Same Day Discharge Following Elective, Minimally Invasive, Colorectal Surgery : A Review of Enhanced Recovery Protocols and Early Outcomes by the Sages Colorectal Surgical Committee With Recommendations Regarding Patient Selection, Remote Monitoring, and Successful Implementation

BACKGROUND: As enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) have continued to evolve, the length of hospitalization (LOS) following elective minimally invasive colorectal surgery has continued to decline. Further refinements in multimodal perioperative pain management strategies have resulted in reduced opioid consumption. The interest in ambulatory colectomy has dramatically accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Severe restrictions in hospital capacity and fear of COVID transmission forced surgical teams to rethink strategies to further reduce length of inpatient stay. METHODS: Members of the SAGES Colorectal Surgery Committee began reviewing the emergence of SDD protocols and early publications for SDD in 2019. The authors met at regular intervals during 2020-2022 period reviewing SDD protocols, safe patient selection criteria, surrogates for postoperative monitoring, and early outcomes. RESULTS: Early experience with SDD protocols for elective, minimally invasive colorectal surgery suggests that SDD is feasible and safe in well-selected patients and procedures. SDD protocols are associated with reduced opioid use and prescribing. Patient perception and experience with SDD is favourable. For early adopters, SDD has been the natural evolution of well-developed ERPs. Like all ERPs, SDD begins in the office setting, identifying the correct patient and procedure, aligning goals and objectives, and the perioperative education of the patient and their supporting significant others. A thorough discussion with the patient regarding expected activity levels, oral intake, and pain control post operatively lays the foundation for a successful application of SDD programs. These observations may not apply to all patient populations, institutions, practice types, or within the scope of an existing ERP. However, if the underlying principles of SDD can be incorporated into an existing institutional ERP, it may further reduce the incidence of post operative ileus, prolonged LOS, and improve the effectiveness of oral analgesia for postoperative pain management and reduced opioid use and prescribing. CONCLUSIONS: The SAGES Colorectal Surgery Committee has performed a comprehensive review of the early experience with SDD. This manuscript summarizes SDD early results and considerations for safe and stepwise implementation of SDD with a specific focus on ERP evolution, patient selection, remote monitoring, and other relevant considerations based on hospital settings and surgical practices

Perfusion Assessment in Laparoscopic Left-Sided/Anterior Resection (PILLAR II): A Multi-Institutional Study

BackgroundOur primary objective was to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of the intraoperative assessment of colon and rectal perfusion using fluorescence angiography (FA) during left-sided colectomy and anterior resection. Anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal resection increases morbidity, mortality, and, in cancer cases, recurrence rates. Inadequate perfusion may contribute to AL. The PINPOINT Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System allows for intraoperative assessment of anastomotic perfusion.Study DesignThis is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, clinical trial that assessed the feasibility and utility of FA for intraoperative perfusion assessment during left-sided colectomy and anterior resection at 11 centers in the United States.ResultsA total of 147 patients were enrolled, of whom 139 were eligible for analysis. Diverticulitis (44%), rectal cancer (25%), and colon cancer (21%) were the most prevalent indications for surgery. The mean level of anastomosis was 10 ± 4 cm from the anal verge. Splenic-flexure mobilization was performed in 81% and high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery in 61.9% of patients. There was a 99% success rate for FA, and FA changed surgical plans in 11 (8%) patients, with the majority of changes occurring at the time of transection of the proximal margin (7%). Overall morbidity rates were 17%. The anastomotic leak rate was 1.4% (n = 2). There were no anastomotic leaks in the 11 patients who had a change in surgical plan based on intraoperative perfusion assessment with FA.ConclusionsPINPOINT is a safe and feasible tool for intraoperative assessment of tissue perfusion during colorectal resection. There were no anastomotic leaks in patients in whom the anastomosis was revised based on inadequate perfusion with FA

Functional Disorders: Rectoanal Intussusception

Rectoanal intussusception (RI) is a telescoping of the rectal wall during defecation. RI is an easily recognizable physiologic phenomenon on defecography. The management, however, is much more controversial. Two predominant hypotheses exist regarding the etiology of RI: RI as a primary disorder, and RI as a secondary phenomenon. The diagnosis may be suspected based on clinical symptoms of obstructive defecation. Diagnostic modalities include defecography as the gold standard. Dynamic pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (DPMRI) and transperineal ultrasound are attractive alternatives to defecography; however, their sensitivity is poor in comparison to the gold standard at this time. Management strategies including conservative measures such as biofeedback and surgical procedures including mucosal proctectomy (Delorme), rectopexy, and stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) procedures have varied degrees of efficacy

Women in surgery: bright, sharp, brave, and temperate.

