Short-Term (30-Day) Morbidity of Biliopancreatic Diversion Compared to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass as Revisional Procedures for Failed Vertical Banded Gastroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Silastic ring vertical gastroplasty (SRVG) and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) are associated with a high failure rate due to weight regain and complications at long-term follow-up. Consequently, surgical correction for such procedures is warranted. Controversy exists as to which surgical procedure is the ideal choice for such correction. Our aim is to compare short-term outcome of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) repair for failed VBG/SRVG bariatric procedures. METHODS: The medical records of patients with failed SRVG who underwent corrective procedures at our institute between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients characteristics, surgical approaches, and intraoperative and post-operative complications were examined and compared. RESULTS: Sixty patients in total underwent a surgical corrective procedure for failed SRVG. Thirty-one patients underwent RYGB, and 29 patients underwent BPD. Major complications were seen more in the RYGB group (35% = 11) compared to the BPD (6.9% = 2). Even though anastomotic leak rates were not statistically significant (p = 0.053), an apparent tendency for such a complication was noted in the RYGB group. RYGB procedure had an increased 30-day complication rate (p = 0.055) compared to RYGB. Laparoscopic approach had statistically fewer complications than open approach. No mortality was observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that BPD is a safe option with less complication rates than RYGB in the short-term period for surgical correction of failed VBG/SRVG procedures.

A Conservative Management of Spontaneously Ruptured Liver Hydatid Cyst.

Hydatid disease is a zoonotic disease caused mainly by the cestode (tapeworm) Echinococcus granulosus, also known as hydatidosis. It is endemic mainly in areas where dog/horse breeding and sheep farming are common, such as Australia, New Zealand and the Mediterranean region. A rare, yet serious, complication of hydatid cyst of the liver is rupture, which could be spontaneous due to increased intra-cystic pressure or following a traumatic injury of the abdomen. Rupture into the peritoneal cavity may result in an anaphylactic reaction, usually treated by means of emergency surgical intervention. Herein, we present a case of a 55-year-old male patient, known to have liver hydatid cystic disease 3 years ago, who presented to other hospital with acute abdominal pain, tachycardia and hypotension. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen revealed ruptured liver hydatid cyst into the peritoneal cavity, with free intra-abdominal fluid and dissemination into the mesentery. The patient was treated successfully by conservative means including nil per os (NPO), intravenous fluids, noradrenaline and anthelminthic treatment by albendazole. Two months later the patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the mesenteric as well as the hepatic cyst. The presentation, diagnosis, course of treatment and follow-up are discussed in this report. Reviewing the current English literature reveals that this is the first case to report a successful initial conservative management of spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of liver hydatid cyst.

Impact of Vascular Anomalies on Pancreatoduodenectomy Procedure.

BACKGROUND: One of the critical steps during pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) procedure lies in identifying the complicated vascular anatomy of the resected area. The blood supply usually stems from branches of the celiac and the superior mesenteric arteries. However, only in 55-79% of surgeries, the anatomy of the blood vessels encountered by the surgeon is considered normal, while in the remaining cases, there are vascular variations that make these surgeries even more challenging. Any change or deviation from the known surgical course of PD makes surgery difficult and can result in an increase in intra/postoperative complications. In order to reduce difficulties encountered during PD, as well as reducing complication rates and improving surgical outcomes, a preliminary design, which includes preoperative identification of anatomical variations, is needed. The most accurate and accessible tool for identifying such variations is computed tomographic angiography (CTA). The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the prevalence of vascular anomalies encountered during PD, and examine whether there is an association between these anomalies and intra/postoperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A retrospective study over 5 years was performed at the HPB and Surgical Oncology Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel. The charts of all patients submitted to PD were reviewed, and all patients with vascular anomalies were included. The types of anatomical variant as well as other information were collected. For statistical purposes, the group of patients with vascular anomalies was compared to a control group with identical demographic characteristics. A statistical analysis on possible association between vascular anomalies and intra/postoperative complications (mainly bleeding) was performed. RESULTS: During the aforementioned period, 202 patients underwent PD, and in 41 (20.3%) vascular anomalies were identified. The majority of these patients (32/41) had single anatomical variant, where two and three anatomical variants were identified in seven and two patients, respectively. The most common vascular anomaly was replaced right hepatic artery, noticed in 34 patients (83%). The most common indication for PD for both groups (anatomical variant and control group) was pancreas adenocarcinoma (56%). Intraoperative complication, in the form of bleeding, developed in 6/41 patients (14.6%) of the anatomical variant group and none in the control group. Postoperative complication rates, including post- pancreatoduodenectomy hemorrhage (PPH), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), intra-abdominal abscess and wound infection were almost identical for both groups. One case of death within 30 days occurred, and it was in the anatomical variant group. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical vascular anomalies are a common variant encountered during PD, with RRHA being the most common. Although postoperative morbidity and mortality are not affected by the presence of these anomalies, intraoperative bleeding rate is higher in this specific group, thus; a preoperative diagnosis by means of CTA is mandatory.