Recent advances in the management of rectal cancer: No surgery, minimal surgery or minimally invasive surgery

Over the last decade,with the acceptance of the need for improvements in the outcome of patients affected with rectal cancer,there has been a significant increase in the literature regarding treatment options available to patients affected by this disease.That treatment related decisions should be made at a high volume multidisciplinary tumor board,after pre-operative rectal magnetic resonance imaging and the importance of total mesorectal excision(TME)are accepted standard of care.More controversial is the emerging role for watchful waiting rather than radical surgery in complete pathologic responders,which may be appropriate in 20%of patients.Patients with early T1 rectal cancers and favorable pathologic features can be cured with local excision only,with transanal minimal invasive surgery(TAMIS)because of its versatility and almost universal availability of the necessary equipment and skillset in the average laparoscopic surgeon,emerging as the leading option.Recent trials have raised concerns about the oncologic outcomes of the standard"top-down"TME hence transanal TME(Ta TME"bottom-up")approach has gained popularity as an alternative.The challenges are many,with a dearth of evidence of the oncologic superiority in the long-term for any given option.However,this review highlights recent advances in the role of chemoradiation only for complete pathologic responders,TAMIS for highly selected early rectal cancer patients and Ta TME as options to improve cure rates whilst maintaining quality of life in these patients,while we await the results of further definitive trials being currently conducted.

Acute limb ischemia after minimally invasive cardiac surgery using the ProGlide:A case series

BACKGROUND We report two cases of acute femoral artery occlusion following the use of ProGlide in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and insertion of large-bore catheters through the common femoral artery.This will add to the existing body of literature by highlighting the possible complications associated with the use of ProGlide and reiterate that the use of the sono-guided ProGlide skill will reduce the incidence of these complications.CASE SUMMARY A 78-year-old man underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery for severe aortic valve stenosis.After the operation,the puncture site of the common femoral artery was closed using ProGlide.The next morning,after regaining consciousness,he complained of pain,motor weakness(grade 2),and coldness in the right lower extremity.A 65-year-old man underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery for a large secundum atrial septal defect(5 cm×5 cm).After the operation,the puncture site of the common femoral artery was closed using ProGlide.After extubation,the patient complained of paresthesia of the right thigh.Both the patients underwent emergency surgery for acute occlusion of the common femoral artery.CONCLUSION If the sono-guided ProGlide skill is used,complications can be prevented,and ProGlide can be safely used.

Minimal Invasive Surgery for Esophageal Cancer

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy is only established in some centers and a?ords a cervical anasto- mosis because intrathoracic anastomosis as a routine is technically too di?cult. Laparoscopic mobilisation of the stomach (gastrolysis) is an important contribution for minimal invasive surgery of esophageal cancer. This procedure reduces the stress of the two cavity operation for the patient and allows the construction of a comparable gastric conduit like by open surgery. The technique of laparoscopic gastrolysis as prepa- ration for transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy is described in detail and preliminary results are brie?y mentioned.

