BACKGROUND:Testicular flow studies after hernia mesh repair mostly showed different outcomes. The reason of infertility in some men after hernia repair is immunological factors. Aim of the study was to investigate the influence of mesh hernia repair on antisperm antibodies production and testicular blood flow and a connection among these parameters.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A prospective interventional longitudinal cohort study was made on 82 male patients without exclusion criteria who had an inguinal hernia. Patients underwent laparoscopic TAPP or open tension-free hernia repair. Vascular ultrasound and antisperm antibodies were measured in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Main outcome measures were resistive index (RI), peak systolic velocity (PSV) cm/s, and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) cm/s in testicular blood flow measurement and the quantitative value of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in serum (IU/ml).RESULTS:ASA significantly increased postoperatively only in patients who underwent open tension-free hernia repair (p < 0.001). ASA stayed in normal range in all patients except the one with postoperative complication. Friedman analysis showed significant change of the RI only on intratesticular (p < 0.001) and capsular artery level (0.02) in patients who underwent laparoscopic technique. PSV significantly changed on intratesticular (p < 0.001) and capsular artery level (p = 0.015) in the laparoscopic hernia repair. PSV showed significant change on intratesticular (p < 0.001) and testicular artery levels (p < 0.001) in the open tension-free hernia repair. EDV showed significant change only on testicular artery level (p = 0.032) in the patients who had open tension-free hernia repair. These blood flow parameters significantly increased in the early postoperative period and returned on basal value in the late postoperative period. Parameters of flow did not show any significant correlation with ASA.CONCLUSION:Mesh hernia repairs without complication caused only a transitory change in testicular blood flow and no clinical significant autoimmune reaction.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by intestinal hamartomatous polyps in association with mucocutaneous pigmentations. Here we present a case of a 30-year-old woman who was hospitalized and underwent diagnostic procedures because of crampy abdominal pain. Physical examination on admission revealed pigmented spots around lips and on the oral mucosa. Multiple polyps were found in stomach, small and large intestine, with signs of initial ileo-ileal intussusception. After endoscopic removal of achievable polyps, we applied gastroscope through laparotomy and enterotomy and removed total number of 34 polyps from small bowel. The polyps were found to be mostly hamartomatous at histological examination. This procedure can provide removal of the most polyps, which are potentially premalignant, also with less complicationes than after multiple intestinal resectiones.

Background/Aims: Although Lichtenstein's procedure is the standard procedure in surgical hernia treatment, and the role of laparoscopic hernia repair is constantly increasing, preperitoneal approach for femoral hernia repair should be equally considered.Methodology: After the horizontal incision of transversal fascia, preperitoneal space is visualized. The hernial sac is opened and its content is placed in the abdominal cavity, or if there is a need, resection is performed. Once the peritoneum is sutured, the iliopubic tract and Cooper's ligament are bridged with two or three sutures in the medial portion of the femoral ring.Results: From 1998 to 2008, 94 patients were treated for femoral hernia using the preperitoneal approach. Out of 94 participants, 86 were female. Intestinal obstruction was present in 48 cases. Resection of the small intestine or omentum was performed in 40 patients. There was no perioperative mortality. We observed early postoperative complications in 4 patients. Following the procedure, there was no recurrence of the femoral hernia.Conclusions: We found that preperitoneal repair is the method of choice in surgical treatment of femoral hernia. The surgical technique is simple and feasible, while fully acknowledging the functional anatomy of the inguinofemoral region and the etiology of the condition.

