Transinguinal preperitoneal (TIPP) vs endoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) procedure in unilateral inguinal hernia repair: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The Lichtenstein hernioplasty has long been seen as the gold standard for inguinal hernia repair. Unfortunately, this repair is often associated with chronic pain, up to 10-35%. Therefore, several new techniques have been developed, such as the transinguinal preperitoneal patch (TIPP) and the endoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) technique. Several studies showed beneficial results of the TIPP and TEP compared to the Lichtenstein hernioplasty; however, little is published on the outcome when comparing the TIPP and TEP procedures. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes after the TIPP vs the TEP technique for inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: A single-center randomized controlled trial was carried out between 2015 and 2020. A total of 300 patients with unilateral inguinal hernia were enrolled and randomized to the TIPP- or TEP technique. Primary outcome was chronic pain (defined as any pain following the last 3 months) and quality of life, assessed with Carolinas comfort scale (CCS) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were: wound infection, wound hypoesthesia, recurrence, readmission within 30 days, and reoperation. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were randomized (150 per group). After a follow-up of 12 months, we observed significantly less postoperative chronic groin pain, chronic pain at exertion, wound hypoesthesia, and wound infections after the TEP when compared to the TIPP procedure. No significant differences in quality of life, reoperations, recurrence rate, and readmission within 30 days were observed. CONCLUSION: We showed that the TEP has a favorable outcome compared to the TIPP procedure, leading to less postoperative pain and wound complications, whereas recurrence rates and reoperations were equal in both the groups.

Postoperative Complications, In-Hospital Mortality and 5-Year Survival After Surgical Resection for Patients with a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Systematic Review.

Studies on postoperative complications and survival in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) are sparse and randomized controlled trials are not available. We reviewed all studies on postoperative complications and survival after resection of pNET. A systematic search was performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE from 2000-2013. Inclusion criteria were studies of resected pNET, which described postoperative complications separately for each surgical procedure and/or 5-year survival after resection. Prospective and retrospective studies were pooled separately and overall pooled if heterogeneity was below 75%. The random-effect model was used. Overall, 2643 studies were identified and after full-text analysis 62 studies were included. Pancreatic fistula (PF) rate of the prospective studies after tumor enucleation was 45%; PF-rates after distal pancreatectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy, or central pancreatectomy were, respectively, 14-14-58%. Delayed gastric emptying rates were, respectively, 5-5-18-16%. Postoperative hemorrhage rates were, respectively, 6-1-7-4%. In-hospital mortality rates were, respectively, 3-4-6-4%. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of resected pNET without synchronous resected liver metastases were, respectively, 85-93%. Heterogeneity between included studies on 5-year OS in patients with synchronous resected liver metastases was too high to pool all studies. The 5-year DSS in patients with liver metastases was 80%. Morbidity after pancreatic resection for pNET was mainly caused by PF. Liver resection in patients with liver metastases seems to have a positive effect on DSS. To reduce heterogeneity, ISGPS criteria and uniform patient groups should be used in the analysis of postoperative outcome and survival.

Is less more? A prospective trial on one trocar appendectomy.

One trocar appendectomy is a combination of laparoscopic and open appendectomy. The advantage, along with improved cosmesis, is the possibility to introduce a dissection instrument through the optical trocar without an additional incision. In this prospective study the sense of one trocar appendectomy is evaluated in daily practise for a cohort of consecutive patients with suspected acute appendicitis. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. One-trocar appendectomy was successful in 13 patients. In 8 patients one extra 2, 5 or 10 millimetre trocar was necessary. In one patient a third trocar was necessary. Conversion to an open appendectomy through a grid iron incision was not necessary. The pathologist confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in all patients. The average operation time was 53 minutes. Complications included one wound abscess and one wound haematoma. In conclusion one trocar appendectomy is a good and safe technique in patients with the suspicion of acute appendicitis, provided that the operative team must be experienced in laparoscopic surgery and the constitution of the patient is suitable for this technique.

