Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Central Pancreatectomy: Technique and Outcomes

Background

Central pancreatectomy is a definitive treatment for low-grade tumors of the pancreatic neck that preserves pancreatic and splenic function at the potential expense of postoperative pancreatic fistula. We analyzed outcomes after robot-assisted central pancreatectomy (RACP) to reexamine the risk–benefit profile in the era of minimally invasive surgery.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of nine RACP performed between August 2009 through June 2010 at a single institution.

Results

The average age of the cohort was 64 (range 18–75 years) with six women (67 %). Indications for surgery included: five benign cystic neoplasm and four pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Median operative time was 425 min (range 305–506 min) with 190 ml median blood loss (range 50–350 ml) and one conversion to open due to poor visualization. Median tumor size was 3.0 cm (range 1.9–6.0 cm); all patients achieved R0 status. Pancreaticogastrostomy was performed in seven cases and pancreaticojejunostomy in two. The median length of hospital stay was 10 days (range 7–19). Two clinically significant pancreatic fistulae occurred with one requiring percutaneous drainage. No patients exhibited worsening diabetes or exocrine insufficiency at the 30-day postoperative visit.

Conclusions

RACP can be performed with safety and oncologic outcomes equivalent to published open series. Although the rate of pancreatic fistula was high, only 22 % had clinically significant events, and none developed worsening pancreatic endocrine or exocrine dysfunction.     

The natural history of lower urinary tract dysfunction in men: the influence of detrusor underactivity on the outcome after transurethral resection of the prostate with a minimum 10-year urodynamic follow-up

OBJECTIVES: To assess the long-term outcome of the efficacy of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in men with detrusor underactivity (DUA), a cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a significant minority of men. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Neurologically intact men with LUTS, who were investigated in our department between 1972 and 1986, diagnosed with DUA and who underwent surgical intervention, were invited for a repeat symptomatic and urodynamic assessment. Identical methods were used, allowing direct comparison of the results. RESULTS: In all, 224 men were initially diagnosed with DUA; 87 (39%) of these died in the interim and 22 followed had a TURP, with a mean follow-up since surgery of 11.3 years. There were no significantly sustained reductions in any symptoms. There was a small but significant reduction of questionable clinical significance in the bladder outlet obstruction index, but this did not translate into an improved flow rate. Comparison with 58 age-matched patients with DUA who remained untreated showed no significant advantage of surgical intervention in the long-term; on the contrary, there was more chronic retention in those who had had surgery. CONCLUSIONS: There are no long-term symptomatic or urodynamic gains from TURP in men shown to have DUA. The results of TURP in men with DUA are important, as urologists who surgically treat patients based on the symptoms and uroflowmetry alone will do so in a significant minority of men with DUA. These results strengthen the argument for a routine preoperative urodynamic assessment.     

Distal Pancreatectomy with En Bloc Celiac Axis Resection for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Following Neoadjuvant Therapy

Background

Celiac trunk encasement by adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body is generally regarded as a contraindication for surgical resection. Recent studies have suggested that a subset of stage III patients will succumb to their disease in the absence of distant metastases. We hypothesized that patients with stage III tumors invading the celiac trunk, who are free of distant disease following neoadjuvant therapy, may derive prolonged survival benefit from aggressive surgical resection.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of distal pancreatectomies with en bloc celiac axis resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Results

Eleven patients underwent a distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection after completing neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Median operative time was 8?h, 14?min, and median estimated blood loss was 700?ml. Median length of stay was 9?days. Five patients (45%) had postoperative complications; three were Clavien grade I. Four patients (35%) had pancreatic leaks; two were ISGPF grade B, and two were grade A. There were two 90-day perioperative deaths. Ten patients had R0 resections (91%). After a median follow-up of 41?weeks, six patients recurred. Four of the five patients with SMAD4 loss recurred, and two of the five patients with intact SMAD4 recurred. Median disease-free and overall survival were 21?weeks and 26?months, respectively.

Conclusions

Resection of pancreatic body adenocarcinoma with celiac axis resection is technically feasible with acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality.     

机器人辅助腹腔镜下根治性膀胱切除加尿流改道术的临床分析

目的 探讨采用da Vinci S机器人系统完成机器人辅助腹腔镜下根治性膀胱切除(robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy,RARC)加尿流改道术的临床可行性,并总结技术特点和临床效果. 方法 2007年12月至2012年3月膀胱尿路上皮癌患者22例,男20例,女2例.年龄37～ 72岁,平均62岁.体质指数22.5 ～ 30.1 kg/m2,平均26.1 kg/m2.麻醉评分1～2分.术前肿瘤活检病理诊断为浸润性或高危的非肌层浸润性膀胱尿路上皮痛,术前检查均未发现有其他邻近脏器浸润、盆腔淋巴结转移或远处转移,临床分期均低于T2N0M0.全麻下行RARC加尿流改道术,其中行体外尿流改道术15例(原位新膀胱2例,回肠膀胱术13例),行完全腹腔镜下尿流改道术7例(回肠膀胱术2例,原位新膀胱5例). 结果 本组22例手术均获得成功.手术时间300 ～ 667 min,平均480 min;出血量100 ～ 1200 ml,平均550 ml;淋巴结清扫数目6～ 25枚,平均15枚.术后2～3d下地活动,3～4d肠功能恢复,术后住院时间8～35 d,平均16d.行原位新膀胱的患者术后1个月行膀胱造影确定无吻合口漏后拔除尿管和双侧输尿管支架管.术后随访4 ～ 49个月,平均32个月,复发2例,死亡1例,出现肾积水2例,其余病例肾功能均正常,尿控较满意. 结论 根据初期的手术操作过程和随访结果,RARC加尿流改道术在临床上是可行的.更多的操作经验、长期和随机的对照研究将有助于对这一技术进行评估和推广.     

