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Background: Current evidence about intraoperative anastomotic testing after left-sided colorectal resections is still controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of Indocyanine Green fluorescent angiography (ICG-FA) and air-leak test (ALT) over standard assessment on anastomotic leakage (AL) rates according to surgeon's perception of anastomosis perfusion and/or integrity in clinical practice. Methods: A database of 2061 patients who underwent left-sided colorectal resections was selected from patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study. It was retrospectively analyzed through a multi-treatment machine-learning model considering standard visual assessment (NW; No. = 899; 43.6%) as the reference treatment arm, compared to ICG-FA alone (WP; No. = 409; 19.8%), ALT alone (WI; No. = 420; 20.4%) or both (WPI; No. = 333; 16.2%). Twenty-four covariates potentially affecting the outcomes were included and balanced into the model within the subgroups. The primary endpoint was AL, the secondary endpoints were overall morbidity (OM), major morbidity (MM), reoperation for AL, and mortality. All the results were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: The WPI subgroup showed significantly higher AL risk (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.02–3.59; p 0.043), MM risk (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.39–3.97; p 0.001), and reoperation for AL risk (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.12–5.31; p 0.025). No other significant differences were recorded. Conclusions: This study showed that the surgeons' perception of both anastomotic perfusion and integrity (WPI subgroup) was associated to a significantly higher risk of AL and related morbidity, notwithstanding the extensive use of both ICG-FA and ALT testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current evidence concerning bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery is still controversial. This study aimed to compare the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL), surgical site infections (SSIs), and overall morbidity (any adverse event, OM) after elective colorectal surgery using four different types of bowel preparation. Methods: A prospective database gathered among 78 Italian surgical centers in two prospective studies, including 6241 patients who underwent elective colorectal resection with anastomosis for malignant or benign disease, was re-analyzed through a multi-treatment machine-learning model considering no bowel preparation (NBP; No. = 3742; 60.0%) as the reference treatment arm, compared to oral antibiotics alone (oA; No. = 406; 6.5%), mechanical bowel preparation alone (MBP; No. = 1486; 23.8%), or in combination with oAB (MoABP; No. = 607; 9.7%). Twenty covariates related to biometric data, surgical procedures, perioperative management, and hospital/center data potentially affecting outcomes were included and balanced into the model. The primary endpoints were AL, SSIs, and OM. All the results were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Compared to NBP, MBP showed significantly higher AL risk (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.23–2.71; p =.003) and OM risk (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.10–1.72; p =.005), no significant differences for all the endpoints were recorded in the oA group, whereas MoABP showed a significantly reduced SSI risk (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.25–0.79; p =.008). Conclusions: MoABP significantly reduced the SSI risk after elective colorectal surgery, therefore representing a valid alternative to NBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs influence morbidity rates and length of stay after colorectal surgery (CRS), and may also impact major complications and anastomotic leakage rates. A prospective multicenter observational study to investigate the interactions between ERAS program adherence and early outcomes after elective CRS was carried out.Methods: Prospective enrolment of patients submitted to elective CRS with anastomosis in 18 months. Adherence to 21 items of ERAS program was measured upon explicit criteria in every case. After univariate analysis, independent predictors of primary endpoints [major morbidity (MM) and anastomotic leakage (AL) rates] were identified through logistic regression analyses including all significant variables, presenting odds ratios (OR).Results: Institutional ERAS protocol was declared by 27 out of 38 (71.0%) participating centers. Median overall adherence to ERAS program items was 71.4%. Among 3830 patients included in the study, MM and AL rates were 4.7% and 4.2%, respectively. MM rates were independently influenced by intra- and/or postoperative blood transfusions (OR 7.79, 95% CI 5.46-11.10; p < 0.0001) and standard anesthesia protocol (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.96; p = 0.028). AL rates were independently influenced by male gender (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.06-2.07; p = 0.021), intra- and/or postoperative blood transfusions (OR 4.29, 95% CI 2.93-6.50; p < 0.0001) and non-standard resections (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.01-2.22; p = 0.049).Conclusions: This study disclosed wide room for improvement in compliance to several ERAS program items. It failed to detect any significant association between institutionalization and/or adherence rates to ERAS program with primary endpoints. These outcomes were independently influenced by gender, intra- and postoperative blood transfusions, non-standard resections, and standard anesthesia protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze different types of management and one-year outcomes of anastomotic leakage (AL) after elective colorectal resection., Methods: All patients with anastomotic leakage after elective colorectal surgery with anastomosis (76/1,546; 4.9%), with the exclusion of cases with proximal diverting stoma, were followed-up for at least one year. Primary endpoints were as follows: composite outcome of one-year mortality and/or unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission and additional morbidity rates. Secondary endpoints were as follows: length of stay (LOS), one-year persistent stoma rate, and rate of return to intended oncologic therapy (RIOT)., Results: One-year mortality rate was 10.5% and unplanned ICU admission rate was 30.3%. Risk factors of the composite outcome included age (aOR = 1.08 per 1-year increase, p = 0.002) and anastomotic breakdown with end stoma at reoperation (aOR = 2.77, p = 0.007). Additional morbidity rate was 52.6%: risk factors included open versus laparoscopic reoperation (aOR = 4.38, p = 0.03) and ICU admission (aOR = 3.63, p = 0.05). Median (IQR) overall LOS was 20 days (14-26), higher in the subgroup of patients reoperated without stoma. At 1 year, a stoma persisted in 32.0% of patients, higher in the open (41.2%) versus laparoscopic (12.5%) reoperation group (p = 0.04). Only 4 out of 18 patients (22.2%) were able to RIOT., Conclusion: Mortality and/or unplanned ICU admission rates after AL are influenced by increasing age and by anastomotic breakdown at reoperation; additional morbidity rates are influenced by unplanned ICU admission and by laparoscopic approach to reoperation, the latter also reducing permanent stoma and failure to RIOT rates., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03560180.

Aim: evaluating the impact of screening programmes on colorectal cancer (CRC) in Italy., Methods: we studied 1292 patients with colorectal cancer. Data were collected from January 2004 through December 2015 in Parma University Hospital. We compared clinophatological features to evaluate the real impact of screening programmes on detecting early stage colorectal cancers in target population., Results: screening programmes with fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and colonoscopy covered only patients from 50 to 69. In our study we reported that the 52,3% of patients with CRC were over 70 and out of screen time, while only 47,7% were under 70. Early detection seems to be related to early stage of CRC and to an improved overall survival., Conclusion: The importance of early detection in colorectal cancers represents the most important outcome for OS. The risk of colorectal cancer is increased in elderly. Actual screening programmes cover less than 50% of population with colorectal cancer. Screening should be considered for patients over 70, due to the high number of new diagnosis in symptomatic disease and worst prognosis, in accordance with advanced cancer stage and comorbidities in elderly.

Aim: The identification of prognostic factors in gastric cancer is important for predicting patients' survival and determining therapeutic strategies., Materials of Study: A retrospective analysis ofpatients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer between 1996 and 2010. The appropriate cut-off value of tumor size related to survival was determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and it was 2,5 cm. Patients were divided into three groups: a small size group (SSG, < 2,5 cm), a medium size group (MSG, between 2,5 and 5 cm) and a large size group (LSG, ≥ 5 cm)., Results: Depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis resulted significantly related to tumor size (p < 0.05). Kaplan- Meier survival curves showed that OS rate was significantly higher in SSG patients. The prognosis of patients with tumor size < 2,5 cm was better than patients with tumors ≥ 2.5 cm in size (p < 0.01)., Discussion: The tumor size resulted significantly related to OS and it was related to depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis that are themselves prognostic factors. These results confirm and reinforced literature and suggest that at diagnostic pre-operative work-up we can yet define a prognostic value based on tumor size and underline the primary role of complete resection with free surgical margins and D2 lymphadenectomy., Conclusion: In patients with gastric cancer tumor size suggests information about the malignancy of the tumor: it is an important predictor of survival and 2,5 cm may be considered as a valid cut-off to define a better or worse prognosis., Key Words: Gastric cancer, Prognosis,Survival, Tumor size.

Background: Surgical resection remains the main curative treatment for gastric cancer but is still affected by high postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, especially in Western countries., Materials and Methods: We've analyzed patients treated for gastric cancer at our Operative Unit of ent, extent of lymphadenectomy and survival. General Surgery and Organ Transplantation of the University Hospital of Parma from January 2006 till December 2010, relating the occurrence of eventual complications to sex, age at diagnosis, definitive histological examination, type and duration of surgical treatment., Results: The surgically treated cases were 152 (30.4 gastrectomies per year on average). 62 patients developed at least one adverse event during the postoperative period, reaching 108 total events. Among these, 71 were minor complications (grade I-II in Clavien-Dindo's classification), while 26 were major ones (grade III). Postoperative mortality affected 8 patients (5.3%). Data analysis did not stress any statistically significant correlation between the valued variables and the global incidence of complications. For severe ones, some risk factors emerged such as the type of gastrectomy, the execution of a multi-visceral resection and the operative time. Five-year overall survival has been 36.7%, lower in patients with severe complications (29%) when compared to patients without severe complications (38%). Radicality of operation, the lymph node involvement and the occurrence of severe complication emerged as significant prognostic factors for five-year overall survival., Conclusions: Surgery is still the mainstay of treatment for gastric cancer and the only one able to grant a curative therapy. When performed in high-volume centres, with more than 20 gastrectomies per year, it represents a safe treatment, affected by low mortality. Attention must be paid to careful preoperative selection, to treatment of pre-existent comorbidities, to plan a therapeutical strategy to minimize surgical stress, to postoperative monitoring and to managing complications', as they're able to impact not only low-term outcomes but also overall and disease-free survival. The poor prognosis for these patients is mainly related to advanced stage at presentation, thus confirming the need to increase early diagnosis in order to detect in larger percentages the tumor in its early stage., Key Words: Complications, Gastrectomy, Gastric Cancer, Survival.

Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia following laparoscopic left colectomy for splenic flexure cancer. An unusual complication Diaphragmatic hernias are a migration of abdominal structures into the thorax via a diaphragmatic defect; they may be classified as congenital or acquired and acquired hernias can be hiatal, traumatic or iatrogenic, generally complications of thoracic or abdominal surgery. We report a case of iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia after a laparoscopic left colectomy for splenic flexure tumor; to our knowledge, in literature this case is the first reported. A 51-years-old woman was readmitted to our Hospital on 11th post-operative day for bowel occlusion and a CT - scan revealed left diaphragmatic herniation with fluid dilatation of the small bowel that appeared in the left hemithorax. Laparoscopic surgery resolution was decided and after the reduction of the small bowel in the abdomen we closed the defect using two direct absorbable auto-block hemi-continuous sutures that were covered by a synthetic absorbable mesh. Probably we didn't notice a minimal injury of the left diaphragm caused by ultrasonic scalpel and we can suppose that this delay in presentation may be a result of the gradual enlargement of a microscopic lesion. Patient's gas exchanges were good during surgery and during post-operative course., Key Words: Diaphragmatic hernia, Iatrogenic, Laparoscopy, Left colectomy, Ultrasonic scalpel.

Background: Use of antiplatelet therapy in western people is common. The risk of bleeding related to surgical procedure or invasive procedure is higher.We want to analyse the correlation between colorectal surgery, antiplatelet therapy and postoperative surgical complications., Methods: We categorized: 176 cases treated for colorectal cancer and we recorded the following data: type of surgery, body max index (BMI), haemoglobin value (Hb); preoperative prothrombin time (PT) and blood transfusions pre and postoperative and during surgery. The analysis focused on two groups: patients who received antiplatelet therapy (AT - antiplatelet therapy) and patients who didn't receive this therapy (NAT - not antiplatelet therapy)., Results: In the group of patients who underwent right emicolectomy, haemoglobin values were lower in patients who received antithrombotic therapy than in patients who didn't receive this therapy with a statistical significance (p < 0,05); the same datum resulted in patients who underwent left emicolectomy. Normal weight patients that received antiplatelet therapy had lower values of haemoglobin without statistical significance (p value not significant). Overweight patients who underwent therapy with antiplatelet agents had lesser Hb value than group that didn't performed this therapy (p < 0,05). Patients who received AT showed a bigger percentage of blood transfusions regardless of type of surgery than the second group with statistical significance Normal weight patients showed a different incidence of blood transfusions between patients who underwent antiplatelet therapy (50%) and patients who didn't receive this therapy (29%) with statistic significance (p < 0,05). Overweight patients didn't present this significant difference. We analyzed the incidence of post-operative complications in normal weight patients and overweight patients and we showed that the incidence of complications, both minor and major, was higher in patients who underwent antiplatelet therapy than in the second group regardless of weight, Conclusions: Antiplatelet therapy in patients who underwent invasive surgery changes the incidence of some risk factors, such as bleeding, and of post-operative complications. This result underlines the importance of careful handling and preparation in patients receiving antithrombotic agents that have to undergo invasive surgery., Key Words: Antithrombotic therapy, Bleeding, Colorectal Surgery, Risk factor.

Laparoscopic surgery developed continuously over the past years becoming the gold standard for some surgical interventions. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is well established as a safe and feasible procedure to treat benign and malignant pathologies. In this paper we studied in deep the role of laparoscopic right colectomy analysing the indications to this surgical procedure and the factors related to the conversion from laparoscopy to open surgery. We described the different surgical techniques of laparoscopic right colectomy comparing extra to intracorporeal anastomosis and we pointed out the different ways to access to the abdomen (multiport VS single incision). The indications for laparoscopic right colectomy are benign (inflammatory bowel disease and rare right colonic diverticulitis) and malignant diseases (right colon cancer and appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasm): we described the good outcomes of laparoscopic right colectomy in all these illnesses. Laparoscopic conversion rates in right colectomy are reported as 12-16%; we described the different type of risk factors related to open conversion: patient-related, disease-related and surgeon-related factors, procedural factors and intraoperative complications. We conclude that laparoscopic right colectomy is considered superior to open surgery in the shortterm outcomes without difference in long-term outcomes., Key Words: Conversion risks, Indication to treatment, Laparoscopy, Post-operative pain, Right colectomy.

Background: Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) are defined as mesenchymal tumours that develop within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Surgery is the treatment of choice and may be indicated for locally advanced or previously non resectable disease after a favorable response to preoperative therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for all patients with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of GIST who were admitted to the University Hospital of Parma from January 2000 to January 2015.The following parameters were reviewed and analyzed: age, sex, blood type, symptoms on presentation, tumor site, tumor size, mitotic rate, risk grade, histopathology and immunohistochemistry assays, type of cells., Results: All patients underwent elective surgery. Between January 2000 and January 2015, 61 patients were admitted to the OU General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University Hospital of Parma and received surgical treatment for GISTs. Thirty-five were male (57.4%) and 26 female (42.6%). The mean age at diagnosis was 69.03 ± 10.07 years (range 29 - 89 years); males 69.6 ± 9.3 years (range 49 - 89 years) and females 68 ± 12.4 years (range 29 - 86 years). Larger tumor size, higher mitotic rate, higher risk rate, margin status contributed to poorer outcome (lower OS and DFS) as independent factors., Conclusions: Radical surgery is the treatment of choice for resectable GISTs. Very low and low-risk tumor can be treated with surgery alone., Key Words: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, Margin Status, Overall Survival, Tumor size.

Aim: To evaluate the learning curve in the use of intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagus in thyroid surgery., Materials of the Study: We analyzed 140 pts treated consecutively for thyroid disease. All the patients were neuromonitored with Intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagus. We divided these patients in 7 groups to collect the adverse events during our learning curve., Results: We monitored consecutively 271 nerves. The incidence of transient paralysis was 0.73%.No significant differences were recorded in the groups about the calceium values,the mean operative time. Sensitivity was 100%, specificity 99%, Predictive positive value was 33%, negative predictive value was 100%., Discussion: The recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is the most frequent adverse event in thyroid surgery. The causes of the lesion are different. The introduction of non-invasive monitoring devices that define the standard of IONM in thyroidectomy is increasing in the last period. In our study we performed the neuromonitoring in four times finding several benefits: avoid damage from excessive traction of the thyroid; early identification of RLN extra-laryngeal branches; identification and preservation of the parathyroid glands., Conclusion: The use of neuromonitoring in course of thyroidectomy helps the surgeon to early localization, identification, visualization and dissection of the RLN. It is important highlight that for the surgeon, especially the less experienced, the opportunity to immediately verify the absence of nerve structures and the presence of lesions is very important especially in education and research. We confirm that real learning curve requires at least 60 consecutive cases as reported by others in literature., Key Words: Hypocalcaemia, Intraoperative neuromonitoring, Learning curve, Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, Thyroid surgery.

Aim: To evaluate clinical and histopathological changes of gastric cancer (GC) in the last fifteen years and analyze factors influencing overall survival., Material of Study: We have retrospectively categorized patients submitted to surgery for GC from January 1996 to December 2010. The analysis focused on two periods: 1996-2003 (period 1) and 2004-2010 (period 2)., Results: There was an increase in age distribution of GC in period 2 (p=0.012). Significant increase of whole GC was observed in period 2 (p=0.01). Slight but significant changes in TNM stage were found: in group 2 there was a decrease in the rate of early GC and in advanced depth of tumor invasion; increase of lymph nodes involvement was also demonstrated. Overall survival (OS) had not changed from the first to the second period. There was a significant difference in OS calculated for Lauren histotype: from ten months to surgery, patients with diffuse histotype showed worse prognosis., Discussion: The most important findings were an increase in lymph node involvement and a decrease in depth of tumor invasion, an higher percentage of whole type and a decrease in palliative surgery. Overall-survival hasn't change in the last fifteen years. These results confirms the importance of extent of lymph node dissection in the standard surgical approach of GC, the tumor stage and Lauren histotypes as the main prognostic factors in GC., Conclusion: This work confirms the dismal prognosis of GC and the need to increase diagnosis of early gastric cancer., Key Words: Gastric cancer, Lauren histotype, Overall survivall.