Context: Sparse literature exists on laparoscopic repair of urogenital fistulae (UGF). Aims: The purpose of the following study is to report our experience of laparoscopic UGF repair with emphasis on important steps for a successful laparoscopic repair. Settings And Design: Data of patients who underwent laparoscopic repair of UGF from 2003 to 2012 was retrospectively reviewed. Materials and Methods: Data was reviewed as to the aetiology, prior failed attempts, size, number and location of fistula, mean operative time, blood loss, post-operative storage/voiding symptoms and episodes of urinary tract infections (UTI). Results: Laparoscopic repair of 22 supratrigonal vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF) (five recurrent) and 31 ureterovaginal fistulae (UVF) was performed. VVF followed transabdominal hysterectomy (14), lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) (7) and oophrectomy (1). UVF followed laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy (18), transvaginal hysterectomy (2) and transabdominal hysterectomy (10) and LSCS (1). Mean VVF size was 14 mm. Mean operative time and blood loss for VVF and UVF were 140 min, 75 ml and 130 min, 60 ml respectively. In 20 VVF repairs tissue was interposed between non-overlapping suture lines. Vesico-psoas hitch was done in 29 patients of urterovaginal fistulae. All patients were continent following surgery. There were no urinary complaints in VVF patients and no UTI in UVF patients over a median follow-up of 3.2 years and 2.8 years respectively. Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair of UGF gives easy, quick access to the pelvic cavity. Interposition of tissue during VVF repair and vesico-psoas hitch during UVF repair form important steps to ensure successful repair.

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Simulation is becoming increasingly integral to surgical training with progressive restrictions on working hours. This paper describes a unique, cable free, laparoscopic trainer that can be constructed using items readily available to the average surgical trainee. The trainer described is not a substitute for surgical practice but, nonetheless, a useful tool in developing skills such as hand-eye co-ordination, triangulation and depth queuing.

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Introduction: The feasibility of the single incision, multiport transumbilical approach(SILC) for the treatment of symptomatic gallbladder calculus disease has been established. Aims: The study examines both short and long term morbidity of the SILC approach. Materials and Methods: All the 1338 patients were operated by the same surgeon through a transversely placed umbilical incision in the upper third of the umbilicus.Three conventional ports,10,5 and 5 mm were introduced through the same skin incision but through separate transfascial punctures.The instruments were those used for standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy(SLC).Patients with acute cholecystitis and calculous pancreatitis were included,while those with choledocholithiasis were excluded.Results were compared with those of SLC. Results: Forty patients had difficult gall bladders, 214 had acute cholecystitis, and 16 had calculous pancreatitis.The mean operating time was 24.7 mins as compared to 18.4 mins in SLC. Intracorporeal knotting was required in four patients. Conversion to SLC was required in 12 patients.Morrisons pouch drain was left in 3 patients.Injectable analgesics were required in 85% vs 90% (SILC vs SLC) on day 1 and 25% vs 45% on day 2 and infection was seen in 6(0. 45%) patients.Port site hernia was seen in 2 patients. The data was compared with that of SLC and significance calculated by the student 't' test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Conclusions: Trans umbilical SILC gives comparable results to SLC, and is a superior alternative when cosmesis and postoperative pain are considered, but the operative time is significantly more.

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Introduction: Epiphrenic diverticula (ED) are infrequent and conventional surgical treatment entails aggressive open or transthoracic surgery. Minimally invasive treatment has changed the surgical approach but some surgical controversies are not resolved. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe our experience in minimally invasive treatment of the ED and to perform a systematic review of the current literature in this subject. Materials and Methods: We reviewed all data from the Hospital de Sant Pau, focusing on patients that underwent minimally invasive treatment for an ED since 1998 to date. Furthermore, we performed a systematic literature review focused on the minimally invasive approach for ED. Results: A total of 6 patients have been treated (5 transhiatal and 1 with abdominal and thoracic approach). We found a predominance of males with a median age of 63. The diagnosis was made with an endoscopy, barium swallow and manometry. Half of the manometry results were pathologic. The surgical technique involved a diverticulectomy, myotomy and a Dor partial founduplication. Two patients that presented suture line leakage (SLL) were treated conservatively. No mortality was reported. The systematic review was carried out under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses scheme, with a total of 20 studies where 189 patients were found. No comparative or prospective randomised trials were found. Overall morbidity was 24%, with a SLL rate of 12%, hospital stay of 5 days and mortality of 1.5%. After a median follow-up of 42 months, 81.5% of the patients were asymptomatic. Conclusion: The minimally invasive approach for ED is a safe and feasible procedure.

