Adult intussusception. Determining the appropriate surgical procedure.

“Although surgery is the recommended treatment for adult intussusception, the optimal surgery remains controversial. Although abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan has
proven useful in diagnosing intussusception, it has limited value in discriminating whether a lead point is malignant, benign, or idiopathic. Reduction at surgery may avoid excessive bowel resection, although it can theoretically increase the risk of potential intraluminal seeding or venous tumor dissemination.
The aim of this study was to determine what the appropriate surgical procedure for adult intussusception is, depending on location of the intussusception or other specific situations.”

Continue reading

Subtotal Cholecystectomye“Fenestrating” vs“Reconstituting” Subtypes and the Prevention ofBile Duct Injury

“Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a well-established procedure with clear benefits for patients over open cholecystectomy. However, it is associated with an increased rate of
bile duct injury. Biliary injuries occur more commonly when operations are made more difficult due to the presence of severe acute and/or chronic inflammation. Under these conditions, secure ductal identification by the critical view of safety (CVS) may be very challenging because CVS requires clearing of the inflamed hepatocystic triangle in
order to demonstrate the cystic duct, cystic artery, and the cystic plate. It is a rigorous method, but as we have previously stressed, this is actually one of the strengths of the
CVS method of identification. The infundibular technique, in which the funnel-shaped infundibular-cystic duct junction is the rationale for identification, is much easier to achieve than CVS.”

Continue reading

Laparoscopic Lavage vs Primary Resection for Acute Perforated Diverticulitis

“Acute perforated diverticulitis with peritonitis is a feared complication of diverticular disease. The incidence in Western countries is estimated to be 1.85 per 100 000 population per year for purulent peritonitis. Even with optimal treatment, perforated diverticulitis has a high morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, the standard treatment has been emergency surgery with resection of the diseased bowel, often with colostomy creation. Studies have indicated that laparoscopic lavage with drainage and antibiotics might be a treatment option in perforated diverticulitis. So far, 3 European randomized clinical trials have shown somewhat different results, and no clear advantages have been demonstrated with laparoscopic lavage, except a lower stoma rate at 1-year follow-up. Nine meta-analyses and systematic reviews of the short-term and 1-year results of these trials have been published in the last 4 years, with divergent conclusions. No long-term results on laparoscopic lavage have yet been published.”

Continue reading

Patient controlled opioid analgesia versus non-patient controlled opioid analgesia for postoperative pain

“Patients may control pain after surgery by self administration of analgesics (pain killers) using devices designed for this purpose (patient controlled analgesia or PCA). PCA involves self administration (by pushing a button) of small doses of opioids (such as morphine)
intravenously by means of a programmable pump. Previous studies have shown that often patients prefer PCA to traditional methods of pain management, such as a nurse administering an analgesic upon a patient’s request. This review demonstrated moderate to low quality evidence that PCA provided slightly better pain control and increased patient satisfaction when compared with non-patient controlled methods. Patients tended to use slightly higher doses of medication with PCA and suffered a higher occurrence of itching, but otherwise side effects were similar between groups.”

Continue reading

Mesh Suture and Mesh Strips to Prevent Incisional Hernia Following Abdominal Wall Closure or Ventral Hernia Repair

“Incisional hernias are an increasingly common complication encountered by surgeons and their patients, as survival rates from major abdominal surgery continue to improve. The
incidence of incisional hernia after midline laparotomy is estimated to be 9%–20% after 1 year, resulting in approximately 8000 UK repairs annually. While patient factors such as obesity, smoking and diabetes certainly contribute, excessive suture tension during the critical wound healing period causes local ischaemia at the suture-tissue interface and may initiate incisional hernia. Subsequent suture “cheese-wiring” through fascia creates small linear defects that enlarge over time with repeated abdominal wall straining. The clinical
and economic implications of incisional hernia have precipitated preventative research, including Jenkins rule, small-bite closure, and prophylactic mesh implantation which are
discussed in recent high-profile international guidelines. However, many surgeons continue to adopt suture closure over prophylactic planar mesh since this prolongs surgery and risks
infection in a contaminated field.”

Nip, Lawrence et al. “Mesh Suture and Mesh Strips to Prevent Incisional Hernia Following Abdominal Wall Closure or Ventral Hernia Repair: Systematic Review.” Journal of abdominal wall surgery : JAWS vol. 4 14573. 14 May. 2025 Free Full Text

Definition and grading of postoperative pancreatic fistula

“Based on the literature since 2005 investigating the validity and clinical use of the original
International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula classification, a clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula is now redefined as a drain output of any measurable volume of fluid with an amylase level >3 times the upper limit of institutional normal serum amylase activity, associated with a clinically relevant development/condition related directly to the postoperative pancreatic fistula. Consequently, the former “grade A postoperative pancreatic fistula” is now redefined and called a “biochemical leak,” because it has no clinical importance and is no longer referred to a true pancreatic fistula. Postoperative pancreatic fistula grades B and C are confirmed but defined more strictly. In particular, grade B requires a change in the postoperative management; drains are either left in place >3 weeks or repositioned through endoscopic or percutaneous procedures. Grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula refers to those postoperative pancreatic fistula that require eoperation or lead to single or multiple organ failure and/or mortality attributable to the pancreatic fistula.”

Continue reading

Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding

“Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States due to a digestive disorder, accounting for over 100,000 admissions annually. Although historically LGIB has referred to a bleeding source originating distal to the ligament of Treitz, small bowel bleeding is considered a separate entity, with a distinct diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. For the purposes of this clinical practice guideline, LGIB refers to hematochezia or bright red blood per rectum originating from a colorectal source.”

Continue reading