Background
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) is evolving as an important surgical approach in the field of colorectal surgery. We aimed to evaluate the learning curve for RALS procedures ...involving resections of the rectum and rectosigmoid.
Methods
A series of 50 consecutive RALS procedures were performed between August 2008 and September 2009. Data were entered into a retrospective database and later abstracted for analysis. The surgical procedures included abdominoperineal resection (APR), anterior rectosigmoidectomy (AR), low anterior resection (LAR), and rectopexy (RP). Demographic data and intraoperative parameters including docking time (DT), surgeon console time (SCT), and total operative time (OT) were analyzed. The learning curve was evaluated using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method.
Results
The procedures performed for 50 patients (54% male) included 25 AR (50%), 15 LAR (30%), 6 APR (12%), and 4 RP (8%). The mean age of the patients was 54.4 years, the mean BMI was 27.8 kg/m
2
, and the median American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification was 2. The series had a mean DT of 14 min, a mean SCT of 115.1 min, and a mean OT of 246.1 min. The DT and SCT accounted for 6.3% and 46.8% of the OT, respectively. The SCT learning curve was analyzed. The CUSUM
SCT
learning curve was best modeled as a parabola, with equation CUSUM
SCT
in minutes equal to 0.73 × case number
2
− 31.54 × case number − 107.72 (
R
= 0.93). The learning curve consisted of three unique phases: phase 1 (the initial 15 cases), phase 2 (the middle 10 cases), and phase 3 (the subsequent cases). Phase 1 represented the initial learning curve, which spanned 15 cases. The phase 2 plateau represented increased competence with the robotic technology. Phase 3 was achieved after 25 cases and represented the mastery phase in which more challenging cases were managed.
Conclusions
The three phases identified with CUSUM analysis of surgeon console time represented characteristic stages of the learning curve for robotic colorectal procedures. The data suggest that the learning phase was achieved after 15 to 25 cases.
Objective
This study aims to investigate early oncologic outcomes in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) with venous invasion (VI) treated using both open and mini-invasive approaches.
...Patients and materials
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 4 international referral center databases, including all the patients undergoing adrenalectomy for ACC with VI from January 2007 to March 2020. According to CT scan or MRI, the tumor thrombus was classified into four levels: (1) adrenal vein invasion; (2) renal vein invasion; (3) infra-hepatic Inferior vena cava (IVC); and (4) retro-hepatic IVC. In addition, we divided our patients into patients who had undergone open surgery and mini-invasive surgery.
Results
We identified 20 patients with a median follow-up of 12 months. The median tumor size was 110mm. ENSAT stage was II in 4 patients, III in 13 patients, and IV in 3 patients. Tumor thrombus extended in the adrenal vein (
n
=5), renal vein (
n
=1), infra-hepatic IVC (
n
=9), or into the retro-hepatic IVC (
n
=5). Ten patients were treated with a mini-invasive approach. The patient treated with an open approach reported a more aggressive disease. The two groups did not differ in surgical margins, surgical time, blood losses, complications, and length of stay. The prognosis resulted worse in the patient undergoing open. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a difference in OS for the patients stratified by ENSAT stage (Log-rank
p
=0.011); we also reported a difference in DFS for patients stratified for thrombus extension (
p
=0.004) and ENSAT stage (
p
<0.001).
Conclusion
The DFS of patients with VI from ACC is influenced by the staging and the extension of the venous invasion; the staging influences the OS. The mini-invasive approach seems feasible in selected patients; however, further studies investigating the oncological outcomes are needed.
Patient summary
A mini-invasive approach for adrenal tumors with venous invasion is an explorable option in very selected patients.
