Outcomes of Colectomy and Proctectomy According to Surgeon Training: General vs Colorectal Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Colectomies and proctectomies are commonly performed by both general surgeons (GS) and colorectal surgeons (CRS). The aim of our study was to examine the outcomes of elective colectomy, urgent colectomy, and elective proctectomy according to surgeon training. STUDY DESIGN: Data were obtained from the Vizient database for adults who underwent elective colectomy, urgent colectomy, and elective proctectomy from 2020 to 2022. Operations performed in the setting of trauma and patients within the database's highest relative expected mortality risk group were excluded. Outcomes were compared according to surgeon's specialty: GS vs CRS. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was in-hospital complication rate. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 149,516 elective colectomies, 75,711 (50.6%) were performed by GS and 73,805 (49.4%) by CRS. Compared with elective colectomies performed by CRS, elective colectomies performed by GS had higher rates of complications (4.9% vs 3.9%, odds ratio [OR] 1.23, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.29, p < 0.01) and mortality (0.5% vs 0.2%, OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.72 to 2.47, p < 0.01). Of 71,718 urgent colectomies, 54,680 (76.2%) were performed by GS, whereas 17,038 (23.8%) were performed by CRS. Compared with urgent colectomies performed by CRS, urgent colectomies performed by GS were associated with higher rates of complications (12.1% vs 10.4%, OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.20, p < 0.01) and mortality (5.1% vs 2.3%, OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.93 to 2.23, p < 0.01). Of 43,749 elective proctectomies, 28,458 (65.0%) were performed by CRS and 15,291 (35.0%) by GS. Compared with proctectomies performed by CRS, those performed by GS were associated with higher rates of complications (5.3% vs 4.4%, OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.27, p < 0.01) and mortality (0.3% vs 0.2%, OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.20, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide study, colectomies and proctectomies performed by CRS were associated with improved outcomes compared with GS. Hospitals without a CRS on staff should consider prioritizing recruiting CRS specialists.

Design and Initial Evaluation of a Novel Oral Hygiene Technology for a Special Needs Population: A New Way to Clean.

9.4 million People have swallowing problems in the US. In special needs populations, routine oral hygiene procedures such as tooth brushing can result in aspiration of microbial laden fluids leading to a significant systemic challenge. Aspiration may lead to pneumonia in susceptible populations. These circumstances indicate the need for innovative approaches to oral hygiene for special needs, convalescent, the elderly populations, and young children learning to brush who can ingest excess fluoride which causes mottled enamel. Methods include describing some of the design considerations of the new prototype fabrication and microbiological evaluation of this new device, as well a comparison study of the versions 2 and 3 of the oral care device. Results concluded that version 3.0 regarding patient ease of use was better in comparison to version 2, which was the major difference, and 90% in both groups said they would recommend the new toothbrush. In the microbiological evaluation no growth was seen on any plates containing samples from either the experimental or the control after 48 h of incubation.

A Neural Network Model for Learning 3D Object Representations Through Haptic Exploration.

Humans initially learn about objects through the sense of touch, in a process called "haptic exploration." In this paper, we present a neural network model of this learning process. The model implements two key assumptions. The first is that haptic exploration can be thought of as a type of navigation, where the exploring hand plays the role of an autonomous agent, and the explored object is this agent's "local environment." In this scheme, the agent's movements are registered in the coordinate system of the hand, through slip sensors on the palm and fingers. Our second assumption is that the learning process rests heavily on a simple model of sequence learning, where frequently-encountered sequences of hand movements are encoded declaratively, as "chunks." The geometry of the object being explored places constraints on possible movement sequences: our proposal is that representations of possible, or frequently-attested sequences implicitly encode the shape of the explored object, along with its haptic affordances. We evaluate our model in two ways. We assess how much information about the hand's actual location is conveyed by its internal representations of movement sequences. We also assess how effective the model's representations are in a reinforcement learning task, where the agent must learn how to reach a given location on an explored object. Both metrics validate the basic claims of the model. We also show that the model learns better if objects are asymmetrical, or contain tactile landmarks, or if the navigating hand is articulated, which further constrains the movement sequences supported by the explored object.

