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Background: A prospective IDEAL stage 2a pilot study was carried out at a tertiary care center to evaluate the reliability of a homemade laparoscopic endotrainer, following the MISTEL and IDEAL framework guidelines., Methods: The validated modified (MISTELS) score was used to test the reliability of a low-cost laparoscopic trainer with commonly found components built by surgeons. Basic household materials including a cellular phone (camera source), wifi (linking source) and freely available webcam apps were used for construction. Five basic laparoscopic skills were performed by general surgery resident volunteers with minimal (1-6 months') laparoscopic surgery experience and tested and retested based on efficiency and precision. To determine interrater reliability, two trained observers scored all subjects. The Cronbach alpha test was used to test for internal consistency between tasks. The Interclass correlation coefficient is used for test and retest reliability., Results: 15 (80% male, mean age 28 ± 5 years) residents were included. The interrater and test-retest reliabilities for the total scores of the basic laparoscopic skills tests were 0.952 (95% CI, 0.895-0.981) and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.35-0.77), respectively. The Cronbach Alpha for the first assessment test and retest was 0.83. The MISTELS metrics had excellent reliability, exceeding the threshold level of 0.8., Conclusion: It is possible to assemble a low-cost, reliable trainer at home to enhance laparoscopic skills during residency., (© 2024 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Purpose: Endometriosis involving the colon and/or rectum (CRE) is operatively managed using various methods. We aimed to determine if a more limited excision is associated with 30-day complications, symptom improvement, and/or recurrence., Methods: This is a retrospective review of consecutive cases of patients who underwent surgical management of CRE between 2010 and 2018. Primary outcomes were the associations between risk factors and symptom improvement, 30-day complications, and time to recurrence. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the independent risk factors., Results: Of 2681 endometriosis cases, 142 [5.3% of total, mean age 35.4 (31.0; 39.0) years, 73.9% stage IV] underwent CRE excision (superficial partial = 66.9%, segmental = 27.5%, full thickness = 1.41%). Minor complications (14.8%) were associated with blood loss [150 (112; 288) vs. 100 (50.0; 200) mls, p = 0.046], Sigmoid involvement [45.5% vs. 12.2%, HR 5.89 (1.4; 22.5), p = 0.01], stoma formation [52.6% vs. 8.9%, HR 10.9 (3.65; 34.1), p < 0.001], and segmental resection [38.5% vs. 5.8%, HR 9.75 (3.54; 30.4), p < 0.001]. Superficial, partial-thickness resections were associated with decreased risk [(4.2% vs. 36.2%), HR 0.08 (0.02; 0.24), p < 0.001]. Factors associated with major complications (8.5%) were blood loss [250 (100; 400) vs. 100 (50.0; 200) mls, p = 0.03], open surgery [31.6% vs. 4.9%, HR 8.74 (2.36; 32.9), p = 0.001], stoma formation [42% vs. 3.3%, HR 20.3 (5.41; 90.0), p < 0.001], and segmental colectomy [28.2% vs. 0.9%, HR 34.6 (6.25; 876), p < 0.001]. Partial-thickness resection was associated with decreased risk ([.05% vs. 23.4%, HR 8.74 (2.36; 32.9), p < 0.001]. 19.1% experienced recurrence. Open surgery [5.2% vs. 21.3%, HR 0.14 (0.02; 1.05), p = 0.027] and superficial partial thickness excision [23.4% vs. 10.6%, HR 2.86 (1.08; 7.59), p = 0.027] were associated. Segmental resection was associated with decreased recurrence risk [7.6% vs. 23.5%, HR 0.27 (0.08; 0.91), p = 0.024]., Conclusion: Limiting resection to partial-thickness or full-thickness disc excision compared to bowel resection may improve complications but increase recurrence risk., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The laparoscopic approach for colon cancer has become widely accepted. However, its safety for T4 tumors, and particularly for T4b tumors when local invasion to adjacent structures occurs, remains controversial. This study aimed to compare short and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic vs. open resection for T4a and T4b colon cancers., Methods: A prospectively maintained, single-institution database was queried to identify patients with pathological stage T4a and T4b colon adenocarcinomas electively operated on between 2000 and 2012. Patients were divided into two groups based on the use of laparoscopy. Patient characteristics, perioperative, and oncologic outcomes were compared., Results: One hundred and nineteen patients [41 laparoscopic (L), 78 open surgeries (O)] met the inclusion criteria. No difference was observed in age, gender, BMI, ASA, and procedure between groups. Tumors treated by L were smaller than O (p = 0.003). No difference was observed in morbidity, mortality, reoperation, or readmission between the groups. Length of hospital stay was shorter in L than O (6 vs. 9 days, p = 0.005). Conversion to open was necessary in 22% of all T4 tumors laparoscopic cases. However, when tumors were subdivided by pT4 classification, conversion was necessary for 4 of 34 (12%) pT4a patients vs. 5 of 7 (71%) pT4b patients (p = 0.003). In the pT4b cohort (n = 37), more tumors were treated by the open approach (30 vs. 7). For pT4b tumors, the R0 resection rate was 94% (86% in L vs. 97% in O, p = 0.249). The use of laparoscopy did not impact overall survival, disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, or tumor recurrence overall in all T4 or T4a and T4b tumors., Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed in pT4 tumors with similar oncologic outcomes as compared to open surgery. However, for pT4b tumors, the conversion rate is very high. The open approach may be preferable., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic mucosal inflammatory bowel disease of the colon and rectum. After 10 years of having the disease, there is a significant risk of dysplasia or cancer in the affected colon and rectum, and because of the often aggressive biology of these tumors, frequent endoscopic surveillance is warranted. Over a third of patients with UC will ultimately require an operation, and although for specific cases alternative operations can be pursued, most patients prefer an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) with J-pouch construction., Case: A staged IPAA removes the affected colon and rectum treating UC and also restores intestinal continuity. However, the standard colectomy for UC includes low ligations of the main colonic vascular pedicle branches (ileocolic, right colic, middle colic and inferior mesenteric) that does not address a proper oncologic operation. A high ligation of the named vessels as well as a proper resection of the affected colon with its mesentery and lymph node package are needed to treat colon cancer. Analogous to a total mesorectal exicision for rectal cancer, a more radical procedure to remove the tumor and lymph node packet for colon cancer is described as a complete mesocolic exision (CME) in efforts to increase disease free survival., Discussion: We demonstrate a laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for UC, with an oncologic complete mesocolic excision for a left transverse colon carcinoma in the setting of chronic mucosal inflammation secondary to chronic UC as the first procedure in a 3-staged IPAA. In the video, it is also demonstrated how the lymph node dissection is extended towards the greater gastric curvature and comprising omentum and gastrocolic ligament. There were no postoperative complications in the 44-year old male patient., (© 2022. The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.)

