Exenterative pelvic surgery—eleven year experience of the Swansea Pelvic Oncology Group

Urgent Pelvic Exenteration: Should the Indication Be Extended?

BACKGROUND

Pelvic exenteration carries significant risks of morbidity and mortality. Preoperative management is therefore crucial, and the exenteration procedure is usually performed in an elective setting. In cases of rectal cancer, however, tumor-related complications may cause a patient's condition to deteriorate rapidly, despite optimal management. Urgent pelvic exenteration then may be an option for these patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare the outcomes of pelvic exenteration between the urgent and elective settings.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective study.

SETTING

This study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between February 2006 and June 2012.

PATIENTS

Fifty-three patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were included.

INTERVENTION

All patients underwent pelvic exenteration for locally advanced rectal cancer. They were assigned to urgent and elective setting groups according to their preoperative conditions. The urgent setting group included patients who required urgent pelvic exenteration because of intestinal obstruction, bowel perforation, bleeding, or uncontrolled sepsis, despite optimal management preoperatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Twenty-six patients were classified in the urgent setting group, and 27 were classified in the elective setting group. Three-year overall and disease-free survivals were compared between the 2 groups. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity and mortality were also studied.

RESULTS

Three-year overall survival was 62.2% and 54.4% in the elective and urgent groups (p = 0.7), whereas three-year disease-free survival was 43% and 63.8% (p = 0.33). The median follow-up time was 33 months. Thirty-day morbidity did not differ between the 2 groups (p = 0.49). A low serum albumin level was a significant risk factor for complications. There was no postoperative mortality in this study.

LIMITATIONS

This was a retrospective study performed at 1 institution, and it lacked quality-of-life scores.

CONCLUSION

Pelvic exenteration in an urgent setting is feasible and could offer acceptable outcomes. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A591.

Pelvic floor reconstruction by modified rectus abdominis myoperitoneal (MRAM) flap after pelvic exenterations

OBJECTIVE

To describe the technique and report experiences with pelvic floor reconstruction by modified rectus abdominis myoperitoneal (MRAM) flap after extensive pelvic procedures.

METHODS

Surgical technique of MRAM harvest and transposition is carefully described. The patients in whom pelvic floor reconstruction with MRAM after either infralevator pelvic exenteration and/or extended lateral pelvic sidewall excision was carried out were enrolled into the study (MRAM group, n=16). Surgical data, post-operative morbidity, and disease status were retrospectively assessed. The results were compared with a historical cohort of patients, in whom an exenterative procedure without pelvic floor reconstruction was performed at the same institution (control group, n=24).

RESULTS

Both groups were balanced in age, BMI, tumor types, and previous treatment. Substantially less patients from the MRAM group required reoperation within 60days of the surgery (25% vs. 50%) which was due to much lower rate of complications potentially related to empty pelvis syndrome (1 vs. 7 reoperations) (p=0.114). Late post-operative complication rate was substantially lower in the MRAM group (any grade: 79% vs. 44%; grade≥3: 37% vs. 6%) (p=0.041). The performance status 6months after the surgery was ≤1 in the majority of patients in MRAM (81%) while in only 38% of patients from the control group (p=0.027). There was one incisional hernia in MRAM group while three cases were reported in the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic floor reconstruction by MRAM in patients after pelvic exenterative procedures is associated with a substantial decrease in postoperative complications that are potentially related to empty pelvis syndrome.

Locally advanced rectal cancer: management challenges

Between 5% and 10% of patients with rectal cancer present with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), and 10% of rectal cancers recur after surgery, of which half are limited to locoregional disease only (locally recurrent rectal cancer). Exenterative surgery offers the best long-term outcomes for patients with LARC and locally recurrent rectal cancer so long as a complete (R0) resection is achieved. Accurate preoperative multimodal staging is crucial in assessing the potential operability of advanced rectal tumors, and resectability may be enhanced with neoadjuvant therapies. Unfortunately, surgical options are limited when the tumor involves the lateral pelvic sidewall or high sacrum due to the technical challenges of achieving histological clearance, and must be balanced against the high morbidity associated with resection of the bony pelvis and significant lymphovascular structures. This group of patients is usually treated palliatively and subsequently survival is poor, which has led surgeons to seek innovative new solutions, as well as revisit previously discarded radical approaches. A small number of centers are pioneering new techniques for resection of beyond-total mesorectal excision tumors, including en bloc resections of the sciatic notch and composite resections of the first two sacral vertebrae. Despite limited experience, these new techniques offer the potential for radical treatment of previously inoperable tumors. This narrative review sets out the challenges facing the management of LARCs and discusses evolving management options.

Determinants of survival following pelvic exenteration for primary rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Pelvic exenteration is a potentially curative treatment for locally advanced primary rectal cancer. Previous studies have been limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneous data. A consecutive series of patients was studied to identify the clinicopathological determinants of survival.

