Safety Evaluation of Human Cord-Lining Epithelial Stem Cells Transplantation for Liver Regeneration in a Porcine Model.

We investigated the safety of using umbilical cord-lining stem cells for liver regeneration and tested a novel method for stem cell delivery. Stem cells are known by their ability to repair damaged tissues and have the potential to be used as regenerative therapies. The umbilical cord's outer lining membrane is known to be a promising source of multipotent stem cells and can be cultivated in an epithelial cell growth medium to produce cell populations which possess the properties of both epithelial cells and embryonic stem cells-termed cord-lining epithelial cells (CLEC).

Comparative study and systematic review of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To compare the surgical outcomes between laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) as a curative treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A PubMed database search was performed systematically to identify comparative studies of LLR vs OLR for HCC from 2000 to 2014. An extensive text word search was conducted, using combinations of search headings such as "laparoscopy", "hepatectomy", and "hepatocellular carcinoma".

A randomized controlled trial comparing post-operative pain in single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: An increasing body of evidence is being published about single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC), but there are no well-powered trials with an adequate evaluation of post-operative pain. This randomized trial compares SILC against four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with post-operative pain as the primary endpoint.

Methods: Hundred patients were randomized to either SILC (n = 50) or LC (n = 50).

Therapeutic advances: single incision laparoscopic hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

Single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) is proposed to be a step towards minimizing the invasiveness of surgery, and has since gained popularity in several surgical sub-specialties including hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. SPLS has since been applied to cholecystectomy, liver resection as well as pancreatectomy for a multitude of pathologies. Benefits of SPLS over conventional multi-incision laparoscopic surgery include improved cosmesis and potentially post-operative pain at specific time periods and extra-umbilical sites.

Single-incision laparoscopic hepatic resection in patients with previous hepatic resections: a mini case series.

Single-incision laparoscopic hepatic resection has been attracting increased attention from the surgical community in recent years. While there have been reports and studies on this procedure, none has suggested the possibility of doing repeated hepatic resections via a single incision. This report on three such cases aims to determine the feasibility and safety of this approach for such patients.

SILC for SILC: Single Institution Learning Curve for Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Objectives. We report the single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) learning experience of 2 hepatobiliary surgeons and the factors that could influence the learning curve of SILC. Methods.

Projection-based visual guidance for robot-aided RF needle insertion.

Purpose: The use of projector-based augmented reality (AR) in surgery may enable surgeons to directly view anatomical models and surgical data from the patient's surface (skin). It has the advantages of a consistent viewing focus on the patient, an extended field of view and augmented interaction. This paper presents an AR guidance mechanism with a projector-camera system to provide the surgeon with direct visual feedback for supervision of robotic needle insertion in radiofrequency (RF) ablation treatment.

Diagnosis and management of pancreaticopleural fistula.

Pancreaticopleural fistula is a rare diagnosis requiring a high index of clinical suspicion due to the predominant manifestation of thoracic symptoms. The current literature suggests that confirmation of elevated pleural fluid amylase is the most important diagnostic test. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is the recommended imaging modality to visualise the fistula, as it is superior to both computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in delineating the tract within the pancreatic region.

Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy: a case report.

Background. Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is uncommon. The condition is associated with significant maternal and fetal mortality.

Interim report: a randomized controlled trial comparing postoperative pain in single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is increasingly practiced, but there have been no well-powered randomized trials investigating the technique. This non-inferiority trial aims to compare SILC with conventional four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with postoperative pain as the primary endpoint.

Methods: We aim to randomize 100 patients into equal arms of SILC or LC.

Early experience in single-site laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently the gold standard for removal of symptomatic gallbladders. The push in recent years toward reducing the number of ports required to perform this surgery has led to the development of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC). We report our early experience with SILC and assess its feasibility and safety.

Laparoendoscopic single-site minor hepatectomy for liver tumors.

Background: Laparoscopic liver surgery is gaining increasing acceptance worldwide, but its frontiers are constantly challenged. Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) has been performed for various organs, but the feasibility of LESS hepatectomies has yet to be explored fully.

Methods: From May 2010 to March 2011, seven patients underwent LESS minor hepatectomies.

Single port laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary report.

Single port laparoscopic surgery is an emerging technique, now commonly used in cholecystectomy. The experience of using this technique in liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is described in a series of 3 cases with single port laparoscopic liver resection performed during 2010. All patients were male aged 61 to 70 years, with several comorbidities.

Integrated ablation and division device for liver resection.

Background: Intraoperative blood loss during liver resection may be minimized by ablating the liver parenchyma using radiofrequency (RF) energy. However, it is difficult to estimate the depth of the avascular plane and more RF energy than necessary may be inadvertently used as a result of lack of feedback.

Methods: Laparoscopic liver resection was performed on a live porcine model to determine the feasibility and applicability of a model which integrates ablation and division in a single device.

A case-control study of single-incision versus standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has been increasingly performed recently. Although it seems plausible that SILC will be associated with less pain compared to standard 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), there is currently no conclusive comparative study on the postoperative pain issues of SILC against LC.

Methods: In this retrospective, case-control study, 30 patients who had SILC over a 6-month period were compared with a matched (sex, age group, race) group of 30 patients who underwent LC.