Spectrum and outcome of pancreatic trauma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often difficult and surgery poses a formidable challenge. METHOD: Data from 17 patients of pancreatic trauma gathered from a prospectively maintained database were analysed and the following parameters were considered: mode of injury, diagnostic modalities, associated injury, grade of pancreatic trauma and management. Pancreatic trauma was graded from I through IV, as per Modified Lucas Classification. RESULTS: The median age was 39 years (range 19-61). The aetiology of pancreatic trauma was blunt abdominal trauma in 14 patients and penetrating injury in 3. Associated bowel injury was present in 4 cases (3 penetrating injury and 1 blunt trauma) and 1 case had associated vascular injury. 5 patients had grade I, 3 had grade II, 7 had grade III and 2 had grade IV pancreatic trauma. Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan was used to diagnose pancreatic trauma in all patients with blunt abdominal injury. Immediate diagnosis could be reached in only 4 (28.5%) patients. 7 patients responded to conservative treatment. Of the 10 patients who underwent surgery, 6 required it for the pancreas and the duodenum. (distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy-3, pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy-1, debridement with external drainage-1, associated injuries-duodenum-1). Pancreatic fistula, recurrent pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation were seen in 3 (17.05%), 2 (11.7%) and 1 (5.4%) patient respectively. Death occurred in 4 cases (23.5%), 2 each in grades III and IV pancreatic trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan is a useful modality for diagnosing, grading and following up patients with pancreatic trauma. Although a majority of cases with pancreatic trauma respond to conservative treatment, patients with penetrating trauma, and associated bowel injury and higher grade pancreatic trauma require surgical intervention and are also associated with higher morbidity and mortality.

Nonfunctioning islet cell tumor presenting with ascites and portal hypertension.

Nonfunctioning islet cell tumors commonly cause no symptoms. A 22-year-old woman presented with lump in the left hypochondrium, refractory high-protein ascites and evidence of left-sided portal hypertension. At exploratory laparotomy, a 30 cm x 15 cm mass was seen at the splenic hilum, with large collateral vessels around. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was done. Histology of the mass showed malignant islet cell tumor infiltrating the spleen. The patient died in the postoperative period.

Iatrogenic gastric fistula due to inappropriate placement of intercostal drainage tube in a case of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.

A 26-year-old, 30 weeks primigravida presented with a gastric fistula through a left intercostal drain, which was inserted for drainage of suspected haemopneumothorax following minor trauma. It was confirmed to be a diaphragmatic hernia, with stomach and omentum as its contents. On exploratory laparotomy, disconnection of the tube and fistulous tract, with reduction of herniated contents and primary suturing of stomach was carried out. Diaphragmatic reconstruction with polypropylene mesh was also carried out. Post-operative recovery was uneventful with full lung expansion by 3rd postoperative day. Patient was asymptomatic at follow-up 6 months.

Laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernia in adult.

Foramen of Morgagni hernias require surgical treatment; laparoscopic repair is another option with lower morbidity. We describe a 35-year-old man with Morgagni hernia treated successfully by laparoscopy.

Leiomyosarcoma of third part of duodenum with perforation.

Malignant stromal cell tumors of the duodenum present with pain or bleed. We report a patient with leiomyosarcoma of the third part of the duodenum that presented with perforation.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patient with portal cavernoma and portal hypertension.

Successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been reported in patients with cirrhosis of liver with portal hypertension; the procedure has, however, not been reported in patients with portal vein thrombosis, portal cavernoma and portal hypertension. We report an 18-year-old man with portal hypertension due to portal vein thrombosis and portal cavernoma who had symptomatic gallstone disease and was successfully treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Ruptured true aneurysm of the splenic artery: an unusual cause of haemoperitoneum.

True aneurysm of the splenic artery is rare. Two cases of ruptured true splenic artery aneurysms are presented. The first patient was a 62-year-old female who presented within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms. The other was a 27-year-old non-alcoholic male patient who was admitted in a state of shock after 2 days of observation in a peripheral hospital. Both patients had haemoperitoneum and were subjected to exploratory laparotomy. Aneurysmectomy was performed in both the patients in addition to left splenopancreatectomy in the first case and splenectomy in the second. However, due to the prolonged preoperative shock, the second patient succumbed on the third postoperative day.

Laparoscopic management of hydatid cyst of liver.

We describe the laparoscopic excision of a hydatid cyst in the liver. During the procedure, done after treatment with the scolicidal agents praziquantel and albendazole, care was taken to prevent spillage of scolices during evacuation of contents and to excise the entire germinal epithelium. The patient had no immediate or short-term complications and is asymptomatic 3 months later.

