Surgical Outcomes of Robotic Resection for Sigmoid and Rectal Cancer: Analysis of 109 Patients From a Single Center in China

Background: Robotic colorectal surgery has been increasingly performed in recent years. The safety and feasibility of its application has also been demonstrated worldwide.However, limited studies have presented clinical data for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving robotic surgery in China. The aim of this study is to present short-term clinical outcomes of robotic surgery and further confirm its safety and feasibility in Chinese CRC patients.Methods: The clinical data of 109 consecutive CRC patients who received robotic surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between June 2016 and May 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics,tumor traits, treatment details, complications, pathological details, and survival status were evaluated.Results: Among the 109 patients, 35 (32.1%) had sigmoid cancer, and 74 (67.9%) had rectal cancer. Thirty-seven (33.9%) patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Ten (9.2%) patients underwent sigmoidectomy, 38 (34.9%) underwent high anterior resection (HAR), 45 (41.3%) underwent low anterior resection (LAR), and 16 (14.7%) underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR). The median surgical procedure time was 270 min (range 120–465 min). Pathologically complete resection was achieved in all patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Complications occurred in 11 (10.1%) patients, including 3 (2.8%) anastomotic leakage, 1 (0.9%) anastomotic bleeding, 1 (0.9%) pelvic hemorrhage, 4 (3.7%) intestinal obstruction, 2 (1.8%) chylous leakage, and 1 (0.9%) delayed wound union. At a median follow-up of 17 months (range 1–37 months), 1 (0.9%) patient developed local recurrence and 5 (4.6%) developed distant metastasis, with one death due to disease progression.Conclusions: Our results suggest that robotic surgery is technically feasible and safe for Chinese CRC patients, especially for rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant treatment. A robotic laparoscope with large magnification showed a clear surgical space for pelvic autonomic nerve preservation in cases of mesorectal edema.

Pediatric Sized REBOA Catheter Testing in a Pulsatile Aortic Flow Model

Background – Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) in the management of pediatric abdomino-pelvic hemorrhage from trauma or iatrogenic injury is limited by a lack of appropriately sized balloon catheters that can be delivered through less than a 7 French sheath. Methods – We bench tested the occlusion capability of eight commercially available balloon catheters deliverable through 4Fr, 5Fr and 6Fr sheaths in an anatomic pulsatile flow model of the pediatric aorta with variable luminal diameters (5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, and 12mm). Inflated balloon migration and the deflated balloon’s effect on aortic flow were recorded. The flow chamber was calibrated to approximate size-appropriate physiologic aortic blood flow. Results – Seven of eight devices were able to occlude the test lumen diameter corresponding to their manufacture specifications. Deflated luminal flow restriction in the smallest test lumen was lowest in the Fogarty devices (0-3%) followed by Cordis (8-10%) and Numed (14-26%) devices. The Fogarty devices demonstrated the most distal migration (10-15mm) followed by Numed (1-5mm). Device migration was undetectable in the Cordis devices. Conclusion – There are commercially available balloon catheters, deliverable through smaller than 7Fr sheaths which can occlude pediatric sized aortic test lumens in the setting of physiologic pulsatile flow. These results will help inform future research, device development and practice in the field of pediatric REBOA.

Development of an Endovascular Model of Pelvic Hemorrhage Using Volumetric Computed Tomography Validation

