Laparoscopic assisted balloon enteroscopy to detect obscure gastrointestinal bleeding sources missed by capsule endoscopy.

Jejunoileal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are frequently multifocal and represent a consistent source of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). We report the real-life case of a female presenting to our attention for severe episodes of haematochezia caused by multiple localisation of jejunoileal NETs. A discrepancy between pre-operative total body contrast-enhancement computed tomography scan and capsule endoscopy (CE) emerged, in terms of numbers of lesions, so that, as completeness, an intraoperative balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) was carried out, leading to the detection of the multiple lesions missed during CE. In case of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding sources missed by capsule endoscopy, laparoscopic-assisted balloon enteroscopy plays an essential role, allowing both to assess a precise diagnosis and to resect the intestinal bleeding tract.

Bedside diagnostic laparoscopy for critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit: Retrospective study and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Bedside diagnostic laparoscopy could be helpful in extremely critically ill patients. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the safety and diagnostic accuracy of bedside diagnostic laparoscopy in the identification of intra-abdominal pathology in critically ill patients and to compare its accuracy and outcomes with the ones of laparotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Careggi University Hospital and submitted to bedside diagnostic laparoscopy between January 2006 and May 2017. This group of patients was compared with a group of patients that were admitted to the ICU and submitted directly to explorative laparotomy for suspected intra-abdominal pathologies. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients (M/F = 81/48, mean age = 71.64 years) underwent bedside diagnostic laparoscopy in ICU. 154 patients instead were submitted directly to explorative laparotomy in operatory room (mean age 75.70 years, M/F = 94/60). Among the 129 patients submitted to bedside laparoscopy, 53.49% were positive for intra-abdominal pathologies whereas 46.51% were negative, while among the 154 patients submitted directly to laparotomy, 76.62% were positive for intra-abdominal pathologies whereas 23.38% were negative. In 55.03% of all patients submitted to bedside laparoscopy, a non-therapeutic laparotomy was avoided, while the 33.76% of patients submitted directly to laparotomy had a non-therapeutic laparotomy that could be avoidable. CONCLUSIONS: Our results pinpoint the advantages of performing bedside diagnostic laparoscopy in the ICU setting, which can be considered an option every time there is the suspicion of an intra-abdominal pathology.

New perspectives on the long-term outcome of segmental colectomy for Crohn's colitis: an observational study on 200 patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Surgical management of Crohn's colitis represents one of the most complex situations in colorectal surgery. Segmental colectomy (SC) and total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (TAC-IRA) are the most common procedures, but there are few available data on their long-term outcome. The aim of the present study was to analyze the long-term outcome of patients who underwent segmental colectomy for Crohn's colitis, with regard to the risk for total abdominal colectomy. METHODS: In this observational, monocentric, retrospective analysis, we analyzed patients who received a segmental colectomy for Crohn's colitis at our institution. The database was updated by asking patients to complete a questionnaire by telephone or at the outpatient clinic. Only patients followed up at our Hospital were included. Patients were followed up by a specialized multidisciplinary team (IBD Unit). The primary endpoint was the interval between segmental colectomy and, when performed, total abdominal colectomy. RESULTS: Between 1973 and 2014, 200 patients underwent segmental colectomy for Crohn's colitis. The median follow-up was 13.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 7.8-21.5). Overall, 62 patients (31%) had a surgical recurrence, of these, 42 (21%) received total abdominal colectomy. At multivariate analysis, the presence of ≥ 3 sites (HR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.22-5.00; p = 0.018) and perianal disease (HR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.29-8.07; p = 0.006) proved to be risk factors for total abdominal colectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The risk for surgical recurrence after SC for Crohn's colitis is acceptable. We recommend a bowel-sparing policy for the treatment of Crohn's colitis in any case in which the extent of the disease at the moment of surgery makes the conservative approach achievable.

Beyond total mesorectal excision: The emerging role of minimally invasive surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Multivisceral resection and/or pelvic exenteration represents the only potential curative treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC); however, it poses significant technical challenges, which account for the high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure. As complete histopathologic resection is the most important determinant of patient outcomes, LARC often requires an extended resection beyond the total mesorectal excision plane to obtain clear resection margins. In an era when laparoscopic surgery and robot-assisted surgery are becoming commonplace, the optimal approach to extensive pelvic interventions remains controversial. However, acceptance of the suitability of minimally invasive surgery is slowly gaining traction. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of evidence in the literature about minimally invasive approaches in multiple and extensive surgical resections, highlighting the need for research studies to explore, validate, and develop this issue. This editorial aims to provide a critical overview of the currently available applications and challenges of minimally invasive abdominopelvic surgery for LARC. Furthermore, we discuss recent developments in the field of robotic surgery for LARC, with a specific focus on new innovations and emerging frontiers.

