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Having a large live fish stuck in the throat is rare and prompts the urgent need to secure a definitive airway. Such sizeable foreign body (FB) in the aerodigestive tract also poses a constant threat of hollow viscus perforation, and the removal process can be complex. This report describes a fishing mishap causing the impaction of a large live fish in the laryngopharynx and esophagus, leading to respiratory distress and upper esophageal perforation. The paper highlights the mechanism of injury, emergent airway management, anatomical consideration of the location of the FB, and technical challenges in FB removal. After endotracheal intubation, the depth and location of the live fish were confirmed with a plain radiograph. The removal of the live fish was eventually successful after dislodging its fins from the laryngopharynx and rotating its head out from the upper esophagus endoscopically. The upper esophageal perforation healed with non-operative management, and the patient was discharged well., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Fu et al.)

Background: Laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair has become increasingly favored over open Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair owing to its associated benefits, including reduced postoperative pain, early return to normal activities, and a comparable recurrence rate. In recent years, emphasis has been placed on patient-reported outcomes, particularly health-related quality of life (QOL), as a critical metric for evaluating surgical success. This study aimed to evaluate the overall QOL following laparoscopic TEP repair of unilateral inguinal hernia., Methods: This prospective study enrolled patients aged 18 years or older who underwent elective laparoscopic TEP hernia repair for unilateral inguinal hernia from April 2020 to March 2022. Data collected include demographic details, hernia characteristics, postoperative complications, and postoperative QOL assessment. The Short Form 36 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2), a validated general QoL questionnaire, was administered preoperatively and at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Statistical analysis utilized paired t-tests for comparisons, with significance set at a p-value <.05., Results: A cohort of 49 patients, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 56.7 (14.0) years, predominantly comprising 47 men, was available for evaluation. Complications were observed in three (6.1%) of cases, with seroma/hematoma occurring in two patients and a wound infection necessitating antibiotic treatment in one patient. Notably, there were no instances of recurrence during the study period. Postoperative assessments revealed significant improvements in both physical and mental health at 1 month, with continued improvement noted up to 12 months., Conclusion: Laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair has been shown to improve both physical and mental health in patients with unilateral reducible inguinal hernia, with the majority of the improvement typically occurring within the initial month following surgery. It is crucial to communicate these improvement trends to patients undergoing hernia repair to help manage their expectations effectively., (© 2024 Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Disorders of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow, including achalasia and EGJ outflow obstruction, are motility disorders characterized by inadequate relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter with or without impaired esophageal peristalsis. Current guidelines are technical and less practical in the Asia-Pacific region, and there are still massive challenges in timely diagnosis and managing these disorders effectively. Therefore, a Malaysian joint societies' task force has developed a consensus on disorders of EGJ outflow based on the latest evidence, while taking into consideration the practical relevance of local and regional context and resources. Twenty-one statements were established after a series of meetings and extensive review of literatures. The Delphi method was used in the consensus voting process. This consensus focuses on the definition, diagnostic investigations, the aims of treatment outcome, non-surgical or surgical treatment options, management of treatment failure or relapse, and the management of complications. This consensus advocates the use of high-resolution esophageal manometry for diagnosis of disorders of EGJ outflow. Myotomy, via either endoscopy or laparoscopy, is the preferred treatment option, while pneumatic dilatation can serve as a secondary option. Evaluation and management of complications including post-procedural reflux and cancer surveillance are recommended., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Introduction: Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) is an effective treatment for Esophageal Achalasia Cardia (EAC) but the endoscopic technique required is complex. As competency is crucial for patient safety, we believe that its' competency can be demonstrated when the complication rate equals that of an established procedure such as Laparoscopic Heller's Myotomy with Fundoplication (LHM + F)., Methods: A multicentre, ambi-directional, non-randomized comparison of intra-procedural complications during the learning curve of POEM was performed against a historical cohort of LHM + F. Demographic, clinicopathological, procedural data and complications were collected. A direct head-to-head comparison was performed, followed by a population pyramid of complication frequency. Case sequence was then divided into blocks of 5, and the complication rates during each block was compared to the historical cohort., Results: From January 2010 to April 2021, 60 patients underwent LHM + F and 63 underwent POEM. Mean age was lower for the POEM group (41.7 years vs 48.1 years, p = 0.03), but there was no difference in gender nor type of Achalasia. The POEM group recorded a shorter overall procedural time (125.9 min vs 144.1 min, p = 0.023) and longer myotomies (10.1 cm vs 6.2 cm, p = 0.023). The overall complication rate of POEM was 20.6%, whereas the historical cohort of LHM + F had a rate of 10.0%. On visual inspection of the population pyramid, complications were more frequent in the earlier procedures. On block sequencing, complication frequency could be seen tapering off dramatically after the 25th case, and subsequently equalled that of LHM + F., Conclusion: POEM is challenging even for experienced endoscopists. From our data, complication rates between POEM and LHM + F equalize after approximately 25 POEMs., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

