Intraoperative air leak test reduces the rate of postoperative anastomotic leak: analysis of 777 laparoscopic left-sided colon resections.

BACKGROUND: The evidence supporting the use of the air leak test (ALT) after laparoscopic left-sided colon resection (LLCR) to test the colorectal anastomosis (CA) integrity aiming at reducing the rate of postoperative CA leakage (CAL) is not conclusive. The aim of this study was to challenge the use of ALT after elective LLCR. METHODS: It is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database including all patients undergoing elective LLCR with primary CA and no proximal bowel diversion between January 1996 and June 2017. The decision to perform the ALT was based on the individual surgeon routine practice. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for CAL. RESULTS: A total of 777 LLCR without proximal diversion were included in the analysis: the CA was tested in 398 patients (ALT group), while intraoperative ALT was not performed in 379 patients (No-ALT group). The two groups were similar in demographic characteristics, indication, and type of procedure. Intraoperative ALT was positive in 20 (5%) patients: a stoma was created in 14 (70%) patients, while 6 (30%) patients had a suture repair alone. Overall, postoperative CAL occurred in 32 patients (4.1%): the postoperative CAL rate was lower in ALT patients (2.5% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.025). A reoperation was needed in 87.5% of cases. No CAL occurred in the 20 patients with intraoperative positive ALT. Multivariate analysis showed that ASA score 3-4 (OR 5.39, 95% CI 2.53-11.51, p < 0.001) and male sex (OR 3.96, 95% CI 1.66-9.43, p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for postoperative CAL, while intraoperative ALT independently reduced the postoperative CAL rate (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18-0.88, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative ALT allows to detect AL defects after LLCR that can be effectively managed intraoperatively, leading to a significant lower risk of postoperative CAL.

Comparative analysis of Hsp10 and Hsp90 expression in healthy mucosa and adenocarcinoma of the large bowel.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (Hsps) assist other proteins in their folding and drive the degradation of defective proteins. During evolution, these proteins have also acquired other roles. Hsp10 is involved in immunomodulation and tumor progression. Hsp90 stabilizes a range of "client" proteins involved in cell signaling. The present study evaluated the expression levels of Hsp10 and Hsp90 in normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma samples of human large bowel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of normal mucosa and adenocarcinoma were collected and Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR, western blotting (WB) analyses, as well as immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the expression levels of Hsp10 and Hsp90. RESULTS: RT-PCR showed a higher gene expression of Hsp10 and Hsp90 in adenocarcinoma samples compared to healthy mucosa. WB results confirmed these findings. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher levels of Hsp10 in adenocarcinoma in both the epithelium and the lamina propria, while Hsp90 expression was higher in the adenocarcinoma samples only in the lamina propria. CONCLUSION: Hsp10 and Hsp90 may be involved in large bowel carcinogenesis.