Surgical Innovation

Background. The optimal radical surgical approach for rectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is unknown. Methods. This study evaluated the short- and long-term outcomes of 27 patients who underwent robotic radical surgery for rectal NET between 2011 and 2019. Results. The median distance from the lower border of the tumor to the anal verge was 5.0 cm. The median tumor size was 9.5 mm. Six patients (22%) had lymph node metastasis. The incidences of postoperative complications of grade II and grade III or more according to the Clavien–Dindo classification were 11% and 0%, respectively. All patients underwent sphincter-preserving surgery, and no patients required conversion to open surgery. The median follow-up time was 48.9 months, and both the 3-year overall survival and relapse-free survival rates were 100%. Conclusions. Short- and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal NET tumor were favorable. Robotic surgery may be a useful surgical approach for rectal NET.

Background. Rives repair has been traditionally used for large abdominal wall defects with good results on terms of recurrence. However, it is limited by the lateral border of the posterior rectus sheath. The objective of our study was to evaluate recurrence rate, midline closure and mesh overlap in patients operated on elective midline incisional hernia by open Rives retromuscular repair. Methods. This is a prospective observational study of 83 patients who underwent elective open Rives technique between January 2014 and December 2018. Main inclusion criteria were adults with a midline incisional hernia. Recurrence, midline closure and mesh overlap were determined. Results. At a median postoperative follow-up of 32 (5-59) months, 8 cases of recurrence were reported. Patients with recurrence had wider hernia defects (101 ± 52 mm vs 66 ± 36 mm, P = .014) and were repaired with wider meshes (191 ± 93 mm vs 137 ± 68 mm, P = .042). However, although it was not statistically significant, midline closure was lower (38% vs 59%), as well as the overlapping relationship between mesh area and hernia defect area (2.937:1 vs 3.732:1) on patients that developed a recurrence. Conclusions. Rives technique provides good mid-term results in a midline incisional hernia (10% of recurrence at 36 months), including wider hernias in the recurrent cohort. The authors believe that other techniques which allow midline closure and placement of bigger meshes should be considered, especially in those hernias classified as W3 on EuraHS classification (more than 10 cm on width size).

In otolaryngologic surgery, more and more robots are being studied to meet the clinical needs of operating rooms. However, to help design and optimize these robots, the workspace must be precisely defined taking into account patient variability. The aim of this work is to define a geometric atlas of the middle ear and paranasal sinuses for endoscopic robotic applications. Scans of several patients of different ages and sexes were used to determine the average size of these workspaces, which are linked by the similar use of endoscopes in surgery.

Objectives. To identify factors that lead to successful same-day discharge compared with unplanned and planned admission after minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Methods. Patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. 3 groups were created: same-day discarge (SDD), unplanned admission (UA), and planned admission(PA). Demographic/perioperative factors and encounters after discharge were compared. A multivariable logistic regression was performed. Results. 262 patients were included. By year, the success of SDD increased from 59.1% to 82.5%. Patients who underwent SDD compared with admission were younger (62.2 vs 66.2, P = .003) and had a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (4 vs 5, P < .001). BMI was not significant. Comparing SDD and UA, shorter operative time (100.3 min vs 130.6 min, P = .037) was associated with SDD. Postoperative pain scores were not significant (3.8 vs 4.7, P = .086). The rate of unscheduled encounters within 30 days of discharge was not significantly different. On multivariable analysis, the odds of SDD decreased by 4% with each 1-year increase in age (OR .96, P = .017). Each 1-minute increase in operative time decreased the odds of SDD by 2% (OR .98, P < .001). Intraoperative acetaminophen (OR 2.78, P = .003) and ketorolac (OR 2.27, P = .031) were predictive of SDD. Conclusion. SDD can be safely incorporated into clinical practice in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy, even for patients older than previously reported. Shorter operative time was associated with SDD. The role of perioperative acetaminophen and ketorolac should be further investigated.

Purpose. See-through head-mounted displays (HMDs) can be used to view fluoroscopic imaging during orthopedic surgical procedures. The goals of this study were to determine whether HMDs reduce procedure time, number of fluoroscopic images required, or number of head turns by the surgeon compared with standard monitors. Methods. Sixteen orthopedic surgery residents each performed fluoroscopy-guided drilling of 8 holes for placement of tibial nail distal interlocking screws in an anatomical model, with 4 holes drilled while using HMD and 4 holes drilled while using a standard monitor. Procedure time, number of fluoroscopic images needed, and number of head turns by the resident during the procedure were compared between the 2 modalities. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Results. Mean (SD) procedure time did not differ significantly between attempts using the standard monitor (55 [37] seconds) vs the HMD (56 [31] seconds) (P = .73). Neither did mean number of fluoroscopic images differ significantly between attempts using the standard monitor vs the HMD (9 [5] images for each) (P = .84). Residents turned their heads significantly more times when using the standard monitor (9 [5] times) vs the HMD (1 [2] times) (P < .001). Conclusions. Head-mounted displays lessened the need for residents to turn their heads away from the surgical field while drilling holes for tibial nail distal interlocking screws in an anatomical model; however, there was no difference in terms of procedure time or number of fluoroscopic images needed using the HMD compared with the standard monitor.

Objective. To investigate the efficacy and safety of the oblique supine lithotomy during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) to treat upper urinary calculi. Methods. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 371 patients with upper urinary calculi who underwent PCNL at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to October 2020. Based on different positions, patients were divided into the observation group (oblique supine lithotomy position, 155 cases, Group 1) or control group (prone position, 216 cases, Group 2). Groups were compared for effectiveness, complications, bleeding, surgical time, clinical indicators, and hospitalization time. Results. There were no significant differences in the clinical baseline data between the two groups (p > .05). However, the stone-free rate for patients was significantly higher in the observation than in the control group (p < .05). Both operation time and hospital stay time were significantly lower in the observation versus the control groups (p < .05). No significant differences were observed for complications or amount of blood loss (p > .05). Conclusion. In patients with upper urinary calculi, percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the oblique supine lithotomy position has a higher stone-free rate than the prone position. This approach can shorten the operation and provide better comfort and quicker recovery to the patients. A further advantage is that there is no difference in safety and blood loss between the prone position and the oblique lithotomy position.

The protective ostomy is the current standard of care to protect a low colorectal anastomosis from leakage, but exposes patients to complications requiring an alternative strategy. The Colovac+ is a vacuum-based intraluminal bypass device designed to shield the anastomosis from fecal content, preventing the clinical outcomes of anastomotic leakage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preliminary efficacy, safety, and technical feasibility of the Colovac+ in a porcine model. Methods: Twelve pigs received a colorectal anastomosis with Colovac+ implantation. The device was left in situ for 10 days and then retrieved endoscopically. Six pigs were to be sacrificed immediately after device retrieval and the other 6 were to be sacrificed on day 38. Clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological examinations were performed to evaluate the following endpoints: prevention of contact between the anastomosis and fecal content, device migration, feasibility of the implantation and retrieval procedure, collateral damage to the colonic wall, colon healing after device retrieval, and systemic toxicity related to the device. Results: Eleven pigs completed the study. One pig died prematurely due to a surgical complication unrelated to the device (bladder damage with uroperitoneum). There was no evidence of contact between the anastomosis and fecal content, none of the pigs developed symptomatic anastomotic leakage, there were no significant device migrations, and there was no evidence of systemic toxicity. Colovac+ implantation was easily performed in all cases except 1 (due to an inappropriate lubricant). Colovac+ retrieval was achieved successfully in all cases. Postretrieval examinations on day 10 revealed ulcerations at the anchoring site in 4 cases indicating mechanical damage caused by the stent. However, in the recovery group, no ulcerations were observed on day 38, and the colonic wall had properly healed in all animals. Conclusions: The Colovac+ is a technically feasible, safe, and efficient device for the protection of a colorectal anastomosis in a porcine model. The device holds promise for clinical use and warrants further research.

Background: For centuries, surgeons have relied on surgical drains during postoperative care. Despite all advances in modern medicine and the area of digitalization, as of today, most if not all assessment of abdominal secretions excreted via surgical drains are carried out manually. We here introduce a novel integrated Smart Sensor System (Smart Drain) that allows for real-time characterization and digitalization of postoperative abdominal drain output at the patient’s bedside. Methods: A prototype of the Smart Drain was developed using a sophisticated spectrometer for assessment of drain output. The prototype measures 10 × 6 × 6 cm and therefore easily fits at the bedside. At the time of measurement with our Smart Drain, the drain output was additionally sent off to be analyzed in our routine laboratory for typical markers of interest in abdominal surgery such as bilirubin, lipase, amylase, triglycerides, urea, protein, and red blood cells. A total of 45 samples from 19 patients were included. Results: The measurements generated were found to correlate with conventional laboratory measurements for bilirubin (r = .658, P = .000), lipase (r = .490, P = .002), amylase (r = .571, P = .000), triglycerides (r = .803, P = .000), urea (r = .326, P = .033), protein (r = .387, P = .012), and red blood cells (r = .904, P = .000). Conclusions: To our best knowledge, for the first time we describe a device using a sophisticated spectrometer that allows for real-time characterization and digitalization of postoperative abdominal drain output at the patient’s bedside.

Background. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has led to an increase in isolated medical waste, making the disposal of isolated medical waste a significant problem. There is the dedicated waste bin with four-sided locking-type at the top, causing contact during waste disposal. And it has infection possibility with high humidity. Purpose. In this article, we suggest automatic isolated medical waste bin cover for drying waste.

Background. This article aims to present an innovative design of a steerable surgical instrument for conventional and single-site minimally invasive surgery (MIS), which improves the dexterity and maneuverability of the surgeon while offering a solution to the limitations of current tools. Methods. The steerable MIS instrument consists of a deflection structure with a curved sliding joints design that articulates the distal tip in two additional degrees of freedom (DoFs), relative to the instrument shaft, using transmission by cables. A passive ball-joint mechanism articulates the handle relative to the instrument shaft, improves wrist posture, and prevents collision of instrument handles during single-site MIS procedures. The two additional DoFs of the articulating tip are activated by a thumb-controlled device, using a joystick design mounted on the handle. This steerable MIS instrument was developed by additive manufacturing in a 3D printer using PLA polymer. Results. Prototype testing showed a maximum tip deflection of 60° in the left and right directions, with a total deflection of 120°. With the passive ball-joint fully offset, the steerable tip achieved a deflection of 90° for the right and 40° for the left direction, with a total deflection of 130°. Furthermore, the passive ball-joint mechanism in the handle obtained a maximum range of motion of 60°. Conclusions. This steerable MIS instrument concept offers an alternative to enhance the application fields of conventional and single-site MIS, increasing manual dexterity of the surgeon and the ability to reach narrow anatomies from other directions.

Dr Marika Daniilidou was born in 1902 in Asia Minor. Her family was forced to immigrate to Greece, in 1922. Despite the horrendous difficulties of the era, she pursued undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the University of Berlin, Germany, and she specialized in orthopaedic surgery. In 1937, she became the first female certified orthopaedic surgeon in Greece. In 1947, she was the only female orthopaedic surgeon among the 22 founders of the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST). She became a true role model for the next generations of Greek women surgeons.