From conventional two-stage hepatectomy to ALPPS: Fifteen years of experience in a hepatobiliary surgery unit.

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy in patients with large tumor load may result in postoperative liver failure and associated complications due to excessive liver parenchyma removal. Conventional two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) and associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) technique are possible solutions to this problem. Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is the most frequent indication, and there is a need to assess outcomes for both techniques to improve surgical and long-term oncological outcomes in these patients. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was designed to compare TSH with ALPPS in patients with initially unresectable bilateral liver tumors between January 2005 and January 2020. ALPPS was performed from January 2012 onwards as the technique of choice. Long-term overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated as primary outcome in CRLM patients. Postoperative morbidity, mortality and liver growth in all patients were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 38 staged hepatectomies were performed: 17 TSH and 21 ALPPS. Complete resection rate was 76.5% (n = 13) in the TSH group and 85.7% (n = 18) in the ALPPS group (P = 0.426). Overall major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3a) (stage 1 + stage 2) was 41.2% (n = 7) in TSH and 33.3% (n = 7) in ALPPS patients (P = 0.389), and perioperative 90-day mortalities were 11.8% (n = 2) vs. 19.0% (n = 4) in each group, respectively (P = 0.654). Intention-to-treat OS rates at 1 and 5 years in CRLM patients for TSH (n = 15) were 80% and 33%, and for ALPPS (n = 17) 76% and 35%, respectively. DFS rates at 1 and 5 years were 36% and 27% in the TSH group vs. 33% and 27% in the ALPPS group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ALPPS is an effective alternative to TSH in bilateral affecting liver tumors, allowing higher resection rate, but patients must be carefully selected. In CRLM patients similar long-term OS and DFS can be achieved with both techniques.

Risk factors for anastomotic leak and postoperative morbidity and mortality after elective right colectomy for cancer: results from a prospective, multicentric study of 1102 patients.

BACKGROUND: Studies focused on postoperative outcome after oncologic right colectomy are lacking. The main objective was to determine pre-/intraoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after elective right colon resection for cancer. Secondary objectives were to determine risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Fifty-two hospitals participated in this prospective, observational study (September 2011-September 2012), including 1102 patients that underwent elective right colectomy. Forty-two pre-/intraoperative variables, related to patient, tumor, surgical procedure, and hospital, were analyzed as potential independent risk factors for anastomotic leak and postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Anastomotic leak was diagnosed in 93 patients (8.4 %), and 72 (6.5 %) of them needed radiological or surgical intervention. Morbidity, mortality, and wound infection rates were 29.0, 2.6, and 13.4 %, respectively. Preoperative serum protein concentration was the only independent risk factor for anastomotic leak (p < 0.0001, OR 0.6 per g/dL). When considering only clinically relevant anastomotic leaks, stapled technique (p = 0.03, OR 2.1) and preoperative serum protein concentration (p = 0.004, OR 0.6 g/dL) were identified as the only two independent risk factors. Age and preoperative serum albumin concentration resulted to be risk factors for postoperative mortality. Male gender, pulmonary or hepatic disease, and open surgical approach were identified as risk factors for postoperative morbidity, while male gender, obesity, intraoperative complication, and end-to-end anastomosis were risk factors for wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative nutritional status and the stapled anastomotic technique were the only independent risk factors for clinically relevant anastomotic leak after elective right colectomy for cancer. Age and preoperative nutritional status determined the mortality risk, while laparoscopic approach reduced postoperative morbidity.

Update on the management of non-obstetric acute abdomen in pregnant patients. / Actualización en el manejo del abdomen agudo no obstétrico en la paciente gestante.

Acute abdomen is a rare entity in the pregnant patient, with an incidence of one in 500-635 patients. Its appearance requires a quick response and an early diagnosis to treat the underlying disease and prevent maternal and fetal morbidity. Imaging tests are essential, due to clinical and laboratory masking in this subgroup. Appendicitis and complicated biliary pathology are the most frequent causes of non-obstetric acute abdomen in the pregnant patient. The decision to operate, the timing, and the surgical approach are essential for a correct management of this pathology. The aim of this paper is to perform a review and update on the diagnosis and treatment of non-obstetric acute abdomen in pregnancy.

Twenty-five years of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. / Veinticinco años de colecistectomía laparoscópica en régimen ambulatorio.

It is accepted by the surgical community that laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the technique of choice in the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis. However, more controversial is the standardization of system implementation in Ambulatory Surgery because of its different different connotations. This article aims to update the factors that influence the performance of LC in day surgery, analyzing the 25 years since its implementation, focusing on the quality and acceptance by the patient. Individualization is essential: patient selection criteria and the implementation by experienced teams in LC, are factors that ensure high guarantee of success.

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leak After Colon Resection for Cancer: Multivariate Analysis and Nomogram From a Multicentric, Prospective, National Study With 3193 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine pre-/intraoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after colon resection for cancer and to create a practical instrument for predicting anastomotic leak risk. BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leak is still the most dreaded complication in colorectal surgery. Many risk factors have been identified to date, but multicentric prospective studies on anastomotic leak after colon resection are lacking. METHODS: Fifty-two hospitals participated in this prospective, observational study. Data of 3193 patients, operated for colon cancer with primary anastomosis without stoma, were included in a prospective online database (September 2011-September 2012). Forty-two pre-/intraoperative variables, related to patient, tumor, surgical procedure, and hospital, were analyzed as potential independent risk factors for anastomotic leak (60-day follow-up). A nomogram was created to easily predict the risk of anastomotic leak for a given patient. RESULTS: The anastomotic leak rate was 8.7%, and widely varied between hospitals (variance of 0.24 on the logit scale). Anastomotic leak significantly increased mortality (15.2% vs 1.9% in patients without anastomotic leak, P < 0.0001) and length of hospitalization (median 23 vs 7 days in uncomplicated patients, P < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, the following variables were independent risk factors for anastomotic leak: obesity [P = 0.003, odds ratio (OR) = 2.7], preoperative serum total proteins (P = 0.03, OR = 0.7 per g/dL), male sex (P = 0.03, OR = 1.6), ongoing anticoagulant treatment (P = 0.05, OR = 1.8), intraoperative complication (P = 0.03, OR = 2.2), and number of hospital beds (P = 0.04, OR = 0.95 per 100 beds). CONCLUSIONS: Anastomotic leak after colon resection for cancer is a frequent, relevant complication. Patients, surgical technique, and hospital are all important determining factors of anastomotic leak risk.

Evaluation of mesorectal fascia in mid and low anterior rectal cancer using endorectal ultrasound is feasible and reliable: a comparison with MRI findings.

BACKGROUND: Accuracy of MRI in assessing mesorectal fascia and predicting circumferential resection margin decreases in low anterior rectal tumors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of endorectal ultrasound in predicting the pathologic circumferential resection margin in low rectal anterior tumors and to compare it with MRI findings. DESIGN: This was a prospective series comparing the preoperative circumferential resection margin assessed by endorectal ultrasound and MRI with pathologic examination. SETTINGS: The study was conducted by a specialized colorectal multidisciplinary team at a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Between 2002 and 2008, 76 patients with mid to low rectal cancer were preoperatively evaluated by endorectal ultrasound and MRI and underwent total mesorectal excision without neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. Twenty-seven patients with posterior or postero-lateral tumors were excluded, leaving 49 patients with anterior or antero-lateral tumors for the present subanalysis. We compared preoperative circumferential resection margin status using endorectal ultrasound and MRI with pathologic examination. INTERVENTIONS: We conducted a comparison between preoperative circumferential resection margin status and pathologic examination after total mesorectal excision surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Accuracy in predicting pathologic circumferential resection margin status was measured. RESULTS: Overall accuracy of endorectal ultrasound and MRI in assessing circumferential resection margin status was 83.7% and 91.8%, with negative predictive values of 97.2% and 97.5%. When focusing on low rectal tumors, the overall accuracy of endorectal ultrasound increased to 87.5%, whereas the accuracy of MRI decreased to 87.5%, with a negative predictive value of 95.6% for both diagnostic tests. LIMITATIONS: The sample size is small, and interobserver variability in radiologic assessment was not evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Endorectal ultrasound can help MRI in predicting circumferential resection margin involvement in mid to low anterior rectal cancer, especially at the low third of the rectum, with a high negative predictive value.

Management of cryptoglandular supralevator abscesses in the magnetic resonance imaging era: a case series.

AIM: The aim of this study is to describe the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging in the management of supralevator abscess, regarding its origin, location, drainage route, subsequent treatment of the fistula, and long-term results. METHODS: A retrospective case series including thirteen consecutive patients with cryptoglandular supralevator abscess treated between 2001 and 2011 at a colorectal unit of a tertiary referral center. A magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all patients before surgical drainage, and its usefulness in assessing supralevator abscess origin was analyzed. Short- and long-term results after drainage were also evaluated. RESULTS: The final diagnosis of supralevator abscess and the location described in the magnetic resonance were confirmed intraoperatively in all patients. An ischiorectal origin was identified in nine patients, and perineal translevator drainage was performed placing a mushroom catheter through the ischiorectal or the postanal space. Four patients underwent secondary treatment of anal fistula: two rectal advancement flap and two non-cutting seton. In the other four patients, an intersphincteric origin was identified and transanal surgical drainage was performed placing a long-term mushroom catheter. Several weeks later, transanal unroofing of the residual cavity was performed and the fistula lay open to the anorectal lumen. In the long-term follow-up (median 61 months), only patients with supralevator abscess of ischiorectal origin in whom fistula was not subsequently treated presented a recurrence of the anal sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging seems essential to clarify the location of supralevator abscess, its origin, and choice of the right drainage route. Subsequent treatment of the fistula is necessary to avoid recurrence.

Modified Wong's classification improves the accuracy of rectal cancer staging by endorectal ultrasound and MRI.

BACKGROUND: Douglas Wong proposed a new classification of tumor penetration in the rectal wall (T stage) in an attempt to incorporate the prognostic heterogeneity of T3 rectal cancers into the preoperative staging. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate if the accuracy of endorectal ultrasound and MRI in predicting rectal cancer T staging improves when using a modified Wong's classification. DESIGN: This prospective series compares local standard TN staging and a modified Wong's classification. SETTINGS: This study was conducted by a specialized Colorectal Multidisciplinary Team at a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy patients underwent surgery for middle or low rectal cancer between 2002 and 2008 without neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. We compared the preoperative staging with the pathological staging to determine the preoperative accuracy of endorectal ultrasound and MRI when using a modified Wong's classification vs the standard TN classification. INTERVENTIONS: A modified version of Wong's classification was used for preoperative and pathological staging. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was the accuracy in the preoperative T staging. RESULTS: The overall accuracy of endorectal ultrasound and MRI in assessing T staging was 68.6% and 72.9% (uT1/2, 90%; uT3, 58.3%; and uT4, 100% and rT1/2, 88%; rT3, 63.4%; and rT4, 75%). By using the proposed modified Wong's classification, the overall accuracy of endorectal ultrasound and MRI improved to 82.9% and 90%. LIMITATIONS: The interobserver variability in radiological assessment was not evaluated. CONCLUSION: With use of the modified Wong's classification proposed in this study, the overall accuracy of preoperative imaging in assessing T staging of rectal cancer is substantially improved, especially when endorectal ultrasound and MRI stage match, enhancing the selection of patients for neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy.

Two stage hepatectomy (TSH) versus ALPPS for initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous comparisons between conventional Two Stage Hepatectomy (TSH) and Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) have been reported, the heterogeneity of malignancies previously compared represents an important source of selection bias. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare perioperative and oncological outcomes between TSH and ALPPS to treat patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). METHODS: Main electronic databases were searched using medical subject headings for CRLM surgically treated with TSH or ALPPS. Patients treated for primary or secondary liver malignancies other than CRLM were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients from 5 studies were included. Postoperative major complications were higher in the ALPPS group (relative risk [RR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-2.06, I2 = 0%), while no differences were observed in terms of perioperative mortality (RR 1.53, 95% CI 0.64-3.62, I2 = 0%). ALPPS was associated with higher completion of hepatectomy rates (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09-1.61, I2 = 85%), as well as R0 resection rates (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.13-2.30, I2 = 40%). Nevertheless, no significant differences were achieved between groups in terms of overall survival (OS) (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.68-1.27, I2 = 52%) and disease-free survival (DFS) (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.47-2.49, I2 = 54%), respectively. CONCLUSION: ALPPS and TSH to treat CRLM seem to have comparable operative risks in terms of mortality rates. No definitive conclusions regarding OS and DFS can be drawn from the results.

Evaluation of patient safety and satisfaction in a program of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy program with expanded criteria. / Evaluación de la seguridad y satisfacción de los pacientes en un programa de colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria con criterios expandidos.

INTRODUCTION: The good results obtained with the implementation of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy programs have led to the expansion of the initial inclusion criteria. The main objective was to evaluate the results and the degree of satisfaction of the patients included in a program of laparoscopic cholecystectomy without admission, with expanded criteria. METHODS: Observational study of a cohort of 260 patients undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy between April 2013 and March 2016 in a third level hospital. We classified the patients into 2groups based on compliance with the initial inclusion criteria of the outpatient program. Group I (restrictive criteria) includes 164 patients, while in group ii (expanded criteria) we counted 96 patients. We compared the surgical time, the rate of failures in ambulatory surgery, rate of conversion, reinterventions and mortality and the satisfaction index. RESULTS: The overall success rate of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 92.8%. The most frequent cause of unexpected income was for medical reasons. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2groups for total surgery time, the rate of conversion to open surgery and the number of major postoperative complications Do not demostrate differences in surgical time, nor in the number of perioperative complications (major complications 1,2%), or the number of failures in ambulatory surgery, nor the number of readmissions between both groups. There was no death. 88.5% of patients completed the survey, finding no differences between both groups in the patient satisfaction index. The overall score of the process was significantly better in group ii(P=.023). CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure with a good acceptance by patients with expanded criteria who were included in the surgery without admission program.

Emergency surgery in chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction due to mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy: case reports.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent clinical episodes of intestinal obstruction in the absence of any mechanical cause occluding the gut. There are multiple causes related to this rare syndrome. Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is one of the causes related to primary CIPO. MNGIE is caused by mutations in the gene encoding thymidine phosphorylase. These mutations lead to an accumulation of thymidine and deoxyuridine in blood and tissues of these patients. Toxic levels of these nucleosides induce mitochondrial DNA abnormalities leading to an abnormal intestinal motility.Herein, we described two rare cases of MNGIE syndrome associated with CIPO, which needed surgical treatment for gastrointestinal complications. In one patient, intra-abdominal hypertension and compartment syndrome generated as a result of the colonic distension forced to perform emergency surgery. In the other patient, a perforated duodenal diverticulum was the cause that forced to perform surgery. There is not a definitive treatment for MNGIE syndrome and survival does not exceed 40 years of age. Surgery only should be considered in some selected patients.