Single-Site Robotic Cholecystectomy: The Timeline of Progress.

AIM: To investigate the learning curve and perioperative outcomes of single-site robotic cholecystectomy during the first 102 cases by a single surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed on the first 102 cases of single-site robotic cholecystectomy. Patients were divided into five chronological groups based on the date of surgery, with 20 patients in each group except the 5th group which had 22 patients. The groups were compared by docking time, robotic dissection time, and overall surgery time. A P value of 0.05 was used as statistically significant. RESULTS: The female to male ratio was 2:1. The mean age was 51 years (18-87) and the mean BMI was 28.26 (18-41). Overall, 69 % of the patients underwent elective cholecystectomy and 31 % required urgent surgery. In all, 17 % of patients had previous abdominal surgeries. In total, 45 % of procedures were regarded as same day surgery. The total mean length of stay was 1.97 days (0-8). The mean operative time was 110 min (36-265), mean robotic console time 70 min (26-179), and mean docking time 9 min (1-26). The overall conversion rate was 3.9 % and the complication rate was 4 %. The docking time, robotic time, and average operative time were significantly different in the first group as compared to the remaining the five groups (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Single-site robotic cholecystectomy is safe in both elective and urgent conditions, and in patients with previous abdominal surgeries. It has a short learning curve.

Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting With Small Bowel Obstruction in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report.

Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) is a rare inflammatory disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the mesenteric adipose tissue. While SM can manifest with various gastrointestinal symptoms, its association with small bowel obstruction (SBO) is infrequent. We present a case of a 78-year-old male with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with acute abdominal pain and distention. The patient had multiple admissions with the same symptoms. A CT scan showed swirling of the proximal central mesentery, small bowel malrotation with volvulus, and high-grade mechanical obstruction of the proximal jejunum. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, with findings significant for multiple inflammatory nodules in the mesentery. These were causing adhesions between the bowel and mesentery, resulting in a volvulus of the bowel. One segment was resected, and subsequent histopathological examination revealed subserosal fibrosis and chronic inflammation. The clinical scenario was consistent with a diagnosis of SM. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing SBO in the presence of SM and SLE. Further research is needed to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and improve management techniques for this rare clinical condition.

Use of Indocyanine Green to Detect Intraoperative Staple-Line Leaks in Robotic Bariatric Surgery: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background Bariatric surgeries aid weight loss in patients with morbid obesity, yet staple-line leaks pose safety concerns. Multiple methods are used to help identify these links. Intraluminal indocyanine green (ICG) has been shown to be useful in other applications, and its use in robotic bariatric surgeries is underexplored. Objective The primary objective of this research project was to demonstrate the usage of intraluminal ICG in detecting staple-line leaks during robotic sleeve gastrectomy and robotic gastric bypass. Settings The research was conducted at Bronxcare Health System between June 2022 and June 2023. Methods We studied 150 consecutive participants undergoing robotic sleeve gastrectomy or robotic gastric bypass. Intraluminal ICG was used in each case in order to identify leaks. Data on comorbidities, detected intraoperative leaks, and detected postoperative leaks were collected. Results Out of the 150 patients who underwent robotic bariatric surgeries (139 for sleeve gastrectomy and 11 for gastric bypass), four cases (two for each procedure) were identified with intraoperative leaks using ICG, resulting in an overall 2.66% incidence rate. In those four patients with intraoperative leaks, reinforcing sutures and a drain were placed. Following the surgeries, none of the patients had radiologic or clinical leaks identified. Conclusions Intraluminal ICG presents a novel approach for detecting staple-line leaks in robotic bariatric surgery. Future studies can be done to look at a larger series of patients and compare leak detection rates between ICG and other methods.

