Major retroperitoneal vascular injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: Serious complications may occur during laparoscopic surgery, as in any surgical procedure. Injuries of major retroperitoneal vascular structures are uncommon but important complications of laparoscopy. METHODS: We report on 9 major vascular injuries in 8 patients in the course of 8 laparoscopic procedures between 1994 and 2002. RESULTS: The primary operations were cholecystectomy in 7 patients and appendectomy in one patient. Six vascular injuries occurred during placement of the first umbilical trocar, two in the course of the insertion of a Veress needle, and one during the insertion of the second trocar. A laparotomy was performed immediately in all cases. Left common iliac arteries were injured in two patients, aorta in three patients, right common iliac vein in one patient, both right common iliac artery and vein in one patient, and inferior vena cava in one patient. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft interposition was employed in two common iliac arteries and a tubular PTFE graft in one aortic injury, and Dacron patchplasty in one common iliac artery injury. Two aortic, two common iliac vein, and an inferior vena cava injury were repaired primarily. There were also four visceral organ injuries, which were repaired primarily. The major retroperitoneal vascular complication rate was 0.07%. An average of 3.5 units of whole blood were transfused in each case and the average stay in hospital was 6.8 days. There was no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The surgeon's experience and knowledge are the essential factors for prevention of major vascular injuries during laparoscopic procedures. In case of an injury, immediate laparotomy must be performed to achieve hemostasis and a surgeon who is familiar with vascular surgery should employ the definitive treatment.

Comparison of repair techniques in rat duodonal perforations: simple closure, simple closure and omentoplasty, and fibrin tissue adhesive.

BACKGROUND: We compared three repair techniques, namely, simple closure and omentoplasty, simple closure alone, and fibrin tissue adhesive, in the treatment of rat duodenal perforations induced in the postpyloric region. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (210-240 g) were included. Under ketamine and ether anesthesia, duodenal perforations of 2 mm were induced in all rats in the postpyloric region. The rats were assigned to three groups equal in number, which underwent repair with the use of simple closure and omentoplasty, simple closure alone, and fibrin glue, respectively. All the animals were sacrificed under deep ether anesthesia on the fourth postoperative day. To assess wound strength, bursting pressure measurements were performed. In addition, hydroxyproline content of the wound site was measured by absorbance spectrophotometry at 560 nm. RESULTS: The mean bursting pressure in the simple closure and omentoplasty group was significantly higher than those of the simple closure (p<0.05) and fibrin glue (p<0.001) groups. No significant difference existed between the simple closure and fibrin glue groups in this respect (p>0.05). Hydroxyproline values of the simple closure and omentoplasty (p<0.05) and simple closure (p<0.001) groups were significantly lower than that of the fibrin glue group. CONCLUSION: Fibrin tissue adhesives may have an application in the treatment of duodenal ulcer perforations, as an adjunct to laparoscopic or open surgical methods.

Comparison of prosthetic materials in incisional hernia repair.

PURPOSE: Incisional hernias are not uncommon after abdominal surgery, but their repair is associated with a high risk of complications, including adhesions and recurrence. Many different types of meshes and adhesion barriers have been developed in an attempt to overcome these problems, some of which we have assessed in a rat model. METHODS: We made a full-thickness 1.5 x 2.5-cm abdominal wall defect in 30 Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into three groups according to the materials used for repair: 2 x 3-cm polypropylene mesh (group 1); expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with double-layer polypropylene mesh (group 2); or polypropylene mesh with oxidized cellulose adhesion barriers (group 3). We assessed adhesion formation, tensile strength, and histopathologic findings. RESULTS: The mean adhesion scores were 3.3, 1.3, and 0.7, in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.001). The area involved by adhesions was significantly greater in group 1 than in groups 2 or 3 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). The tensile strength in group 2 was less than that in groups 1 or 3 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups 1 and 3 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although there was less adhesion formation with PTFE and oxidized cellulose, PTFE not only impaired the tensile strength, but also induced fibrosis and inflammation. An oxidized cellulose adhesion barrier can be safely used in incisional hernia repair to prevent intra-abdominal adhesions.