Renato Micelli Lupinacci

Effect of Interval (7 or 11 weeks) Between Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy and Surgery on Complete Pathologic Response in Rectal Cancer: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial (GRECCAR-6)

Purpose A pathologic complete response (pCR; ypT0N0) of a rectal tumor after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) is associated with an excellent prognosis. Several retrospective studies have investigated the effect of increasing the delay after RCT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing the interval between the end of RCT and surgery on the pCR rate. Methods GRECCAR6 was a phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group controlled trial. Patients with cT3/T4 or Tx N+ tumors of the mid or lower rectum who had received RCT (45 to 50 Gy with fluorouracil or capecitabine) were included. Patients were randomly included in the 7-week or the 11-week (11w) group. Primary end point was the pCR rate defined as a ypT0N0 specimen (NCT01648894). Results A total of 265 patients from 24 centers were enrolled between October 2012 and February 2015. The majority of the tumors were cT3 (82%). After RCT, surgery was not performed in nine patients (3.4%) because of the occurrence of distant metastasis (n = 5) or other reasons. Two patients underwent local resection of the tumor scar. A total of 47 (18.6%) specimens were classified as ypT0 (four had invaded lymph nodes [8.5%]). The primary end point (ypT0N0) was not different (7 weeks: 20 of 133, 15.0% v 11w: 23 of 132, 17.4%; P = .5983). Morbidity was significantly increased in the 11w group (44.5% v 32%; P = .0404) as a result of increased medical complications (32.8% v 19.2%; P = .0137). The 11w group had a worse quality of mesorectal resection (complete mesorectum [I] 78.7% v 90%; P = .0156). Conclusion Waiting 11 weeks after RCT did not increase the rate of pCR after surgical resection. A longer waiting period may be associated with higher morbidity and more difficult surgical resection.

Primary aortoenteric fistula related to septic aortitis

CONTEXT Primary aortoenteric fistulas usually result from erosion of the bowel wall due to an associated abdominal aortic aneurysm. A few patients have been described with other etiologies such as pseudoaneurysm originating from septic aortitis caused by Salmonella. OBJECTIVE To present a rare clinical case of pseudoaneurysm caused by septic aortitis that evolved into an aortoenteric fistula. CASE REPORT A 65-year-old woman was admitted with Salmonella bacteremia that evolved to septic aortitis. An aortic pseudoaneurysm secondary to the aortitis had eroded the transition between duodenum and jejunum, and an aortoenteric fistula was formed. In the operating room, the affected aorta and intestinal area were excised and an intestine-to-intestine anastomosis was performed. The aorta was sutured and an axillofemoral bypass was carried out. In the intensive care unit, the patient had a cardiac arrest that evolved to death.

Hepatocellular adenoma: an excellent indication for laparoscopic liver resection.

OBJECTIVES Laparoscopic resection for benign liver disease has gained wide acceptance in recent years and hepatocellular adenoma (HA) seems to be an appropriate indication. This study aimed to discuss diagnosis and treatment strategies, and to assess the feasibility, safety and outcomes of pure laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) in a large series of patients with HA. METHODS Of 88 patients who underwent pure LLR, 31 were identified as having HA. Diagnosis was based on radiological evaluation and resections were performed for lesions measuring >5.0 cm. RESULTS The sample included 29 female and two male patients. Their mean age was 33.2 years. A total of 27 patients had a single lesion, one patient had two and one had four lesions. The two remaining patients had liver adenomatosis. Mean tumour size was 7.5 cm. Three right hepatectomies, 17 left lateral sectionectomies and 11 wedge resections or segmentectomies were performed. There was no need for blood transfusion or conversion to open surgery. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients. Mean hospital stay was 3.8 days. CONCLUSIONS Hepatocellular adenoma should be regarded as an excellent indication for pure LLR. Pure LLR is safe and feasible and should be considered the standard of care for the treatment of HA when performed by surgeons with experience in liver and laparoscopic surgery.

Tumor growth pattern as predictor of colorectal liver metastasis recurrence

BACKGROUND Surgical resection is the gold standard therapy for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRM). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of tumor growth patterns on disease recurrence. METHODS We enrolled 91 patients who underwent CRM resection. Pathological specimens were prospectively evaluated, with particular attention given to tumor growth patterns (infiltrative vs pushing). RESULTS Tumor recurrence was observed in 65 patients (71.4%). According to multivariate analysis, 3 or more lesions (P = .05) and the infiltrative tumor margin type (P = .05) were unique independent risk factors for recurrence. Patients with infiltrative margins had a 5-year disease-free survival rate significantly inferior to patients with pushing margins (20.2% vs 40.5%, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS CRM patients with pushing margins presented superior disease-free survival rates compared with patients with infiltrative margins. Thus, the adoption of the margin pattern can represent a tool for improved selection of patients for adjuvant treatment.

Surgical management of gallbladder disease in the very elderly: are we operating them at the right time?

Background As life expectancy rises worldwide and the prevalence of gallstones increases with age, the number of very elderly patients requiring treatment for gallstone diseases is increasing. The aim of this study was to compare the results of cholecystectomy in patients 80 years or older according to different clinical presentations. Methods This is a retrospective study of 81 patients 80 years or older. Indications for surgery were stratified into three groups: outpatients (symptomatic chronic cholecystitis), inpatients (complicated gallstone diseases), and urgent patients (acute cholecystitis). Data analysis included age, sex, the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, indication for surgery, length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. Results The mean age of the patients was 83.9 (range 80–94 years); there were 34 (42%) men. Thirty patients were operated on for acute cholecystitis. Patients in the urgency group significantly required the ICU more often, required a longer hospital stay, and had more complications, with 32% mortality. No differences were found between inpatients and outpatients, with both groups presenting low morbidity, no mortality, and the same postoperative length of stay. Conclusion More than 80% of the patients were operated on because of complicated gallstone disease. Although the outcomes of patients undergoing semielective cholecystectomy were similar to those of patients treated as outpatients, patients operated with acute cholecystitis presented extremely high morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, we can only recommend that early elective cholecystectomy be performed in elderly patients as soon as they are found to have symptomatic gallstones. Also, further trials are required to elucidate the optimal management of acute cholecystitis in elderly patients.

Surgical treatment of severe pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy by wirsungostomy and repeat pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis

BACKGROUND After pancreaticoduodenectomy, severe pancreatic fistula may require salvage relaparotomy in patients with largely disrupted pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. Completion pancreatectomy remains the gold standard but yields high mortality and severe long-term repercussions. The authors report the results of a pancreas-preserving strategy used in this life-threatening condition. METHODS Two hundred fifty-four pancreaticoduodenectomies with pancreaticojejunal anastomosis were performed between 2005 and 2011; 21 patients underwent salvage relaparotomy for grade C pancreatic fistula. Largely dehiscent pancreaticojejunal anastomoses were dismantled in 16 patients. Four patients underwent completion pancreatectomy, whereas in 12 patients detailed here, the remaining pancreas was preserved and drained by wirsungostomy with exteriorization or closure of the jejunal stump. Repeat pancreaticojejunal anastomosis was later planned to preserve pancreatic function. RESULTS One patient died of recurrent hemorrhage on day 1 after wirsungostomy (8.3%). All but 1 survivor developed postoperative complications, and 3 needed reoperation before hospital discharge. The median hospital stay was 62 days (range, 29 to 156 days). After a median delay of 130 days (range, 91 to 240 days) from salvage relaparotomy, repeat pancreaticojejunostomy was attempted in 10 patients and was successful in 9 (1 completion pancreatectomy was performed). One patient died postoperatively (10%). Long-term endocrine function was unaltered in 66% of patients who benefited from this conservative strategy. CONCLUSIONS This pancreas-preserving strategy yielded a whole mortality rate of 17% for largely disrupted pancreaticojejunal anastomosis requiring salvage relaparotomy. It compares favorably with systematic completion pancreatectomy and achieved preservation of remnant pancreatic function in 75% of patients.

Isolated splenic metastasis from lung squamous cell carcinoma

Isolated splenic metastasis from lung cancer is a very rare occurrence with only a few reports available. Here, we report the case of a 82-year-old male who underwent a bilobectomy for a lung squamous cell carcinoma and 16 months later developed an isolated splenic metastasis. Additionally, previous reports are reviewed and discussed.

