Feasibility of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence in ex vivo pathological dissection of colorectal lymph nodes-a pilot study.

Accurate lymph node (LN) retrieval during colorectal carcinoma resection is pivotal for precise N-staging and the determination of adjuvant therapy. Current guidelines recommend the examination of at least 12 mesocolic or mesorectal lymph nodes for accurate staging. Traditional histological processing techniques, reliant on visual inspection and palpation, are time-consuming and heavily dependent on the examiner's expertise and availability. Various methods have been documented to enhance LN retrieval from colorectal specimens, including intra-arterial ex vivo methylene blue injection. Recent studies have explored the utility of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging for visualizing pericolic lymph nodes and identifying sentinel lymph nodes in colorectal malignancies. This study included 10 patients who underwent colon resection for malignant tumors. During surgery, intravenous ICG dye and an endoscopic camera were employed to assess intestinal perfusion. Post-resection, ex vivo intra-arterial administration of ICG dye was performed on the specimens, followed by routine histological processing and an ICG-assisted lymph node dissection. The objective was to evaluate whether ICG imaging could identify additional lymph nodes compared to routine manual dissection and to assess the clinical relevance of these findings. For each patient, a minimum of 12 lymph nodes (median = 25.5, interquartile range = 12.25, maximum = 33) were examined. ICG imaging facilitated the detection of a median of three additional lymph nodes not identified during routine processing. Metastatic lymph nodes were found in four patients however no additional metastatic nodes were detected with ICG assistance. Our findings suggest that ex vivo intra-arterial administration of indocyanine green dye can augment lymph node dissection, particularly in cases where the number of lymph nodes retrieved is below the recommended threshold of 12.

Has the open surgical approach in colorectal cancer really become uncommon?

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. Surgery is mandatory to treat patients with colorectal cancer. Can colorectal cancer be treated in laparoscopy? Scientific literature has validated the oncological quality of laparoscopic approach for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. Randomized non-inferiority trials with good remote control have answered positively to this long-debated question. Early as 1994, first publications demonstrated technical feasibility and compliance with oncological imperatives and, as far as short-term outcomes are concerned, there is no difference in terms of mortality and post-operative morbidity between open and minimally invasive surgical approaches, but only longer operating times at the beginning of the experience. Subsequently, from 2007 onwards, long-term results were published that demonstrated the absence of a significant difference regarding overall survival, disease-free survival, quality of life, local and distant recurrence rates between open and minimally invasive surgery. In this editorial, we aim to summarize the clinical and technical aspects which, even today, make the use of open surgery relevant and necessary in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.

Nerve-sparing deep endometriosis surgery with rectal discoid resection using da Vinci SP.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the anatomical and technical highlights of nerve-sparing deep endometriosis (DE) surgery with rectal discoid resection using a newer single-port robotic system. DESIGN: Step-by-step demonstration of this method was provided with narrated video footage. SETTING: The surgery was performed at an urban general hospital. Single-port laparoscopic surgery is a useful surgical approach in gynecology because of the excellent cosmetic results but shows challenges including reduced intracorporeal triangulation and conflict with nonarticulating instruments. The range of indications is thus limited. PATIENT: A 46-year-old woman was referred with severe pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and pain on defecation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed uterine adenomyosis, bilateral ovarian endometriomas, and 3 cm of rectal endometriosis. Computed tomography colonography confirmed 38% stenosis of the rectum. INTERVENTION: A newer single-port robotic system was used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were technical safety and feasibility of intrapelvic complex DE surgery using a newer single-port robotic platform. RESULTS: The procedure was performed using nine steps with a da Vinci SP surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, California). Importantly, the surgical steps were completely identical to conventional multiport laparoscopic or robotic surgery. This suggests that conventional laparoscopic or robotic skills are highly transferrable to the newer system. The surgical steps are as follows: The newer single-port system offered several advantages, including high-resolution three-dimensional visualization, articulating instruments (intracorporeal instrument triangulation), and improved dexterity and range of motion. These advantages allow precise dissection even in difficult situations such as DE. CONCLUSIONS: This appears to be the first reported use of the da Vinci SP for nerve-sparing DE surgery or rectal discoid resection. The newer single-port robotic system can provide the same quality of surgery as conventional multiport laparoscopic and robotic platforms with cosmetic advantages for the treatment of complex pelvic pathologies.

