Search

Background The potential benefits of robotic-assisted compared with laparoscopic surgery for locally advanced cancer have not been sufficiently proven by prospective studies. One factor is speculated to be the lack of strict surgeon criteria. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes for robotic surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with strict surgeon experience criteria. Methods A criterion was set requiring surgeons to have performed more than 40 robotically assisted operations for rectal cancer. Between March 2020 and May 2022, patients with rectal cancer (distance from the anal verge of 12 cm or less, cT2–T4a, cN0–N3, cM0, or cT1–T4a, cN1–N3, cM0) were registered. The primary endpoint was the rate positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) from the pathological specimen. Secondary endpoints were surgical outcomes, pathological results, postoperative complications, and longterm outcomes. Results Of the 321 registered patients, 303 were analysed, excluding 18 that were ineligible. At diagnosis: stage I (n = 68), stage II (n = 84) and stage III (n = 151). Neoadjuvant therapy was used in 56 patients. There were no conversions to open surgery. The median console time to rectal resection was 170 min, and the median blood loss was 5 ml. Fourteen patients had a positive CRM (4.6%). Grade III-IV postoperative complications were observed in 13 patients (4.3%). Conclusion Robotic-assisted surgery is feasible for locally advanced rectal cancer when strict surgeon criteria are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loop ileostomy is a common surgical procedure but is associated with complications such as outlet obstruction (OO), parastomal hernia (PH), and high-output stoma (HOS). This study aimed to identify risk factors for these complications, as well as their causal relationships. Methods: The study included 188 consecutive patients who underwent loop ileostomy between April 2016 and September 2021. Clinical factors and postoperative stoma-related complications (OO, HOS, and PH) were analyzed retrospectively. Stoma-related factors were evaluated using specific measurements from computed tomography (CT) scans. The incidence, clinical course, and risk factors for the stoma-related complications were investigated. Results: OO was diagnosed in 28 cases (15.7%), PH in 60 (32%), and HOS in 57 (31.8%). A small longitudinal stoma diameter at the rectus abdominis level on CT and a right-sided stoma were significantly associated with OO. Creation of an ileostomy for anastomotic leakage was independently associated with HOS. Higher body weight and a large longitudinal stoma diameter at the rectus abdominis level on CT were significantly associated with PH. There was a significant relationship between the occurrence of OO and HOS. However, the association between OO and PH was marginal. Conclusion: This study identified key risk factors for OO, HOS, and PH as complications of loop ileostomy and their causal relationships. Our findings provide insights that may guide the prevention and management of complications related to loop ileostomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: The safety of laparoscopic liver resection in super‐elderly patients with comorbidities is unknown. We used propensity score matching to evaluate the utility and safety of laparoscopic liver resection in super‐elderly patients. Methods: Two‐hundred and five patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection were retrospectively reviewed. They were classified into two groups based on age: ≥80 years (elderly group, n = 49) and <80 years (control group, n = 156). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed based on preoperative clinical parameters. The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared. Results: After matching, 45 patients were included in each group. The intraoperative blood loss was identical between the control and elderly groups (60 vs 60 mL, respectively, P =.588); the frequency of serious postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo class ≥3, 1/45 vs 1/45, P = 1.00) was also similar. There was no significant difference in terms of the exacerbation of malignancy (22.2% vs 11.1%, P =.258) or other diseases (8.9% vs 22.2%, P =.144). There was no difference in overall survival before and after PSM. However, 5‐year overall survival excluding primary cancer‐related death showed a difference after PSM (90.7% vs 70.4%; P =.048). Conclusions: Laparoscopic liver resection is feasible and safe in super‐elderly patients. The long‐term prognosis was poor in patients affected by other illnesses compared to the younger population with similar risk profiles, but there was no difference in overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transanal and transperineal endoscopic approaches are useful advanced surgical options for removing rectal and anorectal cancers. Intraoperative carbon dioxide (CO2) embolisms, however, have been increasingly reported as potentially fatal complications associated with surgery employing these approaches. We report our experience with a CO2 embolism that was detected because of a sudden drop in end‐tidal CO2 with decreasing saturation of percutaneous arterial oxygen during total pelvic exenteration using the transperineal endoscopic approach under pneumopelvis/pneumoperitoneum. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed that it was a CO2 embolus. We reversed the pneumopelvis and pneumoperitoneum, which alleviated the cardiopulmonary problems, and the surgery then proceeded to achieve R0 resection. The patient was discharged without severe complications other than the CO2 embolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Appropriate bacterial infection control in the perioperative period of a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is important to prevent and manage serious complications including postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). In the present study, the clinical impact of bacterial contamination of intra-abdominal discharge on the rate of POPF after PD was analysed retrospectively.Materials and Methods: The data for 82 consecutive patients who had undergone PD at our hospital between January 2009 and July 2014 were retrospectively analysed to review patient characteristics and perioperative and postoperative parameters. We compared the clinicopathologic features between patients with bacterial contamination of drainage fluid and those without bacterial contamination of drainage fluid. We also examined the relationship between POPF and bacterial contamination of drainage fluid, according to the bacterial strain involved.Results: The incidence of Grade B/C POPF was significantly higher in the bacterial contamination positive group than in the bacterial contamination negative group (44.0% vs. 0.0%; p < 0.001). Soft gland texture and bacterial contamination of intra-abdominal discharge were found to be risk factors for POPF (odds ratio: 9.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-409.46 and odds ratio: 43.94, 95% confidence interval: 5.72-1992.04, respectively). The incidence of Grade B/C POPF was significantly higher in patients harbouring Pseudomonas aeruginosa than in patients harbouring bacteria other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p = 0.005).Conclusion: Bacterial contamination of intra-abdominal discharge is a risk factor for the development of pancreatic fistulae. Cases involving contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa warrant extreme caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fluorescence technology with indocyanine green (ICG) provides a real-time assessment of intestinal perfusion. However, a subjective evaluation of fluorescence intensity based on the surgeon's visual judgement is a major limitation. This study evaluated the quantitative assessment of ICG fluorescence imaging in determining the transection line of the proximal colon during laparoscopic colorectal surgery.Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of 112 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colorectal cancers. After distal transection of the bowel, the specimen was extracted extracorporeally and then the proximal colon was divided within the well-perfused area based on the ICG fluorescence imaging. We evaluated whether quantitative assessment of intestinal perfusion by measuring ICG intensity could predict postoperative outcomes: F max, T max, T 1/2, and Slope were calculated.Results: Anastomotic leakage (AL) occurred in 5 cases (4.5%). Based on the fluorescence imaging, the surgical team opted for further proximal change of the transection line up to an "adequate" fluorescent portion in 18 cases (16.1%). Among the 18 patients, AL occurred in 4 patients (4/18: 22.2%), whereas it occurred in only 1 case (1/94: 1.0%) in the good perfusion patients who did not need proximal change of the transection line. The F max of the AL group was less than 52.0 in all 5 cases (5/5), whereas that of the non-AL group was in only 8 cases (8/107): with an F max cutoff value of 52.0, the sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of AL were 100 and 92.5%, respectively. Regarding postoperative bowel movement recovery, the T max of the early flatus group or early defecation group was significantly lower than that of the late flatus group or late defecation group, respectively.Conclusions: ICG fluorescence imaging is useful for assessing anastomotic perfusion in colorectal surgery, which can result in more precise operative decisions tailored for an individual patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decreased blood perfusion is an important risk factor for postoperative anastomotic leakage (AL). Fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) provides a real-time assessment of intestinal perfusion. This study evaluated the utility of ICG fluorescence imaging in determining the transection line of the proximal colon during laparoscopic colorectal surgery with double stapling technique (DST) anastomosis.Methods: This was a prospective single-institution study of 68 patients with left-sided colorectal cancers who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery between August 2013 and December 2014. After distal transection of the bowel, the specimen was extracted extracorporeally and then the mesentery was divided along the planned transection line determined by the surgeons' judgement under normal q. After ICG was injected intravenously, intestinal perfusion of the proximal colon was assessed in the fluorescent imaging mode. Intestinal perfusion was examined in relation to the patient-, tumor- and surgery-related variables using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: ICG fluorescence imaging showed that intestinal perfusion was present at 3 mm (median) distal to the initially planned transection line. ICG fluorescence imaging resulted in a proximal change of the transection line by more than 5 mm in 18 patients (26.5 %) and, particularly, by more than 50 mm in 3 patients (4.4 %), compared with the initially planned transection line. Univariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus, anticoagulation therapy, preoperative chemotherapy and operative time were significantly associated with poor intestinal perfusion. Multivariate analysis identified anticoagulation therapy (P = 0.021) and preoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.019) as independent risk factors for poor intestinal perfusion. Three patients (4.5 %) with a change of transection line developed AL.Conclusions: ICG fluorescence imaging is useful for determining the transection line in laparoscopic colorectal surgery with DST anastomosis. Anticoagulation therapy and preoperative chemotherapy are important risk factors for poor intestinal perfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effect of intraoperative blood loss (IBL) on short- and long-term outcomes of colorectal cancer surgery for very elderly patients. Methods: We acquired the data of consecutive patients aged 80 years or older who underwent elective radical surgery for stage I to III colorectal cancer between January 2003 and December 2007 in 41 institutions. The patients were divided into high and low IBL groups, and the differences in postoperative morbidity and survival between the two groups were primarily assessed. Eleven factors were treated as potential confounders in multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 1554 patients were eligible for this study, with an age range of 80-103 years. Median IBL was 71 ml (interquartile range, 25 to 200 ml), and 412 patients had IBL ≥200 ml. Morbidity was 46 % among patients with IBL ≥200 ml, compared with 30 % among those with IBL <200 ml ( p < 0.001). Patients with IBL ≥200 ml had worse overall survival rates and recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years than those with IBL <200 ml. In multivariate analyses, IBL ≥200 ml was identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative adverse events (odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.08 to 1.86), overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 1.34, 95 % CI 1.04 to 1.72), and recurrence-free survival (HR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.03 to 1.62). Conclusion: The degree of IBL is significantly associated with postoperative morbidity and survival in very elderly colorectal cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Local excision (LE) is used in early rectal cancer and other pathologies for diagnostic purposes and curative treatment, as well as for palliative surgery in patients who are medically unfit for radical resection. Recently, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) has been increasingly accepted as a means for performing LE. Here, we present a TAMIS technique for LE to which endoscopic submucosal dissection was applied. Materials and Surgical Technique: We used conventional laparoscopic instruments, including a 10‐mm 30° camera. A GelPOINT Path® was introduced into the anal canal to maintain stable pneumorectum and valve‐free access. After injecting MucoUp® (SI‐4404) into the submucosal layer at the edge of the tumor, we marked dots on the mucosa with cautery using the point of the monopolar diathermy L‐hook; we then performed circumferential mucosal incision and submucosal dissection. The remaining defects do not always have to be sutured. Discussion: TAMIS for LE was performed for seven patients with no postoperative complication and mortality. One lesion required full‐thickness resection, one lesion required partial full‐thickness resection, and five lesions were dissected completely beneath the submucosal layer. Based on the pathological results, three patients underwent conventional radical resections. One patient had local recurrence at the 8‐month follow‐up and underwent endoscopic mucosal resection. TAMIS may be a promising option for LE that provides acceptable oncological outcomes and benefits to quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The laparoscopic approach is accepted as a treatment option for patients with ulcerative colitis ( UC) who are otherwise in good health. However, its application for patients with severe UC remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the laparoscopic approach for severe UC cases. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes after laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were compared between severe and mild-to-intermediate UC patients. Methods Cases treated between March 2002 and September 2010 were retrieved retrospectively from the database of Kyoto Medical Center and Kyoto University Hospital. Intraoperative complications and short- and long-term clinical outcomes were compared. Results A total of 31 patients underwent laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. A comparison of short- and long-term clinical outcomes after one- or two-stage laparoscopic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis between severe ( n = 7) and mild-to-intermediate ( n = 21) UC patients revealed no significant differences. The proportion of patients with restoration of intestinal continuity did not differ between the groups (severe: 