METHODS

All patients undergoing pelvic exenterative surgery for primary rectal cancer (1992-2014) at this hospital were analysed. The primary outcome measure was 5-year overall survival. Secondary endpoints included length of hospital stay, complication rate, 30-day mortality and disease recurrence rate. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 174 patients with a median age of 65 (range 31-90) years were included. Ninety-six patients underwent posterior pelvic exenteration and 78 had total pelvic exenteration. Median follow-up was 48 (range 1-229) months. Two patients (1.1 per cent) died within 30 days of surgery and 16.1 per cent returned to the operating theatre. The 5-year survival rate following complete resection (R0) was 59.3 per cent. In univariable analysis, adverse survival was associated with advanced age (P = 0.003), metastatic disease (P = 0.001), pathological node status (P = 0.001), circumferential resection margin (P = 0.001), local recurrence (P = 0.015) and the need for neoadjuvant therapy (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

Pelvic exenteration is an aggressive treatment option with a high morbidity rate that provides favourable long-term outcomes in patients with locally advanced primary rectal cancer.

Morbidity and outcome of pelvic exenteration in locally advanced pelvic malignancies

Pelvic exenteration is a technically demanding surgical procedure performed for locally advanced cancers in the pelvis. Aim of the present study was to analyze morbidity, failure pattern and survival after pelvic exenteration during a period of 15 years in a dedicated cancer centre in South India. Retrospective analysis of case records of 50 patients who underwent pelvic exenteration from 1996 to 2011 in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Government Royapettah Hospital Chennai. Forty-six patients were females and 4 were males with a mean age of 48.3 years (range 21-72). Twenty six patients had cervical cancer,14 had rectal cancer, 3 had bladder cancer,2 had endometrial cancer, 2 had vaginal cancer, 1 had uterine sarcoma, 1 had anal cancer and 1 had ovarian cancer. The postoperative morbidity was 50%. 7 patients (14%) developed recurrence of which 5 had local and 2 had distant recurrence. The estimated 5 year overall survival for all patients in our series was 53.5% and for the patients with Ca rectum and Ca cervix was 60.6% and 40.1% respectively. Adjacent organ invasion had a significant impact over survival. Pelvic exenteration provides a curative form of treatment for carefully selected locally advanced cancer in the pelvis and it can be done safely with acceptable complications in centers experienced in multivisceral resections.

Permanent interstitial re-irradiation with Au-198 seeds in patients with post-radiation locally recurrent uterine carcinoma

This study sought to analyze the outcome of patients with post-treatment locally recurrent uterine carcinoma treated with Au-198 seed permanent interstitial re-irradiation (Au-198 IRI). A retrospective review of the data of 15 patients with post-treatment locally recurrent uterine carcinoma treated with Au-198 IRI between 1991 and 2009 was performed to evaluate the disease response, local control, overall survival and complication rates. All the patients had received definitive radiation therapy or surgery as the initial treatment. None were judged as being suitable candidates for surgical treatment, and were referred for Au-198 IRI. Au-198 IRI was performed for the vaginal wall in 8 patients, vaginal stump in 4 patients, vulva in 2 patients, and cervix in 1 patient. The median tumor volume was 1.3 cm(3)(range, 0.4-6.9), the median treated volume was 6.3 cm(3)(range, 1.8-11), and the median prescribed dose was 76 Gy (range, 68-90). At a median follow-up duration of 19 months (range, 4.3-146.9), 13 of 15 patients (87%) showed complete responses after Au-198 IRI, although 10 of these 13 patients (77%) developed repeat central recurrence again between 2.5 and 49.7 months after the Au-198 IRI (median, 12.5 months). The overall 2-year local control rate and 2-year overall survival rate in the 15 patients were 33% and 64%, respectively. Two (13%) of the 15 patients experienced late complications that were more severe than Grade III. As a result, Au-198 IRI is considered to be one of the salvage treatment modalities with tolerable complications for inoperable centrally recurrent uterine carcinoma.

Pelvic exenteration: surgical approaches

Although the incidence of local recurrence after curative resection of rectal cancer has decreased due to the understanding of the anatomy of pelvic structures and the adoption of total mesorectal excision, local recurrence in the pelvis still remains a significant and troublesome complication. While surgery for recurrent rectal cancer may offer a chance for a cure, conservative management, including radiation and chemotherapy, remain widely accepted courses of treatment. Recent improvement in imaging modalities, perioperative care, and surgical techniques, including bone resection and wound coverage, have allowed for reductions in operative mortality, though postoperative morbidity still remains high. In this review, the techniques, including surgical approaches, employed for management of locally recurrent rectal cancer are highlighted.

Total pelvic exenteration for rectal cancer: outcomes and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

To perform complete resection of locally advanced and recurrent rectal carcinoma, total pelvic exenteration (TPE) may be attempted. We identified disease-related outcomes and prognostic factors.

METHODS

We conducted a single-centre review of patients who underwent TPE for rectal carcinoma over a 10-year period.

