Demographic characteristics and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic colon cancer surgeries at a newly developed cancer center in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Objective: In Pakistan, colon cancer ranks fourth in incidence, exhibiting survival rates of 90% to 14%, contingent on TNM staging and early detection. This research focuses on the demographic involvement and short-term outcomes of elective colon cancer resections at a newly established tertiary care cancer center utilizing laparoscopic procedures. Method: A retrospective analysis of elective laparoscopic colorectal resections at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Peshawar, from April 2021 to February 2022 was conducted. Out of 157 cases, 79 had colon cancer. Criteria included patients >18 years old with positive biopsies; consent non-providers were excluded. Statistical analysis employed descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations using SPSS-22. Results: The study encompassed biopsy-confirmed colon cancers in patients >18 years. 157 colorectal cases were performed, including 79 colon cancers. The sample comprised 61 males (77.2%) and 18 females (22.7%), mean age 42 years. Most patients (33%) were in the 36-45 age group. Majority were from KPK (69.6%), followed by Afghanistan (24%). Tumors were predominantly in the ascending colon (30.3%). Most were moderately differentiated (70.8%). Mean lymph node yield was 19.0, with 1.2% requiring open laparotomy. Post-discharge, one readmission occurred within 30 days. Mortality within 90 days was 2%, attributed to aspiration pneumonia and chemotherapy-related effects. Conclusions: Elective laparoscopic colonic surgery exhibits safety and efficacy in treating colon cancer. The study provides evidence of minimal morbidity and mortality, low readmission rates, and absence of anastomotic leaks. Hence, elective laparoscopic colonic surgery should be favored due to fewer post-operative complications and superior short-term outcomes. Larger studies on colon cancer are imperative for enhanced healthcare delivery.

Short-Term Outcomes of First 100 Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeries at a Newly Developed Surgical Setup at Peshawar.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has risen steadily, necessitating innovative strategies for diagnosis and treatment. Minimally invasive surgery, exemplified by laparoscopic techniques, has emerged as a transformative approach in colorectal surgical practices. Laparoscopy offers advantages such as improved aesthetic outcomes, reduced post-operative pain, early patient mobilization, and shorter hospital stays. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present the short-term surgical outcomes of the first 100 elective laparoscopic CRC resections performed at a newly established tertiary care cancer center in Peshawar, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for CRC resections performed between April 2021 and February 2022. The study included patients above 18 years of age with biopsy-proven CRC. Surgical procedures were performed by two dedicated colorectal surgeons trained in minimally invasive surgery. Patient demographics, pre-operative factors, intraoperative parameters, and post-operative outcomes were systematically recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 100 cases included in the study, laparoscopic colorectal surgeries were successfully performed without any conversions to open surgery. The mean age of the study population was 52.5 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The majority of cases were colon (48%) and anorectal cancers (52%). The mean lymph node yield was 18.29 (range 6-49). Only one patient required a re-look laparoscopy for a pelvic hematoma, and overall mortality was reported at 1%. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is a safe and effective treatment option for elective colorectal operations with minimal post-operative complications and favorable short-term outcomes.

Laparoscopic extralevator abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer: The myth of reinventing the wheel.

Background & Objective: To review oncological outcomes of laparoscopic extralevator abdominoperineal excision (LAP-ELAPE) for low rectal cancer.In locally advanced low rectal cancer, ELAPE which is en-bloc resection of levator muscles along with the tumor in a prone position has significantly decreased the rate of having either positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) or tumor perforation. The aim of the study was to determine the oncological outcomes of laparoscopic extralevator abdominoperineal excision (LAP-ELAPE) for low rectal cancer. Methods: This retrospective study was performed at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Lahore. Patients who underwent ELAPE for low rectal and anal cancer from January 2014 to December 2019 were selected. Data was collected using an electronic database through a hospital information system. Results: A total of 82 patients were included in the study having a median age of 39 years. Clinically preoperative tumor sizes were T2:2, T3:65, T4:15. Neo-adjuvant chemo radiotherapy was administered to 79 (96.3%) patients. Pathologically tumor sizes were T0:12, T2:15, T3:50, T4:5 with 79.2% (n=65) R0 resections. The mean operative time was 340.36±64.51 minutes and the mean blood loss was 99 milliliters. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.58±4.64 days. Seventeen (20.7%) cases had pathological circumferential resection margins positive (pCRM<1mm). However, tumor perforation was found in 8(9.8%) patients. Ninety days mortality was none while 36 patients experienced recurrence (local: 23, distant: 30, local + distant 17). The median survival time was 53.00±2.69 months. Conclusion: For locally advanced low rectal cancer, ELAPE has evolved as a safe oncological procedure with acceptable outcomes.