86%, mild to intermediate: 95%; P = 0.69). Conclusion The present findings suggest that laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for severe UC patients could be a good alternative approach when performed by an experienced hand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One prerequisite for the safe stapling of anastomoses is the formation of perfectly aligned B-shaped staples. Using an animal model, this study investigated whether precompression enhances secure staple formation. Methods: A 45-mm linear stapler with a blue cartridge (staple leg length, 3.5 mm) was used on three portions each of six porcine stomachs (cardia, center, and pylorus). Staple shape and height were examined according to the precompression time (0, 1, or 5 min) before firing. The shape was classified as optimal or suboptimal, and the heights of the staples were measured individually. The completeness of the proximal staple lines also was compared with the distal lines. Results: The optimal staple rate in the 5-min group (52.7%) was significantly higher than in the 1-min group (28.7%; p < 0.001) or the 0-min group (17.1%; p = 0.002). The optimal staple rate in the 5-min group for the cardiac portion (mean wall thickness, 2.7 mm) reached 98.9%. However, this rate was less than 50% in the center (5.3 mm) and pylorus (4.2 mm) portions regardless of the precompression time. Compared with the root side, the top side of the cartridge had a lower optimal rate (45.3 vs. 18.7%; p < 0.001). A high correlation of completeness was observed between the distal and proximal sides of the stump. Conclusions: When a linear stapling device is used, proper staple formation is correlated with intestinal wall thickness, and a sufficient amount of precompression time is effective for gaining the secure staple formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for hilar bile duct cancer. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of surgical management of hilar bile duct carcinoma, including radical hepatectomy, at a single institution. We performed a retrospective review of 49 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at our hospital between 1990 and 2003. Altogether, 44 of 49 patients underwent radical hepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy and lymphadenectomy. One and four patients underwent partial hepatectomy or bile duct resection, respectively. No patients underwent preoperative portal vein embolization. The 5-year survival rate was 39.7%, with a median survival time of 3.75 years. The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 46.8% and 2.0%, respectively. Cox’s proportional hazard model revealed that lymph node status and the residual tumor factor were independent prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative hyperbilirubinemia, postoperative complications, and extended surgical procedures were independently associated with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia. After potentially curative resection, 39.4% of patients suffered from disease recurrence. In 60% of the total cases, the sites of recurrence were distant metastases. Surgery, including radical hepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy and lymph node dissection, is a feasible, effective treatment for hilar bile duct cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although laparoscopic surgery is one of the treatment options for colorectal cancer, certain technical problems remain unresolved for the radical dissection of regional lymph nodes (LNs), which is essential to improve treatment outcome. We present a safe procedure for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy to dissect the regional LNs along the superior mesenteric vein (SMV). The key characteristic of our procedure is that all right and middle colic vessels are cut along the surgical trunk using only a medial approach. First, the pedicle of ileocolic vessels is identified and the mesocolon is dissected between the pedicle and the periphery of the SMV to expose the second portion of the duodenum. The ileocolic vessels are then cut at their roots. The ascending mesocolon is separated from the retroperitoneal tissues, duodenum, and pancreatic head up to the hepatocolic ligament cranially. The important detail in this procedure is the wide separation between the pancreatic head and the transverse mesocolon. This procedure uncovers the course of the right colic artery, veins, and the gastrocolic trunk. The right colic artery and veins can then be safely cut at their roots. For an extended right hemicolectomy, the middle colic vessels can easily be identified below the lower edge of the pancreas and cut at their roots. We performed curative resections in this manner for 16 consecutive patients with advanced right-sided colon cancer without any serious intraoperative complications. The median number of retrieved lymph nodes was 31 (range = 9-57). The median operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 274 min (range = 147-431 min) and 45 g (range = 0-120 g), respectively. The postoperative course of all patients was uneventful. Four of 16 patients had node-positive disease. With a median follow-up period of 272 days, all patients are alive without recurrence. We consider this a safe method for radical LN dissection during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00464-007-9305-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]