Interobserver variability in CT scan interpretation for suspected acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was undertaken to assess the interobserver variability in CT scan interpretation in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: 103 adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis underwent unenhanced helical multislice CT scanning of the abdomen. All patients subsequently underwent laparoscopy by a surgeon who was blind to the diagnosis suggested by the CT scan. All CT scans were interpreted by group A, B and C radiologists with different levels of expertise. RESULTS: Acute appendicitis was diagnosed on multislice CT scans in 69%, 74% and 80% by group A, B, and C radiologists, respectively. At laparoscopy, 83% of patients were diagnosed with acute appendicitis. For group A, B and C radiologists, the specificity of CT scanning for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was 94%, 94% and 100%, respectively, the sensitivity was 81%, 88% and 95%, the positive predictive value was 98.6%, 98.7% and 100%, and the negative predictive value was 50%, 68% and 81%. The difference in the proportion of positive outcomes between observer groups A and C was significant. During laparoscopy, 12 patients were diagnosed with other diseases. These were all correctly diagnosed by group C radiologists; groups A and B radiologists missed the diagnosis of colitis in one patient. All other disorders were diagnosed correctly. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of CT interpretations for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis differs considerably between radiologists. This interobserver variability has to be taken into account during implementation of routine CT scanning in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. Only in centres with expert CT radiologists is the implementation of routine CT scanning in patients with suspected acute appendicitis justified.

Carcinoid tumour of the appendix: an analysis of 1,485 consecutive emergency appendectomies.

AIM: The aim of this study is to conduct a retrospective analysis of the incidence and long-term results of carcinoid tumours of the appendix in emergency appendectomies. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1,485 appendectomies was performed in two centres from January 2000 until January 2006. Demographic data, clinical presentation, histopathology, operative reports and survival were scored and compared with the literature. RESULTS: In three women and four men, carcinoid tumours were identified (0.47%). The mean age was 32.7 years (range, 20-59 years). The clinical presentation was resembling the symptoms of acute appendicitis in all cases. Laparoscopic appendectomy was the treatment of choice in five patients; in one of these patients, a conversion to laparotomy was necessary. The other two patients underwent primary open appendectomy. Five patients underwent additional surgery after the pathology report became available. Four patients underwent ileocecal resection; one other patient underwent right hemicolectomy. In none of the re-operation specimens was residual carcinoid tumour detected. After a mean follow-up of 65 months (range, 25-92), all patients were alive and disease- and symptom-free. CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumours of the appendix most often present as acute appendicitis. It also emphasises the value of histopathological analysis of every removed appendix. The long-term prognosis of incidentally found carcinoids of the appendix is good.

Securing the appendiceal stump in laparoscopic appendectomy: evidence for routine stapling?

BACKGROUND: This metaanalysis aimed to compare endoscopic linear stapling and loop ligatures used to secure the base of the appendix. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials on appendix stump closure during laparoscopic appendectomy were systematically searched and critically appraised. The results in terms of complication rates, operating time, and hospital stay were pooled by standard metaanalytic techniques. RESULTS: Data on 427 patients from four studies were included. The operative time was 9 min longer when loops were used (p = 0.04). Superficial wound infections (odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06-0.71; p = 0.01) and postoperative ileus (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.14-0.89; p = 0.03) were significantly less frequent when the appendix stump was secured with staples instead of loops. Of 10 intraoperative ruptures of the appendix, 7 occurred in loop-treated patients (p = 0.46). Hospital stay and frequency of postoperative intraabdominal abscess also were comparable in loop-treated and staple-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical evidence on stump closure methods in laparoscopic appendectomy favors the routine use of endoscopic staplers.

Surgical validation of unenhanced helical computed tomography in acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen remains a clinical dilemma. This prospective study assessed the accuracy of preoperative unenhanced helical computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: One hundred and three adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis underwent unenhanced helical CT of the abdomen. Subsequently, all patients underwent laparoscopic inspection of the abdominal cavity by a surgeon who was blinded to the diagnosis suggested by CT. Patients underwent appropriate surgical therapy accordingly. Follow-up was at least 6 weeks. RESULTS: Appendicitis was diagnosed by CT in 83 patients (80.6 per cent). Acute appendicitis was identified during laparoscopy in 87 patients (84.5 per cent). Prospective interpretation of CT images yielded a sensitivity of 95.4 per cent and a specificity of 100 per cent for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. There were four false-negative scans. In 12 of 20 patients without signs of appendicitis on CT, the scan established the presence of other pathology. At operation no additional pathology was observed in this group and all other diagnoses proved to be correct. CONCLUSION: Plain helical CT in patients with suspected acute appendicitis provides an accurate diagnosis without the disadvantages of contrast enhancement.