Extended-duration antibiotics are not associated with a reduction in surgical site infection in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery with large bowel resection.

OBJECTIVE(S): To evaluate whether extended dosing of antibiotics (ABX) after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with large bowel resection for advanced ovarian cancer is associated with reduced incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) compared to standard intra-operative dosing and evaluate predictors of SSI. METHODS: A retrospective single-institution cohort study was performed in patients with stage III/IV ovarian cancer who underwent CRS from 2009 to 2017. Patients were divided into two cohorts: 1) standard intra-operative dosing ABX and 2) extended post-operative ABX. All ABX dosing was at the surgeon's discretion. The impact of antibiotic duration on SSI and other postoperative outcomes was assessed using univariate and multivariable Cox regression models. RESULTS: In total, 277 patients underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with large bowel resection between 2009 and 2017. Forty-nine percent (n = 137) received standard intra-operative ABX and 50.5% (n = 140) received extended post-operative ABX. Rectosigmoid resection was the most common large bowel resection in the standard ABX (89.9%, n = 124) and extended ABX groups (90.0%, n = 126), respectively. No significant differences existed between age, BMI, hereditary predisposition, or medical comorbidities (p > 0.05). No difference was appreciated in the development of superficial incisional SSI between the standard ABX and extended ABX cohorts (10.9% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.62). Of patients who underwent a transverse colectomy, a larger percentage of patients developed a superficial SSI versus no SSI (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION(S): In this retrospective study of patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing CRS with LBR, extended post-operative ABX was not associated with reduced SSI, and prolonged administration of antibiotics should be avoided unless clinically indicated.

Low rectal resection for low rectal endometriosis and rectal adenocarcinoma: Are we discussing the same risks?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rate and risk factors for anastomosis leakage in patients undergoing colorectal resection with low anastomosis for rectal endometriosis and rectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study evaluating prospectively collected data was conducted. Patients undergoing colorectal resection for rectal endometriosis and rectal adenocarcinoma with low anastomosis (<7 cm from the anal verge [AV]) from September 2018 to January 2023 were included in the analysis. The main outcome was the rate of anastomosis leakage. A multivariate logistic regression was conducted to evaluate risk factors for anastomosis leakage in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients underwent colorectal resection with low anastomosis due to rectal endometriosis (n = 99) and rectal adenocarcinoma (n = 60). Patients with endometriosis were significantly younger than those with adenocarcinoma (35.7 ± 5.1 vs 63.7 ± 12.6; P = 0.001). The leakage rate was similar between the endometriosis (n = 12, 12.1%) and adenocarcinoma (n = 9, 15.0%) patients (P = 0.621). The anastomosis height less than 5 cm from the AV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 12.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.24-23.54) was significantly associated with the anastomosis leakage. Protective stoma was associated with the decrease of the leakage risk (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.01-0.72). The type of disease (rectal endometriosis or adenocarcinoma) was not associated with the anastomosis leakage (aOR 2.87, 95% CI 0.34-21.23). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the different pathogenesis, the risk of anastomotic leakage was found to be similar between patients with low rectal endometriosis and those with rectal adenocarcinoma. These results must be considered by the gynecologist and colorectal surgeon to deliver proper information before rectal surgery for endometriosis.

Intraoperative left-sided colorectal anastomotic testing in clinical practice: a multi-treatment machine-learning analysis of the iCral3 prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence about intraoperative anastomotic testing after left-sided colorectal resections is still controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of Indocyanine Green fluorescent angiography (ICG-FA) and air-leak test (ALT) over standard assessment on anastomotic leakage (AL) rates according to surgeon's perception of anastomosis perfusion and/or integrity in clinical practice. METHODS: A database of 2061 patients who underwent left-sided colorectal resections was selected from patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study. It was retrospectively analyzed through a multi-treatment machine-learning model considering standard visual assessment (NW; No. = 899; 43.6%) as the reference treatment arm, compared to ICG-FA alone (WP; No. = 409; 19.8%), ALT alone (WI; No. = 420; 20.4%) or both (WPI; No. = 333; 16.2%). Twenty-four covariates potentially affecting the outcomes were included and balanced into the model within the subgroups. The primary endpoint was AL, the secondary endpoints were overall morbidity (OM), major morbidity (MM), reoperation for AL, and mortality. All the results were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The WPI subgroup showed significantly higher AL risk (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.02-3.59; p 0.043), MM risk (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.39-3.97; p 0.001), and reoperation for AL risk (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.12-5.31; p 0.025). No other significant differences were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the surgeons' perception of both anastomotic perfusion and integrity (WPI subgroup) was associated to a significantly higher risk of AL and related morbidity, notwithstanding the extensive use of both ICG-FA and ALT testing.