Purpose: Laparoscopic surgery for complicated Crohn's (CD) is often technically challenging. Previous studies are limited by the comparison of heterogeneous cohorts of patients undergoing laparoscopic vs open surgery. We aimed to compare perioperative and long-term outcomes of matched patients undergoing laparoscopic and open colonic and ileocolonic resection. Primary outcomes were operative time, blood loss, and complications. Long-term outcomes were subsequent intraabdominal CD surgery, incisional hernia repair, and stoma reversal rates., Methods: Laparoscopic and open CD patients were 1:1 propensity score matched on age, body mass index, sex, indication, ASA grade, prior abdominal surgery, and postoperative Crohn's medication use based on the laparoscopic approach., Results: A total of 906 patients underwent surgery for complex CD. After propensity matching, 386 were analyzed (193 open/193 lap, 51.3% male, mean age 33.9 + / - 12.6). Mean follow-up was 9.8 (range 7.9-12.1) years. Length of stay [(LOS) 6 (4, 8) vs 8 (5, 11) days, p < 0.001] and operative time [154 (110, 216) vs 176 (126, 239) min, p = 0.03] were shorter in the laparoscopic group. There was no difference in other complications or mortality. After adjusting for postoperative medications, no association was found between operative approach and subsequent intra-abdominal operation or incisional hernia repair. Laparoscopic patients were less likely to have postoperative sepsis [OR 0.40 (0.18, 0.91), p = 0.03]., Conclusion: In the setting of complicated Crohn's, in matched cohorts, laparoscopic surgery is associated with reduced operative times and LOS. Mortality, reoperation, and symptomatic hernia rates were equivalent to open surgery. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery are less likely to experience postoperative sepsis., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Right iliac fossa (RIF) pain is a common indication for laparoscopy to diagnose and treat appendicitis. When a macroscopically normal appendix is found, there is no standard consensus regarding excision. Some surgeons remove the appendix due to the risk of microscopic inflammation and to avoid a future, repeat laparoscopy for possible appendicitis. Alternatively, others leave the appendix in situ to avoid morbidity from a potentially unnecessary procedure. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with macroscopically normal appendices left in situ., Methods: All emergency laparoscopies without appendicectomy between January 1st 2010- December 31st 2020 were identified from theatre records. All operative notes were individually evaluated and comments on the macroscopic appearance of the appendix and any intra-operative pathology were recorded. Only patients undergoing laparoscopy for suspected appendicitis with macroscopically normal appendices were included., Results: A total of 120 patients [median age 21.68 (range 9-90.8) years] were included. The cohort was predominantly female (n=105, 87.5%). Forty-eight patients (40.0%) had a positive finding during index laparoscopy. During a median duration of 94.5 (range 8-131) months' follow-up, 16 patients (13.33%) underwent a repeat laparoscopy for recurrent RIF pain. Thirteen (10.8% of total cohort) subsequently underwent an appendicectomy. Histology confirmed acute appendicitis in six cases (4.17% of entire cohort). On subanalysis of smaller cohort, index laparoscopies with no positive findings (n=72), nine patients (12.5%) underwent appendicectomy with two (2.7%) appendices demonstrating appendicitis on histological examination., Conclusion: 87% of the total cohort with a normal appendix at laparoscopy for RIF pain did not undergo further laparoscopy. Less than 5% of the total cohort and 2.7% of subanalysis cohort had an appendicectomy for histologically-proven appendicitis within the follow-up period. From the evidence in this study, we conclude that leaving the appendix in situ unless macroscopically inflamed is a viable alternative to excision., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Société Internationale de Chirurgie.)

Complete mesocolic excision (CME) of colon cancer is a resection performed along embryological planes to include the completely intact mesentery surrounding the tumour with a high central vascular ligation. The aim is to remove all lymph nodes draining the cancer. Proponents of the technique cite the significantly decreased local recurrence and improved 5-year survival rates associated with CME versus conventional colectomy. Although increasingly performed in many centres, it has not yet gained widespread acceptance as it is technically more challenging and can incur an increased bleeding risk. A man in his 80s underwent a conventional right hemicolectomy for a pT4aN2aM0 ascending colon cancer at another institution. This was followed by chemotherapy. He presented to our institution 2 years later with an isolated 3.7×3.2 cm mesenteric tumour adjacent to his anastomosis. There was no intraluminal recurrence. He then underwent a repeat extended right colectomy with CME. Pathology confirmed lymph node recurrence. His case demonstrates the importance of CME in reducing carcinoma recurrence risk., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Obturator hernia (OH), a rare type of hernia, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often delayed as clinical symptoms are typically non-specific. OH is frequently associated with other occult inguinopelvic herniae. Early diagnosis is vital to decrease morbidity and mortality. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who presented to the surgical outpatients' department with non-specific bilateral groin pain radiating to the thighs. CT of the pelvis demonstrated bilateral OH with no radiological evidence of bowel obstruction. Semiurgent elective laparoscopic total extraperitoneal mesh repair was performed. Intraoperative findings confirmed bilateral obturator herniae as well as incidental bilateral femoral herniae. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for such concomitant hernias that, in the presence of OH, may only be identified intraoperatively., (2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)