Laparoscopy within a fast-track program enhances the short-term results after elective surgery for resectable colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whether laparoscopic colorectal resection improved recovery within an enhanced recovery program was investigated. METHODS: This study was designed as a query of a prospectively maintained colorectal database to identify 350 patients who underwent elective colorectal resection with primary anastomosis for colorectal cancer between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009. Patients were categorized into two groups (laparoscopic and open resection), and demographic, treatment, and outcome variables were independently reviewed for accuracy. A detailed fast-track protocol was prepared and distributed to all patients, department doctors, and nurses to standardize the treatment. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients underwent laparoscopic-assisted colorectal resection, and 141 had open surgery. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, BMI, ASA, comorbidity, previous abdominal surgery, preoperative chemoradiotherapy, cancer site, and AJCC 2002 staging. Twenty-three patients in the laparoscopic group required conversion to an open procedure due to hemorrhage, tumor extension, or technical difficulties. Laparoscopic patients had earlier tolerance of diet, bowel movement, flatus and stool canalization, mobilization, suction drain removal, and interruption of analgesic drug administration. Length of postoperative stay was shorter (4 vs. 7 days, p = 0.0004) and fewer postoperative nonsurgical complications (3 vs. 13% p = 0.009) were registered for the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that within an enhanced recovery program, laparoscopic resection may provide the best short-term clinical outcomes for patients with resectable colorectal cancer.

A single-institution review of the absorbable clips used in laparoscopic colorectal and gallbladder surgery: feasibility, safety, and effectiveness.

This retrospective study was conducted to examine the safety and effectiveness of polymeric absorbable clips in laparoscopic gallbladder and colorectal surgery. The prospectively maintained database review included all patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and colorectal resection at the institution between November 2004 and December 2009. In each patient, absorbable clips were used as the only system of vascular and cystic duct ligation. Of the 911 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria, 664 underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 247 underwent laparoscopic colonic resection. No intra-operative or post-operative bleeding related to absorbable clip use occurred in either procedure. No bile duct injuries or cystic duct leakages were observed. There were no peri-operative deaths with either procedure. In this experience, absorbable clips demonstrated easy handling and high reliability. They provided safe hemostasis and permitted complete and adequate oncologic resection.

Laparoscopic versus open distal gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer: a case-control study.

In a non-specialized setting, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for locally advanced diseases remains controversial, particularly given to the technical demands of the learning curve required to perform an adequate resection with D2 lymph node dissection. Inclusion criteria for this statistically generated matching controlled study were all patients who underwent subtotal laparoscopic gastrectomies from January 2006 until September 2009 for locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (stage II-IIIb), compared with matched patients who underwent the same procedure in an open fashion during the same period. Sixty case-matched patients were evaluated (30 laparoscopic vs. 30 open). Operative time was significantly longer (p < 0.05) for LDG. Benefits for LDG (p < 0.05) were observed among surgical short-term outcome (postoperative hospital stay, ambulation, first bowel movement, first flatus, first stool, first eating and use of analgesic drugs) and postoperative non-surgical site complications (cardiopulmonary, urinary, etc.). The 42 months' overall survival was similar (p = 0.646). Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a safe technique in a non-academic hospital setting for locally advanced gastric cancer; it seems to be adequate in terms of margin status and adequate lymph node retrieval and is associated with additional benefits as a decreased length of hospital stay, a decreased narcotic use and fewer complications.

Extracorporeal versus intracorporeal anastomosis after laparoscopic right colectomy for cancer: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the short-term outcome (3 months) of laparoscopic right colectomy, between intra- and extracorporeal anastomosis techniques. METHODS: This study was designed as a case-controlled study from a prospective colorectal cancer database. Forty consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis (totally laparoscopic colectomy, TLC) for adenocarcinoma, with the exception of T4 lesions and metastasis, were compared with 40 patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis (laparoscopic-assisted colectomy, LAC). Controls were matched for stage, age, and gender via a statistically generated selection of all laparoscopic right hemicolectomies performed between October 2006 and August 2009. RESULTS: In terms of operating time (median 150 min), histopathological results, surgical site complications (5% for LAC and 2.5% for TLC), nonsurgical site complications (2.5% for LAC and 5% for TLC), hospitalization (median 5 days), there were no differences between the groups (p > 0.05). Incision length was significantly shorter for TLC (p < 0.05), but no differences were observed for postoperative use of analgesics. There were six postoperative cases of vomiting with reinsertion of nasogastric tube in the LAC group and only one case in the TLC group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TLC seems feasible and safe, it does not significantly affect the length of surgery, and it guarantees maintenance of radical oncological standards. Furthermore, it significantly improves cosmesis and patient comfort postoperatively, reducing the rates of emesis, which leads to higher rates of early regular diet tolerance.

Fast-track surgery after laparoscopic colorectal surgery: is it feasible in a general surgery unit?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the "fast-track surgery" program is to decrease the peri-operative stress response to surgical trauma and thus to a decrease in complication rates after elective surgery. Critics of fast-track (FT) rehabilitation may argue that all reports of successful programs came from major specialized hospital units and that implementation in smaller or less specialized units may be difficult if not impossible. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 101 patients who, from November 2004 to October 2007, underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery in our institute. A detailed FT surgery protocol had been prepared and given to patients, physicians and nurses, with the aim to create a standard treatment. Data about demographics, ASA score, pre-operative complicating diseases, diagnosis, type of surgery, and postoperative clinical data were analyzed. Univariate analysis of the relationship between all factors (patient characteristics, intervention characteristics, protocol compliance and presence of complications) described here and length of hospital stay was performed. RESULTS: We compared our results to published major trials and observed no substantial differences in morbidity, mortality and length of postoperative hospital stay between the 2. Univariate analysis showed that compliance to the elements of the FT protocol influences the length of postoperative period more significantly than patient characteristics or surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Based on 6 comparative single-center studies, the FT program was found to reduce length of hospital stay, and was deemed safe for major abdominal surgeries. Present study shows that enhanced recovery or FT program can also be implemented safely in a general surgery unit.