Laparoscopic surgery is becoming an approved technique in pancreatic surgery. It offers some advantages over an open approach due to shorter hospital stay and decreased complication rate. Regardless the technique the most significant problem of pancreatic surgery is postoperative pancreatic fistula. There are numerous methods attempted at reduction of its incidence. One of the possibilities is preoperative pancreatic duct stenting. It aims at decreasing the pressure in the pancreatic duct, which is supposed to facilitate pancreatic juice flow to the duodenum. The aim of the study was to determine the role of preoperative pancreatic duct stenting in pancreatic surgery. Material and methods. Nineteen patients undergoing laparoscopic pancreatic resection were enrolled into the study. Prior to the surgery, all of the patients were submitted for the Endoscopic Retrograde Choleangiopancreatography (ERCP) with pancreatic duct stenting. Following the subsequent laparoscopic pancreatic resection, all patients were monitored to detect the pancreatic fistula appearance. The pancreatic stent was removed 6‑8 weeks after the surgery. Results. With an exception of two patients, all other patients underwent successful ERCP with pancreatic duct stenting before the surgery. In one case the placement of the prosthesis failed due to a tortuous pancreatic duct. Five patients had an episode of acute pancreatitis including two severe courses as a complication of preoperative ERCP. One of the patient died due to severe GI bleeding 2 weeks after stenting. Among the procedures there were 15 distal pancreatectomies, two enucleations of the tumor localized in the uncinate process and in the body of the pancreas and one central pancreatectomy. The median time of surgery duration was 186 minutes (90‑300; ±56). No conversions to an open approach were necessary. Likewise, there was neither any major complications reported in a postoperative course nor incidence of pancreatic fistula in any of the patients undergoing surgery. Conclusions. Preoperative pancreatic duct stenting can decrease the incidence of pancreatic fistula. However, a number of serious complications exceed the potential benefit of this method.
Laparoscopic single access technique is a next step in development of minimally invasive surgery. The aim of the study was to present results of different laparoscopic single incision procedures and evaluate application of this technique. Material and methods. 102 patients (15 males and 87 females) who underwent laparoscopic single incision procedure from 15th October 2009 to 31st December 2012 were included in the study. Results. In the analyzed period we performed 72 cholecystectomies (70.6%), 8 left adrenalectomies (7.8%), 3 right adrenalectomies (2.9%), 7 splenectomies (6.9%), 5 spleen cysts unroofings (4.9%), 2 appendectomies (2%), 1 Nissen fundoplication procedure (1%), 1 removal of the adrenal cyst (1%) and 3 concomitant splenectomies and cholecystectomies (2.9%). There were 3 technical conversions to multiport laparoscopy, but no conversion to open technique. Complications were observed in 5 patients (4.9%). Average operation time was 79 min (SD=40), average hospitalization time 2.4 day (SD=1.4). Conclusions. Laparoscopic single incision technique is a safe method and can be used as a reasonable alternative to multiport laparoscopy in different minimally invasive procedures especially in young patients to whom an excellent cosmetic effect is particularly important.
Even though there is not enough good data, the use of laparoscopic approach in malignant disease is regarded by some controversial issue. On the other hand it seems that transperitoneal access to the adrenal gland allows for effective and safe oncological removal of adrenal gland neoplasms.The aim of the study was to present our experience with the use of transperitoneal approach in patients with adrenal gland malignancies.Material and methods. From March 2003 till May 2009 we performed 200 laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomies. There were 82 hormonally silent tumors (1.5-14 cm in diameter) and 118 hormonally active (63 pheochromocytomas, 26 Conn's syndrome, 25 Cushing's syndrome and 4 virylizing tumors).Results. 197 procedures were completed laparoscopically and 3 were converted (including one for inability to assess resectablility of the tumor). 14 tumors (7%) were overtly malignant; 7 arising form the adrenal (adrenal cortex - 3, pheochromocytoma - 3, lymphoma - 1) and 7 metastatic (squamous cell cancer of the lungs - 2, clear cell carcinoma of the kidney - 2, collecting duct carcinoma of the kindey - 1, hepatocellular cancer - 1, NET lung tumor - 1). Further 19 tumors (9.5%) were assessed histologically as potentially malignant (pheochromocytomas - 16, tumors of neural origin - 2, oncocytomas - 1). One malignant tumor was unresectable other were operated radically. Progression of the cancer was observed in 3 patients with metastatic tumors.Conclusions. Laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy allows for safe and radical removal of adrenal gland malignancies. Longer follow-up and larger patients volume are needed for better evaluation of long-term results.
The aim of the study was to verify the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) suitability to determine the probability of death among patients in Polish population operated due to peritonitis and to assess the possibility of using the Index to determine the risk of postoperative complications, relaparotomy and need for postoperative hospitalization in intensive care unit. Material and methods. Retrospective analysis covered 168 patients (M: F = 83: 85, mean age = 48.45 years, SD ± 22.2) treated for peritonitis. The MPI score was calculated for each patient. According to MPI results, patients were divided to the appropriate groups (<21, 21‑29, > 29) and within analyzed. The statistical analysis used Chi-square, Mann Withney U and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The best cut-off point for MPI was calculated on the basis of ROC analisys. Results. Mortality in the study group was 13.1%. In groups <21, 21‑29 and > 29 points according to MPI mortality was 1.75%, 28.13% and 50% respectively, the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0124). Significant differences were observed in mortality depending on the diagnosis. Based on the ROC curve the cut-off point was identified as 32 with an accuracy of 85.9% and AUC = 81%. There has been a significant correlation between the MPI count and and the occurrence of: cardio-respiratory failure, acidosis, electrolyte imbalance, surgical wound complications, the need for treatment in the intensive care unit after surgery. Conclusions. The MPI is a simple and effective predictor of death among patients operated due to peritonitis. It can also provide assistance in assessing the risk of postoperative complications and the need for treatment in the intensive care unit.
Due to the constant increase of public health awareness and widespread “cancerophobia”, the progressively larger number of incidentally diagnosed gall-bladder polyps became the source of anxiety, which leads patients and physicians to undertake therapeutic decisions, despite the absence of symptoms. The majority of gall-bladder polyps are benign. It is estimated that only 3 to 5% of polyps are malignant. Currently, there is lack of randomized control trials based on which the clear-cut criteria of qualification of patients with gall-bladder polyps for surgical procedure can be created. The aim of the study was to analyze gall-bladder polyps in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the 2nd Department of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum. Material and methods. The retrospective study was conducted on 5369 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the 2nd Department of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum with special attention to 152 (2.8%) patients in whom gall-bladder polyps were diagnosed preoperatively. Qualification criteria for surgery, surgical treatment results, and histopathological examination results were also analyzed. Results. Amongst the 5369 patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 152 (2.8%) were diagnosed with gall-bladder polyps during the preoperative ultrasound examinations. Postoperative histopathological examinations of 41 (27%) patients confirmed the presence of gall-bladder polyps. In 102 (67%) patients, only gall-stones were diagnosed without previously described polyps during the ultrasound examination. Analysis of the histopathological examination results revealed the presence of benign lesions in 35 (23.35%) patients. In 5 (3%) patients the presence of an adenoma, and in one (0.65%) the presence of adenocarcinoma were confirmed. Conclusions. Based on the conducted study and previous personal experience in the treatment of patients with gall-bladder polyps, we believe that due to the potential risk of neoplastic transformation, patients with polyps larger than 10 mm in diameter and polyps of proven rapid growth should be qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Indications for surgical treatment also seem reasonable in case of patients with present polyps and coexisting right upper quadrant pain, even though the above-mentioned is connected with gall-bladder deposits.
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