Search

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard for the treatment of gallbladder lithiasis; nevertheless, the incidence of bile duct injuries (BDI) is still high (0.3–0.8%) compared to open cholecystectomy (0.2%). In 1995, Strasbergintroduced the "Critical View of Safety" (CVS) to reduce the risk of BDI. Despite its widespread use, the scientific evidence supporting this technique to prevent BDI is controversial. Methods: Between March 2017 and March 2019, the data of patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 30 Italian surgical departments were collected on a national database. A survey was submitted to all members of Italian Digestive Pathology Society to obtain data on the preoperative workup, the surgical and postoperative management of patients and to judge, at the end of the procedure, if the isolation of the elements was performed according to the CVS. In the case of a declared critical view, iconographic documentation was obtained, finally reviewed by an external auditor. Results: Data from 604 patients were analysed. The study population was divided into two groups according to the evidence (Group A; n= 11) or absence (Group B; N= 593) of BDI and perioperative bleeding. Conclusions: The CVS confirmed to be the safest technique to recognize the elements of the Calottriangle and, if correctly performed, it significantly impacted on preventing intraoperative complications. Additional educational programs on the correct application of CVS in clinical practice would be desirable to avoid extreme conditions that may require additional procedures.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway and laparoscopic approach had been proven beneficial for patients and should now be considered as a standard of care in colorectal surgery. Multimodal analgesia is the gold standard in the ERAS program with the use of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA). Few data are available on Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and ERAS pathway. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of TAP block compared to TEA in the management of postoperative pain and the impact on the recurrence of postoperative nausea, vomiting and ileus in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the ERAS program. From October 2014 to October 2016, 182 patients underwent elective colon surgical interventions in enhanced recovery after surgery pathway. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n= 92) and Group 2 (n= 91) who received TEA and TAP block, respectively, with a standardized postoperative analgesic regimen consisting of regular 1 g of paracetamol every 8 h and a rescue dose with intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs infusion for both groups. No differences were observed in baseline patient characteristics, clinical variables and surgical procedures between the two groups, as well as in the postoperative complications rate (p= 0.515) in accordance with Clavien–Dindo classification, 90-day mortality (p= 0.319), hospital stay (p= 0.469) and 30-day readmission rate (p= 0.711). Patients in the TAP block group showed lower postoperative nausea and vomiting rates (p= 0.025), as well as lower ileus (p= 0.031) and paraesthesia rates (p= 0.024). No differences were found in urinary retention (p= 0.157). Despite the “opioid-free” analgesia protocol in the TAP block group, pain intensity was comparable between the two groups (p= 0.651). TAP block combined with an opioid-sparing analgesia in the setting of the laparoscopic colorectal surgery and ERAS program is feasible and effective in postoperative pain control.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (E.R.A.S.) programs are now widely accepted in colonic laparoscopic resections because of faster recovery and less perioperative complications. The aim of this study was to assess safety and feasibility of discharging patients operated on by laparoscopic colectomy on postoperative day 2, so long as the first flatus has passed and in the absence of complication-related symptoms. This study was a non-inferiority, open-label, single-center, prospective, randomized study comparing “Ultra” to Classic E.R.A.S. with discharge on POD 2 and 4, respectively. Seven hundred and sixty-five patients with resectable non-metastatic colonic cancer were analyzed: 384 patients were assigned to “Ultra” E.R.A.S. and 381 to Classic E.R.A.S. Primary end-point was mortality; secondary end-points were morbidity, readmission and reoperation rate. Limitations are: it is a single-center experience; it is not double-blind, with the intrinsic risk of intentional or unconscious bias; exclusion criteria because of “non-compliance” may be considered arbitrary. Mortality was 0.89 % in “Ultra” E.R.A.S. group and 0.59 % in Classic E.R.A.S. (p= 0.571). Morbidity was 34.1 % for “Ultra” E.R.A.S. arm and 35.4 % for Classic E.R.A.S. (p= 0.753). Readmissions were 5.6 % for “Ultra” E.R.A.S. and 5.9 % for Classic E.R.A.S. (p= 0.359). Reoperation rate was 3.8 % for “Ultra” ERAS and 4.7 % for Classic E.R.A.S. (p= 0.713). Multivariate regression analyses using Cox’s proportional hazard model showed that mortality (primary end-point), morbidity, reoperation and readmission (secondary end-points) were not significantly influenced by the two different perioperative regimens; conversely, the global cost of “Ultra” E.R.A.S. regimen was more economically effective. “Ultra” E.R.A.S. showed to be safe, actual and effective; discharge on postoperative day 2 after the first flatus passage, in the absence of complication-related symptoms, should be actively considered in a modern, multidisciplinary, multimodal laparoscopic management of colonic cancer.

