Saphenous-sparing laparoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Inguinal lymphadenectomy is an integral part in the management of penile cancer. Video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) is emerging as a minimally invasive treatment to reduce postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: 62 years old man underwent glansectomy for a squamous cell carcinoma (pT1b). At the physical examination one left inguinal lymph node was detectable (cN1). The chest-abdomen-pelvis CT was negative for metastasis. A 10-mm optical trocar and two 5mm operating trocar were placed. The optical trocar was placed in the apex of Scarpa's triangle after a skin incision and after the creation of a subcutaneous space by blunt finger dissection. The pCO2 was 8-10mmHg. The surgical technique involved the removal of superficial lymph nodes according to the scheme described by Deseler and of the deep lymph nodes. Sparing main venous structures and closing lymphatic vessels is important to reduce post operative complications. At the end of the procedure, a suction drain was placed per side. Results: Operative time was 90 minutes per side. Drains were removed on the seventh postoperative day. Hospital stay was 8 days and no postoperative complications occurred. The total number of nodes removed was 16 (8 per side) with 2 superficial positive nodes on the left side. Conclusion: ILND is burned by a high complication rate. VEIL provides a less invasive approach and a saphenous-sparing technique ensures a lower complication rate, reducing lymphorrhea, skin necrosis and wound complications (1–3). In experienced laparoscopic hands, VEIL is a safe and effective treatment

Changes in surgicaL behaviOrs dUring the CoviD-19 pandemic. The SICE CLOUD19 Study

BACKGROUND: The spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, profoundly impacted the surgical community. Recommendations have been published to manage patients needing surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey, under the aegis of the Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery, aims to analyze how Italian surgeons have changed their practice during the pandemic.METHODS: The authors designed an online survey that was circulated for completion to the Italian departments of general surgery registered in the Italian Ministry of Health database in December 2020. Questions were divided into three sections: hospital organization, screening policies, and safety profile of the surgical operation. The investigation periods were divided into the Italian pandemic phases I (March-May 2020), II (June-September 2020), and III (October-December 2020).RESULTS: Of 447 invited departments, 226 answered the survey. Most hospitals were treating both COVID-19-positive and -negative patients. The reduction in effective beds dedicated to surgical activity was significant, affecting 59% of the responding units. 12.4% of the respondents in phase I, 2.6% in phase II, and 7.7% in phase III reported that their surgical unit had been closed. 51.4%, 23.5%, and 47.8% of the respondents had at least one colleague reassigned to non-surgical COVID-19 activities during the three phases. There has been a reduction in elective (>200 procedures: 2.1%, 20.6% and 9.9% in the three phases, respectively) and emergency (<20 procedures: 43.3%, 27.1%, 36.5% in the three phases, respectively) surgical activity. The use of laparoscopy also had a setback in phase I (25.8% performed less than 20% of elective procedures through laparoscopy). 60.6% of the respondents used a smoke evacuation device during laparoscopy in phase I, 61.6% in phase II, and 64.2% in phase III. Almost all responders (82.8% vs. 93.2% vs. 92.7%) in each analyzed period did not modify or reduce the use of high-energy devices.CONCLUSION: This survey offers three faithful snapshots of how the surgical community has reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic during its three phases. The significant reduction in surgical activity indicates that better health policies and more evidence-based guidelines are needed to make up for lost time and surgery not performed during the pandemic