With increasing utilisation of meshes in inguinal hernia repair, reports of mesh-related complications are emerging, particularly late visceral complications, with mesh migration and erosion into the small bowel, bladder and colon reported after laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair. We present a case of spontaneous mesh migration through the superficial inguinal ring with skin erosion following TEP inguinal hernia repair, the first published report in the literature to our knowledge. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosis due to the long latent period of hernia repair and the onset of erosion. A high index of suspicion is required when diagnosing any patient who presents with an unexplained groin abscess following ipsilateral TEP repair. CT scan should be performed early for diagnosis and assessment. Removal of the migrated portion of the mesh, antibiotic therapy and secondary wound closure are strategies for the successful treatment of this complication., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Since access to essential surgical care (ESC) in rural Sarawak, Malaysia, remains subpar, this study aimed to identify pitfalls in its ESC delivery and possible solutions to improve it., Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Sarawak General Hospital between January 2019 and December 2019. It assessed the caseload of five essential surgical procedures referred from nearby district hospitals. It analysed the number of patients stranded in the accident and emergency department, their waiting time for ward transfer and the duration between admission day and timing of surgery for patients with appendicitis., Results: There were 259 referrals for one of the five essential surgical procedures. The baseline characteristics between the referred and the local cohorts of patients for the designated procedures were comparable in terms of gender (P = 0.486), body mass index (P = 0.598) and ASA score (P = 0.284), with the exceptions being that the referred cohorts were older (43.2 vs. 39.7, P = 0.008) and with different racial composition (p < 0.001). The mean number of patients stranded in emergency department was 34.2 ± 4.9 per day and the mean bed waiting time was 21.4 ± 6.3 h. For patients who required appendicectomy, 70.8% of patients had surgery performed within 24 h of admission., Conclusion: The delivery of ESC in Sarawak's district hospitals demands urgent attention for improvement. The action framework proposed outlined six priorities: infrastructure development, service delivery, surgical training, finance, information management and governance., (© 2022 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a dramatic physical, personal, and emotional effect on healthcare workers (HCWs). The main objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with psychosocial distress among HCWs working in a hospital environment during the pandemic., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey involving HCWs of a tertiary care hospital was completed using an online survey software (Google Forms). The survey collected respondents' sociodemographic data, perception towards personal protective equipment (PPE) and knowledge about COVID-19, and satisfaction score towards performance of the World Health Organization, the Malaysian police, civil service, healthcare system, and government. Psychosocial distress was assessed using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ- 12)., Results: A total of 675 responses were collected. Female gender and doctors were identified to be associated with greater psychosocial impact from the pandemic among the HCWs. Several factors such as self-rated health status, confidence level towards PPE in disease prevention, degree of familiarity in using PPE, knowledge regarding care for COVID-19 patients, and capability in answering questions asked by the public regarding the disease were found to be associated with the degree of psychosocial impact from the pandemic., Conclusion: This study identified the vulnerable groups of HCWs at risk of psychosocial distress and its associated risk factors. These findings highlight the need for strategies to reduce risks and to prioritise psychological support and intervention during the pandemic.

