Minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer: A comparison between robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery

AIM To investigate the role of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer and determine surgical, clinical, and oncological outcomes.METHODS This is a propensity score-matched case-control study, comparing three treatment arms: robotic gastrectomy(RG), laparoscopic gastrectomy(LG), open gastrectomy(OG). Data collection started after sharing a specific study protocol. Data were recorded through a tailored and protected web-based system. Primary outcomes: harvested lymph nodes, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, complications rate. Among the secondary outcomes, there are: operative time, R0 resections, POD of mobilization, POD of starting liquid diet and soft solid diet. The analysis includes the evaluation of type and grade of postoperative complications. Detailed information of anastomotic leakages is also provided.RESULTS The present analysis was carried out of 1026 gastrectomies. To guarantee homogenous distribution of cases, patients in the RG, LG and OG groups were 1:1:2 matched using a propensity score analysis with a caliper = 0.2. The successful matching resulted in a total sample of 604 patients(RG = 151; LG = 151; OG = 302). The three groups showed no differences in all baseline patients characteristics, type of surgery(P = 0.42) and stage of the disease(P = 0.16). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the LG(95.93 ± 119.22) and RG(117.91 ± 68.11) groups compared to the OG(127.26 ± 79.50, P = 0.002). The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was similar between the RG(27.78 ± 11.45), LG(24.58 ± 13.56) and OG(25.82 ± 12.07) approach. A benefit in favor of the minimally invasive approaches was found in the length of hospital stay(P < 0.0001). A similar complications rate was found(P = 0.13). The leakage rate was not different(P = 0.78) between groups.CONCLUSION Laparoscopic and robotic surgery can be safely performed and proposed as possible alternative to open surgery. The main highlighted benefit is a faster postoperative functional recovery.

Difficult polypectomy-giant hypopharyngeal polyp: Case report and literature review

Giant esophageal and hypopharyngeal polyps are benign tumors rarely encountered in clinical practice.In most cases,they are completely asymptomatic;however,despite the rarity of these tumors,interest in giant esophageal polyps derives from their degree of growth(characterized by slow growth into the esophageal lumen)and their mobility.In fact,if regurgitation occurs,they can ascend into the oral cavity and be aspirated into the airways,with potentially lethal consequences.The removal of these giant polyps is recommended.An adequate preoperative evaluation to identify the correct origin of the stalk is mandatory for a successful endoscopic or surgical treatment.A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for anemia.The patient underwent gastroscopy,contrast computed tomography and endoscopic ultrasound.At the conclusion of the procedure,during the extraction of the echoendoscope,the patient began retching and regurgitated the polyp,without experiencing respiratory distress.The patient underwent a left cervicotomy and polyp dissection via a pharyngotomy.

Incidence and treatment of mediastinal leakage after esophagectomy:Insights from the multicenter study on mediastinal leaks

BACKGROUND Mediastinal leakage(ML) is one of the most feared complications of esophagectomy. A standard strategy for its diagnosis and treatment has beendifficult to establish because of the great variability in their incidence and mortality rates reported in the existing series.AIM To assess the incidence, predictive factors, treatment, and associated mortality rate of mediastinal leakage using the standardized definition of mediastinal leaks recently proposed by the Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group(ECCG).METHODS Seven Italian surgical centers(five high-volume, two low-volume) affiliated with the Italian Society for the Study of Esophageal Diseases designed and implemented a retrospective study including all esophagectomies(n = 501) with intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis performed from 2014 to 2017.Anastomotic MLs were defined according to the classification recently proposed by the ECCG.RESULTS Fifty-nine cases of ML were recorded, yielding an overall incidence of 11.8%(95%CI: 9.1%-14.9%). The surgical approach significantly influenced the occurrence of ML: the proportion of leakage was 10.5% and 9% after open and hybrid esophagectomy(HE), respectively, and doubled(20%) after totally minimally invasive esophagectomy(TMIE)(P = 0.016). No other predictive factors were found. The 30-and 90-d overall mortality rates were 1.4% and 3.2%,respectively; the 30-and 90-d leak-related mortality rates were 5.1% and 10.2%,respectively; the 90-d mortality rates for TMIE and HE were 5.9% and 1.8%,respectively. Endoscopy was the first-line treatment in 49% of ML cases, with the need for retreatment in 17.2% of cases. Surgery was needed in 44.1% of ML cases.Endoscopic treatment had the lowest mortality rate(6.9%). Removal of the gastric tube with stoma formation was necessary in 8(13.6%) cases.CONCLUSION The incidence of ML after esophagectomy was high mainly in the TMIE group.However, the general and specific(leak-related) mortality rates were low. Early treatment(surgical or endoscopic) of severe leaks is mandatory to limit related mortality.