Effectiveness and predictors of conversion in mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy in developing country: a cohort retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Mini laparotomy cholecystectomy (MLC) is an alternative surgical procedure in conditions where laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is not feasible. MLC is a simpler and easier technique compared to LC. MLC involves smaller skin incision, low morbidity rate, and early return to oral diet. MLC has the potential to be the preferred surgical technique in developing countries due to its low cost and availability. METHOD: A cohort retrospective study was performed on 44 patients who underwent mini laparotomy cholecystectomy due to ineligibility for LC. Patients were documented for successful mini laparotomy or conversion to laparotomy cholecystectomy. There are pre-operative aspects recorded and analyzed to formulate predictor factors for conversion surgery, as well as intra-operative and post-operative aspects. Patients also filled evaluation questionnaire based on Likert Scale about their satisfaction towards result of MLC. RESULT: MLC is performed in 31 (70.5%) patients while 13 (29.5%) patients underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy. There were no complications nor mortalities observed during and after the surgery. Greater BMI, higher leucocyte count, higher bilirubin level, increasing severity of adhesion, and chronic cholecystitis were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) in the conversion surgery group. MLC also resulted in shorter post-operative hospitalization compared to conversion surgery. Patients showed great satisfaction towards the cosmetic aspect and recovery period after MLC procedure. CONCLUSION: MLC is an effective surgery procedure for cholelithiasis and can be safely performed in patients with complication such as cholecystitis and gallbladder adhesion although these conditions increase the risk of conversion surgery.

Wide excision and reconstruction surgery for recurrent sweat gland umbilical adenocarcinoma followed by chemotherapy can prevent the risk of recurrences.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma derived from umbilicus is very rare. Most adenocarcinomas in umbilicus are secondary events. Carcinoma derived from sweat glands is sporadic, highly radioresistant and has a clinical appearance that is difficult to predict. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old woman presented with recurrent umbilicus adenocarcinoma after a history of umbilicus tumor surgery 14 months earlier and Capecitabine chemotherapy six times. Malignant cells were found in Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) examination. A colonoscopy examination found pathological colitis without any colonic mass. The patient underwent wide excision and reconstruction surgery using a composite attachment visceral mesh with a size of 30 × 30 cm. Histopathologic examination of the surgery diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the sudoriferous gland with adjacent tissue free of tumor cells. Six months post operation, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan was performed and found neither residue nor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Wide excision and reconstruction surgery for recurrent sweat gland umbilical adenocarcinoma followed by chemotherapy can be an alternative to prevent recurrences.

Ileal obstruction caused by migration of deflated intragastric balloon after bariatric surgery treated with laparotomy and semicircular ileotomy: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a major global health issue with serious consequences, including death. The intragastric balloon (IGB) is a bariatric surgery option but is limited to 6-12 months due to risks such as deflation, migration, and, rarely, intestinal obstruction. These complications are difficult to diagnose and manage. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 46-year-old woman with an intragastric balloon for ten months experienced gastric distension, excessive salivation, and nausea, leading to hospitalization. Abdominal radiography and a CT scan revealed a small bowel obstruction caused by the balloon, located 40 cm before the ileocecal junction. A laparotomy was performed to explore the surgical site further. An ileotomy was conducted to remove the balloon during the surgery. The patient was discharged in stable condition after five days. DISCUSSION: Complete small bowel obstruction due to intragastric balloon migration in bariatric surgery is very rare. Initial symptoms include mid-gut dilation, nausea, and vomiting. A CT scan is the best method to locate and identify the cause of intragastric balloon migration. Laparoscopy can be challenging in acute obstruction cases due to limited space, increasing the risk of iatrogenic bowel injury. Therefore, laparotomy with a semi-circular ileotomy is a safe treatment option. CONCLUSION: Ileal obstruction due to intragastric balloon migration is a rare but serious complication of bariatric surgery, which requiring immediate surgical intervention. The use of a semi-circular ileotomy during laparotomy has proven to be an effective and safe treatment option for complete obstruction.

Multiple ileal perforations as late complications of electrical injury: A rare case report.

Introduction: Electric injury-induced intestinal perforation is one of rare and lethal complications. Direct injury and ischemic changes are the mechanism of intestinal perforation. Proper surgical and non-surgical management may increase the survival chance. Case presentation: A 21-year-old male was referred from rural hospital with history of electric burn injury two days before. On arrival, the patient started complaining bloating and abdominal x-ray revealed small intestine dilation. On fourth day post-event, the symptoms worsened and abdominal CT-scan revealed free peritoneal air. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, and two ileal perforations were found. Suturing of perforation and ileostomy were performed. Forequarter amputation of the right superior limb was performed on the seventh day post-event. On the third month, the ileostomy was closed. Conclusion: Intestinal perforation may be one of late complications of electrical injury in abdomen. Proper clinical evaluation and management helps in morbidity and mortality reduction.

High Probability of Lynch Syndrome Among Colorectal Cancer Patients Is Associated With Higher Occurrence of KRAS and PIK3CA Mutations.

Background: In Indonesia, early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) rates are higher in patients < 50 years old compared to Western populations, possibly due to a higher frequency of Lynch syndrome (LS) in CRC patients. We aimed to examine the association of KRAS and PIK3CA mutations with LS. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional single-center study, the PCR-HRM-based test was used for screening of microsatellite instability (MSI) mononucleotide markers (BAT25, BAT26, BCAT25, MYB, EWSR1), MLH1 promoter methylation, and oncogene mutations of BRAF (V600E), KRAS (exon 2 and 3), and PIK3CA (exon 9 and 20) in FFPE DNA samples. Results: All the samples (n = 244) were from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia. KRAS and PIK3CA mutations were found in 151/244 (61.88%) and 107/244 (43.85%) of samples, respectively. KRAS and PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with MSI status in 32/42 (76.19%) and 25/42 (59.52%) of samples, respectively. KRAS mutation was significantly associated with LS status in 26/32 (81.25%) of samples. The PIK3CA mutation was present in a higher proportion in LS samples of 19/32 (59.38%), but not statistically significant. Clinicopathology showed that KRAS mutation was significantly associated with right-sided CRC and higher histology grade in 39/151 (25.83%) and 24/151 (16.44%) samples, respectively. PIK3CA mutation was significantly associated with female sex and lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in 62/107 (57.94%) and 26/107 (30.23%) samples, respectively. KRAS and PIK3CA mutations did not significantly affect overall survival (120 months) in LS and non-LS patients. Conclusions: The high probability of LS in Indonesian CRC patients is associated with KRAS and PIK3CA mutations.

Comparison of Tools for Nutritional Assessment and Screening of Hospitalized Patients: A study on Surgical Patients.

Objective: To compare the Simple Nutrition Screening Tool (SNST) with other nutritional screening tools [Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002), Nutrition Risk index (NRI)], nutritional assessment parameters, and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) in surgical patients. Methods: A comparative observational study with a total of 122 surgical patients. Patients were assessed during the first 24 h of admission in the ward from January to July 2022 using the NRI, NRS-2002, SNST, body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumferences (MUAC), albumin serum, hemoglobin level, total lymphocyte count (TLC), and SGA. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated to evaluate NRI, NRS-2002, SNST, BMI, MUAC, albumin, hemoglobin, TLC compared to SGA. Results: The screening tools identified a high nutritional risk in surgical patients from 58.2%-72.1%. Meanwhile, about 29.5% to 71.3% was affected by malnutrition based on nutritional assessment tools. There were significant associations between the type of disease, the screening tools, the anthropometric parameters, albumin, TLC as well and SGA (p<0.05). The SNST has a good category among the nutritional screening tools with sensitivity and specificity >80%, as well as area under the curve >0.8. Conclusions: There were significant associations for screening (NRS-2002, SNST) and nutritional assessment tools (BMI, MUAC, albumin) compared with SGA. Both these tools can be used to determine the risk of malnutrition in surgical patients.

