BACKGROUND: Stab wounds in the left thoracoabdominal region may cause diaphragmatic injury. The aim of the present study was to determine incidence of diaphragmatic injury and role of diagnostic laparoscopy in detection of injury in patients with left thoracoabdominal stab wound.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common emergency seen by general surgeons. Optimal treatment is laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); however, in cases where surgery cannot be performed due to high risk of morbidity and mortality, such as in elderly patients with comorbid diseases, other treatment modalities may be used. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is one alternative method to treat AC. PC can be used to provide drainage of the gall bladder and control infection. Subsequently, interval cholecystectomy can be performed when there are better conditions. Presently described is experience and results with PC in high risk, elderly patients with AC.

Endoscopic biliary stenting is a well-established treatment of choice for many obstructive biliary disorders. Commonly used plastic endoprostheses have a higher risk of clogging and dislocation. Distal stent migration is an infrequent complication. Duodenum is the most common site of a migrated biliary stent. Intestinal perforation can occur during the initial insertion or endoscopic or percutaneous manipulation, or as a late consequence of stent placement. A 52-year-old male who presented with obstructive jaundice underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with plastic stent placement. However, jaundice did not improve and he then underwent ERCP which revealed the plastic stent penetrating the ampullary tumor into the duodenal wall causing malfunction of the stent. A new plastic stent was inserted and the patient underwent Whipple's operation. He is currently doing well after the operation.

No abstract

Pneumoperitoneum (PNP) is very commonly performed in surgical practice due to the extensive use of laparoscopic surgery. In minimally invasive surgery, there is an effort to convert all eligible surgical procedures to a laparoscopic technique, as it has fewer systemic and local surgical effects on the patient. During PNP, intraperitoneal pressure (IPP) is increased to well above normal intra-abdominal pressure in order to create an opening for visualization of the abdominal contents. The duration of these procedures can be prolonged as a result of the difficulties and complexities of these techniques. IPP has side effects on the physiology of patients, as is seen in abdominal compartment syndrome.