Background: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and satisfaction of patients following laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia cardia in four tertiary centers., Methods: Fifty-five patients with achalasia cardia who underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy between 2010 and 2019 were enrolled. The adverse events and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Overall patient satisfaction was also reviewed., Results: The mean operative time was 144.1 ± 38.33 min with no conversions to open surgery in this series. Intraoperative adverse events occurred in 7 (12.7%) patients including oesophageal mucosal perforation (n = 4), superficial liver injury (n = 1), minor bleeding from gastro-oesophageal fat pad (n = 1) & aspiration during induction requiring bronchoscopy (n = 1). Mean time to normal diet intake was 3.2 ± 2.20 days. Mean postoperative stay was 4.9 ± 4.30 days and majority of patients (n = 46; 83.6%) returned to normal daily activities within 2 weeks after surgery. The mean follow-up duration was 18.8 ± 13.56 months. Overall, clinical success (Eckardt ≤ 3) was achieved in all 55 (100%) patients, with significant improvements observed in all elements of the Eckardt score. Thirty-seven (67.3%) patients had complete resolution of dysphagia while the remaining 18 (32.7%) patients had some occasional dysphagia that was tolerable and did not require re-intervention. Nevertheless, all patients reported either very satisfied or satisfied and would recommend the procedure to another person., Conclusions: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy and anterior Dor is both safe and effective as a definitive treatment for treating achalasia cardia. It does have a low rate of oesophageal perforation but overall has a high degree of patient satisfaction with minimal complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Background: Various methods have been used for treatment of hemorrhagic radiation proctitis (HRP) with variable results. Currently, the preferred treatment is formalin application or endoscopic therapy with argon plasma coagulation. Recently, a novel therapy with colonic water irrigation and oral antibiotics showed promising results and more effective compared to 4% formalin application for HRP. The study objective is to compare the effect of water irrigation and oral antibiotics versus 4% formalin application in improving per rectal bleeding due to HRP and related symptoms such as diarrhoea, tenesmus, stool frequency, stool urgency and endoscopic findings., Methods: We conducted a study on 34 patients with HRP and randomly assigned the patients to two treatment arm groups (n=17). The formalin group underwent 4% formalin dab and another session 4 weeks later. The irrigation group self-administered daily rectal irrigation at home for 8 weeks and consumed oral metronidazole and ciprofloxacin during the first one week. We measured the patients' symptoms and endoscopic findings before and after total of 8 weeks of treatment in both groups., Results: Our study showed that HRP patients had reduced per rectal bleeding (p = 0.003) in formalin group, whereas irrigation group showed reduced diarrhoea (p=0.018) and tenesmus (p=0.024) symptoms. The comparison between the two treatment arms showed that irrigation technique was better than formalin technique for tenesmus (p=0.043) symptom only., Conclusion: This novel treatment showed benefit in treating HRP. It could be a new treatment option which is safe and conveniently self-administered at home or used as a combination with other therapies to improve the treatment outcome for HRP., .

Background: Laparotomy has been the traditional approach for the treatment of adult intussusception. The aim of the present study was to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery to those of open surgery in adult patients with intussusception., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of all adult patients with intussusception admitted to our hospital between 2007 and 2017. The patients' characteristics, presentation, operation details, postoperative outcomes and pathology were analyzed. Comparisons were made between the laparoscopic and open surgery procedures performed during the study period., Results: Seventeen open and 20 laparoscopic-assisted resections were performed. No significant differences were found between the two groups for the following parameters: age (45.3 ± 16.8 vs. 54.9 ± 19.1, p = 0.160); gender (41 vs. 60% males, p = 0.330); American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p = 0.609); history of cardiovascular disease (5.9% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.950), COPD/asthma (0% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.950), diabetes (11.8% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.950), and renal impairment (5.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.486); body mass index (20.6 vs. 21.9, p = 0.433); timing of presentation (p = 1.000); type of intussusception (p = 0.658); type of procedures (p = 0.446); operative time (173.7 ± 45.4 vs. 191.5 ± 43.9, p = 0.329); and length of postoperative stay (6.7 ± 5.4 vs. 4.5 ± 1.1 days, p = 0.153). However, the open surgery group had fewer patients with hypertension (17.6% vs. 61.1%, p = 0.009) and demonstrated a delayed oral intake (4.0 ± 1.7 days vs. 2.5 ± 0.7 days, p = 0.010) and a higher comprehensive complication index (11.5 ± 27.1 vs. 0, p = 0.038)., Conclusions: The laparoscopic approach was associated with earlier oral intake and a lower comprehensive complication index. It is a safe and feasible technique that confers the advantages of minimally invasive surgery. It can be considered the preferred surgical option when the surgical expertise is available.

