Role of abdominal ultrasound for the surveillance follow-up of pancreatic cystic neoplasms: a cost-effective safe alternative to the routine use of magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Patients with pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN), without surgical indication at the time of diagnosis according to current guidelines, require lifetime image-based surveillance follow-up. In these patients, the current European evidenced-based guidelines advise magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning every 6 mo in the first year, then annually for the next five years, without reference to any role for trans-abdominal ultrasound (US). In this study, we report on our clinical experience of a follow-up strategy of image-based surveillance with US, and restricted use of MRI every two years and for urgent evaluation whenever suspicious changes are detected by US. AIM: To report the results and cost-efficacy of a US-based surveillance follow-up for known PCNs, with restricted use of MRI. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the records of all the patients treated in our institution with non-surgical PCN who received follow-up abdominal US and restricted MRI from the time of diagnosis, between January 2012 and January 2017. After US diagnosis and MRI confirmation, all patients underwent US surveillance every 6 mo for the first year, and then annually. A MRI scan was routinely performed every 2 years, or at any stage for all suspicious US findings. In this communication, we reported the clinical results of this alternative follow-up, and the results of a comparative cost-analysis between our surveillance protocol (abdominal US and restricted MRI) and the same patient cohort that has been followed-up in strict accordance with the European guidelines recommended for an exclusive MRI-based surveillance protocol. RESULTS: In the 5-year period, 200 patients entered the prescribed US-restricted MRI surveillance follow-up. Mean follow-up period was 25.1 ± 18.2 mo. Surgery was required in two patients (1%) because of the appearance of suspicious features at imaging (with complete concordance between the US scan and the on-demand MRI). During the follow-up, US revealed changes in PCN appearance in 28 patients (14%). These comprised main pancreatic duct dilatation (n = 1), increased size of the main cyst (n = 14) and increased number of PNC (n = 13). In all of these patients, MRI confirmed US findings, without adding more information. The bi-annual MRI identified evolution of the lesions not identified by US in only 11 patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (5.5%), largely consisting of an increased number of very small PCN (P = 0.14). The overall mean cost of surveillance, based on a theoretical use of the European evidenced-based exclusive MRI surveillance in the same group of patients, would have been 1158.9 ± 798.6 € per patient, in contrast with a significantly lower cost of 366.4 ± 348.7 € (P < 0.0001) incurred by the US-restricted MRI surveillance used at our institution. CONCLUSION: In patients with non-surgical PCN at the time of diagnosis, US surveillance could be a safe complementary approach to MRI, delaying and reducing the numbers of second level examinations and therefore reducing the costs.

Gray-scale, Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in pancreatic allograft surveillance: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Gray scale ultrasound (US), Doppler and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) represent important surveillance tools in the early post-operative period after pancreas transplantation (PTx), when complications are more common. This review summarizes the available evidence on their clinical application in this setting. METHODS: We searched the Pub-Med database from inception to October 2018 for English literature on the clinical use of US, Doppler and CEUS in the post-PTx surveillance. Article selection was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria (PRISMA). RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles concerning the clinical applications of US, Doppler and CEUS were identified, 13 of which, involving 264 patients, were focused on the sonographic findings in immunologic rejection, whereas 11 studies reporting on 887 patients were focused on post-PTx vascular complications. The remaining five articles, involving a total of 196 patients, described US or CEUS applied in the study of pancreatic morphology and texture to diagnose peri-graft fluids collections or to obtain experimental data on allograft endocrine function. CONCLUSIONS: US, Doppler and CEUS have proven to be valuable assets in post-PTx follow up, thanks to the combination of their non-invasiveness with a high accuracy in the detection of early abnormalities, in particular regarding vascular complications. Preliminary experiences are directing towards functional research; however, future prospective trials are necessary to precisely correlate organ perfusion, early abnormalities and allograft function.

Use of a novel multi-purpose sponge for laparoscopic surgery: Does it have special relevance to robotically-assisted laparoscopic surgery?

BACKGROUND: The STAR System (Ekymed SpA) is a novel multipurpose sponge developed for conventional manual laparoscopic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2012 and December 2014, we successfully used the sponge in ten robot-assisted and ten direct manual laparoscopic operations to achieve haemostasis, for blunt dissections, for atraumatic lifting of solid organs, to check for bile leaks, for cleaning the surgical field thus avoiding frequent use of suction or the application of haemostatic agents. The reason of the insertion (RI), the main use (MU) and any further use (FU), once inserted, were registered for each operation and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The principal RI was haemostasis for minor bleeding, without differences between the two groups (P = not significant). Regard to MU, in the robotic group cleaning the surgical field was utilised more than laparoscopic group (100% vs. 60%; P = 0.03). About FU, atraumatic solid organs lifting was more frequent during robotically assisted surgery than with laparoscopy (50% vs. 0%; P = 0.01). A statistically more frequent use of the sponge was registered during standard laparoscopy for the blunt dissection (30% vs. 80%; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The STAR System was beneficial in both approaches, but it imparts added benefit during robotically-assisted laparoscopic surgery organs because of the lack of tactile feedback and because the operating surgeon is remote from the patient, and has to rely on the assisting surgeon in the sterile field for dealing with bleeding episodes, cleansing/mopping the operative field when necessary, who may not be experienced or completely proficient.

