Laparoscopic colectomy: indications, standardized technique and results after 6 years experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study was to perform a retrospective study of our experience in performing laparoscopic colon surgery after 6 years experience. METHODOLOGY: From April 1992 to April 1998, 215 patients underwent colon laparoscopic surgery. There were 121 females and 94 males, whose average age was 66.7 (range: 31-92). RESULTS: 170 laparoscopic procedures were completed out of 215 (79%): 151 resections (22 for a benign lesion and 129 for a malignant one), 4 reversal of Hartmann's procedures, 6 rectopexy, 3 ileotransverstomies and 6 suture of traumatic colon perforation. There were 3 mortalities out of 215 (1.9%). The conversions were 45 out of 215 (20.9%); 22 (10.2%) cases were, however, converted to a laparoscopic facilitated procedure. The most common causes for conversion were the presence of bulky tumors and/or tumors that contaminated the adjacent structures (16/215), adhesions due to previous operations (9/215) and the patient's obesity (8/215). There were 39 complications (18.1%), 10 (4.6%) out of which required reoperation (2 anastomotic fistula, 2 anastomotic leak, 2 anastomotic stenosis, 2 hemorrhage, 1 colic iatrogenic perforation and 1 occlusion to rotation of anastomosis). There were only 2 recurrences (1.3%), 15 months (C2) and 8 months (B2) after the operation for intraoperative technical error. The average number of lymph nodes harvested in resected specimens was 12.8 (range: 1-41), whereas the mean distance of the tumor from the proximal margin of resection was 11.5 cm (range: 5-35), and from the distal margin 7.5 cm (range: 1-25). The average operative time was 165 min (range: 40-360), and the mean hospital stay was 9.2 days (range: 6-40). CONCLUSIONS: A colon resection for a malignant lesion, if performed with the highest respect for the oncologic principles, proves that it is impossible to develop a wall and intraluminal recurrence, which, in our opinion, may be caused by an improper surgical technique. Therefore, neoplastic colon laparoscopic surgery must be the perogative of a few selected and specialized centers.

Surgical palliation in pancreatic head carcinoma and gastric cancer: the role of laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In all patients with pancreatic and gastric cancer we always make a laparoscopic exploration to complete the staging. Lately we have adopted the following technique for nonresectable cancers of the head of the pancreas: following endoscopic retrograde cholangiography we position a biliary stent to restore bile flow and obtain regression of jaundice, a laparoscopic-assisted gastroentero-anastomosis (GEA) is then performed as an antecolic isoperistaltic side-to-side gastrojejunostomy. Also in case of nonresectable gastric cancer we perform a laparoscopic-assisted gastrojejunostomy. METHODOLOGY: From January 1994-February 1998 we performed a total of 25 laparoscopic assisted gastrojejunostomies. We adopted this minimally invasive technique for 11 out of 20 patients (55%) with nonresectable cancers of the head of the pancreas, 7 men and 4 women, whose median age was 73 (range: 60-89). A video-assisted gastrojejunostomy was also performed in 14 patients out of 28 (50%), 10 men and 3 women, with a median age of 70 (range: 58-76), with nonresectable distal gastric cancers and 1 woman with non-resectable and obstructing duodenal cancer. The operative time of the video-assisted procedure was 35 min (range: 25-40 min). RESULTS: There were no intra-operative complications and no mortality. All the patients had a very satisfactory post-operative course, with only 1 (4%) with post-operative complications (hyperpyrexia in a patient due to an infection of the biliaryendoprosthesis, with precocious regression after replacement of the prosthesis) and minimal post-operative pain. Median post-operative hospital stay was 3 days (range: 2-4). Median survival after operation was 6 months (range: 2-12) for gastric cancer and 9 months (range: 5-15 months) for pancreatic head carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this technique, for the obstructive syndrome of the pylorus and duodenum, offers these patients the best results/trauma ratio. Two currently remaining types of indications for a GEA, namely non-malignant ulcer and unresectable duodenal or antropyloric obstructive cancer.

Peptic ulcer disease and thoracoscopic left truncal vagotomy.

