Andrea Vignali

Altered microperfusion at the rectal stump is predictive for rectal anastomotic leak

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of intraoperative laser-Doppler measurements in predicting the occurrence of anastomotic leak in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing stapled straight anastomosis to the rectum. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken on 55 patients with rectal cancer or distal sigmoid cancer programmed for elective curative surgery. In all patients transmural colonic blood flow was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry technique before bowel manipulation (baseline measurement) and after vascular ligation and division. Comorbidities at admission, intraoperative events, associated surgical procedures, and clinical outcome were tested for any association with anastomotic leak. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 1.8 percent (1/55 patients), and the overall morbidity was 21.3 percent. Anastomotic leak occurred in eight patients (14.5 percent). After colonic division a blood flow reduction at the rectal stump was observed in 42 patients (76.3 percent) as compared with baseline measurement. The mean rectal stump flow reduction was 6.2 percent in patients without anastomotic leak, whereas in patients who developed anastomosis breakdown it was 16 percent (P<0.001). Mean proximal stump flow reduction was 5.1 percent in the uncomplicated patients, whereas in patients who had an anastomosis breakdown it was 12.9 percent (P<0.01). A positive linear correlation was found between decrease in blood flow and rate of anastomotic leak. CONCLUSION: Blood flow reduction at the rectal stump is associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leak.

Laparoscopic vs. Open Colectomy in Cancer Patients: Long-Term Complications, Quality of Life, and Survival

PURPOSEThis study was designed to evaluate long-term complications, quality of life, and survival rate in a series of colorectal cancer patients randomized to laparoscopic or open surgery.METHODSA total of 391 patients with colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to laparoscopic (n = 190) or open (n = 201) resection. Long-term follow-up was performed every six months by office visits. Quality of life was assessed at 12, 24, and 48 months after surgery by a modified version of Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire. All patients were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.RESULTSEight (4.2 percent) laparoscopic group patients needed conversion to open surgery. Overall long-term morbidity rate was 6.8 percent (13/190) in the laparoscopic vs. 14.9 percent (30/201) in the open group (P = 0.018). Overall quality of life was significantly better in the laparoscopic group in the first 12 months after surgery, whereas at 24 months, patients of the laparoscopic group reported a significant advantage only in social functioning. No difference was found in both overall and disease-free survival rates by comparing laparoscopic vs. open group.CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic colorectal resection was associated with a lower incidence of long-term complications and a better quality of life in the first 12 months after surgery compared with open surgery. No difference between groups was found in overall and disease-free survival rates.

A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial on Perioperative Feeding With an Arginine-, Omega-3 Fatty Acid-, and RNA-Enriched Enteral Diet: Effect on Host Response and Nutritional Status

BACKGROUND The use of immune-enhancing enteral diets in the postoperative period has given contrasting results. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical study was to evaluate the effect of immunonutrition given perioperatively on cytokine release and nutritional parameters. METHODS Patients with cancer of the stomach or colo-rectum were eligible. Subjects consumed 1 L/d of either a control enteral formula (n = 25; control group) or a formula supplemented with arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA (n = 25; verum group) for 1 week before surgery. Both formulas were given by mouth. Six hours after the operation, jejunal infusion with the same diets was started and maintained for 7 days. Blood was drawn at different time points to assess albumin, prealbumin (PA), transferrin, cholinesterase activity, retinol binding protein (RBP), interleukin-2 receptors alpha (IL-2Ralpha), IL-6, and IL-1 soluble receptors (IL-1RII). The composite score of delayed hypersensitivity response (DHR) to skin test also was determined (the higher the score, the lower the immune response). RESULTS During the 7 days of presurgical feeding, none of the above parameters changed in either group. Eight days after operation, in the control group, the concentration of PA and RBP was lower than in the verum group (0.18 vs 0.26 g/L for PA and 30.5 vs 38.7 mg/L for RBP; p < .05). IL-2Ralpha concentration was 507 pg/mL in the verum group vs 238 pg/mL in the control group (p < .001), whereas IL-6 and IL-1RII were higher in the control group than in the verum group (104 vs 49 and 328 vs 183 pg/mL, respectively; p < .01). The DHR score was 0.68 in the control group vs 0.42 in the verum group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Perioperative feeding with a supplemented enteral diet modulates cytokine production and enhances cell-mediated immunity and the synthesis of short half-life proteins.

Laparoscopic versus open colorectal surgery: cost-benefit analysis in a single-center randomized trial.

