Acute small intestinal obstruction-an unusual complication of capsule endoscopy.

We report a case of endoscopic capsule impaction causing acute small intestinal obstruction in a patient with Crohn's disease (CD), having obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. A 57-year old female presented with features of acute small bowel obstruction 2 days after capsule endoscopy elsewhere for the evaluation of intermittent bleeding per rectum and iron deficiency anemia. Patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy with right hemicolectomy for the diseased ileocecal region which mimicked malignancy. The capsule was found to be impacted in the strictured lumen of the terminal ileum. Post operative histopathological examination revealed it to be Crohn's disease.

Laparoscopic repair of right sided bochdalek hernia - a case report.

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia in adults is a very rare clinical entity. A case of a 50-year-old female patient is reported, who presented with long history of intermittent breathlessness and right-sided thoracoabdominal pain. The hernia was managed laparoscopically. Contents were colon, omentum, and right kidney. It was successfully repaired using a polypropylene mesh.

Omental gangrene and porto-mesenteric thrombosis in a patient of protein C and protein s deficiency.

Omental gangrene is an infrequent cause of acute abdomen with unclear etiology. Hypercoagualable states like protein C or protein S deficiency have never been implicated in the etiology of omental gangrene. We present this case report of a patient having protein C and protein S deficiency presenting with omental gangrene and extensive porto mesenteric thrombosis.

Herbal enema: At the cost of colon.

Various colonic side-effects of herbal enema have been reported in literature ranging from mild abdominal discomfort to self-limiting haemorrhagic colitis. It rarely requires blood transfusion or subtotal colectomy. We report a 57-year-old male patient developing severe ileo-colitis with persistent massive rectal bleeding immediately after herbal enema administration for the treatment of chronic constipation and was resistant to conservative management. Patient was managed successfully with emergency total laparoscopic colectomy. Post-operative recovery of the patient was excellent.

An analysis of 1-3-year follow-up results of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: an Indian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become very popular nowadays among bariatric surgeons because of its surgical simplicity and good postoperative results. We present our experience on LSG as a single stage primary bariatric procedure for morbid obesity and its 1-3-year follow-up results. METHODS: Between March 2008 and March 2011, a total of 110 patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Two patients were excluded from the study and thus the prospectively maintained data of 108 patients were retrospectively reviewed and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 39.3 ± 11.1 years, mean body mass index was 44.5 ± 6.8, mean excess body weight was 54.1 ± 16.3 kg, and the mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 3.1 ± 0.57. The mean operative time for the LSG procedure was 64.8 ± 10.6 min. The minimum follow-up duration was 6 months and maximum of 36 months. The mean postoperative percent excess body weight loss achieved was 67.5 ± 13.0 at 1 year, 71.1 ± 13.8 at 2 years, and 66.09 ± 14.3 at 3 years. At the end of 3 years, there was 83.3% resolution in diabetes, 85.7% resolution in hypertension, and 85.71% resolution in dyslipidemia. There were no reports of postoperative hemorrhage, gastric leak, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, delayed gastric tube stricture, and operative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: LSG is a safe and effective bariatric procedure with low perioperative complications. Before it is considered as a single stage primary procedure, a long-term prospective comparative study with other bariatric procedures is required.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: a comparative study of transabdominal preperitoneal versus intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is evolving rapidly worldwide to become a standard procedure. The purpose of this study was to compare the benefits, effectiveness, and postoperative outcome of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair of ventral hernia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospectively collected data of 279 patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair between January 2005 and December 2009, of whom 68 underwent TAPP and 211 underwent IPOM repair, were retrospectively reviewed. For each patient demographic, preoperative and postoperative data were studied. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t-test, Fisher exact test, and chi-square test. RESULTS: The study included a total of 279 patients, of whom 68 underwent TAPP procedure and 211 underwent IPOM procedure. Both the groups were comparable in age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, mean fascial defect size, and mean size of mesh. Although the operating time was longer in TAPP group than IPOM group of patients, the overall cost of surgery in IPOM group ($752.3±355.7) was much higher than TAPP group ($903.6±28.0) of patients. Seroma formation was more common in IPOM group than TAPP group (8.5% versus 5.8%). There were 2 (2.9%) recurrences in TAPP group and 7 (3.3%) in IPOM group of patients. Mean postoperative hospital stay (1.5±0.6 versus 1.4±0.7 days, P=.35) and mean follow-up (22.7±13.4 versus 22.5±11.9 months, P=.90) were similar in both groups of patients. CONCLUSION: Besides the cost-effectiveness of TAPP procedure, it reduces the risk of complication related to intra-abdominal position of mesh and fixating devices. Before we label the TAPP repair of ventral hernia as the first choice, a comparative multicentric prospective trial with IPOM repair is warranted.

Sliding inguinal hernias: scope of laparoscopic repair.

BACKGROUND: Sliding hernias are an uncommon type of inguinal hernia. Very little is published in the literature regarding the outcome of laparoscopic repair of sliding hernia. The present series evaluates the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic repair of these hernias. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of patients with sliding inguinal hernia undergoing laparoscopic repair from January 2003 to July 2010 was done. The patient demographics, clinical presentations, operative details, and complications were studied. Related literature was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 1136 patients underwent laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia, of which 54 patients had sliding inguinal hernia (4.7%). Forty-one patients (76%) had left-sided hernia and 13 patients (24%) had right-sided hernias. Mean age of presentation was 63.5 years. Thirty-five patients (64.8%) presented as complicated hernias (27 irreducible, 7 obstructed, and 1 strangulated). Thirty-nine patients had sigmoid colon, 9 patients had cecum, 3 patients had ascending colon, and 3 patients had urinary bladder as the sliding component. Eight patients underwent Lichtenstein repair, 27 patients transabdominal preperitoneal repair, and 19 patients total extraperitoneal repair. Mean operating time of laparoscopic repair was 53 minutes (40-105 minutes). Five procedures (10.8%) were converted to open repair. Overall morbidity was 44.4%. Median hospital stay was 1.5 days (1-14 days). There were no recurrences in up to 7 years follow-up. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of sliding inguinal hernia is feasible and safe with good outcome. Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal approach is the preferable method.

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of ventral hernia: a step towards physiological repair.

The laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with preperitoneal placement of mesh minimizes the complications related to the intraperitoneal position of mesh and fixating devices. It allows safe use of conventional and less expensive polypropylene mesh. The prospectively collected data of 68 patients who underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal mesh hernioplasty, for different types of ventral hernias between January 2005 and December 2009 was retrospectively reviewed. The study included 68 patients, 16 males and 52 females with a mean age 51.1 ± 11.1 years (range 23-74 years). Most of the hernias (67.6%) were in the midline position. The mean size of the defect was 30.8 ± 24.4 cm2 (range, 4-144 cm2) and the mean mesh size was 237.8 ± 66.8 cm2 (range, 144-484 cm2). The mean operating time was 96.7 ± 16.7 min (range 70-150 min). All repairs were done with polypropylene mesh. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.5 ± 0.6 days (range, 1-4 days). Nineteen patients (27.9%) suffered from postoperative complications. Four patients (5.8%) were detected to have seroma formation. There were two recurrences (2.9%). The mean follow up was 22.7 ± 13.4 months (range, 6-48 months). The laparoscopic preperitoneal ventral hernia repair with polypropylene mesh is cheaper and has acceptable postoperative outcomes. Peritoneal coverage of the mesh not only acts as a barrier between mesh and bowel and thereby prevents adhesions, it also provides an additional security of fixation. This is a safe and feasible option of ventral hernia repair in expert hands. However, for proper validation of these conclusions a long term prospective clinical trial is required.

