Assessing surgical difficulty in locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer: the accuracy of two MRI-based predictive scores.

AIM: Predicting surgical difficulty is a critical factor in the management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This study evaluates the accuracy and external validity of a recently published morphometric score to predict surgical difficulty and additionally proposes a new score to identify preoperatively LARC patients with a high risk of having a difficult surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective study based on the European MRI and Rectal Cancer Surgery (EuMaRCS) database, including patients with mid/low LARC who were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME) with primary anastomosis. For all patients, pretreatment and restaging MRI were available. Surgical difficulty was graded as high and low based upon a composite outcome, including operative (e.g. duration of surgery) and postoperative variables (e.g. hospital stay). Score accuracy was assessed by estimating sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AROC). RESULTS: In a total of 136 LARC patients, 17 (12.5%) were graded as high surgical difficulty. The previously published score (calculated on body mass index, intertuberous distance, mesorectal fat area, type of anastomosis) showed low predictive value (sensitivity 11.8%; specificity 92.4%; AROC 0.612). The new EuMaRCS score was developed using the following significant predictors of surgical difficulty: body mass index > 30, interspinous distance < 96.4 mm, ymrT stage ≥ T3b and male sex. It demonstrated high accuracy (AROC 0.802). CONCLUSION: The EuMaRCS score was found to be more sensitive and specific than the previous score in predicting surgical difficulty in LARC patients who are candidates for L-TME. However, this score has yet to be externally validated.

Gallstone ileus: increased diagnostic sensitivity by combining plain film and ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone ileus is an uncommon cause of mechanical obstruction. Its high mortality rate can be reduced with earlier diagnosis and treatment. We wanted to determine whether ultrasound (US) performed after plain film increases the sensitivity for the preoperative diagnosis. METHODS: We performed a 5-year retrospective analysis of radiologic and sonographic results of 23 patients who had surgery because of gallstone ileus. RESULTS: Rigler's triad was identified by plain abdominal film in two patients (9%) and by US in 16 patients (69%). Plain abdominal film contributed to a definitive diagnosis in four cases and to a probable diagnosis in six cases (sensitivities of 17% for definitive diagnoses and 43% for definitive and probable diagnoses). US confirmed the diagnosis in six cases of probable gallstone ileus and provided the diagnosis in seven of 13 patients without suspected gallstone ileus based on plain abdominal film. The best results were obtained by combining plain film and US findings, with sensitivities of 74% for definitive diagnoses and 96% for definitive plus probable diagnoses. CONCLUSION: The preoperative diagnosis of gallstone ileus significantly increases by combining plain film and US findings.

Complicaciones de la cirugía laparoscópica / Complications in laparoscopic surgery

Introducción. La gran difusión de la cirugía laparoscópica y la adaptación de los cirujanos a la misma ha supuesto la aparición de nuevas complicaciones que deben ser perfectamente conocidas para poder evitar en lo posible las causas que las desencadenan. Objetivos. En el presente trabajo se pretende analizar las complicaciones que pueden darse en la cirugía laparoscópica, tanto las inherentes a la técnica laparoscópica en sí como a las propias de cada una de las técnicas que son aplicadas para el tratamiento de las distintas afecciones. Material y métodos. Se realiza una revisión de la bibliografía a la vez que se revisa la experiencia del Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Dr. Peset desde la puesta en marcha de esta nueva forma de abordar los problemas quirúrgicos. Resultados. Se analizan los resultados obtenidos con las distintas técnicas empleadas en cirugía biliar, gastroesofágica, cólica, etc., haciendo hincapié en la manera de evitar las complicaciones propias de esta forma de aplicar la técnica quirúrgica. Conclusiones. La cirugía laparoscópica se encuentra en pleno desarrollo aunque aún son limitadas las indicaciones en las que se acepta de forma universal su utilización. Es necesario que las tasas de morbilidad sean iguales o inferiores a las de cirugía convencional para que los pacientes se beneficien de las ventajas que comporta esta cirugía menos agresiva (AU)

Tratamiento laparoscópico de la coledocolitiasis / Laparoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis

Introducción. La total aceptación de la colecistectomía laparoscópica ha supuesto un cambio de estrategia a la hora de tratar la litiasis de la vía biliar principal, introduciendo un debate en la comunidad quirúrgica. Objetivos. En el presente trabajo intentamos ofrecer una visión de cuáles son las opciones terapéuticas de las que dispone el cirujano para el tratamiento de la coledocolitiasis (coledocotomía, colecistectomía laparoscópica más esfinterotomía endoscópica, etc.), cuál es la técnica por la que apuestan los autores y una breve descripción de la misma. Resultados. Se comentan los resultados obtenidos en 89 pacientes intervenidos en este grupo de trabajo dignosticados de coledocolitiasis. Discusión. Se analizan las distintas técnicas y la valoración comparativa que hacen los autores de ellas (AU)

Laparoscopic choledochotomy in the management of choledocholithiasis. A report of 32 cases.

OBJECTIVE: we describe a choledochotomy technique for the laparoscopic removal of calculi in the management of choledocholithiasis, with an analysis of the results obtained in our first 32 patients. METHODS: a prospective study was made of all patients who underwent laparoscopic choledochotomy in our surgical service in the period between December 1993 and December 1996. A total of 112 patients diagnosed as having choledocholithiasis were operated on in our service in the course of the study. Of the 54 patients who initially underwent laparoscopic surgery, 32 underwent cholecystectomy, choledochotomy, extraction of stones and laparoscopic choledochorrhaphy. RESULTS: in 30 patients (93.75%) laparoscopic surgery could be completed without resorting to open surgery; in 5 of these patients primary choledochorrhaphy was performed, and in the remaining patients suturing was performed on a Kehr T-tube. Mean surgical time was 176 min. Two slight complications (one acute gastric dilatation and one small biliary fistula) and one severe complication (bowel fistula) were recorded. Mean hospital stay was 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: choledocholithiasis was successfully managed with laparoscopic choledochotomy and the extraction of stones, with no increase in morbidity or mortality in comparison to other therapeutic modalities.

Early results of laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To study the immediate and early postoperative results obtained in patients subjected to laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective, observational cohort study was initiated in January 1993, involving 50 patients subjected to laparoscopic resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma (rectal amputation in 10 cases, lower rectal resection in 13, recto-sigmoidectomy in 18, and miscellaneous colectomies in 9 cases). Seventy-percent of the tumors were in IUCC stages II and III. Mean follow-up was 21 months. RESULTS: Conversion to open surgery was required in 18 cases (36%). Intraoperative problems were limited to a single urethral lesion, while postoperative complications were recorded in 11 patients (22%), and were managed conservatively: a urinary fistula secondary to the aforementioned urethral lesion; subclinical dehiscence of the anastomosis (2 cases); phlebitis (1 case); infection of the surgical wound (4 cases), and urinary and pulmonary infection (1 case each). There were no differences between converted surgery (i.e., conventional laparotomy) and those operations completed endoscopically (with a final assisted or combined minilaparotomy) in terms of the length of the surgical resection piece, the length of the distal margin of the specimen or the number of lymph nodes. Global hospital stay ranged from 9-12 days, versus 5-7 in the group without complications. Global survival is 78% at 42 months, with a disease-free interval of 53% at this time. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colorectal resection presents an incidence of intra- and postoperative complications characteristic of major surgery, with no differences in surgical specimen size with respect to those operations converted to laparotomy. Global survival is similar to that reported in the literature for open surgery.