Role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in pulmonary metastasectomy.

Introdcution: There are sparse prospective studies investigating the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in management of pulmonary metastasis. Aim: To prospectively investigate short-term surgical and pathological outcomes for PM patients operated on by VATS or open thoracotomy (OT) for management of lung secondaries. Material and methods: Between October 2017 and December 2020, patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy were recruited. Patients were assigned to undergo resection with either thoracotomy (group 1) or VATS (group 2) after multidisciplinary team discussions based on the number, size and location of pulmonary metastasis and underlying lung function. All related short-term surgical and pathologic outcomes for both groups were collected for analysis. Results: Of 58 patients enrolled, 21 were in group 1 and 37 in group 2. Colorectal cancer primary represented 40% of the cases. Patients in the VATS group were more likely to have solitary lesions that are peripherally located and removed by wedge resection, as opposed to patients in the thoracotomy group, who had more anatomical lung resections. More new nodules were likely to be detected during surgery in thoracotomy than VATS cases (p = 0. 027). However, 8 (out of 15) of the newly detected lesions were not malignant. Operative time, blood loss and hospital stay were in favor of VATS procedures. Conclusions: In a highly selected cohort of pulmonary metastasis patients with favorable criteria (peripherally located, small, solitary/oligo-metastasis and cN0), VATS may provide acceptable onco-pathologic outcomes as compared to the standard open thoracotomy.

Role of subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in pulmonary metastasectomy.

Optimal management for patients with pulmonary metastasis is still debated. True survival benefit from widely practiced pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is yet to be proved from high-quality randomized controlled trials. The ideal surgical approach for PM is also not generally agreed. VATS offers enhanced recovery and superior functional outcomes but at the expense of less detection of lung nodules and higher possibility of narrow/positive resection margins. The subxiphoid uniportal VATS (uVATS) approach is an evolving new approach with potential advantages including simultaneous access to both lung fields, less pain and faster rehabilitation. These advantages make it a favorable approach for PM, particularly in the setting of bilateral metastases. However, its use is still limited to case reports of a small number of patients. There is room for improvements in subxiphoid uVATS due to reported technical challenges and limitations. Herein, we aim to publicize a comprehensive review of literature on applications of subxiphoid uVATS in PM.

Anterior Versus Conventional Approach for Resection of Large Right Lobe Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aim to report the efficacy of using the anterior approach (AA) versus the conventional approach (CA), in surgical resection for large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (≥7 cm) of the right hepatic lobe in terms of surgical and long-term outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2006, 138 consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection with curative intent for large right lobe HCC ≥7 cm were identified from a retrospective database. The 40 patients who had AA were compared with the remaining 98 patients who had CA. Clinicopathological features and surgical results were analyzed and prognostic factors were evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups as regards clinical, laboratory, and pathological parameters. The operative results had shown a comparable proportion of patients who experienced massive operative blood loss and postoperative complications in the two groups. The AA group had a lower recurrence rate (P = 0·015), better disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0·001), and overall survival than the CA group. Our study identified that AA is a prognostic factor of both overall survival and disease-free survival for large HCC ≥7 cm. CONCLUSION: The AA is a safe and effective technique for right hepatic resection for large HCC and achieves more advantageous long survival outcome over the CA.

Pretreatment levels of serum osteoprotegerin and p53 protein and urine telomerase as prognostic factors affecting survival in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.

A non-invasive marker is required for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with bladder cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential prognostic significance of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG), p53 protein and urine telomerase in patients with bladder cancer. For all patients, serum levels of OPG and p53 protein were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and urine telomerase was assessed using a polymerase chain reaction ELISA technique. Patients were assigned into group 1 (cystectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy) or group 2 (transurethral resection and chemoradiotherapy). The results revealed that serum OPG and p53, and urine telomerase levels were significantly higher in bladder cancer patients compared with in healthy individuals (P<0.0001). High serum OPG was associated with significantly lower overall survival and disease-free survival rates (both P=0.001), and was correlated with advanced tumor stages (P<0.0001), high tumor grades (P<0.0001) and the occurrence of disease relapse (P=0.001). Serum p53 and urine telomerase did not demonstrate prognostic significance. These findings indicate that serum OPG level may be used as a diagnostic tool and a prognostic variable for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Future trials are required to elucidate its therapeutic role in such patients.

Multidisciplinary decision making in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: A hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the short-term outcome of the decision taken by the Hepatoma Board for the treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study involving 74 patients with HCC diagnosed by the known criteria. The decisions taken by the Hepatoma Board for the 74 patients were as follows: 1- surgical resection (7 patients), 2- local ablative therapy (LAT) (22 patients), 3- conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) (24 patients), and 4- palliative supportive care (21 patients). RESULTS: The short-term mortality rate was 25.7% of the total patients. The success rate was nearly equal in LAT (68.2%) and surgery (71.4%), whereas the success rate was approximately 33.3% in TACE. There was no difference in the mean total bilirubin level before and after LAT, surgery, or TACE (p>0.05 for each). There was a significant decrease in the mean serum albumin level after TACE (p=0.000). There was a decrease in the mean alpha fetoprotein level after surgery and LAT (p=0.033) for surgery and (p=0.048) for LAT. CONCLUSION: The management of HCC is better performed through a multidisciplinary team decision. Surgery has comparable outcome to LAT but is more invasive. According to our local experience, conventional TACE has a success rate of 33.3%.

Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients subjected to protective lung ventilation during Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) has a well-known effect on neurohormonal response. Attenuation of stress response by post-operative epidural analgesia has shown beneficial effects such as lower pain scores and less immunological alterations. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of the combined effects of TEA and protective lung ventilation on pro-inflammatory cytokines and patients' outcome after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled study. SETTING: Academic medical center. METHODS: Thirty patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II were randomly allocated into 2 groups: G1 (n = 15) patients received general anesthesia and were mechanically ventilated with 9 mL/kg during 2 lung ventilations, reduced to 5 mL/kg and 5cm H2O positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) during one lung ventilation (OLV) or GII) (n = 15) patients received TEA and the same general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation used in G1. Assessment parameters included hemodynamics, pain severity, total analgesic consumption, and measurement of interleukins (IL) (IL-6 and IL-8) at baseline time after anesthetic induction (TBaseline,); at the end of the abdominal stage of the operation (TAbdo,); 15 minutes after initiation and at the end of OLV (TOLV 15) and (TOLV End) respectively; one and 20 hours after the end of the surgical procedure (TPostop1 and TPostop20), respectively, and patient's outcome also recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and pulse rate in GII during the intraoperative period, at Tabdo, TOLV15, and TOLV End (P < 0.05). The mean of systolic blood pressure (SBP) values were significantly lower in GII over all 3 post-operative days (P = 0.001), and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed a significant reduction in GII for 16 hours post-operatively (P = 0.001). The mean of heart rate values showed a significant reduction in GII over all 3 post-operative days in comparison to GI (P = 0.001). The mean resting and dynamic VAS scores were significantly reduced in GII at all time periods studied in comparison to G1 (P = 0.001). The daily PCA morphine consumption was markedly decreased in GII compared to GI in the first 3 days post-operatively (P = 0.001). There were significant reductions in blood level of IL-6 and IL-8 in GII compared to G1 over the entire study period (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in post-operative adverse effects between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The duration of stay in PACU was significantly decreased in GII (10 ± 2 days) compared to GI (15 ± 3 days) (P = 0.001). LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its sample size. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that TEA reduced the systemic pro-inflammatory response and provided optimal post-operative pain relief. Although there were no significant differences in adverse events, there was a trend towards improved outcome. Further clinical studies with larger numbers of patients are required.

Role of Surgery in Stages II and III Pediatric Abdominal Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A 5-Years Experience.

Abdominal Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are the most common extra nodal presentation of pediatric NHL. Our aim is to assess the role of surgery as a risk factor and to evaluate the impact of risk-adjusted systemic chemotherapy on survival of patients with stages II and III disease. This study included 35 pediatric patients with abdominal NHL treated over five years at South Egypt Cancer Institute (SECI), Assiut University, between January 2005 and January 2010. The data of every patient included: Age, sex, and presentation, staging work up to determine extent of the disease and the type of resection performed, histopathological examination, details of chemotherapy, disease free survival and overall survival. The study included 25 boys and 10 girls with a median age of six years (range: 2.5:15). Thirty patients (86%) presented with abdominal pain, 23 patients (66%) presented with abdominal mass and distention, 13 patients (34%) presented with weight loss, and intestinal obstruction occurred in six patients (17%). The ileo-cecal region and abdominal lymph nodes were the commonest sites (48.5%, 21% respectively). Burkitt's lymphoma was the most common histological type in 29 patients (83%). Ten (28.5%) stage II (group A) and 25 (71.5%) stage III (group B). Complete resections were performed in 10 (28.5%), debulking in 6 (17%) and imaging guided biopsy in 19 (54%). A11 patients received systemic chemotherapy. The median follow up duration was 63 months (range 51-78 months). The parameters that significantly affect the overall survival were stage at presentation complete resection for localized disease. In conclusion, the extent of disease at presentation is the most important prognostic factor in pediatric abdominal NHL. Surgery is restricted to defined situations such as; abdominal emergencies, diagnostic biopsy and total tumor extirpation in localized disease. Chemotherapy is the cornerstone in the management of pediatric abdominal NHL.

Initial results of bladder preserving approach by chemo-radiotherapy in patients with muscle invading transitional cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to test the efficacy and tolerability of trimodality treatment for invasive bladder cancer and to test the possibility of bladder sparing. METHODS: This study had been carried out on 50 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) stage T2- T3 tumors with adequate performance status and renal function. All patients were subjected to maximum transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). Patients were then subjected to chemo-radiation that was executed in two treatment phases. Phase I was external radiotherapy in the form of 46 Gy /23 fractions /5 weeks to whole pelvis with concurrent cisplatin 40 mg/m2 weekly. Phase II was 20 Gy /10 fractions /2 weeks to the bladder tumor with concurrent cisplatin 40 mg/m2 weekly. After phase I, patients who had complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) were subjected to phase II and patients who had stationary disease (SD) were subjected to salvage cystectomy. After the end of treatment, patients who had CR were subjected to bladder preservation. Radiological and cystoscopic reevaluation was done to assess the tumor response after phase I and phase II. After completion of the scheduled treatment, patients were under follow up for clinical examination, radiological, and cystoscopic assessment. RESULTS: The treatment schedule was tolerable and was associated with infrequent incidence of moderate toxicity that was easily controlled without interruption of treatment. Bladder preservation was achieved in 72%of patients. The actuarial relapse free survival and overall survival at a median follow up 18 months for patients who were candidate for bladder preservation were 81% and 100%; respectively. Invasive recurrence (16%) salvaged with cystectomy and superficial recurrence (6%) successfully treated with Bacilles bilie de CalmetteGuerin. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that in spite of a relatively small number of patients and short follow-up period; the trimodality treatment could be an effective way to achieve a high response rate in the treatment of invasive TCC of the bladder with good tolerance.