Pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking as pancreatic malignancy: Surgeon's dilemma.

Pancreatic tuberculosis is a rare form of Tuberculosis (TB) which requires a high index of suspicion to diagnose. Here, we report a case of middle-aged gentleman presenting with abdominal pain and constitutional symptoms who was diagnosed with pancreatic tuberculosis on imaging, which was confirmed by Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) from the lesion. The patient was given Anti-Tubercular Treatment (ATT) as per conventional protocol. Follow-up showed recovery from the entity. A review of patient presentation, patho-physiology, diagnosis, and management of pancreatic tuberculosis is mentioned in this article.

Training and credentialing in Robotic Surgery in India: Current perspectives.

Robotic surgery has changed the landscape of surgery and ushered in a new era of technology-assisted minimally invasive surgery. There is a paradigm shift from traditional open surgeries to minimal access surgery, with robotic surgery being the new standard of care in some surgical fields. This change comes with an unprecedented influx of innovations in technology related to minimal access surgery, robotics and artificial intelligence. Despite the exponential advances in technology, there is a lacuna in the training and credentialling of robotic surgeons. In India, no dedicated training curriculum exists for trainees in robotic surgery. Thus, as robotic surgery continues to develop in India, it is imperative that robust training and credentialing systems are in place to ensure that patient safety and surgical outcomes are not compromised.

Role of 99m Tc-Mebrofenin Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Post Cholecystectomy Syndrome.

Background Huge variation in the prevalence of post cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is because PCS can include a wide variety of disorders that can be both related and unrelated to cholecystectomy. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) is a noninvasive nuclear medicine scan that can evaluate a delay in the transit of bile from the hepatic hilum to the duodenum using a radiotracer 99m Tc-Mebrofenin that can be associated with a functional ampullary obstruction. The aim of this study was to assess the role of 99m Tc-Mebrofenin HBS in the detection of the cause of PCS among the patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Methods Twenty-one patients who presented with PCS from September 2018 to February 2020 were included in the study. These patients were characterized based on history, examination, liver function test, and abdominal ultrasound. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) was diagnosed using the Rome 3 criteria and the Milwaukee classification. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy were done when indicated, to establish the diagnosis. These patients were further subjected to 99m Tc-Mebrofenin HBS, and the findings were analyzed. Results The most common symptom in PCS was biliary pain occurring in 85.7% of the patients. The average time of presentation since surgery was 1.9 years. The most common cause of PCS was SOD, occurring in 52.3% of the patients, followed by benign biliary stricture occurring in 23.8% of the patients. The mean bile duct (common bile duct) visualization time in patients with PCS was 25.2 minutes, the mean duodenal visualization time was 38.2 minutes, and the mean jejunal visualization time was 60.5 minutes. The mean bile duct to duodenum transit time was 12.7 minutes, while the mean bile duct to jejunum transit time was 30.1 minutes. HBS showed consistent findings with the final diagnosis made by other diagnostic modalities (clinical criteria/MRCP/intraoperative findings) in 80.9% of the patients. Conclusion 99m Tc-Mebrofenin HBS has a significant role in the evaluation of PCS.

Clinical spectrum and management outcome in gallbladder perforation-a sinister entity: Retrospective study from Sub-Himalayan region of India.

Objectives: Gallbladder perforation is an infrequent entity seen among surgical patients. Rare occurrence owes to difficulty in diagnosing gallbladder perforations. The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal management strategy that may decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this potentially life-threatening condition. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective study from hospital health records wherein the experience of 40 consecutive patients with gallbladder rupture, either spontaneous or secondary to both benign conditions and malignancy, was noted at a tertiary care hospital over 48 months from February 2017 till January 2021. The etiology, clinical presentation, and treatment given were analysed. Results: Out of 40 patients included, 23 were females and the majority of patients were more than 45 years of age. Twelve patients responded to intravenous antibiotics and analgesics alone while five required an ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter drainage due to non-improving clinical condition. The failure of expectant management led to a delayed laparotomy in seven patients while four patients required emergency laparotomy because of generalized peritonitis. An elective cholecystectomy was offered to 12 patients with cholecystoenteric fistulae after diagnostic laparoscopy in the same admission. Thirty-eight patients were discharged in stable condition and doing well at 30-day follow-up. Conclusion: Gallbladder perforation is seen more commonly in acute calculous cholecystitis compared to other conditions. It is more evident when the treatment of acute calculous cholecystitis is delayed by more than 6-8 weeks. The spectrum of clinical presentation varies from mild pain and vomiting to generalized peritonitis. The patient often requires a step-up approach to control the ongoing sepsis for an improved outcome.

