E. Eypasch

Evaluation of quality of life after laparoscopic surgery: evidence-based guidelines of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery

BackgroundMeasuring health-related quality of life (QoL) after surgery is essential for decision making by patients, surgeons, and payers. The aim of this consensus conference was twofold. First, it was to determine for which diseases endoscopic surgery results in better postoperative QoL than open surgery. Second, it was to recommend QoL instruments for clinical research.MethodsAn expert panel selected 12 conditions in which QoL and endoscopic surgery are important. For each condition, studies comparing endoscopic and open surgery in terms of QoL were identified. The expert panel reached consensus on the relative benefits of endoscopic surgery and recommended generic and disease-specific QoL instruments for use in clinical research.ResultsRandomized trials indicate that QoL improves earlier after endoscopic than open surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cholecystolithiasis, colorectal cancer, inguinal hernia, obesity (gastric bypass), and uterine disorders that require hysterectomy. For spleen, prostate, malignant kidney, benign colorectal, and benign non-GERD esophageal diseases, evidence from nonrandomized trials supports the use of laparoscopic surgery. However, many studies failed to collect long-term results, used nonvalidated questionnaires, or measured QoL components only incompletely. The following QoL instruments can be recommended: for benign esophageal and gallbladder disease, the GIQLI or the QOLRAD together with SF-36 or the PGWB; for obesity surgery, the IWQOL-Lite with the SF-36; for colorectal cancer, the FACT-C or the EORTC QLQ-C30/CR38; for inguinal and renal surgery, the VAS for pain with the SF-36 (or the EORTC QLQ-C30 in case of malignancy); and after hysterectomy, the SF-36 together with an evaluation of urinary and sexual function.ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery provides better postoperative QoL in many clinical situations. Researchers would improve the quality of future studies by using validated QoL instruments such as those recommended here.

Probability of adverse events that have not yet occurred: a statistical reminder.

The probability of adverse and undesirable events during and after operations that have not yet occurred in a finite number of patients (n) can be estimated with Hanleys simple formula, which gives the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the probability of such an event: upper limit of 95% confidence interval = maximum risk = 3/n (for n > 30). Doctors and surgeons should keep this simple rule in mind when complication rates of zero are reported in the literature and when they have not (yet) experienced a disastrous complication in a procedure.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis: Is It Really Safe?

Abstract. The prospectively collected data from 530 cholecystectomies performed in a university clinic from October 1989 to March 1991 were analyzed after 1 to 3 years of follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis with that for routine symptomatic gallbladders. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters of 424 routine (noninflamed) LCs and 54 LCs for acutely inflamed gallbladders were compared under the “intention to treat” principle. Operating time was longer in the inflamed group (median 97 minutes versus 75 minutes;p < 0.0001). Significantly more adhesions (20% versus 8%), more blood loss (48% versus 19%), a higher incidence of bile spillage (28% versus 12%), and lost stones (19% versus 8%) were encountered in patients with acute cholecystitis. Common bile duct (CBD) injuries were also more frequent in that group (5.5% versus 0.2%;p = 0.005). The rate of conversion to open surgery was higher than with routine LCs (13% versus 4%). There were two deaths in the routine LC group and none in the acutely inflamed group. There was no difference in postoperative pain intensity or postoperative fatigue according to visual analog scale measurements. Patients with acute cholecystitis stayed only 1 day longer (median 4 days versus 3 days) in hospital. The quality of life scores indicate return to almost normal values by the 14th postoperative day. Long-term follow-up (1–3 years) did not reveal any delayed clinical adverse effects. In summary, LC for inflamed gallbladders has a higher conversion rate than LC for routine symptomatic gallbladders. If successfully performed, it has definite benefit for the patient in terms of better postoperative recovery. The trade-off is that the risk of CBD injury is significantly higher.

Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: between evidence and common sense.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has been proposed to have diagnostic and therapeutic advantages over conventional surgery. The purpose of this article is to present a recently completed Cochrane review on laparoscopic surgery for suspected appendicitis on the background of daily surgical practice and the developments in the last decade. Methods: Within the Cochrane review, various medical databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, SciSearch) were searched electronically until October 2001. Congress proceedings were searched by hand. Randomized controlled trials were included that assessed the therapeutic effects of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) versus open appendectomy (OA) in adults and children, the diagnostic effects of laparoscopy followed by LA or OA if necessary versus immediate OA, and the therapeutic effects of diagnostic laparoscopy followed by OA if necessary versus immediate OA. Results: Based on 45 studies, wound infection was half as likely while intra-abdominal abscesses were three times more frequent after LA. Return to normal activity showed a uniform tendency in favor of LA. Pain was also reduced, but data vary and most primary studies were not blinded. Obvious diagnostic advantages concerned the negative appendectomy rate and the rate of patients without established diagnosis, both being reduced to 0.2–0.3 (RR). Conclusion: The review finds that laparoscopic surgery for suspected appendicitis has diagnostic and therapeutic advantages as compared to conventional surgery – a fact which is in full agreement with the daily practice of surgeons interested in endoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): results of a consensus development conference

