Search

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of performing minilaparoscopy compared with standard laparoscopy in the treatment of cryptorchidism with an ipsilatera...

Background. There is still no standardized treatment for vaginal agenesis; surgical repair using a minimally invasive technique is a good option, as it offers rapid results along with a fast postoperative recovery. Objective. To describe a new modified Vecchietti procedure by a mini-laparoscopic approach with intraoperative use of indocyanine green fluorescence technology for the creation of a neovagina in the setting of congenital vaginal agenesis. Methods. Retrospective review of all cases of congenital vaginal agenesis submitted to a mini-laparoscopic modified Vecchietti procedure with intraoperative use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence (between June and September 2019). Patient relevant medical history, surgical technique, postoperative care, outcomes, and complications are described. Results. Four patients with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome (mean age: 19 years; mean preoperative vaginal length: 1.5 cm) were included in the study. The procedure was completed successfully and uneventfully in all patients. External traction device was removed 5–7 days after surgery and replaced by external vaginal silicone dilators. This technique was able to create 10–11 cm neovaginas in 1 week; six weeks after surgery all patients had an epithelized 10.5–12 cm length and 2.5–3 cm diameter neovagina. Complications consisted of one case of isolated fever at the ninth postoperative day, solved with empiric antibiotic treatment. Conclusion. The mini-laparoscopic modified Vecchietti approach, associated with ICG fluorescence imaging, is feasible and effective in the treatment of congenital vaginal agenesis, as it is a simple and safe procedure with promising outcomes.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of mini-laparoscopy for renal cyst unroofing.Material and methods: Eighty-six patients for treatment of renal cysts that met the selection criteria were included in this study. They were divided into two groups. Forty-five patients underwent cyst unroofing via mini-laparoscopy (Group M), and 43 patients underwent cyst unroofing via standard laparoscopy (Group S). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of sex, age, body mass index or clinical data. Data from the groups were recorded and analyzed.Results: The average hospital stays were shorter (p = .039) and postoperative painkiller demand was lower (p = .031) in Group M than in Group S. Forty-one out of 45 procedures in Group M were successful, and all 43 cases in Group S were successfully. With a follow-up period of 0.5 to 5.5 years, there was no significant difference in recovery rate (p = .213). Questionnaires showed that patients in Group M were significantly more satisfied with their cosmetic results than were patients in Group S (p = .041).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that renal cyst decortications with mini-laparoscopic instruments are as safe and effective as procedures using standard laparoscopic instruments. Cosmetically, the results are better with mini-laparoscopy than with standard laparoscopic unroofing.

Background: The conversion from open to laparoscopic simple nephrectomy was considered as an initial and most dramatic step toward progression, the second step is trying to miniaturization of the endoscope and instruments, in this study we aimed to evaluate miniaturization of laparoscopic simple nephrectomy looking for reduction perioperative morbidity and enhance cosmoses without significant operative disability. Patient and Methods: We prospectively reviewed 120 patients (60 in each group) who underwent trans-peritoneal conventional laparoscopy (CL) or mini laparoscopy (ML) simple nephrectomy between April 2015 and May 2018. The CL was done using 3 to 4 ports ranged from 5 to12 mm in diamond manner distribution. ML was done using same ports number and distribution ranged from 3- 5 mm except umbilical one was 10 mm. All operations were performed by same surgeon Results: However, ML experienced a significant longer operative time, significant more blood loss and insignificant increased conversion rate. The Post-operative data in the interest of ML were as follows; significantly lower pain scores, lower hospital stay, earlier return to activities and significant increase of cosmoses score of patients, Lastly, port site hernia was 6.7% in CL group and none in ML group (p = 0.042) Conclusion: ML trans-peritoneal simple nephrectomy is associated with lower post-operative pain, hospital stay, early return to normal activity, better cosmoses and less port site hernia. However operative time, blood loss and conversion rate are potentially more than CL.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to compare 3 mm mini-laparoscopy (mini LP), standard 5 mm laparoscopy (LP) and open surgery for pediatric pyeloplasty in a single center. METHODS: Patients who underwent pyeloplasty from 1997 to 2017 at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu were prospectively collected. Demographic data, clinical, surgical and radiological variables were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify risks for surgical complications, urinary leak and need for redo-surgery. RESULTS: 340 pyeloplasties were performed in this period: 197 open, 30 LP and 113 mini LP. Independent risk factors for surgical complications in a multivariate logistic regression model were: LP (vs mini LP, OR = 3.95; 95% CI: 1.13-13.8), higher differential renal function (each point more increases the risk 6%; 95% CI: 1-11%), older children (every year increases the risk 1.11 times; 95% CI: 1.002-1.225). Open surgery, pelvis diameter or the use of different stents were not risk factors. This model had an 80% PPV and a 92% NPV. LP (OR = 4.65; 95% CI: 1.08-19.96) and longer surgical time (OR = 1.014; 95% CI: 1.003-1.025) were independent risk factors for urinary leak. Higher pelvis diameter (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87-0.99) and the use of external stents were independent protective risk factors for urinary leak (OR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01-0.72). We have not found independent risk factors for redo-surgery in a multivariate logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: mini LP can be safely and effectively used to perform pyeloplasty in pediatric patients of all ages.

