Comparison of conventional unstained lymph nodal harvesting vs methylene blue-stained lymph nodal harvesting in colorectal specimen in staging left-sided colorectal carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The management and prognosis of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) are related to the stage of the disease, which, in turn, relies on the lymph node harvest from the surgical specimen. The guidelines recommend that at least 12 lymph nodes are required, which is not achieved in most resections. In this study, we propose a method to improve the lymph node yield in such cases. This study aimed to determine whether ex vivo injection of methylene blue into the inferior mesenteric artery or its branches improves lymph node retrieval in left-sided CRCs.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a single-center, double-blinded, superiority randomized controlled trial. Patients who underwent elective surgery for left-sided CRCs with curative intent were randomized into 2 groups: stained and unstained. The sample size was calculated as 66. In all patients, details of disease stage, history of neoadjuvant therapy, and number of isolated lymph nodes were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean number of lymph nodes extracted from the stained group was significantly higher than that from the unstained group (15.9 ± 5.2 vs 9.1 ± 5.7, respectively; P < .001). Among the patients who had received neoadjuvant therapy, the yield was higher in the stained group (P < .001). The yield was found to be greater in patients who had undergone upfront surgery than in those who had undergone neoadjuvant therapy, even in the stained group (100% vs 66.7%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The use of methylene blue injection into resected specimens of left-sided CRCs significantly improved the lymph node yield.

Effect of Trendelenburg's Operation With Subfascial Ligation of Perforators in Clinical Improvement and Quality of Life Among Patients With Varicose Veins

Background Assessing patients' quality of life has received increasing attention, mainly because questions have been raised regarding the direct benefits of the treatment provided. Hence, clinical outcomes and quality of life must be measured after chronic venous disease treatment. The primary objective of the study was to assess the improvement in clinical outcome and improvement in quality of life using the revised venous clinical severity score and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14, respectively, in patients with varicose veins undergoing Trendelenburg's surgery and subfascial ligation of perforators. The secondary objective was to identify the relationship between the revised venous clinical severity score and the chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score. Method The present study is a single-center, prospective cohort study to assess the clinical improvement and quality of life in patients with varicose veins undergoing Trendelenburg surgery and subfascial ligation of perforators. All the study participants were evaluated preoperatively with the clinical, etiological, anatomical, and pathophysiological stage of the disease, revised venous clinical severity score for the clinical severity, and the chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 questionnaire for the quality of life. The study participants were reviewed 90 days after surgery and reassessed for clinical severity and quality of life, both scores. Results Of the 87 screened varicose vein patients, 52 were included in the study. However, one patient was lost to follow-up. There were 38 (74.5%) males and 13 (25.5%) females. There was a significant difference in the preoperative and postoperative mean revised venous clinical severity score of the C3, C4, and C6 stages of the disease (p-value = <0.01). There was a significant difference in the mean preoperative and postoperative chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score in C3, C4, and C6 (p-value = <0.01). There was a significant difference in the median preoperative and postoperative revised venous clinical severity score (p-value = <0.01). There was a considerable difference in the mean preoperative and postoperative chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score (p-value = <0.01). The correlation coefficient between the preoperative chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score and the revised venous clinical severity score was 0.26 (p-value = 0.58), and the correlation coefficient between the postoperative chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score and the revised venous clinical severity score was 0.42 (p-value = <0.01).  Conclusion Patients undergoing Trendelenburg's surgery and subfascial ligation of perforators for varicose veins significantly improved the clinical severity and quality of life. There was significant improvement among the overall revised venous clinical severity score and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score after surgery among the different clinical classes. There was no preoperative correlation between the revised venous clinical severity score and the chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score. However, there was a significant correlation between the postoperative revised venous clinical severity score and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 score.

Catastrophic Sequalae Following Percutaneous Intervention in Case of Sigmoidectomy for Sigmoid Volvulus

Injury to the inferior epigastric artery is infrequent and iatrogenic in most cases, which can be fatal and life-threatening in some cases due to unnoticed excessive hemorrhage. We present a 23-year-old male who underwent sigmoidectomy, end-to-end colorectal anastomosis with covering loop ileostomy for sigmoid volvulus. He developed intra-abdominal pus collection one week following surgery, for which ultrasound-guided aspiration was attempted. Post aspiration, the patient developed abdominal distension, pain with a significant drop in hemoglobin. Imaging showed active bleed from the branch of the inferior epigastric artery with massive intra-abdominal hematoma. The hematoma was evacuated, and the bleeding artery was identified and ligated. Postoperatively, there was no further drop in hemoglobin, and the patient was stable and hence discharged.

Feasibility of Laparoscopic Closed Cystectomy for Hepatic Hydatid Cyst in Segments VI, VII, and VIII

Background

Laparoscopic closed cystectomy of the hepatic hydatid cyst (HHC) is increasingly being performed as it has improved postoperative recovery and reduced morbidity. However, laparoscopic closed cystectomy of HHC is difficult when located in segments VI, VII, and VIII. This study aimed to assess the laparoscopic closed cystectomy feasibility of the HHC when cysts are located at the difficult access site.

Methodology

Seven patients out of 13 patients of HHC treated laparoscopically in the surgery department from 2014 to 2018 were included. These patients had cysts located in segments VI, VII, and VIII of the liver. All patients received perioperative albendazole, underwent ultrasonography (USG) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography for diagnosis. We noted the demographic character of all the patients, cyst’s location, cyst size, type of the cyst, mean operative time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, duration of the hospital stay, and recurrence of the cyst. 

Results

All patients underwent laparoscopic closed cystectomy of HHC. One patient had a conversion to open procedure, and one patient had an additional thoracoscopic approach added. The mean operative time was 191.86 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. One patient had developed a surgical site infection, and three had a minor bile leak postoperatively. The hospital stay’s mean duration was four days, and there was no recurrence in the 21 months follow-up.

Conclusion

The laparoscopic closed cystectomy of HHC located at segments VI, VII, and VIII is feasible, safe, and cost-effective. A thorough preoperative evaluation, preparation, and radiological planning of the procedure should be done.

Acute Massive Gastric Dilatation and Gastric Perforation as a Result of Closed-Loop Obstruction of the Stomach

Acute massive gastric dilatation is a rare event that is usually underdiagnosed. It can occur due to multiple etiologies, including medical and surgical, or as a postoperative complication. Acute massive gastric dilatation can lead to life-threatening fatal complications, including perforation, bleeding, or shock. We report a rare case of acute massive gastric dilatation with perforation of the stomach due to closed-loop obstruction of the stomach, which occurred in a patient with cricopharyngeal carcinoma due to a kink at the feeding jejunostomy site. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential, as acute massive gastric dilatation with perforation carries high morbidity and mortality.

A Diagnostic Dilemma of Bleeding Gastric Tumor or Bleeding Pancreatic Tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common nonepithelial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach is the most common site of occurrence. Most of the tumors are asymptomatic. Many patients may present with mass per abdomen, gastrointestinal bleed. Tumors arising from the stomach's posterior wall may grow large, and on imaging, it may create confusion of the site of origin. We present a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising from the stomach's posterior wall, growing large and creating a confusion of site of origin.