Risk Factors for Appendiceal Cancer After Appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: Appendiceal cancer (AC) is a rare malignancy usually diagnosed incidentally after appendectomy. Risk factors for AC are poorly understood. We sought to provide a descriptive analysis for patients with AC discovered after appendectomy for acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS: The 2016-2017 American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Procedure-Targeted Appendectomy database was queried for adult patients who underwent appendectomy for image-suspected AA. Patients with pathology consistent with AA were compared to patients found to have AC. A multivariable logistic regression model was used for analysis. RESULTS: From 21 058 patients, 203 (1.0%) were found to have AC on pathology. Compared to patients with AA, patients with AC were older (median, 48 vs. 40 years old, P < .001). The AA group had a similar rate of perforated appendix compared to the AC group (16.3% vs. 13.4% P = .32). After adjusting for covariates, associated risk factors for AC were: age ≥65 years old (odds ratio (OR) 2.25, 1.5-3.38, P < .001), absence of leukocytosis (OR 1.58, 1.16-2.17, P = .004), and operative time ≥1 hour (OR 1.57, 1.14-2.16, P = .006). Gender, race, and history of smoking were not independent associated risk factors for AC. CONCLUSION: The incidence of AC after appendectomy for suspected AA is approximately 1% in a large national analysis. These factors may be used to help identify patients at higher risk for AC after appendectomy.

Evaluation of Pelvic Anastomosis by Endoscopic and Contrast Studies Prior to Ileostomy Closure: Are Both Necessary? A Single Institution Review.

Contrast enema is the gold standard technique for evaluating a pelvic anastomosis (PA) prior to ileostomy closure. With the increasing use of flexible endoscopic modalities, the need for contrast studies may be unnecessary. The objective of this study is to compare flexible endoscopy and contrast studies for anastomotic inspection prior to defunctioning stoma reversal. Patients with a protected PA undergoing ileostomy closure between July 2014 and June 2019 at our institution were retrospectively identified. Demographics and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing preoperative evaluation with endoscopic and/or contrast studies were analyzed. We identified 207 patients undergoing ileostomy closure. According to surgeon's preference, 91 patients underwent only flexible endoscopy (FE) and 100 patients underwent both endoscopic and contrast evaluation (FE + CE) prior to reversal. There was no significant difference in pelvic anastomotic leak (2.2% vs. 1%), anastomotic stricture (1.1% vs. 6%), pelvic abscess (2.2% vs. 3.0%), or postoperative anastomotic complications (4.4% vs. 9%) between groups FE and FE + CE (P > .05). Flexible endoscopy alone appears to be an acceptable technique for anastomotic evaluation prior to ileostomy closure. Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of different diagnostic modalities for pelvic anastomotic inspection.

Decisional Conflict and Knowledge Among Patients With Varicocele Seeking Treatment for Infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To study disease-specific knowledge and decisional quality in men with varicocele being counseled for infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An instrument designed to measure decisional quality by evaluating disease-specific knowledge, decisional conflict, and the impression that shared decision-making was administered to 92 men identified to have a varicocele seeking their initial infertility consultation. Mean scores on disease-specific knowledge questionnaire, prevalence of decisional conflict, and impact of consultation on preferred infertility treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of patients were found to have decisional conflict. Compared to those with decisional conflict, men without decisional conflict scored higher on the infertility knowledge assessment (63% vs 53% correct) and were more likely to feel that they discussed treatment options with their physician in detail (98% vs 82%) (all P <0.01). Prior to consultation, 28% of all patients preferred assisted reproductive technologies and 2% preferred varicocelectomy as the primary treatment for infertility. Following consultation, 12% and 17% preferred assisted reproductive technologies and varicocelectomy, respectively. The increase in preference for varicocelectomy was greater in men without decisional conflict (5%-31%) than those with conflict (0%-8%) (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Infertile men with varicocele have limited knowledge of their disease and high rates of decisional conflict. Before consultation, men with varicoceles showed preference for assisted reproductive technology over varicocele surgery; this trend reversed after consultation. Men with decisional conflict were less likely to prefer varicocelectomy, even after consultation.

