Cystic Lymph Node: Caution of Safety in Calot's Triangle Dissection.

Different landmarks are described in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for correct identification and orientation of structures to make the procedure as safe as possible. Among these one of the important landmarks is cystic lymphnode which always lies lateral to the biliary tree and forms the medial end point of dissection. This study was done to determine frequency of identification of cystic lymph node in our population. This retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 217 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis from January 2012 to December 2013 over a period of two years in Jamal Noor Hospital and Hamdard University Hospital Karachi. All procedures were recorded and reviewed. Frequency of identification of cystic lymph node was documented in different levels of difficulty and whether it was possible to keep the dissection lateral to lymph node. Difficulty was assessed per-operatively by Cuschieri's scale. During dissection cystic lymph node was identified in 170(78.34%) cases. In majority of patients i.e. 165(97.05%), it was related to cystic artery. In 78(45.88%) patient dissection was possible lateral to lymph node. Cystic lymph node can be identified in majority of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and this identification helps in safe dissection of Calot's triangle. Efforts should be made to remain lateral to lymph node to avoid injuries to hepatic pedicle.

Iatrogenic gall bladder perforations in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an audit of 200 cases.

This study was done to evaluate the frequency of iatrogenic gall bladder perforation (IGBP) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy and to determine its association with gender, adhesions in right upper quadrant and types of gall bladder. This retrospective descriptive study included 200 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis at Jamal Noor Hospital and Hamdard University Hospital, Karachi from January 2007 to January 2009. Video recording of all 200 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were analyzed for the IGBP. The different factors; sex of the patient, type of gall bladder, presence of adhesions in the right upper quadrant, timing of perforation, site of perforation, cause of perforation and spillage of stones were recorded. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS 15. Pearson Chi Square test was applied to check the significance of these factors in IGBP where applicable. In this study there were 173 females and 27 male patients. IGBP occurred in 51 patients (25.5%) and among them 40(23.12%) were females and 11(40.74%) males. Statistical analysis failed to prove male gender a significant factor in the IGBP (p=0.051). Spillage of stones occurred in 23 patients (11.5% in total study population). In 32(18.49%) patients with chronic calculus cholecystitis IGBP occured while in other cluster of 27 patients suffering from acute cholecystitis, empyema & mucocele, 19(70.37%) had IGBP. Hence the condition of gall bladder (acute cholecystitis, empyema and mucocele) was proved statistically a significant factor in IGBP (p=0.000). Adhesiolysis in right upper quadrant was required in 109 patients in whom 31 patients (28.44%) had IGBP while in 91 patients in whom no adhesiolysis was required, 20 patients (21.98%) had IGBP. Statistically no significant difference was present regarding this factor (p=0.296). In total of 51 patients of IGBP, fundus of gall bladder was the commonest site of perforation in 21(41.18%), followed by body of gall bladder in 18(35.29%) and Hartman's pouch in 12(23.53%) patients. In 27(52.94%) patients, diathermy hook was the cause of perforation followed by grasping forceps in 24(47.06%) patients. In 33(64.71%) patients perforations occurred during dissection of gall bladder from liver bed, in 2(3.92%) during adhesiolysis and in 16(31.37%) during retraction maneuvers. Perforation of gall bladder occurred in 25.5% of patients during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and acutely inflamed and over distended gall bladders were proved significant factor for this intraoperative event.

Effects of ciprofloxacin on foetal hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hepatotoxic risk of Ciprofloxacin administration during gestation on Wistar albino rat foetuses. METHOD: An animal study carried on experimental pregnant female Wistar albino rats and their foetuses in the department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Ciprofloxacin was administered to pregnant Wistar albino rats at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally (twice the therapeutic dose) from day-8 to day-18 of gestation. The intact rat foetuses were isolated on day-18 of gestation. These animals were killed by deep ether anaesthesia. Liver removed, weighed and fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraplast, 3 microm thick sections were cut on rotary microtome, and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The histomorphological features of liver were compared with those of control animals and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The study revealed that prenatal Ciprofloxacin produced degenerative changes in liver of foetuses. CONCLUSION: The results strongly suggest that Ciprofloxacin, given during pregnancy, causes severe liver damage in foetuses of Wistar albino rats.