The Detrimental Effect of Poor Early Graft Function After Laparoscopic Live Donor Nephrectomy on Graft Outcomes

We undertook this study to assess the rate of poor early graft function (EGF) after laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (lapNx) and to determine whether poor EGF is associated with diminished long-term graft survival. The study population consisted of 946 consecutive lapNx donors/recipient pairs at our center. Poor EGF was defined as receiving hemodialysis on postoperative day (POD) 1 through POD 7 (delayed graft function [DGF]) or serum creatinine ≥ 3.0 mg/dL at POD 5 without need for hemodialysis (slow graft function [SGF]). The incidence of poor EGF was 16.3% (DGF 5.8%, SGF 10.5%), and it was stable in chronologic tertiles. Poor EGF was independently associated with worse death-censored graft survival (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34–3.47, p = 0.001), worse overall graft survival (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.10–2.37, p = 0.014), worse acute rejection-free survival (HR 2.75, 95% CI 1.92–3.94, p < 0.001) and worse 1-year renal function (p = 0.002). Even SGF independently predicted worse renal allograft survival (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.44–4.44, p = 0.001). Risk factors for poor DGF included advanced donor age, high recipient BMI, sirolimus use and prolonged warm ischemia time. In conclusion, poor EGF following lapNx has a deleterious effect on long-term graft function and survival.     

Isolated Hepatic Perfusion for the Treatment of Patients With Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases After Irinotecan-Based Therapy

Background Irinotecan given with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin is currently used as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the response duration is <1 year, and second-line systemic chemotherapy has limited efficacy. We analyzed the efficacy of isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) for patients with progressive CRC liver metastases after irinotecan.Methods Between March 1993 and February 2003, 124 patients with CRC liver metastases underwent IHP on institutional review board–approved protocols. The overall treatment mortality was 4% (5 of 124). Twenty-five patients (10 women and 15 men; mean age, 53 years) were identified who had progressive liver metastases by carcinoembryonic antigen, imaging studies, or both after irinotecan. A 1-hour hyperthermic IHP (mean hepatic temperature, 40.0°C) with melphalan 1.5 mg/kg (mean total dose, 100 mg) was administered via laparotomy. Perfusion with an oxygenated extracorporeal circuit was established with inflow via a cannula in the gastroduodenal artery and common hepatic artery inflow occlusion. Outflow was via a cannula in an isolated segment of the inferior vena cava. During IHP, portal and inferior vena caval flow were shunted to the axillary vein. Patients were assessed for radiographical response, recurrence pattern, and survival.Results The mean number of prior irinotecan cycles in 25 patients was 6 (range, 2–14), and it was given primarily as second-line therapy. The median number of liver metastases before IHP was 10 (range, 1–50), and the median percentage of hepatic replacement by tumor was 25%. The mean operative time was 9 hours (range, 6–12 hours), and the median hospital stay was 11 days (range, 8–76 days). There was 1 complete response and there were 14 partial responses in 25 patients (60%), with a median duration of 12 months (range, 5–35 months). Disease progressed systemically in 13 of 25 patients at a median of 5 months (range, 3–16 months). The median overall survival was 12 months (range, 1–47 months), and the 2-year survival was 28%.Conclusions For patients with progressive CRC liver metastases after irinotecan, IHP has good efficacy in terms of response rate and duration. Continued evaluation of IHP with melphalan as second-line therapy in this clinical setting is justified.     

Analysis of Factors Associated with Outcome in Patients Undergoing Isolated Hepatic Perfusion for Unresectable Liver Metastases from Colorectal Center

Aim  To define the indications for hyperthermic isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) in patients with unresectable liver metastases (LM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) with particular focus on IHP’s utility as a second-line option for patients whose tumors have progressed following combination systemic chemotherapy treatment. Methods  From June 1994 through July 2005, 120 patients with unresectable CRC LM underwent IHP with melphalan (n = 69), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (n = 10) or both (n = 41). Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) with floxuridine started 6–8 weeks post IHP in 46 (38%). Patients were followed for toxicity, radiographic response, and overall survival (OS). Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare parameters by response category; survival and hepatic progression-free survival were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Results  Of 79 males and 41 females, 96 (80%) received prior chemotherapy. There were five (4%) operative/treatment mortalities. There were 69 responses in 114 evaluable patients (61%). Total melphalan dose and combination melphalan/TNF were each associated with response; age, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prior chemotherapy for established LM, tumor burden, and post-IHP HAI therapy were not. Median overall survival was 17.4 months and 2-year survival was 34%. Factors found to be independently related to survival were preoperative CEA <30 ng/mL and use of post-IHP HAI (P < 0.015). Conclusions  IHP results in marked tumor regression and prolonged survival in patients with CRC LM. Continued development of IHP in this clinical setting is warranted.     

Patellectomy and osteoarthritis: arthroscopic findings following previous patellectomy

We reviewed the arthroscopic findings in 16 knees in which a patellectomy had been performed 1–47 years previously (average 15.4 years). The study group consisted of 13 women and 3 men with an average age of 46.3 years (range 24–64 years). The knee symptoms had failed to respond to non-operative treatment and the treating surgeon (R.J.B.) had determined that arthroscopic examination was warranted. Fifteen of the 16 patients had articular cartilage damage, particularly in the medial compartment and trochlear groove. The severity of articular cartilage damage correlated with time since patellectomy, but not with patient age. Apart from the previous patellectomy, no predisposing factors could be identified to account for the frequency and severity of tibiofemoral osteoarthritis in this relatively young group of patients. Our findings suggest that there may be an association between patellectomy and the subsequent development of osteoarthritis.