Efficacy of a preprostatectomy multi-modal penile rehabilitation regimen on recovery of postoperative erectile function.

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel, multi-modal, preoperative approach to postprostatectomy penile rehabilitation (PR), we performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent nerve-sparing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (NS-RALP). All patients were evaluated at a comprehensive, academic sexual medicine clinic between 2016 and 2017. The "prehabilitation" PR group (n = 106) consisted of men who were seen in the pre-op period and began tadalafil and L-citrulline 2 weeks prior to surgery. Vacuum erectile device (VED) therapy was started at 1-month post-op. These interventions were continued throughout the 12-month follow-up period. Individuals refractory to these therapies could start treatment with intracavernosal injections. The postprostatectomy PR group (n = 25) consisted of men who were not seen in the pre-op period and started the above therapies immediately following their first visit. A higher percentage of men in the prehabilitation group reported return of erectile function within 12 months (56% vs. 24%, P = 0.007). The prehabilitation group also showed better compliance with PR (PDE5i [96% vs. 64%, P < 0.001], L-citrulline [93% vs. 49%, P < 0.001], and VED [55% vs. 20%, P < 0.001]). Seventy-eight percent of men who attended 4-5 follow-up visits reported return of erectile function. Our results suggest that men undergoing a preoperative protocol show superior recovery of erectile function following NS-RALP. Further studies with prospective designs are warranted.

Sixty years in the making: collagenase Clostridium histolyticum, from benchtop to FDA approval and beyond.

PURPOSE: The introduction of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) as the first and only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment for Peyronie's disease (PD) has been an important step in its management. Our aim is to provide an overview of the historical origins of CCH and its development through FDA approval and beyond for the treatment of PD. METHODS: A PubMed search using the terms Peyronie OR Peyronie's AND collagenase and limited to clinical research studies resulted in 24 articles that were examined for the current review. RESULTS: PD is a connective tissue disorder of the penile tunica albuginea involving fibrotic penile plaques that cause abnormal curvature and, in many cases, erectile pain. Although the exact mechanism and underlying pathophysiology are not well characterized, the known lability of these plaques to exogenous bacterial collagenase combined with a lack of effective medical therapies led to the development of CCH as an evidence-based treatment of PD. The initial discovery of collagenase was followed by in vitro studies on PD plaque tissue and following the phase 3 IMPRESS trial culminated in FDA approval of CCH in 2013. Future directions in CCH therapy include improved patient selection, use in acute phase PD, adjuvant and combination therapies, and novel delivery mechanisms. CONCLUSION: CCH provides an effective non-surgical treatment option for men with PD. We have traced the development of CCH in the treatment of PD from the earliest in vitro investigations to comprehensive multi-study meta-analyses confirming its highly rated efficacy when compared to other historical non-surgical remedies.

A modified technique for intralesional injection of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for Peyronie's disease results in reduced procedural morbidity using a standardized hematoma classification rubric.

PURPOSE: Early clinical trials of injectable collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCh) for Peyronie's disease (PD) demonstrated safety and efficacy. Since then, modified injection protocols have been proposed. Adverse events-such as bruising, swelling, hematoma, and corporal rupture-exceed 50% in many studies, but lack of standardization of hematoma severity limits conclusions about the relative safety of protocols. We propose a modification of the standard injection technique that aims to decrease the rates of adverse events. We further describe a hematoma classification rubric that may standardize safety assessment. METHODS: A modified injection procedure, termed the "fan" technique, was employed in the treatment of PD. All men receiving CCh from January 2016 through January 2019 at a single institution were included in an institutional review board (IRB) approved database. Treatment outcomes and adverse events were retrospectively assessed. A three-tiered hematoma classification rubric was devised to standardize reporting of hematoma, which was defined as concurrent bruising and swelling at the site of injection without loss of erection. RESULTS: Using the fan technique, 152 patients received 1323 injections. Eight hematomas (5.3% of all patients, 0.6% of all injections) were observed. The number of grade I, grade II, and grade III hematomas were 3, 2, and 3, respectively. Bruising or swelling not meeting the definition of hematoma was seen in 54.6% and 27.0% of patients, respectively. There were zero corporal ruptures. CONCLUSION: A modified injection technique results in reduced procedural morbidity. A hematoma classification system provides clarity and standardization to the assessment of safety in PD treatment. Further clinical studies with control arms are required to verify these findings.