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative incisional pain and cosmetic scores in mini-laparoscopic gynecological surgeries undertaken with different port sizes. Material and Method. In this prospective study, all women who underwent mini-laparoscopic gynecological surgery with 2.4-, 3-, and 5-mm lateral ports for benign gynecological conditions between March 2017 and April 2019 were included. The primary outcome was postoperative incisional pain at rest, walking, and after a provoked Valsalva maneuver assessed by numeric rating scale scores at 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 3 days and 7 days after surgery. Secondary outcome measures included cosmetic scores of each port site (evaluated by using patient-observer scar assessment scale [POSAS]), operation time, and intra- and postoperative complications. Results. A total of 330 lateral port sites in 110 patients who underwent benign gynecological surgery via mini-laparoscopy were assessed for pain and cosmetic appearance. Pain scores at each time point were significantly lower for 2.4- and 3-mm ports than those for 5-mm ports; however, no significant difference was detected between 2.4-mm and 3-mm port sites ( P = .6). The difference was more evident at 24 hours when routine analgesic drugs were stopped ( P = .004). For POSAS scores, both 2.4-mm and 3-mm ports were superior to 5-mm port sites ( P = .002); however, there was no significant difference between 2.4-mm and 3-mm port sites ( P = .2). There were 2 port-related complications: one subcutaneous emphysema and one bleeding from a 5-mm trocar site 1 hour after surgery. Conclusion. Mini-laparoscopic gynecologic surgery using smaller ports resulted in decreased postoperative incisional pain and superior cosmetic appearance.

To date, the advancement of available technologies has led to the effective implementation of minimally invasive approaches in gynecology, with significant improvement of surgical as well as esthet...

Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) is a subspecialty of laparoscopic surgery aimed to limit the number of accesses to one only, which is both used for the insertion of instruments and for specimens’ retrieval. Due to a limited number of instruments that can be inserted contemporarily, and their proximity to each other, exposing the operative field can result challenge in SILS, limiting the applicability of this technique only to selected procedures.

The introduction of new robotic platforms will grow considerably in the near future as several manufacturers are in the developing stages of different innovative systems. One of the newest systems, the Senhance® platform (TransEnterix Surgical Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA) has been utilized in a variety of cases in Europe but only recently approved for limited clinical use in the United States. Here, we present our initial experience with this state-of-the-art system in patients requiring a variety of procedures.

Background In recent years, mini-laparoscopic procedures are gaining the preference of most surgeons due to their potentially better surgical outcomes. The Mini Lap Percutaneous Surgical System with MiniGrip® Handle is currently the less invasive instrument and can be applied to a wide range of operations. The current paper presents its application on percutaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and methods From January 2017 to June 2017, 32 patients underwent percutaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the MiniLap® system. All operations were performed by the same surgical team. Results No conversions and no overall complications were reported. Drainage were not necessary. Mean surgical time was 35 minutes, while patients were released in

Objective: This study was to introduce the modified mini-laparoscopic adrenalectomy and investigate the advantage of operative time, cosmetic effect, and pain reduction by comparing the mo...

The mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy (MLC) was first performed in 1996, as the logical advancement of the conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In Brazil, mini-laparoscopy was first performed in 1998, by Professors Peter Goh and Go Wakabaiashi, who performed a cholecystectomy using 3-mm instruments. The first study, with a considerable number of patients, was performed in Recife by Dr. Carvalho, and he reported that 719 patients were submitted to a MLC with a small rate of conversion for conventional laparoscopy. We discuss the development of mini-laparoscopy in Brazil for the past 20 years.

Purpose: We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative outcomes of mini-laparoscopic procedure in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in children and adults. Methods...

Low-impact laparoscopic (LIL) cholecystectomy is an innovative surgical protocol that combines the use of mini-laparoscopic instruments (3-mm ports) under a low- and stable-pressure pneumoperitoneum (8 mmHg), with the aim of minimizing the surgical invasiveness and the risks related to CO2 insufflation on the peritoneal environment. In day-surgery settings, LIL may contribute to increase the surgical success due to several potential benefits in terms of postoperative pain intensity and time to full recovery. In 14 consecutive patients requiring cholecystectomy for uncomplicated cholelithiasis, LIL was carried out uneventfully. No conversion, intra-operative or postoperative complications occurred. All patients were discharged the same day of surgery. Postoperative pain was well tolerated with no need of prolonged opioid therapy. Technical aspects and indications for LIL cholecystectomy are detailed.

Interstitial ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening condition due to the risk of massive hemorrhage in the event of its disturbance. We present the case of a 27-year-old patient who was admitted with massive hemoperitoneum, caused by the rupture of an interstitial pregnancy in the area of the fallopian tube stump, which had been removed after a previous ectopic pregnancy. The condition was overcome using a mini-laparoscopic approach (2.6 mm, 30° optics), with one 3 mm port for micro-laparoscopic instruments and one 10 mm port. Such an approach has not yet been reported in the available literature, among the casuistically reported cases of pregnancy in the tubal stump. We consider that the technique is safe, completely in the interest of the patient, applicable by an experienced team, and in agreement with modern trends regarding the minimization of operative access.

In the last years, the availability of instruments ≤3 mm in size and the development of mini-scopes have renewed the interest for mini-laparoscopic and needlescopic surgery. The main purpose of this surgery is the minimisation of trauma-related access and of surgical morbidity.

Background/Aim: The assessment of advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) is a prerequisite for therapy and surveillance in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Mini-laparoscopy-assisted liver biopsies facilitate both histological and macroscopical evaluation of liver fibrosis. This study is aimed at investigating the prognostic significance of the laparoscopic assessment for the cumulative incidence of ACLD-related events. Patients and Methods: We performed a single center, retrospective analysis of 94 patients with either macroscopically or/and microscopically assessed advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C infection. The patients' data, the respective laboratory results, and follow-up period were evaluated in the outpatient clinic. Results: The group with both macro- and microscopic diagnosed ACLD showed a significantly higher number of decompensating events (n = 7) compared with the other 2 groups (n = 0 in the group with only histological and n = 1 in the group with only laparoscopic diagnosis of advanced liver disease). The results were not affected by the successful treatment of the hepatitis C virus. In the Cox-regression analysis, the spleen size (>120 mm) was significantly associated with the incidence of ACLD-related events. Conclusions: Assessment of ACLD in chronic hepatitis C by mini-laparoscopy-assisted liver biopsies may facilitate the selection of patients with a poor prognosis, irrespective of achieving a sustained virological response following treatment. Follow-up of these patients should be intensified to treat decompensation early. �� In Copyright http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, publishedVersion

The authors appreciated the support and participation of the MIUSW course attendees for participating in this study and The Research Endoscopic Laboratory at the University of Minho, as well as, the support of Karl Storz, Germany for providing instrumentation used in the study.

Mini-laparoscopy represents an evolving and attractive field both in general and in pediatric surgery, with a pressing and increasing technical demand. Although the advantages of the mini-laparoscopic approach (reduced morbidity, less incisional pain and discomfort, better cosmetic results) are well recognized, its technical difficulties due to the lack of suitable and comfortable instruments brought to a limited use. Moreover, in the pediatric population, the need of ergonomic mini-invasive but efficient devices is the key of a widespread use of mini-laparoscopic surgery performed with an effective and safe technique. We aim to highlight the first case of pediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed with 2.3 mm percutaneous instruments (MiniLap ® Percutaneous Surgical System, Teleflex Incorporated, USA) that represents a significant advance in minimally invasive surgery.

Mini-laparoscopic surgery is the future for most laparoscopic procedures. Although already applied in some gynaecological surgical interventions, this video is to our knowledge the first publication on the use of the mini-laparoscopic approach to sacrocolpopexy for apical and posterior pelvic organ prolapse following total hysterectomy.The concept of mini-laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy presented in this video article was performed on 12 women with post-hysterectomy apical and posterior pelvic organ prolapse using mini-laparoscopic instruments and ports of 3 mm in diameter combined with a 12-mm umbilical port. Surgery was performed with the same principles as for the conventional laparoscopic procedure.The mean operating time was 70 min (SD ± 12). The tensile strength of the mini-laparoscopic instruments allowed appropriate manipulation of tissue consistent with that of conventional instruments. No difficulties or complications were experienced in comparison to a conventional technique. All patients were discharged from hospital on day 1 postoperatively.The effectiveness, safety and feasibility of the mini-laparoscopic surgical technique was applied to sacrocolpopexy. Because of the initial favourable experience, the mini-laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy could become more widely used in the future.

In our study, we applied a mini-laparosopic approach during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (using the minimum size of trocars with the simultaneous intention to reduce their number). The advantages and disadvantages of the mini-LC approach were compared with those of traditional LC.During mini-LC procedures, we used 3 ports (11 mm, 5 mm, 3.5 mm). Mini-LC was performed in 10 patients, and the results were compared with those of 10 cases of traditional LCs. The two groups were homogenous in terms of gender, age, BMI and ASA classification. Comparison criteria included operative time, the need to use an extra port, conversion rate, oral analgesic requirement, early/late complications and cosmetic results.There were no significant differences in terms of operative time, blood loss, hospital stay and complications. Cumulative size of incisions was 19.5 mm with mini-LC- and 41 mm in the LC group, respectively, and the tissue injury was 124.2 mm(2) and 448.2 mm(2). Cosmetic results of mini-LC were highly improved by these values. Increased oral analgetic requirements were detected in LC group.Mini-LC is a safe procedure with outstanding cosmetic results accompanied by less oral analgetic requirements. In selected patients, it can be recommended as an alternative method of traditional LC.Bevezetés: Vizsgálatunkban a minilaparoscopos módon (portok számának és méretének csökkentése révén) végzett laparoscopos cholecystectomiák (LC) eredményeit mutatjuk be. Elemeztük a mini-LC előnyeit és hátrányait a hagyományos LC-vel összehasonlítva. Betegek és módszerek: Mini-LC során összesen 3 portot (11, 5 és 3,5 mm) alkalmaztunk. Tíz esetben végzett mini-LC eredményeit hasonlítottuk össze 10 konvencionális LC eredményeivel. A betegválogatás alapját a nem, az életkor, a BMI és az ASA-beosztás képezte, amely mindkét vizsgált csoportot homogénné tett. Összehasonlítottuk a két eljárás átlagos műtéti időtartamát, a segédport szükségességét, a konverziós arányt, a postoperativ fájdalomcsillapító-igényt, a korai/késői szövődmények előfordulásának gyakoriságát és a kozmetikai eredményeket. Eredmények: A műtéti időtartam, vérveszteség, kórházi tartózkodás, szövődmények vonatkozásában nem észleltünk szignifikáns különbséget a két csoport között. A sebészi metszések összesített mérete mini-LC során 19,5 mm, míg az LC-csoportban 41 mm, a szöveti károsodás mértéke pedig 124,2 mm2 és 448,2 mm2 volt a két csoportban. Mindezek jelentősen javították a mini-LC kozmetikai eredményét. A hagyományos LC után a betegek szignifikánsan nagyobb arányban igényeltek postoperativ fájdalomcsillapítást. Következtetések: A mini-LC biztonságos, kiváló kozmetikai eredményeket adó eljárás, amely kisebb postoperativ fájdalomcsillapító-igénnyel jár. Válogatott esetekben ez a műtéti típus ajánlott eljárás lehet a konvencionális LC-vel szemben.

A retrospective case review study was carried out on gastrointestinal injuries which occur during gynaecological laparoscopy. Fifty-six patients with 62 gastrointestinal injuries were identified. One-third of the complications (32.2%) occurred during the installation phase for laparoscopy. Four of the six complications attributed to electrosurgery were secondary to the use of monopolar coagulation. Diagnosis of these gastrointestinal injuries was made during surgery in only 20 patients (35.7%). The mean time before diagnosis was 4.0 +/- 5.4 (range 0-23) days. Treatment of these complications was performed by laparoscopic surgery in 16.1% of cases. Prevention relies on the surgeon's experience, strict observance of the safety rules, perfect familiarity with the physical properties of the instruments used, systematic use of bowel preparation for patients presenting a risk of bowel complications, systematic supervision of the route taken by the trocars, meticulous inspection on completion of surgery of all areas where bowel adhesiolysis has been used and, in case of any doubt, tests for leakage involving the rectosigmoid. For patients with a risk of bowel complications, the creation of a pneumoperitoneum and performing a mini laparoscopy in the left hypochondrium can be the judicious option.

Background/Aims: For diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of acute liver failure (ALF), macroscopic evaluation and histological assessment of the liver are important. Due to impaired coagulation in ALF, the risk of bleeding is high after a percutaneous liver biopsy. Our aims were to assess (i) safety and benefit of mini laparoscopy (ML) in patients with ALF and (ii) the potential utility of histological markers in ALF prognosis. Methods: ML was performed in 39 patients with ALF to assess liver surface and to obtain a liver biopsy. Serological markers of liver injury and immunohistochemical detection of cell death and proliferation were compared to a non-ALF group (n = 10). Results: Liver biopsies were successfully performed in all patients with no significant complications. All patients had markedly elevated M30 and M65 levels in the serum. In the liver, M30 and Ki67 immune-reactive cells were more abundant in those with ALF. Importantly, there were significantly more Ki67-positive cells but fewer M30-positive cells in livers of ALF patients who recovered spontaneously. Conclusion: ML with liver biopsy in patients with ALF and severe coagulopathy is safe. Immunohistochemical detection of liver cell death and regeneration may identify individuals who would recover spontaneously or who would need a liver transplant.

One of the driving forces behind the development of laparoscopy has always been to decrease the morbidity of a laparotomy incision. The evolution from open surgery to laparoscopy was the initial and most dramatic step in this progression. Mini-laparoscopy, whereby the size of each laparoscopic instrument was decreased to the limits of useful instrumentation, was thought to be the next natural evolution in accomplishing this goal. By developing the smallest tools possible to safely and effectively perform surgery, and if each access point creates pain and potential complications, one might limit the trauma inherent to a given operation by miniaturizing each access point.

Blood biochemistry, ascites tests, and imaging examinations have low sensitivities in abdominal neoplasm diagnoses. In addition, exploratory laparotomy is not suitable for final stage patients. Mini-laparoscopy has recently emerged as a new diagnostic technology for abdominal disease. The aim of this research was to evaluate the value of mini-laparoscopy in diagnosing abdominal neoplasms.Clinical and operational data were retrospectively analyzed in 20 cases with pathologically confirmed abdominal malignancies. Of these, 10 cases were each diagnosed by mini-laparoscopy and exploratory laparotomy. The surgical and anesthesia expenses, perioperative nursing, monitoring and treating charges, postoperative hospital stay and complications were compared between groups.The surgical and anesthesia costs were statistically lower in patients who received a mini-laparoscopy (P0.01). Perioperative drug expenses and nursing and monitoring charges were also significantly decreased (P0.05 and P0.01, respectively). Further, the gastrointestinal function recovery time and postoperative hospital stay were significantly reduced in the mini-laparoscopy group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the preoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications.Mini-laparoscopy effectively reduces surgical injury and treatment costs, and is capable of safely diagnosing abdominal tumors. Moreover, the procedure is also easy to perform.

SUMMARY The use of the Adair Verres needle and an optical catheter system has enabled us to perform both diagnostic and laser mini-laparoscopy. The prefix mini refers to the fact that the three incisions placed in the abdomen were 3 mm in diameter. There were no complications in our pilot series. Because initial inspections of the abdomen may localize abnormalities such as intestinal adhesions and may show the surgeon a safer approach to subsequent trocar placement, nothing is lost and much may be gained by routinely performing mini-laparoscopy. The picture produced on the video monitor is now of excellent quality and seems likely to improve. In the near future, a three-chip camera, which is able to produce even better resolution, will become available. The further development of 3-mm instrumentation promises additional expansion in operative capability. Although mini-laparoscopy will not replace conventional operative laparoscopy with the 10-mm telescope in the near future, a significant proportion of diagnostic and minimally to moderately involved operative procedures may be safely carried out by this method.

In addition to peritonitis, mechanical outflow obstruction is the most common complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. If conservative methods are unsuccessful, the insufficient catheter must be placed in the right position or freed surgically. Currently, laparoscopy appears to be the method of choice in these cases. "Standard" laparoscopy using 10- and 5-mm ports can lead to dialysate wound leakage. Two-mm mini-laparoscopy was employed in three cases with good results. In two patients, catheters are still patent (after 19 and 23 months), and in one patient, the catheter had to be replaced after 5 weeks. No postoperative complications occurred. In some cases of catheter dislodgement or wrapping, mini-laparoscopy using a 2-mm MiniSite device can replace open surgery and even "standard" laparoscopy.

