Gustavo Plasencia

Long-term survival after laparoscopic colon resection for cancer: complete five-year follow-up.

AbstractPURPOSE: The role of laparoscopic surgery in the cure of colorectal cancer is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term survival after curative, laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer. Specifically, we wanted to review those patients who now had complete five-year follow-up. METHODS: One hundred two consecutive patients (March 1991 to March 1996) underwent laparoscopic colon resections for cancer at one institution and now have complete five-year survival data. Charts were retrospectively reviewed and results compared with conventional surgery, i.e., open colectomy at our institution, and with the National Cancer Data Base during a similar time period. RESULTS: Fifty-nine male and 43 female patients with an average age of 70 (range, 34–92) years made up the study. Complications occurred in 23 percent of patients, and one patient died (1 percent). Forty-four laparoscopic right colectomies, 2 transverse colectomies, 36 laparoscopic left or sigmoid colectomies, 15 laparoscopic low anterior resections, and 5 laparoscopic abdominoperineal resections were performed. The average number of lymph nodes harvested was 6.6 ± 0.61 (range, 0–22). Eight cases (7.8 percent) were “converted to open”; i.e., the typical 6-cm extraction site was lengthened to complete mobilization, devascularization, resection, or anastomosis, or a separate incision was required to complete the procedure. There was one extraction-site recurrence and one port-site recurrence; both occurred before the routine use of plastic-sleeve wound protection. The mean follow-up for laparoscopic colon resection patients was 64.4 ± 2.8 (range, 1–111) months. According to the TNM classification system, 27 patients had Stage I cancer, 37 had Stage II, 23 had Stage III, and 15 had Stage IV. Similar five-year survival rates for laparoscopic and conventional surgery for cancer were noted. The five-year relative survival rates in the laparoscopic colon resection group were 73 percent for Stage I, 61 percent for Stage II, 55 percent for Stage III, and 0 percent for Stage IV. The five-year relative survival rates for the open colectomy and National Cancer Data Base groups were 75 and 70 percent, respectively, for Stage I, 65 and 60 percent for Stage II, 46 and 44 percent for Stage III, and 11 and 7 percent for Stage IV. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colon resection for cancer is safe and feasible in a private setting. Our data suggest that long-term survival after laparoscopic colon resection for cancer is similar to survival after conventional surgery. Prospective, randomized trials presently under way will likely confirm these results.

Laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy and low anterior resection

Laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy or low anterior resection was undertaken in 30 selected patients. The median age was 51 (range, 30–85) years. Eight patients had previous abdominal surgery: four hysterectomies, two appendectomies, and two cholecystectomies. There was no mortality. Complications occurred in three patients. One patient developed a wound infection, there was one iliac artery injury, and one postoperative bleed, which did not require transfusion. Eighteen patients were operated on for primary cancer of the colon and 12 patients for benign disease. Technical aspects are described in detail. The average hospital stay was four days with most patients receiving oral analgesics by the second postoperative day. Laparoscopic colon resection can be an alternative to open surgery.

Use of surgisis mesh in laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernias.

Background Breakdown of the crural closure is a frequent reason for failure of antireflux surgical procedures. This retrospective study aimed to determine the effectiveness of using absorbable mesh in preventing recurrence of hiatal hernia after posterior cruroplasty. Design Comparative retrospective analysis. Method The charts of 220 adults who underwent antireflux surgery with posterior cruroplasty between 1997 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: posterior cruroplasty+absorbable mesh reinforcement (n=127) and posterior cruroplasty alone (n=93). Symptomatic outcome was assessed by telephone interview in 92 patients (72%) in the mesh group at a median of 3.2 years postoperatively and 59 patients (63%) in the no mesh group of men studied at a median of 3.8 years postoperatively. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of recurrence and persistent symptoms. Results In the mesh group, 74/92 (80%) patients remained asymptomatic at a median of 3.2 years postoperatively. Of these patients, 31 underwent either an upper endoscopy or an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series; none had recurrence of hiatal hernia. Of the 18 symptomatic patients, 13 underwent an upper endoscopy or an UGI series to determine the etiology of symptoms; 3 recurrences were confirmed for a 3.3% overall proven recurrence rate. In the no mesh group, 26/59 (44%) patients were symptomatic. Of these, 18 underwent either an upper endoscopy or an UGI series. Recurrence of hernia was confirmed in 12 patients for a 20% overall proven recurrence rate. There were no instances of mesh infection or erosion. Conclusions Symptomatic recurrence rates of hiatal hernia after antireflux surgery vary. Recurrence of a hiatal hernia may or may not lead to symptoms. This retrospective analysis demonstrates that absorbable mesh is safe and may lead to a significant reduction in the incidence of symptomatic recurrent hiatal hernia.