Hundred plus Minimally Access Cardiac Surgery: Our Experience

Background: Minimally invasive procedures lead to less scarring resulting in better cosmetic outcomes. This has resulted in increased patient interest in such procedures and this has motivated surgeons to pursue newer and improved techniques for Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Obviously, with the advent of MICS the techniques to achieve it also needed to be changed and upgraded which includes access for cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Right internal jugular vein percutaneous cannulation, together with the direct surgical cannulation of femoral vessels with minithoracotomy/ministernotomy proves to be a safe and effective tool in patients with body weight of above 20 kg for minimally access cardiac surgery. We use this technique for Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, aortic valve replacement (AVR), redo Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) and mitral valve replacement (MVR). Here, we describe our experience with minimally invasive approach using total peripheral cannulation and an anterior mini-thoracotomy (6 cm or less) incision for ASD closure, AVR, TVR and MVR. Methods: The preoperative variables, intraoperative data and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive ASD closure, AVR, TVR and MVR with total peripheral cannulation were collected and analyzed. Results: Between May 2014 to May 2019 we performed minimally invasive closure of atrial septal defects, AVR, TVR and MVR with total peripheral cannulation in 103 patients. There were 64 females and 39 males Mean age was 25 years (range 8 - 58 years), Spectrum of procedures include ASD closure in 81 patients (78.6%), AVR via minithoracotomy in 13 patients (12.6%) and AVR via ministernotomy in 3 patients (2.9%), redo TVR in 5 (4.8%), MVR in 1 patient (0.97%). Average cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 46 minutes (range 22 - 78 min) and average aortic cross-clamp time (AoX) 26 min (range 12 - 45 min) in ASD closure group. In AVR group average CPB time was 91 min (range 72 - 120 min) and AoX time 76.5 min (range 65 - 109 min). In TVR group average CPB time 54 min (range 45 - 67 min) on beating heart. Only one MVR done in this period and CPB time was 82 min and AoX time was 65 min. The mean length of stay in intensive care unit was 1.8 days in ASD closure, 2 days in AVR group when in TVR group 3.5 days, and hospital stay was 3 days in ASD closure group, 4 days in AVR group and 7 days in TVR group. The only one patient who underwent MVR died in 12th post operative day from sepsis. There was one late mortality in AVR group after reoperation for prosthetic valve endocarditis at 3 months from first operation. Conclusion: ASD closure, AVR, TVR and MVR with mini invasive approach is safe with very few manageable preoperative complications and good patient satisfaction.

Robotic surgery for rectal cancer: A systematic review of current practice

AIM: To give a comprehensive review of current litera-ture on robotic rectal cancer surgery.METHODS: A systematic review of current literature via PubMed and Embase search engines was per-formed to identify relevant articles from january 2007 to november 2013. The keywords used were: "robotic surgery", "surgical robotics", "laparoscopic computer-assisted surgery", "colectomy" and "rectal resection". RESULTS: After the initial screen of 380 articles, 20 pa-pers were selected for review. A total of 1062 patients(male 64.0%) with a mean age of 61.1 years and body mass index of 24.9 kg/m2 were included in the review.Out of 1062 robotic-assisted operations, 831(78.2%) anterior and low anterior resections, 132(12.4%) in-tersphincteric resection with coloanal anastomosis, 98(9.3%) abdominoperineal resections and 1(0.1%) Hart-mann's operation were included in the review. Robotic rectal surgery was associated with longer operative time but with comparable oncological results and anastomotic leak rate when compared with laparoscopic rectal surgery. CONCLUSION: Robotic colorectal surgery has con-tinued to evolve to its current state with promising re-sults; feasible surgical option with low conversion rate and comparable short-term oncological results. The challenges faced with robotic surgery are for more high quality studies to justify its cost.

Laparoscopic revolution in bariatric surgery

The history of bariatric surgery is investigational. Dedicated surgeons have continuously sought for an ideal procedure to relieve morbidly obese patients from their burden of comorbid conditions, reduced life expectancy and low quality of life. The ideal procedure must have low complication risk, both in short- and long term, as well as minimal impact on daily life. The revolution of laparoscopic techniques in bariatric surgery is described in this summary. Advances in minimal invasive techniques have contributed to reduced operative time, length of stay, and complications. The development in bariatric surgery has been exceptional, resulting in a dramatic increase of the number of procedures performed world wide during the last decades. Although, a complex bariatric procedure can be performed with operative mortality no greater than cholecystectomy, specific procedure-related complications and other drawbacks must be taken into account. The evolution of laparoscopy will be the legacy of the 21st century and at present, day-care surgery and further reduction of the operative trauma is in focus. The impressive effects on comorbid conditions have prompted the adoption of minimal invasive bariatric procedures into the field of metabolic surgery.

