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PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic surgery for adrenal tumors. A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has rapidly replaced open adrenalectomy as the procedure of choice for benign adrenal tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of 100 consecutive laparoscopic and open adrenalectomies performed during a period of 8.5 years in our Surgical Unit. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of patients operated on for adrenal tumors was conducted. From May 1997 to August 2005, one hundred adrenalectomies were performed on 95 patients. Five patients underwent either synchronous or metachronous bilateral adrenalectomy. There were 38 men and 57 women, aged 16 to 80 years. The size of tumors in our series ranged from 3.2 to 27 cm. The largest laparoscopically excised tumor was a ganglioneuroma with a diameter of 13 cm. RESULTS: In 73 patients laparoscopic procedure was completed successfully. In 8 cases the laparoscopic procedure was converted to open. Fourteen patients were treated with open approach. One patient with pheochromocytoma succumbed following pulmonary embolus. In one patient with morbid obesity, Cushing's syndrome, and bilateral adrenal macronodular hyperplasia, the left laparoscopic adrenalectomy was complicated by a low output pancreatic fistula, conservatively treated. All other patients had an uneventful course. Operative time for laparoscopic adrenalectomies ranged from 65 to 180 minutes. The average postoperative hospital stay for laparoscopic adrenalectomy ranged from 1 to 2 days (1.5 days), versus 5 to 20 days for patients who underwent open or converted procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy should be the treatment of choice for all benign adrenal tumors. Laparoscopic resection of large adrenal tumors necessitates experience in open surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Intraoperative laparoscopic sonography for improved preoperative sonographic pathologic characterization of adnexal masses.

This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic sonography and transvaginal sonography in the evaluation of adnexal masses. Fifty-eight women underwent transvaginal sonography, which showed 69 adnexal masses, and laparoscopic ultrasonography, which showed 68 adnexal lesions. Conventional gray-scale ultrasonography (using transvaginal sonography and laparoscopic ultrasonography) was performed with morphologic characterization of internal architecture, followed by color Doppler imaging with spectral Doppler analysis where possible. A specific diagnosis was obtained with transvaginal sonography and laparoscopic ultrasonography based on a combination of imaging features. The specific diagnosis obtained with each imaging modality was compared with the final histologic diagnosis as the gold standard in 57 patients with 68 adnexal masses who underwent cystectomy or oophorectomy. The ability of laparoscopic sonography to detect the contralateral ovary and any residual ovarian tissue in the presence of a mass was also compared with transvaginal sonography. The accuracy of laparoscopic ultrasonography in the characterization of adnexal masses was 83.8% and that of transvaginal sonography was 73.5% (P < 0.05). Laparoscopic sonography showed greater morphologic detail than that obtained with transvaginal sonography, allowed more precise and specific characterization of adnexal masses, and detected additional adnexal lesions not evident on preoperative transvaginal sonography. Laparoscopic ultrasonography showed the contralateral ovary in 86.2% of patients, compared with 81.0% using transvaginal sonography (P = 0.51). In addition, laparoscopic ultrasonography was able to demonstrate the presence of residual ovarian tissue in the side affected pathologically in 76.5% of patients compared with 59.4% using transvaginal sonography (P < 0.005). Laparoscopic sonography allows more precise morphologic characterization of internal architecture and histologic diagnosis of adnexal lesions, but it is as yet unable to increase the diagnostic accuracy of borderline or malignant lesions, possibly due to the small sample size. Laparoscopic sonography is superior to transvaginal sonography in the evaluation of residual ovarian tissue in the side affected pathologically, which may help in surgical planning between cystectomy and oophorectomy, and also in the identification of the contralateral ovary, which may potentially increase the detection of bilateral pathologic conditions.

