Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine.

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P¼0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P¼0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P¼0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09e1.90; P¼0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89e1.90; P¼0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events. Clinical trial registration: NCT01601223.

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Abstract. Lipomas of the sigmoid colon are rare entities. The present case describes a 27-year-old Caucasian woman who underwent a laparoscopic sigmoidectomy following the detection of a giant lipoma. The young patient was referred to the Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Heraklion (Crete, Greece) in May 2013 after experiencing intermittent abdominal cramping during defecation, and altering episodes of diarrhea and constipation. In addition, the patient described the protrusion of a solid tissue mass shaped like a 'champagne bottle cork' from the anus following defecation. These symptoms had been present for 1 month prior to referral. Physical examination was unremarkable. An urgent colonoscopy revealed a polypoid lesion measuring 2.5 cm in diameter in the sigmoid colon, which was located ~12 cm above the anal ring, with a smooth surface and tissue fragility. Tissue samples were obtained and sent for histopathological analysis. Preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography was performed urgently and confirmed the presence of a solid mass in the sigmoid colon without enlargement of regional lymph nodes. Following adequate preparation, the patient underwent a laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with intracorporeal termino-terminal colorectal anastomosis, with the use of a circular stapler. The patient had a positive post-operative outcome without complications and was discharged on day 4 post-surgery in an optimal condition. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen demonstrated a pedunculated lipoma shaped like a 'champagne bottle cork'. The tumor consisted of mature adipose cells. The overlying colonic mucosa showed hyperplastic crypts with regenerative changes. In the lamina propria mild inflammatory infiltration was observed. At 2 years post-surgery, the patient remains asymptomatic without any clinical evidence of recurrence.

Background Although Bismuth-Corlette (BC) type 4 perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is no longer considered a contraindication for curative surgery, few data are available from Western series to indicate the outcomes for these patients. This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes for patients with BC type 4 versus BC types 2 and 3 pCCA undergoing surgical resection using a multi-institutional international database. Methods Uni- and multivariable analyses of patients undergoing surgery at 20 Western centers for BC types 2 and 3 pCCA and BC type 4 pCCA. Results Among 1138 pCCA patients included in the study, 826 (73%) had BC type 2 or 3 disease and 312 (27%) had type 4 disease. The two groups demonstrated significant differences in terms of clinicopathologic characteristics (i.e., portal vein embolization, extended hepatectomy, and positive margin). The incidence of severe complications was 46% for the BC types 2 and 3 patients and 51% for the BC type 4 patients (p = 0.1). Moreover, the 90-day mortality was 13% for the BC types 2 and 3 patients and 12% for the BC type 4 patients (p = 0.57). Lymph-node metastasis (N1; hazard-ratio [HR], 1.62), positive margins (R1; HR, 1.36), perineural invasion (HR, 1.53), and poor grade of differentiation (HR, 1.25) were predictors of survival (all p ≤0.004), but BC type was not associated with prognosis. Among the N0 and R0 patients, the 5-year overall survival was 43% for the patients with BC types 2 and 3 pCCA and 41% for those with BC type 4 pCCA (p = 0.60). Conclusions In this analysis of a large Western multi-institutional cohort, resection was shown to be an acceptable curative treatment option for selected patients with BC type 4 pCCA although a more technically challenging surgical approach was required.

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INTRODUCTIONPosttraumatic diaphragmatic rupture (PTDR) is a rare complication of thoracoabdominal injuries. In the emergency phase, it is generally treated via wide laparotomy. The laparoscopic approach is controversial and it is reserved for the chronic type of PTDR. Herein we present three cases of laparoscopic treatment of PTDR, one of which was conducted early after the injury.PRESENTATION OF CASEThe patients’ age was 42, 66 and 53 years and the time from the injury until the operation 1 week, 2 months and 4 years, respectively. Hernia involved the left hemidiaphragm in two patients and the right hemidiaphragm in the second patient. Prolapsing viscera were the omentum/stomach/spleen, the small intestine and the omentum/large bowel, respectively. The PTDR was diagnosed right after the injury of the first patient but its treatment was postponed until the fourth day of hospitalization because of severe respiratory distress due to bilateral pneumothorax, flail chest and extended bilateral lung contusions. All patients underwent laparoscopic operation and correction of the hernia with the use of non-absorbable sutures or endoclips in two patients. There were no serious intra- or postoperative complications and the patients were discharged 30, 5, 6 days after the operation. After a period of 1, 8 and 9 years, respectively the patients remain without clinical evidence of recurrence.DISCUSSIONTrauma is the major cause of acquired diaphragmatic hernias.CONCLUSIONLaparoscopy is an attractive approach for the management of chronic PTDR. Moreover, it may offer the benefits of minimally invasive surgery during the acute phase of injury in highly selected patients.