Laparoscopic-assisted Surgery Research Articles

The Use of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Treatment of Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review of Evidence

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a groundbreaking approach for treating Crohn's disease (CD), affecting approximately 100-300 per 100,000 people. In 2015, an estimated 3.1 million people were diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Our research aims to consolidate previous evidence on MIS techniques, including laparoscopic techniques and robotic-assisted surgery, and compare them to traditional surgical techniques in managing CD. The practical benefits of MIS are evident in comparative studies, which consistently show that laparoscopic approaches result in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than open surgery. MIS also demonstrates significant long-term benefits, particularly in reducing the mortality rate. Even pediatric CD patients have shown improved outcomes with laparoscopic-assisted surgery, experiencing fewer postoperative complications and better recovery. MIS applications include Laparoscopic ileocolic resections, a key MIS technique, offer comparable outcomes to other therapies like open ileocolic resection but with the added advantages of lower costs and long-term disease control. This cost-effectiveness of MIS techniques is a significant advantage. Techniques like intracorporeal anastomosis and trans colonic specimen removal have further improved postoperative recovery and cosmesis. Strictureplasty is another MIS technique, is particularly beneficial for CD patients with strictures due to its ability to preserve intestinal length and function. Lastly, laparoscopic robotic-assisted surgery is a game-changer, offering a significant reduction in postoperative pain and faster recovery compared to manual surgeries.

Pediatric incarcerated inguinal hernia: Traditional open or laparoscopic-assisted approach?

The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted surgery and traditional open surgery for pediatric incarcerated inguinal hernia. A total of 58 pediatric patients with indirect incarcerated inguinal hernia between January 2014 and January 2020 were included in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups; observational group who underwent laparoscopic-assisted surgery (n = 36), and a control group who underwent traditional open surgery (n = 22). The overall operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative recovery time, length of hospital stay, occurrence of postoperative scrotal or vulvar hematomas, incidence of postoperative surgical site infection, and hernia recurrence were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. Compared with the control group, the operation time (38.28 ± 5.90) minutes, intraoperative blood loss (1.15 ± 0.54 mL), postoperative recovery time (8.39 ± 1.42 h), and length of hospital stay (1.64 ± 0.59) were significantly lower in the observational group (P < .05). There was no incidence of scrotal or vulvar hematoma or surgical site infection in the observation group, which was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .05). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the rate of postoperative hernia recurrence between the 2 groups (P > .05). In conclusion, laparoscopic-assisted surgery appears to be a safe and effective alternative approach to traditional open surgery for the treatment of pediatric incarcerated inguinal hernia. Its advantages include reduced trauma, faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications.

Incidence of surgical site infection in minimally invasive colorectal surgery.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of colorectal surgery. Minimally invasive surgery notably reduces the incidence of SSI. This study aimed to compare the incidences of SSI after robot-assisted colorectal surgery (RACS) vs that after laparoscopic assisted colorectal surgery (LACS) and to analyze associated risk factors for SSI in minimally invasive colorectal surgery. To compare the incidences of SSI after RACS and LACS, and to analyze the risk factors associated with SSI after minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Clinical data derived from patients who underwent minimally invasive colorectal surgery between October 2020 and October 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were collated. Differences in clinical characteristics and surgeryrelated information associated with RACS and LACS were compared, and possible risk factors for SSI were identified. A total of 246 patients (112 LACS and 134 RACS) were included in the study. Fortythree (17.5%) developed SSI. The proportions of patients who developed SSI were similar in the two groups (17.9% vs 17.2%, P = 0.887). Diabetes mellitus, intraoperative blood loss ≥ 100 mL, and incision length were independent risk factors for SSI. Possible additional risk factors included neoadjuvant therapy, lesion site, and operation time. There was no difference in SSI incidence in the RACS and LACS groups. Diabetes mellitus, intraoperative blood loss ≥ 100 mL, and incision length were independent risk factors for postoperative SSI.

