Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum with abdominal wall lift in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer:initial experience

AIM To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new technology combining low-pressure pneumoperitoneum(LPP) and abdominal wall lift(AWL) in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(TME) for rectal cancer.METHODS From November 2015 to July 2017,26 patients underwent laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer using LPP(6-8 mm Hg) with subcutaneous AWL in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan,China.Clinical data regarding patients' demographics,intraoperative monitoring indices,operation-related indices andpathological outcomes were prospectively collected.RESULTS Laparoscopic TME was performed in 26 cases(14 anterior resection and 12 abdominoperineal resection) successfully,without conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery with standard-pressure pneumoperitoneum.Intraoperative monitoring showed stable heart rate,blood pressure and paw airway pressure.The mean operative time was 194.29 ± 41.27 min(range:125-270 min) and 200.41 ± 20.56 min(range:170-230 min) for anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection,respectively.The mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 16.71 ± 5.06(range:7-27).There was no positive circumferential or distal resection margin.No local recurrence was observed during a median follow-up period of 11.96 ± 5.55 mo(range:5-23 mo).CONCLUSION LPP combined with AWL is safe and feasible for laparoscopic TME.The technique can provide satisfactory exposure of the operative field and stable operative monitoring indices.

Heterotopic ossification beneath the upper abdominal incision after radical gastrectomy:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Heterotopic ossification(HO)is a rare clinical phenomenon that refers to bone formation in nonossifying tissues.CASE SUMMARY This report presents two cases of HO beneath the upper abdominal median incision after radical gastrectomy.The first patient had postoperative pain below the incision area.There were no signs of anastomotic leakage,and the wound healed.Computed tomography(CT)findings 2 wk postoperatively were negative for HO,but the 6-wk CT showed HO beneath the incision.The patient refused reoperation,and after conservative therapy,the pain was gradually relieved after 2 wk.In the second case,postoperative recovery was uneventful,and HO was only detected on routine follow-up CT after 4 mo.An anti-adhesion membrane was applied beneath the peritoneum in both patients.Our findings suggest that HO beneath the abdominal incision might form at approximately 1 mo postoperatively.It may cause intractable pain;however,reoperation is usually not required.CONCLUSION In our cases,we suspect that HO may be related to the use of foreign materials beneath the peritoneum,which needs to be further investigated.