Comparison of endoscopic and laparoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors:A propensity score-matched study

BACKGROUND Endoscopic resection(ER)and laparoscopic resection(LR)have been widely used for the treatment of non-metastatic gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors(gGISTs)(2-5 cm),but there are no selection criteria for their application.AIM To provide a reference for the development of standardized treatment strategies for gGISTs.METHODS Clinical baseline characteristics,histopathological results,and short-term and long-term outcomes of patients who treated with ER or LR for gGISTs of 2-5 cm in Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2014 to August 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.Propensity score matching(PSM)was employed to achieve balance in baseline characteristics of the two groups.RESULTS Among 206 patients,135 were in the ER group and 71 in the LR group.The ER group had significantly smaller tumors[3.5 cm(3.0-4.0 cm)vs 4.2 cm(3.3-5.0 cm),P<0.001]and different tumor locations(P=0.048).After PSM,59 pairs of patients were balanced.After matching,the baseline characteristics of the ER and LR groups did not differ significantly from each other.Compared with LR,ER had faster recovery of diet(P=0.046)and fewer postoperative symptoms(P=0.040).LR achieved a higher complete resection rate(P<0.001)and shorter operation time(P<0.001).No significant differences were observed in postoperative hospital stay(P=0.478),hospital costs(P=0.469),complication rates(P>0.999),pathological features(mitosis,P=0.262;National Institutes of Health risk classification,P=0.145),recurrence rates(P=0.476),or mortality rates(P=0.611).CONCLUSION Both ER and LR are safe and effective treatments for gGISTs.ER has less postoperative pain and faster recovery,while LR has a higher rate of complete resection.

Laparoscopic resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors(PNETs)are a rare heterogeneous group of endocrine neoplasms.Surgery remains the best curative option for this type of tumor.Over the past two decades,with the development of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery,an increasingly larger number of PNET resections are being performed by these minimally-invasive techniques.In this review article,the various laparoscopic surgical options for the excision of PNETs are discussed.In addition,a summary of the literature describing the outcome of these treatment modalities is presented.

Laparoscopic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: eastern and western experiences

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is the most common primary liver cancer （1）. The incidence is rising in the last decades due to many factors, especially hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Moreover, the introduction of screening programs in patients with chronic liver disease has led to an increase in HCC diagnosis （1,2）. In the western world, 80% to 90% of HCC eases occur in patients with liver cirrhosis （3） while this proportion is lower in some regions in Asia and sub-Saharian Africa, where hepatitis B remains as an important etiologic factor for chronic liver disease （2,4）. In 1990, the annual world frequency of HCC was 437,000 cases/year （1）, and in 2012 the number reached 782,200 cases/year being responsible for 746,000 deaths （5）. Nowadays, HCC represents the 6th most frequent neoplastic disease in the world and the 3rd in mortality （5）.

Laparoscopic resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection for treating gastric ectopic pancreas

BACKGROUND Gastric ectopic pancreas(GEP)is a rare developmental abnormality that refers to the existence of pancreatic tissue in the stomach with no anatomical relationship with the main pancreas.It is usually difficult to diagnose through histological examination,and the choice of treatment method is crucial.AIM To describe the endoscopic ultrasound characteristics of GEP and evaluate the value of laparoscopic resection(LR)and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).METHODS Forty-nine patients with GEP who underwent ESD and LR in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from May 2018 to July 2023 were retrospectively included.Data on clinical characteristics,endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS),ESD,and LR were collected and analyzed.The characteristics of EUS and the efficacy of the two treatments were analyzed.RESULTS The average age of the patients was 43.31±13.50 years,and the average maximum diameter of the lesions was 1.55±0.70 cm.The lesion originated from the mucosa in one patient(2.04%),from the submucosa in 42 patients(85.71%),and from the muscularis propria in 6 patients(12.25%).Twenty-nine patients(59.20%)with GEP showed umbilical depression on endoscopy.The most common initial symptom of GEP was abdominal pain(40.82%).Tumor markers,including carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),were generally within the normal range.One patient(2.04%)with GEP had increased CEA and CA-19-9 levels.However,no cancer tissue was found on postoperative pathological examination,and tumor markers returned to normal levels after resecting the lesion.There was no significant difference in surgery duration(72.42±23.84 vs 74.17±12.81 min)or hospital stay(3.70±0.91 vs 3.83±0.75 d)between the two methods.LR was more often used for patients with larger tumors and deeper origins.The amount of bleeding was significantly higher in LR than in ESD(11.28±16.87 vs 16.67±8.76 mL,P<0.05).Surgery was associated with complete resection of the lesion without any serious complications;there were no cases of recurrence during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION GEP has unique characteristics in EUS.LR and ESD seem to be good choices for treating GEP.LR is better for large GEP with a deep origin.However,due to the rarity of GEP,multicenter large-scale studies are needed to describe its characteristics and evaluate the safety of LR and ESD.

Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst in suprarenal region treated by laparoscopic resection:A case report

BACKGROUND Bronchogenic cysts(BCs)are benign congenital foregut malformations that are mostly present in the mediastinum and pulmonary parenchyma but rarely seen in the retroperitoneum.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of 17-year-old girl who complained of epigastric pain.A cystic lesion was found in the left suprarenal region on spectral computed tomography.The ovoid,well-defined,and homogeneous cystic lesion revealed slightly enhancement on conventional imaging but no enhancement on 40 KeV virtual mono-energetic images.The iodine density value of the lesion was 0.001 mg/mL and the Z-effective value was 7.25,which were close to those of fluid material in in vitro experiments.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic mass of intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging.A laparoscopic surgery was carried out.Intraoperatively,a cystic lesion with a smooth surface was found in the left retroperitoneum.And the cystic wall was completely resected after intracystic fluid was suctioned.The histopathological examination findings of the lesion were compatible with BC.The patient recovered uneventfully without sighs of recurrence during a 10-mo follow-up period.CONCLUSION Radiological examinations play a significant role in the diagnosis of suprarenal BCs and spectral images offer additional spectral parameters.Accurate preoperative diagnoses of retroperitoneal BCs based on thorough imaging examinations are beneficial to the operation of laparoscopic resection.

Laparoscopic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison between Middle Eastern and Western experience

Laparoscopic liver resection （LLR） for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is increasing in this era of minimal invasive liver surgery. LLR for HCC is currently known to be a safer procedure than it was before because of technical advances and improvement in postoperative patient management and remains the first-line treatment for HCC in compensated cirrhosis in many centers. We have the chance of analyzing the paper about the comparison between Middle Eastern and Western experience for LLR as treatment of HCC.

Laparoscopic resection vs laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas: A single-center analysis

AIMTo compare survival and recurrence after laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (LRFA) for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODSBetween June 1, 2005 and November 30, 2010, 46 patients (62.26 &#x000b1; 8.55 years old; female/male: 12/34) treated for small HCC were enrolled following strict criteria. Patients with better liver function and larger tumors were referred for LLR (n = 24), while those with poorer liver function and multiple tumors were referred for LRFA (n = 22), and they were then followed for similar durations (44.74 &#x000b1; 21.3 mo for LLR vs 40.27 &#x000b1; 30.8 mo for LRFA).RESULTSThe LLR and LRFA groups were homogeneous with regard to age, sex, etiology of liver cirrhosis, and AFP levels. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) probability was 0.354 and 0.260, respectively. A significantly higher OS was observed in the LLR group (LLR: 0.442; LRFA: 0.261; P = 0.048), whereas no statistical difference was found for DFS (LLR: 0.206; LRFA: 0.286; P = 0.205). In the LRFA group was treated a greater number of nodules (LLR: 1.41 &#x000b1; 0.77; LRFA: 2.72 &#x000b1; 1.54; P &#x0003c; 0.001). Cox regression analysis found the number of intraoperative HCC nodules as the unique variable statistically significant for OS (hazard ratio: 2.225; P &#x0003c; 0.001). The rank-hazard plot showed a steeper increase of relative hazard for intraoperative nodules &#x0003e; 2.CONCLUSIONOur preliminary results confirm the superiority of hepatic resection on thermoablation in the treatment of small HCC in selected patients, when both approaches are made laparoscopically. LLR showed better results compared to LRFA in terms of OS. These data need to be confirmed by further studies on a larger number of patients.

Laparoscopic liver resection utilizing the ventral avascular area of the inferior vena cava:A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic liver resection(LLR)can be challenging due to the difficulty of establishing a retrohepatic tunnel under laparoscopy.Dissecting the third hepatic hilum before parenchymal transection often leads to significant liver mobilization,tumor compression,and bleeding from the short hepatic veins(SHVs).This study introduces a novel technique utilizing the ventral avascular area of the inferior vena cava(IVC),allowing SHVs to be addressed after parenchymal transection,thereby reducing surgical complexity and improving outcomes in in situ LLR.AIM To introduce and evaluate a novel LLR technique using the ventral avascular area of the IVC and compare its short-term outcomes with conventional methods.METHODS The clinical cohort data of patients with pathologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who underwent conventional LLR and novel LLR between July 2021 and July 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.In novel LLR,we initially separated the caudate lobe from the IVC using dissecting forceps along the ventral avascular area of the IVC.Then,we transected the parenchyma of the left and right caudate lobes from the caudal side to the cephalic side using the avascular area as a marker.Subsequently,we addressed the SHVs and finally dissected the root of the right hepatic vein or left hepatic vein.The short-term postoperative outcomes and oncological results of the two approaches were evaluated and compared.RESULTS A total of 256 patients were included,with 150(58.59%)undergoing conventional LLR and 106(41.41%)undergoing novel LLR.The novel technique resulted in significantly larger tumor resections(6.47±2.96 cm vs 4.01±2.33 cm,P<0.001),shorter operative times(199.57±60.37 minutes vs 262.33±83.90 minutes,P<0.001),less intraoperative blood loss(206.92±37.09 mL vs 363.34±131.27 mL,P<0.001),and greater resection volume(345.11±31.40 mL vs 264.38±31.98 mL,P<0.001)compared to conventional LLR.CONCLUSION This novel technique enhances liver resection outcomes by reducing intraoperative complications such as bleeding and tumor compression.It facilitates a safer,in situ removal of complex liver tumors,even in challenging anatomical locations.Compared to conventional methods,this technique offers significant advantages,including reduced operative time,blood loss,and improved overall surgical efficiency.

Indications of pro-inflammatory cytokines in laparoscopic and open liver resection for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:Our clinical practice of laparoscopic liver resection(LLR)had achieved better short-term and long-term benefits for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)over open liver resection(OLR),but the underlying mechanisms are not clear.This study was to find out whether systemic inflammation plays an important role.Methods:A total of 103 patients with early-stage HCC under liver resection were enrolled(LLR group,n=53;OLR group,n=50).The expression of 9 inflammatory cytokines in patients at preoperation,postoperative day 1(POD1)and POD7 was quantified by Luminex Multiplex assay.The relationships of the cytokines and the postoperative outcomes were compared between LLR and OLR.Results:Seven of the circulating cytokines were found to be significantly upregulated on POD1 after LLR or OLR compared to their preoperative levels.Compared to OLR,the POD1 levels of granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-8,and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)in the LLR group were significantly lower.Higher POD1 levels of these cytokines were significantly correlated with longer operative time and higher volume of blood loss during operation.The levels of these cytokines were positively associated with postoperative liver injury,and the length of hospital stay.Importantly,a high level of IL-6 at POD1 was a risk factor for HCC recurrence and poor disease-free survival after liver resection.Conclusions:Significantly lower level of GM-CSF,IL-6,IL-8,and MCP-1 after liver resection represented a milder systemic inflammation which might be an important mechanism to offer better short-term and long-term outcomes in LLR over OLR.

Development of a novel difficulty scoring system for laparoscopic liver resection procedure in patients with intrahepatic duct stones

BACKGROUND For intrahepatic duct(IHD)stones,laparoscopic liver resection(LLR)is currently a reliable treatment.However,the current LLR difficulty scoring system(DSS)is only available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.AIM To explore the development of a DSS for IHD stone patients with LLR and the validation of its reliability.METHODS We used clinical data from 80 patients who received LLR for IHD stones.Forty-six of these patients were used in multiple linear regression to construct a scoring system.Another 34 patients from different centers were used as external validation.The completeness of our DSS was then evaluated in patients with varying degrees of surgical difficulty based on documented surgical outcomes in the study group of patients.RESULTS The following five predictors were ultimately included and scored by calculating the weighted contribution of each factor to the prediction of operative time in the training cohort:Location of stones,number of stones≥3,stones located in the bile ducts of several grades,previous biliary surgery less than twice,distal bile duct atrophy.Subsequently,the data set was validated using a DSS developed from the variables.The following variables were identified as statistically significant in external validation:Operative time,blood loss,intraoperative transfusion,postoperative alanine aminotransferase,and Clavien-Dindo grading≥3.These variables demonstrated statistically significant differences in patients with three or more grades.CONCLUSION Patients with IHD stones have varying degrees of surgical difficulty,and the newly developed DSS can be validated with external data to effectively predict risks and complications after LLR surgery.

Retrospective Cohort Study Laparoscopic anatomical SVIII resection via middle hepatic fissure approach:Caudal or cranio side

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic hepatectomy is a proven safe and technically feasible approach for liver tumor resection,but laparoscopic anatomical SVIII resection(LASVIIIR)remains rarely reported due to poor accessibility,difficult exposure,and the deep-lying Glissonean pedicle.This study examined the safety,feasibility,and perio-perative outcomes of LASVIIIR via a middle hepatic fissure approach at our in-stitution.AIM To investigate the safety,feasibility,and perioperative outcomes of LASVIIIR via a middle hepatic fissure approach at our institution.METHODS From November 2017 to December 2022,all patients with a liver tumor who underwent LASVIIIR were enrolled.The perioperative outcomes and postope-rative complications were evaluated.RESULTS Thirty-four patients underwent LASVIIIR via a middle hepatic fissure approach from the side or cranio side and were included.The mean operation time was 164±54 minutes,and the intra-operative blood loss was 100 mL(range:20-1000 mL).The mean operative times were,respectively,152±50 minutes and 222±29 minutes(P=0.001)for the caudal side and cranial side approaches.In addition,the median blood loss volumes were 100 mL(range:20-300 mL)and 250 mL(range:20-1000 mL),respectively,for the caudal and cranial sides(P=0.064).Three patients treated using the cranial side approach experienced bile leakage,while 1 patient treated using the caudal side approach had subphrenic collection and underwent percutaneous drainage to successfully recover.There were no differences regarding postoperative hospital stays for the caudal and cranial side approaches[9(7-26)days vs 8(8-19)days](P=0.226).CONCLUSION LASVIIIR resection remains a challenging operation,but the middle hepatic fissure approach is a reasonable and easy-to-implement technique.

Efficacy of laparoscopic low anterior resection for colorectal cancer patients with 3D-vascular reconstruction for left coronary artery preservation

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic low anterior resection(LLAR)has become a mainstream surgical method for the treatment of colorectal cancer,which has shown many advantages in the aspects of surgical trauma and postoperative rehabilitation.However,the effect of surgery on patients'left coronary artery and its vascular reconstruction have not been deeply discussed.With the development of medical imaging technology,3D vascular reconstruction has become an effective means to evaluate the curative effect of surgery.AIM To investigate the clinical value of preoperative 3D vascular reconstruction in LLAR of rectal cancer with the left colic artery(LCA)preserved.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze the clinical data of 146 patients who underwent LLAR for rectal cancer with LCA preservation from January to December 2023 in our hospital.All patients underwent LLAR of rectal cancer with the LCA preserved,and the intraoperative and postoperative data were complete.The patients were divided into a reconstruction group(72 patients)and a nonreconstruction group(74 patients)according to whether 3D vascular reconstruction was performed before surgery.The clinical features,operation conditions,complications,pathological results and postoperative recovery of the two groups were collected and compared.RESULTS A total of 146 patients with rectal cancer were included in the study,including 72 patients in the reconstruction group and 74 patients in the nonreconstruction group.There were 47 males and 25 females in the reconstruction group,aged(59.75±6.2)years,with a body mass index(BMI)(24.1±2.2)kg/m^(2),and 51 males and 23 females in the nonreconstruction group,aged(58.77±6.1)years,with a BMI(23.6±2.7)kg/m^(2).There was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups(P>0.05).In the submesenteric artery reconstruction group,35 patients were type Ⅰ,25 patients were type Ⅱ,11 patients were type Ⅲ,and 1 patient was type Ⅳ.There were 37 type Ⅰ patients,24 type Ⅱ patients,12 type Ⅲ patients,and 1 type Ⅳ patient in the nonreconstruction group.There was no significant difference in arterial typing between the two groups(P>0.05).The operation time of the reconstruction group was 162.2±10.8 min,and that of the nonreconstruction group was 197.9±19.1 min.Compared with that of the reconstruction group,the operation time of the two groups was shorter,and the difference was statistically significant(t=13.840,P<0.05).The amount of intraoperative blood loss was 30.4±20.0 mL in the reconstruction group and 61.2±26.4 mL in the nonreconstruction group.The amount of blood loss in the reconstruction group was less than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(t=-7.930,P<0.05).The rates of anastomotic leakage(1.4%vs 1.4%,P=0.984),anastomotic hemorrhage(2.8%vs 4.1%,P=0.672),and postoperative hospital stay(6.8±0.7 d vs 7.0±0.7 d,P=0.141)were not significantly different between the two groups.CONCLUSION Preoperative 3D vascular reconstruction technology can shorten the operation time and reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss.Preoperative 3D vascular reconstruction is recommended to provide an intraoperative reference for laparoscopic low anterior resection with LCA preservation.

Laparoscopic liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma:Current role and limitations

Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is currently known to be a safer procedure than it was before because of technical advances and improvement in postoperative patient management and remains the first-line treatment for HCC in compensated cirrhosis.The aim of this review is to assess current indications,advantages and limits of laparoscopic surgery for HCC resections.We also discussed the possible evolution of this surgical approach in parallel with new technologies.

Laparoscopic versus open resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors

The aims of this study were to explore whether laparoscopic surgical resections of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors （GISTs） would produce better perioperative and similar oncologic outcomes compared with open surgical resection in Chinese patients. Thirty-six gastric GISTs cases were divided into a minimally invasive laparoscopic group and open resection group, depending on the surgical approach that was used. The general preoperative information, operative time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative time to first flatulence, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, total hospitalization costs, and such follow-up data as recurrence, metastasis, and mortality rates were compared between two groups. Among the 36 gastric GISTs, 15 received laparoscopic surgical treatment （laparoscopy group, n=15）, and 21 received routine open resection treatment （open resection group, n=21）. The laparoscopy group and the open resection group showed statistically significant differences （P〈0.05） in incision length （7.8±2.3 vs. 16.9±3.8 cm）, postoperative time to first flatulence （3.8±1.3 vs. 5.1±2.1 d）, postoperative hospitalization time （7.6±2.5 vs. 11.3±3.7 d）, and total cost of hospitalization （RMB 28,239±5,521 vs. RMB 23,761±5,362）. There were no statistically significant differences （P〉0.05） between the laparoscopy group and the open resection group in operative time （147.8±59.3 vs. 139.2±62.1 min） and intraoperative blood loss （149.8±98.9 VS. 154.2±99.3 mL）. Both groups had no postoperative complications, no recurrence and metastasis, and no postoperative mortality. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in postoperative complications, postoperative recurrence and metastasis, and postoperative mortality. In conclusion, compared with open resection, the laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs offers the advantages of less trauma, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stay.

Laparoscopic partial resection for hemangioma in the third portion of the duodenum

Benign duodenal tumors are rare and less commonthan malignant tumors.Furthermore,vascular lesionsof the duodenum,including hemangiomas,are rarecauses of gastrointestinal bleeding.This report describes a case with bleeding hemangiomas in the thirdportion of the duodenum and jejunum and their successful treatment using a laparoscopic approach.Thereis no report of totally laparoscopic resection for tumorin the third portion of duodenum.After performinga laparoscopic Kocher maneuver,the location of theduodenal hemangioma was confirmed by endoscopicand laparoscopic observation.The lesion was excisedusing ultrasonic coagulating shears and the defect inthe duodenal wall was sutured laparoscopically.Thehemangioma of the jejunum was treated extracorporeally through a 3.0 cm umbilical incision.The operatingtime was 241 min and blood loss was negligible.Thepostoperative course was uneventful.For benign duodenal tumors in the third portion,if endoscopic resection is not adapted,this less invasive technique may be a standard treatment.

Endoscopic or laparoscopic resection for small gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a cumulative meta-analysis

Background:Despite the recent large number of studies comparing endoscopic and laparoscopic resection for small gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)(diameter≤5 cm),the results remain conflicting.The objective of this work was to perform a cumulative meta-analysis to assess the advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic resection vs.laparoscopic resection.Methods:The meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.We searched medical databases up to January 2020.Meta-analytical random or fixed effects models were used in pooled analyses.Meta-regression,cumulative meta-analyses,and sub-group analyses were performed to improve the accuracy of the conclusion.Sensitivity analyses were applied to assess the robustness of the results.Results:A total of 12 cohort studies with 1383 participants comparing endoscopic resection and laparoscopic resection were identified,while three cohort studies with 167 participants comparing endoscopic resection and laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery were found.We found that endoscopic resection had shorter operation times(weighted mean difference[WMD]=-27.1 min,95%confidence interval[CI]:-40.8 to-13.4 min)and lengths of hospital stay(WMD=-1.43 days,95%CI:-2.31 to-0.56 days)than did laparoscopic resection.The results were stable and reliable.There were no significant differences in terms of blood loss,hospitalization costs,incidence of complications or recurrence rates.For tumor sizes 2 to 5 cm,endoscopic resection increased the risk of positive margins(relative risk[RR]=5.78,95%CI:1.31-25.46).Although operation times for endoscopic resection were shorter than those of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery(WMD=-41.03 min,95%CI:-59.53 to-22.54 min),there was a higher incidence of complications(RR=4.03,95%CI:1.57-10.34).Conclusions:In general,endoscopic resection is an alternative method for gastric GISTs≤5 cm.Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery may work well in combination.Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate or update these results.

Sigmoidorectal intussusception of adenoma of sigmoid colon treated by laparoscopic anterior resection after sponge-on-the-stick-assisted manual reduction

We present herein a case report of sigmoidorectal intussusception as an unusual case of sigmoid adenomatous polyp. The patient was a 56-year-old man who suffered from rectal bleeding for one day. He initially visited his general practitioner and was diagnosed as having an intraluminal mass of 15 cm from the anal verge. Several hours after admission to our coloproctology clinic, he suddenly presented with lower abdominal cramping pain with rectal bleeding during his bowel preparation using polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. An emergency colonoscopy revealed that the invaginated colon with polypoid mass was protruded to the lower rectum. Gastrograffin enema showed that the invaginated bowel segment was 3 cm from the anal verge. CT scan showed the typical finding of intussusception. We performed laparoscopic anterior resection and anastomosis after the sponge-on-the-stickassisted manual reduction. The permanent pathologic finding showed villotubular adenoma of the sigmoid colon.

Transanal natural orifice specimen extraction for laparoscopic anterior resection in rectal cancer

AIM: To investigate whether transanal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) is a better technique for rectal cancer resection.METHODS: A prospectively designed database of a consecutive series of patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with various tumor-node-metastasis classi?cations from March 2011 to February 2012 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University was analyzed. Patient selection for transanal specimen extraction and intracorporeal anastomosis was made on the basis of tumor size and distance of rectal lesions from the anal verge. Demographic data, operative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were assessed.RESULTS: None of the patients was converted to laparotomy. Respectively, there were 16 cases in the low anastomosis and five in the ultralow anastomosis groups. Mean age of the patients was 45.4 years, and mean body mass index was 23.1 kg/m2. Mean distance of the lower edge of the lesion from the anal verge was 8.3 cm. Mean operating time was 132 min, and mean intraoperative blood loss was 84 mL. According to the principle of rectal cancer surgery, we performed D2 lymph node dissection in 13 cases and D3 in eight. Mean lymph nodes harvest was 17.8, and the number of positive lymph nodes was 3.4. Median hospital stay was 6.7 d. No serious postoperative complication occurred except for one anastomotic leakage. All patients remained disease free. Mean Wexner score was 3.7 at 11 mo after the operation.CONCLUSION: Transanal NOSE for total laparoscopic low/ultralow anterior resection is feasible, safe and oncologically sound. Further studies with long-term outcomes are needed to explore its potential advantages.

Costs of laparoscopic and open liver and pancreatic resection:A systematic review

AIM: To study costs of laparoscopic and open liver and pancreatic resections, all the compiled data from available observational studies were systematically reviewed.

Laparoscopic liver resection for malignancy:A review of the literature

AIM: To review the published literature about laparoscopic liver resection for malignancy.