Safety and feasibility of instituting a robotic pancreas program in the Australian setting: a case series and narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive pancreatic resection has been gathering interest over the last decade due to the technical demands and high morbidity associated with these typically open procedures. We report our experience with robotic pancreatectomy within an Australian context. METHODS: All patients undergoing robotic distal pancreatectomy (DP) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) at two Australian tertiary academic hospitals between May 2014 and December 2020 were included. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients underwent robotic pancreatectomy during the study period. Thirty-four patients with a median age of 68 years (range 42-84) were in the PD group whilst the DP group included 28 patients with a median age of 60 years (range 18-78). Thirteen patients (46.4%) in the DP group had spleen-preserving procedures. There were 13 conversions (38.2%) in the PD group whilst 0 conversions occurred in the DP group. The Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III complication rate was 26.4% and 17.9% in the PD and DP groups, respectively. Two deaths (5.9%) occurred within 90-days in the PD group whilst none were observed in the DP group. The median length of hospital stay was 11.5 days (range 4-56) in the PD group and 6 days (range 2-22) in the DP group. CONCLUSION: Robotic pancreatectomy outcomes at our institution are comparable with international literature demonstrating it is both safe and feasible to perform. With improved access to this platform, robotic pancreas surgery may prove to be the turning point for patients with regards to post-operative complications as more experience is obtained.

Robotic enucleation & uncinectomy of complex lesions of the proximal pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumours within the proximal pancreas traditionally require pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for cure. For smaller lesions with borderline malignant potential the risk/benefit of PD becomes difficult to justify. Robotic approaches to these lesions allow for parenchymal preserving resection with reduced complication profile without oncological compromise. METHODS: A review of a single surgeons prospectively collated database across two institutions of consecutive robotic enucleations or parenchyma preserving resections of the proximal pancreas was performed between July 2018 and October 2021. Standard demographic data, preoperative variables, intraoperative parameters, post-operative outcomes, morbidity and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (8 female and 5 male) underwent robotic enucleation (EN) (8) and/or uncinectomy (UN) (5) in the proximal pancreas. Mean BMI was 32(kg/m2 ). Three patients (21%) underwent preoperative prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting. One patient required conversion to open. The median operative time in the EN group was 170 min (108-224 min) and the UN group was 160 min (110-204 min). The majority (8) of lesions were pNETs. Three lesions were IPMNs, with 1 solitary fibrous tumour and a serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) respectively. Median tumour size was 23 mm (11-58 mm) in the EN group, and 27 mm (17-38 mm) in the UN group. Ten of 13 patients had an R0 resection. There was no mortality in our series. Four (31%) patients across both groups developed clinically relevant POPF while none developed new endocrine or exocrine insufficiency. Average outpatient follow-up has been 6 months (1-18 months). CONCLUSION: A robotic approach in proximal parenchymal preserving pancreatectomy is expanding, safe and feasible.

Large size and haemorrhage are not contraindications to laparoscopic resection of hepatocellular adenoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a hepatocyte derived neoplastic lesion with an increasing incidence and a strong association with oestrogen therapy. Laparoscopic resection has proven safe for small, non-ruptured lesions whilst its use for large adenomas (≥10 cm) and cases of haemorrhage requires further investigation. METHODS: All patients undergoing liver resection for HCA at the Royal Brisbane Hospital between January 2003 and April 2018 were analysed. Ethics approval was obtained. RESULTS: Thirty-three laparoscopic and three open resections were performed in 35 patients, all female, with a median age of 35 years (range 14-75). Nine laparoscopic resections were performed for large adenomas (≥10 cm) and 17 laparoscopic resections were performed for adenomas of intermediate size (5-9.9 cm). Only one conversion to open surgery was required for an intermediate sized tumour. Haemorrhage, either intratumoural, intraparenchymal or free intraperitoneal was the indication for resection in six of the 33 laparoscopic cases. Median operative time was 143 and 266 min for laparoscopically resected intermediate and large lesions, respectively. The median length of stay was 5 days (range 4-9) and no major complications were observed in the laparoscopic group. ß-catenin mutation was seen in four of nine large adenomas whereas the inflammatory subtype constituted 11 of 17 intermediate sized lesions. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery has been demonstrated to be safe for the resection of HCA in this group of patients. Importantly, haemorrhage and/or large size were not barriers to laparoscopic resection.

