Parastomal hernia repair: a five-year experience from a single centre in the UK.

Parastomal hernias can affect significantly quality of life in patients who often had underwent major operations. The incidence and recurrence is still high although many techniques have been introduced to improve outcomes. Hence, there is still no agreement on what procedure has better results when it comes to repairing a parostomal hernia. Our aim is to compare outcomes of laparoscopic and open parastomal hernia repair in terms of recurrence, reoperations, post-operative complications and length of stay. Sixty-three parastomal hernia repairs were performed in a single Colorectal Centre over a period of 4 years. Eighteen procedures were performed laparoscopically and 45 open. All the 7 emergency procedures were approached open. Both the techniques showed to be safe with post-operative major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo III or above) of 9.52%. The laparoscopic group was found to have a shorter length of stay (p = 0.04) and earlier start of stoma function (p = 0.01), more uneventful recoveries (0.02) and less minor post-operative complications (Clavien-Dindo I or II-p = 0.01,) but similar recurrence rate (p = 0.41). In the open group, the placement of a mesh showed to reduce the rate of recurrence (p = 0.0001). However, this was not found in the laparoscopic approach. In conclusion, the laparoscopic approach showed do give less post-operative complications and a shorter length of stay, with no benefit in the recurrence rate. Considering the open technique, the use of a mesh seemed to reduce the rate of recurrence.

Hartmann's Reversal: Controversies of a Challenging Operation.

Purpose: Hartmann's reversal is a complex operation with a high morbidity rate. Minimally invasive surgery has been used to reduce the impact of surgery on fragile patients. The aim of this comparative study is to look at the results of Hartmann's reversal procedures with different approaches. Methods: All the patients who underwent Hartmann's reversal were collected retrospectively (124 cases). Sixty-four patients (50.4%) had an open operation, 6 cases (5%) were treated with a conventional laparoscopic approach, 34 patients (28.1%) underwent single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), and 20 (16.5%) required other additional trocars. Results: SILS operations were slightly longer than the open procedures (175 min vs 150 min), with the same rate of postoperative complications and reoperations (p = 0.83 and p = 0.42), but with a shorter hospital stay (5 days p = 0.007). Age (p = 0.03), long operative time (p = 0.01), and ASA score (p = 0.05) were identified as independent factors affecting postoperative morbidity. The grade of adhesions caused a longer operative time (p = 0.001) and a higher risk of conversion (p < 0.001), and short rectal stump increased the risk of protective loop ileostomy (p = 0.008). Patients with grade 2-3 of adhesions had a longer length of stay (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Minimally invasive procedures had a shorter hospital stay and did not show any increase in morbidity rate when compared with open cases. Age, longer operative time, and ASA score increased the risk of postoperative complications. Furthermore, patients with a short rectal stump had a higher chance of having a defunctioning ileostomy.

Influence of incorrect staging of colorectal carcinoma on oncological outcome: are we playing safely?

Accurate preoperative staging of colorectal cancers is critical in selecting patients for neoadjuvant therapy prior to resection. Inaccurate staging, particularly understaging, may lead to involved resection margins and poor oncological outcomes. Our aim is to determine preoperative imaging accuracy of colorectal cancers compared to histopathology and define the effect of inaccurate staging on patient selection for neoadjuvant treatment(NT). Staging and treatment were determined for patients undergoing colorectal resections for adenocarcinomas in a single tertiary centre(2016-2020). Data were obtained for 948 patients. The staging was correct for both T and N stage in 19.68% of colon cancer patients. T stage was under-staged in 18.58%. At resection, 23 patients (3.36%) had involved pathological margins; only 7 of which had been predicted by pre-operative staging. However, the staging was correct for both T and N stage in 53.85% of rectal cancer patients. T stage was understaged in 26.89%. Thirteen patients had involved(R1)margins; T4 had been accurately predicted in all of these cases. There was a general trend in understaging both the tumor and lymphonodal involvement (T p < 0.00001 N p < 0.00001) causing a failure in administrating NT in 0.1% of patients with colon tumor, but not with rectal cancer. Preoperative radiological staging tended to understage both colonic and rectal cancers. In colonic tumours this may lead to a misled opportunity to treat with neoadjuvant therapy, resulting in involved margins at resection.

Complex Reconstruction with Flaps After Abdominoperineal Resection and Groin Dissection for Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Difficult Case Involving Many Specialities.

BACKGROUND Anal squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 2-4% of all lower gastrointestinal malignancies, with a distant disease reported in less than 5%. Although surgical treatment is rarely necessary, this often involve large dissections and difficult reconstructive procedures. CASE REPORT We present a complex but successful case of double-flap reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection and groin dissection for anal squamous cell carcinoma (cT3N3M0) with metastatic right inguinal lymph nodes and ipsilateral threatening of femoral vessels. A multi-specialty team was involved in the operation. A vascular and plastic surgeon performed the inguinal dissection with en bloc excision of the saphenous magna and a cuff of the femoral vein, while colorectal surgeons carried out the abdominoperineal excision. The 2 large tissue gaps at the groin and perineum were covered with an oblique rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap and a gluteal lotus flap, respectively. A partially absorbable mesh was placed at the level of the anterior sheath in order to reinforce the abdominal wall, whereas an absorbable mesh was used as a bridge for the dissected pelvic floor muscles. The post-operative period was uneventful and the follow-up at 5 months showed good results. CONCLUSIONS An early diagnosis along with new techniques of radiochemotherapy allow patients to preserve their sphincter function. However, a persistent or recurrent disease needs major operations, which often involve a complex reconstruction. Good team-work and experience in specialized fields give the opportunity to make the best choices to perform critical steps during the management of complex cases.