Structured training pathway for robotic colorectal surgery: Short-term outcomes from five UK centres.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term outcomes of robotic colorectal surgery implemented through a structured, standardized training pathway in five colorectal centres in the United Kingdom. METHOD: A multicentre retrospective observational study was conducted, involving 523 consecutive patients who underwent robotic colorectal resection between 2015 and 2019. All participating centres followed the European Academy of Robotic Colorectal Surgery training pathway. Patient data, including demographics, operative details, postoperative outcomes and pathology results, were collected and analysed. RESULTS: The study included 447 rectal resections and 76 colonic operations. The median age of the patients was 64.7 years, with the majority of patients (70%) being men. The mean body mass index was 27.4 kg/m2, and 89.7% of the patients underwent surgery for malignancy. The overall conversion rate to open surgery was 4.2%. The median length of stay was 6 days and there was no 30-day mortality. The readmission and reoperation rates were 8.8% and 7.3%, respectively. The anastomotic leak rate was 4.1% for rectal resections and 3.9% for colonic resections. Pathological examination showed a positive circumferential resection margin rate of 2.6%. CONCLUSION: Through the implementation of a structured, standardized training pathway, the participating colorectal centres in the UK achieved safe and effective robotic colorectal surgery pathways with favourable short-term oncological and clinical outcomes. Further studies examining long-term and functional outcomes are needed to assess the broader impact of robotic surgery in colorectal procedures.

Trans­anal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) versus rigid platforms for local excision of early rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Available platforms for local excision (LE) of early rectal cancer are rigid or flexible [trans­anal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS)]. We systematically searched the literature to compare outcomes between platforms. METHODS: PRISMA-compliant search of PubMed and Scopus databases until September 2022 was undertaken in this random-effect meta-analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistic. Studies comparing TAMIS versus rigid platforms for LE for early rectal cancer were included. Main outcome measures were intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes and specimen quality. RESULTS: 7 studies were published between 2015 and 2022, including 931 patients (423 females); 402 underwent TAMIS and 529 underwent LE with rigid platforms. Techniques were similar for operative time (WMD 11.1, 95%CI - 2.6 to 25, p = 0.11), percentage of defect closure (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.06-8.22, p = 0.78), and peritoneal violation (OR 0.41, 95%CI 0.12-1.43, p = 0.16). Rigid platforms had higher rates of short-term complications (19.1% vs 14.2, OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.07-2.4, p = 0.02), although no significant differences were seen for major complications (OR 1.41, 95%CI 0.61-3.23, p = 0.41). Patients in the rigid platforms group were 3-times more likely to be re-admitted within 30 days compared to the TAMIS group (OR 3.1, 95%CI 1.07-9.4, p = 0.03). Rates of positive resection margins (rigid platforms: 7.6% vs TAMIS: 9.34%, OR 0.81, 95%CI 0.42-1.55, p = 0.53) and specimen fragmentation (rigid platforms: 3.3% vs TAMIS: 4.4%, OR 0.74, 95%CI 0.33-1.64, p = 0.46) were similar between the groups. Salvage surgery was required in 5.5% of rigid platform patients and 6.2% of TAMIS patients (OR 0.8, 95%CI 0.4-1.8, p = 0.7). CONCLUSION: TAMIS or rigid platforms for LE seem to have similar operative outcomes and specimen quality. The TAMIS group demonstrated lower readmission and overall complication rates but did not significantly differ for major complications. The choice of platform should be based on availability, cost, and surgeon's preference.

Surgical treatment of stomal prolapse: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

AIM: This study aimed to assess success, recurrence, and overall complication rates among different surgical procedures for stomal prolapse. METHODS: This study was a PRISMA-compliant systematic review. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until March 2022. Studies that assessed surgical treatments of stomal prolapse in adults were included. The primary outcome was recurrence of stomal prolapse and the secondary outcome was 30-day complications. A random-effect meta-analysis was used to estimate the weighted mean rates of recurrence. RESULTS: Six studies published (111 patients; 103 males) were included. 52 (46.8%) patients had end colostomies, 35 (31.5%) had loop colostomies. Seven procedures were assessed and included local stoma reconstruction (40%), stapled local repair (27%), modified Altemeier technique (10%), mesh strip repair (9%), stoma relocation (6%) redo laparotomy repair (5%), and colectomy and end ileostomy (3%). The weighted mean recurrence rate after local stoma reconstruction was 37.2% (95% CI: -1.8 to 76.3), higher than that after the stapled local repair technique (14.9%; 95% CI: 1.7-28.2). The crude recurrence rate of the modified Altemeier technique was 20%, and of stoma relocation was 66.6%. No recurrence was detected after the mesh strip technique (n = 10). The median follow-up ranged between 7 months and 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: Several surgical techniques are available to treat stomal prolapse. Local stoma reconstruction may be associated with high rates of recurrence while the stapled local repair and modified Altemeier procedure has relatively low recurrence. Further larger studies are needed to compare the efficacy of these techniques.