Short-term efficacy of modified laparoscopic extralevator abdominoperineal excision for ultralow rectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the short-term efficacy of modified laparoscopic extralevator abdominoperineal excision (L-ELAPE) for ultralow rectal cancer.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 60 patients with ultralow rectal cancer who underwent L-ELAPE in the Tangdu Hospital Affiliated to the Air Force Medical University from January 2014 to July 2018 were collected. There were 32 males and 28 females, aged (58±12)years, with a range from 38 to 75 years. Of the 60 patients, 30 patients undergoing modified L-ELAPE were allocated into modified group and 30 patients undergoing traditional L-ELAPE were allocated into control group. For patients in the modified group, the abdominal procedure is the same as the traditional L-ELAPE. The improvements were as follows: (1) when tumor was located in the anterior rectal wall, the patient was plased into the jackknife position before starting the perineal procedure. (2) In order to prevent the small intestine from falling into the presacral space after surgery, the pelvic floor peritoneum was closed under laparoscopy and the biological patch was placed if necessary. For patients in the control group, the whole procedure was performed in the lithotomy position and the biological patch was sutured at the levator ani muscle. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative situations; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient examinations and pelvic computed tomography (CT) examination at 3 months after surgery to assess the small intestine falling into the presacral space up to January 2019. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the t test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher′s exact probability. Results:(1) Surgical situations: patients in the two groups completed surgeries successfully, without tranversion to laparostomy or death within 1 month after operation. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, the number of lymph node harvested, quality score of the whole group specimens, quality score of anterior wall tumor specimens were (359±105)minutes, (192±99)mL, 17±6, 4.1±0.8, 4.7±0.5 for the modified group, respectively, versus (268±37)minutes, (136±61)mL, 15±5, 3.5±0.7, 3.9±0.7 for the control group, respectively. There were significant differences in the operation time, the quality score of the whole group specimens and the quality score of anterior wall tumor specimens between the two groups ( t=2.613, 2.130, 2.871, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the volume of intraoperative blood loss or the number of lymph node harvested between the two groups ( t=1.521, 0.864, P>0.05). (2) Postoperative situations: the time to first liquid food intake, time to urinary catheter removal, the level of C-reactive protein at the first postoperative day, duration of postoperative hospital stay and cases with perineal complications were (3.3±1.1)days, (8.7±4.8)days, (85±27)mg/L, (8.5±4.5)days and 4 for the modified group, respectively, versus (2.7±1.4)days, (7.7±2.8)days, (79±25)mg/L, (7.7±2.2)days and 5 for the control group. There was no significant difference in the time to first liquid food intake, time to urinary catheter removal, the level of C-reactive protein at the first postoperative day, duration of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( t=1.311, 1.520, 0.521, 0.509, P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the perineal complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients with perineal complications were cured after drainage, wound management, nutritional support and extention of hospital stay. (3) Follow-up: all patients were followed up after surgery. The modified group and the control group had 2 cases and 19 cases of small intestine falling into the presacral space showed by the pelvic CT examination at the postoperative 3 months, respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=21.172, P<0.05). Conclusions:Modified L-ELAPE is safe and feasible for the ultralow rectal cancer, which can provide a better exposure and specimen quality for the tumor located at anterior rectal wall and reduce the incidence of small intestine falling into the presacral space. However, it has longer operation time.

Application value of the clearance of No.253 lymph nodes with priority to fascial space and preserving left colic artery in laparoscopic radical proctectomy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the application value of the clearance of No.253 lymph nodes with priority to fascial space and preserving left colic artery (LCA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical proctectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2015 to August 2016, 97 consecutive middle-low rectal cancer patients underwent laparoscopic radical proctectomy using the clearance of No.253 lymph nodes with priority to fascial space and preserving LCA at Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital. Among 97 patients, 45 were females , 52 were males, mean age was (64.3±5.5) years and mean BMI was (22.4±1.8) kg/m. Brief steps of this clearance: traditional medial approach was the commencement of the dissection at the membrane bridge line in front of iliac vascular bifurcation, then entering into the Toldt's space; superior rectal artery served as the top of the tent and the Toldt's space was extended as far as possible; blunt separation was developed caudally (reaching 2 cm below the sacral promontory), cephalad (reaching the lower part of the pancreas), left laterally (reaching Toldt's line), dextrally (reaching abdominal aorta); after giving priority to fascias space, from the root of inferior mesenteric artery, LCA was exposed and No.253 lymph nodes were dissected. This regimen was suitable for the rectal adenocarcinoma patients without distant metastasis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no tension in the intestine and mesenteria after anastomosis in all the 97 patients. One patient received LCA ligation during the clearance, because of thinner LCA resulting in bleeding. The other 96 cases completed the clearance and operation successfully. The mean No.253 lymphadenectomy time was 11-27(17.1±5.3) minutes. The mean number of harvested No.253 lymph node was 0-6(4±2). The No.253 lymph nodes of 6 patients were positive. No.253 regional mesentery was complete in 95 patients. The total harvested number of lymph node was 11-26(17.3±5.3). Six patients with positive lymph nodes aged from 68 to 72 years old and all of them underwent TME operation 6-8 weeks after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The mean operative time was 89-189(125±35) minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 10.5-38.6(22.4±10.5) ml. The first exhaust time was 3.0-6.0(5.6±2.1) days. The mean time to extracting the drainage tube was 3.0-5.0(4.5±2.5) days. Anastomotic fistula appeared in 1 case and hemorrhage appeared in 1 case, and these 2 cases were cured by conservative treatment. No perioperative death occurred. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.0-10.0(3.6±2.6) days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clearance of No.253 lymph nodes with priority to fascial space and preserving LCA in laparoscopic radical proctectomy is safe and feasible.</p>

Application of Overlap method to digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic left colectomy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the application value of the Overlap method in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic left colectomy(TLLC) and its potential advantage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The retrospective cohort study was adopted. Clinicopathological data of 16 patients with left colon cancer who underwent TLLC and Overlap anastomosis between August 2016 and August 2017 at Tangdu Hospital were retrospectively collected as Overlap group. Twenty-one patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted left colectomy (LALC) between January 2015 and July 2016 at Tangdu Hospital were used as control (traditional group). The intraoperative and postoperative data were compared between the two groups. During digestive tract reconstruction in the Overlap group, the proximal colon and distal colon were lined up side by side; a side-to-side anastomosis was conducted on colic band with a 60 mm linear stapler; and the common entry hole was closed using running suture. While in traditional group, the bowel was pulled out of abdominal wall through the assisted incision; the sample was resected and a proximal and distal end-to-end anastomosis was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Overlap group, 10 cases were male and 6 cases were female, with a mean age of (66.4±4.8) years and a BMI of (23.6±2.3) kg/m; the tumor located in distal transverse colon in 1 case, in splenic flexure in 2 cases, in descending colon in 4 cases, in upper sigmoid colon in 9 cases. TLLC was successfully completed in all the cases without conversion to laparotomy. In traditional group, 12 cases were male and 9 cases were female, with mean age of (65.9±5.8) years and BMI of (22.7±2.8) kg/m; the tumor located in the distal transverse colon in 1 case, in the splenic flexure in 3 cases, in the descending colon in 6 cases, in the upper sigmoid colon in 11 cases. No statistically significant differences in baseline data were found between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared to the traditional group, the total operation time was shorter [(143.4±11.1) minutes vs. (166.4±16.5) minutes, t=4.792, P=0.000], the anastomosis time was prolonged [(44.3±3.3) minutes vs. (22.4±3.0) minutes, t=-20.948, P=0.000], the amount of bleeding was reduced [(46.6±13.6) ml vs. (70.5±20.0) ml, t=4.106, P=0.000], and the incision length was shorter [(3.9±0.9) cm vs. (6.7±1.3) cm, t=7.056, P=0.000] in the Overlap group. There were no significant differences in lymph nodes harvested (17.3±2.9 vs. 15.5±3.0), time to flatus [(2.8±1.3) days vs. (2.6±1.0)days], postoperative complications [6.2%(1/16) vs. 9.5%(2/21)] and postoperative hospitalization [(4.6±1.4) days vs.(4.7±1.2) days] between the two groups (all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Overlap reconstruction method in totally laparoscopic left colectomy is a safe and feasible procedure, and provides less injury and better cosmetic outcome of abdominal wall.</p>

Application value of the modified Overlap method in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the application value of the modified Overlap method in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG).Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 50 patients with gastric cancer who underwent TLTG with Overlap anastomosis between January 2016 and December 2016 in the Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University were collected.Twenty-six patients using classic Overlap method and 24 patients using modified Overlap method were respectively allocated into the classic Overlap group and modified Overlap group.All the patients underwent D2 lymph node dissection.Patients in the classic Overlap group underwent totally laparoscopic catastalsis side-to-side esophagojejunostomy.During digestive tract reconstruction in the modified Overlap group,there was no esophageal transection before anastomosis,and gastric fundus traction fully exposed to the lower esophagus.Esophagus was spun anticlockwise,and a hole was opened at the left posterior esophageal wall.Transection of jejunum was 25 cm away from Treitz ligment,and opening a hole at mesenteric margin was 6 cm away from distal jejunum to transected end of jejunum.Esophagus-distal jejunum side-to-side anastomosis was done using 60 mm linear stapler,and then laterally closing openings and transecting esophagus.Observation indicators:(1) intra-and post-operative recovery:total operation time,time of esophagus-jejunum anastomosis,volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph node dissected,time to anal exsufflation,cases with complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay;(2) follow-up and survival.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative tumor-free survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to March 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s and comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent-sample t test.Comparison of count data was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Results (1) Intra-and post-operative recovery:all the 50 patients underwent successful TLTG using Overlap method,without conversion to open surgery.Total operation time and time of esophagus-jejunum anastomosis were respectively (278.6± 14.9) minutes,(46.5 ± 4.4) minutes in the classic Overlap group and (253.3 ± 12.8) minutes,(20.4 ± 2.3) minutes in the modified Overlap group,with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (t =5.459,22.482,P＜0.05).Volume of intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph node dissected,time to anal exsufflation,cases with complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay were respectively (73±25) mL,34±6,(2.7± 1.0) days,2,(9.7± 1.6) days in the classic Overlap group and (71 ± 22) mL,35± 5,(2.6± 1.3) days,2,(9.8± 1.5) days in the modified Overlap group,with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (t =0.175,-0.616,0.293,-0.217,P＞ 0.05).Two patients in the classic Overlap group were respectively complicated with esophagus-jejunum anastomotic fistula and pancreatic leakage,2 patients in the modified Overlap group were respectively complicated with pulmonary infection and subcutaneous emphysema,and they were improved by symptomatic treatment.(2) Follow-up and survival:41 of 50 patients were followed up for 3-15 months,with a median time of 7 months,including 20 in the classic Overlap group and 21 in the modified Overlap group.During follow-up,patients had tumor-free survival,without tumor recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion Compared with classic Overlap method,the modified Overlap method can simplify the anastomotic procedures,shorten operation time and achieve similar efficacy,and it is also a simple and effective method for digestive tract reconstruction after TLTG.