Postoperative ileus after digestive surgery: Network meta-analysis of pharmacological intervention.

AIMS: Several medicinal treatments for avoiding postoperative ileus (POI) after abdominal surgery have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This network meta-analysis aimed to explore the relative effectiveness of these different treatments on ileus outcome measures. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed to identify RCTs comparing treatments for POI following abdominal surgery. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed. Direct and indirect comparisons of all regimens were simultaneously compared using random-effects network meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 38 RCTs were included in this network meta-analysis reporting on 6371 patients. Our network meta-analysis shows that prokinetics significantly reduce the duration of first gas (mean difference [MD] = 16 h; credible interval -30, -3.1; surface under the cumulative ranking curve [SUCRA] 0.418), duration of first bowel movements (MD = 25 h; credible interval -39, -11; SUCRA 0.25) and duration of postoperative hospitalization (MD -1.9 h; credible interval -3.8, -0.040; SUCRA 0.34). Opioid antagonists are the only treatment that significantly improve the duration of food recovery (MD -19 h; credible interval -26, -14; SUCRA 0.163). CONCLUSION: Based on our meta-analysis, the 2 most consistent pharmacological treatments able to effectively reduce POI after abdominal surgery are prokinetics and opioid antagonists. The absence of clear superiority of 1 treatment over another highlights the limits of the pharmacological principles available.

Robotic pyeloplasty learning curve for a pediatric surgeon without previous laparoscopic pyeloplasty experience.

Robotic pyeloplasty has become a technique of choice for pyelo-ureteral junction syndrome treatment in children. Less invasive than open surgery, robotic pyeloplasty also has a lower learning curve than laparoscopic pyeloplasty. This is how a new generation of surgeons without previous laparoscopic pyeloplasty experience has begun training in robotics. To assess the robotic assisted pyeloplasty learning curve for a pediatric surgeon only trained in open pyeloplasty, and to investigate if that mode of practice is safe and effective. Data were collected from all children operated on for pyelo-ureteral junction syndrome by the same surgeon in our center between 2015 and 2021. Cases were divided into 4 groups of 14 consecutive procedures to analyze the learning curve. Fifty-six patients were operated on, with a median (IQR) age, weight, and hospital stay of 9 years and 1 month old (3.5), 29 kg (17.3), and 3 days (2), respectively. The mean ± SD operative times were 146.5 ± 39.3, 123.2 ± 48.1, 103.1 ± 29.5, and 141.7 ± 25.0 min, with a unique significant difference between groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.007**). Only two intraoperative and nine postoperative complications were observed. The surgery was successful in 98% cases. Our study shows that a significant improvement in surgical time could be achieved in the first 30 cases, safely and efficiently even without previous laparoscopic pyeloplasty experience.Level of evidence: III.

Pediatric Mini-Invasive Splenectomy Comparing Laparoscopy With or Without Robotic Approach: A Single-Center Study.

Background: The introduction of splenectomy in pediatric robotic surgery programs remains controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic assisted splenectomy (RAS) in children and compare its outcomes with the laparoscopic splenectomy (LAS). Method: A single institution retrospective study was performed (2011-2020). We used the minimally invasive splenectomy score described by Giza et al. to measure the level of technical difficulty. The data collected for each procedure included its duration, the need for blood transfusion, complications, analgesic use, and the length of hospital stay. A standard univariate analysis is applied. Results: We recorded 41 cases (26 LAS and 15 RAS). The mean age was 11 years [7.00; 13.5]. The operating time was 97 minutes [85.5-108] for LAS and 223 minutes [190-280] for RAS (P < .001). The length of stay was 6.50 days [5.00-8.00] for LAS and 5 days [5.00-5.50] for RAS (P = .055). The cumulative use of level III analgesic was not statically different (P = .29). Two cases of difficult splenectomy were found in each group with comparable performances. In the RAS, we demonstrated the improved outcomes with the progression of the learning curve of a single surgeon. Conclusions: In our experience (as in the literature), RAS remains safe, but offers no additional advantage compared to laparoscopy as the cost and the operating time are higher. Our study has the advantages of having a 9 years long evolving experience, including broad indications in comparison to other pediatric studies.

Robotic approach to the uretero-vesical junction in children: An international multicentric retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted approach to UVJ is getting more and more used in pediatric patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study 26 patients affected by nephro-urological malformations, robotic-surgically treated from 2016 and 2021 at 3 Pediatric Surgery Department were included: 3 (11.5%) primary obstructive megaureter, 2 (7.7%) dysplastic kidneys, 3 (11.5%) duplex collecting system, 18 (69.2%) primary vescico-ureteral reflux (VUR). RESULTS: Mean age at surgery was 6 years old. 22 (84.6%) underwent Lich Gregoire extravesical ureteral reimplantation, 4 (15.4%) total nephroureterectomy. Mean operative time was 230 min. No conversions or intraoperative complications. Median hospital stay was 4 days. There were 4 (15.38%) postoperative complications: 3 (11.54%) persistent VUR and 1 (3.84%) refluxing megaureter. 2 (7.7%) redo-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic Surgery should be considered a safe and effective technique for treatment of UVJ anomalies in children, because it firstly allows surgeons to approach both upper and lower ureteral ends without modifying trocars' placement.