BACKGROUND: This study illustrates our experience in treating duodenal ulcer by means of thoracoscopy and laparoscopy over a period of six years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 1991 to October 1998, we submitted 38 patients (31 males and 7 females), average age 51 years (range 22-78 years), with duodenal ulcer to vagotomy with minimally invasive access: 23 Hill-Barkers, 2 Taylors, 9 thoracoscopic truncal vagotomies and 4 laparoscopic truncal vagotomies. The patients submitted to thoracoscopic truncal vagotomy had previous gastric surgery (5 ulcers of the neostoma in patients who had undergone gastric resection, 3 hemorrhagic gastritis of the gastric neostoma and 1 incomplete abdominal vagotomy). RESULTS: The average time required for the thorascopic approach was 30 minutes (range 20-40 minutes) with return to normal feeding in 1 day, without any difficulty, and discharge on day 3 (range 2-5 days). The patients were followed for 3-54 months. Twenty-two patients (91.3%) out of 23 submitted to anterior superselective and posterior truncal vagotomy, and the patients submitted to thoracoscopic vagotomy, were pain free without medical therapy. One patient (4.3%) was lost to the follow-up. There was only one relapse (4.3%) after seven months where the patient underwent left thorascopic truncal vagotomy. We had no mortality and no intraoperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, minimally invasive treatment of peptic ulcer disease may represent the "gold standard." It is simple, quick, effective and delivers the same excellent results of open surgery but with minimum trauma.

Laparoscopic treatment of peptic ulcers. A review after 6 years experience with Hill-Barker's procedure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study illustrates our experience in treating duodenal ulcers by means of laparoscopy over a period of 6 years and the results after a lengthy careful follow-up. METHODOLOGY: From October 1991 to October 1997 we submitted 35 patients, 28 men and 7 women of an average age of 51 years (range: 22-78), to vagotomy with minimally invasive access: 23 Hill-Barkers, 2 Taylors, 6 thoracoscopic truncal vagotomies, and 4 laparoscopic truncal vagotomies. Of the patients submitted to surgery with the Hill-Barker technique, 8 were resistant to medical therapy, 11 decided not to continue with long-term medical therapy, 3 assumed an irregular medical therapy, and 1 who had been suffering for a long time from an ulcerous disease required vagotomy in association with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In 16 patients a bleeding complication preceded surgery. RESULTS: In our experience, the average duration of the operation with the Hill-Barker technique is 40 min (range: 30-80 min), with return to normal feeding in 1 day without any disorders and return home on day 3 (range: 2-5). The patients have been followed for 3-54 months. One patient (4.3%) was lost during the follow-up. Twenty-one (91.3%) out of the 23 submitted to anterior superselective and posterior truncal vagotomy were pain and ulcer-free without medical therapy. There was only one relapse (4.3%) after 7 months where the patient underwent left thoracoscopic truncal vagotomy. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, as posterior truncal and anterior superselective vagotomy using the Hill-Barker technique guarantees the same excellent results, it is preferable due to the speed and ease of performance and to the low cost compared with other procedures which take more time (e.g., Taylor's section and suture of the anterior gastric wall) and require the use of particularly expensive equipment (e.g., Gomez-Ferrer's mechanical sectioning and suturing).

Duodenal perforations after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Duodenal perforations after laparoscopic cholecystectomies are rarely reported. The aim of this study is to focus on this complication and to suggest ways to reduce its occurrence and avoid diagnostic mistakes and therapeutical delays that could be fatal. We reviewed four personal cases and a number of others reported in the literature. Duodenal perforations are caused by improper use of the irrigator-aspirator device when retracting the duodenum, or by electrosurgical and laser burns. A duodenal perforation should be suspected in cases of bile leakage, peritonitis, intraabdominal or retroperitoneal collections, high serum or drainage amylase concentration, absence of bile leakage from the biliary tree, and the existence of a retroduodenal mass. Diagnosis requires a gastrografin upper GI series. Differential diagnosis is mainly with biliary lesions and other causes of peritonitis. Relaparoscopy may require intraoperative upper GI endoscopy or Kocher's duodenal mobilization to detect the perforation. Early diagnosis allows primary repair, usually by laparoscopy. Perforations of the duodenal cap are easier to diagnose and have a better prognosis than those of the descending duodenum. A lumbar abscess is a frequent complication.

Laparoscopic appendectomy and minilaparoscopic approach: a retrospective review after 8-years' experience.