Formerly, the laparoscopic surgery was accepted as a method of choice for benign diseases, and for palliative operations in progressive stages of malignant diseases of the colon. Today, the laparoscopic surgery of the colon has been also adopted in treating malignant diseases. The first laparoscopic colon resection was performed in our Clinic on December 12, 2002, and 114 patients have been successfully operated until June 1, 2007. Among those 114 patients 56 were men and 57 were women with the average age 65 (ranging from 28-86) years. A series of various laparoscopic operations have been performed for malignant disease mainly (almost 80%). The pre-surgical treatment, preparation of patients and the types of the operations were identical to those applied in patients treated by open surgery. Patients with colon carcinoma have been operated on with the principles of oncologic radicality. In post-operative period we encountered eight complications (four minor and four major) with only one fatal outcome. According to our experience and the facts found in literature, the results of laparoscopic colon surgery are comparable with open surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIMS An inguinal hernia is a usual medical problem. The golden standard for its treatment is Lichtenstein's repair. But, there are still some dilemmas about inguinal hernia repair technique, including the role of laparoscopy. The aim of this study is to analyze patient's quality of life after Lichtenstein's or laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. METHODOLOGY Retrospective analysis of medical documentation of 216 operated patients during the year 2006 at the Department of digestive surgery, University hospital Split, Croatia using tension free mesh repair procedures: Lichtenstein or laparoscopy (TAPP). Among the other data, the analysis includes use of antibiotic prophylaxis and thrombosis prophylaxis. The quality of life analysis was performed using the Short form 36 questionnaire (SF-36). RESULTS We operated 212 (98.15%) males and 4 (1.85%) females. The average age of operated patients was 60.15 +/- 13.98 years. The antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed to 22 (10.19%) patients with some of risk factors for wound infection. We did not register any secondary wound infection. Thrombosis prophylaxis was prescribed to all patients and there were no complications. The quality of life analysis showed no statistically significant differences between Lichtenstein and laparoscopic procedure with slightly better results for laparoscopic procedure in some of the SF-36's domains. CONCLUSION There are no differences in quality of life between the patients operated with Lichtenstein or laparoscopic procedure. Despite that, we believe that laparoscopy has its place for inguinal hernia repair especially for recurrent and bilateral hernias.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:Retrospective clinical study of patients with rectal tumors treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) using Ultracision.METHODS:From 1997-2006 54 patients were treated by excision of the rectal tumors situated in the middle and distal portion, using the harmonic scalpel. We treated 25 male (range 40-76 years) and 29 female (range 46-80 years) patients. Tumors were benign or well or moderately differentiated carcinomas in stage T1N0M0 or T2N0M0. Excision was done by Ultracision (UltraCision, Ethicon Endo-Surgery) to all patients. Preoperative examinations were: colonoscopy, biopsy, tumor markers, CT, transanal ultrasound, pelvic NMR, gynecological exam in females. The tumors were excised by harmonic scalpel after submucosal infiltration of adrenalin (1: 200 000) and 2% lidocaine.RESULTS:There was no morbidity or mortality in this group of patients. Histopathology was: Adenoma tubovillosum in alteratio maligna 20, adenocarcinoma (T1N0M0) 6, (T2N0M0) 8, adenocarcinoma with lymphatic vessels and perineural spaces invasion 1, adenoma villosum 12 and adenoma tubulare 7. After surgical treatment 8 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. There was no local recurrence during this period.CONCLUSIONS:TEM is a method of choice in the treatment of rectal benign tumors and malignant tumors in stage T1N0M0, grade 1 and 2. Harmonic scalpel provides a safer, easier, and more precise surgical section through clean, bloodless and better visualized operative field.

Laparoscopic surgery of the stomach is not well accepted in patients with malignant disease. This paper shows the first experiences with this procedure at the Clinical Hospital and Medical School, Split, in two patients with early stage gastric carcinoma. The first patient was a 57 year old man who had had some gastric symptoms for a while. The other patient was a 73 year old man who had ulcer disease 52 years ago. Laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy with omentectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction of the alimentary tract was performed on both patients. Pathohystological analysis of the resected part of the stomach showed the early stage gastric adenocarcinoma without metastases to the lymph nodes around the stomach or any pathological changes in the omentum for both of the patients. There were no complications during postoperative period. The first patient was released from the hospital after 8 and other after 9 days. All oncological principles were satisfied with laparoscopic subtotal resection with good and fast postoperative recovery without complications.

A 69-year-old man underwent an emergency laparoscopic procedure after the acute appendicitis diagnosis has been established. Laparoscopic exploration showed inflamed appendix and perforation of terminal ileum with a swallowed part of the wooden toothpick. The treatment consisted of typical laparoscopic appendectomy and laparoscopic removal of the foreign body, followed by laparoscopic closure of the perforation site and lavage of the abdominal cavity. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on day 3 after the operation.

