OBJECTIVETo evaluate the technical advantages of 3D laparoscopic and 2D laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal tumors.

METHODSClinical data of gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing 3D laparoscopic or 2D laparoscopic surgery from January 2015 to January 2017 in our department were retrospectively analyzed These patients included 93 gastric cancer cases undergoing laparoscopic radical resection (total gastrectomy, 48 cases in 3D group, 45 cases in 2D group), 45 rectal cancer cases undergoing radical resection combined with lateral lymph node dissection (27 cases in 3D group, 18 cases in 2D group) and 76 right colon cancer cases undergoing radical resection (37 cases in 3D group, 39 cases in 2D group). The enrolled criteria of cases were 18-80 years old and diagnosed as advanced gastric or colorectal cancer by pathological examination. Patients with preoperative distant metastasis, severe heart or lung diseases who were not suitable for laparoscopic surgery, combined organ resection and conversion to open surgery were excluded. The choice of surgical procedure was determined by the discussion between patients and surgeon. Operations were performed by the same surgical team. Total operation time, complex operation time (deep lymph node dissection time, endoscopic intestinal anastomosis time), number of harvested lymph node, number of times in wrong grasp (accurate grasp for the same site needs to position for two times or more) and intraoperative bleeding were compared between 3D group and 2D group.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in baseline data between 3D group and 2D group. All the patients completed laparoscopic radical operation successfully without conversion to open surgery. In patients with gastric cancer, compared with 2D group, the total operation time was shorter [(185±25) min vs. (190±27) min, P<0.05]; dissection time of No.10 and 11d lymph node [(40±8) min vs. (55±12)min, P<0.05], and No.7, 8, 9 and 12 lymph node [(30±6) min vs. (41±9) min, P<0.05] was shorter; the number of times in wrong grasp (5±2 vs. 11±2, P<0.05) was less in 3D group. In patients with rectal cancer, compared with group 2D, 3D group had shorter time of lateral lymph node dissection [(27±6) min vs. (35±9) min, P<0.05] and laparoscopic anastomosis [(45±7) min vs. (58±11) min, P<0.05]; less number of times in wrong grasp (4±2 vs. 13±2, P<0.05]. In patients with right colon cancer, 3D group had shorter laparoscopic anastomosis time [(38±7) min vs. (44±5) min, P<0.05] and less number of times in wrong grasp (5±1 vs. 13±3, P<0.05] as compared to 2D group.

CONCLUSION3D laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal tumors, compared with 2D laparoscopic technology has significant advantages, which can improve the spatial location and depth of operation, decrease the difficulty of fine operation, and shorten the operation time.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Colectomy ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Comparative Effectiveness Research ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Intestines ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; surgery ; Male ; Operative Time ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the predictive value of procalcitonin(PCT) in postoperative intra-abdominal infections (IAI) after definitive operation of intestinal fistulae(IF).

METHODSWith the exclusion of emergence operation, preoperative clinical infection, preoperative renal or hepatic dysfunction, and age less than 18 years, a total of 356 consecutive patients who underwent elective digestive tract reconstruction of intestinal fistulae from February 2012 to December 2015 at Intestinal Fistula Center of Jinling Hospital were prospectively enrolled in the study. All the patients were divided into IAI group (26 cases, 21 of anastomosis leakage and 5 of peritoneal abscess) and non-IAI group (330 cases) based on the existence of postoperative IAI. The non-IAI group was then divided into two subgroups of other infection (93 cases) and non-infection(237 cases) according to the presence of other infections. Plasma PCT level, serum CRP concentration and WBC count were assessed preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, 5, 7 by immunofluorescence, turbidimetry and automatic blood analyzer, respectively. The predictive value of each marker for IAI was calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in general clinical data between IAI and non-IAI group (all P>0.05). The proportions of multi-IF (53.8%, 14/26) and colectomy (61.5%, 16/26) in IAI group were higher than those of non-IAI group [20.0% (66/330), χ=15.847, P=0.000 and 31.2%(103/330), χ=9.961, P=0.002]. Differences of preoperative PCT, CRP and WBC levels among IAI, other infection and non-infection groups were not significant. These three markers all increased obviously and immediately after surgery. PCT and WBC values reached the peak point on POD 1, whereas CRP on POD 3. In IAI group, mean PCT values were (5.4±4.2) μg/L, (2.9±1.9) μg/L and (1.6±1.8) μg/L on POD 1, POD 3 and POD 5, respectively, which were higher than those of other infection group [(4.2±8.7) μg/L, (1.9±3.8) μg/L and (0.6±0.8) μg/L] and non-infection group [(2.7±5.8) μg/L, (1.1±1.7) μg/L and (0.5±0.7) μg/L, all P<0.05]. Mean CRP values in IAI group were 99.4 mg/L and 183.9 mg/L respectively on POD 1 and POD 3,and mean WBC values of IAI group on POD 1, POD 3 and POD 5 were 16.0×10/L, 10.8×10/L and 8.7×10/L, respectively, which were all significantly higher than those in the other 2 groups (all P<0.05). No significant differences were obtained between other infection group and non-infection group in all these three markers (all P>0.05). ROC curve demonstrated that PCT had the biggest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 and 0.84 on POD 3 and POD 5, with the cut-off value of 0.98 μg/L and 0.83 μg/L, 92.0% sensitivity and 74.0% specificity, 91.0% sensitivity and 73.0% specificity, respectively. The highest AUC was 0.72 on POD 3 for CRP and 0.71 on POD 3 for WBC, with 80.0% sensitivity and 54.0% specificity, 56.0% sensitivity and 73.0% specificity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe value of procalcitonin above 0.98 μg/L on POD 3 and 0.83 μg/L on POD 5 can predict the occurrence of IAI after definitive operations of intestinal fistulae.