Retrospective observational cohort study of laparoscopic surgical strategies for gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Laparoscopic surgery has been used to treat gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) has been used when subtotal resection has been difficult, which enabled resection of these tumors. In this study, we reviewed the medical records of patients with gastric SMTs who underwent laparoscopic surgery in our hospital with the aim of reporting the surgical indications, procedures (especially for LECS), and outcomes of surgery. This study involved 55 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery between April 2014 and March 2021. We classified the patients into two groups: laparoscopy-assisted surgery group (non-LECS group, n = 30) and LECS group (n = 25). LECS was performed in the upper stomach, in the greater curvature of the lower stomach, and in both intraluminal and intramural locations in the middle stomach. Non-LECS was selected for extraluminal and intramural tumors in the greater curvature of the upper stomach. There were no severe complications associated with the operation. There was one postoperative complication in the LECS group. The length of postoperative hospital stay did not significantly differ between the LECS and non-LECS groups. We reported the surgical procedures for gastric SMTs in our hospital. It is essential to make full use of the multiple techniques reported in this article and examine the location of the tumor to avoid excess or insufficient resection. Our review of the present case series allowed us to select the appropriate surgical approach for gastric SMTs based on the lesion location and type of development.

Surgical management of pediatric multiple magnet ingestions in the past two decades of minimal access surgery- systematic review of operative approaches.

Multiple magnet ingestion is increasingly reported in paediatrics and can cause significant morbidity. Various surgical approaches exist, though minimal literature compares outcomes between techniques. This review evaluates laparoscopic, laparoscopic-assisted, and open surgery with regard to outcomes. Systematic review across MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science identified reports of paediatric multiple magnet ingestion managed surgically between 2002 and 2022. Ninety-nine studies were included, reporting data from 136 cases. Of these, 82 (60%) underwent laparotomy, 43 (32%) laparoscopic surgery, and 11 (8%) laparoscopic-assisted procedures. Sixteen laparoscopic cases were converted to open, often due to intraoperative findings including necrosis/perforation, or grossly dilated bowel. Bowel perforation occurred in 108 (79%); 47 (35%) required bowel resection, and 3 had temporary stoma formation. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in 118 (86%). Complications were reported following 15 (18%) open and 3 (7%) laparoscopic surgeries. No complications occurred following laparoscopic-assisted surgery. All post-laparoscopic complications were Clavien-Dindo (CD) Grade I. Following open surgery, 5 complications were CD grade I, 6 were CD grade II, and 4 were CD grade IIIb, requiring re-laparotomy. Median length of stay for open and laparoscopic-assisted procedures was 7days, and for laparoscopic was 5days (p < 0.001). Surgical management of multiple magnet ingestion often achieved uncomplicated recovery and no long-term sequelae. Whilst open laparotomy was the more common approach, laparoscopic surgery was associated with reduced length of stay and postoperative complications. Therefore, in experienced hands, laparoscopic surgery should be considered first-line, with the possibility of conversion to open if required.

Is transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy feasible for complicated appendicitis? A single-center experience.

Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted surgery (TULS) mixed benefits of laparoscopic and open surgeries. Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy (TULAA) is a well-known procedure, accepted and currently used by pediatric surgeons for treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis (UA). There is no current agreement in its use for the complicated appendiceal infections (CA). We reported our results using TULAA for both UA and CA. We retrospectively collected TULAA performed between April 2017 and April 2022. Appendicitis were classified in UAand CA. We analyzed conversion rate, operative time, length of stay, surgical site infections (SSIs) rate, postoperative intra-abdominal abscess and costs. Over 5years, 316 children underwent TULAA. Conversion rate was 3%. Mean age at surgery was 9.36years (IQR 2-16). Forty-nine appendicitis were CA. Operative time and hospital stay was higher in CA than in UA group (38.33 vs. 60.73min, p < 0.00001; 4 vs. 7days, p < 0.00001). SSIs rate showed no statistically significant difference between two groups. Incidence of postoperative intra-abdominal collections was 11% in CA and 1% in UA. TULAA's cost was 192.07 €. In our series, TULAA seems to be safe, feasible and cost-effective for both uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, with no disadvantage in terms of outcomes compared to what is reported in literature for CLS.

No difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications between abdominal laparoscopy and laparotomy for minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy: a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide Japanese database.

There remains a lack of evidence regarding the optimal abdominal approach, including laparoscopy, hand-assisted, and open laparotomy for minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy. We aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative complications, particularly pulmonary complications, between laparoscopy and open laparotomy for minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy using nationwide Japanese databases. Data from patients in the National Clinical Database (NCD) who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were analyzed. The incidence of pulmonary complications was compared between abdominal laparoscopy and laparotomy after matching the propensity scores (PS) from preoperative factors to account for confounding bias. Laparoscopic-assisted surgery (LAS) was also compared to hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). Of the 24,790 patients who underwent esophagectomy between 2018 and 2021, data from 12,633 underwent thoracoscopic procedure. The proportion of patients who experienced pulmonary complications did not significantly differ between the laparoscopy group and the laparotomy group after matching (664/3195 patients, 20.8% versus 702/3195 patients, 22.0%; P = 0.25). No difference in the incidence of pulmonary complications was observed among patients treated using the laparoscopic approach (508/2439 patients, 20.8% in the LAS group versus 498/2439 patients, 20.4% in the HALS group; P = 0.72). We observed no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications between laparoscopy and laparotomy for thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Short-term outcomes were similar between the laparoscopic-assisted approach and the hand-assisted approach. This study provides valuable insights into the optimal abdominal approach for thoracoscopic esophagectomy using data from a nationwide database that reflect real-world clinical practice.

Safety of double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy: A prospective, multi-center, single arm trial

Safety of double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy: A prospective, multi-center, single arm trial

Short and Medium Term Outcomes of Open and Laparoscopic Assisted Oesophageal Replacement Procedures

Aim of the StudyWe describe the short- and medium-term outcomes following open and laparoscopic assisted oesophageal replacement surgery in a single tertiary paediatric surgical centre. MethodsA retrospective review (institutional audit approval no. 3213) on patients who underwent open or laparoscopic-assisted oesophageal replacement (OAR vs. LAR) at our centre between 2002 and 2021 was completed. Data collected (demographics, early complications, stricture formation, need for oesophageal dilatations, and mortality) were analysed using GraphPad Prism v 9.50 and are presented as median (IQR). Results71 children (37 male) had oesophageal replacement surgery at a median age of 2.3 years (IQR 4.7 years). 51 were LAR (6 conversions). Replacement conduit was stomach (n = 67), colon (n = 3), or jejunum (n = 1). Most gastric transpositions had a pyloroplasty (46/67) or pyloromyotomy (14/67). Most common pathology was oesophageal atresia (n = 50 including 2 failed transpositions), caustic injury (n = 19 including 3 due to button battery), stricture of unknown cause (n = 1), and megaoesophagus (n = 1). There were 2 (2.8 %) early postoperative deaths at 2 days (major vessel thrombosis), 1 month (systemic sepsis), and one death at 5 years in the community. The rate of postoperative complications were comparable across LAR and OAR including anastomotic leak, pleural effusions, or early strictures. More patients with caustic pathology needed dilatations (60 % vs 30 % in OA, p = 0.05). ConclusionsOutcomes of open and laparoscopic-assisted oesophageal replacement procedures are comparable in the short and medium term. Anastomotic stricture is higher in those with caustic injury. Level of EvidenceIV.

