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Aim: The primary objective of the study was to compare the effect of laparoscopic-assisted (LPS) versus open surgery (LPT) for colorectal cancer on postoperative morbidity. The secondary objectives were to evaluate immune response and intestinal wall oxygen perfusion., Methods: A total of 610 patients with colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive colon resection by either LPS (n=306) or LPT (n=304). Four surgical staff members not involved in the study recorded postoperative complications up to 30 days after the operation. Immune response was evaluated by measuring lymphocytic proliferation after challenge with Candida albicans and phytohemoagglutinin before, at 3 and 15 days after the operation. Intestinal wall oxygen perfusion was continuously monitored using a probe., Results: The conversion rate was 4.6% in the LPS group. Morbidity was 18.6% in the LPS group and 34.5% in the LPT group (P<0.0005). Infections developed in 9.1% of LPS-treated patients and in 20.2% of LPT-treated patients (P<0.0005). The mean length of stay was 9.7+/-2.6 days in the LPS group and 12.2+/-4.2 days in the LPT group (P<0.0001). In both groups lymphocytic proliferation was low at 3 days postoperative but returned to normal range at 15 days only in the LPS group. Interoperative intestinal oxygen perfusion values were higher in the LPS group., Conclusions: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery reduced both postoperative morbidity and length of stay. Lymphocytic proliferation and intestinal wall oxygen perfusion were higher in patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted surgery.

We evaluated the efficacy of an oral artificial supplementation in 22 patients who underwent surgery for gastric or pancreatic cancer. From 8th to 14th postoperative day, 11 patients (cases) received a diet consistent in their REE, and an oral integrator (40% of REE); controls received only the diet. On 7th and 15th day, nutritional and anthropometric parameters were evaluated, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was performed to assess body composition. The dietary caloric input was similar in cases (1154 kcal, 86.0% of REE) and controls (1393 kcal, 92.3% of REE). Due to the integrator, cases reached 121.4% of REE (p less than 0.001). The nutritional and anthropometric parameters studied did not show significant variations in the two groups, but BIA showed a decrease of fat mass in controls with respect to cases (p less than 0.02). Our results demonstrate that the oral artificial supplementation was well tolerated, and did not reduce food intake, but induced a significant increase of total caloric input.

We studied food intake and nutritional status of 28 patients who had undergone total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. At discharge, patients were instructed to keep a high protein, high calorie diet and to record food intake on a specific form, twice weekly. Nutritional follow-up, consisting in a computerized determination of dietary intake and nutritional assessment was performed monthly during the first postoperative year. The average calorie intake was 1,431.8 Kcal/day one month after operation and 2,225.4 Kcal/day one year after surgery (p less than 0.001). In particular, only one patient exceeded 2,000 Kcal/day one month after total gastrectomy, while 21 patients exceed 2,00 Kcal/day one year after operation. The evaluation of nutritional parameters in the postoperative course showed that a significant increase in body weight, serum albumin and total iron binding capacity was observed only in patients who exceed 2,000 Kcal/day one year after operation. These results indicate that malnutrition is not an inevitable consequence of total gastrectomy; in fact, a close relationship between calorie intake and the variations of nutritional parameters was observed.