Active gas aspiration in reducing pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is a common issue following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This meta-analysis aimed to determine if active gas aspiration is more effective than passive gas aspiration in reducing postoperative pain and analgesic requirements. METHODOLOGY: The study conducted a systematic search of various databases, including Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) via Ovid. It also searched trial registries and reference lists of included studies, with no date restrictions but limited to English language, up to December 21, 2022. The study included all randomized clinical trials that had documented elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure and reported at least one relevant outcome. Articles that included subdiaphragmatic drain, intraperitoneal normal saline infusion, or pulmonary recruitment maneuver were excluded from the analysis. Two reviewers independently and in duplicate assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data. The study reported findings according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias of the included trials was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. The study used a random-effects model to pool data. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 5 randomized clinical trials with 367 participants and found that active gas aspiration resulted in significantly lower residual gas volume and total analgesia requirements compared to passive gas aspiration. Active gas aspiration also led to significantly lower shoulder pain scores at 24 h postoperatively. However, no significant differences were observed in hospital stay duration or abdominal pain scores. CONCLUSION: The study found that active gas aspiration can be effective in reducing postoperative shoulder pain and analgesic requirements after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which has important implications for patient care and healthcare costs. Importantly, this intervention does not impose any additional time or financial burden. However, further research is needed to evaluate its impact on other laparoscopic procedures.

Incidence of superficial left hepatic vein and its usability for graft hepatic vein venoplasty in pediatric liver transplantation.

BACKGROUNDS: The anatomy of the left hepatic vein (LHV) is variable; thus, it should be considered for graft hepatic vein (GHV) venoplasty for left lateral section (LLS) and left liver grafts. This study assessed the incidence of superficial LHV (sLHV) branches according to LHV anatomy and its usability for GHV venoplasty in pediatric liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: This study consisted of three parts: (1) anatomical classification of LHV variations and the incidence of sLHV branches; (2) morphometric simulative analysis of GHV reconstruction and (3) clinical application based on LHV anatomy. RESULTS: The LHV anatomy of 248 potential LLS graft donors was classified into four types according to the number and location of GHV openings: one single opening (type 1; n = 186 [75.0%]), two large openings (type 2; n = 35 [14.1%]), one large and one small adjacent opening (type 3; n = 14 [5.6%]), and two large widely-separated openings (type 4; n = 13 [5.2%]). An sLHV branch was identified in 87 of 248 (35.1%) donor livers. Morphometric analysis of simulative GHV venoplasty with an sLHV branch increased GHV diameters by 30% in type 1 LLS grafts and 20% in type 2/3 LLS grafts. An analysis of 50 consecutive patients who underwent pediatric LT showed that the 2-year rates of GHV obstruction were 2.0% with LLS grafts and 0% with left liver grafts. CONCLUSIONS: The GHV orifice can be enlarged through LHV anatomy-based unification venoplasty. Unification venoplasty with an sLHV branch provided sufficient enlargement of the GHV orifice.

Preoperative estimation of hemi-liver volume using standard liver volume and portal vein diameter ratio in living donor liver transplantation.

Backgrounds/Aims: Although body surface area (BSA)-based standard liver volume (SLV) formulae have been used for living donor liver transplantation and hepatic resection, hemi-liver volume (HLV) is needed more frequently. HLV can be assessed using right or left portal vein diameter (RPVD or LPVD). The aim of this study was to validate the reliability of using portal vein diameter ratio (PVDR) for assessing HLV in living liver donors. Methods: This study included 92 living liver donors (59 males and 33 females) who underwent surgery between January 2020 and December 2020. Computed tomography (CT) images were used for measurements. Results: Mean age of donors was 35.5 ± 7.2 years. CT volumetry-measured total liver volume (TLV), right HLV, left HLV, and percentage of right HLV in TLV were 1,442.9 ± 314.2 mL, 931.5 ± 206.4 mL, 551.4 ± 126.5 mL, and 64.6% ± 3.6%, respectively. RPVD, LPVD, and main portal vein diameter were 12.2 ± 1.5 mm, 10.0 ± 1.3 mm, and 15.3 ± 1.7 mm, respectively (corresponding square values: 149.9 ± 36.9 mm2, 101.5 ± 25.2 mm2, and 237.2 ± 52.2 mm2, respectively). The sum of RPVD2 and LPVD2 was 251.1 ± 56.9 mm2. BSA-based SLV was 1,279.5 ± 188.7 mL (error rate: 9.1% ± 14.4%). SLV formula- and PVDR-based right HLV was 760.0 ± 130.7 mL (error rate: 16.2% ± 13.3%). Conclusions: Combining BSA-based SLV and PVDR appears to be a simple method to predict right or left HLV in living donors or split liver transplantation.

Acute Pancreatitis: A Complication of Intragastric Balloon.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out because intragastric balloon (IGB) is a widely used method to combat obesity, and acute pancreatitis complicating IGB is rare and yet to be understood. METHOD: This study was a retrospective analysis of all patients with a history of IGB insertion, who developed acute pancreatitis before balloon removal. RESULTS: A total of 4 cases were found, with a mean age of 27±2.9 years. The mean duration of IGB insertion was 2.25±1.25 months, with an average body mass index of 37.7±3.4 kg/m. Abdominal computed tomography visualized signs of pancreatitis with the balloon compressing the pancreatic body. Pancreatitis resolved after endoscopic balloon extraction, with an average aspiration of 607.5±64.5 mL of the fluid used to fill the balloon. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that acute pancreatitis can complicate IGB and recommends the need to measure amylase and lipase in patients who have a history of IGB insertion and present with a picture suggestive of pancreatitis.