Abdominal Abscess ; etiology ; Anastomotic Leak ; etiology ; Area Under Curve ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Colectomy ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; complications ; surgery ; Intraabdominal Infections ; etiology ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo summarize the perioperative and postoperative complications follow laparoscopic intersphincteric resection (LapISR) in the treatment of low rectal cancer and their management.

METHODSAn observational study was conducted in 73 consecutive patients who underwent LapISR for low rectal cancer between June 2011 and February 2016 in our hospital. The clinicopathological parameters, perioperative and postoperative complications, and clinical outcomes were collected from a prospectively maintained database. Perioperative and postoperative complications were defined as any complication occurring within or more than 3 months after the primary operation, respectively.

RESULTSForty-nine(67.1%) cases were male and 24(32.9%) were female with a median age of 61(25 to 79) years. The median distance from distal tumor margin to anal verge was 4.0(1.0 to 5.5) cm. The median operative time was 195 (120 to 360) min, median intra operative blood loss was 100 (20 to 300) ml, median number of harvested lymph nodes was 14(3 to 31) per case. All the patients underwent preventive terminal ileum loop stoma. No conversion or hospital mortality was presented. The R0 resection rate was 98.6% with totally negative distal resection margin. A total of 34 complication episodes were recorded in 21(28.8%) patients during perioperative period, and among which 20.6%(7/34) was grade III(-IIII( according to Dindo system. Anastomosis-associated morbidity (16.4%,12/73) was the most common after LapISR, including mucosa ischemia in 9 cases(12.3%), stricture in 7 cases (9.6%, 4 cases secondary to mucosa necrosis receiving anal dilation), grade A fistula in 3 cases (4.1%) receiving conservative treatment and necrosis in 1 case (1.4%) receiving permanent stoma. After a median follow up of 21(3 to 60) months, postoperative complications were recorded in 12 patients (16.4%) with 16 episodes, including anastomotic stenosis (8.2%), rectum segmental stricture (5.5%), ileus (2.7%), partial anastomotic dehiscence (1.4%), anastomotic fistula (1.4%), rectovaginal fistula (1.4%) and mucosal prolapse (1.4%). These patients received corresponding treatments, such as endoscopic transanal resection, anal dilation, enema, purgative, permanent stoma, etc. according to the lesions. Six patients (8.2%) required re-operation intervention due to postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONAnastomosis-associated morbidity is the most common after LapISR in the treatment of low rectal cancer in perioperative and postoperative periods, which must be strictly managed with suitable methods.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; adverse effects ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Colectomy ; adverse effects ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; therapy ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; adverse effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Ischemia ; etiology ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; Lymph Node Excision ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Margins of Excision ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; etiology ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; etiology ; therapy ; Surgical Stomas ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In patients with corticosteroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC), cyclosporine or infliximab may be added to the treatment regimen to induce remission. Here, we aimed to compare the efficacy of cyclosporine and infliximab. METHODS: Between January 1995 and May 2012, the medical records of 43 patients with corticosteroid-refractory UC who received either infliximab or cyclosporine as a rescue therapy at a tertiary care hospital in Korea were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients, 10 underwent rescue therapy with cyclosporine and the remaining 33 patients received infliximab. A follow-up of 12 months was completed for all patients. The colectomy rate at 12 months was 30% and 3% in the cyclosporine and the infliximab groups, respectively (p=0.034). However, the Cox proportional hazard model indicated that the treatment of rescue therapy was not an independent associate factor for preventing colectomy (p=0.164). In the subgroup analysis, infliximab with azathioprine was superior to cyclosporine for preventing colectomy (hazard ratio of infliximab with azathioprine compared with cyclosporine only, 0.073; 95% confidence interval, 0.008 to 0.629). CONCLUSIONS: No difference between infliximab and cyclosporine with respect to preventing colectomy was noted. However, infliximab with azathioprine may be more effective than cyclosporine alone for preventing colectomy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Azathioprine/therapeutic use ; Colectomy/statistics & numerical data ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*drug therapy ; Cyclosporine/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Infliximab/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy/*methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult