Efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized double-blind study.

Background/purpose: Dexamethasone has been reported to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, its effect on other surgical outcomes such as pain and fatigue have been unclear. The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in ameliorating postoperative symptoms after LC.

Side-to-end anastomosis in a colostomy for acute malignant large-bowel obstruction: side-to-end anastomosis with a colostomy (STEC procedure).

This report describes the use of side-to-end anastomosis in a colostomy for an acute malignant large-bowel obstruction. A 59-year-old man presented with a colonic obstruction due to advanced descending colon cancer. The preoperative imaging studies revealed a complete obstruction of the descending colon at the site of the splenic flexure, a remarkably dilated transverse colon, and no other metastatic lesions.

Portal and mesenteric vein thrombosis after portal vein embolization in a patient with protein S deficiency.

Portal vein embolization can be performed safely, and so far no major complications have been reported. We report an extremely rare complication of portal vein embolization, a case of portal and mesenteric thrombosis in a 65-year-old patient with protein S deficiency. Right portal vein embolization was carried out prior to extended right hepatectomy for advanced gallbladder carcinoma involving the hepatic hilus.

Surgical anatomy of the bile ducts at the hepatic hilum as applied to living donor liver transplantation.

Objective: To evaluate anatomic variations of the biliary tree as applied to living donor liver transplantation.

Summary Background Data: Anatomic variability is the rule rather than the exception in liver surgery. However, few studies have focused on the anatomic variations of the biliary tree in living donor liver transplantation in relation to biliary reconstruction.