Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) is one of the most common types of hepatobiliary cancers reported in the world including Asia-Pacific region. Early HCCA may be completely asymptomatic. When significant hilar obstruction develops, the patient presents with jaundice, pale stools, dark urine, pruritus, abdominal pain, and sometimes fever. Because no single test can establish the definite diagnosis then, a combination of many investigations such as tumor markers, tissue acquisition, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography/intraductal ultrasonography, and advanced cholangioscopy is required. Surgery is the only curative treatment. Unfortunately, the majority of HCCA has a poor prognosis due to their advanced stage on presentation. Although there is no survival advantage, inoperable HCCA managed by palliative drainage may benefit from symptomatic improvement. Currently, there are three techniques of biliary drainage which include endoscopic, percutaneous, and surgical approaches. For nonsurgical approaches, stent is the most preferred device and there are two types of stents i.e. plastic and metal. Type of Declarations of conflict of interest: All authors have nothing to disclose.Author contributions: RR was involved with the consensus concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting of the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, obtain funding, and participation in electronic and face-to-face voting. PA and TR were involved with the consensus concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting of the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, and participation in electronic and face-to-face voting. CK, RP, JM, DS, LP, AS, PP, TA, DR, AM, SP, PK, MR, and MK were involved with drafting of the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, and participation in electronic and face-to-face voting. TI was involved with drafting of the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, and participation in electronic voting. NP, ST, SA, BD, HW, EO, DL, and PM were involved with critical revision of the manuscript, and participation in electronic and face-to-face voting. KG and BO were involved with critical revision of the manuscript and participation in electronic voting. SC and AJ were involved with study supervision and participation in electronic voting. VB was involved with study supervision. and number of stent for HCCA biliary drainage are subjected to debate because the decision is made under many grounds i.e. volume of liver drainage, life expectancy, expertise of the facility, etc. Recently, radio-frequency ablation and photodynamic therapy are promising techniques that may extend drainage patency. Through a review in the literature and regional data, the Asia-Pacific Working Group for hepatobiliary cancers has developed statements to assist clinicians in diagnosing and managing of HCCA. After voting anonymously using modified Delphi method, all final statements were determined for the level of evidence qual...

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AIM:To determine the relationship between preoperative hypoalbuminemia and the development of complications following rectal cancer surgery, as well as postoperative bowel function and hospital stay. METHODS:The medical records of 244 patients undergoing elective oncological resection for rectal adenocarcinoma at Siriraj Hospital during 2003 and 2006 were reviewed. The patients had pre-operative serum albumin assessment. Albumin less than 35 g/L was recognized as hypoalbuminemia. Postoperative outcomes, including mortality, complications, time to first bowel movement, time to first defecation, time to resumption of normal diet and length of hospital stay, were analyzed. RESULTS:The patients were 139 males (57%) and 105 females (43%) with mean age of 62 years. Fifty-six patients (23%) had hypoalbuminemia. Hypoalbuminemic patients had a significantly larger tumor size and lower body mass index compared with non-hypoalbuminemic patients (5.5 vs 4.3 cm; P < 0.001 and 21.9 vs 23.2 kg/m 2 ; P = 0.02, respectively). Thirty day postoperative mortality was 1.2%. Overall complication rate was 25%. Hypoalbuminemic patients had a significantly higher rate of postoperative complications (37.5% vs 21.3%; P = 0.014). In univariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia and ASA status were two risk factors for postoperative complications. In multivariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia was the only significant risk factor (odds ratio 2.22, 95% CI 1.17-4.23; P < 0.015). Hospitalization in hypoalbuminemic patients was significantly longer than that in non-hypoalbuminemic patients (13 vs 10 d, P = 0.034), but the parameters of postoperative bowel function were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION:Pre-operative hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications following rectal cancer surgery.

Clofazimine-induced crystal-storing histiocytosis is a rare but well-recognized condition in the literature. Besides the common reddish discoloration of the skin, clofazimine produces gastrointestinal disturbances-sometimes severe abdominal pain, prompting exploratory laparotomy, because pathologic and radiologic findings can produce diagnostic difficulties if the pathologic changes caused by clofazimine are not recognized. The authors report such a case in a leprosy patient to emphasize the importance of history taking, the radiologic abnormalities of the small intestine, and the pathologic findings in small intestine and lymph node biopsies. Clofazimine crystals are red in the frozen section and exhibit bright-red birefringence. However, they are clear in routinely processed histologic sections because they dissolve in alcohol and organic solvents. They also appear as clear crystal spaces during electron microscopic study, but some osmiophilic bodies can be observed. Histiocytosis caused by clofazimine crystals produces infiltrative lesions in radiologic studies mimicking malignant lymphoma or other infiltrative disorders. Associated plasmacytosis in the histologic sections can simulate lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma or multiple myeloma with crystal-storing histiocytosis. With the knowledge of this rare condition caused by clofazimine, appropriate management to avoid an unnecessary laparotomy is possible.

LRH and ORHT for right-sided colon cancer resulted in the same short-term surgical outcomes including postoperative bowel function, narcotics consumption and length of hospital stay. However, LRH required a significantly longer operating time.

The success rates of bile duct cannulation by precut sphincterotomy were not associated with the experience of the endoscopist. The postprocedural complications significantly decreased after the first 100 procedures. An experience of at least 100 procedures is suggested to achieve a safe precut sphincterotomy.

INTRODUCTIONInguinal hernia is one of the most surgical common diseases. Giant inguinal hernia is more unusual and significantly challenging in terms of surgical management. It is defined as an inguinal hernia that extends below the midpoint of inner thigh when the patient is in standing position.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 67-year-old male presented with giant right-side inguinal hernia with symptoms of partial colonic obstruction and significant weight loss. Barium enema revealed ascending colon, cecum and ileum contained in hernia sac without significant lesions of large bowel. He underwent hernia repair with omentectomy. Hernioplasty with polypropylene mesh was performed without any complications. He recovered uneventfully.DISCUSSIONThere were several repair techniques suggested by published articles such as resection of the content and increased intraabdominal volume procedure. Many key factors for management of the giant inquinal hernia were discussed. A new classification of the giant inquinal hernia was described.CONCLUSIONSurgical repair for the giant inquinal hernia is challenging and correlated with significant morbidity and mortality due to increased intra-abdominal pressure.

Endoscopic tattooing is one of the most useful tools for the localization of small colorectal lesions especially in the laparoscopic setting. This is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure without risk of major complications. However, many studies have revealed complications resulting from this procedure. In this article, several topics are reviewed including the accuracy, substance preparation, injected techniques and complications related to this procedure.