Two plus one port laparoscopic assisted continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis insertion modified technique: a case series.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is one of the modalities for renal replacement therapy in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. There are various techniques and modifications, but there is no main reference for laparoscopic catheter insertion. One common complication related to CAPD is the malposition of the Tenckhoff catheter. In this study, the authors present a modified laparoscopic technique for insertion that can prevent malposition of the Tenckhoff catheter by using two plus one port. Material and method: A retrospective case series from the medical records at Semarang Tertiary Hospital was identified between 2017 and 2021. Demographic, clinical, intraoperative, and postoperative complication data were collected with a 1-year follow-up after the CAPD procedure. Results: This study included 49 patients with a mean age of 43.2±13.6 years, and diabetes was the main cause (51.02%). This modified technique showed no complications intraoperatively. The postoperative complications were found to include one case of hematoma (2.04%), eight cases of omental adhesion (16.3%), seven cases of exit-site infection (14.28%), and two cases of peritonitis (4.08%). Malposition of the Tenckhoff catheter was not found 1-year after the procedure. Conclusion: The two plus one port modified laparoscopic assisted CAPD technique could prevent malposition of the Teckhoff catheter because it is already fixated in the pelvic. A long-term follow-up of 5 years is necessary to know the long-term survival of the Tenckhoff catheter in the next study.

Risk stratification of 282 differentiated thyroid cancers found incidentally in 1369 total thyroidectomies according to the 2015 ATA guidelines; implications for management and treatment.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of incidental differentiated thyroid carcinoma in thyroid operations for a benign preoperative diagnosis, to identify the risk factors involved and to risk stratify the cancer patients according to the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines. Materials and methods The study was a retrospective review of all thyroidectomy operations performed in a single institution (January 2004 to January 2009). We excluded patients with a preoperative diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. Results Incidental differentiated thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in 282/1369 patients (21%). The incidental group had a significantly higher number of males (19% vs 14%, P = 0.033) and a higher number of patients with histopathological evidence of thyroiditis (35% vs 25%, P = 0.004). There was a higher number of lymph nodes present in the incidental group but numbers did not reach statistical significance (17% vs 13%, P = 0.079). There were 270 cases in the ATA low-risk group (96%) and 12 cases in the ATA intermediate-risk group (4%). Patients with an ATA intermediate risk had a statistically higher number of capsule invasion, extrathyroidal extension and angioinvasion (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Overall, 22% of patients with an incidental differentiated thyroid carcinoma should be considered for radioactive iodine 131I treatment. 29 of the 191 patients in American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I should be considered for radioactive iodine treatment (15%). Conclusions Males and patients with thyroiditis are at a higher risk for an incidental differentiated thyroid carcinoma. One of every five of patients diagnosed with cancer will need radioactive iodine treatment, even some patients with stage I disease.

Is preservation of the adrenal vein mandatory in laparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adrenal tissue-sparing or partial adrenalectomy evolved initially for patients with bilateral synchronous adrenal surgical pathology to preserve vital adrenal volume. In the laparoscopic era, the exact criteria for performing such procedures laparoscopically have yet to be defined. Controversy exists regarding the importance of preserving the adrenal vein, main or accessory. The aim of this retrospective study was to present our short series of laparoscopic tissue-sparing adrenalectomies with vein preservation. Our main goal is not to support partial adrenalectomy as an alternative to total (this is already advocated by many surgeons) but to emphasize the vein-preserving technique. METHODS: Seven patients with peripherally located either aldosterone-producing adenomas (4 cases) or myelolipomas (4 cases) underwent laparoscopic lateral partial adrenalectomy. One patient harbored an aldosterone-producing adenoma and a myelolipoma as well. The main adrenal vein was identified and preserved in 6 patients and the accessory vein in one. RESULTS: No conversion to open adrenalectomy was necessary, and no perioperative morbidity or mortality occurred. Three adenoma patients are normotensive 44, 23, and 20 months postoperatively, while the fourth one's pressure is refractory. CONCLUSIONS: Surprisingly, total adrenalectomies preceded the partial ones, which is controversial compared with other procedures. Laparoscopic lateral partial adrenalectomy is a technically challenging tissue-sparing operation. Meticulous dissection allows preservation of the middle artery and main or accessory vein resulting in a functioning adrenal stump.

Feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large pheochromocytomas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The majority of surgeons consider large and potentially malignant pheochromocytomas an absolute contraindication for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risks and outcomes of LA in patients with this anomaly. METHODS: Five patients (2 males, 3 females) with large (>6 cm) pheochromocytomas were selected. Preoperative investigation demonstrated no evidence of invasive carcinoma. All patients received alpha-blocker preparation for at least 20 days. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy via a lateral transperitoneal approach was performed in all cases. RESULTS: Patient's median age was 48 years, and the median tumor size was 10.8 cm. No capsular disruption and no hypertensive crises occurred during the operation. The median operating time was 148 minutes and blood loss was <150 mL. Conversion to open adrenalectomy occurred in 2 patients owing to intraoperative evidence of carcinoma. No postoperative morbidity or mortality occurred. All patients are disease free after a median follow-up of 13 months. CONCLUSIONS: In experienced hands, LA can be proposed for large and potentially malignant pheochromocytomas. Conversion to open adrenalectomy is mandatory if local invasion, capsular disruption, or technical difficulties are observed during the operation.

Expulsion of the gastrointestinal cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta by tolerant rats: evidence for mediation by a Th2 type immune enhanced goblet cell hyperplasia, increased mucin production and secretion.

The processes underlying expulsion of Hymenolepis diminuta in rats are not known. Expression levels of mRNAs of several cytokines revealed a Th2 response that differed between worm infection levels. IL-4 protein levels decreased while IL-13 levels increased in a 50-worm infection by 30 dpi; the converse was seen with a five-worm infection. A negative correlation was found between IL-4 or IL-13 mRNA expression and worm biomass, between IL-13 protein levels and worm number or worm biomass, and between IL-4 protein levels and worm biomass in 50-worm infections. A negative correlation between IL-4 mRNA or protein expression and worm biomass was observed with five-worm infections. A strong correlation between Muc2 mRNA expression and decreased worm number or biomass in a 50-worm infection was observed. Muc2 protein, goblet cell numbers and mucin decreased in a 50-worm infection by 20 days post-infection. These changes were not seen with five-worm infections where worms are not expelled. The data show that rats infected with 50 H. diminuta mount a Th2 response leading to high levels of IL-13, increased goblet cell numbers and increased mucin2 production and release. The mucus traps the worms, which are progressively expelled from the small intestine.

A preliminary report on the use of relon mesh in the repair of eventrations with large parietal defects. An experimental study in rats.

This experimental study in rats was designed to investigate the tolerability and the mode of healing when commercial relon mesh is used in the repair of large abdominal-wall defects. A defect was created to simulate anatomical derangement of the abdominal wall and a surgical correction was performed using relon mesh. The mesh was implanted intraperitoneally in 18 Wistar albino rats. The animals were killed under anaesthesia 4, 6, 8, 12, 15 or 30 days later and the intra-abdominal viscera were examined macroscopically for adhesions and other evidence of inflammatory reactions. Skin healing usually occurred within 7-8 days of surgery. Microscopic studies were used to confirm the gross findings and showed that maturation of granulation tissue, fibrocyte invasion with encapsulation of the mesh and the appearance of newly formed vessels occurred 2 weeks after surgery. Within 4 weeks a strong layer of connective tissue was present. The relon mesh was tolerated well. These results indicate that the use of relon mesh may provide a cheap alternative means of repairing large abdominal-wall defects.