Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Mar 1997
Intra-abdominal abscesses following laparoscopic and open appendectomies.
Recent findings in a small number of studies have suggested a trend toward increased infectious complications following laparoscopic appendectomy. The purpose of the present review was to evaluate the incidence of postappendectomy intra-abdominal abscess formation following laparoscopic and open appendectomies. Using the surgical database of the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, we reviewed the records of all appendectomies performed at the center between March 1993 and September 1995. ⋯ A comparison of the length of the postoperative hospital stay showed no significant difference between open and laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis (6.1 days vs. 5.9 days). Laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis is associated with a higher rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess formation without the benefit of a shortened hospital stay. Given these findings, laparoscopic appendectomy is not recommended in patients with perforated appendicitis.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Mar 1997
Role of computed tomographic arterial portography and intraoperative ultrasound in the evaluation of patients for resectability of hepatic lesions.
Computed tomographic arterial portography (CTAP) has been shown to be the most sensitive preoperative test for determining resectability of hepatic lesions but we have shown it to have low specificity. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) evaluation of the liver has also been proposed as an accurate means of assessing resectability. We sought to compare the effectiveness of the two modalities. ⋯ CTAP may "overcall" hepatic lesions but IOUS can correctly identify these false positives in most instances. Because CTAP is useful for determining which patients might benefit from surgical exploration, we conclude that the two modalities are complementary for the assessment of resectability of hepatic lesions. The false positive rate for CTAP implies that caution must be used when declining to operate on patients on the basis of this test.