Surgical Management of Perforated Colon Tumours in Yaoundé: A Multicentre Retrospective Review of 30-Day Postoperative Outcome

Introduction: Colon cancer is often diagnosed late in our context and there is a high prevalence of complicated forms, this including perforation. The optimal surgical treatment remains controversial. The aim of this study was to improve the short-term postoperative outcomes of patients operated upon for perforated colon cancer, by identifying factors associated with complications occurring within 30 days after surgery. Patients and methods: We carried out an analytical observational study, with a retrospective collection of data from the files of patients operated upon for an in situ tumoral colon perforation. This was done in four referral hospitals in the city of Yaoundé. The period was from the 1st of January, 2012 to the 31st of December, 2021. Cox regression identified the factors associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. Results: We collected files of 46 patients. The mean age was 54.7 ± 19.9 years with a sex ratio of 1.4. The clinical presentation on admission was dominated by the presence of signs of peritoneal irritation (91.3%) and bowel obstruction (28.3%). The diagnosis was made preoperatively in 16 cases (34.8%). The surgical procedures consisted of colectomy with anastomosis in 28 cases (60.9%) and without anastomosis in 14 cases (30.4%). Postoperative morbidity was 60.9% dominated by surgical site infection (37%). Postoperative mortality was 39.1%. The existence of generalized peritonitis was associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications (p = 0.019). The main factors associated with postoperative mortality were resection with primary anastomosis (p = 0.027), enterocutaneous fistula (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Colic resection with primary anastomosis or ideal colectomy is associated with an increased risk of mortality and should therefore not be performed in this setting.

Comparison of prognosis and postoperative morbidities between standard pancreaticoduodenectomy and the TRIANGLE technique for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Radical surgery combined with systemic chemotherapy offers the possibility of long-term survival or even cure for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocar-cinoma(PDAC),although tumor recurrence,especially locally,still inhibits the treatment efficacy.The TRIANGLE technique was introduced as an extended dissection procedure to improve the R0 resection rate of borderline resectable or locally advanced PDAC.However,there was a lack of studies concerning postoperative complications and long-term outcomes of this procedure on patients with resectable PDAC.PDAC.METHODS Patients with resectable PDAC eligible for PD from our hospital between June 2018 and December 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study.All the patients were divided into PDstandard and PDTRIANGLE groups according to the surgical procedure.Baseline characteristics,surgical data,and postoperative morbidities were recorded.All of the patients were followed up,and the date and location of tumor recurrence,and death were recorded.The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for the survival analysis.RESULTS There were 93 patients included in the study and 37 underwent the TRIANGLE technique.Duration of operation was longer in the PDTRIANGLE group compared with the PDstandard group[440(410-480)min vs 320(265-427)min](P=0.001).Intraoperative blood loss[700(500-1200)mL vs 500(300-800)mL](P=0.009)and blood transfusion[975(0-1250)mL vs 400(0-800)mL](P=0.009)were higher in the PDTRIANGLE group.There was a higher incidence of surgical site infection(43.2%vs 12.5%)(P=0.001)and postoperative diarrhea(54.1%vs 12.5%)(P=0.001)in the PDTRIANGLE group.The rates of R0 resection and local recurrence,overall survival,and disease-free survival did not differ significantly between the two groups.CONCLUSION The TRIANGLE technique is safe,with acceptable postoperative morbidities compared with standardized PD,but it does not improve prognosis for patients with resectable PDAC.

