Performance with robotic surgery versus 3D-and 2D-laparoscopy during pancreatic and biliary anastomoses in a biotissue model: pooled analysis of two randomized trials

Background Robotic surgery may improve surgical performance during minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy as compared to 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy but comparative studies are lacking. This study assessed the impact of robotic surgery versus 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy on surgical performance and operative time using a standardized biotissue model for pancreatico- and hepatico-jejunostomy using pooled data from two randomized controlled crossover trials (RCTs). Methods Pooled analysis of data from two RCTs with 60 participants (36 surgeons, 24 residents) from 11 countries (December 2017-July 2019) was conducted. Each included participant completed two pancreatico- and two hepatico-jejunostomies in biotissue using 3D-robotic surgery, 3D-laparoscopy, or 2D-laparoscopy. Primary outcomes were the objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS: 12-60) rating, scored by observers blinded for 3D/2D and the operative time required to complete both anastomoses. Sensitivity analysis excluded participants with excess experience compared to others. Results A total of 220 anastomoses were completed (robotic 80, 3D-laparoscopy 70, 2D-laparoscopy 70). Participants in the robotic group had less surgical experience [median 1 (0-2) versus 6 years (4-12), p < 0.001], as compared to the laparoscopic group. Robotic surgery resulted in higher OSATS ratings (50, 43, 39 points, p = .021 and p < .001) and shorter operative time (56.5, 65.0, 81.5 min, p = .055 and p < .001), as compared to 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy, respectively, which remained in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusion In a pooled analysis of two RCTs in a biotissue model, robotic surgery resulted in better surgical performance scores and shorter operative time for biotissue pancreatic and biliary anastomoses, as compared to 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy.Surgical oncolog

The feasibility, proficiency, and mastery learning curves in 635 robotic pancreatoduodenectomies following a multicenter training program: "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants"

Objective: To assess the feasibility, proficiency, and mastery learning curves for robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) in "second-generation" RPD centers following a multicenter training program adhering to the IDEAL framework.Background: The long learning curves for RPD reported from "pioneering" expert centers may discourage centers interested in starting an RPD program. However, the feasibility, proficiency, and mastery learning curves may be shorter in "second-generation" centers that participated in dedicated RPD training programs, although data are lacking. We report on the learning curves for RPD in "second-generation" centers trained in a dedicated nationwide program.Methods: Post hoc analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing RPD in 7 centers that participated in the LAELAPS-3 training program, each with a minimum annual volume of 50 pancreatoduodenectomies, using the mandatory Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Audit (March 2016-December 2021). Cumulative sum analysis determined cutoffs for the 3 learning curves: operative time for the feasibility (1) risk-adjusted major complication (Clavien-Dindo grade >= III) for the proficiency, (2) and textbook outcome for the mastery, (3) learning curve. Outcomes before and after the cutoffs were compared for the proficiency and mastery learning curves. A survey was used to assess changes in practice and the most valued "lessons learned."Results: Overall, 635 RPD were performed by 17 trained surgeons, with a conversion rate of 6.6% (n=42). The median annual volume of RPD per center was 22.56.8. From 2016 to 2021, the nationwide annual use of RPD increased from 0% to 23% whereas the use of laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy decreased from 15% to 0%. The rate of major complications was 36.9% (n=234), surgical site infection 6.3% (n=40), postoperative pancreatic fistula (grade B/C) 26.9% (n=171), and 30-day/in-hospital mortality 3.5% (n=22). Cutoffs for the feasibility, proficiency, and mastery learning curves were reached at 15, 62, and 84 RPD. Major morbidity and 30-day/in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly before and after the cutoffs for the proficiency and mastery learning curves. Previous experience in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy shortened the feasibility (-12 RPDs, -44%), proficiency (-32 RPDs, -34%), and mastery phase learning curve (-34 RPDs, -23%), but did not improve clinical outcome.Conclusions: The feasibility, proficiency, and mastery learning curves for RPD at 15, 62, and 84 procedures in "second-generation" centers after a multicenter training program were considerably shorter than previously reported from "pioneering" expert centers. The learning curve cutoffs and prior laparoscopic experience did not impact major morbidity and mortality. These findings demonstrate the safety and value of a nationwide training program for RPD in centers with sufficient volume.Surgical oncolog

Peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin: Incidence, prognosis and treatment options

