Transanal minimally invasive surgery - A single-center experience.

Background: Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) was described in the literature 10 years ago. This procedure requires laparoscopic technical skills. It has been well accepted widely worldwide. TAMIS has been applied to multiple procedures, including excision for rectal polyps and cancer, with acceptable outcomes. The study aimed to assess the outcomes of TAMIS in a large district general hospital. Methodology: A retrospective study on prospectively collected data on 52 consecutive patients of TAMIS performed in a single unit was conducted between May 2014 and February 2020. Data were collected on patient demographics, clinical diagnosis, peri-operative findings, pathological findings, adequacy of excision and complications. Patients were followed up as per the trust and national post-polypectomy guidelines. Results: Among the 52 patients, TAMIS procedures were completed in 50 patients, of which 31 were female. The procedure was successful in 96.5% but had to abandon in two cases. There was no conversion to another procedure. Pre-operative indications were rectal polyps and one case was an emergency TAMIS in a patient who was bleeding following incomplete colonoscopic polypectomy. The final histology reported that the majority were benign polyps (46), and only 11 cases were malignant. The median distance of the lesion from the anal verge was 6 cm (3-10 cm). The median operative time was 55 min (8-175 min). A total of 45 (77.5%) lesions were completely excised and had negative microscopic margins. Most patients (64%) were discharged home the same day. No complications were observed at a median follow-up of 20 months (6-48 months). There was no mortality. Conclusions: Our data suggest that TAMIS can be safely performed in a district general hospital for both benign and early rectal cancer. TAMIS was also able to control post-polypectomy bleeding and completion of rectal polypectomy. In selected cases, day-case TAMIS is safe and feasible.

Blind loop mucocele of a side-to-end colorectal anastomosis as a rare cause of large bowel obstruction.

Large bowel obstruction (LBO) after colorectal surgery draws wide differentials. To our knowledge, LBO due to blind colonic limb mucocele of a side-to-end colorectal anastomosis has not yet been described. We report a man in his late 50s presenting with pain, abdominal distension and constipation. He had extensive surgical history; notably, a side-to-end colorectal anastomosis was fashioned following Hartmann-type colostomy reversal. CT and MRI suggested a mucus-filled short blind colonic segment compressing the anastomotic site and causing LBO. Flexible sigmoidoscopy under general anaesthesia showed external rectal compression and lumen narrowing. Transrectal needle aspiration of the blind segment yielded 145 mL of mucoid fluid. The patient's symptoms improved and he was discharged with outpatient Gastrografin enema and flexible sigmoidoscopy which confirmed successful blind segment emptying. This case highlights that blind colonic loop mucoceles in colorectal anastomosis can rarely cause obstruction, and endoscopic management is feasible when accurate diagnosis is confirmed on imaging.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management and outcomes of emergency surgical patients: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic measures being implemented for the management of surgical patients across all health services worldwide, including the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. It is suspected that the virus has had a detrimental effect on perioperative morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these outcomes in emergency general surgical patients. METHODS: Emergency general surgical admissions were included in this retrospective cohort study in one of the COVID-19 hotspots in the South East of England. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality rate. Secondary outcomes included the length of stay in hospital, complication rate and severity grade and admission rates to the ITU. RESULTS: Of 123 patients, COVID-19 was detected in 12.2%. Testing was not carried out in 26%. When comparing COVID-positive to COVID-negative patients, the mean age was 71.8 + 8.8 vs. 50.7 + 5.7, respectively, and female patients accounted for 40.0 vs. 52.6%. The 30-day mortality rate was 26.7 vs. 3.9 (OR 6.49, p = 0.02), respectively. The length of stay in hospital was 20.5 + 22.2 vs. 7.7 + 9.8 (p < 0.01), the rate of complications was 80.0 vs. 23.7 (OR 12.9, p < 0.01), and the rate of admission to the ITU was 33.3 vs. 7.9% (OR 5.83, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the detrimental effect of COVID-19 on emergency general surgery, with significantly worsened surgical outcomes.

Bucket-Handle Mesenteric Tears: A Comprehensive Review of Their Presentation and Management.

