Renewed assessment of the stapled anastomosis with the increasing role of laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer

A comparison of extracorporeal side to side or end to side anastomosis following a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate whether an extracorporeal side‐to‐side (SS) or end‐to‐side (ES) stapled anastomosis impacts short‐term and long‐term outcomes after an oncological laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from two Victorian tertiary referral hospitals was performed. Patients who underwent oncological resection for colorectal cancer between February 2010 and September 2020 were selected from the colorectal neoplasia database. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the type of stapled anastomosis: Group 1 (functional end‐to‐end/side‐to‐side (SS)); and Group 2 (end‐to‐side (ES)). Primary outcomes were anastomotic leak, postoperative ileus, mortality and morbidity, length of stay post‐surgery, readmission to hospital, and 30‐day mortality.

Results

This large case series of 1040 patients (SS = 625, ES = 415) demonstrated that the type of stapling technique impacted operative duration and postoperative ileus rates. Patients in the SS group had a faster operation of 108 min rather than 130 min in the ES group (p < 0.001). The SS group were more likely to experience a post‐operative ileus (p < 0.001) with no impact on length of stay (SS, 7 days versus ES, 7 days; p = 0.14). There were no differences between the two groups with respect to lymph node yield, lymph node ratio, anastomotic leaks, return to theatre, 30‐day mortality and 5‐year overall survival.

Discussion

The type of extracorporeal stapled anastomosis following an oncological laparoscopic right hemicolectomy has minimal impact on morbidity and survival outcomes; however, a side‐to‐side stapled anastomosis is more likely to be a faster operation with a higher postoperative ileus rate.

Intestinal mucosa staple line integrity and anastomotic leak pressure after healing in a porcine model

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate both the intestinal mucosa staple line integrity and anastomotic leak pressure after healing in a porcine survival model.

METHODS

We used two suture models using two different size staples (incomplete mucosal closure model: group G [staple height 0.75 mm], complete mucosal closure model: group B [staple height 1.5 mm]) in the porcine ileum. Five staple lines were created in each group made in the ileum for each model, and the staple sites harvested on days 0, 2, and 7. The leak pressure at the staple site was measured at each time point.

RESULTS

On day 0, the leak pressure for group G (79.5 mmHg) was significantly lower than that for group B (182.3 mmHg) (p < 0.01). On days 2 and 7, there was no significant difference between groups G and B (171 mmHg and 175.5 mmHg on day 2, 175.5 mmHg and 175.5 mmHg on day 7, p > 0.05). The histological findings in both groups showed similar healing at postoperative days 2 and 7.

CONCLUSION

The integrity of the mucosal staple lines was associated with the postoperative leak pressure on day 0. However, there was no association with the leak pressure at two days or more postoperatively in a porcine model.

Standardization of surgical procedures to reduce risk of anastomotic leakage, reoperation, and surgical site infection in colorectal cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 1189 patients

PURPOSE

Anastomotic leakage (AL) and surgical site infection (SSI) are prevalent complications of colorectal surgery. To lower this risk, we standardized our surgical procedures in 2012, with a preferential use of laparoscopic approach (LS) for both colon and rectal surgery, combined with triangulating anastomosis (TA) for colon surgery and defunctioning ileostomy (DI) for low anterior resection. Our aim was to evaluate the outcomes of our standardized procedures.

METHODS

The incidence rate of AL (primary outcome) and of reoperation and SSI (secondary outcome) was compared before (early period, n = 648) and after (late period, n = 541) standardization, through a retrospective analysis.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of AL (6.6 versus 1.8%; P = 0.001), reoperation (3.5 versus 0.7%; P = 0.0012), and SSI (7.7 versus 4.6%; P = 0.029) was lower in late than in the early period. For colon cancer, TA and LS reduced the risk of AL (2.1 versus 0.3%, P = 0.020, for TA, and 3.2 versus 0.4%, P = 0.0027, for LS) and reoperation (2.9 versus 0.3%, P = 0.003, for TA, and 2.5 versus 0.2%, P = 0.0040, for LS). For rectal cancer, the incidence of all adverse outcomes (AL, reoperation, and SSI) was lower in cases treated by LS. However, the incidence of AL was lower in the late than in early period (P = 0.002) and with LS (P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, late period and LS were independent factors of a lower risk of adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our surgical standardization seems to be effective in lowering the risks of AL, reoperation, and SSI after colorectal cancer surgery.

Which Is the Safer Anastomotic Method for Colon Surgery? - Ten-year Results

BACKGROUND/AIM

In colon surgery, the anastomotic method is generally selected by surgeon's preferences or by local conditions. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed anastomotic complications to assess safe methods of anastomosis in colonic resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 684 cases, performed between July 2003 and June 2013 in our Hospital. Anastomosis complications, such as leakage, stricture and bleeding, were analyzed in relation to the three methods of anastomosis, hand-sewn (HS), functional end-to-end (FEEA) and triangulating anastomosis (TRI).

RESULTS

Univariate analysis indicated that the incidence of leakage was significantly lower in laparoscopic surgeries (p=0.034) and TRI (p=0.047). The results of the multivariable analysis indicated that anastomotic leakage was significantly less with TRI (p=0.029).

CONCLUSION

In colon surgery, TRI seems to be associated with a low risk of anastomotic leakage compared to HS and FEEA.

Comparison of anastomotic configuration after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy under enhanced recovery program: side-to-side versus end-to-side anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Stapled technique for ileocolic anastomosis is largely supported in previous studies. However, standard anastomotic configuration is not conclusive and studies are limited. This study aims to compare postoperative outcomes between side to side (S-S) and end to side (E-S) stapled anastomosis after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy underenhanced recovery program (ERP).

METHODS

Between October 2009 and November 2012, 89 patients (46 in S-S group, 43 in E-S group) who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer and managed with ERP were included in the study. Recovery time and cumulative recovery rates, the length of hospital stays, complication rates were analyzed to compare both configurations.

RESULTS

The recovery time were not different between groups (S-S group, 135 hours [84-183.5] vs E-S group, 117 hours [94-143]; P = 0.349). Difference of cumulative recovery rates were observed in postoperative day 7 (S-S group, 71.7 % vs E-S group, 93.0 %; P = 0.019). The postoperative hospital stay were shorter in E-S group (S-S, 7 days [6-9] vs E-S, 6 days [5-7]; P = 0.003). The overall complication rates were lower in E-S group (26.1 % vs 4.6 %; P = 0.008). Anastomotic leakage was not observed in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

E-S configuration after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy showed favorable outcomes under enhanced recovery program.