Laparoscopic splenectomy in patients of ß thalassemia: Our experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy has become a standard treatment of various haematological disorders, but its feasibility in the setting of ß thalassemia has not been established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients of ß thalassemia underwent laparoscopic splenectomy between January 2006 and December 2008. "Anterior approach" method was practiced in all cases, with early ligation of splenic artery and delayed ligation of splenic vein. Specimen was extracted piecemeal via the umbilical port in initial 12 cases, while in 37 cases the specimen was extracted through a 7-8-cm pfannenstiel incision. Twelve patients of ß thalassemia having grade IV splenomegaly with hepatomegaly were electively operated by conventional open method. RESULTS: The procedure was completed in 49 patients. One (2%) patient required conversion to open surgery. Mean operating time in the first 12 cases was 151 minutes (110-210 minutes), while in 37 cases of splenectomy completed laparoscopically it was 124 minutes (80-190 minutes) [P < 0.05]. Mean intra-operative blood loss was 73.8 ml (30-520 ml). No major intra-operative complications occurred. No patient required per-operative blood transfusion. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.7 days (2-11 days). Mean preoperative blood transfusion requirement was 11.98 units per patient per year, while mean postoperative blood transfusion requirement was 4.04 units [P< 0.05]. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic splenectomy is feasible and safe even in patients of ß thalassemia with massive splenomegaly. Removal of specimen via a pfannenstiel incision significantly saves time, carries low morbidity and is a cosmetically acceptable alternative.

Omental torsion and infarction: a diagnostic dilemma and its laparoscopic management.

Vascular disturbances of the omentum, described variously as acute epiploitis, primary omental torsion, idiopathic segmental infarction, etc., is an infrequent cause of acute abdomen, often mimicking acute appendicitis, cholecystitis, or pancreatitis. In this retrospective article, we share our experiences about the incidence, diagnostic dilemma, and management of patients with omental torsion or infarction and discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic role of laparoscopy. From January 2003 to December 2008, 9 patients (7 men and 2 women; median age, 26 years; range, 5-71) with omental gangrene, including omental torsion and infarction, were operated on at our institute. Of these, 8 patients had a preoperative provisional diagnosis of acute appendicitis and 1 patient of acute calculus cholecystitis. During this period, a total of 1502 patients were diagnosed and operated on laparoscopically for acute appendicitis and acute cholecystitis. Of them, 2 patients were intraoperatively diagnosed to have omental torsion and 7 patients had segmental omental infarction. Incidences of omental gangrene presenting as acute cholecystitis and acute appendicitis were 0.11 and 1.1%, respectively. The suspected preoperative pathology was grossly normal, and histopathology of the same was noncontributory to the cause of acute abdomen. All 9 cases were managed laparoscopically, with the gangrenous omentum excised along with appendectomy in 8 patients and cholecystectomy in 1 patient. In conclusion, inspection of the omentum should be a routine part of exploration in suspected acute appendicitis.

Laparoscopic repair of spigelian hernia: our experience.

BACKGROUND: Spigelian hernias are rare abdominal wall hernias occurring through a defect in the spigelian fascia lateral to the semilunar lines and pose great difficulty in diagnosis due to their location and varied presentations. The treatment of spigelian hernia has evolved from open surgical repair to laparoscopic hernioplasty. In this article, we share our experience of 6 patients with spigelian hernia managed by laparoscopic mesh repair and review the related literature on the topic. METHODS: A retrospective data collection of patients of spigelian hernia operated on between January 2005 and December 2008 was done. The data were evaluated regarding patient presentation, age group, methods of surgical repair, and the outcome of the procedures. The patients had follow-up at 1 week, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the surgery and were evaluated for any recurrence or mesh-related complications. RESULTS: In total, 6 patients of spigelian hernia were operated on in 4 years, from January 2005 to December 2008, with most of them presenting with either a lump or pain. All patients were operated by the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) method with satisfactory results. No recurrences were found in 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic TAPP is an acceptable method of spigelian hernia repair with good results and low recurrence rates. However, long-term follow-up studies are required to assess the late recurrence rate.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in situs inversus-our experience of 6 cases.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard procedure for symptomatic gall stone disease. Situs inversus is a condition where the visceral anatomy is reversed. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient of situs inversus is a technically difficult procedure. Six patients of situs inversus underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from January 2003 to December 2009. In the first patient of situs inversus, we operated by placing the ports in mirror image fashion as that of standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However in next five patients we modified the technique by interchanging the epigastric and left mid clavicular line ports to overcome the problem of handedness. The procedure was successfully completed in all six patients. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The mean operating time was 65 mins (45-85 mins). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe in patients of situs inversus. However, extreme care and skill is required to identify the reversed anatomy and to overcome the problem of handedness. Interchanging the epigastric and left mid clavicular line ports makes the procedure easier.