Artificial intelligence: A new tool in surgeon's hand.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the future of surgery. Technological advancements are taking place at an incredible pace, largely due to AI or AI-backed systems. It is likely that there will be a massive explosion or "Cambrian explosion" of AI in our everyday life, largely aided by increased funding and resources spent on research and development. AI has also significantly revolutionized the medical field. The concept of machine learning and deep learning in AI is the crux of its success. In surgical practice, AI has numerous applications in the diagnosis of disease, preoperative planning, intraoperative assistance, surgical training and assessment, and robotics. The potential automation of surgery is also a possibility in the next few decades. However, at present, augmentation rather than automation should be the priority. In spite of the allure of AI, it comes with its own price. A robot lacks the "sixth sense" or intuition that is crucial in the practice of surgery and medicine. Empathy and human touch are also inimitable characteristics that cannot be replaced by an AI system. Other limitations include the financial burden and the feasibility of using such technology on a wide scale. Ethical and legal dilemmas such as those involving privacy laws are other issues that should be taken under consideration. Despite all these limitations, with the way technology is progressing, it is inevitable that AI and automation will completely change the way we practice surgery in the near future. Thus, this narrative review article aims to highlight the various applications and pitfalls of AI in the field of surgery.

Stentolith in Bile Duct: A Neglected Entity-Case Report with Review of Literature.

Stentolith is a forgotten stent that acts as a nidus for stone formation leading to a stone-stent complex. Once the planned procedure is completed, these stents should be removed within 4 to 6 weeks, but if they are required for a longer period, then they should be replaced every 3 to 6 months. Devastating complications may ensue -such as cholangitis, biliary stricture, or secondary biliary cirrhosis. Management primarily comprises surgical intervention with common bile duct exploration or endoscopic clearance. The majority of patients eventually develop symptoms that lead to their diagnosis and subsequent management. This article, however, details the case of a silent stentolith and how it may have led to disastrous complications if surgical intervention was not done promptly.

A Case of Isolated Jejunal Diverticulum Presented as Free Perforation: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen.

Jejunal diverticulum is a very rare disease. Diagnosis of this condition is a challenge owing to non-specific complaints of the patient. Fifteen percent cases of jejunal diverticula present with acute abdomen. Approximately 77% of small bowel diverticular disease occur with multiple diverticula. Here we describe a case of complicated isolated jejunal diverticula presenting with perforation, which was successfully treated with resection of the involved segment with anastomosis.

Demographic and clinicopathological Profile of Gall Bladder Cancer Patients: Study from a tertiary care center of the Sub-Himalayan region in Indo-Gangetic Belt.

INTRODUCTION: Gall bladder cancer (GBC) accounts for 80%-95% of biliary tract malignancies in the world. There is however striking variability in the global incidence of gallbladder cancer, reaching epidemic levels for some regions and ethnicities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic and clinicopathological profile of the gallbladder cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients of carcinoma gall bladder presenting to department of surgery in hepatopancreaticobiliary unit from July 2017 to November 2020 were included in this study. A proforma containing all the relevant details including history, examination, blood, radiology, and pathological investigations was filled. RESULTS: A total of 326 patients of GBC were analyzed. The majority (75%) were found to be females with a mean age of 55 years. Pain abdomen was the most common presenting symptom in 81% of patients. The most common stage of presentation was stage IV and only 6 were in stage I. Two hundred and thirty three (71.4%) patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Liver infiltration at the time of diagnosis was present in 89% of patients. The most common site of metastasis was found in the liver (23.3%). GBC was more common in patients with A blood group. Baseline serum albumin levels were found to be significantly associated with the staging of GBC. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the non specific symptoms patients of GBC present at very advanced stages, high index of suspicion and health education seems to play an important role in early detection and improvement of survival.

Role of hospital anxiety and depression on the healing of chronic leg ulcer: A prospective study.

A chronic leg ulcer is a debilitating illness, owing to the local condition of the wound and a decrease in physical activity and productivity, resulting in anxiety and depression among patients. The study aimed to find any association of anxiety and depression in the healing of chronic wounds. A total of 125 patients with chronic leg ulcers were enrolled in the study. HADS questionnaire assessment followed the local wound examination in all patients. A follow-up assessment of the ulcer was done after appropriate local treatment, and data analysed with the HADS scale. In the present study, the ROC curve showed a cutoff value of 14 for the HADS score in predicting ulcer status (non-healing vs healed) after 30 days. A total of 54.4% (68) patients had a HADS score ≥ 14 and 39% (49) were true positive for the non-healing wound at a 1-month follow-up. This study revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 83.1% and 71.2%, respectively (P-value <.001), and diagnostic accuracy of 76.8%, for HADS score > 14 in the detection of non-healing ulcers. Chronic leg ulcers should be subjected to HADS assessment and if found significant corrective measures must be instituted for improving wound healing.

The Surgeon and the Smartphone - is the Association Really Smart?

The aim of this literature review is to encompass the importance of integrating smartphones in the life of a surgeon especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the progression of technology, telesurgery, remote pre and postoperative care, smartphone-assisted intraoperative navigation and transcontinental education can be made a reality. Nonetheless, rates of nosocomial infections have been raised and the increased use of a smartphone can compound this issue. Similarly, there is a greater potential for operator distraction, medical equipment interference and increased radiation exposure for the user. All the above create a new set of problems for the surgeon. We hereby attempt a review of the advantages and harmful effects from the usage of smartphones.