Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection with "dog ear" invagination anastomosis for mid and distal rectal cancer a propensity score matched analysis

Circular staplers and anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery: meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage is a feared complication after colorectal resection. Recent advancements in surgical techniques, particularly the use of circular staplers, have aimed to improve postoperative outcomes. However, the optimal choice of circular stapler remains uncertain, with debate surrounding its impact on anastomotic leakage rates. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of different circular stapler characteristics on anastomotic leakage occurrence after left colorectal resection.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify studies on the correlation between circular staplers and anastomotic leakage occurrence were performed up to November 2023 (PROSPERO registration: CRD42024519036). The literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and performed using the following search terms: 'colorectal surgery', 'staplers', 'complications'. Only retrospective, cohort, prospective and randomized clinical trials on anastomotic leakage rate after left colorectal resection, including adult patients (over 18 years of age) and published in English were included. Exclusion criteria were articles with different designs, and studies including extra-colonic or right/transverse colon diseases. The quality assessment of the study was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa classification. The outcome of interest was the analysis of each staplers' characteristics including: diameter, number of rows, technology (manual versus powered) and anastomotic technique (single- versus double-stapling technique) on anastomotic leakage occurrence.

RESULTS

Twenty-one retrospective studies were selected including 24 511 patients. A higher anastomotic leakage rate was documented for 31/33 mm stapler diameters compared with the 28/29 mm (OR -0.92, 95% c.i. -1.74 to -0.10; P = 0.02), while no significant difference was found between the 25 mm and 28/29 mm diameters (OR -0.46, 95% c.i. -1.39 to 0.46; P = 0.2). Similar anastomotic leakage rates were found for the two- and three-row circular stapler groups (OR -0.01, 95% c.i. -0.16 to 0.13; P = 0.85). Conversely, the powered technology related to a significantly lower rate of anastomotic leakage compared with the manual technology (OR -0.83, 95% c.i. -1.13 to -0.35; P < 0.001). Similarly, the single-stapling technique related to a lower rate of anastomotic leakage compared with the double-stapling technique (OR 0.79, 95% c.i. 0.33 to 1.25; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study shows a higher anastomotic leakage rate for larger circular staplers and manual technology. Similarly, the single-stapling technique has advantages over the double-stapling technique, while the tri-staple technology does not appear to confer advantages on anastomotic leakage occurrence.

Effect of laparoscopic intracorporeal reinforcing sutures to prevent anastomotic leakage: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of reinforcing sutures after surgery for rectal cancer and its associated impact on postoperative recovery. Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a common and serious complication after anteriorrectal resection. It is currently unclear whether laparoscopic intracorporeal reinforcingsutures can effectively reduce the incidence of AL.

METHOD

From inception to 2024, the literature search was conducted using a variety of databases, including PubMed, the Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM), Wanfang, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, VIP, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), to identify relevant articles. Free-text forms were used to search the literature: "rectal cancer", "rectal neoplasms", "reinforcing sutures", and "anastomotic leakage" or AL. The search was undertaken by 2 different reviewers, who independently evaluated the studies.

RESULT

Twelve retrospective studies and 4 RCTs were analyzed in all. A total of 3147 individuals were identified, with 1512 receiving reinforcing sutures and 1635 not. Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery to get reinforcing sutures had a notably decreased occurrence of anastomotic leakage, according to our data. (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.21-0.51, p<0.00001). It had an earlier anal exhaust time and a shorter hospitalization. The 2 different groups did not differ substantially with regard to intraoperative blood loss or the rate of postoperative intestinal obstruction. However, patients who received reinforced sutures via a laparoscopic approach cost more operative time (MD=16.77, 95% CI 11.31-22.23, p<0.00001).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of AL can be greatly decreased through the use of a laparoscopic approach for anastomotic reinforcement, which may be a better option after radical surgery for rectal patients. However, more RCT studies with large sample sizes are needed.PROSPERO: CRD42024548847.

Association Between Cross-Stapling Technique in Mechanical Colorectal Anastomosis and Short-term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The double-stapled technique is the most common method of colorectal anastomosis in minimally invasive surgery. Several modifications to the conventional technique have been described to reduce the intersection between the stapled lines, as the resulting lateral dog-ears are considered possible risk factors for anastomotic leakage.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of patients receiving conventional versus modified stapled colorectal anastomosis after minimally invasive surgery.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic review of the published literature was undertaken. PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase databases were screened up to July 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Relevant articles were searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Articles reporting on the outcomes of patients with modified stapled colorectal reconstruction compared with the conventional method of double-stapled anastomosis were included.

INTERVENTIONS

Conventional double-stapling colorectal anastomosis and modified techniques with reduced intersection between the stapled lines were compared.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The rate of anastomotic leak was the primary end point of interest. Perioperative details including postoperative morbidity were also appraised.

RESULTS

There were 2537 patients from 12 studies included for data extraction, with no significant differences in age, BMI, or proportion of high ASA score between patients who had conventional versus modified techniques of reconstructions. The risk of anastomotic leak was 62% lower for the modified procedure than for the conventional procedure (OR = 0.38 [95% CI, 0.26-0.56]). The incidences of overall postoperative morbidity (OR = 0.57 [95% CI, 0.45-0.73]) and major morbidity (OR = 0.48 [95% CI, 0.32-0.72]) following modified stapled anastomosis were significantly lower than following conventional double-stapled anastomosis.

LIMITATIONS

The retrospective nature of most included studies is a main limitation, essentially because of the lack of randomization and the risk of selection and detection bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The available evidence supports the modification of the conventional double-stapled technique with the elimination of 1 of both dog-ears as it is associated with a lower incidence of anastomotic-related morbidity.

Fact or fiction? Does the position of the end-to-end (EEA) stapler spike matter for colorectal anastomoses using a double-stapled technique?

AIM

Surgeons often have strong opinions about how to perform colorectal anastomoses with little data to support variations in technique. The aim of this study was to determine if location of the end-to-end (EEA) stapler spike relative to the rectal transection line is associated with anastomotic integrity.

METHOD

This study was a retrospective analysis of a quality collaborative database at a quaternary centre and regional hospitals. Patients with any left-sided colon resection with double-stapled anastomosis were included (December 2019 to August 2022). Our primary endpoint was a composite outcome including positive air insufflation test, incomplete anastomotic donut, or thin/eccentric donut. Our secondary endpoint was clinical leak.

RESULTS

Overall, 633 patients were included and stratified by location of the stapler spike relative to the rectal transection line. Of note, 86 patients had an end-colon to anterior rectum ("reverse Baker") anastomosis with no crossing staple lines. The rates of the composite endpoint based on position of the stapler spike were 12.4% (anterior), 8.1% (through), 12.8% (posterior), 5.1% (corner), and 2.3% for the "reverse Baker" (p = 0.03). The overall rate of clinical leak was 3.8% and there were no differences between methods. In a multivariate analysis, the "reverse Baker" anastomosis was associated with decreased odds of poor anastomotic integrity when compared to anastomoses with crossing staple lines (OR 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.87, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

For anastomoses with crossing staple lines, the position of the stapler spike relative to the rectal staple line is not associated with differences in anastomotic integrity. In contrast, anastomoses with no crossing staple lines resulted in significantly lower rates of poor anastomotic integrity, but no difference in clinical leaks.