Chronic abdominal wall sinus secondary to missed spilled gallstones in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a harrowing experience.

Gallbladder perforation with spillage of gallstones is not uncommon during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Stone spillage can cause several complications. We report a case of recurrent discharging sinuses on the right back 4 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a 44-year-old female patients. She suffered for 9 years to undergo empirical treatment for suspected tuberculosis, including repeated attempts at sinus tract excision done at different hospitals. We did a computed tomography sinogram, which revealed the tract extending from the right flank into a cavity in the right subpleural space. We proceeded with the sinus tract excision which extended between the tips of the 10th and 11th ribs, spreading to the right subpleural space where pus mixed with multiple gall stones were retrieved. Spilled stones may result in complications, making diagnosis difficult and seriously harming the patient physically, mentally, and economically. The need for accurate documentation and patient knowledge of missing gallstones cannot be understated.

Comparison of surgical site infection (SSI) between negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) assisted delayed primary closure and conventional delayed primary closure in grossly contaminated emergency abdominal surgeries: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: NPWT has been tried in many surgical fields, including colorectal, thoracic, vascular, and non-healing wounds, for the prevention of SSI. However, its efficacy in the prevention of SSI-grade IV closed abdominal wounds is yet to be explored. METHODS: All patients with grade IV abdominal wounds were included in the study. They were randomized into the conventional arm and the VAC arm after confirming the diagnosis intra-operatively. The sheath was closed, and the skin was laid open in the postoperative period. In the VAC arm, the NPWT dressing was applied on postoperative day (POD)-1 and removed on POD-5. In the conventional arm, only regular dressing was done postoperatively. The skin was closed with a delayed primary intention on POD-5 in both arms. The sutures were removed after 7 to 10 days of skin closure. RESULTS: The rate of SSI (10% in the VAC arm vs. 37.5% in the conventional arm, p-value = 0.004) was significantly lower in the VAC arm, as were the rates of seroma formation (2.4% in the VAC arm vs. 20% in the conventional arm, p = 0.014) and wound dehiscence (7.3% vs. 30%, p = 0.011). The conventional arm had a significant delay in skin closure beyond POD5 due to an increased rate of SSI, which also led to a prolonged hospital stay (5 days in the VAC arm vs. 6.5 days in the conventional arm, p-value = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The VAC dressing can be used routinely in grade IV closed abdominal wounds to reduce the risk of SSI and wound dehiscence.

On-demand (SOS) analgesia through Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) catheter route for post-operative pain relief in Emergency Laparotomies-a non-randomised interventional study (STAPLE trial).

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of on-demand bupivacaine infusion via transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheter in emergency laparotomy patients. METHODS: A non-randomised interventional study was conducted on patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy. The intervention group received an on-demand infusion of 10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine through TAP catheters, whilst the control group received standard analgesic care. The primary outcome was the amount of rescue analgesic consumption. Secondary outcomes included the post-operative, measured by visual analogue scores (VAS), side effects, time to first flatus, post-operative nausea and vomiting, and pulmonary complications. RESULTS: One-hundred-twenty patients (58 in the TAP-SOS group, 62 in the control group) were included in the final analysis. The TAP-SOS group showed significantly reduced rescue analgesic requirement by 91% (p < 0.001) and lower VAS scores at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h (adjusted p < 0.00). Time to out-of-bed mobilisation was significantly shorter in the TAP-SOS group by 12.47 h (p < 0.001), and post-operative pulmonary complications were lower by 75% (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in bowel recovery, catheter-related complications, or post-operative morbidity. No incidences of catheter-site infection were reported on follow-up; however, the catheter tip-culture was positive in 3 (5.17%) patients. CONCLUSION: On-demand bupivacaine infusion through a TAP catheter effectively reduced post-operative pain and opioid requirements in emergency laparotomy patients without complications. If an epidural is not an option, the TAP-SOS approach can be a helpful adjunct in implementing the ERAS protocol in an emergency since it allows for early ambulation and better pain management.

Comparison of laparoscopic port site skin closure techniques (CLOSA): transcutaneous suturing versus subcuticular sutures versus adhesive strips: a prospective single-blinded randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Cosmesis is an essential aspect of laparoscopic surgery. Various methods of skin closure techniques have been described. We conducted a study to evaluate the cosmesis and patient satisfaction with the scars three months after laparoscopic surgery using transcutaneous suture (TS) vs. adhesive strips (AS) and subcuticular suturing (SS). METHODS: A randomized, controlled, prospective study was conducted at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. The included patients were randomly assigned among the three arms. The time for skin closure was measured. Wounds were assessed till discharge, at 14 days, one month, and three months. Cosmesis was measured by the Hollander Wound evaluation scale (HWES) for each incision separately, and patient satisfaction by a 10- point Visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: One hundred six patients were assessed for eligibility, and 90 patients were randomized. Three-month follow-up data was obtained from 83 patients (92.22%). Baseline characteristics were similar among the groups. Cosmetic outcome was assessed in 312 incisions across 83 patients, and 206 (66.03%) incisions had an HWE Score of 0, but there was no significant difference (p = 0.86). Patient satisfaction was highest in the TS group (TS = 1.29, SS = 1.79, AS = 2.04, p = 0.03). Time for skin closure was the least in the AS arm (41.4 secs, p = 0.00). Skin dehiscence was significantly more in the AS arm. Four (4.44%) patients had port site infections. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that skin closure by transcutaneous, subcuticular, or adhesive strip methods had comparable cosmetic outcomes at three months. However, the transcutaneous closure method showed better patient satisfaction and minimal post-operative complications.

Surgical Site Infections in Patients of Periampullary Carcinoma Undergoing Delayed Bile Duct Division (COMBILAST) in Whipple's Procedure: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following a pancreaticoduodenectomy have been a significant cause of morbidity and even mortality. A modified sequence of the Whipple procedure, using the COMBILAST technique, may reduce SSIs and the patient's hospital stay. This prospective cohort study included 42 patients undergoing Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy for a periampullary malignancy. The modified sequence pancreaticoduodenectomy technique, COMBILAST, was used to estimate the incidence of SSI and explore other advantages. Of the 42 patients, seven (16.7%) developed superficial SSIs, and two patients (4.8%) had an additional deep SSI. Positive intraoperative bile culture had the strongest association with SSI (OR: 20.25, 95% CI: 2.12, 193.91). The mean operative duration was 391.28 ± 67.86 min, and the mean blood loss was 705 ± 172 mL. A total of fourteen (33.3%) patients had a Clavien-Dindo grade of III or higher. Three (7.1%) patients died of septicemia. The average length of a hospital stay was 13.00 ± 5.92 days. A modified sequence of the Whipple procedure, using the COMBILAST technique, seems promising in reducing SSIs and the patient's hospital stay. As the approach is only a modification of the operative sequence, it does not compromise the oncological safety of the patient. Moreover, it has an added surgical advantage in reducing the chance of injury to the aberrant or accessory right hepatic artery.

Laparoscopic excision of a large adrenal pseudocyst: diagnostic dilemma and technical challenges.

A woman in her 40s attended the hospital with worsening left upper abdominal dull aching pain for the past 6 months. Clinical examination and radiological investigations with ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen confirmed it to be a cystic lesion of the left adrenal of size 13 cm × 12 cm × 11 cm. With the possibility of an incidental malignancy due to large size, laparoscopic cyst excision meticulously without spillage of cyst content was possible due to preoperative planning. It was a difficult task to mobilise the cyst intact due to the thin wall to prevent accidental rupture and gross spillage of the cyst contents. The cyst wall sent for histopathological examination confirmed it to be an adrenal pseudocyst without any malignant focus. Adrenal pseudocysts are rare and mostly benign. However, the index of suspecting a malignancy should be high in large cysts, and meticulous dissection is warranted.

Lithotomy versus prone position for perianal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Studies objectively comparing lithotomy and prone positions regarding surgeon comfort, ergonomics, patient comfort, and position related complications are scarce. METHODS: The patients posted for surgery of either fistula in ano, hemorrhoids, or were included in this study. Subjective Mental Effort Questionnaire (SMEQ) and Local Experienced Discomfort (LED) scale were used to score the level of mental and physical stress among the operating surgeon, assistants, and the scrub nurse. Other parameters studied were the exposure of the operative site, patient comfort level, and position-related complications. RESULTS: Thirty patients were operated in each position. Mean±standard deviation of jackknife prone vs. lithotomy surgeon SMEQ score (15.6±10.4 vs. 107.0±11.5, P<0.05) and LED score (1.8±1.5 vs. 6.7±0.5, P<0.05) were found to be statistically significant. Prone vs. lithotomy assistant SMEQ score (29.1±13.1 vs. 100.6±8.7, P<0.05) and LED score (4.6±1.1 vs. 7.4±0.8, P<0.05) were also found to be statistically significant. SMEQ (10.0±0.0 vs. 20.6±2.5, P<0.05) and LED scores (1.1±0.3 vs. 3.3±0.5, P<0.05) of scrub nurses and LED scores (2.5±0.5 vs. 6.3±0.7, P<0.05) of patients were also statistically significant. Exposure of the operative site was significantly better in the prone position (5.0 vs. 2.1, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Significantly better SMEQ, LED, and exposure score suggests the superiority of jackknife prone position over the lithotomy in terms of significantly less mental and physical stress to the operating surgeon, assistant, and scrub nurse; better ergonomics, and excellent exposure.

Mesh hernioplasty in emergency repair of traumatic abdominal wall hernia following bull horn injury.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) is uncommon, mostly following motor vehicle accidents, fall from height and bullfighting. Bullhorn injury, common in rural areas, presents as either penetrating injuries to the abdomen or blunt injuries leading to internal organs injury. Rarely the bull horn injury may lead to TAWH. We report a 70-year-old female from a rural area who suffered bull horn injury to the abdomen leading to TAWH without penetrating the horn and was managed in the emergency by an open mesh hernioplasty. We suture closed the 10×5 cm size defect and reinforced it with a polypropylene mesh of 15×15 cm in the emergency setting. The patient recovered well without any complications or recurrence and doing well at 1 year of follow-up. Mesh hernioplasty can be considered a feasible and safe option in the emergency repair of traumatic abdominal hernia following bull horn injury.

Iatrogenic injury of duodenum: malady of a therapeutic misadventure.

Endoscopic procedures are the front-runner of the management of bleeding duodenal ulcer. Rarely, surgical intervention is sought for acute bleeding, not amenable to endoscopic procedures. Oversewing of the gastroduodenal artery at ulcer crater by transduodenal approach is the most acceptable and recommended method of treatment. We describe a case of an intraoperative duodenal injury that occurred during an attempt to oversew the gastroduodenal artery after a duodenotomy, leading to an unsatisfactory and meagre duodenal stump. This case will highlight the intraoperative turmoil, postoperative complications and management of a series of anticipated but unfortunate events that have rendered us wiser in terms of surgical management of a bleeding duodenal ulcer.

A Study of the Pattern of Injuries Sustained from Road Traffic Accidents Caused by Impact with Stray Animals.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of road traffic accidents (RTA) is increasing every day, especially in developing nations. Amongst various attributable factors, the menace of the stray animals remains one of the most underrecognized factors leading to animal-vehicle collision (AVC). Objectives: Our prospective cross-sectional study aims to survey the incidence of RTA attributable to stray animals and record the pattern of injuries along with other epidemiological parameters. METHODS: The present study was conducted at a tertiary care trauma centre located in a major city of eastern India, between June 2019 and March 2020. Variables like demographic details, type of vehicle and injury with severity score, use of safety gear including types of stray animals were collected and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients had suffered RTA due to AVC during the study period. The median age of occurrence was 29.0 years. The evening was the most frequent time of accidents (4 PM to 8 PM) with two-wheelers affected in 92% of cases. Stray dogs account for 69% of cases followed by cattle 21% cases. 41% of all RTA victims had polytrauma. Patients with RTA due to impact with ox were found to have higher injury severity score (ISS). The ISS comparison between two-wheeler drivers with and without helmet and influence of alcohol were statistically significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The study highlights an alarming incidence of RTA due to stray animals roaming freely on roads, thus adding significant morbidity and costs to the society. There is a need of the hour for imposing stringent measures from the appropriate authority, including public awareness to make sustainable action plans to prevent animal homelessness and wander freely on streets and major roads.

Epidemiology and patterns of road traffic fatalities in India pre- and post-motor vehicle (Amendment) act 2019: An autopsy-based study.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a preventable cause of death. The government of India enacted the motor vehicle amendment (MVA) act on September 01, 2019, to curtail the alarming trend of RTAs and their associated fatality. The study objective was to compare the epidemiology and pattern of fatal RTAs before and after the MVA Act 2019 of India. METHODS: An autopsy-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) of a tertiary-care hospital from March 2019 to February 2020. The sample comprised 75 fatal RTA victims who underwent postmortem at FMT. Patients were studied in two groups: One pre-MVA group (n = 47) and one Post-MVA group (n = 28). The data were obtained from medical records and inquest reports with autopsy correlation. Data pertaining to sociodemographic profile, mechanism, injury profile including injury-severity-score (ISS) and survival-time was recorded. RESULTS: There was a 40.4% decline in mortality among RTA victims (P = 0.057) in the post-MVA group. The case fatality rate also declined during post-MVA implementation months compared to pre-MVA months (1.61 vs. 1.96). A significant correlation was noted between the ISS and survival-time of victims (P < 0.001, r = -0.522). The mean age of patients was 39.87 ± 17.44 years. Heavy motor vehicles along with motorized two-wheeler were the most common offending-vehicle. The median ISS of all victims was 41 (33-57). Head injury was the most common cause of death (60%). CONCLUSION: Study results signal-toward early triumph of the new MVA act, probably due to enhanced adherence to safety gears and constructive behavioral change.

Laparoscopic colectomy in idiopathic colonic varices: a safe endeavour.

A 32-year-old man presented to the emergency department with recurrent episodes of haematochezia and haemodynamic instability. He had no complaints of alteration in bowel habits or mucus discharge in the stool. He was a non-smoker and does not consume alcohol. After stabilising the patient, clinical evaluation and investigations with gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed dilated and tortuous submucosal veins involving the entire colon excepting the distal sigmoid. CT angiography and Doppler ultrasonography revealed normal patency and flow in the mesenteric vessels as well as hepatic, portal vein and inferior vena cava. With the exclusion of the secondary causes, we made the diagnosis of the rare entity of idiopathic colonic varices. He underwent a laparoscopic colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, without any additional technical challenges intra-op and had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Idiopathic colonic varices can be a differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding and one can safely proceed with laparoscopic colectomy.

Cystic lymphangioma of the stomach with marked reactive changes: a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction in adult.

Cystic lymphangiomas are benign lymphatic tumours which usually affect the paediatric population and are predominantly located in the head and neck region. Its occurrence during adulthood and an intra-abdominal location are both extremely uncommon. Clinically and radiologically, these lesions often mimic malignancy. Infrequently, these tumours can undergo degenerative and reactive changes obscuring the diagnostic features. We describe hereby an anecdote of cystic lymphangioma with marked reactive changes presenting with the features of gastric outlet obstruction in an adult patient.

Malignant phyllodes tumor with heterologous differentiation: Clinicopathological spectrum of nine cases in a tertiary care institute in Eastern India.

Phyllodes tumors are uncommon fibroepithelial neoplasms of breast. Heterologous sarcomatous differentiation of malignant phyllodes tumor (MPT) is a rare phenomenon as shown in the literature. Herein we report a series of nine cases from a tertiary care centre in Eastern India. Patients demographic data and clinical details were obtained from the medical records. Histopathology and immunohistochemical studies were analysed and diagnosed accordingly. Out of 38 cases of PT, 13 were found to be MPT, of which 9 cases showed heterologous differentiation in the form of angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, undifferentiated sarcoma, extensive squamous differentiation and with lipomatous metaplasia. Proper diagnosis and subtyping of the sarcomatous component is essential for deciding the correct treatment modality and prognostication of the disease. However there is no clear cut treatment protocol is available because of paucity of data.

