Rectal sparing approach after preoperative radio - and/or Chemo-therapy (ReSARCh): a prospective, multicentre, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Rectal-sparing approaches for patients with rectal cancer who achieved a complete or major response following neoadjuvant therapy constitute a paradigm of a potential shift in the management of patients with rectal cancer, however their role remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of rectal-sparing approaches to preserve the rectum without impairing the outcomes. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre, observational study investigated the outcomes of patients with clinical stage II-III mid-low rectal adenocarcinoma treated with any neoadjuvant therapy, and either transanal local excision or watch-and-wait approach, based on tumor response (major or complete) and patient/surgeon choice. The primary endpoint of the study was rectum preservation at a minimum follow-up of two years. Secondary endpoints were overall, disease-free, local and distant recurrence-free, and stoma-free survival at three years. RESULTS: Of 178 patients enrolled in 16 centres, 112 (62.9%) were managed with local excision and 66 (37.1%) with watch-and-wait. At a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 36.1 (30.6-45.6) months, the rectum was preserved in 144 (80.9%) patients. The 3-year rectum-sparing, overall, disease-free, local recurrence-free, distant recurrence-free survival was 80.6% (95%CI 73.9-85.8), 97.6% (95%CI 93.6-99.1), 90.0% (95%CI 84.3-93.7), 94.7% (95%CI 90.1-97.2), and 94.6% (95%CI 89.9-97.2), respectively. The 3-year stoma-free survival was 95.0% (95%CI 89.5-97.6). The 3-year regrowth-free survival in the watch-and-wait group was 71.8% (95%CI 59.9-81.2). CONCLUSIONS: In rectal cancer patients with major or complete clinical response after neoadjuvant therapy, the rectum can be preserved in about 80% of cases, without compromise the outcomes.

Side-to-Side Anastomosis In Left Hemicolectomy, Why and When: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic colectomy represents a safe, effective and well-established procedure for both benign and malignant colic disease. Transanal anastomosis (TA) with a circular stapler is the most commonly performed anastomotic technique in laparoscopic left hemicolectomy (LLH). We report our experience with side-to-side anastomosis (STSA) and side-to-end anastomosis (STEA) in selected patients with both emergency and elective LLH. METHODS: A systematic review of the PubMed database was performed on recent studies that compared different anastomotic techniques after LLH. We collected internal data from June 2014 to July 2018 and compared our experience with the literature. The primary outcome was the anastomotic complication rate. RESULTS: During the observation period, 158 patients underwent left hemicolectomy (LH). One-hundred-nineteen patients had malignant disease; 36 underwent surgery for complicated diverticular disease, one had a large strangulated incisional hernia, one had a sigmoid volvulus, and one had a sigmoid localization of endometriosis. Thirty open left hemicolectomies were performed. In 128 cases, a minimally invasive approach was used. Since conversion to open was necessary in 10 of these cases, 118 were totally LLH. STSA was performed in 64 cases; seven in an emergency setting and 57 in elective procedures. The overall anastomotic leak rate was 3.1% (2/64) and no anastomotic leak was reported in the emergency group (0/7). TA was performed in 15 cases, 93% in an elective setting (14/15), and the anastomotic leak rate was 13.3% (2/15). In 20 cases, we performed elective STEA and no anastomotic leak was recorded. In 19 cases, it was impossible to perform anastomosis and we decided to create a definitive colostomy. CONCLUSION: Consistent with the literature data, our experience shows that, in selected cases, STSA and STEA are both safe and effective, with a lower anastomotic complication rate than TA.

Intracorporeal Anastomosis in Both Elective and Emergency Right Hemicolectomy: Our Experience.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine whether intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRH) is a safe procedure in both emergency and elective settings. METHODS: A retrospective review of all consecutive adult patients (age > 17 years) who underwent LRH from November 2014 to May 2018 at S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, was performed. The primary and secondary outcomes were the anastomotic leak rate and the operative time, respectively. Both IA and extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) were performed according to standardized techniques by the same team of experienced surgeons. Our findings were compared to literature data on recent studies comparing IA and EA during LRH. RESULTS: During the observation period, 167 patients underwent RH at our institution: IA was performed in 115. The mean age was 73.5 y. Thirty-three RH were performed in an emergency setting: 15 laparotomic procedures, 3 conversions from laparoscopic to open, 6 laparoscopic-assisted with EA, and 9 complete IA. The remaining 134 patients underwent elective RH: IA was performed in 106. The overall anastomotic leak rate in LHR IA was 2.6% (3/115), and no anastomotic leak was reported in the emergency group (0/9). The mean operative time was 180 min. In our experience, the operative time is related to the surgeon's experience and confidence with the technique, and not to the anastomosis technique per se. CONCLUSION: Consistent with the literature data, IA in LRH was associated with better outcomes than EA in both elective and emergency settings.

Laparoscopic management of non-midline incisional hernia: A multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic repair of non-midline ventral hernia (LNM) has been debated. The aim of this study is to analyze our experience performing the laparoscopic approach to non-midline ventral hernias (NMVHs) in Northwest Italy for 6 years. METHODS: A total of 78 patients who underwent LNM between March 2008 and March 2014 in the selected institutions were analyzed. We retrospectively analyzed the peri- and postoperative data and the recurrence rate of four subgroups of NMVHs: subcostal, suprapubic, lumbar, and epigastric. We also conducted a literature review. RESULTS: No difference was found between the four subgroups in terms of demographic data, defect characteristics, admission data, and complications. Subcostal defects required a shorter operating time. Obesity was found to be a risk factor for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, subcostal defects were easier to perform, with a lower recurrence rate, lesser chronic pain, and faster surgical performance. A more specific prospective randomized trial with a larger sample is awaited. Based on our experience, however, the laparoscopic approach is a safe treatment for NMVHs in specialized centers.

Laparoscopic perspectives for distal biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: In patients affected by distal biliary obstruction deemed unsuitable for pancreatoduodenectomy, biliary diversion is the only proposable option. Defined goals of this treatment are: relief from jaundice preventing its related complications, reduction of in-hospital stay and adequate control of pain. Palliation can be obtained either by surgical or conservative procedures (endoscopic stenting or percutaneous treatment). Considering early complications' incidence, surgical approach has always been reserved for low surgical risk patients with longer survival perspectives, while recently developed long-lasting patency stents enlarged mini-invasive application resort. Comparative studies on these therapeutic options favour the conservative one in respect of conventional open surgery, but data on minimally invasive surgery to pursue palliative aims are lacking. We present our six-years casuistic and results referring to laparoscopic biliary diversions. METHODS: We analyzed results obtained in distal biliary neoplastic obstruction management between December 2008 and November 2014. During this period, selected patients considered unsuitable for pancreatoduodenectomy were scheduled to receive a laparoscopic biliary decompression. Perioperative variables and 30-days postoperative outcomes have been prospectively collected. RESULTS: In the six-years period, 12 patients affected by distal biliary neoplastic obstruction were submitted to laparoscopic palliative bypass. Four procedures were proposed for distal biliary cancer, one for advanced periampullary cancer and seven for pancreatic head cancer. Ten hepatico-jejunal bypasses and two choledochoduodenostomies have been performed. No conversions to open surgery were encountered in this series. Main operative time was 85 min, main blood loss was 75 ml and main hospitalization was 4.5 days. According to Clavien Dindo Classification one class II and one class IIIb complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Although the restricted number of patients, our results suggest that laparoscopic biliary bypass could be a valid option in managing distal biliary obstructions, resulting in low perioperative morbidity, effective long term palliation of symptoms and improved quality of life.

Use of bovine pericardium graft for abdominal wall reconstruction in contaminated fields.

