Complete mesocolic excision in colon cancer surgery: a comparison between open and laparoscopic approach.

BACKGROUND: Complete mesocolic excision (CME) with central vessel ligation (CVL) as performed in Erlangen offers the best long-term outcome for colon cancer. The aim of this study was to assess specimens after laparoscopic vs open CME-CVL macroscopically and morphometrically in patients with left and right colon cancers. METHOD: All specimens were freshly photographed. Precise tumour morphometry and grading of the surgical plane were performed as described by pathologists in Leeds, UK. RESULTS: Thirty-four specimens from right-sided cancers were divided into 18 transverse colon cancers (nine laparoscopic vs nine open) and 16 caecum-ascending colon cancers (seven laparoscopic vs nine open) and 56 specimens from left-sided cancers (33 laparoscopic vs 23 open). There was no difference between laparoscopically and open acquired left- and right-sided specimens. Specimens of transverse colon displayed differences in length of central ligation to tumour (open 11.67 cm vs laparoscopic 8.72 cm, P = 0.049), length of central ligation to bowel wall (open 9.11 cm vs laparoscopic 6.5 cm, P = 0.015) and lymph node clearance (open 46.33 vs laparoscopic 39.33, P = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy seems to offer specimens of similar quality after CME-CVL surgery for colon cancer to the open approach. Issues of completeness of excision from laparoscopy are raised for tumours located in the transverse colon.

Specific esophagogram to assess functional outcomes after Heller's myotomy and Dor's fundoplication for esophageal achalasia.

Esophageal emptying assessed at the 'timed barium' esophagogram correlates well with symptomatic outcomes after pneumatic dilation for esophageal achalasia, although 30% of patients with satisfactory outcome exhibit partial improvement in emptying. The aim of the study was to investigate any correlation of esophageal emptying to symptomatic response after laparoscopic Heller's myotomy and Dor's fundoplication. 'Bread and barium' (transit time of a barium opaque bread bolus) and 'timed barium' (height of esophageal barium column 5 minutes after ingestion of 200-250 mL of barium suspension) esophagogram was used to assess esophageal emptying in 73 patients with esophageal achalasia before 1 and 5 years (31 cases) after laparoscopic myotomy and anterior fundoplication. Symptoms assessment was based to a specific score. At 1-year follow-up, excellent and good symptomatic results were obtained in 95% of the cases. Esophageal maximum diameter, esophageal transit time, and esophageal barium column were significantly correlated to each other and to symptom score postoperatively (P < 0.001). Complete and partial (<90% and 50-90% postoperative reduction in barium column, respectively) emptying was seen in 55% and 31% of patients with excellent result. Patients with a pseudodiverticulum postoperatively had a more delayed esophageal emptying than those without. Symptomatic outcome and esophageal emptying did not deteriorate at 5-year follow-up. Esophageal emptying assessed by 'barium and bread' and 'timed barium' esophagogram correlated well with symptomatic outcome after laparoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia. Complete symptomatic relief does not necessarily reflect complete esophageal emptying. Outcomes do not deteriorate by time. Because of wide availability, esophagogram can be applied in follow-up of postmyotomy patients in conjunction with symptomatic evaluation.

Simple suture or prosthesis hiatal closure in laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia: a retrospective cohort study.

Laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia (PEH) involves removal of the hernia sac, cruroplasty, and fundoplication. Mesh application to cruroplasty seems to reduce hernia recurrence rate, but may be associated with dysphagia. The aim of the study was to review the clinical and laboratory outcomes of a series of patients with PEH after laparoscopic repair. Patients with PEH, who had laparoscopic repair and 1-year postoperative follow-up, were included in the study. Pre- and postoperative testing included symptom questionnaires, barium esophagogram, pH-monitoring, barium swallow testing. In the first half cases, suturing of large hernia gaps was reinforced with prosthesis (PR), whereas in the second half only suture cruroplasty (SC) was performed. Sixty-eight patients (36 male) with PEH were included in the study. There were no conversions to open. Postoperatively, dysphagia grading was significantly correlated to esophageal transit time (P < 0.001). There were seven recurrences; one paraesophageal and six wrap migrations. Also, four cases with stenosis were identified all in the PR group. Dysphagia was more common (P= 0.05) and esophageal transit more delayed (P= 0.034) after PR than after SC. Two revisions, one for esophageal stenosis and one for recurrent PEH, derived from the SC group. Reflux was more common after Toupet fundoplication than after Nissen fundoplication (NF) (P= 0.031) in patients with impaired esophageal motility. Laparoscopic repair of PEH with SC is associated with satisfactory clinical outcomes and low rate of wrap migration, at least similar to PR hiatal repair. NF is effective as an antireflux procedure in all cases.