Invasive Cystic Hypersecretory Carcinoma of Breast: A Rare and Under Diagnosed Variant of Ductal Carcinoma.

Handful cases of invasive Cystic Hypersecretory Ductal Carcinoma (CHC) have been reported so far in literature. Cystic hypersecretory lesions of breast have a spectrum of morphological features ranging from Cystic Hypersecretory Hyperplasia (CHH), CHH with atypia, in situ to invasive CHC. We are reporting a case of a 32-year-old female who had nipple discharge and lump in her right breast for one month. A modified radical mastectomy was done and morphological diagnosis of invasive CHC with axillary node metastasis was made. The postoperative events were uneventful. Invasive CHC being a rare entity, our understanding of its biological behavior, prognostic factors and genetic basis is limited. The authors are aware of only 15 similar cases being reported in the English literature.

Amelanotic Melanoma Arising in Filarial Leg: A Report of a Rare Case.

Amelanotic melanoma arising on chronic lymphoedema has not been reported earlier. We reported a case of amelanotic melanoma of right leg developing in a background of chronic lymphoedema of filarial origin in an elderly male of 60 years, who underwent wide local excision of the lesion followed by skin grafting for the same. A histopathological diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma was made. The patient was on follow up when he developed brain metastasis within a period of nine months for which he was operated and is on regular follow up now. We believe this as the first case report of this unusual combination.

Umbilical Pilonidal Sinus: A Report of Two Cases and Recent Update of Literature.

Umbilical Pilonidal Sinus (UPS) is a rare differential diagnosis of umbilical disease as encountered by general surgeons. They usually present with history of pain and umbilical discharge. Young active adolescent males with dense hairy abdomen with a deep naval are at risk of developing this disease. There are no consensus guidelines for the management of this disease probably because of its rarity. Treatment depends on the type of presentation. Most of the cases are managed by conservative treatment with hair extraction and personal hygiene. Surgery is indicated in case of failure of conservative management. Although umbilectomy is a commonly done procedure, complete sinus excision with reconstruction which can be done to have better cosmesis. Incomplete hair extraction from the sinus tract has been found to be the commonest cause of failure of conservative management. In this paper we have presented two cases of UPS, managed conservatively, with no recurrence after one year of follow-up. We have also presented a recent update on current literature about this uncommon disease.

Giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma of small bowel mesentery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is an uncommon variant of liposarcoma, with poor prognosis and higher preponderance to local recurrence. Only nine cases of dedifferentiated liposarcoma of small bowel mesentery have been reported till now. This is a case of giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the small bowel mesentery, weighing nearly 9 kg (19.8 lbs), with synchronous lesions in the extraperitoneal space, which is the first such case to be reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 62-year-old man, who presented with a huge abdominal mass occupying nearly the entire abdomen. A contrast enhanced computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis revealed a large, poorly enhancing, heterogeneous, lobulated mass of size 27 × 16 cm, displacing the bowel loops peripherally. At laparotomy, a large mass arising from the small bowel mesentery was found. In addition, many other smaller synchronous lesions were studded in the entire small bowel mesentery and a couple more in the extraperitoneal space. A palliative excision of the giant mass along with the adjacent small bowel was done. The other smaller swellings were not causing any mass effect and were left behind as they were numerous, virtually ruling out any possibility of a curative excision. The histopathological examination suggested the diagnosis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma. On immunohistochemistry, S-100 was positive in the well-differentiated sarcomatous areas. The CD 117 and SMA were strongly negative ruling out the possibility of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. The CD 34 however was positive in the tumour cells. CONCLUSIONS: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the small bowel mesentery is rare. Involvement of nearly whole of the small bowel mesentery in the disease process virtually rules out the possibility of a curative resection, the mainstay of management. This report would add to the knowledge of this rare disease and the possible therapeutic problem that may be encountered in case of multifocal disease.