[Outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for groin hernia repair: our experience in Tunisia]. / Résultats de la chirurgie laparoscopique pour la hernie de l'aine: l'expérience Tunisienne.

Groin hernia in adults is a frequent affection in digestive surgery. Many repair techniques have been described to date, including laparoscopic surgery. Two methods are quickly adopted by the various practitioners for the surgical treatment of groin hernia using laparoscopy: laparoscopic totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) technique and laparoscopic transperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TAPP). This study focused on the feasibility of groin hernia repair using coelioscopy, aiming to describe its outcomes in terms of recurrence and postoperative pain. We conducted a single-center, retrospective and cross-sectional study of patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery for groin hernia repair in the Department of Surgery at La Rabta Hospital over a period of 8 years, from January 2006 to December 2013. The main evaluation criterion was hernia recurrence. Postoperative pain and complications were the secondary criteria of judgment. We collected data from 92 patients with 104 hernias, respecting the inclusion criteria in our study. The average age of patients was 48 years (19-83). TAPP was the most used technique: 94 TAPP (90%) versus 10 TEP. No intraoperative complication was reported. Conversion rate was 0. Operative mortality was also 0. Postoperative morbidity was 5% (5 patients). It included hematoma in 3 cases and serum in 2 cases. The mean lenght of stay in hospital was 1.2 days (1-4 days). Postoperative length of stay didn't exceed 2 days in 94% of patients. Only 2 patients had a recurrence. Postoperative chronic pain was reported only in 3 patients. Our study shows that laparoscopic surgery for groin hernia repair gives considerable comfort to our patients with regard to pain, length of stay in hospital and cessation of work. Outcomes are good and consistent with the results already published in the literature. This encourages surgeons to use these techniques and to monitor longer term outcomes.

[Solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas]. / Tumeur pseudo papillaire et solide du pancréas.

Solid pseudo-papillary tumors of the pancreas (SPTP) are rare epithelial tumors. In most cases, they occur in young woman in the second or the third decades of life. Survival after primary resection is approximatively 90% at 5 years. We report the case of a 20-year old female patient with solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas detected given the onset of abdominal pain without laboratory tests' disturbances. CT scan, MRI and endoscopic ultrasound showed well-defined mass in the pancreatic isthmus. Complete tumor resection was performed. Anatomo-pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas. Solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas should be included in the differential diagnosis of any pancreatic mass, in particular among young women. Surgical resection is associated with a good prognosis.

Extra-hepatic intra-abdominal hydatid cyst: which characteristic, compared to the hepatic location?

Hydatid cysts are mostly located in the liver, followed by the lung. Primary and isolated extrahepatic intra-abdominal hydatid cysts (PIEHC) are rare and only a few sporadic series have been reported. This article aims to study the epidemiological, diagnostic difficulties and therapeutic principles of PIEHC. More over, it aims to make comparison between PIEHC and the liver location of the cyst concerning all these data. We report a retrospective study from January 1995 to September 2010 concerning 34 patients who underwent surgical removal of a PIEHC. The mean age was 46 years. Abdominal pain was the main symptom, and was found in 27 patients (79.4 %). Physical examination revealed an abdominal mass in 19 patients (55.9 %). In 6 patients (17.6 %) the PIEHC was incidental. Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT scan helped to highlight all cystic masses. The diagnosis was established preoperatively in 28 patients (84.8 %). Five patients (14.7 %) were operated with a diagnosis other than PIEHC. The diagnosis was made intraoperatively in one case (2.9 %). A laparotomy in 24 cases (70 %) was the surgical approach often used. Majority of the patients, 25 cases (73.5 %), received a conservative procedure. Only 3 patients (8.8 %) had recurrences and were reoperated. The diagnosis of PIEHC is often facilitated by means of modern imaging, however, serious diagnostic problem were found with a pancreatic location of the cyst. Complete surgical excision, when possible without major sacrifice, seems to be the best therapeutic option to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Left-sided gallbladder: an incidental finding on laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Transposition of the gallbladder to the left side without situs inversus viscerum is rare. These gallbladders are situated under the left lobe of the liver between Segment III and IV or on Segment III to the left of the falciform ligament. This is a report of a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to our department with a history of pain in her right upper abdomen. The physical examination showed tenderness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen without a Murphy's sign. Abdominal ultrasonography showed gall bladder stones without dilatation of the bile ducts. The patient underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the French position and four ports positioned as usual. We discovered a left-sided gallbladder located on the left of the round ligament. The gallbladder was excised as usual. Intraoperative cholangiogram showed neither dilatation of the bile ducts nor associated congenital anomalies of the biliary tree. The patient was discharged on the first postoperative day. Because routine preoperative examinations may not detect the anomaly, the latter may take surgeons by surprise during laparoscopy. Awareness of the unpredictable confluence of the cystic duct into the common bile duct and selective use of intraoperative cholangiography both contributed to the safe laparoscopic management of this unusual problem.

Acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic hydatid cyst: a case report and review of the literature.

