Urologic complications can still occur following kidney transplantation, sometimes requiring multiple radiological and/or surgical procedures to fully correct the problem. Previously proposed extravesical ureteral reimplantation techniques still carry non-negligible risks of the patient developing urologic complications. About 10 years ago, a new set of modifications to the Lich-Gregoir technique was developed at our center, with the goal of further minimizing the occurrence of urologic complications, and without the need for initial ureteral stent placement. It was believed that an improvement in the surgical technique to minimize the risk of developing urologic complications was possible without the need for stent placement at the time of transplant. In this report, we describe the advantages of this technique (i.e., mobilized bladder, longer spatulation of the ureter, inclusion of bladder mucosa with detrusor muscle layer in the ureteral anastomosis, and use of a right angle clamp in the ureteral orifice to ensure that it does not become stenosed). We also retrospectively report our experience in using this technique among 500 consecutive (prospectively followed) kidney transplant recipients transplanted at our center since 2014. During the first 12mo post-transplant, only 1.4%(7/500) of patients developed a urologic complication; additionally, only 1.0%(5/500) required surgical repair of their original ureteroneocystostomy. Five patients(1.0%) developed a urinary leak, with 3/5 having distal ureteral necrosis, and 1/5 subsequently developing a ureteral stricture. Two other patients developed ureteral stenosis, one due to stricture and one due to ureteral stones. These overall results are excellent when compared with other reports in the literature, especially those in which routine stenting was performed. In summary, we believe that the advantages in using this modified extravesical ureteroneocystostomy technique clearly help in lowering the early post-transplant risk of developing urologic complications. Importantly, these results were achieved without the need for ureteral stent placement at the time of transplant.

Limited studies have applied thoracic continuous spinal anesthesia in abdominal surgery, relying exclusively on opioids. This retrospective study analyzes 2 different schemes of thoracic continuous spinal anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. A total of 98 patients aged ≥ 75 years were divided into 2 groups. The control group (60 patients) received bupivacaine plus fentanyl, whereas the study group (38 patients) received bupivacaine plus ketamine and midazolam. Both received analogous postoperative continuous intrathecal analgesia. Several perioperative variables were evaluated. Spinal anesthesia was performed without complications in all patients. Doses of noradrenaline administered, incidence of respiratory depression, need for intraoperative sedation, and time to first flatus were significantly reduced in the bupivacaine plus ketamine and midazolam group. In a population of frail, elderly patients, thoracic continuous spinal anesthesia with local anesthetic plus midazolam and ketamine was superior to local anesthetic plus fentanyl. In the group receiving local anesthetic plus midazolam and ketamine, the incidence of respiratory depression was reduced, and doses of norepinephrine and intraoperative sedating medications were lower. Intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia were similar in both groups.

Purpose: Several studies have applied lumbar spinal anesthesia (SA) with isobaric/hyperbaric bupivacaine and opioids in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), documenting a superiority of the methodic over general anesthesia (GA) in terms of perioperative pain, nausea, and vomiting, though with a notable incidence of intraoperative right shoulder pain, potentially responsible for conversion to GA. This case series presents an opioid-free scheme of segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia (STSA) with hypobaric ropivacaine, reporting its benefits mainly in terms of shoulder pain occurrence. Patients and Methods: Hypobaric STSA was performed in nine patients undergoing elective LC between May 1 and September 1, 2022. The level of the needle insertion was included between T8 and T9, via a median or a paramedian approach. Midazolam (0.03 mg/kg) and Ketamine (0.3 mg/kg) were used as adjuvants for intrathecal sedation, followed by the administration of hypobaric ropivacaine 0.25% at a dose of 5 mg and then isobaric ropivacaine at a dose of 10 mg. Patients were placed in anti-Trendelenburg position for the entire duration of surgery. LC was conducted through the standard 3 or 4 ports technique with pneumoperitoneum maintained at a pressure of 8– 10 mmHg. Results: Mean patient age was 75.7 (± 17.5) years, with a mean ASA score and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) of 2.7 (± 0.7) and 4.9 (± 2.7), respectively. STSA was completed without complications in all patients, with no need for conversion to GA. Mean operative time and SA duration were 37.5 (± 8.7) and 145.2 (± 21.8) min, respectively. Intraoperatively, no shoulder or abdominal pain and nausea were reported, with only four and two patients requiring vasopressor and sedative intravenous drugs, respectively. Postoperatively, overall mean VAS pain score and within the first 12 hafter surgery were 3 (± 2) and 4 (± 2), respectively. Median length of stay was 2 (range = 1– 3) days. Conclusion: Hypobaric opioid-free STSA appears to be a promising approach for laparoscopic surgeries, with minimal to null occurrence of shoulder pain. Larger prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

Background: Post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries (BDIs) represent a challenging complication, with negative impacts on clinical outcomes. Several surgical and endoscopic/interventional radiologist (IR) approaches have been proposed to manage these damages, though with high failure rates. This individual patient data (IPD) systematic review analyzes the potential risk factors for failure after treatment interventions for BDIs, both surgical and endoscopic/IR. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted on MEDLINE and Scopus for relevant articles published in English on the management of BDIs after cholecystectomy, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2023. Our series of BDIs was included. BDIs were always categorized according to the Strasberg’s classification. The composite primary endpoints evaluated were the failure of treatment interventions, defined as patient death or the requirement of any other procedure, whatever surgical and/or endoscopic/IR, after the primary treatment. Results: A total of 342 cases were retrieved from our literature analysis, including our series of 19 patients. Among these, three groups were identified: “upfront surgery”, “upfront endoscopy and/or IR” and “no upfront treatment”, consisting of 224, 109 and 9 patients, respectively. After eliminating the third group, treatment intervention failure was observed overall in 34.2% (114/333) of patients, of whom 80.7% (92/114) and 19.3% (22/114) in the “upfront surgery” and in the “upfront endoscopy/IR” groups, respectively. At multivariable analysis, injury type D and E, and repair in a non-specialized center represented independent predictors of treatment failure in both groups, whereas laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) converted to open and immediate attempt of surgical repair exclusively in the first group. Conclusions: Significant treatment failure rates are responsible for remarkable negative effects on immediate and longer-term clinical outcomes of post-cholecystectomy BDIs. Understanding the important risk factors for this outcome may better guide the most appropriate therapeutical approach and improve clinical decisions in case this serious complication occurs.

Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women and the first cause of death for malignancy in the female population. Bile ducts are not among the common sites of metastasis from breast cancer; few cases of obstructive jaundice due to metastatic breast cancer have been described in the literature and they mostly resulted from widespread liver metastases that eventually involved the bile ducts. We report an exceptional case of metastatic infiltration of the extrahepatic bile ducts in absence of liver metastases. A 56-year-old woman who had undergone a right mastectomy 13 years earlier due to infiltrating ductal breast cancer and had remained tumor free, presented at a follow-up examination with obstructive jaundice.Imaging (computed tomography, magnetic resonance and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) scans showed features that were suggestive of a primary tumor of the extrahepatic bile duct. At surgery, the intraoperative findings were also those of a tumor of the bile duct, however, an histological examination showed no evidence of malignancy in the mucosa, but did shown an infiltration of the external wall from adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that the tumor was metastatic breast cancer. Indeterminate stenosis of the extrahepatic bile ducts should be examined with suspicion in women with a history of breast cancer, and bile duct metastases are to be considered among the possible diagnoses. A differential diagnosis from cholangiocarcinoma is of paramount importance and mainly relies on pathology.

Purpose: Few studies have described segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia (STSA) as primary anesthesiologic method in breast and axillary surgery, documenting the association of intrathecal local anesthetics and opioids. This case series reports an opioid-free scheme of STSA in four elderly patients undergoing major breast and axillary oncological surgery. Patients and Methods: STSA was performed in three female patients undergoing unilateral mastectomy ± axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or sentinel lymph node biopsy for invasive ductal carcinoma and in one male patient undergoing ALND for melanoma metastases. The level of needle insertion was included between T6-8, via a median or paramedian approach. Midazolam (2 mg) and ketamine (20 mg) were used as adjuvants for intrathecal sedation, followed by the administration of hypobaric ropivacaine 0.25% at a dose of 8 mg. The level of sensory blockade achieved was comprised between C2-3 and T11-12. Postoperative analgesia was maintained through continuous intravenous administration of Ketorolac by an elastomeric pump (90 mg over 24 hrs.). Results: Spinal anesthesia was completed without complications in all patients. Conversion to general anesthesia (GA) and perioperative intravenous sedation were not required. No major postoperative complications and no episodes of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were reported. No rescue analgesic was administered. All patients were discharged in postoperative day 2 and are alive at 30, 29, 27 and 13 months after surgery, respectively. High grade of satisfaction on the anesthesiologic method was expressed by all cases. Conclusion: STSA with local anesthetic plus midazolam and ketamine might be considered a safe and effective alternative to GA, even in surgeries involving the breast and axillary region, particularly in elderly and frail patients. Larger prospective studies are required to validate these findings.