Prognostic factors for gallbladder cancer in the laparoscopy era.

PURPOSE: Hepatobiliary surgery has changed dramatically in recent decades with the advent of laparoscopic techniques. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare survival rates according to stages, adjusting for important prognostic factors. METHODS: A retrospective study of a 17-year period from January 1994 to April 2011 was carried out. The cases studied were divided into two time period cohorts, those treated in the first 9-years (n = 109) and those treated in the last 7-years (n = 109). RESULTS: An operation with curative intent was performed on 218 patients. The 5-year survival rates according to the depth of invasion were 86% (T1), 56% (T2), 45% (T3), and 5% (T4). The number of cases of incidental gallbladder cancer found during 3,919 laparoscopic cholecystectomies was 96 (2.4%). Incidental gallbladder cancer revealed a better survival rate (P = 0.003). Iatrogenic bile spillage was found in 20 perforations of the gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomies, 16 preoperative percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainages and 16 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainages; only percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage patients showed a significantly lower survival rate than patients without iatrogenic bile spillage (P < 0.034). Chemoradiation appeared to improve overall survival (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis also revealed that time period, type of surgery, surgical margin, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node involvement, and chemoradiation therapy had significant effects. CONCLUSION: This study found that the prognosis of gallbladder cancer is still determined by the stage at presentation due to the aggressive biology of this tumor. Early diagnosis, radical resection and appropriate adjuvant therapy can increase overall survival.

Intestinal Anastomosis by Use of a Memory-shaped Compression Anastomosis Clip (Hand CAC 30): Early Clinical Experience.

PURPOSE: The safety and the efficacy of the compression anastomosis clip (Hand CAC 30) have been demonstrated by animal studies. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical validity of the Hand CAC 30 in enterocolic side-to-side anastomosis after colonic or enteric resections. METHODS: A non-randomized prospective data collection was performed for patients undergoing a side-to-side anastomosis using the Hand CAC 30. Eligibility criteria for the use of the Hand CAC 30 were for anastomoses between the colon and the ileum or between two small bowels. The primary short-term endpoint was the rate of anastomotic leakage. Other clinical outcomes, including intra- and postoperative complications, length of operation time and hospital stay, and the clip elimination time were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients (male, 36) underwent an enteric or right-sided colonic resection followed by a side-to-side anastomosis using the Hand CAC 30. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 36 patients, in whom one patient who underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was converted to an open procedure (1/32, 3.1%). One patient with ascending colon cancer showed postoperative anastomotic leakage and died of co-morbid ischemic heart disease. There were no other surgical mortalities. The exact date of expulsion of the clip could not be recorded because most patients were not aware of clip elimination. No patients manifested clinical symptoms of anastomotic stricture. CONCLUSION: Short-term evaluation of the Hand CAC 30 anastomosis in patients undergoing enterocolic surgery proved it to be a safe and efficacious alternative to the standard hand-sewn or stapling technique.

Comparing of the results between single port and three ports in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this prospective trial was to observe the results of the two types of techniques. METHODOLOGY: Single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) (56 cases) indication was polyp disease and mild cholecystitis with gall bladder stone (no right upper quadrant tenderness in physical examination, no gall bladder wall thickening in image study). Three ports laparoscopic cholecystectomy (TPLC) (46 cases) was applied to previous laparoscopic surgery indication. There were slight differences in indication as there are still limitations in applying single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy in all patients. RESULTS: The two groups were similar with respect to demographic characteristics. There were no significant differences in operation time, bile leakage during operation, postoperative hospital stay, pain score. Additional port(s) use in single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy were 13 cases, the reasons were difficult dissection of Calot's triangle (7 cases), incomplete ligation by Hem-o-lok clip (3 cases), cystic artery bleeding (3 cases), difficult visual due to obesity (1 case). CONCLUSIONS: Single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still in its initial stages. Although many controversies remain regarding stability and possibility, it is believed that development and exchange of new instruments and techniques will form an important part of future minimal invasive surgery.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH): a case study highlighting surgical management.

We report a rare case of traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) caused by a traffic accident. A 47-year-old woman presented to the emergency room soon after a traffic accident. She complained of diffuse, dull abdominal pain and mild nausea. She had no history of prior abdominal surgery or hernia. We found a bulging mass on her right abdomen. Plain abdominal films demonstrated a protrusion of hollow viscus beyond the right paracolic fat plane. Computed tomography (CT) showed intestinal herniation through an abdominal wall defect into the subcutaneous space. She underwent an exploratory surgery, followed by a layer-by-layer interrupted closure of the wall defect using absorbable monofilament sutures without mesh and with no tension, despite the large size of the defect. Her postoperative course was uneventful.