Small bowel melanoma (SBM) is a rare entity, which often evades diagnosis and therefore presents late. Its origin, whether arising primarily or metastatically from an unidentified or regressed primary cutaneous melanoma, remains debatable. In this report, we present a rare case of primary SBM and review the current literature. A 60-year-old man presented with melena and microcytic anemia. A series of investigations including abdominal ultrasonography (US), esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy were normal. Abdominal computed tomography revealed no specific pathology. Subsequent capsule endoscopy identified a jejunal mass, which was confirmed on laparotomy, was resected, and histologically diagnosed as melanoma. Extensive postoperative clinical examination revealed no cutaneous lesions. This report discusses gastrointestinal (GI) malignant melanoma, and examines the evidence both for and against the existence of true primary vs. metastatic disease. Furthermore, this case highlights the capabilities of capsule endoscopy in identifying an extremely rare GI tumor, which evaded other diagnostic modalities. Finally, the origins and pathophysiology of this rare cancer are evaluated, with the aim of promoting early diagnosis and treatment, and therefore improving current poor outcomes.

This type of operation is less time-consuming and less invasive, since no further reconstruction of the alimentary tract or the vascular system is applied.

Background Ileus is common after elective colorectal surgery, and is associated with increased adverse events and prolonged hospital stay. The aim was to assess the role of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for reducing ileus after surgery. Methods A prospective multicentre cohort study was delivered by an international, student‐ and trainee‐led collaborative group. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The primary outcome was time to gastrointestinal recovery, measured using a composite measure of bowel function and tolerance to oral intake. The impact of NSAIDs was explored using Cox regression analyses, including the results of a centre‐specific survey of compliance to enhanced recovery principles. Secondary safety outcomes included anastomotic leak rate and acute kidney injury. Results A total of 4164 patients were included, with a median age of 68 (i.q.r. 57–75) years (54·9 per cent men). Some 1153 (27·7 per cent) received NSAIDs on postoperative days 1–3, of whom 1061 (92·0 per cent) received non‐selective cyclo‐oxygenase inhibitors. After adjustment for baseline differences, the mean time to gastrointestinal recovery did not differ significantly between patients who received NSAIDs and those who did not (4·6 versus 4·8 days; hazard ratio 1·04, 95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·12; P = 0·360). There were no significant differences in anastomotic leak rate (5·4 versus 4·6 per cent; P = 0·349) or acute kidney injury (14·3 versus 13·8 per cent; P = 0·666) between the groups. Significantly fewer patients receiving NSAIDs required strong opioid analgesia (35·3 versus 56·7 per cent; P < 0·001). Conclusion NSAIDs did not reduce the time for gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal surgery, but they were safe and associated with reduced postoperative opioid requirement.

Carcinoid tumours of the common bile duct represent an extremely rare entity. Similarly, primary follicular lymphomas of the ampulla of Vater constitute an infrequent neoplasia. Herein, we report the first case of a synchronous development of a carcinoid tumour of the common bile duct and an ampullary follicular lymphoma that was treated surgically with a Whipple's procedure, due to inability to establish definitive preoperative diagnosis despite the extensive diagnostic investigation.

Nanotechnology is the design and development of materials, structures, and devices with at least 1 dimension between the 1- and 100-nm-size scale. Manipulating matter at the atomic scale offers unique opportunities in material design particularly in biological interfaces. In this short review, we explore the disruptive technological opportunities that nanotechnology and microelectromechanical systems may offer in possible future stent designs along with safety issues that may surface with the use of nanoparticles in medical devices.

Donor organ shortage continues to limit the availability of liver transplantation, a successful and established therapy of end-stage liver diseases. Strategies to mitigate graft shortage include the utilization of marginal livers and recently ex-situ normothermic machine perfusion devices.A 59-year-old woman with cirrhosis due to primary sclerosing cholangitis was offered an ex-situ machine perfused graft with unnoticed severe injury of the suprahepatic vasculature due to road traffic accident.Following a complex avulsion, repair and reconstruction of all donor hepatic veins as well as the suprahepatic inferior vena cava, the patient underwent a face-to-face piggy-back orthotopic liver transplantation and was discharged on the 11th postoperative day after an uncomplicated recovery.This report illustrates the operative technique to utilize an otherwise unusable organ, in the current environment of donor shortage and declining graft quality. Normothermic machine perfusion can definitely play a role in increasing the graft pool, without compromising the quality of livers who had vascular or other damage before being ex-situ perfused. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of promptly and thoroughly communicating organ injuries, as well as considering all reconstructive options within the level of expertise at the recipient center.

A healthy and asymptomatic 55-year-old woman underwent a complete (R0) non-anatomical resection of an incidentally detected solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a non-cirrhotic liver. Six years following the initial R0 non-anatomical resection, intrahepatic recurrence was diagnosed and the patient underwent a second R0 non-anatomical resection. At 12.5 years following the initial resection, a further intrahepatic recurrence was diagnosed, which was once again completely resected by left lateral hepatectomy. This represents one of the longest reported periods between initial resection and HCC recurrence, following repeated R0 resections in the absence of cirrhosis. The appropriate surveillance period and genetic testing protocol for such cases remains to be established.

Permanent or temporary hypoparathyroidism may be a debilitating result of radical cervical surgery, as noted most commonly following thyroid or parathyroid surgery. However, it can also be the outcome of any surgical procedure involving bilateral extensive manipulation of the anterior neck triangle, especially in order to ensure oncologically adequate surgical margins.We report our experience of three patients that underwent parathyroid immediate autotransplanation following extensive surgical manipulations of the neck region for oncological reasons. PTH levels were restored to normal by the fourth postoperative week, allowing us to wean the patients off calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation, which was attributed to full autograft function. Parathyroid autotransplantation, immediate or delayed, is a simple and safe technique which should be considered by the surgeon whenever there is a high risk for postoperative hypoparathyroidism following radical operations of the neck for oncological reasons.