Adnexal Diseases↗
PubMed2001

Laparoscopic bilateral synchronous nephrectomy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: the initial experience.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with laparoscopic bilateral synchronous nephrectomy for giant symptomatic autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and compare outcome data with open bilateral nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since March 1998, 10 patients underwent bilateral synchronous laparoscopic nephrectomy for giant symptomatic ADPKD. A 3 port retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach was used to secure the renal hilum and mobilize the kidney. Intact specimen extraction was performed through a midline infraumbilical extraperitoneal incision. The patient was then repositioned for the contralateral retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, with the second specimen also delivered through the same infraumbilical incision. Data were retrospectively compared with 10 patients who had undergone bilateral synchronous open nephrectomy for ADPKD between 1981 and 1992. RESULTS: Patients in the laparoscopic and open groups were comparable in regard to age (53 versus 47 years, p = 0.54) and Anesthesiologist Society of America class (3 versus 3, p = 0.84) but patients in the laparoscopic group were significantly more obese (body mass index 35.9 versus 23.8, p = 0.02). For comparable total specimen weights (3 versus 3 kg, p = 0.69) surgical time was longer in the laparoscopic group (4.4 versus 3.8 hours, p = 0.007). However, the laparoscopic group was superior in regard to blood loss (150 versus 325 cc, p = 0.05), postoperative requirement of nasogastric tube (10% versus 100%, p = 0.0001), narcotic analgesics (34.2 versus 120.4 mg. morphine sulfate equivalent, p = 0.03) and hospital stay (1.5 versus 9 days, p = 0.004). Complications occurred in 5 patients (50%) in the laparoscopic group and 4 (40%) in the open group (p = 0.66). No laparoscopic case was converted to open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Synchronous bilateral retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for giant symptomatic adult polycystic kidney disease is feasible, safe and efficacious, and can be performed either before or after renal transplantation. Compared to open surgery, the laparoscopic approach results in significantly shorter hospital stay, decreased morbidity and quicker recovery. Laparoscopy is currently our technique of choice in this setting.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lymphovascular clearance in laparoscopic surgery of cancer in low rectum.

BACKGROUND: The success of laparoscopic biliary surgery has encouraged application of laparoscopic surgery in colorectal disease. There are some questions regarding laparoscopic colorectal surgery, especially for colorectal cancer. Most important is whether adequate resection of colorectal malignancy can be achieved. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the pathology of resected specimens following laparoscopic surgery and that following open surgery in cancer of the low rectum. Comparing the number of lymph nodes in specimens, we could then prove whether laparoscopic surgery can provide adequate clearance as well as open surgery and if laparoscopic surgery has no difference in comparison with open surgery. METHODS: The retrospective study was performed to evaluate the pathology of resected specimens following laparoscopic surgery and that following open surgery in cancer of the low rectum. Data regarding patient details and tumor pathology were obtained by case-note review and from Taichung Veterans General Hospital from July, 1998 to April, 1999. There were nine patients with rectal carcinoma in the low rectum who received laparoscopic surgery, 7 male and 2 female. The control group had 8 patients, 7 male and 1 female, with similar tumor location who received similar operation with open method by the same surgical team in the same period. The average age was 67.7 years in the laparoscopic group and 67.4 years in the control group. The characteristics of tumor and the location of tumor were well matched between these two groups. RESULTS: All of the resected specimens in the two groups were free of tumor in margin of clearance. The average number of lymph nodes harvested was 13 in the laparoscopic group and 9.4 in the open group. CONCLUSIONS: Although the case number was not adequate, the clinical implication is obvious. Laparoscopic surgery in cancer of the low rectum allows lymphovascular clearance even better than that is afforded by open surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Failed antireflux surgery: surgical outcome of laparoscopic refundoplication in the elderly.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antireflux surgery has a failure rate between 5 and 20%. Laparoscopic redo-surgery is feasible, but little is known about the surgical outcome in elderly patients. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate early surgical experience and outcome, including quality of life, after laparoscopic refundoplication in patients older than 65 years. METHODOLOGY: Eleven patients, mean age of 71 years (range: 65-78), underwent laparoscopic redo-surgery. Six patients had the former antireflux procedure performed by the open technique, one having had it twice, one had both laparoscopic and open antireflux procedures, and in 4 the primary intervention was performed laparoscopically. Quality of life was evaluated by using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index. All patients were evaluated prior to surgery, and at 3 months and 12 months after laparoscopic refundoplication, as well as with esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH-monitoring. RESULTS: Redo-procedures were completed laparoscopically in 10 patients. In one patient conversion to an open laparotomy was necessary because of severe bleeding from the spleen. One patient had an injury to the gastric wall, successfully managed laparoscopically. Postoperatively, one patient had moderate dysphagia for a period of two months, another had epigastric pain for the same period. Esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH-monitoring showed normal values in all patients after redo-surgery. Prior to redo-surgery, the mean Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index was 85.2 points. Three months (mean: 119.8 points) and one year (mean: 119.2 points) after laparoscopic reoperation the general score increased significantly (P < 0.01) and attained the equivalent level of comparable healthy individuals (118.7 points). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic refundoplication in the elderly patient is feasible, safe and an effective treatment after failed antireflux surgery. Older patients with failed antireflux surgery have poor quality of life. Laparoscopic redo-surgery improves quality of life significantly to the level of healthy individuals and normalizes objective outcome criteria without any long-term restrictions in daily life.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer: long-term results of a multicentric study.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: Surgical treatment of endometrial cancer was traditionally done by laparotomy, however the laparoscopic approach has gained wider acceptance by gynecologic surgeons. The primary aim of the study was to report the perioperative and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in a major group of patients with endometrial cancer. The second aim was to study the long-term results of laparoscopic surgery in patients with endometrial cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective multicentric study was conducted at three oncolaparoscopic centres; 221 women who had undergone laparoscopic (177 women) or abdominal (44 women) hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymphadenectomy were included in the study. Women with stage IA, grade I did not undergo lymphadenectomy unless they had a high risk histologic tumor type. Lymph node dissection was performed in 145 women with disease greater than IA or grades other than 1. RESULTS: The mean age and weight were similar in the compared laparoscopic and open groups. Perioperative blood loss was comparable in both groups (211.2 ml vs 245.7 ml, respectively) without any significant consecutive changes in serum hemoglobin values. Although the length of operating time for the laparoscopic surgery was significantly longer than the time for the laparotomy procedure (163.3 min vs 114.7 min, p < 0.0001), the laparoscopic patients were discharged from hospital much earlier at 3.9 days (range 2-16) after the laparoscopic procedure compared with 7.3 days (range 5-16) after the abdominal procedure (p < 0.0001). The difference in surgical complications between groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.58). Similar long-term results were noted in both groups. With a median follow-up of 33.6 months for the laparoscopy group and 45.2 months for the open group, there were no significant differences in tumor recurrence (p = 0.99] or recurrence-free survival (p = 0.86) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The study illustrates that laparoscopically assisted surgical staging of endometrial cancer is safe as an open procedure. The laparoscopic approach may also be considered for endometrial malignancy which typically occurs in obese and elderly, high-risk women. Our analysis showed no difference with respect to recurrence or survival between the compared laparoscopic and the open group.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Electromagnetically navigated laparoscopic ultrasound.