Open abdomen management for massive intestinal infarction due to acute splanchnic venous thrombosis in a patient with protein S deficiency. A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) refers to the sudden onset of intestinal hypoperfusion that can also result from splanchnic venous occlusion. The portomesenteric venous system (PMVS) is an unusual site of thrombosis in patients with protein S deficiency and its obstruction is a rare cause of AMI. Aim of this report is to illustrate a successful strategy in a case of massive small bowel infarction managed with an open abdomen (OA) approach. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64 year-old woman presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea and vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) showed small bowel ischemia and the complete occlusion of all the PMVS branches. Surgery was performed with an OA approach and anticoagulation was immediately begun. Further workup revealed isolated protein S deficiency and history of atrophic gastritis. Thromboprophylaxis with warfarin was started on discharge and no recurrence of thrombotic events was recorded during the one-year follow-up. DISCUSSION: PMVS thrombosis related to protein S deficiency is a rare condition that can rapidly lead to an acute abdomen. CECT is the gold standard, because it detects splanchnic thrombosis and its possible complications, like bowel ischemia. In case of surgery, a planned second-look operation is the best strategy to assess bowel viability and possible ischemic progression. CONCLUSIONS: OA management plays a fundamental role in case of resection for bowel ischemia. Patients with thrombosis at an uncommon site should be further investigated for prothrombotic states.

Chevrel technique for ventral incisional hernia. Is it still an effective procedure?

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernia still represents the most frequent late complication of abdominal surgery. After a direct repair, in literature is reported a recurrence rate ranging from 31 to 49%, meanwhile after a prosthetic repair such values were much lower, with a recurrence rate up to 10%. The sites of prosthetic placement in the abdominal wall are premusculo-aponeurotic (onlay, or Chevrel technique), retromuscular-prefascial and preperitoneal (Rives technique, Stoppa technique), whereas intraperitoneal insertion can be done with open or laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and late postoperative results in patients treated with a Chevrel technique for ventral incisional hernia. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair between January 2008 and December 2018 at the Emergency Surgery Unit of the Careggi University Hospital in Florence. RESULTS: Between January 2008 and December 2018 at the Emergency Surgery Unit of the Careggi University Hospital in Florence, 461 patients (245 male, 216 female) with a mean age of 61,52 years were submitted to ventral incisional hernia repair with a Chevrel technique. The mean operatory time was 95.29 min (±50.48) and in 72 patients (15.61%) human fibrin glue was vaporized under the mesh using a spray device. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 5 days and all drain tubes were removed after 7.1 days as mean (±4.3). No intraoperative mortality nor postoperative mortality was reported. In our experience the Chevrel technique for ventral incisional hernia show a recurrence rate (3.2%). Parietal complications observed were seroma in 7.1% of patients, hematoma in 4.7%, localized skin necrosis in 5.2%, surgical site infection in 6.7%, data comparable with the results reported in the other studies. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the objections to the Chevrel procedure focus on the parietal complications and risk of infection. Chevrel procedure cannot be considered an obsolete intervention, in our series, results were very satisfactory in both immediate and late follow-up; moreover this technique is safe and easy to perform.

Urgent cholecystectomy in patient with left-sided gallbladder Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Sinistroposition of the gallbladder, or true left-sided gallbladder (LSG) without situs viscerum inversus, is a rare congenital anatomical variant where the gallbladder is located to the left of round/falciform ligament. It can be associated with anomalies of the biliary tree, portal system and hepatic vascularization. The surgical management of a LSG could be challenging even for an experienced operator, being usually an incidental intraoperative finding. CASE REPORT: A 72 years old woman was admitted to our emergency department because of acute cholecystitis. There were no pre-operative indications of sinistroposition of the gallbladder and its aberrant position was discovered during the explorative laparoscopy; because of the unusual anatomy and chronic flogosis, the laparoscopic approach was converted to open surgery. The patient underwent a successful intervention and was discharged after 4 days without complications. Her family history revealed a daughter with biliary atresia. DISCUSSION: LSG could remain undetected at preoperative imaging, but today, with advances in diagnostic imaging, the report of this condition has increased. Several hypothesis suggest the presence of an underlying embriologic mechanism for LSG and its associated anomalies, but its etiology is still unknown. The association with the daughter's biliary atresia makes reasonable a possible genetic correlation with this condition. CONCLUSIONS: In case of LSG, laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be feasible and safe, but with an increased risk of injury to the major biliary structures, mostly in case of severe and chronic inflammation of the gallbladder. Surgeons have to know this variant because of its associated hepatic anomalies. KEY WORDS: Cholecystectomy, Emergency Surgery, Left-Sided-Gallbladder.

A minimally invasive approach with a 3d imaging system for the treatment of esophageal perforation due to Boerhaave syndrome.

Boerhaave's syndrome is a rare life-threatening condition that requires urgent surgical management. There are various methods of managing it, with the main principles of limiting sepsis, draining the area and maintaining nutrition. Although the gold standard is open thoracotomy and/or laparotomy, mostly in patients with sepsis, we present a case of a 53-year-old man treated with a combination of laparoscopic suture (3D imaging system) of the oesophageal perforation site, decompressive percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy. We conclude that this approach is a safe and a viable option in the management of Boerhaave syndrome in a septic patient presenting early. KEY WORDS: Boerhaave's syndrome, Laparoscopy, Minimally invasive surgery, Oesophageal Rupture, Surgery, 3D-laparoscopy.