A Simple Predictive Index of the Abdominal Shape for Postoperative Complications After Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of abdominal shape on the short-term surgical outcomes.Methods: This was a retrospective study that included 425 patients undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy plus D2 lymph node dissection (LADG) from January 2013 to January 2021. The abdominal parameters, including the shortest distance of the pancreas from the anterior abdominal skin (PAAD), the lower sternum angle (LSA), the thickness of the subcutaneous fat at the navel level (SFT), the anteroposterior diameters (APD) and the left-right diameters (LRD) at the navel level, the distance from the xiphoid process to the navel (XND) and the distance from the xiphoid process to the pubis (XBD), were calculated by preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging. The parameters and short-term surgical outcomes were analyzed.Results: In males, the number of retrieved lymph nodes was significantly higher in patients with a lower APD group (p = 0.031). The operation time was significantly shorter in the lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.007), lower LSA (p = 0.035), lower PAAD (p = 0.000), lower SFT (p = 0.004), lower APD (p = 0.000) and lower LRD (p = 0.014) groups. The estimated blood loss was significantly less in the lower BMI (p = 0.035), lower LSA (p = 0.001), lower PAAD (p = 0.012), lower SFT (p = 0.003), lower APD (p = 0.000) and lower LRD (p = 0.005) groups. The complications were fewer in the lower LSA (p = 0.012), lower APD (p = 0.043) and lower LRD (p = 0.023) groups. In females, the postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the lower PAAD (p = 0.027) and lower SFT (p = 0.004) groups, and the lower SFT group had fewer complications (p = 0.020). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, higher PAAD (p = 0.037, odds ratio = 1.030, 95% CI = 1.002–1.059) was an independent factor for predicting postoperative complications in males.Conclusion: Various abdominal shapes can affect the difficulty of LADG. Higher PAAD is a simple independent index for predicting postoperative complications in males.

Non-intubated uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis

Background To describe a technique of non-intubated uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. Methods Data were collected retrospectively. A single 3-cm transverse incision was made below the xiphoid process. This method for extended thymectomy entails adoption of uniportal subxiphoid VATS combined with using of non-intubated anesthesia for thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis. Results Ten consecutive patients underwent this procedure successfully. Mean operative time was 102.5 min. Conversion to intubated ventilation or thoracotomy was not required. Mean chest tube duration was 3.5 days. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.7 days. Histologic examination showed early-stage thymomas. Side effects were rare. Quantitative MG scores decreased during follow-up. Conclusions Patients were uneventfully discharged with fast recovery. This technique may merge the potential benefits of a subxiphoid incision and the non-intubated anesthesia protocol.

OV05 CONCOMITANT MIRS (MINI INVASIVE RIVES STOPPA) AND DREAM (DIASTASIS REPAIR ENDOSCOPICALLY ASSISTED MINI-INVASIVE) FOR THE CORRECTION OF COMBINED VENTRAL HERNIA AND DIASTASIS RECTI

Aim Concomitant MIRS (Minimally Invasive Rives-Stoppa) and DREAM (Diastasis Repair Endoscopically Assisted Minimally-invasive) for the correction of combined ventral hernias and diastasis recti. Material and Methods The video shows the combined repair of umbilical hernia and diastasis correction by concomitant minimally invasive hernia repair without division of the posterior sheath and diastasis correction by parietoscopy. Results A short periumbilical incision is performed, the Alexis retractor is put in place, preaponeurotic dissection is carried out by direct access and two axial incisions of both anterior sheaths are performed parallel to and 1cm next to the midline. The umbilical hernia and one unexpected epigastric hernia are reduced and repaired by suture. Additional suture approximating the medial borders of anterior sheath incisions over the previous suture is performed to strengthen the repair. The patch is deployed in the retromuscular space superficial to the suture line, without any incision of the posterior sheath and without any fixation. Then the top of the Alexis retractor and the camera are put in place, insufflation at 10mm Hg is started and the parietoscopic step is carried out. Two 5mm trocars are placed and preaponeurotic dissection is extended up to the xiphoid process. The diastasis correction is carried out by a continuous suture approximating both rectus muscles from the xiphoid process to the umbilical hernia suture. Conclusions The MIRS technique consists of retromuscular patch repair without division of the posterior sheath, and concomitant DREAM technique reinforces the hernia repair and provides diastasis correction.

EPIGASTRIC PULSATION: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH CO-MORBIDITIES IN KSA, A CROSS-SECTIONAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Epigastric pulsation is feeling of pulsation between the xiphoid process and the umbilicu. It can be found normally in population (especially in thin lean people) or abnormally as a sign or a symptom of other diseases, such as heart, liver, and aortic diease.This descriptive study, using a questionnaire, assesses the prevalence of epigastric pulsation among 878-case sample, the association with other diseases especially DM, smoking history and obesity. Prevalence was 51.7%. Most common diease to be associated with epigastric pulsation is gastrointestinal diseaseno. No association was found with DM. Positive association was found between smoking history and BMI, and the feeling of epigastric pulsation.

Functional anatomy of the abdominal wall

This chapter describes the functional anatomy of the abdominal wall. The layers of the abdominal wall consist of skin, superficial fascia, deep investing fascia, muscles, and inner fascial layers: transversalis fascia, extraperitoneal fascia, and peritoneum. The layers are variable in different areas of the abdomen. Skeletal support for the abdomen is derived from the lumbar vertebrae, the superior parts of the pelvic bones, and the bony parts of the inferior thoracic skeleton: the lower ribs and their costal cartilages and the xiphoid process.

Operative results after xiphoidectomy in patients with xiphodynia

Background Xiphodynia, the painful xiphoid process, is a rare condition with an atypical presentation. Symptoms differ in severity and site, and can consist of chest, throat, and upper abdominal pain. Primarily, other more severe causes of these symptoms need to be excluded. After this exclusion as xiphodynia is diagnosed, treatment can consist of a multitude of options, since there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes and efficacy of one of the options, namely surgical resection of the xiphoid in patients with xiphodynia. Methods In this retrospective case series, all consecutive patients that underwent xiphoidectomy for xiphodynia between January 2014 and December 2017 were included. Patients’ medical files including pre-operative work up, NRS scores, surgical outcomes, and follow up were reviewed. All patients received a questionnaire with follow-up questions. Results A total of 19 patients were included. None of the patients had surgery-related complications. Response rate of the questionnaire was 84% and showed that 94% of patients had an improvement of complaints after surgery, with 10 patients (63%) being totally pain free, after a mean follow-up from 34 months after surgery. Conclusions Xiphoidectomy is feasible and safe for the treatment of patients with xiphodynia with an improvement of complaints in nearly all patients.

A Simple Predictive Index of the Abdominal Shape for Postoperative Complications After Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of abdominal shape on the short-term surgical outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy + D2 lymph node dissection (LADG). Methods This was a retrospective study that included 425 patients undergoing LADG from January 2013 to January 2021 at a single clinical center. The abdominal parameters, including the shortest distance of the pancreas from the anterior abdominal skin (PAAD), the lower sternum angle (LSA), the thickness of the subcutaneous fat at the navel level (SFT), the anteroposterior diameters (APD) and the left-right diameters (LRD) at the navel level, the distance from the xiphoid process to the navel (XND) and the distance from the xiphoid process to the pubis (XBD), were calculated by preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging. The abdominal parameters and short-term surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results In males, the number of retrieved lymph nodes was significantly higher in patients with a lower APD group (p=0.031). The operation time was significantly shorter in the lower body mass index (BMI) (p=0.007), lower LSA (p=0.035), lower PAAD (p=0.000), lower SFT (p=0.004), lower APD (p=0.000) and lower LRD (p=0.014) groups. The estimated blood loss was significantly less in the lower BMI (p=0.035), lower LSA (p=0.001), lower PAAD (p=0.012), lower SFT (p=0.003), lower APD (p=0.000) and lower LRD (p=0.005) groups. The complications were fewer in the lower LSA (p=0.012), lower APD (p=0.043) and lower LRD (p=0.023) groups. In females, the postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the lower PAAD (p=0.027) and lower SFT (p=0.004) groups, and the lower SFT group had fewer complications (p=0.020). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, higher PAAD (p=0.029, odds ratio=1.030, 95% CI=1.003-1.058) was an independent factor for predicting postoperative complications in males. Conclusion Various abdominal shapes can affect the difficulty of LADG. Higher PAAD is a simple independent index for predicting postoperative complications in males.

Non-Intubated Uniportal Subxiphoid Thoracoscopic Extended Thymectomy for Thymoma Associated with Myasthenia Gravis

Background: To describe a technique of non-intubated uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy.Methods: Data were collected retrospectively. A single 3-cm transverse incision was made below the xiphoid process. This method for extended thymectomy entails adoption of uniportal subxiphoid VATS combined with use of non-intubated anaesthesia for thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis.Results: 10 consecutive patients underwent this procedure successfully. Mean operative time was 102.5 minutes. Conversion to intubated ventilation or thoracotomy was not required. Mean chest tube duration was 3.5 days. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.7 days. Histologic examination showed early-stage thymomas. Complications were rare. Quantitative MG scores decreased during follow-up. Conclusions: Patients were uneventfully discharged with fast recovery. This technique may merge the potential benefits of a subxiphoid incision and the non-intubated anesthesia protocol.