Background Obesity is a global epidemic. It influences surgical technique, ergonomics, safety, and outcomes. However, there is a paucity of evidence of obesity-related impact in posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA). This study compared perioperative outcomes of obese and non-obese participants undergoing PRA. Methodology This is a multi-center retrospective cohort study of elective PRA from March 2014 to December 2022. Patient demographics, surgical techniques, clinicopathological parameters, and outcomes, including overall complication rate, were analyzed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Seventy-five patients underwent a PRA, of which 97.3% were completed retroperitoneoscopically. The overall complication rate was (9.3%), and on subgroup analysis, the obese cohort had a lower percentage complication profile at 6.5%. Male participants comprised 52%, with a median age of 55 (IQR=19). The median BMI was 29.0 (IQR=8), of which 41% were obese, and 40% were overweight. Univariate analysis showed that being obese was not significantly associated with a higher complication rate (p=0.471). In addition, there was no significant increase in conversion (p=0.508), bleeding/transfusion (p=0.508), surgical site infection (SSI; p=1.000), incisional hernia (p=1.000), ICU or high dependency unit admission (p=0.292) and any-cause mortality (p=1.000). No sentinel deaths directly related to PRA were recorded. Procedure duration was longer in obese (117 mins) vs. non-obese participants (88.9 mins, p=0.022). However, there was no significant difference in the length-of-hospital stay (p=0.592). The cohort conversion rate was (2.7%), and tumor size was associated with a higher conversion rate (35.4 vs. 62.5mm, p=0.040). Conclusion Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy can be a safe procedure in obese populations, and obesity does not increase perioperative morbidity or mortality.
Campylobacter is the most common cause of diarrheal illness worldwide and is generally self-limiting. We present two cases of Campylobacter enterocolitis complicated by bowel ischemia in a 79-year-old male and a 53-year-old male, both presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea and elevated lactate and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. CT demonstrated common findings of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) and portal venous gas. Exploratory laparotomy performed on the former demonstrated extensive small bowel infarction that was noncompatible with life and he was palliated postoperatively. The latter improved clinically after resection of the ischemic section of the small bowel with primary stapled anastomosis and closure. Clinicians need to be aware of the potentially fatal complications of Campylobacter-associated enterocolitis and should maintain a high clinical index of suspicion so that early surgical intervention can be considered in this patient population.
Gastric trichobezoars are a result of trichophagia secondary to trichotillomania, and can result in severe complications such as perforation or intussusception. We present the case of a 19-year-old female with multiple points of intussusception secondary to a large gastric/small intestine trichobezoar and describe our approach to diagnosis and eventual removal of the bezoar.
