Curative colectomy via minilaparotomy approach without utilizing specific instruments

Comparison between transverse mini-incision and longitudinal mini-incision for the resection of locally advanced colonic cancer

We performed a retrospective review of non-overweight (body mass index ≤ 25 kg/m(2)) patients scheduled to undergo a curative resection of locally advanced colon cancer via a transverse mini-incision (n = 62) or a longitudinal mini-incision (skin incision ≤7 cm, n = 62), with the latter group of patients randomly selected as historical controls matched with the former group according to tumor location. Extension of the transverse mini-incision wound was necessary in 3 patients (5%). Both groups were largely equivalent in terms of demographic, clinicopathological, and surgical factors and frequency of postoperative complications. Postoperative analgesic was significantly less (P = 0.04) and postoperative length of the hospital stay was significantly shorter (P < 0.01) in the transverse mini-incision group. Concerning a mini-incision approach for locally advanced colonic cancer, a transverse incision seems to be advantageous with regard to minimal invasiveness and early recovery compared with a longitudinal incision.

Comparison of the risk of surgical site infection and feasibility of surgery between sennoside versus polyethylene glycol as a mechanical bowel preparation of elective colon cancer surgery: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To validate the usefulness of sennoside as a substitute for polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) for elective colon cancer surgery.

METHODS

We performed a prospective randomized non-inferiority trial comparing the use of sennoside and PEG in MBP for elective colon cancer surgery, in terms of the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and the feasibility of surgery.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of SSIs was 2.9 % in the sennoside group (n = 68) and 6.3 % in the PEG group (n = 63) with a difference of 3.4 % (95 % confidence interval 6.9-10.6 %). The intraoperative spillage of the stool materials in the sennoside and PEG groups was 4.4 and 3.1 %, respectively, and was not significantly different (p = 0.71), even the upstream stool consistency, was more frequently observed to be non-stool in the PEG group (65.1 vs. 30.9 %, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

MBP with sennoside could be a substitution for PEG in elective colon cancer surgery.

Comparison of three different minimally invasive procedures of distal gastrectomy for Nonoverweight patients with T1N0-1 gastric cancer

Laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy has recently come to be a standard procedure for the treatment of early gastric cancer (1 - 5) in select patients. The minimal invasiveness associated with laparoscopic procedures for the resection of gastrointestinal cancer has been repeatedly explained in part by the short incision that is required. (6 - 11) We used two different approaches to perform distal gastrectomies for the resection of gastric cancer as minimally invasive alternatives to a standard laparoscopic approach prior to our surgical team's complete mastery of the skills required for laparoscopic oncological surgery for gastric cancer. (9 , 12) If the minimal invasiveness associated with laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy can be explained by the small incision, a gastrectomy via a small incision without the use of a pneumoperitoneum may provide a similar outcome in patients. However, to our knowledge, such a comparison has not been previously made. We compared the minimal invasiveness of three different approaches (minilaparotomy, minilaparotomy approach with laparoscopic assistance, and standard laparoscopic-assisted approach) to performing a distal gastrectomy for T1N0-1 gastric cancer in nonoverweight patients (body mass index, ≤ 25 kg/m(2)) performed within a limited study period.

Usefulness of sennoside as an agent for mechanical bowel preparation prior to elective colon cancer surgery

OBJECTIVE

We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of sennoside as an agent for mechanical bowel preparation prior to elective colon cancer surgery.

METHODS

A total of 86 patients were given 12 mg of sennoside on the evening prior to resective surgery for colon cancer, followed by intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis used on the day of surgery or until postoperative day 2.

RESULTS

The incidence of surgical site infection in the study group was 4.7%, which was comparable to that in the historical control patients (3.5%, p>0.99), who had received polyethylene glycol for mechanical bowel preparation prior to colon surgery. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only body mass index (p=0.04) was an independent significant factor affecting the surgical site infection. The intraoperative spillage was not influenced by the presence of stenosis, although the amount of fecal matter was higher in the upstream colon segment (p<0.01) and downstream segment (p=0.07) in patients with a stenotic lesion occupying more than two-thirds of the lumen (n=29) than in those without such severe stenosis (n=57).

