The role of laparoscopy in recurrent right lower quadrant pain in children.

According to scientific literature, laparoscopy as aid in diagnosis and therapy for chronic pain in the right iliac quadrant shows a undeniable advantage thanks to its mini-invasiveness, the possibility of a methodical and thorough exploration of the entire abdominal cavity in those cases of recurrent pain, emotionally and socially debilitating, that do not find an answer in the usual etiological diagnostic clinical-instrumental. In those cases in which any significant organic pathology that justifies the recurring pain in the right iliac fossa is found during laparoscopic exploration, it has been seen that it is useful to perform appendectomy anyway, that leads to the disappearance of symptoms, which are probably due to inflammatory recurrent catarrhal phenomena of appendix in such patients, as it is demonstrated by the adhesions found at cecum-appendicular level. From January 2011 to December 2013, 24 children with chronic recurrent right lower quadrant pain were subjected to diagnostic laparoscopy. Ages varied from 11 to 18 years (mean, 14 years). There were 6 males and 18 females. Laparoscopic findings included macroscopical signs of acute appendicitis in 15 patients; cecal adhesions in 20 patients, kink of the appendix in 3. The abdominal pain completely resolved in all the patients following laparoscopy.

Incarcerated Amyand's hernia Personal experience and literature review.

The finding of vermiform appendix in an inguinal hernia is called Amyand's hernia. Two cases of a 30 days and 4 months old children respectively are presented; they had been visited a month earlier and scheduled for inguinal herniotomy in elective surgery. On admission both the patients presented a non-reducible mass in the right inguinal region. Surgical exploration was performed under general anaesthesia. Inguinal canal is opened through transverse lower abdominal skin incision. We palpated a tubular swelling, of tense-elastic consistence through swollen cremaster muscle and hernial sac. Separating cremaster muscle, we opened swollen hernia sac and we found the vermiform appendix, not inflamed. We easily reduced the appendix into the peritoneum cavity, and then we performed the herniotomy according to the Mugnai-Ferrari technique. No post-operative morbidity was reported. The patients was discharged in the first postoperative. We did not have any doubt about avoiding appendectomy in both cases presented; in fact such an intervention, especially in so young patients, had no pathophysiological justification, while it increases the postoperative mortality rate. KEY WORDS: Amyand's hernia, Appendectomy, Inguinal hernia.

Laparostomy with topical negative pressure for treating severe peritonitis. Preliminary experience with 16 cases and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the authors' initial experience with laparostomy and intraperitoneal topical negative pressure (TNP) in patients with severe peritonitis. The authors also reviewed the recent literature on the effectiveness and safety of abdominal TNP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients (10 male, 6 female, mean age 55 years), suffering from severe peritonitis, underwent emergency laparotomy and laparostomy with TNP. Abdominal sepsis originated from the small intestine (n = 7), large intestine (n = 6), biliary tract (n = 2), and pancreas (n = 1). In 2 patients abdominal wall mesh infection and soft tissue gangrene were observed. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 31.2%. The main complications probably related to TNP were enteric fistulae (25%), bleeding (25%), abdominal abscesses (12.5%), bowel ischemia (6.2%). Delayed primary closure was performed in 8 patients (57.1%) whereas in 6 cases a parietal graft was necessary, and one patient underwent an autologous skin graft. CONCLUSIONS: Laparostomy with intraperitoneal TNP is a safe and effective method for managing patients with severe peritonitis. Morbidity can be reduced through individualized application of the laparostomy dressing and pressure gradient. The abdominal wall should be managed in such a way as to make possible delayed primary closure.

Megacolon for a giant faecaloma with unlucky outcome: case report and review of the literature.

We herein report a case of megacolon with fecaloma in an 83-year-old man who presented with constipation, no intestinal occlusion, and a left hydroureteronephrosis, with A.S.A. 4. The patient asymptomatic, was treated Primariely with laxatives. During the conservative therapy the patient presented an abrupt abdominal distension with a bowel obstruction and abdominal compartment syndrome. After the laparotopy and a Hartmann left colon resection the patient died for cardiovascular and metabolic complications. The aim of this report is to give a brief review of this entity and discuss the treatment options for these cases.

Acute afferent loop obstruction treated by endoscopic decompression. Case report and review of literature.

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is a rare complication of Billroth-II gastrojejunostomy. Most cases of ALS are caused by obstruction from adhesions, kinking at the anastomosis, internal hernia, stomal stenosis, malignancy, or inflammation surrounding the anastomosis. A 61-years old man, who had undergone gastric resection 30 years before, was admitted at emergency room with severe abdominal pain in acute onset, nausea and vomiting. Ultrasonography and multi-detector computed tomography suggested acute ALS, due probably to adhesions or internal hernia. The patient was conducted to digestive endoscopy unit and successfully treated with endoscopic decompression of dilated afferent loop. Open surgery is actually considered the gold-standard in treatment of ALS. However, some surgeons report a few cases treated by laparoscopic surgery, interventional radiology techniques, endoscopic decompression. Authors suggest endoscopic decompression of acute ALS due to adhesions or internal hernia as the first treatment, especially in high-surgical-risk patients.

[Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: preliminary experience]. / Colecistectomia laparoscopica con singola incisione (S.I.L.S.). Esperienza preliminare.

INTRODUCTION: The Authors describe our preliminary experience with the cholecistectomy with the S.I.L.S. (Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery), with a multilumen trocar and dedicated laparoscopic instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five operations of laparoscopic cholecistectomy with S.I.L.S. technique (3 men and 2 women), of age between 26 and 52 years are reported. RESULTS: In one case was applied an additional 5 mm trocar in the right ipocondrium; in two cases a transparietal suture to suspend the gallbladder was used. Operative time was 98 minutes for the first operation, and 45-65 minutes for the following. The operators have been some difficulties to moving the instruments because both the operating instruments and laparoscope are introduced through the same incision and on the same axis, the operator and assistant often impede the movements of each other. Any post-operative complications was registered. All the patients was very satisfied with post-operative pain and aesthetic results. CONCLUSIONS: The S.I.L.S. is a new technique already used in general surgery, urology and ginecology with good results; this surgey is probably destinated to improve his tecnique and instruments, but certainly it going to offer a further push of the mini-invasive "philosophy".

Laparoscopic treatment of unicentric Castleman's disease with abdominal localization.

We report a case of unicentric Castleman's disease (angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia) with abdominal localization, that was treated laparoscopically. The patient, a 23-year-old male, was referred to our unit for subtle symptoms of recurrent palpitations and vague abdominal pain. His physician had prescribed an abdominal echtomograph, which showed a mass located at the lower and anterior lower splenic pole. In order to reach a definite diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Exploration of the abdominal cavity helped detect a well-vascularized solid round mass at the level of the left hypochondrium, with a vascular pedicle; the lesion was detached, and the pedicle sectioned using an Endo-GIA 40. The postoperative course was regular and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 2. The laparoscopic approach enabled the resection of the lesion (with consequent histological diagnosis) and exploration of the peritoneal cavity with the advantages of minimal invasiveness, magnified images, and more rapid recovery). The pathology was totally resolved, with satisfactory results in terms of recovery, postoperative pain, and cosmesis.