This book provides up-to-date evidence on laparoscopic emergency surgery and supplies concrete advice on when and how to approach patients laparoscopically in an emergency setting. All the diseases elegible for emergency laparoscopy are addressed, and for each disease recommendations, levels of evidence, and technical key points are discussed and analyzed. Diagnostic flow charts are included for cases in which laparoscopy turns out to be the final diagnostic step and the first therapeutic one. Furthermore, problematic and positive aspects of the laparoscopic approach from the anesthesiologic point of view are fully explored. Finally, a useful overview of current practice in hospitals across the world is provided, highlighting the varying applications in relation to different medical “cultures”, skills, resources, and healthcare systems.

The global population is aging rapidly, and as a result emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen in the elderly has become a global issue. Demographic changes in the population have also altered the profile of emergency abdominal surgery, with typical causes of acute abdomen in the elderly including acute cholecystitis, incarcerated hernia, bowel obstruction and appendicitis. In these patients, recovery from surgery is often complicated, leading to longer hospital stays compared with younger patients. Laparoscopy in the emergency setting is well established and offers a number of advantages over open surgical approaches, such as reduced postoperative pain, length of hospital stay and complication rates. While laparoscopic surgery for acute diverticulitis has become more widespread, in other conditions, like small bowel obstruction and perforated peptic ulcer, laparotomy is still used in about 70% of cases. Further, despite the urgent need for knowledge regarding surgical treatment of acute abdomen in the elderly, there is still a lack of evidence in this relevant clinical field. This book analyzes the management strategies and critically evaluates the outcomes of laparoscopic emergency surgery for acute abdomen in the elderly according to the principles of evidence-based medicine. Discussing each topic clearly, and promoting the use of emergency laparoscopy in elderly patients, the book is intended for young general surgeons and surgeons in training with at least a basic knowledge of surgery for acute abdomen. It is also useful as a quick reference tool during on-call shifts.

This is the first time a book about laparoscopy in emergency abdominal surgery has been published. Numerous articles have been published in specific surgical journals, but, until now, there has not been a book that collates all the aspects of this little-known field. The aim of this volume is to achieve a complete and easy presentation of all the implications associated with laparoscopy in emergency abdominal surgery. The book should be a manual that can be easily consulted by digestive, general, and specialized surgeons, especially in an emergency. The authors’ contributions are founded on evidence-based medicine, which give the book scientific credibility, but this is coupled with their experience of daily practice, which adds an important complementary dimension to evidence-based medicine. This is balanced by an emphasis on clarity and accessibility, because the ultimate aim of the book is educational. We hope this book will be frequently consulted, in depth, not only by specialist practitioners, but also by undergraduate students, new graduates and surgeons in training.

Advances in Laparoscopy of the Abdominal Wall Hernia is fully illustrated, comprehensive guide which describes in detail the most up-to-date techniques used in the laparoscopic repair of hernias. Written by world renowned authors, this manual reviews laparoscopic techniques used in the repair of inguinal hernias and ventral incisional hernias. Among the topics explored within this updated, engaging and informative text are: • Techniques such as Extraperitoneal (TEP) and transabdominal (TAPP) hernia repair • Fundamentals of ventral hernia repair • A detailed overview of mesh fixation in laparoscopic surgery • Methods to deal with rarer hernias and those of atypical location Advances in Laparoscopy of the Abdominal Wall Hernia is a valuable reference tool that would be of great benefit to surgeons and medical practitioners working in this field.

This book is the first available practical manual on the open abdomen. Practicing physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and physiotherapists will find in it a ready source of information on all aspects of open abdomen management in a wide variety of settings. The coverage includes, for example, the open abdomen in trauma, intra-abdominal sepsis, and acute pancreatitis, step-by-step descriptions of different techniques with the aid of high-quality color figures, guidance on potential complications and their management, and features of management in different age groups. The book contents illustrate the most recent innovations and drawing upon a thorough and up-to-date literature review. Useful tips and tricks are highlighted, and the book is designed to support in daily decision making. The authors include worldwide opinion leaders in the field, guaranteeing the high scientific value of the content.

ix Preface Smart surgeons learn from their own mistakes, smarter surgeons learn from mistakes of others, some never learn . . . You are a resident, overworked and constantly tired; sitting down with your mentor for a brief tutorial. What do you want to get out of these few minutes? To organize your thoughts and approaches to the particular problem; to learn how he -the weathered surgeon -"tackles it"; to grasp a few practical "recipes" or "goodies" and take home a message or two; to laugh a bit and unwind. This is also our goal in this book. We hope that you are not repelled or offended by the non-formal character of this book. This is how emergency abdominal surgery is taught best, by trial and error and repetitions, with emphasis on basics. This is not a "complete" textbook, nor is it a cookbook type manual or discussion of case studies; neither is it a collection of detailed lecture notes or exhaustive lists. Instead, it consists of a series of informal, uncensored, chats between experienced surgeons and their trainees. No percentages, series, elaborated figures or complicated algorithms are included; only a surgeon's narrative, explaining how "he does it" -based on his experience and state of the art knowledge of the literature. No references are included as it was our aim to put down nothing which has not been experienced, confirmed and practiced in our own hands.

Included here is a discussion of the pathophysiological aspects and risks of laparoscopic staging (such as trocar metastases) on the basis of international experience.

This book focuses on the diagnostic impact of CT scans in severe abdominal trauma and in non-traumatic acute abdomen, the two clinical entities that constitute the main reasons for referrals for this imaging technique from the intensive care unit. The concept behind it is that emergency surgeons and physicians not only need the clinical knowledge to manage the different pathological conditions, but that they must also have a full understanding of diagnostic imaging modalities. To this end, each chapter includes a description of a specific acute abdominal disorder. In addition to the clinical presentation and the diagnosis and management guidelines, there is a special focus on imaging studies with clear and concise descriptions, high-quality images and the evolution grading scale to aid interpretation. This easy-to-read book is an ideal source of practical information for acute care surgeons, radiologists and for all the members of the emergency team.