Purpose Uncontrolled pelvic hemorrhage from trauma is associated with mortality rates above 30%. The ability of an intervention to reduce blood loss from pelvic trauma is paramount to its success. The objective of this study was to determine if computed tomography volumetric analysis could be used to quantify blood loss in a porcine endovascular pelvic hemorrhage model. Materials and Methods Yorkshire swine under general anesthesia underwent balloon dilation and rupture of the profunda femoris artery, which was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. Computed tomography angiography and postprocessing segmentation were performed to quantify pelvic hemorrhage volume at 5 and 30 minutes after injury. Continuous hemodynamic and iliofemoral flow data were obtained. Baseline and postinjury hemoglobin, hematocrit and lactate were collected. Results Of 6 animals enrolled, 5 survived the 30-minute post-injury period. One animal died at 15 minutes. Median volume of pelvic hemorrhage was 141±106 cm3 at 5 minutes and 302±79 cm3 at 30 minutes with a 114% median increase in hematoma volume over 25 minutes (p=0.040). There was a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (107 to 71 mm Hg, p=0.030) and iliofemoral flow (561 to 122 mL/min, p=0.014) at 30 minutes postinjury, but no significant changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit, or heart rate. Conclusion Computed tomography volumetric analysis can be used to quantify rate and volume of blood loss in a porcine endovascular pelvic hemorrhage model. Future studies can incorporate this approach when evaluating the effect of hemorrhage control interventions associated with pelvic fractures.

REBOA Use, Practices, Characteristics, and Implementations Across Various US Trauma Centers

Background Hemorrhage accounts for >30% of trauma-related mortalities. Use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for temporary hemostasis in the civilian population remains controversial. We aim to investigate REBOA practices through analysis of surgeon and trauma center characteristics, implementation, patient characteristics, and overall opinions. Methods An anonymous 30-question standardized online survey on REBOA use was administered to active trauma surgeon members of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Results A total of 345 responses were received, and 130/345 (37.7%) reported REBOA being favorable, 42 (12.2%) reported REBOA unfavorably, and 173 (50.1%) were undecided. The majority of respondents (87.6%) reported REBOA performance in the trauma bay. 170 (49.3%) of respondents reported having deployed REBOA at least once over the past 2 years. 80.0% reported blunt trauma being the most common mechanism of injury in REBOA patients. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta deployment in zone 3 of the aorta was significantly higher in patients reported to suffer a pelvic fracture or pelvic hemorrhage, whereas REBOA deployment in zone 1 was significantly higher among patients reported to suffer hepatic, splenic, or other intra-abdominal hemorrhage ( P < .05). Conclusion Among survey respondents, frequency of REBOA use was low along with knowledge of clear indications for use. While current REBOA usage among respondents appeared to model current guidelines, additional research regarding REBOA indications, ideal patient populations, and outcomes is needed in order to improve REBOA perception in trauma surgeons and increase frequency of use.

Surgical and Oncological Outcomes of Robotic Resection for Sigmoid and Rectal Cancer: Analysis of 109 Patients from A Single Center in China

Background: Robotic colorectal surgery has been increasingly performed in recent years. The safety and feasibility of its application has also been demonstrated worldwide. However, limited studies have presented clinical data for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving robotic surgery in China. The aim of this study is to present short-term clinical outcomes of robotic surgery and further confirm its safety and feasibility in Chinese CRC patients.Methods: The clinical data of 109 consecutive CRC patients whoreceived robotic surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between June 2016 and May 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics,tumor traits, treatment details, complications, pathological details, and survival status were evaluated.Results: Among the 109 patients, 35 (32.1%) had sigmoid cancer, and 74 (67.9%) had rectal cancer. Thirty-seven (33.9%) patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Ten (9.2%) patients underwent sigmoidectomy, 38 (34.9%) underwent high anterior resection (HAR), 45 (41.3%) underwent low anterior resection (LAR), and 16 (14.7%) underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR). The median surgical procedure time was 270 min (range 120 - 465 min). Pathologically complete resection was achieved in all patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Complications occurred in 11 (10.1%) patients, including 3 (2.8%) anastomotic leakage, 1 (0.9%) anastomotic bleeding, 1 (0.9%) pelvic hemorrhage, 4 (3.7%) intestinal obstruction, 2 (1.8%) chylous leakage, and 1 (0.9%) delayed wound union. At a median follow-up of 17 months (range 1–37 months), 1 (0.9%) patient developed local recurrence and 5 (4.6%) developed distant metastasis, with one death due to disease progression.Conclusions: Our results suggest that robotic surgery is technically feasible and safe for Chinese CRC patients, especially for rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant treatment. A robotic laparoscope with large magnification showed a clear surgical space for pelvic autonomic nerve preservation in cases of mesorectal edema.

