Up-to-down open and laparoscopic liver hanging maneuver: an overview.

BACKGROUND: The liver hanging maneuver (LHM) was described by Belghiti et al. to facilitate liver resection and is done classically by creating a space between the caudate lobe and the inferior vena cava starting on the edge of caudate lobe and extending cranially, in a para-caval fashion, towards the space between the right and middle hepatic veins. LHM facilitates liver transection, guides anatomical resections, decreases blood loss, facilitates harvesting of the liver graft in live donors, and also has oncological advantages. STUDY DESIGN: We describe a new approach named "up-to-down" to perform LHM in open and laparoscopic liver resections. This approach was mainly used in obese patients, in laparoscopic liver resections and in cases of failure of the classic approach. The advantages/disadvantages, complications, and different modalities of LHM are also summarized. RESULTS: The peritoneal layer between the liver capsule and the infrahepatic vena cava is opened, and a short blind dissection is initiated on the right anterolateral aspect of the inferior vena cava to the left of the hepatic vein of segment VI. The suprahepatic vena cava is exposed, and the space between the right and middle hepatic veins and the vena cava is created by gentle dissection. A 16-Fr nasogastric tube is positioned in the space between the right and middle hepatic vein, pointing inferiorly, and pushed downwards, in a para-caval manner caudally until it is seen inferiorly. The results of this approach are given. CONCLUSION: LHM facilitates liver resection, and many variations have been described worldwide in open and laparoscopic liver surgery. The up-to-down approach should be part of the surgical armamentarium in order to offer a safer way to achieve LHM in some patients.

Encapsulating sclerosing peritonitis : two rare observations and literature review.

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare and little known pathological entity. It is a chronic fibro-inflammatory disease of the peritoneum, resulting in the formation of a thick fibrous membrane, which engages partially or totally the abdominal organs. Clinical and radiological signs make the diagnosis difficult to establish preoperatively. We present two original observations of SEP illustrating different clinical presentations, diagnostic and therapeutic means. His diagnosis requires a peritoneal biopsy. The treatment is not completely established. Surgical treatment is difficult, involving viscerolysis and multiple incisions of the fibrous membrane. Despite the current progress in therapeutic management, the prognosis remains pejorative, with significant mortality.

Long term results of laparoscopic gastric band.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) has gained popularity among the surgical community since its first description in the early 90'. Actually, it is the third most practiced bariatric procedure in the world. The mean advantage of LAGB is a low rate of early postoperative morbidity. These satisfactory early results are in complete opposition with relatively high long term morbidity and a high rate of weight loss failure. AIM: Long term morbidity, weight loss and life quality index after LAGB were analyzed. METHODS: Data of patients eligible for LAGB between January 2005 and November 2016 in the surgical department of La Rabta teaching hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Weight loss curves, long term complications and quality of life were evaluated. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2008, 28 patients had LAGB. Mean preoperative BMI was 44.6 Kg/m². No immediate complications occurred. Mean EWL were 39% and 37% respectively after 24 and 60 months. EWL was above 50% in only 4 patients. Coming to long term morbidity, 10 (35%) patients had complications. Reintervention rate was 39%. The gastric band was removed in 9 (32%) patients. Mean quality of life BAROS score was 4.21. CONCLUSIONS: Judging for its long term morbidity with a high reintervention rate, the LAGB raises the question of its valuable position as a surgical procedure against morbid obesity.

Surgical management of primary crohn's disease. descriptive study about 226 patients.

BACKGROUND: The surgery is required in more than 80% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Studies before confirm the specific genetic variation of CD in the Tunisian population compared with the others ethnic groups. AIM: This article aims to study the epidemiological, anatomical and therapeutic principles of surgical forms of CD in a cohort of Tunisian patients. METHODS: We report a retrospective study from January 1998 to September 2010 that studied 226 patients originated only from Tunisia (in North Africa), operated on for MC. We had been interested in epidemiological, anatomical, clinical, therapeutic, topographic progression of the disease, the procedure and the postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: The median age was 33 years. The average time between the onset of the disease and the surgical procedure was 31 months. The diagnosis of CD was established preoperatively in 213 patients (94%). The diagnosis was made intraoperatively because of an acute complication in 5 cases (2.2%) and postoperatively in 8 cases (3.5%). The most common location was the ileocecal junction in 184 cases (81.4%). Achieving the most common was the mixed form (stricture and fistula) in 123 cases (54.4%). Operative mortality was 0.04% (n = 1). Specific morbidity was 8.4% (n = 19). In long term, a surgical recurrence was noted in 17 patients (7.5%). In multivariate analysis the independent risk factors for surgical recurrence were: smooking (p = 0.012, ORs = 3.57) and post-operative medical treatment (p = 0.05, ORs = 2.6). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving stenosing and fistulizing the ileocecal junction is the most frequent surgical form in Crohn's disease. Our series is unique for a lower rate of the postoperative recurrence (7.5%).