Animal models of anxiety an ethological perspective

In the field of anxiety research, animal models are used as screening tools in the search for compounds with therapeutic potential and as simulations for research on mechanisms underlying emotional behaviour. However, a solely pharmacological approach to the validation of such tests has resulted in distinct problems with their applicability to systems other than those involving the benzodiazepine/GABA(A) receptor complex. In this context, recent developments in our understanding of mammalian defensive behaviour have not only prompted the development of new models but also attempts to refine existing ones. The present review focuses on the application of ethological techniques to one of the most widely used animal models of anxiety, the elevated plus-maze paradigm. This fresh approach to an established test has revealed a hitherto unrecognized multidimensionality to plus-maze behaviour and, as it yields comprehensive behavioural profiles, has many advantages over conventional methodology. This assertion is supported by reference to recent work on the effects of diverse manipulations including psychosocial stress, benzodiazepines, GABA receptor ligands, neurosteroids, 5-HT(lA) receptor ligands, and panicolytic/panicogenic agents. On the basis of this review, it is suggested that other models of anxiety may well benefit from greater attention to behavioural detail.

Laparoscopic versus mini-lap cholecystectomy for gallstone disease.

AIM: To compare the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and mini-lap cholecystectomy (MC) in patients with symptomatic gallstone disease. METHOD: One hundred patients undergoing LC (50) or MC (50) were evaluated for duration of surgery, morbidity, need for analgesia, duration of hospitalization and interval to return to normal work. RESULTS: The mean operative time was significantly longer in the LC group (94 +/- 17 vs 129 +/- 33 min; p < 0.05). The rate of morbidity and conversion to open surgery were similar in the two groups. Patients in the MC group required more oral analgesia (p = ns). The mean post-operative hospital stay in this group was 3.3 +/- 1.5 days as compared to 3.3 +/- 2.7 days in the LC group (p = ns). Patients in the LC group took the same time to return to normal work (19.1 +/- 3.2 days) as those in the MC group 19.5 +/- 5.4 days (p = ns). CONCLUSION: MC and LC are comparable procedures for treatment of gallstone disease in our country.

Massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to direct visceral erosion of splenic artery aneurysm.

Six male patients (age group: 30-60 years) with aneurysm of the splenic artery presented with massive upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Five patients presented with hematemesis and one with melena. Chronic pancreatitis was noted in all the patients, four of whom were chronic alcoholics. Endoscopy was not useful in diagnosis. Bleeding through the Ampulla of Vater was seen in the patient with melena. Angiography was diagnostic in all. Pancreatic resection including the aneurysm(2), and bipolar ligation with underrunning of the aneurysm (3) were the operative procedures. Distal pancreatectomy with pancreatogastrostomy was carried out in the patient with hemosuccus pancreaticus. If endoscopy is inconclusive, angiography and early intervention is recommended to reduce the high mortality associated with conservative management.

Gastric lipoma presenting as obstruction and hematemesis.

A rare case of gastric lipoma presented to us with hematemesis and symptoms of obstruction. On oesophagoduodenoscopy, a mass projecting in the lumen of stomach was found. Barium meal examination revealed a mass in the antral region suggestive of malignancy. The diagnosis of lipoma was suspected only after exploration. It was confirmed following incision through the serosa. The lipoma was enucleated without any damage to mucosa.

Primary extrapancreatic gastrinoma.

Extrapancreatic gastrinoma is a rare clinical entity encountered in surgical practice. A patient was referred to us who had a history of recurring symptoms of peptic ulcer disease and ulcer perforation located at an unusual site. Serum gastrin levels were abnormally high. Scopy revealed multiple ulcers in the antrum and duodenum. A mass superior to the head of the pancreas was detected on USG, which later on found to be a separate mass on CT scan. The tumour was excised and confirmed on histopathology. Results of conservative surgery were found to be satisfactory.

Amebic pericarditis following ruptured right liver lobe abscess.

We present an unusual case of suppurative pericarditis following rupture of a solitary right lobe amebic liver abscess. The condition was treated successfully by drainage of the liver abscess alone.

Ileo-caeco-colic intussusception due to extensive benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the ileo-caecal region (a case report).

An unusual case of extensive benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the ileo-caecal region causing ileo-caeco-colic intussusception is presented here, with a review of relevant literature. The diagnosis of intussusception was reached with the help of an abdominal ultrasound and barium enema. Histopathology of the resected specimen, revealed lymphoid hyperplasia.

Endoscopic removal of retained bile duct calculi via T-tube tract.

A simple and safe technique for removal of retained bile duct calculi using a flexible fibreoptic choledochoscope and rigid nephroscope via the T-tube tract has been described. The technique allowed removal of large impacted calculi under direct vision without damage to the bile duct.