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Introduction: Two-port mini laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been proposed as a safe and feasible technique. However, there are limited studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure. This study is a prospective randomised trial to compare the standard four-port LC with two-port mini LC. Materials and Methods: A total of 116 consecutive patients undergoing LC were randomised to four-port/two-port mini LC. In two-port mini LC, a 10-mm umbilical and a 5-mm epigastric port were used. Outcomes measured were duration and difficulty of operation, post-operative pain, analgesia requirements, post-operative stay, complications and cosmetic score at 30 days. Results: Out of 116 patients, the ratio of M:F was 11:92, with mean age 40.79 ± 12.6 years. Twelve patients (nine in four-port group and three in two-port group) were lost to follow-up. The mean operative time were similar (P = 0.727). Post-operative pain was significantly low in the two-port group at up to 24 hrs (P = 0.023). The overall analgesia requirements (P = 0.003) and return to daily activity (P = 0.00) were significantly lower in two-port group. The cosmesis score of the two-port group was better than four-port group (P = 0.00). However, the length of hospital stay (P = 0.760) and complications (P = 0.247) were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Two-port mini LC resulted in reduced pain, need for analgesia, and improved cosmesis without increasing the operative time and complication rates compared to that in four-port LC. Thus, it can be recommended in selected patients.

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We present a case of parasitic myoma complaining of abdominal pain, constipation, dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea 4 years after laparoscopic myomectomy. We performed laparoscopic myomectomy for multiple parasitic myomas. Three myomas were very firmly attached to bowel and mesentery. Parasitic myoma after laparoscopic surgery is very rare condition there are almost 35 cases in the literature. It is related with variable symptoms or can be asymptomatic. Laparoscopic surgeons should be aware of this situation, and further investigation should be made in case of suspicion. Surgery for parasitic myomas can be difficult in case of bowel and mesentery involvement and patient should be informed about the extensive surgery.

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Intersphincteric resection (ISR) is a procedure designed to preserve anal function in cases with very low rectal cancer. We report our clinical experience with laparoscopic ISR (Lap ISR) performed using needlescopic instruments. First, a camera port is created at the umbilicus. Two 5-mm ports are then inserted at the right upper and lower quadrants. Two needlescopic forceps (Endo-Relief^™ Hope Denshi Co., Chiba, Japan) are inserted at the left upper and lower quadrants. We then perform the following procedures; ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery and vein, total mesorectal excision and dissection of the intersphincteric space. After the transanal intersphincteric dissection, the specimen is extracted through the anus and a hand -sewn coloanal anastomosis is performed. The covering ileostomy is finally created at the right upper port. We performed Lap ISR using needlescopic forceps in two patients with very low rectal cancer. In both cases, we were able to perform this procedure without insertion of an additional port or to change the needlescopic forceps to conventional 5-mm forceps. Lap ISR with needlescopic instruments is a feasible procedure for minimally invasive surgery.

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Ingestion of foreign body is a serious problem commonly encountered in our clinical practice. Most of them pass spontaneously, whereas in others endoscopic or surgical intervention is required because of complications or non-passage from the gastrointestinal tract. We present here a case of teaspoon ingestion, which did not pass spontaneously. Laparoscopic retrieval of teaspoon was done from mid jejunum after enterotomy and the patient recovered uneventfully. Right intervention at the right time is of paramount importance.

