Chi-Cheng Huang

System approach to prevent common bile duct injury and enhance performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Experience collected from 5200 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and 29 patients (6 ours, 23 referred) with major common bile duct (CBD) injury during LC in our institute between December 1990 and July 2004 was reported to demonstrate that the system approach we applied in performing LC prevents CBD injury and enhances surgical performance. Each case of CBD injury was meticulously analyzed to identify causative factors. We developed preventive strategies focusing on 4 dimensions: patient, environment, procedure, and operator. Surgical performance was then evaluated to demonstrate improvements. Incidence of CBD injury was calculated for early and latter halves of the series to compare 5 parameters of surgical performance: patient selection, operation time, indwelling drainage tube, surgeon, and conversion rate. Results of accident analysis demonstrated that CBD injury followed definite mechanisms; several warning signs appearing before and during injury were identified and classified. According to these results, we designed strategies to prevent injury, including: setting up patient-selection program, controlling surgical environment, developing error-proof procedures, and constructing training programs. Incidence of CBD injury in the whole series was 0.12% (6/5200), 0.27% in early half (6/2224), and zero (0/2967) in latter half. Attending doctors had significantly shorter operation times in latter period for both elective and emergent LC. Rate of using drainage tubes for elective surgery by attending doctors was significantly decreased in latter period. Operation time for elective surgery by residents was similar in both early and latter periods. However, residents in latter period had longer operation times (around 23 min long, P<0.001) for emergent LC. Steps of our system approach include: (1) detailed accident analysis focusing on patient, environment, procedure, and surgeon; (2) developing 4 strategies directly responding to accident analysis results, including proper patient selection, control of environment, error-proof procedures, and a well-designed training program; and (3) demonstrating improved patient safety and surgical performance. Consistent use of systems approach promises continuing quality improvement. We believe our working model will help perform safer LC and also benefit other medical disciplines.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Laparoscopic Incisional and Ventral Hernia Repairs

PURPOSE Laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair (LIVHR) has been advocated for short hospital stay, rapid ambulation, and low recurrence rates and has gained increasing popularity. We report here the outcomes of long-term follow-up of LIVHR. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The series comprised 100 LIVHR procedures performed between June 2000 and February 2004. LIVHR was performed with the standard three-trocar configuration. Underlay expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh was placed in a tension-free manner and bridged the fascia defect with an adequate overlap of at least 4 cm. Enrolled patients were prospectively followed up at return visits. RESULTS Two conversions due to densely scarred abdomen were inevitable. There were four true recurrences (4%) and three eventrations (loss of prosthetic elasticity) (3%). There was no difference in recurrence rate and eventrations among ventral, incisional, and recurrent incisional hernias. Patients with recurrent incisional hernias reported more seroma formations, and seroma formation was independently associated with adhesiolysis (adjusted odds ratio=4.57). CONCLUSIONS Long-term follow-up of LIVHR was satisfactory both in complications and in recurrences. The efficacy of LIVHR was ascertained and reproducible for Taiwanese patients. The concerns with chronic pain necessitate preoperative counseling with patients indicated or planned for LIVHR.

Paediatric Intra-abdominal Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumour.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour is a rare solid tumour mimicking malignancy with locally aggressive growth and recurrence even after complete resection. We report the case of a 10-year-old girl with an intra-abdominal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour. This clinical and pathological entity should be differentiated from other malignant sarcomatous lesions when encountered intraoperatively. It is almost impossible to differentiate inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour from other malignancies preoperatively; the diagnosis is often confirmed by careful microscopic examination or immunohistochemical markers after surgical resection. Total excision of the tumour with life-time follow-up is needed because of the risk of recurrence.

Quality of life of inguinal hernia patients in Taiwan: The application of the hernia-specific quality of life assessment instrument

Background With the development of prosthetic mesh and tension free techniques, the recurrence rate following inguinal hernia repair has been reduced, and hernia outcomes research should focus on post-operative quality of life and potential complications. Study design A novel hernia quality of life assessment instrument, HERQL, was developed. The HERQL questionnaire comprises a 4-item summative pain score measuring pain and discomfort resulting from various strenuous activities. Symptomatic and functional domains, as well as post-operative satisfaction are evaluated as well. Results A total of 386 HERQL surveys were completed by 183 patients with inguinal hernias. Internal consistency reliability of the summative pain score was satisfactory, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.85. Criterion validity was examined by concomitant assessment of the pain/discomfort and health impact subscales of the EQ-5D questionnaire, with substantial to moderate correlations. Pre-operative patients reported more severe hernia protrusion, more pain during mild to heavy exercise, and worse activity restriction and health impairment than the follow-up patients, indicating clinical validity. The conceptual structure of the HERQL demostrated the causal relationship between the formative symptomatic subscales and the reflective functional status indicators. Repeated measurement of the summative pain scores revealed an estimated time effect of -1.63, which was the rate of change in the summative pain score across the pre-operative, immediately post-operative, and follow-up 3-month periods suggesting the clinical responsiveness of the HERQL. Conclusions This study will facilitate inguinal hernia outcomes research and enhance the quality of care for this common disease by providing a validated HERQL instrument with enhanced sensitivity.

A retrospective comparison of two-, three-, and four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomies

Purpose: A total of 1276 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCs) using two-, three-, and four-port methods were analyzed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of two and three-port LCs in management for acute or elective gallstone disease when compared with four-port LC. Materials and Methods: A between-group comparison was performed on the difference of operation time, postsurgery admission days, postsurgery daily pain score between acute or elective surgery or different procedures. Results: Proportion of four-port LC was significant high in acute then in elective surgery (93.3% vs. 79.0%; P = 0.001). In elective surgeries, difference among mean operative time of two-, three-, and four-port LC (36.76, 34.72, and 27.32 min, respectively) was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Three-port LC showed a significant lowest mean pain score (1.887; 1 to 10 point pain score) on the first-day post-LC.(P = 0.04) Difference on the mean post-LC hospitalization of two-, three-, and four-port LCs (2.158, 2.141 and 2.412 days, respectively) were significant in elective (P = 0.001) while not significant in acute surgery (two-, three-, and four-port LCs: 2.75, 2.778, and 3.097 days, respectively; P = 0.237). Conclusions: Four-port LC was the procedure of choice in acute surgery. The operative time was the shortest for four and longest for two-port LC. Three-port LC could be adopted using strategic selection (elective surgery) and conversion (with adding port) as safety guard for the benefits of less wound pain, decreased post-LC admission days.

Taxanes and Neuropathic Pain in Taiwan Breast Cancer Patients

Taxanes, docetaxel and paclitaxel are anticancer agents widely used for breast cancer treatment. The toxicity and neuropathic pain of paclitaxel are well discussed in the literatures; less research focus on docetaxel.Material and Method: We enrolled patients newly diagnosed breast cancer from 1 million insured sampling of National Health Insurance claim database from January 1998 to December 2006. Patients are divided into four groups: docetaxel (d), paclitaxel (p), both (d+p), none (n). Diagnosis of neuropathic pain and the usage of analgesics and hypnotics were recorded and analyzed.Results: Both groups were found to have significant incidence of neuropathic pain. Docetaxel group demonstrated significant usage of analgesics and hypnotics.Conclusion: The toxicity of docetaxel may be underestimated. Remind the occurrence of neuropathic pain while using the protocol of combination of two taxanes.

Laparoscopic Assessment and Treatment of Non- Palpable Testis in an 18-Year-Old Male

Laparoscopy, both diagnostic and therapeutic, has been used in the management of pediatric non-palpable testes. We report a case of left non-palpable testis at the unusual age of 18 years. Laparoscopic exploration revealed an intra-abdominal testis lying between the internal inguinal ring and external iliac vessels. The testis was visually in good condition and, in contrast to the accepted procedure of orchiectomy performed in late adolescent cryptorchidism, we decided to preserve this intra-abdominal testis, which was located too far from the scrotum for a primary orchidopexy. The first stage of the Fowler-Stephens procedure was performed laparoscopically. The second-stage orchidopexy was performed successfully through an inguinal approach 3 months later, after sonographic ascertainment of non-decreased testicular volume. Laparoscopy allows thorough exploration for an intra-abdominal testis, with simultaneous therapeutic options. Our experience highlights the feasibility of laparoscopic assessment and treatment of cryptorchidism in adolescents and young adults.

Surgical Resection Combined with Systemic Imatinib Therapy for the Treatment of Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

The results of surgical treatment of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are poor due to low resectability and high recurrence. This situation has been improved by the use of novel targeted molecular therapy with imatinib. For unresectable advanced GIST, the neo-adjuvant role of imatinib relies on cytoreduction and tumor shrinkage. The operability is increased and further definite surgery is facilitated. In cases with postoperative relapse, adjuvant imatinib therapy still provides the benefits of postponing tumor progression and enabling subsequent surgeries. We report two cases of advanced GISTs treated with surgery and imatinib. The first case was an inoperable advanced GIST with peritoneal sarcomatosis which became resectable after systemic imatinib therapy for 10 months. The second case had recurrent GIST after en bloc resection seven months earlier and resulted in stable disease status with continuous imatinib therapy. The timing, duration and dosage of imatinib remain inconclusive and demand further studies. Lifelong follow-up of advanced GISTs is mandatory.