Impact of pre- and peri-operative risk factors on length of stay and hospital readmission following minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy

Objective:We conducted an analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy cases reported with the goal to identify pre-and peri-operative variables associated with length of stay(LOS)greater than 3 days and readmission within 30 days.Methods:Records from 2008 to 2018 for“laparoscopy,surgical;partial nephrectomy”for prolonged LOS and readmission cohorts were compiled.Univariate analysis with Chi-square,t-tests,and multivariable logistic regression analysis with odds ratios(ORs),p-values,and 95%confidence intervals assessed statistical associations.Results:Totally,20306 records for LOS greater than 3 days and 15854 for readmission within 30 days were available.Univariate and multivariable analysis exhibited similar results.For LOS greater than 3 days,undergoing non-elective surgery(OR=5.247),transfusion of greater than four units within 72 h prior to surgery(OR=5.072),pre-operative renal failure or dialysis(OR=2.941),and poor pre-operative functional status(OR=2.540)exhibited the strongest statistically significant associations.For hospital readmission within 30 days,loss in body weight greater than 10%in 6 months prior to surgery(OR=2.227)and bleeding disorders(OR=2.081)exhibited strongest statistically significant associations.Conclusion:Multiple pre-and peri-operative risk factors are independently associated with prolonged LOS and hospital readmission within 30 days of surgery using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data.Recognizing the risks factors that can potentially be improved prior to minimally-invasive partial nephrectomy is crucial to informing patient selection,optimization strategies,and patient education.

Injectable nanofiber-reinforced bone cement with controlled biodegradability for minimally-invasive bone regeneration

Injectable materials show their special merits in regeneration of damaged/degenerated bones in minimally-invasive approach.Injectable calcium phosphate bone cement(CPC)has attracted broad attention for its bioactivity,as compared to non-degradable polymethyl methacrylate cement.However,its brittleness,poor anti-washout property and uncontrollable biodegradability are the main challenges to limit its further clinical application mainly because of its stone-like dense structure and fragile inorganic-salt weakness.Herein,we developed a kind of injectable CPC bone cement with porous structure and improved robustness by incorporating poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)nanofiber into CPC,with carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC)to offer good injectability as well as anti-wash-out capacity.Furthermore,the introduction of PLGA and CMC also enabled a formation of initial porous structure in the cements,where PLGA nanofiber endowed the cement with a dynamically controllable biodegradability which provided room for cell movement and bone ingrowth.Inter-estingly,the reinforced biodegradable cement afforded a sustainable provision of Ca^(2+)bioactive components,together with its porous structure,to improve synergistically new bone formation and osteo-integration in vivo by using a rat model of femur condyle defect.Further study on regenerative mechanisms indicated that the good minimally-invasive bone regeneration may come from the synergistic enhanced osteogenic effect of calcium ion enrichment and the improved revascularization capacity contributed from the porosity as well as the lactic acid released from PLGA nanofiber.These results indicate the injectable bone cement with high strength,anti-washout property and controllable biodegradability is a promising candidate for bone regeneration in a minimally-invasive approach.

Endoscopic and minimally-invasive ear surgery: A path to better outcomes

The development of endoscopic ear surgery techniques promises to change the way we approach ear surgery.In this review paper,we explore the current evidence,seek to determine the advantages of endoscopic ear surgery,and see if these advantages are both measureable and meaningful.The wide field of view of the endoscope allows the surgeon to better visualize the various recesses of the middle ear cleft.Endoscopes make it possible to address the target pathology transcanal,while minimizing dissection or normal tissue done purely for exposure,leading to the evolution of minimally-invasive ear surgery and reducing morbidity.When used in chronic ear surgery,endoscopy appears to have the potential to significantly reduce cholesteatoma recidivism rates.Using endoscopes as an adjunct can increase the surgeon's confidence in total cholesteatoma removal.By doing so,endoscopes reduce the need to reopen the mastoid during second-look surgery,help preserve the canal wall,or even change post-cholesteatoma follow-up protocols by channeling more patients away from a planned second-look.

First 100 cases of transvesical single-port robotic radical prostatectomy

Objective:To describe the surgical technique and report the early outcomes of the transvesical(TV)approach to single-port(SP)robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.Methods:All procedures were performed at a single center by one surgeon.We identified the first 100 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer that underwent SP TV robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using the da Vinci SP robotic surgical system.Data were collected prospectively and analyzed with descriptive statistics.The primary outcomes assessed were postoperative urinary continence,rate of biochemical recurrence,and sexual function.Results:All procedures were performed without extra ports or conversion.The median age was 62.1 years and 49.0%of the patients had abdominal surgery history.The preoperative median prostate-specific antigen value and prostate volume were 5.0 ng/mL and 33.0 mL,respectively.There were no intraoperative complications.The median operative time and estimated blood loss were 212.5 min and 100.0 mL,respectively.A total of 92.0%of patients were discharged within 24.0 h,with an overall median length of stay of 5.6 h.Only 4.0%of patients required opioid prescriptions at discharge.The median Foley catheter duration was 3 days.Positive margins were present in 15.0%of cases.Median follow-up was 10.4 months.Continence rate was immediate after Foley removal in 49.0%of cases,65.0%at 2 weeks,77.4%at 6 weeks,94.1%at 6 months,and 98.9%at 1 year.One case of biochemical recurrence(1.0%)was noted 3 months after surgery.Conclusion:The SP TV approach for radical prostatectomy cases is a safe and feasible technique for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.This technique offers advantages of short hospital stay,minimal narcotic use postoperatively,and promising early return of urinary continence,without compromising oncologic outcomes.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis with different surgical approaches:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Intravenous leiomyomatosis(IVL) is a rare and complicated disease, which requires surgery by a multidisciplinary team. However, the optimal surgical approach has not been determined.CASE SUMMARY Here we report three cases of IVL treated with different surgical approaches. All patients presented with circulation symptoms. Two patients had lower extremity edema and the other had cardiopalmus. The diagnosis of IVL was confirmed based on the imagining examinations and pathological findings. All patients underwent surgical treatment and were discharged without any complications.CONCLUSION Preoperative examination is crucial for surgical planning and surgical approach is dependent on the patient's condition and tumor involvement.

Laparoscopic liver resection: Toward a truly minimally invasive approach

In the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastasis, it is important to preserve sufficient liver volume after resection in order to avoid post-hepatectomy liver sufficiency and to increase the feasibility of repeated hepatectomyin case of intrahepatic recurrence. Parenchymasparing approach, which minimizes the extent of resection while obtaining sufficient surgical margins, has been developed in open hepatectomy. Although this approach can possibly have positive impacts on morbidity and mortality, it is not popular in laparoscopic approach because parenchyma-sparing resection is technically demanding especially by laparoscopy due to its intricate curved transection planes. "Small incision, big resection" is the words to caution laparoscopic surgeons against an easygoing trend to seek for a superficial minimal-invasiveness rather than substantial patient-benefits. Minimal parenchyma excision is often more important than minimal incision. Recently, several reports have shown that technical evolution and accumulation of experience allow surgeons to overcome the hurdle in laparoscopic parenchymasparing resection of difficult-to-access liver lesions in posterosuperior segments, paracaval portion, and central liver. Laparoscopic surgeons should now seek for the possibility of laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing hepatectomy as open approach can, which we believe is beneficial for patients rather than just a small incision and lead laparoscopic hepatectomy toward a truly minimally-invasive approach.

Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular adenoma

AIM:To investigate the role of laparoscopy in the surgical management of hepatocellular adenoma(HA). METHODS:We reviewed a prospectively collected database of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection for HA. RESULTS:Thirteen patients underwent fifteen pure laparoscopic liver resections for HA(male/female:3/10; median age 42 years,range 22-72 years).Two patients with liver adenomatosis required two different laparoscopic operations for ruptured adenomas.Indications for surgery were:symptoms in 12 cases,need to rule out malignancy in 2 cases and preoperative diagnosis of large HA in one case.Symptoms were related to bleeding in 10 cases,sepsis due to liver abscess following embolization of HA in one case and mass effect in one case(shoulder tip pain).Five cases with ruptured bleeding adenoma required emergency admis-sion and treatment with selective arterial embolization. Laparoscopic liver resection was then semi-electively performed.Eight patients(62%)required major hepatectomy[right hepatectomy(n=5),left hepatectomy (n=3)].No conversion to open surgery occurred.The median operative time for pure laparoscopic procedures was 270 min(range 135-360 min).The median size of the excised lesions was 85 mm(range 25-180 mm). One patient with adenomatosis developed postoperative bleeding requiring embolization.Mortality was nil. The median hospital stay was 4 d(range 1-18 d)with a median high dependency unit stay of 1 d(range 0-7 d). CONCLUSION:The laparoscopic approach represents a safe option for the management of HA in a semi-elective setting and when major hepatectomy is required.

