Background
The aim of the study was to evaluate perioperative outcomes and to evaluate factors influencing rative morbidity and adoption of minimally invasive technique in 1-team (1-T) versus two ...teams (2-T) management of synchronous colorectal liver metastases.
Methods
Within four referral centers, a group of 234 patients treated in 1-T centers was identified and compared with a group of 253 patients treated in 2-T. A nonparametric bootstrap process was applied to the original cohorts of 1-T group and 2-T group as a resampling method to obtain bootstrapped cohorts (155 patients per group).
Results
33.5% of patients in 1-T boot group and 38.1% in the 2-T boot group were operated by laparoscopic approach. Multivariate analysis revealed that approach to primary tumor (laparoscopic or open) and intraoperative blood loss were independent prognostic factors for morbidity. Team approach did not show any significant correlation with incidence of postoperative complications nor with choice for laparoscopic approach.
Conclusion
The optimization of team strategy for patients with SCRLM is not solely based on the adoption of a 1-T or 2-T approach, but should instead be based on the implementation of a standard protocol for management of these patients.
Introduction
The favorable effects of bariatric surgery (BS) on overall pulmonary function and obesity-related comorbidities could influence SARS-CoV-2 clinical expression. This has been investigated ...comparing COVID-19 incidence and clinical course between a cohort of patients submitted to BS and a cohort of candidates for BS during the spring outbreak in Italy.
Materials and Methods
From April to August 2020, 594 patients from 6 major bariatric centers in Emilia-Romagna were administered an 87-item telephonic questionnaire. Demographics, COVID-19 incidence, suggestive symptoms, and clinical outcome parameters of operated patients and candidates to BS were compared. The incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 was assessed including the clinical definition of probable case, according to World Health Organization criteria.
Results
Three hundred fifty-three operated patients (Op) and 169 candidates for BS (C) were finally included in the statistical analysis. While COVID-19 incidence confirmed by laboratory tests was similar in the two groups (5.7% vs 5.9%), lower incidence of most of COVID-19-related symptoms, such as anosmia (
p: 0.046
), dysgeusia (
p: 0.049
), fever with rapid onset (
p: 0.046
) were recorded among Op patients, resulting in a lower rate of probable cases (14.4% vs 23.7%;
p: 0.009
). Hospitalization was more frequent in C patients (2.4% vs 0.3%,
p: 0.02).
One death in each group was reported (0.3% vs 0.6%). Previous pneumonia and malignancies resulted to be associated with symptomatic COVID-19 at univariate and multivariate analysis.
Conclusion
Patients submitted to BS seem to develop less severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than subjects suffering from obesity.
Background
Laparoscopic ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) technique is not standardized. An irregular division of the rectum could result in poor functional outcomes and residual diseased mucosa. ...The aim of the study was to develop a new technique for performing the rectal transection via a laparoscopic approach, and to compare the outcomes of this technique with those of the open surgery IPAA.
Methods
This prospective study included all patients who underwent restorative proctectomy (following a previous subtotal colectomy) for ulcerative colitis in October 2017–November 2020. Rectal division was performed using a 30 mm open linear stapler which was applied laparoscopically across the distal rectum. Postoperative and functional outcomes, length of anal stump and completeness of mucosal removal were compared. Only the patients who had their ileostomy reversed by 31 December 2020 and, therefore, a minimum follow-up of 6 months from the ileostomy closure, were included in the analysis of the functional outcomes and quality of life.
Results
There were 207 patients (161 laparoscopic, 46 open). Median age was 43 (18–77) years and 85 patients (41.1%) were male. Major complications (9.3 vs. 8.7%,
p
= 0.89) including anastomotic leaks (3.7 vs 4.4%,
p
= 0.84) were similar after laparoscopic and open IPAA. Patients reported a comparable number of bowel movements during the day (6 vs. 7,
p
= 0.21) and at night (2 vs. 2,
p
= 0.66), and a similar rate of episodes of incontinence during the previous 6 months (3.7 vs. 4.3%,
p
= 0.75). The mean Cleveland Global Quality of Life score was also similar (0.79 vs. 0.74,
p
= 0.35).
Conclusion
Our technique is safe and reproducible, and replicates the results of the open IPAA, while maintaining the advantages of minimally invasive surgery and avoiding any kind of anal manipulation which could result in poor long-term functional outcomes.
Herein, we make a video presentation of an endoscopic reversal of a strictured vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), carried out through an endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided transluminal therapy ...system, in order to accurately identify the common gastric wall and to allow the application of an endoscopic stent. The operative time was 60 min, and no intraoperative complication was recorded. On postoperative day 1, an upper GI swallow showed the oral contrast easily flowing into the body of the stomach throughout the stent. A semi-solid diet was started on day 1. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on day 2. At the 3-month follow-up visit, the patient denied further symptoms. The follow-up upper GI swallow and endoscopy showed a patent gastro-gastrostomy and no residual gastric pouch dilation or stagnation of the oral contrast, and the stent was therefore removed. Gastro-gastrostomy by endoscopic stenting appears to be an effective option to relief symptoms in strictured VBG, and EUS guidance has made access to the target structure easier and safer.
Background
Laparoscopic rectal resection (LRR) is an oncologically safe procedure. The impact of conversion to open surgery on outcomes has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the study is to ...compare short- and long-term outcomes of converted (CR) and not converted (NCR) patients undergoing LRR.
Methods
Data were drawn from a prospective database of LRR performed between 1999 and 2008. Statistical analysis employed the chi-squared or Wilcoxon test and Kaplan–Meier estimation.
Results
Of 173 patients undergoing LRR, 26 (15%) required conversion. No differences in age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and T and N stages were observed between CR and NCR patients. Conversion was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) (27.3 versus 24.9 kg/m
2
,
P
< 0.001) and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IV (26.9% versus 4.8%,
P
< 0.001), and resulted in longer operative time (342 versus 285 min,
P
= 0.006) and increased intraoperative complication rate (31% versus 5%,
P
< 0.001). No differences were observed in postoperative outcome between CR and NCR patients. After a mean follow-up of 46 and 36 months, 5-year disease-free survival was 55.7% in CR group and 79.2% in NCR group (
P
= 0.007). After exclusion of stage IV patients from the analysis, 5-year disease-free survival was 71.1% in CR group and 85.3% in NCR group (
P
= 0.17), while the overall recurrence rate was 26.3% in CR patients and 11.4% in NCR patients (
P
= 0.07).
Conclusions
Our study suggests that conversion to open surgery does not affect postoperative outcome, but could have a negative impact on long-term overall recurrence rate. LRR should be performed by experienced surgeons in selected patients.
Introduction
Granular cellular tumors are unusual lesions that can occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where they localize most commonly to the esophagus followed by the colon.
Areas Covered
We ...report a case of a young man with a sub-epithelial lesion of the ascending colon, removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection. Histological examination revealed a granular cellular tumor without features of malignancy. We present a systematic review of the English literature evaluating granular cellular tumors of lower gastrointestinal tract.
Expert Commentary
These tumors are usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during endoscopy performed for other reasons. Though their histological behavior is usually benign, 1–2% are malignant. Therefore, it is important that these lesions are excised and adequately pathologically characterized.
There is a lack in the literature about prepouch ileitis PI, in particular regarding risk factors associated with failure of the medical treatment. Aim of the study is to analyse the characteristics ...of PI patients and to compare those who required surgery with those who were successfully treated with conservative therapy.
All cases presenting a diagnosis of PI were included and analysed. Patients eventually requiring surgery were compared with those who were managed conservatively, for symptoms of presentation, endoscopic characteristics, and rate of response to medical treatment. A sub-analysis of outcomes based on the final histology was performed.
The overall incidence of PI among 1286 patients was 4.4% 57, after a median of 6.8 years from pouch surgery. Symptoms included increased frequency 26.4%, outlet obstruction 21%, and bleeding 15.8%. Afferent limb stenosis affected 49.1% of patients. The comparison showed that patients requiring surgery had a higher rate of Crohn's disease and indeterminate colitis 42.1 vs 0% and 15.8 vs 2.6%, p < 0.0001, outlet obstruction as main symptom 47.4 vs 7.9%, p = 0.0023, and afferent limb stenosis 73.7 vs 36.8%, p = 0.008 at endoscopy. Rate of failure of medical treatment at 5 years was 8.2% in patients with ulcerative colitis and 75% in the presence of both indeterminate colitis and Crohn's disease p < 0.0001.
Crohn's disease, indeterminate colitis, and stenosis with outlet obstruction are risk factors for failure of treatment after diagnosis of PI. Early aggressive therapy and surgery should be considered in these cases.
Introduction
Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) aims to minimize the surgical access trauma by reducing the number of abdominal incisions to a single site, potentially offering better ...cosmetic results and decreased postoperative pain. In this study, we compare the results of SILS ileocolic resection for Crohn’s disease (CD) to conventional laparoscopy and open surgery using a propensity score–matched analysis in a retrospective national multicentre study.
Methods
All consecutive patients undergoing elective SILS ileocaecal or redo ileocolic resection for primary and recurrent CD from 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019 were included. Patients were matched 1:1:1 with laparoscopy and open surgery according to perianal disease, recurrent disease, penetrating phenotype of CD, history of previous abdominal surgery, preoperative medical treatment with steroids and anti-TNF. Postoperative morbidity within 30 days of surgery was the primary endpoint.
Results
Fifty-eight patients were included in each group, for a total of 174 patients. The conversion rate for SILS and laparoscopy was 10.3% and 12%, respectively, with no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications (13.8% and 12%,
p
= 0.77), whilst open surgery demonstrated a worse morbidity profile, with a complication rate of 25.9% (
p
< 0.0001). Median length of hospital stay following SILS ileocolic resection was 5 days, significantly shorter compared to 7 days for laparoscopy and 9 for open surgery (
p
< 0.0001).
Conclusions
SILS ileocolonic resection for CD demonstrated a comparable morbidity profile compared to laparoscopy in selected patients, with a reduced length of postoperative hospital stay.
The pelvic anatomy poses great challenges to orthopedic surgeons. Sarcomas are often large in size and typically enclosed in the narrow confines of the pelvis with the close proximity of vital ...structures. The aim of this study is to report a systematic planned multidisciplinary surgical approach to treat pelvic sarcomas. Seventeen patients affected by bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the pelvis, treated using a planned multidisciplinary surgical approach, combining the expertise of orthopedic oncology and other surgeons (colleagues from urology, vascular surgery, abdominal surgery, gynecology and plastic surgery), were included. Seven patients were treated with hindquarter amputation; 10 patients underwent excision of the tumor. Reconstruction of bone defects was conducted in six patients with a custom-made 3D-printed pelvic prosthesis. Thirteen patients experienced at least one complication. Well-organized multidisciplinary collaborations between each subspecialty are the cornerstone for the management of patients affected by pelvic sarcomas, which should be conducted in specialized centers. A multidisciplinary surgical approach is of paramount importance in order to obtain the best successful surgical results and adequate margins for achieving acceptable outcomes.