Video-assisted surgery in gastric cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The present study presents the initial results of the use of video-assisted surgery in the curative intent treatment of gastric cancer in a specialised unit of esophago-gastric pathology. METHODS: Since December 2002 we have substituted laparotomy for video-assisted surgery for the surgical treatment of gastric cancer. We report our initial experience in 28 patients. In 20 we performed a total gastrectomy with Roux Y esophago-jejunum reconstruction. In another 8 cases we performed subtotal gastrectomy with Roux Y reconstruction. The anastomoses in total gastrectomy were performed with laparoscopy with the EEA head descending via the endo-esophageal route. The resected piece is extracted via minimum laparotomy. The associated complete lympadenectomy D2 was performed in the tumours of the gastric antrum and D1 plus the lymph node groups 7, 8, 9 and proximal 11 at the second level in the gastric body and fundus. RESULTS: The mean duration of intervention was 222 minutes and the mean blood loss was 185 ml. Mortality was 3.7% and morbidity was 19%. There was a reduction in post-operative analgesia requirements and the mean hospital stay was 11 days. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric resection and related lympadenectomy can be performed using video-assisted surgery in a manner that is as safe as conventional surgery and, further, has considerable advantages. The greater complexity requires that the surgical team is better trained in the use of the laparoscopy technique. In the few studies on the theme, there appears to be no oncological inconveniences associated with the technique.

Evidence-based consensus recommendations to improve the quality of life in prostate cancer treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the tumours with the highest incidence in recent years. PC therapies have several adverse effects. A panel consensus recommendation has been made to prevent or ameliorate complications in PC treatment to improve quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen specialists have met to analyse the different toxicities associated with PC treatment. Each medical specialist performed a National Library of Medicine PubMed search citations searching about these secondary effects and his specialty from 1999 to 2009 to propose measures for their prevention/amelioration. RESULTS: Surgery is associated with incontinence and impotence. Radiotherapy can produce acute, late urological and gastrointestinal toxicity. Brachytherapy can produce acute urinary retention. Chemotherapy is associated with haematotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy and diarrhoea, and hormone therapy can produce osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, cognitive and muscular alterations, cardiotoxicity, etc. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in surgical techniques and technology (IMRT/IGRT) can prevent surgical and radiotherapeutic toxicity, respectively. Brachytherapy toxicity can be prevented with precise techniques to preserve the urethra. Chemotherapy toxicity can be prevented with personalized schedules of treatment and close follow-up of iatrogenia and hormone therapy toxicity can be prevented with close follow-up of possible secondary effects.