The Reduction of Anastomosis-Related Morbidity Using the Kono-S Anastomosis in Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of Kono-S anastomosis on postoperative morbidity after bowel resection for Crohn's disease. (2) Methods: This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The primary endpoint was the overall complications rate. Secondary outcomes included specific complications analyses, disease recurrence and efficiency endpoints. A systematic literature screening was performed in major electronic scholar databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science), from inception to 17 January 2024. Both Random (RE) and Fixed Effects (FE) models were estimated; the reported analysis was based on the Cochran Q test results. (3) Results: Overall, eight studies and 913 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled analyses confirmed that Kono-S was not superior in terms of overall morbidity (OR: 0.69 [0.42, 1.15], p = 0.16). Kono-S displayed a reduced risk for anastomotic leakage (OR: 0.34 [0.16, 0.71], p = 0.004) and reoperation (OR: 0.12 [0.05, 0.27], p < 0.001), and a shortened length of hospital stay (WMD: -0.54 [-0.73, -0.34], p < 0.001). On the contrary, Kono-S results in higher rates of postoperative SSIs (OR: 1.85 [1.02, 3.35], p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: This study confirms a comparable morbidity, but a lower risk of anastomotic leak and reoperation of Kono-S over conventional anastomoses. Further high quality studies are required to validate these findings.

Comparison of intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic right colectomy: an updated meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

This meta-analysis was conducted to provide updated evidence regarding perioperative safety and efficacy, of IC and EC anastomosis in laparoscopic right colectomies. In this study, the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA guidelines were applied. The study protocol received a PROSPERO registration (CRD42020214596). A systematic literature search of the electronic scholar databases (Medline, Web of Science and Scopus) was performed. To reduce type I error, a trial sequential analysis (TSA) algorithm was introduced. The quality of evidence was evaluated based on the GRADE methodology. In total, 46 studies were included in this meta-analysis, Pooled comparisons and TSA confirmed that IC is superior in terms of incisional hernia (0.29; 95%CI: 0.19, 0.44), open conversion (0.45; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.67), reoperation (0.62; 95%CI: 0.46, 0.84]), LOS (- 0.76; 95%CI: - 1.03, - 0.49), blood loss (- 11.50; 95%CI: - 18.42, - 4.58), and cosmesis (- 1.71; 95%CI: - 2.01, - 1.42). Postoperative pain and return of bowel function were, also, shortened when the anastomosis was fashioned intracorporeally. The grading of most evidence ranged from 'low' to 'high'. Due to the discrepancy in the results of RCTs and non-RCTs, and the proportionally smaller sample size of the former, further randomized trials are required to increase the evidence of this comparison.

Comparison of ointment-based agents after excisional procedures for hemorrhoidal disease: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Efficient postoperative pain control is important after hemorrhoidal surgery. Although several locally applied medications have been used, current evidence regarding the optimal strategy is still conflicting. This network meta-analysis assessed analgesic efficacy and safety of the various topical medications in patients submitted to excisional procedures for hemorrhoids. METHODS: The present study followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA guidelines. The last systematic literature screening was performed at 15 June 2023. Comparisons were based on a random effects multivariate network meta-analysis under a Bayesian framework. RESULTS: Overall, 26 RCTs and 2132 patients were included. Regarding postoperative pain, EMLA cream (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 80.3%) had the highest ranking at 12-h endpoint, while aloe vera cream (SUCRA 82.36%) scored first at 24 h. Metronidazole ointments had the highest scores at 7 and 14 days postoperatively. Aloe vera had the best analgesic profile (24-h SUCRA 84.8% and 48-h SUCRA 80.6%) during defecation. Lidocaine (SUCRA 87.9%) displayed the best performance regarding overall morbidity rates. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the inconclusive results and several study limitations, further RCTs are required.

BILE: A Literature Review Based Novel Clinical Classification and Treatment Algorithm of Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injuries.

PURPOSES: The management of patients with iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDI) is a challenging field, often with dismal medico legal projections. Attempts to classify IBDI have been made repeatedly and the final results were either analytical and extensive but not useful in everyday clinical practice systems, or simple and user friendly but with limited clinical correspondence approaches. The purpose of the present review is to propose a novel, clinical classification system of IBDI by reviewing the relevant literature. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted by performing bibliographic searches in the available electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: Based on the literature results, we propose a five (5) stage (A, B, C, D and E) classification system for IBDI (BILE Classification). Each stage is correlated with the recommended and most appropriate treatment. Although the proposed classification scheme is clinically oriented, the anatomical correspondence of each IBDI stage has been incorporated as well, using the Strasberg classification. CONCLUSIONS: BILE classification represents a novel, simple, and dynamic in nature classification system of IBDI. The proposed classification focuses on the clinical consequences of IBDI and provides an action map that can appropriately guide the treatment plan.

Efficacy of intraoperative intravenous lidocaine infusion on postoperative opioid consumption after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We designed this study to evaluate the impact of intraoperative intravenous lidocaine infusion on postoperative opioid consumption after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: In total, 98 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included and randomized. In the experimental group, intravenous lidocaine (bolus 1.5 mg/kg and continuous infusion 2 mg/kg/h) was administered intraoperatively additionally to the standard analgesia, whereas the control group received a matching placebo. Blinding existed at the level of both the patient and the investigator. RESULTS: Our study failed to confirm any benefit in opioid consumption, during the postoperative period. Lidocaine resulted to reduced intraoperative systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure. Lidocaine administration did not change postoperative pain scores or the incidence of shoulder pain, at any time endpoint. Moreover, we did not identify any difference in terms of postoperative sedation levels and nausea rates. CONCLUSION: Overall, lidocaine did not have any effect on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The role of the Rafaelo procedure in the management of hemorrhoidal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of the Rafaelo procedure in the management of hemorrhoidal disease (HD). METHODS: This study was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was performed (Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science) from inception to 25/09/2022. Grey literature databases were also reviewed. The primary endpoint was the pooled complications rate of the Rafaelo procedure in patients with HD. Secondary endpoints included short- (bleeding, pain, thrombosis, necrosis, urinary retention, fever, oedema, anal fissure, and readmission) and long-term (stenosis, meteorism, constipation, anal tags, anal hyposensibility, reoperation, and recurrence) postoperative complication rates. Both prospective and retrospective studies were considered. Quality evaluation was performed via the ROBINS-I tool. Certainty of Evidence was based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. RESULTS: Overall, 6 non-randomized studies and 327 patients were included. The overall complication rate was 17.6% (95% CI 8.8-26.3%). Short-term complications were bleeding (7.5%, 95% CI 2.5-12.5%), thrombosis (2.2%, 95% CI 0.4-4.8%), and pain (1.6%, 95% CI 0.2-3.3%). Reoperation and recurrence rates were 1.8% (95% CI 0.3-3.4%) and 4.8% (95% CI 1.2-8.4%), respectively. A significant improvement in the presenting symptoms was noted. Method approval and patient satisfaction rates were 89.1% (95% CI 81.7-96.6%) and 95% (95% CI 89.8-100%), correspondingly. Overall CoE was "Very Low". CONCLUSIONS: Further randomized controlled trials are required to delineate the exact role of the Rafaelo procedure in HD.

Determination of Factors Related to the Reversal and Perioperative Outcomes of Defunctioning Ileostomies in Patients Undergoing Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Regression Analysis Model.

PURPOSE: Defunctioning ileostomies are often performed during rectal cancer surgery. However, stomas are sometimes associated with complications, while 20-30% of them are never reversed. Additionally, ileostomy closure can have associated morbidity, with rates as high as 45%, with the respective literature evidence being scarce and conflicting. Thus, we evaluated the stoma reversal outcomes and the risk factors for non-closure after rectal cancer surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all patients who had a defunctioning ileostomy at the time of resection for rectal cancer. All operations were performed by the same surgical team. A multivariable regression model was implemented. RESULTS: In this study, 129 patients (male: 68.2%, female: 31.8%) were included. Ileostomy formation was associated with a total of 31% complication rate. Eventually 73.6% of the stomas were reversed at a mean time to closure of 26.6 weeks, with a morbidity of 13.7%. Non-reversal of ileostomy was correlated with neoadjuvant CRT (OR: 0.093, 95% CI: 0.012-0.735), anastomotic leakage (OR: 0.107, 95% CI: 0.019-0.610), and lymph node yield (OR: 0.946, 95% CI: 0.897-0.998). Time to reversal was affected by the N status, the LNR, the need for adjuvant chemotherapy, and the histologic grade. CONCLUSION: In patients with rectal cancer resections, defunctioning stoma closure rate and time to closure were associated with several perioperative and pathological outcomes.

Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy vs. hemorrhoid artery ligation and recto-anal repair: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Several surgical techniques for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) have been proposed. However, the selection of the most proper technique for each individual case scenario is still a matter of debate. The purpose of the present study was to compare the Milligan-Morgan (MM) hemorrhoidectomy and the hemorrhoidal artery ligation and rectoanal repair (HAL-RAR) technique. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected database of patients submitted to HD surgery in our department was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups, the MM group and the HAL-RAR group. Primary end points were recurrence rates and patients' satisfaction rates. The Unpaired t test was used to compare numerical variables while the x2 test for categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients were identified, submitted either to HAL-RAR or MM hemorrhoidectomy. Eight (8) patients were lost to follow up and were excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining 116 patients, 69 patients (54 males and 15 females-male / female ratio: 3.6) with a median age of 47 years old (range 18-69) were included in the HAL-RAR group while 47 patients (40 males and 7 females-male / female ratio: 5.7) with a median age of 52 years old (range 32-71) comprised the MM group. At a median follow up of 41 months (minimum 24 months-maximum 72 months), we recorded 20 recurrences (28.9%) in the HAL-RAR group and 9 recurrences in the MM group (19.1%) (p 0.229). The mean time from the procedure to the recurrence was 14.1 ± 9.74 months in the HAL-RAR group and 21 ± 13.34 months in the MM group. Patients with itching, pain or discomfort as the presenting symptoms of HD experienced statistically significantly lower recurrences (p 0.0354) and reported statistically significantly better satisfaction rates (6.72 ± 2.15 vs. 8.11 ± 1.99-p 0.0111) when submitted to MM. In the subgroup of patients with bleeding as the presenting symptom, patients satisfaction rates were significantly better (8.59 ± 1.88 vs. 6.45 ± 2.70-p 0.0013) in the HAL-RAR group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pain, itching or discomfort as the presenting symptoms of HD, MM was associated with less recurrences and better patients satisfaction rates compared to HAL-RAR. In patients with bleeding as the main presenting symptom of HD, HAL-RAR was associated with better patients' satisfaction rates and similar recurrence rates compared to MM.

Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Is an R1 Hepatic Resection Accepted?

