Deepraj S. Bhandarkar

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: How I do it?

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is a relatively new technique that is being increasingly used by surgeons around the world. Unlike the multi-port cholecystectomy, a standardised technique and detailed description of the operative steps of SILC is lacking in the literature. This article provides a stepwise account of the technique of SILC aimed at surgeons wishing to learn the procedure. A brief review of the current literature on SILC follows.

Laparoscopic biopsy in patients with abdominal lymphadenopathy

Background: Abdominal lymphadenopathy (AL) - a common clinical scenario faced by clinicians - often poses a diagnostic challenge. In the absence of palpable peripheral nodes, tissue has to be obtained from the abdominal nodes by image-guided biopsy or surgery. In this context a laparoscopic biopsy avoids the morbidity of a laparotomy. Aim: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data represents our experience with laparoscopic biopsy of abdominal lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: Between October 2000 and November 2005, 28 patients with AL underwent laparoscopic biopsy. Pre-operative radiological imaging studies had identified a nodal mass in 20, a solitary node in 1, a cold abscess in 1 and a mesenteric cystic lesion in 1 patient. In five patients with chronic right lower abdominal pain and normal ultra-sonographic findings mesenteric nodes were identified and biopsied during diagnostic laparoscopy. Results: The sites of biopsied lymph nodes included para-aortic (10), mesenteric (8), external iliac (3), left gastric (2), obturator (1), aorto-caval (1) and porta hepatis (1). One patient with enlarged peripancreatic nodes mass and another with a mesenteric cystic mass had cold abscesses drained in addition to biopsy. There were no perioperative complications and the median postoperative stay was 2 days (range 1-4 days). Histopathology revealed tuberculosis in 23 patients, reactive adenitis in 2, lymphoma in 1 metastatic carcinoma in 1, and a retroperitoneal sarcoma in 1. Conclusions: In patients with AL, laparoscopy provides a safe and effective means of obtaining biopsy. It is of particular value in patients in whom (a) the nodes are small or present in locations unsuitable for image-guided biopsy, (b) adequate tissue cannot be obtained by image-guided biopsy or (c) previously undiagnosed lymphadenopathy is encountered during diagnostic laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia: Current status and controversies

Repair of inguinal hernia is one of the commonest operations performed by surgeons around the world. The treatment of this common problem has seen an evolution from the pure tissue repairs to the prosthetic repairs and in the recent past to laparoscopic repair. The fact that so many hernia repairs are practiced is a testimony to the fact that probably none is distinctly superior to the other. This review assesses the current status of surgery for repair of inguinal hernia and examines the various controversial issues surrounding the subject.

Laparoscopic management of antenatally-diagnosed abdominal cysts in newborns.

We report two newborns each detected to have a large intra-abdominal cyst on antenatal ultrasonography. Postnatal imaging confirmed presence of the cysts and showed a complex cyst with multiple septae in the first patient and evidence of bleeding in both. Laparoscopy performed on the 14th and 19th day of life, respectively, showed ovarian cysts with hemorrhage and torsion. The cysts were treated successfully by laparoscopic oopherectomy. Histopathology revealed an ovarian gonadoblastoma in the first patient and a simple cyst with calcification in the second. Both patients remain well at a follow up of six and four months. Laparoscopic treatment of antenatally detected cystic abdominal masses is a feasible option in the newborn.

A novel technique for extraction of the appendix in laparoscopic appendectomy.

A new technique for extraction of the appendix by its retrograde introduction into the umbilical port is described. With this technique, appendectomy can be undertaken with a single 10-mm and two 5-mm ports.

Laparoscopic resection of a large paraganglioma arising in the organ of Zuckerkandl: Report of a case and review of the literature

Paragangliomas are catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumours arising from chromaffin tissue at extra-adrenal sites. The commonest site for a paraganglioma is the organ of Zuckerkandl. Traditional treatment of paraganglioma of organ of Zuckerkandl (POZ) involves open surgical resection, and only a few cases of laparoscopic approach to this pathology have been reported. We report the successful laparoscopic resection of a large POZ in a 22-year-old woman and review the previous cases reporting a laparoscopic approach to this rare tumour.

Laparoscopic repair of Morgagni's hernia: An innovative approach.

Aim: To review our experience of laparoscopic repair of Morgagni′s hernia (MH) using transfascial sutures. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients presenting to the first author with the diagnosis of MH over a 15-year period. The variables analyzed included demographic data, clinical presentation, and operative details. Results: In all there were five male with a median age of 2 years. They were asymptomatic and MH was detected incidentally by observing an air-filled density in the right cardiophrenic angle on plain X-ray of the chest. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed the diagnosis in all patients. All patients underwent laparoscopic repair of MH using transfascial sutures. The average operative time was 75 min. Oral feeding was started 6 h after surgery and patients were discharged on either 3 rd or 4 th postoperative day. Postoperative follow-up X-ray confirmed the intact repair. Conclusions: Laparoscopic repair of MH using transfascial sutures is an easy and effective solution. Multiple horizontal mattress sutures taking full thickness of abdominal wall muscles with the edge of the diaphragm leads to a strong repair. As sutures are tied extracorporeally, the technique is easily reproducible.

Laparoscopic management of renal hilar pheochromocytomas.

Although laparoscopic adrenalectomy is well established for the treatment of adrenal pheochromocytomas, there is scant literature on a laparoscopic approach to extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas (EAP). We report on 2 patients with renal hilar pheochromocytomas treated by a laparoscopic resection. A 56-year-old hypertensive man was found to have a 3.5-cm tumor in the right renal hilum, which was confirmed to be a pheochromocytoma on the basis of elevated urinary vanillylmandelic acid levels and a positive 131I-MIBG scan. After pharmacological preparation, he underwent a laparoscopic excision. The recovery was uneventful and the final histopathology confirmed an EAP. The second patient, a 17-year-old hypertensive girl, was shown to have a 2.5-cm tumor in close proximity to the left renal vessels and a poorly functioning left kidney on a computed tomography scan. Subsequent isotope renogram showed 4% function in the left kidney. After adequate preparation, she underwent a laparoscopic left nephrectomy along with resection of the tumor. The postoperative period was uneventful. Histopathology showed an EAP. The kidney showed ischemic changes along with severe renal artery stenosis. The patients remain well 49 and 14 months post-surgery. In conclusion, careful preoperative preparation, expert intraoperative anesthetic management, and surgery performed by an experienced surgeon make laparoscopic resection of renal hilar pheochromocytomas a safe and feasible treatment option.

Laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy in a pregnant patient

Feasibility and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy for patients with symptomatic or complicated gallstone disease is well established. Laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy (LESS-chole) is a new modality in which the entire surgery is undertaken via a transumbilical incision. We describe a 33-year-old patient who underwent a LESS-chole in the 20th week of pregnancy for gallstone disease complicated by episodes of obstructive jaundice and acute pancreatitis. This is the first reported case of LESS-chole performed using conventional laparoscopic instruments. The technical aspects as well as the various perioperative measures utilized to undertake this procedure safely are outlined.

Laparoscopic excision of an omental leiomyoma with a giant cystic component.

This case report suggests that laparoscopic resection of omental leiomyoma with a large cystic component is feasible and safe.