RESULTS

We included 28 patients in our study. After a median follow-up of 35 months, 53.6% of patients were alive with no evidence of disease. The 3-year actuarial disease-free and overall survival rates were 52.2% and 75.1%, respectively. On univariate analysis, recurrent disease, preoperative body mass index greater than 30 and lymphatic invasion were poor prognostic factors for disease-free survival, and only lymphatic invasion predicted overall survival. Additionally, multivariate analysis identified lymphatic invasion as an independent poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival in this patient population with locally advanced and recurrent rectal carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Despite the significant morbidity, TPE can provide long-term survival in patients with rectal carcinoma. Additionally, lymphatic invasion on final pathology was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival.

Selection criteria for the radical treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer

There are over 14,000 newly diagnosed rectal cancers per year in the United Kingdom of which between 50 and 64 percent are locally advanced (T₃/T₄) at presentation. Pelvic exenterative surgery was first described by Brunschwig in 1948 for advanced cervical cancer, but early series reported high morbidity and mortality. This approach was later applied to advanced primary rectal carcinomas with contemporary series reporting 5-year survival rates between 32 and 66 percent and to recurrent rectal carcinoma with survival rates of 22–42%. The Swansea Pelvic Oncology Group was established in 1999 and is involved in the assessment and management of advanced pelvic malignancies referred both regionally and UK wide. This paper will set out the selection, assessment, preparation, surgery, and outcomes from pelvic exenterative surgery for locally advanced primary rectal carcinomas.

Multivisceral resection for primary locally advanced rectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pelvic multivisceral resection offers the possibility of cure in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This study assessed the clinical outcome and determinants of survival and local recurrence in patients undergoing multivisceral resection for clinical T4 primary rectal cancer.

METHODS

This was a cohort study of consecutive multivisceral resections carried out in a single centre from 2000 to 2009. Determinants of local recurrence and survival were examined by means of Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The study included 42 patients, with a median age of 62 (range 41-83) years, who underwent surgery with a median follow-up of 30 (range 2-102) months. Thirty-one patients had preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Seven patients had rectal resection with en bloc radical prostatectomy. The 30-day mortality rate was zero. Thirty-nine of the 42 patients had a negative circumferential resection margin. The 5-year overall survival rate for those who had complete resection was 48 per cent. Local recurrence was predicted by metastatic disease (P < 0.001) and nodal disease (P < 0.001), but not positive resection margins (P = 0.077).

CONCLUSION

An aggressive surgical strategy with complete resection is predictive of long-term survival in selected patients with T4a rectal carcinoma. With optimal treatment local recurrence is a sign of systemic disease.

Local recurrence after abdomino-perineal resection

OBJECTIVE

Local recurrence of rectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following curative resection. The published rates vary after abdomino-perineal resection (APR) from 5% to 47%. The aim of this study was to evaluate local recurrence following curative APR for low rectal cancer in our unit.

METHOD

The medical notes of patients treated between 1st January 1996 and 31st December 2000 were retrieved. Local recurrence was defined as the presence of tumour within the pelvis confirmed by clinical findings, pathological specimen or radiological reports. A curative resection was defined as excision of tumour in the absence of macroscopic metastatic disease and whose resection margins were greater than 1 mm circumferentially and 10 mm distally. Outcomes and survival were compared using Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Two hundred consecutive cases with a diagnosis of rectal cancer were identified of which 139 underwent a curative resection (69.5%). Of these 40 patients (28%) underwent APR with curative intent. Two patients (5%) developed local recurrence at 18 and 24 months respectively. The overall local recurrence rate for all curative rectal cancer surgery, in the same period was 2.6%. Eleven patients have died in the follow-up period of which nine were cancer-related deaths.

CONCLUSION

The local recurrence rates achieved with APR were not significantly different from those achieved with restorative operations. Tumours at the ano-rectal junction should not be dissected off the pelvic floor, but radically excised en bloc with the surrounding levator ani, as a cylinder, as originally described by Miles.

The role of pelvic exenteration and reconstruction for treatment of advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies: Analysis of risk factors predicting recurrence and survival

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Pelvic exenteration offers the last chance of cure for some advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancy patients. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze factors associated with recurrence and survival after pelvic exenteration.

METHODS

Forty-six women with advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies were enrolled between July 2001 and February 2006. All pelvic exenteration surgery was performed by the same gynecological oncologist.

RESULTS

Two patients were excluded due to the discovery of peritoneal disease during surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that a tumor size >4 cm was the only factor associated with risk of recurrence after surgery (P = 0.014), that margin status was the only factor associated with disease-free survival (P = 0.0.047), and that margin status and lymph node metastasis were associated with overall survival (P = 0.017 and 0.012, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic exenteration and reconstruction was found to have a potential to provide long-term survival without postoperative mortality although the morbidity rate is somewhat high. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size >4 cm was a predictive factor for recurrence, and that margin status and lymph node metastasis were predictive factors for survival.