Early experience with totally robotic esophagectomy for malignancy. Surgical and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Over recent decades, minimally invasive esophagectomy has gained popularity and is increasingly performed worldwide. The aim of this work was to investigate the perioperative, clinicopathologic, and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted esophagectomy on a consecutive series of totally robotic procedures. METHODS: All patients received either an Ivor Lewis or a McKeown procedure according to tumor location. Perioperative, clinicopathologic and oncological outcomes were examined. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients underwent robot-assisted esophagectomy procedures. All underwent surgery for primary esophageal neoplasms. Neoadjuvant therapy was given to 22 patients. R0 resections were achieved in all patients and no conversion to open surgery occurred. Overall morbidity and mortality were 42% and 10%, respectively. The 1 year disease free survival was 78.9%, whereas the 1 year overall survival was 84.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery can be employed to treat esophageal malignancy competently. Robotic esophagectomy satisfies all features of pathologic appropriateness and offers the expected oncological results.

Robotic Rectal Resection With a Single-docking Technique Thanks to the Rotation of the R3 Arm.

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery for rectal resection presents some advantages compared with the traditional technique; however, it also presents some limitations, especially due to the multiple changes of surgical fields. We describe a new technique to perform low-anterior resection using single docking with the rotation of the third arm and our perioperative results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients who underwent low-anterior rectal robotic resection with single-docking technique using robotic daVinci SI (Surgical Intuitive System) were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 338 minutes. The conversion rate was 3%. The mean time of refeeding was 1.4 days and the mean time of hospital stay was 6 days. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique allowed to use the robot for all surgical steps with a single docking, thereby reducing the cost of the hybrid technique and facilitating the operative team in the management of the robotic cart.

Time-to-administration in postoperative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: does minimally-invasive surgery help?

The optimal delay in the start of chemotherapy following rectal cancer surgery has not yet been identified. However, postponed adjuvant therapy has been proven to be connected with a significant survival detriment. We aimed to investigate whether the time to initiation of adjuvant treatment can be influenced by the application of minimally invasive surgery rather than traditional open surgery. By comprehensively evaluating the available inherent literature, several factors appear to be associated with delayed postoperative chemotherapy. Some of them are strictly related to surgical short-term outcomes. Laparoscopy results in shortened length of hospital stay, reduced surgical morbidity and lower rate of wound infection compared to conventional surgery. Probably due to such advantages, the application of minimally-invasive surgery to treat rectal malignancies seems to impact favorably the possibility to start adjuvant chemotherapy within an adequate timeframe following surgical resection, with potential improvement in patient survival.

Does robotics improve minimally invasive rectal surgery? Functional and oncological implications.

OBJECTIVE: Robot-assisted surgery has been reported to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional laparoscopy for the treatment of rectal cancer in a minimally invasive manner. Nevertheless, substantial data concerning functional outcomes and long-term oncological adequacy is still lacking. We aimed to assess the current role of robotics in rectal surgery focusing on patients' functional and oncological outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive review was conducted to search articles published in English up to 11 September 2015 concerning functional and/or oncological outcomes of patients who received robot-assisted rectal surgery. All relevant papers were evaluated on functional implications such as postoperative sexual and urinary dysfunction and oncological outcomes. RESULTS: Robotics showed a general trend towards lower rates of sexual and urinary postoperative dysfunction and earlier recovery compared with laparoscopy. The rates of 3-year local recurrence, disease-free survival and overall survival of robotic-assisted rectal surgery compared favourably with those of laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: This study fails to provide solid evidence to draw definitive conclusions on whether robotic systems could be useful in ameliorating the outcomes of minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer. However, the available data suggest potential advantages over conventional laparoscopy with reference to functional outcomes.

Initial Experience With Robotic Pancreatic Surgery: Technical Feasibility and Oncological Implications.