Prospective observational study comparing the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic colectomy with or without epidural anesthesia: the Kanagawa Yokohama Colorectal Cancer Study Group (KYCC) 1806.

PURPOSE: There have been no adequate comparisons of the efficacy, safety, and efficiency of analgesia after laparoscopic colorectal resection (LAC), with and without epidural anesthesia (EDA). METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective observational study of patients undergoing LAC. The primary end point was the mean visual analog scale (VAS) score on postoperative days (PODs) 1-7. The secondary end points were the highest VAS, complication rate, days to first ambulation and fatigue, length of hospital stay, and time to commencement of surgery. RESULTS: We compared an EDA group (Group E, n = 48) and a no-EDA group (Group O, n = 48) after matching. The mean VAS was not significantly different between the groups (28.7 vs. 30.1, p = 0.288). On assessing the secondary end points, the highest VAS was not significantly different between the groups. In fact, the VAS was lower in Group E only on POD 2. There was no difference in the incidence of complications, the time to first postoperative evacuation was shorter in Group E, and postoperative hospitalization was similar. The time to surgery was shorter in Group O. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LAC without EDA is a feasible option, but with the early and regular use of adjunctive measures to provide more stable analgesia.

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as early markers of anastomotic leakage in intestinal resections for advanced ovarian cancer (EDMOCS).

INTRODUCTION: Serum levels of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been used to predict anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery, but information is scarce in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) surgery with bowel resection. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of procalcitonin and CRP in detecting anastomotic leakage after AOC surgery with bowel resection. The study also aimed to determine the optimal postoperative reference values and the best day for evaluating these markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective, observational and multicentric trial included 92 patients with AOC undergoing debulking surgery with bowel resection between 2017 and 2020 in 10 reference hospitals in Spain. Procalcitonin and CRP levels were measured at baseline and on postoperative days 1-6. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of procalcitonin and CRP at each postoperative day. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage was detected in six patients (6.5%). Procalcitonin and CRP values were consistently higher in patients with anastomotic leakage at all postoperative days. The maximum area under the curve (AUC) for procalcitonin was observed at postoperative day 1 (AUC = 0.823) with a cutoff value of 3.8 ng/mL (83.3% sensitivity, 81.3% specificity). For CRP, the maximum AUC was found at postoperative day 3 (AUC = 0.833) with a cutoff level of 30.5 mg/dL (100% sensitivity, 80.4% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein are potential biomarkers for early detection of anastomotic leakage after ovarian cancer surgery with bowel resection. Further prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these findings.

Do resected colorectal cancer patients need early chest imaging? Impact of clinicopathologic characteristics on time to development of pulmonary metastases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), the lung is the most common extra-abdominal site of distant metastasis. However, practices for chest imaging after colorectal resection vary widely. We aimed to identify characteristics that may indicate a need for early follow-up imaging. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients who underwent CRC resection, collecting clinicopathologic details and oncologic outcomes. Patients were grouped by timing of pulmonary metastases (PM) development. Analyses were performed to investigate odds ratio (OR) of PM diagnosis within 3 months of CRC resection. RESULTS: Of 1600 patients with resected CRC, 233 (14.6%) developed PM, at a median of 15.4 months following CRC resection. Univariable analyses revealed age, receipt of systemic therapy, lymph node ratio (LNR), lymphovascular and perineural invasion, and KRAS mutation as risk factors for PM. Furthermore, multivariable regression showed neoadjuvant therapy (OR: 2.99, p < 0.001), adjuvant therapy (OR: 6.28, p < 0.001), LNR (OR: 28.91, p < 0.001), and KRAS alteration (OR: 5.19, p < 0.001) to predict PM within 3 months post-resection. CONCLUSIONS: We identified clinicopathologic characteristics that predict development of PM within 3 months after primary CRC resection. Early surveillance in such patients should be emphasized to ensure timely identification and treatment of PM.

