Performance in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery: Does it reflect global rating scales in the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills in porcine laparoscopic surgery?

Objective:To correlate the utility of the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery(FLS)manual skills program with the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills(OSATS)global rating scale in evaluating operative performance.Methods:The Asian Urological Surgery Training and Educational Group(AUSTEG)Laparoscopic Upper Tract Surgery Course implemented and validated the FLS program for its usage in laparoscopic surgical training.Delegates’basic laparoscopic skills were assessed using three different training models(peg transfer,precision cutting,and intra-corporeal suturing).They also performed live porcine laparoscopic surgery at the same workshop.Live surgery skills were assessed by blinded faculty using the OSATS rating scale.Results:From March 2016 to March 2019,a total of 81 certified urologists participated in the course,with a median of 5 years of post-residency experience.Although differences in task time did not reach statistical significance,those with more surgical experience were visibly faster at completing the peg transfer and intra-corporeal suturing FLS tasks.However,they took longer to complete the precision cutting task than participants with less experience.Overall OSATS scores correlated weakly with all three FLS tasks(peg transfer time:r=0.331,r^(2)=0.110;precision cutting time:r=0.240,r^(2)=0.058;suturing with intracorporeal knot time:r=0.451,r^(2)=0.203).Conclusion:FLS task parameters did not correlate strongly with OSATS globing rating scale performance.Although FLS task models demonstrated strong validity,it is important to assimilate the inconsistencies when benchmarking technical proficiency against real-life operative competence,as evaluated by FLS and OSATS,respectively.

Robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for sporadic benign insulinoma:Short-and long-term outcomes

Background:Minimally invasive surgery is the optimal treatment for insulinoma.The present study aimed to compare short-and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic surgery for sporadic benign insulinoma.Methods:A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic surgery for insulinoma at our center between September 2007 and December 2019 was conducted.The demographic,perioperative and postoperative follow-up results were compared between the laparoscopic and robotic groups.Results:A total of 85 patients were enrolled,including 36 with laparoscopic approach and 49 with robotic approach.Enucleation was the preferred surgical procedure.Fifty-nine patients(69.4%)underwent enucleation;among them,26 and 33 patients underwent laparoscopic and robotic surgery,respectively.Robotic enucleation had a lower conversion rate to laparotomy(0 vs.19.2%,P=0.013),shorter operative time(102.0 vs.145.5 min,P=0.008)and shorter postoperative hospital stay(6.0 vs.8.5 d,P=0.002)than laparoscopic enucleation.There were no differences between the groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss,the rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula and complications.After a median follow-up of 65 months,two patients in the laparoscopic group developed a functional recurrence and none of the patients in the robotic group had a recurrence.Conclusions:Robotic enucleation can reduce the conversion rate to laparotomy and shorten operative time,which might lead to a reduction in postoperative hospital stay.

Robotic-assisted low anterior resection for rectal cancer shows similar clinical efficacy to laparoscopic surgery: A propensity score matched study

