Delayed Gastric Emptying Following Laparoscopic Repair of Very Large Hiatus Hernias Impairs Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) following hiatus hernia surgery may affect a substantial number of patients with adverse clinical consequences. Here, we aim to evaluate the impact of DGE following laparoscopic repair of very large hiatus hernias on patients' quality of life, gastrointestinal symptomatology, and daily function. METHODS: Analysis of data collected from a multicenter prospective randomised trial of patients who underwent laparoscopic mesh versus sutured repair of very large hiatus hernias (>50% of stomach in chest). DGE was defined as gastric food retention visualised at endoscopy after 6 h of fasting at 6 months post-surgery. Quality of life (QOL), gastrointestinal symptomatology, and daily function were assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire, Visick scoring and structured surveys administered prior to surgery and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Nineteen of 102 (18.6%) patients had DGE 6 months after surgery. QOL questionnaires were completed in at least 80% of patients across all time points. Compared with controls, the DGE group demonstrated significantly lower SF-36 physical component scores, delayed improvement in health transition, more adverse gastrointestinal symptoms, higher Visick scores and a slower rate of return to normal daily activities. These differences were still present 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: DGE following large hiatus hernia repair is associated with a negative impact on quality of life at follow-up to 12 months after surgery.

A novel endoscopic marker for radiological localization and image-guided radiotherapy in esophageal and gastric cancers (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Radiotherapy is an accepted modality in the treatment of esophageal cancers and is currently being evaluated in conjunction with chemotherapy for the neoadjuvant treatment of gastric cancers. Our aim was to assess whether a novel endoscopically inserted marker can be used to improve radiological assessment of the primary cancer and allow for image-guided radiotherapy. METHODS: A phase II feasibility study was conducted at a tertiary-care center. Twenty-six consecutive adult patients with esophagogastric cancers underwent endoscopic marking of the tumor margins with a novel radiopaque marker (mixture of lipiodol and n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate). The main outcome measure was the successful insertion of the marker based on a combination of radiological, endoscopic, and histological assessment. RESULTS: A total of 92 markers were inserted in 26 patients. Twenty-two (88%) had follow-up imaging to assess the 81 markers inserted, 79 of which (97.5%) were visible. There were no postprocedural adverse events noted in our cohort. Radiological assessment of tumor size improved such that it was in line with the endoscopic evaluation after marker placement in 18 of 21 patients (85.7%) who had appropriate follow-up radiology imaging. Ten patients (38.5%) from our cohort underwent image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) by using the endoscopically inserted markers. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of our small pilot study, endoscopic placement of our novel marker was successful in the majority of our cohort without significant adverse events. Marker placement resulted in improved radiological localization in the majority of our cohort and allowed for IGRT. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12613000239763.).

Gastric volvulus and tension gastrothorax secondary to spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia.

Spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia is an extremely rare clinical entity featuring dual defects in the diaphragm and chest wall. We report on the case of a 59-year-old man who developed a large left-sided hernia secondary to the minor trauma of a coughing fit. The hernia subsequently enlarged over the course of 3 years until it contained the stomach, leading to a gastric volvulus and tension gastrothorax with secondary pneumothorax. A subtotal gastrectomy was performed with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, and he made a full recovery.

Radiological versus laparoscopic insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter: a study comparing outcomes at a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Although peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a well-established and effective form of renal replacement therapy in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients, there is no consensus as to the optimal insertion technique. This study compares the outcomes of PD catheters inserted radiologically versus laparoscopically at a single centre. METHODS: Patients who underwent either radiological PD catheter insertion (RC) or laparoscopic insertion (LC) between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcome was catheter patency at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included exit-site infections, peritonitis, and pericatheter leaks within 30 days of insertion, any complications associated with insertion, overall catheter survival, and inpatient length of stay (LoS). RESULTS: There were 81 patients included in this study, with a total of 100 procedures performed (RC = 48, LC = 52). There were significantly fewer overall complications in the LC group compared to the RC group (P < 0.001). However, when individual complications were considered, this significant difference was only seen in the rate of malpositioned catheters (10.4% versus 0%, P = 0.023). Hospital LoS was longer in the LC group compared to the RC group (3 versus 2 days, P = 0.004), but this was outweighed by the fact that there were more laparoscopically inserted PD catheters still functioning and patent at 12 months compared to those inserted radiologically. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that our laparoscopic PD catheter insertion technique of securing the catheter tip low in the pelvis is safe and effective, providing a lower complication rate and longer-term viability when compared to the radiological percutaneous approach.

Evolving pattern of laparoscopic gastric band access port complications.

Laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) is the commonest bariatric procedure in Australia. The commonest complication of LGB is access port or tubing (AP/T) problems, requiring revisional surgery. The aim of this study was to document the evolving pattern of AP/T complications. All patients whose LGB procedure (Allergan(TM) Bands) and AP/T revision (Allergan(TM) port revision sets) were performed by one surgeon (1999 to 2008) were included, giving 167 AP/T revisions in 124 patients out of a total 1,928 LGB patients. All patient follow-up details were prospectively recorded and retrospectively analysed. Incidence of LGB AP/T problems was 8.7%. Mean time to first AP/T revision was 2 years. Over the last 4 years of the series, the number of LGB insertions was constant, but the number of AP/T revisions progressively increased. Twenty-seven percent of AP/T revision patients required two or more AP/T revisions. Sixty-two percent of the AP/T complications were leaks. Half the AP complications were flipping of the AP. There was no correlation of AP/T problems with any changes to port design to date. Infection rate for LGB insertion was 0.67%. The incidence of LGB AP/T complications progressively increases with duration after LGB insertion. Occurrence of one AP/T problem appears to select a subgroup more likely to experience further AP/T problems. To date, revisions of port design do not appear to have solved AP/T problems. Recent introduction of a significantly redesigned port may reduce AP/T failures.