Hasan Altun

Direct trocar insertion technique for initial access in morbid obesity surgery: technique and results.

Purpose Obtaining access to the peritoneal cavity in laparoscopic surgery is more difficult in morbidly obese patients. There is no clear consensus as to the optimal method of entry into the peritoneal cavity. This study assesses the safety and feasibility of the direct trocar insertion technique without pre-existing pneumoperitoneum in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Methods From February 2006 to July 2009, 155 morbidly obese patients underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery. There were 128 women (82.6%) and 27 men (17.4%). The mean age was 41 and ranged between 18 and 59 years. Results All patients met the National Institutes of Health criteria for bariatric surgery. The mean body mass index was 45 kg/m2 (range 35 to 61). There was no evidence of intestinal or vascular injury during trocar placement. Immediate minor complications were extraperitoneal insufflations in 5 patients, gastric serosal laceration in 1 patient, and left liver lobe laceration in 1 patient. No major complications were associated with this technique. Conclusions All complications related to the direct trocar insertion technique were minor and these complications did not affect the success of surgery. We concluded that the direct trocar technique for initial access in laparoscopic bariatric surgery provides safe and quick entry into the peritoneal cavity.

Improved Gustatory Sensitivity in Morbidly Obese Patients After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Introduction: The reduction in the preferences for sweet and fat containing tastes in obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery was relatively well shown; however, there are only limited data on the changes in the sensitivity of other tastes like sour, salty, and bitter. Methods: We investigated the changes in gustatory sensitivity of 52 morbidly obese patients (M/F, 22/30; age range, 19-60 years; BMI range, 32.5-63.0 kg/m2) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The surgery was performed by the same surgeon using 5 ports technique. Gustatory sensitivity was tested preoperatively and 1 and 3 months after the surgery using standardized Taste Strips test. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the taste acuity to sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastants in morbidly obese patients after the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy during the follow-up period of 3 months. Median whole test scores of the patients were increased from 11.5 preoperatively to 14 in the first and third months. Conclusion: In this study, we were able to show the significant improvement in gustatory sensitivity of morbidly obese patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the first time in literature.

Ethyl Pyruvate Improves Healing of Colonic Anastomosis in a Rat Model of Peritonitis

Background. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on wound healing in primary colonic anastomoses in intraperitoneal sepsis. Methods. Standard left colon resection and end-to-end anastomosis were performed on 30 rats. They were grouped as control (C)—no further treatment; sepsis (S)—received 2 mL Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) intraperitoneally (IP), and after 5 hours, standard resection and anastomosis were performed; or sepsis-group treated with EP (S-EP)—received 2 mL E coli IP, after 5 hours, standard resection and anastomosis were performed and treated with EP 50 mg/kg IP for 7 days. On the postoperative day 7, the animals were sacrificed. Results. The anastomosis bursting pressure in group S was significantly lower than in the other groups. There were no differences between groups C and S-EP. Tissue hydroxyproline concentrations in group C were significantly higher than in group S. Conclusions. EP administration prevented intraperitoneal sepsis-induced impaired anastomotic healing of colon.

Therapy of solitary cecal diverticulitis in a young patient with laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Cecal diverticulum of colon is a relatively rare and benign condition in the western world. The reported frequency is approximately 1 in 300 appendectomies. They are usually asymptomatic but it may cause inflammatory, hemorrhagic, or perforatory complications. It is often clinically indistinguishable from acute appendicitis. The diagnosis is almost made intraoperatively. We present a 21-year-old female patient who admitted to our emergency unit with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed due to suspicious acute appendicitis. During exploration, an inflammatory mass originated from cecum was noticed. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed due to suspicious malignant mass. The postoperative course was uneventful. Although radiologic techniques are improved; the diagnosis of solitary cecal diverticulum is difficult. The choice of surgical therapy is controversial. The therapy is ranged from a simple diverticulectomy to right hemicolectomy. Diagnostic laparoscopy can help the surgeon in the diagnosis of right lower quadrant pain and therapy of solitary cecal diverticulitis.

Should appendectomy be performed laparoscopically? Clinical prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been described in 1983, and its superiority over open appendectomy (OA) is still being debated. Currently, there is no agreement on the advantages of LA. Postoperative pain is reported to be lower along with a faster return to normal activities in LA. However, some studies do not support these findings. In our study, we aimed to compare the outcomes and cost effectiveness of LA and OA. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients were prospectively randomized into LA (31 patients) and OA (32 patients) groups. Demographic data, pre- and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, white blood cell (WBC) count, duration of surgery and hospitalization, complications, and pain scores (VAS) were recorded. Cost was calculated for both groups. Return to normal activities was evaluated by phone calls at the first and second week and 1 month after surgery. RESULTS There was a significant postoperative decrease in WBC count in the LA group (p<0.01). There were no differences between LA and OA groups in terms of postoperative CRP levels (p>0.05). The rates of wound infection and abscess were similar (p>0.05), while post-operative pain and time to return to normal activities were higher in the OA group (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between BMI and operative time in the LA group (p<0.01), while BMI and operative time did not show a correlation in the OA group (p>0,05). The average cost in the LA and OA groups were 1960.5±339.05 and 687.115±159.5 TL, respectively. CONCLUSION LA is an effective method in the treatment of acute appendicitis due to less pain and faster recovery. LA can be the choice of treatment in acute appendicitis, with utilization of re-useable and cheaper vascular sealing devices.

