Single-incision robotic-assisted living donor nephrectomy: case report and description of surgical technique.

The introduction of laparoscopic surgery, and more recently of robotics, has increased the number of living donor kidney transplants. This approach has already improved living donor acceptance rates. Even newer developments in the field have now been introduced with the purpose of further reducing postoperative pain and length of hospital stay, while offering better cosmetic results. In particular, single-incision surgery has gained popularity by improving the well-known benefits of minimally invasive surgery. In this case report, we present the first single-incision robotic-assisted living donor nephrectomy.

Obesity and the prevention of thyroid cancer: Impact of body mass index and weight change on developing thyroid cancer - Pooled results of 24 million cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Body weight may be a modifiable risk factor predisposing to different cancers. To establish a potential impact of weight change on thyroid cancer risk, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) and weight change over time as a risk of developing thyroid cancer (TC). METHODS: A systematic search was performed up to February 25, 2020. Pooled relative risk (RR) were estimated using fixed and random models. Heterogeneity between articles was examined using Q-test and I2 index. Evaluation of publication bias was conducted with Egger's regression test. RESULTS: A total of 31 studies including 24,489,477 cohorts were eligible. Pooled analysis revealed that normal and underweight cohorts were associated with a decreased risk of TC (RR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.65-0.71, p < 0.001) and (RR = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.91-0.93, p < 0.001), respectively. In contrast, overweight and obese cohorts were more likely to develop TC (RR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.24-1.28, p < 0.001 and RR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.45-1.55, p < 0.001, respectively). Obesity was associated with higher risk of developing TC among women (RR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.14-1.46, p < 0.001), but not men (RR = 1.25, 95%CI = 0.97-1.62, p = 0.08). Furthermore, weight gain increased the risk of developing TC (RR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.14-1.22, p < 0.001), while weight loss decreased the risk (RR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.85-0.93, p < 0.001). Results showed similar trends of weight change effect in both males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with higher risk of developing TC in women. However, maintaining a healthy weight is associated with reduced risk of TC in both women and men. Shifting our practice to include weight control strategies will help lead to cancer prevention.

Single-incision sleeve gastrectomy using a novel technique for liver retraction.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has rapidly gained popularity in the field of bariatric surgery, mainly due to its low morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, 4 to 6 trocars are used. Single-access surgery has emerged as an attempt to decrease incisional morbidity and enhance cosmetic benefits. We present our initial 7 patients undergoing single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy using a novel technique for liver retraction. METHODS: Patients who underwent single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between March 2009 and May 2009 were analyzed. A 4-cm left paramedian incision was used. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed in a standard fashion using a 40 French bougie. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent single-incision sleeve gastrectomy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. They were all female with a mean age of 34 years. Preoperative BMI was 49 kg/m² (range, 39 to 64). There were no intraoperative complications. Mean operative time was 103 minutes. Estimated blood loss was minimal. All 7 patients were discharged on postoperative day 2 and were doing well without any complications at 3.1 ± 0.7 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is safe and feasible and can be performed without changing the existing principles of the procedure. Our technique for internal liver retraction provides adequate exposure and is reproducible. Development of improved standard instrumentation is required for this technique to become popular.

Preoperative Endoscopic and Radiologic Evaluation of Bariatric Patients: What Do They Add?

BACKGROUND: Preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and barium swallow (BS) are commonly performed for evaluation in bariatric surgery patients. The routine use of these modalities has been controversial. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed to include primary bariatric surgery patients between March 2013 and August 2016. RESULTS: Two hundred nine patients were included. All the patients underwent preoperative EGD and BS. The mean age was 43.12 years and BMI 46.4 kg/m2. Reflux symptoms were present in 58.5% of patients. Preoperative EGD revealed abnormalities in 87.5% of patients: esophagitis (54.5%), Barrett's esophagus (5.3%), dysplasia (1%), and gastritis (51%). Endoscopic evidence of HH was documented in 52.2% of patients while only 34% of patients had evidence of HH in their BS. Of the asymptomatic patients, 80.2% had abnormal EGD. Helicobacter pylori on biopsy was found in 17.2% patients, out of which 47.2% were asymptomatic. Based on EGD findings, the choice of surgical procedure was changed in 3.34% of patients. Repair of HH was performed in 107 patients, with 68.2% (n = 73) symptomatic patients and 31.8% (n = 34) asymptomatic patients. On ROC analysis, EGD was better predictive of the presence of HH (AUC = 0.802, OR 5.20, p  =   < 0.0001) and symptoms were a poor indicator for GERD. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative EGD is abnormal in the majority of patients regardless of their symptoms. EGD is the only modality that can provide tissue sample, which can potentially determine the type of bariatric surgery. Given the low diagnostic accuracy of BS, its routine use can be eliminated.