Laparoscopic Heller cardiomyotomy and Dor fundoplication for esophageal achalasia: possible factors predicting outcome.

HYPOTHESIS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy with anterior hemifundoplication is the surgical procedure of choice for the treatment of esophageal achalasia. Specific factors, eg, severity of esophageal body deformity, might affect postoperative outcome. DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. SETTING: Academic referral center for gastrointestinal tract motility disorders. PATIENTS: Twenty-nine patients with esophageal achalasia who underwent 1 to 3 sessions of failed pneumatic dilation each. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy with anterior (Dor) hemifundoplication. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative symptomatic evaluation, esophagoscopy, esophagography, stationary and ambulatory esophageal manometry, and pH monitoring. RESULTS: Three patients had stage I disease, 10 had stage II, 12 had stage III, and 4 had stage IV at preoperative radiologic examination. At surgery, there were no conversions to open procedures, and 2 mucosal perforations were immediately identified and sutured. Good or excellent results were seen in 26 patients. All patients with stage I or II disease had excellent functional results. Of patients with stage III disease, results were excellent in 7, good in 4, and bad in 1. Of patients with stage IV disease, 2 had good results and 2 had bad results. After surgery, lower esophageal sphincter pressure was reduced significantly (from 46.1 +/- 12.1 to 5.4 +/- 1.8 mm Hg; P<.001), as was esophageal diameter (from 61 +/- 17 to 35 +/- 19 mm; P<.001) (data are given as mean +/- SD). However, an excellent result occurred only in patients with a postoperative esophageal diameter less than 40 mm. CONCLUSION: Functional outcome of laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure for achalasia is related to the preoperative stage of the disease on the esophagogram and to the extent of reduction in esophageal width after surgery.

Anorectal function after low anterior resection of the rectum.

Impaired neorectal function or sphincter incompetence have been respectively implicated as causative factors of increased frequency of defaecation or incontinence after low anterior resection of the rectum (LARR) for rectal carcinoma, although individual mechanisms of anorectal function have not been fully studied. Functional and laboratory results were evaluated in 19 subjects, who had a LARR for rectal carcinoma before and after the procedure, and were compared to those of normal subjects. LARR worsened anorectal function, mostly by significantly increasing the daily number of defaecations (p < 0.001), while major incontinence was reported in three cases. Patients with rectal carcinoma have a decreased resting anal pressure on manometry, as compared to controls (p < 0.001). LARR further reduces anal resting pressure (p < 0.001) as well as all parameters that express internal sphincter activity, such as presence and amplitude of either slow (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) or ultraslow waves. LARR also impaired external anal sphincter activity, as expressed by the reduction in anal squeeze pressure (p < 0.001). Anorectal sampling was found reduced in incidence and frequency in LARR patients as compared to controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001), and was impaired even further postoperatively (p < 0.001). Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was present in all but three patients postoperative, but significantly impaired as compared to controls. Rectal volumes to elicit transient or permanent desire to defecate, maximal tolerable rectal volume and rectal compliance were also significantly reduced after LARR (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). Large bowel transit was significantly enhanced after LARR (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gallbladder emptying after antiulcer gastric surgery.

It has been shown that truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (TVP), but not highly selective vagotomy (HSV), delays the onset, decreases the extent, and changes the pattern of gallbladder emptying. The aim of the present study was to investigate any alterations in gallbladder emptying after a variety of antiulcer gastric surgery, by milk-technetium 99m (99mTc)-dimethyl iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scintigraphy. After excluding the cases with spontaneous gallbladder evacuation before milk ingestion, there were 26 controls, 41 duodenal ulcer (DU) patients, 22 after HSV (15 prospective cases), 50 after TVP (23 prospective cases), 8 after TV with gastrojejunostomy (TV-GJ), 10 after Billroth I gastrectomy, and 29 after Billroth II gastrectomy. None of the patients with gastrectomy had additional vagotomy. TVP significantly delayed the onset and decreased the rate of gallbladder emptying as compared with the control, DU, HSV, and Billroth I groups. TVP also changed the pattern of emptying in 20% of the cases (sequential emptying and refilling events). Antiulcer operations excluding the duodenum (TV-GJ and Billroth II) further reduced the rate of gallbladder emptying as compared with (1) control, DU, HSV, and Billroth I groups (P < 0.0001) and (2) TVP (P < 0.001). Onset of gallbladder emptying was not affected by Billroth II gastrectomy, but was significantly delayed by TV-GJ (P < 0.001). The latter two operations also significantly changed the pattern of gallbladder emptying, exhibiting sequential emptying and refilling events, in most cases (P < 0.01 versus TVP). In conclusion, all antiulcer procedures, except HSV, greatly disturb the pattern, the onset, and the rate of gallbladder emptying. Truncal vagotomy seems to disrupt vagally mediated preduodenal mechanism, resulting in delayed onset and reduced rate, whereas duodenal exclusion by gastrojejunostomy results in severely decreased rate of gallbladder emptying.

Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy severely disturbs emptying of the gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: It is documented that truncal vagotomy and Billroth II gastroenterostomy disturbs the emptying of the gallbladder. The aim of the present prospective study was to assess the emptying of the gallbladder after Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy. STUDY DESIGN: There were 34 patients, who had undergone either truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (TVP, 14 instances) or Billroth II gastrectomy (20 instances), and were subsequently subjected to Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy. The emptying of the gallbladder was assessed before and after the Roux-en-Y procedure, by milk-technetium-99m labeled hepatoiminodiacetic acid (milk-99mTc-HIDA) scintigraphy. Milk-99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy was also performed on twenty-eight healthy subjects, who served as the control group. RESULTS: After excluding the subjects having spontaneous gallbladder evacuation before milk ingestion, there remained 26 subjects in the control group, 12 patients with TVP, and 19 with Billroth II gastrectomy. Truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty was associated with delayed onset (p < 0.001) and decreased rate (p < 0.01) of emptying of the gallbladder compared with the control group. Truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty also changed the normal pattern of emptying in two patients (sequential emptying and refilling events). Billroth II gastrectomy was associated with decreased extent and abnormal pattern of emptying compared with subjects in the control group (p < 0.0001) and patients having TVP. Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy, performed upon patients with TVP, significantly increased lag phase duration (p < 0.001), decreased ejection fraction (p < 0.01), and changed the pattern of emptying of the gallbladder (p < 0.01). Roux-en-Y procedure performed upon patients with Billroth II gastrectomy significantly increased lag phase duration (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy severely disturbs all parameters of the emptying of the gallbladder.

Reproducibility of gallbladder emptying scintigraphic studies.

UNLABELLED: This study was designed to investigate the reproducibility of the results obtained from 99mTc-dimethyliminodiacetic acid (99mTc-EHIDA) cholescintigraphy, when used as a method of estimating gallbladder emptying. METHODS: In a random controlled fashion, the reproducibility of scintigraphic gallbladder emptying studies was assessed in 30 subjects, of whom six were normal, four had duodenal ulcers and the remaining 20 had undergone antiulcer gastric surgery. In fasting subjects, who 30 min later drank 250 ml of fresh milk, 2 mCi of 99mTc-EHIDA was intravenously injected. Liver and gallbladder areas were scanned for 60 sec and then every 5 min for 1 hr. The study was repeated in all subjects within 2-5 wk. From the gallbladder emptying curves, the duration of the lag phase (time from milk ingestion to actual start of emptying), the ejection fraction of emptying (peak to least activity in the gallbladder), the time by which maximal emptying was achieved and the pattern of gallbladder emptying were calculated. RESULTS: Two subjects were excluded from the study because their gallbladders did not fill. Lag phase duration was well reproduced in duplicate studies (r = 0.87), as was ejection fraction (r = 0.84). The time by which maximal emptying was achieved was not sufficiently reproduced. The normal pattern of emptying (exponential function) was reproduced in all controls, subjects with duodenal ulcers and patients after antiulcer surgery that did not involve duodenal exclusion. The abnormal pattern of emptying, characterized by refilling, was reproduced in five of the seven patients with gastric surgery that mainly involved duodenal exclusion. CONCLUSION: Scintigraphy with 99mTc-EHIDA to assess gallbladder motility is a method with satisfactory reproducibility of both parametric variables and patterns of emptying.