A three-dimensional (3D) representation of laparoscopic ultrasound examinations could be helpful in diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy, but has not yet been realised with flexible laparoscopic ultrasound probes. Therefore, an electromagnetic navigation system was integrated into the tip of a conventional laparoscopic ultrasound probe. Navigated 3D laparoscopic ultrasound was compared with the imaging data of 3D navigated transcutaneous ultrasound and 3D computed tomography (CT) scan. The 3D CT scan served as the "gold standard". Clinical applicability in standardized operating room (OR) settings, imaging quality, diagnostic potential, and accuracy in volumetric assessment of various well-defined hepatic lesions were analyzed. Navigated 3D laparoscopic ultrasound facilitates exact definition of tumor location and margins. As compared with the "gold standard" of the 3D CT scans, 3D laparoscopic ultrasound has a tendency to underestimate the volume of the region of interest (ROI) (Delta3.1%). A comparison of 3D laparoscopy and transcutaneous 3D ultrasonography demonstrated clearly that the former is more accurate for volumetric assessment of the ROI and facilitates a more detailed display of the lesions. 3D laparoscopic ultrasound imaging with a navigated probe is technically feasible. The technique facilitates detailed ultrasound evaluation of laparoscopic procedures that involve visual, in-depth, and volumetric perception of complex liver pathologies. Navigated 3D laparoscopic ultrasound may have the potential to promote the practical role of laparoscopic ultrasonography, and become a valuable tool for local ablative therapy. In this article, our clinical experiences with a certified prototype of a 3D laparoscopic ultrasound probe, as well as its in vitro and in vivo evaluation, is reported.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2004

Risk of gas embolism in hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic hepatic resection.

