Experience In Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Research Articles

Is non-mentored initiation of laparoscopic colorectal surgery safe? Single surgeon initial experience with the first 40 cases.

Although laparoscopic colorectal surgery is now accepted as a standard procedure in treating colorectal cancer, the proportion of laparoscopically operated patients with colorectal cancer is still generally quite low. The aim of this study is to assess feasibility, safety, and outcomes of a non-mentored initiation of laparoscopic colorectal resections by a young surgeon without previous experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. We analyzed the characteristics of the first 40 elective cases of laparoscopic colorectal resections performed by a single surgeon during the period between June 2019 and March 2022. All of the operations were performed without the attendance or supervision of an experienced surgeon in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The patients were divided into three groups (the early, intermediate, and late group). The conversion rate, complications rate, and postoperative recovery were similar among groups. The mean overall operative time was 219.5 min (range 130-420 min) and had reduced significantly during the learning curve (p = 0.047). The overall conversion rate was 12.5%. In two cases (5%), the oncological principles were violated (incomplete total mesorectal excision). In three patients (7.5%), intraoperative complications had occurred (small bowel injury, splenic injury, and significant bleeding from the minor peripancreatic artery). Three cases of major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III) were recorded, two of which required reoperation (anastomotic bleeding and fascial dehiscence). There was no 90-day mortality reported. The overall mean number of lymph nodes retrieved was 12.45, which did not differ significantly among groups (p = 0.678). The average follow-up was 13.75 months (range 1-31 months). Cancer recurrence was recorded in four patients (10%). Port-site metastasis was not detected in any of the cases. A safe and non-mentored initiation of laparoscopic colorectal surgery with an acceptable rate of complications and acceptable oncological results can be achieved. Still, when compared with a structured initiation in a controlled environment with the supervision of an experienced surgeon in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, the results of a non-mentored initiation are worse in most of the fields, including operative time, conversion rate, complications rate, and duration of hospital stay. Therefore, I strongly recommend engaging young surgeons in fellowship programs on structured laparoscopic colorectal surgery whenever possible before starting performing these procedures on their own.

Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery - a prospective study of short-term outcomes of consecutive cases over 3 years

This study was carried out with the objectives to study the feasibility of laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection, to observe short term outcome such as recovery parameters, oncologic safety, morbidity and mortality, and to analyze the experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a teaching hospital. Between January 2007 and July 2009, all consecutive adult cases admitted to our department for colorectal cancer were assessed for eligibility. The ethical committee approved the protocol at the Sterling Hospital. Out of 31 patients,17 were males and 14 females. The mean age was 59 years. The most common clinical presentation was weight loss and altered bowel habits. Rectum (51.61%) was the most commonly involved organ followed by cecum (22.58%). - median time to liquid diet was two days (range 1-22), and a solid diet was three days (range 3-30). The median time to first flatus was two days (range 1-5), and the first stool was five days (range 3-7). The postoperative stay was eight days (range 6-30) median time to mobilization was 2.5 days. The postoperative stay is cumulative and includes patients who underwent reoperation for the anastomotic leak. The median operating time was 240 mins (range 116 – 520). The median length of incision was 6 cm (range 4 – 10 cm). The median blood loss was 170 ml. Blood loss was higher in patients with hemorrhage and tumor adhesions, and both of them were converted to open. These patients incidentally had a more extended hospital stay. The laparoscopic technique for colorectal cancer is feasible and safe. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS) is associated with short term benefits like the earlier return of gastrointestinal function and shorter length of hospital stay. From the oncologic point of view, tumor resections are adequate, taking into context numbers of lymph nodes retrieved and resectional margins in context to oncologic safety. The decreased postoperative wound infections and early recovery facilitate appropriate adjuvant therapy. Advanced laparoscopic surgery requires a team approach with proper case selection. Transvaginal delivery of specimens can give scar-less surgery and the option for assisted natural orifice surgery.

Multidimensional analysis of the learning curve for laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a regional hospital: the implementation of a standardized surgical procedure counterbalances the lack of experience