AIM: To employ, in such conditions, a biological graft such as bovine pericardium that offers resistance to infection. METHODS: In our surgical department, from January 2006 to June 2010, 48 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction using acellular bovine pericardium; of these 34 patients had a contaminated wound due to diffuse peritonitis (complicated diverticulitis, bowel perforation, intestinal infarction, strangled hernia, etc.) and 14 patients had hernia relapse on infected synthetic mesh. RESULTS: In our series, one patient died of multi-organ failure 3 d after surgery. After placement of the pericardium mesh four cases of hernia relapse occurred. CONCLUSION: Recurrence rate is similar to that of prosthetic mesh repair and the application of acellular bovine pericardium (Tutomesh(®), Tutogen Medical Gmbh Germany) is moreover a safe and feasible option that can be employed to manage complicated abdominal wall defects where prosthetic mesh is unsuitable.

Laparoscopic treatment of traumatic rupture of hydatid hepatic cyst--is it feasible?: A case report.

PURPOSE: Hydatid disease is endemic in several countries. Although the disease can be asymptomatic for long time, it is usually progressive and insidious and can be even challenging in emergency both for its diagnosis and its treatment. METHODS: We report the case of an 8-year-old Albanian boy who was admitted in emergency to our surgical department with the diagnosis of suspected hemoperitoneum caused by a mild liver trauma. The abdominal laparoscopic exploration showed, besides peritoneal free serohematic liquid, a ruptured hepatic cystic lesion involving the left liver, which was completely excised. CONCLUSIONS: Even if there are not yet any reports about the usefulness of laparoscopic treatment of ruptured liver hydatid cysts, we believe that laparoscopic approach can help the diagnosis and in selected cases, the management of this condition. However more studies need to be carried out to evaluate it's long-term safeness about the recurrence of hydatid disease.

Use of India ink during preoperative computed tomography localization of small peripheral undiagnosed pulmonary nodules for thoracoscopic resection.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest permit us to identify a large number of small peripheral, undefined pulmonary lesions that require a diagnosis. Broncoscopy results are generally negative in these cases, and needle aspiration results are often inconclusive owing to poor cytology and false-negative cases. Thoracoscopy is an ideal tool but allows us only to localize lesions that retract the visceral pleura. Our aim in this study was to establish a marking procedure for excising nodules of unknown etiology by injecting India ink on the surface of the lung. METHODS: Since January 2008, eight patients (six men, two women) who had been diagnosed as having a peripheral small pulmonary nodule of unknown etiology were selected for preoperative tattooing under CT guidance to facilitate thoracoscopic wedge resection. RESULTS: In six cases, thoracoscopy allowed diagnosis and definitive treatment of two benign peripheral nodules and four single metastases from colon carcinoma. In two patients who had been diagnosed to have a primitive non-small-cell lung cancer on frozen section following thoracoscopy, the surgical treatment was concluded with limited lateral thoracotomy and lobectomy with ilomediastinal node dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that this CT technique, which includes using India ink to label and localize peripheral small pulmonary nodules, is a safe, valid option for marking the lung, thereby facilitating subsequent thoracoscopic resection.

[Small bowel intussusception caused by metastasis from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: case report and literature review]. / Invaginazione ileo-ileale da metastasi di carcinoma anaplastico tiroideo. Caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

Symptomatic involvement of the small bowel by metastasis from an extra-abdominal primary malignancy is rare, most commonly resulting from malignant melanoma and lung cancer; very rarely is small bowel involvement as first metastatic site. The Authors report a case of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with lung metastasis, brain metastasis and an isolated metastasis to the small bowel leading intestinal obstruction due to small bowel intussusception. The Authors review the international literature about frequency, etiopathogenesis, clinical and diagnostic features and therapy of small bowel metastasis by extra-abdominal malignancies, especially by primary anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Small bowel metastasis from extra-abdominal malignancies are very unusual, especially from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, and the etiopathogenesis is still unknown. Clinical findings are typical for abdominal urgency, especially by small bowel obstruction from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Computed Tomography has an important role in detecting the type of intestinal obstruction despite it is often unable to diagnose an isolated metastasis. Best therapy is surgical resection, that allows the assessment of metastasis and the definitive staging. The prognosis is poor, despite long-term survival has been occasionally reported for isolated small bowel metastasis