Laparoscopic management of a giant mucinous benign ovarian mass weighing 10150 grams:A case report

BACKGROUND Giant ovarian cysts(≥15 cm in diameter)are rare.The size limit of cysts and the methodology for a safe and successful minimally invasive surgery has not been established.Here we report a case of a large 10-kg multi-locular ovarian mass,which was successfully laparoscopically removed:Our aim was to innovate the surgical practice in this field by providing a safe,effective,and minimally invasive management method for such complex and rare cases.CASE SUMMARY A 49-year-old nulliparous woman presented with abdominal distension,lasting from six Mo prior to admission;she reported worsening abdominal pain,abdominal swelling,and mild dyspnea.Imaging showed a presumed benign multi-locular(>10 locules)left ovarian cyst that measured about 30 cm in diameter.Based on the IOTA-ADNEX model the mass had a 27.5%risk of being a borderline or malignant tumor.The patient was successfully treated via a direct laparoscopic approach with salpingo-oophorectomy,followed by the external drainage of the cyst.Tumor spillage was successfully avoided during this procedure.The final volume of the drained mucinous content was 8950 L;the cyst wall,extracted through the minilaparotomy,weighed about 1200 g.The pathologic gross examination revealed a 24 cm×15 cm×10 cm mass;the histologic examination diagnosed a mucinous cystoadenoma.To our knowledge,this is the first case of a giant multi-locular ovarian cyst treated with a direct laparoscopy with salpingo-oophorectomy followed by external decompression.CONCLUSION Choosing the appropriate technique and surgeon skill are necessary for a safe and effective minimally-invasive approach of unique cases involving giant ovarian cysts.

Perspectives of laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer

Gastrectomy is the main treatment option for gastric cancer patients. Laparoscopic approach has become popular as an alternative to open method during the last decades, and clinical trials have revealed safety and feasibility in the short-and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy. The aim of this review is to summarize the results of prospective clinical trials and propose future perspectives for laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Robotic transanal total mesorectal excision:Is the future now?

Total mesorectal excision(TME)is the standard surgical treatment for the curative radical resection of rectal cancers.Minimally invasive TME has been gaining ground favored by the continuous technological advancements.New procedures,such as transanal TME(TaTME),have been introduced to overcome some technical limitations,especially in low rectal tumors,obese patients,and/or narrow pelvis.The earliest TaTME reports showed promising results when compared with the conventional laparoscopic TME.However,recent publications raised concerns regarding the high rates of anastomotic leaks or local recurrences observed in national series.Robotic TaTME(R-TaTME)has been proposed as a novel technique incorporating the potential benefits of a perineal dissection together with precise control of the distal margins,and also offers all those advantages provided by the robotic technology in terms of improved precision and dexterity.Encouraging short-term results have been reported for R-TaTME,but further studies are needed to assess the real role of the new technique in the long-term oncological or functional outcomes.The present review aims to provide a general overview of R-TaTME by analyzing the body of the available literature,with a special focus on the potential benefits,harms,and future perspectives for this novel approach.

Efficacy and safety of XEN 45 gel stent alone or in combination with phacoemulsification in advanced open angle glaucoma patients: 1-year retrospective study

AIM:To assess the effectiveness of the XEN 45 gel stent,either alone or combined with cataract surgery,in advanced stage open angle glaucoma(OAG)patients.METHODS:Retrospective and single-center study conducted on consecutive OAG patients who underwent a XEN 45 gel stent implantation surgery,between July 2017 and September 2018.The primary efficacy end-point was the mean intraocular pressure(IOP)reduction at the end of the follow-up period.Success was defined as an IOP reduction of at least 20%and an IOP value≤18 mm Hg without(complete)or with(qualified)hypotensive medication.RESULTS:Seventy-four patients(80 eyes)were included in the study.In the overall study sample,XEN implant significantly reduced IOP from 21.0(19.8 to 22.1)mm Hg at baseline to 9.3(8.2 to 10.4),10.7(9.6 to 11.9),13.4(12.2 to 14.7),14.5(13.6 to 15.4),14.7(13.8 to 15.6),and 14.7(13.9 to 15.4)mm Hg at 1 d,1 wk,1,3,6,and 12 mo of follow-up,respectively(P<0.0001 each).In the overall study population,at the end of the study the mean IOP reduction was 27.4%(23.3%to 31.5%).Adjusted IOP reduction was similar in XEN and XEN+phacoemulsification groups[30.0(23.4 to 36.4)mm Hg vs 24.8(18.4 to 31.2)mm Hg,respectively,P=0.2939].At the last follow-up visit,52(65.0%)eyes were considered success,29(36.3%)eyes as complete success and 23(28.7%)as qualified success.Mean number of hypotensive medications was significantly reduced from 2.8(2.7 to 3.0)at baseline to 1.1(0.8 to 1.3),P<0.0001.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis did not find any difference in the success rate between XEN and XEN+PHACO,mean hazard ratio 0.56,95%CI 0.26 to 1.23;P=0.1469.Needling was performed in 7(8.8%)eyes at months 1(n=3);3(n=2);4(n=1)and 11(n=1).Eleven(13.8%)eyes presented adverse events.CONCLUSION:XEN implant,either alone or in combination with phacoemulsification,significantly reduced the IOP and the number of hypotensive medications in patients with OAG in advanced stage.

