Advanced gastric cancer with or without peritoneal carcinomatosis treated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a single western center experience.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article was to evaluate the role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), associated or not to cytoreductive surgery (CS) in the treatment of different stages of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty seven patients with AGC who underwent 43 HIPEC from June 1992 to February 2007 were included. HIPEC used Mitomycin-C and Cisplatin for 60-90 min at 41-43 degrees C intra-abdominal temperature. The main endpoints were long-term survivals, morbidity and mortality rates. RESULTS: Eleven patients had no demonstrable sign of PC and constituted the Prophylactic-group, while 26 patients had macroscopic PC (PC-group). Five patients were Gilly 1 or 2 (nodules <0.5 cm) and 21 Gilly 3 or 4 (nodules >or=0.5 cm). In the PC-group a complete curative CS was achieved before HIPEC in 8 (PC-curative subgroup) and a palliative HIPEC in 18 patients (PC-palliative subgroup). The overall 30-days mortality was 5% (2 patients). Two patients in the Prophylactic group died within 6 months after hospital discharge (overall mortality 11%). The estimated risk of death per procedure was 9%. Ten patients (27%) presented one or more complications. The median survival was 23.4 months in the Prophylactic group, and 6.6 months in the PC-group (p<0.05). The median survival in the PC-curative subgroup was 15 vs 3.9 months in the PC-palliative subgroup (p=0.007). The median survival according to Gilly classification was significantly different (Gilly 1&2 vs Gilly 3&4, 15 vs 4 months respectively, p=0.014). The global recurrence rates between the Prophylactic group and the PC-curative subgroup at 2years were 36% vs 50% respectively. The median delay to recurrence was 18.5 vs 9.7 months respectively. CONCLUSION: HIPEC might be useful to improve the survival in selected patients with ACG only when a complete cytoreduction can be achieved. Despite encouraging data, prospective studies, based on larger cohorts of patients are required to assess the role of this procedure as a prophylactic treatment in patients with AGC.

Harmonic scalpel in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE: With advances in laparoscopy, various hemostatic procedures have been advocated with variable results. Using currently available tools, some steps in laparoscopic colorectal surgery still represent technical challenges. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility and reliability of the Harmonic Scalpel in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. METHODS: In this nonrandomized prospective study, 34 consecutive patients (15 males; mean age, 46 (range, 24-80) years) underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery for benign disease (27 patients) and colorectal cancer (7 patients). Dissection, hemostasis, coagulation, and division of several types of vascular pedicles were performed exclusively with the Harmonic Scalpel. The 10-mm-blade Harmonic Scalpel device was used at full power mode for all purposes through a 10-mm port. Coagulation of vascular pedicles was always achieved with the blades in the flat position. The large pedicles (inferior mesenteric, right and left colic, and ileocolic) were coagulated for 20 seconds in several locations along the length (1 cm) before final division. Smaller vascular pedicles were coagulated for ten seconds before division. When the vein and the artery of major pedicles were divided at their origin, either for malignancy or for technical reasons, they were dissected and coagulated separately. For more limited resection of the mesentery, as in the case of benign disease, vascular pedicles were coagulated together as a single bundle. Operative time, minor or major intraoperative or postoperative hemorrhage, need for conversion to laparotomy, bowel injury, and trocar complications were recorded. All anastomoses were checked on Day 8 by a diatrizoate sodium enema. RESULTS: There was no mortality. Mean operative time was 276 (range, 200-520) minutes. Neither minor nor uncontrollable hemorrhage occurred; no conversion to laparotomy and no vascular or bowel injury were recorded. There was one port-site hematoma. Neither hemoperitoneum, intraperitoneal hematoma, fistula, nor intra-abdominal abscess was observed. CONCLUSION: Coagulation and division of minor as well as major vascular pedicles in laparoscopic colorectal surgery with the Harmonic Scalpel" are technically easy, feasible, and reliable.

[Radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer of the rectum]. / Radiothérapie et chimiothérapie dans le traitement du cancer du rectum.

The North American consensus conference held in 1990 concluded that the best currently available adjuvant treatment for cancer of the rectum (T3, N1 to N3) was postoperative combination radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In 1994, the consensus conference held in Paris concluded that the benefit observed after preoperative irradiation warranted assessment of the effect of preoperative radiochemotherapy. To decide between these two consensus conclusions, it would be most logical to compare preoperative radiotherapy with postoperative radiochemotherapy in a group of patients with similar echo-endoscopic or imaging findings.

Senna vs polyethylene glycol for mechanical preparation the evening before elective colonic or rectal resection: a multicenter controlled trial. French Association for Surgical Research.

HYPOTHESIS: Senna is more efficient than polyethylene glycol as mechanical preparation before elective colorectal surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, single-blind study. SETTING: Multicenter study (18 centers). PATIENTS: Five hundred twenty-three consecutive patients with colonic or rectal carcinoma or sigmoid diverticular disease, undergoing elective colonic or rectal resection followed by immediate anastomosis. INTERVENTION: Two hundred sixty-two patients were randomly allotted to receive senna (1 package diluted in a glass of water) and 261 to receive polyethylene glycol (2 packages diluted in 2-3 L of water), administered the evening before surgery. All patients received 5% povidone iodine antiseptic enemas (2 L) the evening and the morning before surgery. Ceftriaxone sodium and metronidazole were given intravenously at anesthetic induction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Degree of colonic and rectal cleanliness. RESULTS: Colonic cleanliness was better (P=.006), fecal matter in the colonic lumen was less fluid (P=.001), and the risk for moderate or large intraoperative fecal soiling was lower (P=.11) with senna. Overall, clinical tolerance did not differ significantly between groups, but 20 patients receiving polyethylene glycol (vs 16 with senna) had to interrupt their preparation, and 15 patients (vs 8 with senna) complained of abdominal distension. Senna, however, was better tolerated (P = .03) in the presence of stenosis. There was no statistically significant difference found in the number of patients with postoperative infective complications (14.7% vs 17.7%) or anastomotic leakage (5.3% vs 5.7%) with senna and polyethylene glycol, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mechanical preparation before colonic or rectal resection with senna is better and easier than with polyethylene glycol and should be proposed in patients undergoing colonic or rectal resection, especially patients with stenosis.

Prophylactic abdominal drainage after elective colonic resection and suprapromontory anastomosis: a multicenter study controlled by randomization. French Associations for Surgical Research.

BACKGROUND: Only 4 controlled trials have investigated whether prophylactic abdominal drainage was of value after colonic resection. None have been able to find any statistically significant difference, but the number of patients was small and the beta error risk was high. OBJECTIVES: To compare patients who underwent abdominal drainage with those who did not for the rate and severity of complications after elective colonic resection followed immediately by anastomosis of the suprapromontory colon and to compare suction drains with nonsuction drains. PATIENTS: Between September 1990 and June 1995, 319 patients (135 men and 184 women), whose mean age was 67 years (range, 22-95 years), with carcinoma, benign tumors, or colitis, located anywhere between the ascending and sigmoid colons, were included in the study. Patients were comparable for demographic characteristics, except that there were more patients with ascites in the group that did not undergo abdominal drainage (P<.02). INTERVENTIONS: After 2 protocol violations, 156 patients were randomized to the abdominal drainage group and 161 to the no abdominal drainage group. All 317 anastomoses were tested for airtightness intraoperatively and repaired if leakage was found (n=71), and all patients with anastomoses received a routine diatrizoate sodium enema to detect infraclinical leakage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The postoperative complications possibly influenced by drainage included (1) deep complications for which drainage can lead to early diagnosis, such as generalized or localized peritonitis, intraabdominal hemorrhage, or hematoma; (2) complications believed to be enhanced by drainage, such as an operative wound (an abscess, disruption, or incisional hernia) or pulmonary (microatelectasis) and intestinal obstructions; and (3) complications directly due to the drains, such as ulcerations leading to fistulae, hemorrhages, drainage tract infections, difficulty in removal, intra-abdominal retention, and incisional disruptions. Subsidiary end points were the severity of these complications as assessed by the number of related subsequent operations and deaths. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients overall (8%) had postoperative complications possibly influenced by drainage (9% in the group that underwent abdominal drainage and 8% in the group that did not). This difference was not statistically significant (P<.90). One patient had a fistula directly imputable to drainage. There was no difference between suction and nonsuction drainage (P<.90). CONCLUSIONS: Routine abdominal drainage after colonic resection and immediate anastomosis decreases neither the rate nor the severity of anastomotic leakage. It can, occasionally, be detrimental.

[Treatments of inguinal hernia under local anesthesia]. / Cures de hernie inguinale sous anesthésie locale.

Potentiated local anaesthesia has been generally used for repair of inguinal hernia since the Shouldice technique was first introduced in France in the early 80s. The technique requires a correct understanding of inguinal innervation and the properties of the local anaesthetic. The local anaesthetic is injected into the abdomino-genital and genito-crural nerves and at the line of incision allowing smooth surgical repair. Potentiation relieves patient apprehension. This method can be used for all types of inguinal hernia, whether simple or complicated and in all patients. There is no limitation for age or general condition. Contraindications are rare and include allergy or uncontrolled (no pacemaker) arrhythmias.

Ileocolonic anastomosis after right hemicolectomy for carcinoma: stapled or hand-sewn? A prospective, multicenter, randomized trial.

440 patients were prospectively enrolled in a randomized, multicenter trial to compare 4 types of manual (84 interrupted end-to-end, 77 continuous end-to-end, 82 interrupted end-to-side, and 91 continuous end-to-side) (polyglycolic derived suture) and 1 type of stapled (106 side-to-side with GIA+TA devices) ileocolonic anastomosis after right hemicolectomy for carcinoma. The trial was designed according to Schwartz' pragmatic formulation. All 5 groups were well-matched, except for a lower rate of intraoperative sepsis in the stapled group (P < 0.02). The main end point was anastomotic leakage detected clinically or by routine sodium diatrizoate enema on the 8-10th postoperative day. Results showed that stapled ileocolonic anastomosis was associated with less anastomotic leakages (2.8%) than all the other techniques combined (8.3%). In spite of the fact that staples are approximately ten times more expensive, our results suggest performing side-to-side (GIA+TA) mechanical anastomosis after right resection for carcinoma.

Single-dose ceftriaxone, ornidazole, and povidone-iodine enema in elective left colectomy. A randomized multicenter controlled trial. The French Association for Surgical Research.

Patients undergoing elective left colectomy for colonic carcinoma or diverticulosis (n = 341) were randomly assigned to three groups. Patients in groups 1 (102 patients) and 2 (122 patients) had two 5% povidone-iodine enemas whereas those in group 3 (117 patients) had saline enemas. Groups 1 and 3 received 24-hour intravenous cefotaxime sodium and metronidazole hydrochloride. Group 2 received single injections of ceftriaxone sodium (1 g) and ornidazole (1 g). Senna concentrate was administered the evening before surgery. There was no statistically significant difference found between groups 1 and 2 concerning the number of infected patients (eight vs 11), anastomotic leakages (four vs four), extra-abdominal complications (32 vs 29), or infection-related deaths (one vs zero). Despite poorer tolerance, povidone-iodine enema was more effective than saline enemas, as there were less infected patients in group 1 (8%) or groups 1 + 2 (8.5%) than in group 3 (13%). Single-dose ceftriaxone-ornidazole combined with povidone-iodine enemas is effective against infective complications in elective left colonic surgery for carcinoma or diverticular disease. Single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis reduces costs and work for the nursing staff.

Povidone-iodine enema as a preoperative bowel preparation for colorectal surgery. A bacteriologic study.

To evaluate the effects of povidone-iodine (PI) enema on the bacterial flora of colorectal mucosa, the authors studied 113 patients who were candidates for colorectal surgery. The study of the rectum included 72 patients. Total bacterial concentrations after a PI enema (N = 44) were significantly lower than after a simple water enema (N = 12, P less than 0.001), or than after a water enema associated with intravenous metronidazole (N = 16, P less than 0.01). The study of the colon included 41 patients. Total bacterial concentrations did not differ after a PI enema (N = 24) than after a water enema (N = 11); both groups were associated with intravenous metronidazole. In contrast, both preparations significantly reduced bacterial concentrations when compared with oral administration of polyethyleneglycol (N = 6, P less than 0.01). Similar results were observed in rectal and colonic studies, when analysis was restricted to the anaerobic flora. PI is an antiseptic that, when administered alone in an enema or in association with metronidazole, significantly reduces bacterial concentrations in the mucosa of the colon and rectum. It may be proposed as a simple preoperative preparation for colorectal surgery.

[Barium granuloma of the rectum]. / Granulome baryté du rectum

The authors report a case of barium granuloma of the rectum. This complication of barium enema is exceptional. During enema, the cannula may ulcerate the mucosa which is blown up secondarily by the barium. Clinically, the granuloma presents like a hard polyp which is suggestive in certain cases of a malignant tumour. The precise diagnosis is made by careful examination of the abdominal films before administration of barium taking in the whole of the pelvis.