Use of a Bioprosthetic Mesh in Complex Hernia Repair Early Results From a French Multicenter Pilot Study

Background. Implantation of synthetic meshes for reinforcement of abdominal wall hernias can be complicated by mesh infection, which often requires mesh explantation. The risk of mesh infection is increased in a contaminated environment or in patients who have comorbidities such as diabetes or smoking. The use of biological prostheses has been advocated because of their ability to resist infection. Initial results, however, have shown high hernia recurrence rates and wound occurrences. The objective of the present study is to evaluate early and mid-term outcomes in the largest French series that included 43 consecutive complex abdominal hernias repaired with biological prostheses. Materials and methods. Retrospective observational study of a prospective collected data bank. Patient demographics, history of previous repairs, intraoperative findings and degree of contamination, associated procedures, postoperative prosthetic-related complications, and long-term results were retrospectively reviewed. Results. There were 25 (58%) incisional, 14 parastomal, and 4 midline hernia repairs. Hernias were considered “clean” (n = 5), “clean-contaminated” (n = 19), “contaminated” (n = 12), or “dirty” (n = 7). Wound-related morbidity occurred in 17 patients; 4 patients needed reoperation for cutaneous necrosis or abscess. Smoking was the only risk factor associated with wound complication (P = .022). No postoperative wound events required removal of the prosthesis. There were 4 hernia recurrences (9%). A previous attempt at repair (P = .018) and no complete fascia closure (P = .033) were associated with hernia recurrence. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that the use of bioprothesis in complex hernia repair allowed successful single-stage reconstruction. Wound-related complications were frequent. Cost-benefit analyses are important to establish the validity of these findings.

Prognostic implication of mucinous histology in resected colorectal cancer liver metastases.

BACKGROUND Colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a subtype of colorectal adenocarcinoma with prominent mucin production associated with proximal location of tumor, advanced stage at diagnosis, microsatellite instability, and BRAF mutation. The prognostic implication of MAC in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) is unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency and elucidate the prognostic implication of mucinous histology in CRCLM. METHODS The medical records of 118 patients who underwent CRCLM resection between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed. Clinicopathologic variables and outcome parameters were examined. Resected specimens were submitted to routine histologic evaluation. Patients were grouped according to the metastasis mucinous content: >50%, MAC; <50%, adenocarcinoma with intermediated mucinous component (AIM); and without any mucinous component, non-MAC (NMA). RESULTS Mean follow-up after resection was 37 months. Tumor recurrence was observed in 75% of patients. Overall survival and disease-free survival rates after hepatectomy were 61%, 56%, and 26%, 24% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Tumors with mucinous component (AIM and MAC) were related to proximal location of the primary tumor and were more frequently observed in females. Multivariate analysis revealed that MAC was an independent negative prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.30-6.68; P = .011) compared with non-MAC (NMA and AIM). CONCLUSION MAC has an adverse prognostic impact compared with NMA, which may influence therapeutic strategy raising an important subject for discussion and future investigation.

Dimensão da margem cirúrgica nas ressecções de metástase hepática de câncer colorretal: impacto na recidiva e sobrevida

BACKGROUND Approximately 50% of the patients with a colorectal tumor develop liver metastasis, for which hepatectomy is the standard care. Several prognostic factors have been discussed, among which is the surgical margin. This is a recurring issue, since no consensus exists as to the minimum required distance between the metastatic nodule and the liver transection line. AIM To evaluate the surgical margins in liver resections for colorectal metastases and their correlation with local recurrence and survival. METHODS A retrospective study based on the review of the medical records of 91 patients who underwent resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer. A histopathological review was performed of all the cases; the smallest surgical margin was verified, and the late outcome of recurrence and survival was evaluated. RESULTS No statistical difference was found in recurrence rates and overall survival between the patients with negative or positive margins (R0 versus R1); likewise, there was no statistical difference between subcentimeter margins and those greater than 1 cm. The disease-free survival of the patients with microscopically positive margins was significantly worse than that of the patients with negative margins. The uni- and multivariate analyses did not establish the surgical margin (R1, narrow or less than 1 cm) as a risk factor for recurrence. CONCLUSION The resections of liver metastases with negative margins, independently of the margin width, had no impact on tumor recurrence (intra- or extrahepatic) or patient survival.