Combination of simple advancement flap and fistulectomy to treat complex anal fistula as a complication of hemorrhoidectomy: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: After hemorrhoidectomy, anal stenosis occurs, which is an uncommon but severe consequence. The majority of severe cases require advancement flap anoplasty. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 50-year-old female patient with a history of hemorrhoidectomy 10 months prior to admission complained of difficulty defecating, pain, and incomplete evacuation sensation, as well as a hole on the right side of the anal canal through which feces unintentionally passed. On the physical examination, we found that the anal lumen was partially obstructed, which did not allow the insertion of a finger. There was an impression of a perineal fistula at 5 and 7 o'clock, which was connected to the anal canal 3 cm from the edge of the anus. The patient was diagnosed with severe anal stenosis with perianal fistula. The patient underwent fistulectomy and advancement flap with perianal skin. In the outpatient follow-up clinic in the first and second weeks, the patient showed no complications, and no recurrence of her complaints was found. DISCUSSION: Several corrective surgical techniques have been applied to restore a healthy lining to the constricted portion of the anal canal. We performed a combination of simple cutaneous advancement flap and fistulectomy to manage the patient with severe anal stenosis following hemorrhoidectomy with concurrent anal fistula. CONCLUSION: A combination of fistulectomy and simple cutaneous advancement flap anoplasty is a simple, safe, and effective surgical option for the management of severe anal stenosis with concomitant anal fistula.

Clinical findings and management of diaphragmatic rupture with hernia caused by safety body harness: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute blunt traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (BTDR) caused by falling from a height is rare. Transabdominal diaphragmatic repair in an acute setting following BTDR requires good clinical decision-making and diagnostic tests. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old male was involved in a work accident. He fell from a 30-m radio transmitter tower while wearing an attached safety body harness. He arrived in the emergency room with complaints of breathing difficulty, abdominal and pelvic pain. We discovered a diaphragmatic rupture with abdominal organ herniation based on the imaging. We decided to perform an emergency laparotomy. We discovered a 12cm diaphragmatic defect on the anteromedial side of the left during surgery. We carried out the evacuation by suction and controlled the bleeding in the wound at the edge of the diaphragm. On postoperative day 4 (POD), the patient complained of dyspnea, and chest radiology revealed a hemothorax in the left lung. We then installed a water-sealed drainage (WSD) until POD 6. On the following day, his complaint was resolved, the WSD was removed and the patient was discharged uneventfully. DISCUSSION: Abdominal CT scan can be helpful in determining early diagnosis of traumatic diaphragm rupture with abdominal organ herniation, allowing for prompt surgical intervention to minimize morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, reinforced sutures might be useful to prevent recurrence of the symptoms. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, injury due to wearing a safety body harness when falling can be a potential cause of BTDR. Management of BTDR transabdominally is a safe and effective procedure.

Spontaneous cystic biloma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy treated conservatively: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Biloma forms due to common bile duct (CBD) injury as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy complication. Spontaneous localized biloma forming cysts in the biliary duct is rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 47-year-old male with complaint of a painful lump in the upper abdomen two months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) found a large epigastric cyst mass, without any signs of CBD injury. Patient was managed with percutaneous drainage in the outpatient clinic and kept the contents of the drainage bag for evaluation. After two months follow-up the outcome was favorable. DISCUSSION: Biloma forming cysts is a very rare complication post laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Biloma most common occurs as free fluid in the abdominal cavity. Clinical diagnostics, intraoperative historical evaluation and support with MRCP may determine the treatment options. Decision to manage with non-operative procedures by percutaneous drainage and evaluations of the patient in the outpatient clinic had a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Post laparoscopic biloma cysts are a very rare case. Management with percutaneous drainage in an outpatient clinic and ambulatory drainage is an effective and safe procedure.

Molecular Analysis of Colorectal Cancers Suggests a High Frequency of Lynch Syndrome in Indonesia.

