Open cholecystectomy: muscle splitting versus muscle dividing incision: a randomized study.

While laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard procedure for symptomatic gallstones, it is likely that 10% of patients will require an open cholecystectomy whether owing to contraindications to the laparoscopic approach or because conversion to the open technique became necessary following laparoscopy. Although the trend towards smaller open cholecystectomy incisions has led to a reduced hospital stay, much of the postoperative morbidity can be ascribed to wound pain. Muscle splitting incisions tend to be less painful than muscle dividing incisions.

Toxic megacolon associated with anticancer chemotherapy.

The majority of gastrointestinal side effects associated with anticancer chemotherapy are relatively mild and self-limiting and can be managed empirically. However, severe side effects, such as necrotizing enterocolitis and ischemic colitis, sometimes do occur after chemotherapy. The authors present a case of toxic megacolon associated with anticancer chemotherapy.

Intraperitoneal prolene mesh in hernia repair: a comparison of two techniques.

Prolene (polypropylene) mesh is a useful material for technically difficult repairs of abdominal wall hernias. In this study, two insertion techniques were used and compared. The first method, in which 2-cm wide strips of mesh were cut perpendicular to the main part, pulled through the musculoperitoneal layer and anchored to the anterior fascial layer, was abandoned after use in 10 patients because of complications.