Advanced Image-Guided Percutaneous Technique Versus Advanced Laparoscopic Surgical Technique for Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement.

Rationale & Objective: Timely placement of a functional peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter is crucial to long-term PD success. Advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques both represent best practice catheter placement options. Advanced image-guided percutaneous is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require general anesthesia. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study comparing time from referral to procedure, complication rate, and 1-year catheter survival between placement techniques. Setting & Participants: Patients who had advanced laparoscopic or advanced image-guided percutaneous PD catheter placement from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013 in an integrated Northern California health care delivery system. Exposure: PD catheter placement using advanced laparoscopic or advanced image-guided percutaneous techniques. Outcomes: One-year PD catheter survival; major, minor, and infectious complications; time from referral to PD catheter placement; and procedure time. Analytical Approach: Wilcoxon rank sum tests to compare referral and procedure times; χ2/Fisher exact tests to compare complications; and modified least-squares regression to compare adjusted 1-year catheter survival between PD placement techniques. Results: We identified 191 and 238 PD catheters placed through advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively. Adjusted 1-year PD catheter survival was 80% (95% CI, 74%-87%) using advanced image-guided percutaneous technique vs 91% (87%-96%) using advanced laparoscopic technique (P = 0.01). Major complications were <1% in both groups. Minor and infectious complications were 45.6% and 38.7% in advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively (P = 0.01). Median days from referral to procedure were 12 and 33 for patients undergoing advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively (P < 0.001). Median procedure time was 30 and 44.5 minutes for patients undergoing advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques, respectively (P < 0.001). Limitations: Retrospective study with practice preference influenced by timing, local expertise, and resources. Conclusions: Both advanced image-guided percutaneous and advanced laparoscopic techniques reported rare major complications and demonstrated excellent (advanced laparoscopic) and acceptable (advanced image-guided percutaneous) 1-year PD catheter survival. For patients referred for PD catheter placement at centers where advanced laparoscopic resources or expertise remain limited, the advanced image-guided percutaneous technique can provide a complementary and timely option to support the utilization of PD. Plain-Language Summary: Peritoneal dialysis is a preferred dialysis modality for many patients. However, the lack of available skilled surgeons can limit the placement of the peritoneal dialysis catheter in a timely manner. In the past decade, interventional radiology has developed expertise in placing peritoneal dialysis catheters. Using data from an integrated health care system, we compared the outcome of peritoneal dialysis catheters placed using laparoscopic surgery and interventional radiology techniques. Our results showed excellent 1-year patency of peritoneal dialysis catheters placed using laparoscopic surgery, whereas interventional radiology placement of catheters had lower but acceptable 1-year patency survival, based on best practice guideline criteria. Hence, interventional radiology placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters may be a viable alternative when laparoscopic surgery is not available or feasible.

Rate of seeding with biopsies and ablations of hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study.

Biopsies of liver masses that prove to be hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are associated with a risk of seeding the abdominal or chest wall with tumor cells. The reported frequency of seeding varies greatly in the literature. We performed a retrospective cohort study in a large integrated health care system to examine rates of seeding in patients with HCC who had targeted liver biopsies, ablations, or both performed by community radiologists. We reviewed pathology and radiology records to determine the occurrence of wall seeding, defined as a chest or abdominal wall lesion along a definite or probable needle tract. A total of 1,015 patients had targeted liver biopsies (795), ablations (72), or both (148). Multiple procedures were done in 284 patients (28%). Six cases of seeding were identified. The rate of wall seeding was 2/795 patients (0.13%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00%-0.60%) if only biopsies were done versus 4/220 (1.82%; 95% CI, 0.05%-3.58%) if ablations were performed (P = 0.01). The rate was 0/72 (0.00%; 95% CI, 0.00%-0.04%) with ablations alone and 4/148 (2.70%; 95% CI, 0.74%-6.78%) if both procedures were done (P = 0.31). Of those with 1 year follow-up (n = 441), the rate of seeding was 2/269 (0.74%; 95% CI, 0.00%-1.77%) if biopsies alone were done and 4/172 (2.33%; 95% CI, 0.07%-4.58%) if ablations were done. In none of the cases was the seeding a proximate cause of death. Conclusion: Biopsies of liver masses are associated with a low rate of wall seeding when performed in a community setting and when they are the sole procedures. Ablations may have a higher rate of seeding, particularly if done with biopsies, but are still rare. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:841-851).

Use of a robotic system as surgical first assistant in advanced laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: To date, the use of robotic systems has concentrated on enhancing the dexterity of the individual surgeon performing advanced laparoscopic surgery. Surgical assistants must still be present. We present a clinical experience using a robotic system as a surgical first assistant, enabling the performance of solo surgery in increasingly complex procedures. Laparoscopic fundoplication was selected as an advanced laparoscopic procedure that has routinely required a human assistant. STUDY DESIGN: Between January and April 2001, 10 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent laparoscopic antireflux surgery. The Zeus Robotic Surgical System (Computer Motion) was used to perform all functions typically handled by surgical assistants. The system was manipulated solely by the surgeon at all times with controls draped within the sterile field. This control console remained at the surgeon's side and at no time did the surgeon leave the sterile field. The presence of the robotic system did not interfere with access to the patient. RESULTS: Among 10 operations, 8 were performed completely without the need or use of any human assistance. Set-up of the robotic system averaged 28 minutes per patient, including sterile draping. Operative times ranged from 68 to 155 minutes. There were no adverse events noted in the perioperative period. All patients were discharged the day after the procedure without any complications. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assistance to facilitate solo surgery in advanced laparoscopic procedures appears to be a feasible and safe technique. More importantly, this experience seems to demonstrate a potential for the Zeus robotic system for telementoring applications. Given a real-time communication system, a distant mentor could manipulate the robotic arms and guide a local, novice laparoscopic surgeon through an advanced procedure. Additional instrumentation must be available and more study is needed to quantify the clinical usefulness, safety, and efficacy of this new tool.