Endoscopic Management of Pediatric Cholesteatoma

Pediatric cholesteatoma occurs in one of two forms:congenital cholesteatoma,developing from embryonic epidermal cell rests or acquired cholesteatoma,associated with a focal defect in the tympanic membrane.This disease has been traditionally managed with the operating microscope,often requiring mastoidectomy for adequate visualization of and access to the middle ear and mastoid cavities.Recently,advances in endoscopic equipment have enabled otologists to manage most cases of pediatric cholesteatoma via a minimally-invasive,transcanal endoscopic approach.This review discusses the current literature relating to the etiopathogenesis,assessment and endoscopic management of pediatric cholesteatoma.Early outcomes of endoscopic treatment,emerging trends and technologies are also reviewed.

Robot-assisted trans-gastric drainage and debridement of walled-off pancreatic necrosis using the EndoWrist stapler for the da Vinci Xi:A case report

BACKGROUND Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) is a late complication of acute pancreatitis. The management of a WOPN depends on its location and on patient's symptoms. Trans-gastric drainage and debridement of WOPN represents an important surgical treatment option for selected patients. The da Vinci surgical System has been developed to allow an easy, minimally invasive and fast surgery, also in challenging abdominal procedures. We present here a case of a WOPN treated with a robotic trans-gastric drainage using the da Vinci Xi. CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old man with an episode of acute necrotizing pancreatitis was referred to our center. Six wk after the acute episode the patient developed a walled massive fluid collection, with an extensive pancreatic necrosis, causing obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. The patient underwent a robotic transgastric drainage and debridement of the WOPN performed with the da Vinci Xi platform. Firstly, an anterior ideal gastrotomy was carried out, guided by intraoperative ultrasound (US)-scan using the TilePro? function. Then, through the gastrotomy, the best location for drainage on the posterior gastric wall was again US-guided identified. The anastomosis between the posterior gastric wall and the walled-off necrosis wall was carried out with the new EndoWrist stapler with vascular cartridge. Debridement and washing of the cavity through the anastomosis were performed. Finally, the anterior gastrotomy was closed and the cholecystectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and a post-operative computed tomography-scan showed the collapse of the fluid collection. CONCLUSION In selected cases of WOPN the da Vinci Surgical System can be safely used as a valid surgical treatment option.

Narrow band imaging evaluation of duodenal villi in patients with and without celiac disease:A prospective study

BACKGROUND Duodenal biopsies are commonly obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) but are very often histopathologically normal. Therefore, a more strategic method for evaluating the duodenal mucosa and avoiding unnecessary biopsies is needed.AIM To examine the clinical utility of narrow band imaging(NBI) for evaluating duodenal villous morphology.METHODS We performed a prospective cohort study of adult patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester from 2013-2014 who were referred for EGD with duodenal biopsies. A staff endoscopist scored, in real-time, the NBI-based appearance of duodenal villi into one of three categories(normal, partial villous atrophy, or complete villous atrophy), captured ≥ 2 representative duodenal NBI images, and obtained mucosal biopsies therein. Images were then scored by an advanced endoscopist and gastroenterology fellow, and biopsies(gold standard) by a pathologist, in a masked fashion using the same three-category classification. Performing endoscopist, advanced endoscopist, and fellow NBI scores were compared to histopathology to calculate performance characteristics [sensitivity, specificity,positive and negative, negative predictive value(NPV), and accuracy]. Inter-rater agreement was assessed with Cohen's kappa.RESULTS112 patients were included. The most common referring indications were dyspepsia(47%), nausea(23%), and suspected celiac disease(14%). Duodenal histopathology scores were: 84% normal, 11% partial atrophy, and 5% complete atrophy. Performing endoscopist NBI scores were 79% normal, 14% partial atrophy, and 6% complete atrophy compared to 91%, 5%, and 4% and 70%, 24%,and 6% for advanced endoscopist and fellow, respectively. NBI performed favorably for all raters, with a notably high(92%-100%) NPV. NBI score agreement was best between performing endoscopist and fellow(κ = 0.65).CONCLUSION NBI facilitates accurate, non-invasive evaluation of duodenal villi. Its high NPV renders it especially useful for foregoing biopsies of histopathologically normal duodenal mucosa.