Fluorescent ICG angiography in laparoscopic rectal resection - a randomized controlled trial. Preliminary report.

Introduction: Anastomotic leakage is one of the most dangerous complications after rectal surgery. It can cause systemic complications, reduce the quality of life and worsen the results of oncological treatment. One of the causes of anastomotic leak is insufficient blood supply to the anastomosis. Intraoperative infrared angiography with indocyanine green (ICG) is expected to improve the assessment of intestinal perfusion and thus prevent anastomotic leakage. Aim: To present the results of the use of ICG intraoperative angiography during rectal surgery in the prevention of anastomotic leakage. Material and methods: The study included 76 patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery. Patients were randomized to 2 groups: Group I - 41 patients with ICG intraoperative angiography; and Group II - 35 patients without ICG imaging. Anastomotic leak, length of hospitalization, and complication rate were compared. Results: Group I patients received intravenous ICG before the anastomosis. Average time of intestinal wall contrasting was 42 s (22-65 s). Average ICG procedure time was 4 min (3.2% of total time of surgery). Three (7.3%) patients after angiography revealed intestinal ischemia requiring widened resection. No anastomotic leak was found post-operatively, and no side effects were observed after administration of ICG. In group II, 3 (8.6%) anastomotic leakages were diagnosed, 2 of which required reoperation. Conclusions: Intraoperative angiography with ICG in near-infrared light is a safe and effective method of assessing intestinal perfusion. ICG angiography may change the surgical plan and reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage. It is necessary to continue the study until the assumed number of patients is reached.

Novel antibiotic irrigation device versus standard O-ring wound retractor in the prevention of surgical site infection following colorectal resection.

PURPOSE: We sought to compare the effectiveness of a novel antibiotic irrigation device to the standard O-ring wound retractor in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) following colorectal resections. METHODS: This single-arm clinical trial included patients undergoing colorectal resections utilizing the novel device. A retrospective cohort of patients undergoing the same procedures with the O-ring retractor was selected as the control group. The primary outcome assessed was SSI. Secondary outcomes assessed were overall complications, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day readmission. A univariable and multivariable logistic regression model was built to evaluate the association between SSI as the outcome variable and the use of the novel device as the main independent variable. The model was adjusted for any confounding variables. RESULTS: Eighty-six novel device cases and 170 O-ring retractor cases were enrolled. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographics and preoperative comorbidities. Cases with the novel device had fewer Pfannenstiel incisions (1.2% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.001). There were no other significant differences in intraoperative variables. SSI rates were significantly lower in the novel device group (1.2% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.014). There were no other significant differences in postoperative complications. Multivariable logistic regression with backward elimination showed that the use of the novel device was significantly more effective against SSI by 92.5% compared to the use of the O-ring retractor. CONCLUSION: The novel device may contribute to lower SSI rates compared to the O-ring retractor following colorectal resection.

Single incision laparoscopy versus conventional multiport laparoscopy for colorectal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increase in colorectal cancer resections worldwide and in the UK. Initially conducted as an open procedure, this was replaced with the conventional multiport technique. Laparoscopic colectomy became the standard surgical technique in 1991. With innovation in surgical technology, single incision laparoscopy (SIL) has attracted more attention as the possible next step in colorectal resection. The aim of this review was to compare outcomes between SIL and conventional laparoscopy (CL). METHODS: A literature search was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The PubMed®, MEDLINE®, Embase®, Google Scholar™ and Cochrane Library databases were used to extract randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2000 and May 2021. Statistical analysis was performed with RevMan software. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs were extracted with 1,370 patients (686 SIL, 684 CL). There was no significant difference between SIL and CL for operative time (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.19 to 0.22, z=0.11, p=0.91), length of hospital stay (SMD: -0.10, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.02, z=1.61, p=0.11) or overall complications (odds ratio [OR]: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.75 to 1.30, z=0.09, p=0.93). SIL had a shorter mean incision (SMD: -0.99, 95% CI: -1.35 to -0.62, z=5.25, p<0.00001). Patients undergoing SIL had a higher conversion rate to CL or an open approach (OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 0.95 to 10.14, z=1.87, p=0.06) but this just missed statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: SIL can be considered a safe alternative to CL if performed by experienced surgeons.