Robotic surgery and hemostatic agents in partial nephrectomy: a high rate of success without vascular clamping.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy has been proposed as a technique to overcome technical challenges of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. We prospectively collected and analyzed data from 31 patients who underwent robotic partial nephrectomy with systematic use of hemostatic agents, between February 2009 and October 2014. Thirty-three renal tumors were treated in 31 patients. There were no conversions to open surgery, intraoperative complications, or blood transfusions. The mean size of the resected tumors was 27 mm (median 20 mm, range 5-40 mm). Twenty-seven of 33 lesions (82%) did not require vascular clamping and therefore were treated in the absence of ischemia. All margins were negative. The high partial nephrectomy success rate without vascular clamping suggests that robotic nephron-sparing surgery with systematic use of hemostatic agents may be a safe, effective method to completely avoid ischemia in the treatment of selected renal masses.

Hand-assisted hybrid laparoscopic-robotic total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch--anal anastomosis.

PURPOSE: Few studies have reported minimally invasive total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We herein report a novel hand-assisted hybrid laparoscopic-robotic technique for patients with FAP and UC. METHODS: Between February 2010 and March 2014, six patients underwent hand-assisted hybrid laparoscopic-robotic total proctocolectomy with IPAA. The abdominal colectomy was performed laparoscopically with hand assistance through a transverse suprapubic incision, also used to fashion the ileal pouch. The proctectomy was carried out with the da Vinci Surgical System. The IPAA was hand-sewn through a trans-anal approach. The procedure was complemented by a temporary diverting loop ileostomy. RESULTS: The mean hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) time was 154.6 (±12.8) min whereas the mean robotic time was 93.6 (±8.1) min. In all cases, a nerve-sparing proctectomy was performed, and no conversion to traditional laparotomy was required. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 13.2 (±7.4) days. No anastomotic leakage was observed. To date, no autonomic neurological disorders have been observed with a mean of 5.8 (±1.3) bowel movements per day. CONCLUSIONS: The hand-assisted hybrid laparoscopic-robotic approach to total proctocolectomy with IPAA has not been previously described. Our report shows the feasibility of this hybrid approach, which surpasses most of the limitations of pure laparoscopic and robotic techniques. Further experience is necessary to refine the technique and fully assess its potential advantages.

Robotic giant hiatal hernia repair: 3 year prospective evaluation and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: While conventional laparoscopic repair for giant hiatal hernias is considered difficult, robotic technology is likely to result in an improved postoperative course. METHODS: We prospectively analysed patients with giant hiatal hernias who underwent robotic repair during a 3 year period. Preoperative data, operative variables, complications, clinical outcomes and anatomical recurrence after 1 year were evaluated. RESULTS: Six patients with giant hiatal hernias underwent robotic repair using the Da Vinci surgical system. The mean operative time was 182 min. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. No patients required reoperation for disease recurrence, and all claimed the absence of postoperative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic approaches can minimize surgical trauma in patients with giant hiatal hernias and result in favourable outcomes in terms of anatomical recurrence and quality of life. With the availability of the da Vinci System, all patients with giant hiatal hernias can be offered a minimally invasive surgical option.

Detection of the microbial patterns in a cohort of infants admitted to neonatal intensive care.

Newborn babies admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often require many supportive invasive devices and frequently receive antimicrobial therapy. We investigated the microbial flora in NICU patients reporting the distribution of infections in different catheter sites. Results showed that 97% of samples were positive; in particular 11% were positive for two or more microbial agents. Coagulase negative Staphylococci were the most commonly isolated. The detection of Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts suggested that these microorganisms are also involved in infections of hospitalized infants. Finally, no correlation between a specific microbial agent and a particular catheter type was found.

Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease: an evidence-based review.

BACKGROUND: A decade after nearly all surgical disciplines developed minimally invasive techniques, the first report of a single case of minimally invasive thyroidectomy was published. Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) is now considered the most widely practiced and most easily reproducible minimally invasive procedure for thyroidectomy. The aim of this review was to analyze the treatment of benign thyroid diseases by MIVAT. METHODS: A systematic evidence-based literature review focusing on three questions was carried out. Additional data were obtained on the basis of our personal experience. (1) Are minimally invasive procedures indicated in the treatment of thyroid diseases? (2) Is MIVAT a safe technique and what are the demonstrated advantages? (3) Since different thyroid diseases may be treated by MIVAT, is it of any value in the treatment of benign thyroid diseases? RESULTS: MIVAT can be considered an appropriate treatment of some thyroid diseases; it represents a safe procedure with the same incidence of complications as traditional surgery, and also has advantages in terms of both cosmetic result and postoperative distress. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of an increasing trend toward performing more extensive procedures other than thyroidectomy alone during videoscopic procedures, the current literature seems to reaffirm that the main and safest indication for MIVAT is benign disease.