Spotlight on laparoscopy in the surgical resection of locally advanced rectal cancer: multicenter propensity score match study.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to assess the feasibility of laparoscopic rectal surgery, comparing quality of surgical specimen, morbidity, and mortality. METHODS: Prospectively acquired data from consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, at 2 minimally invasive colorectal units, operated by the same team was included. Locally advanced rectal tumors were identified as T3B or T4 with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans. All the patients were operated on by the same team. The 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to create a perfect match in terms of tumor height. RESULTS: Total of 418 laparoscopic resections were performed, out of which 109 patients had locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and were propensity score matched with non-LARC (NLARC) patients. Median operation time was higher for the LARC group (270 minutes vs. 250 minutes, P=0.011). However, conversion to open surgery was done in 5 vs. 2 patients (P=0.445), reoperation in 8 vs. 7 (P=0.789), clinical anastomotic leak was found in 3 vs. 2 (P=0.670), and 30-day mortality rates was 2 vs. 1 (P>0.999) between LARC and NLARC, respectively. Readmission rate was higher in the NLARC group (33 patients vs. 19 patients, P=0.026), due to stoma-related issues. There was no statistically significant difference in the R0 resection between the 2 groups (99 patients in LARC vs. 104 patients in NLARC, P=0.284). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that standardized approach to laparoscopy is safe and feasible in LARC. Comparable postoperative short-term clinical and pathological outcomes were seen between LARC and NLARC groups.

Laparoscopic Curative Resection for Right-Sided Colonic Tumors: Initial Experience From a Specialized Cancer Hospital of a Developing Country.

Introduction Laparoscopic colonic resection is increasingly becoming popular worldwide and aims to provide curative resection in addition to the inherent benefits of laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in a Pakistani cohort of patients. Methods and procedures We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all patients who presented to our hospital with the diagnosis of right-sided colon carcinoma from January 2010 to December 2018 and underwent laparoscopic right or extended right hemicolectomy. Demographics, operative findings, histopathology report, and follow-up of patients were recorded and the analysis was performed on Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). Results Seventy-five patients were included, 56 (74.7%) of whom were males and 19 (25.3%) were females. The median age was 52 years (range 25-82 years). The median hospital stay was five days (Range 3-13 days). The median blood loss was 70 milliliters and the mean operative time was 195.5±77.6 minutes. Laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy was performed in 23 (16.67%) patients and standard right hemicolectomy in 52 (83.33%) patients. Most (72%) of the patients had a pathological T3 tumor, and the majority (61.3%) of the patients had no nodal involvement (pN0). The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 20+8. The median numbers of involved lymph nodes were 1.14+2.19. All the patients had R0 resection. Postoperatively, two patients had pelvic collection, and there was no 30-day mortality. Local recurrence occurred in four patients and distant metastases were observed in nine patients. The median follow-up in our study was 40.5±18.35 months. The median disease-free survival was 42±2.17 months and the median overall survival was 44±2.16 months. Conclusion Our experience with laparoscopic right colon resections has confirmed the safety and feasibility of the procedure.

Robotic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

Master-slave manipulators (otherwise known as telemanipulators) were introduced into minimally invasive surgery in the 1990s to overcome the limitations of laparoscopic surgery. This led to the development of the first robotic surgical systems which, over the last 10 years, have rapidly gained acceptance among colorectal surgeons. Advantages of robotic surgical systems such as superior instrumentation and field of vision enable precise dissection in confined spaces such as the pelvis, which make it a particularly attractive tool for rectal surgery. The feasibility and safety of robotic rectal surgery is now well established and there is increasing evidence that it might offer superior peri- and postoperative outcomes when compared to laparoscopic rectal surgery. Robotic rectal surgery is easier to learn than laparoscopic surgery and the creation of a structured training program for robotic rectal surgery in Europe has facilitated the learning of this technique in an environment that promotes patient safety and improved patient outcomes through equipment fidelity and operator skill. It is foreseeable that in the near future robotic systems will become part of routine surgical practice in colorectal surgery.

Standardised approach to laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a prospective multi-centre analysis.