Role of robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery:lessons learned from our initial experience

BACKGROUND:Minimally invasive surgery has achieved worldwide acceptance in various fields, however, pancreatic surgery remains one of the most challenging abdominal procedures. In fact, the indication for robotic surgery in pancreatic disease has been controversial. The present study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of robotic pancreatic resection.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed our experience of robotic pancreatic resection done in Sanchinarro University Hospital. Clinicopathologic characteristics, and perioperative and postoperative outcomes were recorded and analyzed.RESULTS:From October 2010 to April 2016, 50 patients underwent robotic-assisted surgery for different pancreatic pathologies. All procedures were performed using the da Vinci robotic system. Of the 50 patients, 26 were male and 24 female. The average age of all patients was 62 years. Operative time was 370 minutes. Among the procedures performed were 16 pancreaticoduodenectomies(PD), 23 distal pancreatectomies(DP), 11 tumor enucleations(TE). The mean hospital stay was 17.6 days in PD group, 9.0 days in DP group and 8.4 days in TE group. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 10 cases(20%), 2 after PD, 3 after DP, and 5 after TE. Four patients had postoperative transfusion in PD group and one in DP group. Conversion to open laparotomy occurred in four patients(8%). No serious intraoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS:From our early experience, robotic pancreatic surgery is a safe and feasible procedure. Further experience and follow-up are required to confirm the role of robotic approach in pancreatic surgery.

Laparoscopic approach to Meckel's diverticulum

AIM: To retrospective review the laparoscopic management of Meckel Diverticulum(MD) in two Italian Pediatric Surgery Centers.METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2012, 19 trans-umbilical laparoscopic-assisted(TULA) procedures were performed for suspected MD. The children were hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding and/or recurrent abdominal pain. Median age at diagnosis was 5.4 years(range 6 mo-15 years). The study included 15 boys and 4 girls. All patients underwent clinical examination, routine laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound and technetium-99m pertechnetate scan, and patients with bleeding underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy. The abdominal exploration was performed with a 10 mm operative laparoscope. Pneumoperitoneum was establishedbased on the body weight. Systematic overview of the peritoneal cavity allowed the ileum to be grasped with an atraumatic instrument. The complete exploration and surgical treatment of MD were performed extracorporeally, after intestinal exteriorization through the umbilicus. All patients' demographics, main clinical features, diagnostic investigations, operative time, histopathology reports, conversion rate, hospital stay and complications were registered and analyzed.RESULTS: MD was identified in 17 patients, while 1 had an ileal duplication and 1 a jejunal hemangioma. Fifteen patients had painless intestinal bleeding, while 4 had recurrent abdominal pain and exhibited cyst like structures in an ultrasound study. Eleven patients had a positive technetium-99m pertechnetate scan. In the patients with bleeding, gastrointestinal endoscopy did not name the source of hemorrhage. All patients were subjected to a TULA surgical procedure. An intestinal resection/anastomosis was performed in 14 patients, while 4 had a wedge resection of the diverticulum and 1 underwent stapling diverticulectomy. All surgical procedures were performed without conversion to open laparotomy. Mean operative time was 75 min(range 40-115 min). No major surgical complications were recorded. The median hospital stay was 5-7 d(range 4-13 d). All patients are asymptomatic at a median follow up of 4, 5 years(range 10 mo-10 years).CONCLUSION: Trans-umbilical laparoscopic-assisted Meckel's diverticulectomy is safe and effective in the treatment of MD, with excellent results.

Single port laparoscopy in gastroenterology and hepatology: A fine step forward

Single incision laparoscopy(SIL) has become an emerging technology aiming at a further reduction of abdominal wall trauma in minimally invasive surgery. Available data is encouraging for the safe application of standardized SIL in a wide range of procedures in gastroenterology and hepatology. Compared to technically simple SIL procedures, the merit of SIL in advanced surgeries, such as liver or colorectal interventions, compared to conventional laparsocopy is self-evident without any doubt. SIL has already passed the learning curve and is routinely utilized in expert centers. This minimized approach has allowed to enter a new era of surgical management that can not be acceded without a fruitful combination of prudent training, consistent day-to-day work and enthusiastic motivation for technical innovations. Both, basic and novel technical specifics as well as particular procedures are described herein. The focus is on the most important surgical interventions in gastroenterology and aims at reviewingthe current literature and shares our experience in a high volume center.

