Feasibility and safety of minimally invasive multivisceral resection for T4b rectal cancer:A 9-year review

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second highest cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.About 5%-10%of patients are diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer(LARC)on presentation.For LARC invading into other structures(i.e.T4b),multivisceral resection(MVR)and/or pelvic ex-enteration(PE)remains the only potential curative surgical treatment.MVR and/or PE is a major and complex surgery with high post-operative morbidity.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)has been shown to improve short-term post-operative outcomes in other gastrointestinal malignancies,but there is little evi-dence on its use in MVR,especially so for robotic MVR.This is a single-center retrospective cohort study from 1st January 2015 to 31st March 2023.Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with cT4b rectal cancer and underwent MVR,or stage 4 disease with resectable systemic metastases.Pa-tients who underwent curative MVR for locally recurrent rectal cancer,or me-tachronous rectal cancer were also included.Exclusion criteria were patients with systemic metastases with non-resectable disease.All patients planned for elective surgery were enrolled into the standard enhanced recovery after surgery pathway with standard peri-operative management for colorectal surgery.Complex sur-gery was defined based on technical difficulty of surgery(i.e.total PE,bladder-sparing prostatectomy,pelvic lymph node dissection or need for flap creation).Our primary outcomes were the margin status,and complication rates.Cate-gorical values were described as percentages and analysed by the chi-square test.Continuous variables were expressed as median(range)and analysed by Mann-Whitney U test.Cumulative overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)were analysed using Kaplan-Meier estimates with life table analysis.Log-rank test was performed to determine statistical significance between cumulative estimates.Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.Meier estimates with life table analysis.Log-rank test was performed to determine statistical significance between cumulative estimates.Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.RESULTS A total of 46 patients were included in this study[open MVR(oMVR):12(26.1%),miMVR:36(73.9%)].Patients’American Society of Anesthesiologists score,body mass index and co-morbidities were comparable between oMVR and miMVR.There is an increasing trend towards robotic MVR from 2015 to 2023.MiMVR was associated with lower estimated blood loss(EBL)(median 450 vs 1200 mL,P=0.008),major morbidity(14.7%vs 50.0%,P=0.014),post-operative intra-abdominal collections(11.8%vs 50.0%,P=0.006),post-operative ileus(32.4%vs 66.7%,P=0.04)and surgical site infection(11.8%vs 50.0%,P=0.006)compared with oMVR.Length of stay was also shorter for miMVR compared with oMVR(median 10 vs 30 d,P=0.001).Oncological outcomes-R0 resection,recurrence,OS and RFS were comparable between miMVR and oMVR.There was no 30-d mortality.More patients underwent robotic compared with laparoscopic MVR for complex cases(robotic 57.1%vs laparoscopic 7.7%,P=0.004).The operating time was longer for robotic compared with laparoscopic MVR[robotic:602(400-900)min,laparoscopic:Median 455(275-675)min,P<0.001].Incidence of R0 resection was similar(laparoscopic:84.6%vs robotic:76.2%,P=0.555).Overall complication rates,major morbidity rates and 30-d readmission rates were similar between la-paroscopic and robotic MVR.Interestingly,3-year OS(robotic 83.1%vs 58.6%,P=0.008)and RFS(robotic 72.9%vs 34.3%,P=0.002)was superior for robotic compared with laparoscopic MVR.CONCLUSION MiMVR had lower post-operative complications compared to oMVR.Robotic MVR was also safe,with acceptable post-operative complication rates.Prospective studies should be conducted to compare short-term and long-term outcomes between robotic vs laparoscopic MVR.