Modified physiological and operative score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity risk assessment model in general surgery

AIM: To establish a scoring system for predicting the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality in general surgery based on the physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM), and to evaluate its efficacy. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with postoperative complications or death and 172 patients without postoperative complications, who underwent surgery in our department during the previous 2 years, were retrospectively analyzed by logistic regression. Fifteen indexes were investigated including age, cardiovascular function, respiratory function, blood test results, endocrine function, central nervous system function, hepatic function, renal function, nutritional status, extent of operative trauma, and course of anesthesia. Modified POSSUM (M-POSSUM) was developed using significant risk factors with its efficacy evaluated. RESULTS: The significant risk factors were found to be age, cardiovascular function, respiratory function, hepatic function, renal function, blood test results, endocrine function, nutritional status, duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, and course of anesthesia. These factors were all included in the scoring system. There were significant differences in the scores between the patients with and without postoperative complications, between the patients died and survived with complications, and between the patients died and survived without complications. The receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the M-POSSUM could accurately predict postoperative complications and mortality.CONCLUSION: M-POSSUM correlates well with postoperative complications and mortality, and is more accurate than POSSUM.

Short-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic vs open rectal excision for rectal cancer: A systematic review and metaanalysis

AIM To review evidence on the short-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic(LRR) vs open rectal resection(ORR) for rectal cancer.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using Cochrane Central Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Open Grey and Clinical Trials.gov register for randomized clinical trials(RCTs) comparing LRR vs ORR for rectal cancer and reporting short-term clinical outcomes. Articles published in English from January 1, 1995 to June, 30 2016 that met the selection criteria were retrieved and reviewed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis(PRISMA) statements checklist for reporting a systematic review was followed. Random-effect models were used to estimate mean differences and risk ratios. The robustness and heterogeneity of the results were explored by performing sensitivity analyses. The pooledeffect was considered significant when P < 0.05.RESULTS Overall, 14 RCTs were included. No differences were found in postoperative mortality(P = 0.19) and morbidity(P = 0.75) rates. The mean operative time was 36.67 min longer(95%CI: 27.22-46.11, P < 0.00001), the mean estimated blood loss was 88.80 ml lower(95%CI:-117.25 to-60.34, P < 0.00001), and the mean incision length was 11.17 cm smaller(95%CI:-13.88 to-8.47, P < 0.00001) for LRR than ORR. These results were confirmed by sensitivity analyses that focused on the four major RCTs. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.71 d shorter(95%CI:-2.84 to-0.58, P < 0.003) for LRR than ORR. Similarly, bowel recovery(i.e., day of the first bowel movement) was 0.68 d shorter(95%CI:-1.00 to-0.36, P < 0.00001) for LRR. The sensitivity analysis did not confirm a significant difference between LRR and ORR for these latter two parameters. The overall quality of the evidence was rated as high. CONCLUSION LRR is associated with lesser blood loss, smaller incision length, and longer operative times compared to ORR. No differences are observed for postoperative morbidity and mortality.

A Modified Surgical Approach of Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for Advanced Gallbladder Cancer:Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

Gallbladder cancer（GBC） is the most common cancer of the biliary tract, constituting 80%–95% of malignant biliary tract tumors. Surgical resection is currently regarded as the sole curative treatment for GBC. Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy（HPD） has been adopted to remove the advanced gallbladder tumor together with the infiltrated parts within the liver, lower biliary tract and the peripancreatic region of GBC patients. However, patients who underwent HPD were reported to have a distinctly higher postoperative morbidity（71.4%, ranging from 30.8% to 100%） and mortality（13.2%, ranging from 2.4% to 46.9%） than those given pancreatoduodenectomy（PD） alone. We present two patients with advanced GBC who underwent a modified surgical approach of HPD： PD with microwave ablation（MWA） of adjacent liver tissues and the technique of intraductal cooling of major bile ducts. No serious complications like bile leakage, pancreatic fistula, hemorrhage and organ dysfunction, etc. occurred in the two patients. They had a rapid recovery with postoperative hospital stay being 14 days. Application of this approach effectively eliminated tumor-infiltrated adjacent tissues, and maximally reduced the postoperative morbidity and mortality. This modified surgical method is secure and efficacious for the treatment of locally advanced GBC.

Is age just a number: pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients?

Pancreatic cancer incidence is increasing worldwide.While the developed countries have seen a greater increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of pancreatic cancer（29%from 1990-2013）,developing countries are also not spared（10%increase during the same time period）.