Postoperative complications in males with anorectal malformations depending on the surgical approach

BACKGROUND: Anorectal abnormalities occur in 1:1,500 to 1:5,000 live births. There is still no agreement on the best surgical procedure for treating some types of anorectal abnormalities in males. Anorectoplasty could be performed using the posterior sagittal approach and using laparoscopic techniques.&#x0D; AIM: To assess the risk of postoperative complications and determine their specificity in males with anorectal malformations, depending on the surgery approach.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed. Male patients with anorectal malformations who had surgical correction of anorectal malformation by posterior sagittal (group I) or laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty (group II) at the age of up to 1 yr at the N.F. Filatov Childrens City Clinical Hospital from 2008 to 2022. Postoperative and intraoperative problems and the number of surgical interventions that had to be redone to correct issues were noted.&#x0D; RESULTS: Of the 33 patients in group I, 18 (55%) had anorectal malformations with bulbar fistula, 12 (36%) had anorectal malformations without fistula, and three (9%) had a prostatic fistula. Group II included 99 patients, with 53 (54%) having anorectal malformations with prostatic fistula, 30 (30%) having anorectal malformations with bulbar fistula, nine (9%) having anorectal malformations with bladder neck fistula, and seven (7%) having anorectal malformations without a fistula. The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications was statistically significantly higher in children after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty than laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty: I, 19 (58%) versus II, 33 (33%); p = 0.014. The number of redo surgical interventions to correct complications did not differ significantly between the studied groups: I, 8 (24%) versus II, 26 (26%); p = 0.819. The incidence of urethral damage was identified with posterior sagittal anorectoplasty compared with laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty: I, 4 (12%) versus II, 0 (0%); p 0.001. We found no differences in postoperative complications between laparoscopic-assisted and posterior sagittal anorectoplasty.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: The results define laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty as a viable and promising method that does not have specific postoperative complications if it is technically correctly performed. It is necessary to develop clear criteria for rectum mobilization and the volume of rectourethral fistula dissection during laparoscopic-assisted surgery to reduce the risks of postoperative problems and repeat surgery.

Comparation of robotic-assisted surgery and laparoscopic‑assisted surgery in children with Hirschsprung’s disease: a single-centered retrospective study

BackgroundThere are few studies comparing robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) and laparoscopic-assisted surgery (LAS) in Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR). This study aimed to compare intraoperative and postoperative outcomes between RAS and LAS performed during the same period.MethodsAll consecutive 75 patients with pathologically diagnosed as HSCR who underwent Swenson pull-through surgery from April 2020 to Nov 2022, were included. Patients were divided into RAS group and LAS group and a retrospective analysis was performed based on clinical indexes and prognosis.ResultsA total of 75 patients were included, among which, 31 patients received RAS and 44 received LAS. The RAS and LAS groups had similar ages, sex, weight, postoperative hospital stays, and fasting times. Compared with LAS, blood loss (p = 0.002) and the incidence of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (p = 0.046) were significantly lower in the RAS group. The first onset of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis in patients younger than 3 months occurred significantly earlier (p = 0.043). Two patients experienced anastomotic leakage in the LAS group and one patient experienced incisional hernia in the RAS group. The cost of RAS was significantly higher than that of LAS (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsRAS is a safe and effective alternative for HSCR children, and a delaying primary surgery until later in infancy (> 3 months) may improve outcomes.

Interesting surgical cases of mesenteric cystic lymphangioma

Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma involving the gastrointestinal tract is uncommon in infants and children. It is a benign tumor due to abnormal formation lymphatic system. These tumors exhibit symptoms varying in site and size of localization. Usually, symptoms are manifested by acute abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, rising body temperature, and diarrhea. Lymphangioma can easily misdiagnose with other conditions like intestinal obstruction, acute appendicitis, or ovarian cyst in a female child. Therapeutic interventions such as fibrin glue, steroids, bleomycin, OK-432, and laparoscopic-assisted surgery are available. From 2018 to 2022, the Regional Paediatrics Hospital of Grodno, Belarus has recorded two cases of mesenteric lymphangioma. Both were emergency cases. In this scientific paper, we have described a surgical approach with improved outcomes. In both cases, surgical resection of lymphangioma that was rooted alongside the ileum was done. We used laparotomy in our surgical procedure, however, the approach was different, one being lower median laparotomy and another being a transrectal approach. Post-operatively patients were in satisfactory condition. Even though mesenteric lymphangioma is a benign condition, it should be immediately diagnosed and surgically managed to avoid morbidity, and mortality due to an increase in size that can fatally compress the adjacent organs impairing the function of an organ and complications like intestinal obstruction and bleeding. Our approaches with case-1 and case-2, both resulted in effective surgical and post-surgical outcomes. But more data is required to make a population-based influence depending on our approach.