Introduction This study compares the outcome 3 years after treatment of varicose veins by endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation, ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS), or ...surgery by assessing recurrence, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and quality of life (QOL). Methods A total of 500 patients (580 legs) were randomized to one of the three endovenous treatments or high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein (GSV). Follow-up included clinical and duplex ultrasound examinations and VCSS and QOL questionnaires. Kaplan-Meier (KM) life-table analysis was used. P values below .05 were considered statistically significant. Results At 3 years, eight (KM estimate, 7%), eight (KM estimate, 6.8%), 31 (KM estimate, 26.4%), and eight (KM estimate, 6.5%) of GSVs recanalized or had a failed stripping procedure (more than 10 cm open refluxing part of the treated GSV; CLF, EVLA, UGFS, and stripping, respectively; P < .01). Seventeen (KM estimate, 14.9%), 24 (KM estimate, 20%), 20 (KM estimate, 19.1%), and 22 (KM estimate, 20.2%) legs developed recurrent varicose veins ( P = NS). The patterns of reflux and location of recurrent varicose veins were not different between the groups. Within 3 years after treatment, 12 (KM estimate, 11.1%), 14 (KM estimate, 12.5%), 37 (KM estimate, 31.6%), and 18 (KM estimate, 15.5%) legs were retreated in the CLF, EVLA, UGFS, and stripping groups, respectively ( P < .01). VCSS, SF-36, and Aberdeen QOL scores improved significantly in all the groups with no difference between the groups. Conclusions All treatment modalities were efficacious and resulted in a similar improvement in VCSS and QOL. However, more recanalization and reoperations were seen after UGFS.
Abstract Objective It is known that T lymphocytes are activated in human abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). γδT cells, as a subset of T cells, play a role in many inflammation-related diseases. ...However, whether γδT cells participate in the formation of AAA remains unknown. In this study, we explored the role of γδT cells in AAA lesions. Methods and Results Using the porcine pancreatic elastase-induced AAA model, we found that knock out of γδT cells significantly attenuated AAA formation. To elucidate how γδT cells contribute to AAA, microarray analysis was performed, which found that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway was activated in elastase-perfused γδT knockout (γδT KO) mice. By studying differentially expressed genes involved in phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling, we found that proliferation-related genes ( Sos1, Mtor, Myc ) were upregulated whereas apoptosis-related genes ( Pten, Bcl1, Bad ) were downregulated in elastase-perfused γδT KO mice. Furthermore, histopathologic analysis showed increased PCNA+ and decreased TUNEL+ cells in elastase-perfused γδT KO mice compared with wild-type mice. In addition, inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β, Mcp-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α were downregulated in the aneurysm tissues of elastase-perfused γδT KO mice. Conclusions These data reveal a pathogenic role of γδT cells in the experimental AAA model, likely through mechanisms regulating cell proliferation and mediating inflammatory response. Thus, targeting of γδT cells may offer a potential therapeutic method for aortic aneurysms.
Abstract Objective To explore the indication and application of computer-assisted navigation in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Patients and methods One hundred and four patients including 34 ...zygomatic-orbital-maxillary fractures, 27 unilateral TMJ ankylosis, 29 craniofacial fibrous dysplasia, 9 mandibular angle hypertrophia, 3 cartilage/bone tumours of jaw and 2 cases with facial foreign bodies were enrolled in this study. CT scans were performed and data was saved in DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) format. The osteotomy lines, amount and range of resection, the reduction position of bony segments and the reconstruction morphology was determined and displayed by preoperative simulation with mirroring and superimposing procedures. All operations were performed under the guidance of navigation system. The accuracy of navigation was evaluated by comparing the postoperative CT 3-D model with preoperative surgical planning. Results Through registration, an accurate match between the intraoperative anatomy and the CT images was achieved. The systematic error checked by computer was within 1 mm. All operations were performed successfully with the guidance of real-time navigation. The mean error between virtual simulation and surgical results was 1.46 ± 0.24 mm. All patients healed uneventfully and function and profile was improved significantly. Conclusions With the opportunity to perform preoperative planning, surgical simulation and postoperative prediction, computer-assisted navigation shows great value in improving the accuracy of maxillofacial surgery, reducing operation risk and postsurgical morbidity, and restoring facial symmetry. It is regarded as a valuable technique in these potentially complicated procedures.
Background
Current data addressing the role of robotic surgery for the management of colorectal disease are primarily from single-institution and case-matched comparative studies as well as ...administrative database analyses. The purpose of this study was to compare minimally invasive surgery outcomes using a large regional protocol-driven database devoted to surgical quality, improvement in patient outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study from the prospectively collected Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative registry designed to compare outcomes of patients who underwent elective laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and robotic colon and rectal operations between July 1, 2012 and October 7, 2014. We adjusted for differences in baseline covariates between cases with different surgical approaches using propensity score quintiles modeled on patient demographics, general health factors, diagnosis, and preoperative co-morbidities. The primary outcomes were conversion rates and hospital length of stay. Secondary outcomes included operative time, and postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Results
A total of 2735 minimally invasive colorectal operations met inclusion criteria. Conversion rates were lower with robotic as compared to laparoscopic operations, and this was statistically significant for rectal resections (colon 9.0 vs. 16.9 %,
p
< 0.06; rectum 7.8 vs. 21.2 %,
p
< 0.001). The adjusted length of stay for robotic colon operations (4.00 days, 95 % CI 3.63–4.40) was significantly shorter compared to laparoscopic (4.41 days, 95 % CI 4.17–4.66;
p
= 0.04) and hand-assisted laparoscopic cases (4.44 days, 95 % CI 4.13–4.78;
p
= 0.008). There were no significant differences in overall postoperative complications among groups.
