Analysis of external pressure on the left calf in the Lloyd-Davies position during colorectal surgery.

PURPOSE: Well-leg compartment syndrome (WLCS) is a potentially life-threatening postoperative complication related to the Lloyd-Davies surgical position, which can place increased external pressure on the calf region. We conducted this study to analyze external pressure changes, by applying a leg holder system to the left calf region of patients placed in the Lloyd-Davies position during laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: The study participants were 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in the Lloyd-Davies position. We assessed the maximum external pressure (MEP) on the left calf region using a pressure-distribution measurement system. Intraoperative measurements were taken continuously, and the MEP was evaluated with the patient horizontal and every 30 min during surgery in the head and right-down tilt position. RESULTS: The intraoperative MEP increased gradually when the patient was in the head and right-down tilt position and decreased when the patient was returned to the horizontal position. The MEP was higher in patients aged < 60 years, those who were obese, and those with a thick calf circumference. Both body mass index (BMI) and the maximum left calf circumference (MLCC) were found to correlate with the MEP. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to a high BMI, which is a well-known risk factor for WLCS, a high MLCC should be considered another risk factor, especially for patients under 60 years.

A negative pressure-based visualization technique for abdominal Veress needle insertion.

PURPOSE: Abdominal Veress needle insertion is commonly performed to generate a pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy. Various safety tests are conducted to confirm accurate needle tip positioning into the abdominal cavity. However, these occasionally yield unclear results and do not help directly visualize the peritoneum puncture. We validated a negative pressure-based technique that helps instantly visualize the moment of the Veress needle entry into the abdominal cavity. METHODS: This study included 761 patients who underwent laparoscopic hernioplasty between 2003 and 2021 that entailed pneumoperitoneum creation using a Veress needle. They were divided into conventional technique (CON) and negative pressure visualization technique (NPV) groups. The patients were propensity score-matched (1:1) to minimize selection bias. To determine whether the technique gave a clear result to the surgeon and precisely informed the moment of entry, failed entry and emphysematous complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The propensity score-matching yielded 105 pairs in the matched CON and NPV groups. Failed entry did not occur in the NPV group, whereas it occurred in 8 patients (7.6%) in the CON group (p = 0.004). No patient experienced extraperitoneal emphysema in the matched NPV group, whereas 7 patients (6.7%) in the CON group did (p = 0.007). The groups did not differ in the incidence of omental or mesenteric emphysema. CONCLUSION: The NPV eliminated the incidence of failed entry and decreased the incidence of extraperitoneal emphysema, indicating that it could simply and adequately inform the moment of needle entry into the abdominal cavity.

Mesorectal fat area as a useful predictor of the difficulty of robotic-assisted laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Various predictors of the difficulty of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer have been described. Although a bulky mesorectum was considered to pose technical difficulties in total mesorectal excision, no studies have evaluated the influence of mesorectum morphology on the difficulty of total mesorectal excision. Mesorectal fat area at the level of the tip of the ischial spines on magnetic resonance imaging was described as a parameter characterizing mesorectum morphology. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of clinical and anatomical factors, including mesorectal fat area, on the difficulty of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. METHODS: This study enrolled 98 patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision for primary rectal cancer, performed by a single expert surgeon, between 2010 and 2015. Magnetic resonance imaging-based pelvimetry data were collected. Linear regression was performed to determine clinical and anatomical factors significantly associated with operative time of the pelvic phase, which was defined as the time interval from the start of rectal mobilization to the division of the rectum. RESULTS: The median operative time of the pelvic phase was 68 min (range 33-178 min). On univariate analysis, the following variables were significantly associated with longer operative time of the pelvic phase: male sex, larger tumor size, larger visceral fat area, larger mesorectal fat area, shorter pelvic outlet length, longer sacral length, shorter interspinous distance, larger pelvic inlet angle, and smaller angle between the lines connecting the coccyx to S3 and to the inferior middle aspect of the pubic symphysis. On multiple linear regression analysis, only larger mesorectal fat area remained significantly associated with longer operative time of the pelvic phase (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Mesorectal fat area may serve as a useful predictor of the difficulty of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

[A Case Report of Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection in a Patient with Rectal Cancer and Polysplenia Syndrome].

Polysplenia syndrome is a rare congenital disease characterized by variable thoracic and abdominal anomalies. A man in his 70s was diagnosed with rectal cancer by close exploration for fecal occult blood. A barium enema revealed a type 1 rectal tumor andwith non-rotation of intestine. CT revealed multiple abnormalities: a polyspleen, preduodenal portal vein, congenital absence of the pancreatic tail, bilateral superior vena cava, andbilateral bilobedlung. Basedon these findings, the patient was diagnosedas having rectal cancer with polysplenia syndrome andtreatedwith robotic assistedlaparoscopic low anterior resection. At operation, the whole colon was located in the left side of the abdominal cavity. The whole colon adhered with each other. The ileocecum adheredto the front of the aorta andthe right iliac artery. In the pelvis, anatomical abnormality was not detectedandrectal mobilization andresection was performedas usual. The patient hadno signs of recurrence of the rectal cancer. This is the first case presentation of laparoscopic low anterior resection in a patient with rectal cancer and polysplenia syndrome.

Relationship between stoma creation route for end colostomy and parastomal hernia development after laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic benefits of extraperitoneal colostomy with laparoscopic surgery remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the route for stoma creation with laparoscopic surgery and stoma-related complications, especially parastomal hernia (PSH). METHODS: From January 2007 to March 2015, a total of 59 patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection or Hartmann procedure were investigated. Patient demographic and treatment characteristics, including stoma-related complications, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Transperitoneal and extraperitoneal colostomy were performed in 29 and 30 patients, respectively. Median follow-up duration was 21 months (range: 2-95). Patient demographic and treatment characteristics were comparable between the transperitoneal group (TPG) and the extraperitoneal group (EPG). PSH developed in 12 (41 %) patients in TPG, and 4 (13 %) patients in EPG (p = 0.020). The incidence of other stoma-related complications and non-stoma-related complications did not differ significantly between TPG and EPG. No patient characteristics except for transperitoneal route for stoma creation were associated with PSH development. CONCLUSIONS: The extraperitoneal route for stoma creation is associated with a significantly lower incidence of PSH development after laparoscopic surgery. Whenever possible, extraperitoneal colostomy should be recommended, even with laparoscopic surgery.

Impact of shear stress on sacral pressure injury from table rotation during laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed in the lithotomy position.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of shear stress on surgery-related sacral pressure injury (PI) after laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed in the lithotomy position. We included 37 patients who underwent this procedure between November 2021 and October 2022. The primary outcome was average horizontal shear stress caused by the rotation of the operating table during the operation, and the secondary outcome was interface pressure over time. Sensors were used to measure shear stress and interface pressure in the sacral region. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of PI. PI had an incidence of 32.4%, and the primary outcome, average horizontal shear stress, was significantly higher in the PI group than in the no-PI group. The interface pressure increased over time in both groups. At 120 min, the interface pressure was two times higher in the PI group than in the no-PI group (PI group, 221.5 mmHg; no-PI group, 86.0 mmHg; p < 0.01). This study suggested that shear stress resulting from rotation of the operating table in the sacral region by laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed in the lithotomy position is the cause of PI. These results should contribute to the prevention of PI.

Thyroid transcription factor-1 expression in rectal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lung.

Distinguishing metastatic lung tumors from primary lung cancer is essential for planning the appropriate treatment strategy. Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is a reliable immunohistochemistry (IHC) marker for differentiating between primary lung adenocarcinomas and metastatic lung tumors originating from colorectal adenocarcinomas. Herein, we report a rare case of TTF-1 expression in both the metastatic lung tumor and primary rectal adenocarcinoma. Aside from the similar histological characteristics of both tumors when stained with hematoxylin-eosin, the IHC patterns, including negative results for alveolar epithelium markers (napsin A and CK7) and positive results for intestinal markers (CK20, CDX2, SATB2, and ß-catenin), of the lung tumor and the primary rectal adenocarcinoma strongly supported the final diagnosis. Considering the non-negligible frequency of TTF-1 positivity in colorectal adenocarcinomas, applying the IHC panel including multiple markers for alveolar epithelium and intestinal differentiation, would be helpful to support the diagnosis of metastatic lung tumor from a rectal adenocarcinoma.

