Prognostic value of acute fluid collections diagnosed by ultrasound in the early assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic value of acute fluid collections (AFC) diagnosed by conventional transabdominal ultrasound in the early assessment of severity acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: We studied 128 consecutive patients with AP between March 2006 and March 2011. The predictor was the number of AFC. Outcome measure was the occurrence of complications. Abdominal sonogram, contrast-enhanced CT, and pancreatitis-specific clinical and laboratory findings were performed. RESULTS: AFC were associated with complications (p < 0.0001), Balthazar grade (p = 0.004), Ranson score (p < 0.0001), and the majority of clinical, radiologic, and biochemical parameters for predicting complications of AP (p < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression also revealed significant association between the number of AFC and the occurrence of complications (OR 4.4; 95% CI 2.5-7.6). After the adjustment for covariates, AFC remained prognostic for complications and a cutoff point of >1 AFC was prognostic of their occurrence with 88% sensitivity and 82% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: AFC are related to the clinical course of AP and can predict its severity

Biocompatibility and adhesion formation of different endoloop ligatures in securing the base of the appendix.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The common technique used in securing the base of the appendix is Endoloop ligature (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA). Vicryl (polyglactin 910) (Ethicon) and polydioxanone (PDS) (Ethicon) Endoloop ligatures can be used. There are potential benefits of the use of PDS Plus (Ethicon) Endoloop ligature. However, the use of different materials may vary in terms of inflammation, foreign-body reaction, rate of infection in the surgical area, or rate of adhesion formation. An ideal suture would induce minimal inflammatory response and adhesion formation. METHODS: Ninety rats were randomized into 3 groups: group I, in which appendectomy was performed with Vicryl ligature; group II, in which appendectomy was performed with PDS ligature; and group III, in which appendectomy was performed with PDS Plus ligature. The animals were killed on the seventh, 28th, and 60th days after surgery. The secured stump was used for histopathologic and immunohistochemistry analysis, as well as evaluation of the formation of adhesions. RESULTS: Mild and moderate inflammation was more frequent in the PDS and PDS Plus groups than in the Vicryl group on the seventh postoperative day. There were no significant differences in the degree of inflammation on the 28th and 60th postoperative days. The lowest degree of postoperative adhesions was observed in the PDS group. CONCLUSION: Milder postoperative inflammatory changes and a lower degree of postoperative adhesions were seen in the PDS ligature group, suggesting that this could be the standard Endoloop used to secure the base of the appendix.

Non-invasive ultrasound guided compression repair of post puncture femoral pseudoaneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Pseudo aneurysm (PSA) of femoral artery is the second common post puncture complication. If PSA is less than 18 mm, it can be closed spontaneously and it can be asymptomatic. If not, it needs treatment. The most common non invasive method used in the treatment is ultrasound guided compression (UGC) with duplex color Doppler. In the treatment of PSA, other options are available, such as thrombin and collagen injection in the PSA sack, application of stent, but they are more invasive, with more complications than UGC. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study was performed in the period from 2005-2010. During this period, 4575 punctions of femoral artery were performed. Because of suspected PSA of femoral artery, we examined and diagnosed 28 PSA in the ward of ultrasound diagnostic. Data regarding the location and morphologic characteristics of PSA, morbid disease were documented. RESULTS: UGC was performed in 22 PSA patients, 12 men and 9 women, with average age of 48 years. 20 PSA were obliterated, while 2 remained persistent even after second attempt, and they were surgically treated. Efficacy of this method was 90%. Control examination was performed after 12 and 24 hours, and after 1 and 3 months. Intra- and after procedural complications were not observed. CONCLUSION: Non invasive treatment of PSA with UGC is cheap, efficient and easy to perform, with minor complications in well selected patients.

Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe procedure in the pregnant patients in second trimester.

Optimal approach to appendicitis in pregnancy remains controversial issue. There is also some concern that laparoscopy during pregnancy may cause fetal injury and alter fetal perfusion. Supporters of laparoscopy claim that minimally invasive approach even in pregnant state possesses several advantages, including fewer wound complications and less postoperative pain, producing faster return to normal activities and early hospital discharge, with no increased fetal risk. We present our series of pregnant patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy that shows that in the hands of an experienced surgeon, this method is a safe option in pregnant patients in the second trimester.

Primary malignant melanoma of gallbladder.

