Laparoscopy-assisted posterior low anterior resection of rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy-assisted low anterior resection (LAR) of colorectal cancer, using a posterior surgical approach, is a difficult and controversial procedure to perform. We report successful operations on 13 patients with clear surgical margins and no serious complications. METHODS: Thirteen patients [10 males and three females, age range: 48 to 69 years (median: 61 years)] with low adenocarcinoma confirmed by preoperative colonoscopic biopsy (four stage T1; nine stage T2) were resected. The distance from inferior edge of tumor to dentate line was 2 ~ 5 cm (average: 3.4 cm). Intraperitoneal laparoscopy was performed to isolate rectosigmoid and mesocolon moving toward distal end of the tumor. Perineal operation was performed in the prone clasp-knife position. RESULTS: The circumferential resection margin (CRM) was negative in all cases. No serious postoperative complications occurred. There were four cases of perineal wound infection, two cases with superficial perineal wound dehiscence, and two cases with persistent postoperative sacral pain. All 13 patients passed the Wexner continence test and had satisfactory anal function during a mean 18-month postoperative follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic posterior LAR of colorectal cancer is a safe and reliable treatment for patients with low colorectal cancer, increasing the chance of anal functional recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR-ONC-14005145. Registered 19 August 2014.

[A prospective multicenter clinical trial of extralevator abdominoperineal excision for locally advanced low rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) for locally advanced low cancer in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter clinical trial was carried out by 7 general hospitals across China from August 2008 to October 2011. A total of 102 patients underwent ELAPE for primary locally advanced low rectal cancer. There were 60 male and 42 female patients. The patients' characteristics, complications and prognosis were recorded. RESULTS: All patients underwent the ELAPE procedure successfully. The median operating time was 180 minutes (range 110-495 minutes) and median intraoperative blood loss was 200 ml (range 50-1000 ml). The rates of sexual dysfunction, perineal complications, urinary retention, and chronic perineal pain were 40.5%, 23.5%, 18.6% and 13.7%, respectively. Chronic perineal pain was associated with coccygectomy (12 months postoperatively, t = 8.06, P < 0.01), and the pain might gradually ease over time. Reconstruction of pelvic floor with biologic mesh was associated with lower rate of perineal dehiscence (χ(2) = 13.502, P = 0.006) and overall perineal wound complications (χ(2) = 5.836, P = 0.016) compared with primary closure. A positive circumferential margin (CRM) was demonstrated in 6 (5.9%) patients, and intraoperative perforations occurred in 4 (3.9%) patients. All CRM involvement and intraoperative perforation located at anteriorly and anterolaterally. The local recurrence was 4.9% at a median follow-up of 35 months (range, 18-58 months). CONCLUSIONS: ELAPE performed in the prone position for low rectal cancer leads to a reduction in CRM involvement, intraoperative perforations, and local recurrence, but it might result in a little high rate of perineal wound related complications. Reconstruction of pelvic floor with biologic mesh might lower the rate of perineal wound complications.

[Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal carcinoma with preservation of the left colic artery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal carcinoma with preservation of the left colic artery(LCA). METHODS: Clinicopathological and follow-up data of 322 cases with rectal carcinoma undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection in Department of General Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2007 to December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different surgical methods of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), cases were divided into the trial group (LCA preservation plus lymph nodes around IMA root dissection, 168 cases) and the control group(origin of IMA ligation, 154 cases). The 5-year rates of disease-free survival(DFS) and overall survival(OS) were compared between two groups. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups. The follow-up rate was 91.1%(153/168) during 5-60 months in the trial group, and 90.3%(139/154) during 6-60 months in the control group. The number of patients who developed death, local recurrence and metastasis were 49(32.0%), 9(5.9%) and 62(40.5%) in the trial group, and 44(31.7%), 9(6.5%) and 52(37.4%) in the control group, respectively, without significant differences(all P>0.05). The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 57.2% and 69.5% in the trial group, and 59.7% and 70.1% in the control group, and the differences were not significant between the two groups(all P>0.05). After stratification by TNM stage, the 5-year DFS rates of I( stage, II( stage and III( stage were 80.4%, 62.5% and 45.1% in the trial group, and 82.6%, 66.0% and 48.8% in the control group; the 5-year OS rates of I( stage, II( stage and III( stage were 90.2%, 76.2% and 56.7% in the trial group, and 94.4%, 74.3% and 60.5% in the control group, respectively, and the differences were not significant as well (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The long-term outcomes after laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal carcinoma with preservation of LCA and dissection of lymph nodes around root of IMA are comparable with ligation at origin of IMA.

[Clinical application of curved cutter stapler in laparoscopic anterior resection of low rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To make a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of Endo GIATM Radial Reload with Tri-StapleTM Technology(Radial Reload) in laparoscopic anterior resection of low rectal cancer. METHODS: Clinical data of 21 low rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic anterior resection with the Radial Reload in our department between July 2014 and July 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: All the rectums were achieved complete transection by the first stapler device firing and all the operations were performed successfully. No patient were converted to open surgery. The operative time ranged from 110.0 to 180.0(140.5±16.6) minutes, the blood loss ranged from 50.0 to 100.0(66.8±11.4) ml, and the distal resection margin ranged from 1.0 to 3.0(1.8±0.7) cm. Tumor cells were not discovered in all the postoperative pathological samples of distal resection margin. Among 21 cases, stage I( was found in 14 cases, stage II( in 4 cases and stage III( in 3 cases. There were no anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic leakage. There was no local recurrence and distant metastasis during a median follow-up of 6 months(1 to 13 months) postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The application of Radial Reload in laparoscopic anterior resection of low rectal cancer is feasible with satisfactory efficacy.