Hydatid disease is a major health problem worldwide. Primary hydatid disease of the pancreas is very rare and acute pancreatitis secondary to hydatid cyst has rarely been reported. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who presented acute pancreatitis. A diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the pancreas, measuring 10 cm, was established by abdominal computed tomography before surgery. The treatment consisted of a distal pancreatectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful. Additionally, a review of the literature regarding case reports of acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic hydatid cyst is presented.

A case of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the duodenum.

BACKGROUND: Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the duodenum is rare and a distinct clinical entity. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old man presented with a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, vomiting and decreased body weight over the past 2 months. Abdominal exam showed an epigastric mass of 10 cm. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy documented a tumor in the third part of duodenum. The histopathological examination of biopsy has concluded a MFH. Abdominal CT revealed a large and heterogeneous mass of 10 cm in the third part of the duodenum. The intervention was conducted by way of a bi-subcostal laparotomy. Exploration of the tumor revealed involvement of the third part of duodenum. This lesion adhered and invaded the inferior vena cava. A palliative procedure using a gastro-entero-anastomosis was carried out with uneventful postoperative course. Neither adjuvant chemotherapy nor radiotherapy were conducted. The patient died four months following his operation. CONCLUSION: The biological behavior of malignat fibrous histiocytomas is extremely aggressive and mainly conditioned by size and histological grading. The treatment of choice, whenever possible, is based on early and complete surgical excision of the tumor.

Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a rare tumor with a particular clinical and paraclinical presentation.

Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreas is a rare tumor with an extremely low incidence rate. While the number of reported patients with ACC is relatively small, a long-term survival rate has been noted in patients with neuroendocrine differentiation. A 39-year-old woman visited our emergency department for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopy indicated extrinsic compression of the posterior body of the stomach, together with a large, 10-cm, central ulcer covered with necrotic tissue. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) indicated a lesion that involved the whole of the pancreas, with a fistula in the stomach, which was suspected of being a degenerative intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pancreas was performed, and the results further strengthened our suspicions by demonstrating the presence of cystic lesions and tumor buds. A total duodenopancreatectomy, including total splenectomy and gastrectomy, was performed, along with two independent Roux-en-Y anastomoses (one esojejunal and one hepaticojejunal). The tumor also had a wide opening in the stomach. The patient's postoperative course was marked by partial thrombosis of the portal vein, which was treated medically. Histopathological examination provided evidence of pancreatic ACC. The diagnosis of ACC should be considered in the presence of cutaneous lesions, which were absent in the case of our patient, and colonoscopy is also highly desirable because of the various forms associated with familial adenomatous polyposis. The prognosis, which includes a 5-year survival rate of 45%, in the population with an R0 resection is better than that for ductular adenocarcinoma, thus prompting the more aggressive management of this type of tumor.

Peritoneal amyloidosis: unusual localization of gastrointestinal amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is a rare disease that results from the extracellular deposition of amorphous fibrillar protein. It is usually observed in a systemic form. Gastrointestinal involvement is frequent but peritoneal localization is unusual. A 43-year-old male was investigated for nephritic colic. Morphologic explorations revealed small intestine agglomerans in the periumbilical region, infiltration of peritoneal fat and multiple coelio-mesenteric lymph nodes. There were no clinical or biological abnormalities and endoscopic examinations were normal. The patient then underwent an exploratory laparoscopy. Macroscopically false membranes were seen throughout the peritoneum and small bowel without ascites. Anatomopathologic examination diagnosed peritoneal amyloidosis. After several investigations a diagnosis of a primary peritoneal amyloidosis was confirmed. The patient was treated with melphalan and prednisone with a favorable outcome. Our case illustrates a particular presentation of peritoneal amyloidosis. Despite improved imaging methods, peritoneal biopsy remains essential for diagnosis.

Hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland: a clinical study of six cases.

Hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland (HCAG) is an exceptional occurrence. We report our experience of six cases of HCAG and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of this hydatid localization. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the clinical files of six patients admitted to our institution from January 1990 to December 2000 for HCAG. Patients varied in age from 24-59 years. They were five males and one female. One patient had a history of pulmonary hydatidosis treated surgically 10 years previously. Five patients presented with lumbar pain and one patient had bouts of hypertension, headache, and palpitation. Physical examination was normal except in one patient who was hypertensive. Preoperative diagnosis was highly suggested by ultrasonography. CT scan performed in all cases clearly showed the relationship of the cyst with adjacent organs. Serology tests were positive in two cases. One patient had elevated urine VMA and was operated on with the diagnosis of cystic phaeochromocytoma. All six patients were operated on and had either an adrenalectomy (two cases) or partial pericystectomy (four cases). In one case, partial pericystectomy was conducted through a retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach. The hydatid nature of the cyst was confirmed pathologically. All patients had a smooth postoperative course with no cystic recurrence on follow-up. The diagnosis of HCAG is based mainly on ultrasonography and CT scan. Surgery with either partial or total excision of the cyst, with or without preservation of the adrenal gland, is the treatment of choice.