Anal imperforation in adults: Diagnostic difficulties and therapeutic options.

Anorectal malformations are congenital anomalies ranging from simple perineal fistulas to complex malformations. They are usually treated inchildhood, and exceptionally in adult. We herein report the case of a 22 years aged patient and relate the diagnosis difficulties and therapeuticoptions. She consulted for anal imperforation discovered since birth. Initially, His parents refused the surgical management. It was an analimperforation with a vestibular fistula. The patient was operated by a low approach. She had a disconnection of the recto-vestibular fistula,dissection of the anal canal and a perineal posterior transposition. Postoperative course was uneventful. The evaluation of continence usingKelly's score found good Functional result.

Laparoscopic ileo-cecal resection: the total retro-mesenteric approach.

BACKGROUND: Ileo-cecal resection is the most performed procedure in Cohn's disease. In the last decades, the laparoscopic approach became the gold standard. The dissection can be lateral to median or median to lateral. In non-malignant diseases as it is the case for Crohn's disease, the most performed dissection approach is the lateral to median. Herein, we describe a technique performed in our department: the total retro-mesenteric approach. METHOD: The procedure requires 4 trocars with a 10- to 12-mm median suprapubic trocar. The telescope is placed in this trocar. The dissection will begin with the opening of the mesentery root creating a retro-mesenteric tunnel. This dissection gives a direct visualization of the duodenum, of the ureter and the gonadic vessels which guarantees a safe procedure considering the importance of the inflammation in this disease. At the end of the retro-mesenteric step, the right colon is only attached to the Toldt's fascia. The transection of the mesentery is done next to the bowel wall leaving at the end the choice to the surgeon to perform an extra- or endocorporeal anastomosis. RESULTS: This retro-mesenteric approach has been used in our department since 2004. Until May 2013, 89 patients underwent laparoscopic resection for Crohn's disease with a mean operative time of 130 min, a morbidity rate of 6 % and a laparoconversion rate of 13.6 %. CONCLUSION: We describe the total retro-mesenteric approach in the ileo-cecal resection for Crohn's disease. The approach is considered to be safe allowing the surgeon to perform a dissection far from the inflammatory site and allowing a visual identification of the duodenum and the right ureter. The morbidity of the procedure is equivalent to the other dissection techniques.

Laparoscopic resection of gastric stromal tumors.

Gastro-intestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal gastrointestinal tumors. The Gastric location represents 60% of cases [1,2]. Complete surgical excision remains the treatment of reference for the localized forms. This surgery can be made by laparoscopy when the lesion's size doesn't exceed 5 cm. Some principles must e respected: a mono-block complete surgical resection, with healthy margins and without effraction. This technique will be reserved for trained teams and for selected cases according to the size and location. We herein try to explain the surgical laparoscopic excision of gastric stromal tumors explaining .

[Surgical management of entero-vesical fistulas in Crohn's disease]. / Traitement chirurgical des fistules entéro-vésicales secondaires à la maladie de Crohn.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that can cause an attack by contiguity of the urinary tract. Although the shape is common and fistulizing 35% of all patients with CD, entero-urinary fistulas are rare and only seen in 2-8% of patients. aim: To report the frequency of occurrence of this complication among the group of surgical forms of CD. Describe the different pathophysiological mechanisms of occurrence of entero-vesical fistula (EVF) during the CD. methods: We report, retrospectively, seven observations of EVF complicating MC made during the period from 01/01/1998 until 31/12/2010. results: The mean age of patients was 30 years. There were 3 men and 4 women. All patients had clinical signs and radiological EVF. In six patients, CD was ileo-caecal and the ileo-vesical fistula was between the last loop and the bladder. In one patient, the CD was located only in colon, and the fistula was between sigmoid colon and bladder. Level of the bladder, it was a false EVF in five patients and a true EVF in two patients. In these last two, the fistula of 2 mm, was on the top of the bladder. Treatment consisted in all cases by a disconnect between the digestive tract and bladder, resection with restoration of digestive continuity, and if the case of true EVF, a freshening the edges of the fistula with suture of the bladder's wall and drainage. The postoperative course was uneventful in six patients and marked by an outbreak intraperitoneal abcess in one patient who had evolved under medical treatment. After a mean of eleven months, no recurrence surgery was noted. CONCLUSION: Despite advanced treatment in the context of CD, the indication in EVF is a surgical treatment. Surgery helps fight against the consequences of septic urinary tract, but also to launder bowel disease and reduce the risk of recurrence in the short term.