PURPOSE: Two non-inferiority randomised control trials have questioned the utility of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer by failing to prove that pathological markers of high-quality surgery are equivalent to those achieved by open technique. We present short- and long-term post-operative outcomes from the largest single surgeon series of consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer. We describe the standardised laparoscopic technique developed by the principal surgeon, and the short-term outcomes from three surgeons who were trained in and subsequently adopted the same approach. METHODS: Prospectively acquired data from consecutive patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer by the principal surgeon at the minimally invasive colorectal unit in Portsmouth between 2006 and 2014 were analysed along with data acquired between 2010 and 2017 from surgeons at three further international centres. Endpoints were overall and disease-free survival at 5 years, and early post-operative clinical and pathological outcomes. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-three consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic TME surgery by the principal surgeon. At 5 years, overall survival was 82.9% (Dukes' A = 94.4%; B = 81.6%; C = 73.7%); disease-free survival was 84.0% (Dukes' A = 93.3%; B = 86.8%; C = 72.6%). Post-operative length of stay, lymph node harvest, mean operating time, rate of conversion, major morbidity and 30-day mortality were not significantly different between the principal surgeon and those he had trained when subsequently in independent practices. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic TME produces excellent long-term survival outcomes for patients with rectal cancer. A standardised approach has the potential to improve outcomes by setting benchmarks for surgical quality, and providing a step-by-step method for surgical training.

Surgical Outcome of Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Pancreatic and Periampullary Neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results in the surgical treatment of pancreatic and periampullary neoplasms with emphasis on surgical technique, short-term postoperative outcome and the lessons learnt. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was carried out at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, from October 2014 to May 2016. METHODOLOGY: Patients undergoing surgical treatment of pancreatic and periampullary neoplasms were selected. Patients' characteristics including demographics, surgical technique, and 30-day morbidity and mortality were recorded. International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) classification was used to define postoperative pancreatic fistula and Clavien-Dindo classification to grade complications. RESULTS: Atotal number of 65 patients underwent the trial of dissection; 50 had pancreaticoduodenectomy and 15 patients underwent palliative bypass and were excluded from analysis. Sixty-four percent were males and 36% were females. The most common tumor was periampullary (n=29, 58%) followed by pancreatic head (14, 28%) and duodenal tumors (n=07, 14%). Mean age was 52.92 ±13.27 years; mean operating time was 470 ±358.28 minutes and median blood loss was 400 (287-500) ml. Pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) was the preferred reconstruction technique in 37 (74%) verses pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) in 13 (26%) patients. Four (08%) patients needed portal vein reconstruction and two (04%) replaced right hepatic artery resection and reconstruction due to tumor involvement. There were seven Grade A, and one Grade B and C pancreatic fistulae each. Three patients (06%) needed endoscopic therapy for gastrointestinal hemorrhage from pancreatic stump. There was one death in postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is a safe procedure with excellent postoperative outcome, if carried out in a specialized hepato-pancreato-biliary unit. APG reconstruction can be a safer alternative to PJ.

Rectal Carcinoma: Demographics and Clinicopathological Features from Pakistani Population Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinoma is ranked as the second most common cancer diagnosis in females and third in males. It is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Disease burden has been attributed to a myriad of factors comprising genetic, environmental, and dietary factors. Rectal cancer has been shown to demonstrate variance according to the geographical location. METHODS: A retrospective review of 477 rectal cancer patients treated at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre from 2006 to 2014 was performed. Demographic and clinicopathological features were compared between the two age groups (≤40 or >40 years). These included sex, ethnicity, family history of cancer, the location of tumor, clinical staging, histopathological type, and response to chemoradiation. Chi-square was used to compare the frequencies between the two age groups. p-value < 0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: Mean age of the study group was 44.62 ± 16.11 years. 43.8% were ≤40 years of age, and 70.2% were male. 50.3% patients belong to Punjab province, 287 (60.2%) had lower rectal cancer, family history of cancer was present in 82 (17.2%) patients. 432 (90.5%) patients had T1/T2 disease and 296 (62.1%) had N2 disease. Metastatic disease at presentation was observed in 37 (7.8%). Progressive disease was found in 90 (18%) patients. CONCLUSION: High frequency of young onset rectal cancers and the lack of family history emphasize the need of indigenous strategies and national awareness of this disease for an early identification of these patients.

Outcomes of BCG Induction in High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients (NMIBC): A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups. Although, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the recommended adjuvant therapy of high-risk bladder tumor, optimal schedule (induction versus maintenance) of this therapy is a subject of debate. The objective was to evaluate outcomes of induction BCG in high-risk NMIBC patients at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Pakistan and retrospective cohort study conducted in the department of urology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Pakistan. Three-year disease-free survival and progression-free survival was the main outcome measure. Data of 68 high-risk (Ta and T1 with G3 or high-grade subtype) bladder cancer patients who underwent transurethral resection followed by six-weekly intravesical BCG instillation was included in the study. Recurrence was described as biopsy-proven bladder cancer; whereas the presence of muscle invasion was considered as progression. Disease-free survival and progression-free survival were defined as time intervals elapsed between the starting date of BCG instillation and recurrence or progression, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curve was employed to estimate the three-year study end-points. Disease-free survival at three years was observed to be 66.2% and progression-free survival at 86.8%. The use of induction BCG alone for high-risk patients of NMIBC is a viable option both in terms of effective disease-free and progression-free survival rates.