Gastric leiomyoma of the antrum intussuscepted into first part of the duodenum is a rare complication. We report here an 80-year-old woman who presented at the Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia with early satiety and epigastric fullness for 3 months. She had no prior medical or surgical history other than an uneventful open cholecystectomy. Upper endoscopy showed a large submucosal mass in the first part of duodenum with pyloric converging gastric folds. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a gastroduodenal intussusception with a 4x6cm mass at the junction between the first and second part of duodenum. Laparoscopic transgastric resection was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed leiomyoma. She remained well at 43 months follow-up.

Primary omental liposarcoma is a rare clinical entity with less than 20 cases being reported in the literature. Laparotomy has been the traditional approach for resection, with no reports of laparoscopic resection. A 39-year-old lady presented at the Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia with a history of a progressive, painless left upper quadrant abdominal swelling for a year. CT scan showed a well-defined heterogeneously enhancing cystic mass measuring 7.5x7.5x8.1cm with a poor plane with the adjacent greater curvature of stomach and transverse colon. Upper and lower endoscopy was normal. The tumour was completely dissected from the adjacent transverse colon and removed laparoscopically. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a myxoid liposarcoma. She had an uneventful recovery and was discharged well on the third postoperative day. She subsequently underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and was well at 1-year follow-up with PET CT showing no evidence of recurrence or metastases.

Epiphrenic oesophageal diverticulum is a rare disorder affecting the distal oesophagus. Surgical techniques for this condition evolve over time from open transthoracic and trans-abdominal approaches to minimally invasive surgery. We report a case of an 82-year-old male who presented with symptomatic epiphrenic oesophageal diverticulum over the last 1 year. He underwent laparoscopic transhiatal diverticulectomy, myotomy and anterior partial fundoplication and was discharged well. He remains asymptomatic after a follow-up of 6 months.

Background/objective: The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent laparoscopic and open repair of perforated peptic ulcers (PPUs) at our institution., Methods: This is a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of patients who underwent emergency laparoscopic or open repair for PPU between December 2010 and February 2014., Results: A total of 131 patients underwent emergency repair for PPU (laparoscopic repair, n=63, 48.1% vs. open repair, n=68, 51.9%). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between both groups in terms of age (p=0.434), gender (p=0.305), body mass index (p=0.180), and presence of comorbidities (p=0.214). Both groups were also comparable in their American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores (p=0.769), Boey scores 0/1 (p=0.311), Mannheim Peritonitis Index > 27 (p=0.528), shock on admission (p<0.99), and the duration of symptoms > 24 hours (p=0.857). There was no significant difference in the operating time between the two groups (p=0.618). Overall, the laparoscopic group had fewer complications compared with the open group (14.3% vs. 36.8%, p=0.005). When reviewing specific complications, only the incidence of surgical site infection was statistically significant (laparoscopic 0.0% vs. open 13.2%, p=0.003). The other parameters were not statistically significant. The laparoscopic group did have a significantly shorter mean postoperative stay (p=0.008) and lower pain scores in the immediate postoperative period (p<0.05). Mortality was similar in both groups (open, 1.6% vs. laparoscopic, 2.9%, p < 0.99)., Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair resulted in reduced wound infection rates, shorter hospitalization, and reduced postoperative pain. Our single institution series and standardized technique demonstrated lower morbidity rates in the laparoscopic group., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.)

Objective: Intraluminal gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) located at the posterior wall and near the gastroesophageal junction represent a surgical challenge. We present our experience of laparoscopic transgastric resection for gastric GISTs of such location., Methods: Data of seven patients undergoing laparoscopic transgastric resection were identified and retrospectively reviewed with regard to procedural steps and patient outcomes., Results: Seven patients (4 men; mean age 64.1 ± 14.6 years) with gastric GISTs underwent laparoscopic transgastric resection from January 2010 to May 2015. Three of the seven GISTs were located near the gastroesophageal junction and the rest were found in the posterior wall of the stomach. All seven patients underwent successful laparoscopic resection without any conversions. There were no mortalities and no significant postoperative complications. Intraoperative endoscopy was performed for all patients. The mean operative time was 164.0 ± 59.1 minutes. Regular diet was resumed within 3 days on average and mean postoperative stay was 3.6 ± 1.3 days. All patients achieved complete R0 resection with a mean tumor size of 5.5 ± 1.1 cm. At a mean follow-up of 48.0 ± 13.4 months, all patients were recurrence free., Conclusions: GISTs of the posterior wall and in close proximity to the gastroesophageal junction can be safely resected laparoscopically using such an approach. Standard technique is required to achieve good oncological outcomes., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.)

