Outcomes of conversion from laparoscopy to open surgery in geriatric patients with colorectal cancer: a case-controlled study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in geriatric patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: All patients subjected to laparoscopic procedures for CRC between 2006 and 2018 were included. Patients older than 70 were divided into these necessitating or not necessitating conversion to open surgery (Con>70 and Lap>70 groups, respectively), and those younger than 70 requiring conversion were evaluated in Con<70 group. The results were compared between Con>70 group and the two other groups. RESULTS: Conversion was significantly more common in Con>70 group than Con<70 group (17.3 vs 9.6%, p=0.011). Although female gender and T4 tumors leading to multivisceral resection were significant risk factors for conversion in univariate analysis, multivariate analysis denied any variable as significant. Perioperative outcomes were significantly worse in Con>70 group than those in Lap>70 group. When conversion groups were compared, the rates of surgical site infection and evisceration were higher in geriatric patients. Pathological results revealed that Con>70 group had more advanced tumors than Lap>70 group regarding pT stage, number of malignant lymph nodes and perineural invasion rate. However, the numbers of harvested lymph nodes were similar in two groups. CONCLUSION: Conversion rate is higher in geriatric patients, particularly in female patients and those who necessitate multivisceral resections. Conversion worsens the perioperative outcomes in geriatric patients. Finally, since the number of harvested lymph nodes does not decrease with conversion, it probably does not threaten the quality of oncological surgery.

Clinical evaluation of negative-pressure wound therapy in the management of electrical burns.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the treatment of the patients with electrical burns. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed using a database placed prospectively in the burn center of our hospital. All consecutive patients with electrical burns treated using NPWT at our center between August 2008 and December 2012 were included. The treatment results in our study were grouped as successful or unsuccessful considering the treatment objectives in accordance with therapy indications. RESULTS: In total, 39 patients were included in our study; of them, 36 (92.3%) were men. The average age was 34.9±9.8 years (range, 17-63 years). The majority of the patients in our study (92.3%) had been exposed to high voltage electricity. The mean total burned body surface area (TBSA) was 19.3±9.8 (range, 4-44). Six patients (15.4%) had TBSAs ≥30%, 31 (79.5%) had third degree burns, and 8 (20.5%) had fourth degree burns. In our study, indications of NPWT included bone and/or tendon exposed deep wounds that are not suitable for early grafting or flap applications owing to the lack of supporting tissue in 27 (69.2%) patients, graft fixation in 8 (20.5%) patients, and secondary grafting following graft loss in 4 (10.3%) patients. The general success rate of NPWT was 90.7% according to indications and treatment objectives in our study. CONCLUSION: In the light of our results, NPWT may contribute to the present conventional treatments used in severe electrical burns.

Solitary cecal diverticulitis, a rare cause of right lower quadrant pain: Four cases.

Solitary cecal diverticulitis is a rare clinical condition. Like diverticulitis in other segments of the colon, it requires immediate surgical intervention if it is causing complications. Solitary cecal diverticulitis may be misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis, since it causes right lower quadrant pain, or as a cecal tumor or inflammatory bowel disease, due to an intraoperative appearance resembling an inflammatory mass. Four patients with solitary cecum diverticulitis presenting with acute right lower quadrant pain are discussed in this report. Three patients underwent surgery with a preliminary diagnosis of acute appendicitis or cecal tumor, and 1 patient was diagnosed with cecal diverticulitis and treated medically. The treatment approach may change depending on a preoperative or intraoperative diagnosis of cecal diverticulitis. Therefore, in areas where this disease is uncommon, cecum diverticulitis should not be forgotten in the differential diagnosis of acute right lower quadrant pain or inflammatory bowel mass.

Fortune of temporary ileostomies in patients treated with laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The current study aims to analyze the risk factors for the failure of ileostomy reversal after laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: All patients who underwent a laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with a diverting ileostomy between 2007 and 2014 were abstracted. The patients who underwent and did not undergo a diverting ileostomy procedure were compared regarding patient, tumor, treatment related parameters, and survival. RESULTS: Among 160 (103 males [64.4%], mean [± standard deviation] age was 58.1 ± 11.9 years) patients, stoma reversal was achieved in 136 cases (85%). Anastomotic stricture (n = 13, 52.4%) was the most common reason for stoma reversal. These were the risk factors for the failure of stoma reversal: Male sex (P = 0.035), having complications (P = 0.01), particularly an anastomotic leak (P < 0.001), or surgical site infection (P = 0.019) especially evisceration (P = 0.011), requirement for reoperation (P = 0.003) and longer hospital stay (P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR], 7.82; P = 0.022) and additional organ resection (OR, 6.71; P = 0.027) were the risk factors. Five-year survival rates were similar (P = 0.143). CONCLUSION: Fifteen percent of patients cannot receive a stoma reversal after laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer. Anastomotic stricture is the most common reason for the failure of stoma takedown. Having complications, particularly an anastomotic leak and the necessity of reoperation, limits the stoma closure rate. Male sex and additional organ resection are the risk factors for the failure in multivariate analyses. These patients require a longer hospitalization period, but have similar survival rates as those who receive stoma closure procedure.

Evaluation of the patients with colorectal cancer undergoing emergent curative surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study is to evaluate perioperative and mid-term oncologic outcomes of the patients with colorectal cancer, who underwent emergent curative surgery. METHODS: The study included all patients with colorectal cancer, who underwent surgery for curative intent between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2014 in General Surgery Department of Kartal Training and Research Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups according to the type of admission (emergent or elective). The data of the patients were retrospectively collected with chart review. Demographic characteristics of the patients, ASA scores, emergent indications and surgical interventions, postoperative complications, pathological findings, oncological therapy, and follow-up findings were investigated. RESULTS: Fifty-one and 209 patients were evaluated in both groups, respectively. Rate of right sided and sigmoid/recto-sigmoid tumors were significantly higher in emergent group. Ostomy rate, early morbidity, ICU need, transfusion, and mortality rates in emergent group were significantly higher than elective group. Average length of hospital stay in emergent group was also significantly longer in elective group (11.2 ± 3.2 vs. 8.4 ± 2.4 days). The patients in emergent group had a much lower survival rate than those in elective group. CONCLUSION: In our study, emergency presentation of colorectal cancer was found associated with increased morbidity, a longer length of stay, increased in-hospital mortality, advanced pathologic stage and worsened long term survival in even same stages.

The Feasibility of Hepatic Resections Using a Bipolar Radiofrequency Device (Habib®).

The bipolar radiofrequency device (Habib®) has been recently introduced in order to reduce intraoperative bleeding for a safe hepatic resection as an alternative to the conventional tools. However, indications, perioperative findings, and outcome of the device for hepatic resections remain and deserve to be analyzed. The current study aims to analyze the feasibility of the bipolar radiofrequency device (Habib®) for hepatic resections. Information of the patients that underwent hepatic resection using with the Habib® device between 2007 and 2011 was abstracted. Patient, disease, and operation-related findings and perioperative data were investigated. A total of 71 cases (38 [53.5 %] males, mean age was 56.8 ± 11.9) were analyzed. Metastatic disease (n = 55; 77.5 %) was the leading indication followed by primary liver and biliary malignancies (n = 7; 9.9 %), hemangioma (n = 5; 7 %), hydatid disease (n = 3; 2.8 %), and hepatic gunshot trauma (n = 1; 1.4 %). Metastasectomy was the most commonly performed procedure (n = 31; 56.3 %), but in 24 (77.4 %) cases, it was performed in addition to extended resections. Other procedures in the study patients include segmentectomy in 17, bisegmentectomy in 19, trisegmentectomy in 17, right or left hepatectomy in 8, and extended right/left hepatectomy in 3. The mean (±SD) operation time was 241.7 ± 78.2 min. The median amount of bleeding was 300 cc (range 25-2500), and 23 (32.4 %) cases required perioperative transfusion. The median hospitalization period was 5 days (range 1-47). Lengthened drainage (n = 9, 12.7 %) and intraabdominal abscess (n = 8, 11.23 %) were the most common problems. Hepatic resections using the Habib® device seem to be feasible in cases with primary and metastatic hepatic lesions and benign liver masses and even those with hepatic trauma. It may lessen the amount of intraoperative hemorrhage, although lengthened drainage and intraabdominal abscess were the major postoperative problems in these cases.

Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic sigmoid colon and rectal cancer surgery in patients with previous vertical abdominal laparotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Current study aims to analyze the impact of previous vertical laparotomy on safety and feasibility of laparoscopic sigmoid colon and rectal cancer operations. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent a laparoscopic resection for sigmoid colon or rectal cancer were included. These aspects were abstracted and compared within no laparotomy and previous vertical laparotomy groups: demographics, perioperative aspects, pathological features and survival. RESULTS: There were 252 patients in no laparotomy group, and 25 cases with previous vertical incisions including lower (n = 12, 48%), upper (n = 7, 28%), and lower&upper (n = 2, 8%) midline and paramedian (n = 4, 16%) laparotomies. Veress insufflation and open technique were used in 19 (76%) and 6 (24%) cases, respectively, during the insertion of the first trocar in previous laparotomy group. Patients in previous laparotomy group were significantly older (59.2 ± 13.4 vs. 66.2 ± 10.1, p = 0.01), but gender, ASA scores, tumor and technique related factors were similar within the groups, including operation time (200 [70-600] vs. 200 [130-390] min, p = 0.353), blood loss (250 [100-1500] vs. 250 [0-2200] ml, p = 0.46), additional trocar insertion (10 [4%] vs. 3 [12%], p = 0.101), conversion (20 [7.9%] vs. 4 [16%], p = 0.25), postoperative complication (59 [23.4%] vs. 4 [16%], p = 0.06) and 30-day mortality (7 [2.8%] vs. 1 [4%], p = 0.536) rates. Oncological outcomes regarding pathological features and 5-year survival rates (65% vs. 73.2%, p = 0.678) were not different. CONCLUSION: The presence of a previous laparotomy does not worsen the outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic removal of sigmoid or rectal cancer, thus laparoscopy may be considered to be safe and feasible in these cases.

Stereotactic excision of additional lesions detected with intraoperative ultrasound examination during radiofrequency dissecting sealar (habib®) assisted hepatic metastasectomy: report of 4 cases.

Intraoperative ultrasound has been using to achieve a proper resection strategy in patients undergoing a hepatic colorectal metastasectomy. This study aims to describe and reveal the place of stereotactic metastasectomy in nonpalpable colorectal liver metastases (CLM). A chart review was initiated for all patients underwent resection for CLM between 2006 and 2011. The data concerning perioperative data and intraoperative strategy were abstracted. Among the 58 patients, who underwent a resection for CLM, 4 (6.9 %) (all men, median age 65.5, range 49-72, years) necessitated a stereotactic metastasectomy. Preoperative evaluations showed 1 (n = 1), 2 (n = 2), or 3 (n = 1) lesions, and intraoperative ultrasound (IUS) found an additional lesion in a case. Stereotactic marking was performed for nonpalpable lesions located in segments IVA, II, and VI and at the junction of segments V and VI. The margins were negative for all lesions both resected with conventional and stereotactic techniques. The examinations of the stereotactic resection materials revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma (patients n = 2), focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 1), and abnormal benign liver histology probably induced by chemotherapy (n = 1). The median (range) operation and hospitalization periods were 217.5 (150-310) minutes and 5.5 (2-9) days. No complications were observed except biliary fistula in a case, which spontaneously disappeared within 2 weeks. A patient died due to systemic disease including hepatic metastases 33 months after the liver surgery. Stereotactic metastasectomy may be feasible for the removal of nonpalpable CLM. Further evaluations are necessitated to understand the accurate place of this novel technique.

Risk factors for early postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients underwent radical surgery for gastric carcinoma: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study is to analyze the incidence and risk factors for early postoperative morbidity and mortality that occur after gastric carcinoma surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma resected with curative intent between 2005 and 2011 were included to a retrospective analysis. Patient, disease and operation related parameters were questioned as risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients (103 [64.8%] male and the average age was 62.4 ± 11.5) were abstracted. Early postoperative morbidity, operation related morbidity and mortality were observed in 46 (28.7%), 31 (19.4%) and 19 (11.9%) cases, respectively. No other factors but ASA score was found to be a risk factor for overall morbidity (p = 0.021 and 0.033 in univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively). The incidence of anastomotic leak was increasing in patients who received a D2 dissection in univariate analysis (p = 0.039), but not in multivariate calculation. There were no factors effecting surgical site infection risk. Although univariate analysis revealed that age over 70 (p = 0.008), ASA score (p = 0.018), operation time (p = 0.032), D2 dissection (p = 0.026) and type of anastomosis (p = 0.023) were effecting the risk for early mortality, multivariate analysis showed that age was the only risk factor (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Current study has revealed that early morbidity and mortality are not rare after gastric cancer surgery with curative intent. Since multivariate analyses have revealed that ASA score and older age may be only risk factors for postoperative morbidity and 30-day mortality, respectively; it may be logical to consider these factors during the preoperative decision making in patients with gastric cancer.

Complete versus partial mobilization of splenic flexure during laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal tumors: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study is to compare the results after partial and complete splenic flexure mobilization (SFM). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The records of laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures for primary rectal tumor patients were abstracted from a prospectively designed database. The phrenicocolic and splenocolic ligaments were divided via a four-trocar technique in the partial SFM group, and dissection was continued with the separation of gastrocolic and pancreaticomesocolic attachments via a five-trocar procedure in the complete SFM group. The following data were compared between the groups: Demographics, intra- and postoperative information, and pathological features. RESULTS: In total, 122 cases (77 [63.1%] male, 58.2±13.2 years old) who underwent a partial (n=36, 29.5%) or a complete (n=86, 70.5%) SFM were included. Reservoir creation (48.8% versus 19.4%, P=.003) was more common and conversion (8.1% versus 22.2%, P=.039) was less frequent in the complete SFM group, but there were significantly more T4 tumors in the partial group (16.7% versus 2.3%, P=.008). Demographics, other intra- and postoperative parameters, and pathological features were identical. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, complete SFM decreased conversion rates, but this finding may be related to the higher rate of T4 tumors in the partial SFM group. Complete SFM assures an increase in reservoir creation in patients receiving a low anterior resection. Because other parameters are identical, the decision for the level of SFM is better left to the surgeon in cases undergoing a low anterior resection, but complete SFM may be preferred in cases who are candidates for a reservoir formation.

Safety and effectiveness of 5-mm and 10-mm electrothermal bipolar vessel sealers (LigaSure) in laparoscopic resections for sigmoid colon and rectal cancers.

BACKGROUND: LigaSure™ (Covidien, Mansfield, MA) has been used in cases undergoing laparoscopic colon and rectal resections. This study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of the 5-mm and 10-mm devices. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who received a laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic operation for a tumor located in the sigmoid colon or rectum since 2006 were abstracted from a prospectively designed database, and findings were analyzed in two groups based on size of the device used during the procedure. The videotapes of the procedures were watched, and operation reports were read to obtain further information on specific intra- and postoperative complications. Demographics, tumor and operation-related information, and postoperative data were compared. RESULTS: Among 215 (128 [59.5%] males; median age, 59.5±13.8 years) patients, data obtained from the 5-mm (n=32) and 10-mm (n=183) groups were identical regarding demographics and data related to tumor (localization and stage) and operation (number of harvested lymph nodes, conversion rates, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, transfusion requirement, reoperation rates, complications, 30-day mortality, and length of hospital stay). However, more patients underwent an anterior resection in the 10-mm group than in the 5-mm group (31.7% versus 15.6%, P<.05). Further analyses found device-related bleeding in 8 (3.7%) cases (2 [6.3%] versus 6 [3.3%] in the 5-mm versus 10-mm group, respectively, P>.05), requiring further attempts for hemorrhage control (n=6), conversion to open surgery (n=1), or relaparotomy (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: The 5-mm and 10-mm LigaSure devices are similarly effective and safe during laparoscopic sigmoid colon and rectal resections. Severe bleeding from larger vessels may be observed, requiring conversion to open surgery or relaparotomy.