Results of laparoscopic versus open resections for non-early rectal cancer in patients with a minimum follow-up of four years.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic rectal resection for malignancy is still debated. Concern has been expressed regarding the lack of significant data from larger patient series with longer periods of follow-up. The aims of this study were to compare long-term outcome with a minimum follow-up of four years in unselected patients undergoing either laparoscopic rectal resection or open rectal resection for cancer. METHODOLOGY: From May 1992 to August 1997 all electively admitted patients with rectal cancer were included in a prospective non-randomized study. Written information was submitted to each patient and the location in each group (laparoscopic or open) was related to the patient's choice. The inclusion protocol criteria excluded T1 tumors. All 68 T2-T4 patients underwent preoperative radiotherapy (5.040 cGy), completed with chemotherapy in selected cases (patients below 70 years of age). Long-term results were compared between the two groups. Follow-up time of both groups ranged between 48 and 96 months (mean, 49.4 months). RESULTS: Excluding patients who underwent a palliative resection or conversion to open surgery and deaths not related to cancer, 53 pts (29 laparoscopic rectal resection, 24 open rectal resection) out of 68 are available and are the object of this study. No patient was lost to follow-up. No wound recurrence was observed. The local recurrence rate after laparoscopic rectal resection was 24.1% vs. 25% after open rectal resection (P = 0.799). Distant metastases occurred in 20.7% of patients in the LLR group (laparoscopic rectal resection) vs. 25% in the ORR group (open rectal resection) (P = 0.980). Cumulative survival probability after laparoscopic rectal resection and open rectal resection was 0.690 and 0.625 (P = 0.492), respectively. Cumulative survival probability for Duke's stage A, B and C in the LRR group vs. the ORR group was 1.000 vs. 0.900 (P = 0.585), 0.667 vs. 0.636 (P = 0.496) and 0.429 vs. 0.445 (P = 0.501), respectively. Sixteen laparoscopic rectal resection patients (55.2%) and 12 open rectal resection patients (50%) are presently disease free (P = 0.979). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term results after laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer were comparable to those after conventional resection, with a trend in favor of the laparoscopic approach that does not reach a statistically significant difference, possibly due to the limited size of the sample.

Laparoscopic anterior adrenalectomy for the treatment of adrenal metastases.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the results in 6 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for the treatment of solitary adrenal gland metastases. One hundred forty-five patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy by transperitoneal anterior approach. In 6 patients the indication was the presence of a solitary adrenal gland metastasis. Primary tumors were the following: truncal melanoma, gastric cancer, renal cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Mean age was 57 years (range 44-70 years). Three patients underwent right adrenalectomy and 3 patients a left adrenalectomy. No conversion to open surgery occurred. No mortality or intraoperative complications were observed. Mean operative time was 103 minutes (range 70-150) for right adrenalectomy and 170 minutes (range 90-280) for left adrenalectomy. No postoperative complications occurred. Mean diameter of the tumor was 3.5 cm (range 2-5 cm). Tumor free margins were obtained in every case. Mean hospital stay was 2 days (range 2-3 days). At follow-up, 2 patients have died of systemic dissemination of the disease, one 15 months and one 24 months after the operation. The remaining 4 patients are alive and disease free at a mean follow-up of 7 months (range 4-11 months). So far, no port site metastases or local recurrence have been observed. In our experience adrenal gland metastasis can be treated safely and effectively by the laparoscopic transperitoneal anterior approach.

Changes in body composition and insulin sensitivity in severely obese subjects after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB).

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) is a viable therapeutic approach to achieve stable body weight reduction in severe obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate body composition and metabolic features in morbidly obese patients before and after LASGB. MATERIAL/METHODS: There were 15 severely obese patients (Ob) (M/F: 4/11; mean age: 32.5 +/- 3.8 years) and 16 age-and sex-matched healthy lean controls (C) (M/F: 4/12; mean age: 39.5 +/- 2 years). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, lipid profile, serum glucose and insulin during OGTT, and HOMA-IR were evaluated in all subjects. Body composition and fat distribution were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Patients were assessed before and six months after LASGB. RESULTS: The obese subjects showed several metabolic alterations. There were also positive correlations between waist, fat mass (FM), and HOMA-IR at baseline. After LASGB, mean BMI fell from 42.2 kg/m2 to 33.2 kg/m2; waist circumference and abdominal FM% decreased significantly. FM% declined, whereas FFM% increased. The ratio of FM loss to FFM loss was 3.7:1. Serum glucose and insulin levels during OGTT diminished slightly after weight loss and triglyceride levels fell dramatically. After LASGB, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR declined. RESULTS: LASGB induced a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity and a redistribution of body composition with a relative increase of FFM.

Long-term results of patients with pT2 rectal cancer treated with radiotherapy and transanal endoscopic microsurgical excision.

Anterior resection and abdomino-perineal resection are the surgical techniques used most frequently in the treatment of rectal cancer. Local recurrence rates of 10% to 14% are described after these conventional procedures. Preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy reduces local failure. Because local excision techniques can be applied to treat early rectal cancer in selected patients, we evaluated the results of preoperative high-dose radiotherapy and transanal endoscopic microsurgical excision (TEM) in patients with T2 rectal cancer. All patients underwent preoperative irradiation with 5,040 cGy, divided over 5 weeks. Forty days after completion of radiotherapy, the patients underwent complete full-thickness local excision of the rectal lesion including adjacent perirectal fat by TEM. The patients were followed for up to 8 years. Thirty-five patients, with pT2 rectal cancer as determined by pathological examination of the surgical specimen were enrolled in the present study. The tumors were responsive to preoperative radiotherapy in 82.8% of cases. No intraoperative complications and no conversion to open surgery were observed. No major complications and no mortality occurred during the 60-day postoperative period. Minor postoperative complications were observed in 5 patients (14.3%). The median follow-up of the patients was 38 months (range 24 to 96 months). One local recurrence (2.85%) was noted. The probability of surviving at 96 months after completion of treatment was 83%. Local excision by TEM combined with preoperative high-dose radiotherapy can achieve results similar to those observed after conventional surgery in patients with pT2 rectal cancer.