AbstractBackground: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is currently a growing field in endoscopic surgery. The purpose of the Consensus Development Conference was to summarize the state of the art of laparoscopic antireflux operations in June 1996. Methods: Thirteen internationally known experts in gastroesophageal reflux disease were contacted by the conference organization team and asked to participate in a Consensus Development Conference. Selection of the experts was based on clinical expertise, academic activity, community influence, and geographical location. According to the criteria for technology assessment, the experts had to weigh the current evidence on the basis of published results in the literature. A preconsensus document was prepared and distributed by the conference organization team. During the E.A.E.S. conference, a consensus document was prepared in three phases: closed discussion in the expert group, public discussion during the conference, and final closed discussion by the experts. Results: Consensus statements were achieved on various aspects of gastroesophageal reflux disease and current laparoscopic treatment with respect to indication for operation, technical details of laparoscopic procedures, failure of operative treatment, and complete postoperative follow-up evaluation. The strength of evidence in favor of laparoscopic antireflux procedures was based mainly on type II studies. A majority of the experts (6/10) concluded in an overall assessment that laparoscopic antireflux procedures were better than open procedures. Conclusions: Further detailed studies in the future with careful outcome assessment are necessary to underline the consensus that laparoscopic antireflux operations can be recommended.

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

In western countries, gastroesophageal reflux has a high prevalence and, in the USA and Europe in up to 44% of the adult population describe symptoms characteristic for GERD. Troublesome symptoms characteristic for GERD occur in 10–15% with equal frequency in men and women. Men, however, seem to develop reflux esophagitis and complications of esophagitis more frequently than women. Data from the literature indicate that 10–50% of these subjects will need long-term treatment of some kind for their symptoms and/or esophagitis.

Laparoscopic and conventional closure of perforated peptic ulcer

AbstractBackground: After the first successful laparoscopic closure of a perforated peptic ulcer in 1990, 18 patients with laparoscopic closure were compared to 16 patients with conventional surgery. Methods: The endpoint adverse events (complications), pain intensity, operation time, fever, leucocytosis, and duration of hospital stay showed no clinically relevant differences. Results: Consumption of analgesics was lower in the laparoscopic group. Conclusions: Laparoscopic closure of perforated peptic ulcer is technically feasible. The safety of the method and the benefit for the patient need proof by means of a randomized controlled trial.

Organisation der Schmerztherapie in der Chirurgie

ZusammenfassungEin chirurgisch geleiteter Akutschmerzdienst ist eine der verschiedenen Möglichkeiten, die Schmerztherapie auf chirurgischen Stationen effektiv zu gestalten. Dabei sind einige personelle und organisatorische Voraussetzungen wie die 24-Stunden-Bereitschaft, integrierte Dokumentationssysteme und ein Team aus ärztlichen und pflegerischen Mitarbeitern notwendig. In Häusern der Grund- und Regelversorgung kann auch ohne einen Akutschmerzdienst eine effektive Schmerztherapie durchgeführt werden.In der Vergleichsstudie zwischen drei verschiedenen Modellen der Organisation der Schmerztherapie in der Chirurgie (mit und ohne Akutschmerzdienst) fand sich in allen drei Kliniken ein ähnlich hohes Maß an Zufriedenheit mit der Schmerztherapie bei den Patienten. Voraussetzung für eine effiziente Schmerztherapie in der Chirurgie ist, dass ein den Anforderungen des jeweiligen Hauses entsprechendes Konzept entwickelt und umgesetzt wird.AbstractAn acute pain service done by surgeons is one possibility for organizing pain therapy in surgical wards. To do this successfully, some preconditions must be kept in mind, such as 24-h presence, an integrated system of documentation, and teamwork between medical and nursing staff. Comparison of differently structured pain therapy in three different hospitals (with and without acute pain service) showed high levels of patient satisfaction with the pain therapies in all three hospitals. One of the preconditions for effective pain therapy in surgery is to formulate a concept which takes into account the specific situation of each hospital.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in View of Medical Technology Assessment

When any new procedure or technique is inaugurated and practiced, it is essential to assess its worth. New technologies have a characteristic life cycle which is characterized by a sequence: promising

Combined abdominal wall paresis and incisional hernia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract. A case of combined abdominal wall paresis and incisional hernia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is reported. The paresis possibly occurred by a lesion of the N. intercostalis when extending the incision for stone extraction. Possibly the paresis was a predisposing factor for the development of an incisional hernia. The causes of abdominal wall paresis are explored with a review of the literature. In spite of minimal trauma to the anterior abdominal wall in laparoscopic procedures, the risk of iatrogenic lesions remains.