Minimally invasive pelvic exenteration for primary or recurrent locally advanced rectal cancer:A glimpse into the future

Surgeons have grappled with the treatment of recurrent and T4b locally advanced rectal cancer(LARC)for many years.Their main objectives are to increase the overall survival and quality of life of the patients and to mitigate postoperative complications.Currently,pelvic exenteration(PE)with or without neoadjuvant treatment is a curative treatment when negative resection margins are achieved.The traditional open approach has been favored by many surgeons.However,the technological advancements in minimally invasive surgery have radically changed the surgical options.Recent studies have demonstrated promising results in postoperative complications and oncological outcomes after robotic or laparoscopic PE.A recent retrospective study entitled“Feasibility and safety of minimally invasive multivisceral resection for T4b rectal cancer:A 9-year review”was published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.As we read this article with great interest,we decided to delve into the latest data regarding the benefits and risks of minimally invasive PE for LARC.Currently,the small number of suitable patients,limited surgeon experience,and steep learning curve are hindering the establishment of minimally invasive PE.

In-Hospital Outcomes in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery: First Results in a Brazilian Single Center

Introduction: Treatments for cardiovascular diseases have increasingly evolved with the tendency to offer minimally invasive or transcatheter procedures instead of conventional sternotomy surgery. In this context, we highlight minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS), which has been shown to be an increasingly solid option with some superior results when compared to the conventional technique: better pain control, shorter hospital stays, shorter recovery time, shorter readmission rate in the first postoperative year, better aesthetic results, and lower overall cost. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the stages of MIMVS, by primary mitral valve consultation, in our service and compare these results with data from the literature. Methods: All electronic medical records of patients who underwent MIMVS for primary mitral valve injury in the Encore Hospital from January 2020 to February 2023 were analyzed. Tabulation and statistical analysis were performed using the Microsoft Excel® program. Quantitative variables were presented as means, standard deviations. Results: 46 patients were enrolled in our study (Age: 59.1 ± 12.4 years old;60.8% Female, BMI: 26 ± 4.4 Kg/m2, Low risk STS score: 82.6%). The observed 30-day mortality was 2.1%, plastic rate of 23.9%, blood transfusion rate of 41.3%, length of stay in an intensive care bed (ICB) of 3.3 ± 3.3 days and hospital stay of 6.4 ± 5.1 days. Conclusions: We noticed that the MIMVS results carried out in our service agree with data from national and international literature with approximately 1.3 days more hospitalization in ICB.

Minimally invasive surgery for upper gastrointestinal cancer: Our experience and review of the literature

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, characterized by minimal access, has been increasingly performed worldwide. It not only results in better cosmetic outcomes, but also reduces intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain, leading to faster recovery; however, endoscopically enhanced anatomy and improved hemostasis via positive intracorporeal pressure generated by CO2 insufflation have not contributed to reduction in early postoperative complications or improvement in long-term outcomes. Since 1995, we have been actively using MIS for operable patients with resectable upper GI cancer and have developed stable and robust methodology in conducting totally laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer and prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer using novel technology including da Vinci Surgical System (DVSS). We have recently demonstrated that use of DVSS might reduce postoperative local complications including pancreatic fistula after gastrectomy and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after esophagectomy. In this article, we present the current status and future perspectives on MIS for gastric and esophageal cancer based on our experience and a review of the literature.

Lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer with submucosal invasion:Feasibility of minimally invasive surgery

AIM:To explore the feasibility of pertorming minimally invasive surgery(MIS)on subsets of submucosal gastric cancers that are unlikely to have regional lymph node metastasis. METHODS:A total of 105 patients underwent radical gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for submucosal gastric cancer at our hospital from January 1995 to December 1995.Besides investigating many clinicopathological features such as tumor size,gross appearance,and differentiation, we measured the depth of invasion into submucosa minutely and analyzed the clinicopathologic features of these patients regarding lymph node metastasis. RESULTS:The rate of lymph node metastasis in cases where the depth of invasion was<500 μm,500-2 000 μm,or >2 000 μm was 9%(2/23),19%(7136),and 33%(15/46), respectively(P<0.05).In univariate analysis,no significant correlation was found between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological characteristics such as age,sex,tumor location,gross appearance,tumor differentiation,Lauren's classification,and lymphatic invasion.In multivariate analysis, tumor size(>4 cm vs≤2 cm,odds ratio=4.80, P=0.04)and depth of invasion(>2 000 μm vs ≤500 μm, odds ratio=6.81,P=0.02)were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis.Combining the depth and size in cases where the depth of invasion was less than 500 μm, we found that lymph node metastasis occurred where the tumor size was greater than 4 cm.In cases where the tumor size was less than 2 cm,lymph node metastasis was found only where the depth of tumor invasion was more than 2 000 μm. CONCLUSION:MIS can be applied to submucosal gastric cancer that is less than 2 cm in size and 500 μm in depth.