Difficulties of bariatric surgery after abdominoplasty.

During laparoscopy, the main problems of patients who have undergone previous abdominoplasty are inadequate pneumoperitoneum secondary to fibrosis and reconstructed anatomic landmarks for trocar placement. In this study, we present our laparoscopic bariatric experience in two patients with previous abdominoplasty. The procedures were a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and a robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Both operations were done successfully by an abdominal wall traction technique, cutting fibrotic tissue and choosing new landmarks. We conclude that after abdominoplasty bariatric surgery can be performed safely either using conventional laparoscopic technique or robotically.

Prolonged venous bleeding due to traditional treatment with leech bite: a case report

IntroductionThe medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, has been used in the treatment of many diseases for thousands of years. In Turkey, it is used most commonly in the management of venous diseases of lower extremities.Case presentationA 25-year-old Turkish woman presented to our emergency room with bleeding from her left leg. She had been treated for varicose veins in her lower extremities with leeches about 24 hours before admission to the emergency room. The bleeding was controlled by applying pressure with sterile gauze upon the wound, and she was discharged. She returned after four hours having started bleeding again. Hemostasis was achieved by vein ligation under local anesthesia.ConclusionsLeech bite should be evaluated as a special injury. Prolonged bleeding can be seen after leech bites. In such cases, hemostasis either with local pressure or ligation of the bleeding vessel is mandatory.

A comparison of single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy and an alternative technique without a suspension suture

OBJECTIVE Many surgeons face difficulties during single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) surgery and are forced to use an additional port. We compared the results of a technique that we developed with SILC. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-four patients who were diagnosed with chronic cholelithiasis were prospectively randomized and divided into two groups. An additional 5-mm port (MCAP: with an additional port using a multi-channel device through the umbilicus) was placed in the subxiphoid area instead of a transabdominal suspension suture in one group of patients. The other group was operated on with the SILC technique. The demographic and surgical data of the patients were compared. RESULTS The MCAP technique shortened the surgery duration by more than half (MCAP: 35.0±12.3, SILC: 79.1±27.7 min) (p<0.05). No difference was found between the two methods in terms of estimated blood loss, length of hospitalization, postoperative day 1 and 7 visual analog scale scores, need for analgesia in the postoperative period, and rate of changing to another technique due to inadequacy of the surgical technique. CONCLUSION MCAP is as safe as SILC for cholecystectomy and is easier for the surgeon to perform.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a new retraction technique.

Abstract Background : Laparo-endoscopic single site cholecystectomy receives great interest from the surgical community. It has potential for reducing postoperative pain, length of hospital stay and improving cosmesis. Minimally invasive surgeons have been forced to develop techniques for providing adequate retraction of the gallbladder. Herein, we describe a new retraction technique to improve the dissection of Calot’s triangle. Surgical technique : Twelve patients underwent laparo-endoscopic single site laparoscopic cholecystectomy using this retraction technique. An intra-umbilical skin incision was made by pulling out the umbilicus. A SILS® port was placed through an open approach. We inserted a 10-mm 30o camera through the SILS® port without using any trocar. One suture was knotted in the middle of the gallbladder. Gallbladder retraction was achieved by the use of an EndoClose® needle that was inserted into abdominal cavity at the subcostal border. The floppy knot was held by the notched end of the EndoClose® needle. This device provided retraction of the gallbladder in every direction. Conclusions : Adequate retraction greatly simplifies laparo-endoscopic single site cholecystectomy. New retraction techniques will enable wider use of this novel minimally invasive approach. Further work is needed to investigate the advantages of this new technique.

Does Helicobacter pylori infection influence the major postoperative complication rate after sleeve gastrectomy? A retrospective cohort study in an endemic region

BACKGROUND/AIMS Helicobacter pylori infection is very common in Eastern countries. Little is known about the impact this infection has on bariatric surgery outcomes. This retrospective cohort study conducted on obese Turkish adults who underwent sleeve gastrectomy at a single center aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the effect of this infection on the rate of early major postoperative complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS All consecutive patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy for obesity between 2014 and 2015 and who had complete data were enrolled. A single surgeon performed all procedures. All resected specimens were sent to pathology for analysis. RESULTS Of the 460 patients who met the eligibility criteria, 326 (71%) were female. The average (±standard deviation) age and body mass index were 37.5±10.0 years and 42.7±7.7 kg/m2, respectively. Histology revealed that 150 (33%) patients had H. pylori infection. The H. pylori-infected group developed two complications (leakage and intra-abdominal collection). The uninfected group developed three complications (all bleeding related). The two groups did not differ significantly regarding postoperative complication rates (1.3% vs. 1.0%; p=0.717). CONCLUSION H. pylori infection did not affect the rate of early complications after sleeve gastrectomy. This suggests that H. pylori screening or eradication policy is not essential for asymptomatic candidates who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy.