NIR ICG-Enhanced Fluorescence: A Quantitative Evaluation of Bowel Microperfusion and Its Relation to Central Perfusion in Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: To date, no standardized protocols nor a quantitative assessment of the near-infrared fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green (NIR-ICG) are available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the timing of fluorescence as a reproducible parameter and its efficacy in predicting anastomotic leakage (AL) in colorectal surgery. METHODS: A consecutive cohort of 108 patients undergoing minimally invasive elective procedures for colorectal cancer was prospectively enrolled. The difference between macro and microperfusion (ΔT) was obtained by calculating the timing of fluorescence at the level of iliac artery division and colonic wall, respectively. RESULTS: Subjects with a ΔT ≥ 15.5± 0.5 s had a higher tendency to develop an AL (p < 0.01). The ΔT/heart rate interaction was found to predict AL with an odds ratio of 1.02 (p < 0.01); a cut-off threshold of 832 was identified (sensitivity 0.86, specificity 0.77). Perfusion parameters were also associated with a faster bowel motility resumption and a reduced length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the timing of fluorescence provides a quantitative, easy evaluation of tissue perfusion. A ΔT/HR interaction ≥832 may be used as a real-time parameter to guide surgical decision making in colorectal surgery.

Symptomatic acinar cell cystadenoma of the pancreas.

Acinar cystic transformation (ACT), also known as 'acinar cell cystadenoma', is an uncommon cystic neoplasm of pancreas with unknown malignant potential. This case regards a woman with symptomatic pancreatic head ACT, revealed with pathological exam of specimen after pancreaticoduodenectomy. A 57-years-old patient presented mild hyperbilirubinemia and recurrent cholangitis; she underwent to ERCP, EUS and MRI, and these exams revealed a large cyst of the pancreatic head that caused biliary compression. The discussion of the case by the multidisciplinary group indicated surgical resection. Pancreatic ACT is so rare, and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. The symptoms of the patients and the features of the cyst are the criteria to choose a surgical resection.

Robotic-assisted distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy in a paediatric patient for solid pseudopapillary tumour.

Solid pseudopapillary tumour is a rare low-grade malignant potential carcinoma of the pancreas that typically occurs in females in their third decade. It most commonly occurs in the tail of the pancreas, although any site can be affected. Surgical resection is the standard treatment and offers an excellent prognosis. We report a case of a 17-year-old female with an acute onset abdominal pain and a radiological diagnosis of a cystic lesion in the distal pancreas. A robotic-assisted distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. Robotic-assisted surgery is an emerging technique for the treatment of pancreatic neoplasms. This approach can be considered for younger patients, thanks to the potential advantages of the robotic Da Vinci Xi System.

Primary ovarian Burkitt's lymphoma presentation in a young woman: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Burkitt's lymphoma is one of the fastest growing human cancers and it needs a rapid diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A young woman presented to our institution with acute abdominal pain, tenderness and constipation. Ultrasound reported a right ovarian mass; at laparoscopy, we discovered ascites, peritoneal carcinomatosis and a voluminous pelvic mass. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Diagnosis was confirmed as non-Hodgkin sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma: the careful workup was the key to initiate multiagent chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Primary ovarian Burkitt's lymphoma, in a young woman in a non-endemic zone, is a rarity that represents a strong diagnostic challenge, but rapid identification can lead the patient to appropriate therapies and improvement of prognosis.

Is Routine Splenectomy Justified for All Left-Sided Pancreatic Cancers? Histological Reappraisal of Splenic Hilar Lymphadenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although splenectomy is recommended during resection for left-sided resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to perform lymphadenectomy of station 10 (splenic hilum), no level I evidence justifies this procedure. This study aims to evaluate the rate of lymph node (LN) and contiguous involvement of the splenic hilum in resectable distal PDAC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent splenopancreatectomy for PDAC in the past 10 years. Station 10 LN were routinely isolated, and all corresponding microscopic slides were reinterpreted by a pathologist. The computed tomography (CT) results of patients with tumoral involvement of the spleen or splenic hilum by contiguity (TISOSH) and ≤ 10 mm between the tumor and spleen on pathology were blindly reviewed by two radiologists to evaluate CT for diagnosis of TISOSH. RESULTS: We included 110 consecutive patients, including 104 with analyzable station 10 LN. The tumor was N+ in 58 (53%) patients. The median number of LN identified at station 10 was 2.0 ± 3.0. No station 10 LNs were detected in 42 (40%) patients. No patients had tumor-positive LN at station 10. TISOSH was found in nine (8%) patients, and was significantly associated with tail location (p = 0.001), tumor size (p = 0.005), and multivisceral involvement (p = 0.015). For diagnosis of TISOSH, the sensitivity and specificity of CT were respectively 89% and 95% for radiologist 1 and 89% and 100% for radiologist 2. CONCLUSIONS: Splenic preservation during resection of distal PDAC may be an option in selected patients with body tumors and no suspected splenic or splenic hilum involvement on preoperative CT.

Right Trisectionectomy and Caval Reconstruction with Peritoneal Patch Under Short Total Vascular Exclusion for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tumoral Thrombus in Suprahepatic Vena Cava.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be complicated by major vascular invasion, and resection can be beneficial in some patients.1 Some of these patients are traditionally operated under total vascular exclusion (TVE), refrigeration, extracorporeal circulatory bypass, and cardiac surgery, with high morbidity and mortality.2 However, HCC thrombi are not adherent to the venous wall, and with advances in surgical techniques, resection can be simplified and performed during short-duration TVE alone. Patients who need resection under any degree of TVE represent < 5% of our hepatectomies. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 59-year-old male patient was admitted for management of a right large HCC (developed on a metabolic syndrome without cirrhosis). After 12 months of treatment, HCC progressed after arterial chemoembolization followed by antiangiogenic treatment, with tumoral thrombus extension to the intrathoracic vena cava up to the right atrium. Surgical resection under TVE and intrathoracic control of the vena cava was decided. Liver transection was performed with intermittent clamping of the hepatic pedicle and low central venous pressure. During 25 min of TVE and vascular remplissage, resection was completed with complete thrombectomy and reconstruction of the vena cava with a peritoneal patch.3 RESULTS: Surgery lasted 330 min, with blood loss of 500 ml and transfusion of 2 units of blood. Postoperative course was uneventful with 10-day hospital stay. Four months after resection, the patient is well with no disease recurrence. CONCLUSION: As surgical techniques improve, complicated liver resection can be performed during short-duration total vascular exclusion.

Hospital readmission after distal pancreatectomy is predicted by specific intra- and post-operative factors.

BACKGROUND: Distal pancreatectomy (DP) continues to carry a significant risk of morbidity resulting in hospital readmissions and increased costs. Prognostic factors predicting 30-day readmission after DP were evaluated. METHODS: Data were collected from 946 patients undergoing DP at the University of Verona Hospital Trust and the Massachusetts General Hospital between 2004 and 2014. Patients were divided into a derivation and a validation cohort. RESULTS: The 30-day readmission rate was 13.9%. Predictors of readmission were age over 60 years (OR 1.8), intraoperative transfusions (OR 2.02), CR-POPF (OR 2.4), abdominal abscesses (OR 3.9), and urinary tract infections (OR 5.9). The score generated by the derivation cohort was validated identifying three different categories with a progressively increased risk for readmission. CONCLUSION: One out of seven patients undergoing DP will be readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Comorbidities seems not to affect the risk. A 10-point score predicts the risk of 30-days readmission.

Distal pancreatectomy associated with multivisceral resection: results from a single centre experience.

PURPOSE: Tumors arising in the body/tail of the pancreas tend to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage, with a lower rate of resectability compared to disease of the head. Distal pancreatectomy (DP) associated to multivisceral resections (MVR) can represent a surgical option for selected patients with advanced tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of patients who underwent DP associated with MVR at our Institution over a 9-year period, and compared them to standard DP. MVR was defined as resection of at least one additional organ or vascular structure because of neoplastic involvement. RESULTS: Out of 508 DP, in 59 cases MVR was performed. The absolute incidence of complications was comparable between the two groups (69.5 % in MVR arm vs. 57.2 % in control arm, p = 0.072) but more patients in the study group had a Clavien-Dindo class ≥3 (18.6 vs. 9.8 %, p = 0.04). A longer operative time (291 ± 91 vs. 227 ± 67, p < 0.001), an increased need for intraoperative transfusions (21.4 vs. 3.3 %, p < 0.001) and a slightly longer hospitalization (9 [7-16] days vs. 8 [7-10]; p < 0.001) were observed in the MVR group. In patients with ductal adenocarcinoma (n = 118), mortality was comparable between groups (p = 0.44) over a median follow up of 26 [16-41] months. In contrast, among patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms, mortality was higher in the study group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Multivisceral resection for cancer of body and tail of the pancreas is feasible in selected cases, with an acceptable surgical complication rate compared to standard procedures and a favorable long-term survival in ductal cancer.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: analysis of trends in surgical techniques, patient selection, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the time trends of demographic, operative, and pathologic variables in a consecutive series of patients undergoing laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP). In addition, we assessed the parameters potentially related to the learning curve, and evaluated the long-term outcomes. METHODS: LDP performed between 1999 and 2012 (minimum follow-up of 1 year) were included in the study. The time trends were studied categorizing the operative sequence in three equal groups, and the parameters related to the learning curve were assessed using local regression techniques. All the analyses were stratified by operation type (associated splenectomy vs. spleen-preserving procedures). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 100 patients. There were 57 LDP with associated splenectomy and 41 spleen-preserving LDP; conversion was necessary in 2 cases. The time trend analysis showed that there was not a tendency toward broadening the indications or selecting more difficult cases. Similarly, the study of learning curve components did not show any significant variation over time. Only 45 splenectomized patients received prophylactic vaccinations, and one unvaccinated patient developed an overwhelming post-splenectomy infection. At a median follow-up of 72.5 months, 12 patients developed diabetes mellitus, while 8 patients undergoing spleen-preserving LDP developed gastric and perigastric varices. CONCLUSION: This analysis did not identify parameters related to the patient selection process and the learning curve in LDP. The incidence of new-onset diabetes was lower than reported in other series. The possibility of serious infections following splenectomy has to be taken into account, such that a strict adherence to vaccine protocols is strongly recommended.