Robotic surgery has been introduced in the field of minimally invasive surgery to improve the handling of high-demanding procedures with encouraging results. We aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and the oncological adequacy of robot-assisted pancreatic surgery by analyzing a consecutive series in terms of surgical and oncological outcomes. A total of 53 consecutive cases including 36 pancreatoduodenectomies (PD) and 14 distal pancreatectomies (DP) were evaluated. The overall postoperative morbidity and mortality were 32% and 3.8%, respectively. Radical resection was achieved in 93.7% of PD and 100% of DP, with a mean number of harvested lymph nodes of 29.8 for PD and 20.5 for DP. The 3-year cumulative overall survival was 44.2% and 73.9% for patient with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and nonductal malignancy, respectively. Robotic technology may be useful to reproduce conventional open pancreatic surgery with a minimally invasive approach, overcoming some of the intrinsic limitations of conventional laparoscopy.

Robot-integrated intraoperative ultrasound: Initial experience with hepatic malignancies.

PURPOSE: A new robotic surgery tool allows intraoperative ultrasound to be performed using a fully robotic technique. Herein, we evaluate the feasibility and reliability of robotically integrated ultrasound to guide resection of malignant hepatic tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A consecutive series of ultrasound-guided robotic resections of primary and secondary hepatic malignancies was analyzed in terms of perioperative data and specimen evaluation, focusing on the reliability of the new robot-integrated ultrasound probe. RESULTS: Ten consecutive patients underwent 15 robotic liver resections. Two patients were resected to excise primary hepatocellular cancers and eight underwent resections of liver metastases. R0 resections were achieved for all lesions. The median operative time was 247 min, and blood loss was limited. No mortality occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our present analysis confirmed the reliability of fully robotic liver resection guided via robotically integrated ultrasonic assessment. Robotic surgery, particularly hepatic resection, may benefit greatly from better manageability, and the fact that the surgeon can directly manage both the operative and the diagnostic parts of the procedure.

Anastomotic leakage and septic complications: impact on local recurrence in surgery of low rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: We thought to determine the influence of anastomotic leakages (AL) and septic complications (SC) on the incidence of local recurrence (LR) in patients undergoing curative surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: The records of 479 patients (286 male, 193 female; median age 67 years) who received, between 1966 and 1975 (Group A) and 1976 and 1985 (Group B), curative surgery for middle to low rectal cancer were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received mesorectal excision in the course of abdominoperineal excision (Group A) and of anterior resection with colorectal anastomosis (Group B). The outcome of SC in both groups and that of AL in Group B were investigated. AL were divided into clinical leaks (CL) and radiological leaks (RL). All patients surviving surgery were followed up for a mean period of 71 months. The development of pelvic recurrence was registered. The effect of SC and AL on LR was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: LR was diagnosed in 24 (9.3%) patients of Group A. No difference was detected between patients with SC (9.3%) and those without (9.3%). In Group B, LR occurred in 28 (12.7%) patients: 12.5% without SC and 12.7% with SC. A significant difference in the prevalence of LR was found between patients with CL (14.2%) and those with RL (30.0%). When CL were excluded, RL resulted as an independent predictor of LR. DISCUSSION: Many factors have been shown to affect the rate of LR, including operative technique and surgeon expertise as well as margins of clearance and tumor stage. In our study, overall LR rate of Group B was 13.2%. The incidence of this event in patients with AL (24%) was significantly higher than that in the nonleakage group (11.1%). Correspondent results have been reported by some authors who evidenced RL as a negative prognostic factor for higher rates of LR. The mechanism by which AL affects LR remains to be elucidated. CONCLUSIONS: All were found to be associated with higher rates of LR, especially if associated with prolonged inflammatory local reaction.

Urgent surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis. Retrospective study of 118 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of our study was to identij5 the risk factors for operative morbility and mortality after urgent surgery for complicated sigmoid diverticulitis. A further end point was define the adequate surgical approach in these patients. METHODS: Data fJom 118 patients who were admitted for emergency surgery between 2000 and 2009 for non-haemorrhagic complicated diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon were retrospectively evaluated and analysed. Operative options included resection with primary anastomoses (PA), Hartmann's procedure (HP) and colostomy. All operative complications were noted and potential risk factors listed. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen patients were enrolled in this study. Surgery for peritonitis was indicated for 102 patients and for intestinal obstruction in the remainder. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 37.3% and 9.3%, respectively. Primary resection was performed on 113 patients (95.8%). Age greater than 70 years, diffuse peritonitis, Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) above 18, and symptoms lasting longer than 24 hours are considered as independent risk factors for operative morbidity and mortality. DISCUSSION: Our results confirmed that while age older than 70 years and delaying treatment (>24h) are independent risk factors for operative morbidity and mortality, comorbidity is not. According to general guidelines, first target of surgery was to attempt a primary resection of the diseased colon (95.8% of our patients). In our series an high rate of Hartmann procedure (HP) in Hinchey's class 2 patients was observed. This unusually high number is explained by the rate (68.4%) of pelviperitonitis diagnosed in these patients. Extended pelvic peritonitis is generally defined as a local peritonitis (class 2 Hinchey), which is not accurate. Colonic resection in these cases would not completely remove peritoneal contamination and renders the indication for PA questionable. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery for complicated diverticulitis is characterised by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Age greater than 70 years, symptoms lasting longer than 24 hours, MPI above 18, and diffuse peritonitis were significant predictors. Early eradication of septic focus is the main goal of surgery. Primary anastomosis is recommended only if sepsis is completely removed.

Surgical treatment of hydatid disease of the liver: 25 years of experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of conservative and radical treatment of liver hydatid disease. METHODS: Records of patients who underwent surgery for liver hydatid disease between 1980 and 2005 were reviewed. Outcomes measured were operative morbidity and mortality, hospital stay, and recurrence. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen patients underwent conservative treatment (external drainage, marsupialization, omentoplasty), and 240 had radical surgery (hepatic resection, cystopericystectomy). Operative morbidity was 79.9% and 16.2% for conservative and radical procedures, respectively (P < .001). Operative mortality was 6.5% for conservative procedures and 9.2% for radical procedures (P = .3). The recurrence rate was 30.4% in patients having conservative surgery and 1.2% in patients undergoing radical surgery (P < .001). No recurrences occurred in patients with clear cysts after conservative surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Cystopericystectomy was a safe and effective procedure that achieved excellent immediate and long-term results. Hepatic resection should be considered only in exceptional cases, because it involves the unnecessary sacrifice of healthy hepatic parenchyma. Conservative surgery and alternative procedures should be restricted to the treatment of clear cysts and to patients who cannot undergo radical surgery.

Ghost ileostomy: real and potential advantages.

Loop ileostomy is created to minimize the clinical impact of colorectal anastomotic leak. However, a lot of complications may be associated with ileostomy presence and with its reversal. Moreover, patients hardly accept the quality of life resulting from ileostomy. We describe a simple technique (ghost ileostomy) to combine all the advantages of a disposable ileostomy without entailing its complications in patients submitted to low rectal resection. In case of uneventful postoperative course, the ghost ileostomy prevents all complications related to defunctioning ileostomy. At the same time, in case of anastomotic leakage, the ghost ileostomy is easily and safely converted into a defunctioning ileostomy.

Indications and results for transduodenal sphincteroplasty in the era of endoscopic sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND: Transduodenal sphincterotomy (TS) has fallen into disuse since endoscopists developed techniques to treat sphincter problems nonsurgically. However, some patients experience recurrent sphincter strictures after endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES), with the ampulla endoscopically inaccessible, and pancreas divisum (PD); these patients are referred to a surgeon because they are unsuitable for ES. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent TS at the First Department of Surgery of the Medical School, University of Rome "La Sapienza," between January 1997 and December 2005 were reviewed. A total of 82 patients, including 47 women and 35 men with a mean age of 47 years (range, 26-67 y), underwent TS in our unit in the aforementioned period. Previous unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and ES were the indications for TS in 44 patients, and previous gastric surgery with duodenal bypass was the indication for TS in 21 patients. Five patients underwent TS because of a PD and 10 because of the intraoperative findings of daughter hydatid cysts in the common bile duct and of a wide communication between the cyst cavity and the intrahepatic biliary tree. Two patients were referred to our institution after a surgical papillotomy performed elsewhere. Symptoms included abdominal pain in 100% of patients, nausea and/or vomiting in 78% of patients, and referred back pain in 56% of patients. Acute pancreatitis was present in the history of 26 patients, including 23 with previous ES. All patients underwent TS. Sphincteroplasty of the accessory papilla was performed in all patients with PD. Cornerstones of a successful TS are depicted. RESULTS: Asymptomatic hyperamylasemia was observed in 37 patients, and cholangitis and pancreatitis, which was resolved with conservative management, occurred in 2 patients. One patient developed an intra-abdominal abscess that was treated with image-guided percutaneous drainage. No perioperative deaths occurred in this series. The mean length of follow-up evaluation was 84.4 months (range, 16-115 mo). Good results were achieved in 53 patients (73.6%), fair results in 17 patients (23.6%), and poor results in 2 patients (2.7%). Both patients with poor results required reoperation because of recurrent pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst. CONCLUSIONS: TS still represents, although undoubtedly with updated indications compared with the past, a surgical procedure that must be up to date, ensuring absolutely satisfactory results.

Quantitative investigation of desmoplasia as a prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The role of desmoplastic reaction (DR) in colorectal cancer invasion is still an open question. The presence of fibrous connective tissue may represent a barrier against cancer diffusion or a stroma to build up and support the tumor. Aims of the present study were to evaluate the influence of DR on long-term survival and to validate a reliable quantitative method to measure the desmoplastic tissue. METHODS: This retrospective study included 86 patients who underwent radical colorectal resection for cancer, from a database of 429 patients. To achieve a quantitative histochemical measurement of DR, digital images were analyzed by a computerized image analysis program. DR was related to the overall survival and the quantitative method was related to the traditional one. RESULTS: By using the Kaplan-Meier analysis, DR was found to be significantly associated with overall survival. Patients with a higher value of DR survived longer than those with smaller DR and the quantitative results were in accordance with those obtained by using the traditional methods. CONCLUSIONS: Desmoplasia seems to be a protective factor for survival in patients with colorectal carcinoma. The quantitative technique is easily standardized and can be routinely performed, so that DR may be a useful prognostic indicator. Notwithstanding, the conflicting outcomes reported in literature about DR need further biological and molecular studies to achieve definitive conclusions.

Incidence and circumstances of cervical hematoma complicating thyroidectomy and its relationship to postoperative vomiting.

BACKGROUND: Cervical hematoma is hardly a predictable complication of thyroid surgery. Postoperative vomiting has been reported as a likely risk factor. METHODS: Five hundred sixty-two patients undergoing thyroidectomy were prospectively enrolled in the study and divided into 2 groups. Patients in group A received ondansetron to prevent postoperative vomiting. In group B, patients with low vomiting risk received ondansetron whereas patients at high risk received ondansetron plus dexamethasone. Postoperative outcomes of the groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Cervical hematomas developed in 3 patients (0.53%): 2 in group A and 1 in group B. All hematomas occurred after 6 hours. The incidence of postoperative vomiting was 11.4% in group A and 6.4% in group B (p = .04). CONCLUSION: Careful hemostasis remains of prime importance in preventing cervical hematoma. Postoperative vomiting has not been confirmed by this study as a risk factor for the development of hematoma. Ambulatory thyroid surgery is not advisable.

Retrograde parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: a conservative and effective approach.

To compare the extensiveness and the effectiveness of anterograde and retrograde dissections in superficial parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland, a review of medical records and pathology reports of consecutive patients who underwent superficial parotidectomy has been performed. The sizes of the overall pathologic specimen, the tumor within the specimen, and the normal parotid tissue obtained by anterograde and retrograde approaches have been compared. Mann-Whitney and chi tests have been used to reveal significant differences. Sixty-four patients were included in the study, 32 who underwent anterograde (standard) parotidectomy and 32 who underwent retrograde parotidectomy. Anterograde dissection resulted in a significantly larger size of the overall pathologic specimen as compared with retrograde parotidectomy (P = 0.019). The size of the tumor was nonsignificantly larger for patients undergoing standard parotidectomy (P = 0.174). Patients undergoing anterograde parotidectomy also had a significantly much larger volume of normal tissue removed in the course of extirpating the adenoma, as compared with patients undergoing retrograde parotidectomy (P = 0.008). Despite extracapsular dissection and partial superficial parotidectomy being proposed in the last years as conservative techniques, the optimal treatment of pleomorphic adenoma remains the superficial or total parotidectomy with facial nerve primary identification and preservation. Retrograde parotidectomy, reducing the extent of normal parotid gland removal, may permit a more conservative approach than standard parotidectomy, with the same complication rates and surgical effectiveness.