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A 57-year-old woman with epigastric pain was diagnosed with a 6-cm abdominal cystic lesion of unclear origin on cross-sectional imaging. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) demonstrated a unilocular cyst located between the pancreas, gastric wall, and left adrenal gland, with a regular wall filled with dense fluid with multiple hyperechoic floating spots. A 19-G needle was used to puncture the cyst, but no fluid could be aspirated. Therefore, EUS-guided through-the-needle biopsy (EUS-TTNB) was performed. Histological analysis of the retrieved fragments revealed a fibrous wall lined by “respiratory-type” epithelium with ciliated columnar cells, consistent with the diagnosis of a bronchogenic cyst. Laparoscopic excision was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed based on the findings of the surgical specimen. Abdominal bronchogenic cysts are extremely uncommon, and a definitive diagnosis is commonly obtained after the examination of surgical specimens due to the lack of pathognomonic findings on cross-sectional imaging and poor cellularity on EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. EUS-TTNB is useful for establishing a preoperative histological diagnosis, thus supporting the decision-making process.

BACKGROUND There is still large debate on feasibility and advantages of fast-track protocols in elderly population after colorectal surgery. AIM To investigate the impact of age on feasibility and short-term results of enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) after laparoscopic colorectal resection. METHODS Data from 225 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection and ERP between March 2014 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Three groups were considered according to patients’ age: Group A, 65 years old or less, Group B, 66 to 75 years old and Group C, 76 years old or more. Clinic and pathological data were compared amongst groups together with post-operative outcomes including post-operative overall and surgery-specific complications, mortality and readmission rate. Differences in post-operative length of stay and adherence to ERP’s items were evaluated in the three study groups. RESULTS Among the 225 patients, 112 belonged to Group A, 57 to Group B and 56 to Group C. Thirty-day overall morbidity was 32.9% whilst mortality was nihil. Though the percentage of complications progressively increased with age (25.9% vs 36.8% vs 42.9%), no differences were observed in the rate of major complications (4.5% vs 3.5% vs 1.8%), prolonged post-operative ileus (6.2% vs 12.2% vs 10.7%) and anastomotic leak (2.7% vs 1.8% vs 1.8%). Significant differences in recovery outcomes between groups were observed such as delayed urinary catheter removal (P = 0.032) and autonomous deambulation (P = 0.013) in elderly patients. Although discharge criteria were achieved later in older patients (3 d vs 3 d vs 4 d, P = 0.040), post-operative length of stay was similar in the 3 groups (5 d vs 6 d vs 6 d). CONCLUSION ERPs can be successfully and safely applied in elderly undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.

A well-designed learning curve is essential for the acquisition of laparoscopic skills: but, are there risk factors that can derail the surgical method? From a review of the current literature on the learning curve in laparoscopic surgery, we identified learning curve components in video laparoscopic cholecystectomy; we suggest a learning curve model that can be applied to assess the progress of general surgical residents as they learn and master the stages of video laparoscopic cholecystectomy regardless of type of patient. Electronic databases were interrogated to better define the terms “surgeon”, “specialized surgeon”, and “specialist surgeon”; we surveyed the literature on surgical residency programs outside Italy to identify learning curve components, influential factors, the importance of tutoring, and the role of reference centers in residency education in surgery. From the definition of acceptable error, self-efficacy, and error classification, we devised a learning curve model that may be applied to training surgical residents in video laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Based on the criteria culled from the literature, the three surgeon categories (general, specialized, and specialist) are distinguished by years of experience, case volume, and error rate; the patients were distinguished for years and characteristics. The training model was constructed as a series of key learning steps in video laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Potential errors were identified and the difficulty of each step was graded using operation-specific characteristics. On completion of each procedure, error checklist scores on procedure-specific performance are tallied to track the learning curve and obtain performance indices of measurement that chart the trainee’s progress. Conclusions. The concept of the learning curve in general surgery is disputed. The use of learning steps may enable the resident surgical trainee to acquire video laparoscopic cholecystectomy skills proportional to the instructor’s ability, the trainee’s own skills, and the safety of the surgical environment. There were no patient characteristics that can derail the methods. With this training scheme, resident trainees may be provided the opportunity to develop their intrinsic capabilities without the loss of basic technical skills.