Immunological aspects of minimally invasive oncologic surgery:

Comparison of the effect between cefazolin/cefuroxime and broad-spectrum antibiotics in preventing post-operative pulmonary infections for smoking patients receiving video-assisted thoracoscopic lung surgery: a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The selection of prophylactic antibiotics for preventing post-operative pulmonary infections in smoking patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lung surgery (VATLS) is not clear.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the outcomes of 572 smoking patients undergoing VATLS with prophylactic cefazolin/cefuroxime or other antibiotics were analyzed. Patients were classified as cefazolin/cefuroxime group and the control group. A 1:1 propensity score matching was also performed.

RESULTS

The primary outcome of the incidence of post-operative pulmonary infection did not differ significantly between the two groups (23.7% vs 30.5%, RR = 0.777, 95%CI 0.564 ~ 1.070 p = 0.113). Similarly, secondary outcomes including the incidence of post-operative fever, the white blood cell count and neutrophils on the 3rd day after the surgery, and time for blood routine test recovery were all found without significant difference between the two groups. In the multivariate logistic regression model, no association was found between prophylactic use of cefazolin/cefuroxime and post-operative pulmonary infections after controlling other possible confounding factors (OR = 0.685, 95%CI 0.441 ~ 1.065, p = 0.093).

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic use of cefazolin/cefuroxime was not associated with more adverse clinical outcomes among smoking populations undergoing VATLS when compared with broad-spectrum antibiotics and the two drugs are still feasible for peri-operative prophylactic use for smoking population before the surgery.

The degree of local inflammatory response after colonic resection depends on the surgical approach: an observational study in 61 patients

Background

Clinical data indicate that laparoscopic surgery reduces postoperative inflammatory response and benefits patient recovery. Little is known about the mechanisms involved in reduced systemic and local inflammation and the contribution of reduced trauma to the abdominal wall and the parietal peritoneum.

Methods

Included were 61 patients, who underwent elective colorectal resection without intraabdominal complications; 17 received a completely laparoscopic, 13 a laparoscopically- assisted procedure and 31 open surgery. Local inflammatory response was quantified by measurement of intraperitoneal leukocytes and IL-6 levels during the first 4 days after surgery.

Results

There was no statistical difference between the groups in systemic inflammatory parameters and intraperitoneal leukocytes. Intraperitoneal interleukin-6 was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than in the laparoscopically-assisted and open group on postoperative day 1 (26.16 versus 43.25 versus 40.83 ng/ml; p = 0.001). No difference between the groups was recorded on POD 2–4. Intraperitoneal interleukin-6 showed a correlation with duration of hospital stay on POD 1 (0.233, p = 0.036), but not on POD 2–4.

Patients who developed a surgical wound infection showed higher levels of intraperitoneal interleukin-6 on postoperative day 2–4 (POD 2: 42.56 versus 30.02 ng/ml, p = 0.03), POD 3: 36.52 versus 23.62 ng/ml, p = 0.06 and POD 4: 34.43 versus 19.99 ng/ml, p = 0.046). Extraabdominal infections had no impact.

Conclusion

The analysis shows an attenuated intraperitoneal inflammatory response on POD 1 in completely laparoscopically-operated patients, associated with a quicker recovery. This effect cannot be observed in patients, who underwent a laparoscopically-assisted or open procedure. Factors inflicting additional trauma to the abdominal wall and parietal peritoneum promote the intraperitoneal inflammation process.

Renal cancer seeding metastases following retroperitoneoscopic-assisted cryoablation: A case report

Nephron-sparing laparoscopy is the standard surgical treatment for clinical T1a renal tumours. However, the laparoscopic technique brings in its specific oncological safety concerns. Seeding metastases are reported: peritoneal metastases, port-tract metastases, and (sub-) cutaneous metastases. The method of laparoscopic assisted renal mass cryoablation is marked by the fact that traumatic tumour tissue handling is unavoidable. This case report reviews the rare occasion of seeding metastases in the retroperitoneal space following laparoscopic cryoablation of a small renal mass. The primary tumour showed no focal recurrence as reported by histological examination. The combination of two events as harming the integrity of cancer tissue and gas-circulation leading to the development of metastases in the retroperitoneal cavity is discussed. The combination of iatrogenic harming cancer tissue integrity and CO2-circulation leads to metastases in the retroperitoneal cavity. Therefore, we recommend performing image-guided renal mass biopsies before considering cryoablative surgery.