Laparoscopic hepatic resection represents an alternative to open surgery in patients with advanced underlying hepatic disease. Management of haemorrhage and the risk of gas embolism are the major problems in laparoscopic liver surgery. In this study, safety and efficacy of liver dissection using ultrasonic energy was investigated in hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic surgery. The study had a special emphasis on evaluating the risk of gas embolism during both procedures. Female pigs were divided into two groups for A) total laparoscopic (n=7), and B) hand-assisted laparoscopic (n=7) hepatic resection. For tissue dissection, an ultrasound aspirator (CUSA) was used in both groups. Laparoscopic procedure was performed under a CO2 pneumoperitoneum (intraperitoneal pressure: 12 mmHg). Before dissection, a Pringle manoeuver was carried out. The anaesthetized pigs were monitored haemodynamically by an arterial line and Swan-Ganz catheter. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed with special attention to the right atrium and ventricle. Gas emboli were graded according to size and correlated with haemodynamic and blood-gas data. In both groups, the ultrasound-aspirator enabled an effective tissue dissection. In total laparoscopic hepatic resection, TEE monitoring disclosed gas embolism in 5/7 (71%) animals. In 3/7 (42%) animals, gas embolism was accompanied by a sequence of cardiac arrhythmia. No direct correlation was noted between episodes of embolism and blood-gas variables. None of the pigs died after episodes of embolization. In hand-assisted liver resection, no air embolism was noted. The internal hand impressively facilitated organ exposure and provided an immediate and efficient haemorrhage control. The use of an ultrasound aspirator system enables an effective laparoscopic hepatic dissection. Total laparoscopic liver dissection is at increased risk for gas embolism, whereas hand-assisted laparoscopic procedure appears to reduce this risk. Due to tactile response and facilitated retraction of the liver parenchyma, the hand-assisted procedure shows impressive advantages in laparoscopic liver surgery.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic total and partial nephrectomy.

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has established its role as a standard of care for the management of renal neoplasms. Long term follow-up has demonstrated laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has shorter patient hospitalization and effective cancer control, with no significant difference in survival compared with open radical nephrectomy. For renal masses less than 4cm, partial nephrectomy is indicated for patients with a solitary kidney or who demonstrate impairment of contralateral renal function. The major technical issue for success of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is bleeding control and several techniques have been developed to achieve better hemostatic control. Development of new laparoscopic techniques for partial nephrectomy can be divided into 2 categories: hilar control and warm ischemia vs. no hilar control. Development of a laparoscopic Satinsky clamp has achieved en bloc control of the renal hilum in order to allow cold knife excision of the mass, with laparoscopic repair of the collecting system, if needed. Combination of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with ablative techniques has achieved successful excision of renal masses with adequate hemostasis without hilar clamping. Other techniques without hilar control have been investigated and included the use of a microwave tissue coagulator. In conclusion, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma has clearly demonstrated low morbidity and equivalent cancer control. The rates for local recurrences and metastatic spread are low and actuarial survival high. Furthermore, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has demonstrated to be technically feasible, with low morbidity. With short term outcomes demonstrating laparoscopic partial nephrectomy as an efficacious procedure, the role of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy should continue to increase.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

[Laparoscopic liver surgery].