BACKGROUND Rectal cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,necessitating surgical resection as the sole treatment option.Over the years,there has been a growing adoption of minimally invasive surgical techni-ques such as robotic and laparoscopic approaches.Robotic surgery represents an innovative modality that effectively addresses the limitations associated with traditional laparoscopic techniques.While previous studies have reported favo-rable perioperative outcomes for robot-assisted radical resection in rectal cancer patients,further evidence regarding its oncological safety is still warranted.AIM To conduct a comparative analysis of perioperative and oncological outcomes between robot-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted low anterior resection(LALAR)procedures.METHODS The clinical data of 125 patients who underwent robot-assisted low anterior resection(RALAR)and 279 patients who underwent LALAR resection at Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from December 2019 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.After performing a 1:1 propensity score matching,the patients were divided into two groups:The RALAR group and the LALAR group(111 cases in each group).Subsequently,a comparison was made between the short-term outcomes within 30 d after surgery and the 3-year survival outcomes of these two groups.RESULTS Compared to the LALAR group,the RALAR group exhibited a significantly earlier time to first flatus[2(2-2)d vs 3(3-3)d,P=0.000],as well as a shorter time to first fluid diet[4(3-4)d vs 5(4-6)d,P=0.001].Additionally,the RALAR group demonstrated reduced postoperative indwelling catheter time[2(1-3)d vs 4(3-5)d,P=0.000]and decreased length of hospital stay after surgery[5(5-7)d vs 7(6-8)d,P=0.009].Moreover,there was an observed increase in total cost of hospitalization for the RALAR group compared to the LALAR group[10777(10780-11850)dollars vs 10550(8766-11715)dollars,P=0.012].No significant differences were found in terms of conversion rate to laparotomy or incidence of postoperative complications between both groups.Furthermore,no significant disparities were noted regarding the 3-year overall survival rate and 3-year disease-free survival rate between both groups.CONCLUSION Robotic surgery offers potential advantages in terms of accelerated recovery of gastrointestinal and urologic function compared to LALAR resection,while maintaining similar perioperative and 3-year oncological outcomes.

Precision at scale:Machine learning revolutionizing laparoscopic surgery

In their recent study published in the World Journal of Clinical Cases,the article found that minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia demonstrates superior efficacy and safety compared to traditional open surgery for early ovarian cancer patients.This editorial discusses the integration of machine learning in laparoscopic surgery,emphasizing its transformative po-tential in improving patient outcomes and surgical precision.Machine learning algorithms analyze extensive datasets to optimize procedural techniques,enhance decision-making,and personalize treatment plans.Advanced imaging modalities like augmented reality and real-time tissue classification,alongside robotic surgical systems and virtual reality simulations driven by machine learning,enhance imaging and training techniques,offering surgeons clearer visualization and precise tissue manipulation.Despite promising advancements,challenges such as data privacy,algorithm bias,and regulatory hurdles need addressing for the responsible deployment of machine learning technologies.Interdisciplinary collaborations and ongoing technological innovations promise further enha-ncement in laparoscopic surgery,fostering a future where personalized medicine and precision surgery redefine patient care.

The laparoscopic rating scale for the evaluation of working conditions for surgical treatment of super-obesity

In this technical note,a novel rating scale(abdominal integral index)was introduced for assessing the conditions of the working laparoscopic space based on linear measurements to select the optimal one or two-stage surgical treatment for super-obesity.Patients with the same height and similar BMI values had different rating scale scores,reflecting different conditions of laparoscopic bariatric surgery.The rating scale helps surgeons and patients make a safe option for surgery,depending on the experience of the surgeon and technical laparoscopic conditions.

Surgical Video Review of Warm Ischemia Time during Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy and Impact on Positive Surgical Margins and Postoperative Complications

Introduction: A surgical video review is an emerging tool for quality improvement, especially in complex surgeries such as laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). Assessing and measuring the warm ischemia time (WIT) during LPN by dividing it into the time used for resection (ResT), time used for reconstruction (RecT) and intermediate time (IntT) has not been performed before. This study aimed to analyze the factors that can influence all these surgical times and assess their impact on positive surgical margins (PSM) and complication rates. Methods: We evaluated 36 surgical video recordings from patients who underwent LPN and measured WIT, ResT, RecT and IntT with a stopwatch. Factors such as tumor characteristics and surgeon experience were also recorded. SPSS software was used to identify the predictor factors for all these surgical times and to correlate the ResT with PSM and RecT with the complication rate. Results: We recorded a mean WIT of 887 seconds. The mean ResT, RecT and IntT were 240 (27.2% of WIT), 473 (52.6% of WIT) and 173 s (20.2% of WIT), respectively. We found a moderate correlation between the WIT (p = 0.030), IntT and the R.E.N.A.L. score (p = 0.019). The surgeon with less than 100 LPN had significantly longer WIT, ResT, and RecT values, with means of 977 (p = 0.015), 268 (p = 0.019) and 530 seconds (p = 0.015), respectively. No correlation was found between ResT and PSM (p = 0.418);however, a strong correlation was found between RecT and the probability of developing complications (p = 0.012). Conclusion: The surgeon’s experience influences WIT, ResT, and RecT, but not IntT, which depends on tumor complexity. RecT affects the probability of developing complications. IntT represents a fifth of the WIT and efforts to reduce the WIT should focus on reducing the IntT for complex tumors, by improving surgical planning.

