3D segmentation of plant root systems using spatial pyramid pooling and locally adaptive field-of-view inference.

Background: The non-invasive 3D-imaging and successive 3D-segmentation of plant root systems has gained interest within fundamental plant research and selectively breeding resilient crops. Currently the state of the art consists of computed tomography (CT) scans and reconstruction followed by an adequate 3D-segmentation process.

Challenge: Generating an exact 3D-segmentation of the roots becomes challenging due to inhomogeneous soil composition, as well as high scale variance in the root structures themselves.

Pilonidal sinus destruction with a radial laser probe: technique and first Belgian experience.

Background: The treatment of pilonidal sinus disease still remains challenging. Despite many non-surgical and surgical methods, no consensus emerged for the best treatment. We describe a new innovative technique consisting in the destruction of the pilonidal cyst with a radial laser probe (FILAC, Biolitec, Germany).

Long-term outcomes of 1326 laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair with the routine suturing concept: a single institution experience.

Purpose: This retrospective chart analysis reports and assesses the long-term (beyond 10 years) safety and efficiency of a single institution's experience in 1326 laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repairs (LIVHR), defending the principle of the suturing defect (augmentation repair concept) prior to laparoscopic reinforcement with a composite mesh (IPOM Plus). This study aims to prove the feasibility and validity of IPOM Plus repair, among other concepts, as a well-justified treatment of incisional or ventral hernias, rendering a good long-term outcome result.

Methods: A single institution's systematic retrospective review of 1326 LIVHR was conducted between the years 2000 and 2014.

Injection of a sclerosing agent as first line treatment in anal fissure.

Background: In our institution, the first line treatment in acute anal fissures (AAF) or chronic anal fissures (CAF) is the injection of a sclerosing agent consisting of phenol, menthol and peanut oil (Phenomen®, Sterop laboratory, Belgium) under the fissure after a local anaesthesia. This retrospective study presents the technique of injection, evaluates its efficacy and demonstrates the minimal occurrence of complications, continence problems and recurrences.

Methods: 129 patients with an anal fissure were treated between January 2010 and June 2011.

Laparoscopic selective diverticulectomy of the colon as first treatment in acute complicated diverticulitis.

We present the case of a 53 year-old male diagnosed with an acute complicated diverticulitis, with localized peritonitis, who underwent a laparoscopic excision of the affected sigmoid diverticula associated with peritoneal lavage and drainage. This approach was performed as first treatment of a Hinchey's IIb diverticulitis to avoid a laparotomy and/or colic resection with a temporary colostomy.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass after failed vertical banded gastroplasty: a multicenter experience with 203 patients.

Background: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has long been the main restrictive procedure for morbid obesity but has many long-term complications for which conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is often considered the best option.

Methods: This series regroups patients operated on by three different surgeons in four different centers. All data were collected prospectively, then pooled and analyzed retrospectively.

Transabdominal Laparoscopic Repair of Amyand's Hernia: A Case Report.

The occurrence of appendicitis within an inguinal hernia, known as Amyand's hernia, is a rare condition. Laparoscopic approach to this type of hernia is not widely used, and there is little data comparing it to the open surgery approach. This article presents a case of Amyand's hernia treated successfully by laparoscopy via a transabdominal approach supported by a short review of literature on this rare condition.

[Biliary ileus: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Report of a case].

We report a rare case of small bowel gallstone obstruction in a patient with cholecystointestinal fistula. Diagnosis of this condition is usually difficult and only achieved at surgery. We review the radiological findings, particularly the CT findings, helpful for diagnosis: ectopic gallstone, biliary gas and fistula.

Eighty-five redo surgeries after 733 laparoscopic treatments for ventral and incisional hernia: adhesion and recurrence analysis.

Introduction: This report reviews the clinical and functional outcomes of implanted meshes during a second-look evaluation of 85 cases after a large number (733) of laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repairs (LIVHR), of which 608 were controlled throughout a period of 5 to 10 years. This report demonstrates a minimal occurrence of adhesions and a low rate of recurrences and other complications related to mesh usage.

Methods: Eighty-five re-operated cases after LIVHR were reviewed retrospectively.

The suturing concept for laparoscopic mesh fixation in ventral and incisional hernia repair: Mid-term analysis of 400 cases.

Background: The authors describe a minimally invasive treatment of moderate to large incisional and ventral hernia defects using Parietex composite mesh.

Methods: All defects are closed laparoscopically or through a minilaparotomy using sutures, and the composite mesh is fixed intraperitonally using transabdominal fixation with nonabsorbable sutures to avoid the use of staple or tack fixation, which has been associated with various complications, including major loop adhesion and mesh migration. The midterm results for 400 patients are presented in terms of efficacy and safety.

The suturing concept for laparoscopic mesh fixation in ventral and incisional hernias: preliminary results.

Having found existing techniques for treatment of incisional hernias unsatisfactory, we developed a new laparoscopic approach with a Parietex Composite mesh. This study shows the preliminary results in order to analyze the validity of the concept on efficacy and safety. Three trocars are needed for this procedure.

Primary mechanical stapled anastomosis in surgery for colorectal emergencies.

From May 91 to March 99 a consecutive series of 100 acute obstructions or perforations of the left colon or rectum were treated by primary resection with mechanical anastomosis using a double or triple stapling technique without proximal colostomy. There were 8 postoperative deaths (8%) due to sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and cachexy. Complications occurred in 29% of surviving patients.

Hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic gastroplasty in morbidly obese patients.

Background: In nonobese patients, peritoneal insufflation has consistently been shown to influence parameters of preload and afterload as well as cardiac output. Obese patients have an abnormal and particular cardiovascular status. The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic changes induced by an increase of intra-abdominal pressure in morbidly obese patients (MOP).

Changes in pulmonary mechanics during laparoscopic gastroplasty in morbidly obese patients.

Background: Obesity is an important respiratory risk factor after abdominal surgery. Laparoscopic surgical techniques seem beneficial in obese patients in terms of respiratory morbidity, with a faster return to normal respiratory function. However, there is little information about intraoperative respiratory mechanics and about patient tolerance to abdominal insufflation in the morbidly obese.

[Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma: case report and literature review].

Retroperitoneal sarcomas are rare tumors, 25% of them are leiomyosarcomas. On the other hand, 19% of leiomyosarcomas are located in the retroperitoneum. Generally, the diagnosis is made at late stage due to poor symptomatology.

Secondary psoas abscess twenty-seven years after nephrectomy.

Abscesses of the psoas muscle are due to a hematogenous dissemination, to the spread of infection from adjacent intestinal structures, to osteomyelitis of the spine or to tuberculous infection of a disc space. In contrast, psoas abscesses related to the urological tract have only been described on exception. The present report focuses on a right psoas abscess which developed 27 years after a nephrectomy.

[One-stage subtotal colectomy in the emergency treatment of occlusive left colonic neoplasms].

The authors present a series of 17 emergency subtotal colectomies as treatment of malignant occlusions of the left colon. They insist on the advantages of this operation as well as for the short term results (morbidity, mortality) and for the rare functional disease (diarrhea).

[Respiratory complications after repair of major abdominal hernia: value of the combination of propofol and epidural anesthesia].

Twenty patients with major abdominal hernia were treated by prosthesis interposed in pre or intraperitoneal position by medial incision. This surgery can produce healthy respiratory morbidity. Indeed, these patients are commonly obeses and smokers.

[The contribution of anterior seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer].

Contribution to the anterior seromyotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer. The authors report a technique of anterior seromyotomy of the gastric lesser curvature with posterior truncal vagotomy for the surgical treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer disease. This technique offers more advantages than the highly selective vagotomy: it is an easier operation to perform, less time consuming and reproducible.

[Treatment of large midline eventration with aponeurosis autograft and retromuscular prosthesis. Apropos of 40 case reports].

Forty patients presenting midline incisional hernias either recurring or larger than 10 cm in transversal diameter were treated using Teflon prosthesis. Implantation site was the retromuscular space following the J. Rives technique.