Update on minimally invasive surgery and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP)became the gold standard surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction without undergoing randomized controlled trials against the predecessor standard in open suprapubic prostatectomy.TURP has historically been associated with significant morbidity and this has fuelled the development of minimally invasive surgical treatment options.Improvements in perioperative morbidity for TURP has been creating an ever increasing standard that must be met by any new technologies that are to be compared to this gold standard.Over recent years,there has been the emergence of novel minimally invasive treatments such as the prostatic urethral lift(PUL;UroLift System),convective WAter Vapor Energy(WAVE;Rezum System),Aquablation(AQUABEAM System),Histotripsy(Vortx Rx System)and temporary implantable nitinol device(TIND).Intraprostatic injections(NX-1207,PRX-302,botulinum toxin A,ethanol)have mostly been used with limited efficacy,but may be suitable for selected patients.This review evaluates these novel minimally invasive surgical options with special reference to the literature published in the past 5 years.

Role of minimally invasive techniques in gastrointestinal surgery:Current status and future perspectives

In recent years,the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer has remained high.Currently,surgical resection is still the most effective method for treating gastrointestinal cancer.Traditionally,radical surgery depends on open surgery.However,traditional open surgery inflicts great trauma and is associated with a slow recovery.Minimally invasive surgery,which aims to reduce postoperative complications and accelerate postoperative recovery,has been rapidly developed in the last two decades;it is increasingly used in the field of gastrointestinal surgery and widely used in early-stage gastrointestinal cancer.Nevertheless,many operations for gastrointestinal cancer treatment are still performed by open surgery.One reason for this may be the challenges of minimally invasive technology,especially when operating in narrow spaces,such as within the pelvis or near the upper edge of the pancreas.Moreover,some of the current literature has questioned oncologic outcomes after minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal cancer.Overall,the current evidence suggests that minimally invasive techniques are safe and feasible in gastrointestinal cancer surgery,but most of the studies published in this field are retrospective studies and casematched studies.Large-scale randomized prospective studies are needed to further support the application of minimally invasive surgery.In this review,we summarize several common minimally invasive methods used to treat gastrointestinal cancer and discuss the advances in the minimally invasive treatment of gastrointestinal cancer in detail.

Carbon footprints in minimally invasive surgery:Good patient outcomes,but costly for the environment

Advancements in technology and surgical training programs have increased the adaptability of minimally invasive surgery(MIS).Gastrointestinal MIS is superior to its open counterparts regarding post-operative morbidity and mortality.MIS has become the first-line surgical intervention for some types of gastrointestinal surgery,such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appendicectomy.Carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is the main gas used for insufflation in MIS.CO_(2)contributes 9%-26%of the greenhouse effect,resulting in global warming.The rise in global CO_(2)concentration since 2000 is about 20 ppm per decade,up to 10 times faster than any sustained rise in CO_(2)during the past 800000 years.Since 1970,there has been a steady yet worrying increase in average global temperature by 1.7℃ per century.A recent systematic review of the carbon footprint in MIS showed a range of 6-814 kg of CO_(2)emission per surgery,with higher CO_(2)emission following robotic compared to laparoscopic surgery.However,with superior benefits of MIS over open surgery,this poses an ethical dilemma to surgeons.A recent survey in the United Kingdom of 130 surgeons showed that the majority(94%)were concerned with climate change but felt that the lack of leadership was a barrier to improving environmental sustainability.Given the deleterious environmental effects of MIS,this study aims to summarize the trends of MIS and its carbon footprint,awareness and attitudes towards this issue,and efforts and challenges to ensuring environmental sustainability.

Minimally invasive nephrectomy for inflammatory renal disease

Objective:Once chronic inflammatory renal disease(IRD)develops,it creates a severe peri-fibrotic process,which makes it a relative contraindication for minimally invasive surgery(MIS).Our objective is to show that laparoscopic nephrectomy(LN)is a surgical option in IRD with fewer complications and better outcomes.Methods:Retrospective review of patients who underwent a modified-surgical laparoscopic transperitoneal nephrectomy was performed.Data search included all operated patients between May 2013 and May 2018 that had a pathology result with any renal inflammatory condition(xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis,chronic nephritis,and renal tuberculosis).We describe intra-operative variables such as operative time,blood loss,conversion rate,postoperative complications and length of hospital stay.Results:There were 51 patients who underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy with a confirmatory pathology report for IRD.We identified four(8%)major complications;three of them required transfusion and one conversion to open surgery.The mean operative time was 233108 min.Mean estimated blood loss was 206242 mL excluding the conversion cases and 281423 mL including them.The mean length of hospital stay was 3.02.0 days.Conclusion:Laparoscopic nephrectomy for IRD can safely be done.It is a reproducible technique with low risks and complication rates.Our experience supports that releasing the kidney first and leaving the hilum for the end is a safe approach when vascular structures are embedded into a single block of inflammatory and scar tissue.

Lack of proper reimbursement is hampering adoption of minimally invasive gastrointestinal endoscopy in North America

Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)and related procedures are minimally invasive and cost-effective alternates to surgery.However,there is no approved or listed current procedural terminology(CPT)for ESD.We aimed to review the current reimbursement process hurdles for ESD procedures in private practice model in United States.We reviewed the data of two advanced endoscopists(one in New York and other in Pennsylvania State)performing ESD in their private practice set-ups.We found the reimbursement process was complex,with number of refusals varied from 0-9 for ESD procedures.It was not paid at all in 8.3%of cases by the medical insurance.Endoscopic mucosal resection,which is considered inferior as compared to ESD,but has a listed CPT,was denied in only 0.83%cases.Our data highlights the billing hurdles by the endoscopists to adopt ESD-related procedures in private practice model.

Minimally Invasive Widening of the Facet Joints in Cervical Radiculopathy by Modified Needles： Technical Report

Surgical treatment and ESI （epidural steroid injection） are widely used forms of treatment for cervical radiculopathy but they are controversial and burdensome for patients. To relief pain fast without side effects, we devised a new minimally invasive treatment method that widens the facet joints to decompress nerve roots and release the muscle spasm in cervical radiculopathy with acupuncture needles with blunt tip and mini-scalpel, and named it modified acupuncture procedure. MAP （Modified acupuncture procedure） was administered for 37 patients （mean age = 53.1 years, follow-up = 14.2 months） with cervical radiculopathy who did not recover from 4 weeks of nonsurgical treatment. We analyzed clinical outcomes of patients before and after the procedure through VAS （Visual Analogue Scale） and NDI （Neck Disability Index）. On average, patients received 1.4 MAP （modified acupuncture procedures）. The VAS score difference on the day after procedure and at 1 year follow-up was 36.8 ± 26.5 （from 60.1 ± 25.3 at the baseline to 25.3 ± 17.8 at the reading） （P 〈 0.01） and 31.0 ± 30.4 （29.0 ± 21.8 at the reading） respectively. The NDI value dropped by 19.9 ± 18.3 （from 37.2 ± 19.7 at the baseline to 17.2 ± 15.0 at the reading） （P〈 0.01） on 1 year follow up. MAP was found to have clinical efficacy for cervical radiculopathy.