Erythromycin accelerates delayed gastric emptying of solids in patients after truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if erythromycin (a motilin agonist) accelerated gastric emptying after vagotomy and in normal subjects. DESIGN: Double blind controlled study. SETTING: Two referral centres. SUBJECTS: 15 patients who had previously undergone vagotomy and who did (n = 8) or did not (n = 7) have symptoms of gastric stasis and 10 normal controls. INTERVENTIONS: A standard meal containing 185 x 10(5) Bq -99mTc was eaten after either erythromycin 200 mg or 40 ml placebo (normal saline) had been given intravenously. Subjects were then scanned by gamma camera. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurement of: the length of time from completion of the meal to the onset of gastric emptying; the length of time from completion of the meal until half of the meal had left the stomach; the length of the time from the onset of gastric emptying until half of the meal had left the stomach; and the percentage of the meal that was left in the stomach at 60 and 120 min after the end of the meal. RESULTS: Gastric emptying was significantly delayed in those patients with symptoms compared with normal subjects and patients without symptoms. Erythromycin accelerated the first two phases of gastric emptying in all patients and normal subjects, but did not affect the length of time from the onset of gastric emptying until half the meal had left the stomach. CONCLUSION: Erythromycin could be a useful gastrokinetic agent in patients with symptoms of gastric stasis after vagotomy.

Enterogastric reflux after various types of antiulcer gastric surgery: quantitation by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy.

In 28 controls and 142 patients subjected to a variety of antiulcer procedures, the enterogastric reflux (EGR) was quantitated by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy and expressed as the EGR index on 229 different occasions. The EGR index was calculated according to two different formulas: one based on the maximal radioactivity over the gastric area as a percentage value of the total abdominal activity (EGR-Im) and the other based on the relative maximal radioactivity over the gastric area as a percentage value of the relative hepatobiliary activity (EGR-It). There was a significant positive correlation of values between the two methods (P less than 0.0001). In patients with an EGR-Im greater than 20% or EGR-It greater than 57% and postgastric surgery symptoms some of the symptoms were attributed to EGR, an antireflux procedure is expected to relieve those symptoms. Sixteen of these patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastrectomy and their preoperative symptoms were relieved.

Hydatid disease of the liver. Diagnosis and surgical treatment.

A series of 155 cases of hepatic hydatid disease, occurring in 121 patients, were operated on at the Naval and Veterans Hospital of Athens. Ultrasonography and computerized axial tomography provided the preoperative diagnosis in 89 and 93 percent of the cases respectively in recent years. Thirty one percent of the cases presented with complications, the commonest of these being infection of the cyst (10 percent) and rupture of the cyst into the bile ducts (17 percent). Total cystectomy was performed in three cases and removal of the endocyst with its content in the remaining 152. The remaining cavity was either externally drained (57 cases), or filled with omentum (omentoplasty--95 cases). External fistula and infection of the residual cavity occurred in 32 and 56 percent after simple drainage and in 4 and 2 percent respectively after omentoplasty. Differences are statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Hospitalization was also significantly longer after drainage than after omentoplasty (p less than 0.01). Obstructive jaundice after intrabiliary rupture of the cyst was more successfully managed after additional choledochoduodenostomy than after simple drainage of the common bile duct. Intrapericoneal recurrence of hydatid disease occurred in two cases. The conclusion of the present study is, that ultrasonography and computerized axial tomography provide an acceptable rate in the diagnosis and that omentoplasty offers a very low complication rate in the management of hydatid cystic disease of the liver.