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BackgroundRobotic-assisted colorectal surgery has gained more and more popularity over the last years. It seems to be advantageous to laparoscopic surgery in selected situations, especially in confined regions like a narrow male pelvis in rectal surgery. Whether robotic-assisted, left-sided colectomies can serve as safe training operations for less frequent, low anterior resections for rectal cancer is still under debate. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate intra- and postoperative results of robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL) compared to laparoscopic (LSC) surgery in left-sided colectomies.MethodsBetween June 2015 and December 2019, 683 patients undergoing minimally invasive left-sided colectomies in two Swiss, high-volume colorectal centers were included. Intra- and postoperative outcome parameters were collected and analyzed. ResultsA total of 179 patients undergoing RAL and 504 patients undergoing LSC were analyzed. Baseline characteristics showed similar results. Intraoperative complications occurred in 0.6% of RAL and 2.0% of LSC patients (p = 0.193). Differences in postoperative complications graded Dindo ≥ 3 were not statistically significant (RAL 3.9% vs. LSC 6.3%, p = 0.227). Occurrence of anastomotic leakages showed no statistically significant difference [RAL n = 2 (1.1%), LSC n = 8 (1.6%), p = 0.653]. Length of hospital stay was similar in both groups. Conversions to open surgery were significantly higher in the LSC group (6.2% vs.1.7%, p = 0.018), while stoma formation was similar in both groups [RAL n = 1 (0.6%), LSC n = 5 (1.0%), p = 0.594]. Operative time was longer in the RAL group (300 vs. 210.0 min, p < 0.001).ConclusionRobotic-assisted, left-sided colectomies are safe and feasible compared to laparoscopic resections. Intra- and postoperative complications are similar in both groups. Most notably, the rate of anastomotic leakages is similar. Compared to laparoscopic resections, the analyzed robotic-assisted resections have longer operative times but less conversion rates. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the safety of robotic-assisted, left-sided colectomies as training procedures for low anterior resections.

BackgroundPatients with a history of colonic resection for cancer have an increased risk for the development of metachronous malignant lesions. However, there is a lack of data on the detection rates of premalignant lesions during colonoscopy surveillance in these patients, and the few existing studies have shown conflicting results.AimsTo identify the risk factor of metachronous premalignant lesions after colon cancer surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively screened consecutive patients who had undergone colonic surgery to treat colon cancer at the Chungnam National University Hospital between September 2009 and April 2014. We measured polyp, adenoma, and advanced adenoma detection rates (PDR, ADR, AADR) from the second surveillance colonoscopy in patients with left-sided colectomy (LCR) or right-sided colectomy (RCR). Multivariate analysis was performed to adjust for other confounding factors.ResultsA total of 348 patients were enrolled (220 LCR patients and 128 RCR patients). The PDR, ADR, and AADR in patients in the LCR and RCR groups were 56.4, 43.6, and 11.8% and 35.9, 26.6, and 9.4%, respectively. PDR and ADR in the LCR group were significantly higher than those in the RCR group. A multivariate analysis showed that male sex, hypertension, body mass index higher than 25, and LCR (odds ratio 2.090; 95% confidence interval 1.011–4.317) were associated with adenoma recurrence.ConclusionsThe LCR group had a higher adenoma recurrence rate than the RCR group. Further studies are required to determine the optimal surveillance intervals according to the type of colonic resection.

Adequate blood flow in anastomosis is of paramount importance to prevent anastomotic leakage. However, it is sometimes difficult to predict the viability of the intestine during surgery. During left-sided colectomy, blood flow on the remnant distal bowel is supplied only from the middle and inferior rectal arteries. The blood backflow after the root ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery is often said to be kept up to promontorium levels; however, this premise is actually based on experience, without reliable evidence. Here, we introduce the intraoperative evaluation of blood flow on the remnant distal bowel during left-sided colectomy using an indocyanine green fluorescence technique.

BackgroundThe role of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction (LA-NOSE) colectomy in the treatment of left-sided colon cancer has not been well defined, and there remains confusion about how to conveniently exteriorize specimens through natural orifices. Therefore, we introduced a homemade invention, the Cai tube, to facilitate the extraction of specimens and compared the clinical outcomes of LA-NOSE with conventional laparoscopic (CL) colectomy for left-sided colon cancer.MethodsFrom March 2015 to August 2017, patients with left-sided colon cancer were randomly divided into LA-NOSE and CL groups. Specimens were extracted through the anus with the help of a Cai tube (Patent Number: ZL201410168748.2) in the LA-NOSE group. The primary outcome measure was postoperative pain. Secondary outcomes were the duration of operation, postoperative recovery, surgical morbidity, pathological quality of the specimen, and long-term outcomes, including 3-year overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence, and overall recurrence.ResultsA total of 60 patients (30 per group) were recruited for this study. None of the patients required emergency conversion to conventional laparoscopic or open surgery during the operation. The postoperative maximum pain score was significantly lower in the LA-NOSE group (mean 2.5 vs. 5.1, P = 0.001), as was the additional analgesia requirement (mean 2/30 vs. 10/30, P = 0.021). Patients in the LA-NOSE group experienced a shorter first time to passage of flatus (mean 2.2 vs. 3.1 days, P = 0.026). All patients could control their defecation at 6 months after surgery. The comparison between the two groups showed no significant differences in the operative time, bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay, surgical morbidity rates, number of lymph nodes harvested, or resection margin status. The mean follow-up was 48 months (range 7–59) and was similar in both groups. The results showed no differences in long-term outcomes between the two groups.ConclusionIn the treatment of left-sided colon cancer, compared with conventional laparoscopic colectomy, LA-NOSE colectomy using the Cai tube exhibited lower postoperative pain, shorter recovery of gastrointestinal function, and similar long-term outcomes.Registration numberChiCTR-OOR-15007060 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/).

IntroductionPreoperative colonoscopic localization for resection of colonic neoplasia, with or without tattooing for guidance, has been extensively used with variable accuracy. Difficulty in intraoperative identification of the lesion may lead to resection of an incorrect segment or to a more extensive resection than originally planned. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of preoperative colonoscopy in determining the site of the lesion.MethodsA prospectively collected IRB-approved institutional database was retrospectively queried for all consecutive patients who underwent an elective colon resection for neoplasia between 2013 and 2016. Excluded were patients without preoperative colonoscopy reports available for comparison or who underwent emergency surgery. Surgical plan based on preoperative colonoscopic localization with or without tattooing was compared to the final surgery and pathology reports.Results203 patients were included [mean age 68 (35–92) years; 102 males (50.2%)]. Preoperative colonoscopy was inaccurate in 16.7% (34 patients) leading to a change in the surgical plan. Patients with transverse or distal lesions were more likely to have a change in final surgical management compared to proximal sided lesions (29.7% vs. 3.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Only 3.8% of the tattooed lesions could not be identified during surgery. Additional intraoperative colonoscopy was needed in 11 patients (5.5%) to verify exact lesion location. Average length of the resected segment was longer in patients who required a change in surgical plan (26.44 cm vs. 22.47 cm; p = 0.02).ConclusionInaccurate preoperative colonoscopic localization led to a change in surgical management in 16.7% of cases, especially in transverse or left sided lesions. Surgeons should consider these findings when planning colonic resections.

Background Robotic surgery for right-sided colon and rectal cancer has rapidly increased; however, there is limited evidence in the literature of advantages of robotic left colectomy (RLC) for left-sided colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of RLC versus laparoscopic left colectomy (LLC) with complete mesocolic excision (CME) for left-sided colon cancer. Methods Patients who had RLC or LLC with CME for left-sided colon cancer at 5 hospitals in China between January 2014 and April 2022 were included. A one-to-one propensity score matched analysis was performed to decrease confounding. The primary outcome was postoperative complications occurring within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes were disease-free survival, overall survival and the number of harvested lymph nodes. Results A total of 292 patients (187 males; median age 61.0 [20.0−85.0] years) were eligible for this study, and propensity score matching yielded 102 patients in each group. The clinical–pathological characteristics were well-matched between groups. The two groups did not differ in estimated blood loss, conversion to open rate, time to first flatus, reoperation rate, or postoperative length of hospital stay ( p > 0.05). RLC was associated with a longer operation time (192.9 ± 53.2 vs. 168.9 ± 52.8 minutes, p =0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications did not differ between the RLC and LLC groups (18.6% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.856). The total number of lymph nodes harvested in the RLC group was higher than that in the LLC group (15.7 ± 8.3 vs. 12.1 ± 5.9, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in 3-year and 5-year overall survival or 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival. Conclusions Compared to laparoscopic surgery, RLC with CME for left-sided colon cancer was found to be associated with higher numbers of lymph nodes harvested and similar postoperative complications and long-term survival outcomes.

