Effect of treatment sequence on survival in stage IV rectal cancer with synchronous and potentially resectable liver metastases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The optimal treatment sequence in stage IV rectal cancer (RC) with synchronous liver metastases (SLM) remains undefined. Here, we compared outcomes between patients treated with the bowel-first approach (BFA) or the liver-first approach (LFA). METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with stage IV RC with SLM and who underwent complete resection were included. Both groups were matched using propensity scores. Differences in postoperative outcome, local control, and long-term survival were studied. In addition, a decision analysis (DA) model was built using TreeAge Pro to define the approach that results in the highest treatment completion rate. RESULTS: During a 12-year period, 52 patients were identified, 21 and 31 of whom underwent the BFA and the LFA, respectively. Twenty-eight patients were matched; patients treated with the BFA experienced a longer median OS (50.0 vs 33.0 months; P = .40) and higher 5-year OS (42.9% vs 28.6%). The DA defined the BFA to be superior when the failure threshold (ie, no R0 resection, treatment discontinuation regardless of cause) for colectomy is less than 28.6%. CONCLUSIONS: In stage IV rectal cancer with SLM, either the BFA or the LFA result in similar long-term outcomes. Treatment should be tailored according to clinicopathological variables.

Pediatric Challenges in Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation.

Kidney transplantation is universally recognized as the gold standard treatment in patients with End-stage Kidney Disease (ESKD, or according to the latest nomenclature, CKD stage 5). Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is gradually becoming preferred technique in adults, even if applied in very few centra, with potentially improved clinical outcomes compared with open kidney transplantation. To date, only very few RAKT procedures in children have been described. Kidney transplant recipient patients, being immunocompromised, might be at increased risk for perioperative surgical complications, which creates additional challenges in management. Applying techniques of minimally invasive surgery may contribute to the improvement of clinical outcomes for the pediatric transplant patients population and help mitigate the morbidity of KT. However, many challenges remain ahead. Minimally invasive surgery has been consistently shown to produce improved clinical outcomes as compared to open surgery equivalents. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) has been able to overcome many restrictions of classical laparoscopy, particularly in complex and demanding surgical procedures. Despite the presence of these improvements, many challenges lie ahead in the surgical and technical-material realms, in addition to anesthetic and economic considerations. RALS in children poses additional challenges to both the surgical and anesthesiology team, due to specific characteristics such as a small abdominal cavity and a reduced circulating blood volume. Cost-effectiveness, esthetic and functional wound outcomes, minimal age and weight to undergo RALS and effect of RAKT on graft function are discussed. Although data on RAKT in children is scarce, it is a safe and feasible procedure and results in excellent graft function. It should only be performed by a RAKT team experienced in both RALS and transplantation surgery, fully supported by a pediatric nephrology and anesthesiology team. Further research is necessary to better determine the value of the robotic approach as compared to the laparoscopic and open approach. Cost-effectiveness will remain an important subject of debate and is in need of further evaluation as well.