Journal of robotic surgery
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Spontaneous biliary-enteric fistula after laparoscopic cholecystectomy bile duct injury is an extremely rare entity. Y-en-Roux hepaticojejunostomy has been demonstrated to be an effective surgical technique to repair iatrogenic bile duct injuries. Seven consecutive patients underwent robotic-assisted (n = 5) and laparoscopic (n = 2) biliary-enteric fistula resection and bile duct repair at our hospital from January 2012 to May 2017. ⋯ Immediate postoperative outcomes were uneventful in all patients. With a median of 9 months of follow-up (3-52 months), no patients developed anastomosis-related complications. We observed in this series an adequate identification and dissection of the fistulous biliary-enteric tract, a safe closure of the fistulous orifice in the gastrointestinal tract and a successful bile duct repair, providing the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.
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Image-guided approaches to spinal instrumentation and interbody fusion have been widely popularized in the last decade [1-5]. Navigated pedicle screws are significantly less likely to breach [2, 3, 5, 6]. Navigation otherwise remains a point reference tool because the projection is off-axis to the surgeon's inline loupe or microscope view. ⋯ The synergy of Synaptive HD videoexoscope robotic drive and Medtronic Stealth platforms allow for live image-guided surgery or real-time navigation (RTN). Off-axis projection also allows upright neutral cervical spine operative ergonomics for the surgeons and improved surgical team visualization and education compared to traditional means. This technique has the potential to augment existing minimally invasive and open approaches, but will require long-term outcome measurements for efficacy.
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Case Reports
Robotic-assisted vesicovaginal fistula repair using an extravesical approach without interposition grafting.
Post-hysterectomy vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is rare. In addition to conventional abdominal and vaginal approaches, robotic-assisted VVF repairs have recently been described. We present a case of an extravesical, robotic-assisted VVF repair, without placement of an interposition graft performed in a Canadian teaching center. ⋯ We have demonstrated that a VVF repair, using a robotic-assisted, extravesical approach without interposition graft placement, can be safe, less invasive and have a successful outcome at 1 year of follow-up.
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Case Reports
Robotic resection of an obturator schwannoma with preservation of normal nerve fascicles and function.
An asymptomatic pelvic tumor was incidentally found in a 27-year-old man. A CT-guided needle biopsy with a pathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a benign schwannoma. ⋯ The postoperative course was uneventful. No neurological deficit occurred, and the electromyogram was normal 6 weeks and 7 months later.
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Situs inversus totalis (SIT) with dextrocardia is an uncommon congenital positional anomaly, which is characterized by a symmetrical 'mirror-image' orientation of all organs in relation to the midline. Although sternotomy and thoracotomy is traditionally used in patients with SIT with dextrocardia, a totally endoscopic robotic surgery is an alternative surgical approach to intracardiac anomalies. Placement of robotic ports, transthoracic aortic clamp, cardioplegia delivery, and peripheral vascular cannulation is made from the left side of the chest, as a mirror orientation of the right-sided robotic cardiac procedures. Here, we present a patient who underwent concomitant robotic atrial septal defect closure and tricuspid annuloplasty with posterior plication using the da Vinci surgical system.