Laparoscopic Ladd's procedure: a case report and review of the literature on patient selection for an appropriate surgical approach.

Intestinal malrotation is a rare condition which is managed surgically with the Ladd's procedure. We report a case of an adult male presenting with symptomatic intestinal malrotation which was successfully treated with a laparoscopic Ladd's procedure. While traditionally performed with a laparotomy, the case highlights the emerging evidence in the literature supporting the laparoscopic approach and explores factors affecting patient selection for an appropriate surgical approach.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Sub-Basal Corneal Nerve Reduction Following Neurotoxic Chemotherapy.

Purpose: Sub-basal corneal nerves have been shown to change during neurotoxic chemotherapy treatment. This cross-sectional study investigated corneal nerve morphology in patients who have completed neurotoxic chemotherapy well after treatment cessation and its association with peripheral nerve function.

Methods: Central corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) and inferior whorl length (IWL), average nerve fiber length (ANFL), corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) and corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and nerve fiber area (CNFA) were examined using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy in patients with cancer who had completed treatment with either paclitaxel or oxaliplatin between 3 and 24 months prior to assessment in comparison with 2 separate groups of healthy controls.

Retrospective analysis of a Bi-National Colorectal Cancer Audit to characterize stage II colon cancer patients who were offered adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer is a controversial area with treatment often reserved for patients with high-risk clinicopathological features. The aim of this study was to characterize which patients with stage II disease were offered adjuvant chemotherapy in an Australian and New Zealand setting.

Methods: Data was retrospectively collected from the prospectively maintained Bi-National Colorectal Cancer Audit.

Does indocyanine green improve the evaluation of perfusion during laparoscopic colorectal surgery with extracorporeal anastomosis?

Background: There has been recent interest in indocyanine green (ICG) to assess anastomotic perfusion in colorectal surgery. We describe our experience using ICG when performing laparoscopic segmental colorectal resections with extracorporeal anastomotic technique and a highly standardized approach for clinically assessing blood flow.

Methods: We recruited 20 consecutive patients to undergo segmental laparoscopic resection and determined an appropriate point to transect mesentery proximally confirming pulsatile arterial flow at this level.

Randomized controlled trial of probiotics after colonoscopy.

Background: Up to 20% of patients have ongoing abdominal symptoms at day 2 and beyond following colonoscopy. It was hypothesized that some of these symptoms are related to alterations in gut microbiota secondary to bowel preparation and would improve with probiotics compared with placebo.

Methods: Patients were given either a probiotic or placebo capsule in the days following colonoscopy.

Transanal minimally invasive surgery: an initial experience.

Background: Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is a novel approach used for the resection of rectal lesions. The purpose of this study was to review our initial experience with TAMIS.

Methods: Between March 2012 and May 2012, we collected clinical data on patients who underwent the TAMIS procedure.

Complex anal fistulas: plug or flap?

Background: Rectal mucosal advancement flaps (RMAF) and fistula plugs (FP) are techniques used to manage complex anal fistulas. The purpose of this study was to review and compare the results of these methods of repair.

Methods: A retrospective review of all complex anal fistulas treated by either a RMAF or a FP at Auckland City Hospital from 2004 to 2008.

Open surgical treatment of aneurysmal sac expansion following endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair: solution for an unresolved clinical dilemma.

The advantages of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) are probably related to the avoidance of the three major physiological insults associated with open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair: laparotomy, aortic cross-clamping and ischemia reperfusion injury. Continuing aneurysm expansion indicates a failure to exclude the AAA from the circulation. We describe our experience with open surgery of post-EVAR sac expansion.

Stent grafts for thoracic aortic pathology: single-center experience in Western Australia.

The purpose of this article is to report a single-center experience in treating thoracic aortic pathology with stent grafts. This is a retrospective review of cases done within a period of 30 months. Between January 2002 and May 2004, 12 patients were treated in our institution with thoracic stent grafts (n = 12) for various clinical conditions.