Anatomical variation of infra-pyloric artery origination： A prospective multicenter observational study (IPA-Origin)

Objective： Infra-pyloric artery （IPA） is an important anatomical landmark in treatment of gastric cancer and is the key vessel for pylorus-preserving gastrectomy and subgroup of infra-pyloric lymph nodes. However, its anatomical variation is not thoroughly understood. Our study aimed to clarify the origination of the IPA. Methods： We did this prospective, multicenter, open-label, observational study at gastric surgery departments of 34 hospitals in China. Gastric cancer patients aged 18 years or older and scheduled to undergo elective total or distal gastrectomy were assigned. During the surgery, IPA dissecting and exposing the origination point with photographs or video clips were required. The primary outcome was the origination of the IPA. Analysis of variance, χ2 tests and Fisher＇s tests were used to analyze the differences between groups. The study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov （No. NCT03071237）. Results： Between May 8 and July 31, 2017, 429 patients were assigned for the study, and 419 （97.7%） patients had the IPA dissected and recorded through photograph or video and were included in the primary outcome analysis. The median age was 62 years old, and 73.7% were male. Among the patients, 78.5% received laparoscopic surgery. Single IPA origination was identified in 398 （95.0%） patients, including gastroduodenal artery （GDA） in 154 （36.8%） patients, anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery （ASPDA） in 130 （31.0%） patients, and right gastroepiploic artery （RGEA） in 114 （27.2%） patients. Fifteen （3.6%） patients were identified with multiple IPA and 6 （1.4%） patients were identified as IPA absence. The differences in the distribution of surgical approach （P=0.003） and geographic area （P=0.030） were statistically significant. No difference was shown in sex, age, gastrectomy type, tumor location, and clinical T, N and M stage. Conclusions： Our study found that the IPA originates from GDA, ASPDA and RGEA in similar proportions. Laparoscopic surgery may be more helpful in dissection of the IPA than open surgery.

Laparoscopic treatment of complicated colonic diverticular disease:A review

Up to 10% of acute colonic diverticulitis may necessitate a surgical intervention. Although associated with high morbidity and mortality rates,Hartmann's procedure(HP) has been considered for many years to be the gold standard for the treatment of generalized peritonitis. To reduce the burden of surgery in these situations and as driven by the accumulated experience in colorectal and minimally-invasive surgery,laparoscopy has been increasingly adopted in the management of abdominal emergencies. Multiple case series and retrospective comparative studies confirmed that with experienced hands,the laparoscopic approach provided better outcomes than the open surgery. This technique applies to all interventions related to complicated diverticular disease,such as HP,sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis(RPA) and reversal of HP. The laparoscopic approach also provided new therapeutic possibilities with the emergence of the laparoscopic lavage drainage(LLD),particularly interesting in the context of purulent peritonitis of diverticular origin. At this stage,however,most of our knowledge in these fields relies on studies of low-level evidence. More than ever,well-built large randomized controlled trials are necessary to answer present interrogations such as the exact place of LLD or the most appropriate sigmoid resection procedure(laparoscopic HP or RPA),as well as to confirm the advantages of laparoscopy in chronic complications of diverticulitis or HP reversal.