Background Anastomotic leakage of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) remains the single most important source of morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The primary aim of this randomized clinical trial comparing PG with PJ after PD was to test the hypothesis that invaginated PG would result in a lower rate and severity of pancreatic fistula. Methods Patients undergoing PD were randomized to receive either a duct‐to‐duct PJ or a double‐layer invaginated PG. The primary endpoint was the rate of pancreatic fistula, using the definition of the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula. Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of severe abdominal complications (Clavien–Dindo grade IIIa or above), endocrine and exocrine function. Results Of 123 patients randomized, 58 underwent PJ and 65 had PG. The incidence of pancreatic fistula was significantly higher following PJ than for PG (20 of 58 versus 10 of 65 respectively; P = 0·014), as was the severity of pancreatic fistula (grade A: 2 versus 5 per cent; grade B–C: 33 versus 11 per cent; P = 0·006). The hospital readmission rate for complications was significantly lower after PG (6 versus 24 per cent; P = 0·005), weight loss was lower (P = 0·025) and exocrine function better (P = 0·022). Conclusion The rate and severity of pancreatic fistula was significantly lower with this PG technique compared with that following PJ. Registration number: ISRCTN58328599 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).

BACKGROUND: Sacral neuromodulation might be effective to palliate low anterior resection syndrome after rectal cancer surgery, but robust evidence is not available. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of sacral neuromodulation on low anterior resection syndrome symptoms as measured by validated scores and bowel diaries. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, 2-phased, controlled, multicenter crossover trial (NCT02517853). SETTINGS: Three tertiary hospitals. PATIENTS: Patients with major low anterior resection syndrome 12 months after transit reconstruction after rectal resection who had failed conservative treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent an advanced test phase by stimulation for 3 weeks and received the pulse generator implant if a 50% reduction in low anterior resection syndrome score was achieved. These patients entered the randomized phase in which the generator was left active or inactive for 4 weeks. After a 2-week washout, the sequence was changed. After the crossover, all generators were left activated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was low anterior resection syndrome score reduction. Secondary outcomes included continence and bowel symptoms. RESULTS: After testing, 35 of 46 patients (78%) had a 50% or greater reduction in low anterior resection syndrome score. During the crossover phase, all patients showed a reduction in scores and improved symptoms, with better performance if the generator was active. At 6- and 12-month follow-up, the mean reduction in low anterior resection syndrome score was –6.2 (95% CI –8.97 to –3.43; p < 0.001) and –6.97 (95% CI –9.74 to –4.2; p < 0.001), with St. Mark’s continence score –7.57 (95% CI –9.19 to –5.95, p < 0.001) and –8.29 (95% CI –9.91 to –6.66; p < 0.001). Urgency, bowel emptiness sensation, and clustering episodes decreased in association with quality-of-life improvement at 6- and 12-month follow-up. LIMITATIONS: The decrease in low anterior resection syndrome score with neuromodulation was underestimated because of an unspecific measuring instrument. There was a possible carryover effect in sham stimulation sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromodulation provides symptoms and quality-of-life amelioration, supporting its use in low anterior resection syndrome. See Video Abstract. NEUROMODULACIÓN SACRA EN PACIENTES CON SÍNDROME DE RESECCIÓN ANTERIOR BAJA: ENSAYO CLÍNICO ALEATORIZADO SANLARS: ANTECEDENTES: La neuromodulación sacra podría ser eficaz para paliar el síndrome de resección anterior baja después de la cirugía de cáncer de recto, pero no hay pruebas sólidas disponibles. OBJETIVO: Evaluar el impacto de la neuromodulación sacra en los síntomas del síndrome de resección anterior baja, medido mediante puntuaciones validadas y diarios intestinales. DISEÑO: Ensayo cruzado multicéntrico, controlado, aleatorizado, doble ciego, de dos fases (NCT02517853). LUGARES: Tres hospitales terciarios. PACIENTES: Pacientes con puntuación de resección anterior baja importante, 12 meses después de la reconstrucción del tránsito después de la resección rectal en quienes había fracasado el tratamiento conservador. INTERVENCIONES: Los pacientes se sometieron a una fase de prueba avanzada mediante estimulación durante tres semanas y se les implantó el generador de impulsos si se lograba una reducción del 50% en la puntuación del síndrome de resección anterior baja, ingresando a la fase aleatorizada en la que el generador se dejaba activo o inactivo durante cuatro semanas. Después de observar por 2 semanas, se cambió la secuencia. Después del cruce, todos los generadores quedaron activados. PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO: El resultado primario fue la reducción de la puntuación del síndrome de resección anterior baja. Los resultados secundarios incluyeron continencia y síntomas intestinales. RESULTADOS: Después de las pruebas, 35 de 46 pacientes (78%) tuvieron una reducción ≥50% en la puntuación del síndrome de resección anterior baja. Durante el cruce, todos los pacientes mostraron una reducción en las puntuaciones y una mejora de los síntomas, con un mejor rendimiento si el generador estaba activo. A los 6 y 12 meses de seguimiento, la reducción media en la puntuación del síndrome de resección anterior baja fue -6,2 (-8,97; -3,43; p < 0,001) y -6,97 (-9,74; -4,2; p < 0,001), con Puntuación de continencia de St. Mark’s -7,57 (-9,19; -5,95, p < 0,001) y -8,29 (-9,91; -6,66; p < 0,001). La urgencia, la sensación de vacío intestinal y los episodios de agrupamiento disminuyeron en asociación con una mejora en la calidad de vida a los 6 y 12 meses de seguimiento. LIMITACIONES: La disminución en la puntuación del síndrome de resección anterior baja con neuromodulación se subestimó debido a un instrumento de medición no específico. Posible efecto de arrastre en la secuencia de estimulación simulada. CONCLUSIONES: La neuromodulación mejora los síntomas y la calidad de vida, lo que respalda su uso en el síndrome de resección anterior baja. (Traducción—Dr. Mauricio Santamaria)