Ulinastatin, A Multivalent Serine Protease Inhibitor, Improves Recovery of Pancreatic Cancer Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery

We aimed to explore the effect of an intravenous infusion of lidocaine combined with ulinastatin on perioperative analgesia and recovery for pancreatic cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Postoperative extubation time, time of stay in the recovery room after anesthesia, gastrointestinal function recovery time, and hospital stay in the observation group were all lower in the group receiving ulinastatin. Also, there was a decrease in the Visual Analogue Scale scores for pain at rest and cough in the group receiving ulinastatin. The serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α were lower in the group receiving ulinastatin. In summary, ulinastatin improves the effect of lidocaine on perioperative analgesia and postoperative recovery of pancreatic cancer without additional side effects during laparoscopic-assisted surgery.

Robot-assisted resection of choledochal cyst in children.

The emergence of the robotic surgery system has assisted the further development of minimally invasive surgery by facilitating more delicate and precise complex procedures. The purpose of this study was to present a study of robot-assisted resection of the choledochal cyst and to discuss the technical points. In total, 133 patients who were diagnosed with a choledochal cyst and underwent surgery from April 2020 to February 2022 in the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, were retrospectively analyzed. The data were collected including the clinical information of the patients, operative details, and postoperative outcomes. Among these 133 patients, 99 underwent robot-assisted surgery and 34 underwent laparoscopic assisted surgery. The median operation time was 180 min, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 170-210 min for the robot-assisted group and 180 min with an IQR of 157.5-220 min in the laparoscopic assisted group (P = 0.290). The detection rate of 82.5% for the distal opening of the cystic type of choledochal cyst was higher in the robot-assisted group than that in the laparoscopic assisted group at 34.8% (P = 0.000). The postoperative hospital stay was shorter (P = 0.009) and the hospitalization expense was higher (P = 0.000) in the robot-assisted group than that of the laparoscopic assisted group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of complications, postoperative indwelling days of the abdominal drainage tube, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative fasting time (P > 0.05). Robot-assisted resection of choledochal cyst is safe and feasible, it is ideal for the patient requiring a meticulous operation, and its postoperative recovery was shorter than for traditional laparoscopy.

Short-term efficacy analysis and comprehensive evaluation of laparoscopy for patients with rectal cancer-a prospective multi-center study

ObjectiveTo compare the short-term efficacy indicators of laparoscopic technique and open surgery in patients with rectal cancer surgery, and to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.MethodsThis study adopted a prospective multicenter, open-label, non-randomized concurrent control method to analyze patients who received rectal cancer surgery from 10 colorectal tumor centers across the country from January 2017 to December 2018. The two groups of patients received laparoscopic-assisted surgery and conventional open surgery respectively. All surgeons were selected according to relevant standards and participated in the two groups of operations at the same time. Comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the operation and postoperative recovery, postoperative pathological results, survival information, postoperative related functional scores and other indicators.ResultsIn the open surgery group, the proportion of tumors with a maximum diameter of more than 5 cm was higher (χ2 = 0.089, P = 0.018), and the proportion of T4 was higher (χ2 = 0.478, P < 0.001). In the laparoscopic group, the proportion of more than 12 harvested lymph nodes was higher (χ2 = 0.248, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the length of postoperative hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, time to first flatus after operation, time to first out of bed, time to first liquid diet, and preservation rate of anal sphincter between the two groups, but in the laparoscopic surgery group the operation time was shorter (t = 6.750, P < 0.001) and postoperative pain was less (t = 0.896, 0.63, 0.964, and 0.989 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3, respectively, all P < 0.001). The incidence of grade 2–4 adverse complication in the two groups was 12.5% and 14.6%, respectively, with no statistical difference (χ2 = 0.061, P = 0.105), but the incidence of incision infection was lower in the laparoscopy group (χ2 = 0.19, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in 3-year disease-free survival between the two groups (HR = 1.089, 95% CI = 0.962–1.232, P = 0.170). Multivariate analysis suggested that intraoperative blood loss, T stage, N stage, nerve invasion, and postoperative sepsis were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Wexner score, IPSS score and LARS score were not statistically different between the two groups.ConclusionThe pathological results and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer are comparable to those of conventional open surgery, and laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible for rectal cancer patients.

Laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal orchiopexy versus traditional orchiopexy for inguinal cryptorchidism: a retrospective study based on 154 patients

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal orchiopexy versus traditional orchiopexy for inguinal cryptorchidism.MethodsA retrospective analysis of cryptorchidism patients who were admitted to our hospital from July 2018 to July 2021. The patients were divided into the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group (n = 76) and the traditional surgery group (n = 78) according to the surgical method.ResultsAll patients were successfully operated. There was no significant difference in operation time between the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal group and the traditional group (P>0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stay between the two groups, the time of postoperative hospital stay of the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group was lower than that in the traditional surgery group (P = 0.062). Additionally, there was no significant difference in discharge rate on the first day after surgery between the two groups, but the discharge rate on the first day after surgery was more than 90% in both groups. In terms of postoperative complications, there were no cases of testicular retraction, testicular atrophy, inguinal hernia, or hydrocele that occurred in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of scrotal hematoma between the two groups(P>0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of poor wound healing between the two groups(P>0.05), the incidence in the laparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery group was lower than that in the traditional surgery group (2.6% vs. 6.4%).ConclusionLaparoscopic assisted trans-scrotal surgery is as safe and effective method as traditional surgery for patients with inguinal cryptorchidism, and could also provide a good appearance.

Robotic surgery implementation in an isolated overseas territory – The case of Reunion Island

In February 2020, robotic surgery was introduced in University Hospital of St Pierre in Reunion Island. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of robotic assisted surgery in the hospital and its impact on operating times and patient outcomes. Data was prospectively collected on patients undergoing laparoscopic robotic assisted surgery between February 2020 and February 2022. Information included patient demographics, type of surgery, operating times and length of stay. Over the two-year study period, 137 patients underwent laparoscopic robotic assisted surgery performed by 6 different surgeons. 89 of the surgeries were in gynecology, including 58 hysterectomies, 37 were in digestive surgery, and 11 in urology. The installation and docking times decreased across all specialties and were found to be significantly reduced when comparing the first and last 15 hysterectomies: mean installation time decreased from 18.7 to 14.5 minutes (p=0.048), mean docking time decreased from 11.3 to 7.1 minutes (p=0.009). The implementation of robotic assisted surgery in an isolated territory such as Reunion Island was slow due to a lack of trained surgeons, supply difficulties and Covid crisis. Despite these challenges, the use of robotic surgery allowed for technically more challenging surgeries and demonstrated similar learning curves to other centers.

Short-term clinical effects and inflammatory response of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery versus conventional laparoscopic-assisted surgery for the treatment of sigmoid and rectal cancer.

The clinical outcomes and benefits of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in colorectal cancer have not been fully evaluated comparing to conventional laparoscopic-assisted radical resection. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the short-term clinical benefits of NOSES versus conventional laparoscopic-assisted surgery for the treatment of sigmoid and rectal cancer. A total of 112 patients with sigmoid or rectal cancer were included in this retrospective study. The observation group (n=60) was treated with NOSES, and the control group (n=52) was treated with conventional laparoscopic-assisted radical resection. Following these interventions, the postoperative recovery and inflammatory response indexes were compared between the two groups. In contrast with the control group, the observation group significantly had longer operation time (t=2.83, P=0.006), but shorter durations for the resumption of a semi-liquid diet (t=2.17, P=0.032), and length of postoperative hospital stay (t=2.74, P=0.007), as well as fewer postoperative incision infections (χ2=7.32, P=0.009). Moreover, the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig), including IgG (t=2.29, P=0.024), IgA (t=3.30, P=0.001), and IgM (t=3.38, P=0.001), in the observation group were markedly higher than those within the control group at 3 days postoperatively. Also, the levels of inflammatory indicators including interleukin (IL)-6 (t=4.22, P=5.02E-5), C-reactive protein (CRP) (t=3.73, P=3.5E-4), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (t=2.94, P=0.004) in the observation group were considerably lower than those in the control group at 3 days after the operation. NOSES can improve the postoperative recovery and has benefits in reducing the inflammatory response than conventional laparoscopic-assisted surgery.