A new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy improves patients’postoperative quality of life

Objective Laparoscopic surgery has become a routine general surgery with many advantages,such as alleviating abdominal pain.However,postoperative pain caused by abdominal drainage tubes has attracted little attention from medical staff.The aim of this study was to explore the influence of a new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)on patients’postoperative quality of life.Methods Patients who underwent 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Linyi People’s Hospital from March 1,2023 to October 31,2023 due to gallstones with chronic cholecystitis were selected for this study.The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group.In the experimental group,the new abdominal drainage tube fixation method was used,while in the control group,the traditional method was used.Afterward,the quality of life of patient in terms of pain,activity,recovery time,and mental health status was evaluated.The exudate around the patient’s drainage tube was collected for bacterial culture and analysis.Results A total of 139 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group(70 patients)and a control group(69 patients).The patients’baseline characteristics were not significantly different.The patients in the experimental group had better outcomes in quality of life,with higher pain scores(24.03±2.37 vs.15.48±2.29,p<0.001)and activity scores(20.57±1.78 vs.14.13±1.43,p<0.001),and a shorter postoperative recovery time(2.36±0.68 d vs.2.96±1.34 d,p<0.001).The same results were shown in linear regression analysis scores of the 2 groups.The positive rate of bacterial culture in the exudate around the patient’s drainage tube in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(12.9%vs.43.5%,p<0.001);and furthermore,the positive rate of conditional pathogenic bacteria was even lower(7.1%vs.33.3%,p<0.001)in the experimental group than in the control group.Conclusion This new abdominal drainage tube fixation method can effectively promote patient rehabilitation and improve the quality of life for patient following 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes.

Factors influencing agitation during anesthesia recovery after laparoscopic hernia repair under total inhalation combined with caudal block anesthesia

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic hernia repair is a minimally invasive surgery,but patients may experience emergence agitation(EA)during the post-anesthesia recovery period,which can increase pain and lead to complications such as wound reopening and bleeding.There is limited research on the risk factors for this agitation,and few effective tools exist to predict it.Therefore,by integrating clinical data,we have developed nomograms and random forest predictive models to help clinicians predict and potentially prevent EA.AIM To establish a risk nomogram prediction model for EA in patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia surgery under total inhalation combined with sacral block anesthesia.METHODS Based on the clinical information of 300 patients who underwent laparoscopic hernia surgery in the Nanning Tenth People’s Hospital,Guangxi,from January 2020 to June 2023,the patients were divided into two groups according to their sedation-agitation scale score,i.e.,the EA group(≥5 points)and the non-EA group(≤4 points),during anesthesia recovery.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to select the key features that predict EA,and incorporating them into logistic regression analysis to obtain potential pre-dictive factors and establish EA nomogram and random forest risk prediction models through R software.RESULTS Out of the 300 patients,72 had agitation during anesthesia recovery,with an incidence of 24.0%.American Society of Anesthesiologists classification,preoperative anxiety,solid food fasting time,clear liquid fasting time,indwelling catheter,and pain level upon awakening are key predictors of EA in patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia surgery with total intravenous anesthesia and caudal block anesthesia.The nomogram predicts EA with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.947,a sensi-tivity of 0.917,and a specificity of 0.877,whereas the random forest model has an AUC of 0.923,a sensitivity of 0.912,and a specificity of 0.877.Delong’s test shows no significant difference in AUC between the two models.Clinical decision curve analysis indicates that both models have good net benefits in predicting EA,with the nomogram effective within the threshold of 0.02 to 0.96 and the random forest model within 0.03 to 0.90.In the external model validation of 50 cases of laparoscopic hernia surgery,both models predicted EA.The nomogram model had a sensitivity of 83.33%,specificity of 86.84%,and accuracy of 86.00%,while the random forest model had a sensitivity of 75.00%,specificity of 78.95%,and accuracy of 78.00%,suggesting that the nomogram model performs better in predicting EA.CONCLUSION Independent predictors of EA in patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia repair with total intravenous anesthesia combined with caudal block include American Society of Anesthesiologists classification,preoperative anxiety,duration of solid food fasting,duration of clear liquid fasting,presence of an indwelling catheter,and pain level upon waking.The nomogram and random forest models based on these factors can help tailor clinical decisions in the future.

