Single-port laparoscopic Deloyers procedure for tension-free anastomosis after extended left colectomy or subtotal colectomy: A 6-patient case series.

Right colon-to-rectal anastomosis is performed in relatively rare conditions, including after subtotal colectomy or extended left hemicolectomy. One technique of tension-free anastomosis is the Deloyers procedure that includes cranio-caudal rotation of the right colon. As with other colon surgeries, the laparoscopic approach has been adapted for the Deloyers procedure. Nevertheless, due to its rare indications and technical specificity, only a small case series have been reported. Here, we report our experience with single-port laparoscopic (SPL) Deloyers procedures.Between June 2013 and March 2018, 6 patients underwent SPL Deloyers procedures. Three patients underwent SPL subtotal colectomy with ascending colon-to-rectal anastomosis for sigmoid colon cancer with chronic ischemic colitis, sigmoid colon cancer with left colon ischemia, and synchronous transverse and sigmoid colon cancer, respectively. The other 3 patients underwent SPL Hartmann reversal using the Deloyers procedure technique for 2 transverse colon end colostomies and 1 ascending colon end colostomy state, which were the result of a previous extended left hemicolectomy and subtotal colectomy, respectively. A commercially available single port was used with conventional straight and rigid laparoscopic instruments. The surgical procedures were similar to those performed during conventional laparoscopic surgery. For the anastomosis, the mobilized remaining ascending colon was rotated 180° counter-clockwise around the axis of the ileocolic pedicle. Tension-free colorectal anastomosis was then performed between the well-vascularized ascending colon and the rectal stump.The SPL Deloyers procedure was successful in all patients. No additional incisions for trocars or conversions to open surgery were necessary. The operative time and postoperative length of stay were 210 to 470 min and 8 to 21 days, respectively. No intraoperative complications were noted. There were 3 minor postoperative complications without anastomotic leakage. All patients had 2 to 3 bowel movements per day, and 1 patient regularly took loperamide at 6 months after surgery.The SPL Deloyers procedure was feasible and allowed patients to achieve good bowel movements. This operation may be considered an additional surgical option for experienced SPL surgeons in selected patients.

Response to Transforaminal Epidural Block as a Useful Predictive Factor of Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Despite the high frequency of nerve blocks in the acute phase of herpes zoster, factors associated with intervention, such as response to epidural block, have not been analyzed as predictive factors of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). To determine the predictive factors of progression to PHN in the presence of interventions, we analyzed the medical records of 145 patients who underwent transforaminal epidural injection (TFEI) in the acute phase of herpes zoster. A total volume of 5 mL (a mixture of 0.5% lidocaine and 5 mg dexamethasone) was injected during TFEI. Corticosteroid was used only for the first TFEI. Clinical data of age, sex, involved dermatome, presence of comorbidity, time from zoster onset to first TFEI, numerical rating scale (NRS) before TFEI, NRS at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after the first TFEI, and number of TFEI were collected and analyzed. Through multivariate logistic regression analysis, pain improvement less than 50% at 1 week after the first TFEI was a strong predictive factor of progression of PHN at all time points. Response to TFEI appears to be a stronger predictive factor of progression to PHN than patient factors of sex, age, degree of initial pain, and presence of co-morbidity.

Attic cholesteatoma with tiny retraction of pars flaccida.

OBJECTIVE: This clinical study was performed to analyze the characteristics of attic cholesteatoma occurring behind a tiny retraction of the pars flaccida, which was classified as Tos type I or II and had an intact pars tensa of the tympanic membrane. METHODS: The clinical records of patients who underwent tympanomastoidectomy for attic cholesteatoma at a tertiary care referral center (Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital of Seoul, Korea) between March 2004 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients (five men and six women) who underwent tympanomastoidectomy between March 2004 and December 2012 for attic cholesteatoma occurring behind a tiny attic retraction were included. The mean age of patients was 41.1 years (range 20-58 years) and the mean duration of follow-up was 29.5 months (range 13-52 months). RESULTS: Every patient had a unilateral cholesteatoma, and the opposite side was normal except in one patient. Hearing loss was the most common symptom, followed by earfullness and otalgia. Five patients had type I attic retraction, and six patients had type II attic retraction. No patient had definite scutum erosion. Interestingly, during regular postoperative checkup, one patient was found incidentally for the opposite ear. Six patients had a cholesteatoma sac that was separated from the pars flaccida, whereas in five patients it was in contact with the pars flaccida but was easily separated. Six patients had a limited cholesteatoma within the epitympanum, and five patients had extension beyond the epitympanum. The average air-bone gap was 24.3±10.1dB before the operation and 14.2±6.6dB after the operation. Every patient had an intact tympanic membrane without retraction pocket postoperatively. There was no recurrence of cholesteatoma during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The rate of attic cholesteatomas occurring behind a tiny retraction of the pars flaccida was 7.7% (11 of 142 patients with attic cholesteatoma). Attic retractions must be followed closely using endoscopy, microscopy, and temporal bone Computed tomography, even though the patient has a tiny retraction of the pars flaccida or a normal hearing level.

