Safety and impact on diagnostic accuracy of early analgesia in suspected acute appendicitis: A meta-analysis

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Short- and Long-Term, 11–22 Years, Results after Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication in Obese versus Nonobese Patients

Background. Some studies suggest that obesity is associated with a poor outcome after Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (LNF), whereas others have not replicated these findings. The effect of body mass index (BMI) on the short- and long-term results of LNF is investigated. Methods. Inclusion criteria were only patients who undergone a LNF with at least 11-year follow-up data available, patients with preoperative weight and height data available for calculation of BMI (Kg/m2), and patients with a BMI up to a maximum of 34.9. Results. 201 patients met the inclusion criteria: 43 (21.4%) had a normal BMI, 89 (44.2%) were overweight, and 69 (34.4%) were obese. The operation was significantly longer in obese patients; the use of drains and graft was less in the normal BMI group (p<0.0001). The hospital stay, conversion (6,4%), and intraoperative and early postoperative complications were not influenced by BMI. Conclusions. BMI does not influence short-term outcomes following LNF, but long-term control of reflux in obese patients is worse than in normal weight subjects

Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in obese patients: A meta-analysis of prospective and retrospective studies

Background: A meta-analysis of different kinds of studies was performed to assess outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in obese patients. Materials and Methods: Retrospective and prospective studies enrolling patients with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m 2 were included. Primary outcomes were days of hospital stay, surgical procedure duration, and overall post-operative complication rate. Secondary outcomes were wound infection and intra-abdominal abscesses formation rate, hospital charges. Results: Laparoscopic appendectomy showed to be significantly associated with lower wound infection (P < 0.001) and post-operative complication rate (P < 0.001). Surgical time was considered as a hallmark of technical challenge and resulted diminished in the laparoscopic group (P = 0.018). Although not clinically relevant per se, the statistically significant shorter hospital stay (P < 0.001) was probably the reason of decreased hospital charges (P < 0.001). Intra-abdominal abscesses formation rate was higher in the open appendectomy group (P = 0.058), although slightly above the statistical significance threshold. Conclusion: Laparoscopic approach seemed to show relevant advantages compared to open appendectomy, but a large prospective trial is necessary to collect high quality data and investigate long-term outcomes

End-stage renal disease is a risk factor for complex laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients waiting for renal transplantation

INTRODUCTION: : To date, there are no studies investigating whether laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is technically more complex in patients waiting for kidney transplant. The aim of this study is to create a user-friendly score to identify high-risk cases for complex LC integrating end-stage renal disease (ESRD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 321 patients undergoing LC during the period 2014-2016. Two groups were compared: ESRD group (n = 25) versus control group (n = 296). Concerning statistical analysis, continuous variables were compared using Kruskal-Wallis' test, dummy variables with Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test when appropriate. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for complex LC. A backward conditional method was used to design the final model. RESULTS: : Seventy out of 321 (21.8%) cases were considered as complex, with a higher prevalence in the ESRD group (32.0 vs. 20.9%; P = 0.2). Using a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we formulated a score based on the independent risk factors for complex LC: 4×(previous cholecystitis) +5 × (previous ESRD) +1 × (age per decade) +2 × (previous open abdominal surgery). High-risk cases (score ≥ 10) were more commonly reported in the ESRD group (72.0 vs. 24.7%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: : Although several scores investigating the risk for complex LC have been proposed, none of them has focused on ESRD. This is the first series demonstrating that ESRD is an independent risk factor for technical complexity in LC. We developed a score to offer surgeons an extra tool for pre-operative evaluation of patients requiring LC

Gut barrier function and systemic endotoxemia after laparotomy or laparoscopic resection for colon cancer: A prospective randomized study

Purpose: The gut barrier is altered in certain pathologic conditions (shock, trauma, or surgical stress), resulting in bacterial and/or endotoxin translocation from the gut lumen into the systemic circulation. In this prospective randomized study, we investigated the effect of surgery on intestinal permeability (IP) and endotoxemia in patients undergoing elective colectomy for colon cancer by comparing the laparoscopic with the open approach. Patients and Methods: A hundred twenty-three consecutive patients underwent colectomy for colon cancer: 61 cases were open resection (OR) and 62 cases were laparoscopic resection (LR). IP was measured preoperatively and at days 1 and 3 after surgery. Serial venous blood sample were taken at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min, and at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery for endotoxin measurement. Results: IP was significantly increased in the open and closed group at day 1 compared with the preoperative level (P < 0.05), but no difference was found between laparoscopic and open surgery group. The concentration endotoxin systemic increased significantly in the both groups during the course of surgery and returned to baseline levels at the second day. No difference was found between laparoscopic and open surgery. A significant correlation was observed between the maximum systemic endotoxin concentration and IP measured at day 1 in the open group and in the laparoscopic group. Conclusion: An increase in IP, and systemic endotoxemia were observed during the open and laparoscopic resection for colon cancer, without significant statistically difference between the two groups