Improved survival with adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation regardless of pathologic response.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of postoperative chemotherapy on survival in patients with stage II or III rectal adenocarcinoma who undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) and surgical resection. METHODS: A retrospective review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2006 to 2013 was performed. Cases were analyzed based on pathologic complete response (pCR) status and use of adjuvant therapy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival probabilities. RESULTS: 23,045 cases were identified, of which 5832 (25.31%) achieved pCR. In the pCR group, 1513 (25.9%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, and in the non-pCR group, 5966 (34.7%) received adjuvant therapy. In the pCR group, five-year survival probability was 87% (95% CI 84%-89%) with adjuvant therapy and 81% (95% CI 79%-82%) without adjuvant therapy. In the non-pCR group, five-year survival probability was 78% (95% CI 76%-79%) with adjuvant therapy and 70% (95% CI 69%-71%) without adjuvant therapy. In the non-pCR and node-negative subgroup (ypN-), five-year survival probability was 86% (95% CI 84%-88%) with adjuvant therapy and 76% (95% CI 74%-77%) without adjuvant therapy. In the non-pCR and node-positive subgroup (ypN+), five-year survival probability was 67% (95% CI 65%-70%) with adjuvant therapy and 60% (95% CI 58%-63%) without adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II or III rectal adenocarcinoma is associated with increased five-year survival probability regardless of pCR status. We observed similar survival outcomes among non-pCR ypN- treated with adjuvant chemotherapy compared with patients achieving pCR treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Vaginal Dehiscence and Evisceration After Robotic-assisted Radical Cystectomy: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare complication in 5 women who had vaginal prolapse, dehiscence, and/or evisceration after having undergone robotic-assisted radical cystectomy with creation of ileal conduit urinary diversion. Radical cystectomy is the standard of care in the extirpative treatment for muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma. Anterior exenteration in the female patient requires removal of the anterior vaginal wall, urethra, uterus, and adnexa which results in significant changes to the pelvic floor. METHODS: Retrospective identification of all women having undergone robotic-assisted radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma who ultimately represented with vaginal prolapse, dehiscence, and/or evisceration between January 2012 and April 2019. We identified patient characteristics detailing their presentation. A review of the available literature highlighted the lack of available information in this uncommon cohort. RESULTS: Five women with vaginal dehiscence and/or evisceration who had previously undergone robotic-assisted radical cystectomy, anterior vaginectomy with urethrectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and creation of ileal conduit by 4 surgeons were identified. Mean interval time to initial presentation of prolapse or dehiscence was 44.4 weeks (range 11-120). In the 2 patients that eviscerated prior to repair, this occurred at 5 and 25 weeks after initial outpatient consultation. All reconstructive efforts were approached transvaginally. Two patients underwent 2 or more repairs. Management options included expectant management, pessary, and immediate vs delayed transvaginal surgical repair. CONCLUSION: Our case series describes the unique and potentially devastating complication of vaginal dehiscence and bowel evisceration in women with history of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy.

Immersive Telepresence and Remote Collaboration using Mobile and Wearable Devices.

The mobility and ubiquity of mobile head-mounted displays make them a promising platform for telepresence research as they allow for spontaneous and remote use cases not possible with stationary hardware. In this work we present a system that provides immersive telepresence and remote collaboration on mobile and wearable devices by building a live spherical panoramic representation of a user's environment that can be viewed in real time by a remote user who can independently choose the viewing direction. The remote user can then interact with this environment as if they were actually there through intuitive gesture-based interaction. Each user can obtain independent views within this environment by rotating their device, and their current field of view is shared to allow for simple coordination of viewpoints. We present several different approaches to create this shared live environment and discuss their implementation details, individual challenges, and performance on modern mobile hardware; by doing so we provide key insights into the design and implementation of next generation mobile telepresence systems, guiding future research in this domain. The results of a preliminary user study confirm the ability of our system to induce the desired sense of presence in its users.

Laparoscopic loop ileostomy reversal with intracorporeal anastomosis is associated with shorter length of stay without increased direct cost.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ileostomy closure with intracorporeal anastomosis offers potential advantages over open reversal with extracorporeal anastomosis, including earlier return of bowel function and reduced postoperative pain. In this study, we aim to compare the outcome and cost of laparoscopic ileostomy reversal (utilizing either intracorporeal or extracorporeal anastomosis) with open ileostomy reversal. METHODS: A retrospective review of sequential patients undergoing elective loop ileostomy reversal between 2013 and 2016 at a single, high-volume institution was performed. Patients were stratified on the basis of operative approach: open reversal, laparoscopic-assisted reversal with extracorporeal anastomosis (LE), and laparoscopic reversal with intracorporeal anastomosis (LI). Linear and logistic regressions were utilized to perform multivariate analysis and determine risk-adjusted outcomes. RESULTS: Of 132 sequential cases of loop ileostomy reversal, 50 (38%) underwent open, 49 (37%) underwent LE, and 33 (22%) underwent LI. Demographic data and preoperative comorbidities were similar between the three cohorts. Median length of stay was significantly shorter for LI (52.1 h, p < 0.05) compared to open (69.0 h) and LE (69.6 h). After risk-adjusted analysis, length of stay was significant shorter in LI compared to LE (GM 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.93, p < 0.01) and open reversal (GM 0.78, 95% CI 0.66-0.93, p < 0.01). Risk-adjusted 30-day morbidity rates were similar for LI compared to LE (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.081-2.33, p = 0.33) and open reversal (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.09-3.125, p = 0.48). Median in-hospital direct cost was similar for LI ($6575.00), LE ($6722.50), and open reversal ($6181.00). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ileostomy reversal with intracorporeal anastomosis was associated with shorter length of stay without increased overall direct cost. The technique of laparoscopic ileostomy reversal warrants continued study in a randomized clinical trial.

Association of Compensation From the Surgical and Medical Device Industry to Physicians and Self-declared Conflict of Interest.

Importance: Surgical and medical device manufacturers have a cooperative relationship with clinicians. When evaluating published works, one should assess the integrity and academic credentials of the authors, who serve as putative experts. A relationship with a relevant manufacturer may increase the potential risk for bias in relevant studies. Objective: To characterize the association of industrial payments by device manufacturers, self-declared conflict of interest (COI), and relevance of publications among physicians receiving the highest compensation. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based bibliometric analysis identified 10 surgical and medical device manufacturing companies and the 10 physicians receiving the highest compensation from each company using the 2015 Open Payments Database (OPD) general payments data. For each of the 100 physicians, the total amount of general payments, number of payments, institution type, and academic rank were recorded. Royalty or license payments were excluded. A search of PubMed identified articles published by each physician from January 1 through December 31, 2016, and their associated COI declaration. Scopus was used to identify bibliometric data reported as the h index (number of papers by a researcher with at least h citations each). Main Outcomes and Measures: Discrepancy between self-declared COI and industry payments. Results: The 100 physicians included in the sample population (88% men) were paid a total of $12 446 969, with a median payment of $95 993. Fifty physicians (50.0%) were faculty at academic institutions. The mean (SD) h index was 18 (18; range, 0-75) for the authors. In 2016, 412 articles were published by these physicians, with a mean (SD) of 4 (6) publications (range, 0-25) and median of 1 (36 physicians had no publications). Of these articles, 225 (54.6%) were relevant to the general payments received by the authors. Only in 84 of the 225 relevant publications (37.3%) was the potential COI declared by the authors. Conclusions and Relevance: A high level of inconsistency was found between self-declared COI and the OPD among the physicians receiving the highest industry payments. Therefore, a policy of full disclosure for all publications, regardless of relevance, is proposed. No statistically significant association was demonstrated between academic rank or productivity and industrial payments.

