Local resection for early rectal tumours: Comparative study of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) versus posterior trans-sphincteric approach (Mason's operation).

OBJECTIVE: To compare local resection of early rectal tumours by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and the conventional posterior trans-sphincteric approach (Mason's operation). METHODS: The study group comprised 31 consecutive patients with early rectal tumours (18 villous adenomas, 13 adenocarcinomas) who underwent TEM in Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong. The control group consisted of 51 patients with early rectal tumours (27 villous adenomas, 24 adenocarcinomas) who underwent Mason's operation in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing. Outcome measures included morbidity and mortality, operation time, recurrence rate and postoperative pathological staging. RESULTS: Age, sex and pathological staging were similar in the two groups. The tumour size, operation time and blood loss were similar. The median distance from the anal verge was significantly higher in the TEM group (TEM/Mason = 8.0/6.4 cm, p = 0.042). The postoperative resumption of food intake (TEM/Mason = 1/5 days, p = 0.002) and the median hospital stay (TEM/Mason = 4/10 days, p = 0.005) were significantly shorter in the TEM group. Analgesic intake was significantly less in the TEM group (TEM/Mason = 0/100 mg, p = 0.0003). There was no operation-related mortality and the resection margins were clear in both groups. Two patients (3.9%) in the Mason's group developed postoperative wound infection, and two patients (3.9%) developed faecal fistulae. There was one secondary haemorrhage in the TEM group that required injection sclerotherapy. On median follow-up of 23 months, there was no tumour recurrence in the TEM group, whereas two patients (3.9%) in the Mason's group experienced recurrence during a median follow-up of 30 months. CONCLUSION: TEM is as effective as the conventional posterior trans-sphincteric approach (Mason's operation) for local curative resection of early rectal tumours. TEM is less invasive, with shorter hospital stay and fewer complications than conventional Mason's operation.

Anatomical justification of Belghiti's 'liver hanging manoeuvre' in right hepatectomy with anterior approach.

BACKGROUND: In cases of right hepatectomy for huge tumour encroaching onto the diaphragm, the 'anterior approach' is the most common surgical procedure undertaken. The 'liver hanging manoeuvre' has been described previously as an adjunct to this procedure. It involves the dissection of a retrohepatic avascular plane anterior to the surface of the inferior vena cava. A tape is then passed through and the liver is resected under suspension. METHODS: Cadaveric specimens were used to identify the structural relationship of the avascular plane and also to determine whether it is truly avascular. RESULTS: Thirteen cases were analysed. The mean length of the avascular tunnel was 6.4 +/- 1.0 cm. The median number of accessory hepatic veins within the tunnel was two (zero to three). At the caudal half of the tunnel, the median number of veins was two (zero to three). As for the cranial half of the tunnel, there were two cases with one vein in each. CONCLUSIONS: The key to the liver hanging manoeuvre is to develop the retrohepatic tunnel. However, our study showed that it is not absolutely avascular. During the blind dissection, there is a chance of damaging a retrohepatic vein. This may result in troublesome haemorrhage within the confines of the tunnel. Video-assisted dissection of this region may help in visualisation, and hence control, in order to avoid bleeding.