The effect of insurance status on outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Part of the ongoing healthcare debate is the care of uninsured patients. A common theory is that without regular outpatient care, these patients present to the hospital in the late stages of disease and therefore have worse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate any differences in outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomies between insured and uninsured patients. METHODS: We reviewed all laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) done in our institution between 2006 and 2009. Patients were divided into two groups: insured patients (IP) and uninsured patients (UIP). Outcomes, including conversion and complication rates and postoperative length of stay (LOS), were collected and statistically analyzed using χ(2) and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: There were 1,090 LCs done during the study period: 944 patients (86.6 %) were insured (IP) and 146 (13.4 %) were uninsured (UIP). In the IP group there were 63/944 (6.7 %) conversions and 59/944 (6.3 %) complications, while in the UIP group there were 15/146 (10.3 %) conversions and 12/146 (8.2 %) complications. There was no statistically significant difference in either of these categories. Mean (±SD) LOS was 1.73 ± 4.34 days for the IP group and 2.72 ± 4.35 days for the UIP group (p = 0.010, ANOVA). Uninsured patients were much more likely to have emergency surgery (99.3 % vs. 47.9 %, p < 0.001, χ(2)). CONCLUSIONS: In our study group, being uninsured did not correlate with having a higher rate of conversion or complications. However, more uninsured patients had their surgery done emergently, and this led to significantly longer lengths of stay. Further research is necessary to study the cost impact of these findings and to see whether insuring these patients can lead to changes in their outcomes.

Fatal Acute Airway Obstruction During Bronchoscopy-Guided Percutaneous Tracheostomy: An Analysis of a New Complication.

Percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) is a commonly performed procedure in ICUs as a safe and cost-effective alternative to surgical tracheostomy (ST). Bronchoscopy is frequently used during PT for real-time confirmation of needle placement and tube positioning. We present a case of a 42-year-old female with a complex medical history who underwent PT and experienced acute airway loss due to endotracheal tube obstruction caused by accumulated secretions. To prevent such complications, vigilance regarding airway obstruction, cautious bronchoscope advancement, avoiding endotracheal tube puncture, and readiness to abort the procedure and replace the tube are crucial.

The impact of body mass index on outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard of care for gallstone disease. Some cases will be converted to open surgery and others will have complications, both leading to worse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased rates of conversion or complication. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 1,027 patients who underwent an attempted LC between January 2006 and December 2009 was performed. Patients were divided into five groups depending on their BMI: 18.5-24.9, 25-29.9, 30-34.9, 35-39.9, and ≥ 40. The primary endpoints were conversion rates, complication rates, and postoperative length of stay (LOS). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for worse outcomes. RESULTS: There were 211 (20.5%), 325 (31.6%), 268 (26.1%), 135 (13.1%), and 88 (8.6%) patients in the groups with BMI values of 18.5-24.9, 25-29.9, 30-34.9, 35-39.9, and ≥ 40, respectively. Seventy-three patients (7.1%) required conversion to open surgery, and 64 patients (6.2%) developed complications. The rate of conversion was similar amongst all the BMI groups (P = 0.366), as was the rate of complication (P = 0.483). Mean (± SD) postoperative LOS was 1.74 ± 3.87 days, and there was no difference between the BMI groups (P = 0.596). Male gender and emergent cholecystectomy were independent predictors of increased conversions and complications. Diabetes was a risk factor for conversion, whereas age >65 years was a risk factor for complications. CONCLUSIONS: Increased BMI was not associated with worse outcomes after LC. Compared with normal weight patients, obese and even morbidly obese patients have no increased risk of conversion to open surgery, nor is there an increased risk of perioperative complications. Obese and morbidly obese patients who require a cholecystectomy should be considered in the same category as normal weight patients, and LC should be the standard of care.

The degree of gallbladder wall thickness and its impact on outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold-standard procedure for management of symptomatic gallstone disease. Increased rates of conversion to an open procedure, increased postoperative complications, and longer lengths of stay are seen in thick-walled gallbladders. Previous studies have only evaluated gallbladder walls as being thick or not thick, without looking at the degree of thickness. We hypothesized that, the more severe the wall thickening, the greater the chance of conversions and complications, and the longer the lengths of stay. METHODS: All attempted laparoscopic cholecystectomies in our institution between 2006 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients undergoing cholecystectomy for reasons other than gallstones (e.g., polyps or cancer) and those without preoperative ultrasounds were excluded. Patients were divided into four groups based on the degree of gallbladder wall thickness: normal (1-2 mm), mildly thickened (3-4 mm), moderately thickened (5-6 mm), and severely thickened (7 mm and above). Outcomes were compared amongst the groups. RESULTS: 874 patients were included in the study. There were 68 conversions (7.8 %) and 58 complications (6.6 %). The incidence of conversions was 3.1, 5.1, 14.9, and 16.8 % in the four groups, respectively (p < 0.001, χ (2)), and the incidence of complications was 1.8, 6.7, 9.1, and 13.1 %, respectively (p = 0.001, χ (2)). The mean (± standard deviation, SD) length of stay in days was 1.09 ± 1.42, 1.83 ± 3.24, 2.54 ± 3.40 and 3.54 ± 4.61, respectively [p < 0.001, analysis of variance (ANOVA)]. CONCLUSIONS: A greater degree of gallbladder wall thickness is associated with an increased risk of conversion, increased postoperative complications, and longer lengths of stay. Classifying patients according to degree of gallbladder wall thickness gives more accurate assessment of the risk of surgery, as well as potential outcomes.

Cholecystocolonic fistula: two different presentations of this rare complication of gallstones.

Cholecystocolonic fistulas (CCF) are a rare but significant complication of biliary disease, frequently presenting as gallstone ileus. Although there is no one agreed-upon procedure, enterolithotomy appears to be the initial treatment of choice; with a subsequent cholecystectomy performed ~4-8 weeks later. Alternatively, a patient may undergo a single-stage procedure, at which time an enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy and fistula closure are performed. Herein, we describe two patients with chronic cholecystitis and subsequent development of CCF with differing presentations. We report the clinical, radiographic and intraoperative findings and discuss the surgical treatment options for each patient, respectively.

Small bowel perforation from a migrated biliary stent: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Bowel perforation from biliary stent migration is a serious potential complication of biliary stents, but fortunately has an incidence of less than 1%. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a 54-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of Human Immunodeficiency virus with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis and extensive past surgical history who presented with acute abdominal pain and local peritonitis. On further evaluation she was diagnosed with small bowel perforation secondary to migrated biliary stents and underwent exploratory laparotomy with therapeutic intervention. CONCLUSION: This case presentation reports on the unusual finding of two migrated biliary stents, with one causing perforation. In addition, we review the relevant literature on migrated stents.

Duodenal perforation in the pediatric population: two rare cases at a small community hospital.

Duodenal ulcer perforation is very uncommon in the pediatric population; hence, it is usually not considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in this age group. In our small community hospital, we had two rare cases of perforated peptic ulcer in the pediatric population within a short span of time. A 14-year-old male and a 13-year-old female child presented to the emergency room with acute abdominal pain. No other symptoms were reported and neither had any history of peptic ulcer disease. Abdominal CT showed pneumoperitoneum consistent with perforated hollow viscus. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy indicated perforated duodenal ulcer in both children. These cases illustrate that perforated peptic ulcers should be considered in children presenting with acute abdomen.

Accuracy of MRI in Diagnosing Appendicitis during Pregnancy.

Appendectomy for presumed appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency during pregnancy. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis carries risk for the fetus and mother. We sought to evaluate the accuracy of MRI in pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis. All pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis between January 2014 and April 2016 were included. MRI reports were categorized into positive, negative, and inconclusive groups. Diagnosis of appendicitis was based on pathology report. Fifty-two patients were included in the study. The MRI was positive in two, negative in 29, and inconclusive in 21 patients. Twelve patients had surgery, 11 of which had positive appendicitis on pathology. Both positive MRI patients had appendicitis. In the negative MRI group, 3 of 29 (10%) had appendicitis. In the inconclusive MRI group, 6 of 21 (29%) had appendicitis. A positive MRI result was very specific with a 100 per cent positive predictive value; however, the sensitivity was as low as 18 per cent (diagnosed only 2 of 11 cases). Although a positive MRI finding was reliable in making a decision to operate, a negative or inconclusive MRI was not. In patients with a high clinical suspicion of appendicitis, surgery should still be considered even without definitive positive MRI findings.

Pneumoperitoneum caused by tubo-ovarian abscess in an elderly patient.

Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract may present with abdominal pain and imaging demonstrating pneumoperitoneum. These findings usually require exploratory laparotomy for diagnosis and treatment. Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease presenting as an encapsulated inflammatory mass, but it can occasionally involve other pelvic organs. TOA is most commonly seen in females of reproductive age. Here we report a case of a 63-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Chest x rays and computed tomography scan revealed pneumoperitoneum. Emergent exploratory laparotomy was performed, and the findings were consistent with TOA and intact bowel. The patient recovered well after surgery with antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, while pneumoperitoneum is mostly caused by perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, other possibilities such as gynecological complications should be considered.

Realistic Survival Outcomes After Vasopressor Use in the Intensive Care Unit.