Is non-mentored initiation of laparoscopic colorectal surgery safe? Single surgeon initial experience with the first 40 cases.

Introduction: Although laparoscopic colorectal surgery is now accepted as a standard procedure in treating colorectal cancer, the proportion of laparoscopically operated patients with colorectal cancer is still generally quite low. The aim of this study is to assess feasibility, safety, and outcomes of a non-mentored initiation of laparoscopic colorectal resections by a young surgeon without previous experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Materials and methods: We analyzed the characteristics of the first 40 elective cases of laparoscopic colorectal resections performed by a single surgeon during the period between June 2019 and March 2022. All of the operations were performed without the attendance or supervision of an experienced surgeon in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The patients were divided into three groups (the early, intermediate, and late group). Results: The conversion rate, complications rate, and postoperative recovery were similar among groups. The mean overall operative time was 219.5 min (range 130-420 min) and had reduced significantly during the learning curve (p = 0.047). The overall conversion rate was 12.5%. In two cases (5%), the oncological principles were violated (incomplete total mesorectal excision). In three patients (7.5%), intraoperative complications had occurred (small bowel injury, splenic injury, and significant bleeding from the minor peripancreatic artery). Three cases of major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III) were recorded, two of which required reoperation (anastomotic bleeding and fascial dehiscence). There was no 90-day mortality reported. The overall mean number of lymph nodes retrieved was 12.45, which did not differ significantly among groups (p = 0.678). The average follow-up was 13.75 months (range 1-31 months). Cancer recurrence was recorded in four patients (10%). Port-site metastasis was not detected in any of the cases. Conclusion: A safe and non-mentored initiation of laparoscopic colorectal surgery with an acceptable rate of complications and acceptable oncological results can be achieved. Still, when compared with a structured initiation in a controlled environment with the supervision of an experienced surgeon in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, the results of a non-mentored initiation are worse in most of the fields, including operative time, conversion rate, complications rate, and duration of hospital stay. Therefore, I strongly recommend engaging young surgeons in fellowship programs on structured laparoscopic colorectal surgery whenever possible before starting performing these procedures on their own.

Transmesenteriális colon átvezetéses colorectális anasztomózis.

Introduction: A crucial element of colorectal surgery is ensuring a safe anastomosis. In order to avoid the most significant complication - anastomotic leakage - two factors are essential: adequate blood supply and a tension-free suture. After extended resections, the mobilised colon sometimes cannot be connected to the rectal stump without tension. In these cases, transmesenteric placement of the transverse colon may facilitate a tension free anastomosis. Methods: The results of transmesenteric colorectal anastomoses performed at the Surgical Department of the BAZ County Central Hospital and University Teaching Hospital are reviewed and compared with literature data. Results: Eight patients underwent transmesenteric colorectal anastomosis. No anastomotic insufficiency was observed. Intra-operative blood loss, postoperative intestinal passage induction were similar to those expected with conventional anastomosis. Six cases were completed by laparoscopy, two by laparotomy, and two patients have been converted after laparoscopy. Conclusion: Extended left sided colorectal resections may result in inadequate residual bowel length, which could compromise the anastomosis. When the mobilised left colon does not reach the rectum without tension, transmesenterically placed transverse colon can be used. This surgical technique, which can also be performed laparoscopically, represents a safe alternative of achieving a tension-free anastomosis.

Necessity of routine perioperative epidural catheter placement in laparoscopic colorectal resections: a retrospective data analysis.