Updated experiences with minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

AIM: To update our experiences with minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 445 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy between January 2009 and July 2015 at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and used 103 patients who underwent open Mc Keown esophagectomy in the same period as controls. Among 375 patients who underwent total minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy, 180 in the early period were chosen for the study of learning curve of total minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy. These 180 minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomies performed by five surgeons were divided into three groups according to time sequence as group 1(n = 60), group 2(n = 60) and group 3(n = 60).RESULTS: Patients who underwent total minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy had significantly less intraoperative blood loss than patients who underwent hybrid minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy or open Mc Keown esophagectomy(100 ml vs 300 ml vs 200 ml, P = 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in operation time, number of harvested lymph nodes, or postoperative morbidity includingincidence of pulmonary complication and anastomotic leak between total minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy, hybrid minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy and open Mc Keown esophagectomy groups. There were no significant differences in 5-year survival between these three groups(60.5% vs 47.9% vs 35.6%, P = 0.735). Patients in group 1 had significantly longer duration of operation than those in groups 2 and 3. There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, number of harvested lymph nodes, or postoperative morbidity including incidence of pulmonary complication and anastomotic leak between groups 1, 2 and 3.CONCLUSION: Total minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy was associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss and comparable short term and long term survival compared with hybrid minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy or open Mckeown esophagectomy. At least 12 cases are needed to master total minimally invasive Mc Keown esophagectomy in a high volume center.

Non-robotic minimally invasive gastrectomy as an independent risk factor for postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications: A single-center, retrospective and propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer(GC) has gained widespread use as a safe curative procedure especially for early GC.AIM To determine risk factors for postoperative complications after minimally invasive gastrectomy for GC.METHODS Between January 2009 and June 2019, 1716 consecutive patients were referred to our division for primary GC. Among them, 1401 patients who were diagnosed with both clinical and pathological Stage Ⅲ or lower GC and underwent robotic gastrectomy(RG) or laparoscopic gastrectomy(LG) were enrolled. Retrospective chart review and multivariate analysis were performed for identifying risk factors for postoperative morbidity.RESULTS Morbidity following minimally invasive gastrectomy was observed in 7.5% of the patients. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that non-robotic minimally invasive surgery, male gender, and an operative time of ≥ 360 min were significant independent risk factors for morbidity. Therefore, morbidity was compared between RG and LG. Accordingly, propensity-matched cohort analysis revealed that the RG group had significantly fewer intra-abdominal infectious complications than the LG group(2.5% vs 5.9%, respectively;P = 0.038), while no significant differences were noted for other local or systemic complications.Multivariate analyses of the propensity-matched cohort revealed that non-robotic minimally invasive surgery [odds ratio = 2.463(1.070–5.682);P = 0.034] was a significant independent risk factor for intra-abdominal infectious complications.CONCLUSION The findings showed that robotic surgery might improve short-term outcomes following minimally invasive radical gastrectomy by reducing intra-abdominal infectious complications.

Minimally invasive multivisceral resection in rectal cancer:Preparation or Precipitation?

Rectal cancer is a malignant neoplasm that constitutes a significant public health challenge due to its high incidence and associated mortality.In this editorial,we comment on the article by Chan et al.In recent years,there has been progress in the development of new treatments for initial and metastatic rectal cancer due to introduction of techniques of innovative and minimally-invasive surgery(MIS)such as laparoscopy and robotic surgery.However,only a few studies have ana-lyzed the feasibility,safety,and results of MIS in relation to open surgery,thereby highlighting the promising and superior results of MIS in functional and oncolo-gical terms.The findings were corroborated by the comparative study of Chan et al which evaluated the feasibility and safety of minimally invasive multivisceral resection(miMVR).A comparison of postoperative outcomes between open MVR and miMVR showed that miMVR presented less blood loss,fewer postoperative complications,and less morbidity.This editorial article is focused specifically on analysis of the characteristics of new minimally-invasive surgical techniques in rectal cancer,particularly in advanced stages.The importance of future research is emphasized by progress in knowledge,training,and clinical practice in the appli-cation of these surgical procedures for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.

