Right Colectomy with Intracorporeal Anastomosis: A European Multicenter Propensity Score Matching Retrospective Study of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Procedures.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of robotic (RRC-IA) versus laparoscopic (LRC-IA) right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis using a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis based on a large European multicentric cohort of patients with nonmetastatic right colon cancer. METHODS: Elective curative-intent RRC-IA and LRC-IA performed between 2014 and 2020 were selected from the MERCY Study Group database. The two PSM-groups were compared for operative and postoperative outcomes, and survival rates. RESULTS: Initially, 596 patients were selected, including 194 RRC-IA and 402 LRC-IA patients. After PSM, 298 patients (149 per group) were compared. There was no statistically significant difference between RRC-IA and LRC-IA in terms of operative time, intraoperative complication rate, conversion to open surgery, postoperative morbidity (19.5% in RRC-IA vs. 26.8% in LRC-IA; p = 0.17), or 5-yr survival (80.5% for RRC-IA and 74.7% for LRC-IA; p = 0.94). R0 resection was obtained in all patients, and > 12 lymph nodes were harvested in 92.3% of patients, without group-related differences. RRC-IA procedures were associated with a significantly higher use of indocyanine green fluorescence than LRC-IA (36.9% vs. 14.1%; OR: 3.56; 95%CI 2.02-6.29; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the present analyses, there is no statistically significant difference between RRC-IA and LRC-IA performed for right colon cancer in terms of short- and long-term outcomes.

Impact of operation duration on postoperative outcomes of minimally-invasive right colectomy.

AIM: Operation time (OT) is a key operational factor influencing surgical outcomes. The present study aimed to analyse whether OT impacts on short-term outcomes of minimally-invasive right colectomies by assessing the role of surgical approach (robotic [RRC] or laparoscopic right colectomy [LRC]), and type of ileocolic anastomosis (i.e., intracorporal [IA] or extra-corporal anastomosis [EA]). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the Minimally-invasivE surgery for oncological Right ColectomY (MERCY) Study Group database, which included adult patients with nonmetastatic right colon adenocarcinoma operated on by oncological RRC or LRC between January 2014 and December 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 1549 patients who were divided into three groups according to the OT quartiles: (1) First quartile, <135 min (n = 386); (2) Second and third quartiles, 135-199 min (n = 731); and (3) Fourth quartile ≥200 min (n = 432). The majority (62.7%) were LRC-EA, followed by LRC-IA (24.3%), RRC-IA (11.1%), and RRC-EA (1.9%). Independent predictors of an OT ≥ 200 min included male gender, age, obesity, diabetes, use of indocyanine green fluorescence, and IA confection. An OT ≥ 200 min was significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative noninfective complications (AOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.15-2.13; p = 0.004), whereas the surgical approach and the type of anastomosis had no impact on postoperative morbidity. CONCLUSION: Prolonged OT is independently associated with increased odds of postoperative noninfective complications in oncological minimally-invasive right colectomy.

MRI-Pathology Agreement in Rectal Cancer: Real-World Data from a Prospective Rectal Cancer Registry.

Introduction: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is routinely used in preoperative rectal cancer staging. The concordance of MRI staging with final pathologic exam, albeit improved, has not yet reached perfection. The aim of this study is to analyze the agreement between MRI and pathologic exam in patients operated on for mid-low rectal cancer. Material and Method: Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) or upfront surgery were analyzed. Between January 2019 to December 2019, 140 patients enrolled in the AIMS Academy rectal cancer registry were analyzed. Sixty-two patients received nCRT and 78 underwent upfront surgery. Results: Overall, the agreement between MRI and pathologic exam on T stage and N stage were 64.7% and 69.2%, respectively. The agreement between MRI and pathologic exam on T stage was 62.7% for patients who did not receive nCRT and 67.4% for patients who received nCRT (p = 0.62). The agreement on N stage was 76.3% for patients who did not receive nCRT and 60.0% for patients who received nCRT (p = 0.075). Conclusions: Real-world data shows MRI is still far from being able to correlate with the pathology findings which raises questions about the accuracy of the real-life decision-making process during cancer boards.

Is BMI a Factor in Compliance to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer?

Background: Compliance to adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for patients undergoing rectal surgery ranges from 43% to 73.6%. Reasons reported for not initiating or completing AC include onset of postoperative complications, drug toxicity, disease progression and/or patient preferences. Little is known regarding the impact of obesity on the compliance to AC in this setting. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study analyzed compliance to AC and treatment-related morbidity in 511 patients having undergone surgery with curative intent for rectal cancer in six Italian colorectal centers between January 2013 and December 2017. Results: 70 patients were obese (BMI 30 kg/m2). The proportion of open procedures (22.9% vs. 13.4%) and conversions (14.3% vs. 4.8%) was greater in obese compared to non-obese patients (p 0.001). Median hospital stay was one day longer for obese patients (9 days vs. 10 days, p=0.038) while there was no statistically significant difference in the complication rate, whether overall (58.6% in obese vs. 52.3% in non-obese) or with a Clavien-Dindo score 3 (17.1% vs 10.9%). AC was offered to 49/70 (70%) patients in the obese group and 306/441 (69.4%) in the non-obese group (p=0.43). There was no statistically significant difference in AC compliance: 18.4% and 22.9% did not start AC, while 36.7% and 34.6%, started AC but did not complete the scheduled treatment (p=0.79) in the obese and non-obese group, respectively. Overall, 55% of patients who started AC successfully completed their adjuvant treatment. Conclusions: Obesity did not impact compliance to AC for locally advanced rectal cancer: compliance was poor in obese and non-obese patients with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Major complication rate was not statistically significantly affected by increased BMI.

Thoracic duct identification with indocyanine green fluorescence during minimally invasive esophagectomy with patient in prone position.

Chylothorax is a serious complication of transthoracic esophagectomy. Intraoperative thoracic duct (TD) identification represents a possible tool for preventing or repairing its lesions, and it is most of the time difficult, even during high-definition thoracoscopy. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using near-infrared fluorescence-guided thoracoscopy to identify TD anatomy and check its intraoperative lesions during minimally invasive esophagectomy. A 0.5 mg/kg solution of indocyanine green (ICG) was injected percutaneously in the inguinal nodes of 19 patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy in a prone position, before thoracoscopy. TD anatomy and potential intraoperative lesions were checked with the KARL STORZ OPAL1® Technology. In all of the 19 patients where transthoracic esophagectomy was feasible, the TD was clearly identified after a mean of 52.7 minutes from injection time. The TD was cut for oncological radicality in two patients, and it was successfully ligated under the ICG guide. No postoperative chylothorax or adverse reactions from the ICG injection occurred. The TD identification with indocyanine green fluorescence during minimally invasive esophagectomy is a simple, effective, and non-time-demanding tool; it may become a standard procedure to prevent postoperative chylothorax.

Compliance to Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Patients Who Underwent Surgery for Rectal Cancer: Report from a Multi-institutional Research Network.

INTRODUCTION: Adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer is associated with improved overall survival. However, recent evidence from randomized trials showed a compliance rate of 43 to 73%, which may affect efficacy. The aim of this multicenter retrospective analysis was to investigate the compliance rate to adjuvant treatment for patients who underwent rectal surgery for cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery with curative intent for rectal cancer in six Italian colorectal centers between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18 years, palliative or emergency surgery, and stage IV disease. Parameters of interest were patients' characteristics, preoperative tumor stage, neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy, intra-operative and postoperative outcomes. Although the participating centers referred to the same treatment guidelines for treatment, the chemotherapy regiment was not standardized across the institutions. Reasons for not starting adjuvant chemotherapy when indicated, interruption, and modification of drug regimen were collected to investigate compliance. RESULTS: A total of 572 patients were included in the analysis. Two hundred and fifty-two (44.1%) patients received neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. All patients underwent high anterior rectal resection, low anterior rectal resection, or Miles' procedure. Of 399 patients with an indication to adjuvant chemotherapy, 176 (44.1%) completed the treatment as planned. Compliance for patients who started chemotherapy was 56% (95% CI 50.4-61.6%). Sixty-six patients interrupted the treatment, 76 patients significantly reduced the drug dose, and 41 patients had to switch to other therapeutic regimens. CONCLUSIONS: The present multicenter investigation reports a low compliance rate to adjuvant chemotherapy after rectal resection for cancer. Multidisciplinary teams should focus on future effort to improve compliance for these patients.

Quality of life after laparoscopic sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticular disease.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the QoL in patients who underwent elective surgery for uncomplicated diverticulitis using a recently developed diverticulitis quality of life questionnaire (DV-QoL). METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent surgery for uncomplicated diverticulitis or who were hospitalized and treated conservatively for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis episodes in three referral centers, in a 5-year period, were included in the study. The 36-Item Short Form Survey and the DV-QoL were administered to the patients to assess their QoL before and after treatment of diverticular disease. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients who underwent surgery, 44 patients who were treated conservatively, and 44 healthy volunteers were included in the study. DV-QoL scores correlated with SF-36 scores (p < 0.0001). The surgically treated patients reported a worse quality of life before treatment with respect to the patients treated conservatively (mean 21.12 surgical vs 15.41 conservative, p = 0.0048). The surgically treated patients presented better post-treatment global scores with respect to the conservatively treated patients (mean: 6.90 surgical vs 10.61 conservative, p = 0.0186). Covariance analysis confirmed that the differences between the pre- and post-treatment DV-QoL scores were significantly higher in the surgical (p = 0.0002) with respect to the non-surgical patients. As far as single items were concerned, differences between the two groups were found in the pre- and post-treatment "concerns" and "behavioral changes" DV-QoL items. CONCLUSIONS: Sigmoidectomy reduces concerns about diverticulitis and behavioral changes due to the disease. Quality of life should be considered when referring patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis to surgery. Prospective studies are required to confirm this result.

Influence of surgical margins on the outcome of breast cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Breast-conserving surgery has become the preferred treatment for early breast cancer. Yet the question of what constitutes a 'safe margin', in terms of impact on patient outcome, remains unanswered. Our aim was to address this knowledge gap by determining the prevalence of positive and narrow margins after breast-conserving surgery, and evaluating how margin status impacted local recurrence and overall survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data about all women who underwent breast-conserving cancer surgery in our department between 2002 and 2011, focusing on patient and tumor characteristics, the distance from the tumor to the surgical margin, therapies administered, and outcome (measured in terms of local recurrence and overall survival). Data were analyzed by R (version 3.0.1), considering p < 0.05 as significant. Multivariate analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Of 1,192 women who received breast-conserving surgery, 264 were considered for widening; 111 of these patients had positive margins and 153 narrow (where narrow was defined as less than 5 mm). Widening was performed for 38 % of these patients (99/264) and mastectomy for 27 % (70/264), while 36 % (95/264) had no further surgery and were simply followed-up. Our multivariate analysis confirmed that local tumor recurrence and overall survival were not significantly influenced by margin status, either at initial surgery, or (for those patients with initially positive margins) at secondary margin-widening surgery. However, the following were found to be significantly correlated with local recurrence: tumor multifocality, high expression of Ki-67/Mib-1, comedo-like necrosis, and non-axillary lymph node positivity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found the status of resection margins and the management of infiltrated or narrow margins to have no significant influence on local tumor recurrence rates or on overall patient survival. Instead, biological factors connected with tumor aggressiveness seem to play the most important role in breast cancer prognosis, independent of surgical radicality.

[Surgical site infections in breast surgery: a descriptive study]. / Infezioni della ferita chirurgica e glicemia nelle pazienti sottoposte a chirurgia della mammella: studio descrittivo.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) in breast surgery is 3.1%. The risk to develop SSIs seems correlated to the level of glycemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim is to test a correlation between glycemic values and SSIs in breast surgery with a longitudinal perspective study. The data were collected in a Surgical Department of a University Hospital of north-east Italy; the study is in the context of the Regional Surveillance Program of Health Agency. RESULTS: We have observed 100 patients. The incidence of the SSIs has been 5.7%. The patients that have developed the SSIs were in ordinary recovery, with a glycemic value taller then the patients without SSIs both in preoperative (92.6 vses 88.5) that in postoperative period (104 vses 91.8 and 108.3 vses 94). CONCLUSIONS:  We cannot test a correlation between SSIs and glycemic value nevertheless for the clinical practice we have important guideline.

[Perioperative blood glucose levels and surgical site infections in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery: a feasibility study]. / Glicemia e infezioni della ferita chirurgica nei pazienti sottoposti a chirurgia colon rettale: studio di fattibilità

This study was carried out in the framework of a regional surveillance program of surgical site infections, to assess the feasibility of performing a longitudinal study to evaluate possible correlations between perioperative blood glucose levels and surgical site infections in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. A convenience sample of patients aged 18 years and above, admitted to the University Hospital of Udine (Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy) from 1 January to 31 March 2011, were invited to participate in the study. Patients admitted for recanalization surgery for obstructing carcinomas were excluded. Twenty-five patients participated in the study, 20% (n=5) of whom had a surgical site infection. No correlation was found between blood glucose levels and surgical site infections. The costs of performing a study of this kind would be mainly related to the number of persons involved in data collection and the estimated time required is 12 to 18 months. For the future conduct of the study, it is hoped that simpler operational methods may be agreed upon within the healthcare facility.

High flow nasal oxygen vs. conventional oxygen therapy over respiratory oxygenation index after esophagectomy: an observational study.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications after esophagectomy still represent a matter of concern. High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) early after major abdominal and thoracic surgery has demonstrated some advantages over conventional oxygen therapy. Data about respiratory effect of HFNC after esophagectomy is scarce. The primary aim of this study is to investigate if the early use of HFNC after esophagectomy could enhance patients' postoperative respiratory oxygenation (ROX) index and, ultimately, reduce postoperative pneumonia. Methods: In this single center retrospective study all patients undergoing to esophagectomy for cancer from May 2020 to November 2022 were evaluated. Historical cohort (HC) received postoperative oxygen supplementation with Venturi mask or nasal goggles, and a cohort was put under HFNC (HFNC cohort). ROX index, blood gas analysis, radiological atelectasis score (RAS), post-operative complications' data and information on hospital stay have been collected and analyzed. Results: Seventy-one patients were included for the final statistical analysis, 31 in the HFNC and 40 in the HC cohort. Mean age was 64±10 years and body mass index (BMI) was 26 [24-29] kg/m2. ROX index was higher in the HFNC patients than in the HC, 20.8 [16.7-25.9] vs. 14.9 [10.8-18.2] (P<0.0001). In the HFNC cohort patients, pH was higher, 7.42 [7.40-7.44] vs. 7.39 [7.37-7.43] than HC, while PaCO2 was lower in HFNC cohort compared with HC, 39 [36-41] vs. 42 [39-45] mmHg, respectively (P=0.01). RAS was similar between the two cohorts of patients, 1.5±0.98 vs. 1.4±1.04 in the HFNC and the HC cohort, respectively (P=0.611). Lower acute respiratory failure (ARF) rate was recorded among HFNC than HC cohort, 0% vs. 13% respectively, P=0.06. No difference in pneumonia frequency between two cohorts was shown. Conclusions: HFNC improved the ROX index after esophagectomy through significant respiratory rate reduction. This tool should be considered for early respiratory support after extubation in this category of patients, not only as a rescue therapy for ARF, but also to optimize early postoperative respiratory function. Whether this will improve patients' outcomes requires further large randomized controlled trials.

Puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis: two case reports.

Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is an uncommon but potentially serious complication in the early postpartum. Two case studies seem to prove the point: Case 1 A 24-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital with the chief complaint of abdominal pain radiating to the right thigh, vomit, diarrhea, and a slight pyrexia (37.6 °C rectal). Five days earlier, she had a spontaneous vaginal delivery after labor induction. The woman appeared slightly distressed because of pain; vital signs were found to be normal and the CRP elevated (129.9 mg/L). Abdominal examination was remarkable for tenderness by palpation in the right lower quadrant with no rebound tenderness or guarding. Pelvic examination was remarkable for mild right adnexal tenderness. Abdominal-pelvic computer tomography with contrast medium revealed a 2.5-cm OVT having extended into the inferior vena cava for 14 cm with a slight peripheral edema. The patient was treated with nadroparin 0.6 cc (5700 IU) bid and warfarin 5 mg since the attainment of the therapeutic INR range. Case 2 A 31-year-old twin-pregnant woman had an emergency cesarean section at 35 gestational weeks because of hypertension complicated by increased liver enzymes, diuresis contraction, and continuous lower back pain bilaterally radiating to the groins. One day after delivery, CT scan that was performed because of onward anemia showed a pelvic, perihepatic, and perisplenic blood effusion, and a 1-cm right OVT extended to the inferior vena cava below renal veins for 28 mm. She underwent exploratory laparotomy and blood transfusion, and because of respiratory insufficiency she was transferred to a second level center with ICU facility, where she was placed under a suprarenal inferior vena cava filter, and AngioJet Rheolytic Thrombectomy for acute pulmonary embolism was performed.

5 year oncological outcomes of the HIGHLOW randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The oncological outcomes of low ligation (LL) compared to high ligation (HL) of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) during low-anterior rectal resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision are still debated. The aim of this study is to report the 5 year oncologic outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic LAR with either HL vs. LL of the IMA MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2014 and December 2016, patients who underwent elective laparoscopic LAR + TME in 6 Italian non-academic hospitals were randomized to HL or LL of IMA after meeting the inclusion criteria (HighLow trial; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02153801). We analyzed the rate of local recurrence, distant metastasis, overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival at 5 years of patients previously enrolled. RESULTS: Five-year follow up data were available for 196 patients. Recurrence happened in 42 (21.4%) of patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the distant recurrence rate (15.8% HL vs. 18.9% LL; P = 0.970) and pelvic recurrence rate (4,9% HL vs 3,2% LL; P = 0.843). No statistically significant difference was found in 5-year OS (p = 0.545), DSS (p = 0.732) or DFS (p = 0.985) between HL and LL. Low vs medium and upper rectum site of tumor, conversion rate, Clavien-Dindo post-operative grade ≥3 complications and tumor stage were found statistically significantly associated to poor oncological outcomes in univariate analysis; in multivariate analysis, however, only conversion rate and stage 3 cancer were found to be independent risk factors for poor DFS at 5 years. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the results found in the previous 3-year survival analysis, the level of inferior mesenteric artery ligation does not affect OS, DSS and DFS at 5-year follow-up.

Sarcopenia and Patient's Body Composition: New Morphometric Tools to Predict Clinical Outcome After Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy: a Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of preoperative body composition as independent predictor of prognosis for esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy is still unclear. The aim of the study was to explore such a relationship. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective study from a prospectively maintained database. We enrolled consecutive patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy in four Italian high-volume centers from May 2014. Body composition parameters including total abdominal muscle area (TAMA), visceral fat area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were determined based on CT images. Perioperative variables were systematically collected. RESULTS: After exclusions, 223 patients were enrolled and 24.2% had anastomotic leak (AL). Sixty-eight percent of patients were sarcopenic and were found to be more vulnerable in terms of postoperative 90-day mortality (p = 0.028). VFA/TAMA and VFA/SFA ratios demonstrated a linear correlation with the Clavien-Dindo classification (R = 0.311 and 0.239, respectively); patients with anastomotic leak (AL) had significantly higher VFA/TAMA (3.56 ± 1.86 vs. 2.75 ± 1.83, p = 0.003) and VFA/SFA (1.18 ± 0.68 vs. 0.87 ± 0.54, p = 0.002) ratios. No significant correlation was found between preoperative BMI and subsequent AL development (p = 0.159). Charlson comorbidity index correlated significantly with AL (p = 0.008): these patients had a significantly higher index (≥ 5). CONCLUSION: Analytical morphometric assessment represents a useful non-invasive tool for preoperative risk stratification. The concurrent association of sarcopenia and visceral obesity seems to be the best predictor of AL, far better than simple BMI evaluation, and potentially modifiable if targeted with prehabilitation programs.

Conversion to Open Surgery During Minimally Invasive Right Colectomy for Cancer: Results from a Large Multinational European Study.

Background: The risk of conversion to open surgery is inevitably present during any minimally invasive colorectal surgical procedure. Conversions have been associated with adverse postoperative and oncologic outcomes. No previous study has evaluated the specific causes and consequences of conversion during a minimally invasive right colectomy (MIS-RC). Materials and Methods: We analyzed the Minimally invasivE surgery for oncologic Right ColectomY (MERCY) study database including patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic RC because of colon cancer between 2014 and 2020. Descriptive analyses were performed to determine the different reasons for conversion. Uni- and multivariate logistic regressions were run to identify potential variables associated with this outcome. Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of conversion on tumor recurrence. Results: Over a total of 1574 MIS-RC, 120 (7.6%) were converted to open surgery. The main reasons for conversion were procedural difficulties related to adherences from previous abdominal surgical procedures (39.2%), or owing to large tumor size or infiltration of adjacent structures (26.7%). Only 16.7% of the conversions were caused by intraoperative medical or surgical complications. Converted patients required longer operative times and developed more postoperative complications, both overall (39.2% versus 27.5%; P = .006) and severe ones (13.3% versus 8.3%; P = .061). Male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.89 [95% confidence interval: 1.31-2.71]), obesity (OR = 1.99 [1.4-2.83]), prior abdominal surgery (OR = 1.68 [1.19-2.37]), and pT4 cancers (OR = 4.04 [2.86-5.69]) were independently associated with conversion. Conversion to open surgery was not significantly associated with tumor recurrence (hazard ratios = 1.395 [0.724-2.687]). Conclusions: Although conversion to open surgery during MIS-RC for cancer is associated with worsened postoperative outcomes, it seems not to impact on the oncologic prognosis.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy: thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization for esophageal cancer with the patient in prone position.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment for resectable esophageal cancer. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is performed with increasing frequency and proves to be a safe and effective surgical alternative to the open technique. Minimally invasive esophagectomy using thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization with the patient in prone position seems to offer some advantages with regard to surgeon ergonomics and clinical outcome. METHODS: Between July 2005 and September 2010, 46 patients (35 men and 11 women) underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy in the prone position at the authors' institution. Three patients had previously undergone a thoracic intervention (one patient had previously undergone left pneumonectomy because of lung cancer). The preoperative indication was squamous cell carcinoma for 35 patients and adenocarcinoma for 11 patients. In one case, the histology of the biopsy samples showed a squamous cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. Neoadjuvant treatment was administered to 15 patients. RESULTS: All 46 patients underwent esophagectomy using minimally invasive thoracic mobilization of the esophagus with the patient in prone position. The abdominal stage of intervention was performed by laparoscopy for 37 patients and by laparotomy for 9 patients. No thoracotomic conversion was performed. In all cases, a cervical end-to-side anastomosis was performed using a circular stapler. The mean operative time was 263 min. The median intensive care unit stay was 2 days, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 15 days. The mean number of procured lymph nodes was 13. The perioperative morbidity rate was 37%, and the perioperative mortality rate was 4.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive esophagectomy is safe and technically feasible. It entails a lower mortality rate and a shorter hospital stay than those reported in most open series. Thoracoscopy with the patient in prone position offers results comparable with those obtained using other minimally invasive techniques regarding the number of procured lymph nodes. This technique shows considerable advantages such as improved surgeon ergonomics, increased operative field exposure, and satisfactory respiratory results.

Nine years of experience with the sentinel lymph node biopsy in a single Italian center: a retrospective analysis of 1,050 cases.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the prevalence and predictive factors for recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and for sentinel lymph node positivity by SLNB in our population. METHODS: We followed up all SLNBs performed between 2002 and 2010 and analyzed data by R (version2.10.1), considering p < 0.05 significant. RESULTS: Among 1,050 patients with SLNB, 23% (245/1050) underwent secondary axillary dissection (CALND). Axillary recurrence prevalence among patients with negative SLNB was 1% (6/805) at a mean follow-up of 54 months (±14), and 1.7% (95% CI 0.2-3.1%) after 6 years of follow-up, as all recurrences developed between the 3rd and the 6th years of follow-up. By multivariate analysis, axillary recurrence results correlated with large tumor size, high number of excised nodes, lymphovascular invasion, high grading, multifocality, Her-2 positivity, intraductal histology, and comedo-like necrosis. Moreover, SLNB positivity results correlated with young age, large tumor size, high number of excised nodes, negative history for second primary malignancies, lymphovascular invasion, and high grading. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer characteristics represent important predictive factors for SLNB positivity, as well as for axillary recurrence in patients with negative SLNB, independently, by surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Therefore, cancer biological behavior and the patient's hormonal profile should be evaluated with care to better tailor the follow-up of women with breast cancer.

Fluorescence-Guided Identification of the Thoracic Duct by VATS for Treatment of Postoperative Chylothorax: A Short Case Series.

Background: Chylothorax is a relatively rare complication after surgery of the mediastinum. The occurrence and the results of surgical treatment of this condition are difficult to foresee due to the wide heterogeneity in thoracic duct anatomy. Case summary: We report two cases of postoperative chylothorax treated with ligation by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The first patient developed a massive left chylothorax shortly after discharge, following radical excision of a seminoma-involved left para-aortic lymphadenopathy. The second patient developed a high-output right chylothorax following VATS upper bilobectomy. In both cases, a surgical revision by VATS was performed. Inguinal injection of indocyanine green allowed an easy visualization of the lymphatic leakage point. In both cases, oral feeding was rapidly restarted after surgery. No recurrence of chylothorax was observed. Conclusion: The use of indocyanine green may greatly improve the identification of the thoracic duct during surgical ligation by VATS, with a favorable impact on the postoperative course and overall admission costs.

Postoperative complications after minimally invasive esophagectomy in the prone position: any anesthesia-related factor?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications arising within 30 days of minimally invasive esophagectomy in the prone position with total lung ventilation and their relationship with 30-day and 1-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included possible anesthesia-related factors linked to the development of complications. METHODS: The study is a retrospective single-center observational study at the Anesthesia and Surgical Department of a tertiary care center in the northeast of Italy. Patients underwent cancer resection through esophagectomy in the prone position without one-lung ventilation. RESULTS: We included 110 patients from January 2010 to December 2017. A total of 54% of patients developed postoperative complications that increased mortality risk at 1 year of follow-up. Complications postponed first oral intake and delayed patient discharge to home. Positive intraoperative fluid balance was related to increased mortality and the risk to develop postoperative complications. C-reactive protein at third postoperative day may help detect complication onset. CONCLUSIONS: Complication onset has a great impact on mortality after esophagectomy. Some anesthesia-related factors, mainly fluid balance, may be associated with postoperative mortality and morbidity. These factors should be carefully taken into account to obtain better outcomes after esophagectomy in the prone position without one-lung ventilation.

Feasibility and Oncological Outcome of Preoperative Chemoradiation With IMRT Dose Intensification for Locally Advanced Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of a dose intensification with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and Simultaneous Integrated Boost (IMRT-SIB) in locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal cancer (GEJ). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed a series of 69 patients with esophageal or GEJ cancer treated at our Institute, between 2016 and 2019, with preoperative IMRT and SIB up to 52.5-54 Gy in 25 fractions in 5 weeks and concurrent carboplatin (AUC2) and paclitaxel (50 mg/m2), as in the CROSS regimen. RESULTS: All patients completed the planned IMRT-SIB program with a median of four (range 1-5) cycles of concurrent paclitaxel/carboplatin. Compliance to IMRT-SIB was 93%, whereas 54% of patients received four to five cycles and 87% at least three cycles of concurrent carboplatin/paclitaxel. Grade 3 toxicity was reported in 19% of patients. Complete clinical response (cCR) was achieved in 48%, and 13% had disease progression after chemoradiation (CRT). Overall, 49% of patients underwent surgery; reasons for non-operation included cCR in cervical tumor location (10%) or cCR and patient decision (13%). A pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 44% of resected patients. Postoperative complications and mortality rates were 21 and 6%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 12 months (6-25), 2-year overall and progression-free (PFS) survival rates were 81 and 54%, respectively. No difference in PFS by histologic type in operated patients was reported. Non-operated cCR patients had higher PFS, including cervical locations and selected cCR patients who decided for non-operation (75 vs 30%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The study reported favorable results in safety and feasibility of the IMRT-SIB dose intensification in our preoperative CRT program. The toxicity was acceptable, allowing a high compliance to intensified radiation doses with dose reduction of concurrent paclitaxel/carboplatin in some patients. The high rate of cCR and pCR suggested this intensified program is effective in the preoperative CRT and, for selected responsive patients, in the non-operative approach to esophageal and GEJ cancer. The 2-year survival rates were promising. A prospective study is being planned to confirm these observations.