly includes permanent cholecystostomy or repeated percutaneous gallbladder drainage, both of which can be poorly tolerated. Permanent cholecystoduodenal stenting is a reasonable alternative in carefully considered patients in whom the benefits outweigh the risks. We describe our experience with cholecystoduodenal stenting and discuss some of the concerns and considerations with this technique.