Effects of robotic and laparoscopic-assisted surgery on lymph node dissection and quality of life in the upper third of gastric cancer: A retrospective cohort study based on propensity score matching.

The objective of this study was compare the effects of robot-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted surgery on lymph node dissection and quality of life in upper third gastric cancer patients undergoing radical total gastrectomy. The clinical and follow-up data of 409 patients with upper third gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy from July 2016 to May 2021 were enrolled. The patients were divided into a robotic group (n = 106) and a laparoscopic group (n = 303). Age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, tumor size and location, pathological type, cT, cN, and cTNM were adjusted to offset selection bias. The patient characteristics, operative procedures, surgical outcomes, oncologic and pathologic outcomes, number of lymph node dissections, quality of life assessment, and nutritional status were compared between the two groups. After propensity score matching, 61 cases were included in the robotic group and 122 cases were included in the laparoscopic group. The number of dissected lymph nodes (37.3 ± 13.5 vs. 32.8 ± 11.8, P = 0.022) significantly differed between the two groups. The number of lower mediastinal and subphrenic lymph nodes in the robotic group was greater than that in the laparoscopic group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared with the laparoscopic group, the total score of physical symptoms in the robotic group was significantly lower at 6 and 12 months after surgery (P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). The total social function score at 6 and 12 months after surgery was higher in the robotic group (P = 0.006 and P = 0.022). The quality of life scores were statistically significant only at 3 months after the operation (P = 0.047). A higher patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) score is when the score significantly correlated (P < 0.001) with a higher related physical symptoms score, lower social function score, and lower quality of life score. Compared with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, robotic radical gastrectomy is safe and feasible. Compared with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, robotic radical gastrectomy was more refined, was associated with less surgical bleeding, and increased the quality of lymph node dissection. In addition, patients in the robotic group showed better postoperative quality of life.

Invited commentary on Montalva L, et al.: Early laparoscopic-assisted surgery is associated with decreased post-operative inflammation and intestinal strictures in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis

In this retrospective study, Montalva L, et al, investigated the role of laparoscopy in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC remains a devastating disease that affects premature babies, is still burdened by high morbidity and mortality rates, and is currently considered as the most frequent cause for urgent laparotomy in neonates [ 1 Jones I.H. Hall N.J. Contemporary Outcomes for Infants with Necrotizing Enterocolitis-A Systematic Review. J Pediatr. 2020; 220: 86-92 Google Scholar , 2 Matei A. Montalva L. Goodbaum A. et al. Neurodevelopmental impairment in necrotising enterocolitis survivors: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal. 2020; 105: 432-439 Google Scholar ]. Classically, babies that are deemed candidates for surgery undergo open surgery, with the primary goal of resecting the necrotic bowel and creating a diverting ostomy and/or a primary anastomosis. Alternatives to laparotomy include the intraperitoneal drain insertion, whose role remains controversial after at least three randomized controlled trials, and laparoscopy. The use of the latter in premature babies with NEC was initially reported in 2004 as a diagnostic tool to confirm bowel necrosis [ 3 Pierro A. Hall N. Ade-Ajayi A. et al. Laparoscopy assists surgical decision making in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr Surg. 2004; 39: 902-906 Google Scholar ]. Since then, laparoscopic surgery for NEC has gained popularity, with some twenty studies published in the literature.