Bucket-handle mesenteric tears remain a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We aim to review the literature, including a single-surgeon series, to better understand their presentation and management. Three electronic databases (Ovid Medline, Embase, and PubMed) were searched for original research articles, describing relevant cases, from database inception to October 2021 using the following Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms: mesenteric avulsion, mesenteric tear, and blunt abdominal trauma. A retrospective review of cases managed under a single surgeon at our unit was also performed. Data extracted included demographics, mechanism of injury, presenting features, diagnostic imaging, surgical management, and patient outcome. In total, 19 studies were identified, including 22 patients (median age 34.5 years). The most common cause of injury was seat-belted road traffic accidents (77.3%), and patients commonly presented with abdominal pain (72.7%), tenderness (50%), positive seat-belt sign (54.5%), and haemodynamic compromise (45.5%). Computerised tomography scanning was the main imaging modality (68%), and the most common findings reported were abdominal free fluid (36.4%) and abdominal wall hernia (27.3%). The majority of patients were operated on within 24 hours of injury (68%), had a median length of stay of 14.5 days, and experienced an uncomplicated recovery (68%). There was no association between the development of complications and delayed surgical intervention >24 hours (p = 0.145). Our institution's experience was similar, with 50% of patients undergoing surgical intervention within 24 hours. The median age was 32.5 years (50% female), and the median length of stay was 11 days. A high index of suspicion, serial monitoring, including blood tests, and imaging, with a low threshold for early repeat imaging, can provide a useful guide for identifying patients with bucket-handle tears.

Evaluation of Mannheim's Peritonitis Index in Prediction of Mortality in Patients with Non-traumatic Hollow Viscus Perforation Peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Hollow viscus perforation peritonitis is one of the commonest surgical emergencies with high mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Mannheim's peritonitis index in prediction of mortality in these patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational cohort study in these patients managed in a single-center from January 1, 2013 to December 30, 2019. Total index scores were plotted in the receiver operating characteristic curves to find out the cut-off point. Sensitivity, specificity, relative risk, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The individual risk factors were analyzed for mortality as well. RESULTS: Case records of 395 cases of non-traumatic hollow viscus perforation peritonitis were available, there were 33 mortalities (8.2%), mean score was 22.96 (+7.6) points (range 10-43 points). The sensitivity and specificity with score cut-off of 25 came to be 75.8% and 56.35%; positive and negative predictive value being 13.7% and 96.2%. Risk of patients for mortality with scores >25 was 3.62 times those with scores <25 for mortality. Mortality rate was 2.4% with scores <21, 8.9% with 21-29 and 20.9% with >29 respectively (p-value <0.05). Univariate analysis showed age >50 years, presence of organ dysfunction, diffuse peritonitis, non-colonic origin and character of exudates were significant factors; multivariate analysis showed only organ failure as significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mannheim peritonitis index is very useful in stratification of severity of the disease and prediction of mortality in patients with peritonitis, and should be included in management of all these patients.

e-TEP Retromuscular Repair for Recurrent Incisional Hernias: Report of Three Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent incisional hernias are difficult to treat. There are many factors involved in the recurrence, and due to extensive dissections, the planes are fused with adhesions, and we may need a new plane for dissection and placement of meshes. CASE REPORT: We report here three cases of recurrent incisional hernias which were dealt by a relatively new method to laparoscopy: the enhanced view totally extraperitoneal repair (e-TEP) retromuscular technique. There were three patients: one after an open onlay repair of lower midline incision, another after an onlay mesh repair of a subcostal incision for open cholecystectomy followed by an intraperitoneal onlay mesh hernioplasty (IPOM) repair, and another after IPOM repair of epigastric hernia. They were treated with the abovementioned technique with satisfying short-term results. CONCLUSION: The e-TEP technique is a relatively new method of providing minimal access surgery to these patients utilizing the previously unaccessed retromuscular (Rives and/or preperitoneal) space for the repair of these recurrent incisional hernias.

Challenges and Results of Laparoscopic Splenectomy for Hematological Diseases in a Developing Country.

INTRODUCTION: Though, in developed countries, laparoscopy is now a gold standard for splenectomy, we are lacking in this aspect in the eastern world. Splenectomy has mostly been performed by open surgery in our region. This is our effort to introduce laparoscopic splenectomy in our country. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study done in patients presenting to hematology and surgery department of our hospital who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for hematological diseases from January 2013 to December 2016. RESULTS: There were 50 patients (38 females, 12 males). The diagnoses were idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in 31, (steroid/azathioprine-resistant, steroid dependent), hereditary spherocytosis in 9, alpha-thalassemia in 3, beta-thalassemia in 2, autoimmune hemolytic anemia in 4, and isolated splenic tuberculosis in 1. Average platelet counts preoperatively were 62000 ± 11000/mm3 (range 52000-325000/mm3). The mean operative time was 130 ± 49 minutes (range 108-224 min). The mean postoperative stay was 4 ± 2.11 days (range 3-9 days). Laparoscopic splenectomy could be completed in 45 (90%) patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic splenectomy could be successfully contemplated in patients with hematological diseases, especially if spleen is normal or only mildly enlarged, and is an advantageous alternative to open splenectomy. Absence of ideal resources has not limited our progress in minimal access approach.