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Background Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare soft tissue tumor. Among different anatomical locations where it can be found, gastric localization is a very uncommon one. Based on soft tissue sarcoma guidelines, complete tumor excision is considered the main treatment approach. Depending on size and localization of the tumor, both wedge and major gastric resections have been performed in the past for the treatment of this condition. Case presentation We present the case of a 43-year-old woman who underwent a laparoscopic intragastric excision of a gastric 10-mm SS located nearby the esophagogastric junction. Pathology examination confirmed the presence of a SS. The resected specimen confirmed margin-free excision of a monophasic spindle cell neoplasm invading the submucosa and presenting the rearrangement of SS18 gene at fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). No adjuvant treatment was offered, and 18 months after surgery, the patient was alive and disease free. Conclusions This represents the first case reported in literature of a laparoscopic intragastric resection for a gastric SS. This approach allowed to obtain a full thickness radical tumor resection with the advantages of minimally invasive and organ preserving surgery.

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.

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair is a safe and effective technique. In this study we tested the hypothesis that self-gripping mesh used with the laparoscopic approach is comparable to polypropylene mesh in terms of perioperative complications, against a lower overall cost of the procedure. We carried out a prospective randomized trial comparing a group of 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair with self-gripping mesh versus a group of 30 patients who received polypropylene mesh with fibrin glue fixation. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to intraoperative variables, early or late intraoperative complications, chronic pain or recurrence. Self-gripping mesh in transabdominal hernia repair was found to be a valid alternative to polypropylene mesh in terms of complications, recurrence and postoperative pain. The cost analysis and comparability of outcomes support the preferential use of self-gripping mesh.

Introduction Incidence of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is increased in the last thirty years from 1.1 to 5.2 cases per 100,000 people in the United States. They can originate from the pancreatic gland and for the majority of cases are not functioning (80%). A small percentage of functioning may produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and lead to ectopic ACTH Syndrome (EAS), responsible of Cushing-Syndrome. Results We present a case of a 30 year-old woman suffering from EAS due to a neoformation of the pancreatic tail of the maximum diameter of 4 cm. The lesion was resectable at preoperatory imaging. The patient was subjected to distal splenopancreasectomy. Histological examination showed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma pT3N0. The postoperative course was regular. At two years of follow-up patient is almost completely asymptomatic for Cushing's but she has developed multiple liver metastases, for which she began chemotherapy. Discussion p-NET responsible for EAS is usually malignant and the radical treatment of excision of the lesion is not possible because they occur at the time of diagnosis with liver metastases or unresectable. Our patient had a mass at the time of diagnosis resectable but despite radical surgery, she has developed multiple liver metastases at two years and she was undergoing chemotherapy. Conclusions In agreement with previous literature we confirm the aggressive nature of pancreatic tumors secreting ACTH, despite radical surgery. Conversely, surgical treatment is effective on the resolution of clinical symptoms.

An intact hepatic artery is the gateway to successful hepato-biliary surgery. Introduction of laproscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has stimulated a renewed interest in the anatomy of hepatic artery. In this case report we have highlighted importance of variations of right hepatic artery in terms of origin and course We present a rare asymptomatic case of liver atrophy due to an intraoperative lesion of right hepatic artery. We also performed a literature review about surgical vascular lesions and tried to confirm the right concept behind “non trivial procedure” of the LC.

Introduction : Endorectal ultrasound (ERU) is used for locoregional staging of rectal cancer. Our work compares the data in the literature regarding diagnostic accuracy of the technique and results of routine use of the technique in two centers in Piedmont. Material and methods : 77 reports ultrasound with the final diagnosis of rectal cancer from the period 2008–2012 were examined. The echographies were performed by two experienced operators, using two ultrasound device with the same technical characteristics. Results : Sensitivity levels are high, with the exception of stage T3. Specificity is always high. The relationships of verisimilitude, both negative and positive, showing that the accuracy of the test is still high. The risk of overstaging is higher for pT1, while most important the risk of understaging concerns the stage T3 (23.5%); on the contrary the ERU is able to exclude infiltration of perirectal organs with a good accuracy (NPV of 99.3%). Conclusion : Although our study was a retrospective study, likewise some literature's reports, the interpretation of our analysis results shows a significant risk of downstaging T3 and N+ tumors. ERU represents in our experience a very important radiological staging methods to evaluate T1 and T2 rectal cancer.