BACKGROUND: This is a presentation of our 8-year experience in laparoscopic appendectomy, showing complications and results to determine the advantages and efficacy of laparoscopy. METHODS: We used this technique from December 1990 to December 1998 on 282 consecutive and non-selected patients (169 females and 113 males) with an average age of 24 years (range 5-86 years). All patients were suffering from sub-acute appendicitis or chronic appendicopathies, except for 84 (29.7%) cases of acute appendicitis and 25 (8.9%) cases of gangrenous appendicitis with peritonitis. All patients with suspected appendicitis were evaluated with a laparoscopic exploration. RESULTS: In 39 patients (13.9%), appendectomy was performed along with 19 enucleated or endocoagulated ovarian cysts, 8 adhesiolyses, 6 transperitoneal hernioplasties (4 right and 2 left), 2 cholecystectomies, 2 excisions of a Meckel diverticulum, 1 aspiration and suture of a right tubal pregnancy and 1 electrodesiccation of pelvic endometriosis. Thirty-five patients (12.5%) revealed the presence of a gynecological-type pathology. We performed 2 (0.7%) conversions to open exploration and experienced 6 (2.1%) complications, of which only 1 (0.35%) was a major complication: a delayed hemoperitoneum (1 liter), re-operated elsewhere, the cause of which was not identified. We performed 4 (1.4%) relaparoscopies for retrocecal abscess (three patients with primary gangrenous appendicitis and peritonitis presenting with an abscess in the right iliac fossa and in one patient with widespread intestinal adhesions with primary acute appendicitis). No patient with a diagnosis of a normal appendix developed an intraperitoneal abscess. Mortality was non-existent. The postoperative course, which was subjectively better than in cases operated in the traditional way, was, on an average, 2 days (range 1-18 days) for appendectomies carried out with the traditional laparoscopic technique and 1 day for appendectomies carried out with the minilaparoscopic technique (6 patients). CONCLUSION: We believe that the laparoscopic technique can handle any type of clinical situation, as it can cure several pathologies during the same session with minimal trauma and maximum benefit for the patient. The advantages of a minilaparoscopy approach are based on its low invasiveness and small surgical wounds.

Laparoscopic colectomy: the absolute need for a standard operative technique.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to review our experience performing laparoscopic colon surgery and to present the operative technique as used and standardized by us. METHODS: From April 1992 to December 1996, 158 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic colon surgery. There were 92 females and 66 males, whose average age was 66.7 years (range 31-92); 134 patients (84.9%) were operated on for carcinoma, and the remaining 24 (14.1%) or benign disease. RESULTS: There were 117 procedures completed laparoscopically out of 158 patients (74%); 103 colon resections (18 for benign disease and 95 for malignant disease), 7 Hartmann procedures, 3 for reversal of Hartmann's procedures, 1 rectopexy, and 3 ileotrasversostomies. Conversions were required in 41 out of 158 cases (25.9%); 19 of these cases, however, were converted to a laparoscopic-facilitated procedure. The most common causes for conversion were the presence of bulky tumors and/or tumors that contaminated adjacent structures (16/158), adhesions due to previous operations (8/158) or patient obesity (5/158). There were 31 complications (19.6%), 9 of which required re-operation. There was only one recurrence (0.9%) that manifested 15 months after the procedure, at both trocar and drainage sites, and with peritoneal carcinomatosis. This occurred in a patient with rectal neoplasia who suffered a perforation of the rectum during dissection, with bowel spillage. The average number of lymph nodes harvested in resected specimens was 12.8 (range 1-41), whereas the mean distance of the tumor from the proximal margin of resection was 11.5 cm (range 5-35), and from the distal margin 7.5 cm (range 1-25). The average operative time was 165 minutes (range 40-360), and the mean hospital stay was 9.2 days (range 6-40). There were three mortalities out of 158 patients (1.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colon resection for malignant lesions, performed with the highest respect for oncologic principles, has demonstrated that it is difficult to develop a barrier to wall and intraluminal recurrence. Recurrence, in our opinion, is caused by improper surgical technique. Therefore, neoplastic colon laparoscopic surgery must be the prerogative of selected and specialized centers.

Laparoscopic re-operation from gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Since 1994 until the present day, we have had to surgically re-operate in five cases of failure with laparoscopic operations aimed at correcting gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Two of these cases came from our own patients and three came under our observation from other centers. We applied fundoplication according to Nissen-Rossetti in three cases and the Rossetti-Hell operation in the other cases. One case involved recurrent gastro-oesophageal reflux with a short oesophagus and fundoplication raised into the mediastinum. In one other case, there was recurrent hiatal herniation with a rotary as well as axial component and consequent mediastinal occupation. The other three cases featured persistent post-operative dysphagia caused, in one case, by an error in the creation of the anti-reflux valve (perigastric cuff) and, in the other two, by erroneous choice of the anti-reflux operation: post-operative manometry showed important oesophageal hypo-dyskinesia which should have indicated partial fundoplication. All the patients underwent laparoscopic exploration. The patient with the short oesophagus had to be converted for the performance of a total duodenal diversion, while the remaining four patients underwent a total laparoscopic operation. The patient with recurrent hiatal hernia had the hernia reduced in the abdomen and combined anterior and posterior hiatoplasty. In another three cases, total fundoplication was transformed into partial fundoplication according to Toupet. The post-operative course and clinical results were excellent in all five patients. Stress is placed on the importance of accurate morphological and functional assessment of the oesophagus in the pre-operative stage so as to select the most suitable operation and in the post-operative stage in order to evaluate the causes of failure, the advantages of laparoscopy in terms of exposure of the operative field, the importance of certain technical details that optimize the results of the operation, and the efficacy of the laparoscopic approach also for the correction of most failures that demand re-operation.