Contains fulltext : 109022.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is one manifestation of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumor growth on intestinal surfaces and associated fluid accumulation eventually result in bowel obstruction and incapacitating levels of ascites, which profoundly affect the quality of life for affected patients. PC appears resistant to traditional 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, and surgery was formerly reserved for palliative purposes only. In the absence of effective treatment, the historical prognosis for these patients was extremely poor, with an invariably fatal outcome. These poor outcomes likely explain why PC secondary to CRC has received little attention from oncologic researchers. Thus, data are lacking regarding incidence, clinical disease course, and accurate treatment evaluation for patients with PC. Recently, population-based studies have revealed that PC occurs relatively frequently among patients with CRC. Risk factors for developing PC have been identified: right-sided tumor, advanced T-stage, advanced N-stage, poor differentiation grade, and younger age at diagnosis. During the past decade, both chemotherapeutical and surgical treatments have achieved promising results in these patients. A chance for long-term survival or even cure may now be offered to selected patients by combining radical surgical resection with intraperitoneal instillation of heated chemotherapy. This combined procedure has become known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This editorial outlines recent advancements in the medical and surgical treatment of PC and reviews the most recent information on incidence and prognosis of this disease. Given recent progress, treatment should now be considered in every patient presenting with PC

The significance of bowel permeability

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In clinical research, increased permeability has been scrutinized as a potential indicator of the severity of gastrointestinal disease and as a potential cause of the perpetuation of severe inflammatory activity in infectious states. This review discusses old and recent epidemiological and clinical evidence to establish whether increased permeability in sepsis is a sequel or a cause of multiple organ failure. In addition, old and new evidence linking inflammation and permeability in abnormal gastrointestinal anatomy and function to liver abnormalities in susceptible patients will be reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Intestinal permeability has been found to be increased in several gastrointestinal diseases but not to be a very good marker of the severity of disease. Evidence is put forward supporting the claim that increased intestinal permeability is part of generalized leakiness of tight junctions in multiple organ failure and to play a less strong role as a primary event in its pathogenesis. Endemic malnutrition has been shown to be caused by interplay between malnutrition and intestinal inflammation. Recently experimental evidence has been put forward suggesting that enteral fat has anti-inflammatory effects on the intestine via the autonomic nervous system. Old clinical and new epidemiological evidence links intestinal inflammation, disruption of the enterohepatic cycle of bile acids, and liver disease. SUMMARY: The implications of the described findings are that inflammatory activity, locally induced by abnormal intestinal anatomy and disruption of the bile acid pool, or systemically by severe and uncontrolled inflammation/infection, should be the focus of treatment or research. In addition, the connection between intestinal inflammation and liver disease should be investigated

Learning curves in minimally invasive esophagectomy

Contains fulltext : 200227.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Surgical innovation and pioneering are important for improving patient outcome, but can be associated with learning curves. Although learning curves in surgery are a recognized problem, the impact of surgical learning curves is increasing, due to increasing complexity of innovative surgical procedures, the rapid rate at which new interventions are implemented and a decrease in relative effectiveness of new interventions compared to old interventions. For minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), there is now robust evidence that implementation can lead to significant learning associated morbidity (morbidity during a learning curve, that could have been avoided if patients were operated by surgeons that have completed the learning curve). This article provides an overview of the evidence of the impact of learning curves after implementation of MIE. In addition, caveats for implementation and available evidence regarding factors that are important for safe implementation and safe pioneering of MIE are discussed

McKeown or Ivor Lewis totally minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction: systematic review and meta-analysis

Contains fulltext : 177816.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has consistently been associated with improved perioperative outcome and similar oncological safety compared to open esophagectomy. However, it is currently unclear what type of MIE is preferred for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. METHODS: Literature was searched in Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library combining relevant search terms. Articles that included patients undergoing totally minimally invasive esophagectomy (TMIE) or hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (HMIE) and compared McKeown with Ivor Lewis procedures were included. Studies were excluded if they included >10% of patients undergoing a procedure other than MIE McKeown or MIE Ivor Lewis (i.e., transhiatal resections). The primary outcome parameter was anastomotic leakage. Secondary outcome parameters were: other complications, reinterventions, reoperations, hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay, postoperative mortality, operative time, blood loss, R0 resection rate, lymph nodes examined, quality of life and costs. RESULTS: Five studies with a total of 1,681 patients undergoing TMIE were included. There were no studies comparing HMIE McKeown versus HMIE Ivor Lewis. There were no randomized controlled trials and all included studies were cohort studies with a moderate risk of bias. No meta-analysis could be performed for R0 resection rate, survival, quality of life and costs because there was insufficient data available for these parameters. The incidence of anastomotic leakage did not differ between the groups [relative risk (RR) =1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.90-10.38, P=0.14]. TMIE Ivor Lewis was associated with a lower incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) trauma (RR =6.70, 95% CI =3.09-14.55, P<0.001), a shorter hospital length of stay [standardized mean difference (SMD) =0.17, 95% CI =0.06-0.28, P=0.002] and less blood loss (SMD =0.69, 95% CI =0.25-1.12, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: TMIE Ivor Lewis is associated with improved outcome regarding RLN trauma, hospital length of stay and blood loss as compared to TMIE-McKeown, but the incidence of anastomotic leakage is not different. The evidence is limited, of low quality and at risk for bias. A randomized controlled trial is currently being performed in order to demonstrate whether a McKeown or Ivor Lewis procedure should be preferred in patients undergoing MIE

Lipid-rich enteral nutrition reduces postoperative ileus in rats via activation of cholecystokinin-receptors

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effect of lipid-rich nutrition on the local inflammatory response and gastrointestinal hypomotility in a rat model of postoperative ileus. BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus is a major clinical problem, in which inflammation of the intestinal muscularis plays a key pathogenic event. Previously, administration of lipid-rich nutrition has been shown to reduce inflammation by activation of the autonomic nervous system via cholecystokinin-receptors. METHODS: Postoperative ileus was induced by manipulation of the small intestine in rats. Peritoneal lavage fluid, plasma, and jejunal segments were collected at several time points to determine inflammatory mediators in fasted rats and rats fed a lipid-rich or control nutrition. Gastrointestinal transit was measured 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Administration of lipid-rich nutrition markedly reduced the manipulation-induced local inflammatory response compared to rats treated with control nutrition. The intervention with lipid-rich nutrition significantly reduced plasma levels of rat mast cell protease-II (P < 0.05) and peritoneal levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.01) and interleukin-6 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the influx of neutrophils, expressed as tissue level myeloperoxidase was significantly prevented by lipid-rich nutrition (P < 0.05). Above all administration of lipid-rich enteral nutrition resulted in a significant improvement of gastrointestinal transit compared to control nutrition (P < 0.05). Blocking of cholecystokinin-receptors prevented the anti-inflammatory and motility promoting effect of lipid-rich feeding. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that nutritional stimulation of the autonomic nervous system with enteral lipids reduces postoperative ileus by inhibition of inflammation. Clinically, lipid-rich enteral nutrition may be a new therapeutic option in the treatment of postoperative ileus

Pretreatment with high-fat enteral nutrition reduces ondotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and preserves gut barrier function early after hemorrhagic shock

Gram-negative sepsis is a potentially fatal clinical syndrome characterized by a proinflammatory response (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) to bacterial (endo)toxins and gut barrier function loss. Recently, we found that high-fat enteral nutrition protects against late bacterial translocation in a model of hemorrhagic shock in rats. However, the basis for this protection is unknown. We hypothesized that the observed protection is the result of an early inhibition of endotoxin and the subsequent inflammatory response resulting in a preserved gut barrier function. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a group that was starved overnight (HS-S), fed with a low-fat enteral diet (HS-LF) or fed wih a high-fat enteral diet (HS-HF), and subsequently subjected to a nonlethal hemorrhagic shock. Ninety minutes after hemorrhage, arterial endotoxin significantly decreased in HS-HF rats (4.0 +/- 0.6 pg/mL) compared with HS-LF rats (10.7 +/- 0.9 pg/mL, P = 0.002) and HS-S rats (15.2 +/- 2.2 pg/mL P = 0.001). Interestingly, arterial tumor necrosis factor-a was also decreased in HS-HF rats (17.9 +/- 10.4 pg/mL) compared with HS-LF (83.5 +/- 16.7 pg/mL, P <0.01) and HS-S rats (180.9 +/- 67.9 pg/mL, P <0.02). Loss of tight junction structure (ZO-1) observed in ileum and colon of control hemorrhagic shock rats was prevented in HS-HF rats. In parallel, intestinal barrier function was preserved in HS-HF rats, evidenced by a reduced permeability to horseradish peroxidase (P <0.05), less bacterial invasion, and a 10-fold reduction of bacterial translocation early after hemorrhagic shock. This report describes a new strategy to nutritionally prevent endotoxemia, the subsequent inflammatory response and gut barrier failure following hemorrhagic shock. High-fat enteral nutrition requires further evaluation as an intervention to prevent a potentially fatal systemic inflammatory response in patients at risk for sepsis