Risk factors associated with pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic leak (PL) remains a major cause of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing pancreatic resection. AIM: To identify risk factors related to pancreatic fistula in patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP). METHODS: 35 patients underwent DP during a 10-year period (2000- 2009). Informations regarding diagnosis, operative details, and perioperative morbidity and mortality were collected. Nine risk factors were examined. RESULTS: Indications for DP included primary pancreatic disease (n=23; 66 %) and non-pancreatic disease (n = 12; 34 %). Postoperative morbidity rate was 43 % and none patient died. No patients required a reoperation. Pancreatic fistula was occurred in 11 patients (31 %). On univariate analysis, incidence of pancreatic fistula rate was not significantly associated with these risk factors: pathology, use of prophylactic octreotide therapy, concomitant splenectomy, additional procedures, intra operative bleeding and texture of pancreatic parenchyma. We observed significant statistical difference between male and female, 47 % of females experienced a pancreatic fistula, while 17 % males developed a pancreatic leakage (p =0.05). The role of the technique of pancreatic stump closure in the development of pancreatic leak remains unclear because of the few number of patients on who we used stapler. CONCLUSION: The rate of pancreatic fistula after left pancreatectomy is 31 %. The female was identified as a risk factor for occurrence of pancreatic fistula after left pancreatectomy. The role implicated in the use of a mechanical claw for the treatment of pancreatic stump requires a larger number of patients to conclude. The body mass index has not been studied in our series.

Prognostic factors in gastric carcinoma after R0 resection with DII lymph node dissection. Tunisian experience.

BACKGROUND: Curative resection with adequate lymph node dissection is the treatment of choice for gastric cancer. AIM: To determine the prognostic factors after R0 resection with DII lymph node dissection. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 126 patients who underwent R0 resection with DII lymph node dissection for gastric cancer (excluding the upper third of the stomach) in a single institution between 1991 and 2006 with median follow-up of 38.5 months (6 - 219). Prognostic factors were assessed by Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: There were 45 women and 81 men. The median age was 60 years (21 - 87). Four patients died (3.2 %). Postoperative hospital morbidity was 16.7 %. The pathologic review of the slides revealed that 50% of the tumors were stage T3 (63 cases). The median number of lymph node removed was 11 (8-40), 50% were involved. Five and 10 years survival rates were respectively 56.9 % and 40.2 %. In multivariable analysis, depth of wall invasion, lymph node involvement and more than 15 retrieved lymph nodes were found to be independent prognosis factors. CONCLUSION: After R0 resection with DII lymphadenectomy, depth of wall invasion, lymph node involvement and more than 15 retrieved lymph nodes were independent predictive factors for survival.

[The Caroli's disease. Report of 16 cases]. / La maladie de caroli. A propos de 16 cas.

BACKGROUND: Caroli's disease is a congenital dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary duct. AIM: To analyse and discuss diagnostic and therapeutics difficulties through 16 patients with Caroli's disease. METHODS: Between January 1990 and September 2010, 16 patients underwent surgical procedure for Caroli's disease. Data recorded for each patient included clinical symptoms, biologic findings, previous biliary procedures, and the presenting symptoms. The distribution of the biliary lesions, the surgical procedure and the postoperative outcomes and follow up were detailed. RESULTS: The mean age was 55 years. The mean interval between the first symptoms and diagnosis was 27 months. Five of 16 patients had undergone 12 surgical or endoscopic procedures prior to liver resection. Before the definitive diagnosis, 9 patients presented 15 episodes of acute cholangitis. The diagnosis was established preoperatively in 13 cases, 5 among them underwent previous biliary surgical procedures. The diagnosis was documented peroperatively in 2 cases and postoperatively in 1 case. The distribution of the biliary lesions was monolobar in 13 and bilobar in 3 patients. 13 patients underwent liver resection, in two cases we perfomed biliojejunostomy and the last one had endoscopic sphincterotomy. There was no mortality and the overall postoperative morbidity is about 43%. The follow-up shows that 12 patients still alive with a mean follow up for 53 months, from whom only one patient have intrahépepatic lithiasis. CONCLUSION: The clinical course of Caroli's disease is often complicated by recurrent episodes of angiocholitis and requires iterative surgery. The hepatectomy witch prevented septic complications and degenerescence is possible only in a restricted number of patients.

