Author(s) Cousin G.; Markose G.
Source Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Jul 2020; vol. 102 (no. 6)

A postoperative radiograph demonstrated a folded radio-opaque structure in the nasopharynx, resembling a retained throat pack, despite her not having any respiratory symptoms. Retention of a throat pack is a never event.

• Available in full text at Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from EBSCO (MEDLINE Complete)

Author(s) Nevins E.J.; Strong C.; Al-Zubaidi S.; Wayman J.; Karat D. et al.
Source Journal of patient safety; Dec 2019; vol. 15 (no. 4)
OBJECTIVES: Expert opinion remains divided regarding whether routine urethral catheterization is required before nononcological laparoscopic pelvic surgery. Catheterization is thought to reduce the incidence of bladder injury when inserting a suprapubic laparoscopic port and prevent obstruction of the view of the pelvis because of bladder filling. However, catheterization comes with a risk of nosocomial infection and harbors financial cost. Moreover, indwelling catheters inhibit early mobilization and increase postoperative discomfort.

METHOD(S): A systematic review was undertaken using the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies guidelines to identify eligible publications. End points included bladder injury, positive postoperative urinary microbiology, and postoperative urinary symptoms.

RESULT(S): The reported incidence rates of laparoscopic bladder injury in included publications ranges from 0% to 1.3%. Importantly, bladder injury has occurred during both catheterized and noncatheterized operations. Our meta-analysis also shows that patients who are catheterized have a 2.33 times relative risk of developing postoperative positive microbiology in their urine (P = 0.01) and a 2.41 times relative risk of postoperative urinary symptoms (P = 0.005), when compared with noncatheterized patients.

​CONCLUSION(S): This meta-analysis indicates that omitting a catheter in emergency and elective nononcological laparoscopic pelvic surgery may be a safe option. Catheterization does not remove the risk of bladder injury but results in more urinary tract infections and symptoms. It may be reasonable to ask a patient to void immediately before anesthesia, after which an on-table bladder scan should be performed. If there is minimal residual volume, a urinary catheter may not be necessary, unless operative time is estimated to be greater than 90 minutes.

Author(s) Tebbutt J.E.; Graham R.M.; Markose G.
Source Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Nov 2019; vol. 101 (no. 8); p. 619-620
Database EMBASE

• Available in full text at Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from EBSCO (MEDLINE Complete)

Author(s) Hajibandeh S.; Clark M.C.; Barratt O.A.; Taktak S.; Henley N. et al.
Source Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy and Percutaneous Techniques; Oct 2019; vol. 29 (no. 5); p. 321-327
Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of gallbladder retrieval via the epigastric and umbilical port during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Method(s):We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN Register, and bibliographic reference lists. Postoperative pain intensity, port-site infection, hernia, bleeding, and retrieval time were outcome parameters. Combined overall effect sizes were calculated using fixed-effect or random-effects models.

Result(s):We identified 5 randomized controlled trials and 1 prospective cohort study reporting a total of 2394 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with retrieval of the gallbladder via the umbilical port (n=1194) or epigastric port (n=1200). Our initial analysis demonstrated that gallbladder retrieval via the umbilical port was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in pain assessed by visual analogue scale at 24 hours [mean difference (MD): -0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.06 to 0.08, P=0.09] compared with the epigastric port. However, after sensitivity analysis and eliminating the source of heterogeneity, it reached statistical significance (MD: -0.66, 95% CI: -0.85 to -0.48, P<0.00001). Moreover, gallbladder retrieval via the umbilical port was associated with significantly shorter retrieval time (MD: -1.83, 95% CI: -3.18 to -0.49, P=0.008) but similar risk of port-site infection (odds ratio: 1.99, 95% CI: 0.53-7.44, P=0.31) and hernia (odds ratio: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.03-3.20, P=0.34).

​Conclusion(s):Our analysis demonstrated that retrieval of the gallbladder via the umbilical port may be associated with less postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with epigastric port retrieval. It may also be associated with shorter gallbladder retrieval time. However, the available evidence is limited.Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Author(s) Doherty D.T.; Coe P.O.; Rimmer L.; Subar D.A.; Lapsia S. et al.
Source Surgical Oncology; Sep 2019; vol. 30 ; p. 147-158
DOI 10.1016/j.suronc.2019.07.007
The prevalence of elevated intra-hepatic fat (IHF) is increasing in the Western world, either alone as hepatic steatosis (HS) or in conjunction with inflammation (steatohepatitis). These changes to the hepatic parenchyma are an independent risk factor for post-operative morbidity following liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). As elevated IHF and colorectal malignancy share similar risk factors for development it is unsurprisingly frequent in this cohort. In patients undergoing resection IHF may be elevated due to excess adiposity or its elevation may be induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, termed chemotherapy associated steatosis (CAS). Additionally, chemotherapy is implicated in the development of inflammation termed chemotherapy associated steatohepatitis (CASH). Following cessation of chemotherapy, patients awaiting resection have a 4-6 week washout period prior to resection that is a window for prehabilitation prior to surgery. In patients with NAFLD dietary and pharmacological interventions can reduce IHF within this timeframe but this approach to modifying IHF is untested in this population. In this review, the aetiology of CAS and CASH is reviewed with recommendations to identify those at risk. We also focus on the post-chemotherapy washout period, reviewing dietary interventions applied to the metabolic population and suggest this window may be used as an opportunity to optimise IHF with such a regime as part of a pre-operative prehabilitation programme to produce improved patient outcomes.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

​Author(s): Pietrasz, Daniel; Fuks, David; Donatelli, Gianfranco; Ferretti, Carlotta; Portigliotti, Luca; Ward, Marc; Cowan, Jane; Nomi, Takeo; Gayet, Brice; Subar, Daren; Lamer, Christian; Beaussier, Marc
Source: Surgical Endoscopy; Dec 2018; vol. 32 (no. 12); p. 4833-4840
Publication Date: Dec 2018
Publication Type(s): Academic Journal
PubMedID: 29770886
Abstract:Background: Although laparoscopic major hepatectomy (LMH) is becoming increasingly common in specialized centers, data regarding laparoscopic extended major hepatectomies (LEMH) and their outcomes are limited. The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes of LEMH to standard LMH.Methods: All patients who underwent purely laparoscopic anatomical right or left hepatectomy and right or left trisectionectomy between February 1998 and January 2016 are enrolled. Demographic, clinicopathological, and perioperative factors were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Perioperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes in LEMH were compared to those of standard LMH.Results: Among 195 patients with LMH, 47 (24.1%) underwent LEMH, colorectal liver metastases representing 66.7% of all indications. Preoperative portal vein embolization was undertaken in 31 (15.9%) patients. Despite more frequent vascular clamping, blood loss was higher in LEMH group (400 vs. 214 ml; p = 0.006). However, there was no difference in intraoperative transfusion requirements. Thirty-one patients experienced liver failure with no differences between LMH and LEMH groups. Postoperative mortality was comparable in the two groups [3 (2.5%) LMH patients vs. 2 (5%) LEMH patients (p = 0.388)]. Overall morbidity was higher in the LEMH group [49 LMH patients (41.5%) vs. 24 LEMH patients (60%) (p = 0.052)]. Patients treated with left LEMH experienced more biliary leakage (p = 0.011) and more major pulmonary complications (p = 0.015) than left LMH.Conclusion: LEMH is feasible at the price of important morbidity, with manageable and acceptable outcomes. These exigent procedures require high-volume centers with experienced surgeons.
Database: CINAHL