A Comparison of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy for Benign or Malignant Lesions: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The momentum of robotic surgery is increasing, and it has great prospects in pancreatic surgery. It has been widely accepted and expanding to more and more centers. Robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) is the most recent advanced minimally invasive approach for pancreatic lesions and malignancies. However, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) also showed good efficacy. We compared the effect of RDP with LDP using a meta-analysis. Methods: From January 2010 to June 2023, clinical trials of RDP versus LDP were determined by searching PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effect of RDP with LDP. This meta-analysis evaluated the R0 resection rate, lymph node metastasis rate, conversion to open surgery rate, spleen preservation rate, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pancreatic fistula, postoperative hospital stay, 90-day mortality rate, surgical cost, and total cost. Results: This meta-analysis included 38 studies. Conversion to open surgery, blood loss, and 90-day mortality in the RDP group were all significantly less than that in the LDP group (P < .05). There was no difference in lymph node resection rate, R0 resection rate, or postoperative pancreatic fistula between the two groups (P > .05). Spleen preservation rate in the LDP group was higher than that in the RDP group (P < .05). Operation cost and total cost in the RDP group were both more than that in the LDP group (P < .05). It is uncertain which group has an advantage in postoperative hospital stay. Conclusions: To some degree, RDP and LDP were indeed worth comparing in clinical practice. However, it may be difficult to determine which is absolute advantage according to current data. Large sample randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm which is better treatment. PROSPERO ID: CRD4202345576.

[Clinical efficacy comparison between laparoscopy and open radical resection for 191 advanced colorectal cancer patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, the radicalness and efficacy of laparoscopy for advanced colorectal cancer. METHODS: From June 2006 to December 2007, laparoscopic surgery and open radical resection were performed in 191 cases of colorectal cancer. The curative effect and clinical data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The patients were randomized to two groups, 98 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and 93 open operation. Five cases(5.1%) were converted to open surgery in laparoscopic surgery group. The average intraoperative blood loss of open surgery group was(279.5+/-189.4) ml, while that of laparoscopic surgery group was(87.2+/-27.1) ml, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.011). Within postoperative 48 hours, the intestinal function and early mobile physical activity were restored in 37.8% (37/98) and 30.6% (30/98) patients of laparoscopic surgery group, while in 6.5%(6/93, P=0.000) and 3.2% (3/93, P=0.000) patients of open surgery group, the differences between two groups were statistically significant. The average hospital stay of laparoscopic surgery group was (8.9+/-5.9) d, whereas open surgery group(12.1+/-7.6) d, the difference was statistically significant(P=0.036). No significant differences were found between the two groups in gender, age, tumor location, resection range of surgery, TNM staging, post-operative complication and lymph node harvest(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery is feasible for the patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The radicalness of laparoscopic surgery is similar to that of open surgery, and laparoscopic surgery can provide less intraoperative blood loss, better intestinal function restoration, early mobile physical activity and shorter hospital stay.

