Laparoscopic light source skin burn.

Skin burn injury from light cables is a rare complication of laparoscopic surgery, but it can be severe and distressing for both the patient and the surgeon. A case report of skin burns due to laparoscopic light source is presented in this article, followed by an experimental trial to confirm the findings, and review of literature. The light source is usually connected to the camera to give adequate light inside the abdominal cavity for visualization of the internal organs, and hence, safe surgery. The light source should deliver cool light to prevent any burn from heat to skin or internal organs, but in fact, it is not usually cool and can reach high temperatures. Precautions and recommendations to avoid skin burns due to the light source are included. Surgeons should be aware of burns from light sources in laparoscopic surgery and take precautions to prevent them.

Development of a master-slave 3D printed robotic surgical finger with haptic feedback.

Robotic surgery started nearly 30 years ago. It has achieved telepresence and the performance of repetitive, precise, and accurate tasks. The "master-slave" robotic system allows control of manipulators by surgeon at distant site. Robotic surgical fingers were developed to allow surgeons to move them with accuracy through sensors fixed on surgeon's hand. Also, haptic sensors were developed to allow transmission of sensation from robotic finger to surgeon's finger. A complete system of a, 3D printed by a stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer, robotic surgical finger with haptic feedback system is proposed. The developed system includes a master glove that controls the motion of a 3DOF robotic slave finger while getting haptic feedback of force/pressure exerted on it. The precise control of the slave robotic finger was achieved by applying a Proportional Integral and Derivative (PID), fast and robust, control algorithm using an Arduino based hardware and software module. The individual joint angles, metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP), and wrist were measured using rotatory and inertial sensors respectively. The degree of movement for MCP, PIP, and Wrist joints were measured to be 0-86°, 0-71°, and 0-89° respectively. Motion to the robotic finger is mimicked by a glove motion requiring minimal learning curve for the device. The collected data for the slave motion is in good agreement with the master-glove motion data. The vibro-tactile haptic feedback system was developed to distinguish between three different materials to mimic human flesh, tumor, and bone. The master-slave system using robotic surgical finger with good simultaneous movement to surgeon's finger and good haptic sensation will provide the surgeon with the opportunity to perform finger dissection in laparoscopic and robotic surgery, as it used to be in open surgery. 3D bio printing will make this process even cheaper with the added advantage of making surgical tools locally according to the need of the surgery. An ongoing work is to develop silicone based 8 mm robotic surgical finger with multiple type haptic feedback.

Presacral schwannoma treated as irritable bowel syndrome.

Presacral tumours represent a heterogeneous group of predominantly benign and occasionally malignant neoplasms. These tumours, though rare, frequently present either incidentally or with vague symptoms. Schwannomas of the presacral region are one variant described as benign tumours of neurogenic origin. The case of a large presacral schwannoma in a 26-year-old man, who was treated for irritable bowel syndrome for 4 years, is presented. The patient presented with intermittent constipation, a feeling of incomplete evacuation of the bowel and vague abdominal discomfort relieved by defecation. The symptomatology worsened and constipation became frequent, and the patient experienced increased urinary frequency. Baseline investigations were normal and ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed a pelvic mass, which on CT scanning was revealed to be a large retrorectal mass. The tumour was resected and histology revealed it to be a schwannoma. This unique case is presented to emphasise that irritable bowel syndrome must be a diagnosis of exclusion, especially if atypical symptoms are present.