Short-term outcomes in robot-assisted compared to laparoscopic colon cancer resections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted surgery is increasingly adopted in colorectal surgery. However, evidence for the implementation of robot-assisted surgery for colon cancer is sparse. This study aims to evaluate the short-term outcomes of robot-assisted colon surgery (RCS) for cancer compared to laparoscopic colon surgery (LCS). METHODS: Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library were searched between January 1, 2005 and October 2, 2020. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies were included. Non-original literature was excluded. Primary endpoints were anastomotic leakage rate, conversion to open surgery, operative time, and length of hospital stay. Secondary endpoints were surgical efficacy and postoperative morbidity. We evaluated risk of bias using RoB2 and ROBINS-I quality assessment tools. We performed a pooled analysis of primary and secondary endpoints. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2, and possible causes were explored by sensitivity- and meta-regression analyses. Publication bias was evaluated by Funnel plots and Eggers linear regression test. The level of evidence was assessed by GRADE. RESULTS: Twenty studies enrolling 13,799 patients (RCS 1740 (12.6%) and LCS 12,059 (87.4%) were included in the meta-analysis that demonstrated RCS was superior regarding: anastomotic leakage (odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% CI [0.32, 0.94]), conversion (OR = 0.31, 95% CI [0.23, 0.41]), overall complication rate (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.73, 1.00]) and time to regular diet (MD = - 0.29, 95% CI [- 0.56, 0.02]). LCS proved to have a shortened operative time compared to RCS (MD = 42.99, 95% CI [28.37, 57.60]). Level of evidence was very low according to GRADE. CONCLUSION: RCS showed advantages in colonic cancer surgery regarding surgical efficacy and morbidity compared to LCS despite a predominant inclusion of non-RCT with serious risk of bias assessment and a very low level of evidence.

Adalimumab in the treatment of chronic pouchitis. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pouchitis is a complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and occurs in up to 50% of patients 10 years after IPAA with 10% developing refractory pouchitis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a TNF-α inhibitor (Adalimumab) in the treatment of refractory pouchitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial includes patients with refractory pouchitis for more than 4 weeks despite antibiotic treatment. Patients were randomized to Adalimumab or placebo for 12 weeks. Primary outcome was reduction in clinical pouchitis disease activity index (PDAI) of ≥2 at any time. Secondary endpoints were remission of pouchitis, endoscopic and histologic effect and quality of life. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included; six patients received active treatment and seven patients received placebo. Nine patients (5/4, Adalimumab/placebo) completed the 12-week program. Reduction in clinical PDAI ≥ 2 was achieved in three patients in each group (50%/43%, Adalimumab/placebo, p > .5). Total PDAI improved in six patients treated with Adalimumab and two patients on placebo (100%/29%, p = .13). There were no differences in secondary endpoints between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized controlled trial of treatment with Adalimumab in patients with refractory pouchitis, we were not able to identify any clinical benefit in the primary or secondary endpoints.

Increased Risk of Gallstone Disease Following Colectomy for Ulcerative Colitis.

OBJECTIVES: Biochemical studies suggest that patients who have had a colectomy or restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) are at an increased risk of developing gallstone disease, but epidemiological studies are lacking. We evaluated the risk of gallstone disease following colectomy and IPAA. METHODS: Individuals who had a colectomy were identified from a national cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and controls without colectomy were sampled from within the same cohort, matching on gender, calendar year, and year of birth. We used Cox regression to examine the effect of colectomy on the hazard rates of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy, adjusting for alcoholism, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, cirrhosis, obesity, renal failure, and transient ischemic attacks. The effect of an IPAA was determined for patients who had colectomy by including the procedure as a time-dependent variable. RESULTS: We identified 4548 patients and matched these to 44 372 controls without colectomy. During a median follow-up of 11.9 years, 1963 patients were hospitalized for gallstone disease. Patients who had a colectomy were at an increased risk (adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=1.63 (1.39-1.91)), and sensitivity analyses of the risk of undergoing cholecystectomy revealed a similar association (adjusted HR=1.55 (1.22-1.98)). An IPAA did not affect the risk of developing gallstones among patients who had a colectomy (adjusted HR=1.03 (0.77-1.37)). CONCLUSION: The risk of gallstone disease increases following colectomy for UC.

Scintigraphic Small Intestinal Transit Time and Defaecography in Patients with J-Pouch.

Objective methods for examination of pouch function are warranted for a better understanding of the functional result and treatment of dysfunction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of scintigraphic intestinal transit time and defaecography compared to the results of pouch function, mucosal condition and a questionnaire on quality of life (QoL). This cross-sectional study included 21 patients. Scintigraphic transit time and defaecography was determined with the use of Tc-99m. Pouch function was assessed by number of bowel movements, pouch volume, and continence. Pouch mucosal condition was evaluated by endoscopy and histology. Median transit time was 189 min (105-365). Median ejection fraction at defaecography (EF) was 49% (3-77) and 62% (17-98) after first and second defecation. Median pouch volume was 223 mL (100-360). A median daily stool frequency of nine (4-25) was reported and three (14%) patients suffered from daytime incontinence. No patients had symptomatic or endoscopic pouchitis; however, the histology showed unspecific inflammation in 19 (90%) patients. There was no correlation between transit time, evacuation fraction (EF) and pouch function in univariate analysis. However, we found a high body mass index (BMI) and a low bowel movement frequency to be associated with a longer transit time by multivariate analysis. Scintigraphic determination of transit time and defaecography are feasible methods in patients with ileal pouch anal anastomosis, but the clinical relevance is yet doubtful.

Sexual function and body image are similar after laparoscopy-assisted and open ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is performed in patients with ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis where the majority of patients are sexually active. Laparoscopic surgery is becoming the preferred technique for most colorectal interventions, and we examined postoperative sexual function and body image compared to those after open surgery IPAA. METHODS: Patients treated with IPAA in the period from October 2008 to March 2012 were included. Evaluation of sexual function, body image, and quality of life was performed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ), and the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). RESULTS: We included 72 patients (38 laparoscopy-assisted and 34 open). Response rate was 74 %. There were no differences in demographics, functional outcome, quality of life (SIBDQ score: 53 vs. 53), or time of follow-up (637 vs. 803 days). All women and men showed scores above the cutoff line of normal sexual function. There was no significant difference in sexual function between the laparoscopic and open groups. We found no differences in BIQ between open and laparoscopic IPAA; however, there was a tendency toward lower postoperative self-esteem among women compared to men (p = 0.07). We also found a tendency toward a better body image among laparoscopy-treated women compared to open-treated women (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Although there might be a tendency toward better body image among laparoscopy-treated women, the two surgical techniques seem equal with respect to postoperative sexual function.