Comparative study of minimally invasive versus open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in a single cancer center

Background In order to minimize the injury reaction during the surgery and reduce the morbidity rate,hence reducing the mortality rate of esophagectomy,minimally invasive esophagectomy （MIE） was introduced.The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative outcomes in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing minimally invasive or open esophagectomy （OE）.Methods The medical records of 176 consecutive patients,who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy （MIE） between January 2009 and August 2013 in Cancer Institute ＆amp; Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,were retrospectively reviewed.In the same period,142 patients who underwent OE,either Ivor Lewis or McKeown approach,were selected randomly as controls.The clinical variables of paired groups were compared,including age,sex,Charlson score,tumor location,duration of surgery,number of harvested lymph nodes,morbidity rate,the rate of leak,pulmonary morbidity rate,mortality rate,and hospital length of stay （LOS）.Results The number of harvested lymph nodes was not significantly different between MIE group and OE group （median 20 vs.16,P=0.740）.However,patients who underwent MIE had longer operation time than the OE group （375 vs.300 minutes,P 〈0.001）.Overall morbidity,pulmonary morbidity,the rate of leak,in-hospital death,and hospital LOS were not significantly different between MIE and OE groups.Morbidities including anastomotic leak and pulmonary morbidity,inhospital death,hospital LOS,and hospital expenses were not significantly different between MIE and OE groups as well.Conclusions MIE and OE appear equivalent with regard to early oncological outcomes.There is a trend that hospital LOS and hospital expenses are reduced in the MIE group than the OE group.

Psychological trauma of funnel chest in adolescents and the appropriate age for minimally invasive surgery repair

Background Funnel chest has a negative effect on adolescents and it has a strong effect on adolescents＇ psychological and behavior. This study aimed to investigate the psychological characteristics and factors that affect adolescents with funnel chest and to evaluate the relationship between the patients＇ age and their physiological and psychological health. We aimed to establish an age model for maximum surgery benefits for funnel chest patients to provide an objective basis for choosing surgery. Methods The study adopted a general evaluation approach to assess the risk and benefits of minimally invasive surgery for funnel chest. The funnel chest index, the Symptom Checklist-90, and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire were used as assessment tools to observe physiological and psychological features in funnel chest patients. A sample of 234 adolescents with funnel chest was selected from a third-grade class-A hospital in Beijing. Age groups were adopted as an independent variable, and other factors in funnel chest patients were dependent variables. Results There was a significant difference in the relapse rate for funnel chest in the different age groups （X2=11.883, P=-O.008）. There was a higher relapse rate in patients of 〈10 or 〉-19 years old than in patients of 11-18 years old. There was a significant difference in the SCL-90 total score in the different age groups （F=12.538, P=-0.0001）, the patients older than 13 years had a higher score than those younger than 13 years in the SCL-90. There was a significant difference in the standard score of E （introversion/extraversion） in the different age groups （F=10.06, P=0.0001）. There was also a significance in the funnel chest index before surgery in the different psychological scales （P〈0.01）, with a higher funnel chest index score associated with more obvious psychological trauma. Age and the number of variables, including the relapse rate, SCL-90 score, standard score of E, and standard score of N in the EPQ were significantly correlated （correlation indices were 0.402, 0.623, -0.505, and 0.473, respectively, P〈0.01）. Conclusions There are higher complication rates after surgery and relapse rates when funne{ chest patients are too young or too old. There is more obvious psychological trauma in patients with a high funnel chest index. Our results indicate that the best age for surgery for funnel chest is 14-16 years.

Minimally invasive percutaneous compression plating versus dynamic hip screw for intertrochanteric fractures： a randomized control trial

Objective：Intertrochanteric femur fracture is a common injury in elderly patients.The dynamic hip screw （DHS） has served as the standard choice for fixation; however it has several drawbacks.Studies of the percutaneous compression plate （PCCP） are still inconclusive in regards to its efficacy and safety.By comparing the two methods,we assessed their clinical therapeutic outcome.Methods：Atotal of 121 elderly patients with intertrochanteric femur fractures （type AO/OTA 31.A 1-A2,Evans type 1） were divided randomly into two groups undergoing either a minimally invasive PCCP procedure or a conventional DHS fixation.Results：The mean operation duration was significantly shorter in the PCCP group （55.2 min versus 88.5 min,P＜0.01）.The blood loss was 156.5 ml±18.3 ml in the PCCP group and 513.2 ml±66.2 ml in the DHS group （P＜0.01）.Among the patients treated with PCCP,3.1％ needed blood transfusions,compared with 44.6％ of those that had DHS surgery （P＜0.01）.The PCCP group displayed less postoperative complications （P＜0.05）.The mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score and Harris hip score in the PCCP group were better than those in the DHS group.There were no significant differences in the mean hospital stay,mortality rates,or fracture healing.Conclusion：Due to several advantages,PCCP has the potential to become the ideal choice for treating intertrochanteric fractures （type AO/OTA 31.A1-A2,Evans type 1）,particularly in the elderly.