Prevention of ureteral injury during laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery with horseshoe kidney using fluorescent ureteral catheters: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Horseshoe kidney is one of the most common congenital renal fusion anomalies and is characterized by abnormalities in the position, rotation, vascular supply, and ureteral anatomy of the kidney. When performing surgery for colorectal cancer in patients with horseshoe kidneys, anatomical identification is important to avoid organ injuries. Several reports on surgery for colorectal cancer with horseshoe kidneys have described the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) angiography for detecting abnormalities in vascular supply. However, few reports have focused on the prevention of ureteral injury in surgery for colorectal cancer with horseshoe kidney, despite abnormalities in the ureteral anatomy. Here, we report a case in which laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection for sigmoid colon cancer with a horseshoe kidney was safely performed using fluorescent ureteral catheters. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital testing positive for fecal occult blood. Colonoscopy revealed sigmoid colon cancer, and CT confirmed a horseshoe kidney. The 3D-CT angiography showed aberrant renal arteries from the aorta and right common iliac artery, and the left ureter passed across the front of the renal isthmus. A fluorescent ureteral catheter was placed in the left ureter before the surgery to prevent ureteral injury. Laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection with D3 lymph node dissection was performed. The fluorescent ureteral catheter enabled the identification of the left ureter that passed across the front of the renal isthmus and the safe mobilization of the descending and sigmoid colon from the retroperitoneum. The operative time was 214 min, with intraoperative bleeding of 25 mL. The patient's postoperative course was good: no complications arose and she was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. CONCLUSION: In patients with horseshoe kidney, the use of fluorescent ureteral catheters and 3D-CT angiography enables safer laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. We recommend the placement of fluorescent ureteral catheters in such surgeries to prevent ureteral injury.

Mismatch repair proteins immunohistochemical null phenotype in colon medullary carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: In mismatch repair (MMR) immunohistochemistry, four MMR proteins' staining pattern reveals which particular gene may be defective. However, in the null phenotype, four MMR proteins are lost; consequently, it will be challenging to assume the target gene by immunohistochemistry and to determine whether deficient MMR was sporadic or germline. CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old man underwent right hemicolectomy with the diagnosis of ascending colon cancer. The postoperative histopathology revealed the diagnosis of medullary carcinoma and the loss of all four MMR expressions in immunohistochemistry. The mutation analysis using a peripheral blood sample showed no germline mutations in the four genes. DISCUSSION: This clinical case presents an unusual colon carcinoma that showed a MMR protein immunohistochemistry null phenotype. The cause of expression loss of MMR proteins can be explained by the loss of MLH1 and MSH2 functions associated with somatic loss of function mutations, functional loss in all four MMR proteins associated with somatic loss of function mutations, or Lynch-like syndrome. Correct interpretation and accumulation of relevant cases are necessary to unveil unusual cases in the era of universal screening.

Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic reoperation for treatment of anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and feasibility of laparoscopic reoperation for anastomotic leakage remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 3321 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for primary colorectal cancer at a tertiary referral center from September 2002 to May 2016. Of these, 31 patients who underwent reoperation for treatment of anastomotic leakage were enrolled in this study and divided into two reoperation groups: laparoscopic (n = 15) and open (n = 16). Data regarding patient demographics, operative outcomes, morbidity, length of hospital stay, mortality, and stoma closure after reoperation in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the primary surgery procedure between the two groups. Estimated blood loss (1 vs 9 mL, P = 0.020), total postoperative complications (26.7% vs 68.8%, P = 0.032), wound infection (0.0% vs 31.2%, P = 0.043), and postoperative hospital stay (18 vs 31 days, P = 0.017) were significantly better in the laparoscopic group than in the open group. Although the rate of stoma closure after reoperation was higher in the laparoscopic group, the difference was not significant (86.7% vs 62.5%, P = 0.220). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic reoperation exhibited better short-term outcomes than open reoperation for selected patients with anastomotic leakage.