Diverticular disease complicated with colovesical fistula: laparoscopic versus robotic management.

Fistula formation is a complication of diverticulitis in 4% to 20% of cases. The left or sigmoid colon is the most commonly involved segment. The most common presenting symptom is pneumaturia and dysuria, followed by fecaluria, abdominal pain and, rarely, hematuria. Some colovesical fistulas (CVFs) are asymptomatic. CVF is more common in males and in females with a history of hysterectomy. The diagnosis is usually made clinically but can be confirmed by cystoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or virtual colonoscopy. The usual management for symptomatic patients is colon resection, and there is still controversy in the approach to asymptomatic patients. Left colectomy for CVF secondary to diverticular disease can be very challenging owing to the presence of acute and chronic inflammation, which makes the tissues harder and more prone to bleeding. It is also more difficult to visualize and find proper anatomic planes and to identify vital structures. Conversion rates of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy complicated with diverticulitis are double that for cancer and as high as 30%. In general, a colectomy for diverticulitis is considered a more difficult operation than a colectomy for cancer, whether or not a laparoscopic or open approach is chosen. Some authors have proposed laparoscopic surgery as the gold standard approach for diverticular disease and CVF management. The safety of robotic surgery for colorectal diseases has been previously addressed in other studies. The

A new silicone prosthesis in the modified Thiersch operation

Experience with a new silicone prosthesis in the modified Thiersch operation for rectal procidentia in 16 extremely poor-risk patients is presented. The technique of implantation, structural details of the prosthesis, and the clinical results are described. The use of a new silicone prosthesis in the modified Thiersch procedure is a viable alternative in this group of patients. Surgical technique is a primary determining factor in preventing complications.

Self-expanding metallic stents for palliation and as a bridge to minimally invasive surgery in colorectal obstruction

Self-expanding metallic stents are effective for the palliation of malignant obstruction. This study indicates that stents for bowel obstruction may allow for minimally invasive surgical intervention with a shorter hospital stay, lower stoma rate, and earlier chemotherapy administration.

Robotic Right Colectomy: Three-Arm Technique

Laparoscopic colectomy has been shown to have significant advantages over open colectomy. The enhanced dexterity afforded by the robotic system may facilitate the adoption of a minimally invasive approach to colectomies. Robotic right colectomy is safe and feasible and may be an ideal case for a surgeon’s initial experience with robotic techniques. Operative times and perioperative complications are comparable to laparoscopic colectomy, and limited studies suggest oncologic outcomes to be equivalent as well. One of the obvious advantages of the robotic approach is the facilitation of an intracorporeal anastomosis and its associated advantages. A three-arm technique simplifies the setup and minimizes external robotic arm collisions.

Adult intussusception with autoamputation and preservation of bowel continuity

We present a case of adult intussusception with autoamputation and preservation of bowel continuity. Our patient, a 65-year-old man, passed a 65-cm segment of large bowel per anus with spontaneous recovery and with a two-month follow-up free of symptoms secondary to the intussusception. Mesenteric ischemia secondary to angiography with distal embolization two weeks prior to the event may have been a precipitating factor in this unusual form of intussusception