The safety of selective use of splenic flexure mobilization in sigmoid and rectal resections -systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: According to traditional textbooks on surgery, splenic flexure mobilization is suggested as a mandatory part of open rectal resection. However, its use in minimally invasive access seems to be limited. This stage of the procedure is considered difficult in the laparoscopic approach. The aim of this study was to systematically review literature on flexure mobilization and perform meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Medline, Embase and Scopus databases to identify all eligible studies that compared patients undergoing rectal or sigmoid resection with or without splenic flexure mobilization. Inclusion criteria: (1) comparison of groups of patients with and without mobilization and (2) reports on overall morbidity, anastomotic leakage, operative time, length of specimen, number of harvested lymph nodes, or length of hospital stay. The outcomes of interest were: operative time, conversion rate, number of lymph nodes harvested, overall morbidity, mortality, leakage rate, reoperation rate, and length of stay. Results: Initial search yielded 2282 studies. In the end, we included 10 studies in the meta-analysis. Splenic flexure is associated with longer operative time (95% confidence interval (CI) 23.61⁻41.25; p < 0.001) and higher rate of anastomotic leakage (risk ratios (RR): 1.02; 95% CI 1.10⁻3.35; p = 0.02), however the length of hospital stay is shorter by 0.42 days. There were no differences in remaining outcomes. Conclusions: Not mobilizing the splenic flexure results in a significantly shorter operative time and a longer length of stay. Further research is required to establish whether flexure mobilization is required in minimally invasive surgery

Laparoscopic gastric resections with per oral specimen extraction in the treatment of intramural gastric tumors

Cel: Celem pracy jest przedstawienie doświadczeń i wczesnych wyników leczenia guzów żołądka z zastosowaniem techniki usunięcia preparatu operacyjnego przez usta (POSE - per oral specimen extraction).. Materiał i Metodyka: Przeprowadzono retrospektywną analizę leczenia chorych, u których wykonano klinową resekcję żołądka techniką laparoskopową z powodu podejrzenia nowotworu podścieliskowego przewodu pokarmowego (GIST). W okresie tym operowano sposobem laparoskopowym 50 chorych z powodu podejrzenia GIST żołądka. U 12 chorych materiał pooperacyjny usunięto przez usta przy pomocy endoskopu (POSE). U pozostałych 38 chorych preparat usunięto przez minilaparotomię. Średni wiek chorych leczonych techniką POSE wyniósł 65,6 lat (48 – 81 lat). W grupie tej znalazło się 9 kobiet oraz 3 mężczyzn. Wyniki: Średni czas zabiegu z użyciem techniki POSE wyniósł 92,5 min (40 – 160). Wielkość usuniętych zmian wahała się od 14 mm do 40 mm (średnio 25 mm). Czas pobytu po zabiegu w oddziale chirurgicznym chorych leczonych techniką POSE wyniósł średnio 3,2 dnia (od 2 do 8 dni). Jeden chory (8,3%) wymagał dłuższego pobytu (hospitalizacja 8-dniowa) ze względu na obecność zbiornika płynowego w okolicy miejsca szycia ściany żołądka. Chorego tego leczono zachowawczo. U jednego chorego (8,3%) stwierdzono infekcję rany pooperacyjnej (rany w pępku po trokarze optycznym). U wszystkich chorych w naszej grupie ocena histopatologiczna potwierdziła radykalność zabiegu (R0). Wnioski: Wydaje się, że technika POSE jest kolejnym etapem rozwoju chirurgii małoinwazyjnej, który może stanowić pośrednie ogniwo w rozwoju technik operacyjnych przez naturalne otwory ciała. Usuwanie preparatu przez usta jest efektowną, skuteczną i bezpieczną metodą, posiadającą jednak wiele ograniczeń.Aim: The goal of this work was to present our experiences and results of treatment of gastric tumors using the per oral specimen extraction (POSE) technique. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis a group of patients treated with laparoscopic stomach wedge resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). During that time 50 patients underwent laparoscopy due to the suspicion of GIST. In 12 patients resected material was removed endoscopically per os (POSE). In the remaining 38 subjects it was evacuated through minilaparotomy. Mean age of patients treated using POSE technique was 65.6 years (48-81 years). There were 9 women and 3 men in this group Results: Mean time of the POSE procedure was 92.5 min (40-160 min). Size of removed tumors ranged from 14 mm to 40 mm (mean: 25 mm). The mean length of hospital stay was 3.2 days (2 to 8 days) for patients treated with POSE. One patient (8.3%) required longer hospitalization (8 days) due to the presence of a fluid collection at the site of gastric suture. This patient was treated conservatively. One patient (8.3%) was diagnosed with surgical site infection (navel wound after an optical trocar). Histopathological examination confirmed radical excision in all of our patients (R0). Conclusions: It seems that the POSE technique is the next stage of development of minimally invasive surgery and may constitute a link in evolution of natural orifice translumenal surgery techniques. Removal of excised material through oral cavity is an attractive, effective, and safe method despite its many limitations

The first total laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy in Poland

We present a case of a 55-year-old female patient with pancreatic head cancer who was treated with total laparoscopic pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (TLPD) on 13.12.2013. The procedure as well as the postoperative course was uncomplicated. The patient was mobilized on the day of surgery; a liquid diet was introduced on day 1 and a full hospital diet on day 2 postoperatively. Drains were removed on the 3(rd) day after the procedure. Length of hospital stay was 6 days. The final pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of cancer. According to our knowledge this is the first report on total laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy in Poland performed by an entirely Polish team of surgeons. In our opinion, TLPD is feasible and similarly to other laparoscopic operations may improve postoperative recovery

Is ERAS in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer changing risk factors for delayed recovery?

There is evidence that implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols into colorectal surgery reduces complication rate and improves postoperative recovery. However, most published papers on ERAS outcomes and length of stay in hospital (LOS) include patients undergoing open resections. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the factors affecting recovery and LOS in patients after laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer combined with ERAS protocol. One hundred and forty-three consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic resection were prospectively evaluated. They were divided into two subgroups depending on their reaching the targeted length of stay—LOS (75 patients in group 1—≤4 days, 68 patients in group 2—>4 days). A univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess for factors (demographics, perioperative parameters, complications and compliance with the ERAS protocol) independently associated with LOS of 4 days or longer. The median LOS in the entire group was 4 days. The postoperative complication rate was higher (18.7 vs. 36.7 %), and the compliance with ERAS protocol was lower (91.2 vs. 76.7 %) in group 2. There was an association between the pre- and postoperative compliance and the subsequent complications. In uni- and multivariate analysis, the lack of balanced fluid therapy (OR 3.87), lack of early mobilization (OR 20.74), prolonged urinary catheterization (OR 4.58) and use of drainage (OR 2.86) were significantly associated with prolonged LOS. Neither traditional patient risk factors nor the stage of the cancer was predictive of the duration of hospital stay. Instead, compliance with the ERAS protocol seems to influence recovery and LOS when applied to laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery