Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes between laparoscope-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for the treatment of mid and low rectal cancer: a meta-analysis / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate systematically the short- and long-term outcomes between laparoscope-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision (LA-taTME) and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME) in the treatment of mid and low rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literatures comparing LA-taTME with L-TME published from January 2014 to January 2018 were systematically selected through searching PubMed, Ovid, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang databases. Literature screening and methodology quality evaluation were carried out by two surgeons independently. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) was evaluated by the modified Jadad rating scale, in which 1 to 3 and 4 to 7 were considered as low and high quality,respectively(total scores: 7). Non-randomized controlled trial (NRCT) was assessed by the modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS), in which 1 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 9 were defined as low, moderate, and high quality, respectively (total score: 9). Ratio of incomplete mesorectum, positive rate of circumferential resection margin (CRM), number of harvested lymph node, distance of distal resection margin, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, morbidity of postoperative complication, conversion rate, hospital stay, recurrence, 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 2-year overall survival (OS) were compared and analyzed by using Stata/SE12.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fourteen studies including 1 RCT and 13 NRCTs were enrolled finally. Among them, the RCT with a score of 6 was considered to be of high quality; all NRCTs (2 with 6 stars, 5 with 7 stars, and another 6 with 8 stars) were indicative of moderate to high quality; 450 patients underwent LA-taTME and 498 patients underwent L-TME. No significant differences were observed in terms of age, gender, tumor location and TNM stage between two approaches (all P>0.05). Compared to L-TME, LA-taTME had lower ratio of incomplete mesorectum (RR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.31 to 0.93, P=0.026), lower positive rate of CRM (RR=0.50, 95%CI: 0.29 to 0.86, P=0.012), lower conversion rate(RR=0.48, 95%CI: 0.26 to 0.86, P=0.014), lower morbidity of postoperative complication (RR=0.81, 95%CI: 0.67 to 0.99, P=0.036) and less intraoperative blood loss (SMD=-0.38, 95%CI:-0.68 to -0.08, P=0.013). While the differences between two groups had no statistical significance in terms of operative duration, number of harvested lymph node, distance of distal resection margin, hospital stay, overall recurrence, 2-year DFS and 2-year OS (all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The short- and long-term outcomes of LA-taTME and L-TME for the treatment of mid and low rectal cancer are comparable, while LA-taTME can reduce the ratio of incomplete mesorectum, positive rate of CRM, conversion rate, and morbidity of postoperative complication, and intraoperative blood loss.</p>

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with a novel artery first and uncinate process first approach through Treitz ligament / 中华外科杂志

Objective@#To explore the clinical effect of a novel artery first and uncinate process first approach for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD), emphasizing the left lateral and posterior dissection of uncinate process (UP) via Treitz ligament approach.@*Methods@#From April to November 2016, 18 patients received LPD with a novel approach in Pancreas Center of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University. All patients were diagnosed as pancreatic head or peri-ampulla tumor, without major vessel invasion nor distant metastasis. For resection, routine caudal view was used in the first step, to dissect the anterior medial border between uncinate process and superior mesenteric vein(SMV). Lymphatic tissues were completely dissected form anterior surface of hepatoduodenal ligament. In the second step, left lateral view with camera from left para-umbilical trocar was used, Treitz ligament was incised, SMA root was exposed. After anticlockwise rotation and retraction of mesentery, the anatomic relationship between SMA trunk, inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery(IPDA), jejunal branch of SMV, and distal part of UP, could be perfectly exposed from left lateral view. SMA was dissected from its root until the position above the uncinate process and duodenum, IPDA was transected, distal part of UP was freed from SMA. In the third step, right lateral view and caudal view were alternatively used; proximal UP mesentery was completely dissected out from SMA root, CA root and posterior surface of hepatoduodenal ligament. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was completed in the forth step after transection of pancreatic neck and common hepatic duct.@*Results@#The SMA root and distal UP were successfully dissected out via Treitz ligament approach in all 18 patients, among them, distal UP was completely excised in 8 patients from left view. Postoperative pathology showed R0 resection rate in 69%. Postoperative complication included intra-abdominal hemorrhage in 1 patient, pancreatic fistula in 7 patients(6 cases with grade A and 1 case with grade B), delayed gastric emptying in 4 patients (2 cases with grade A, 2 cases with grade B). Average postoperative hospital stay was (15.5±6.8)days.@*Conclusion@#The novel artery first and uncinate process first approach through Treitz ligament could help surgeons to completely dissect the full length of meso-pancreas along celiac axis-SMA axis in LPD.