Contemporary,national patterns of surgery after preoperative therapy for stageⅡ/Ⅲrectal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Contemporary treatment of stageⅡ/Ⅲrectal cancer combines chemotherapy,chemoradiation,and surgery,though the sequence of surgery with neoadjuvant treatments and benefits of minimally-invasive surgery(MIS)is debated.AIM To describe patterns of surgical approach for stageⅡ/Ⅲrectal cancer in relation to neoadjuvant therapies.METHODS A retrospective cohort was created using the National Cancer Database.Primary outcome was rate of sphincter-sparing surgery after neoadjuvant therapy.Secondary outcomes were surgical approach(open,laparoscopic,or robotic),surgical quality(R0 resection and 12+lymph nodes),and overall survival.RESULTS A total of 38927 patients with clinical stageⅡorⅢrectal adenocarcinoma underwent surgical resection from 2010-2016.Clinical stageⅡpatients had neoadjuvant chemoradiation less frequently compared to stageⅢ(75.8%vs 84.7%,P<0.001),but had similar rates of total neoadjuvant therapy(TNT)(27.0%vs 27.2%,P=0.697).Overall rates of total mesorectal excision without sphincter preservation were similar between clinical stageⅡandⅢ(30.0%vs 30.3%)and similar if preoperative treatment was chemoradiation(31.3%)or TNT(30.2%).Over the study period,proportion of cases approached laparoscopically increased from 24.9%to 32.5%and robotically 5.6%to 30.7%(P<0.001).This cohort showed improved survival for MIS approaches compared to open surgery(laparoscopy HR 0.85,95%CI 0.78-0.93,and robotic HR 0.82,95%CI 0.73-0.92).CONCLUSION Sphincter preservation rates are similar across stageⅡandⅢrectal cancer,regardless of delivery of preoperative chemotherapy,chemoradiation,or both.At a national level,there is a shift to predominantly MIS approaches for rectal cancer,regardless of whether sphincter sparing procedure is performed.

Emerging technology in acute resuscitation monitoring

Fluid optimization in the resuscitation of shock became the mainstay of treatment following the advent of Early Goal-Directed Therapy (EGDT) by Rivers et al. in 2001 [1]. Patients presenting in shock require prompt optimization of volume status and cardiac out- put to ensure adequate perfusion. Poor optimization may be associated with prolonged hospital and intensive care unit stays. The prior gold standard, pulmonary artery catheterization, is rarely available in the emergency department setting and its invasive nature has led to recent re-evaluation of its clinical utility. However, there are new monitoring technologies that are being studied in the intensive care unit setting that may soon be available in emergency departments to aid in nursing and physician decision making to improve acute resuscitation.

Centers of excellence in minimally invasive gynecology: Raising the bar for quality in women's health

The ＂Center of Excellence＂ concept has been employed in healthcare for several decades. This concept has been adopted in several disciplines; such as bariatric surgery, orthopedic surgery, diabetes and stroke. The most successful model in surgery thus far has been the bariatric program, with a very extensive network and a large prospective database. Recently, the American As-sociation of Gynecologic Laparoscopists has introduced this concept in gynecologic surgery. The ＂Center Of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology＂ （COEMIG） designation program has been introduced with the goals of increasing safety and efficiency, cutting cost and increasing patient awareness and access to mini-mally invasive surgical options for women. The program may harbor challenges as well, such as human and fnancial resources, and diffculties with implementation and maintenance of such designation. This commen-tary describes the COEMIG designation process, along with its potential benefits and possible challenges. Though no studies have been published to date on the value of this concept in the feld of gynecologic surgery, we envision this commentary to provoke such studies to examine the relative value of this new program.

