A New Era in Minimally Invasive Liver Resection (MILR) Single-Incision Laparoscopic Liver Resection (SIL-LR): The First Two Cases.

Laparoscopy has gained a place in everyday surgical routine as an alternative surgical approach that decreases morbidity and postoperative hospitalization. Single port laparoscopic surgery has been introduced as a further development of laparoscopy. The feasibility and safety of single port laparoscopy is under extensive evaluation in specialized laparoscopic centers. Nevertheless, wide acceptance of the technique requires adequate documentation of the advantages of the approach over conventional laparoscopy and further refinement of surgical instrumentation to overcome intraoperative ergonomic problems.

Our early experiences with single-incision laparoscopic surgery: the first 32 patients.

BACKGROUND: Most of the laparoscopic surgeons have been attempting to reduce incisional morbidity and improve cosmetic outcomes by using fewer and smaller ports. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is a new laparoscopic procedure. Herein we would like to present our experiences. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and October 2009, data of the 32 patients who were operated through SILS are evaluated prospectively. There were 22 females and 10 males with a mean age of 45.1±14.8 years. Ten splenectomies for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, 16 cholecystectomies for acute cholecystitis or asymptomatic gallstones, 3 appendectomies for acute appendicitis, one distal pancreatosplenectomy for Renal Cell Cancer metastases, 1 adrenalectomy for Conn Syndrome and 1 case of liver resection for hepatic adenoma were carried out. The most common splenectomy indication was idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, cholecystectomy indication was acute cholecystitis (n=8), and asymptomatic cholelithiasis (n=8), appendectomy indication was acute appendicitis, distal pancreatosplenectomy indication was renal cell cancer metastases, adrenalectomy indication was Conn syndrome and liver resection indication was left hepatic mass in between segments 1 and 2. SILS was carried out successfully in 31 patients. Only in 1 patient conversion was required owing to bleeding. RESULTS: All procedures were carried out through a 2-cm umbilical incision. There was no mortality and morbidity recorded. CONCLUSIONS: In experienced hands of minimally invasive surgeons, SILS incision laparoscopic surgery could be carried out successfully in a wide range of surgical operations. However, to be able to show the differences between Standard laparoscopic surgery and single SILS, prospective randomized comparative studies are required.

Radio-guided excision of metastatic lymph nodes in thyroid carcinoma: a safe technique for previously operated neck compartments.

BACKGROUND: Better follow-up of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and more sensitive detection leads to detection of recurrences in the neck. Despite excellent outcomes, the major challenge is controlling locoregional recurrence. We aimed to investigate whether the radio-guided excision of metastatic lymph nodes makes it possible to find the affected lymph nodes in patients with previously operated neck compartments. METHOD: This prospective study included 46 patients with recurrent/persistent PTC who had previously undergone operation of the neck compartment. Prior to operation, the pathologic node was localized by ultrasound (US) and radiotracer ((99m)Tc-labeled rhenium colloid) was injected directly into the pathologic node. Careful dissection was carried out following the area of maximum radioactivity until the metastatic lymph node(s) were identified and excised. RESULT: One affected lymph node was removed in 17 patients, and more than one lymph node (affected or additional nodes) was removed in 29 patients. The median count from the lesion was significantly higher than values from the lesion bed (background activity) (16,886 counts/20 s versus 52 counts/20 s; p < 0.001). During follow-up, four patients were lost to follow-up and 27 patients had negative US and basal thyroglobulin (Tg). Five patients had suspicious lymph nodes on the operated side. Although the basal Tg level remained above the normal limit, moderately high in 8 patients, no metastases were detected in the neck. CONCLUSIONS: Radio-guided excision of metastatic lymph nodes can be performed safely for the detection and excision of recurrent thyroid cancer in the central and lateral neck.