Model for end-stage liver disease score versus Child score in predicting the outcome of surgical procedures in patients with cirrhosis

AIM： To determine factors affecting the outcome of patients with cirrhosis undergoing surgery and to compare the capacities of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh （CTP） and model for end-stage liver disease （MELD） score to predict that outcome. METHODS： We reviewed the charts of 195 patients with cirrhosis who underwent surgery at two teaching hospitals over a five-year period. The combined endpoint of death or hepatic decompensation was considered to be the primary endpoint. RESULTS： Patients who reached the endpoint had a higher MELD score, a higher CTP score and were more likely to have undergone an urgent procedure. Among patients undergoing elective surgical procedures, no statistically significant difference was noted in the mean MELD （12.8 ＋ 3.9 vs 12.6 ＋ 4.7, P = 0.9） or in the mean CTP （7.6 ± 1.2 vs 7.7 ± 1.7, P = 0.8） between patients who reached the endpoint and those who did not. Both mean scores were higher in the patients reaching the endpoint in the case of urgent procedures （MELD： 22.4 ± 8.7 vs 15.2 ± 6.4, P = 0.0007; CTP： 9.9 ± 1.8 vs 8.5 ± 1.8, P = 0.008）. The performances of the MELD and CTP scores in predicting the outcome of urgent surgery were only fair, without a significant difference between them （AUC = 0.755 ± 0.066 for MELD vs AUC = 0.696 ± 0.070 for CTP, P = 0.3）. CONCLUSION： The CTP and MELD scores performed equally, but only fairly in predicting the outcome of urgent surgical procedures. Larger studies are needed to better define the factors capable of predicting the outcome of elective surgical procedures in patients with cirrhosis.equally, but only fairly in predicting the outcome of urgent surgical procedures. Larger studies are needed to better define the factors capable of predicting the outcome of elective surgical procedures in patients with cirrhosis.

One-step laparoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy verse surgical step-up approach for infected pancreatic necrosis:a case-control study

BACKGROUND:The surgical step-up approach often requires multiple debridements and might not be suitable for infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN)patients with various abscesses or no safe route for percutaneous catheter drainage(PCD).This case-control study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of one-step laparoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy(LPN)in treating IPN.METHODS:This case-control study included IPN patients undergoing one-step LPN or surgical step-up in our center from January 2015 to December 2020.The short-term and long-term complications after surgery,length of hospital stay,and postoperative ICU stays in both groups were analyzed.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the risk factors of major complications or death.RESULTS:A total of 53 IPN patients underwent one-step LPN and 37 IPN patients underwent surgical step-up approach in this study.There was no significant difference in the incidence of death,major complications,new-onset diabetes,or new-onset pancreatic exocrine insufficiency between the two groups.However,the length of hospital stay in the one-step LPN group was significantly shorter than that in the surgical step-up group.Univariate regression analysis showed that the surgical approach(one-step/step-up)was not the risk factor for major complications or death.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that computed tomography(CT)severity index,American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)class IV,and white blood cell(WBC)were the significant risk factors for major complications or death.CONCLUSION:One-step LPN is as safe and effective as the surgical step-up approach for treating IPN patients,and reduces total hospital stay.

Cancellation Causes of Elective Surgical Procedures in a Major Pediatric Surgery Department

Introduction: Cancellation of surgical operation is a surgical operation registered in the official schedule the day before or added to the list after and not carried out on the operating day. The purpose of this work was to determine the causes of cancellation of elective surgical operations in a major pediatric surgery department in Senegal. Patients and methods: It was a prospective and descriptive study of 278 patients scheduled during a period of 13 weeks. The study took place between April 3rd, 2017, and January 31st, 2018. Mean age was 2.9 years with extremes of 3 days and 15 years. The age group of 29 days to 30 months was the most represented (62.2%). Sex ratio was 1.41. Causes of cancellation were categorized into administrative and organizational causes, patient-related causes and staff-related causes. Results: Cancellation rate was 29.4%. Patient-related causes were most common (51.2%). Upper Respiratory tract infection (URTI) was commonest reason within this category (57.5%). Organizational causes (28.1%) came second and were mainly represented by the unavailability of the operating room (60.8%) related to breakdowns of anesthesia equipment. Finally, staff-related causes (20.7%) were due for most to the unavailability of the anesthesiologist (12 cases/17). Conclusion: Majority of causes that led to cancellation of elective surgical operations in our Pediatric surgery department are related to intercurrent illnesses affecting the patient, in particular URTI.

Usefulness of Detailed Analysis with Operative Procedure of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) Done a Single Surgeon, to Master the Surgical Technique of TLH and Gain Higher Proficiency

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the numbers of cases experienced and the operation time for a single surgeon aiming to master the TLH surgical technique. Material and Methods: Retrospective data analysis of women who underwent TLH for benign diseases between April, 2014 and March, 2016 was conducted by a single surgeon in a single hospital (Showa University of Fujigaoka Hospital). We divided the main procedures of the TLH operation into five sections, and measured the time required for each section. These cases were divided into three groups, group 1, 2, and 3. Results: There were 54 cases of TLH over two years for a single surgeon, and 21 cases that included essential operative procedures were divided into three groups of seven cases each. The average duration of the surgery (min.) was 178.3 ± 48.2 in the group 1, 128.3 ± 15.6 in the group 2, and 111.3 ± 15.9 in the group 3. A significant reduction in the required time was observed between group 1, 2, and 3 groups. As the number of cases increased, the operation time became statistically significantly shorter for every section except B and D. The skill growth rate was different at each section. Conclusion: For a single surgeon, as the number of surgical cases increased, we recognized the increased skill with the procedure in every section and the rate of skill growth differed for different sections. The difference of growth rate for each section implied that the number of operative cases required for a surgeon in each section was different.

Surgical procedures of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum

Objective To investigate different surgical procedures for treatment of thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum.Methods From January 1994 to June 2008,56 cases of thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum underwent

Surgical outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection vs. open liver resection: A retrospective propensity scorematched cohort study

Objective: Hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection has the advantages of open and laparoscopic surgeries.There is still lack of comparison of surgical outcomes between hand-assistied laparoscopic liver resection(HALLR)and open liver resection(OLR). This study compared the surgical outcomes of the two approaches between wellmatched patient cohorts.Methods: Patients who received liver resection during January 2014 and October 2017 in Cancer Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College were included in this retrospective study. Propensity score matching(PSM) was performed to reduce selection bias between the two groups. Operation and short-term surgical outcomes were compared between the well matched groups.Results: During this period, 232 patients with a median age of 55.1 years old received OLR, while 49 patients with a median age of 54.7 years old received HALLR. Compared with HALLR group, OLR group has a higher proportion in male patients(190/232, 81.9% vs. 34/49, 69.4%, P=0.048) and lower albumin(43.2±4.5 vs. 44.8±3.7,P=0.020). After PSM, 49 patients from each group were included in the following analysis. Two groups were well balanced in their baseline characteristics, liver functions, preoperative treatments, abdominal surgery history, and surgical difficulty. None perioperative mortality was observed in both groups. Operation time and postoperative complications were similar in two groups(P=0.935, P=0.056). The HALLR group showed less bleeding amount(177.8±217.1 mL vs. 283.1±225.0 mL, P=0.003) and shorter postoperative stay period(6.9±2.2 d vs. 9.0±3.5 d,P=0.001).Conclusions: We demonstrated that hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery is feasible and safe for liver resection,including some difficult cases. HALLR can provide better bleeding control and faster recovery after surgery.

