Restorative proctectomy with colon pouch-anal anastomosis by laparoscopic transanal pull-through: an available option for low rectal cancer?

BACKGROUND: There are sporadic reports, with different verdicts, of restorative proctectomy by laparoscopic transanal pull-through (LTPT) without the use of a minilaparotomy for a part of the procedure. This study aimed to explore the applicability and advantages of LTPT with colon pouch-anal anastomosis for low rectal cancer, and to evaluate the results. METHODS: From January 2002 to July 2003, 10 of 12 patients (6 men and 4 women) undergoing a laparoscopic procedure for low rectal cancer (<6 cm from the anal verge) underwent LTPT. The mean age of these patients was 58 years. The results have been compared with those for 12 similar non-pull-through procedures performed during the same period. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. An anastomotic leakage and a hemorrhagic gastropathy occurred in the LTPT group. During a mean follow-up period of 18 months (range, 12-26 months), there was no local relapse. Four patients manifested moderate incontinence. No significant differences in functional outcome were observed between the LTPT and control groups. CONCLUSION: The authors' experience supports use of the LTPT procedure with colonic pouch-anal anastomosis for selected lower rectal cancers with indications for a laparoscopic approach as an appropriate and reproducible surgical treatment.

[Role of intersphincter resection among the surgical options for cancer of the distal rectum]. / Il ruolo della resezione intersfinterica fra le opzioni chirurgiche per il cancro del retto distale.

The surgical treatment of low rectal cancer has yet to be standardised. The aims of the study were to define the curative role of intersphincteric resection and to evaluate its indications and functional results through a retrospective clinical experience. From 1988 to 2000, out of 783 operations for primary rectal cancers (resectability rate 96%; restorative resections 83% and APR 10%) an intersphincteric resection was performed in 48 patients (31 male, 17 female, average age 62) for tumours located at a mean distance of 4.5 cm from the anal verge. Clinical stage: 27 T3 (56.3%), 12 T2, 5 T4 and 4 T1. All the operations were rated R0. TME with N-S, endo-anal distal transection and manual colo-anal anastomosis with a protective stoma were systematically performed. The mean follow-up was 46 months (range: 12-80). Functional results were evaluated with a prospective standardised questionnaire. There was no hospital mortality (30 days). The total morbidity rate was 22% with anastomotic leakage (clinical or X-ray evidence) in 12.5%. Four anal stenoses needed dilatation. Only one local recurrence six years after operation (2.1%). Nine patients died of systemic metastases within 3 years of surgery; the others are still alive and disease-free. Minor faecal incontinence with frequency and urgency occurred in 68.7% of cases at 3 months after protective stoma closure and in 37.5% after 6 months. After one year continence was good in 85.4% of survivors. Only one case required a permanent stoma for poststenotic total incontinence. The best functional results were achieved by colonic pouch reconstruction. For selected low rectal cancers (T2/T3) without voluntary sphincter infiltration, intersphincteric resection is safe and effective for oncological and functional purposes. The procedure requires accuracy in dissecting the anorectal junction. Preoperative radiotherapy may increase the indications for intersphincteric resection as well as the availability of a disease-free margin. A manual colo-anal anastomosis with colonic pouch interposition is strongly recommended.

[Extracapsular lobectomy in benign monolobar thyroid diseases]. / La lobectomia extracapsulare nella patologia benigna monolobare della tiroide.

On the basis of their experience acquired in the field of thyroid surgery the authors examine the problems related to extracapsular lobectomy from a tactical and technical point of view, starting with its principal indications: benign monolobar thyroid disease in a single or multiple nodular form. The validity of extemporary histological tests is also assessed on the basis of their experience of rare false negatives and the relative successive totalization programme. Lastly, the paper underlines the fundamental identification of the recurrent nerve as the central point of the operation, before which the authors emphasize that nothing should be cut or ligated apart from the superior vascular peduncle and vena media.