Prognostic value of lateral lymph node metastasis for advanced low rectal cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis in patients with advanced low rectal cancer, in order to make the effective selection of patients who could benefit from lateral lymph node dissection, as well as the relationship of lateral lymph node metastasis with local recurrence and survival of patients with advanced low rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 96 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery with lateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for advanced lower rectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The relation of lateral lymph node metastasis with clinicopathologic characteristics, local recurrence and survival of patients was identified. RESULTS: Lateral lymph node metastasis was observed in 14.6% (14/96) of patients with advanced low rectal cancer. Lateral lymph node metastasis was detected in 10 (25.0%) of 40 patients with tumor diameter >or= 5 cm and in 4 (7.1%) of 56 patients with tumor diameter < 5 cm. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (c2 = 5.973, P = 0.015). Lateral lymph node metastasis was more frequent in patients with 4/4 diameter of tumor infiltration (7 of 10 cases, 70.0%), compared with patients with 3/4, 2/4 and 1/4 diameter of tumor infiltration (3 of 25 cases, 12.0%; 3 of 45 cases, 6.7%; 1 of 16 cases, 6.3%) (c2 = 27.944, P = 0.0001). The lateral lymph node metastasis rate was 30.0% (9 of 30 cases), 9.1% (4 of 44 cases) and 4.5% (1 of 22 cases) for poorly, moderately and well-differentiated carcinoma, respectively. The difference between the three groups was statistically significant (c2 = 8.569, P = 0.014). Local recurrence was 18.8% (18 of 96 cases), 64.3% (9 of 14 cases), and 11.0% (9 of 82 cases) in patients with advanced low rectal cancer, in those with and without lateral lymph node metastasis, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (c2 = 22.308, P = 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significant improvements in median survival (80.9 +/- 2.1 m, 95% CI: 76.7-85.1 m vs 38 +/- 6.7 m, 95% CI: 24.8-51.2 m) of patients without lateral lymph node metastasis compared with those with lateral lymph node metastasis (log-rank, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Tumor diameter, infiltration and differentiation are significant risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis. Lateral pelvic lymphadenectomy should be performed following surgery for patients with tumor diameter >or= 5 cm. Lateral lymph node metastasis is an important predictor for local recurrence and survival in patients with advanced low rectal cancer.

Study of circumferential resection margin in patients with middle and lower rectal carcinoma.

AIM: To clarify the relationship between circumferential resection margin status and local and distant recurrence as well as survival of patients with middle and lower rectal carcinoma. The relationship between circumferential resection margin status and clinicopathologic characteristics of middle and lower rectal carcinoma was also evaluated. METHODS: Cancer specimens from 56 patients with middle and lower rectal carcinoma who received total mesorectal excision at the Department of General Surgery of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were studied. A large slice technique was used to detect mesorectal metastasis and evaluate circumferential resection margin status. RESULTS: Local recurrence occurred in 12.5% (7 of 56 cases) of patients with middle and lower rectal carcinoma. Distant recurrence occurred in 25% (14 of 56 cases) of patients with middle and lower rectal carcinoma. Twelve patients (21.4%) had positive circumferential resection margin. Local recurrence rate of patients with positive circumferential resection margin was 33.3% (4/12), whereas it was 6.8% (3/44) in those with negative circumferential resection margin (P = 0.014). Distant recurrence was observed in 50% (6/12) of patients with positive circumferential resection margin; conversely, it was 18.2% (8/44) in those with negative circumferential resection margin (P = 0.024). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significant improvements in median survival (32.2 +/- 4.1 mo, 95% CI: 24.1-40.4 mo vs 23.0 +/- 3.5 mo, 95% CI: 16.2-29.8 mo) for circumferential resection margin-negative patients over circumferential resection margin-positive patients (log-rank, P < 0.05). 37% T(3) tumors examined were positive for circumferential resection margin, while only 0% T(1) tumors and 8.7% T(2) tumors were examined as circumferential resection margin. The difference between these three groups was statistically significant (P = 0.021). In 18 cancer specimens with tumor diameter >= 5 cm 7 (38.9%) were detected as positive circumferential resection margin, while in 38 cancer specimens with a tumor diameter of < 5 cm only 5 (13.2%) were positive for circumferential resection margin (P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that circumferential resection margin involvement is significantly associated with depth of tumor invasion and tumor diameter. The circumferential resection margin status is an important predictor of local and distant recurrence as well as survival of patients with middle and lower rectal carcinoma.