Background/Aims: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard in choledocholithiasis treatment. Currently there is no generally accepted algorithm for choledocholithiasis treatment. A few years ago suspected or diagnosed choledocholithiasis was indication for open operation if bilious stones could not be removed with therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Today, advancements in laparoscopic equipment and operation technique render the possibility for laparoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis. There are many different ways in which to treat choledocholithiasis, depending on the time of diagnosis. Due to the considerable variability in choledocholithiasis treatment, which depends in turn on many objective and subjective factors, we propose a unique diagnostic algorithm for the treatment of choledocholithiasis.Methodology: From January 1st until December 31st 2005, at the University Department of Surgery - Split, 131 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Thirty-three patients with suspected choledocholithiasis were treated by laparoscopic intraoperative cholangiography. After positive cholangiography, thirteen laparoscopic transcystic extractions were performed. The patients were treated in the supine position. The surgeon was positioned between the legs of the patient, the assistants on opposite sides of the patient, and the scrub nurse on the right side of the surgeon. Transcystic stone extraction was performed using a flexible choledochoscope, which was connected to the left laparoscopic monitor using Picture-in-picture system and by Nitinol tipless Dormia basket.Results: The total number of operated patients includes 18 women and 15 men. The mean age of patients was 60.16 +/- 15.36. The mean length of operation was 86 +/- 21.79. Mean hospitalization length of patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 2.45 +/- 1.14 days; while mean hospitalization length of patients with stone extraction was slightly longer 2.90 +/- 1.18, (p=0.564).Conclusions: Today several different possibilities approaches exist for the treatment of choledocholithiasis and it doesn't have to be treated unconditionally using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincterotomy before, during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or by the open operation.

Acute colonic ischemia is the common cause of colitis in elderly population. However, isolated ischemic necrosis of cecum is rare entity, often associated with variety of conditions. Here we present a case of a 73-year old woman with a past history of hypertension presented with clinical symptoms of right lower quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness localized to the right lower quadrant, guarding and rebound tenderness. With diagnosis of acute appendicitis, the patient underwent laparoscopy where the cecal partial necrosis was discovered. Necrotic area of cecum was excised using two endoscopic cutters and laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Pathologist report showed thrombosis of vessels and necrosis of entire cecal wall. The patient completely recovered without any surgical complications. This is the first case of partial cecum necrosis laparoscopicaly managed and with a partial cecal resection only.

Harmonic scalpel for the tissue cutting and coagulating is a replacement for the high frequency current, which can be connected with diverse complications. The principle is transforming of the electric power into mechanical longitudinal movement of the working part of the instrument, by piezoelectrical transducer situated in the hand piece. Between October 2000 and June 2001, one hundred and three patients were operated using harmonic scalpel. The average age was 50.2 years. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy and abdominal cyste fenestration was performed in 86, 12 and 4 patients respectively. In one patient laparoscopic cholecystectomy and abdominal cyste fenestration were done during the same operation. The average hospital stay was 2.8 days. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy and cyst fenestration using the harmonic scalpel are safe and successful operations, with good results and advantages of the minimally invasive surgery.

Prikaz opreme i nacina intraoperacijskog ultrazvucnog prikaza organa probavnog sustava. Indikacije za primjenu metode s primjerima i slikama iz prakse.

Education is very important in endoscopic surgery. It can be performed on endoscopic trainers, live animals, and animal organs, using tissue samples or non-natural materials. Practical work and education can also be performed during the assistance or operating under the supervision. Endoscopic training courses have the important rule, too. We organized three endoscopic courses in Split up to date. The last one lasted 5 days, covered six different topics and included operations on pigs. In comparison with the course in the year 2001, the last course had more participants and lecturers. Lectures, practice and operations took longer time. The interest for attendance was high. The participants were very satisfied, and rated the lectures, practice and operations with the average grade between 4.1 and 4.7 on the anonymous questionnaire at the end of the course. It can be concluded that indispensable education in endoscopic surgery can be performed during endoscopic courses, where participants can reach basic theoretical and practical knowledge and skills. The courses should be permanently improved and modernized, providing a good quality, with interest and engagement of the attendees.