Index cost comparison of laparoscopic vs robotic surgery in colon and rectal cancer resection: a retrospective financial investigation of surgical methodology innovation at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Robotic assisted colorectal cancer resection (R-CR) has become increasingly commonplace in contrast to traditional laparoscopic cancer resection (L-CR). The aim of this study was to compare the total direct costs of R-CR to that of L-CR and to compare the groups with respect to costs related to LOS. METHODS: Patients who underwent colon and/or rectal cancer resection via R-CR or L-CR instrumentation between January 1, 2015 and December 31 2018, at our institution, were evaluated and compared. Primary outcomes were overall cost, supply cost, operating time and cost, postoperative length of stay (LOS), and postoperative LOS cost. Secondary outcomes were readmission within 30 days and mortality during the surgery. RESULTS: Two hundred forty R-CR (mean age 64.9 ± 12.4 years) and 258 L-CR (mean age 66.4 ± 15.5 years) patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall mean direct cost between R-CR and L-CR was significantly higher ($8756 vs $7776 respectively, p=0.001) as well as the supply cost per case ($3789 vs $2122, p < 0.001). Operating time was also higher for R-CR than L-CR (224 min vs 187 min, p = 0.066) but LOS was slightly lower (5.08 days vs 5.55 days, p = 0.113). CONCLUSIONS: Cost is the main obstacle to easy and widespread use of the platform at this junction, though new developments and competition could very well reduce costs. Supply cost was the main reason for increased costs with robotic resection.

Predictive factors affecting survival in stage II colorectal cancer: is lymph node harvesting relevant?

PURPOSE: Lymph node status is important in colorectal cancer. Multiple studies indicate a relationship between the number of nodes harvested and survival. This is important in patients with stage II disease where the role of adjuvant therapy is unclear. This study sought to analyze the impact of lymph node harvest on survival in patients with stage II colorectal cancer. METHODS: The data of our hospital's colorectal tumor registry from 1997 to 2008 was reviewed. The records of 3534 patients of all stages were analyzed; of these patients, 913 patients with stage II colorectal cancer underwent curative resection. A univariate analysis estimated 5-year survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis based on various lymph node groupings. Patients were further analyzed with respect to sex, age, tumor grade, and tumor location. Multivariate linear regression analysis by the Cox proportional hazards model was performed using these variables to analyze survival relative to lymph node harvesting. RESULTS: Of 913 stage II patients, the mean age was 71 years and 48% were male. Univariate analysis of the number of lymph nodes harvested found that ≥24 nodes removed was a significant and independent factor for improved survival in stage II (P = .009) and ≥36 nodes in stage III cancers (P = .008). Cox proportional hazards ratios found male sex (P < .03) and poorly differentiated tumors (P < .015) to be negative independent risk factors for survival. Tumor location in the sigmoid was associated with improved survival (P < .02). CONCLUSION: Patients with stage II disease had an improved survival when ≥24 lymph nodes were harvested, and patients with stage III disease had improved survival with up to a 36 node harvest. Male sex and poorly differentiated tumors had a worse prognosis, and tumors located in the sigmoid were associated with improved survival in stage II cancers. An increased lymph node harvest is recommended to improve survival in these stages.

Randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of effect of nitroglycerin ointment on pain after hemorrhoidectomy.

PURPOSE: Fissure-in-ano is characterized by pain, bleeding, and internal anal sphincter hypertonicity. Spasm of the internal sphincter also plays a role in hemorrhoidal disease and may be a source of anal pain after hemorrhoid surgery. Inducing sphincter relaxation with a nitroglycerin ointment has shown promise in healing anal fissures and relieving symptoms of pain. Our study attempts to test the hypothesis that topical nitroglycerin applied to the perianal region is beneficial in reducing pain after hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: After hemorrhoidectomy 39 patients were randomly assigned to receive 0.2 percent nitroglycerin ointment (n = 19) or placebo (n = 20). Ointments were applied to the perianal region three times daily for seven days. Patients were prescribed hydrocodone bitartrate to take as needed. Visual analog scales were used to measure postoperative pain intensity and ointment benefits. Patients completed questionnaires to record medication morbidity and number of prescribed or nonprescribed medications taken. RESULTS: Patients using nitroglycerin had less pain and greater benefit from ointment than those did in the placebo group, but differences were not significant. Narcotic use was higher in the placebo group when considered on a daily basis, but was statistically significant on the second postoperative day only (P < 0.05). Morbidity from ointment application was significantly higher in the nitroglycerin group (P < 0.002) and included a headache in 8 of 19 patients. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen were not prescribed, but were taken more frequently in nitroglycerin patients (P < 0.0003). CONCLUSION: Perianal application of 0.2 percent nitroglycerin ointment after hemorrhoidectomy significantly reduced narcotic requirements on the second postoperative day. Headaches and a subsequent need for nonnarcotic medications may limit benefits of nitroglycerin.

Nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults 55 years and older: a twenty-year experience.

The nonoperative management of splenic injury secondary to blunt trauma in older patients remains controversial. We have reviewed our experience from January 1978 to December 1997 with selective nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults 55 years and older. Criteria for nonoperative management included hemodynamic stability with any transient hypotension corrected using less than 2,000 cm3 crystalloid infusion, a negative abdominal physical examination ruling out associated injuries, and a blood transfusion requirement of no more than 2 units attributable to the splenic injury. During the study period, 18 patients over age 55 with radiographic confirmation of a splenic injury met the above criteria for nonoperative management. Their mean age was 72 years (range 56-86), and 13 of the 18 were female (72%). The mean Injury Severity Score was 15 (range 4-29), with the mechanism of injury equally divided between automobile crashes (9) and falls (9). During a similar time period, 15 patients 55 years or older with splenic injury composed an operative group; these patients did not differ with respect to age (mean 68 years), sex (60% female), or mechanism of injury. CT scans of 8 patients managed nonoperatively were available and graded using the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma classification, with a mean score of 2.3 (range 2-3). Eight of the 18 nonsurgical patients received blood transfusions. None of the 18 patients who met the criteria for nonoperative management "failed" the protocol, and none were taken to the operating room for abdominal exploration. Two patients (11%) died of associated thoracic injuries after lengthy hospital stays, one at 10 days and one at 24 days. We conclude from our data that nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in patients age 55 years and older is indicated provided they are hemodynamically stable, do not require significant blood transfusion, and have no other associated abdominal injuries.

Is total colonic evaluation for anal cancer necessary?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the necessity of total colonic evaluation in patients diagnosed with anal cancer. We reviewed the cases of 69 patients treated for neoplasm of the anus from January 1973 through November 1998. Patients underwent a barium enema, flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy; findings from these procedures were analyzed. Anal pathology included: squamous cell carcinoma, 48 patients (72%); adenocarcinoma, 6 patients (9%); and squamous cell carcinoma in situ, 10 patients (15%). Chemoradiation was completed in 41 patients (61%), and 6 patients (9%) underwent abdominal perineal resection. Wide excision was the primary therapy in 15 patients (22%). Procedures included: colonoscopy, 31 patients (46%); flexible sigmoidoscopy only, 15 patients (22%); barium enema only, 3 patients (5%); and a combination of flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema, 18 patients (27%). Eighty-five per cent of patients had a normal colonic evaluation. Ten patients (15%) had single or multiple polyps identified. Six adenomatous polyps and two hyperplastic polyps were found. No synchronous colorectal malignancy was identified. We conclude that colonoscopy is an integral part of colonic surveillance in patients diagnosed with anal carcinoma, but our study fails to find evidence to support such intervention. The standard screening recommendation for colorectal cancer based on age and risk factors is appropriate intervention for patients diagnosed with anal cancer; anal cancer itself does not appear to be one of these risk factors.

Same hospitalization resection for acute diverticulitis.

We reviewed our experience with same hospitalization resection in the treatment of acute diverticulitis (AD) and compared outcomes with patients admitted for elective resection. From January 1987 through December 1996, 20 patients (Group 1) were admitted with AD and were operated on during the same hospital admission. During that same time period, 22 patients (Group 2) were admitted for elective resection and found to have an abscess intraoperatively. Thirty patients had elective resection with no abscess found (Group 3), and 10 patients were found to have a fistula to adjacent structures during elective resection (Group 4). Demographics and type of procedure done were similar in all groups. Fifteen patients (75%) in Group 1 had an abscess; eight were pericolic, and seven were pelvic. In contrast, all Group 2 abscesses were pericolic (P < 0.001). There was no mortality or major morbidity in any group. Patients in Groups 1 and 4 had higher fluid requirements (not significant), estimated blood loss (P < 0.01), and longer operative times (P < 0.05) when compared with the other groups. Postoperative and total hospital stay was significantly longer in Group 1. We conclude that hospitalized patients with AD who meet indications for surgery can be operated on during the same hospitalization without an increase in morbidity, compared with those patients discharged and later readmitted for elective resection.

Unilateral lobectomy for Hurthle cell adenoma.

