Ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic techniques and colorectal diseases:Current status and its future

Colorectal diseases are increasing due to altered lifestyle,genetic,and environmental factors.Colonoscopy plays an important role in diagnosis.Advances in colonoscope(ultrathin scope,magnetic scope,capsule)and technological gadgets(Balloon assisted scope,third eye retroscope,NaviAid G-EYE,dye-based chromoendoscopy,virtual chromoendoscopy,narrow band imaging,i-SCAN,etc.)have made colonoscopy more comfortable and efficient.Now in-vivo microscopy can be performed using confocal laser endomicroscopy,optical coherence tomography,spectroscopy,etc.Besides developments in diagnostic colonoscopy,therapeutic colonoscopy has improved to manage lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding,obstruction,perforations,resection polyps,and early colorectal cancers.The introduction of combined endo-laparoscopic surgery and robotic endoscopic surgery has made these interventions feasible.The role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of colorectal diseases is also increasing day by day.Hence,this article is to review cutting-edge developments in endoscopic principles for the management of colorectal diseases.

Laparoscopic management of hydatid cysts using long ribbon gauze:An initial experience of 37 consecutive cases

Objective:The laparoscopic approach is becoming the standard of care for many surgical disorders.However,in the case of hydatid cysts,laparoscopic management is challenging due to the risk of spillage of hydatid fluid,which can cause an anaphylactic reaction and recurrence.Here,we report our initial experience with laparoscopic partial pericystectomy of hydatid cysts using long ribbon gauze to decrease intra-operative spillage.Method:This was a retrospective study(between January 2010 and December 2021)in the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology,Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science,a tertiary care referral center in northern India.Here,we have included 37 consecutive patients with hydatid cysts of the liver and spleen.Diagnosis was made by laboratory and imaging findings(abdominal sonography or contrast enhanced CT scans).All patients were managed with laparoscopic partial pericystectomy.Intraoperatively,a betadine-soaked long ribbon gauze,high-pressure suction canula,and an endo-bag were used in all patients.The collected data included patient demography,location,size,and number of cysts,WHO type,operative time,blood loss,postoperative complications,hospital stay and follow-up.Result:In our series,the mean age was 38.4±13.6 years,15(40.5%)were men and 22(59.5%)were women.The right lobe of the liver was the most commonly affected site(21,56.8%).The mean operative time was 80.0±32.0 min,and intraoperative blood loss was 23.6±11.5 mL.Bile leak was present in 6(16.2%)patients.There was no mortality.The hospital stay was 5(3,9)days,and no recurrence was observed at a median follow-up of 36 months.Conclusion:Laparoscopic partial pericystectomy using this technique is safe in the management of hydatid cysts.Simply,proper packing and safe removal of soaked gauzes can minimize the incidence of postoperative complications and recurrence.

Role of artificial intelligence in the characterization of indeterminate pancreatic head mass and its usefulness in preoperative diagnosis

Artificial intelligence(AI)has been used in various fields of day-to-day life and its role in medicine is immense.Understanding of oncology has been improved with the introduction of AI which helps in diagnosis,treatment planning,management,prognosis,and follow-up.It also helps to identify high-risk groups who can be subjected to timely screening for early detection of malignant conditions.It is more important in pancreatic cancer as it is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide and there are no specific early features(clinical and radiological)for diagnosis.With improvement in imaging modalities(computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,endoscopic ultrasound),most often clinicians were being challenged with lesions that were difficult to diagnose with human competence.AI has been used in various other branches of medicine to differentiate such indeterminate lesions including the thyroid gland,breast,lungs,liver,adrenal gland,kidney,etc.In the case of pancreatic cancer,the role of AI has been explored and is still ongoing.This review article will focus on how AI can be used to diagnose pancreatic cancer early or differentiate it from benign pancreatic lesions,therefore,management can be planned at an earlier stage.

Colorectal cancer:Artificial intelligence and its role in surgical decision making

Despite several advances in the oncological management of colorectal cancer(CRC),there still remains a lacuna in the treatment strategy,which differs from center to center and on the philosophy of the treating clinician that is not without bias.Personalized treatment is essential for the treatment of CRC to achieve better long-term outcomes and to reduce morbidity.Surgery has an important role to play in the treatment.Surgical treatment of CRC is decided based on clinical parameters and investigations and hence likely to have judgmental errors.Artificial intelligence has been reported to be useful in the surveillance,diagnosis,treatment,and follow-up with accuracy in several malignancies.However,it is still evolving and yet to be established in surgical decision making in CRC.It is not only useful preoperatively but also intraoperatively.Artificial intelligence helps to rectify the human surgical decision when clinical data and radiological and laboratory parameters are fed into the computer and may guide correct surgical treatment.