Sebastiaan W. Polle

Body image, cosmesis, quality of life, and functional outcome of hand-assisted laparoscopic versus open restorative proctocolectomy: long-term results of a randomized trial.

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare quality of life (QOL), functional outcome, body image, and cosmesis after hand-assisted laparoscopic (LRP) versus open restorative proctocolectomy (ORP). The potential long-term advantages of LRP over ORP remain to be determined. The most likely advantage of LRP is the superior cosmetic result. It is, however, unclear whether the size and location of incisions affect body image and QOL.MethodsIn a previously conducted randomized trial comparing LRP with ORP, 60 patients were prospectively evaluated. The primary end points were body image and cosmesis. The secondary end points were morbidity, QOL, and functional outcome. A body image questionnaire was used to evaluate body image and cosmesis. The Short Form-36 Health Survey and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Inventory were used to assess QOL. Body image and QOL also were assessed preoperatively.ResultsA total of 53 patients completed the QOL and functional outcome questionnaires. There were no differences in functional outcome, morbidity, or QOL between LRP and ORP. At a median of 2.7 years after surgery, 46 patients returned the questionnaires regarding body image, cosmesis, and morbidity. The body image and cosmesis scores of female patients were significantly higher in the LRP group than in the ORP group (body image, 17.4 vs 14.9; cosmesis, 19.1 vs 13.0, respectively). The female patients in the ORP group had significantly lower body image scores than the male patients (14.9 vs 18.3).ConclusionsThis study is the first to show that ORP has a negative impact on body image and cosmesis as compared with LRP. Functional outcome, QOL, and morbidity are similar for the two approaches. The advantages of a long-lasting improved body image and cosmesis for this relatively young patient population may compensate for the longer operating times and higher costs, particularly for women.

Implementation of a Fast-Track Perioperative Care Program: What Are the Difficulties?

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of a fast-track (FT) program and it’s effect on postoperative recovery. Methods: All patients, scheduled for elective segmental colorectal resection were treated in a FT program (FT group). Data were compared to a control group operated for elective colorectal resections and treated in a traditional care program (TC group). Data from the FT group were collected prospectively, data from the TC group retrospectively. Outcome parameters included the number of successfully applied FT modalities, patient satisfaction, morbidity rate, re-operation rate, primary (PHS) and total hospital stay (THS), and readmission rate. Results: One-hundred and seven patients were included (55 FT group vs. 52 TC group). The groups were comparable for patient characteristics such as age and cr-POSSUM score (p = 0.22 and p = 0.40). An average of 7.4 of 13 predefined FT modalities were successfully achieved per patient. Patient satisfaction was comparable (p = 0.84). Seven versus 5 patients required a re-operation in the FT and TC groups, respectively (p = 0.52). Morbidity rate was comparable (n = 16 vs. 15, p = 0.83). Median PHS was 4.0 vs. 6.0 days and median THS was 4.0 vs. 6.5 days in the FT and TC groups (p < 0.01 and p < 0.03, respectively). Six vs. 3 patients were re-admitted in the FT and TC groups, respectively (p = 0.49). Conclusion: Implementation of all FT modalities was difficult since a rather low number of pre-defined FT modalities was effectively realized. Despite incomplete implementation, PHS and THS were shorter in the FT group without affecting patient satisfaction.

Short-Term Outcomes after Laparoscopic Ileocolic Resection for Crohn’s Disease

Background: No consensus exists whether ileocolic resection for Crohn’s disease (CD) should be carried out by a laparoscopic or open approach. A systematic review was conducted to assess the evidence for short-term advantages of laparoscopic compared to open resection for ileocolic CD. Methods: The literature search was conducted over the period 01/1991 to 02/2006. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical controlled trials and comparative studies comparing laparoscopic with open resection for ileocolic CD were included. A quality assessment was performed for all retrieved articles. The main outcome parameters were operating times, conversion rates, major and minor morbidity and hospital stays. Results: 14 publications encompassing 729 patients were included – 2 were RCTs, 12 were non-RCTs of which 2 were case-matched studies. Although pooling data of operating times was statistically not possible, they were longer for the laparoscopic procedure in the individual studies ranging from 75 to 185 min. Conversions varied between 0 and 16.7%. Postoperative complications requiring reoperation or reported overall morbidity were not different (risk difference –0.01 and –0.05, respectively). Hospital stay after the laparoscopic procedure was 1.90 days shorter (95% CI: 0.83–2.97). Conclusion: There is evidence that laparoscopic ileocolic resection for CD is associated with shorter hospital stay compared to open ileocolic resection, while morbidity rates are equal and conversion rates are acceptable

Older living kidney donors: Surgical outcome and quality of life

Background. Older living kidney donors remain controversial because of their physiological decline in glomerular filtration rate and their increased susceptibility of surgical complications. Little is known about the quality of life (QOL) of this elderly group. The purpose of this study is to examine surgical outcome and the QOL in older living donors. Patients and Methods. All 105 consecutive living donors who underwent a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy between June 2002 and February 2006 were prospectively included in the study. Intra- and postoperative complications were measured. Quality of life was recorded preoperatively and at several endpoints postoperatively. Older donors were defined as 55 years and older. Results. There were no significant differences in intra- and postoperative complication rates and 1-year graft survival rate between both groups. Elderly donors (n=34) had both a significant lower postoperative pain at rest at day 1 compared with the younger group (P=0.019) and a lower total pain score in the analysis for the whole follow-up period (P=0.002). Although small solitary significant differences in Short Form-36 Health Survey, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 and visual analogue scale measuring pain, between both groups were detected, in general QOL of older donors was not different than of younger donors. Conclusion. Although small solitary significant differences exist with respect to pain, social functioning and mental health older donors, in general, have similar surgical outcome and quality of life when compared with younger donors. There is no need to exclude older donors in screening programs for transplantation.

Surgery insight: minimally invasive surgery for IBD

The most frequently described laparoscopic operations for the management of patients with IBD are restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis and ileocolic resection for Crohns disease. For patients with Crohns disease, there is level 1b evidence that, in experienced hands, laparoscopic ileocolic resection enhances recovery and leads to a shorter hospital stay compared with conventional ileocolic resection. The demonstrated advantages of laparoscopic ileocolic resection with regard to cost and cosmesis, and the acceptable long-term results achieved (which are at least comparable to those achieved by conventional ileocolic resection) favor the use of laparoscopic ileocolic resection over conventional ileocolic resection in patients with ileocolic Crohns disease. For patients with ulcerative colitis, the expected advantages of laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy over conventional restorative proctocolectomy have yet to be clearly shown. Although there is a trend towards a reduced hospital stay (of only 1.6 days) when laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy is performed, operating times are disproportionably prolonged. The most important argument for offering patients with IBD the chance to undergo a laparoscopic procedure, rather than conventional open surgery, is (particularly for women) the long-term superior cosmesis and body image it confers.

Contents Vol. 24, 2007

N. Andoh, Chiba C.G.M.I. Baeten, Maastricht C. Bassi, Verona H.-P. Bruch, Lübeck X.P. Chen, Wuhan S.-T. Fan, Hong Kong A. Fingerhut, Poissy S. Galandiuk, Louisville, Ky. H.G. Gooszen, Utrecht T.M. van Gulik, Amsterdam J.G. Hunter, Portland, Oreg. I. Ihse, Lund J.R. Izbicki, Hamburg J.F. Ji, Beijing M. Kaminishi, Tokyo M.R.B. Keighley, Birmingham J.-P. Kim, Seoul J.J.B. van Lanschot, Rotterdam R.S. Leicester, London H. Lippert, Magdeburg P. Malfertheiner, Magdeburg P.E. O’Brien, Prahran R. Padbury, Adelaide H.A. Pitt, Indianapolis, Ind. L.F. Rikkers, Madison, Wisc. F. Seow-Choen, Singapore J.R. Siewert, Munich M. Sunamura, Sendai T. Tani, Shiga Y. Tekant, Istanbul H.W. Tilanus, Rotterdam J. Toouli, Adelaide K. Tsukada, Toyama B. Vollmar, Rostock A.L. Warshaw, Boston, Mass. Official Journal of European Digestive Surgery (EDS)