BackgroundAlthough a larger proportion of colorectal surgeries have been performed laparoscopically in the last few years, a steep learning curve prevents us from considering laparoscopic colorectal surgery as the gold standard technique for treating disease entities in the colon and rectum. The purpose of this single centre study was to determine, using various parameters and following a well-structured and standardized surgical procedure, the adequate number of cases after which a single surgeon qualified in open surgery but with no previous experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and without supervision, can acquire proficiency in this technique.MethodsFrom 2012 to 2019, 112 patients with pathology in the rectum and colon underwent laparoscopic colorectal resection by a team led by the same surgeon. The patients were divided into two groups (group A:50 – group B:62) and their case records and histopathology reports were examined for predefined parameters, statistically analysed and compared between groups.ResultsThere was no significant difference between groups in the distribution of conversions (p = 0.635) and complications (p = 0.637). Patients in both groups underwent surgery for the same median number of lymph nodes (p = 0.145) and stayed the same number of days in the hospital (p = 0.109). A statistically important difference was found in operation duration both for the total (p = 0.006) and for each different type of colectomy (sigmoidectomy: p = 0.026, right colectomy: p = 0.013, extralevator abdominoperineal resection: p = 0.050, low anterior resection: p = 0.083).ConclusionsTaking into consideration all the parameters, it is our belief that a surgeon acquires proficiency in laparoscopic colorectal surgery after performing at least 50 diverse cases with a well structured and standardized surgical procedure.

A single institutional experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: Clinical and oncological outcomes over 10 years

Introduction: The development of laparoscopic colorectal surgery began in 1991. Today, laparoscopic surgery presents standard approach in the surgical treatment of malignant colon and rectal diseases. Aim: Surgical and oncological outcomes and survival rates of laparoscopic colorectal surgery at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina. Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 66 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery between December 2009 and December 2019. Registered data included sex, age, surgical indication and type for the procedure, indication and reason for conversion to open surgery, operative time, performing temporary or permanent stoma, intraoperative bowel perforation, pathologic TNM grade, number of harvested lymph nodes, inclusion of positive resection margin, number of postoperative days at the hospital, postoperative complications, postoperative mortality, presence of distant metastases and survival rates. Results: Laparoscopic procedures were right hemicolectomy in 11/66 (16.7%), left hemicolectomy in 1/66 (1.5%), sigmoid colectomy in 19/66 (28.8%), high anterior rectal resection in 13/66 (19.7%), low anterior rectal resection in 12/66 (18.2%), abdominoperineal amputation of the rectum in 7/66 (10.6%), colectomy in 2/66 (3%) and proctocolectomy in 1/66 (1.5%) patient. The median follow-up was 37.5 months (range 6 to 128). The total number of surviving patients was 60 (90.9%). Conclusion: This study showed that laparoscopic colorectal surgery has good clinical and oncological outcomes.

Laparoscopic Colectomy vs Laparoscopic CME: a Retrospective Study of Two Hospitals with Comparable Laparoscopic Experience

PurposeTo compare laparoscopic non-CME colectomy with laparoscopic CME colectomy in two hospitals with similar experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. MethodsData was collected retrospectively from Päijät-Häme Central Hospital (PHCH, NCME group) and Central Finland Central Hospital (CFCH, CME group) records. Elective laparoscopic resections performed during 2007–2016 for UICC stage I–III adenocarcinoma were included to assess differences in short-term outcome and survival. ResultsThere were 340 patients in the NCME group and 325 patients in the CME group. CME delivered longer specimens (p < 0.001), wider resection margins (p < 0.001), and more lymph nodes (p < 0.001) but did not result in better 5-year overall or cancer-specific survival (NCME 77.9% vs CME 72.9%, p = 0.528, NCME 93.2% vs CME 88.9%, p = 0.132, respectively). Thirty-day morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay were similar between the groups. Conversion to open surgery was associated with decreased survival. DiscussionComplete mesocolic excision (CME) is reported to improve survival. Most previous studies have compared open CME with open non-CME (NCME) or open CME with laparoscopic CME. NCME populations have been historical or heterogeneous, potentially causing bias in the interpretation of results. Studies comparing laparoscopic CME with laparoscopic NCME are few and involve only small numbers of patients. In this study, diligently performed laparoscopic non-CME D2 resection delivered disease-free survival results comparable with laparoscopic CME but was not safer.

Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic sigmoid resection without diversion in perforated diverticulitis

Laparoscopic primary anastomosis (PA) without diversion for diverticulitis has historically been confined to the elective setting. Hartmann's procedure is associated with high morbidity rates that might be reduced with less invasive and one-step approaches. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of laparoscopic PA without diversion in Hinchey III perforated diverticulitis. We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all patients who underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticular disease during the period 2000-2018. The sample was divided in two groups: elective laparoscopic sigmoid resection for recurrent diverticulitis (G1) and emergent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for Hinchey III diverticulitis (G2). Demographics, operative variables, and postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. A total of 415 patients underwent laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticular disease. PA without diversion was performed in 351 patients; 278 (79.2%) belonged to G1 (recurrent diverticulitis) and 73 (20.8%) to G2 (perforated diverticulitis). Median age, gender, and BMI score were similar in both groups. Patients with ASA III score were more frequent in G2 (p: 0.02). Conversion rate (G1: 4% vs. G2: 18%, p < 0.001), operative time (G1: 157min vs. G2: 183min, p < 0.001), and median length of hospital stay (G1: 3days vs. G2: 5days, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in G2. Overall postoperative morbidity (G1: 22.3% vs. G2: 28.7%, p = 0.27) and anastomotic leak rate (G1: 5.7% vs. G2: 5.4%, p = 0.92) were similar between groups. There was no mortality in G1 and one patient (1.3%) died in G2 (p = 0.21). Laparoscopic sigmoid resection without diversion is feasible and safe in patients with perforated diverticulitis. In centers with vast experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, patients undergoing this procedure have similar morbidity and mortality to those undergoing elective sigmoidectomy.

