Effect of TachoSil patch in prevention of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a severe complication after pancreatic resections. The aim was to assess if application of TachoSil® patch could reduce incidence of postoperative fistulas after laparoscopic distal pancreatic resections. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data after enucleations and distal pancreatic resections. Patients were divided in two groups: with or without application of TachoSil® patch. Demographic and surgical data were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one patients with distal pancreatic resections without additional resections were identified among 230 patients operated by laparoscopic approach at our institution since 1998. They were divided into two groups. In group 1 (n = 48), TachoSil® patch was not applied while in group 2 (n = 73), the pancreatic stump was covered with TachoSil®. Postoperative fistulas were registered in 8% (4/48) and 12% (9/73) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The median duration of postoperative hospital stay in group 1 was 5.5 (2-35) days compared with 5 (2-16) days in group 2. No significant difference in surgical outcomes was found. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the TachoSil® patch did not affect either occurrence of POPF or duration of postoperative hospital stay. Routine use of TachoSil® patch to prevent pancreatic fistulas does not provide clinically significant benefit.

Laparoscopic liver resection for malignant and benign lesions: ten-year Norwegian single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of laparoscopic liver resection has been challenging because new and safe surgical techniques have had to be developed, and skepticism remains about the use of laparoscopy for malignant neoplasms. We present herein a large-volume single-center experience with laparoscopic liver resection. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Rikshospitalet University Hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-nine patients who underwent 177 laparoscopic liver resections in 149 procedures from August 18, 1998, through October 14, 2008. One hundred thirteen patients had malignant lesions, of whom 96 had colorectal metastases. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic liver resection for malignant and benign lesions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative and oncologic outcomes and survival. RESULTS: Five procedures (3.4%) were converted to laparotomy and 1 (0.7%) to laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation. The remaining 143 procedures were completed laparoscopically, during which 177 liver resections were undertaken, including 131 nonanatomic and 46 anatomic resections. The median operative time and blood loss were 164 (50-488) minutes and 350 (<50-4000) mL, respectively. There were 10 intraoperative (6.7%) and 18 postoperative (12.6%) complications. One patient (0.7%) died. The median postoperative stay and opioid requirement were 3 (1-42) and 1 (0-11) days, respectively. Tumor-free resection margins determined by histopathologic evaluation were achieved in 140 of 149 malignant specimens (94.0%). The 5-year actuarial survival for patients undergoing procedures for colorectal metastases was 46%. CONCLUSIONS: In experienced hands, laparoscopic liver resection is a favorable alternative to open resection. Perioperative morbidity and mortality and long-term survival after laparoscopic resection of colorectal metastases appear to be comparable to those after open resections.