Purpose To explore the application effect of the technique of “priority dissecting of the inferior mesenteric artery combined with complete medial approach (IMA-CMA)” in laparoscopic left-sided colon cancer radical resection. Methods A total of 99 patients who underwent laparoscopic left-sided colon cancer radical resection with splenic flexure mobilization between September 2021 to May 2023 were included. Sixty-eight of these patients were analyzed after propensity score matching (PSM). The perioperative characteristics were compared. Results Among these enrolled patients, 45 underwent the traditional approach, and 54 underwent IMA-CMA approach. After PSM, the patients were matched to include 34 patients in each group, with no significant differences in the sex ( p  = 0.618) or location of tumor ( p  = 0.798) between the two groups. The patients in IMA-CMA group had shorter operating time ( p  = 0.032), less intraoperative blood loss ( p  = 0.003), a higher number of harvested lymph nodes ( p  = 0.044) and center group lymph nodes( p  = 0.037), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay ( p  = 0.011). Number of positive lymph nodes and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions The technique of IMA-CMA for splenic flexure mobilization is safe and feasible. It can reduce operating time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay, which is conducive to achieving a thorough D3 lymphadenectomy without increasing the incidence of perioperative complications.

Background Laparoscopic colon resection for left-sided colon cancer is being performed with increasing frequency worldwide. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of patient- and procedure-related factors on difficulty of laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colon cancer. Methods Two hundred sixty consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colon cancer from July 2005 to December 2008. Gender, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, tumor size, previous abdominal surgery, tumor depth, tumor stage, splenic flexure mobilization, type of anastomosis, and site of arterial division were analyzed as potential variables that affect difficulty of laparoscopic surgery. Dependent variables were operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intra- and postoperative complications, and proximal and distal tumor margin. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine predictive significance of variables. Results Multivariate analysis showed that male gender ( P  = 0.0183) and splenic flexure mobilization ( P  < 0.0001) were independently predictive of longer operative time. Splenic flexure mobilization was related to greater intraoperative blood loss ( P  = 0.0006), intraoperative complications ( P  = 0.0111, odds ratio: 7.22), and wider distal tumor margin ( P  = 0.0048). Conclusions Male gender and splenic flexure mobilization were independent predictors of difficulty of laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colon cancer. In contrast, our findings also showed that BMI, tumor location, previous abdominal surgery, tumor stage, type of anastomosis, and site of arterial division did not have an adverse impact on difficulty of laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colon cancer in our clinical setting. Our data support the safety of performing laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colon cancer in well-selected patients by well-experienced surgical teams.

Left-sided malignant colonic obstruction is one of the most difficult clinical problems; however, no studies compared the two most common used surgical approach laparoscopic and open colorectomy till now. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopy and open colorectomy for left-sided malignant colonic obstruction. A total of 193 colorectal carcinoma patients (55 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectomy and 138 who underwent open colorectomy) with left-sided colonic obstruction and surgical therapy, between May 2007 and March 2012, are included in the study. The short-term and long-term outcomes including curative resection rate, hospital stay time, complications, 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates and recurrence rate, as well as recurrence-free survival rate were analyzed retrospectively. No significant difference was found between the laparoscopic and open groups about the short-term outcomes, such as the curative resection rate (81.82 vs. 78.99 %, P  = 0.658), hospital stay time (24.22 ± 17.09 vs. 24.19 ± 14.76 day, P  = 0.990), the overall and respective complications (32.73 vs. 39.63 %, P  = 0.674). Long-term outcomes, including 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates ( P  = 0.518), recurrence rates ( P  = 0.320), and recurrence-free survival rates ( P  = 0.988), were also indicated no significant differences between the two patient groups. Laparoscopy might not have advantages on left-sided malignant colonic obstruction compared with open colorectal resection in both short-term and long-term outcomes.

Traditionally, there are several approaches to manage left-sided colonic carcinoma obstruction, such as tumor resection with primary anastomosis, tumor resection with end-colostomy and loop-colostomy. Recently, colonic stent insertion was introduced as a bridge prior to definite surgery. We demonstrated a hybrid approach for obstructed sigmoid carcinoma using colonic stent, followed by single incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC). A 58 year-old man presented with complete left-sided colonic obstruction. He underwent emergency colonoscopy with metallic stent placement. One week later, he was performed SILC. He recovered well after the operation without any postoperative complications. The pathological result showed adequacy of oncologic resection. This hybrid approach of colonic stent insertion and SILC can be safely performed.