Pre-Operative vs. Peri-Operative Nutrition Supplementation in Hepatic Resection for Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Despite improvements in safety of hepatic resection post-operative complications occur in up to a half of patients. A systematic review was undertaken to compare the effect of pre-operative and peri-operative nutritional supplementation on post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing hepatic resection for malignancy. Included studies were identified through a search of PubMed (1966 to November 2016), Embase (1947 to November 2016) and the Cochrane Library (1993 to November 2016). Eleven studies involving a total of 725 patients were included in this systematic review. BCAA supplementation in the pre-operative and peri-operative period was reported to reduce the overall complication rate by 26.9% (P = 0.01) in one cohort study while pre-operative immunonutrition was shown to reduce post-operative ascites by 25.4% (P =0.012) in another cohort study without affecting the overall complication rate. Four further studies on enteral supplementation failed to show a benefit with regards to post-operative complications. Post-operative mortality was unaffected by pre-operative and peri-operative BCAA. Both pre-operative and peri-operative nutritional supplementation have shown promising results regarding the post-operative course of patients undergoing hepatic resection for malignancy. No randomized controlled study exists directly comparing pre-operative and peri-operative nutrition and this needs to be focused on in future research.

Intralesional PV-10 for in-transit melanoma-A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with in-transit melanoma metastasis have longer median survival than patients with distant metastatic disease. Furthermore, local disease control is an important endpoint for symptom management. The treatment of unresectable loco-regional recurrence or in-transit disease has been historically managed with a combination of treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, isolated limb infusion or perfusion as well as systemic therapies. Intralesional PV-10 has been used at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre since 2010, and the current report presents a retrospective analysis of patient outcomes, reporting the response rates, durability of responses, and observed toxicities. METHODS: Records were analyzed retrieving details of 19 patients treated with PV-10 over a 4-year period from 2010 to 2014. Medical records were reviewed for these patients and data extracted. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with in-transit melanoma were treated with intralesional PV-10 between 2010 and 2014. Disease control (complete or partial response or disease stability) was achieved in 68% of patients with 26% having a complete response. This was achieved with minimal associated toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: PV-10 is an effective, durable, well-tolerated treatment tool with an acceptable side effect profile for the management of unresectable in-transit melanoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:380-384. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The long-term outcome of displaced mid-third clavicle fractures on scapular and shoulder function: variations between immediate surgery, delayed surgery, and nonsurgical management.

BACKGROUND: Conservative management for uncomplicated displaced clavicle fractures is common practice. Delay of surgical fixation may result in less favorable outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 60 patients with a closed mid-third clavicle fracture that did not meet current operative or nonoperative guidelines; 20 primary (plate fixation <6 weeks), 20 delayed (plate fixation >6 weeks), and 20 matched conservative patients were included. Each patient completed 2 questionnaires, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, as well as visual analog scales for pain, cosmetic satisfaction, and overall satisfaction. In addition, 10 patients from each group underwent clinical review of scapular rotation by the lateral scapular slide test, clinical impingement, range of motion assessment, and radiologic review of clavicle union and length. RESULTS: The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons patient self-reported questionnaire demonstrated a median score of 5.5 for the delayed group, 2 for the primary group, and 1 for the conservative group (P = .032). The median Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 7.92 for the delayed group, 3.32 for the primary group, and 1.67 for the conservative group (P = .212). Six patients in the delayed group had scapular malrotation compared with 2 in the primary group and none in the conservative group (P = .008). Flexion and external rotation in 90° abduction were decreased in the conservative group (P = .049 and .041, respectively). CONCLUSION: We support the conservative management of uncomplicated displaced clavicle fractures but recognize that a lower threshold for early surgery should be considered where optimal shoulder function is required.