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Introduction: Laparoscopic liver surgery is evolving and the best technique for dividing the liver parenchyma is currently under debate. The aim of this study was to study different techniques during a full laparoscopic lobe resection, and determine the efficacy and risks of bleeding and gas embolism., Methods: Sixteen pigs were randomized to two groups: group US underwent an operation with Ultracision shears (AutoSonix) and ultrasonic dissector (CUSA) and group VS with a vessel sealing system (Ligasure) and ultrasonic dissector. A left lobe resection was performed. Transesophageal endoscopic echocardiography (TEE) was used to detect gas emboli in the right side of the heart and pulmonary artery. The operations and TEE were recorded for later assessment., Results: Compared with group VS, group US exhibited significantly more intraoperative bleeding (p = 0.02), a trend towards a longer operation time (p = 0.08), and a trend towards more embolization for grade I emboli. In total, 10 of 15 animals had emboli during the operation., Conclusions: This study showed that a laparoscopic left lobe resection can be performed with a combination of AutoSonix and CUSA as well as with Ligasure and CUSA instrumentation. In our hands, less bleeding was incurred with Ligasure than with AutoSonix.

Background: The liver is the most common location for metastases from colorectal cancer. Current treatment options (i.e. neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, pre-operative portal vein embolization), IMPROVED OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES: and combinations of modalities and have rendered more patients eligible for liver surgery., Material and Methods: Literature from 1996 to July 2007 was retrieved from Pubmed using the search terms "liver metastases", "liver resection", "colorectal cancer", "randomized controlled trial", "systematic review" and "meta-analysis"., Results: No randomized controlled trials were identified that compared liver resection with non-surgical treatment of these patients. Except for a few systematic review articles, the scientific basis for resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer consists mainly of retrospective studies from single institutions. Median survival for patients with colorectal liver metastases is about 20 months; a five-year survival of 30-50% is reported in resected patients. Patients with non-resectable disease rarely survive for five years. 30-40% of the resected patients have post-operative complications (mostly minor) and postoperative mortality is 3-5%., Interpretation: Surgical treatment of liver metastases is established practice. Patients with colorectal liver metastases should be referred to a multidisciplinary team for appropriate evaluation. Neoadjuvant treatment and multimodal approaches may increase the proportion of patients with resectable liver metastases, and better preoperative imaging may help to more carefully select patients who can benefit from this treatment.

Objective: In this audit we looked at patients who came in to the University Hospital of Iceland, diagnosed to have perforated peptic ulcer, with the aim to gain information about the patients and the treatment., Material and Methods: Information was from patients' notes, of 72 patients presenting with perforated peptic ulcer, from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1995. Mean age of patients was 59 years. Male: female 1:1., Results: Twenty nine persent of the patients had history of previous peptic ulcer. One third of the patients were receiving NSAID at the time of perforation, 54% had gastric perforation and 45% duodenal perforation. Fourty four (64%) did undergo laparotomy and 25 (36%) laparoscopy. Of the 25, 11 operations were converted to laparotomy. Mortality was 13%. Patients, that had laparoscopic treatment, were discharged 2.3 days earlier on average, compared to those undergoing laparotomy. Thirty one (45%) patients had concomitant disease(s)., Conclusions: A large proportion of patients coming to hospital with perforated peptic ulcers are older people, many with serious concomitant diseases. Laparoscopic treatment of perforated ulcers are equal to lapotomy, altough laporoscopic treatment shows a trent towards shortening of postoperative treatment in hospital.