CHANGES OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND RELATED FACTORS AS WELL AS GASTRIC INTRAMUCOSAL pH DURING COLORECTAL AND ORTHOPAEDIC SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Objective To investigate the changes of perioperative serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and cortisol, as well as gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) and plasma lactate, aiming to compare systemic changes and tissue perfusion during colorectal and orthopaedic surgical procedures. Methods Twenty patients were randomly assigned to two groups, 10 cases of operation on vertebral canal, 10 cases of colorectal radical operation.Venous blood was drawn at 1 day before operation, 2, 4, and 6 hours following skin incision, and 1 day after operation, in order to measure serum IL-6, CRP, and cortisol.pHi and plasma lactate were also measured at the same time points.Results Serum concentrations of IL-6 and cortisol increased gradually following operation, reaching the peak value at 6 hours from the beginning of operation.CRP was not detectable until the first day after operation.Peak concentration of IL-6 had positive relationship with CRP.These variables changed more significantly in colorectal group than that in orthopaedic group (P<0.05).pHi decreased gradually, reaching the lowest level at 4 hours from the beginning of operation, and to more extent in colorectal group than that in orthopaedic group (P<0.05).Conclusion IL-6 may reflect tissue damage more sensitively than CRP.Colorectal surgery might induce systemic disorder to more extent, in terms of immuno-endocrinal aspect as well as tissue perfusion, reflected with pHi.

Timing of surgical repair of bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND The surgical management of bile duct injuries(BDIs)after laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)is challenging and the optimal timing of surgery remains unclear.The primary aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the evidence behind the timing of BDI repair after LC in the literature.AIM To assess timing of surgical repair of BDI and postoperative complications.METHODS The MEDLINE,EMBASE,and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically screened up to August 2021.Risk of bias was assessed via the Newcastle Ottawa scale.The primary outcomes of this review included the timing of BDI repair and postoperative complications.RESULTS A total of 439 abstracts were screened,and 24 studies were included with 15609 patients included in this review.Of the 5229 BDIs reported,4934(94%)were classified as major injury.Timing of bile duct repair was immediate(14%,n=705),early(28%,n=1367),delayed(28%,n=1367),or late(26%,n=1286).Standardization of definition for timing of repair was remarkably poor among studies.Definitions for immediate repair ranged from<24 h to 6 wk after LC while early repair ranged from<24 h to 12 wk.Likewise,delayed(>24 h to>12 wk after LC)and late repair(>6 wk after LC)showed a broad overlap.CONCLUSION The lack of standardization among studies precludes any conclusive recommendation on optimal timing of BDI repair after LC.This finding indicates an urgent need for a standardized reporting system of BDI repair.

Automatic Identification for Laparoscopic Surgical Procedure for Ligation and Online Distinction of Abnormal Manipulation for Thread Knotting

Laparoscopic surgery is a difficult surgical procedure compared with laparotomy. In particular, considerable skills and care are required for thread knotting in laparoscopic surgery. In this paper, a method for automatic identification of a laparoscopic surgical procedure for ligation and online distinction of an abnormality, defined as any unusual manipulation, in the identified surgical procedure is proposed. Ligation is divided into several individual surgical procedures, and on the basis of the threshold criteria, each surgical procedure is identified. Next, the identified surgical procedure, thread knotting, is classified as either normal or abnormal using a self-organizing map. Finally, to reduce surgical error, an abnormality warning system which warns detection of an unusual manipulation in the surgical procedure to the operator is constructed.

Vascular injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy:An oftenoverlooked complication

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most frequently performed procedures in gastrointestinal surgery worldwide.Bleeding complications due to vascular injuries represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality,especially when facing major bleeding during laparoscopy,where bleeding control can be technically challenging in inexperienced hands.Interestingly,the reported incidence rate of conversion to open surgery due to vascular lesions is approximately 0%-1.9%,with a mortality rate of approximately 0.02%.The primary aim of this article was to perform an up-to-date overview regarding the incidence and surgical management of vascular injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy according to the available scientific evidence.

Surgical Procedures,Pathological Features and Prognosis in Young Women with Breast Cancer in China--a Single Institute Experience

Objective:To compare the differences in surgical procedures,pathological features and prognosis between young and elderly women with breast cancer in China.Methods:A retrospective study compared the data of surgical procedures,pathological features and prognosis of 61 cases of young females(≤40 years)and 507 cases of elderly females(>40 years),treated in our department from August 2011 to July 2018.This data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0 program.Results:10.74% of total cases,in this period of time,involve young females.In terms of surgical procedures,24.59%of young patients underwent breast conserving surgery(8.48% elderly,respectively),and 13.11%underwent reconstruction surgery(1.18% elderly,respectively),with statistically significant differences existing between the two groups(P<0.05).Progesterone receptor(PR)expression in young women was significantly higher than in elderly females(P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in the proportion of invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC),axillary lymph node metastasis(ALNM),expression of estrogen receptor(ER),human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER-2)and Ki-67,but the lymphatic metastasis stage showed an increasing rate with younger age.No significant difference was found in 3-year disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS).Conclusion:The selection rate of breast conserving and reconstructive surgery in young women with breast cancer is significantly higher than that in elderly women.The younger the patient,the more frequently the PR positive expression,and the more likely ALNM to occur.The 3-year prognosis of the young and elderly patients is similar.

State of Play of Anesthesia for Outpatient Medical and Surgical Procedures in the City of Kinshasa

Context and Objective: The practice of outpatient anaesthesia has many advantages over anesthesia with conventional hospitalisation, particularly in the reduction of post-operative complications and the faster resumption of activity, etc. No study has been carried out on this subject in our community;this study was carried out in order to come up with a concrete state of play when it comes to outpatient anesthesia for medical and surgical procedures in the city of Kinshasa. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study, which took place in seven hospitals in the city of Kinshasa from 1 November 2020 to 31 January 2021. The population consisted of all patients who received outpatient anesthesia and the included patients had signed an informed consent. The variables of the study were the general profile of patients, surgical procedures and indications, anesthetic data and patient evolution. Statistical analyses were performed with SPPS 21.0 with p Results: We collected data from 971 patients who had undergone anesthesia in the seven medical facilities in the city of Kinshasa. Among these patients, 394 had benefited from outpatient anesthesia, i.e. a frequency of outpatient anesthesia estimated at 40.5%. Three hundred and ninety-four (394) patients were selected. They were 58.6% women and 41.4% men i.e. a sex ratio M/F of 0.7. The mean age was 39.3 ± 18.7 years with the extremes of 1 and 82 years. Gastroscopy was the most performed (operative) procedure (21.6%). Patients were classified as ASA 1 in 75.1%, narcosis (80.7%) using propofol (80.2%) was the most used anesthetic technique and performed by a specialist doctor in Anesthesia in 65.5%. Suxamethonium was the most used curare in 13.2%. Fentanyl was the most used opioid in 14.5%. Bupivacaine (10.9%) was the most widely used local anesthetic. Eleven patients or 3.2% had complications and, i.e. (0.8%) were hospitalized, class ASA II appeared to be a factor associated with complications. Conclusion: Ambulatory anesthesia is a reality in the city of Kinshasa;however, it is still underdeveloped and mainly concerns explorations (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy…) and some minor procedures. This anesthesia mainly uses propofol and is done by the specialist doctor. A high-powered study and an evaluation of this practice in the light of international recommendations would be useful.