Emergency Gastrectomy for Oesophageal and Gastric Polyps With Massive Bleeding Induced by Anticoagulation.

We report the management dilemma of a patient with known gastric polyposis requiring anticoagulation for a submassive pulmonary embolism and haemodynamic compromise. This occurred in a comorbid patient with iron deficiency anaemia and previous venous thromboembolism. The patient had repeated episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding post-thrombolysis for which the cause was not seen on gastroscopy and required an emergency gastrectomy to control the bleeding. A keyword search was done across Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase; in the case of gastric polyposis causing significant bleeding, current practice is to identify and treat such cases with endoscopy. This case report delineates the first case in literature of haemorrhagic bleeding in gastric polyposis secondary to therapeutic anticoagulation which has gone on to require definitive surgical management.

Impact of establishing a specialized hepatobiliary unit on liver resections in a non-specialized tertiary centre in regional Australia.

BACKGROUND: In April 2018, a dedicated hepatobiliary unit was established in a tertiary hospital in North Queensland. Changes included the employment of a hepatobiliary-trained surgeon, centralized referrals, and formalized multidisciplinary team meetings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of establishing a hepatobiliary unit on outcomes after liver resection, in a regional centre where such procedures were previously performed by non-specialist general surgeons. METHODS: Adult patients who underwent elective liver resection in Townsville from 2013 to 2020 were included in the study. Outcomes after liver resection were collected across two study periods - before and after the hepatobiliary unit was established. The primary end points were a before and after comparison of the 90-day morbidity and mortality and the R1 margin rates. RESULTS: Across the two study periods, 76 and 77 patients, respectively, underwent liver resection. Rates of R1 resection, 90-day mortality and major complications were not significantly different between the two study periods. Primary tumours (14.5% before versus 50.6% after) and cirrhosis (1.3% before versus 14.3% after) were significantly higher in the latter period, as was the median length of stay (4 days before versus 6 days after). Annual surgical volume increased by 75% in the period after 2018 compared to the 5 years preceding it. CONCLUSION: Establishing a centralized hepatobiliary unit in a tertiary regional centre resulted in increased surgical volume and case complexity, with no change in early outcomes after liver resection. Overall, this dedicated unit improved the accessibility of a subspecialty surgical service in regional Australia.

Routine Computed Tomography Versus Selective Imaging: An Audit of Negative Appendicectomy Rates in Two Hospitals.

Introduction There are a variety of conflicting recommendations in the literature for pre-operative imaging in acute appendicitis. There is debate over what the ideal imaging protocol is to lower the negative appendicectomy rate (NAR) without increasing missed appendicitis. The aim of this study is to compare the audited NAR between two groups with different imaging approaches: (i) mandatory pre-operative computed tomography (CT) imaging and (ii) selective imaging with CT, ultrasound (US), or no imaging prior to appendicectomy. Materials and methods A retrospective chart audit was conducted of 400 patients who underwent an appendicectomy at two hospitals with different approaches to pre-operative imaging (hospital A and hospital B). The primary outcome measure was histologically confirmed appendicitis. It was also documented whether there was radiological (CT or US) evidence of appendicitis.  Results At hospital A, all 200 patients underwent CT imaging prior to appendicectomy. The total histologically confirmed NAR for this group was 9.5% (19/200). At hospital B, 97 (48.5%) patients underwent CT, 41 (25.5%) underwent US, 10 (5%) had both US and CT, and 52 (26%) had no imaging. The total NAR was 11.5% (23/200). Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.62) in audited NARs when comparing clinician-guided selective imaging versus routine CT imaging for all patients undergoing appendicectomy.

Surgical approach to a left-sided gallbladder.

Biliary colic is a pain in the right upper quadrant or epigastrium thought to be caused by functional gallbladder spasm from a temporary obstructing stone in the gallbladder neck, cystic duct or common bile duct. A 56-year-old man presented with frequent episodes of typical biliary colic. At initial laparoscopy, the gallbladder was absent from its anatomic location. Further inspection revealed a left-sided gallbladder (LSGB), suspended from liver segment 3. Preoperative ultrasound, the most common imaging modality for symptomatic gallstones, has a low positive predictive value for detecting LSGB (2.7%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was delayed to attain additional imaging. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrated the gallbladder left of the falciform ligament with the cystic duct entering the common hepatic duct from the left. The patient underwent an elective LC 8 weeks later. The critical view of safety is paramount to safe surgical dissection and could be safely achieved for LSGB.

Left-sided gallbladder: a systematic review of a rare biliary anomaly.

BACKGROUND: A left-sided gallbladder (LSGB) is a rare anatomical anomaly that is often not discovered until surgery. Two cases of LSGB managed with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) stimulated this systematic review. The aims of this study were in LSGB to define the rate of pre-operative detection, variations in biliary anatomy, laparoscopic techniques employed and outcomes of surgery for symptomatic gallstones. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses principles. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies with 112 patients of which 90 (80.4%) had symptomatic gallstones. Pre-operative imaging was performed in 108 patients (96.4%) with an LSGB reported on imaging in 32 (29.6%) patients. The remainder of LSGB were discovered at surgery. Ultrasound detected an LSGB in three (2.7%) patients. Five variants of cystic union with the common hepatic duct (CHD) were identified. The most common (67.8%) was union on the right side of the CHD after a hairpin bend anterior to the CHD. A cholecystectomy for gallstone disease was performed in 90 patients, 23.3% open and 76.7% LC. Common variations in LC technique were different port site placement and techniques related to the falciform ligament to improve exposure. Common bile duct injury occurred in four (4.4%) patients. CONCLUSION: LSGB is a rare anatomical variation that in patients with symptomatic gallstones is usually discovered at surgery. Cholecystectomy is associated with a higher incidence of common bile duct injury.

Synchronous primary anorectal melanoma and sigmoid adenocarcinoma: a case report.

Synchronous primary anorectal melanoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma is extremely rare, with only 5 cases reported in the literature. Here, a case is reported and the currently available literature is summarized. A 72-year-old white male presented with changes in his bowel habits and unintentional weight loss. Colonoscopy revealed a polypoid mass in the distal rectum extending to the anal verge anteriorly and a circumferential polypoid mass in the distal sigmoid colon. Biopsies were taken, which revealed poorly differentiated melanoma of the anorectal mass and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid mass with nodal involvement. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed liver metastasis. An extended abdominoperineal resection was undertaken for palliation, relief of symptoms, and definitive histology to guide further management. Consequently, a resection of the hepatic metastasis was attempted; however, macroscopic deposits were discovered on 7 of 8 liver segments perioperatively. He was subsequently referred to medical oncology for palliative chemotherapy. Synchronous primary anorectal melanoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma is rare, this being the sixth report found in the literature. In summary of the available cases, all synchronous cancers were located in the rectosigmoid and had very similar presentations. Most presented relatively late and were generally treated with abdominoperineal resection, which appears to be the best treatment option. Overall, prognosis appears to be dismal. General and colorectal surgeons should always be aware of the possibilities of simultaneous primary cancers because this can affect treatment modalities and prognosis for the patient.