[Emergency laparoscopic surgery]. / Chirurgia laparoscopic in urgenza.

The laparoscopic approach has represented a major step forward in general and emergency surgery. Its application in the emergency setting still raises a number of concerns that limit its more widespread use. To assess the true scope of laparoscopic surgery in the acute abdominal setting, we retrospectively evaluated our experience. From February 2003 to June 2007, 314 patients underwent an emergency laparoscopic operation, for low abdominal pain (193 patients), acute cholecystitis (78 patients), bowel obstruction (18 patients), diffuse peritonitis (16 patients), blunt abdominal trauma (6 patients), and acute pancreatitis (3 patients). Laparoscopy yielded a good diagnostic definition in all cases. The conversion rate was 16.6% (52 patients). Mean operative time was 63 +/- 29 minutes. The general major morbidity rate was 1.5% (4 patients) and the mortality rate was 0.4% (1 pt.). The laparoscopic approach in patients with abdominal emergencies is a useful tool that yields a reliable diagnostic definition in uncertain cases and allows minimal access treatment of the causative disease in the majority of cases.

[Identification of gallbladder pedicle anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / In tema di riconoscimento dell'anatomia dell'ilo colecistico in corso di colecistectomia laparoscopica.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is widely accepted nowadays as the gold standard in the treatment of cholelithiasis. This new technique was initially associated with a significant increase in morbidity, and in particular in iatrogenic biliary injuries and arterial haemorrhages, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge of the "laparoscopic anatomy" of the gallbladder pedicle. In this technique the anatomical structures are viewed on a two-dimensional video monitor, and the dissection is performed with long instruments without manual sensitivity. Therefore, the laparoscopic surgeon has to deal with new anatomical views and must be aware of the possible arterial and biliary variants. In this review we describe our technique of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with particular reference to manoeuvres useful for identifying the various anatomical structures at the gallbladder hilum. In our opinion, it is mandatory to avoid cutting any duct if its identity has yet to be established. For this reason, we pay great attention to the anatomical dissection of Calot's triangle, in order to accurately identify the cystic duct and the cystic artery and any other vascular or biliary structures. Routine intraoperative cholangiography may be useful for identifying the biliary anatomy. When in doubt, the surgeon should not hesitate to convert the procedure to open surgery.