Laparoscopic Liver Resection: A Tool to Improve Outcomes in Obese Patients Requiring Liver Resection

Introduction: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of fatty liver disease, predisposing to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, as well as increased occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Obesity is intuitively considered a risk factor for increased post-hepatectomy morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, peer-reviewed literature reveals significant heterogeneity between different cohorts contributing to varying conclusions. Outcomes in this cohort for Laparoscopic Liver Resection (LLR), especially in non-academic settings remain under-evaluated. The current study evaluated outcomes of LLR in obese patients, in a community health system. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing LLR at the flagship hospital in the community health system, between 2013 and 2020, was performed. Classified into two groups based on Body Mass Index (BMI): obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) vs non-obese (BMI Results: 90 patients underwent LLR during the 7-year period;obese = 38 and non-obese = 52. No statistically significant differences were noted between obese and non-obese cohorts, in baseline characteristics including age (53.1 ± 15.1 vs 56.8 ± 11.6 years), female gender (60.5% vs 53.8%), and ASA grade (3.13 ± 0.53 vs 3.02 ± 0.54) (all p > 0.05). Univariate analysis showed no statistically significant differences between obese and non-obese groups, comparing estimated blood loss [300 (100 - 500) vs. 200 (100 - 462.5) cc], operative time [177 (125 - 215) vs. 150.9 (111 - 207) minutes], bile leak (2.6% vs. 4.1%), post-operative bleeding (2.6% vs. 4.1%), infection (0% vs. 4.1%), cardiorespiratory complication (10.5% vs 12.2%), conversion rate (5.3% vs 5.8%), length of stay [4 (3 - 5) vs. 4 (2 - 5) days], 90-day reoperation (0% vs. 2%) and 90-day readmission (2.6% vs. 4.1%) (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed no association between obesity and composite complication rate (p = 0.97), after adjusting for alcohol abuse, neoadjuvant therapy, and prior liver surgery. Conclusion: LLR is a key technique that can be replicated in the community setting to improve outcomes in obese patients requiring liver resection. Larger prospective multicenter studies are warranted to externally validate these findings.

Small incision combined with laparoscopy for ureteropelvic junction obstruction： comparison with retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty

Background Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty is technically feasible for ureteropelvic junction （UP J） obstruction although it is still challenged by its technical difficulty and time-consuming. In this study, we compared the initial results of retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty versus a combined laparoscopic dissection and open reconstruction through a small incision in the treatment of UPJ obstruction.Methods Sixty-four patients with primary UPJ obstruction underwent pyeloplasty： 32 patients underwent laparoscopic procedure and 32 patients underwent open assisted laparoscopic surgery including two steps, ie, laparoscopic dissection of the UPJ transperitoneally and then pyeloplasty via an extended small incision. The demographic data and intraoDerative, postoperative and follow-up conditions of patients were compared between the two groups.Results Preoperative data were comparable in the patients of the two groups. The operative time was shorter （60.9 minutes vs 157.7 minutes, P 〈0.0001） and the complication rate was lower （9.4% vs 31.3%, P 〈0,05） in the open assisted group than in the laparoscopic group. The estimated blood loss （42.3 ml vs 47.8 ml）, time to have normal diet （37.6 hours vs 33.8 hours）, and hospital stay （6.7 days vs 6.2 days） were equivalent, The operative success rate was 97% for the open assisted group and 91% for the laparoscopic group. Conclusions The procedure of combined small incision with laparoscopy for UPJ obstruction is technically easy, and the results are promising. It can be used as an alternative to conventional procedures.

Endoscopic excision of a tympanic paraganglioma: Training the next generation of ear surgeons

Tympanic paragangliomas are uncommon vascular tumors of neural crest origin.Classically these lesions have been surgically managed via a transcanal or transmastoid approach using binocular microscopy.We describe a case in which a tympanic paraganglioma was removed via a transcanal approach,using the endoscope exclusively.Endoscopic ear surgery enhances visualization,helping to ensure complete tumor removal,while reducing unnecessary dissection and its associated morbidity.For small middle ear neoplasms,a purely endoscopic approach is feasible,with excellent results.Resident education in ear surgery has also been enhanced by the use of endoscopes.The wide field of view provided by the endoscope helps trainees understand the intricate three-dimensional anatomy of the middle ear cleft.