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery has been widely used for digestive tract diseases, specially for gallbladder pathology. Laparoscopic liver surgery pretends to accomplish the same objectives of open surgery but with the advantages of minimally invasive surgery. AIMS: To evaluate the indications and recent results of laparoscopic liver surgery, as well as the technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the world literature was performed on the roll of laparoscopic surgery for hepatic diseases. The results of the authors are also reported. RESULTS: Nowadays hepatic laparoscopic surgery is reserved for anterior non-parasitic liver cysts and type I polycystic liver disease. The treatment of choice is wide deroofing. For hydatic liver disease pericystectomy or wide deroofing plus omentoplasty are also described. For benign solid liver disease, hepatic resection can be performed with the same outcome that the one observed with open surgery when the lesions are symptomatic, small, anterior or peripherally located. Laparoscopic liver surgery is recommended for the treatment of malignant hepatic lesions only in very specific cases. Nonetheless there are no prospective randomized studies that show benefits of laparoscopic over open surgery. Several local ablative therapies like radiofrequency, ethanol injection, cryotherapy or laser can be also performed through the laparoscope. The results reported so far have been encouraging. Intra-arterial chemotherapy is an option for the treatment of liver malignancies via laparoscopy, considering that the arterial catheter can be placed under this approach. CONCLUSIONS: For years, the liver has been considered a challenging organ for its approach, even with open surgery. Laparoscopic liver surgery should be performed by an experienced surgeon with the adequate technology. To our knowledge there are no reported results that decisively point toward the benefits of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery for the management of liver disease. Nonetheless more experience in laparoscopic liver surgery is needed.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic-assisted colon resections: long-term results and survival.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the long-term results and patient survival for laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal malignancies. The place of laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal carcinomas is controversial. The techniques and expected surgical outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic and laparoscopic-assisted colectomies are being defined as these procedures become more acceptable and reach parity with, or even surpass, results of traditional operations. Anecdotal reports in the literature describe port-site and incisional tumor implantation in patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted colectomies for colorectal malignancies. This raises concerns about whether these incisional tumor sites are more common in these patients and whether their survival is compromised by the laparoscopic technique. METHODS: The authors reviewed data from 110 patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted colectomies for colorectal cancer to determine the long-term results and survival and to compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy to the safety and efficacy of open colectomy. Between July 1991 and June 1999, 350 patients underwent laparoscopic-assisted colectomies. Of these, 110 patients had colorectal malignancies. Survival rates and patterns of recurrence were compared within the various TNM stages and compared with conventional data after open surgery. The American Joint Committee on Cancer staging for colorectal carcinomas and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to determine the survival curves. RESULTS: Laparoscopic-assisted colon resections for colorectal malignancies were performed in 110 patients. Fifty-one percent of the patients were women, and 49% percent were men, with a mean age of 78.17 years. The mean follow-up was 43 months. Thirteen patients were converted to open operation due to various difficulties encountered during the procedure. Mean operative time was 128.16 minutes, and mean hospital stay was 6.91 days. Perioperative mortality was 2.77%. There were 4 local recurrences. The ten-year survival rates for the various stages were 78% for stage I, 33% for stage II, 30% for stage III, and 0% for stage IV. No port-site implantations occurred. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted colon resection of colorectal carcinomas is technically feasible and safe. It allows earlier postoperative recovery and a shorter hospital stay. The long-term survival is also satisfactory. The incidence of port-site implants is no more than that with the conventional open technique. Determination of any benefits over the conventional open technique, however, still await prospective randomized trials.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for chronic diverticular disease.

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for diverticular disease has now been well established. We report herein our experience with laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy in 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy for chronic diverticular disease. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of a 7-year period from January 1995 to June 2002. Chronic diverticular disease was treated with laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy in 100 patients. The setting was a community hospital. All cases were performed by 1 of 2 colorectal surgeons. All laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy patients received lighted ureteral stents placed preoperatively that were removed at the end of surgery. RESULTS: Mean age was 61.6 years. The male to female ratio was 38:62. The mean estimated blood loss was 138 mL, liquid diet was tolerated for 2.4 days, and hospital length of stay was 4.6 days. The mean operative time for laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy was 196 minutes. Relative complications for laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy are as follows: anastomotic leak in 2 (3.0%) patients, hematuria in 95 (95%) with an average duration for 3.1 days, urinary tract infection in 6 (6%), and ureteral injury in 1 (1%). The mean operating room charges in the laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy patients was dollars 9,643. CONCLUSION: We recommend laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy as the modality of treatment for chronic diverticular disease. Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy appears to be a reliable, safe, and efficacious treatment modality for chronic diverticular disease. The operative time for laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy is decreasing as surgeons gain more experience.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy].

After gaining experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy and other laparoscopic procedures, we decided to perform laparoscopic-assisted colectomy. During July 1992 to February 1993 we performed 14 such procedures. Ages ranged from 46-83 years (mean, 68). In all cases the indication for surgery was neoplasm of the colon. 8 of the tumors were located in the right colon and 6 in the sigmoid. Procedures performed were laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy with a biofragmentable anastomotic ring or laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy with end-to-end anastomosis. In 1 operation we combined laparoscopic cholecystectomy with laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Operation time varied from 90-130 min (mean, 100 min). In our opinion the procedure is as radical as standard laparotomy with the number of lymph nodes per specimen ranging from 4-10 (mean, 7); the surgical margins were free of tumor in all cases. There was less pain in the postoperative period than with the standard procedure and the average time from operation to discharge was 7 days (range, 5-9). Complications included 1 fatality due to postoperative myocardial infarction, and 1 case of duodenal perforation which was sutured during the operation. We conclude that laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy are feasible for carcinoma, and that recovery is quicker and with less pain. However, we need a larger series and long-term follow-up to conclude whether the laparoscopic assisted technic is an adequate operation in cases of cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

The pitfalls of laparoscopic surgery: challenges for robotics and telerobotic surgery.

