Survey Results of the Expert Meeting on Laparoscopic Surgery for Gallbladder Cancer and a Review of Relevant Literature.

Background: Favorable outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder cancer (GBC) have been reported; yet consensus on the indications and surgical techniques for laparoscopic surgery for GBC is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the current status of laparoscopic surgery for GBC by analyzing the results of a survey of experts and by reviewing the relevant published literature.

Methods: Before an expert meeting was held on September 10, 2016 in Seoul, Korea, an international survey was undertaken of expert surgeons in the field of GBC surgery.

Perioperative complications in endovascular neurosurgery: Anesthesiologist's perspective.

Background: Endovascular neurosurgery is known to be associated with potentially serious perioperative complications that can impact the course and outcome of anesthesia. We present here our institutional experience in the anesthetic management of various endovascular neurosurgical procedures and their related complications over a 10-year period.

Methods: Data was obtained in 240 patients pertaining to their preoperative status, details of anesthesia and surgery, perioperative course and surgery-related complications.

Perioperative concerns in neurosurgical patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: The perioperative management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients undergoing neurosurgery is challenging due to the presence of HIV-related multi-system derangements, opportunistic infections and malignancies, history of substance abuse, and adverse effects of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), together with the inherent risks of neurosurgery. The possible adverse impact of HIV disease on the anesthetic outcome due to the associated co-morbidities, and conversely, the role of surgery and anesthesia in HIV disease progression due to their immunosuppressive effects, and also, the fear of HIV transmission among the attending medical personnel are the important perioperative concerns in such surgeries.

Aim: To present our experience in the perioperative management of HIV-infected patients who underwent neurosurgery at our institute in the past 5 years and highlight the relevant perioperative issues.

Endovascular Occlusion of Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Child Treated by N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate: A Rare Case Report.

We report a rare case of spontaneous extracranial cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm in a female child aged 3 years who presented with a swelling in the neck which had bled following an attempted incision as it had been thought to be an abscess. A CT angiogram and an MR angiogram were not very conclusive to diagnose the exact site of origin and the morphology of the aneurysm. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a dissecting pseudoaneurysm of the right extracranial cervical ICA.

Effectiveness of psycho-educational intervention in improving outcome of unipolar depression: results from a randomised clinical trial.

Objectives: Depressive disorders are one of the leading components of the global burden of disease with a prevalence of up to 14% in the general population. Numerous studies have demonstrated that pharmacotherapy combined with non-pharmacological measures offer the best treatment approach. Psycho-education as an intervention has been studied mostly in disorders such as schizophrenia and dementia, less so in depressive disorders.

Gastric conduit perforation.

As patients with carcinoma of the esophagus live longer, complications associated with the use of a gastric conduit are increasing. Ulcers form in the gastric conduit in 6.6% to 19.

Chronic pancreatitis with benign biliary obstruction: management issues.

Background: Benign biliary obstruction (BBO) is an important complication in patients with advanced chronic pancreatitis (CP). Its presentation varies from an incidental finding to overt jaundice. Thus it presents certain management issues.

Laparoscopic retrosternal bypass for corrosive stricture of the esophagus.

Introduction: Surgical management of corrosive stricture of the esophagus entails replacement of the scarred esophagus with a gastric or colonic conduit. This has traditionally been done using the conventional open surgical approach. We herein describe the first ever reported minimally invasive technique for performing retrosternal esophageal bypass using a stomach conduit.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a premalignant condition?

Background: Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis, characterized by marked thickening of the gallbladder wall and dense local adhesions. It often mimics a gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), and may coexist with GBC, leading to a diagnostic dilemma. Furthermore, the premalignant nature of this entity is not known.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) presenting as a complete heart block.

A 51-year-old previously asymptomatic man presented with complete heart block (CHB). During pacemaker implantation, fluoroscopy showed a peculiar pattern of cardiac calcification. Coronary angiography, performed to determine the origin of calcification, demonstrated an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).

Self- and balloon-expandable stent implantation for severe native coarctation of aorta in adults.

Background: Balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in adults, though promising, is sometimes limited by significant residual gradient (>20 mm Hg). Few studies available have reported on use of balloon-expandable stents in such a situation. We evaluated the use of self- and balloon-expandable stents in patients with suboptimal response to balloon angioplasty (BA).

Stenting of a large thrombus-containing subclavian artery stenosis using a distal protection device.

Atheromatous obstructive lesions of the arch vessels that contain thrombi are at high risk for distal embolization during angioplasty. This can lead to catastrophic neurological complications. We report a case of acute-on-chronic ischemia of the left upper limb due to thrombus-containing subclavian artery stenosis.