Clinical outcome and prognostic factors after salvage surgery for isolated regional squamous cell carcinoma recurrences.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome and predictive factors for salvage surgery of isolated regional recurrences of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 55 patients who were treated with surgery-based treatment. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 61.8% and 60%, respectively. Extracapsular spread (ECS) was an independent factor associated with worse disease-specific survival. The patients who had advanced N classification, ECS, and in-field recurrence had a significantly worse OS rate, whereas those with an initial DFS time of 6 months or more experienced better outcomes. CONCLUSION: Salvage surgery for isolated regional recurrence resulted in an acceptable oncologic outcome and mortality. Successful surgical salvage is most probable in late recurrence (≥6 months) patients with recurrent N1 stage tumors (no evidence of ECS) outside of the previous treatment field.

Clinical characteristics of spontaneous cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal in children comparing with cholesteatoma in adults.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of external auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) in children through evaluation of the clinical and radiologic features as well as treatment outcomes. The clinical records were retrospectively reviewed for children under 15 years of age diagnosed with spontaneous EACC between March 2004 and December 2011. The clinical data of adults diagnosed with spontaneous EACC during the same period were evaluated to compare with EACC in children. Eight patients (3 males and 5 females) with pediatric EACC and 18 patients (7 males and 11 females, 20 ears) with adult EACC were included within the boundary of the study. The mean ages were 12.4 years (age range 9-15) for pediatric EACC and 49.8 years (age range 29-79) for adult EACC patients. Follow-up periods ranged from 8 to 86 months (mean 32.5 ± 8.62) in pediatric EACC and from 6 to 72 months (mean 22.2 ± 5.36) in adult EACC. Pediatric EACC, showed involvement most commonly in the posterior wall, while the inferior wall was most commonly involved in adult EACC. Pediatric EACC tended to show a more focal involvement and was not as extensive as adult EACC. Extension into the adjacent structures was similar in both groups, but bony destruction was more common in the adult group. Two children and eight adult patients were treated with surgery, but four adult cases needed more extensive surgical treatment because their disease was widely spread to included areas such as the mastoid segment of facial nerve and the temporomandibular joint. Six pediatric cases treated with conservative management showed no progression of disease on physical examination at the last visit, but two cases of adults progressed and required canaloplasty. Pediatric EACC shows less aggressive behavior compared to adult EACC. Adequate management may work better in pediatric than in adult EACC, even though the treatment modality is conservative management.

Pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis in medial wall pyriform sinus carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and distribution of histologic cervical lymph node metastases in medial wall pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of medical records. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 68 medial wall pyriform sinus SCC patients who underwent bilateral neck dissection for primary treatment with curative intent. Thirty-nine patients underwent central compartment neck dissection. Primary tumor was removed using conservative laryngeal surgery with partial pharyngectomy in 39 cases, near total/total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy in 24 cases, and total laryngopharyngectomy in five cases. RESULTS: The overall N(+) contralateral lymph nodes rate on pathology was 14.7%. The rate of contralateral occult cases was 5.2%. Advanced primary (T3-4) and nodal (N2b-3) disease, and primary lesion across the midline were correlated with contralateral nodal metastasis. Multivariate analysis revealed that a primary lesion across the midline was an independent factor for contralateral neck nodal metastasis. The rate of level VI node metastasis was 16.2%. The disease-specific survival rate was significantly different according to level VI node metastasis (71% vs. 40%). Pyriform sinus apex invasion and extralaryngeal spread were correlated with level VI nodal metastasis. Multivariate analysis revealed that pyriform sinus apex invasion was an independent factor for level VI nodal metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Contralateral nodal metastasis was less frequent than expected. Bilateral neck dissection is mandatory for primary lesion across the midline. Ipsilateral level VI lymph node should be removed in pyriform sinus apex invasion cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.