Lymph Node Metastasis in Extraperitoneal Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Therapy: An Unsolved Problem?

BACKGROUND/AIM: Thanks to the promising benefits obtained in terms of quality of life, there has been growing interest in organ-sparing approaches after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, mainly represented by transanal local excision and watch-and-wait. The main mandatory criterion is complete lymph nodal response (pN0). However, considering the reduced specificity of current radiological means in identifying one-to-one correspondence between clinical and pathological staging, the problem of underestimating lymph nodal involvement remains unsolved. The aim of this study was to identify the true percentage of patients eligible for conservative surgery and possible predictive factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data for 59 patients with rectal cancer treated with nCRT followed by total mesorectal excision were analyzed. Patients with metastatic tumors and tumors treated with up-front surgery were excluded. Our primary endpoint was the pathological lymph nodal response rate after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The secondary endpoint was to identify predictive factors for lymph nodal response. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with pN0 was 62.71%, while in 37.28%, an organ-sparing approach would have not been oncologically correct. Parameters associated with pN0 were lower tumor size (T0-T2) (p=0.013) and lower grading (

Open Surgery for Sportsman's Hernia a Retrospective Study.

Sportsman's hernia is a painful syndrome in the inguinal area occurring in patients who play sports at an amatorial or professional level. Pain arises during sport, and sometimes persists after activity, representing an obstacle to sport resumption. A laparoscopic/endoscopic approach is proposed by many authors for treatment of the inguinal wall defect. Aim of this study is to assess the open technique in terms of safety and effectiveness, in order to obtain the benefit of an open treatment in an outpatient management. From October 2017 to July 2019, 34 patients underwent surgery for groin pain syndrome. All cases exhibited a bulging of the inguinal posterior wall. 14 patients were treated with Lichtenstein technique with transversalis fascia plication and placement of a polypropylene mesh fixed with fibrin glue. In 20 cases, a polypropylene mesh was placed in the preperitoneal space. The procedure was performed in day surgery facilities. Early or late postoperative complications did not occur in both groups. All patients returned to sport, in 32 cases with complete pain relief, whereas 2 patients experienced mild residual pain. The average value of return to sport was 34.11 ± 8.44 days. The average value of return to play was 53.82 ± 11.69 days. With regard to postoperative pain, no substantial differences between the two techniques were detected, and good results in terms of the resumption of sport were ensured in both groups. Surgical treatment for sportsman's hernia should be considered only after the failure of conservative treatment. The open technique is safe and allows a rapid postoperative recovery.

Recommendations for outpatient activity in COVID-19 pandemic.

The spread of the COVID-19 disease substantially influenced the International Healthcare system, and the national governments worldwide had before long to decide how to manage the available resources, giving priority to the treatment of the COVID-infected patients. Then, in many countries, it was decided to limit the elective procedures to surgical oncology and emergency procedures. In fact, most of the routine, middle-low complexity surgical interventions were reduced, and the day surgery (DS) activities were almost totally interrupted. As a result of this approach, the waiting list of these patients has significantly increased. In the current phase, with a significant decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 cases, the surgical daily activity can be safely and effectively restarted. Adjustments are mandatory to resume the DS activity. The whole separation of pathways with respect to the long-stay and emergency surgery, an accurate preoperative protocol of patient management, with a proper selection and screening of all-day cases, careful scheduling of surgical organization in the operating room, and planning of the postoperative pathway are the goals for a feasible, safe, and effective resumption of DS activity.

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal metastasis of non-primary origin.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze the role of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy that has developed in the treatment of patients with peritoneal metastasis of non-primary origin. METHODS: Patients who underwent treatment for secondary gastrointestinal and ovarian malignancies over a 20-year period were reviewed. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and the log-rank test was used to assess differences between subgroups. RESULTS: The study included 293 patients. The most common histology was ovarian cancer (56.3%). Median PCI was 16 and CC0-1 resection was obtained in 88.1% of cases. Grade III and IV complications occurred in 12 patients (4.1%) and 47 patients (16%), respectively. The 30- and 60-day mortality rate was 1.3% (4 patients) and 2.4% (7 patients). Five-year OS was 21.7%, 73.6%, 42.1%, and 0 for colorectal, appendiceal, ovarian, and gastric cancer (p = < 0.0001), respectively, whereas 5-year DFS was 12.4%, 48.4%, 24.3%, and 0 (p = < 0.0001), respectively. Survival outcomes were significantly higher for CC0 in each subgroup of patients. CONCLUSION: Despite being a complex procedure, cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be considered a safe treatment with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, if performed in high-volume centers. Good survival outcomes have been increasingly obtained in selected patients with peritoneal metastasis of non-primary origin.