Surgery for Killian-Jamieson diverticulum of the esophagus is scarcely reported in the literature owing to the rarity of this entity. This is a case report of such a diverticulum and a description of the transcervical diverticulectomy that we performed on a 49-year-old lady. The patient was investigated for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and was diagnosed with a left-sided Killian-Jamieson diverticulum., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.)

Background: In recent years, staging laparoscopy has gained acceptance as part of the assessment of resectability of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) malignancies. Not infrequently, we encounter tumours that are either locally advanced; requiring neoadjuvant therapy or occult peritoneal disease that requires palliation. In all these cases, the establishment of enteral feeding during staging laparoscopy is important for patients' nutrition. This review describes our technique of performing laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy and the clinical outcomes., Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy following staging laparoscopy for UGI malignancies between January 2010 and July 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The data included patient demographics, operative technique and clinical outcomes., Results: Fifteen patients (11 males) had feeding jejunostomy done when staging laparoscopy showed unresectable UGI maligancy. Eight (53.3%) had gastric carcinoma, four (26.7%) had oesophageal carcinoma and three (20%) had cardio-oesophageal junction carcinoma. The mean age was 63.3 ± 7.3 years. Mean operative time was 66.0 ± 7.4 min. Mean postoperative stay was 5.6 ± 2.2 days. Laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy was performed without intra-operative complications. There were no major complications requiring reoperation but four patients had excoriation at the T-tube site and three patients had tube dislodgement which required bedside replacement of the feeding tube. The mean duration of feeding tube was 127.3 ± 99.6 days., Conclusions: Laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy is an important adjunct to staging laparoscopy that can be performed safely with low morbidity. Meticulous attention to surgical techniques is the cornerstone of success.

Purpose: The management of haemorrhagic radiation proctitis is challenging because of the necessity for repeated intervention. The efficacy of argon plasma coagulation has been described before but the optimum treatment strategy remains debatable. This is a review of our experience over a decade treating patients with haemorrhagic radiation proctitis and their follow-up., Methods: This is a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent argon plasma coagulation for haemorrhagic radiation proctitis between January 2003 and December 2013. The patients were followed up using a prospectively maintained database., Results: Ninety-one patients were included with a mean follow-up of 13.1 months. Majoity (n = 85, 93.4 %) of the patients were female. Mean age at the time of treatment was 58.2 (range 23-87) years old. Majority of the patients (n = 73, 80.2 %) received radiotherapy for gynaecological malignancies followed by colorectal (n = 13, 14.3 %) and urological (n = 5, 5.5 %) malignancies. Mean interval between radiation and proctitis was 13.8 (range 3-40) months. Seventy-nine percent of patients were successfully treated after 1-2 sessions. Seventeen (18.7 %) patients experienced self-limiting early complications, and three (3.3 %) had late complications of rectal stenosis which was managed conservatively. Severity of bleeding during the initial presentation is an independent factor that predicts the number of sessions required for successful haemostasis (p = 0.002)., Conclusions: Argon plasma coagulation is a reasonable treatment option in patients with haemorrhagic radiation proctitis with good safety profile. Our study suggests that the number of APC sessions required to arrest bleeding correlates with the severity of bleeding on initial presentation.

Leiomyomas are benign soft tissue swellings of smooth muscle origin, most commonly found in the uterus. Extra uterine leiomyomas presenting as an abdominal mass is often a diagnostic challenge as such occurrence is rare. We present a rare case of primary abdominal wall leiomyoma, and highlight the importance of laparoscopic approach in the diagnosis and treatment of such tumour.

