S. P. L. Dexter

Effect of surveillance of Barrett's oesophagus on the clinical outcome of oesophageal cancer

Surveillance programmes for Barretts oesophagus have been implemented in an effort to detect oesophageal adenocarcinoma at an earlier and potentially curable stage. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of endoscopic surveillance on the clinical outcome of patients with adenocarcinoma complicating Barretts oesophagus.

Radical thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer

AbstractBackground: Much of the morbidity of conventional esophagectomy for cancer is thought to relate to the thoracotomy wound and while transhiatal esophagectomy removes the need for a thoracotomy, it is not oncologically sound. Videothoracoscopy could potentially provide an oncologically sound means for resecting the thoracic esophagus without the need for a thorcotomy. Methods: Between June 1991 and June 1994, thoracoscopic mobilization of the thoracic esophagus combined with radical lymphadenectomy was attempted in 24 patients as part of three-stage esophagectomy for cancer (5 squamous and 19 adenocarcinomas). Mean age was 59 years (range 43–76). Eight patients were ASA grade I, 10 were ASA II, and 6 ASA III. Two patients had early lesions (T1N0) but all other cancers were T2 (3) or T3 (19). Dissection of the thoracic esophagus was attempted via a right-sided approach, followed by a laparotomy and a cervical incision. Results: The thoracoscopic procedure was successful in 22 patients; it was abandoned in one patient with dense pleural adhesions and in another with inoperable tumor. Mean duration of the thoracic component was 184 min (120–330). There were three post-operative deaths. Ten further patients had major complications. Median post-operative stay was 18 days (9–129). Mean node harvest was 13 nodes (6–28). Two-year survival (cancer specific) was 33%. Conclusions: Radical thoracoscopic mobilization of the esophagus is feasible, but the potential for complications remains high and requires further study.

Anastomotic Leakage after Esophagectomy for Cancer: A Mortality-Free Experience

BACKGROUND Leakage is a serious complication of esophagectomy and is historically associated with high mortality. This study aimed to describe the morphology and strategies for clinical management of leakage after esophagectomy. STUDY DESIGN A database prospectively maintained from July 2002 to July 2005 at a referral unit for foregut cancer was used to identify patients with leakage of saliva or gastrointestinal contents after esophagectomy and reconstruction with stomach. Contrast swallow was routinely performed on postoperative day 7. Leakage was diagnosed and classified by well-defined criteria. RESULTS There were 99 men and 27 women, yielding an institutional volume of 42 esophagectomies per year. There was no in-hospital mortality from any cause. Actual 1-year survival was 87%. An Ivor Lewis operation was performed on 103 patients (82%); 4 patients had leakage within 5 days of operation and all had immediate rethoracotomy. An additional 8 patients with Ivor Lewis operation had leakage after day 5, and this was detected by contrast swallow in only 3 patients; 2 patients had no intervention, 4 patients had radiology-guided drainage, 1 had thoracoscopy, and 1 had rethoracotomy. Leakage was from the actual esophagogastric anastomosis in eight patients, from the linear gastric staple line in three patients, or from gastric necrosis in one patient. Twenty-three patients had a transhiatal or three-stage operation; leakage was from the actual anastomosis in five patients or gastric necrosis in one patient. CONCLUSIONS After Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, leakage was from the actual anastomosis in two-thirds of patients or from the gastric conduit in the remaining one-third. Prompt reoperation is recommended for early postoperative leakage. Most patients with leakage after day 5 can be treated nonoperatively.

Comparison of early outcomes for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair between nonobese and morbidly obese patient populations

BackgroundObesity predisposes to incisional herniation and increased the incidence of recurrence after conventional open repair. Only sparse data on the safety and security of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) for morbidly obese patients are available. This study compared the incidence of perioperative complications and early recurrence after LVHR between morbidly obese and non–morbidly obese patients.MethodsThe case records of consecutive patients who underwent LVHR between December 2002 and August 2007 were reviewed. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) lower than 35 kg/m2 were compared with morbidly obesity patients who had a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher.ResultsThe study included 168 patients (87 men) with a median age of 55 years (range, 24–92 years). Two conversions to open repair (1.2%) were performed, both for non–morbidly obese patients. Of the 168 patients, 42 (25%) were morbidly obese (BMI range, 35.0–58.0 kg/m2) and 126 (75%) were non–morbidly obese (BMI range, 15.5–34.9 kg/m2). The groups showed no significant differences in age, gender, number or size of fascial defects, operative time, length of hospital stay, or incidence of perioperative complications. At a median follow-up period of 19 months (range, 6–62 months), 20 patients (12%) had recurrent hernias. The incidence of recurrence was significantly associated with the size of the fascial defect and the size of the mesh, but not with morbid obesity.ConclusionNo significant difference in the incidence of perioperative complications or recurrence after LVHR was observed between the morbidly obese patients and the non–morbidly obese patients.

Laparoscopic enucleation of a solitary pancreatic insulinoma

Abstract. Insulinomas are usually small, benign tumors of the pancreas, often found in obese patients, which require an incision that is out of all proportion to the size of the lesion. A laparoscopic technique for enucleation of a pancreatic insulinoma is described.

Laparoscopic splenectomy : The suspended pedicle technique

BACKGROUND Elective splenectomy is often performed for hematological diseases, some of which cause only moderate enlargement of the spleen. The avoidance of an extensive upper abdominal incision is desirable in such cases and laparoscopic splenectomy offers significant potential advantages over the open operation if it can be performed safely and economically. METHODS Eight consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy. The operation was carried out with the patient at 40 degrees in the right lateral position so that rotating the operating table would make a full right lateral position possible. After fenestration of the gastrocolic omentum and division of the short gastric vessels, this position allowed the spleen to be pushed up under the diaphragm to facilitate access to the splenic vessels and the hilum. Vessels were divided individually between clips. RESULTS All eight cases were completed laparoscopically. Mean length of operation was 259 min (range 230-285). Postoperative stay ranged from 2 to 7 days (median 4 days). There was no mortality, although minor complications did occur in three patients. CONCLUSIONS We found laparoscopic splenectomy to be a safe and feasible procedure for the elective removal of the moderately enlarged spleen.

Does pneumatic dilatation affect the outcome of laparoscopic cardiomyotomy

Background: Controversy surrounds the choice of laparoscopic cardiomyotomy as the primary treatment for achalasia or a second-line treatment following the failure of nonsurgical treatment. Laparoscopic cardiomyotomy can be more difficult technically following pneumatic dilatations. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome obtained with primary laparoscopic cardiomyotomy to that achieved when the procedure is performed following failed pneumatic dilatation. Methods: Laparoscopic cardiomyotomy was performed in seven patients following a median of four pneumatic dilatations (group A) and in five patients as their primary treatment (group B). Outcome was measured using manometry, a modified DeMeester symptom scoring system, and a quality-of-life questionnaire. Results: There were no significant differences between groups A and B in sex, age, preoperative modified DeMeester score, or mean barrier pressure. Six of seven group A patients had evidence of periesophageal and submucosal fibrosis at surgery, but this condition was not seen in group B patients. The operative time was slightly longer in group A patients. There was no difference in complication rates (one primary hemorrhage in group A and one esophageal perforation in group B), and both groups had a significantly improved modified DeMeester score at 6 weeks and at long-term follow-up (median, 26 months). Eleven of 12 patients said that they would choose laparoscopic cardiomyotomy as their primary treatment if newly diagnosed with achalasia. Conclusions: Laparoscopic cardiomyotomy is safe and effective as a primary or second-line treatment following pneumatic dilatations in patients with achalasia.

Micropuncture laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AbstractBackground: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) significantly reduces the discomfort and disability typically associated with open cholecystectomy, but there is still room for improvement. Methods: In order to further reduce the trauma of access, we have introduced a technique of micropuncture laparoscopic cholecystectomy (MPLC) that utilizes three 3-mm cannulae in addition to the standard 10-mm cannula at the umbilicus. MPLC was performed in 25 patients (median age, 52 years; m/f, three of 22) with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Results: The operation was completed in all patients. The median duration of surgery was 75 min (range, 45–180). Sixteen patients were discharged the same day and nine patients the next day. All the patients had an uncomplicated recovery. Only eight patients requested postoperative analgesia while in hospital. Micropuncture exploration of the bile duct was carried out in one patient. Conclusions: MPLC is a feasible and safe technique that appears to improve on the benefits of LC; it makes the operation even more feasible as a day-surgery procedure.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in pregnancy

AbstractBackground: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones; while symptomatic gallstones during pregnancy are not frequent they are by no means rare. The role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy is controversial but initial reports suggest it is both safe and feasible. Methods: During a consecutive series of 500 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, 3 patients have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy. The 3 patients were 16–27 weeks pregnant with an average age of 32 years. The indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy was severe pain in two patients and gallstone pancreatitis in one patient. Following standard obstetric anesthesia, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Open cannulation was used to establish peritoneal access, following which “standard,” four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed without complication. The insufflation pressure used was 8–10 mmHg CO2 and a liver retractor was employed to facilitate access. Results: In each case the postoperative recovery was rapid and uneventful for both mother and fetus. The patients were discharged on the first or second postoperative day. Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the second trimester of pregnancy is both safe and feasible provided both suitable surgical and anesthetic expertise are available. Even up to the end of the second trimester there is sufficient access for the technique to be employed.

Mucosal biomarkers of colorectal cancer risk do not increase at 6 months following sleeve gastrectomy, unlike gastric bypass

The hypothesis that sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is not associated with an increase in mucosal colorectal cancer (CRC) biomarkers, unlike Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB), was tested.