François Mauvais

Life-threatening postoperative pancreatic fistula (grade C) after pancreaticoduodenectomy: incidence, prognosis, and risk factors.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic fistula (PF) is one of the most common postoperative complications of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). A recent International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) definition grades the severity of PF according to the clinical impact on the patients hospital course. Although PF is generally treated conservatively (grade A), some cases may require interventional procedures (grade B) or may be life-threatening and necessitate emergency reoperation (grade C). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of postoperative grade C PF after PD and to assess the prognosis and risk factors for this life-threatening condition. STUDY DESIGN Between January 2000 and December 2006, 680 consecutive patients underwent PD in 5 digestive surgery departments in the northwest region of France (Lille, Amiens, Rouen, and Caen). PF was defined as drain output of any measurable volume of fluid on or after postoperative day 3 with amylase content greater than 3 times the serum amylase activity (ISGPF guidelines). To identify possible risk factors for grade C PF, we reviewed the records of 111 (16.3%) patients with postoperative PF and compared grade C cases with grade A+B cases. RESULTS The median age was 59 years (range 22-87). The male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. Fifty-six (50.4%) PDs were performed via pancreaticogastrostomy and 55 via pancreaticojejunostomy. Overall mortality was 2% (n = 14). Grade C PF was observed in 36 (32%) patients, of whom 17 (47%) had sepsis due to an abdominal collection, 16 (44%) had postoperative bleeding, 10 (27.7%) had bleeding associated with abdominal collection, and 3 (9%) had multi-organ failure due to other causes. Of these 36 patients, 35 (97%) underwent reoperation. The mortality rate in grade C PF patients was 38.8%. The major causes of death were sepsis (n = 6) and recurrent bleeding after reoperation (n = 5). Grade C PF increased the duration of postoperative hospitalization (46 vs 29 days, P < .001). Univariate analysis showed that peroperative soft pancreatic parenchyma, peroperative blood transfusion, and postoperative bleeding were significant risk factors for grade C PF, with P values of .011, .003, and .001, respectively. No risk factors for grade C PF were identified in a multivariate analysis. The sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the presence of the 3 risk factors for grade C PF were 13.89%, 100%, 100%, and 70.75%, respectively. CONCLUSION Sixteen percent of patients had PF after PD. Among them, 30% had grade C PF, with a mortality rate of about 40%. Achievement of a 100% predictive positive value for grade C PF after PD in individuals with 3 discriminant risk factors (peroperative soft pancreatic parenchyma, peroperative transfusion, and postoperative bleeding) is a first step towards the identification of high-risk patients who should be managed differently from other patients with PF during or after PD.

Is there a role of preservation of the spleen in distal pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND The spleen may be preserved during distal pancreatectomy (DP) for benign disease. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the postoperative course of DP with or without splenectomy. STUDY DESIGN From June 1992 to June 1997, 40 adult patients without chronic pancreatitis underwent elective DP for benign lesions. Fifteen underwent spleen-preserving DP (Conservative Group) and 25 DP with splenectomy (Splenectomy Group). In spleen-preserving DP, we attempted to preserve the splenic artery and vein. RESULTS Spleen-preserving DP was successfully performed in all 15 cases. Patient groups were comparable for clinical features, indication for DP, and surgical procedure. There were no postoperative deaths. The overall incidence of pancreatic fistula was 23%, but was significantly higher in the Conservative Group (40%) than in the Splenectomy Group (12%; p < 0.05). Subphrenic abscesses were more frequently observed in the Conservative Group than in the Splenectomy Group (p < 0.05). The mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 19 days (range 6 to 46 days) in the Conservative Group and 12.5 days (range 7 to 45 days) in the Splenectomy Group (p < 0.05). At the end of mean followup of 30 months (range 8 to 40 months), no severe postsplenectomy sepsis was observed in the Splenectomy Group. CONCLUSIONS In our experience, DP with splenectomy has a lower morbidity rate and we consider it to be the best procedure for benign pancreatic disease.

Is stenting as "a bridge to surgery" an oncologically safe strategy for the management of acute, left-sided, malignant, colonic obstruction? A comparative study with a propensity score analysis.

Objective and Background:Self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) insertion has been suggested as a promising alternative to emergency surgery for left-sided malignant colonic obstruction (LMCO). However, the literature on the long-term impact of SEMS as “a bridge to surgery” is limited and contradictory. Methods:From January 1998 to June 2011, we retrospectively identified patients operated on for LMCO with curative intent. The primary outcome criterion was overall survival. Short-term secondary endpoints included the technical success rate and overall success rate and long-term secondary endpoints included 5-year overall survival, 5-year cancer-specific mortality, 5-year disease-free survival, the recurrence rate, and mean time to recurrence. Patients treated with SEMS were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Overall survival was analyzed after using a propensity score to correct for selection bias. Results:There were 48 patients in the SEMS group and 39 in the surgery-only group. In the overall population, overall survival (P = 0.001) and 5-year overall survival (P = 0.0003) were significantly lower in the SEMS group than in the surgery-only group, and 5-year cancer-specific mortality was significantly higher in the SEMS group (48% vs 21%, respectively (P = 0.02)). Five-year disease-free survival, the recurrence rate, and the mean time to recurrence were better in the surgery-only group (not significant). For patients with no metastases or perforations at hospital admission, overall survival (P = 0.003) and 5-year overall survival (30% vs 67%, respectively, P = 0.001) were significantly lower in the SEMS group than in the surgery-only group. Conclusions:Our study results suggest worse overall survival of patients with LMCO with SEMS insertion compared with immediate surgery.

Effect of postoperative antibiotic administration on postoperative infection following cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE Ninety percent of cases of acute calculous cholecystitis are of mild (grade I) or moderate (grade II) severity. Although the preoperative and intraoperative antibiotic management of acute calculous cholecystitis has been standardized, few data exist on the utility of postoperative antibiotic treatment. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of postoperative amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid on infection rates after cholecystectomy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS A total of 414 patients treated at 17 medical centers for grade I or II acute calculous cholecystitis and who received 2 g of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid 3 times a day while in the hospital before and once at the time of surgery were randomized after surgery to an open-label, noninferiority, randomized clinical trial between May 2010 and August 2012. INTERVENTIONS After surgery, no antibiotics or continue with the preoperative antibiotic regimen 3 times daily for 5 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The proportion of postoperative surgical site or distant infections recorded before or at the 4-week follow-up visit. RESULTS An imputed intention-to-treat analysis of 414 patients showed that the postoperative infection rates were 17% (35 of 207) in the nontreatment group and 15% (31 of 207) in the antibiotic group (absolute difference, 1.93%; 95% CI, -8.98% to 5.12%). In the per-protocol analysis, which involved 338 patients, the corresponding rates were both 13% (absolute difference, 0.3%; 95% CI, -5.0% to 6.3%). Based on a noninferiority margin of 11%, the lack of postoperative antibiotic treatment was not associated with worse outcomes than antibiotic treatment. Bile cultures showed that 60.9% were pathogen free. Both groups had similar Clavien complication severity outcomes: 195 patients (94.2%) in the nontreatment group had a score of 0 to I and 2 patients (0.97%) had a score of III to V, and 182 patients (87.8%) in the antibiotic group had a score of 0 to I and 4 patients (1.93%) had a score of III to V. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among patients with mild or moderate calculous cholecystitis who received preoperative and intraoperative antibiotics, lack of postoperative treatment with amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid did not result in a greater incidence of postoperative infections. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01015417.

Perforator flaps: a new option in perineal reconstruction.

Over the past few decades, methodological progress and better anatomical knowledge have reduced the morbidity of reconstructive surgery. Muscle-sparing flaps and perforator flaps provide the surgeon with additional options for reconstruction. Based on a review of the local flaps used for perineal reconstruction, this article describes these new solutions and presents a decision tree (based on whether abdominal incision is required or not). If laparotomy is required, abdominal flaps should be preferred. If surgical excision is performed with the patient in the prone position, then gluteal and pudendal donor sites are recommended.

Serum Procalcitonin for Predicting the Failure of Conservative Management and the Need for Bowel Resection in Patients with Small Bowel Obstruction

BACKGROUND Ischemia and necrosis are complications of small bowel obstruction (SBO) and require rapid surgical treatment. At present, there are no sufficiently accurate preoperative biomarkers of ischemia or necrosis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin levels for predicting conservative management failure and the presence of intraoperatively observed bowel ischemia (reversible or not) in patients with SBO. STUDY DESIGN One hundred and sixty-six participants of 242 in a randomized controlled trial focusing on the management of SBO (Acute Bowel Obstruction Diagnostic study [ABOD], NCT00389116) had available data on procalcitonin and were included in the study. The primary study objective was to determine whether serum procalcitonin could identify patients in whom conservative management (CM) failed (the surgical management [SM] group) and the subset of SM patients with intraoperatively observed ischemia (reversible or not). For the analysis, the patients were divided into subgroups according to the success or failure of CM and (for surgically managed patients) the presence or absence of intraoperative ischemia (reversible or not). RESULTS Procalcitonin levels were higher in the SM group (n = 35) than in the CM group (n = 131) (0.53 vs 0.14 ng/mL; p = 0.031) and higher in the group managed surgically with ischemia (n = 12) than patients managed surgically without intraoperative ischemia (n = 23) (1.16 vs 0.21 ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.001). A multiple logistic regression showed that procalcitonin is a risk factor for CM failure (odds ratio = 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-8.5; p = 0.006) and for ischemia (reversible or not) (odds ratio = 46.9; 95% CI, 4.0-547.3; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Procalcitonin can help predict CM failure and occurrence of bowel ischemia (reversible or not) in SBO patients, but additional studies are needed.

To Drain or Not to Drain Infraperitoneal Anastomosis After Rectal Excision for Cancer: The GRECCAR 5 Randomized Trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of pelvic drainage after rectal surgery for cancer. Background: Pelvic sepsis is one of the major complications after rectal excision for rectal cancer. Although many studies have confirmed infectiveness of drainage after colectomy, there is still a controversy after rectal surgery. Methods: This multicenter randomized trial with 2 parallel arms (drain vs no drain) was performed between 2011 and 2014. Primary endpoint was postoperative pelvic sepsis within 30 postoperative days, including anastomotic leakage, pelvic abscess, and peritonitis. Secondary endpoints were overall morbidity and mortality, rate of reoperation, length of hospital stay, and rate of stoma closure at 6 months. Results: A total of 494 patients were randomized, 25 did not meet the criteria and 469 were analyzed: 236 with drain and 233 without. The anastomotic height was 3.5 ± 1.9 cm from the anal verge. The rate of pelvic sepsis was 17.1% (80/469) and was similar between drain and no drain: 16.1% versus 18.0% (P = 0.58). There was no difference of surgical morbidity (18.7% vs 25.3%; P = 0.83), rate of reoperation (16.6% vs 21.0%; P = 0.22), length of hospital stay (12.2 vs 12.2; P = 0.99) and rate of stoma closure (80.1% vs 77.3%; P = 0.53) between groups. Absence of colonic pouch was the only independent factor of pelvic sepsis (odds ratio = 1.757; 95% confidence interval 1.078–2.864; P = 0.024). Conclusions: This randomized trial suggests that the use of a pelvic drain after rectal excision for rectal cancer did not confer any benefit to the patient.

Double L-shaped free-style perforator flap for perineal and vaginal reconstruction after cylindrical abdominoperineal resection.

The improvement of patient carcinological status by an abdominoperineal resection by extended posterior perineal approach in a prone position requires the plastic surgeon to consider other reconstructive options. We present an original double L-shaped free-style propeller flap used to reconstruct the vagina and the perineum of a 57-year-old patient after the resection of a T4 tumour of the lower rectum.

A Retrospective Comparison of Older and Younger Adults Undergoing Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Mild to Moderate Calculous Cholecystitis

To compare the demographic characteristics and intra‐ and postoperative outcomes in elderly adults (≥75) with those of younger adults undergoing early (<5 days after onset of complaints) cholecystectomy.

Feasibility of the Glissonian approach during right hepatectomy

OBJECTIVE The Glissonian approach during hepatectomy is a selective vascular clamping procedure associated with low rates of technical failure and complications. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of a right Glissonian approach in relation to portal vein anatomy. METHODS This was a prospective study conducted over a 12-month period, which included 32 patients for whom preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction using contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the portal venous phase and portography for right portal vein embolization were available, and in whom a right Glissonian approach was applied during right hepatectomy. Preoperative imaging data were correlated with intraoperative Doppler ultrasound findings (considered as the reference dataset). Causes of failures and complications specifically related to the Glissonian approach were identified. RESULTS Right hepatectomy was performed for colorectal liver metastases (n = 25), hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis (n = 6) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1). The Glissonian approach was effective in 24 (75%) patients. In the remaining eight (25%) patients, failure was caused by incomplete clamping (n = 2) or clamping of the left portal pedicle (n = 6). The portal anatomy was aberrant in six patients with failure, showing portal trifurcation (n = 1), right portal trifurcation (n = 1) and a common trunk between the right anterior and left portal branch (n = 4). An angle of less than 50° between the portal vein and left portal branch was reported in association with extended clamping to the left portal branch (selectivity = 72%, specificity = 71%). Intraoperative bleeding and biliary fistula occurred in two patients with non-normal portal anatomy. CONCLUSIONS The right Glissonian approach was effective in 75% of patients. Failure of the procedure (including the extension of clamping to the left pedicle) mostly occurred in patients with portal vein variations, which can be accurately assessed using a combination of preoperative imaging and intraoperative Doppler ultrasound.