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: The effects of high-concentration supplemental perioperative oxygen on the inflammatory and immune response: A randomised controlled trial

Background: A number of studies have been reported on the effects of high-concentration oxygen (HCO) on cytokine synthesis, with controversial results. We assessed the effect of administration of perioperative HCO on systemic inflammatory and immune response in patients undergoing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). Materials and Methods: Patients (n = 117) were assigned randomly to an oxygen/air mixture with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 30% (n = 58) or 80% (n = 59). Administration was commenced after induction of anaesthesia and maintained for 6 h after surgery. White blood cells, peripheral lymphocytes subpopulation, human leucocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), neutrophil elastase, interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated. Results: A significantly higher concentration of neutrophil elastase, IL-1, IL-6 and CRP was detected post-operatively in the 30% FiO2group patients in comparison with the 80% FiO2group (P < 0.05). A statistically significant change in HLA-DR expression was recorded post-operatively at 24 h, as a reduction of this antigen expressed on monocyte surface in patients from 30% FiO2group; no changes were noted in 80% FiO2group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that perioperative HCO (80%), during LNF, can lead to a reduction in post-operative inflammatory response, and possibly, avoid post-operative immunosuppression

Effects of low and standard intra-abdominal pressure on systemic inflammation and immune response in laparoscopic adrenalectomy: A prospective randomised study

Background: The advantages of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) over open adrenalectomy are undeniable. Nevertheless, carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum may have an unfavourable effect on the local immune response. The aim of this study was to compare changes in the systemic inflammation and immune response in the early post-operative (p.o.) period after LA performed with standard and low-pressure CO2pneumoperitoneum. Materials and Methods: We studied, in a prospective randomised study, 51 patients consecutively with documented adrenal lesion who had undergone a LA: 26 using standard-pressure (12-14 mmHg) and 25 using low-pressure (6-8 mmHg) pneumoperitoneum. White blood cells (WBC), peripheral lymphocyte subpopulation, human leucocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), neutrophil elastase, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated. Results: Significantly higher concentrations of neutrophil elastase, IL-6 and IL-1 and CRP were detected p.o. in the standard-pressure group of patients in comparison with the low-pressure group (P < 0.05). A statistically significant change in HLA-DR expression was recorded p.o. at 24 h, as a reduction of this antigen expressed on the monocyte surface in patients from the standard group; no changes were noted in low-pressure group patients (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that reducing the pressure of the pneumoperitoneum to 6-8 mmHg during LA reduced p.o. inflammatory response and averted p.o. immunosuppression

Adenocarcinoma of the third duodenal portion: Case report and review of literature

We focus on the diagnostic and therapeutic problems of duodenal adenocarcinoma, reporting a case and reviewing the literature. A 65-year old man with adenocarcinoma in the third duodenal portion was successfully treated with a segmental resection of the third part of the duodenum, avoiding a duodeno-cephalo-pancreatectomy. This tumor is very rare and frequently affects the III and IV duodenal portion. A precocious diagnosis and the exact localization of this neoplasia are crucial factors in order to decide the surgical strategy. Given a non-specificity of symptoms, endoscopy with biopsy is the diagnostic gold standard. Duodeno-cephalo-pancreatectomy (DCP) and segmental resection of the duodenum (SRD) are the two surgical options, with overlapping morbidity (27% vs 18%) and post operative mortality (3% vs 1%). The average incidence of postoperative long-term survival is 100%, 73.3% and 31.6% of cases after 1, 3 and 5 years from surgery, respectively. Long-term survival is made worse by two factors: the presence of metastatic lymph nodes and tumor localization in the proximal duodenum. The two surgical options are radical: DCP should be used only for proximal localizations while SRD should be chosen for distal localizations