Clinical features and prognosis of malignant small bowel tumors: Experience from a university hospital in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel tumors (SBT) are infrequent and represent a small proportion of digestive neoplasms. There is scarce information about SBT in Latin America. AIM: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and survival of malignant SBTs. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of adult patients with histopathological diagnosis of SBT between 2007 and 2021 in a university hospital in Chile. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients [51.9% men; mean age 57 years] with SBT. Histological type: neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (43.7%, n=38), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) (21.8%, n=19), lymphoma (17.2%, n=15) and adenocarcinoma (AC) (11.5%, n=10). GIST was more frequent in duodenum (50%; n=12) and NET in the ileum (65.8%; n=25). Metastasis was observed in 17 cases, most commonly from colon and melanoma. Nausea and vomiting were significantly more often observed in AC (p=0.035), as well as gastrointestinal bleeding in GIST (p=0.007). The most common diagnostic tools were CT and CT enteroclysis with an elevated diagnostic yield (86% and 94% respectively). The 5-year survival of GIST, NET, lymphoma and AC were 94.7% (95%CI: 68.1-99.2), 82.2% (95%CI: 57.6-93.3), 40.0% (95%CI: 16.5-82.8) and 25.9% (95%CI: 4.5-55.7%), respectively. NET (HR 6.1; 95%CI: 2.1-17.2) and GIST (HR 24.4; 95%CI: 3.0-19.8) were independently associated with higher survival compared to AC, adjusted for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant SBT are rare conditions and NETs are the most common histological subtype. Clinical presentation at diagnosis, location or complications may suggest a more probable diagnosis. GIST and NET are associated with better survival compared to other malignant subtypes.

Robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) for anterior resection.

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery is currently well-accepted, with open techniques being reserved for very difficult cases. Laparoscopic colectomy has been proven to have lower mortality, complication, and ostomy rates; a shorter median length of stay; and lower overall costs when compared to its open counterpart. This trend is seen in both benign and malignant indications. Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in colorectal surgery was first described in the early 1990s. Three recent meta-analyses comparing transabdominal extraction against NOSES concluded that NOSES was superior in terms of overall postoperative complications, recovery of gastrointestinal function, postoperative pain, aesthetics, and hospital stay. However, NOSES was associated with a longer operative time. Herein, we present our technique of robotic NOSES anterior resection using the da Vinci Xi platform in diverticular disease and sigmoid colon cancers.

Robotic versus laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: a retrospective cohort study of the Binational Colorectal Cancer Database.

Robotic right hemicolectomy (RRC) may have technical advantages over the conventional laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC) due to higher degrees of rotation, articulation, and tri-dimensional imaging. There is growing literature describing advantages of RRC compared to LRC; however, there is a lack of evidence about safety, oncologic quality of surgery and cost. This study aimed to analyse complication rates, length of stay and nodal harvest in patients undergoing minimally invasive right hemicolectomy for colon cancer from a prospective Australasian colorectal cancer database. This was a retrospective cohort study using nearest neighbour matching. The Binational Colorectal Cancer Audit (BCCA) provided the data for analysis. The primary outcome was length of stay. Secondary outcomes were harvested lymph node count, anastomotic leak, postoperative haemorrhage, abdominal abscess, postoperative ileus, wound infections and non-surgical complications. 4977 patients who underwent robotic (n = 146) or laparoscopic (n = 4831) right hemicolectomy for right-sided colon cancer were included. For RRC, LOS was shorter (5 vs 6.9 days, p = 0.01) and nodal harvest was higher (22 vs 19, p = 0.04). For RRC, surgical complications (5.9% vs 14.2%, p < 0.004) and non-surgical complications (4.6% vs 11.7%, p = 0.007) were lower though there was no difference in return to theatre or inpatient death. Robotic right hemicolectomy is associated shorter LOS and marginally higher lymph node count, though this may reflect anastomotic technique rather than surgical platform. Longer term studies are required to establish differences in overall survival, incisional hernia rates and cost effectiveness.

Utilization of a Transanal TME Platform to Enable a Distal TME Dissection En Bloc with Presacral Fascia and Pelvic Sidewall with Intraoperative Radiotherapy Delivery in a Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Advanced Application of taTME.

Introduction: The safe introduction of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has been documented by the Australasian group previously. The most important prognostic indicator for rectal cancer is the ability to achieve a clear resection margin. By utilizing false planes for taTME surgery, the endopelvic fascia and or presacral fascia can be resected en bloc. Technique: This case highlights the utilization of a taTME platform to perform a distal taTME with presacral fascial stripping and a lateral pelvic sidewall transanal-assisted dissection in a 53-year-old otherwise healthy woman with a mid-rectal tumor. Radiologically the tumor was staged as a T3c/T4 rectal cancer with an N1c deposit extending beyond mesorectal fascia abutting the left piriformis muscle. An extramural venous invasion positive tumor was evident with a positive circumferential resection margin at 4 o' clock. In addition, the taTME platform was used to allow transanal intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) delivery to the sacrum. An R0 resection was achieved and the patient recovered well without incident. Results: Total operative time was 250 minutes with the patient being discharged on day 7 postoperatively without complication. Macroscopic evaluation revealed a grade III mesorectal excision with en bloc removal of presacral fascia. On microscopic evaluation, revealed a T3N1b tumor with 2 of 14 positive lymph nodes (0/5 pelvic sidewall nodes). Conclusion: The case highlights a novel application of taTME and is to the authors' best knowledge the first described use of a transanal platform to deliver intraoperative radiation therapy in the literature.