Direct Puncture Tunnel Method for Establishing the Retroperitoneal Cavity: Anatomic Confirmation and Clinical Experience

Purpose: The feasibility and safety of the direct puncture tunnel method to establish the retroperitoneal cavity was assessed by CT and clinical experience. Materials and Methods: Ten patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic procedure were scanned by CT in the lateral decubitus position. The distance between the lumbar fascia and psoas major muscle (L-P distance) on the puncture line was measured. The angle between the puncture line and the posterior colon margin (P-C angle) was also measured. In total, 292 patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic procedure were used to establish the retroperitoneal cavity using the direct puncture tunnel method, and complications in these patients were evaluated. Results: The average L-P distance was 25.0 mm (left side) and 25.5 mm (right side) in the lateral decubitus position. The average P-C angle was 26.8° (left side) and 29.7° (right side). The retroperitoneal cavity was well established in all 292 patients, and no visceral or blood vessel injury occurred. Conclusions: CT scans in the lateral recumbent position indicate that there are no visceral and large blood vessels on the puncture path. The scans also provide a window for inserting the first trocar blindly into the retroperitoneum. A high success rate and low complication rate were observed clinically for the direct puncture tunnel method. We consider the direct puncture tunnel method to be a simple, effective, and safe way to establish the retroperitoneal cavity.

A rare complication from total extraperitoneal (TEP) laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: bladder rupture associated with a balloon dissector

PURPOSE

We report a rare complication of TEP herniorrhaphy.

METHODS

A 47-year-old man underwent TEP inguinal hernia repair.

RESULTS

Bladder rupture was noted after balloon dissection. The defect was sutured, and the hernia was repaired under laparoscopy. Cystoscopy showed the site of injury at anterior bladder neck.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of bladder rupture associated with balloon dissector in a patient with no prior abdominal surgery.

Feasibility of transumbilical flexible endoscopic preperitoneoscopy (FLEPP) and its utility for inguinal hernia repair: experimental animal study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Various NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery) hernia repair techniques have been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a transumibilically introduced conventional double-channel flexible endoscope for performing preperitoneoscopy (FLEPP, flexible endoscopic preperitoneoscopy technique) and to perform totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia meshplasty in an animal model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was done in 2 steps on 8 swines weighing 25 to 30 kg each: (1) establishing feasibility of preperitoneal dissection of the inguinal region using a conventional double-channel flexible gastroscope and making bed for mesh placement and (2) placement of a polypropylene mesh in the inguinal region to cover the myopectineal orifice.

RESULTS

The flexible endoscope provided good vision and maneuverability to identify preperitoneal structures--namely, the arcuate line, insertion of rectus abdominis on pubis symphysis, inferior epigastric vessels, deep inguinal ring, spermatic cord, pubic symphysis, and psoas muscle--without causing any damage to any of the structures. The spermatic cord could be dissected to identify the vas deference. A 9 × 7 cm(2) oval mesh was successfully placed over the myopectineal orifice of Fruchaud with good overlap. Average time required for the complete FLEPP procedure (including mesh placement) was 55 minutes (range 45-90 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates, for the first time, the feasibility of the transumbilical FLEPP technique and its utility for performing TEP inguinal hernia repair with prosthetic mesh placement in a swine model.

Oncologic outcomes of asian men with clinically localized prostate cancer after extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a single-institution experience

Purpose. To evaluate the midterm oncologic results of extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (EPLRP) for Asian men with localized prostate cancer. Methods. Between 2004 and 2009, 218 men underwent EPLRP at an Asian tertiary hospital. The mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 15.5 ng/ml and mean Gleason score was 6.6. Stage distributions were cT1a-b in 21 cases, cT1c in 139, cT2 in 48 and cT3 in 10. Disease recurrence was defined as PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL in 2 consecutive measurements or initiation of secondary therapy. Results. Postoperative pathological stage was pT2a-b in 33 patients, pT2cN0 in 10, pT3a in 27, pT3b in 36, pT4 in 9 and pN1 in 10. Positive surgical margins occurred in 14.6% and 48.6% for pT2 and pT3 diseases, respectively (P < .001). The overall PSA recurrence-free survival at 3 and 5 years was 82.1% and 74.5%. By the pathological stages, 3-year recurrence-free survival was 92.4% (pT2), 81.1% (pT3a), 62.6% (pT3b-4) and 55.6% (pN1), respectively (P < .001). Conclusions. EPLRP is curative even for some locally advanced prostate cancers in a midterm follow-up. Even at an Asian center of low volume of radical prostatectomy EPLRP still provides oncologic outcomes similar to that of high volume centers.

Retroperitoneoscopic laparo-endoscopic single-site radical nephrectomy (RLESS-RN): initial experience with a homemade port

We successfully performed 6 LESS radical nephrectomy via the retroperitoneal approach (RLESS) using the Alexis wound retractor as a single access with conventional laparoscopic instruments. The results demonstrated that our RLESS technique of radical nephrectomy is a safe and feasible procedure for management of localized renal cancer.