Low anterior resection syndrome affects 60%-90% of patients with anastomoses after colorectal resection. Consensus regarding the best anastomosis is lacking. To compare outcomes after end-to-end versus side-to-end anastomoses. Randomized clinical trial. University hospital (April 2016-October 2017). Patients aged ≥18 years with rectal or sigmoid adenocarcinoma. Patients were randomized to undergo mechanical end-to-end or side-to-end (n = 33) anastomosis after laparoscopic resection. Primary outcome was to assess intestinal function (COREFO and LARS questionnaires) 12 months after surgery or ileostomy closure. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and intestinal function and quality of life (SF-36® questionnaire) at different time points after surgery or ileostomy closure. No significant differences in intestinal function were observed between the two groups 12 months after surgery. Subanalysis of low-mid rectum tumors with end-to-end anastomosis yielded better function at 12 months. Postoperative complications did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.070), but reinterventions were more common in the side-to-end group (p = 0.040). Multivariate analysis found neoadjuvant treatment was independently associated with intestinal dysfunction at 12 months (β = 0.41, p = 0.033, COREFO; β = 0.41, p = 0.024, LARS). End-to-end anastomosis yielded low rates of severe complications and reintervention, as well as better intestinal function at 12 months in the subgroup with tumors in the low-mid rectum. clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02746224.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether extended complete mesocolic excision (e-CME) for sigmoid colon cancer improves oncological outcomes without compromising morbidity or functional results. Background: In surgery for cancer of the sigmoid colon and upper rectum, s-CME removes the lymphofatty tissue surrounding the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), but not the lymphofatty tissue surrounding the portion of the inferior mesenteric vein that does not run parallel to the IMA. Evidence about the safety and efficacy of extending CME to include this tissue is lacking. Methods: This single-blind study randomized sigmoid cancer patients at 4 centers to undergo e-CME or s-CME. The primary outcome was the total number of lymph nodes harvested. Secondary outcomes included disease-free and overall survival at 2 years, morbidity, and bowel and genitourinary function. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03107650. Results: We analyzed 93 patients (46 e-CME and 47 s-CME). Perioperative outcomes were similar between groups. No differences between groups were found in the total number of lymph nodes harvested [21 (interquartile range, IQR, 14–29) in e-CME vs 20 (IQR, 15–27) in s-CME, P = 0.873], morbidity (P = 0.829), disease-free survival (P = 0.926), or overall survival (P = 0.564). The extended specimen yielded a median of 1 lymph node (range, 0–6), none of which were positive. Bowel function recovery was similar between arms at all timepoints. Males undergoing e-CME had worse recovery of urinary function (P = 0.026). Conclusion: Extending lymphadenectomy to include the IMV territory did not increase the number of lymph nodes or improve local recurrence or survival rates.

Introduction: Obesity is usually considered a risk factor for surgical complications. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has replaced open adrenalectomy as the standard operation for adrenal tumors. Objective: To compare the safety of laparoscopic adrenalectomy to treat adrenal tumors in obese versus nonobese patients. Methods: This observational cohort study analyzed consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy with a lateral transperitoneal approach at a single center (2003–2020). Data and outcomes of obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²) and nonobese patients were compared. To analyze the association between operative time and other variables, we used simple and multivariate linear regression. Results: N = 160 (90 obese/70 nonobese) patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Cushing syndrome and pheochromocytoma were the most frequent indications. Obese patients were older (58 vs. 52 years, p < 0.001). A greater proportion of obese patients were ASA grade III + IV (71.1 vs. 48.6%, p = 0.004). Obesity was associated with a longer operative time (72.5 vs. 60 min, p < 0.001) and greater blood loss (40 vs. 20 mL, p = 0.022). There were no differences in conversion, morbidity, or hospital stay. After adjustment for confounding factors, operative time was positively correlated with BMI ≥30 kg/m², learning curve, estimated blood loss, 2D laparoscopy, and specimen size. Conclusion: Lateral transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe in patients with a BMI 30–35 kg/m², so these patients also benefit from this minimally invasive surgery.

New techniques are being developed to improve the results of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. This paper analyzes the learning curves for transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) and robot-assisted surgery in our colorectal surgery department. We analyzed retrospectively data from patients undergoing curative and elective surgery for rectal cancer ≤12 cm from the anal verge. We excluded extended surgeries. We used cumulative sum (CUSUM) curve analysis to identify inflection points. Between 2015 and 2021, 588 patients underwent surgery for rectal cancer at our center: 67 taTME and 79 robot-assisted surgeries. To overcome the operative time learning curve, 14 cases were needed for taTME and 53 for robot-assisted surgery. The morbidity rate started to decrease after the 17th case in taTME and after the 49th case in robot-assisted surgery, but it is much less abrupt in robot-assisted group. During the initial learning phase, the rate of anastomotic leakage was higher in taTME (35.7% vs. 5.7%). Two Urological lesions occurred in taTME but not in robot-assisted surgery. The conversion rate was higher in robot-assisted surgery (1.5% vs. 10.1%). Incorporating new techniques is complex and entails a transition period. In our experience, taTME involved a higher rate of serious complications than robot-assisted surgery during initial learning period but required a shorter learning curve.