There is about three times higher incidence of young patients <50 years old with colorectal cancer, termed EOCRC, in Indonesia as compared to Europe, the UK and USA. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Lynch Syndrome (LS) in Indonesian CRC patients. The previously described Nottingham Lynch Syndrome Test (N_LyST) was used in this project. N_LyST is a robust high-resolution melting (HRM)-based test that has shown 100% concordance with standard reference methods, including capillary electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing. The test consisted of five mononucleotide microsatellite markers (BAT25, BAT26, BCAT25, MYB, EWSR1), BRAF V600E mutation and MLH1 region C promoter for methylation (using bisulphite-modified DNA). A total of 231 archival (2016-2019) formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour tissues from CRC patients collected from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia, were successfully tested and analysed. Among those, 44/231 (19.05%) were MSI, 25/231 (10.82%) were harbouring BRAF V600E mutation and 6/231 (2.60%) had MLH1 promoter methylation. Almost all-186/197 (99.45%)-MSS cases were MLH1 promoter unmethylated, while there were only 5/44 (11.36%) MSI cases with MLH1 promoter methylation. Similarly, only 9/44 (20.45%) of MSI cases were BRAF mutant. There were 50/231 (21.65%) EOCRC cases, with 15/50 (30%) regarded as MSI, as opposed to 29/181 (16.02%) within the older group. In total, 32/231 patients (13.85%) were classified as "Probable Lynch" (MSI, BRAF wildtype and MLH1 promoter unmethylated), which were enriched in EOCRC as compared to older patients (24% vs. 11.05%, p = 0.035). Nonetheless, 30/50 (76.00%) cases among the EOCRC cases were non-LS (sporadic) and were significantly associated with a left-sided tumour. The overall survival of both "Probable Lynch" and non-LS (sporadic) groups (n = 227) was comparable (p = 0.59), with follow up period of 0-1845 days/61.5 months. Stage, node status, histological grading and ECOG score were significantly associated with patient overall survival (p < 0.005), yet only ECOG was an independent factor for OS (HR: 4.38; 95% CI: 1.72-11.2; p = 0.002). In summary, this study is the first to reveal a potentially higher frequency of LS among CRC patients in Indonesia, which may partially contribute to the reported much higher number of EOCRC as compared to the incidence in the West.

Combined Fistulotomy and Contralateral Anal Internal Sphincterotomy for Recurrent and Complex Anal Fistula to Prevent Recurrence.

The ideal intervention in the treatment of perianal fistula prevents the onset of infection to speed healing and prevent fistula recurrence while maintaining the function of the anal sphincter. Currently, there is no consensus on the best recommended surgical technique for perianal fistula management. Several studies have shown that fistulotomy was an easy and safe procedure for treatment of perianal fistula. Lateral internal sphincterotomy is the usual procedure performed on an anal fissure to decrease the anal sphincter tone. This study reports a combination of fistulotomy and contralateral internal sphincterotomy procedures for recurrent and complex perianal fistula to prevent recurrence. Here, we report 5 cases of recurrent and complex perianal fistula. The combination of fistulotomy and contralateral internal sphincterotomy is a relatively easy and safe procedure for complex perianal fistulae. In our cases, we found neither recurrence nor postoperative anal incontinence.

Tapering pressure of wall vacuum-assisted closure for the treatment of patients with pancreatic fistula in traumatic pancreatic injury: Report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic injury to the pancreas is rare and difficult to diagnose, requiring immediate operative management. It also has high mortality and morbidity rates. Postoperative pancreatic fistula is one of the complications that is considered a nightmare for digestive surgeons. The prevalence of POPF is estimated at 13%-41%, with 28% of mortality rate and the most common cause of death is retroperitoneal sepsis and hemorrhage. It requires complex treatment and a long duration of hospitalization of patients with a large cost burden. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here we report 2 cases of POPF after pancreatic injury in abdominal trauma. The patients underwent emergency laparotomy. In the hospital ward, the patients developed wound dehiscence and a clear viscous pancreatic juice came out from the wound with high output. The installation of wall VAC using wall suction with pressure adjustments according to the number of products per day was performed. The patients showed good outcomes, the pancreatic juice output decreased and diminished, and the wound also narrowed and closed. DISCUSSION: VAC using wall suction is a device that applies the technique of NPWT and an emerging procedure used to treat patients with complex wounds. NPWT can reduce pooling of fluid, while reducing shear stress and tissue hypoxia at the wound edges, and stimulating the release of vascular endothelial growth factor in wound milieu. CONCLUSIONS: Tapering pressure of VAC using wall suction for treatment of pancreatic fistula in post laparotomy pancreatic injury patients is a simple and easy procedure with good outcomes.