Women make up an increasing proportion of students entering the medical profession. Before 1970, women represented 6% or less of the medical student population. In drastic contrast, nearly half of first-time applicants to medical schools in 2011 were women. However, the ratio of women to men is less balanced among graduates from surgical residencies and among leadership positions in surgery. Less than 20% of full professor, tenured faculty, and departmental head positions are currently held by women. However, this disparity may resolve with time as more women who entered the field in the 1980s emerge as mature surgeons and leaders. The aim of this article is to review the history of women in surgery and to highlight individual and institutional creative modifications that can promote the advancement of women in surgery. A secondary aim of the article is to add some levity to the discussion with personal anecdotes representing the primary author\u27s (ECM) personal opinions, biases, and reflections

Variation of outcome and charges in operative management for diverticulitis

Outcomes after surgery for diverticulitis are of continued interest to improve quality of care. The aim of this study was to assess variations in mortality, length of stay, and patient charges between geographic regions of the United States. A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was performed. Adults with diverticulitis who underwent laparoscopic or open segmental colectomy were identified using ICD-9 codes. Subset analyses were performed by state and then compared. Outcomes included mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total charges. Results were adjusted for age, race, gender, findings of peritonitis, stoma placement, Charlson comorbidity index, and insurance status on multivariate analysis. 148,874 patients underwent segmental colectomy for diverticulitis from 1998 to 2010. Using California as the comparison state and after adjusting for covariates, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the State of New York (OR 1.32; 95 % CI 1.13-1.55; P 40 years, findings of peritonitis, and without private insurance had higher in-hospital mortality and longer length of stay. Average hospital charges differed dramatically between the states in the observation period. The highest hospital charges occurred in California, Nebraska, and Nevada while lowest occurred in Maryland, Wisconsin and Utah. Patients who undergo surgical treatment for diverticulitis in the United States have high geographic variation in mortality, LOS, and hospital charges despite adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Further analysis should be performed to identify the causes of outlier regions, with the goal of improving and standardizing best practices

Incidence and survival patterns of rare anal canal neoplasms using the surveillance epidemiology and end results registry.

Small cell, neuroendocrine tumors, and melanoma of the anus are rare. Limited data exist on the incidence and management for these rare tumors. A large, prospective, population-based database was used to determine incidence and survival patterns of rare anal neoplasms. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry was queried to identify patients diagnosed with anal canal neoplasms. Incidence and survival patterns were evaluated with respect to age, sex, race, histology, stage, and therapy. We identified 7078 cases of anal canal neoplasms: melanoma (n = 149), neuroendocrine (n = 61), and small cell neuroendocrine (n = 26). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 6842) served as the comparison group. Anal melanoma (AM) demonstrated the lowest survival rate at 2.5 per cent. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) demonstrated similar survival as SCC (10-year survival for regional disease of 25 and 22.3%, respectively). Ten-year survival of small cell NETs resembled AM (5.3 vs 2.5%). Age 60 years or older, sex, black race, stage, and surgery were independent predictors of survival. This study presents the largest patient series of rare anal neoplasms. NETs of the anal canal demonstrate similar survival patterns to SCC, whereas small cell NETs more closely resemble AM. Accurate histologic diagnosis is vital to determine treatment and surgical management because survival patterns can differ among rare anal neoplasms

New Disposable Transanal Endoscopic Surgery Platform: Longer Channel, Longer Reach

Abstract: Background: Transanal endoscopic surgical (TES) resection using rigid transanal platforms (TEM, TEO) is associated with improved outcomes compared to traditional transanal excision (TAE) of rectal lesions. An alternative technique using a disposable single incision surgery platform was developed in 2009, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), resulting in a surge in interest and access to transanal access platforms to perform TES. However, compared to rigid transanal access platforms, the disposable platforms do not facilitate internal rectal retraction and have limited proximal reach. A new long channel disposable transanal access platform has been developed (15 cm in length, 4 cm in width) thereby facilitating endoluminal surgical access to the upper rectum and rectosigmoid colon. Methods: This is a retrospective case series report. Patient demographics and peri-operative outcome variables were recorded. The Gelpoint Path Long Channel was utilized in three patients with proximal rectal lesions that were not accessible using a standard disposable transanal access platform.Results: Three patients underwent TES excision of rectal adenomas using a long channel, disposable, transanal access platform. All patients were female, aged 51 – 53, BMI 23-32 kg/m2. The tumor size ranged from 2.4 – 8.5 cm, 15-100% circumference, and proximal location from the dentate line ranged from 9 – 11 cm. Final pathology revealed adenoma with negative margins in all three cases. The hospital length of stay ranged from 1 – 3 days and there were no perioperative complications. None of the patients have developed a local recurrence during the follow up period ranging from 5 – 11 months.Conclusions: The new long channel, disposable, transanal access platform facilitates transanal endoluminal surgical removal of lesions in the mid to upper rectum that may be difficult to reach using the standard disposable transanal access devices. We have successfully achieved 100% margin negative rate using this new device in this small series of patients with proximal rectal adenomas

Foramen of Winslow hernia: a minimally invasive approach

Hernias through the foramen of Winslow comprise 8 % of all internal hernias and the majority contain incarcerated bowel. Clinical signs are often non-specific and delay in diagnosis associated with a mortality rate that approaches 50 %. Management is urgent surgical reduction with bowel decompression and resection of devitalized bowel. A foramen of Winslow hernia (FWH) has traditionally been managed via an exploratory laparotomy incision and the vast majority of cases describe an open approach. We describe a minimally invasive approach to the management of an incarcerated FWH requiring decompression and bowel resection