Endometriosis of the appendix causing small bowel obstruction in a virgin abdomen.

A 29-year-old, otherwise well, nulligravid woman presented to the emergency department with 1-day history of generalised abdominal pain and vomiting. She had similar symptoms 6 months prior following recent menstruations, which resolved conservatively. She had no prior history of abdominal surgery or endometriosis. CT scan demonstrated distal small bowel obstruction. A congenital band adhesion was suspected, and she underwent prompt surgical intervention. During laparoscopy, a thickened appendix was adhered to a segment of distal ileum. There was blood in the pelvis. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis and appendicectomy were performed. Histopathology demonstrated multiple foci of endometriosis of the appendix with endometrial glands surrounded by endometrial stroma. Oestrogen receptor and CD10 immunostains highlighted the endometriotic foci. The patient made a good recovery and was referred to a gynaecologist for further management.

Spigelian hernia and pitfalls of postoperative anticoagulation.

Spigelian hernias are a rare lateral ventral abdominal hernia that carry a high risk of strangulation due to their smaller sizes, and require surgical intervention. In more complex cases involving an anticoagulated patient, perioperative management of anticoagulation must be monitored and reviewed to avoid potential pitfalls. We present an 81-year-old woman who presented with right groin pain, and was requiring warfarin anticoagulation due to her cardiac history. The spigelian hernia was diagnosed and reduced laparoscopically, and the defect was repaired and reinforced by mesh. However, the patient suffered from catastrophic complications postoperatively related to her anticoagulation management. Spigelian hernias require surgical interventions. However, in an anticoagulated patient with significant comorbidities, perioperative anticoagulation needs to be closely monitored to balance the risk of thromboembolic disease with acceptable postoperative bleeding risks.

Difficult diagnosis: strangulated obturator hernia in an 88-year-old woman.

The obturator hernia is a rare type of hernia that can present a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. We report a case of an 88-year-old woman who presented with a history of right iliac fossa pain, bilious vomiting and diarrhoea. Non-specific findings on examination and blood tests made the diagnosis difficult, however, a CT scan of her abdomen revealed the site of the obstruction and the patient was taken to theatre for emergency surgery. We review the literature with focus on the diagnosis of obturator hernias and the different surgical approaches used. The authors believe that this case is of educational value to healthcare professionals, particularly those working in general practice, emergency departments and on surgical teams. It highlights to doctors that patients with incarcerated obturator hernias can present with or without overt signs of intestinal obstruction and emphasises the fact that an obturator hernia can be an important cause of intestinal obstruction in a thin, elderly woman.

Acute appendicitis within an obturator hernia.

We present the case of a 17-year-old girl who presented with the signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis; however, during laparoscopic surgery, it was found that the appendix had herniated through the obturator canal. This pathology has previously been associated with an unfavourable outcome and has been reported, in the literature, in older, emaciated women.

A rare case of ameloblastic carcinoma.

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare type of ameloblastoma that has received little mention in the literature. While a number of cases have been published over many years, no institution has been able to produce a substantial case series. Ameloblastic carcinoma originates in the embryonic tooth components. It is believed to be an aggressive tumor that can metastasize; once metastasis occurs, the prognosis tends to be poor. Ameloblastic carcinoma is primarily a surgical condition that is best treated with resection; there has been little indication that other modalities are helpful. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman who was found to have a mandibular lesion by a dentist. After surgical resection, the tumor was found to be an ameloblastic carcinoma. The patient recovered without complication, and she was recurrence-free 18 months postoperatively. We also briefly review the available literature on the natural history of and management options for this rare tumor.

Oncoplastic breast surgery in Australia and New Zealand-2014 and beyond.

Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) is an established field of surgery bringing together oncological and reconstructive principles to the surgical management of breast disease, which is yet to make inroads into some areas of Australia and New Zealand (A&NZ). Both patients and medical fraternity are supportive of these approaches and improved quality of life and aesthetic outcomes resulting from their application. Oncological outcomes have been shown to be no different when these oncoplastic approaches are utilised. There is a broad interest amongst breast surgeons regarding OBS and development of their own skills. However a new and improved method of training the current and the next generation of breast surgeons is required. This has already begun in some countries such as the UK, but is slower in A&NZ region. Some of the obstacles in training of OBS to the next generation of surgeons are discussed and highlighted.This year first steps in formalised training approaches are being made. The future of breast surgery is likely to involve OBS as part of mainstream surgical management of breast disease.

Oncoplastic breast surgery: a regional Australian 2012 fellowship experience.

INTRODUCTION: Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) is a developing subspecialty, although many countries are struggling with how to incorporate training in OBS as part of the established breast surgery subspecialization pathways. UK and Brazil have surged ahead with established formal training programmes, whereas countries such as Australia still rely on ad hoc training by interested surgeons. Our aim was to review the possibility of including regional training centres with appropriate OBS expertise into a future formal training programme in OBS. METHODS: An 11-month self-audit was performed by the Fellow based in Port Macquarie, in a Breast Surgeons Society of Australia and New Zealand Incorporated accredited Fellowship. The audit template and reconstructive database, which were utilized in this study were supplied by Breast Surgeons Society of Australia and New Zealand Incorporated. RESULTS: OBS procedures made up 41% of total breast procedures performed, with 46% of these being performed by the Fellow. These oncoplastic procedures included 22 reconstructive breast procedures, with 15 (68%) being performed by the Fellow. These procedures involved mainly pedicle transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap reconstruction after mastectomy and breast implant reconstruction techniques. Minor and major complications accounted for a small percentage of operated cases and are discussed. DISCUSSION: Current British Association of Surgical Oncology (BASO) guidelines specify recommendations regarding BASO Level I and II OBS training, experience and exposure. Based on the experience during the fellowship presented in this audit, we discuss the merits of using regional Australian hospitals like Port Macquarie Base Hospital to make up the cohort of BASO Level I units to provide the core foundation experience in OBS to the next generation of Australian oncoplastic breast fellows.