PURPOSE: Whether epidural anesthesia leads to further improvement in the postoperative course of colorectal procedures is under discussion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of minimally invasive colorectal oncological interventions without epidural anesthesia (EDA). METHODS: This retrospective data analysis included the clinical data of all patients who underwent minimally invasive oncological colorectal resection at our clinic between January 2013 and April 2019. Of 385 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 183 (group I; 47.5% of 385) received EDA, and 202 (group II; 52.5% of 385) received transversus abdominis plane block instead. The relevant target parameters were evaluated and compared between the groups. The postoperative complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: The patients in group I (n=183; women, 77; men, 106; age 66.8 years) were younger (p=0.0035), received a urinary catheter more often (99.5% versus [vs.] 28.2% p<0.001), required longer, more frequent arterenol treatment (1.1 vs. 0.6 days; p<0.001), and had a longer intermediate care unit stay than those in group II (2.8 vs. 1.1 days; p<0.001). Postoperative pain levels were not significantly different between the groups (p=0.078). The patients in group I were able to ambulate later than those in group II (4 vs. 2 days; p<0.001). The difference in the postoperative day of the first defecation was not significant between the groups (p=0.236). The incidence of postoperative complications such as bleeding (p=0.396), anastomotic leaks (p=0.113), and wound infections (p=0.641) did not differ between the groups. The patients in group I had significantly longer hospital stays than those in group II (12.2 vs. 9.4 days; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: EDA can be safely omitted from elective minimally invasive colorectal resections, and its omission is not accompanied by any relevant disadvantages to the patient.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in adult patients receiving gastrectomy/colorectal resection: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture promotes the recovery of gastrointestinal function and provides analgesia after major abdominal surgery. The effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) remain unclear. AIM: To explore the potential effects of TEAS on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrectomy and colorectal resection. METHODS: Patients scheduled for gastrectomy or colorectal resection were randomized at a 2:3:3:2 ratio to receive: (1) TEAS at maximum tolerable current for 30 min immediately prior to anesthesia induction and for the entire duration of surgery, plus two 30-min daily sessions for 3 consecutive days after surgery (perioperative TEAS group); (2) Preoperative and intraoperative TEAS only; (3) Preoperative and postoperative TEAS only; or (4) Sham stimulation. The primary outcome was the time from the end of surgery to the first bowel sound. RESULTS: In total, 441 patients were randomized; 405 patients (58.4 ± 10.2 years of age; 247 males) received the planned surgery. The time to the first bowel sounds did not differ among the four groups (P = 0.90; log-rank test). On postoperative day 1, the rest pain scores differed significantly among the four groups (P = 0.04; Kruskal-Wallis test). Post hoc comparison using the Bonferroni test showed lower pain scores in the perioperative TEAS group (1.4 ± 1.2) than in the sham stimulation group (1.7 ± 1.1; P = 0.04). Surgical complications did not differ among the four groups. CONCLUSION: TEAS provided analgesic effects in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, and it can be added to clinical practice as a means of accelerating postoperative rehabilitation of these patients.

Nationwide volume-outcome relationship concerning in-hospital mortality and failure-to-rescue in surgery of sigmoid diverticulitis.

PURPOSE: A correlation between the hospital volume and outcome is described for multiple entities of oncological surgery. To date, this has not been analyzed for the surgical treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the annual caseload per hospital of colon resection on the postoperative incidence of complications, failure to rescue, and mortality in patients with diverticulitis. METHODS: Patients receiving colorectal resection independent from the diagnosis from 2012 to 2017 were selected from a German nationwide administrative dataset. The hospitals were grouped into five equal caseload quintiles (Q1-Q5 in ascending caseload order). The outcome analysis was focused on patients receiving surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis. RESULTS: In total, 662,706 left-sided colon resections were recorded between 2012 and 2017. Of these, 156,462 resections were performed due to sigmoid diverticulitis and were included in the analysis. The overall in-house mortality rate was 3.5%, ranging from 3.8% in Q1 (mean of 9.5 procedures per year) to 3.1% in Q5 (mean 62.8 procedures per year; p < 0.001). Q5 hospitals revealed a risk-adjusted odds ratio of 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.94; p < 0.001) for in-hospital mortality compared to Q1 during multivariable logistic regression analysis. High-volume centers showed overall lower complication rates, whereas the failure-to-rescue did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis in high-volume colorectal centers shows lower postoperative mortality rates and fewer postoperative complications.

