Emin Ersoy

Outcome and cost comparison of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair versus Open Lichtenstein technique.

Laparoscopic hernia repair has all the advantages of a tension free repair. This study compares the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach with tension-free open hernia repair in terms of operative time, postoperative pain, hospital stay, complications, and cost. Open and TAPP repairs using polypropylene mesh were performed in two groups of 25 male patients. The difference in operative times between the groups was not significant. Mean pain scores (0-100) for the open group were 54.12 +/- 13.06 at 12 hours and 37.24 +/- 11.38 at 24 hours, significantly higher than the corresponding scores of 38.36 +/- 8.21 at 12 hours and 20.92 +/- 8.73 at 24 hours for the TAPP group (P < 0.05). The mean postoperative analgesic dose was 6.72 +/- 2.72 in the TAPP group, which was insignificantly lower than 7.52 +/- 2.00 in the open group. Mean hospital stay was 2.24 +/- 0.97 days in the open group and 1.52 +/- 0.51 in the TAPP group, which was significant (P < 0.05). Twenty patients (80%) in the TAPP group rated themselves highly satisfied with the surgery as compared to 11 patients (44%) in the open group (P < 0.05). There was no recurrence in either group during a mean followup period of 13.5 months (range, 8-28 months). Laparoscopic hernia repair was significantly more expensive than open (1100 US dollars versus 629 US dollars). TAPP repair is superior to open repair in terms of shorter hospital stay, lower postoperative pain, and better patient satisfaction. It is also safe, with no recurrence in a short-term period. This technique will be the operation of choice for the treatment of groin hernia after long-term results have been established in our center.

A prospective comparison of local and spinal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair

Aim Today, in inguinal hernia repair, postoperative pain and costs are regarded as equally important issues as technique and recurrence rates. Postoperative pain is thought to vary according to the applied anesthesia method. As local anesthesia is reported to inflict less pain, its effects on early period post-operative complications should also be evaluated.

A prospective comparative study of the efficacy of conventional lichtenstein versus self-adhesive mesh repair for inguinal hernia

PurposeLichtenstein repair has been the gold standard in inguinal hernia surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mesh fixation in terms of postsurgical chronic pain and recurrence.MethodsSixty patients with primary inguinal hernias were treated between March 2007 and December 2008. Thirty patients underwent conventional Lichtenstein repair while a self-adhesive mesh was used for the second group. The primary outcome parameters were the rate of recurrence and chronic pain. The operating time, postoperative pain, complications, and time when patients returned to work were recorded.ResultsFifty-one patients completed the survey. Early pain scores were lower in the self-adhesive mesh group. The main advantage of the self-adhesive mesh was the shorter operating time (23.70 ± 5.57 vs 36.90 ± 11.36, P = 0.006). Both techniques were almost identical in terms of long-term chronic pain (P = 0.294), and the rates of recurrence at the end of a median of 31 months’ follow-up were identical.ConclusionSelf-adhesive mesh repair of inguinal hernias is superior to the conventional Lichtenstein method in terms of shorter operative time and less pain in the early postoperative period. The rates of chronic pain and recurrence are similar with the suture-fixed repairs.

Laparoscopic Gastric Banding for Morbid Obesity in a Patient with Situs Inversus Totalis

We discuss the operative challenges posed by the advanced laparoscopic approach for a patient with situs inversus totalis. The patient was a morbidly obese woman with multiple co-morbidities related to her weight. The modifications in the surgical technique include the insertion of trocars according to the mirror image anatomy of the intra-abdominal organs under laparoscopic visualization. We suggest preoperative abdominal ultrasound in order to diagnose both gallbladder stones and also the reverse location of intra-abdominal organs that is rarely seen. A laparoscopic gastric banding, not a contradiction for situs inversus totalis, was performed successfully.

A novel minimally invasive technique for insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter.

The placement of a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) catheter by conventional open surgical or trocar technique may cause a number of complications such as infection, hemorrhage, leakage, incisional hernia, and visceral organ perforation. Most complications are related to open surgery or insertion of the catheter with the guidewire without direct visualization. Insertion of the catheter laparoscopically under direct visualization has been previously described. The authors who described this technique used two or three ports for the camera and instruments. In this study we describe a laparoscopic technique for insertion of the peritoneal dialysis catheter under direct visualization with use of one-camera port and an accessory 2-mm umbilical incision. This prospective study was performed with the approval of the ethics committee of the Gazi University Hospital, in Ankara, Turkey. There were a total of eight patients: five males and three females, with an average age of 34.3 years (range, 11–54), who underwent laparoscopic CAPD insertion between 1997 and 2000. The catheter was inserted into the abdominal cavity 2 cm below the umbilicus. The subcutaneous tunnel was made with the assistance of a specially designed L-shaped trocar. All patients did well after the operation and had excellent cosmetic results. There was one leak in the early postoperative period, which was treated conservatively. The average operating time was 34.7 minutes (range, 25–45 minutes). The laparoscopic approach for peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion, for management of transmigrated CAPD catheters, and to resolve omental occlusions should be considered as an alternative to open surgery, especially for patients who have peritoneal adhesions secondary to a history of abdominal surgeries or recurrent peritonitis.

The effect of pentoxifylline on the healing of intestinal anastomosis in rats with experimental obstructive jaundice.

The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of experimental obstructive jaundice on the healing of intestinal anastomosis, and (2) to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline on the healing of intestinal anastomosis in rats with obstructive jaundice. Obstructive jaundice was induced in rats by the ligation and division of the common bile duct. Four days after this operation, either pentoxifylline or isotonic saline solution was administered intraperitoneally to these jaundiced rats and controls, and then intestinal anastomosis was performed. The concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and serum triglyceride of jaundiced and nonjaundiced rats were measured, and the quality of healing was evaluated by measuring the bursting preasure and hydroxyproline content of the anastomoses on the fifth and tenth days of anastomotic healing. Obstructive jaundice resulted in an impaired wound healing of the intestinal anastomosis in the rats. The administration of pentoxifylline to the jaundiced rats resulted in better anastomotic wound healing. The beneficial effects of pentoxifylline on anastomotic healing in rats with obstructive jaundice was attributed to its inhibitor effect on the endotoxin-induced TNF-α release from macrophages and monocytes, and the stabilizing effect on the neutrophils.

Clinical approach to graft hepatic artery thrombosis following living related liver transplantation

Abstract: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) has an occurrence rate of 1.7–26% following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and is one of the most common reasons for graft loss and mortality in this population. There is a higher incidence of HAT in pediatric recipients. The aim of this case report is to discuss clinical approaches for the treatment of HAT occurring in the early post‐operative period after LDLT. An 11‐month‐old, 7.8‐kg female with cirrhosis secondary to biliary atresia underwent LDLT at Gazi University Hospital in Ankara. The graft was a left lateral segment from her father with a left hepatic artery (HA) of 2 mm diameter and a graft weight/recipient body weight ratio of 2.0%. After an uneventful early post‐operative period, HAT was diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography (USG) on the fifth post‐operative day. Following angiographic evaluation, immediate exploration and reanastomosis was performed using an operation microscope. Post‐operatively, the HA was patented by Doppler USG and graft function returned to normal. Now, 42 months later, the patient continues to do well with normal graft function, using a regimen of tacrolimus monotherapy for immunosuppression. In countries which have very limited resources for urgent re‐transplantation, given their serious donor shortage, graft salvage may be the only option for patient survival when HAT occurs. In these circumstances, early diagnosis and immediate revascularization may be the only method for graft salvage. A daily routine of Doppler USG examination in the early post‐operative period may provide a method for the early diagnosis of HAT, before liver enzymes are elevated and hepatic necrosis has begun.

The effects of glutamine-enriched feeding on incisional healing in rats

Abstract Glutamine (Gln), which is the most abundant free amino acid in the circulation, and also a primary fuel for rapidly dividing cells, was used to determine its effects on incisional healing. The effect of Gln-enriched feeding was investigated using tensile strength measurement, which reflects the quality and speed of regeneration, and by the measurement of tissue hydroxyproline level which correlate directly with the collagen content of wounds. Forty albino Wistar rats in four equal groups received a special diet 7 days prior to surgery and 7 days after surgery. On the 7th day of study a 5-cm dorsal midline skin incision was made and then closed by interrupted sutures. Group 1 received a normal diet for all 14 days; group 2 received a Gln-enriched diet 7 days prior to surgery and a normal diet 7 days after surgery; group 3 received a normal diet prior to surgery and a Gln-enriched diet after surgery; group 4 received a constant Gln-enriched diet. On the 7th postoperative day, tensile strength measurements and hydroxyproline level analyses were done. A preoperative Gln-enriched diet did not show any significant improvement in the tensile strength and hydroxyproline levels on the 7th postoperative day, but a pre- and postoperative, and a postoperative Gln-enriched diet significantly improved the tensile strength and hydroxyproline levels when compared with the normal diet group (P<0.0001). These findings show that wound healing is better when Gln was added in the postoperative, or both pre- and postoperative periods, but not when only added in the preoperative period.

Laparoscopic Primary Repair of Ventral Hernias: Early Results of a New Technique

Epigastric, umbilical, incisional, parastomal, and trocar site hernias are all classified as “ventral” hernias, which constitute a great portion of the surgery in a general surgical practice, and debate still continues regarding the optimal surgical strategy to correct these anatomical defects. Although repairing these hernias using a synthetic material, whether placed open or laparoscopically, has gained wide popularity, there are some situations where the use of a mesh is either unnecessary or contraindicated. This article presents the cases of 10 patients with some kind of ventral hernia which were all repaired laparoscopically with a primary suturing technique.

Ileal and colonic contractions by endothelin-1 in experimentally induced paralytic ileus in rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of endothelin-1 on the isolated distal ileum and proximal colon in an experimentally induced ileus in rats. Ileal and colonic contractions by endothelin-1, acetylcholine alone and with endothelin-1 were recorded both in normal and experimentally induced paralytic ileus in rats. In the control group, all the responses to acetylcholine were found to be potentiated significantly when used together with endothelin-1 but in paralytic ileus group, no detectable change was observed in the responses of the amine after administration of acetylcholine together with endothelin-1. This study indicates that endothelin-1 might have an effect on gastrointestinal motility and postoperative paralytic ileus.