Ventral hernia repair with enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal technique after a massive weight loss by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) for obese patients is often associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications and hernia recurrences. Achieving preoperative weight loss is ideal before VHR; however, it is difficult to attain with medical treatment. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) offers the most effective and durable treatment for obesity. Therefore, massive weight loss occurring after MBS will improve the outcome of VHR. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old man (122.9 kg, BMI 39.1 kg/m2) presented to our hospital wishing to undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and VHR. Physical examination revealed a tennis ball-sized lower midline defect. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a hernia orifice 5 cm in width and 10 cm in height. As the hernia orifice was large, mesh reinforcement was essential. We planned for him to undergo VHR after massive weight loss was achieved by MBS. VHR was performed using the enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) technique after weight loss of 38 kg was achieved 9 months following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. His postoperative course was uneventful, and neither recurrence nor seroma was observed at 1 year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: eTEP repair of a ventral hernia after massive weight loss following MBS would appear to be the best combination treatment for obese patients with ventral hernias. However, long-term follow-up is necessary to establish its safety and efficacy.

Oncologic outcomes after laparoscopic versus open multivisceral resection for local advanced colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis.

Laparoscopic (lap) colectomies for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) often require resection of other organs. We systematically reviewed currently available literature on lap multi-visceral resection for CRC, with regard to short- and long-term oncological outcomes, and compared them with open procedures. We performed a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and PubMed from inception to November 30, 2020. The aim of this study was to synthesize short-term and oncological outcomes associated with laparoscopic versus open surgery. Pooled proportions and risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using an inverse variance method. We included six observational cohort studies published between 2012 and 2020 (lap procedures: n = 262; open procedures: n = 273). Collectively, they indicated that postoperative complications were significantly more common after open surgeries than lap surgeries (RR: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.72; P < 0.00001), but the two approaches did not significantly differ in positive resection margins (RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.38-1.50; P = 0.42), local recurrence (RR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.28-1.62; P = 0.37), or (based on two evaluable studies) 5-year OS (RR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.46-1.04; P = 0.08) or 5-year DFS (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.67-1.11) for T4b disease. In conclusion, laparoscopic and open multi-visceral resections for advanced CRC have comparable oncologic outcomes. Although a randomized study would be ideal for further research, no such studies are currently available.

A case of sigmoid colon volvulus with transanal ileus tube placement and Sharon's operation performed safely.

Although endoscopic repair is often performed for sigmoid colon volvulus without intestinal necrosis, surgery is the common choice of treatment due to recurrence. With no established treatment, Hartmann's operation or sigmoid colon resection is often performed. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with transanal ileus tube placement before surgery for sigmoid colon volvulus to prevent recurrence and achieve intestinal decompression followed by Sharon's operation to achieve one-stage anastomosis. The patient showed good postoperative course, with no recurrence 3 months after surgery. This report discusses the usefulness of the transanal ileus tube and Sharon's operation for sigmoid colon volvulus without intestinal necrosis along with a review of the literature.

Initial entry via the left upper quadrant with an optical trocar in laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery (BS) is not readily performed in Japan. To facilitate safe initial access to the abdominal cavity, we insert an optical viewing trocar at a unique site in the left upper quadrant (LUQ). Herein, we describe the technique, its advantages, and outcomes. MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Briefly, the optical trocar is inserted just below the left subcostal margin, 8 cm from the midline. On insertion, layers of the abdominal wall are visualized on the monitor. Depending on the angle of insertion, five, seven, or eight layers are seen. DISCUSSION: In assessing our initial entry technique, used in 21 obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, we found median insertion time to be 25 seconds. There were no related complications. In nearly all (20/21) patients, the abdominal wall was visualized as seven layers: subcutaneous fat, anterior rectus sheath, rectus abdominis muscle, posterior rectus sheath, transverse abdominis muscle, transversalis fascia, and peritoneum. Understanding the layers of the abdominal wall visualized during optical trocar insertion in the LUQ will provide for safe and rapid initial entry in patients undergoing laparoscopic BS and can further the widespread acceptance of laparoscopic BS.

Use of esophageal stent for the treatment of postoperative gastrointestinal-airway fistula after esophagectomy.

A gastrointestinal-airway fistula (GAF) after esophagectomy is a very serious postoperative complication that can cause severe respiratory complications due to digestive juice inflow. Generally, GAF is managed by invasive surgical treatment; less-invasive treatment has yet to be established. We performed esophageal stent placement (ESP) in three cases of GAF after esophagectomy. We assessed the usefulness of ESP through our clinical experience. All GAFs were successfully managed by ESP procedures. After the procedure, the stent positioning and expansion were appropriately evaluated by radiological assessments over time. The stent was removed after endoscopic confirmation of fistula closure on days 8, 23, and 71. Only one patient with a long-term indwelling stent developed a manageable secondary gastrobronchial fistula as a procedure-related complication. In conclusion, ESP was shown to be a less-invasive and effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of GAF.