Effect of transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery peritoneoscopy on abdominal organ microcirculation: an experimental controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: On-demand insufflation during endoscopic peritoneoscopy causes wide variations in intra-abdominal pressure. Its effects on splanchnic microcirculation may differ from those of steady intra-abdominal pressure, because pressure characteristics affect crucial intravascular hemodynamic forces--pressure and shear--adapting flow to local metabolic needs. Our aim was to assess the effect of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) peritoneoscopy on splanchnic microcirculatory blood flow. METHODS: Twenty-one swine were randomized to the following: cholecystectomy by transgastric NOTES (n = 8), cholecystectomy by standard laparoscopy (Lap) (n = 8), and a sham group (n = 5). During NOTES, CO2 was manually insufflated with a maximum allowed pressure of 30 mm Hg. In the Lap group, intra-abdominal pressure was maintained at 14 mm Hg. Systemic hemodynamics were measured, and microcirculatory blood flow was quantified by using colored microspheres. RESULTS: Mean intra-abdominal pressure was lower in NOTES than in the Lap group (P = .038). In both groups, cardiac index and preload remained unchanged, whereas systemic vascular resistances increased over time, with a lesser increase in the Lap group (2-way analysis of variance; P = .041). In pneumoperitoneum groups, microcirculatory blood flow decreased similarly in the renal medulla, stomach, small bowel, colon, and mesocolon by 30%, 45%, 34%, 32%, and 37%, respectively. In NOTES, there was a greater microcirculatory blood flow decrease in the renal cortex (NOTES 41% vs Lap 35%; P = .044) and mesentery (NOTES 44% vs Lap 38%; P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both types of pneumoperitoneum have similar physiologic effects on microcirculatory blood flow. However, on-demand pneumoperitoneum (NOTES group) caused a greater microcirculatory blood flow decrease in areas with low metabolic needs, redistributing blood flow toward metabolically active areas.

Transumbilical single-port sleeve gastrectomy: initial experience and comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Sleeve gastrectomy is gaining relevance in the surgical armamentarium against obesity. The transumbilical single port has proved to be an attractive and safe alternative for a variety of minimally invasive abdominal surgeries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the initial results of a group of patients operated by single-port sleeve gastrectomy compared with a group operated by conventional laparoscopic technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a prospective cohort study of two groups of consecutive patients with body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 55 kg/m(2), with an indication of sleeve gastrectomy. In 20 patients, we used a transumbilical single-port (TUSP) technique; in 22 patients, we used the conventional laparoscopic (CL) technique. All surgeries were performed between June and December 2009 in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Hospital Clínic, Barcelona. The same medical team, in a standardized fashion, carried out all surgeries. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups in body mass index (BMI), age, sex, number and type of comorbidities, or history of previous abdominal surgery. Operative time (79.2 min) was significantly higher in the TUSP group (p = 0.002) than in the CL group (54.1 min). There were no conversions to open surgery in any of the patients operated upon via CL, but one conversion to laparoscopic surgery, requiring the addition of three trocars, in the TUSP group. There were no significant differences in morbidity or hospital stay between the groups. Percentage excess weight loss and excess BMI loss at 3 and 6 months, as indexes for improvement and resolution of comorbidities associated with obesity, showed that there were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transumbilical single-port sleeve gastrectomy has proved to be safe, technically feasible, and reproducible, with results that are similar to those obtained with conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Which is the best technique for pancreaticoenteric reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy? A critical analysis.

The definitive surgical management of periampullary tumors is a challenging endeavor. This article reviews the available data on the efficacy of various methods of pancreaticoenteric reconstruction designed for the prevention of pancreatic fistula (PF). A literature search of the Medline database was used to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) with pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). A total of two metaanalyses and four prospective RCTs were identified. Individual RCTs comparing PJ and PG allow the surgeons participating in the trial to choose technical modifications of one particular technique. As a result, there is no universal agreement as to whether one particular variation is safer and less prone to PF than the others. In addition, the majority of RCTs failed to stratify patient risk of PF. Further studies are therefore necessary to define the optimal technique of pancreatic reconstruction after PD conducted in high-volume centers by high-volume surgeons.

Conversión en colecistectomía laparoscópica. Experiencia hospital San Martín de Quillota, 8 años después / Conversion in laparascopic cholecystectomy. Experience of hospital San Martín de Quillota, 8 years later

La colecistectomía laparoscópica se realiza en nuestro país 1990 y en el Hospital San Martín de Quillota desde 1992. Se realizó un estudio sobre las causas de conversión de colecistectomía laparoscópica a colecistectomía clásica, transcurrido un tiempo de aprendizaje por el staff de cirujanos, comparando las causas de conversión con un estudio previo realizado en el Hospital San Martín de Quillota entre 1992-1995. Se evaluaron las cirugías efectuadas entre julio del 2000 hasta marzo 2002, sumando 799 casos, de los cuales 45 debieron ser convertidos. Se evaluaron las variables edad, sexo, antecedentes mórbidos, clínica, ecografía, diagnóstico pre y post operatorio, tiempo operatorio, anatomía patológica, complicaciones posteriores y las causas de la conversión. En nuestro estudio del total de cirugías, un 5,6 por ciento de los casos debieron ser convertidos, en comparación con el índice de conversión de un 7,8 por ciento obtenido en el mismo centro hace 8 años. De las cuasas de conversión se observó una variación con respecto al estudio preliminar. En este último, la principal causa de conversión fue la dificultad técnica (29,2 por ciento), en cambio en el estudio actual fue el plastrón vesicular (37 por ciento de los casos). Nuestros resultados, al igual como los de otros autores, reflejan la transición entre la dificultad técnica y el hallazgo de plastrón como la primera causa de conversión, una vez transcurrido la curva de aprendizaje de esta técnica.