Robotic donor hepatectomy:Are we there yet?

In living donor liver transplantation(LDLT)the safety of the live donor(LD)is of paramount importance.Despite all efforts,the morbidity rates approach 25%-40%with conventional open donor hepatectomy(DH)operations.However,most of these complications are related to the operative wound and despite increased selfesteem and satisfaction in various quality of life analyses on LD,the most common grievance is that of the scar.Performing safe and precise DH through a conventional laparoscopic approach is a formidable task with a precipitous learning curve for the whole team.Due to the ramifications the donor operation carries for the donor,the recipient,the transplant team and for the LDLT program in general,the development and acceptance of minimally invasive DH(MIDH)has been slow.The robotic surgical system overcomes the reduced visualization,restricted range of motion and physiological tremor associated with laparoscopic surgery and allows for a comparatively easier transition from technical feasibility to reproducibility.However,many questions especially with regards to standardization of surgical technique,comparison of outcomes,understanding of the learning curve,etc.remain unanswered.The aim of this review is to provide insights into the evolution of MIDH and highlight the current status of robotic DH,appreciating the existing challenges and its future role.

Clinical Application of Percutaneous Nephrostomy in Some Urologic Diseases

Percutaneous nephrostomy was applied in some other urologic diseases and the efficacy was evaluated. Percutaneous nephrostomy for percutaneous nephrolithotomy （PNL） was performed in patients with various renal, perinephric and bladder diseases （n=79）. The tract establishment, operation duration and complications were observed and the efficacy was assessed. The results showed that the tracts were successfully established in 79 cases. The operation lasted 4–20 min. 12F–16F single tract was established in nephrohydrop patients and 16F–20F single or multiple tracts were established in patients with pyonephrosis, renal cortical abscess, renal cyst and perinephric abscess. During dilation, no leakage of liquor puris was noted. Establishment of 18F single tract was achieved in one urinoma patient. In two patients with foreign body in kidney, the foreign bodies were removed via established 14F single tract. 18F tracts were established in 2 patients with bladder contracture, which was followed by the placement of 16F balloon urethral catheter for drainage. No complications, such as massive bleeding, intestinal injury and spreading of infection took place in our series. All the patients were followed up for 2–12 months. No long-term complications such as dropping of drainage tube occurred. It is concluded that as a minimally invasive technique, percutaneous nephrostomy has the advantages of convenience, simplicity and causing less complications and can be used for various urologic diseases.

Primary repair of esophageal atresia gross type C via thoracoscopic magnetic compression anastomosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Esophageal atresia(EA)is a life-threatening congenital malformation in newborns,and the traditional repair approaches pose technical challenges and are extremely invasive.Therefore,surgeons have been actively investigating new minimally invasive techniques to address this issue.Magnetic compression anastomosis has been reported in several studies for its potential in repairing EA.In this paper,the primary repair of EA with magnetic compression anastomosis under thoracoscopy was reported.CASE SUMMARY A full-term male weighing 3500 g was diagnosed with EA gross type C.The magnetic devices used in this procedure consisted of two magnetic rings and several catheters.Tracheoesophageal fistula ligation and two purse strings were performed.The magnetic compression anastomosis was then completed thoracoscopically.After the primary repair,no additional operation was conducted.A patent anastomosis was observed on the 15th day postoperatively,and the magnets were removed on the 23rd day.No leakage existed when the transoral feeding started.CONCLUSION Thoracoscopic magnetic compression anastomosis may be a promising minimally invasive approach for repairing EA.

Simultaneous lateral and subxiphoid access methods for safe and accurate resection of a superior vena cava aneurysm:A case report

BACKGROUND Superior vena cava(SVC)aneurysms are a relatively uncommon disease that has not been widely reported.The conventional surgical approach for treating SVC aneurysms includes open thoracotomy and mid-sternotomy.However,in this case,the aneurysm could be safely resected by thoracoscopic simultaneous lateral and subxiphoid access methods.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old male presented with intermittent chest pain and persistent discomfort in the chest area.A chest computed tomography scan revealed a 6.2 cm aneurysm in the left innominate vein and SVC junction.For surgical resection,simultaneous lateral and subxiphoid access were planned to achieve optimal proximal and distal aneurysm control.The approach site was 1 cm below the xiphoid process,the fifth mid-axillary line and the seventh anterior axillary line on the right side.The aneurysm was resected using a stapler.The patient was discharged on the third day after chest tube removal on the second postoperative day with no particular issues.CONCLUSION Aneurysms located within the mediastinum can be accessed through thoracoscopic approach without open surgery and safely resected using vascular staples.

Robust Control of a Bevel-Tip Needle for Medical Interventional Procedures

In minimally invasive surgery, one of the main objectives is to ensure safety and target reaching accuracy during needle steering inside the target organ. In this research work, the needle steering approach is determined using a robust control algorithm namely the integral sliding mode control(ISMC) strategy to eliminate the chattering problem associated with the general clinical scenario. In general, the discontinuity component of feedback control input is not appropriate for the needle steering methodology due to the practical limitations of the driving actuators. Thus in ISMC, we have incorporated the replacement of the discontinuous component using a super twisting control(STC)input due to its unique features of chattering elimination and disturbance observation characteristics. In our study, the kinematic model of an asymmetric flexible bevel-tip needle in a soft-tissue phantom is used to evaluate stability analysis. A comparative study based on the analysis of chattering elimination is executed to determine the performance of the proposed control strategy in real-time needle steering with conventional sliding mode control using vision feedback through simulation and experimental results. This validates the efficacy of the proposed control strategy for clinical needle steering.

Hybrid laparo-endoscopic access:New approach to surgical treatment for giant fibrovascular polyp of esophagus:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Fibrovascular polyps are rare type of esophageal submucosal neoplasms.They are highly vascularized and can cause difficulty swallowing and even fatal complications such as uncontrolled bleeding and death caused by asphyxiation in case of tumor migration to oropharynx.In the article we describe a novel hybrid technique to surgical treatment–an endoscopic submucosal dissection with laparoscopic removal of the tumor.CASE SUMMARY The patient with a giant fibrovascular esophageal polyp presented with cough,discomfort in the throat,difficulty swallowing,and an episode of tumor migration into oropharynx.The patient was investigated with several imaging studies and was diagnosed with a giant highly vascularized esophageal fibrovascular polyp.The follow-up period of eight months accompanied with no complications.CONCLUSION This method has been shown to have comparable rates of recurrence and a low risk of complications.

Evaluation of the Quality of Life in Pre- and Post-Operatory in Patients Submitted to Surgical Treatment of Reflux Disease and Hiato Hernia

Gastroesophageal reflux disease affects 40% of the population in industrialized countries. GERD has a negative impact on the quality of life of affected patients. Although PPIs induce a good response in the control of symptoms, the need for prolonged use of the medication and the fact that more than a third of the patients have symptoms even after its correct use, make surgery, an alternative for the treatment of the disease. The aims of this study were to compare the quality of life related to GERD before and after MIS surgical treatment of GERD and/or hiatus hernia, and to analyze the results and complications of the MIS treatment of GERD. Methods: For retrospective analysis, the electronic database of patients with indications for surgical treatment due to GERD and/or patients with sliding or paraesophageal hernias was examined. The study included patients from Hospital Universitário Gaffrée e Guinle and the Postgraduate Course in General Surgery at PUC-Rio (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) who underwent surgery using video laparoscopy or robotic surgery between January 2013 and March 2020. This is an observational, longitudinal, descriptive study with retrospective analysis of the data. Surgical treatment was indicated due to incomplete response to clinical treatment, young age with persistent symptoms, or complications of GERD. Patients with hiatus and/or paraesophageal hernia with indication for surgical treatment were included. Results: The study evaluated 160 patients who underwent anti-reflux surgery by laparoscopic or robotic surgery in the period from 2013 to 2020. A total of 88 women and 72 men were operated, mean 46.6 ± 13.7 years. An improvement in the preoperative QS-GERD scores compared to the postoperative scores was observed (27.56 ± 10.93 vs 1.4 ± 2.47, p < 0.01). Additionally, it was observed that there was no association between worse prognosis and failure rate with gender, sex, age, body mass index, surgical technique, or the number of sutures on the fundoplication valve. The length of hospital stay was 24 hours in 74.2% of patients, 48 hours in 19.3%, and 72 hours in 4.6%, with a global median of 24 hours and a mean of 28.7 hours. No patient required blood transfusion;none had early postoperative complications (seroma, wound infection, or eventration), or died. Conclusion: A significant drop in the QS-GERD score was found before and after the surgical treatment of GERD and or hiatus hernia. The MIS surgical treatment of GERD controlled the symptoms in most of the treated individuals, presenting a low rate of complications without mortality.

Telementoring in education of laparoscopic surgeons: An emerging technology

Laparoscopy, minimally invasive and minimal access surgery with more surgeons performing these ad-vanced procedures. We highlight in the review several key emerging technologies such as the telementor-ing and virtual reality simulators, that provide a solid ground for delivering surgical education to rural area and allow young surgeons a safety net and confidence while operating on a newly learned technique.

Special section on minimal invasive surgery

Precision minimally invasive technique in surgery of spine and spinal cord is an important branch of neurosurgery.Over the past few decades,majority of neurosurgeons only specialize in spinal cord diseases.However,with the advances in spine surgery,more and more neurosurgeons focus on spine diseases.As traditional surgery has been gradually replaced by precision surgery,open surgery has been gradually replaced by

Our experience with management of congenital urological pathologies in adulthood:What pediatric urologists should know and adult urologists adopt in pediatric practice experience

Purpose:To summarize our experience in the management of congenital anomalies in the kidney and urinary tract(CAKUT)in adults.Materials and methods:We conducted a retrospective chart review of all adult patients who underwent primary surgical intervention for CAKUT between 1998 and 2021.Results:The study included 102 patients with a median age of 25(interquartile range,23-36.5).Of these,85(83.3%)patients reported normal prenatal ultrasound,and the remaining 17(16.7%)patients were diagnosed with antenatal hydronephrosis.These patients were followed-up conservatively postnatally and were discharged from follow-up because of the absence of indications for surgical intervention or because they decided to leave medical care.All studied adult patients presented with the following pathologies:67 ureteropelvic junction obstructions,14 ectopic ureters,9 ureteroceles,and 6 primary obstructive megaureters,and the remaining 6 patients were diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux.Forty-three percent of the patients had poorly functioning moieties associated with ectopic ureters or ureteroceles.Notably,67%of patients underwent pyeloplasty,9%underwent endoscopic puncture of ureterocele,3%underwent ureteral reimplantation,6%underwent endoscopic correction of reflux,7%underwent partial nephrectomy of non-functioning moiety,and the remaining 9%underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy.The median follow-up period after surgery was 33 months(interquartile range,12-54).Post-operative complications occurred in 5 patients(Clavien-Dindo 1-2).Conclusions:Patients with CAKUT present clinical symptoms later in life.Parents of patients diagnosed during fetal screening and treated conservatively should be aware of this possibility,and children should be appropriately counseled when they enter adolescence.Similar surgical skills and operative techniques used in the pediatric population may be applied to adults.

Combined microneurosurgical and thoracoscopic resection for thoracic spine dumbbell tumors

Dumbbell tumors have both intraspinal and anterior paraspinal components connected through anintervertebral foramen. Most of these tumors are neurogenic and include schwannomas, neurofibromas, ganglioneuromas and neuroblastomas. 1.Fortunately, more than 90% of these tumors are benign.2. Dumbbell tumors of the thoracic spine are particularly difficult to expose and remove by virtue of their location and relationship with vital structures of the thoracic cavity. The traditional surgical approach for removing these tumors has been using either combined anterior thoracotomy and posterior neurosurgical procedures or the lateral extracavitary approach. We present our experience with resection of three dumbbell tumors with a combined microneurosurgical and thoracoscopic procedures in a single stage.