Changes in T-lymphocytes' viability after laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic surgery results in decreased immune and metabolic stress response compared to open surgery. Our aim was to evaluate the suspension of host immune defense in terms of apoptosis, necrosis, and survival of peripheral T-lymphocytes in patients undergoing laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy. Apoptosis, necrosis and viability of peripheral T-lymphocytes were measured preoperatively and postoperatively by means of flow cytometry in 27 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 25 undergoing open cholecystectomy. White cell count, CRP, and serum glucose levels were also measured. Viable peripheral T-lymphocytes were significantly decreased in open cholecystectomy (P = 0.02), while their late apoptotic as well as the overall necrotic rate were significantly increased (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Open cholecystectomy was also associated with lower levels of surviving circulating T-lymphocytes (P = 0.01) and higher percentage of necrotic T lymphocytes (P = 0.03) 24 hours postoperatively compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Serum CRP was increased 24 hours after open cholecystectomy (P = 0.04). All differences failed to sustain more than 48 hours postoperatively. Increased viability and decreased necrosis of circulating T-lymphocytes were observed in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Necrosis (and not apoptosis) seems to be the predominant pathway of T-lymphocyte death in open cholecystectomy, in a process reaching its peak at 24 hours and further attenuating 48 hours postoperatively.

Low total lymphocyte count is associated with poor survival in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving a GM-CSF secreting pancreatic tumor vaccine

BACKGROUND

Low total lymphocyte count (TLC) and lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio have been found to be poor prognostic indicators in several different tumor types at various stages. Although immune-based therapies are under rapid development, it is not known whether baseline complete blood counts, particularly lymphocytes, are associated with the clinical outcomes of patients receiving immunotherapies.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of complete blood count for 59 patients enrolled onto a phase II trial evaluating the integration of an adjuvant immunotherapy-irradiated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) secreting allogeneic pancreatic tumor vaccine (GVAX)-with standard chemoradiation.

RESULTS

After adjusting for nodal status, individuals with a TLC of <1,500 cells/mm(3) (10 patients) had significantly higher risk, both in terms of overall survival (OS) [adjusted hazard ratio 2.63, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.22-5.67, p = 0.013] and progression-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio 3.07, 95 % CI 1.03-6.93, p = 0.003), compared to those with a TLC of ≤ 1,500 cells/mm(3) (49 patients). Adjuvant chemoradiation significantly reduced lymphocyte counts from baseline values. Patients with suppression of their lymphocytes to <500 cells/mm(3) after chemoradiation also had shorter disease-free and OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunosuppressive conditions associated with surgical procedures and chemoradiation may affect the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Recovery of immunological homeostasis positively correlates both with early stages of right-colorectal cancer and laparoscopic surgery

Differences in postoperative outcome and recovery between patients subjected to laparoscopic-assisted versus open surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) resection have been widely documented, though not specifically for right-sided tumors. We investigated the immunological responses to the different surgical approaches, by comparing postoperative data simultaneously obtained at systemic, local and cellular levels. A total of 25 right-sided CRC patients and controls were managed, assessing -in the immediate followup- the conventional perioperative parameters and a large panel of cytokines on plasma, peritoneal fluids and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) tissue cultures. A general better recovery for patients operated with laparoscopy compared to conventional procedure, as indicated by the analysis of typical pre- and post-surgical parameters, was observed. The synchronous evaluation of 12 cytokines showed that preoperative plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, TNFα were significantly lower in healthy donors versus CRC patients and that such differences progressively increase with tumor stage. After surgery, the IL-6 and IL-8 increases were significantly higher in open compared to laparoscopic approach only in CRC at early stages. The postsurgical whole panel of cytokine levels were significantly higher in peritoneal fluids compared to corresponding plasma, but with no significant differences depending on kind of surgery or stage of disease. Then we observed that, pre- compared to the corresponding post-surgery derived LPS-stimulated PBMC cultures, produced higher supernatant levels of the whole cytokine panel. In particular IL-6 in vitro production was significantly higher in PBMC derived from patients subjected to laparoscopic versus open intervention, but -again- only in CRC at early stages of disease. Our results thus show that laparoscopy compared to open right resection is associated with a shorter compromission of the immunological homeostasis, mainly in early stages of right-CRC patients.

Perioperative period: immunological modifications

Surgical stress induces complex modifications in the hemodynamic, metabolic, neuro-hormonal and immune response of the individual. The magnitude of these alterations depends on preoperative events leading to surgery, the severity of surgical trauma, and also on post-operative/post-traumatic complications (multiple hit hypothesis). As in other conditions of tissue damage, surgery trauma is followed by an immune-inflammatory response, initiated at the site of injury by the innate immune system, followed by a compensatory anti-inflammatory (or immunosuppressive) response (CARS), involving mainly cells of the adaptive immune system, which predispose the host to septic complications. The up-regulated inflammatory response, together with a profound impairment of macrophage and cell-mediated immunity, appear to be the cause for patients&#x0027; increased susceptibility in developing subsequent sepsis after major surgery.

A prospective case-control study of the local and systemic cytokine response after laparoscopic versus open colonic surgery

BACKGROUND

There is a sequential, high concentration cytokine response after major abdominal surgery. The magnitude of this response has been directly linked to postoperative metabolic derangement, ileus, adhesions, and oncological outcomes. We aimed to compare the local and systemic cytokine response in laparoscopic and open colonic surgery and relate this to postoperative recovery parameters.

METHODS

Using a prospectively collected patient database, we compared a Study Group (n = 50) of patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colonic resection with a Control Group (n = 25) of patients undergoing equivalent open colonic surgery within an ERAS program. Patients were matched for age, gender, BMI, ASA, Cr Possum, side of resection, diagnosis, and histologic stage. Plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNFα were measured at 20-24 h after surgery. The Surgical Recovery Score was determined pre-operatively and at 3, 7, 30, and 60 d postoperatively. All data were prospectively collected, and a priori definitions were used for discharge parameters, complications, and complication severity.

RESULTS

Peritoneal fluid IL-6 concentration was lower after laparoscopic surgery. There were no significant differences in the other cytokines measured, or in any postoperative recovery outcomes. Significant correlations were found between cytokine levels and discharge criteria achievement, day stay, postoperative complications, and the Surgical Recovery Score.

CONCLUSION

With the exception of a lower peritoneal IL-6 level, the systemic and peritoneal cytokine response at 20-24 h is similar after laparoscopic versus open colonic resection within an ERAS program, with corresponding equivalent rates of postoperative recovery.

The humoral response after laparoscopic versus open colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The local and systemic humoral response after colorectal surgery is thought to affect postoperative recovery. It is commonly claimed that laparoscopic surgery elicits a diminished inflammatory response than equivalent open surgery. Despite these claims, the evidence is conflicting. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the results from randomized controlled clinical trials comparing the humoral response associated with laparoscopic versus open colorectal surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A high-sensitivity search was conducted independently by two of the authors with no language restriction. Studies were identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL/CCTR), Cochrane Library, Medline (January 1966 to January 2009), PubMed (1950 to January 2009), and Embase (1947 to January 2009). Relevant meeting abstracts and reference lists were manually searched. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager ver. 5.0.

RESULTS

Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly higher serum IL-6 on d 1 after open colorectal resection for neoplasia (n = 97) compared with laparoscopic resection (n = 76, P = 0.0008) without significant heterogeneity. Data for plasma IL-6 were heterogeneous, with no apparent difference between groups. No other significant differences were identified, and there were not enough data on local peritoneal humoral factors to allow meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

Open colorectal resection for neoplasia is associated with higher postoperative serum levels of IL-6 on d 1 than equivalent laparoscopic surgery. The aetiology and clinical significance of this finding is uncertain, and further studies are required to elucidate any differences in the local humoral response which may be more clinically relevant in surgery for this indication.

NOTES new frontier: Natural orifice approach to retroperitoneal disease

AIM: To develop a pure transvaginal access to the retroperitoneum, that is simple, reproducible and uses endoscopic material available on the market.

METHODS: From February 2008 to April 2009, 31 pigs were operated on, with 17 as an acute experiment and 14 with a survival protocol. The animals were placed in a supine position and a 12-mm double-channel endoscope (Karl Storz™, Tuttlingen) was used for vision and dissection. During the same time period, the access experiment was reproduced on 3 human cadavers using material similar to that used in the animal model.

RESULTS: In the animal model, 37 interventions were done on the kidney, adrenal gland and pancreas. The mean time to fashion the access was 10 min (range 5 to 20 min). No intraoperative death was observed. Two major (5%) intraoperative complications occurred: one hemorrhage on the aorta and one tearing of the right renal vein. Peritoneal laceration was encountered in 5 cases without impairing the planned task. In the survival group, good clinical outcome was observed at a mean follow-up of 3 wk (range 2 to 6 wk). In the 3 cadavers, access was performed correctly. The mean time to fashion the access was 52 min (range 40 to 60 min). All the anatomical landmarks described in the pig model were clearly identified in the same sequence.