Faculty feedback versus residents' self-assessment of operative performance: Different but complementary.

BACKGROUND: Surgical training requires development of both technical and cognitive skills. The study analyzed feedback by faculty and residents' self-assessments during a laparoscopic training course to identify structure of feedback in this context and compared the focus of trainees to faculty. METHODS: This study collected assessments by surgical residents and faculty during an intensive laparoscopic training course at a single institution. The residents' operative performance was assessed using validated assessment tools including free text feedback. Assessments were completed immediately following procedures. Feedback was analyzed using qualitative method. RESULTS: Eighty (80) residents participated. Three themes were identified: Assessment, instruction and occasion. Faculty provided significantly more feedback than trainees. Moreover, the content of feedback was different. Residents focused on technical performance, while faculty commented on technical and cognitive skills, efficiency and level of independence. Errors were mainly addressed by faculty. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated differences in cognitive focus of trainees and faculty. Text feedback is informative in understanding perceived challenges. Faculty provided explicit assessment and instruction for improvement. The effectiveness of self-assessment and feedback should be further studied.

Robotic-Assisted Simultaneous Repair of Paraesophageal Hernia and Morgagni Hernia: Technical Report.

Morgagni hernias are a rare form of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, accounting for 2%-3% of cases. The presence of a simultaneous Morgagni hernia and paraesophageal hernia (PEH) is even more rare, with only a few reported cases in the surgical literature. Both open and laparoscopic surgical approaches have been previously described. Herein we discuss a robotic-assisted surgical approach to the repair of simultaneous Morgagni hernia and PEH in a 65-year-old woman. Simultaneous repair of Morgagni hernia and PEH is indicated mainly when symptoms are generally indistinctive. The use of robotic technology allowed for both hernias to be repaired both primarily and with mesh reinforcement.

Robotic-Assisted Paraesophageal Hernia Repair: Initial Experience at a Single Institution.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is considered the standard approach for the treatment of paraesophageal hernias (PEHs). Despite its advantages, this approach is technically demanding with a significant learning curve. Data about the safety and utility of the robotically assisted paraesophageal hernia repair (RA-PEHR) are scarce. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and safety of robotic assistance for the treatment of PEH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2010 and December 2015, patients who underwent elective RA-PEHR were included in a prospectively collected database. Demographic data, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, preoperative testing, operative time (OT), length of hospital stay (LOS), conversion rate, morbidity, and mortality were recorded and reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients underwent RA-PEHR with mesh, 72% were female (mean age of 63 and mean body mass index [BMI] of 30). ASA classification was 2.6 (57% of patients had an ASA III). With respect to the type of the hernia, the preoperative diagnosis was: Type II 26%, III 64%, and IV 13%. OT averaged 186 minutes (88-360), including robot setup time. After the 16th case, OT significantly decreased by 4.09 minutes (P = .01). There were no conversions. The average blood loss was 51 mL. Perioperative complications, including intraoperative and 30-day complications, were 6% and 23%, respectively. The mean length of hospitalization was 2.6 (1-18) days. There were no deaths. Forty patients (66%) were available for follow-up, and length of follow-up was 17 ± 15 months. Anatomic recurrence was observed in 42% of patients and only 23% of patients were symptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: This report represents the largest series to date of RA-PEHR. RA-PEHR has proved to be feasible and safe with a learning curve comparable to the standard laparoscopic approach.

Bariatric patients have plasmatic hypercoagulability and systemic upregulation of heme oxygenase activity.

