[Initial experience of robot-assisted minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To report our initial experience of robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy with stapled cervical esophagogastrostomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 5 robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomies in patients with benign end-staged and malignant diseases of the esophagus for the period from October 2019 to February 2020.

RESULTS

No conversions and intraoperative complications were observed. Mean surgery time was 406±48 min, total intraoperative blood loss - 108±45 ml. Four patients had minor complications (wound infection, atelectasis, pneumothorax) that required conservative treatment. We have controlled anastomosis in 2-3 postoperative days with water-soluble contrast, none patient had an anastomotic leakage. Mean hospital-stay was 5 days. Complete (R0) resection was accomplished in all patients with malignant neoplasms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our first experience showed that robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy is a safe and feasible surgical option for esophageal diseases. Robot-assisted interventions require advanced endoscopic surgical experience.

MECHANICAL ESOPHAGEAL ANASTOMOSES

This article gives an overview of mechanical esophageal anastomosis. The results of the esophageal anastomoses formation by using circular and linear stitching devices (staplers) by Russian and foreign authors are presented in chronological order. The faults of staplers, complications associated with them are described. The importance of the problem related to the choice of anastomotic technique to reduce the risks of specific complications such as leakage and stricture of esophageal anastomosis was remarked by authors. The advantages and disadvantages of the currently known esophageal anastomotic methods have been analyzed. It was noted that mechanical side-to-side anastomoses are associated with low frequency of leakage, stricture, postoperative mortality, that’s why they have become preferable, especially in the mini-invasive reconstructive surgery. The authors concluded that the question about the feasibility of mechanical esophageal anastomoses formation is not answered, the evaluation of the properties of modern staplers and the search for the best esophageal anastomotic method are relevant for modern surgery.

[Short-term results of pancreatoduodenectomy in patients over 70 years old]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the immediate results of PDE in patients younger and older 70 years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included patients who underwent PDE for various indications from March 2010 to February 2019. All patients are divided into 2 groups: <70 years old and ≥70 years old. Primary endpoints were postoperative mortality and complication rate.

RESULTS

There were 110 procedures within 9 years. There were 93 patients aged <70 years (group 1) and 17 patients aged ≥70 years (group 2). ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) and PMP scores (Preoperative Mortality Predictor) were higher in group 2: 3 (2-3) vs 2 (1-3) (p=0,002) and 12 (6-15) vs 6.5 (5-15) (p<0.001), respectively. Mortality rate was higher in group 2 (11.7% vs. 3.2%) without statistical significance (p=0.16). Overall morbidity (72% vs 76%; p=1.0), incidence of major complications grade ≥IIIa (29% vs 29%), delayed gastric emptying B/C (17.2% vs 17.6%), pancreatic fistula grade B/C (23.6% vs 35.3%, p=0.3), biliary fistula grade B/C (7.5% vs 11.8%; p=0.62), postoperative hospital-stay [22 (8-165) days vs 23 (9-71) days; p=0.92] were comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Short-term results of PDE in patients aged <70 and ≥70 years are comparable despite higher ASA and PMP scores in the group 2. General status and concomitant diseases should be considered during selection of patients with resectable tumors for PDE. Age per se is not a contraindication for surgery.