Modified Duhamel with lateral anal sphincterotomy and coloanal stump for adult Hirschsprung's disease: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) or megacolon congenital is the most common congenital intestinal motility disorder and characterized by the absence of ganglion cells (aganglionosis) in the myenteric plexus and submucosa of the distal intestine. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This study reports three cases of adult HSCR, with all young female patients who underwent colostomy for obstructive ileus. The chosen definitive therapies were Duhamel pull-through procedure combined with a temporary coloanal stump. DISCUSSION: The three patients underwent Duhamel pull-through procedure with temporary anal stump in conjunction with stoma reversal. The temporary anal stumps were removed within 1-2 weeks after pull-through procedure. All patients were discharged from the hospital and underwent routine follow-up. All patients had fecal incontinence in early follow-up which resolved shortly afterwards. Long term follow-up showed normal intestinal functions and good cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of Duhamel pull-through procedure with temporary coloanal stump in definitive therapy of adults with HSCR is a safe and effective technique.

Covid-19 mimicking symptoms in emergency gastrointestinal surgery cases during pandemic: A case series.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed patient management in all sectors. All patients need to be examined for COVID-19, including in digestive surgery emergency cases. In this paper, we report four digestive surgery emergency cases with clinical and radiological findings similar to COVID-19. CASE PRESENTATION: We report four digestive surgery emergency cases admitted with fever and cough symptoms. Case 1 is a 75-year-old male with gastric perforation and pneumonia, case 2 is a 32-year-old female with intestinal and pulmonal tuberculosis, case 3 is a 30-year-old female with acute pancreatitis with pleuritis and pleural effusion, and the last case is a 56-year-old female with rectosigmoid cancer with pulmonal metastases. All the patients underwent emergency laparotomy, were hospitalized for therapy, and discharged from the hospital. After 1-month follow-up after surgery, 1 patient had no complaints, 2 patients had surgical site infection, and 1 patient died because of ARDS due to lung metastases. DISCUSSION: For all four cases, the surgeries were done with strict COVID-19 protocol which included patient screening, examination, laboratory assessment, rapid test screening, and RT-PCR testing. There were no intrahospital mortalities and all the patients were discharged from the hospital. Three patients were followed-up and recovered well with 2 patients having surgical site infection which recovered within a week. However, 1 patient did not show up for the scheduled follow-up and was reported dead 2 weeks after surgery because of ARDS due to lung metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery, especially digestive surgery cases, can be done in the COVID-19 pandemic era with strict prior screening and examination, and safety protocol.

Double Pedicle Artery Rotation Sigmoid Vaginoplasty for Vaginal Aplasia Management.

Sigmoid vaginoplasty has been popular for neovagina reconstruction in vaginal aplasia. The most common surgical complication was vaginal stenosis caused by inadequate vascularization and tension because of graft length. Therefore, ischemia ensued and disrupted wound healing. The selection of double pedicle artery rotation sigmoid vaginoplasty is expected to reduce this problem. Five patients from April to December 2016 were diagnosed with vaginal aplasia; 4 had history of neovagina stenosis. These patients underwent sigmoid vaginoplasty with double pedicle artery rotation. No complications occurred during or after the procedure. Assessment postsurgery was conducted at 1 year. These results suggest that double pedicle artery rotation sigmoid vaginoplasty is a safe and acceptable technique for management of vaginal aplasia. The procedure decreased tension inside vascular pedicles as a result of maintaining abundant vascularization supply. Consequently, this procedure could avert graft necrosis, leakage, and severe stenosis. All of the patients exhibited regular menstrual cycle and satisfactory sexual activity. The outcomes were excellent with remarkable anatomical and functional results.

Adherence to preoperative hand hygiene and sterile gowning technique among consultant surgeons, surgical residents, and nurses: a pilot study at an academic medical center in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) is a major problem for patient safety and surgical site infection (SSI) is a type of HAI and the most common form of infection related to surgical health care. Transmission of microorganisms can be minimized by aseptic procedures. The main objective of this study is to compare adherence to preoperative sterile gowning and hand hygiene technique among consultant surgeons, surgical residents, and nurses. METHODS: This research was conducted by observing the implementation of the pre-operative sterile gowning and hand hygiene technique of abdominal surgery by consultant surgeons, surgical residents, and nurses using aseptic instrument tests of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Faculty of Medicine Universitas Gadjah Mada from August 10, 2018 to September 10, 2018. Observations were made when participants performed hand scrubbing, gowning, and donning the gloves procedures. The observer completed mobile online forms, so that the medical personnel under observation did not know that they were being observed. RESULTS: Twelve consultant surgeons, 16 surgical residents, and 12 nurses were observed. All of the medical personnel showed a good score with total percentage mean 83.58%. The highest total mean score was achieved by consultant surgeons (86.39%), but mean score did not vary significantly between medical personnel (p = .091). In the hand scrubbing procedure, scrub the nail and palm using brush side and the skin of hand and arm using sponge side, in both hands had the lowest mean score (1.82 ± 1.152 of the maximum score of 4). While in the gowning procedure, taking and unfolding the sterile gown had the lowest mean score (1.97 ± .158 of the maximum score of 2). In the donning the glove procedure, grasping left glove with right hand and putting the glove over the left hand in opposite direction procedure had the lowest mean score (1.97 ± .158 of the maximum score of 2). CONCLUSIONS: The mean score of each group of health personnel in each section showed good results. Comparison of hand hygiene and gowning procedure performance between groups of health personnel did not show significant differences. However, larger scale research is needed after this pilot study.

Elevated PSA level as a warning of mesh rejection risk after combined laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernia repair and transurethral resection of prostate: Case report.

BACKGROUND: Prostate hypertrophy and inguinal hernia are common health issues in men aged more than 50 years. Recently, many studies showed that prostatectomy and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair could be performed at the same time. This report depicts mesh rejection after concomitant repair of bilateral direct inguinal hernia with TEP and TURP. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 66-year-old man presented with bilateral direct inguinal hernia and enlargement of the prostate. Prostate biopsy shows atypical adenomatous hyperplasia accompanied by chronic inflammatory cells. Surgery was performed with laparoscopic TEP by using mesh and TURP. The patient underwent a combination of laparoscopic TEP and TURP. A single preoperative and postoperative dose of levofloxacin was administered. The laparoscopic TEP and TURP procedures were completed with no difficulty. Hematoma at the right inguinal occurred three weeks after the procedure. Bilateral inguinal abscess and sepsis occurred at 3-month follow-up. We performed laparotomy mesh evacuation and debridement, and found no recurrence of the hernia. DISCUSSION: Combined laparoscopic TEP hernia repair and TURP are feasible procedures. Bladder erosion caused by mesh might be the cause of mesh infection. However, the elevated PSA levels in this patient can be a warning sign of chronic infection in the prostate which can lead to complications of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PSA levels can be a warning before doing a combination of TEP and TURP surgery because they can show signs of infection. However, further research is needed to ascertain the relationship between elevated PSA levels and complications of combination TEP and TURP surgery.

Finger-guided Heller cardiomyotomy procedure to prevent the recurrence of esophageal achalasia in patients who are not qualified for laparoscopy: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Achalasia is usually found in young adults with an incidence of 1 in 100,000 population. Symptoms include regurgitation, burning and substernal pain, weight loss, may also include a complete sense of fullness in the substernal region and persistent vomiting. The laparoscopy Heller cardiomyotomy and partial fundoplication have become the procedure of choice for surgical management of achalasia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report 6 cases, 4 males and 2 females with chief complaints were dysphagia. All patients displayed comorbidities. We performed a finger-guided Heller cardiomyotomy. All surgeries resulted in minimal intraoperative bleeding. Patients experienced neither leakage, postoperative fistula, dysphagia, nor postoperative reflux. One month after surgery, no patient experienced recurrence of their complaints. DISCUSSION: Since not all esophageal achalasia patients can undergo laparoscopy as the main treatment method due to some comorbidities, we did a modified technique of Finger-guided Heller cardiomyotomy to treat the patients. CONCLUSION: Finger-guided Heller cardiomyotomy for the treatment of esophageal achalasia in patients who are not qualified for laparoscopy due to comorbid factors can be considered to be an alternative treatment because the procedure is relatively easier, has fewer complications, and can prevent the recurrence of the disease.