Surgery For Left-sided Colorectal Cancer Research Articles

Treatment strategy and outcome of anastomotic leakage after left-sided colorectal cancer surgery –Non-surgical V.S. Surgical treatment–

Treatment strategy and outcome of anastomotic leakage after left-sided colorectal cancer surgery –Non-surgical V.S. Surgical treatment–

Efficacy of Gum Chewing on Bowel Movement After Open Colectomy for Left-Sided Colorectal Cancer

Prolonged intestinal paralysis can be a problem after gastrointestinal surgery. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have suggested the efficacy of gum chewing for the prevention of postoperative ileus. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of gum chewing for the recovery of bowel function after surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer and to determine the physiological mechanism underlying the effect of gum chewing on bowel function. This was a single-center, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, prospective randomized trial. The study was conducted at a general hospital in Japan. Forty-eight patients with left-sided colorectal cancer were included. The patients were randomly assigned to a gum group (N = 25) and a control group (N = 23). Four patients in the gum group and 1 in the control group were subsequently excluded because of difficulties in continuing the trial, resulting in the analysis of 21 and 22 patients in the respective groups. Patients in the gum group chewed commercial gum 3 times a day for ≥5 minutes each time from postoperative day 1 to the first day of food intake. The time to first flatus and first bowel movement after the operation were recorded, and the colonic transit time was measured. Gut hormones (gastrin, des-acyl ghrelin, motilin, and serotonin) were measured preoperatively, perioperatively, and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10. Gum chewing did not significantly shorten the time to the first flatus (53 ± 2 vs. 49 ± 26 hours; p = 0.481; gum vs. control group), time to first bowel movement (94 ± 44 vs. 109 ± 34 hours; p = 0.234), or the colonic transit time (88 ± 28 vs. 88 ± 21 hours; p = 0.968). However, gum chewing significantly increased the serum levels of des-acyl ghrelin and gastrin. The main limitation was a greater rate of complications than anticipated, which limited the significance of the findings. Gum chewing changed the serum levels of des-acyl ghrelin and gastrin, but we were unable to demonstrate an effect on the recovery of bowel function.

Needlescopic surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer.

Laparoscopic surgery has become the standard for colorectal cancers, but more minimally invasive surgery is continuously pursued. In June 2011, our institution started needlescopic surgery (NS). The aims of this study are to describe this technique and to investigate its feasibility for left-sided colorectal cancer surgery. From June 2011 to June 2013, 105 sigmoid colon and upper/middle rectal cancer patients underwent NS in our institution, involving one 5-mm port and three 3-mm ports, with the exception of an umbilical 12-mm port. A 10-mm scope is used through the umbilical 12-mm port, which will be extended to a small skin incision for specimen extraction. After dissection of the left colon, a 5-mm scope is inserted through the right lower 5-mm port and a linear stapler is inserted through the umbilical 12-mm port for rectal transection. The specimen is then extracted through umbilical incision, and the anastomosis is carried out by the double-staple technique. TNM staging is stage 0/I/II/III/IV = 0/31/32/31/11. Fifty-one patients underwent sigmoidectomy and 54 patients underwent anterior resection. There was no conversion to open surgery, but one patient required a change to a 5-mm port from one of the 3-mm ports. Mean operating time was 193 min and mean estimated blood loss was 12 ml. There were ten (9 %) postoperative complications: two anastomotic leaks requiring reoperation, two anastomotic hemorrhages, and one wound infection. There was no mortality. NS for left-sided colorectal cancer was a technically and oncologically feasible technique for selected patients.

Does gum chewing reduce postoperative ileus following open colectomy for left‐sided colon and rectal cancer? – a prospective randomized controlled trial

Postoperative ileus is common after colorectal resection and can prolong hospital stay. Gum chewing, a type of sham feeding, may to stimulate gut motility via cephalic-vagal stimulation, and thereby reduce the length of ileus. This study aimed to determine whether gum chewing in the immediate postoperative period facilitated recovery from ileus following resection for left-sided colorectal cancer. In a prospective randomized control trial, 38 patients undergoing open surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer were allocated to standard postoperative care (control group, n = 19) or to standard postoperative care plus the immediate use of chewing gum (treatment group, n = 19). Control patients passed flatus by mean of 2.7 days (SD 1.0) and faeces by 3.9 days (SD 1.5); for the treatment group, this was 2.4 days (SD 1.0) and 3.2 days (SD 1.5) respectively, (NS, P = 0.56 and P = 0.38). Length of hospital stay was 11.1 days (SD 7.3) in control group and 9.4 days (SD 2.5) in the treatment group (NS, P = 0.75). The addition of gum chewing to a standardized postoperative regimen did not reduce the period of postoperative ileus or shorten length of stay following open surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer.