A Single institution's randomized double-armed prospective study of lumpectomy margins with adjunctive use of the MarginProbe in nonpalpable breast cancers.

Breast conservation surgery (BCS) aims to excise all cancerous tissue while minimizing the amount of healthy breast tissue removed. Up to 30% of patients undergoing BCS require a second operation for re-excision to obtain negative margins. Previous studies reported a lower re-excision rate with intraoperative use of the MarginProbe device (Dune Medical Devices). This device utilizes radiofrequency spectroscopy to detect differences between cancerous and normal tissue. From July 2009 to January 2010, our institution enrolled 46 patients electing for BCS in a prospective double-arm randomized controlled trial and had a significantly lower re-excision rate than that reported in the multicenter trial. Intraoperatively, after performing conventional lumpectomy with excision of any additional shavings deemed necessary based on palpation and visual inspection alone, patients were then randomized. In the device arm, the surgeon used the MarginProbe to interrogate the lumpectomy specimen, taking additional shavings from the cavity surfaces corresponding to the parts of the specimen read as positive by the device. In the control arm, only standard intraoperative assessments were performed. All specimens were evaluated by pathologists who were blinded to the study arm. In this population, 72% had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 20% had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 8% had invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Average age was 64 years old. The average size of the specimen was 5.6 cm, the average volume was 37.8 cm3 , and the average weight was 32.7 g. The mean size of DCIS was 1.4 cm. For invasive specimens, 32 were T1 and 7 were T2. Prior to randomization, 43 patients were thought to have positive or close margins and therefore underwent additional shavings. Twenty-three patients were randomized to the device arm and 23 to the control arm. In the device arm, 14 (60%) patients had IDC, 7 (30%) had DCIS, and 2 (8%) had ILC, vs the control arm where 19 (82%) patients had IDC, 2 (8%) had DCIS, and 2 (8%) had ILC. Eight (35%) patients in the control group vs 1 (4%) in the device group underwent re-excision for margin involvement (P < .05). The use of the MarginProbe device at our institution significantly improved the ability of our surgeons to obtain clear margins during initial BCS. Our results show a lower re-excision rate (4%) than those published in the multicenter trial (19.8%). We postulate that in the face of more patients having DCIS in our device group (30%), our surgeons responded by taking thicker shavings when the MarginProbe device reported margin involvement during the initial lumpectomy, resulting in greater success achieving clear final margins on the shaved tissue and a significantly lower re-excision rate than previously reported with the MarginProbe device.

Conversion of Laparoscopic Roux en Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) to Single Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADS).

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of weight regain following RYGB remains controversial. Simpler modifications such as endoscopic suturing and banding the bypass have had variable efficacy. Distalization of the bypass has resulted in a high risk of malabsorption-related complications as reported by Amor et al. (Obes Surg. 27(1):273-274, 2017); Borbély et al. (Obes Surg. 27(2):439-444, 2017); Thomopoulos et al. (Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 0(0):1, 2018); and Tran et al. (Obes Surg. 26(7):1627-1634, 2016). Conversion to a procedure such as duodenal switch (DS) or SADS with greater average weight loss would be logical but is technically challenging and is related to a high complication rate especially with the reformation of the stomach. In this video, we present the technique that we have adapted to make this complex case reproducible minimizing operative risk. METHODS: A 49-year-old female weighing 154 kg (BMI 57 kg/m2) with sleep apnea disease underwent a laparoscopic RYGB in 2009. She had an initial weight loss of 47 kg but had complete recidivism with a weight of 151 kg (BMI 56 kg/m2). Upper gastrointestinal (barium swallow study) and esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed no evidence of fistula, with a normal pouch diameter and length with stoma size of 2 cm. Blood test showed no significant micro/macronutrient deficiencies. With super morbid obesity refractory to RYGB, it was our belief that conversion to SADS was the best alternative. RESULTS: We introduced a subcostal camera trocar with Optiview and we observed epiploic adherences to the previous anastomosis. We placed an additional trocar to remove adhesions in the re-operative field. We measured the 300 cm of the small bowel proximal to the ileocecal valve. We next divided the antecolic Roux limb from the gastric remnant preserving the left gastric artery and divided the pouch proximal to the gastrojejunal anastomosis. We identified and mobilized the remnant stomach preserving the 8 lowest branches of the right gastroepiploic artery. After reaching the angle of His, we were able to separate the remnant and the pouch. The pouch was reshaped using a 42Fr bougie for guidance. A gastrostomy was made and a matching opening was created near the lesser curvature on the remnant. We then began gastrogastric anastomosis. First, the posterior layer was done and then the bougie was placed through into the remnant. The sleeve and fundic resection was done. The bougie was replaced by an oral gastric tube and the anterior layer of the anastomosis completed. This was tested with methylene blue. We next divided the duodenum postpylorus, preserving the right gastric artery. We performed and tested a hand-sewn duodeno-ileal anastomosis with a common limb length of 300 cm. There were no intra- or postoperative complications and the patient was discharged after 2 days. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this video shows a reproducible technique for this complex anastomosis. Preservation of the distal epiploics makes the gastro-gastric anastomosis safer but requires direct dissection of the duodenum.

Single Institution Experience with Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventive Healing Approach (LYMPHA) for the Primary Prevention of Lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: As many as 40 % of breast cancer patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and radiotherapy develop lymphedema. We report our experience performing lymphatic-venous anastomosis using the lymphatic microsurgical preventive healing approach (LYMPHA) at the time of ALND. This technique was described by Boccardo, Campisi in 2009. METHODS: LYMPHA was offered to node-positive women with breast cancer requiring ALND. Afferent lymphatic vessels, identified by injection of blue dye in the ipsilateral arm, were sutured into a branch of the axillary vein distal to a competent valve. Follow-up was with pre- and postoperative lymphoscintigraphy, arm measurements, and (L-Dex®) bioimpedance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Over 26 months, 37 women underwent attempted LYMPHA, with successful completion in 27. Unsuccessful attempts were due to lack of a suitable vein (n = 3) and lymphatic (n = 5) or extensive axillary disease (n = 1). There were no LYMPHA-related complications. Mean follow-up time was 6 months (range 3-24 months). Among completed patients, 10 (37%) had a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m(2) (mean 27.9 ± 6.8 kg/m(2), range 17.4-47.6 kg/m(2)), and 17 (63%) received axillary radiotherapy. Excluding two patients with preoperative lymphedema and those with less than 3-month follow-up, the lymphedema rate was 3 (12.5%) of 24 in successfully completed and 4 (50 %) of 8 in unsuccessfully treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our transient lymphedema rate in this high-risk cohort of patients was 12.5%. Early data show that LYMPHA is feasible, safe, and effective for the primary prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema.