Complications after pancreatic resection: diagnosis, prevention and management

BACKGROUND: Although mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) has decreased, morbidity still remains high. The aim of this review article is to present, define, predict, prevent, and manage the main complications after pancreatic resection (PR). METHODS: A non-systematic literature search on morbidity and mortality after PR was undertaken using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases. RESULTS: The main complications after PR are delayed gastric emptying (DGE), pancreatic fistula (PF), and bleeding, as defined by the International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery. PF occurs in 10% to 15% of patients after PD and in 10% to 30% of patients after DP. The different techniques of pancreatic anastomosis and pancreatic remnant closure do not show significant advantages in the prevention of PF, nor does the perioperative use of somatostatin and its analogues. The trend is for conservative or interventional radiology therapy for PF (with enteral nutrition), which achieves a success rate of approximately 80%. DGE after PD occurs in 20% to 50% of patients. Prophylactic erythromycin may reduce the incidence of DGE. Gastric aspiration with erythromycin is usually effective in one to three weeks. Bleeding (gastrointestinal and intraabdominal) occurs in 4% to 16% of patients after PD and in 2% to 3% of patients after DP. Endovascular treatment can only be used for a haemodynamically stable patient. In cases of haemodynamic instability or associated septic complications, surgical treatment is necessary. In expert centres, the mortality rates can be less than 1% after DP and less than 3% after PD. CONCLUSION: There is a need for improved strategies to prevent and treat complications after PR

Advantages of robotic right colectomy over laparoscopic right colectomy beyond the learning curve: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: With the widespread application of robotic systems and the increasing number of studies comparing robotic right colectomy (RRC) and laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC), there is a need for an up-to-date systemic review and meta-analysis assessing the advantages of this technique. Methods: The systemic review was performed in Medline, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialized Register and Google Scholar databases searching for studies comparing RRC and LRC, with no date restriction but limited to English and French literature. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and qualitative synthesis. Random-effects models were used to summarize the risk ratio (RR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Twenty-six non-randomized clinical trials (NRCTs) and 1 RCT were included. Overall, 2,314 patients underwent RRC and 17,791 LRC. Operative time was significantly longer for RRC with a MD of 45.36 min (95% CI: 31.75-58.97; P<0.00001). Conversion rate was significantly lower in the RRC group with a RR of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.27-0.81; P=0.007, I-2=33%). Also, the number of harvested lymph node was significantly higher in the RRC group than the LRC group, with a MD of 2.03 (95% CI: 0.45-3.61; P=0.01, I-2=68%). Estimated blood loss favored RRC, with a MD of-8.68 (95% CI:-17.27 to-0.08; P=0.05, I-2=46%). There was no difference in the overall complication rate, mortality, anastomotic leakage, and time to first flatus. However, a significantly shorter hospital stay was associated with RRC, with a MD of -0.60 (95% CI:-1.01 to-0.19; P=0.004, I-2=64%). No quantitative analysis could be performed for oncological outcomes. RRC was associated with significantly higher costs (MD 3,185.50 USD; 95% CI: 720.98-5650.02; P=0.01, I-2=94%). Conclusions: RRC is a safe procedure that may offer certain advantages over LRC as lower conversion rate, blood loss, hospital stay. However, this should be balanced out with increased operative time and higher costs

PDE-5i Management of Erectile Dysfunction After Rectal Surgery: A Systematic Review Focusing on Treatment Efficacy

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the main functional complications of surgical resections of the rectum due to rectal cancers or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present systematic review aimed at revising ED management strategies applied after rectal resections and their efficacy in terms of improvement of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score. A literature search was conducted on Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases by two independent reviewers following the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials (RCTs, NRCTs), case-control studies, and case series evaluating medical or surgical therapies for ED diagnosed after rectal surgery for both benign and malignant pathologies were eligible for inclusion. Out of 1028 articles initially identified, only five met the inclusion criteria: two RCTs comparing oral phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) versus placebo; one NRCT comparing PDE-5i versus PDE-5i + vacuum erection devices (VEDs) versus control; and two before-after studies on PDE-5i. A total of 253 (82.7%) rectal cancer patients and 53 (17.3%) IBD patients were included. Based on two RCTs, PDE-5i significantly improved IIEF compared to placebo at 3 months (SMD = 1.07; 95% CI [0.65, 1.48]; p <.00001; I2 = 39%). Improved IIEF was also reported with PDE-5i + VED at 12 months. There is a paucity of articles in the literature that specifically assess efficacy of ED treatments after rectal surgery. Many alternative treatment strategies to PDE-5is remain to be investigated. Future studies should implement standardized preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up sexual function assessment in patients undergoing rectal resections

Auxiliary liver transplantation for acute liver failure

In patients with acute liver failure (ALF) who fulfil criteria, liver transplantation is the only effective treatment which can substitute metabolic and excretory function of the liver

Surgical and regional treatments for colorectal cancer metastases in older patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective The present study explored the existing literature to describe the outcomes of surgical and regional treatments for colorectal cancer metastases (mCRC) in older patients. Methods A literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies published since 2000 that investigated the short- and long-term outcomes of regional treatments (surgical or non-surgical) for mCRC in patients aged >= 65 years. Pooled data analyses were conducted by calculating the risk ratio (RR), mean differences (MD) and hazard ratio (HR) between older and younger patients or between two different approaches in older patients. Results After screening 266 articles, 29 were included in this review. These studies reported the outcomes of surgery (n = 19) and non-surgical local ablation treatments (n = 3) for CRC metastases in older vs. younger patients or compared the outcomes of different interventions in older patients (n = 7). When comparing older vs. younger patients undergoing liver surgery for mCRC, pooled data analysis showed higher postoperative mortality [RR = 2.53 (95%CI: 2.00-3.21)] and shorter overall survival [HR = 1.17 (95%CI: 1.07-1.18)] in older patients, whereas no differences in operative outcomes, postoperative complications and diseasefree survival were found. When comparing laparoscopy vs. open surgery for liver resection in older mCRC patients, laparoscopy was associated with fewer postoperative complications [RR = 0.27 (95%CI: 0.10-0.73)]. Conclusion Liver resection for mCRC should not be disregarded a priori in older patients, who show similar operative and postoperative outcomes as younger patients. However, clinicians should consider that they are at increased risk of postoperative mortality and have a worse overall survival, which may reflect comorbidities and frailty

Predictors of mortality following emergency open colectomy for ischemic colitis: A single-center experience

Background: Ischemic colitis (IC) is a severe emergency in gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of the present study was to identify the predictors of postoperative mortality after emergent open colectomy for IC treatment. Additionally, we compared postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing emergent colectomy due to aortic surgery-related IC (AS-IC group) vs. other IC etiologies (Other-IC group). Methods: We analyzed records of consecutive patients who underwent emergency open colectomy for IC between 2008 and 2019. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify clinical and operative parameters associated with postoperative mortality. The AS-IC and Other-IC groups were compared for mortality, morbidity, ICU stay, hospital stay, and survival. Results: During the study period, 94 patients (mean age, 67.4 ± 13.7 years) underwent emergent open colectomy for IC. In the majority of cases, IC involved the entire colon (53.2%) and vasopressor agents were required preoperatively (63.8%) and/or intraoperatively (78.8%). Thirty-four patients underwent surgery due to AS-IC, whereas 60 due to Other-IC causes. In the AS-IC group, 9 patients had undergone endovascular aortic repair and 25 open aortic surgery; 61.8% of patients needed aortic surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA). Overall, 66 patients (70.2%) died within 90 days from surgery. The AS-IC and Other-IC groups showed similar operative outcomes and postoperative complication rates. However, the duration of the ICU stay (19 days vs. 11 days; p = 0.003) and of the total hospital stay (22 days vs. 16 days; p = 0.016) was significantly longer for the AS-IC group than for the Other-IC group. The rate of intestinal continuity restoration at 1 year after surgery was higher for the Other-IC group than for the AS-IC group (58.8% vs. 22.2%; p = 0.05). In the multivariate model, preoperative increased lactate levels, a delay between signs/symptoms' onset and surgery > 12 h, and the occurrence of postoperative acute kidney injury were statistically associated with postoperative mortality. Neither IC etiology (aortic surgery vs. other etiology) nor ruptured AAA was associated with postoperative mortality. Conclusion: Emergency open colectomy for IC is associated with high postoperative mortality, which appears to be unrelated to the IC etiology. Preoperative lactate levels, > 12-h delay to surgery, and postoperative acute kidney injury are independent predictors of postoperative mortality

Preoperative risk score for prediction of long-term outcomes after hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Report of a collaborative, international-based, external validation study.

peer reviewe

Management of biliary complications after liver transplantation

Biliary complications (BC) currently represent a major source of morbidity after liver transplantation. Although refinements in surgical technique and medical therapy have had a positive influence on the reduction of postoperative morbidity, BC affect 5% to 25% of transplanted patients. Bile leak and anastomotic strictures represent the most common complications. Nowadays, a multidisciplinary approach is required to manage such complications in order to prevent liver failure and retransplantation