Efficacy of transanal drainage tube in preventing anastomotic leakage after surgery for rectal cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Anastomotic leakage(AL)following rectal cancer surgery is an important cause of mortality and recurrence.Although transanal drainage tubes(TDTs)are expected to reduce the rate of AL,their preventive effects are controversial.AIM To reveal the effect of TDT in patients with symptomatic AL after rectal cancer surgery.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed,Embase,and Cochrane Library databases.We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs)and prospective cohort studies(PCSs)in which patients were assigned to two groups depending on the use or non-use of TDT and in which AL was evaluated.The results of the studies were synthesized using the Mantel-Haenszel randomeffects model,and a two-tailed P value>0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS Three RCTs and two PCSs were included in this study.Symptomatic AL was examined in all 1417 patients(712 with TDT),and TDTs did not reduce the symptomatic AL rate.In a subgroup analysis of 955 patients without a diverting stoma,TDT reduced the symptomatic AL rate(odds ratio=0.50,95%confidence interval:0.29–0.86,P=0.012).CONCLUSION TDT may not reduce AL overall among patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery.However,patients without a diverting stoma may benefit from TDT placement.

Single-incision laparoscopic cecectomy for low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm after laparoscopic rectectomy

In this case report,we discuss single-incision laparoscopic cecectomy for low-grade appendiceal neoplasm after laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer.The optimal surgical therapy for low-grade appendiceal neoplasm is controversial;currently,the options include appendectomy,cecectomy,right hemicolectomy,and open or laparoscopic surgery.Due to the risk of pseudomyxoma peritonei,complete resection without rupture is necessary.We have encountered 5 cases of lowgrade appendiceal neoplasm and all 5 patients had no lymph node metastasis.We chose the appendectomy or cecectomy without lymph node dissection if preoperative imaging studies did not suspect malignancy.In the present case,we performed cecectomy without lymph node dissection by single-incision laparoscopic surgery(SILS),which is reported to be a reduced port surgery associated with decreased invasiveness and patient stress compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery.We are confident that SILS is a feasible alternative to traditional surgical procedures for borderline tumors,such as low-grade appendiceal neoplasms.

Solitary mediastinal lymph node recurrence after curative resection of colon cancer

We report two cases of solitary mediastinal lymph node recurrence after colon cancer resection. Both cases had para-aortic lymph node metastasis at the time of initial surgery and received adjuvant chemotherapy for 4 years in case 1 and 18 mo in case 2. The time to recurrence was more than 8 years in both cases. After resection of the recurrent tumor, the patient is doing well with no recurrence for 6 years in case 1 and 4 mo in case 2. Patients should be followed up after colon cancer surgery considering the possibility of solitary mediastinal lymph node recurrence if they had para-aortic node metastasis at the time of initial surgery.

Standardized technique for single-incision laparoscopicassisted stoma creation

To describe the procedure, efficacy, and utility of singleincision laparoscopic-assisted stoma creation(SILStoma) for transverse colostomy. Using single-incision laparoscopic surgery, we developed a standardized technique for SILStoma. Twelve consecutive patients underwent SILStoma for transverse colostomy at Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases from April 2013 to March 2016. A single, intended stoma site was created with a 2.5-3.5 cm skin incision for primary access to the intra-abdominal space, and it functioned as the main port through which multi-trocars were placed. Clinical and operative factors and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Patient demographics, including age, gender, body mass index, and surgical indications for intestinal diversion were evaluated. SILStoma was performed in nine cases without the requirement of additional ports. In the remaining three cases, 1-2 additional 5-mm ports were required for mobilization of the transverse colon and safe dissection of abdominal adhesions. No cases required conversion to open surgery. In all cases, SILStoma was completed at the initial stoma site marked preoperatively. No intraoperative or postoperative complications greater than Grade Ⅱ(the Clavien-Dindo classification) were reported in the complication survey. Surgical site infection at stoma sites was observed in four cases; however, surgical interventions were not required and all infectionswere cured completely. In all cases, the resumption of bowel movements was observed between postoperative days 1 and 2. SILStoma for transverse loop colostomy represents a feasible surgical procedure that allows the creation of a stoma at the preoperatively marked site without any additional large skin incisions.