Idiopathic megabowel causing acute bowel obstruction: A case report.

Background: Idiopathic megabowel is a rare condition. Its physiopathology is still unclear. We report a case of a patient presenting with acute bowel obstruction due to idiopathic megacolon and megarectum that was successfully treated with proctocolectomy. Case presentation: A 65-year-old man, with a history of chronic constipation, presented to the emergency with acute bowel obstruction symptoms.His CT scan on admission showed a very dilated rectum and sigmoid colon filled with faeces. The patient was managed conservatively.Due to the deterioration of his condition. We opted for an emergency laparotomy and it revealed the important dilation of the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and the rectum leading to a Hartmann procedure.degenerative lesions of the smooth muscle layers were seen on the histopthological report and the diagnosis of rectosigmoid idiopathic megacolon was made.Postoperatively, we performed a rectoscopy that showed a distended rectum full of faeces.We performed a proctectomy with colo-anal anastomosis. He had an uneventful recovery. Conclusion: Idiopathic megacolon is a rare condition. The pathogenesis is still unclear. Surgical treatment is the best option to prevent complications and to improve the quality of life of the patient.

[Tomodensitometric diagnosis of internal herniation: report of 3 cases]. / Apport de l'enteroscanner dans le diagnostic pre operatoire des hernies internes: a propos de 3 cas.

AIMS: To study the value of the CT scan in the diagnosis of internal herniation and to evaluate its performance comparing its features to preoperative data. CASES: We report 3 cases of patients with internal hernias (two men and one woman whose age is 23, 45 and 60 years) hospitalised in emergency for a small bowel obstruction. There were no previous abdominal surgeries or trauma, The three patients underwent CT scan. Signs of tranmesenteric hernias and hernia through the falciform ligament were diagnosed preoperatively and confirmed at laparotomy. CONCLUSION: The internal hernia is rare cause of small bowel obstruction. The CT scan is an important way to make diagnosis and to choose the surgical strategy.

[Malignant intraductal papillary mucinous tumours of the pancreas. A three cases report]. / Tumeurs intracanalaires papillaires et mucineuses dégénérées du pancréas: à propos de trois cas.

BACKGROUND: Intra ductal papillary mucinous tumors of pancreas are rare and are characterized by a risk of malignant transformation. AIM: To clarify their clinical presentation and the performance of different imaging examinations to determine their benign or malignant and achieve their staging. CASES: We report three cases of degenerate intra ductal papillary mucinous tumors of pancreas. The combination of CT, the pancreato- MRI and duodenoscopy has led to the diagnosis in all cases. A pancreaticoduodenectomy were performed in two cases. CONCLUSION: The various imaging techniques allow better detection and analysis of the tumor including the evaluation criteria of degeneration. The treatment of these lesions is still surgery.

[Colo-urachal-cutaneous fistula in an adult]. / Fistule colo-cutanée d'origine allantoïde chez un adulte

BACKGROUND: An infected urachal cyst is an uncommon finding in adults. AIM: To report a case of a sigmoid- urachal- cutaneous fistula. CASE REPORT: A 51 years old adult male presented with fecaloid leaking from rupture of an infected urachal cyst. Definitive management consisted of resection of the urachus with a bladder cuff, along with removal of the affected bowel segments. CONCLUSION: Colo-urachal-cutaneous fistula is a rare condition; its management is rather complex.

The management of hidradenitis suppurativa degenerating into squamous cell carcinoma: About three case reports.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory and suppurative disease of the apocrine sweat glands. Its transformation into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe 3 cases of males aged 57, 58 and 55-years-old. The diagnoses were confirmed by pathology examination in all cases. Two of our patients underwent extended and complete surgery. The first two patients died during the year after the diagnosis was established, the third one is still alive with no recurrence after one year of surgery. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Hidradenitis suppurativa mostly concerns perianal location and it targets mainly male patients with a multifactorial development. Surgical treatment consists of large excision. The SCC is associated with a high mortality rate. CONCLUSION: Hidradenitis suppurativa needs early diagnosis and effective surgery. The transformation into squamous cell carcinoma is rare and and its management is challenging. Extended and complete excision is required with rigorous postoperative follow-up.

Acute pancreatitis as an uncommon complication of hydatid cyst of the liver: A case report and systematic literature review.

