Diagnostic pathways in acute appendicitis: Clinical score plus ultrasound outperform CT scan or upfront surgery, especially in doubtful cases.

BACKGROUND: Controversies remain on the diagnostic strategy in suspected AA, considering the different settings worldwide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational international multicentric study including patients operated for suspected AA with a definitive histopathological analysis was conducted. Three groups were analyzed: (1) No radiology; (2) Ultrasound, and (3) Computed tomography. The aim was to analyze the performance of three diagnostic schemes. RESULTS: Three thousand and one hundred twenty three patients were enrolled; 899 in the no radiology group, 1490 in the US group, and 734 in the CT group. The sex ratio was in favor of males (p < 0.001). The mean age was lower in the no radiology group (24 years) compared to 28 and 38 years in US and CT-scan groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Overall, the negative appendectomy rate 3.8%: no radiology group (5.1%) versus US (2.9%) and CT-scan (4.1%) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity analysis showed the best balance in clinical evaluation + score + US. These data reach the best results in those patients with an equivocal Alvarado score (4-6). Inverse probability weighting (IPW), showed as the use of ultrasound, is significantly associated with an increased probability of formulating the correct diagnosis (p 0.004). In the case of a CT scan, this association appears weaker (p 0.08). CONCLUSION: The association of clinical scores and ultrasound seems the best strategy to reach a correct preoperative diagnosis in patients with clinical suspicion of AA, even in those population subgroups where the clinical score may have an equivocal result. This strategy can be especially useful in low-resource settings worldwide. CT-scan association may improve the detection of patients who may potentially be submitted to conservative treatment.

Robotic, transanal, and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for locally advanced mid/low rectal cancer: European multicentre, propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the standard surgery for low/mid locally advanced rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to compare three minimally invasive surgical approaches for TME with primary anastomosis (laparoscopic TME, robotic TME, and transanal TME). METHODS: Records of patients undergoing laparoscopic TME, robotic TME, or transanal TME between 2013 and 2022 according to standardized techniques in expert centres contributing to the European MRI and Rectal Cancer Surgery III (EuMaRCS-III) database were analysed. Propensity score matching was applied to compare the three groups with respect to the complication rate (primary outcome), conversion rate, postoperative recovery, and survival. RESULTS: A total of 468 patients (mean(s.d.) age of 64.1(11) years) were included; 190 (40.6%) patients underwent laparoscopic TME, 141 (30.1%) patients underwent robotic TME, and 137 (29.3%) patients underwent transanal TME. Comparative analyses after propensity score matching demonstrated a higher rate of postoperative complications for laparoscopic TME compared with both robotic TME (OR 1.80, 95% c.i. 1.11-2.91) and transanal TME (OR 2.87, 95% c.i. 1.72-4.80). Robotic TME was associated with a lower rate of grade A anastomotic leakage (2%) compared with both laparoscopic TME (8.8%) and transanal TME (8.1%) (P = 0.031). Robotic TME (1.4%) and transanal TME (0.7%) were both associated with a lower conversion rate to open surgery compared with laparoscopic TME (8.8%) (P < 0.001). Time to flatus and duration of hospital stay were shorter for patients treated with transanal TME (P = 0.003 and 0.001 respectively). There were no differences in operating time, intraoperative complications, blood loss, mortality, readmission, R0 resection, or survival. CONCLUSION: In this multicentre, retrospective, propensity score-matched, cohort study of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, newer minimally invasive approaches (robotic TME and transanal TME) demonstrated improved outcomes compared with laparoscopic TME.

Cirugía laparoscópica en el tratamiento de la invaginación entero-cólica en el adulto: a propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Laparoscopic surgery for adult enterocolic intussusception: Case report and literature review

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Neumatosis gastrointestinal masiva en paciente celiaco diagnosticado de síndrome de la arteria mesentérica superior / Massive gastrointestinal pneumatosis in a patient with celiac disease and superior mesenteric artery syndrome

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Divertículo de Meckel gigante torsionado. Una presentación inusual / Giant Meckel’s diverticulum torsioned. An unnusual presentation

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Linfoma MALT de vesícula biliar / MALT lymphoma of the gallbladder

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Abordaje laparoscópico del páncreas izquierdo / Laparoscopic approach of the left side of the páncreas

Introducción: La pancreatectomía izquierda laparoscópica (PIL) es una técnica quirúrgica cada vez más utilizada para el tratamiento de lesiones benignas y malignas del páncreas izquierdo. Analizamos los resultados de nuestra serie de PIL para el tratamiento de las lesiones primarias de cuerpo y cola pancreáticos. Métodos: Desde noviembre de 2011 a noviembre de 2017 se han intervenido 18 pacientes por lesiones primarias del páncreas realizándose una pancreatectomía distal laparoscópica. En todos los casos se dejó un drenaje intraabdominal y se siguieron las recomendaciones del International Study Group for Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF). Resultados: La mediana de edad fue de 66,5 años (RIQ 46-74). De las 18 pancreatectomías izquierdas, cuatro se realizaron con preservación esplénica, una de ellas una pancreatectomía central. Hubo dos conversiones. La mediana del tiempo operatorio fue de 247,5 min (RIQ242-275). La mediana de estancia hospitalaria fue de 7 días (RIQ6-8). A los 90 días se detectaron complicaciones en cinco pacientes: tres grado II, una grado III y una grado V según la clasificación modificada de Clavien-Dindo. Hubo una fístula pancreática grado B y cuatro pacientes reingresaron por colecciones peripancreáticas. La anatomía patológica evidenció malignidad en el 38,9% de los casos, presentando todos ellos márgenes negativos. Conclusiones: La PIL puede ser considerada técnica de elección para el tratamiento de las lesiones pancreáticas benignas y una alternativa al abordaje abierto para pacientes seleccionados diagnosticados de neoplasias malignas, siempre que la realicen cirujanos con experiencia en cirugía pancreática y laparoscópica avanzada

Introduction: Laparoscopic left-sided pancreatectomy (LLP) is an increasingly used surgical technique for the treatment of benign and malignant lesions of the left side of the pancreas. The results of LLP as a treatment for primary pancreatic lesions of the head and tail of the pancreas were evaluated. Methods: From November 2011 to November 2017, 18 patients underwent surgery for primary lesions of the pancreas by means of a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. An intra-abdominal drain tube was used in all cases, and the recommendations of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) were followed. Results: The mean age was 66.5 years (IQR 46-74). Among the 18 left pancreatectomies performed, four were with splenic preservation, and one was a central pancreatectomy. There were two conversions. The median surgical time was 247.5 minutes (IQR 242-275). The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days (IQR 6-8). After 90 days, complications were detected in five patients: three grade II, one grade III and one grade V according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification. There was one grade B pancreatic fistula, and four patients had to be readmitted to hospital because of peripancreatic collections. The anatomic pathology diagnosis was malignant neoplasm in 38.9% of cases, all of them with negative resection margins. Conclusions: LLP can be considered the technique of choice in the treatment of primary benign pancreatic lesions and an alternative to the open approach in selected patients diagnosed with malignant pancreatic lesions