Accuracy of Contrast Extravasation on Computed Tomography for Diagnosing Severe Pelvic Hemorrhage in Pelvic Trauma Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Background and objective: The early detection of underlying hemorrhage of pelvic trauma has been a critical issue. The aim of this study was to systematically determine the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) for detecting severe pelvic hemorrhage. Materials and Methods: Relevant articles were obtained by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases through 28 November 2020. Diagnostic test accuracy results were reviewed to obtain the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, and summary receiver operating characteristic curve of CT for the diagnosis in pelvic trauma patients. The positive finding on CT was defined as the contrast extravasation. As the reference standard, severe pelvic hemorrhage was defined as an identification of bleeding at angiography or by direct inspection using laparotomy that required hemostasis by angioembolization or surgery. A subgroup analysis was performed according to the CT modality that is divided by the number of detector rows. Result: Thirteen eligible studies (29 subsets) were included in the present meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity of CT was 0.786 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.574–0.909], and pooled specificity was 0.944 (95% CI, 0.900–0.970). Pooled sensitivity of the 1–4 detector row group and 16–64 detector row group was 0.487 (95% CI, 0.215–0.767) and 0.915 (95% CI, 0.848–0.953), respectively. Pooled specificity of the 1–4 and 16–64 detector row groups was 0.956 (95% CI, 0.876–0.985) and 0.906 (95% CI, 0.828–0.951), respectively. Conclusion: Multi-detector CT with 16 or more detector rows has acceptable high sensitivity and specificity. Extravasation on CT indicates severe hemorrhage in patients with pelvic trauma.

Anatomy of Internal Iliac Artery and Its Ligation to Control Pelvic Hemorrhage

Pelvic hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. A sound clinical judgment, adequate assessment, and preparation of the patient are the best preoperative means to avoid its occurrence. Bilateral internal iliac artery ligation is a life-saving procedure to control massive obstetric and gynecological hemorrhage when other measures fail. This procedure significantly reduces the pulse pressure and rate of blood flow abolishing the‘triphammer effect’ of arterial pulsation and subsequently resulting in sluggish blood flow allowing effective thrombosis within the small bleeding vessels. This has helped to save many lives and uteruses for more than a century. No tissue necrosis occurs due to ample collateral circulation in the pelvis from the major pelvic anastomoses. An increased understanding of retroperitoneal anatomy and regional variations of the internal iliac artery is needed to reduce the risk of intraoperative andpostoperative complications.

Pelvic angioembolization: how urgently needed?

Purpose Angioembolization (AE) has been questioned as first-line modality for hemorrhage control of pelvic fracture (PF)-associated bleeding due to its potential inconsistent timely availability. We aimed to describe the patterns of AE use with hemostatic resuscitation and hypothesized that time to AE improved during the study period. Methods A Level-1 trauma center’s prospective PF database was analyzed. All consecutive PFs referred to angiography between 01/01/2009 and 12/31/2018 were included. All suspected pelvic hemorrhage was managed with AE; pelvic packing was not performed. Demographics, injury/shock severity, 24-h transfusion data, time to AE and mortality were recorded. Data are presented as median (IQR). Results During the 10-year study period, 1270 PF patients were treated. Thirty-six (2.8%) [75% male, 49 (33;65) years, ISS 36 (24;43), base deficit 3.65 (5.9;0.6), transfusions 4(2;7)] had AE. The indication for AE was clinical suspicion (CS) of pelvic bleeding [CS 24(67%)] or arterial blush on CT [CT 12 (33%)]. Median time to AE was 141 min for CS, and 223 min for CT, with no change over the study period. Patients with CS had a higher ISS, worse base deficit, greater transfusion requirements and faster time to AE. Five patients (14%) died. There were no deaths attributed to exsanguination. Conclusions Time to AE did not improve. Patients referred from CT are physiologically different from CS and should be analyzed accordingly, with CS resulting in faster time to AE in sicker patients. Contemporary resuscitation challenges the need for hyperacute AE as no patients exsanguinated despite time to AE of more than 2 h.