Laparoscopic choledochotomy with primary closure. Follow-up (5-44 months) of 31 patients.

BACKGROUND: Thirty-three patients were candidates for laparoscopic choledochotomy. The indications for this operation are described. METHODS: The procedure was completed 32 times (97%). We had 29 successful common bile duct (CBD) clearances, three negative explorations, and one failed clearance which needed to be converted to laparotomy. All the completed procedures ended with primary closure of the main duct. Median duration of surgery was 180 min (range 100-300), including three associated laparoscopic procedures. RESULTS: There were three postoperative complications (9.4%), none major. Average postoperative hospital stay was 7.1 days (range 4-14). In May-June 1995 we controlled 31 out of the 32 consecutive patients (one patient was lost to follow-up) who had a successful laparoscopic choledochotomy from October 1991 to December 1994. Median follow-up was 22 months (range 5-44). Besides clinical control, 23 patients also had ultrasound (US) controls and 24 had blood tests. Eleven had intravenous cholangiotomography. Two patients died 11 and 22 months after the operation for unrelated causes and without biliary symptoms. Two patients had umbilical hernias. One had a small residual asymptomatic stone, which was removed endoscopically. None had signs of postoperative CBD stricture. At US, CBD was

Laparoscopic colorectal resection. A multicenter Italian study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate retrospectively the experience of six surgical units currently performing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. METHODS: From November 1991 to January 1994, 200 patients (103 male, 97 female; mean age 62.5 years) were candidates for, and received, laparoscopic colorectal resection for benign (54) or malignant (196) lesions. All the units excluded patients with locally advanced organ tumors and all cases with suspected perforation and ascites. One center submitted to laparoscopic resection only stage I and IV adenocarcinoma. All surgeons considered obesity a relative contraindication. The following data were analyzed: indications, conversion rate to open surgery, operative time, morbidity and mortality, resumption of gastrointestinal function, number of lymph nodes harvested, hospital stay. RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 200 patients were converted to open surgery (10.5%); 37 patients had a complete laparoscopic procedure (17.1%); 137 had an assisted resection (68.5%); and the remaining 5 patients had a facilitated resection. The mean operative time was 208 min (90-480) for assisted resection and 275 min (54-550) for complete laparoscopic resection. The mortality rate was 1.7%; the overall morbidity was 19.6% (major complications 11.2%). All patients quickly became ambulatory and showed a prompt resumption of gastrointestinal functions, and less postoperative pain if compared with converted cases. The average number of lymph nodes was 12.1 (range 1-32). The mean hospital stay was 8.6 days (range 5-14.5). The mean follow-up was 16 months (range 6-24). The recurrence rate 11.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy seems to offer the possibility of minimally invasive treatment, but long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Laparocholecystectomy. 6,865 cases from Italian institutions.

Data concerning 6,865 laparocholecystectomies have been collected retrospectively from 19 Italian groups. Only 5% of all patients were chosen for open cholecystectomy (OC). Acute cholecystitis was present in 5.6% of laparocholecystectomies (LC). Conversion to laparotomy occurred in 3.1% of patients. Mortality was 0.06%, morbidity 2.53% (general anesthesia complications 0.07%; general complications 0.07%; omphalitis 0.7%; abdominal complications 1.69%). Main duct lesions occurred in 0.26% of the patients, biliary leaks in 0.48%, bleedings in 0.75%, perforations in 0.2%. Data from literature concerning OC are compared to ours: mortality and morbidity have been lowered by LC; general and abdominal-wall complications have been drastically reduced; main duct lesions are not different.

Laparoscopic liver tumour resection with the argon beam.