Experience With Transitioning From Laparoscopic to Robotic Right Colectomy.

Background and Objectives:The number of robotic colorectal procedures performed has rapidly increased, but there are only sparse data available about the robotic learning curve of expert laparoscopic colorectal surgeons.Methods:In this retrospective study, we reviewed 101 minimally invasive right colectomies consecutively performed by a single surgeon with 20 years of clinical practice fully dedicated to laparoscopic surgery. Thus, the last 59 laparoscopic resections were compared with the first 42 robotic resections.Results:The duration of the procedure was longer in the robotic group, but the conversion rate was the same in both groups. There was no difference between groups in rates of overall and severe postoperative complications, reoperation, hospital length of stay, and readmission. Number of harvested lymph nodes and oncological quality of resection defined by the pathologist were the same.Conclusions:This study suggests that the transition from the right laparoscopic colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis to the robot-assisted right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis when performed by a surgeon with experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery may not entail any increase on the morbidity rate or reduce the oncologic quality of the resection.

Clinical and oncologic outcomes of totally robotic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: initial results in a center for minimally invasive surgery.

A robotic system was mainly designed to allow precise dissection in deep and narrow spaces. We report the clinical and oncologic outcomes of totally robotic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Between July 2009 and January 2012, 60 consecutive patients undergoing robotic surgery for rectal cancer at the Eulji University Hospital were included. The mean total operation time, docking time, and surgeon console time were 466.8 ± 115.6, 7.5 ± 6.7, and 261 ± 87.5 min, respectively. Oral intake of diet was started at 3.3 ± 0.9 days and the mean hospital stay was 8.6 ± 2.4 days. All 60 procedures were technically successful without the need for conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery. Complications included anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stricture, postoperative bleeding, ileus, and perineal wound infection in 3 (5 %), 1 (1.7 %), 2 (3.3 %), 2 (3.3 %), and 1 (1.7 %) patient, respectively. The mean distal resection margin and total number of lymph nodes harvested was 3.1 ± 1.7 cm and 20.1 ± 11.5, respectively. During the mean follow-up period of 48.5 months (range, 7-75), the 4-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 87.7 and 72.8 %, respectively. A totally robotic approach for rectal cancer operations was a time-consuming procedure, although we already had a lot experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. However, the dexterity of the robotic surgery could enable the surgeon to expand the choice of surgical methods according to the condition of the rectal cancer without the need for conversion.

Two-year experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a healthcare service in Salvador: a critical analysis

Introductionlaparoscopic colorectal surgery has become a viable access route since the beginning of 1990, using Jacobs’ technique. Its outcomes are decrease in hospitalization length, early return to routine activities, better esthetic results and less postoperative pain. Objectiveto report a series of patients treated by a team using videolaparoscopic access route in colorectal surgery. Material and methodsretrospective, descriptive study carried out in Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil, from April of 2010 to May 2012. Resultsa total of 81 procedures were analyzed; 59.3% of cases were females, mean age was 58.3 years. Benign illness was treated in 48.1% to the patients. Rectosigmoidectomy was carried out in 41.5% and right colectomy in 21%. Intraoperative complications were observed in 3.7% and postoperative in 21% of cases, with a conversion rate of 6.2%. Conclusionthe laparoscopic procedure showed to be safe and the surgeon's training results in better outcomes in this series.

Two-year experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a healthcare service in Salvador: a critical analysis

Two-year experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a healthcare service in Salvador: a critical analysis

Laparoscopic Rectal Resection of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis

Deep infiltrating endometriosis with colorectal involvement is a complex disorder, often requiring segmental bowel resection. Complete removal of all visible lesions is considered the adequate treatment of infiltrating endometriosis in order to reduce recurrence. In this article, we describe our experience with laparoscopic management of deep infiltrating endometriosis with involvement of the rectum. A retrospective analysis of data from patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis with rectal involvement who underwent a laparoscopic surgery in the years 2002-2009 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at our institution was done. Between 2002 and 2009, a laparoscopic partial rectal resection was performed in 52 patients, and laparoscopic disk resection was performed in 4 cases with deep infiltrating endometriosis. The mean age of patients was 34.4 years (range, 22-62 years). Preoperative symptoms included dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. The laparoscopic procedure was converted to formal laparotomy in 3 patients (5.4%). The mean duration of surgery was 145 minutes. Postoperative complications included 3 cases of anastomotic leakage with rectovaginal fistula in two cases and intraabdominal bleeding in 1 case. The mean hospital stay was 7 days. Postoperatively, nine patients had a normal delivery, two of them after in vitro fertilization treatment. Laparoscopic rectal resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis is a relatively safe procedure, when performed by a surgeon and a gynecologist with sufficient experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Colorectal Surgery in a Community Hospital Setting: Have Attitudes Changed Because of Laparoscopy? A General Surgeons' Last 5 Years Experience Review

Laparoscopy is rapidly emerging as the preferred surgical approach to a number of different diseases because it permits a correct diagnosis and accurate treatment; however, it is not yet being applied in a widespread manner in the management of benign or malignant colorectal disease. The aim of this work is to illustrate retrospectively the results of our experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery carried out in a community hospital over the last 5 years to document its feasibility, safety, and benefits when carried out by general surgeons in this setting. Between January 2003 and December 2007 a total of 628 patients underwent a colorectal procedure. Among them, 328 (52.2%) were operated on with a laparoscopic approach. In 12 cases, we had to convert to the open approach. Major complications occurred in 3.6% whereas minor occurrences occurred in up to 10%. Even if limited by its retrospective design, our experience exhibits that the laparoscopic may well be a safe and effective approach to colon pathology in a community hospital setting. Such features make laparoscopy a challenging alternative to open surgery in the approach to colon disease and it can be proven to be cost-effective without undue risk, as long adequate laparoscopic training is undertaken by the surgeon and proper preparation observed.

In-house colorectal laparoscopic preceptorship: a model for changing a unit’s practice safely and efficiently

There has been steady increase in demand for laparoscopic colonic resection as benefits are manifold compared to open and include smaller incisions, less pain, quicker recovery and convalescence, reduced morbidity and reduced analgesic demands. We devised a preceptorship programme with the aim of all four coloproctologists in our unit becoming proficient colorectal laparoscopic surgeons over a period of 12 months. The surgeon in the unit with significant experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery acted as a preceptor to the remaining three. A prospective database was set up to allow analysis of the impact of the preceptorship on the units' elective practice and outcomes from January 2006. Results were analysed 106 cases to assess the success of this novel method and were more than encouraging. During this period, 57 laparoscopic resections were performed compared 49 open resections. The proportion of patients undergoing laparoscopic resection had risen from 20% to 80% (p = 0.000). This was associated with a significant drop in post-operative stay from 14 to 4 days (p = 0.000). Analysis of patient demographics, pathology and type of resection found there to be no significant difference between the open and laparoscopic groups. The conversion rate was acceptably low (10.5%) and there were no re-admissions. For hospitals with the facilities and an appropriately experienced preceptor, we offer this as a patient-safe, cost-neutral method of significantly increasing a units' laparoscopic practice over a relatively short period of time.

Evaluating the Degree of Difficulty of Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

To quantify the degree of overall difficulty and the difficulty of each of the individual steps involved in the performance of laparoscopic colorectal procedures. The data should serve as a guide to surgeons in the early stages of their experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery as to which procedures and steps to embark on first, to allow them to build experience in a stepwise fashion. A mail-in survey of 35 experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeons was conducted. Using a scale of 1 to 6, the surgeons were asked to rate the overall degree of difficulty of each of 12 laparoscopic colorectal procedures. Each procedure was then broken down into its key components (exposure, isolation of the vascular pedicle, dissection of the specimen, and anastomosis), and the raters were asked to individually grade each of these components for each intervention. An overall difficulty score was created for each procedure, as well as an individual difficulty score for each step. The response rate was 80%, representing a collective experience of approximately 6335 laparoscopic colorectal interventions. On the overall difficulty score, sigmoid colectomy achieved the lowest composite score of 2.0, while reversal of the Hartmann procedure scored the highest at 4.5. Analyzing the individual step complexity rating, mobilization of the splenic flexure scored highest, ahead of rectal mobilization. Vascular dissection scored significantly higher for right colectomy than for sigmoid resection, as did intracorporeal vs extracorporeal anastomosis for right colectomy. The learning curve for laparoscopic colorectal surgery is steep. This survey can help surgeons in the early part of this curve in their initial choice of procedure and allow them to build experience in a stepwise manner. This will help to identify achievable goals and develop strategies for reducing operating times and improving patient outcome by selecting appropriate cases at the outset.

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery: learning curve and training implications

Aims: This paper is a review of experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery at a district general hospital with particular emphasis on the learning curve and training implications. Methods: All patients...