Summary Background Data:Studies comparing the costs of colorectal resection by laparoscopic (LPS) and open approaches are small sized or not randomized. The main purpose of this study is to compare the hospital costs of LPS and open colorectal surgery in a large series of randomized patients. Methods:A total of 517 patients with colorectal disease were randomly assigned to LPS (n = 258) or open (n = 259) resection. The following costs were calculated: surgical instruments, operative room (OR) occupation, routine care, postoperative morbidity, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Follow-up for postoperative morbidity was carried out for 30 days after hospital discharge. Results:Operative time was 37 minutes longer in the LPS group. Overall morbidity rate was 18.2% (47 of 258) in the LPS versus 34.7% (90 of 259) in the open group (P = 0.0005). The mean LOS was 9.9 (2.6) days in the LPS group and 12.4 (3.9) days in the open group (P < 0.0001). The additional OR charge in the LPS group was &U20AC;1171 per patient randomized (&U20AC;864 due to surgical instruments and &U20AC;307 due to longer time). The saving in the LPS group was &U20AC;1046 per patient randomized (&U20AC;401 due to shorter LOS and &U20AC;645 due to the lower cost of postoperative complications). The net balance resulted in &U20AC;125 extra cost per patient allocated to the LPS group. Conclusions:The present cost-benefit analysis showed a slight additional cost in the LPS group. The better postoperative short-term outcome in patients receiving LPS had a key role to nearly balance the operative room charges due to laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic vs. Open Colectomies in Octogenarians: A Case-Matched Control Study

PURPOSEThe aim of this study was to define any benefits in terms of early outcome for laparoscopic colectomy in patients over 80 years old compared with open colectomy.METHODSSixty-one patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer were matched to 61 open colectomy patients for gender, age, year of surgery, site of cancer, and comorbidity on admission. Independence status on admission and at discharge from the hospital was also evaluated.RESULTSMean (standard deviation) age was 82.3 (3.5) years in the laparoscopy group and 83.1 (3.3) years in the open group. Conversion rate was 6.1 percent. Operative time was 49 minutes longer in the laparoscopy group (P = 0.001 ). The overall mortality rate was 2.4 percent. The morbidity rate was 21.5 percent in the laparoscopy group and 31.1 percent in the open group (P = 0.30). Patients in the laparoscopy group had a faster recovery of bowel function (P = 0.01) and a significant reduction of the mean length of hospital stay (9.8 vs. 12.9 days for the open group, P = 0.001). Laparoscopy allowed a better preservation of postoperative independence status compared with the that of the open group (P = 0.02).CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic colectomy for cancer in octogenarians is safe and beneficial including preservation of postoperative independence and a reduction of length of hospital stay.

Impact of age on postoperative outcomes in 1118 gastric cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment.

BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of age on outcomes in gastric cancer surgery.MethodsPatients on the hospital database who underwent gastric resection for gastric cancer during the period 1990–2005 (n = 1118) were divided into two groups: group A, patients 75 years or older (n = 249), and group B, those younger than 75 years (n = 869).ResultsOverall preoperative complications were diagnosed in 92 (37%) patients of group A, compared with 147 (17%) in group B (P = 0.002). Fifty-five percent of patients underwent resection with D2 or more lymph node dissection (37% [n = 93] in group A, and 60% [n = 521] in group B; P = 0.003). Postoperative overall morbidity was higher in the elderly group (29% in group A versus 23% in group B), but the difference between the two groups was not significant (P = NS). Overall postoperative surgical complications were recorded in 201 (18%) patients; 49 (20%) in the elderly cohort, compared with 147 (17%) in the younger group (P = NS). The postoperative mortality rate was 3% (n = 7) in the elderly group, compared with 3% (n = 26) in the younger cohort (P = NS). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that age was not an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Overall 5-year survival was 47% in group A and 54% in group B (P = NS).ConclusionDue to improved perioperative management, resection of gastric carcinoma is the treatment of choice in elderly patients. Although comorbidities were more frequent among the elderly patients, postoperative morbidity and mortality, even after extensive resections, was low. Survival rates were comparable to those in the younger patients.

Open right colectomy is still effective compared to laparoscopy: results of a randomized trial.

Objective:The primary goal of this study was to clarify whether a laparoscopic (LPS) approach could be considered the dominant strategy in patients undergoing right colectomy. Summary Background Data:Because few nonrandomized or small sized studies have been carried out so far, definitive conclusions about the role of LPS right colectomy cannot be drawn. Methods:Two hundred twenty-six patients, candidates for right colectomy, were randomly assigned to LPS (n = 113) or open (n = 113) resection. The postoperative care protocol was the same for both groups. Trained members of the surgical staff who were not involved in the study registered postoperative morbidity. Follow-up was carried out for 30 days after hospital discharge. The following costs were calculated: surgical instruments, operative room occupation, routine care, postoperative morbidity, and hospitalization. Results:Conversion rate in the LPS group was 2.6% (3 of 113). Operative time (in minutes) was longer in the LPS group (131 vs. 112, P = 0.01). Postoperative morbidity rate was 18.6% in the open group and 13.3% in the LPS group (P = 0.31). Postoperative stay was one day longer in the open group (P = 0.002). No difference was found in postoperative quality of life. The additional operative charge in the LPS group was &U20AC;980 per patient randomized (&U20AC;821 for surgical instruments and &U20AC;159 for longer operative time). The savings in the LPS group was &U20AC;390 per patient randomized (&U20AC;144 for shorter length of hospital stay and &U20AC;246 for the lower cost of postoperative morbidity). The net balance resulted in a &U20AC;590 extra charge per patient randomly allocated to the LPS group. Conclusion:LPS slightly improved postoperative recovery. This translated into a savings that covered only 40% of the extra operative charge. Therefore, open right colectomy could be still considered an effective procedure.

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Modifies Risk Factors for Postoperative Morbidity

PURPOSEThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether laparoscopic colorectal surgery can modify the risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative morbidity.METHODSA total of 384 consecutive patients with colorectal disease were randomized to laparoscopic resection (n = 190) or open resection (n = 194). On admission, demographics, comorbidity, and nutritional status were recorded. Operative variables, patient outcome, and length of stay were also recorded. Postoperative complications were registered by four members of staff not involved in the study.RESULTSThe overall morbidity rate was 27.1 percent, with the rate in the laparoscopic group (18.7 percent) being less than that in the open group (31.5 percent; P = 0.003). Patients who underwent laparoscopic resection had a faster recovery of bowel function (P = 0.0001) and a shorter length of stay (P = 0.0001). In the whole cohort of patients, multivariate analysis identified open surgery (P = 0.003), duration of surgery (P = 0.01), and homologous blood transfusion (P = 0.01) as risk factors for postoperative morbidity. In the open group, blood loss (P = 0.01), homologous blood transfusion (P = 0.01), duration of surgery (P = 0.009), weight loss (P = 0.06), and age (P = 0.08) were related to postoperative morbidity. In the laparoscopic group the only risk factor identified was duration of surgery (P = 0.005).CONCLUSIONIn the laparoscopic group, both postoperative morbidity and length of stay were significantly reduced and most risk factors for postoperative morbidity disappeared.

A single unit of transfused allogeneic blood increases postoperative infections

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if there was a statistical correlation between allogeneic blood transfusion and postoperative infections, and if this could have a dose‐dependent pattern. The evaluation was based on multiple logistic and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses. On hospital admission the following parameters were determined in 267 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer: hemoglobin, serum albumin, serum cholinesterase activity, total iron binding capacity and weight loss. Duration of operation, operative blood loss, amount of transfused blood, Dukes’ cancer stage and occurrence of postoperative infections were also recorded. One hundred and thirty‐two patients (49.4%) were given perioperatively allogeneic blood. Postoperative infections developed in 47 (17.6%) patients. Multivariate analysis identified allogeneic blood transfusion as the only variable related to the occurrence of postoperative infections (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the risk for the occurrence of infection was significantly higher in patients transfused one unit of blood (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant trend between increasing number of transfused blood units and susceptibility to infection was found (p < 0.00019).

Effect of Prednisolone on Local and Systemic Response in Laparoscopic vs. Open Colon Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess whether preoperative, short-term, intravenously administered high doses of methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg 90 minutes before surgery) influence local and systemic biohumoral responses in patients undergoing laparoscopic or open resection of colon cancer. METHODS: Fifty-two patients who were candidates for curative colon resection were randomly assigned to laparoscopic or open surgery and, in a double-blind design, assigned to receive methylprednisolone (n = 26) or placebo (n = 26). Pulmonary function, postoperative pain, C-reactive protein, interleukins 6 and 8, and tumor necrosis factor α were analyzed, as was patient outcome. RESULTS: The steroid and placebo groups were well balanced for preoperative variables, as were the subgroups of patients who underwent laparoscopic (methylprednisolone, n = 13; placebo, n = 13) and open surgery (methylprednisolone, n = 13; placebo, n = 13). No adverse events related to steroid administration occurred. In the methylprednisolone groups, significant improvement in pulmonary performance (P = 0.01), pain control (P = 0.001), and length of stay (P = 0.03) were observed independent of the surgical technique. No differences in morbidity or anastomotic leak rate were observed among groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of methylprednisolone in colon cancer patients may improve pulmonary performance and postoperative pain, and shorten length of stay regardless of the surgical technique used (laparoscopy, open colon resection).PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess whether preoperative, short-term, intravenously administered high doses of methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg 90 minutes before surgery) influence local and systemic biohumoral responses in patients undergoing laparoscopic or open resection of colon cancer. METHODS: Fifty-two patients who were candidates for curative colon resection were randomly assigned to laparoscopic or open surgery and, in a double-blind design, assigned to receive methylprednisolone (n = 26) or placebo (n = 26). Pulmonary function, postoperative pain, C-reactive protein, interleukins 6 and 8, and tumor necrosis factor &agr; were analyzed, as was patient outcome. RESULTS: The steroid and placebo groups were well balanced for preoperative variables, as were the subgroups of patients who underwent laparoscopic (methylprednisolone, n = 13; placebo, n = 13) and open surgery (methylprednisolone, n = 13; placebo, n = 13). No adverse events related to steroid administration occurred. In the methylprednisolone groups, significant improvement in pulmonary performance (P = 0.01), pain control (P = 0.001), and length of stay (P = 0.03) were observed independent of the surgical technique. No differences in morbidity or anastomotic leak rate were observed among groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of methylprednisolone in colon cancer patients may improve pulmonary performance and postoperative pain, and shorten length of stay regardless of the surgical technique used (laparoscopy, open colon resection).