Elective robotic partial colon and rectal resections: series of 170 consecutive robot procedures involving the Da Vinci Xi robot by a community general surgeon.

Robotic colorectal procedures may overcome the disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery. While the literature has multiple studies from specialized centers, experience from general surgeons is minimal. The purpose of this case series is to review elective partial colon and rectal resections by a general surgeon. 170 consecutive elective partial colon and rectal resections were reviewed. The cases were analyzed by type of procedure and total cases. The outcomes analyzed were procedure time, conversion rate, length of stay, complications, anastomotic leak, and node retrieval in the cancer cases. There were 71 right colon resections, 13 left colon resections, 44 sigmoid colon resection sand 42 low anterior resections performed. The mean length of procedure was 149 min. The conversion rate was 2.4%. The mean length of stay was 3.5 days. The percentage of cases one or more complications was 8.2%. There were 3 anastomotic leaks out of 159 anastomoses (1.9%). The mean lymph node retrieval was 28.4 for the 96 cancer cases. Robot partial colon and rectal resections on the Da Vinci Xi robot can be completed safely and efficiently by a community general surgeon. Prospective studies are needed to demonstrate reproducibility by community surgeons performing robot colon resections.

Benign mesothelial mesenteric cyst: case report and literature review.

A rare case of a benign mesothelial cyst arising from the mesentery of the descending colon is presented. A 73 year old female presented with an asymptomatic mesenteric cyst on CT scan. Colonoscopy revealed extrinsic compression of the descending colon. Surgical resection of the cyst necessitated partial colon resection due to the adherent nature of the cyst to the colon and its mesentery. The details of the case are presented as well as a brief review of the relevant literature.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for treatment of biliary dyskinesia is safe and effective in the pediatric population.

Experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia in children remains limited. The aim of this study was to examine the results of a single institution's experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the treatment biliary dyskinesia in the pediatric population. Medical records were reviewed on all patients younger than age 18 who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our institution from July 2004 to December 2006. Patients undergoing surgery for biliary dyskinesia, as evidenced by a preoperative gallbladder ejection fraction of 40 per cent or less, comprised the study group. Of the 51 pediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomies, 30 (58.8%) were performed for biliary dyskinesia. The patients' ages ranged from 7 to 17 (mean, 12.67 years; SD, 2.75). Symptoms consisted of chronic right upper quadrant pain (96.67%), nausea/vomiting (73.33%), back pain (30.0%), weight loss (13.33%), and a history of pancreatitis (6.66%). The amount of time between onset of symptoms and surgery was as follows: 1 to 3 months (34.62%), 4 to 6 months (30.77%), 7 to 12 months (7.69%), and greater than 1 year (26.92%). Gallbladder ejection fraction ranged from 1 to 36 per cent (mean, 14.7%). Seven of the 30 (26.67%) underwent endoscopic evaluation as part of their preoperative workup (six upper endoscopy, one colonoscopy), all of which were noncontributory. Pathology revealed chronic cholecystitis in 26 of 30 (93.3%), no abnormalities in three of 30 (10.0%), and unexpected cholelithiasis in one of 30 (3.33%). No perioperative complications were encountered. Twenty-nine of the 30 patients were available for follow up and all but one reported relief of symptoms (96.55%). This study supports the use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a safe and effective treatment for biliary dyskinesia in the pediatric population. The success rate in our study was substantially higher than that reported in previous series. Routine preoperative endoscopy was not used and was reserved for investigation of ambiguous or unrelated complaints.

Factors affecting perioperative mortality and wound-related complications following major lower extremity amputations.

Major lower extremity amputations continue to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, yet few recent large series have evaluated factors associated with perioperative mortality and wound complications. The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting perioperative mortality and wound-related complications following major lower extremity amputation. A retrospective review was conducted of all adult patients who underwent nontraumatic major lower extremity amputations over a 5-year period at a single tertiary-care center in southern West Virginia. Demographic and clinical data, perioperative data, and outcomes were collected and analyzed to identify any relationship with perioperative mortality, as well as wound complications and early revisions (within 90 days) to a more proximal level. Variables were examined using chi-squared, two-tailed t-tests, and logistic regression. Three hundred eighty patients (61% male) underwent 412 major lower extremity amputations during 1999-2003. The initial level of amputation included 230 below-knee (BKA), 149 above-knee (AKA), and one hip disarticulation. Perioperative mortality was 15.5% (n = 59). From a regression model, age, albumin level, AKA, and lack of a previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) were independently related to mortality. Patients who did not have a previous CABG were nearly three times more likely to die than those who did (p = 0.038). Overall early wound complications were noted in 13.4% (n = 51). Four factors were independently related to experiencing a 90-day wound complication: BKA, community (rather than care facility) living, type of anesthesia, and preoperative hematocrit >30%. Major lower extremity amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease continues to be associated with considerable perioperative morbidity and mortality. Even though the surgical procedure itself may not be challenging from a technical standpoint, underlying medical conditions put this group at high risk for perioperative death. Wound-healing problems are frequently encountered and must be minimized to facilitate early mobilization and hospital discharge.

A rare case of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by Meckel's diverticulum in a 53-year-old man.

A 53-year-old man with a history of lung cancer mestastic to the brain and pelvis presented with hypotension and massive GI bleeding. He had no past history of gastrointestinal disease or bleeding. The patient was found to have an unusual focal source of bleeding--a large ulcerated Meckel's diverticulum with acute hemorrhage. Meckel's diverticulum is the etiology of most gastrointestinal bleeding episodes in the pediatric population; however, bleeding from a Meckel's diverticulum in an adult is rare and only three other cases have been reported. We present this case report and a literature review.