Minimally Invasive Cochlear Implantation Assisted by Bi-planar Device： An Exploratory Feasibility Study in vitro

Background：A single drilled tunnel from the lateral mastoid cortex to the cochlea via the facial recess is essential for minimally invasive cochlear implant surgery.This study aimed to explore the safety profile of this kind of new image-guided and bi-planar device-assisted surgery procedure in vitro.Methods：Image-guided minimally invasive cochlear implantations were performed on eight cadaveric temporal bone specimens.The main procedures were：（1） temporal bone specimens were prepared for surgery and fiducial markers were registered.（2） computed tomography （CT） scans were performed for future reference.（3） CT scan images were processed and drill path was planned to minimize cochlear damage.（4） bi-planar device-assisted drilling was performed on the specimens using the registration.（5） surgical safety was evaluated by calculating the deviation between the drill and the planned paths,and by measuring the closest distance between the drilled path and critical anatomic structures.Results：Eight cases were operated successfully to the basal turn of the cochlear with intact facial nerves （FNs）.The deviations from target points and entrance points were 0.86 mm （0.68-1.00 mm） and 0.44 mm （0.30-0.96 mm）,respectively.The angular error between the planned and the drilled trajectory was 1.74° （1.26-2.41°）.The mean distance from the edge of the drilled path to the FN and to the external canal was 0.60 mm （0.35-0.83 mm） and 1.60 mm （1.30-2.05 mm）,respectively.In five specimens,the chorda tympani nerves were well preserved.In all cases,no injury happened to auditory ossicles.Conclusions：This exploratory study demonstrated the safety of the newly developed image-guided minimally invasive cochlear implantation assisted by the bi-planar device and established the operational procedures.Further,more in vitro experiments are needed to improve the system operation and its safety.

Minimally invasive strategies and options for far-lateral lumbar disc herniation

Objective： To investigate the surgical procedures, options and surgical indications for far-lateral lumbar disc herniation between three different minimally invasive procedures. Methods： From January 2000 to October 2006, 52 patients with far-lateral lumbar disc herniation （29 males and 23 females, with the average age of 41.5 years） were treated with minimally invasive procedures. All the patients were assessed by X-ray and CT. Some were given additional myeography, discography, Computerized tomography myelography （CTM） and MRI examination. Yeung Endoscopy Spine System （YESS）, METRx and X-tube procedures were performed in 25, 13 and 14 cases, respectively. All patients were followed up for a mean period of 13.5 months. Clinical outcomes were assessed by visual analog score （VAS） and Nakai criteria. Results： The results indicated that the three procedures could significantly improve the radiating leg symptoms （P〈0.05）. The postoperative overall excellent and goodrates of YESS, METRx and X-tube procedures were 84.0%, 84.6% and 92.8% respectively, with no statistical difference among three groups （P〉0.05）. The YESS procedure had several advantages including shortest operation time, simplest anesthesia and least trauma as compared with the other two procedures, especially for simple type I far-lateral lum- bar disc herniation. METRx procedure was specially suitable for simple type II. And the procedure of posterior endoscopic facetectomy, posterior lumbar interbody fusion and unilateral pedicle screw instrumentation with X-tube was designed for far-lateral disc herniation combined with degenerative lumbar instability. Conclusion： Minimally invasive strategies and options should be determined by different types of far-lateral lumbar disc herniation.