Background: Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon affliction in adolescence. It is usually associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. The disease is caused by lymphohaematogenous spread after primary infection in the lung or ingestion of infected sputum and has a typically protean and nonspecific presentation. The occurrence of TB in an urachal remnant is probably from the contiguous spread of an abdominal focus or mesenteric lymph node. Urachal TB is a rare entity, with only two reported cases in the literature. We report here a case of clinically silent pulmonary and abdominal TB that manifested in the infection of an urachal sinus and highlight the role of laparoscopy in its diagnosis and treatment., Case Presentation: A 14-year-old boy presented to our institution with peri-umbilical swelling and purulent discharge from his umbilicus for 2 weeks duration. There were no radiological, microbiological or clinical evidences of TB in the initial presentation, though he had close social contact with someone who had TB. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen confirmed the diagnosis of an urachal abscess. An incision and drainage procedure was performed followed by a course of antibiotics. A scheduled laparoscopic approach later showed that the peritoneum and serosal surface of the small and large intestines were studded with nodules of variable sizes, in addition to the urachal sinus. The histology of the resected tissues (urachal sinus and nodules) was consistent of TB infection. He recovered fully after completing 6 months of anti-tuberculous therapy., Conclusion: This report highlights a rare case of TB urachal abscess in an adolescent boy, the difficulties in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis, the need to consider TB as a cause of urachal infection in endemic areas and the use of laparoscopy in both diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture and traumatic abdominal wall hernia are two well-described but rare clinical entities associated with blunt thoracoabdominal injuries. To the best of our knowledge, the combination of these two clinical entities as a result of a motor vehicle accident has not been previously reported., Case Presentation: A 32-year-old Indian man was brought to our emergency department after being involved in a road traffic accident. He described a temporary loss of consciousness and had multiple tender bruises at his right upper anterior abdominal wall and left lumbar region. An initial examination revealed blood pressure of 99/63 mmHg, heart rate of 107 beats/minute, and oxygen saturation of 93 % on room air. His clinical parameters stabilized after initial resuscitation. A computed tomographic scan revealed a rupture of the left diaphragm as well as extensive disruptions of the left upper anterior abdominal wall. We performed exploratory laparoscopic surgery with the intention of primary repair. The diaphragmatic and abdominal wall defect was primarily closed, followed by reinforcement with PROLENE onlay mesh. The patient's postoperative recovery was complicated by infected hematomas over both flanks that were managed with ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage. He was discharged well despite a prolonged hospital stay., Conclusions: We present a complex form of injuries managed successfully via a laparoscopic approach. Meticulous attention to potential complications in both the acute and convalescent phases is important for achieving a successful outcome following surgery.

Background: The traditional surgical approach to the excision of persistent urachal remnants is a lower midline laparotomy or semicircular infraumbilical incision. The aim of this study is to report our experience with laparoscopic urachus excision as a minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical technique., Methods: This study was a prospective study involving patients who were diagnosed with persistent urachus and underwent laparoscopic excision. The morbidity, recovery, and outcomes of surgery were reviewed., Results: Fourteen patients (8 men) with a mean age of 22.8 ± 6.42 years underwent laparoscopic excision. All patients presented with discharge from the umbilicus. Although four patients had no sonographic evidence of a patent urachus, a diagnostic laparoscopy detected a patent urachus that was excised laparoscopically. One patient required laparoscopic reoperation for persistent discharge, and one patient presented with bladder injury, which was repaired via a small Pfannenstiel incision without any morbidity. The mean operative time was 71.1 ± 0.28 minutes, and the mean duration of hospital stay was 1.3 ± 1.38 days. Pathological examination confirmed a benign urachal remnant in all cases., Conclusion: Laparoscopy is a useful alternative for the management of persistent or infected urachus, especially when its presence is clinically suspected despite the lack of sonographic evidence. The procedure is associated with low morbidity, although a small risk of bladder injury exists, particularly in cases of severe active inflammation. Recurrence is uncommon and was caused by inadequate excision of inflammatory tissue in our series that was easily managed laparoscopically., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.)

Introduction: Paraesophageal hernia with intrathoracic mesentericoaxial type of gastric volvulus is a rare clinical entity. The rotation occurs because of the idiopathic relaxation of the gastric ligaments and ascent of the stomach adjacent to the oesophagus through the hiatus defect, while the gastroesophageal junction remains in the abdomen. The open approach remains the gold standard therapy for most patients. Here we report the case of a patient with such a condition who underwent a successful laparoscopic surgery. A literature search revealed that this is the first case report from Southeast Asia., Case Presentation: A 55-year-old Chinese woman presented to us with symptoms suggestive of gastric outlet obstruction for one year. A chest radiograph showed an air bubble with air-fluid level in her left thoracic cavity, where a diaphragmatic hernia was initially suspected. A computed tomography scan and barium swallow study demonstrated the presence of a type III paraesophageal hernia with intrathoracic upside-down stomach. A laparoscopy was performed and the herniated stomach was successfully reduced into the abdomen. The mediastinal part of the hernial sac was excised. Adequate intraabdominal length of oesophagus was achieved after resection of the sac and circumferential oesophageal dissection. A lateral releasing incision was made adjacent to the right crus to facilitate crural closure. The diaphragmatic defect and the hiatal closure were covered with a composite mesh. A Toupet fundoplication was performed to recreate the antireflux valve. She had an uneventful recovery. She had no relapse of previous symptoms at her six-month follow-up assessment., Conclusions: Laparoscopic repair of such a condition can be accomplished successfully and safely when it is performed with meticulous attention to the details of the surgical technique.

Objective: Adult intussusception is rare, representing only 1% to 5% of bowel obstructions. This is a case series of 8 patients who presented with intestinal obstruction secondary to intussusception managed laparoscopically at our institution., Methods: Eight cases of adult intussusceptions were treated laparoscopically at our institution between January 2010 and December 2012. The presentation, diagnosis, management strategy, and pathology involved were reviewed., Results: Three patients presented with small-bowel obstruction, whereas 4 had recurrent bouts of abdominal pain and 1 had persisting diarrhea. Computed tomography scan was performed in all but 1 of our patients and was accurate in diagnosing in all instances. Laparoscopy and resection of the intussusceptions was completed successfully in all patients. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. Four patients underwent laparoscopy-assisted small-bowel resection; 3 patients underwent right hemicolectomy and 1 had anterior resection. All patients recovered uneventfully., Conclusions: Laparoscopic management of adult intussusception is safe and feasible. Further, diagnostic laparoscopy is useful when the diagnosis is uncertain despite computed tomography scan imaging.

We propose a standardized technique of repair and lavage with the outcomes of 50 consecutive patients treated at our institution. The perforation was closed primarily and reinforced with omental patch. It was then followed by peritoneal lavage in a focused sequential manner that involved quadrant to quadrant lavage with tilting of operating table and changing of position between the surgeon and the camera surgeon. None of our patients had postoperative intra-abdominal complications, but unfortunately 1 patient succumbed to respiratory complications. Respiratory complications was the most common postoperative complication in our series (9 patients), whereas 2 patients had ileus. There were no leaks or reoperations in our series. Laparoscopic repair and sutured omentoplasty, followed by focused sequential lavage in a systematic manner, if performed diligently, will yield good outcomes.

Introduction: Using laparoscopic methods for incarcerated scrotal hernias is controversial because of the perceived technical difficulties in treating such hernias. Herein, we present our experience with laparoscopic repair of such hernias., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken to evaluate our experience with laparoscopic transabdominal approach and its modification for incarcerated hernias over a 3-year period. Two laparoscopic techniques were used for the repair of such hernias. The first technique, an exploratory laparoscopy, was performed to inspect the content of the hernia. This was followed by gentle retraction of the hernial content into the abdominal cavity and performing a standard transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair. If the hernia was not reducible, then a second technique involving a paramedian scrotal incision was performed. The sac was isolated, opened, and its contents were examined. If the bowel was encountered, it was reduced into the peritoneal cavity. However, if it was the omentum, it was excised. Following ligation of the scrotal sac and re-insufflation of the abdomen, a standard TAPP ensued., Results: A total of 20 male patients with incarcerated scrotal hernia underwent laparoscopic TAPP repair (mean age: 48 years). Six had scrotal incision. Surgical site or mesh infection was not observed in any of the cases. Likewise, no recurrence after a mean follow-up of 22 months was encountered., Conclusion: Using the above modifications, we were able to perform laparoscopic repair of large incarcerated scrotal hernias, which previously would have been treated with an open procedure., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Acute lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage secondary to small bowel ascariasis is extremely rare. A high level of suspicion should be maintained when dealing with acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage in migrants and travellers. Small bowel examination is warranted when carefully repeated upper and lower endoscopies have failed to elicit the source of bleeding. Appropriate test selection is determined by the availability of local expertise. We present a case of acute lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage secondary to jejunal ascariasis and a literature search on lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage associated with jejunal infestation with Ascaris.