After its debut in 1988, laparoscopic cholecystectomy rapidly became the standard of care for cholelithiasis, yet very few surgeons use minimally invasive techniques for other abdominal operations. Why do most surgeons continue to perform traditional open gastrointestinal operations? We believe that the answer to this question lies in the fact that advanced laparoscopic operations are difficult to learn, perform, and master. A number of inherent pitfalls of laparoscopy hinder the performance of these operations even after the surgeon has accumulated years of experience. These pitfalls include an unstable video camera platform, limited motion (degrees of freedom) of straight laparoscopic instruments, two-dimensional imaging, and poor ergonomics for the surgeon. Inexperienced or bored laparoscopic camera-holders move the camera frequently and rotate it away from the horizon. The long, straight laparoscopic instruments are limited in their motion by the fixation enforced by the abdominal wall trocars. Similarly, the standard two-dimensional video imaging used in most laparoscopic operations impedes the surgeon's depth perception, compounding the limitations of laparoscopic instruments. In addition, surgeons are forced to assume ergonomically awkward stances in performing many laparoscopic operations. These four factors hinder a surgeon's efforts to learn and to perform advanced laparoscopic operations, significantly lengthening the learning curve. The articles presented in this issue suggest that robotics and telerobotics offer solutions to these nagging pitfalls of laparoscopic surgery.

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗
PubMed2006

Laparoscopic management of appendicitis and symptomatic cholelithiasis during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy is a challenging procedure that most surgeons are reluctant to perform. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy is safe in pregnant women. The management of these situations remains controversial. We report a single center study describing the successful management of 16 patients during pregnancy. METHODS: More than 3,356 laparoscopic procedures were performed in our institutions between May 1990 and June 2005. Sixteen of these patients were operated on in the second and third trimester between 22 and 32 weeks of estimated gestational age. We performed 11 laparoscopic appendectomies and 5 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. We also reviewed the management and operative technique used in these patients. RESULTS: In this study, the laparoscopic appendectomy or cholecystectomy was performed successfully in all patients. Three patients were in their second trimester, weeks 22, 23, and 25, and 13 were in the third trimester, weeks 27 (three patients), 28 (five patients), 31 (three patients), and 32 (two patients). No maternal or fetal morbidity occurred. Open laparoscopy was performed safely in all patients and all patients delivered healthy babies. CONCLUSION: From our experience laparoscopic management of appendicitis and biliary colic during pregnancy is safe, however the second trimester is preferable for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Pregnancy is not a contraindication to the laparoscopic approach to appendicitis or symptomatic cholelithiasis. We believe that laparoscopic operations, when performed by experienced surgeons, are safe and even preferable for the mother and the fetus.

Appendectomy↗
PubMed2005

Laparoscopic surgery for common surgical emergencies: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Despite being controversial in the past, many reports on the safe use of laparoscopic surgery in emergency settings have been published. The aim of this study was to investigate the diffusion of laparoscopic surgery in three common surgical emergency operations, namely, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and simple repair of perforated peptic ulcer (PPU), in a stable population. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the central database of the Hospital Authority (HA) in Hong Kong. Data for patients managed in 14 HA hospitals from 1998 to 2002 were studied. The operation record and discharge record of each patient were also investigated to verify the data. RESULTS: A total of 12,708 patients underwent appendectomy, 2631 patients underwent cholecystectomy, and 2260 patients had simple repair of PPU performed. During the study period, 37.2% of appendectomies, 46.5% of cholecystectomies, and 23.1% of simple repairs of PPU were performed laparoscopically. More than a two-fold increase in the proportion of laparoscopic surgery was observed in each of these three operations. By the end of 2002, the percentage of laparoscopic surgery had increased to 53.5% for appendectomies, 61.3% for cholecystectomies, and 32.9% for simple repairs of PPU. Significantly lower hospital mortality rates and shorter postoperative hospital stay were consistenty observed in patients with laparoscopic surgery of the three emergencies. A wide variation in the use of laparoscopic surgery, ranging from 3.7% to 73.1%, was observed among the 14 HA hospitals. However, there was no correlation in the use of laparoscopic surgery with the volume of operation performed in each hospital (p = 0.933). CONCLUSION: A high diffusion rate on the use of laparoscopic surgery for common surgical emergency was observed in Hong Kong. However, there was also a wide variation in the diffusion rate among the 14 HA hospitals. Efforts to reduce hospital variation for the better dissemination of safe laparoscopic technique may be warranted.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Experience as a factor influencing the indications for laparoscopic colorectal surgery and the results.