Morbid obesity is associated with significant thrombophilia. Of interest, adipocytes obtained from obese patients have increased heme oxygenase (Hmox) activity, the endogenous enzyme responsible for carbon monoxide (CO) production. Given that CO enhances plasmatic coagulation, we determined whether morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery had an increase in endogenous CO and plasmatic hypercoagulability. CO was determined by noninvasive pulse oximetry measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). A thrombelastographic method to assess plasma coagulation kinetics and formation of carboxyhemefibrinogen (COHF) was utilized. Nonsmoking bariatric patients (n = 20, BMI 47 ±â€Š8 kg/m, mean ±â€ŠSD) had abnormally increased COHb concentrations of 2.7 ±â€Š1.9%, indicative of Hmox upregulation. When coagulation kinetics of these bariatric patients were compared with values obtained from normal individuals' (n = 30) plasma, 70% (95% confidence interval 45.7-88.1%) had abnormally great velocity of clot formation, abnormally large clot strength, and COHF formation. Future investigation of Hmox-derived CO in the pathogenesis of obesity-related thrombophilia is warranted.

Laparoscopic treatment of recurrent dysphagia following transthoracic myotomy for achalasia.

BACKGROUND: The choice of treatment of recurrent dysphagia following transthoracic myotomy is unclear. Often pneumatic dilatation is tried first, followed by esophagectomy in case of failure. We propose laparoscopic Heller myotomy as an alternative treatment for this group of patients. METHODS: Three patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy for the treatment of recurrent dysphagia following transthoracic myotomy. The patients had undergone an average of 7 pneumatic dilatations (range, 2 to 10) prior to referral for surgery, without resolution of their dysphagia. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent a laparoscopic myotomy on the right side of the esophagus with a Dor fundoplication. Good or excellent results were achieved in all patients. Average followup was 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is a very effective treatment for patients who experience recurrent dysphagia following a transthoracic myotomy.

Multipurpose internal retractor for Single-incision surgery (SIS): single-institution case series.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SIS) is less invasive than standard laparoscopic surgery; however, it is more difficult due to restriction of motion and the impossibility to use assistants. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a self-sustaining multipurpose internal retractor by attaching a Lone Star retractor hook to a laparoscopic bulldog clamp. Herein, we report our SIS experience using our novel retractor. Between October 2008 and April 2011, 104 patients underwent SIS using the internal retractor: 67 bandings (43% simultaneous hiatal hernia repair), 8 sleeve gastrectomies, 27 cholecystectomies, and 2 Nissen fundoplication. Mean age was 40 (range, 21 to 85) and mean body mass index was 40 kg/m (range, 20 to 64 kg/m). No intraoperative complications were observed from the use of the retractor but 2 cases required additional retraction due to liver size. This retractor has been successfully used for different SIS procedures showing to be safe, adaptable, and easy to use, lessening some challenges of SIS.

Evaluation of a navigation grid to increase the efficacy of instrument movement during laparoscopic surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine whether or not a navigation grid (NG) with a coordinate system overlaid on a laparoscopic display might allow attending surgeons to more easily and precisely direct their assistants' instruments to specific sites in a simulated laparoscopic field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, crossover study, we evaluated the impact of the NG on an individual's performance in a target identification task. One hundred thirty pins served as targets in a standard laparoscopic box trainer. An instructor guided 30 naive subjects to locate five randomly selected targets each, either with verbal instructions alone or with verbal instructions supplemented by a localizing NG. The NG appeared on both the instructor's and the participants' monitors, but the randomly selected targets were visible only to the instructor. Each participant performed 10 trials alternating between with and without the NG. The outcome measure was the interval (in seconds) from when the laparoscopic instrument was first visible in the field to when the subject grasped the correct target with forceps. RESULTS: The mean time to identify each selected target was significantly shorter with the NG (9.150±3.43 seconds) than without (12.53±4.89 seconds) (P<.0001). This effect was sustained throughout the learning curve. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the NG appears to improve efficiency in guiding an instrument to randomly identified targets within a laparoscopic field. The use of an NG may reduce the time required to move instruments to specific sites during surgery.