CONCLUSION: A retroperitoneal natural orifice translumenal surgical transvaginal approach is feasible in both animal and human models and allows performance of a large panel of interventions.

Effects of laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy compared with abdominal hysterectomy on immune function

This study evaluated the effects of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and abdominal hysterectomy (AH) on the immune system. Between May 2007 and July 2008, 84 women with uterine myoma were randomized in a double-blind manner to undergo LAVH (n = 42) or AH (n = 42). Plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), T-lymphocyte CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) subpopulations, and natural killer (NK) cells were measured 24 h before and 24 h and 72 h after surgery. The IL-6, TNF-alpha and CRP levels in both groups increased significantly after surgery compared with pre-operative levels, and were significantly lower in the LAVH versus the AH group. Post-operative CD3(+) and CD8(+) T-cell counts in the AH group decreased significantly compared with pre-operative levels, whereas in the LAVH group they decreased but not to a statistically significant degree. Post-operative CD4(+) T-cell counts in the AH group also decreased significantly at 24 h after surgery, but were significantly increased at 72 h. In conclusion, LAVH does not significantly affect immune function compared with AH, suggesting the preservation of post-operative immunity, however further clinical studies are necessary.

Single-port laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery: initial operative experience and comparative outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To present the initial operative outcomes and comparative data among patients undergoing single-port laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery (SPLRS).

METHODS

A prospective, observational study of all patients who underwent SPLRS was performed. The salient demographic and operative data, including age, body mass index, operative indications, operative time, estimated blood loss, complications, and postoperative visual analog pain scale scores were recorded. Patients who underwent cryoablation were then retrospectively compared to a contemporary, matched cohort of patients undergoing traditional laparoscopic retroperitoneal cryosurgery. Statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

From September 25, 2007 to July 15, 2008, 8 patients underwent SPLRS. Five patients underwent SPLR cryoablation and 1 underwent SPLR partial nephrectomy for radiographic evidence of an enhancing renal mass. One patient underwent SPLR metastectomy for isolated recurrence of renal cell carcinoma. The remaining patient underwent SPLR cyst decortication for unrelenting pain. The mean patient age was 63.5 years. The mean body mass index was 28.9 kg/m(2). The mean operative time and estimated blood loss was 165 +/- 23 minutes and 134 +/- 152 mL, respectively. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. The mean hospitalization was 1.4 days. The mean visual analog pain scale score at discharge was 0.4 of 10 (range 0-2). No significant difference was noted between the single-port and standard retroperitoneal cryotherapy cohorts with respect to age, body mass index, estimated blood loss, and length of hospitalization (P > .05). Patients who underwent SPLR cryoablation reported lower visual analog pain scale scores (P = .023).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study have shown that SPLRS is feasible and offers comparable surgical outcomes and superior cosmesis and pain control compared with traditional retroperitoneoscopy.

Regional administration of oncolytic Echovirus 1 as a novel therapy for the peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer

The dissemination of malignant gastric cells to the peritoneum occurs frequently, usually as an early event in disease, and results in poor patient prognosis. Surgery and chemotherapy offer limited therapeutic success. The low-pathogenic human enterovirus, Echovirus 1 (EV1), is an oncolytic virus that selectively targets and destroys malignant prostate and ovarian cancer xenografts in vivo. Lytic EV1 infection requires the cell surface expression of alpha(2)beta(1), an integrin involved in the dissemination of gastric cancer cells to the peritoneum. Herein, we evaluated the capacity of EV1 for anti-neoplastic cell action in gastric peritoneal carcinomatosis. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that alpha(2)beta(1) was abundantly surface expressed on a panel of gastric cancer cell lines, rendering the majority of lines highly susceptible to in vitro lytic EV1 infection and supportive of efficient viral progeny production. A bioluminescent MKN-45-Luc SCID mouse model of peritoneal dissemination was developed to allow real-time non-invasive monitoring of peritoneal tumor burden. Employing this mouse model, we demonstrated a therapeutic dose-response for escalating oncolytic EV1 doses. Taken together, these results emphasize the exciting potential for EV1 as a single or adjunct therapy for the control of the peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.