Evaluation of liver disease in patients with a high risk of postbiopsy bleeding presents a diagnostic challenge. Mini-laparoscopy offers the possibility of coagulation of biopsy site and the additional advantage of macroscopic liver assessment. We wished to assess the value and safety of mini-laparoscopy with guided biopsy as a diagnostic approach in patients in whom percutaneous liver biopsy is considered contraindicated because of a marked coagulopathy.We investigated 61 consecutive patients with marked coagulopathy (prolonged international normalized ratio1.5, thrombocytopenia50/nl, or both; von Willebrand's disease/hemophilia). Diagnostic mini-laparoscopy with visually guided liver biopsy was undertaken for the evaluation of liver disease. Biopsy sites were coagulated prophylactically (n = 4) or therapeutically (n = 52). Safety, diagnostic yield, and therapeutic consequences were assessed.Macroscopic assessment of the liver was possible in 60/61 high-risk patients and was considered diagnostic in 1/61. In 58 of the remaining 60 patients, liver biopsy was technically feasible. There was no persistent postbiopsy bleeding. One patient with fulminant hepatic failure had self-limiting bleeding from the abdominal wall. Ninety-seven percent of the biopsies were of adequate size for diagnostic histological evaluation.Mini-laparoscopy with guided liver biopsy allows reliable and safe evaluation of liver disease in patients with severe coagulopathy.

SummaryUsing a novel mini-laparoscope, 1.8 mm in diameter, passed through a modified Veress needle we have prospectively evaluated 12 patients undergoing subsequent formal laparoscopy. Following routine insufflation, the Veress needle is removed leaving a 3 mm plastic sheath through which the mini-laparoscope is introduced. Without the aid of further ports a record was made of structures identified. The structures successfully identified were as follows: liver, 12; gall bladder, 7; stomach, 12; small bowel, 12; large bowel, 11; appendix, 5; ovaries, 3 (or six females); and inguinal anatomy, 11. Although this procedure can easily be performed under local anaesthesia the short focal length of the optics restricts the visual field. For high diagnostic accuracy to be achieved, extra manipulating instruments would be required to allow satisfactory abdominal examination. Further experience of this system is now being obtained at laparoscopy for abdominal emergencies.

Despite its overall efficacy and patient satisfaction with it, peritoneal dialysis has a history of significant complications, which has contributed to the evolution in the technique from open laparotomy to minimally invasive placement of the catheters. Our goal was twofold: (1) to review our early experience with a technique of mini-laparoscopy-assisted (MLA) placement of dialysis catheters compared with open placement and (2) to demonstrate that urologists are able to provide a satisfactory procedure while concurrently developing and maintaining laparoscopic skills within a residency training program.The charts of the first 14 consecutive patients who underwent MLA placement of Tenckhoff dialysis catheters by a single surgeon (LCM) from January 1, 2000, through March 31, 2001, were reviewed. Postoperative narcotic analgesia, length of hospital stay, operative times, days until cycling, and rates of leakage, infection, and malfunction necessitating removal of catheters were compared with the corresponding data from 12 consecutive patients who underwent traditional open placement during the same time period. A telephone survey was performed to corroborate and supplement the findings from the chart review.Differences in complications necessitating catheter removal were not significant. The difference in the mean operative times of 41.7 minutes in the MLA group and 55.7 minutes for open placement was statistically significant. Postoperatively, the MLA group used less narcotic analgesia, had shorter hospital stays, and returned earlier to usual activities. The incidence of leakage after catheter placement was greater in the open group, although this difference was not statistically significant.The MLA technique of dialysis catheter placement appears to have similar or greater efficacy than the open technique. It is a viable teaching procedure, and with reusable 3-mm ports and shorter operative times, it is cost efficient as well.

cholestasis in 21. Fibrotic changes exceeding aMetavir score of 1 were found in 30 specimens. The clinical course was favourable in the majority of cases, 3 patients died of progressive organ failure, 5 received orthotopic liver transplant and 27 showed clinical restitution following specific therapy guided by macroscopic and histological assessment. Conclusion: Mini laparoscopy is a technically simple examination with high diagnostic yield that can safely be combined with laparoscopically guided liver biopsy in patients with ALV and severe coagulopathy. The high proportion of liver samples with advanced fibrosis can not be regarded as evidence for preexisting liver disease and do not preclude clinical restitution.

DOI: 10.1007/s11670-011-0214-0 The spelling of the author’s department name in the original version of this article was incorrect. “Hepotology” should be corrected to “Hepatology”. The correct information is given below: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology The online version of the original article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11670-011-0214-0