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) and quality of life after colectomy.

PURPOSE: Clinical experience shows complaints similar to LARS not only after rectal surgery, but even after other types of colorectal surgery. Our aim was to investigate the occurrence of LARS after several types of colorectal surgery and its impact on quality of life. METHODS: We included adult patients who underwent colorectal surgery at our centre from January 2016 until March 2019, regardless of indication. A questionnaire was sent evaluating LARS and quality of life. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 119 patients. We noticed highest LARS-score after rectum surgery (26.1), but also surprisingly higher LARS-score after right-sided colectomy (21.0) compared to left-sided colectomy (16.4). We report lowest quality of life after rectal surgery, but higher quality of life in left colectomy compared to right colectomy. CONCLUSION: LARS-score did not significantly correlate with type of procedure; however, higher LARS-scores were noted after right-sided colectomy compared to left-sided colectomy with similar impact on quality of life. We suggest CORS (colorectal resection syndrome) as a more suiting conceptual name instead of LARS to describe functional bowel complaints after colorectal surgery.

Risk factors and outcomes of occurrence of anastomotic leakage and reoperations for its management after colorectal surgery

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is still the most annoying postsurgery complication after colorectal resection due to its serious complications up to death. Limited data were available regarding differences in AL incidence, management, and consequences for different types of colorectal resection. The aim of the present work was to evaluate differences in incidence of AL, incidence of postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay in a large number of patients who underwent elective colorectal resection for management of colorectal lesions. In addition to detect when and what type of reoperation for management of AL occur after colorectal resection. Patients: All 250 included patients underwent elective surgeries for colorectal resection with performance of primary anastomosis for management of colorectal neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases in the period between May 2016 and July 31, 2021. We followed the patients for 90 days; we registered the follow-up findings. Results: the rates of AL occurrence were variable after the different procedures. The lowest rate of AL occurrence was found in patients who underwent right hemicolectomy, then in patients who underwent sigmoidectomy, left hemicolectomy, transversectomy and anterior resection (p= 0.004). A stoma was frequently performed during reoperation (79.5%) which was significantly different between different procedures: 65.5% in right hemicolectomy, 75.0% in transversectomy, 85.7% in left hemicolectomy, and 93.0% in sigmoid resection (p< 0.001). Conclusion Rates, types, time of occurrence and severity of AL vary according to the type of colectomy performed and selective construction of stoma during AL reoperation is currently safely applied with comparable mortality rates for patients who did and who did not have a stoma after reoperation. (AU)

Real-time semi-quantitative assessment of anastomotic blood perfusion in mini­invasive rectal resections by Sidestream Dark Field (SDF) imaging technology: a prospective in vivo pilot study.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the severe complications after rectal surgery, and anastomotic ischemia is one of the main factors. This prospective in vivo pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sidestream Dark Field (SDF) imaging in quantitative assessment of anastomotic microcirculation and to analyze its correlation with AL. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection from 2019 to 2020 were enrolled. Microcirculation was measured by SDF imaging at the descending colon, the mesocolon transection line (MTL), and 1 cm and 2 cm distal to the MTL. Anastomotic microcirculation was measured at the stapler anvil edge before anastomosis. Quantitative perfusion-related parameters were as follows: microcirculation flow index (MFI), perfused vessel density (PVD), proportion of perfused vessels (PPV), and total vessel density (TVD). RESULTS: All patients obtained stable microcirculation images. Functional microcirculation parameters (MFI, PPV, PVD) decreased successively from the descending colon, the colon at MTL, and 1 cm and 2 cm distal to the MTL (all P < 0.01). Extremely poor microcirculation was found at the intestinal segment 2 cm distal to the MTL. Micro-perfusion was significantly lower at the colonic limb of the anastomosis compared with the descending colon (all P < 0.001). Anastomotic leakage occurred in 3 patients (9.1%) whose anastomotic microcirculation was significantly lower than those without AL (all P < 0.01). Blood perfusion at the colonic limb of the anastomosis was significantly higher in patients with left colic artery preservation than in controls. CONCLUSION: SDF imaging is a promising technique for evaluating anastomotic microcirculation and has potential clinical significance for risk stratification of AL.