Minimally invasive surgery and cancer: controversies part 1

Perhaps there is no more important issue in the care of surgical patients than the appropriate use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for patients with cancer. Important advances in surgical technique have an impact on early perioperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, pain management, and quality of life issues, as clearly proved with MIS. However, for oncology patients, historically, the most important clinical questions have been answered in the context of prospective randomized trials. Important considerations for MIS and cancer have been addressed, such as what are the important immunologic consequences of MIS versus open surgery and what is the role of laparoscopy in the staging of gastrointestinal cancers? This review article discusses many of the key controversies in the minimally invasive treatment of cancer using the pro–con debate format

Cirurgia colorretal videolaparoscópica: experiência inicial na abordagem de 90 pacientes, no Programa de Pós-graduação sensu lato (residência e especialização) em Coloproctologia, pelo Grupo de Coloproctologia de Belo Horizonte Videolaparoscopic colorectal surgery: initial report of surgical approach of 90 patients in a Postgraduate Program (residency) in Coloproctology by the Group of Coloproctology of Belo Horizonte

O objetivo do trabalho foi proceder a uma revisão criteriosa de uma casuística de 90 pacientes submetidos às ressecções colorretais por via videolaparoscópica no decurso de 12 meses (maio de 2009 a maio de 2010). A média etária foi de 62,1 anos, com extremos de 20 e 93 anos, sendo a maioria dos pacientes do sexo feminino (52; 57,8%). O diagnóstico mais comum foi câncer colorretal, com 60 casos (66,7%), seguido pelos pólipos colorretais, com 12 casos (13,4%), doença diverticular, com sete casos (7,8%), e outros diagnósticos, com 11 casos (12,1%). O preparo intestinal mais realizado foi com o Picolax (53 casos; 58,9%); 76 pacientes foram submetidos à colonoscopia e biópsia (84,4%). As cirurgias mais realizadas foram as retossigmoidectomias (54 casos; 60,0%), seguidas pelas hemicolectomias direitas (20 casos; 22,2%). O tempo de execução da maioria das cirurgias foi entre duas e três horas (34 casos; 37,8%) e entre três e quatro horas (24 casos, 26,7%), com média de 203 minutos. Em 81 casos, houve anastomoses (90,0%), a maioria mecânica intra-abdominal (55,6%) e manual extra-abdominal (25 casos; 27,8%), tendo sido o conjunto de grampeadores circulares e lineares articulados os recursos mais utilizados (50 casos; 55,6%). O eletrocautério foi usado em 68 pacientes (75,6%). A incisão abdominal mais usada foi a de Mallard (39 casos, 43,4%) e a mediana (22 casos; 24,4%), sendo as extensões mais comuns entre 6 e 10 cm (55 casos; 78,6%). Houve 12 intercorrências peroperatórias (13,2%), que levaram a conversões para laparotomia. A média de dimensões das peças cirúrgicas foi 33,2 cm, a maioria entre 21 e 30 cm (51 casos, 56,8%). Houve 13 complicações pós-operatórias (14,4%), 11 delas cirúrgicas (12,2%) e duas clínicas (2,2%), das quais decorreram três óbitos, sendo dois cirúrgicos e um clínico. O tempo médio de internamento foi de 5,3 dias, tendo sido 57 (63,3%) a até cinco dias. Foram para o CTI 28 pacientes (31,1%), sobretudo por conta de comorbidades (22 casos; 24,4%). A liberação de dieta oral foi de um dia para 49 pacientes (54,5%). Os autores comparam os resultados com a bibliografia correlata.<br>The objective was to undertake a careful review of a sample of 90 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal resections through the course of 12 months (May 2009 to May 2010). The average age was 62.1 years, with extremes of 20 and 93 years, mostly female (52 patients; 57.8%). Bowel preparation was performed with Picolax in 53 patients (58.9%); 76 patients underwent colonoscopy and biopsy (84.4%). Colorectal cancer was the most common disease (60 cases; 66.7%), followed by polyps (12 cases; 13.4%), diverticular disease (7 cases; 7.8%) and other diseases (11 cases; 12,1%). The surgeries performed were retosigmoidectomy (54 cases; 60.0%), followed by right hemicolectomy (20 cases; 22.2%) and others. Most of the surgeries were carried out between 2 and 3 hours (34 cases; 37.8%) and between 3 and 4 hours (24 cases; 26.7%), with an average of 203 minutes. In 81 cases, there were anastomosis (90.0%), most mechanical intra-abdominal (55.6%) and manual extra-abdominal (25 cases, 27.8%), being the set of circular and linear articulated staplers the most commonly used features (50 cases, 55.6%). Electrocautery was used in 68 patients (75.6%). The most used abdominal incision was Mallard incision (39 cases; 43.4%) and median incision (22 cases; 24.4%), being the most common extensions between 6.0 and 10.0 cm (55 cases; 78.6%). There were 12 postoperative complications (13.2%), leading to conversions to laparotomy. The average size of surgical specimens was 33.2 cm, mostly between 21 and 30 cm (51 cases; 56.8%). There were 13 postoperative complications (14.4%), being 11 surgical (12.2%) and two clinics (2.2%) of which took place three deaths, being two from surgery and one from comorbidities. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.3 days, and 57 patients (63.3%) up to 5 days. 28 patients were admitted in the ICU (31.1%), mainly because of comorbidities (22 cases; 24.4%). The release of oral intake was a day for 49 patients (54.5%). The authors compare the results with related literature and confirm the similarities