Gallbladder primary malignant melanoma (GPMM) is a rare and controversial entity. The existing controversy on the subject appears mainly because of the lack of definitive objective criteria of primitivity. Objective criteria proposed by the specific literature for distinguishing GPMM from secondary gallbladder melanoma include the exclusion of previous primitive melanoma, absence of synchronous involment of other sites, the unicity of lesion, its polipoid or papilary shape and the presence of a junctional melanocitary component. After laparoscopic cholecystectomy in one of our patients, dark polypus inside the gallbladder was found. A malignant melanoma was diagnosed according to all five criteria for GPMM.

Laparoscopic transgastric gastrocystostomy pancreatic pseudocyst.

Article presents a laparoscopic cystogastrostomy of pancreatic pseudocysts. Pancreatic pseudocyst is a common complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. It is treated by drainage. Until the development of laparoscopic method, the only surgical type of treatment was a drainage of pseudocyst into the stomach or intestine by the open surgery. In a recent years, a new procedures of laparoscopic treating of pseudocysts pancreatic were published. Despite of the small number of cases it is legible that this certain method of operative treatment has clear benefits for the patient. Herewith, we present a laparoscopic transgastric cystogastrostomy of the 44-year old woman who was admitted because of acute biliary pancreatitis. She was operated six months after the acute attack.

Laparoscopic appendectomy in the treatment of acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has many advantages over the classic appendectomy (CA), but this method has not been accepted yet in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, we attempted controlled randomized study in order to compare classic appendectomy with laparoscopic appendectomy and confirm eventual advantages of caring base of appendix with hem-o-lok clips regarding ordinary accepted endoloop method during laparoscopic appendectomy. METHODS: In this prospective study 120 patients were involved which are divided into two groups. In group 1, 60 patients were operated with classic method, and group II was divided into two subgroups; 30 patients were operated with laparoscopic method in which the base of appendix was cared by double endo-loop method and 30 patients were operated by plastic non-resorptive hem-o-lok clip. During this study the time duration of operation was measured, the duration of application of hem-o-lok and endo-loop, postoperative analgesia, the duration of hospitalization, intra-operative complications, anatomic position of appendix, appendicitis, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that laparoscopic appendectomy is shorter in duration if compared to the classical appendectomy with statistical significance p < 0.001 (CA 69,4 min; LAH 36,6 min; LAE 37,1 min), hospitalization is shorter p < 0.0001 (CA 3,6 days; LAH 2,3 days; LAE 2,2 days). Quantity of given analgesics in LA is less than in CA without statistical significance between LAE and CA (p > 0.340) and between LAE and LAH (p > 0.148) while there is positive statistical significance between LAH and CA (p < 0.015). Precise period of cicatrization of wound of patients operated by CA was 43 (71.66%) cases, with infection of wound in 3(5%) cases, phlegm of wound in 2 (3.3%) cases, healing of wound per sekundam in 9 (15%) cases and ileus in one (1.6%) patient. One patient had an infection of umbilical wound in LA and the other had cellulitis of front abdominal wall. Duration of application of hem-o-lok is shorter compared to endo-loop with statistical significance p < 0.013 (LAH 68,2 s; LAE 176,9 s). CONCLUSION: Time of surgery is shorter and the duration of hospitalization, amount of given analgesic is smaller, less number of postoperative complications, better cosmetic effect and advantages of application of hem-o-lok over endo-loop laparoscopic appendectomy is preferred.

Treatment of common bile duct stones--is the role of ERCP changed in era of minimally invasive surgery?

UNLABELLED: In 10-15% of the patients that underwent cholecystectomy, common bile duct stones were found either during the preoperative, intraoperative or postoperative evaluation. Their treatment traditionally was based on open approach and extraction of calculi, with development of endoscopic procedures we have ERCP with endoscopic sphincterotomy, but due to rapid development of laparoscopic procedures now-days we have other therapeutic options such as laparoscopic transcystic extraction and laparoscopic choledohotomy. METHODS: During the period between 2007-2009 we treated 168 patients with common bile duct stones. Age range was 21-78 years, 105 female and 63 male patients. We have performed 47 open explorations, 9 laparoscopic transcystic exploration, as well as 112 ERCP and ES. We monitored the rate of success (%), intra- and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The success rate of the cases of open exploration was 95%, in 2 cases postoperative cholangiogram showed concrement residues that were successfully treated later on with ERCP+ES. Out of 9 transcystic LCBDE we have performed, in 4 cases extraction was successful, 3 patients underwent conversion into open exploration, and 2 patients were successfully treated with postoperative ERCP. A total of 69 patients were treated with ERCP and ES with the 82% success rate of stone extraction. CONCLUSION: Even though laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures have revolutionized treatment of common bile duct stones, the role of ERCP is not changed. Treatment in general hospital settings largely depends on availability of endoscopic and laparoscopic equipment and expertise, and must be individualized according to methods that are available. In our settings we have found that best summary of these demands are achieved by ERCP and laparoscopic approach.

Laparoscopic repair of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.

Diaphragm injuries are diagnosed in the acute phase of blunt trauma only in 10% of cases--more often they are presented as hernia. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia presents unique obstacles to a minimal invasive approach. However, with the proper training and equipment, most of these hernias are amenable to laparoscopic approach. These patients can expect the same well-known benefits of laparoscopic approach. We report here the case of a 56-year-old man, admitted to hospital with symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain and dispnea who sustained blunt abdominal trauma in a high speed motor vehicle accident nine months ago. X-ray and CT scans confirmed suspected strangulated diaphragmatic hernia which contained stomach, colon, majoromentum and spleen in left hemithorax. The urgent laparoscopic procedure was performed--omentum, colon and stomach were taken backthrough diaphragmatic defect but the spleen was tightly fixed in thoracal cavity and splenectomy was performed. The diaphragmatic defect was repaired with interruptured sutures. This case proves that laparoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernia is effective, but this should be carried out with caution, sometimes it needs additional complex procedure in emergency setting like splenectomy in this case.

Laparoscopic splenectomy in blunt trauma: is the procedure safe in pregnant patient?

There are increasing reports about laparoscopic splenectomy being performed even in blunt trauma patients, especially when conservative treatment has failed, but there are very rare reports involving pregnant patients operated laparoscopically due to a blunt trauma. The fear of possible injury of the fetus and effects on the course of the pregnancy limited the use of laparoscopic surgery in pregnant trauma patients. We report here a case of the laparoscopic splenectomy performed in a pregnant patient who sustained a blunt abdominal trauma, with grade V splenic injury. After diagnostic laparoscopy, which revealed the presence of a large amount of free fluid in the abdomen and a lesion on hilum of the spleen, laparoscopic splenectomy was performed with vascular staple. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged with no discernible effects on the course of the pregnancy. This case shows that laparoscopic splenectomy is feasible and a safe procedure in pregnant patients who sustained a blunt abdominal trauma, but it requires adequate experience in elective laparoscopic surgery of spleen, continuous monitoring of fetal vitality is required.

Succcessful laparoscopic treatment of cholecystoduodenal fistula.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystoduodenal fistula (CD) is a rare complication of gallstone disease. Laparoscopic stapling techniques have been reported as feasible methods for treating this fistula, however these procedures are not always performed successfully. We have reported five cases of CD diagnosed intraoperatively, managed successfully by laparoscopic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the 3-year period, from 2007 to 2009, 1500 patients underwent LC for gallstone desease, five of them (3.3%), who presented with classic symptoms of symptomatic cholelithiasis, intraoperatively CD were found. Data were collected on patients' age, sex, pre-operative diagnoses, operative methods, morbidity and management. Laparoscopic surgery was performed using the standard three trocars technique. RESULTS: All patients were females, 67 years old on average. They had gallstones detected by abdominal ultrasound, but CD's were found during operative treatment of gallstones. In three cases CD was completely mobilized with a combination of blunt and sharp dissection and divided using the endoscopic linear stapling device. In the other two cases after division of the cystic duct and artery the gallbladder was dissected from the liver bed, leaving just the fistulous connection to the duodenum. Then division of the fistula was completed using the same stapling device. All five patients had uneventful postoperative course. The hospital stay of five patients ranged from 5 do 10 days (median 6 days). CONCLUSION: CD does not preclude a laparoscopic approach. With more experience and improved techniques, most of these cases could be performed laparoscopically, with all of the advan-tages of minimally invasive surgery.

Laparoscopic treatment of achalasia--first case in Croatia.

Esophageal achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder. Commonly used treatments are botulinum toxin injections, endoscopic balloon dilation and surgical myotomy with or without fundoplication. We are hereby presenting the first case of laproscopic myotomy with fundoplication performed in Croatia. A 32-year old female was admitted to the hospital due to the symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain and weight loss. Upper gastrointestinal tract radiography with contrast and flexible endoscopy confirmed the clinical diagnosis of achalasia. She was treated by the Heller laparoscopic procedure and Dor anterior fundoplication. The patient had a successful recovery and was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. This case shows that laparoscopic treatment of achalasia is a feasibile and safe procedure which can be performed even in a small country hospital, but it requires great technical care and experience of the surgeon.