Laparoscopic versus open right hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases after portal vein embolization: international multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver surgery is increasingly used for more challenging procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and oncological safety of laparoscopic right hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases after portal vein embolization. METHODS: This was an international retrospective multicentre study of patients with colorectal liver metastases who underwent open or laparoscopic right and extended right hepatectomy after portal vein embolization between 2004 and 2020. The perioperative and oncological outcomes for patients who underwent laparoscopic and open approaches were compared using propensity score matching. RESULTS: Of 338 patients, 84 patients underwent a laparoscopic procedure and 254 patients underwent an open procedure. Patients in the laparoscopic group less often underwent extended right hepatectomy (18% versus 34.6% (P = 0.004)), procedures in the setting of a two-stage hepatectomy (42% versus 65% (P < 0.001)), and major concurrent procedures (4% versus 16.1% (P = 0.003)). After propensity score matching, 78 patients remained in each group. The laparoscopic approach was associated with longer operating and Pringle times (330 versus 258.5 min (P < 0.001) and 65 versus 30 min (P = 0.001) respectively) and a shorter length of stay (7 versus 8 days (P = 0.011)). The R0 resection rate was not different (71% for the laparoscopic approach versus 60% for the open approach (P = 0.230)). The median disease-free survival was 12 (95% c.i. 10 to 20) months for the laparoscopic approach versus 20 (95% c.i. 13 to 31) months for the open approach (P = 0.145). The median overall survival was 28 (95% c.i. 22 to 48) months for the laparoscopic approach versus 42 (95% c.i. 35 to 52) months for the open approach (P = 0.614). CONCLUSION: The advantages of a laparoscopic over an open approach for (extended) right hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases after portal vein embolization are limited.

Single large hepatocellular carcinoma > 5 cm with surgical indication: is it mandatory a major hepatectomy? a propensity-score weighted analysis.

PURPOSE: Single large hepatocellular carcinoma >5cm (SLHCC) traditionally requires a major liver resection. Minor resections are often performed with the goal to reduce morbidity and mortality. Aim of the study was to establish if a major resection should be considered the best treatment for SLHCC or a more limited resection should be preferred. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective analysis of the HE.RC.O.LE.S. Group register was performed. All collected patients with surgically treated SLHCC were divided in 5 groups of treatment (major hepatectomy, sectorectomy, left lateral sectionectomy, segmentectomy, non-anatomical resection) and compared for baseline characteristics, short and long-term results. A propensity-score weighted analysis was performed. RESULTS: 535 patients were enrolled in the study. Major resection was associated with significantly increased major complications compared to left lateral sectionanectomy, segmentectomy and non-anatomical resection (all p<0.05) and borderline significant increased major complications compared to sectorectomy (p=0.08). Left lateral sectionectomy showed better overall survival compared to major resection (p=0.02), while other groups of treatment resulted similar to major hepatectomy group for the same item. Absence of oncological benefit after major resection and similar outcomes among the 5 groups of treatment was confirmed even in the sub-population excluding patients with macrovascular invasion. CONCLUSION: Major resection was associated to increased major post-operative morbidity without long-term survival benefit; when technically feasible and oncologically adequate, minor resections should be preferred for the surgical treatment of SLHCC.

Are gynecologists sufficiently trained and educated on electro surgery and basic laparoscopic setting?

BACKGROUND: Basic knowledge of electrosurgery and patient's safety during laparoscopic setup are fundamental, as laparoscopic surgical skills do. The aim of this prospective case-control study was to assess the improvement of such knowledge and skills among gynecologists. METHODS: Gynecologists attending a training course on laparoscopy at the Centre International de Chirurgie Endoscopique (CICE), Clermont Ferrand (France) (December 2013-March 2014) were asked to answer a questionnaire about their own clinical activity and basic surgical knowledge and skills at the beginning and end of the course. The questionnaire included multiple choice questions about technical (four questions) and safety (five questions) aspects of laparoscopic set up and electrosurgery (five questions). RESULTS: Sixty-two residents and 68 graduated gynecologists completed pre- and post-course questionnaires (PrQ and PoQ, respectively). Considering 9 as an arbitrary cut-off score indicating an adequate theoretical knowledge, a total of 70 (51.8 %) and 128 (94.8 %) participants had a sufficient score at the PrQ and PoQ, respectively. Only 9.6 % of participants were able to complete PoQ without making any mistakes, with a mean PrQ score of 9.5. At the beginning, the most difficult steps in laparoscopy in participants' opinion were intra-corporeal suture and insufflation of pneumoperitoneum (both 36.1 %). After the course and the practical training, only 20 % of participants still indicated intra-corporeal suture as the most difficult. CONCLUSION: Education on electro surgery and basic laparoscopic setting and laparoscopic practical training are necessary to improve and maintain laparoscopic surgical skills. The assessment of that knowledge is mandatory to define surgical competence.

Laparoscopic pancreatic resections in two medium-sized medical centres.

To analyze the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for pancreatic neoplasms, in two medium-volume centers in Northern Italy, a retrospective chart review was performed in the operative registries, searching for patients who had undergone pancreatic surgery via laparoscopy, irrespective of the final pathological nature of the resected neoplasm. For each case, a standard data extraction form was completed and the following data was extracted: age and sex, type of resection, estimated blood loss, length of the operation, number of harvested nodes, post-operative pancreatic fistula, major post-operative complications, mortality and final pathological diagnosis. The systematic literature research was also undertaken and the reported results were analyzed. A total of 55 cases were recorded, including 39 distal pancreatectomies and 16 pancreaticoduodenectomies. The most frequent indications leading to surgery were ductal adenocarcinoma (26 pts) and cystic neoplasm (22 pts). No post-operative death occurred in this series; pancreatic fistula occurred in 64% of distal pancreatectomies and 22% of pancreaticoduodenectomies. The mean operating times were 178' and 572', respectively. Both distal pancreatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy proved to be feasible and were safely performed by laparoscopy, in two centers with medium-volume pancreatic caseload.