Laparoscopic versus open cystgastrostomy for pancreatic pseudocysts: a case-matched comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Cystgastrostomy is the commonest method of internal drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs). While large and persistent retrogastric pancreatic pseudocysts are amenable to laparoscopic cystgastrostomy, the potential benefits of this minimally invasive laparoscopic approach over open surgery remain to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of the laparoscopic and open approaches for cystgastrostomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic cystgastrostomy (LCG) were matched on a 3:1 basis to those who underwent open cystgastrostomy (OCG) according to age, sex distribution, and size of pseudocyst. The outcomes of the two approaches were compared on an intention-to-treat basis. Data shown represent medians. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients underwent cystgastrostomy (35 LCG, 19 OCG) between 1997 and 2011. The final case matched cohort consisted of 40 patients (12 female and 28 male) of which 30 underwent LCG (two converted to open surgery) and 10 underwent OCG. The laparoscopic and open groups were comparable for age (55 vs. 59 years, P = 0.80), sex distribution, and size of pseudocyst (10 vs. 13 cm, P = 0.51). The laparoscopic approach had a significantly shorter operating time (62 vs. 95 min, P = 0.035) and carried a significantly lower risk of postoperative morbidity (10% vs. 60%, P = 0.024) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.2 vs. 11 days, P = 0.038). There was one operative death after OCG (10%). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach to cystgastrostomy for large and persistent retrogastric pancreatic pseudocysts is associated with a shorter operating time, smoother and more rapid recovery, and a shorter hospital stay compared with open surgery. The laparoscopic approach should be considered the preferable approach where expertise is available.

Risk factors for high cerebral blood flow velocity and death in Kenyan children with Sickle Cell Anaemia: role of haemoglobin oxygen saturation and febrile illness.

High cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) and low haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) predict neurological complications in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) but any association is unclear. In a cross-sectional study of 105 Kenyan children, mean CBFv was 120 +/- 34.9 cm/s; 3 had conditional CBFv (170-199 cm/s) but none had abnormal CBFv (>200 cm/s). After adjustment for age and haematocrit, CBFv > or =150 cm/s was predicted by SpO(2) < or = 95% and history of fever. Four years later, 10 children were lost to follow-up, none had suffered neurological events and 11/95 (12%) had died, predicted by history of fever but not low SpO(2). Natural history of SCA in Africa may be different from North America and Europe.