Urogenital dysfunction in patients after miniinvasive restorative low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision.

Introduction: Over the last decades outcomes for rectal cancer surgery have improved, with increasing survival rates. Nevertheless, functional disorders are still frequent. Aim: To evaluate sexual and urinary outcomes of miniinvasive total mesorectal excision (TME). Material and methods: Between March 2016 and June 2018 patients with rectal cancer who underwent miniinvasive TME with a sphincter-saving procedure were enrolled. The questionnaires were completed before therapy, and 6, 12, and 24 months after stoma closure. We used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF). Results: Ninety-eight patients completed the questionnaires. Only patients who underwent laparoscopic (39) or robotic TME (27) were enrolled. The characteristics and surgical outcomes did not differ significantly between these groups. The IPSS between the groups was comparable before and after the operation with no significant difference, increased at 6 months and then decreased consecutively. In comparison with baseline, IPSS was significantly lower in the laparoscopic and robotic groups at 6 months and was comparable to baseline at 24 months in both groups. Oppositely, the IIEF was significantly lower at 6 months after ileostomy closure in the robotic group (p < 0.05), but not in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.59) and both returned to baseline at 24 months. FSFI was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.017) 6 months after surgery and returned to baseline at 24 months in both groups. Conclusions: Laparoscopic and robotic TME showed similar functional results 2 years after stoma resection.

Intraoperative fluorescence angiography and risk factors of anastomotic leakage in mini-invasive low rectal resections.

BACKGROUND: One of the prerequisites for proper healing of the anastomosis after a colorectal resection is adequate blood supply to the connected intestinal segments. It has been proposed that adequate visualization of the blood flow using indocyanine green (ICG) could lead to the reduction in the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL). The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of intraoperative fluorescence angiography (FA) in decreasing the incidence of AL after minimally invasive low anterior resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME) in rectal cancer patients and to determine predictors of anastomotic leak. METHODS: From August 2015 to January 2019, data from 100 patients who underwent mini-invasive TME for rectal cancer using FA with indocyanine green (ICG) were prospectively collected and analyzed. They were compared with retrospectively analyzed data from a historical control group operated by one team of surgeons before the introduction of FA from November 2012 to August 2015 (100 patients). All patients from both groups were operated sequentially in one oncological center in Nový Jicín. RESULTS: The incidence of AL was significantly lower in the ICG group (19% vs. 9%, p = 0.042, χ2 test). In fifteen patients in the ICG group (15%), the resection line was moved due to insufficient perfusion. Using Pearson's χ2 test, diabetes (p = 0.036) and application of a transanal drain (NoCoil) (p = 0.032) were identified as other risk factors (RFs) for AL. CONCLUSION: The use of ICG to visualize tissue perfusion in low rectal resections for cancer can lead to a reduction of AL.

The significance of intraoperative fluorescence angiography in miniinvasive low rectal resections.

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic leak is a very serious complication in colorectal surgery. Tissue perfusion of the anastomosis plays an integral role in its multifactorial etiology. Fluorescence angiography using indocyanine green allows visualization of perfusion in real time. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative fluorescence angiography as a tool to decrease the incidence of anastomotic leak after laparoscopic or robotic low resection of the rectum for cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intraoperative fluorescence angiography was performed sequentially in 50 patients during low rectal resection for cancer with total mesorectal excision, primary anastomosis and protective ileostomy using laparoscopic or robotic technique. The results were compared to a historical control group of 50 patients with the same procedure without the use of fluorescence angiography. RESULTS: The patient sets were comparable in basic demographic and clinical parameters. Intraoperative visualization of perfusion by fluorescence angiography was achieved in all patients without unwanted side-effects. In 6 (12%) patients, the resection line was adjusted based on the fluorescence angiography. The incidence of anastomotic leak was insignificantly lower in the group with fluorescence angiography (18% vs. 10%), which led to significantly shorter hospital stay. Other postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescence angiography using indocyanine green is a safe and effective method with the potential of reducing anastomotic leak during minimally invasive low resection of the rectum for cancer.