Our initial experience with four minor resections for one malignant and three benign lesions is reported. Dissection was accomplished by mechanical fragmentation and hydrojet. Coagulation was effectively achieved by the argon beam system. Larger vessels were clipped. Three patients were treated laparoscopically and were rapidly discharged after an uneventful postoperative course. The other patient (small hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic liver) had an intraoperative cardiac arrest, probably due to gas embolism. After restoration of normal cardiac activity, the operation was completed after conversion to an open approach. When using the argon coagulator it is necessary to prevent excessive intra-abdominal pressure due to the flow of argon gas and to avoid injury to the hepatic veins, which may cause gas embolism.

Laparoscopic posterior truncal vagotomy and anterior proximal gastric vagotomy.

Simplified parietal cell vagotomies (Taylor's and Hill-Barker's procedures) were proposed more than a decade ago to make the operation easier and faster. Efficacy and safety have proven to be as good as with proximal gastric vagotomy. The Hill-Barker operation is particularly simplified by the laparoscopic approach, which enables the procedure to be performed very precisely. The limited trauma of minimally invasive vagotomy has increased the interest in peptic ulcer surgery, especially for patients with chronic duodenal ulcer disease who cannot or do not want to take long-term continuous medication, or who are resistant to it. We describe our technique of performing the laparoscopic Hill-Barker procedure. Our initial results with eleven patients show no operative mortality and minimal morbidity with early discharge and ulcer of all patients. Of the 9 cases which are evaluable, 8 are pain-free and one had an ulcer recurrence after incomplete vagotomy.

Early and late results of laparoscopic choledochotomy without biliary drainage.

On account of dissatisfaction with the two-staged approach to stones in the common bile duct, and the risks associated with endoscopic papillotomy, one-stage laparoscopic duct exploration was commenced. The initial experienced with 20 cases is presented. In 13 cases the transcystic approach to the main duct was not successful, so a choledochotomy was performed, and closed without biliary drainage. The postoperative course was similar to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and was uncomplicated in all patients. The follow-up examination of 12 patients demonstrated a mild stenosis of the main duct in our first case; however, this resolved spontaneously within six months. When indicated, the laparoscopic "ideal" choledochotomy with fibroscopic exploration gives very good early and long term results.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis]. / La colecistectomia laparoscopica nelle colecistiti acute.

In a 18 month period 19 patients (4.7%) out of 400 affected by acute cholecystitis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In 18 cases the diagnosis was preoperative on clinical signs or ultrasound scan basis. Intraoperative and histologic confirm was obtained in all cases. Mean age was 44.9, 11 were males and 8 females. The procedure resulted longer and more difficult compared to the global series of the same period: 90 min. versus 56 min. respectively, with a difficulty score higher than 4 in 89% of cases versus 40% of the global series. Furthermore, in 56% of cases versus 23.3% of the global series an intraoperative contamination from gallbladder content was recorded. Nevertheless, only 1 (5%) minor complication was observed, in the form of omphalitis, which recovered in 2 days. Therefore, discharge was possible in average within 4 days, excluding the first two cases operated, respectively discharged in 5th and 7th p.o. day as a precautionary measure. Early coelioscopic cholecystectomy is safe and effective, if carried out by well trained surgeons, even in acute cholecystitis.

[Mini-invasive surgical treatment of gallstones and common bile duct calculi]. / Trattamento chirurgico mini-invasivo della calcolosi colecisto-coledocica.

Between June 1st 1990 and December 31st 1991, 449 patients with cholelithiasis were operated on. All patients with isolated cholecystolithiasis (400) were offered video-laparoscopic (VLC) treatment. Forty-nine patients had both cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis. They all underwent further evaluation by ERCP, on the basis of which 30 patients were selected for sequential endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment with endoscopic papillosphincterotomy (EPST) followed by VLC. Three patients were selected for VLC and ideal laparoscopic choledocholithotomy. No complications were observed. At present, sequential ERCP-PST and VLC treatment seems to be the ideal approach to combined cholecystic and choledochal lithiasis in terms of safety, efficacy and tolerability. The increasing surgical skill in the field of minimally invasive surgery and the availability of sophisticated laparoscopic instrumentation allow to consider VLC and laparoscopic choledocholithotomy a valid alternative in terms of reduced surgical trauma and patient discomfort.

[Laparoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux]. / La correzione della malattia da reflusso gastro-esofageo in laparoscopia.

Authors describe laparoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in 12 patients. Particular aspects related to intra-operative complications are referred. Moreover the reasons that make laparoscopic procedure advantageous are discussed.