Is Needlescopic Cholecystectomy a Safe Way to Improve Mininvasiveness and Cosmesis in Young Female Patients?

INTRODUCTION: Needlescopic cholecystectomy (NC) was introduced in the late 1990s. It uses a reduced trocar caliber in an otherwise standard four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and seeks to achieve "scarless" surgery without compromising patient safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2016 and November 2017, 29 patients underwent elective NC at the Department of General Surgery of Sant'Andrea Hospital (La Spezia, Italy). Inclusion criteria were female sex, age between 18 and 45 years, good performance status (ASA 1-2) and BMI lower than 25. Twenty-one patients underwent a standard 4-port technique: 12mm port in the supraumbilical area, 5mm port in the subxiphoid position, 3mm port in the mid-epigastric area and another 3 mm port in the right mid-clavicular position. In 8 patients, 3mm ports were replaced by 2mm angiocath. A Critical View of Safety (CVS) was achieved in all procedures. Intra-operative cholangiography (IOC) via the cystic duct before any transection of the structures was routinely performed in selected cases, such as those with an unclear biliary anatomy or risk factors for main-duct stones. In our institution, laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct (CBD) exploration is routinely performed in CBD lithiasis. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 66.79 min (range 25-120 min). IOC was performed in 12 patients (41.4%) with suspected choledocolythiasis. There was no conversion to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open cholecystectomy. The mean hospital stay was 1.48 days (1-7 days). A Clavien-Dindo IIIB complication occurred in one patient on the third postoperative day. The mean VAS pain score was 3 (0-7). Closure of the skin with primary intention was achieved in all patients. Mean return to work was 6.76 days (3-15 days) and the mean return to previous physical activity was 12.17 days (4-30 days). All of the patients completed the Scar Satisfaction Questionnaire: 26 (89.7% ) and 3 patients (10.3%) were very satisfied and satisfied, respectively. CONCLUSION: Any effort to reduce invasiveness and improve cosmesis must not jeopardize safety. Our case series demonstrates that needlescopy can be safely associated with intraoperative cholangiography to recognize CBD stones. This technique offers the advantage of minor postoperative pain, better cosmesis results, early return to routine life activities and great satisfaction for the patient. Needlescopy is a valuable and safe alternative that is suitable for elective cholecystectomy in properly selected patients, such as young female patients.

Proposal of the TBN Classification of Thoracic Anomalies and Treatment Algorithm for Poland Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Poland syndrome is a congenital deformity characterized by unilateral anomalies of pectoralis muscles, breast, nipple, axillary fold, subcutaneous tissue, ribs, and upper limb. The thoracic anomaly, which is the pathognomonic malformation of Poland syndrome, presents a wide phenotype variability and has been classified by different authors. However, these classifications do not include all the possible phenotypes of Poland syndrome. The aim of this study is to propose a simple classification of the whole spectrum of thoracic anomalies and a treatment algorithm that could have a practical value for determining the surgical approach. METHODS: Since 2008, 100 patients have been evaluated by the same plastic surgical team at San Martino Hospital-IST and Istituto Gaslini of Genoa, Italy, using the thorax, breast, nipple-areola complex (TBN) classification. Thoracic anomalies were classified as follows: thorax (T), from T1 (muscle defect only) to T4 (complex deformity with rib and sternal involvement); breast (B), in B1 (hypoplasia) or B2 (amastia); and nipple-areola complex (N), from N1 (dislocation <2 cm) to N3 (athelia). RESULTS: The most frequent thoracic anomalies were T1 (47 percent) and N2 (74 percent), whereas in female patients, B1 was more frequent than B2. The surgical approach to breast and pectoral reconstruction was based not only on the patient's age and sex, but also on the type of anomaly according to the TBN classification. In particular, a two-step approach with tissue expanders was required in N2 and N3 cases, whereas in N1 patients a single step was sufficient. CONCLUSION: The TBN classification can be a useful tool for surgical decision-making according to each specific thoracic anomaly. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.

Body Image Disorders and Surgical Timing in Patients Affected by Poland Syndrome: Data Analysis of 58 Case Studies.

BACKGROUND: Poland syndrome is a congenital anomaly of pectoralis muscles, breast, chest, and upper arm. Several studies have reported that patients affected by chest wall deformities often experience body image disorders and decreased quality of life. Cosmetic corrective surgery is generally postponed until physical development is achieved, and latissimus dorsi flap surgery is usually suggested. This study aims to propose a new surgical timing for these patients. METHODS: Patients affected by Poland syndrome (n = 58) and control patients (n = 50) were included in the study, and their body-related psychopathology was evaluated through the Body Uneasiness Test, a valuable multidimensional tool for the clinical assessment of body uneasiness. The Global Severity Index and several subscales were considered. Age and surgical status were taken into account. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected between Poland syndrome patients and controls with respect to all Body Uneasiness Test subscales. Among subjects aged younger than 20 years, the group of patients not operated on was the most affected, whereas the group of peers after surgery showed scores similar to those detected in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical planning for patients with Poland syndrome should start in the period of growth to allow proper body image stabilization. Current surgical options allow for reduction of the use of invasive interventions such as the latissimus dorsi flap, in favor of less invasive surgical techniques such as expanders, implants, and autologous fat grafting. This new surgical timing will help to ameliorate problems with physical and mental development. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.