Conclusions
When compared to conventional laparoscopy, the robotic platform is associated with significantly fewer conversions to open for rectal operations, and significantly shorter length of hospital stay for colon operations, without increasing overall postoperative morbidity. These findings and the recent upgrades in minimally invasive technology warrant continued evaluation of the role of the robotic platform in colorectal surgery.
Purpose
Laparoscopic surgery for low rectal cancer is often challenging. Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) and robotic surgery have been introduced to overcome the technical difficulties in ...laparoscopic surgery and achieve more favorable outcomes. Hybrid robotic surgery, which combines TaTME with the abdominal robotic approach, incorporates the advantages of each of these surgical techniques and might achieve less invasive and safer surgery. This study evaluated the safety and feasibility of hybrid robotic surgery with TaTME (hybrid TaTME).
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 162 TaTME cases performed at our department from September 2016 to May 2022. Among them, 92 cases of conventional TaTME and 30 of hybrid TaTME were eligible. We used propensity score matching analysis (PSM) to adjust for patients’ characteristics and compared the short-term outcomes of the two treatment groups.
Results
Twenty-seven cases in each group were extracted using PSM. The operation time in hybrid TaTME was comparable to that in conventional TaTME. There was no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Other intra- and post-operative outcomes were also comparable between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the curative resection and recurrence rates.
Conclusion
Hybrid TaTME for low rectal cancer was as favorable as conventional TaTME in producing satisfactory short-term outcomes. However, furthermore, larger-scale studies conducted over longer study periods are needed to evaluate the validity of the findings.
A detailed knowledge of the surgical anatomy of tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein, especially proximal jejunal venous anatomy (first jejunal vein and jejunal trunk), is a key prerequisite ...for performing a safe pancreatico-duodenectomy. However, the available literature on the anatomical course and surgical relevance of these vessels is scarce, the nomenclature across the articles is heterogeneous, and the resulting evidence is confusing to interpret. Standardized terminology and an in-depth review of these vessels with regard to their course, termination, vascular relations, and variations will help the surgeons in planning and performing this complex surgery safely, especially when a venous resection and reconstruction is planned in cases of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. A uniform nomenclature and a unifying classification are proposed in this review for these two tributaries to help resolve the literature conundrum. This standardized terminology and anatomical description will assist the radiologists in reporting pancreatic protocol-computed tomography scans and surgeons in selecting the appropriate steps for the different anatomical orientations of these tributaries for the performance of safe pancreatic surgery. This will also help future researchers communicate in well-defined terms in reference to these tributaries so as to avoid confusion in future studies.
This is an open access book with CC BY 4.0 license. This comprehensive open access textbook provides a comprehensive coverage of principles and practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. With a ...range of topics starting from routine dentoalveolar surgery to advanced and complex surgical procedures, this volume is a meaningful combination of text and illustrations including clinical photos, radiographs, and videos. It provides guidance on evidence-based practices in context to existing protocols, guidelines and recommendations to help readers deal with most clinical scenarios in their daily surgical work. This multidisciplinary textbook is meant for postgraduate trainees, young practicing oral surgeons and experienced clinicians, as well as those preparing for university and board certification exams. It also aids in decision-making, the implementation of treatment plans and the management of complications that may arise. This book is an initiative of Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) to its commitment to academic medicine. As part of this commitment, this textbook is in open access to help ensure widest possible dissemination to readers across the world. ; Open access Unique presentation with contents divided into color-coded core competency gradations Covers all aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery Supplemented with videos of all commonly carried out procedures as operative video Every chapter or topic concludes with “future perspective” and addresses cutting edge advances in each area Every topic has a pull out box that provides the most relevant systematic reviews/ key articles to every topic