Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Although several authors have demonstrated that laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) is feasible, safe, and has short-term benefits over open surgery, evidence about oncological outcome is lacking. Preoperative chemoradiation has been shown to improve local control in locally advanced rectal cancer. Therefore, neoadjuvant treatment followed by laparoscopic TME has become widely used. We reviewed our series of laparoscopic TME focusing on comparison between preoperative chemoradiation therapy and primary surgery. METHODS: Out of 59 patients who underwent laparoscopic TME, 20 were submitted to neoadjuvant chemoradiation and represent study population. Twenty-six patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer >T1 on pathologic TNM staging who underwent primary laparoscopic surgery were considered for comparison. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in operative time, in conversions to open surgery, in intra- and postoperative complications, and in anastomotic leakage rate between the two groups. No isolated local recurrence nor port-site metastases were detected in either group. Cumulative 3-year and 5-year survivals are also similar. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant treatment does not seem to jeopardize perioperative results of laparoscopic TME. The low incidence of local recurrence reported in both groups may be attributed to a more precise dissection allowed by the endoscopic view. Laparoscopic TME and preoperative chemoradiotherapy may significantly improve oncologic results and quality of life in patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Results should be validated by randomized trials with adequate follow-up.

Preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy versus laparoendoscopic rendezvous in patients with gallbladder and bile duct stones.

OBJECTIVE: To compare success rate, length of hospital stay, clinical results, and costs of sequential treatment (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy) versus the laparoendoscopic Rendezvous in patients with cholecysto-choledocholithiasis. BACKGROUND: The ideal management of common bile duct (CBD) stones in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) remains controversial. METHODS: A total of 91 elective patients with cholelithiasis and CBD stones diagnosed at magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) were included in a prospective, randomized trial. The patients were randomized in 2 groups. Group I patients (45 cases) underwent a preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) followed by LC in the same hospital admission. Group II patients (46 cases) underwent LC associated with intraoperative ERCP and ES according to the rendezvous technique. RESULTS: The rate of CBD clearance was 80% for Group I and 95.6% for Group II (P = 0.06). The morbidity rate was 8.8% in Group I and 6.5% in Group II (P = not significant). No deaths occurred in either group. Hospital stay was shorter in Group II than in Group I: 4.3 days versus 8.0 days (P < 0.0001). There was a significant reduction in mean total cost for group II patients versus group I patients: 2829 euro versus 3834 euro (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with preoperative ERCP with ES followed by LC, the laparoendoscopic rendezvous technique allows a higher rate of CBD stones clearance, a shorter hospital stay, and a reduction in costs.