Timing of cholecystectomy in acute biliary pancreatitis: is it still reasonable to wait?

BACKGROUND: Acute gallstone-related pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening condition, and its adequate therapy is represented by cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to analyze the best surgical strategy, and the optimal timing. METHODS: All cases of acute pancreatitis of biliary origin occurred between January 2007 and December 2013 in Gradenigo Hospital (Turin, Italy) undergone to a surgical procedure, were reviewed. Patients were divided in two groups, based on the timing of cholecystectomy, and compared. RESULTS: Out of 2233 cholecystectomies performed in the mentioned time interval, we have identified 79 patients that fulfill the selection criteria. 24 patients were treated with an index-stay procedure, while 55 with a delayed approach. Length of stay was significantly lower in patients that underwent to an early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (9 vs. 13 days, P=0.003), while no differences were found in terms of length of intervention, intraoperative complications, postoperative stay and mortality. Patients treated with delayed surgery had a 28.6% recurrence rate of acute pancreatitis, with an odds ratio of 10.28 (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be performed in suitable patients in the index admission, reducing overall risks, avoiding or at least minimizing recurrencies, and rationalizing the scarce economic resources.

"Ultra-rapid" sequential treatment in cholecystocholedocholithiasis: alternative same-day approach to laparoendoscopic rendezvous.

There is still no consensus about timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the treatment of cholecystocholedocholithiasis. The aim of our retrospective study is to analyze the optimal timing of surgical treatment in patients presenting concurrent choledocholithiasis, choosing to perform a sequential endoscopic plus surgical approach, introducing a same-day two-stage alternative. All cases of cholecystocholedocholithiasis occurred between January 2007 and December 2014 in "Gradenigo" Hospital (Turin-Italy) were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups, based on the timing of cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and compared. Out of 2233 cholecystectomies performed in the mentioned time interval, have been identified 93 patients that fulfill the selection criteria. 36 patients were treated with a same-day approach, while 29 within first 72 h and 28 with delayed surgery. The overall length of stay was significantly lower in patients that were treated with a same-day approach (4.7 days), compared with other groups (p = 0.001), while no significant differences were found in terms of length of surgical intervention, intraoperative complications and conversions to open procedure, postoperative stay, morbidity and mortality. Patients treated with delayed surgery had a 18 % recurrency rate of biliary events, with an odds ratio of 14.13 (p = 0.018). Same-day two-stage approach should be performed in suitable patients at the index admission, reducing overall risks, improving the patients' quality-of-life, preventing recurrency, leading to a significant cost abatement; furthermore, this approach allows same outcomes of laparoendoscopic rendezvous, avoiding technical and organizational troubles.

The new approach to the rectal cancer: 'down-to-up' double endolaparoscopic pelvic access. Preliminary evaluation of outcomes.

Laparoscopic access in low anterior rectal resection is widely adopted, performing an 'up-to-down' dissection. The aim of this study is to present and analyze the outcomes of a novel surgical 'down-to-up' total mesorectal excision technique that could obviate to the well-known issues of the standard treatment. 18 suitable patients underwent double endolaparoscopic pelvic access (DEPA) 'down-to-up' technique. DEPA TME was completed in all patients, with intact mesorectum. Mean operative time was 365 min (range 280-510 min). The morbidity rate was 22%, including three radiologically detected leakage (grade A) and one pelvic abscess, requiring only a conservative management. Mortality rate at 30 and 90 days was 0%. Resection margins were negative in all patients. A median of 11 nodes (range 5-19) was retrieved per specimen. Mean length of hospital stay was 9 days (range 7-19 days). Patients were followed for an average of 14 months (range 0-42 months), with no recurrence. Despite exiguous patient's sample in this pilot study, transanal endoscopic TME with laparoscopic assistance seems to be feasible and safe, and is a promising alternative to open and laparoscopic TME. However, a conspicuous functional and oncologic long-term evaluation is required, before the widespread adoption could be recommended.

Pancreato-jejunostomy versus hand-sewn closure of the pancreatic stump to prevent pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Different methods of pancreatic stump closure after distal pancreatectomy (DP) have been described to decrease the incidence of pancreatic fistula (PF) which still represents one of the most common complications in pancreatic surgery. We retrospectively compared the pancreato-jejunostomy technique with the hand-sewn closure of the pancreatic stump after DP, and analyzed clinical outcomes between the two groups, focusing on PF rate. METHODS: Thirty-six patients undergoing open DP at our institution between May 2005 and December 2011 were included. They were divided in two groups depending on pancreatic remnant management: in 24 cases the stump was closed by hand-sewn suture (Group A), while in 12 earlier cases a pancreato-jejunostomy was performed (Group B). We analyzed postoperative data in terms of mortality, morbidity and length of hospital stay between the two groups. RESULTS: PF occurred in 7 of 24 (29.1%) cases of group A (control group) compared to zero fistula rate in group B (anastomosis group) (p=0.005). Operative time was significantly higher in the anastomosis group (p=0.024). Mortality rate was 0% in both groups. Other postoperative outcomes such as hemorrhages, infections, medical complications and length of hospital stay were not significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Despite a higher operative time, the pancreato-jejunostomy after DP seems to be related to a lower incidence of PF compared to the hand-sewn closure of the pancreatic remnant.