Hydatid disease is a major health problem worldwide. The liver is the most frequent location of hydatid disease. Acute pancreatitis secondary to liver hydatid cyst ruptured in the biliary tract is scarce and fewly described in literature. The management of this pancreatic complication of liver hydatid disease is challenging and includes a combination of surgical and endoscopic approaches. We report herein a rare case of hydatid cyst of the liver with cysto-biliary communication revealed by acute pancreatitis. A systematic literature review of similar cases reported was provided to compare surgical and endoscopic techniques. A thirty-year-old woman was referred to our emergency unit for acute pancreatitis. The CT-scan findings revealed a liver hydatid cyst ruptured in the biliary tract and daughter vesicles within were found, responsible for C-grade acute pancreatitis. We decided then to perform an emergency surgery through a bisoucostal incision. We performed a cholecystectomy and a peroperative cholangiogram that showed the communication between the cyst and left biliary tracts and the presence of daughter vesicle within the common bile duct. We conducted an exploration of the common bile duct with extraction of vesicle daughters. We left behind a T-tube in the common bile duct and we sutured the cysto-biliary fistula. Drainage was left in the remnant cavity after unroofing the cyst. Postoperative course was uneventful. Six months follow-up showed no recurrence. Cysto-biliary communication of liver hydatid disease revealed by acute pancreatitis is uncommon. We chose to perform emergency open surgery. However, through a systematic literature review, we noticed that endoscopic treatment is an efficient therapeutic and diagnostic tool to delay a morbid surgery of the liver and the common bile duct.

Appendicitis in strangulated femoral hernia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Herniation of the appendix into a femoral hernia--also called De Garengeot hernia--is a rare but well-recognized entity. It is typically discovered incidentally during hernia repair. Acute appendicitis in a strangulated femoral hernia is even more uncommon. AIM: Report a new case. CASE: We report on a patient admitted for a painful groin mass. She underwent emergency surgery. Exploration identified acute appendicitis in a strangulated femoral hernia sac. MANAGEMENT: Appendectomy associated with Mac Vay's herniorrhaphy were performed. The outcome was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should be aware of the existence of this infrequent and atypical presentation of appendicitis and femoral hernia.

[Peripancreatic sporadic gastrinoma]. / Gastrinome sporadique péri-pancréatique.

BACKGROUND: The peri-pancreatic sporadic gastrinoma represents a paradigm of digestive endocrinology. It was originally an abnormal secretion of gastrin fits the syndrome Zollinger-Ellison. AIM: The objective of our work is to clarify the diagnostic strategy and therapeutic conduct of gastrinoma. CASE: We report the case of a patient aged 42 years, hospitalized for bleeding duodenal ulcer, revealed a Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The different explorations have shown that it was a primitive péripancréatique sporadic gastrinoma. In surgery, we discover a rétropancréatique tumor associated to a stenosis post-bulbar ulcer. It was conducted a enucleation of the tumor with vagotomie troncular and gastroenteroanastomosis. The forecast was favourable with normalization of the values of gastrinémie. CONCLUSION: The sporadic gastrinoma is rare, its emphasis is increasingly being facilitated by the technology of modern medical imaging, belonging to a polyendocrinopathie must be systematic search. Treatment of pancreatic gastrinoma is multidisciplinary. Surgery is the only cure for this disease.

[Early gastric adenocarcinoma]. / Adénocarcinome superficiel de l'estomac.

AIM: the purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical behaviour of the superficial adenocarcinoma of the stomach, to clarify its pathological characteristics, its therapy and prognosis. METHODS: Over a period of 14 years (1990-2004), 16 patients were operated for a superficial gastric adenocarcinoma among 155 gastric cancers treated during the same period in the service of general surgery "A" La Rabta. RESULTS: The superficial gastric adenocarcinoma represented 10.3% of our series. The mean age was 59 years, 8 men and 8 women. Two patients were followed for a chronic stomach ulcer, a patient is followed for Biermer anaemia and another one for Menetrier disease. Among these cancers, 12 were intra mucosal and 4 invaded the submucousa. Lymph node involvement was present only in one case. The cancer was located in the antrum in 8 cases and was multifocal in 3 cases. One patient died in postoperative case because of a medical cause. The 5-year-overall survival was 65,6%. The recurrence had interested only one patient. CONCLUSION: the superficial gastric adenocarcinoma is rare. The follow up of precancerous states allows its diagnosis. The treatment is based on the gastric resection associated to the D1-type lymph node clearance. The multifocal character imposes a surveillance of the remaining gastric stump.