Considerable controversy exists regarding the ability to predict the biologic behavior of Hurthle cell tumors. Some have found the clinicopathologic criteria used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions to be unreliable and have advocated total thyroidectomy for all Hurthle cell neoplasms. From January 1980 to December 1995, 39 patients had surgery for Hurthle cell tumors of the thyroid. The surgical pathologic findings were reviewed by an experienced pathologist (JP). Eight patients had histologic findings of capsular or vascular invasion consistent with carcinoma and had total thyroidectomy. Four of these patients had postoperative evidence of residual disease and were treated by radiation ablation. No evidence of invasion was found in 31 patients diagnosed with Hurthle cell adenoma. Twenty-three of these patients had unilateral lobectomy; total thyroidectomy was done in the remaining 8 patients, 5 of whom were found to have an associated papillary carcinoma at the time of operation. There were no operative deaths or significant morbidity. Twenty-two adenomas (71%) were found in females, whereas males had malignant tumors in 6 of 8 cases (P = 0.025). The mean age of adenoma patients is 54.1 years, and that of the carcinoma patients is 55.8 years. Mean size of benign tumors was 2.8 cm and of malignant tumors 4.1 cm (P = 0.04). Four of seven (57%) carcinomas were larger than 4 cm as compared with 6 of 30 (20%) adenomas (P = 0.069). Follow-up has ranged from 1 month to 15 years, with a mean of 3.2 years. There have been no deaths, and no patients with Hurthle cell adenoma have had evidence of recurrence or metastases during follow-up. Our data suggest that carcinoma patients tend to be male and tumor size is larger. An association was found when trying to predict malignancy by using 4 cm as a threshold size. We conclude that pathologic evidence of capsular or angioinvasion can accurately differentiate benign from malignant tumors. Unilateral thyroid lobectomy is adequate therapy for the treatment of Hurthle cell adenoma, with total thyroidectomy reserved for those patients with histologically proven carcinoma.

Nonoperative management of adult blunt splenic trauma: a 15-year experience.

From January 1989 to December 1993, 40 consecutive adult patients with ruptured spleen from blunt trauma were examined. Fourteen patients (35%) were taken to the operating room initially because of hemodynamic instability and generalized peritoneal signs. Twenty-six patients (65%) were hemodynamically stabilized at admission and treated by nonoperative management, which included strict bed rest, intensive care unit monitoring, frequent physical examinations, and serial hematocrits. Four patients failed nonsurgical management and required a splenectomy, three because of clinical deterioration within 1 to 3 days of admission; the fourth patient had recurrent bleeding 7 days after injury. The patients in the operative group had a greater severity of injury with a mean injury severity score of 26.6, four deaths, and mean transfusion requirements of 3.7 to 4.0 units of blood, compared to a mean injury severity score of 14.6, one late death from cardiac causes, and average blood requirement of 0.4 to 0.7 units. Splenic injury grading averaged 3.2 in the surgical group (grade 1, one patient; grade 2, four patients; grade 3, eight patients; grade 4, no patients; and grade 5, one patient) and differed significantly from that of the nonoperative group (mean = 2.4; grade 1, 12 patients; grade 2, seven patients; grade 3, six patients; grade 4, two patients; and grade 5, no patients). Recent ultrasound analysis of select grades I to IV has shown excellent resolution or repair of these injuries. This report extends our series from 1978 to 1993 and includes 144 adult patients sustaining blunt splenic ruptures. Seventy-nine (55%) of these patients were treated nonsurgically. Seven patients (of 80) failed nonoperative management and required interval laparotomy, representing a 91 per cent success rate. Follow-up on more than 90 per cent of the patients has shown no sequelae from their splenic injuries. We conclude that adult patients with splenic injuries from blunt trauma who are hemodynamically stable and are without abdominal findings requiring celiotomy can be safely managed by a nonoperative approach.

Timing of coronary artery bypass grafting after acute myocardial infarction.

Appropriate timing for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains controversial. We retrospectively examined 423 patients who underwent CABG within 21 days of an AMI between 1992 and 1995, mainly for postinfarction angina and complex anatomy. The operative mortality rates associated with increasing time intervals between AMI and CABG were 17.4, 9.1, 4.0, and 5.8 per cent, for less than 6 hours, 6 to 24 hours, 1 to 7 days, and 7 to 21 days, respectively. There were 25 (5.9%) deaths overall. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the following preoperative parameters: age, sex, reoperation, previous myocardial infarction (MI), MI type and location, anatomy, cardiogenic shock, unstable angina, ventricular arrhythmias, extending MI, ejection fraction, indications for surgery, cardiac index, and interval from infarction to CABG. Interval between operation and AMI did not have a significant impact on patient outcome. Factors associated with an increased hospital mortality were ejection fraction < 30 per cent, age > 70 years, presence of cardiogenic shock, and cardiac index < 1.5. Only cardiac index proved to be a significant predictor of mortality (P < 0.001). We conclude that the timing of CABG, in and of itself, has no significant effect on hospital mortality of symptomatic patients within 3 weeks of AMI.

Gastro-aortic fistula: an uncommon complication of Nissen fundoplication.

We report a case of and review the literature concerning primary gastro-aortic fistula secondary to erosion of a gastric ulcer into the thoracic aorta in a patient with a previous Nissen fundoplication. Treatment consisted of excision of the fistula with closure of the gastric and aortic defects. This rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is life threatening, and a high level of suspicion is necessary to make the diagnosis and initiate early, aggressive surgical treatment.