An endoscopic mucosal grading system is predictive of leak in stapled rectal anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leak is a devastating postoperative complication following rectal anastomoses associated with significant clinical and oncological implications. As a result, there is a need for novel intraoperative methods that will help predict anastomotic leak. METHODS: From 2011 to 2014, patient undergoing rectal anastomoses by colorectal surgeons at our institution underwent prospective application of intraoperative flexible endoscopy with mucosal grading. Retrospective review of patient medical records was performed. After creation of the colorectal anastomosis, application of a three-tier endoscopic mucosal grading system occurred. Grade 1 was defined as circumferentially normal appearing peri-anastomotic mucosa. Grade 2 was defined as ischemia or congestion involving <30% of either the colon or rectal mucosa. Grade 3 was defined as ischemia or congestion involving >30% of the colon or rectal mucosa or ischemia/congestion involving both sides of the staple line. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2014, a total of 106 patients were reviewed. Grade 1 anastomoses were created in 92 (86.7%) patients and Grade 2 anastomoses were created in 10 (9.4%) patients. All 4 (3.8%) Grade 3 patients underwent immediate intraoperative anastomosis takedown and re-creation, with subsequent re-classification as Grade 1. Demographic and comorbidity data were similar between Grade 1 and Grade 2 patients. Anastomotic leak rate for the entire cohort was 12.2%. Grade 1 patients demonstrated a leak rate of 9.4% (9/96) and Grade 2 patients demonstrated a leak rate of 40% (4/10). Multivariate logistic regression associated Grade 2 classification with an increased risk of anastomotic leak (OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.21-13.63, P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic mucosal grading is a feasible intraoperative technique that has a role following creation of a rectal anastomosis. Identification of a Grade 2 or Grade 3 anastomosis should provoke strong consideration for immediate intraoperative revision.

Respiratory complications after colonic procedures in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: does laparoscopy offer a benefit?

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a higher risk for postoperative respiratory complications. Despite the benefits of a minimally invasive approach, laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum can substantially reduce functional residual capacity and raise alveolar dead space, potentially increasing the risk of respiratory failure which may be poorly tolerated by COPD patients. This raises controversy as to whether open techniques should be preferentially employed in this population. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2011 to 2014 was used to examine the clinical data from patients with COPD who electively underwent laparoscopic and open colectomy. Patients defined as having COPD demonstrated either functional disability, chronic use of bronchodilators, prior COPD-related hospitalization, or reduced forced expiratory reserve volumes on lung testing (FEV1 <75%). Demographic data and preoperative characteristics were compared. Linear and logistic regressions were utilized to perform multivariate analysis and determine risk-adjusted outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 4397 patients with COPD, 53.8% underwent laparoscopic colectomy (LC) while 46.2% underwent open colectomy (OC). The LC and OC groups were similar with respect to demographic data and preoperative comorbidities. Equivalent frequencies of exertional dyspnea (LC 35.4 vs OC 37.7%, P = 0.11) were noted. After multivariate risk adjustment, OC demonstrated an increased rate of overall respiratory complications including pneumonia, reintubation, and prolonged ventilator dependency when compared to LC (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.30-1.98, P < 0.01). OC was associated with longer length of stay (10 ± 8 vs. 6.7 ± 7 days, P < 0.01) and higher readmission (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09-1.68, P < 0.01) compared to LC. CONCLUSION: Despite the potential risks of laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum in the susceptible COPD population, a minimally invasive approach was associated with lower risk of postoperative respiratory complications, shorter length of stay, and decrease in postoperative morbidity.

Ileocolic Resection for Crohn's Disease: A Minimally Invasive Approach Claims Its Place.

Ileocolic resection is the most common operation performed for Crohn's disease patients with terminal ileum involvement. We sought to evaluate the outcomes in Crohn's disease patients who underwent open ileocolic resection (OIC) and laparoscopic ileocolic resection (LIC) by using the ACS-NSQIP database from 2006 to 2015. Of 5670 patients, 48.3 per cent (2737) patients had OIC and 51.7 per cent (2933) had LIC. The number of LIC increased from 40 per cent in 2006 to 60.7 per cent in 2015. Moreover, the annual number of LIC surgeries has exceeded the number of OIC surgeries since 2013. Patients in the LIC group had shorter hospital length of stay compared with OIC group (6 ± 5 days vs 8.6 ± 8 days, P < 0.01). The LIC procedure also had shorter operation time compared with OIC (148 ± 58 vs 153 ± 76 minutes, P = 0.01). Overall morbidity (15.8% vs 25.3%, AOR: 0.54, confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.62, P < 0.01), serious morbidity (10.9% vs 18%, AOR: 0.55, CI: 0.46-0.65, P < 0.01), and SSI (9.9% vs 15.5%, AOR: 0.59, CI: 0.49-0.70, P < 0.01) rates were lower in the LIC group than the OIC group. We demonstrated that in Crohn's disease patients, LIC has improved outcomes for ileocolic resection compared with OIC and has been chosen as the preferential treatment approach for most patients.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Epidural Compared with Conventional Analgesia after Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of thoracic epidural analgesia (EA) vs conventional IV analgesia (IA) after minimally invasive surgery is still unproven. We designed a randomized controlled trial comparing EA with IA after minimally invasive colorectal surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 87 patients who underwent minimally invasive colorectal procedures at a single institution between 2011 and 2014 were enrolled. Eight patients were excluded and 38 were randomized to EA and 41 to IA. Pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale and quality of life with the Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score daily until discharge. RESULTS: Mean age was 57 ± 14 years, 43% of patients were female, and mean BMI was 28.6 ± 6 kg/m2. The 2 groups were similar in demographic characteristics and distribution of diagnoses and procedures. Epidural analgesia had a higher incidence of hypotensive systolic blood pressure (<90 mmHg) episodes (9 vs 2; p < 0.05) and a trend toward longer Foley catheter duration (3 ± 2 days vs 2 ± 4 days; p > 0.05). Epidural and IA had equivalent mean lengths of stay (4 ± 3 days vs 4 ± 3 days), daily Visual Analogue Scale scores (2.4 ± 2.0 vs 3.0 ± 2.0), and Overall Benefit of Analgesia Scores (3.2 ± 2.0 vs 3.2 ± 2.0), and similar time to start oral diet (2.8 ± 2 days vs 2.2 ± 1 days). Epidural analgesia patients used a higher total dose of narcotics (147.5 ± 192.0 mg vs 98.1 ± 112.0 mg; p > 0.05). Epidural and IV analgesia had equivalent total hospital charges ($144,991 ± $67,636 vs $141,339 ± $75,579; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that EA has no added clinical benefit in patients undergoing minimally invasive colorectal surgery. A trend toward higher total narcotics use and complications with EA was demonstrated.

Defining the Role of Minimally Invasive Proctectomy for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: National examination of open proctectomy (OP), laparoscopic proctectomy (LP), and robotic proctectomy (RP) in pathological outcomes and overall survival (OS). BACKGROUND: Surgical management for rectal adenocarcinoma is evolving towards utilization of LP and RP. However, the oncological impacts of a minimally invasive approach to rectal cancer have yet to be defined. METHODS: Retrospective review of the National Cancer Database identified patients with nonmetastatic locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma from 2010 to 2014, who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation, surgical resection, and adjuvant therapy. Cases were stratified by surgical approach. Multivariate analysis was used to compare pathological outcomes. Cox proportional-hazard modeling and Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to estimate long-term OS. RESULTS: Of 6313 cases identified, 53.8% underwent OP, 31.8% underwent LP, and 14.3% underwent RP. Higher-volume academic/research and comprehensive community centers combined to perform 80% of laparoscopic cases and 83% of robotic cases. In an intent-to-treat model, multivariate analysis demonstrated superior circumferential margin negativity rates with LP compared with OP (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.77, P = 0.036). Cox proportional-hazard modeling demonstrated a lower death hazard ratio for LP compared with OP (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.67-0.99, P = 0.037). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a 5-year OS of 81% in LP compared with 78% in RP and 76% in OP (P = 0.0198). CONCLUSION: In the hands of experienced colorectal specialists treating selected patients, LP may be a valuable operative technique that is associated with oncological benefits. Further exploration of pathological outcomes and long-term survival by means of prospective randomized trials may offer more definitive conclusions regarding comparisons of open and minimally invasive technique.