Multivisceral Resection for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Prognostic Factors Influencing Outcome

AIMS

To assess outcome in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing multivisceral resection.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 30 consecutive patients (mean age 67.8 years) with primary locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing en bloc multivisceral resection of the organs involved with curative intent between 1998 and 2010. Overall survival, local and distal recurrence, and disease-free survival were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors for clinical outcome were obtained using a Cox multivariate model.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications occurred in 76.7% of patients and the in-hospital mortality rate was 10%. The median follow-up was 28.8 months. A total of 19 patients died at follow-up. Of the 11 patients who were alive, 7 were free of disease. In the multivariate analysis, lymph node involvement, stage II, and lymph vascular invasion were significantly associated with survival, and stage III showed a strong trend towards significance. Suture dehiscence (peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscess) showed a significant trend towards a higher local recurrence. Lymph vascular invasion was associated with a higher distant recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Lymph node involvement was associated with worse survival, whereas stage II and absence of lymph vascular invasion were associated with a better survival. Lymph vascular invasion was associated with a higher distant recurrence.

Use of a prosthetic mesh to prevent parastomal hernia during laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Prevention of parastomal hernia represents an important aim when a permanent stoma is necessary. The objective of this work is to assess whether implantation of a prophylactic prosthetic mesh during laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection contributed to reduce the incidence of parastomal hernia.

METHODS

Rectal cancer patients undergoing elective laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection with permanent colostomy were randomized to placement of a large-pore lightweight mesh in the intraperitoneal/onlay position by the laparoscopic approach (study group) or to the control group (no mesh). Parastomal hernia was defined radiologically by a CT scan performed after 12 months of surgery. The usefulness of subcutaneous fat thickness measured by CT to discriminate patients at risk of parastomal hernia was assessed by ROC curve analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were randomized, 19 to the mesh group and 17 to the control group. Parastomal hernia was detected in 50 % of patients in the mesh group and in 93.8 % of patients in the control group (P = 0.008). The AUC for thickness of the subcutaneous abdominal was 0.819 (P = 0.004) and the optimal threshold 23 mm. Subcutaneous fat thickness ≥23 mm was a significant predictor of parastomal hernia (odds ratio 15.7, P = 0.010), whereas insertion of a mesh was a protective factor (odds ratio 0.06, P = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of prophylactic large-pore lightweight mesh in the intraperitoneal/onlay position by a purely laparoscopic approach reduced the incidence of parastomal hernia formation. Subcutaneous fat thickness ≥23 mm measured by CT was an independent predictor of parastomal hernia.

Leiomiomatosis peritoneal diseminada

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata is an uncommon condition characterized by subperitoneal proliferation of benign nodules mainly composed of benign smooth muscle cells. This entity generally appears in premenopausal women and hormonal influences may play a role in its pathogenesis. The macroscopic appearance mimics peritoneal carcinomatosis. The characteristic clinical course is asymptomatic and diagnosis is only feasible after microscopic examination. To date, less than 100 cases have been reported in the literature. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who underwent surgery in our department.

[Hemophilic pelvic pseudotumor]

Surgery in hemophilic patients is a challenge for the general surgeon. Hemophilic pseudotumor is a rare complication occurring in 1-2% of hemophiliacs and affecting mainly patients with severe disease or those who have developed antibodies to factor VIII or IX. A number of alternatives are available for the management of these tumors, including conservative treatment, surgical removal, percutaneous drainage, embolization, and external radiation. The only definitive treatment is surgical excision. We report a case of hemophilic pseudotumor of the pelvic bone. Treatment consisted of surgical resection after arterial embolization using factor replacement to achieve hemostasis.

[Giant esophageal lipoma]

Esophageal lipomas are uncommon benign tumors. The main symptom of this type of tumor is dysphagia due to esophageal obstruction. The diagnostic studies of choice are endoscopy, radiological investigation with contrast administration, computed tomography, and echoendoscopy. We present an unusual case of giant pediculated esophageal lipoma which manifested clinically with dysphagia. Management was surgical.

[Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum]

We report the case of a 48-year-old man who was admitted to the intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress. After discharge, the patient showed massive pneumoperitoneum. None of the complementary investigations provided information on the cause. The patient underwent surgery but no intraoperative diagnosis was reached. We believe that this case is of interest since pneumoperitoneum is a frequent entity that often leads to emergency laparotomy. The cause is usually perforation, although in a substantial proportion of cases the pneumoperitoneum is non-surgical, or idiopathic.

[Surgical treatment of pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma in a specialized unit: a decade later]

INTRODUCTION

Results of surgical treatment for pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma have improved in recent years owing to several factors, particularly the concentration of these patients in specialised surgical units.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective-prospective comparative study of results in 2 groups of patients treated over 2 different periods of time and with different surgical policy: group A, which included 80 patients treated from 1982 to 1992 in a general surgery unit, and group B, which comprised 151 patients treated from 1998 to 2003 in a specialised hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery unit.

RESULTS

Surgical treatment in patients of groups A and B, respectively, was: resection in 20% and 53.6% and by-pass in 62.5% and 36.4%. Postoperative morbidity after resection was similar (75% vs 74.1%) but higher after by-pass in group B (41.8% vs 34%). Postoperative mortality after surgical resection and by-pass was 25% and 14.1%, respectively, for group A and 3.7% and 16.3%, respectively, for group B. Mean survival for all patients was 7.0 +/- 7.1 months for group A and 14.1 +/- 15.3 months for group B. Mean survival for patients with surgical resection was 11.8 +/- 9.8 months and 18.7 +/- 15.8 months for groups A and B, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma should be surgically treated in specialised pancreatic surgery units in order to offer the best outcome to patients.

Neumoperitoneo idiopático

We report the case of a 48-year-old man who was admitted to the intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress. After discharge, the patient showed massive pneumoperitoneum. None of the complementary investigations provided information on the cause. The patient underwent surgery but no intraoperative diagnosis was reached. We believe that this case is of interest since pneumoperitoneum is a frequent entity that often leads to emergency laparotomy. The cause is usually perforation, although in a substantial proportion of cases the pneumoperitoneum is non-surgical, or idiopathic.

Anthropometric characteristics of the pubic arch and proper function of the defense mechanisms against hernia formation

In 33 inguinal regions, we determined the anthropometric characteristics of the pubic arch and the anatomic structures of the suprainguinal space and assessed whether there is a relationship between anatomic features and function of the defense mechanisms. There was a low position of the pubic arch (pubic tubercle and interspinal line distance >75 mm) in 23 cases. The low-pubic-arch group showed a significantly longer inguinal ligament and a greater angle made by the superior border of the suprainguinal space and the inguinal ligament at its medial insertion. The position of the pubic arch correlated significantly with the diameter of the internal ring, the length of the inguinal ligament, and the angle made by the superior border of the suprainguinal space and the medial insertion of the inguinal ligament. A low pubic arch would represent an unfavorable condition for an adequate function of the anatomic defense mechanism against hernia.

Specific prognostic factors for secondary pancreatic infection in severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there are specific prognostic factors to predict the development of secondary pancreatic infection (SPI) in severe acute pancreatitis in order to perform a computed tomography-fine needle aspiration with bacteriological sampling at the right moment and confirm the diagnosis.

METHODS

Twenty-five clinical and laboratory parameters were determined sequentially in 150 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were done looking for correlation with the development of SPI.

RESULTS

Only APACHE II score and C-reactive protein levels were related to the development of SPI in the multivariate analysis. A regression equation was designed using these two parameters, and empiric cut-off points defined the subgroup of patients at high risk of developing secondary pancreatic infection.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that it is possible to predict SPI during SAP allowing bacteriological confirmation and early treatment of this severe condition.

Functioning metastases of a nonfunctioning paraganglioma

A case of nonfunctioning paraganglioma, initially qualified as benign, is described. Two years following extirpation, functioning bone and lung metastases were manifested by hypertensive crises and increased levels of vanilmandelic acid and catecholamines in urine. The criteria for benign and malignant paragangliomas are discussed with regard to functional transformation of the tumor described in this case. It is concluded that the phenotypic heterogeneity of the primary tumor cells could explain the difference in biological behavior of the primary tumor and its metastases.