CONCLUSION

Sennoside seems to be an acceptable agent for mechanical bowel preparation even in patients with stenosis.

Minilaparotomy for perforated duodenal ulcer

The usefulness of the minilaparotomy approach for perforated duodenal ulcer repair was retrospectively evaluated in 37 patients (26 men; mean age, 56.5 years). Simple closure with an omental patch by minilaparotomy (skin incision, < or = 7 cm) was successful in 86.5% of the cases, with an operative mortality of 2.7%. Compared with the results in historic control patients who underwent conventional open surgery (n = 27), a shorter operative time (P < 0.01), lower frequency of analgesic use (P = 0.03), earlier passage of flatus (P < 0.01), and shorter hospital stay (P = 0.04) were obtained in the patients undergoing minilapartomoy. The postoperative morbidity was identical between the two groups (16.2% versus 33.3%, P = 0.40). On multivariate analysis, a large amount of intraabdominal fluid was the only significant risk factor for extension of the minilaparotomy wound (P = 0.012). The minilaparotomy approach appears to be a feasible, safe, and less invasive approach compared with the conventional open approach and could be a useful alternative to the laparoscopic approach in selected patients with perforated duodenal ulcer.

Curative resection of transverse colon cancer via minilaparotomy

Minilaparotomy has been reported to be a minimally invasive alternative to laparoscopically assisted surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of minilaparotomy for the resection of transverse colon cancer, which has generally been considered difficult to resect laparoscopically. Patients for whom curative resection was attempted for transverse colon cancer (n = 21) or sigmoid colon cancer (n = 81) via minilaparotomy (skin incision, < or = 7cm) were analyzed. The 2 groups did not significantly differ in terms of success rate of minilaparotomy (90.5% versus 97.5%), age, sex, pathologic stage, body mass index, operative time (mean, 133.5 minutes versus 122.5 minutes), blood loss (119.7 mL versus 92.4 mL), number of lymph nodes harvested, incidence of postoperative complications (9.5% versus 12.3%), postoperative length of stay, and 5-year disease-free survival rate (86.6% versus 79.6%). Minilaparotomy is feasible, safe, and favorable in terms of early oncologic outcome in patients with transverse colon cancer as well as those with sigmoid colon cancer.

Resection of stage 0/I colon cancer via a circumferential periumbilical skin incision: relevance to single-incision laparoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

We have been performing curative resection of colon cancer via a minilaparotomy without utilizing any laparoscopic instruments as an alternative to laparoscopic-assisted approach. Based on our experiences and improved surgical techniques, we have devised a new method for performing resection of stage 0/I colon cancer via a circumferential periumbilical skin incision that is associated with better cosmesis than standard minilaparotomy.

METHODS

The short- and long-term results of curative colectomy via a circumferential periumbilical skin incision without utilizing any laparoscopic instruments performed in selected patients with stage 0/I colon cancer between October 2003 and July 2004 were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 8 men and 2 women with a median age of 66.5 years (range 61-77 years). Their median body mass index was 22.4 kg/m(2) (range 21.1-27.7 kg/m(2)). Pathological stage according the TNM classification was stage 0 in 4 patients and stage I in 6 patients. Median operative time was 160.5 min (range 135-203 min), and median blood loss was 60 ml (range 5-330 ml). Postoperative complications consisted of seroma in two patients and small bowel obstruction in one patient. After a median follow-up period of 5.7 years, there were no recurrences or wound complications.

CONCLUSION

Curative colectomy via a circumferential periumbilical skin incision seems oncologically safe, yields satisfactory cosmetic results, and may provide an alternative to single-incision laparoscopic surgery in selected patients with colon cancer.