BACKGROUND: The influence of experience on the results of treatment with laparoscopic surgery is indisputable. The establishment of indications and contraindications is relative, and varies depending on the experience of the surgeon. Learning curves have been described for a number of laparoscopic interventions, in particular laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The current prospective multicenter study investigates, among other things, the interrelation between experience and the results of treatment using laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The study makes no pronouncements on the long-term results achieved in patients with colorectal carcinoma who underwent an operation with curative intent, although relevant data were indeed collected. RESULTS: Between August 1, 1995 and February 1, 1999, a total of 1,658 patients were recruited to the prospective multicenter study initiated by the Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Study Group. To investigate the influence of surgical experience, two groups were formed. Group A comprised all the institutions and surgeons with experience of more than 100 laparoscopic colorectal operations. Group B contained institutions and surgeons with experience of fewer than 100 such interventions. The results of this study clearly show that in Group A, significantly more procedures involving the rectum were performed (26.7% vs 9.5%), and significantly more carcinomas were surgically managed (37.3% vs 17.3%). Despite this significantly higher level of technically difficult procedures in the patient population of group A, which was comparable in terms of age, gender, height, and weight with the patient in group B, the postoperative mortality and morbidity was, with the exception of urinary tract infections, identical between the two groups. Conversion to open surgery was significantly less frequent in group A (4.3% vs 6.9%), and, finally, the duration of the procedures performed by the more experienced surgeons of group A was appreciably shorter than in institutions with a smaller frequency of such operations. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is very demanding, and can be performed with low morbidity and mortality rates only by a surgeon with above-average experience with this type of surgery and a large caseload of laparoscopic colorectal procedures. The learning curve for such procedures is appreciably longer than for other laparoscopic operations. With increasing experience, technically more demanding operations, including radical oncologic rectal laparoscopic procedures, can be performed with appreciably reduced operating times and conversion rates, but with no increase in morbidity or mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Laparoscopic vs open surgery: a preliminary comparison of quality-of-life outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purported advantages of laparoscopic surgery over conventional open techniques are less pain and faster return to normal functional status. Very few studies have included validated measures of quality of life as end points. This study prospectively assessed the health status outcomes of patients undergoing four types of laparoscopic and open operations. METHODS: Preoperatively, patients undergoing elective inguinal hernioplasty, esophageal surgery, cholecystectomy, and splenectomy completed the SF-36, a well-tested, validated health-status instrument. This instrument measures physical functioning (PF), role-physical (RP), role-emotional (RE), bodily pain (BP), vitality (VT), mental health (MH), social functioning (SF), and general health (GH) health status domains. Patients then underwent either laparoscopic or open surgery. Patients were reassessed with the instrument > or =6 weeks after surgery. A total of 100 patients underwent these procedures. RESULTS: Compared to preoperative values, median SF-36 scores for laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients were improved in the domains of PF (85 vs 95, p = 0.01), BP (42 vs 75, p = 0.002), and VT (47.5 vs 70, p = 0.04); open cholecystectomy patients did not show statistically significant improvements over preoperative values. In addition, laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients had a better score than open cholecystectomy patients in the BP domain (75 vs 41, p = 0.05). Laparoscopic esophageal surgery patients had better scores than open surgery patients in the domains of RP (100 vs 0, p = 0.02) and VT (65 vs 52.5, p = 0.05). Compared to preoperative values, laparoscopic splenectomy patients had an improved score in GH (52 vs 77, p = 0.02) and better scores than open splenectomy patients in PF (90 vs 45, p = 0.05) and BP (84 vs 55.5, p = 0.01). Compared to preoperative values, open mesh hernioplasty patients showed improved scores in PF (70 vs 92.5, p = 0.03) and MH (72 vs 84, p = 0.05). Laparoscopic hernioplasty did not produce improved scores compared to either preoperative values or open hernioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery has demonstrably better quality-of-life outcomes than open surgery for cholecystectomy, splenectomy, and esophageal surgery. However, open hernioplasty has at least as good, if not better, health status outcomes than laparoscopic repair.

Abdomen↗