Prospective study of carotid endarterectomy with modified polytetrafluoroethylene (ACUSEAL) patching: early and late results.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) with standard polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patching have been shown to have results comparable with those of autogenous vein patching; however, prolonged bleeding through needle holes in PTFE is a commonly recognized problem. This is the first study of CEA using a new hemostatic modified PTFE patch (GORE-TEX) analyzing the early and late outcomes. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive CEAs were entered into this protocol. All patients had an immediate postoperative carotid duplex ultrasound scan that was repeated at 1 month and every 6 to 12 months thereafter. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the stroke-free survival and the risk of restenosis. The mean follow-up was 21 months (range, 1 to 48 months). RESULTS: The perioperative stroke rate was 1.5% (1% ipsilateral and 0.5% contralateral, two minor strokes and one major stroke) with no perioperative mortality or perioperative carotid thrombosis. The incidence of perioperative transient ischemic attacks was 3.5% (2.5% ipsilateral and 1% contralateral). The mean hemostasis time after completion of the patching was 3 minutes, in contrast to 14 minutes for conventional PTFE (in a previous study). The rates of freedom from ipsilateral strokes at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years were 99%, 99%, 99%, and 99%, respectively. The cumulative stroke-free survival rates at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years were 98%, 96%, 93%, and 93%, respectively. The rates of freedom from > or =70% restenosis at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years were 97%, 97%, 94%, and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CEAs with a new modified PTFE patch are safe, have low perioperative stroke rates, are durable, and have an acceptable hemostasis time.

TrapEase inferior vena cava filter placement: use of the subclavian vein.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the safety and technical success of TrapEase inferior vena cava filter placement via the subclavian vein. As of yet, no reports in the literature have specifically investigated the use of the subclavian vein as a route for deploying TrapEase vena cava filters. Retrospective chart review was conducted of 135 patients with attempted TrapEase inferior vena cava filter placement over a 2-year period. In a majority of cases, the choice of subclavian vein approach was based primarily on surgeon preference. Other circumstances for subclavian vein deployment included cervical immobilization secondary to trauma, desire for concomitant placement of a subclavian long-term central venous access catheter, and patient body habitus limiting exposure to the internal jugular vein. One hundred and thirty-five filters were placed over this 2-year period. The internal jugular vein approach was used in 56 patients, the femoral vein approach in 39 patients, and the subclavian vein approach in 40 patients. Thirty-nine of the 40 TrapEase filter placements using the subclavian vein were successful. Twenty-six were deployed through the right subclavian vein and 14 through the left subclavian vein. The single failed subclavian deployment was due to the inability to pass the guidewire adequately into the inferior vena cava after successful cannulation of the right subclavian vein. The average deployment time for subclavian vein placement was 26 minutes when TrapEase filter placement was the only procedure performed. No insertional complications were encountered, specifically no pneumothoraces confirmed by chest radiography or fluoroscopy. The subclavian vein provides an alternative site of access for the TrapEase inferior vena cava filter. This route is comparable to other alternative methods evaluated both in average deployment time and complication occurrence. Furthermore, the subclavian vein route is valuable in patients with limited central access and where combined long-term central venous catheter placement using the subclavian vein is desirable.

Meckel diverticulum: ten-year experience in adults.

OBJECTIVES: Meckel diverticulum, a congenital gastrointestinal anomaly, is well studied in pediatrics, but less so in the adult population. At the Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC), in addition to the removal of Meckel diverticula in symptomatic patients, diverticula are commonly removed when found incidentally during other procedures. We present our experience over the past ten years with this condition, unusual in the adult population. METHODS: From 1992 to 2002 at the Charleston Area Medical Center, Meckel diverticula were removed from 47 patients older than 18 years of age. We reviewed the age, sex, indication for removal, pathologic findings, and perioperative complications of these cases. RESULTS: Diverticula were removed most often from female patients (31 female, 66%; 16 male, 34%). The removal of the diverticulum was incidental in 35 patients (74.5%) and symptomatic in 12 (25.5% percent). Symptomatic patients presented with: obstruction (n = 4), acute bleeding (n = 1) and diverticulitis (n = 7). Female patients were significantly less likely than male patients to be symptomatic (4 of 31, 13% among females, and 8 of 16, 50% among males; P < 0.05). Heterotopic mucosa was identified in six patients, two of whom were symptomatic at the time of removal. Gastric mucosa was found in all six of the diverticula with ectopic mucosa, although one of the six had a mixed gastric and pancreatic cell population. One asymptomatic patient had a malignancy identified as a 1.5 cm carcinoid with no evidence of metastatic disease. An adenomyoma was found incidentally in one patient upon pathologic evaluation. Hospital complications that could possibly be attributed to removal of diverticula included two wound infections and two anastomotic leaks requiring exploration (8.5% morbidity). Complications were experienced by two asymptomatic females, one asymptomatic male, and a symptomatic male. There were no mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Meckel diverticulum is found infrequently in the adult population. Adults rarely become symptomatic, but symptoms that do arise are associated with significant morbidity. Complications directly attributable to diverticulum removal are uncommon; however, those that do occur are often life threatening. Therefore, incidental removal of asymptomatic diverticula, particularly in women, is not recommended.