After a long experience and a considerable number of procedures performed in a single center, MIVAT is confirmed as a safe operation, with a complication rate comparable with open thyroidectomy. MIVAT offers a cure rate for the treatment of low-risk and intermediate-risk malignancies that is comparable with an open procedure when inclusion criteria are strictly respected.

RALA is as safe and technically feasible as TLA, It provides a real benefit for the surgeon with the three dimensional view, a comfortable sitting position, the elimination of the surgeon's tremor, and increased degrees of freedom of the operative instruments compared with TLA. However, patient outcomes and operative costs should be evaluated further.

The approach involves providing a deformable 3D model architecture and its application to the operating room. A 3D model with a deformable structure is needed to show the shape change of soft tissue during the surgery. The software architecture to provide interactive adjustment in registration of the 3D model and endoscope video with adjustability of every 3D model is presented.

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Background/Introduction: The da Vinci robotic surgical system was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional laparoscopic surgery. Purpose/Aims: We retrospectively reviewed our experience in performing robot-assisted laparoscopic hernioplasty (RALH) during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) based on a single surgeon's experience. Methods: From December 2005 to December 2008, a total of 100 patients with prostate cancer underwent RALPs by a single surgeon. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and analyzed the patients' ages, body mass indices (BMI), levels of prostate-specific antigen, the biopsy percentage, the Gleason score and clinical stages of the biopsy specimens in 11 patients who had a RALP and a RALH simultaneously. The diagnosis of preoperative inguinal hernia (IH) was based on the results of a clinical physical examination, abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The postoperative IHs were detected by the appearance of a protruding mass in the inguinal area on coughing, which was noticed during a physical examination. The total operative time, blood loss, type of the hernia, postoperative hospital stay, and the incidence of an IH after a RALP were evaluated. Results: Of the 100 patients, 89 (89%) received a RALP only, 11 underwent a RALP and a RALH simultaneously, 7% had a preoperative IH and 4% had a subclinical IH, which were found during operations. Three patients (3%) developed an IH during follow-up. There were no significant differences between the RALP group and RALP combined with the RALH group in terms of

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Seizures can lead to different injuries ranging from minor lacerations to serious head injuries or bony fractures. We report a rare case of a male patient presenting with a history of a distended abdomen and gross hematuria following a seizure attack. After catheterization, the drained urine was bloodstained. On clinical suspicion of an acute abdomen, computed tomography was conducted, which showed intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder. At laparotomy, we found and repaired a laceration in the dome of the bladder in 3 layers. The postoperative period was uneventful. Our case shows that a complete abdominal examination is needed on patients following a generalized seizure episode. We also suggest that certain drugs for treating schizophrenia have anticholinergic effects, which may induce chronic urine retention. Chronic urine retention, especially in elderly male patients, may contribute to the risk of a spontaneous rupture of the bladder.