Metastatic colorectal cancer is associated with a rather dismal 5-year overall survival. The liver is the most commonly affected organ. Improved 5-year survival rates after successful hepatic resections for metastases confined to the liver have been reported. Certainly, a hepatectomy that results in an incomplete tumor resection, in terms of leaving macroscopic residual tumor in the future liver remnant, is not associated with survival benefits. However, the prognostic implications of a microscopically positive surgical margin or a clear margin of less than 1 mm (R1) on pathology are debatable. Although it has been a field of extensive research, the relevant literature often reports contradictory results. The purpose of the present study was to define, assess the risk factors for, and, ultimately, analyze the effect that an R1 hepatic resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases might have on local recurrence rates and long-term prognosis by reviewing the relevant literature. Achieving an R0 hepatic resection, optimally with more than 1 mm of clear margin, should always be the goal. However, in the era of the aggressive multimodality treatment of liver metastatic colorectal cancer, an R1 resection might be the cost of increasing the pool of patients finally eligible for resection. The majority of literature reports have highlighted the detrimental effect of R1 resections on local recurrence and overall survival. However, there are indeed studies that degraded the prognostic handicap as a consequence of an R1 resection in selected patients and highlighted the presence of RAS mutations, the response to chemotherapy, and, in general, factors that reflect the biology of the disease as important, if not the determinant, prognostic factors. In these patients, the aggressive disease biology seems to outperform the resection margin status as a prognostic factor, and the recorded differences between R1 and R0 resections are equalized. Properly and accurately defining this patient group is a future challenge in the field of the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Validation and Scoring of the Greek Version of the Strategic and Clinical Quality Indicators in Postoperative Pain Management (SCQIPP) Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to validate the Greek version of the Strategic and Clinical Quality Indicators in Postoperative Pain Management (SCQIPP) questionnaire. DESIGN: The study was designed as a prospective questionnaire survey. METHODS: Overall, 210 elective surgical patients were included . SCQIPP consisted of 14 items that were scored on a five point scale. After the translation and linguistic adjustments, the tool was distributed to the surgical wards. Internal consistency reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. The tool construct was generated by a principal axis factoring model with promax rotation. FINDINGS: Base Cronbach's alpha was 0.814. Due to low inter-item and item-total correlations and the increase of Cronbach's alpha (0.834) when item two was deleted, 13 items were included in the current tool version. Factor analysis identified three district subscales: nursing care, pain management, and support. Subscale and convergent validity were confirmed. The mean score of the validated tool was 55.2 (Range: 44-63). A low level of care was highlighted in most items. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek version of the SCQIPP questionnaire is a valid and efficient tool for the evaluation of the quality of care of postoperative pain management.

Change point analysis validation of the learning curve in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: Experience from a non-structured training setting.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of minimal invasive principles in colorectal surgery was a major breakthrough, resulting in multiple clinical benefits, at the cost, though, of a notably steep learning process. The development of structured nation-wide training programs led to the easier completion of the learning curve; however, these programs are not yet universally available, thus prohibiting the wider adoption of laparoscopic colorectal surgery. AIM: To display our experience in the learning curve status of laparoscopic colorectal surgery under a non-structured training setting. METHODS: We analyzed all laparoscopic colorectal procedures performed in the 2012-2019 period under a non-structured training setting. Cumulative sum analysis and change-point analysis (CPA) were introduced. RESULTS: Overall, 214 patients were included. In terms of operative time, CPA identified the 110th case as the first turning point. A plateau was reached after the 145th case. Subgroup analysis estimated the 58th for colon and 52nd case for rectum operations as the respective turning points. A learning curve pattern was confirmed for pathology outcomes, but not in the conversion to open surgery and morbidity endpoints. CONCLUSION: The learning curves in our setting validate the comparability of the results, despite the absence of National or Surgical Society driven training programs.

Cecorectal (CRA) versus ileorectal (IRA) anastomosis after colectomy for slow transit constipation (STC): a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted this meta-analysis, to compare cecorectal (CRA) and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA), regarding perioperative safety and efficacy, in patients submitted to colectomy for refractory slow transit constipation (STC). METHODS: This study followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA guidelines. To identify all eligible records, a systematic literature search in the electronic scholar databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science) was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 5 trials and 291 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled comparisons confirmed the comparability of the two techniques regarding perioperative complications (p = 0.55). CRA was associated with a shorter operation (p = 0.0004) and hospitalization duration (p = 0.001). Although there was no difference in terms of gastrointestinal symptoms, functional outcomes, and patient satisfaction, CRA resulted in lower long-term Wexner scores (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Due to several study limitations, further large-scale RCTs are required to verify the findings of the present meta-analysis.

Efficacy of Intravenous Use of Lidocaine in Postoperative Pain Management After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of RCTs.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Current literature reports regarding the effect of lidocaine in laparoscopic colectomies are still inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to review the current literature and estimate the overall effect of intravenous lidocaine administration in postoperative recovery of patients submitted to laparoscopic colectomies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was completed based on the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A systematic screening using scholar databases was performed (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL). RESULTS: In total, 8 studies and 407 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Introduction of intravenous lidocaine in the perioperative analgesia scheme did not improve hospitalization duration (p=0.23), morphine consumption (p=0.96), perioperative bowel function (first flatus p=0.40, first bowel opened p=0.13, first diet p=0.16), or the overall complication rates (p=0.42). Overall, high heterogeneity levels were identified. CONCLUSION: Current evidence indicates that lidocaine does not improve rehabilitation after laparoscopic colectomies.

Current evidence regarding the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer patients with pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the role of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in rectal cancer patients with pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and curative resection. METHODS: This study was completed in accordance to the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The electronic scholar databases (Medline, Web of Science, Scopus) were screened for eligible articles. The level of evidence (LoE) was assessed using the GRADE methodology. RESULTS: Overall, 23 non-randomized studies and 17,406 patients were included in the present meta-analysis. Pooled comparisons confirmed that AC improved overall survival (HR: 0.68, p=0.0003), but not disease-free (p=0.22) and recurrence-free survival (p=0.39). However, the LoE for all outcomes was characterized as "very low," due to the absence of RCTs. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the study limitations and the lack of randomized studies, further high-quality RCTs are required to confirm the findings of our study.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Right Colectomy for Cancer in the Era of Complete Mesocolic Excision with Central Vascular Ligation: Pathology and Short-Term Outcomes.

Background: Colectomies performed according to complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation (CME-CVL) principles have been associated with enhanced oncologic outcomes. Nonetheless, laparoscopic CME-CVL right hemicolectomy has not been widely adopted. We aimed to compare the perioperative and pathology outcomes of laparoscopic and open CME-CVL right hemicolectomy. Materials and Methods: We compared data from a prospectively collected database regarding patients who underwent either laparoscopic or open CME-CVL right hemicolectomy for nonmetastatic right colon cancer in a University Hospital, between January 2012 and December 2018. Results: A total of 130 consecutive patients were included in the study. Of them, 73 patients underwent laparoscopic and 57 patients open right colectomy, following the CME-CVL principles. The laparoscopic approach was associated with less hospital stay (6.6 versus 9.1 days; P < .001) and septic complications (P = .046), at a cost of an increased operative time (180 versus 125.1 minutes; P < .001). Patients treated with either open or laparoscopic approach presented similar outcomes regarding pathology endpoints. In fact, both groups demonstrated similar R0 resection rate (P = .202), number of harvested and positive lymph nodes (P = .751 and P = .734, respectively), number of harvested lymph nodes at the level of D1 and D2 lymph node dissection (P > .05), rate of vascular (P = .501), and perineural infiltration (P = .956). Furthermore, no difference was found regarding the rate of intact mesocolic plane (P = .799), along with the tumor diameter (P = .154) and the length of specimen (P = .163). Conclusion: Laparoscopic CME-CVL right hemicolectomy appears to offer certain advantages in short-term outcomes compared to open procedure. Pathology outcomes did not differ between the two approaches. Future studies should further evaluate their long-term outcomes.

Validation of the Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT) for Predicting Postoperative Mortality in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery and Subgroup Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The accurate evaluation of perioperative risk is crucial to facilitate the shared decision-making process. Surgical outcome risk tool (SORT) has been developed to provide enhanced and more feasible identification of high-risk surgical patients. Nonetheless, SORT has not been validated for patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgery. Our aim was to determine whether SORT can accurately predict mortality after surgery for colorectal cancer and to compare it with traditional risk models. METHOD: 526 patients undergoing surgery performed by a colorectal surgical team in a single Greek tertiary hospital (2011-2019) were included. Five risk models were evaluated: (1) SORT, (2) Physiology and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM), (3) Portsmouth POSSUM (P-POSSUM), (4) Colorectal POSSUM (CR-POSSUM), and (5) the Association of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) score. Model accuracy was assessed by observed to expected (O:E) ratios, and area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: Ten patients (1.9%) died within 30 days of surgery. SORT was associated with an excellent level of discrimination [AUC:0.81 (95% CI:0.68-0.94); p = 0.001] and provided the best performing calibration of all models in the entire dataset analysis (H-L:2.82; p = 0.83). Nonetheless, SORT underestimated mortality. SORT model demonstrated excellent discrimination and calibration predicting perioperative mortality in patients undergoing (1) open surgery, (2) emergency/acute surgery, and (3) in cases with colon-located cancer. CONCLUSION: SORT is an easily adopted risk-assessment tool, associated with enhanced accuracy, that could be implemented in the perioperative pathway of patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

Comparison of the transanal surgical techniques for local excision of rectal tumors: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In order to assess the various surgical modalities for local resection of rectal tumors, a systematic review of the current literature and a network meta-analysis (NMA) was designed and conducted. METHODS: The present study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions principles. Scholar databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science) were systematically screened up to 23/12/2019. A Bayesian NMA, implementing a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis, was introduced for the probability ranking of the available surgical methods. Odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) of the categorical and continuous variables, respectively, were reported with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: Overall, 16 studies and 2146 patients were introduced in our study. Transanal minimal invasive surgery (TAMIS) displayed the highest performance regarding the overall postoperative morbidity, the perioperative blood loss, the length of hospitalization, and the peritoneal violation rate. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) was the most efficient modality for resecting an intact specimen. Although transanal local excision (TAE) had the highest ranking considering operative duration, it was associated with a significant risk for positive resection margins and tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, TEM and TAMIS display superior oncological results over TAE. Due to several limitations, validation of these results requires further RCTs of a higher methodological level.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic and robotic adrenalectomy: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

PURPOSE: A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis were designed and conducted, in order to provide an up-to-date comparison of the robotic (RA) and laparoscopic (LA) adrenalectomy in terms of perioperative efficacy and safety. METHODS: The present meta-analysis was completed in accordance with the guidelines provided by the PRISMA study group and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The electronic scholar databases (Medline, Web of Science, Scopus) were screened. For the reduction of type I errors, a trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 21 studies and 2997 patients were included in this study. RA was associated with a significantly lower open conversion rate (OR: 1.79; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.92) and length of hospitalization (LOS WMD: 0.52; 95%CI: 0.2, 0.84). Marginal results regarding blood loss were recorded (WMD: 2.02; 95%CI: 0.0, 4.03). TSA could not validate the superiority of RA in open conversion rate and blood loss. LA and RA were similar in terms of operative duration (P = 0.18) and positive margin (P = 0.81), complications (P = 0.94) and mortality rate (P = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Even though RA and LA were equivalent regarding perioperative safety, RA was associated with a favorable LOS.

A meta-analysis of liver-first versus classical strategy for synchronous colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of liver-first (LFS) and classical (CS) strategy for the management of synchronous colorectal liver metastases (sCRLM). METHOD: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The odds ratio, weighted mean difference, and 95% confidence interval were evaluated by means of the random-effects model. RESULTS: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria, incorporating 3656 patients. Patients in the LFS group reported increased size of sCRLM and a higher rate of major hepatectomies. This study reveals comparable overall survival and disease-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years postoperatively between the two strategies. Moreover, the mean operative time, length of hospital stay, the incidence of severe complications, and the 30-day and 90-day mortality were similar between the two groups. The mean intraoperative blood loss was significantly increased in the LFS group. CONCLUSION: These outcomes suggest that both approaches are feasible and safe. Given the lack of randomized clinical trials, this meta-analysis represents the best currently available evidence. However, the results should be treated with caution given the small number of the included studies. Randomized trials comparing LFS to CS are necessary to further evaluate their outcomes.