Physical Bases, Indications, and Results of the Use of Magnets in Digestive Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Background: The use of magnetic devices in digestive surgery has been a matter of debate in recent years. The aim of this review was to describe the physical bases, indications, and results of the use of magnets in digestive surgery. Methods: A review of the literature was performed using Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SciELO databases considering as inclusion criteria all articles published since 2007 to date, describing the physical basis of magnetic assisted surgery and those that describe the surgical procedure, including case reports, as well as, articles on humans and experimental animals. Results: Sixty-four studies were included, 15 detailing aspects on the physical basis and 49 about indications and results. Magnets are currently used to perform fixed traction, mobilizing structures, and anastomosis in humans and experimental animals. Conclusions: The use of magnets in digestive surgery has shown good results, and no complications arising from their use have been reported. However, more prospective and randomized studies that compare magnetic surgery and conventional techniques are needed.

Telementoring of in-home real-time laparoscopy using whatsapp messenger: An innovative teaching tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has decreased worldwide surgical activity, thus impairing the training of surgical residents. As a coping strategy, we opted for laparoscopic simulation with endotrainer; however, due to social distancing rules, a face-to-face tutoring training method is unfeasible. In this context telementoring using WhatsApp® Messenger (owned by Facebook Inc., Menlo Park, CA) with a Smartphone aims to train surgical residents in laparoscopy from their homes during the pandemic. METHODS: Trainers and surgical residents who were at home participated in this study. They used endotrainers with Smartphone cameras and were trained by video calls using WhatsApp. The baseline and final score of intracorporeal knotting was measured, according to the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) methodology, measuring the difference in means with the paired t-test. Recommendations for virtual surgical tutoring were followed and user satisfaction was measured using the Likert scale. RESULTS: 40 surgical residents participated. The average distance between the mentor and the trainee was 12.87 km. Average bandwidth was 32.5 Megabits per second (Mbits/s), latency was 424.5 ms (ms), good quality image with immediate feedback was achieved. The statistically significant difference between basal and final measurement was 23.7 points (p < 0.001). All participants found telementoring a good educational tool. CONCLUSION: Smartphone telementoring using WhatsApp® Messenger is an effective educational tool for acquiring laparoscopic skills with a statistically significant difference. This type of training represents a new teaching resource in the light of the recommendations of social distancing during a pandemic.

Torsion of a giant pedunculated liver hemangioma: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic hemangioma (HH) is the most common benign neoplasm affecting the liver. Most cases are asymptomatic and incidentally found at imaging studies. Giant hepatic hemangiomas are uncommon, but pedunculated giant hemangiomas are even rarer, making their clinical and imaging diagnosis a challenge for the surgeon. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Herein; we report the case of a 26-year-old male patient, who presented to the emergency ward with acute abdominal pain associated with a palpable mass, mimicking a complicated appendicular plastron, additionaly were found it liver enzymes elevated. Then the patient was taken the operating room. An exophytic pedunculated liver tumor that projected towards the right iliac fossa was identified. It had undergone torsion on its pedicle. Transfixing hemostatic sutures were placed, proceeding with its exeresis. The patient tolerated the procedure and was discharged without complications on the third postoperative day. Pathological anatomy confirmed the diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Giant pedunculated HH is an infrequent entity that generates mass effect on intra-abdominal organs causing pain depending on its location. In our case, HH size was 13 cm with elevated liver enzymes, only previously reported in one case of a 20-cm hemangioma. Surgery is indicated for cases of giant and symptomatic lesions. CONCLUSION: Torsioned pedinculated giant liver hemangioma may be part of the differential diagnosis of a patient with acute appendicitis with elevated liver enzymes. The elevation of liver enzymes may be related to the size of the HH.