The utility of the CADISS® system in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Background: The CADISS® system combines the use of a topical formulation of mesna (sodium 2-Mercaptoethane sulfonate) to facilitate selective dissection of pathological and fibrotic tissues with a non-cutting instrument for a safer dissection. A prospective, multi-site, clinical trial was performed to explore the use of the CADISS® system in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Methods: A total of 15 patients were enrolled at different severity stages of pathology according to Tokyo classification.

Impact of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic on digestive surgical activities: a Belgian National Survey.

Background: Belgium was one of the first European countries affected by the first wave of the Covid-19 epidemic after Italy and France and has the highest rate of Covid-19-related deaths. Very few studies have evaluated the impact of the pandemic on surgical activity on a large scale. The primary objective of this national survey was to evaluate the impact of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic on surgical activities (elective non-oncological and oncological) in Belgian hospitals.

BSW light, the first completely virtual surgical congress in Belgium: out of the box.

Background: Due to the SARS-COV2 pandemic-related restrictions the 2020 Belgian Surgical Week (BSW) was organized as a virtual congress, being the first surgical, virtual congress in Belgium. Since this was a new experience and probably not the last, we aim to share our experience to assist other professionals in organizing their virtual events.

Methods: The 'BSW-light' was organized by the RBSS in collaboration with a Professional Congress Organizer (PCO), which is described in detail.

Postoperative ileus after laparoscopic primary and incisional abdominal hernia repair with intraperitoneal mesh (DynaMesh®-IPOM versus Parietex™ Composite): a single institution experience.

Purpose: Laparoscopic primary or incisional abdominal hernia repair with intraperitoneal mesh placement is a well-accepted and safe technique. Evidence for complications however remains inconclusive, and little is known about the occurrence of postoperative ileus secondary to postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions with different types of IPOM meshes used. Therefore, we retrospectively compared the occurrence of postoperative ileus between two of the different meshes used in our center.

Fistulectomy and primary sphincteroplasty (FIPS) to prevent keyhole deformity in simple anal fistula: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Fistulotomy remains the gold standard for the surgical treatment of simple anal fistula, but may cause fecal incontinence and a characteristic anal 'keyhole' deformity. Although seemingly trivial, keyhole deformity may lead to bothersome symptoms such as anal pruritus and fecal soiling. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of fistulectomy and primary sphincteroplasty (FIPS), a technique with immediate sphincter reconstruction, in the treatment of simple anal fistula and the prevention of keyhole deformity created by simple fistulotomy.

Primary midgut volvulus without intestinal malrotation in a young adult: a case report.

Background: Midgut volvulus is a rare cause of acute abdomen characterized by a twisting of the entire small intestine around its mesenteric pedicle. It is a well-known complication of intestinal malrotation usually occurring in infants and young children. We report a rare case of a midgut volvulus without any underlying condition occurring in a young adult.

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia: two case reports and a short review of the literature.

Introduction: Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is an infrequent cause of acute mesenteric ischemia with atypical symptoms and a high mortality.

Patients And Methods: We report two cases of NOMI characterized by their difference in etiology, treatment and outcome.

Results: In the first case, the patient developed NOMI after septic shock, she was successfully treated with surgery.

Blowhole Colostomy for -Associated Toxic Megacolon.

We present the case of a 58-year-old man who underwent urgent blowhole colostomy for toxic megacolon (TM) secondary to infection (CDI). This infection occurred under antibiotic coverage with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, four days after laparoscopic sigmoidectomy in our hospital. Although prospective clinical research regarding the surgical management of TM is lacking, decompressive procedures like blowhole colostomy are reported to carry a high risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality and are widely regarded as obsolete.

Burkitt Lymphoma Mimicking an Acute Appendicitis in a 17 Years Old Boy: a Case Report.

Burkitt lymphoma belongs to the B cell non-Hodgkin tumors and is known as the fastest growing human tumor. It is mostly seen in children and young adults. Typically for this type of lymphoma is the chromosomal translocation that leads to a deregulated expression of the c-myc oncogene.

Small bowel intussusception caused by multiple intestinal metastases from a giant cell carcinoma of the lung: a case report.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to intussusception in adults is a rare condition. Diagnosis at the time of admission is usually challenging. More often than not, a bowel intussusception in adults is secondary to an organic condition, frequently malignancies.

Can a flap help the plug ? Or vice versa ? Proposing a combined sphincter-sparing anal fistula repair.

Background: To evaluate the results of a combination of fistulectomy with a rectal advancement flap and an anal fistula plug in the treatment of transsphincteric anal fistulas.

Methods: All patients with a transsphincteric fistula and a limited number of anterior intersphincteric fistulas in female patients were registered from July 1(st), 2010 until November 30(th), 2012. All operations were performed by one surgeon (CdG).

Small Bowel Intussusception Caused by Multiple Intestinal Metastases from a Giant Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: a Case Report.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to intussusception in adults is a rare condition. Diagnosis at the time of admission is usually challenging. More often than not, a bowel intussusception in adults is secondary to an organic condition, frequently malignancies.

Herniation of an abdominal antireflux fundoplication into the chest: what does it mean?

Objectives: The specific contribution of the herniation of an abdominal antireflux fundoplication into the chest to symptomatic and therefore surgical failure remains unclear.

Methods: The study was conducted in 189 consecutive fundoplication patients, categorized as patients reoperated on for chest herniation of either an abdominal 360° (Group 1; n = 95) or a partial (Group 2; n = 10) fundoplication, and patients having undergone an intrathoracic 360° fundoplication for short oesophagus (Group 3; n = 84; reference group). There were four subgroups in Group 1: 1A: wrap still complete and perioesophageal; 1B: wrap still complete but perigastric; 1C: wrap still perioesophageal but partially disrupted and 1D: wrap perigastric and partially disrupted.

Revisiting the role of herniography in the preoperative work-up of groin hernias?

Introduction: The diagnosis of groin hernia is based on clinical symptoms and physical examination. In the case of equivocal clinical findings, patients are often referred for subsequent diagnostic imaging. Accurate detection is important to minimize the inherent risk of complications or to avoid unnecessary surgery.

Incisional surgical site infections after colorectal surgery: time to appraise its true incidence.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the leading cause of complications in surgical patients. For colorectal surgery the reported incidence of SSI varies between 10 and 15%. This incidence however, has been challenged recently.

Duodenal switch operation for pathologic transpyloric duodenogastric reflux.

Objective: To assess the long-term results of the duodenal switch operation made for pathologic transpyloric duodenogastric reflux (DGR).

Summary Background Data: DGR symptoms and lesions are poorly responsive to medical treatment.

Methods: A duodenal switch operation was made on 48 patients suffering from pathologic transpyloric DGR either unrelated (n = 28) or secondary (n = 20) to previous upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, including cholecystectomy or vagotomy.

A ruptured gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the transverse mesocolon: a case report.

We discuss the long history of a patient still alive with a primary gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) of the transverse mesocolon: initially it presented as an acute complication, namely a haemorrhagic shock caused by rupture of the tumour and it recurred twice locally in the years following primary resection. Each time, a macroscopically complete resection could be achieved. Six years after the resection of the primary tumour, a liver metastasis was discovered, which was removed by radio frequency ablation (RFA).

Transmesosigmoid hernia: report of a case and review of the literature.

We report a case of a transmesosigmoid hernia in a 6 weeks postpartum woman. We found 14 previous reports of this rare type of internal hernia. Our patient presented with acute abdominal pain and developed a small intestinal obstruction.

Progress in implantable gastric stimulation: summary of results of the European multi-center study.

Background: The Implantable Gastric Stimulator (IGS(R)), a pacemaker-like device, has been found to be safe and effective to induce and maintain weight loss. The LOSS (Laparoscopic Obesity Stimulation Survey) is a prospective non-randomized trial which enrolled 69 patients involving 11 investigator centers in 5 European Countries. In 19 patients, ghrelin was analyzed.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: review of 6 years experience.

Since 6 years, the totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic hernia repair has become our procedure of choice to manage inguinal hernia in adult patients, especially for bilateral hernias and recurrences after classical anterior repair. Between March 1993 and March 1999, 976 patients underwent 1259 hernia repairs by an endoscopic total extraperitoneal approach. A large polypropylene prosthesis (15 x 15 cm) is placed and covers all potential defects.

Focal transmural necrosis of the gallbladder with bleeding resulting in a massive haemoperitoneum.

A case of massive haemoperitoneum as a complication of focal transmural necrosis of the gallbladder with bleeding during acute cholecystitis is reported. Urgent laparotomy and cholecystectomy was performed to secure an adequate haemostasis. A review of the literature confirmed that this condition is a very rare complication of acute cholecystitis.

[VDD mode single electrode cardiac stimulation: indications, results and limitations of the method].

Unlabelled: Several authors have reported the single atrioventricular (AV) electrode, comprising an atrial dipole floating in the right atrium, to be a system capable of providing results which are just as satisfactory as those of conventional systems (DDD). Between August 1992 and March 1995, a VDD single electrode pacemaker was implanted in 65 patients (mean age: 73 years +/- 17.2).

Cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas: an unusual cause of the acute surgical abdomen.

Cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas is a rare tumour. The authors report on a case of cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas in a 6-year-old boy, presenting an acute abdomen. These tumours are benign and must be differentiated from other cystic abdominal lesions.