Iatrogenic eventration of the hemidiaphragm in a post-bariatric surgery patient.

The aim of this report is to describe the management of an iatrogenic diaphragmatic eventration following surgery to relieve neurogenic symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome in a patient with a prior history of sleeve gastrectomy. We discuss the case of a 46-year-old woman with a 6-month history of gastro-oesophageal reflux and dyspnoea. Imaging demonstrated a left hemidiaphragm eventration and hiatus hernia. The patient underwent laparoscopic plication of the left hemidiaphragm, repair of the hiatus hernia, and an omega loop gastric bypass, with satisfactory resolution of her symptoms. This demonstrates that surgical diaphragmatic plication has good outcomes in cases where the abdominal anatomy is already altered as a result of previous bariatric surgery, and that concurrent hiatus hernia repair, plication of iatrogenic diaphragm eventration, and sleeve to gastric bypass conversion satisfactorily relieve reflux and dyspnoea in a morbidly obese patient.

Incidental Finding of a Fish Bone Perforation in the Pylorus Mimicking Acute Cholecystitis.

We present a case of a 43-year-old man with Crohn's disease who presented with epigastric and right upper quadrant abdominal pain, initially suspected to be acute cholecystitis or a Crohn's flare-up. CT revealed a curvilinear, hyperdense foreign body adjacent to the duodenum, concerning micro-perforation. Endoscopic examination confirmed findings of a 3 cm fish bone lodged in the pylorus. Endoscopic extraction was successful without significant mucosal damage, and the patient recovered well postoperatively. This case highlights the rarity of pyloric perforation secondary to fish bone ingestion and highlights the importance of considering this diagnosis in patients presenting with unexplained acute abdominal pain, as prompt recognition and intervention are essential for favorable outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness of Iterative Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Iterative cytoreduction (iCRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a treatment for recurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis. There are considerable upfront costs for this approach for which the cost-effectiveness has not been evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used a prospectively maintained database of patients having undergone primary and iterative cytoreduction at St. George Hospital between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, which was linked with financial data. Cost effectiveness and survival outcomes were used to compare primary cytoreduction (pCRS) and iterative cytoreduction (iCRS) in addition to comparison with other treatment modalities. RESULTS: The average cost per patient in Australian dollars was $69,295 ($14,691-$696,002) and the average cost per life-year was $15,842. There was no difference in cost-effectiveness between those who had undergone pCRS and those who had undergone iCRS. The overall survival was 52.5 months (95% confidence interval=49.7-55.2 months) with no difference in survival between pCRS and iCRS groups. The median length of hospital stay was significantly longer for patients in the pCRS treatment group (25.51 days) when compared to the iCRS treatment group (21.15 days, p=0.034). CONCLUSION: iCRS is a cost-effective treatment in the management of recurrent peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Cholescintigraphy may have a role in selecting patients with biliary dyskinesia for cholecystectomy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patients with typical biliary pain, no gallstones on ultrasound and low gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) on cholescintigraphy (gallbladder dyskinesia) may be considered for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, some studies have suggested that symptoms alone are an adequate indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim was to determine the role of cholescintigraphy in predicting outcomes of cholecystectomy in patients with typical and atypical biliary symptoms and normal biliary ultrasound. METHODS: Meta-analysis using Preferred Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines of published literature using several electronic databases. RESULTS: Twenty-four articles were selected with a total of 1710 patients. The majority (n = 1633, 94.4%) of patients had typical biliary symptoms. A total of 1047 patients with typical symptoms and a reduced GBEF had a cholecystectomy with 852 (81.4%) having complete resolution of symptoms. A total of 148 with typical symptoms and normal GBEF had a cholecystectomy with 103 (69.5%) having complete resolution, which was significantly less than those with a reduced GBEF (odds ratio 1.65, confidence interval 1.08-2.05, P = 0.01). Forty-five patients with atypical symptoms and a reduced GBEF had a cholecystectomy with 31 (68.9%) having complete resolution of symptoms, which is significantly lower than those with typical symptoms (odds ratio 1.97, confidence interval 0.95-3.90, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cholescintigraphy improved the predication of outcome of cholecystectomy in biliary dyskinesia by 10%. However, the presence of typical symptoms does predict an effective response in 70% of patients. Atypical symptoms predict a poorer response.

Ultrasound evaluation of pouch of Douglas obliteration and rectal deep endometriosis in women who have had previous combined colorectal and gynaecological laparoscopic surgery for rectal endometriosis: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound has been demonstrated to accurately diagnose rectal deep endometriosis (DE) and pouch of Douglas (POD) obliteration. The role of ultrasound in the assessment of patients who have undergone surgery for rectal DE and POD obliteration has not been evaluated. AIM: To describe the transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) findings of patients who have undergone rectal surgery for DE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study at a tertiary care centre in Sydney, Australia between January and April 2017. Patients previously treated for rectal DE (low anterior resection vs rectal shaving/disc excision) were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire on their current symptoms. On TVS, POD state and rectal DE were assessed. Correlating recurrence of POD obliteration and/or rectal DE to surgery type and symptoms was done. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were contacted; 22/56 (39.3%) attended for the study visit. Average interval of surgery to study visit was 52.8 ± 24.6 months. Surgery type breakdown was as follows: low anterior resection (56%) and rectal shaving/disc excision (44%). The prevalence of POD obliteration was 16/22 (72.7%) intraoperatively and 8/22 (36.4%) at study visit, as per the sliding sign. Nine patients (39.1%) had evidence on TVS of recurrent rectal DE. Recurrence of POD obliteration and rectal DE was not associated with surgery type or symptomatology. CONCLUSION: Despite surgery for rectal DE, many patients have a negative sliding sign on TVS, representing POD obliteration, and rectal DE. Our numbers are too small to correlate with the surgery type or their current symptoms.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy following multiple failed endoscopic sleeve gastroplasties.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a new obesity control modality. Limited data are available to describe post ESG findings and approaches to surgically revise this procedure. Two female patients with persistent obesity despite multiple ESG procedures underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Pre- and post-ESG, LSG body mass index (BMI), weight, and excess weight loss percentage (EWL%) were recorded. Endoscopic findings and revisional LSG technique were carefully documented. Pre-ESG BMI of the patients were 44 and 52 kg/m2. Pre-LSG BMI were 44.6 and 50 kg/m2. Pre-LSG gastroscopy and laparoscopy revealed complete dehiscence of ESG sutures with full-thickness invasion of these sutures and titanium clips through the gastric wall and some intraperitoneal adhesions. At 7-month follow-up, BMI are 40.3 and 35.7 kg/m2 and EWL% are 39 and 43%, respectively. This is the first study reporting LSG following failed ESG. ESG can lead to significant complications. LSG is achievable post-ESG and has superior results to it.

Incarcerated congenital transmesenteric hernia in an adult: a case report.

Transmesenteric hernia is a rare cause of bowel obstruction and strangulation. It can be due to iatrogenic injury, trauma, inflammatory and less likely congenital. We present a case of true congenital transmesenteric hernia in a 26-year-old male with no previous surgical history or trauma. The patient presented acutely with no prior symptoms. Investigations provided limited information towards the diagnosis of the hernia, but suggestive of mid-gut volvulus. Emergency laparotomy was performed to find >75% of small bowel herniating through a proximal jejunal mesenteric defect leading to incarceration and early strangulation. No resection was required and patient recovered well. This case presents yet another rare pathology and highlights the importance of keeping a low threshold for operative intervention in uncertain cases.