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Introduction: A single experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeon introduced an outreach preceptorship programme (OPP) for laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS) in Wales with the aim of supporting consultants in the early stages of their learning curve, as well as to help avoid some of the problems faced by self-taught laparoscopic surgeons. The structured programme consisted of a minimum 1 day master class at the preceptor's operating theatre, followed by multiple outreach visits by the preceptor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and early experience of this programme. Materials and Methods: Clinical end-points (conversions, morbidity/mortality and length of hospital stay) were analysed from a prospectively maintained database. Evaluation of the programme was based on interviews with the preceptee surgeons performed by a neutral observer. Results: Between May 2008 and July 2010, 11 Consultants (six hospitals) were preceptored (two still in programme). 66 cases (20 in the master class, 46 as an outreach service) were performed as a part of this programme. Clinical outcome: Conversion rate and 30-day mortality was 1.5%. Morbidity was reported at 12% (8/66) and median length of stay was 6 days. Programme evaluation: All interviewed respondents found the master class and outreach service to be well-organised and would recommend it to their colleagues. The median number of outreach visits per hospital was 5. All the preceptees have performed independent cases since the programme. Conclusion: This OPP delivers one-to-one coaching at the point of service delivery and has been shown to be effective in achieving safe transference of skills to those wishing to develop a service for LCS.

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Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of endoscopic extraperitoneal single site (EESS) inguinal hernia repair and compare it outcomes with the conventional totally extraperitoneal (TEP) technique. Background : TEP inguinal hernia repair is a widely accepted alternative to conventional open technique with several perioperative advantages. Transumbilical laparoendoscopic singlesite surgery (LESS) is an emerging approach and has been reported for a number of surgical procedures with superior aesthetic results but other advantages need to be proven. Patients and Methods : Thirty-eight uncomplicated inguinal hernias were repaired by EESS approach between January 2010 and January 2011. All procedures were performed through a 25 cm infraumbilical incision using the Alexis wound retractor attached to a surgical glove and three trocars. Body mass index, age, operative time, blood loss, complications, conversion rate, analgesia requirement, hospital stay, return to normal activities and patient satisfaction with aesthetic results were analysed and compared with the last 38 matched-pair group of patients who underwent a conventional TEP inguinal hernia repair by the same surgeon. Results: All procedures were performed successfully with no conversion. In both unilateral and bilateral EESS inguinal repairs, the mean operative time was longer than conventional TEP (55± 20 vs. 40± 15 min, P = 0.049 and 70± 15 vs. 55± 10 min, P = 0.014). Aesthetic result was superior in the EESS group (2.88± 0.43 vs. 2.79± 0.51, P = 0.042). There was no difference between the two approaches regarding blood loss, complications, hospital stay, time until returns to normal activities and analgesic requirement. Conclusion: EESS inguinal hernia repair is safe and effective, with superior cosmetic results in the treatment of uncomplicated inguinal hernias. Other advantages of this new technique still need to be proven.

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Intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IPSS) is uncommon and usually follows trauma or iatrogenic injury, but spontaneous shunts may also occur, in patients without the evidence of chronic liver disease. Although interventional endovascular management of the shunts is the treatment of choice, a surgical approach can be used when the percutaneous approach fails. We report here a case of symptomatic spontaneous IPSS between the posteroinferior branch of right portal vein and the right inferior hepatic vein, which was successfully managed with laparoscopic closure of the hepatic vein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of laparoscopic management of spontaneous IPSS.

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Laparoscopic gastric banding is one of the most common surgical treatments for morbid obesity performed worldwide. The procedure, however, has many well-documented risks and complications, including band erosion. We present here a gastric banding patient who was referred to our tertiary care centre after secondarily forming an entero-enteric fistula with complaints of pain, nausea, vomiting and severe reflux. She was successfully treated with laparoscopic dissection and due to her existing anatomy, and the patient's desire for continued weight loss, she was converted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

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Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a rare mesenchymal tumour arising from perivascular epithelioid cells. It is most commonly seen in kidney, but rarely AML can arise in extra renal sites. Adrenal AML is a very rare clinical entity, and very few cases have been reported so far. We present our experience with a 43-year-old female, who presented with right flank pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a right adrenal mass. Laparoscopic adrenelectomy was performed, and the histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis of AML. Patient was discharged uneventfully.

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Congenital trcheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) without oesophageal atresia is usually diagnosed and managed in the neonatal period. Its presentation in adulthood is a rarity. Traditional treatment of a TOF in adults involves its repair via a thoracotomy. We report the case of a 23-year-old man diagnosed with an H-type TOF during workup undertaken for his symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux. This fistula located at the level of third thoracic vertebra was repaired successfully using a thoracoscopic approach.

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