Introduction: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is an evolving concept in minimally invasive surgery. It utilizes the concept of inline viewing and a single incision that accommodates all of the working instruments. Here, we describe a single surgeon's initial experiences of using this technique in a tertiary hospital., Methods: Between January and September 2010, 21 patients underwent SILC for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The umbilicus was the point of access into abdomen for all patients using a 2.0-2.5-cm incision. The surgeries were performed using the Covidien SILS port with a 30° angled scope and two 5-mm conventional laparoscopic instruments., Results: Nineteen patients successfully underwent surgery (8 males and 11 females; mean age: 43 years). The mean body mass index was 25.9 kg/m(2) (range: 19.0-38.2 kg/m(2)). The mean operative time was 89 minutes (range: 55-135 minutes). Minimal blood loss was noted in each patient. The mean length of the postoperative stay was 1.1 days (range: 1-3 days). No complications or mortalities were associated with the technique. The visual analogue score for pain at the 1-day and 6-week follow-up examinations was 2 (range: 1-7) and 0.6 (range: 0-3), respectively. At 6 weeks, the mean satisfaction score for the resultant scar was 8.8 (range: 4-10) and the mean overall satisfaction score was 9.2 (range: 7-10). The mean time until returning to work or normal activities was 8.8 days (range: 1-21 days)., Conclusion: SILC is feasible and demonstrates a good clinical outcome., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Adult intussusception is rare. It represents only 5% of all intussusceptions and 1% of bowel obstruction. Clinical presentations are usually variable with a variety of acute, intermittent and chronic symptoms. It is associated with an underlying pathologic process in 90% of cases. A lack of Malaysia data prompted review of the Sarawak experience with this uncommon entity, focusing on the clinical features, diagnostic procedure and treatment. During the last 5 years, there were 14 cases of surgically proven adult intussusception. Mean age was 45.9 years. There were 9 enteric and 5 colonic intussusceptions. Ninety-three percent of the intussusceptions were associated with a pathologic lesion. Thirty-three percent of the enteric lesions were malignant and 67% were benign. Eighty percent of the colonic lesions were malignant and 20% were benign. Computed tomography scan has a good diagnostic accuracy of 83% and should be considered for all patients with nonspecific abdominal symptoms or suspected bowel obstruction. Treatment of choice for colonic intussusception in adults is en bloc resection without reduction whenever possible, whereas a more selective approach for enteric lesions.

Killian-Jamieson (K-J) diverticulum is a rare cervical oesophageal diverticulum, less commonly encountered compared with Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). We report a case of K-J diverticulum in a 52-year-old lady who presented with sensation of lump in the neck and food stuck in the throat of 5 years duration. Esophagogram showed a large rightsided pharyngoesophageal diverticulum which was confirmed on endoscopy. The patient underwent a diverticulopexy and recovered without complications. Her symptoms had improved. In this report, we review the literature and describe our surgical technique.

Proteus Syndrome is a rare congenital hamartomatous disorder that typically manifests itself in overgrowth, vascular malformation and disregulation of fatty tissue. The tissues affected are commonly the limbs but can be of any tissue. Vascular anomalies are common and appear at random sites on the body. Diagnosis is often difficult leading to wrong treatment. We describe a case of a 17-year-old girl with Proteus syndrome presented with symptomatic anaemia secondary to chronic rectal bleeding. Computed Tomography Angiogram of Abdomen and Pelvis confirmed the presence of rectal vascular malformations.

Gastric outlet obstruction and in particular, pyloric stenosis, is relatively common in developing countries. Acute clinical presentation is often the manifestation of biochemical and electrolyte changes. The presence of metabolic alkalosis in combination with acute renal failure should alarm us to the possibility of adult pyloric stenosis. We report a case of adult pyloric stenosis that presented as acute renal failure and discuss its pathophysiology.