[Efficacy analysis of laparoscopic curve resection for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of curved cutter stapler in laparoscopic curve resection for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST). METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was carried out with the clinical data of 19 cases of gastric GIST, who received laparoscopic curve resection with the curved cutter stapler during the period between January 2015 and December 2015 in Department of General Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University. Curved cutter stapler was used intraoperatively to run curve resection for stomach, at least 0.5 cm away from the tumor outer margin. If the curved cutter stapler could not completely cut off the gastric wall at first time, the linear cutter stapler would be used secondly to cut off the remaining gastric wall. RESULTS: All the cases were successfully performed under laparoscopy, without conversion to open surgery and the occurrence of severe complications. Fourteen(73.7%) patients received complete transection by the first curved cutter stapler, the other 5(26.3%) cases accepted complete transection by the second linear cutter stapler. The operative time ranged from 50 to 100(71.8±12.7) minutes, the blood loss ranged from 20 to 50 (33.6±7.4) ml, the postoperative exhaust time ranged from 1 to 4 (2.4±0.9) days, the postoperative hospital stay ranged from 5 to 9(6.8±1.1) days. There was no patient suffered from incision infection, delayed gastric emptying, anastomotic leakage and anastomotic bleeding. The postoperative pathological examination confirmed that all the cases were GIST. The tumor length ranged from 1.5 to 5.5(2.9±1.1) cm, the resection margin ranged from 0.5 to 2.0(1.2±0.4) cm and all the patients had negative resection margins. Of the 19 cases, 8(42.1%) were classified as very low risk, 5(26.3%) as low risk, 5(26.3%) as moderate risk and 1(5.3%) as high risk according to the National Institute of Health classification. Six patients with moderate and high risk were treated with imatinib. In the follow-up time of 5 to 16 months(mean 10 months) after operation, no distant metastasis and local recurrence occurred in all the cases. CONCLUSION: The application of curved cutter stapler in laparoscopic curve resection for GIST is safe and feasible with good short-term efficacy.

[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal cancer and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and colorectal cancer. METHODS: Samples of cancer and adjacent normal mucosa were taken from 34 patients with colorectal cancer. The percentage and average fluorescence intensity pf VEGF positive cells in these samples were examined by using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of VEGF positive cells was 57% +/- 29% in cancer tissue and 42% +/- 24% in normal tissue (P < 0.05). The average fluorescence intensity of VEGF positive cells was 24% +/- 11% in cancer tissue and 16% +/- 7% in normal tissue (P < 0.01). The percentage of VEGF positive cells was 30% +/- 22% in cancer of Dukes stage B and 72% +/- 18% in cancer of Dukes stage C (P < 0.01). The average fluorescence intensity was 18% +/- 25% in cancer of Dukes stage B and 27% +/- 12% in cancer of Dukes stage C (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: VEGF is associated with the development and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Its relation with degree of differentiation of colorectal cancer remains to be studied.

[Protection of the proximal colon segment during laparoscopic proctosigmoidectomy].

To evaluate the protection of proximal colon segment by analyzing blood supply disorder of proximal colon segment during laparoscopic proctosigmoidectomy(11 cases) in the Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University. It is concluded that the disorder of blood supply of proximal colon segment during laparoscopic proctosigmoid surgery has two reasons. One is the anatomic factor of mesenteric vessels; the other is the inappropriate operative procedure. It is recommended that left colonic artery should be retained, and inferior mesenteric artery should be handled at a low level, thus, the risk of proximal intestine blood supply disorder caused by vascular anatomy variation can be reduced.

[Laparoscopy assisted total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopy assisted total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer. METHOD: From March 2000 to November 2003,67 patients with rectal cancer received laparoscopy assisted TME,in whom 45 cases received anterior resection (AR),and 22 cases received abdominal perineal resection (APR). RESULTS: The operation was performed according to the rules of TME. The operative bleeding volume ranged from 10 to 50 ml. The operative time ranged from 2.5 to 5 hours without operative related death. Gastrointestinal decompression time ranged from 8 to 24 hours after operation. The time of intaking fluid food ranged from 24 to 48 hours after operation; the time of taking general activity ranged from 1 to 3 days after operation,and the defecating time ranged from 1 to 5 days after operation. The time of the hospital stay ranged from 7 to 10 days. All patients were followed up from 3 to 43 months except 3 patients. Two patients had local recurrence, including 1 patient died of local recurrence; 2 patients had liver metastases including 1 patient died of tumor metastasis but another was still alive. No metastasis and recurrence was found in 19 patients within follow - up time of one year. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopy assisted TME is a feasible approach for rectal cancer if surgeons have experience in open operation of laparoscopy assisted TME and good managing skills.