For the treatment of both primary and metastatic liver tumors, laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing surgery is advocated to reduce postoperative liver failure and facilitate reoperation in the case of recurrence. However, atypical and wedge resections are associated with a higher amount of intraoperative bleeding than are anatomical resections, and such bleeding is known to affect short- and long-term outcomes. Beyond the established role of radiofrequency and microwave ablation in the setting of inoperable liver tumors, the application of thermoablative energy along the plane of the liver surface to be transected results in a zone of coagulative necrosis, possibly minimizing bleeding of the cut liver surface during parenchymal transection. From January 2013 to March 2016, a total of 20 selected patients underwent laparoscopic ultrasound-guided liver resection with thermoablative precoagulation of the transection line. During a period of 38 months, 50 laparoscopic thermoablative procedures were performed. Colorectal liver metastases were the most frequent diagnosis. Seventy-two percent of the nodules were removed using parenchymal transection with radiofrequency-precoagulation, while microwave-precoagulation was performed for 20 % of the resected nodules. The remaining 8 % of the nodules were treated by thermoablation alone. The hepatic pedicle was intermittently clamped in six patients. The mean blood loss was 290 mL, and four patients required perioperative transfusions. Precoagulation-assisted parenchyma-sparing laparoscopic liver surgery can get minimal blood loss during parenchymal transection and lower the need for perioperative transfusions, providing a nonquantifiable margin of oncological safety on the remaining liver. Additional results from larger series are advocated to confirm these preliminary data.

Abstract: Background: The first report of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) was published in 1999, and the indications were progressively implemented: from cytologically undetermined thyroid nodules to intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancers. The aim of this study was to review the entire series of patients who underwent a MIVAT, critically analyzing its indications and contraindications and trying to figure out how the indications might be extended. Methods: From 1998 to 2009, a total of 1,946 patients (1,659 females, 287 males; mean age = 40.2 years) underwent MIVAT in our department. Inclusion criteria were benign thyroid nodules <35 mm, malignant nodules <20 mm, and an ultrasonographically estimated thyroid volume (ETV) <25 cc. The presence of suspicious or metastatic lymph nodes and the presence of severe thyroiditis were considered a contraindication for MIVAT. Results: A total thyroidectomy was performed in 1,435 patients (72.3%). A total lobectomy was performed in 511 cases (26.3%), and a central neck node sampling was associated with total thyroidectomy in 104 cases. Final histology revealed benign disease in 979 cases (51.5%) and a malignancy was diagnosed in 915 cases (48.5%). Unexpected thyroiditis was found on final histology in 17.9% of the patients with benign disease and 30.9% of patients with malignancy. The incidence of thyroiditis was significantly different in these two populations (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our data confirm the validity of the traditional indications for MIVAT: low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), cytologically undetermined nodules, and small-volume benign thyroid disease. The indications may be further and safely extended to those patients with associated thyroiditis and those with intermediate-risk DTC. MIVAT can be proposed on a much larger scale than it was at its onset and cannot be considered an option for only a limited number of patients.

Abstract: Background: The complexity of pain from laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the need for treating incident pain provide rationale for multipharmacological analgesia. We investigated the preoperative administration of controlled-release (CR) oxycodone as transition opioid from remifentanil infusion for pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly, double-blindly assigned to treatment group (n = 25, CR oxycodone: 1 h before surgery and 12 h after the first administration) or to the control group (n = 25, placebo: administered at the same intervals). General anaesthesia was maintained with propofol and remifentanil target-controlled infusions (TCIs). All patients received ketorolac 30 mg i.v. Tramadol i.v. was administered for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) postoperatively. Numerical rating scale for pain at rest and at movement (NRSr and NRSi), tramadol consumption, times to readiness to surgery and awakening, times to modified Aldrete’s and modified Post-Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System (PADSS) >9 and side effects were evaluated. Results: All NRSr and NRSi and tramadol consumption were significantly lower in the treatment group. The oxycodone group showed higher modified Aldrete’s scores at each time and reached a PADSS >9 faster. Side effects and postoperative nausea and vomiting episodes were comparable. Conclusions: We demonstrated the success of a multipharmacological treatment including opioid premedication with CR oxycodone used as transition opioid for TCI remifentanil infusion; the treatment group showed lower pain scores and rescue analgesic consumption, shorter time to discharge from recovery room and from surgical ward, and the same incidence of side effects, comparably to controls.

Abstract: Background: Prophylactic surgery for patients carrying a positive RET proto-oncogene proved to be highly effective in curing those likely to experience the development of a medullary carcinoma. Video-assisted procedures have been proved feasible for central compartment dissection. Methods: A total of 15 patients (7 men and 8 women) with a positive RET proto-oncogene underwent total thyroidectomy and central compartment lymphadenectomy via a video-assisted approach. The mean age of the patients was 32.5 years. The echographically estimated mean volume was 10.3 ml, and the mean diameter of the main nodule was 8.8 mm. Preoperative ultrasound showed an absence of lateral neck lymph node involvement in all cases. No drain was used. Direct laryngoscopy was performed in all cases 1 month after surgery. Results: The mean operative time was 67.3 min. A transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in one patient, and a permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in another patient. No laryngeal nerve palsy was present. All the patients were discharged on postoperative day 1. Histology showed a medullary carcinoma in 10 patients and diffuse C-cell hyperplasia in 5 patients. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 5.1. None of these nodes proved to be metastatic. Calcitonin levels were undetectable in all six patients who had a follow-up period longer than 1 year. Conclusion: Video-assisted central compartment lymphadenectomy was proved to be effective and safe. The procedure demonstrated a complication rate comparable with that for the conventional procedure, a better cosmetic outcome, and less postoperative pain. Although the video-assisted access proved to be a valid option for the treatment of patients carrying a positive RET proto-oncogene, a greater number of cases with a longer follow-up period is necessary to estimate the impact of the video-assisted approach on central neck lymphadenectomy.

Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) has been practiced in our department since 1998. It has some advantages over conventional surgery in terms of postoperative pain and cosmetic result. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the Harmonic scalpel (HS) on the performance of this procedure. Between October 1998 and January 2001, 116 patients underwent MIVAT. The HS was used for the last 26 operations. We compared this group of patients (HS-G) with a control group (C-G) of 26 patients who had undergone MIVAT before the introduction of the HS. The following parameters were considered: age, gender, preoperative diagnosis, size of the lesion type of operation (lobectomy or total thyroidectomy), operative time, complication rate, and postoperative hospital stay. The two groups were well matched for age, gender, preoperative diagnosis, lesion size, and type of operation. The mean operative time was significantly reduced in the HS-G for both lobectomy (37.3±8.4 vs 49.4±18.0 min) and total thyroidectomy (53.8±16.3 vs 90.6±22.1 min). No differences were found for postoperative stay. One patient in the C-G experienced a transient recurrent nerve palsy. There were no other complications. This study showed that the utilization of the HS for MIVAT is safe and associated with a shorter operative time. A reduction of the rates for such complications such as hypoparathyroidism and recurrent nerve injuries was not possible to demonstrate in the present study. Much larger series are needed for further evaluation of this instrument.

Abstract: Background: This prospective, randomized study was designed to objectively demonstrate that minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) improves postoperative pain compared with standard thyroidectomy, via the dosage of biochemical mediators measured before and after surgery. Methods: Forty-nine patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were allotted to MIVAT (n = 23) or traditional thyroidectomy (OPEN) (n = 26) groups. At hospitalization (T0), interleukin (IL)-1, -2, -4, -6, -10, -3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, TGF-β, and MCP-1 were measured. The basal pain tolerance also was evaluated by VAS. Blood samples for interleukin measurement and VAS evaluations were obtained from all patients in the recovery room (T1) and 24 h after surgery (T2). Results: At T0, the MIVAT and the OPEN groups were not different in terms of basal pain tolerance and biochemical profile. At T1, VAS scores were significantly higher (p = 0.04), whereas TGF-β (p = 0.03) and MCP-1 (p = 0.03) levels were significantly lower in the OPEN than in the MIVAT group. No significant difference was demonstrated for other interleukins. A significant inverse relationship between VAS and TGF-β was demonstrated and confirmed through the correlation (p = 0.003) and regression (p = 0.003, p < 0.0001, R 2 = 0.172) coefficients; the stepwise regression also demonstrated that TGF was the most predictive factor of postoperative pain (p = 0.0038) through an inverse relationship. No statistically significant difference has been demonstrated at T2. Conclusions: TGF-β serum levels immediately after surgery seem to correlate with pain evaluation, confirming that reduced postoperative distress is an objective outcome of MIVAT. This result confirms the results of studies based only on subjective pain evaluations.

Abstract: Background: Quick intraoperative parathormone assay (qPTHa) during paratyroidectomy has become a standard procedure for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). This paper aims to compare endoscopic bilateral neck exploration (BE) versus focused parathyroidectomy plus qPTHa during minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy (QM). The endpoints of the study are the mean operative time and outcome of the surgical procedure (PTH and calcemia normalization at one and six months postoperatively). Methods: Forty patients with PHPT, positive to preoperative localization studies (ultrasonography evaluation and 99Tc-MIBI scan) for a single parathyroid adenoma, were randomly allotted into two groups. In the first group (QM), 20 patients (17 women, three men, mean age 57.6 years) underwent focused endoscopic parathyroidectomy (MIVAP tecnicque) plus qPTHa . In the second group (BE) 20 patients (17 women, three men, mean age 59.6 years) underwent endoscopic parathyroidectomy plus bilateral exploration in order to check the integrity of the remaining glands. Results: There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. No conversion to cervicotomy was required. No postoperative complications were reported. The mean operative time was 32.0 vs 33.1 min [BE and QM group respectively, p = not significant (ns)]. A second macroscopically enlarged gland was removed in four patients in the BE group. Only one out of four glands was reported to be hyperplastic in the final histology. All patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. Calcemia levels were normalized in all patient of both groups, despite persistently high level of serum PTH in one patient in the QM group. Conclusions: BE can be performed endoscopically, avoiding both the time necessary for qPTHa and its cost, with the same effectiveness, but might in few cases lead to the unjustified removal of parathyroid glands slightly enlarged but not necessarily pathologic.