Redo laparoscopic colorectal resection: a retrospective analysis with propensity score matching.

PURPOSE: Reports of redo laparoscopic colorectal resection (Re-LCRR) are scarce. In order to evaluate the safety and short-term outcomes of Re-LCRR, we performed a matched case-control analysis of patients who underwent this procedure for colorectal cancer. METHOD: This was a retrospective, monocentric study that included patients who underwent Re-LCRR for colorectal cancer between January 2011 and December 2019 at our institution. The patients were compared to a 2:1 matched sample. Matching was conducted based on age, sex, BMI, surgical procedure, and clinical stage. RESULT: Twenty-nine patients underwent Re-LCRR (RCRR group) and were compared to 58 patients selected by matching who underwent LCRR as primary resection (PCRR group). The median of age of the 29 patients of RCRR group was 75 (IQR 56-81) years and the RCRR group included 14 males. The median operative time of the RCRR group was 167 (IQR 126-232) minutes, and the median intraoperative blood loss was 5 (IQR 2-35) ml. In the RCRR group, there were no cases that required conversion to laparotomy. The short-term outcomes of the two groups did not differ to a statistical extent with respect to operative time (p = 0.415), intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.971), rate of conversion to laparotomy (p = 0.477), comorbidity (p = 0.215), and postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.809). No patients in either group experienced postoperative anastomotic leakage or required re-operation due to postoperative complications, and there was no procedure-related death. However, in terms of oncological factors, although there was no difference in the number of cases with a positive radical margin between the two groups (p = 1.000), the number of harvested lymph nodes in the RCRR group was significantly lower than that in the PCRR group (p = 0.015) and the RCRR group included 10 cases with less than 12 harvested lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Re-LCRR is associated with good short-term results and can be safely performed; however, the number of harvested lymph nodes is significantly reduced in comparison to primary resection cases, and further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term prognosis.

Impact of the body mass index on the retention of the anorectal mucosa after double-stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Double-stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (DS-IPAA) is easy to construct and has a good functional outcome in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, retention of the anorectal mucosa may lead to a subsequent risk of inflammation and neoplasia. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the retention of a large amount of anorectal mucosa after DS-IPAA. METHODS: The medical records of 163 patients who had undergone one-stage total proctocolectomy and DS-IPAA for UC between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the length of the retained mucosa. The high anastomosis group was defined as having a retained mucosal length of ≥ 30 mm in the anterior or posterior wall. Clinical factors were compared between the high and low anastomosis groups. RESULTS: The high anastomosis group showed a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (high vs. low: 23.2 vs. 19.0), longer operation time (304 vs. 263) and greater blood loss (357 vs. 240). In the multivariate analysis, high BMI was the only factor significantly associated with high anastomosis (odds ratio 1.32). There was a positive correlation between BMI and the length of the retained mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: In DS-IPAA, BMI showed the strongest association with the retention of a large amount of the anorectal mucosa. In high BMI patients, although the risk of inability of anastomosis is little than that of IPAA with mucosectomy, the possible retention of a large amount of mucosa should be considered.

Curable leakage in stapled IPAA has little effect on the long-term pouch function.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and grade of anastomotic leakage (AL) in stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and its long-term impact on the pouch functions. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted on UC patients who underwent stapled IPAA at Yokohama City University Medical Center between 2007 and 2018. The diagnosis and grading of AL were performed in accordance with the recommendations of the International Study Group of Rectal Cancer. We assessed the functional pouch rate, late complication, pouch survival rate, bowel function (bowel movements per day, soiling, spotting, difficulty in distinguishing feces from flatus) and pouch inflammation (pouchitis disease activity index; PDAI) in the long-term period. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-six patients were analyzed. Twenty-three (8.3%; grade B/C; 13/10) patients were diagnosed with AL, but a functional pouch was achieved in all the twenty-three patients. Anastomotic stricture was significantly more common in patients with AL (AL group) than in patients without AL (non-AL group; AL/non-AL: 13.0/3.2%, p = 0.020). There were no differences in other late complications. Furthermore, the pouch survival rate did not differ between the AL and non-AL groups (100.0/97.9%/10 years, p = 0.494). There were no differences between the groups in bowel movements per day, spotting, soling, difficulty in distinguishing feces from flatus, or PDAI postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Curable AL may not affect late complications (except anastomotic stricture), pouch survival, the bowel function, or pouch inflammation over the long term. Perioperative management to prevent the severity of AL is as important as preventing its occurrence.

Inflammatory bowel disease-specific findings are common morphological changes in the ileal pouch with ulcerative colitis.

