We examined the implementation statuses of a total of 5,919 foreign

Background This study investigated the results of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) combined with laparoscopy for locally advanced mid–low rectal cancer. Methods Patients with mid–low locally advanced rectal cancer (T3 category or above and/or N+) who underwent rectal resection with TaTME technique were enrolled prospectively. Patients who had distant metastasis, multiple malignancies, intestinal obstruction or perforation, or a clinical complete response to chemoradiotherapy were excluded. Postoperative results, including morbidity, circumferential resection margin (CRM) assessment, short‐term survival and functional outcomes, were analysed. Results Thirty‐eight patients, with 25 mid and 13 low rectal tumours, who had elective resection by TaTME from March 2015 to September 2018 were included. There were 25 men and 13 women. Mean(s.d.) age was 58·2(16·4) years and mean(s.d.) BMI was 24·2(2·5) kg/m2. Tumours were 3–9 cm from the anal verge. Mean(s.d.) duration of surgery was 210(42) min. All patients had hand‐sewn anastomoses and protective ileostomies. There were no conversions, abdominal perineal resections or postoperative deaths. Four patients had a complication, including three presacral abscesses, all managed by transanastomotic drainage. At 3 months after ileostomy closure, all patients had perfect continence. Apart from a greater tumour diameter in patients with low rectal cancers (6·0 cm versus 4·6 cm in those with mid rectal tumours; P = 0·035), clinical features were similar in the two groups. CRM positivity was greater for low than for mid rectal tumours (3 of 13 versus 0 of 25 respectively; P = 0·034), and more patients with a low tumour had TME grade 2 (4 of 13 versus 1 of 25; P = 0·038). There was no difference in oncological outcomes at 17 months. Conclusion Although this study cohort was small, special attention should be paid to bulky low rectal tumours to reduce the rate of CRM positivity.

Background Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed operations in general surgery, especially in the digestive field. Since the introduction of laparoscopic repair as well as using a synthetic mesh, the surgical trends have changed in the last decade in treating inguinal hernias. The laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal gives a better view of the inguinal anatomy, and the procedure also has a short learning curve. We aim to evaluate the safety and early outcome of the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal technique for inguinal hernia repair using a Prolene ® mesh (Ethicon Somerville, NJ, USA). Methods A prospective study was carried out among 31 adult patients with 34 inguinal hernia cases. They underwent the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal technique with a Prolene mesh at the Hue Central Hospital from December 2018 through May 2019. Results The mean age was 60.4 ± 11.8, and 96.8% of cases were male. Strangulated hernia and incarcerated hernia accounted for 2.9% and 8.8% of cases, respectively. The mean duration of unilateral inguinal hernia repair and bilateral inguinal repair was 57.1 ± 17.3 minutes and 80.3 ± 10.6 minutes, respectively. The mean duration of the postoperative hospital stay was 3.9 ± 1.4 days. One (3.2%) case with contralateral inguinal hernia was detected intraoperatively. An early and three-month postoperative evaluation showed that 93.5% and 96.8% of cases were categorized as "very good", respectively. At the three-month evaluation, one case was reported with sensation disorder of the inguinal area, and there was no recurrence. Conclusions Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair is a safe and feasible technique. It allows surgeons to explore the opposite site and resolve the combined peritoneal diseases.

Background Intussusception is a common cause of small intestinal obstruction in children under two years of age. Late diagnosis can lead to a potentially worse condition. This prospective study aims to describe the clinical manifestation and develop a conservative management protocol for acute ileocaecal intussusception in children under two years of age. Methods This prospective study was carried out in 118 consecutive patients under two years of age. Patients presented with symptoms and signs of acute intestinal obstruction and a diagnosis of ileocaecal intussusception confirmed by ultrasound were included in this study. All the patients were managed with either pneumatic reduction or operation. Results There were 70 boys and 48 girls ranging in age from three months to two years with a median of 12.5 months. Clinical presentation included abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (82.2%), bloody stool (11.9%), and a palpable mass (43.2%). Patients hospitalized with the symptoms and signs for less than 24 hours accounted for 80.5% of the cases. The overall success rate of pneumatic reduction was 98.3%. Late hospital admission (≥ 24 hours from illness onset), bloody stool, and presenting with the classic triad of symptoms of intussusception were found as the factors that correlated to the surgical management outcome. All patients recovered well without any complications. The median of postoperative hospital stay of two days for the pneumatic reduction group and six days for the operation group. Conclusion The early diagnosis of intussusception contributes to the success of pneumatic reduction and reduces the requirement of surgical intervention.

Background: The accurate diagnosis of complicated appendicitis has been improved by using various diagnostic modalities. However, no preoperative diagnostic method could completely confirm the results. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis of complicated appendicitis to have the right management is still a huge challenge. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound combined with pediatric appendicitis score for differentiation between acute uncomplicated appendicitis and acute complicated appendicitis in a pediatric population. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 120 pediatric patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis from November 2017 to June 2019. Pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) was calculated and ultrasound (US) was performed before surgery. The histopathology of phlegmonous appendicitis corresponds to uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA), while gangrenous appendicitis and perforation are classified as complicated appendicitis (ACA). Results: Histopathologically, the results provided a diagnosis of acute appendicitis including 86 (71.7%) patients with AUA and 34 (28.3%) children with ACA. US findings showed a sensitivity of 23.5%, the specificity of 95.4%, PPV of 66.7%, NPV of 75.9%, and an accuracy of 75%. PAS of 8 was found to be the most appropriate cutoff point compatible with ACA; it resulted in a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 84.1%. Combining ultrasound with a pediatric appendicitis score resulted in a higher specificity to distinguish complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis when compared with ultrasound or PAS solely. Conclusions: the US is highly specific but nonsensitive for detecting complicated pediatric appendicitis. Combining ultrasound with pediatric appendicitis is a very good concept to distinguish complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis in a pediatric population.