Proposed training pathway with initial experience to set up robotic hepatobiliary and pancreatic service.

Although robot-assisted hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HPB) surgery has gained momentum over the last 2 decades, only a handful of units in the world perform major robotic resections. Adaptation of robotic surgery in the UK lags behind its European counterparts and this is mainly because of cost implications in a publicly funded National Health Service (NHS). We describe our experience of setting up a robotic HPB programme with clinical outcomes and propose a training pathway that would help prospective centres in setting up their own robotic HPB service with robust clinical governance oversight. After gaining colleagues' and departmental support, approval from the hospital clinical governance, finance department and new intervention procedure committee was sought. A team of two consultant surgeons, three assistants and three theatre staff went through a structured training programme sponsored mainly by the industry. Surgeon training consisted of online modules, simulation, wet lab, cadaveric training, case observations, proctored procedures followed by independent practice. All major cases were recorded and videos reviewed to improve performance. A total of 111 procedures were successfully completed with robotic assistance between April 2018 and March 2020. The programme started with robot-assisted cholecystectomy as index procedure and progressed on to more complex liver and pancreatic resections including major hepatectomy and Whipple's procedure. The training pathway followed by our team has been effective in setting up a safe robotic HPB programme and could be considered as a roadmap to start new Robotic HPB services.

Effectiveness of continuous wound infusion of local anesthetics after abdominal surgeries.

BACKGROUND: To assess the effectiveness of continuous preperitoneal wound infusion of local anesthetic drug bupivacaine in providing pain relief, reducing opioid consumption, and enhancing postoperative recovery. METHODS: Eligible patients were randomly allocated to two groups (study group: bupivacaine and control group: normal saline). There were 47 patients in each group. The patients received continuous infusion of either 0.25% bupivacaine or 0.9% normal saline at 6 mL/h, for 48 h, based on their group allocation, through a multiholed wound infiltration catheter placed preperitoneally. All patients also received intravenous morphine through patient-controlled analgesia pump. Pain scores at rest and on cough, morphine consumption, and peak expiratory flow rate were assessed at 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. The time to first perception of bowel sounds and first passage of flatus was noted. All patients were assessed for postoperative nausea and vomiting and any local or systemic complications. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. The morphine consumption was compared using Student t-test, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: The mean total morphine consumption in the study group was significantly lower than the control group (18.8 ± 2.21 versus 30.8 ± 2.58 mg, P = 0.001). The median VAS scores were significantly lower in the study group than those in the control group both at rest (3 [1-4] versus 4 [2-5], P = 0.04) and during cough (4 [3-6] versus 6 [4-6] P = 0.03), except at 48 h, when the median VAS score at rest was similar (3 [1-4] versus 3 [2-4], P = 0.56). Bowel function returned earlier in study group (67.34 ± 2.61 versus 76.34 ± 5.29 h, P = 0.03). Postoperative nausea and vomiting was less in study group. Respiratory function, assessed by peak expiratory flow rate, was better in the study group (192.55 ± 12.93 versus 165.31 ± 9.32 mL, P = 0.03). The incidence of surgical site infection was similar in both the groups (3/47 versus 5/47, P = 0.06). There was no systemic toxicity of local anesthetic. CONCLUSION: Continuous preperitoneal wound infusion of local anesthetic provides effective analgesia, reduces morphine consumption and its associated side effects, and enhances the postoperative recovery by reducing the incidence of prolonged postoperative ileus.

Laparoscopic-assisted Tranversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block Versus Ultrasonography-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Postlaparoscopic Cholecystectomy Pain Relief: Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually given under ultrasound guidance. Laparoscopic-assisted TAP block has been suggested as an alternative to ultrasonogram (USG)-guided block as it is less time consuming and does not need extra equipments. This study was done to compare the efficacy of both the techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial between October 2012 and June 2014 involving adult patients with symptomatic gall stone disease. Patients were randomly assigned to laparoscopic or ultrasound-guided TAP block. Both groups were compared for amount of opioid consumption, postoperative pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting, bowel movements, peak expiratory flow rate, and time taken for administering the block. RESULTS: We included 60 adult patients in our study. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic characteristics, symptomatology, comorbidities, and intraoperative complications. Amount of opioid consumption and postoperative pain relief were comparable between the 2 groups. The time taken for laparoscopy-assisted block was shorter when compared with the time taken for USG-guided block (P≤0.05). Postoperative nausea and vomiting, bowel movements, and peak expiratory flow rate were comparable between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy-assisted TAP block is faster and equally efficacious when compared with USG-guided block and has a definite role in centers where ultrasound is not available in operating rooms.