Why inflammation is common in ileal pouches with ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear. We therefore clarified the morphological changes in pouches and afferent limbs (AL) of patients with UC and explored the relationship between these findings. We evaluated the morphological findings (histological and endoscopic inflammation as the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index [PDAI] histology subscore [hPDAI] and endoscopy subscore [ePDAI], inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]-specific findings using the IBD score [SIBD], colonic metaplasia using the colonic metaplasia score [CMS], and goblet cell [GC] ratio) in the pouch and AL of patients with UC. A total of 261 pouchoscopies were analyzed. The pouch body had a higher hPDAI (p < 0.001), SIBD (p < 0.001), CMS (p < 0.001), GC ratio (p < 0.001), and ePDAI (p < 0.001) than the AL. The hPDAI was correlated with the SIBD (Spearman's coefficient r = 0.538; p < 0.001), CMS (r = 0.687; p < 0.001), and the ePDAI (r = 0.552; p < 0.001), but not with GC ratio (r = 0.175; p < 0.001) or the pouch usage duration (r = -0.057; p = 0.107). The incidence of histological inflammation was higher in specimens showing basal plasmacytosis with severe mononuclear cell infiltration (BP) than in those without BP (odds ratio [OR] 6.790, p < 0.001), BP was commonly found with crypt hyperplasia (OR 3.414, p < 0.001) and the crypt length correlated with neutrophil infiltration (r = 0.469; p < 0.001). Histological inflammation, colonic metaplasia, the GC ratio, endoscopic inflammation, and IBD-specific findings were commonly present in the pouch than in the AL. Histological inflammation occurs with IBD-specific findings and colonic metaplasia, and these signify endoscopic inflammation.

Preoperative risk factors of incisional surgical site infection in severe or intractable ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: The present study explored preoperative risk factors (predictors) of incisional surgical site infection (I-SSI) in severe or intractable ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 230 consecutive patients who underwent primary surgery for UC. Patients whose surgical indications were UC with cancer or dysplasia were excluded. SSI was defined as an infection according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines. Preoperative variables were examined by univariate, receiver operating characteristic curve, and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: We analyzed 208 patients in this study. In a multivariate logistic analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 1.7 mg/dl [odds ratio (OR) 5.35; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-19.06; p = 0.01), albumin ≤ 2.4 g/dl (OR 5.77; 95% CI 1.41-23.57; p = 0.02), and preoperative blood transfusion (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.04-9.96; p = 0.04) were predictors of I-SSI. Patients with all predictors had a more than 50% incidence of I-SSI, a higher incidence of all severe complications (13.6% vs. 3.2%; p = 0.02), and a longer postoperative hospital stay (19.5 vs. 17.0 days, p = 0.04) than the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: CRP ≥ 1.7 mg/dl, albumin ≤ 2.4 g/dl, and transfusion are predictors of I-SSI in severe or intractable UC. Clinician should carefully evaluate the surgical options before these predictors appear.

Cholecystitis with abdominal wall biloma after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall biloma is an uncommon entity. We herein report an extremely rare case of cholecystitis with abdominal wall biloma after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration (PTGBA). PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, and PTGBA was performed on Day 1. PTGBA was performed a second time because of re-expansion of the gallbladder and an increased CRP level on Day 3. Computed tomography was performed on Day 9 because we suspected recurrence of cholecystitis. It revealed a well-circumscribed fluid collection between the abdominal wall or the diaphragm and the liver. Based on these intraoperative findings, we diagnosed her with cholecystitis with abdominal wall biloma. Cholecystectomy and drainage of the abdominal wall biloma were performed on Day 10. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on Day 18. DISCUSSION: Early cholecystectomy is the gold-standard treatment for acute cholecystitis, but cholecystectomy is not performed in some cases. PTGBA is much more convenient, quicker, and less costly, but inappropriate aspiration during the second PTGBA session might have spread the infected bile to the abdominal wall through the PTGBA route. CONCLUSION: This case represents the first reported case of a biloma within the abdominal wall after PTGBA. To prevent this complication, we should aspirate gallbladder bile sufficiently during PTGBA. In addition, we should consider performing alternative therapy, such as percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage or an operation, when we fail to appropriately aspirate.

