[Surgical strategy in the treatment of synchronous hepatic metastases of colorectal cancers. Analysis of a series of 59 operated on patients]. / Stratégie chirurgicale dans le traitement des métastases hépatiques synchrones des cancers colorectaux. Analyse d'une série de 59 malades opérés.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The surgical strategy for the treatment of resectable synchronous hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer remains controversial. The retrospective analysis of our series of resectable synchronous hepatic metastases is focused on the percentage of simultaneous resections, the circumstances, the indications, and the results of the one-step procedure compared to the two-step strategy. METHODS: From January 1st 1982 to December 31st 1996, 146 patients were operated on for resection of hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer. Fifty-nine (40%) presented with synchronous metastases, 28 (47.5%) of whom underwent simultaneous resection of the primary tumor and of the hepatic metastases (simultaneous resection group: SR). For the other 31 patients (52.5%), the hepatic resection was delayed for a mean interval of 6 +/- 4 months (delayed resection group: DR). RESULTS: The mean age in the two groups was not significantly different (56 years vs. 60 years). The need for blood transfusion and the volume required were not significantly different between the two groups. The duration of each surgical operation was comparable between the two groups (320 +/- 76 min vs. 308 +/- 88 min). Postoperative complications were observed in 18% of patients in the SR group and in 16% of patients in the DR group (no significant difference). There was no postoperative mortality in either group. Survival was 86, 63 and 43% at 1, 2, 3 years respectively in the SR group, and 81, 51 and 36% in the DR group, with no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous resection of the primary tumor and the hepatic metastases does not increase neither mortality nor morbidity in our series. The best candidate for a one-step procedure is a patient with a right colonic tumor, in a good status, with liver synchronous metastases resectable by mean of a minor hepatectomy.

Successful arterial embolisation of giant liver haemangioma. Report of a case with five-year computed tomography follow-up.

A 28-year old man presented with a symptomatic giant haemangioma. On June 26, 1983, at laparotomy, no resection was attempted because the lesion involved the right lobe of the liver and a part of segments II and III. The patient underwent a right hepatic arterial embolisation with gelatine sponge particles. During follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. Five-year review by CT-scan showed a diminution of the size of the haemangioma and hypertrophy of the left lobe. On October 21, 1988, the patient was reoperated on for liver abscess and complete necrosis of the haemangioma. A right hepatectomy was performed. In conclusion, the long-term effect of hepatic arterial embolisation, as demonstrated in our case by regular CT-scans, is useful in cases of diffuse haemangioma as an alternative to hazardous major liver resection. To our knowledge, the long-term effect of hepatic arterial embolisation on symptoms and tumor size have never been reported for giant liver haemangioma.

[Synchronous colorectal cancers]. / Cancers colo-rectaux synchrones.

The frequency of synchronous colorectal cancers ranges from 1.7 to 9.3% according to the series. The incidence of these cancers has been appreciated in various ways, according to variable diagnostic criteria, especially because some authors have included in situ carcinomas developing on degenerated polyps. A retrospective study of the synchronous cancers operated in our department from January, 1980 to August, 1990 allowed us to assess their frequency and location and to discuss the therapeutic choices. Two hundred and forty-nine patients with cancers of the colon or of the rectum have been operated during that period. Twelve (4.8%) presented with more than one colorectal cancer, all discovered simultaneously. The average age of the patients operated for synchronous cancer was higher that that of those operated of isolate cancer (68.8 years versus 63.3). Two thirds of the synchronous cancers were located in the sigmoid loop or the colon and, in one third of all cases, on non-adjacent segments of the colon. The frequent association of colic adenomatous polyps and of synchronous cancers--in one half of the patients in our series--must raise a discussion on the merits of systematic subtotal, or even total, colectomy in the treatment of synchronous colorectal cancers. This is also true for tumoral sites in 2 different segments of the colon. Segmental colectomy may be advocated in the other cases: cancers located on one segment, polyps located only on the resected segment of the colon, or polyps that can be resected via endoscopy.

Recovery from total intravenous anaesthesia. Propofol versus midazolam-flumazenil.

The aim of this study was to compare recovery assessed with the Newman, deletion af a's and postbox tests after total intravenous anaesthsia for procedures lasting more than 90 min, with either propofol (PPF) or midazolam (MDZ), reversed or not by flumazenil (FMZ). Thirty patients scheduled for peripheral surgery were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 10, receiving by continuous infusion until the end of surgery either PPF (n = 10) or MDZ (n = 20) combined with alfentanil. FMZ was administered thereafter to 10 patients receiving MDZ until they opened their eyes on command or to a maximum dose of 1 mg. Recovery tests were performed 45, 90 and 180 min after the end of anaesthesia. Results were analysed with non-parametric tests. Recovery scores were significantly better in the PPF group at all times, reaching control values at 180 min for the three first tests. FMZ reversal did not improve the scores compared to those resulting from MDZ alone. This study provides further data in favour of PPF as far as rapid and complete recovery is concerned. The efficiency of FMZ is incomplete and only transient when administered in a single dose.

[Is the ultrasonic dissector an advance? Apropos of 70 hepatectomies]. / Le bistouri ultrasonique est-il un progrès? A propos de 70 hépatectomies.

The aim of this retrospective study was to determinate whether the ultrasonic dissector (U.S.D.) is a major advance over existing methods in hepatic surgery. Between 1983 and 1989, we performed 70 hepatectomies "réglées". Twenty seven patients were operated because of benign lesions and 43 patients because of malignant tumours. Transparenchymal approach using "Kellyclasy" or digitoclasy with control of the hilar vessels was carried out 39 times. U.S.D. was used 31 times. No mortality was observed during operating time or post-operative period. The postoperative morbidity was not attributable to the use of the U.S.D. On the whole, U.S.D. has modified neither the amounts of blood loss nor the duration of hilar clamping. However the use of U.S.D. presents 3 advantages: it allows sometimes to perform hepatectomy without pedicular clamping, it makes easy the transparenchymal approach of the large vascular and biliary structures, and it is useful in hydatic cyst surgery. Although the U.S.D. is not indispensable to carry out hepatectomy, it improves intraparenchymal control of vessels and biliary ducts, making therefore hepatic resection easier.