Laparoscopically assisted or open enterolithotomy for gallstone ileus.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone ileus is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Enterolithotomy as a single procedure is recommended to minimize complications. The trauma could potentially be reduced further by using a laparoscopic technique. METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients with gallstone ileus operated by a laparoscopic or open approach between 1992 and 2004 were studied retrospectively. Demographic data, preoperative and postoperative hospital stay, duration of operation, complications and deaths were recorded. Median follow-up after surgery was 36 months. RESULTS: Nineteen laparoscopic procedures, with two conversions, and 13 open operations were performed. The median duration of operation was 60 min in the laparoscopic group and 58 min in the open group (P = 0.675). The median hospital stay was 7 and 10 days, respectively (P = 0.383). There were five minor and one major complications in the laparoscopic group, compared with one and four, respectively, in the open group. There were no deaths within 30 days. CONCLUSION: The overall morbidity rate was low after both laparoscopic and open enterolithotomy for gallstone ileus, especially in terms of major complications in the laparoscopic group. Laparoscopically assisted enterolithotomy can be recommended for both diagnosis and treatment.

An open access technique to create pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: An open access technique might reduce severe vascular and visceral injuries. An open access technique through the umbilical cicatrix tube has been developed as a routine method with the goal to be easy, safe and used by all surgeons in patients without a previous midline incision. AIM: To evaluate the open technique in a prospective study in 100 consecutive laparoscopic operations regarding time for entrance, surgeons experience and BMI of the patients. METHODS: A midline incision from the linea alba up into the inverted umbilicus was performed in the cicatrix tube and the peritoneum was penetrated allowing air to flow into the abdominal cavity followed by a blunt trocar insertion. RESULTS: Time for access was median 93 seconds. Entrance time in patients with BMI >30 (n=18) was 100 sec and with BMI <30 it was 90 sec (p = 0.71). The median time for consultants was 88 sec and for residents 120 sec (p = 0.003). No gas leakage was seen. Prolonged time for access was seen in three patients; two equipment failures and one obese patent. CONCLUSION: The open access technique is applicable in all patients without a former midline incision. It is fast, easy to learn with very few associated problems.

Primary access-related complications with laparoscopy: comparison of blind and open techniques.

BACKGROUND: Severe or fatal complications attributable to gas embolus, major vascular injury, or visceral injury are rare but have been reported after blind access to the abdominal cavity in laparoscopy. The open access technique has been introduced with the aim to reduce these injuries. This report evaluates access-related complications with both blind and open access techniques in a teaching hospital using standardized techniques for both methods. METHODS: Two groups of patients at different times from a prospective database were compared. A retrospective analysis of 2,297 patients treated using blind access between 1992 and 1996 were compared with 2,066 patients treated using open step-by-step access between 1999 and 2001 regarding access-related complications. An accreditation program for both techniques was mandatory for the 67 surgeons involved. RESULTS: No case of gas embolus or major vascular injury was seen in either group. Four cases of visceral injuries (0.17%) in the blind access group and one case (0.05%) in the open group were seen (p = 0.337). All the injuries were recognized and repaired intraoperatively with no further postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Our educational efforts to make both techniques as safe as possible were successful, as evidenced by a minimum of access-related complications. Because no evidence exists to show that the blind access technique is superior in any aspect, the open technique is recommended for access to the abdominal cavity in laparoscopy.

Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy for confirmed appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is safe for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. This study compared recovery after laparoscopic (LA) and open appendicectomy (OA) for confirmed appendicitis, carried out by experienced surgeons in an educational setting. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three patients with laparoscopically confirmed appendicitis suitable for LA were randomized prospectively to either LA or OA in a blinded fashion. The primary endpoint was time to full recovery. Secondary endpoints were operating time, complications, hospital stay and functional status. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between LA and OA in time to full recovery (9 and 11 days respectively; P = 0.225). Operating time was 55 min in the LA group and 60 min in the OA group (P = 0.416). The complication rate was 8.6 and 11.0 per cent respectively (P = 0.696), and median hospital stay was 2 days in both groups (P = 0.192). Functional status was significantly better in the LA group 7-10 days after operation (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in time to full recovery after LA and OA in patients with laparoscopically confirmed appendicitis. A trend towards better physical activity was noted after the laparoscopic procedure.