AIM: Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have significantly increased mortality rates. Frequently, clinicians are called upon to help families make decisions regarding aggressiveness of care. Having a realistic expectation of outcome is critical for these discussions. This article looked at survival and outcomes following initiation of vasopressors. METHODS: All patients admitted to the ICU between January and June 2011were included. Patients were classified into those who had been started on vasopressors (VP+) and those who had not (VP-). Outcomes of these groups including survival were calculated and compared. RESULTS: A total of 1023 patients were included: 169 in the VP+ group and 854 in the VP- group. The survival rate in the VP+ group was 29.6% compared to 92.0% in the VP- group. This was both clinically and statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients started on vasopressors in the ICU have very poor outcomes. Being able to quantify this accurately is important to clinicians having discussions with family members.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is safe and effective in patients with a BMI > or =60.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) has been shown to be safe and effective. There is little data on the outcomes in massively super-obese patients, with a body mass index (BMI) > or =60 kg/m2 (super-super-obese). The goal of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of LRYGBP in these patients, and compare these results to patients with a BMI <60. METHODS: 213 consecutive patients undergoing LRYGBP by a single surgeon at a university hospital were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: BMI <60 kg/m2 (n=167) and BMI > or =60 kg/m2 (n=46). The 2 groups were compared with regard to perioperative complications, and postoperative weight loss. RESULTS: Both groups had statistically similar complication rates. There were major complications in 8 patients (5%) in the lower BMI group and in 3 patients (7%) in the higher BMI group. There were minor complications in 9 patients (5%) in the lower BMI group and in 4 patients (9%) in the higher BMI group. Mean percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was 64% at 1 year in the BMI <60 group and 53% in the BMI > or =60 group. CONCLUSION: LRYGBP can be performed safely and effectively in super-super-obese patients (BMI > or =60). Although these patients have less %EWL than lighter patients, they still end up with a good result. Therefore, LRYGBP should be considered a good surgical option even for patients with a BMI > or =60.

Carcinoma in situ in a 7 mm gallbladder polyp: Time to change current practice?

Detection of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder is increasing in conjunction with better imaging modalities. Accepted management of these lesions depends on their size and symptomatology. Polyps that are symptomatic and/or greater than 10 mm are generally removed, while smaller, asymptomatic polyps simply monitored. Here, a case of carcinoma-in-situ is presented in a 7 mm gallbladder polyp. A 25-year-old woman, who had undergone a routine cholecystectomy, was found to have an incidental 7 mm polyp containing carcinoma in situ. She had few to no risk factors to alert to her condition. There are few reported cases of cancer transformation in gallbladder polyps smaller than 10 mm reported in the literature. The overwhelming consensus, barring significant risk factors for cancer being present, is that such lesions should be monitored until they become symptomatic or develop signs suspicious for malignancy. In our patient's case this could have led to the possibility of missing a neoplastic lesion, which could then have gone on to develop invasive cancer. As gallbladder carcinoma is an aggressive cancer, this may have led to a tragic outcome.

Effect of Pain Medication Choice on Emergency Room Visits for Pain after Ambulatory Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Inadequate pain control after ambulatory surgery can lead to unexpected return visits to the hospital. The purpose of this study was to compare patients based on which medications they were prescribed and to see whether this affected the rate of return to the hospital. A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2009 and December 2013 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the pain medication prescribed after surgery: Opioids and nonopioids. Patients returning to the Emergency room (ER) within seven days were evaluated. If no complication or other diagnosis was identified, the patient was considered to have returned for inadequate pain control. The two groups were statistically compared with each other using Fisher's exact chi-squared test. A total of 749 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the study period: 180 (25.2%) were prescribed opioids, whereas, 560 (74.8%) were prescribed nonopioids. In the nonopioid group, 14 (1.9%) returned to the ER for pain, whereas no patient in the opioid group returned for pain. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.027). In conclusion, patients who were given opioid pain medications after ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy were less likely to return to the ER for pain. This implied that opioids were better at pain control and helped avoid the costs of unnecessary ER visits. Future research should be aimed at more direct measures of pain control, as well as the role of opioids after inpatient surgery.

Gallstone ileus with multiple stones: Where Rigler triad meets Bouveret's syndrome.

A 53-year-old man with multiple medical conditions presented to the emergency department with complaints of vomiting, anorexia and diffuse colicky abdominal pain for 3 d. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed radiographic findings consistent with Rigler triad seen in small proportion of patients with small bowel obstruction secondary to gallstone impaction. In addition there was a gastric outlet obstruction, consistent with Bouveret's syndrome. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy and enterotomy with multiple stones extracted. The patient had an uneventful post-surgical clinical course and was discharged home.