[Mesorectal metastasis of middle and lower rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To detect mesorectal metastasis of middle and lower rectal cancer and to evaluate its relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics. METHODS: Cancer specimens resected from 56 patients with middle and lower rectal cancer who received total mesorectal excision were examined by routine pathologic observation. The relationship between mesorectal metastasis and clinicopathologic characteristics of middle and lower rectal cancer was also investigated. RESULTS: Mesorectal metastasis was detected in 36 (64.3%) of 56 cancer specimens. In 18 cancer specimens with tumor diameter > or = 5 cm, 15 (83.3%) were detected mesorectal metastasis, while in 38 cancer specimens with tumor diameter < 5 cm only 21 (55.3%) were detected mesorectal metastasis (P = 0.041). Mesorectal metastasis was more frequent in T(3) cancer specimens (81.5%) and T(2) cancer specimens (56.6%), compared with T(1) cancer specimens (1/6) (P = 0.007). 85.7% poorly differentiated cancer specimens were detected mesorectal metastasis, while moderate and well-differentiated cancer specimens were only 63.2% and 1/5 respectively (P = 0.028). Mesorectal metastasis was more frequent in stage III cancer specimens (100%), compared with stage II and I cancer specimens (27.3% and 1/5 respectively, P = 0.000). No significant correlations were found between mesorectal metastasis and other variables such as age, gender and Ming classification (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mesorectal metastasis of middle and lower rectal cancer has significant correlation with tumor diameter, tumor invasion, tumor differentiation and TNM stage. Total mesorectal excision or > or = 5 cm mesorectal distal to the rectal tumor should be followed in the management of middle and lower rectal cancer.

[Effects of perioperative enteral immunonutrition on nutritional status, immunity and inflammatory response of elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of perioperative enteral immunonutrition on the nutritional status, immunity, and inflammatory response of the elderly patients. METHODS: Eighty malnourished patients aged over 60 with malignant gastrointestinal tumors undergoing radical surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups: experimental group (immunonutrition group, n = 37), and control group (n = 43). In the experimental group Supportan and glutamine, with the calorific value of 125.4 kJ.kg(-1).d(-1), were given orally or by nasointestinal tube for 5 days before operation, through jejunostomy or nasointestinal tube during operation, and then through nasointestinal tube since the day 2 to day 9 after post-operationally. In the control group Nutrition with the same amount of calorific value was given in the same manner as mentioned above. Peripheral blood samples were collected 5 and 1 days pre-operationally, and 1 and 9 days post-operatively to examine the serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA), transferrin (TFN), CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM, and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Nine days after operation, the serum TFN was 2.18 g/L +/- 0.29 g/L, PA was 0.23 g/L +/- 0.09 g/L, CD4 was 33.8% +/- 5.4%, CD4/CD8 was 1.17 +/- 0.12, and IgG was 13.2 g/L +/- 1.8 g/L. all significantly higher than those of the control group (1.95 g/L +/- 0.28 g/L, 0.19 g/L +/- 0.03 g/L, 31.1% +/- 5.2%, 1.05 +/- 0.10, and 12.11 g/L +/- 1.53 g/L respectively, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Perioperative enteral immunonutrition improves the nutritional status and immune function, und reduces the acute inflammatory response of elderly patients.

[Matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and its correlation with mesorectal metastasis in middle and lower rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and to evaluate its correlation with mesorectal metastasis in middle and lower rectal cancer. METHODS: The resected primary tumors from 56 patients with middle and lower rectal cancer who received total mesorectal excision were studied from Dec. 2001 to Jul. 2003. RESULTS: The MMP-2 expression was positive in 42 (75%) cases. The positive rate of MMP-2 expression was 88.9% in T3 tumors and 69.6 % in T2 tumors respectively, while only 33.3% in T1 tumors (P=0.013). MMP-2 was positive in 91.2% (31/34) infiltrative rectal carcinomas while 40.0% (6/15) expansive rectal carcinomas (P=0.001). Mesorectal metastasis was detected in 36 (64.3%) of 56 cases. The expression of MMP-2 was positive in 31 (86.1%) of the 36 patients with mesorectal metastasis, while in 11(55%) of the 20 patients without mesorectal metastasis (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of MMP-2 in middle and lower rectal cancer is significantly associated with depth of tumor invasion and Ming classifications. The high expression of MMP-2 may play an important role in the development of mesorectal metastasis in middle and lower rectal cancer.