Introducing diagnostic laparoscopy for patients with suspected acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected acute appendicitis varies from 60% to 90% depending on age and gender. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of diagnostic laparoscopy for diagnostic purposes in patients with suspected acute appendicitis to prevent unnecessary laparotomy and to leave a macroscopically normal appendix in place. METHODS: For this study, 500 consecutive patients with suspected acute appendicitis admitted between January 1994 and October 1996 were included prospectively in a surgical training program set to provide diagnostic laparoscopy on a 24-h-a-day basis. Primary open operation was performed when no laparoscopically trained surgeon was available. Short-term outcome measurements were recorded, and a retrospective long-term follow-up evaluation was performed. RESULTS: We succeeded in performing a diagnostic laparoscopy in 376 patients and a primary open operation in 124 patients. The overall appendicitis rate was 78%. A diagnostic laparoscopy alone was performed in 66 patients (56 of which were fertile women), with a median operating time of 36 min and a complication rate of 0%. The overall complication rate was 8.0%. During a median follow-up period of 19 months one patient returned on a later occasion with appendicitis. At completion of the study, 85% of the surgeons were skilled in diagnostic laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial education effort is needed to introduce diagnostic laparoscopy on a 24-h-a-day basis. Diagnostic laparoscopy has a high rate of accuracy, short operating time, and low associated morbidity, and prevents unnecessary laparotomy. It is possible to leave a macroscopically normal-appearing appendix in place.

[Laparoscopy in acute abdomen as diagnostic and surgical aid]. / Laparoskopi vid akut buk diagnostiskt och operativt hjälpmedel.

In cases of acute abdomen, the preoperative diagnostic options are limited. Diagnostic laparoscopy offers a superior overview of the abdominal cavity with minimal trauma to the patient. If further surgery is needed, it may take the form of either laparoscopic procedures or conversion to open surgery, the incision being guided by laparoscopy findings. Complications associated to laparoscopy are few and can be minimized further by using minilaparotomy techniques. Intensive educational programmes for all categories of staff are required to make a 24-hours-a-day laparoscopy service available.

Diagnostic laparoscopy in 1043 patients with suspected acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with suspected acute appendicitis, the number of complications associated with the laparoscopic technique, and the effect of leaving a macroscopically normal-looking appendix in place. DESIGN: Three prospective protocols. SETTING: Three departments of surgery, one in Norway and two in Sweden. SUBJECTS: 1043 patients aged 15 years or over. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis who were to be operated on. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity, mortality, and histological appearance of removed appendices, and outcome whether or not the patient was operated on. RESULTS: 819 patients had appendectomies (61% laparoscopically and 39% by conversion to open operation) with a total complication rate of 10%. In 211 patients a diagnostic laparoscopy was done as a single procedure. There were 181 women in this group and 86 of them had gynaecological disorders. The complication rate was 2% among these 211 patients and after a follow up of two years no patients had been readmitted for appendicectomy. 13 patients were subjected to other open procedures. The overall mortality was 0.4%. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic laparoscopy is safe and can be recommended in patients with suspected acute appendicitis, particularly in women. A macroscopically normal-looking appendix can be left in place.

Appendicitis: laparoscopic versus conventional operation: a study and review of the literature.

A retrospective study was performed after introduction of the laparoscopic technique in patients with suspected appendicitis to validate it in comparison with conventional open appendectomy. A series of 103 patients with suspected acute appendicitis were included. In 51 consecutive patients, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, and, if needed, an appendectomy was carried out. Fifty-two consecutive patients underwent conventional appendectomy. The primary intention of the laparoscopy was diagnostic, but if the patient was found to suffer from appendicitis, a laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Eight (16%) patients in the laparoscopic group had a healthy appendix that was left in place. Eleven (22%) patients in this group were converted to open appendectomy. There was no significant difference between the groups concerning age, sex, or diagnosis at the time of the operation, and there was also no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stay or complication rate between the groups. The postoperative need for analgesia was lower (p < 0.01) and the operation time was longer (p < 0.0001) in the laparoscopic group than the group that underwent open surgery. It can be concluded that the greatest benefits of the laparoscopic technique are that it causes less trauma, the diagnostic accuracy is better, and the cosmetic result is superior to that after a conventional operation. This is all at the price of a longer operation time.