Laparoscopic vs open partial colectomy in elderly patients: Insights from the American College of Surgeons - National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

AIM: To compare the outcomes between the laparoscopic and open approaches for partial colectomy in elderly patients aged 65 years and over using the American College of Surgeons - National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database. METHODS: The ACS NSQIP database for the years 2005-2011 was queried for all patients 65 years and above who underwent partial colectomy. 1:1 propensity score matching using the nearest- neighbor method was performed to ensure both groups had similar pre-operative comorbidities. Outcomes including post-operative complications, length of stay and mortality were compared between the laparoscopic and open groups. χ(2) and Fisher's exact test were used for discrete variables and Student's t-test for continuous variables. P < 0.05 was considered significant and odds ratios with 95%CI were reported when applicable. RESULTS: The total number of patients in the ACS NSQIP database of the years 2005-2011 was 1777035. We identified 27604 elderly patients who underwent partial colectomy with complete data sets. 12009 (43%) of the cases were done laparoscopically and 15595 (57%) were done with open. After propensity score matching, there were 11008 patients each in the laparoscopic (LC) and open colectomy (OC) cohorts. The laparoscopic approach had lower post-operative complications (LC 15.2%, OC 23.8%, P < 0.001), shorter length of stay (LC 6.61 d, OC 9.62 d, P < 0.001) and lower mortality (LC 1.6%, OC 2.9%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Even after propensity score matching, elderly patients in the ACS NSQIP database having a laparoscopic partial colectomy had better outcomes than those having open colectomies. In the absence of specific contraindications, elderly patients requiring a partial colectomy should be offered the laparoscopic approach.

Laparoscopic removal of migrated intrauterine device embedded in intestine.

INTRODUCTION: The intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular family planning method worldwide. Some of the complications associated with insertion of an IUD are well described in the literature. The frequency of IUD perforation is estimated to be between 0.05 and 13 per 1000 insertions. There are many reports of migrated intrauterine devices, but far fewer reports of IUDs which have penetrated into the small intestine. CASE DESCRIPTION: Herein we report a case of perforated intrauterine device embedded in the small intestine. By using a wound protector retraction device, and fashioning the anastomosis extra-corporeally, we were able to more easily perform this laparoscopically. This left the patient with a quicker recovery, and a better cosmetic result. DISCUSSION: IUD perforation into the peritoneal cavity is a known complication, and necessitates close follow-up. Most, if not all, should be removed at the time of diagnosis. In the majority of previously reported cases, removal was done through laparotomy. Even in cases where removal was attempted laparoscopically, many were later converted to laparotomy. Surgeons should be aware of different techniques, including using a wound protector retraction device, in order to facilitate laparoscopic removal.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: indications, technique, complications and management.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred route of feeding and nutritional support in patients with a functional gastrointestinal system who require long-term enteral nutrition. Besides its well-known advantages over parenteral nutrition, PEG offers superior access to the gastrointestinal system over surgical methods. Considering that nowadays PEG tube placement is one of the most common endoscopic procedures performed worldwide, knowing its indications and contraindications is of paramount importance in current medicine. PEG tubes are sometimes placed inappropriately in patients unable to tolerate adequate oral intake because of incorrect and unrealistic understanding of their indications and what they can accomplish. Broadly, the two main indications of PEG tube placement are enteral feeding and stomach decompression. On the other hand, distal enteral obstruction, severe uncorrectable coagulopathy and hemodynamic instability constitute the main absolute contraindications for PEG tube placement in hospitalized patients. Although generally considered to be a safe procedure, there is the potential for both minor and major complications. Awareness of these potential complications, as well as understanding routine aftercare of the catheter, can improve the quality of care for patients with a PEG tube. These complications can generally be classified into three major categories: endoscopic technical difficulties, PEG procedure-related complications and late complications associated with PEG tube use and wound care. In this review we describe a variety of minor and major tube-related complications as well as strategies for their management and avoidance. Different methods of percutaneous PEG tube placement into the stomach have been described in the literature with the "pull" technique being the most common method. In the last section of this review, the reader is presented with a brief discussion of these procedures, techniques and related issues. Despite the mentioned PEG tube placement complications, this procedure has gained worldwide popularity as a safe enteral access for nutrition in patients with a functional gastrointestinal system.