A prospective, single-arm, multicenter trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab without radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The present study evaluated the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) plus panitumumab in clinical stage III rectal cancer with KRAS wild-type. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicenter phase II trial. KRAS wild-type clinical stage III rectal cancer patients were enrolled. Patients received 6 cycles of mFOLFOX6 with 6 mg/kg panitumumab as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The primary outcome was the response rate (RR) defined by RECIST. Lateral lymph node dissection (LLDN) was performed when patients had a locally advanced tumor < 9 cm from the anal margin. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were enrolled. Twelve (24.0%) experienced grade 3-4 adverse events during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The RR was 88.0% (complete response 2.0%, partial response 86.0%), which met the primary outcome. All patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and achieved R0 resection. Seven patients underwent resection of other adjacent organs, and 43 underwent LLND. Twelve patients (24.0%) experienced grade 3-4 postoperative complications, and 4 (8.0%) had pathological complete response (pCR). Thirteen patients (26.0%) had lymph node metastasis. Forty-five patients (90.0%) received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 79.0% and 93.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab without radiotherapy resulted in a low pCR rate but a high PR rate, low local recurrence rate, and good long-term outcome, suggesting that this treatment strategy may be a viable option for patients unable or unwilling to receive radiotherapy. The trial was registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, number 000006039.

Uselessness of Serum p53 Antibody for Detecting Colitis-associated Cancer in the Era of Immunosuppressive Therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The present study examined the utility of serum p53 antibody (Ab) for detecting colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in the era of immunosuppressive therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty patients were analyzed, 219 had no carcinoma or dysplasia (Group non-CAC), and 31 had carcinoma or dysplasia (Group CAC). Serum p53 Abs were detected with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical detection was performed in Group CAC. RESULTS: Immunosuppressive therapy was performed in 98.1% of Group non-CAC and 80.6% of Group CAC. There were no differences in serum p53 Abs positivity between Groups non-CAC and CAC (8.7% vs. 3.2%, p=0.30). p53 staining positivity was noted in 90.3% of Group CAC, and the rate of serum p53 positivity was significantly lower in patients with immunosuppressive therapy than in those without in Group CAC (0.0% vs. 16.7%, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: The utility of serum p53 Ab for detecting CAC is dubious in the era of immunosuppressive therapy.

The risk factors for urinary dysfunction after autonomic nerve-preserving rectal cancer surgery: a multicenter retrospective study at Yokohama Clinical Oncology Group (YCOG1307).

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the frequency and risk factors of urinary dysfunction after autonomic nerve-preserving surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: This was a retrospective multiinstitution study of 1002 rectal cancer patients conducted between January 2008 and December 2012 in Yokohama Clinical Oncology Group. Patients who had preoperative urinary dysfunction or had not undergone autonomic nerve preservation surgery were excluded. Urinary dysfunction was defined as that with a Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ 2. Patient-, tumor-, and surgery-related variables were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 887 patients were analyzed. Postoperative urinary dysfunction was observed in 77 patients (8.8%). A multivariate logistic analysis showed that a tumor location in lower rectum (odds ratio [OR] 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-3.71; p = 0.02), tumor diameter ≥ 40 mm (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.19-4.44; p < 0.01), operation time ≥ 240 min (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.19-4.44; p < 0.01), blood loss ≥ 300 ml (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.12-3.84; p = 0.02), and diabetes (OR 3.26; 95% CI 1.80-5.89; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors of urinary dysfunction. The incidence of urinary dysfunction exceeded 20% in patients with 3 preoperative predictors (tumor location, tumor diameter, diabetes). CONCLUSIONS: This result demonstrated that high-risk patients with more than two risk factors should be informed of the risk of urinary dysfunction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000033688.

Randomized controlled trial to evaluate laparoscopic versus open surgery in transverse and descending colon cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for transverse and descending colon cancer remain controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of this procedure. METHODS: We conducted a single-institutional randomized controlled trial. Patients with transverse or descending colon cancer were randomly allocated to receive laparoscopic surgery (LAC) or conventional open surgery (OC). The primary endpoint was the overall complication rate between the two groups. The secondary endpoints were the length of the postoperative hospital stay, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) score (at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery), the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS), and the 5-year overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Between August 2008 and October 2012, a total of 66 patients were enrolled (33 in the LAC group and 33 in the OC group). The patient characteristics showed no significant differences between the two groups. The complication rates (≥ grade 3) were 6.1% in the LAC group and 12.1% in the OC group (p = 0.392). The length of postoperative stay was not significantly different between the two groups. Regarding the HRQOL, the physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, social functioning, mental health, and role component summary at 1 month after surgery and the social functioning and mental health at 6 months after surgery were better in the LAC group than in the OC group. The 5-year RFS and OS rates were similar between the LAC and OC groups (RFS 90.5% and 87.3%, respectively, p = 0.752; OS 93.3% and 100.0%, respectively, p = 0.543). CONCLUSIONS: The short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for transverse and descending colon cancer are almost equal to those of open surgery. Laparoscopic resection is a better choice than open surgery for managing this cancer with regard to the short- and mid-term QOL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01861691 .