The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of performing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in a canine model. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was performed on six adult male canines. A new endoscopic needle driver was used to construct a secure vesicourethral anastomosis. Average operative time required to complete the procedure was 304 min (range 270-345 min). Dissection of the prostate gland took an average of 67 min (range 35-90 min), and construction of the vesicourethral anastomosis took 154 min (rage 80-240 min). There were no intraoperative complications and only one postoperative complication (anastomotic leak). Five of the six animals recovered uneventfully from the procedure, and their foley catheters were removed 10-14 days postoperatively after a retrograde cystourethrogram demonstrated an intact vesicourethral anastomosis. Four (80%) of the surviving animals were clinically continent within 10 days after catheter removal. Post mortem examination confirmed that the vesicourethral anastomosis was intact with no evidence of urine extravasation. These data demonstrate the feasibility of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in a canine model, and suggest that additional work with this technique should be continued to develop its potential clinical application.
The authors describe a case of nonparasitic splenic cyst treated by laparoscopic fenestration. The patient complained of left upper quadrant pain that increased during the prior 3 months. Computed tomography scan revealed a large cyst of the inferior pole of the spleen. The patient was submitted to laparoscopic wide fenestration of the cystic wall. The postoperative course was unremarkable and the patient was discharged with complete relief of symptoms. Laparoscopic technique provides the same results in terms of effectiveness and safety as traditional surgery, linked to the benefits of the mininvasive approach; thus, the laparoscopic fenestration can be considered the ideal treatment of nonparasitic splenic cysts.
Saint's triade of hiatus hernia, colonic diverticula, and cholelithiasis presenting with volvulus of the gallbladder is a unique occurrence. Possible etiology of volvulus of the gallbladder involves kyphosis, viceroptosis, cholelithiasis, and in this case adhesive bands. Laparoscopic decompression of the gallbladder, division of the adhesive bands, detorsion of the volvulus, and finally laparoscopic cholecystectomy successfully resolved this uncommon clinical problem. We describe a case and review the literature.
The use of laparoscopic methods to explore the common bile duct is now well-established, although they continue to undergo continuous evolution and improvement. In experienced hands laparoscopic management of choledocholithiasis may be undertaken with morbidity and mortality at least as good as that of open surgery. The use of diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with or without sphincterotomy before or after laparoscopic intervention must be evaluated. The degree of acceptance that laparoscopic techniques for common bile duct exploration (CBDE) will achieve within the surgical community remains to be determined, but will likely increase as more practicing surgeons familiarize themselves with them.
Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy has been criticized because of the need for general anesthesia. The endoscopic preperitoneal approach allows the use of epidural anesthesia, obviating the potential complications and side effects seen with general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of epidural anesthesia for preperitoneal herniorrhaphy. Fifty-two patients underwent repair of a total of 80 hernias over a 6-month period. Thirty-six patients underwent their repairs with the use of epidural anesthesia with the goal of a T-4 sensory level. A tension-free prosthetic repair was performed in all patients. Seventeen patients had unilateral repairs and nineteen had bilateral repairs under epidural, while seven patients had unilateral repairs and nine patients had bilateral repairs under general anesthesia. There were no significant differences in patient demographics. All herniorrhaphies were electively performed on an outpatient basis by a single surgeon (A.L.S.) in a teaching setting. There were no significant differences for unilateral and bilateral repairs when type of anesthesia was compared. There was only one conversion from epidural to general anesthesia, secondary to poor sensory blockade first noticed during creation of the preperitoneal space (97% success rate). Seven patients receiving epidural anesthesia experienced pneumoperitoneum during the procedure. This did not effect the ability to perform the hernia repair successfully. There were no complications related to the epidural anesthetic. Endoscopic preperitoneal herniorrhaphy can be performed effectively under epidural anesthesia, obviating the need for general anesthesia.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) though a very safe operative procedure does have its own morbidity and mortality. The present study was undertaken to analyze the morbidity and mortality of this procedure in an institutional setting. Between October 1992 and October 1995 a total of 433 patients received LC. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was required in 62 patients (14.3%). The decision to convert was made because the surgeon was forced to convert (3.7%) or the conversion was the operator's choice (10.6%). There was no difference in the conversion rate of consultants versus residents (14.4% vs. 14.2%). Major intraoperative and postoperative morbidity was encountered in 8.3% of patients. One patient required reexploration. The incidence of common bile duct (CBD) injury was 2.5%. There was no operative or 30 days mortality. However, two patients died in the follow-up period due to procedure-related complications. Low threshold for conversion, early recognition of morbidity, and prompt and judicious management of such complications under guided supervision is necessary in order to avoid major postoperative problems. The experience in a teaching hospital training program is different from that of an individual surgical setup.
Hernia of the lung is an uncommon clinical entity. The majority of reported hernias are acquired traumatic thoracic hernias. A case of an acquired spontaneous hernia occurring through an old anterior thoracotomy scar is presented. We believe pathogenesis of this hernia was the result of increased intrathoracic pressure secondary to tracheobronchomegaly and anterior-posterior collapse of the trachea during expiration. The hernia was successfully repaired by a video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) technique using prolene mesh and a hernia stapler similar to the technique used in repair of an inguinal hernia.