Four-year experience with outpatient laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient laparoscopic procedures have been performed in various fields of surgery, and laparoscopic gastric banding is no exception. We present our series of outpatient laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedures performed at 2 centers. METHODS: A total of 348 patients were retrospectively analyzed. All patients met the National Institutes of Health criteria for bariatric surgery. Additionally, to be included in an outpatient surgery procedure, patients had to meet 4 other criteria: body mass index<55, American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≤ 3, no extensive abdominal surgical history (in the upper gastrointestinal tract), and no untreated sleep apnea. RESULTS: There were 282 women and 66 men, with a mean age of 41.3 years. The mean preoperative weight and BMI were 266.7 pounds and 43.1 kg/m(2), respectively. The median operative time was 70 minutes, and the median blood loss was 5 mL. The median length of stay was .3 day (range .1-.4). Fifty-seven patients underwent additional associated procedures. During follow-up, 20 patients required a reoperation. Two patients required admission to the hospital. There was no perioperative or postoperative mortality. Before discharge, all patients underwent an upper gastrointestinal swallow. CONCLUSION: Outpatient laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a well-tolerated, cost-effective bariatric procedure for patients who meet the inclusion criteria.

Single-incision and dual-incision laparoscopic adjustable gastric band: evaluation of initial experience.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) technique has been well described. Most surgeons have used a 4-trocar technique, with an additional incision for a liver retractor. Single incision (SI)-LAGB seeks to further decrease the invasiveness of the procedure. The purpose of the present report was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of SI-LAGB and the effect on the learning curve. METHODS: All cases performed from October 2008 to October 2009 were reviewed. Both true SI and dual-incision LAGB cases were included. The cases were performed through either a left paramedian or a transumbilical incision. The liver was retracted using the Nathanson retractor or an intracorporeal retractor. RESULTS: Of the 89 patients studied, 89% were women. Their mean age was 41 ± 12 years (range 19-74), and their body mass index was 46 ± 12 kg/m(2) (range 32-63). The first 27 patients underwent dual-incision LAGB using the Nathanson retractor. The operative time was 45 ± 12 minutes (range 21-90). After the first 35 cases, a reduction in the operative time was observed (P = .03). Simultaneous hiatal hernia repair added an average of 11 minutes of operative time for 40 patients (45%). The conversion rate was 26% for the first 35 cases, 5% for the second 35 cases, and 0% for the last 19 cases. Conversion was represented by adding a 5-mm trocar or the Nathanson retractor. The length of stay was 7 ± 9 hours (range 2-36), and 81 patients (91%) qualified for outpatient surgery. The complications included 1 seroma, 1 reoperation because of band obstruction, and 1 case of esophageal dysmotility after surgery. CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that SI-LAGB is a viable alternative to traditional LAGB and can be considered reliable, with low morbidity. The learning curve for consistent completion of SI-LAGB in our experience appeared to be the first 35 cases. We advise standardizing the procedure to facilitate the reproducibility of this technique.

Robotic-assisted Heller myotomy for esophageal achalasia: feasibility, technique, and short-term outcomes.

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is the standard surgical treatment for esophageal achalasia. The incidence of esophageal perforation is about 5-10%. Robotic-assisted Heller myotomy (RAHM) offers results at least as good as those from laparoscopic procedures, additionally yielding fewer intraoperative complications. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of RAHM and its value in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. We analyzed demographics, preoperative symptoms, esophagograms, esophageal manometry, intraoperative and postoperative data of all the patients who underwent RAHM for achalasia at three institutions: 36 women and 37 men, mean age 45 ± 16 (13-87) years. Dysphagia was present in 100% of patients. Thirty-three patients (45%) had had previous endoscopic treatment: 23 patients had pneumatic dilation, four patients had Botox injections, and six patients had both. Surgical time averaged 119 min (range of 62-211); blood loss averaged 23 ml; no mucosal perforations were observed; length of hospitalization was 1.5 days; there were no deaths. At 12 months, 96% of patients had relief of their dysphagia. In conclusion, RAHM is safe and effective since there were no intraoperative esophageal perforations and relief of symptoms was achieved in 96% of the patients.