BackgroundPerioperative intravenous (IV) infusion of lidocaine has been shown to decrease post-operative pain, shorten time to return of bowel function, and reduce the length of hospital stay. This randomized, prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the impact of IV lidocaine on the quality of post-operative analgesia and other outcomes after hand-assisted laparoscopic colon surgery.MethodsSixty four patients with colon cancer scheduled for elective colon resection were involved in this study. Patients were randomized to receive either lidocaine infusion [lidocaine group (LG)] or normal 0.9 % saline infusion [placebo group (PG)] for a period of 24 h. Anaesthetic and surgical techniques were standardized. Twenty-four-hour post-operative analgesia in the recovery area was maintained by continuous infusion of 0.1 μg/kg/h fentanyl. The primary outcome of the study was post-operative pain control. Pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after surgery. Patients with a VAS score >3 were treated with ketorolac 30 mg as needed. Secondary outcomes included time to resumption of bowel function and length of hospital stay. Data in the two groups were compared using the two-tailed Student’s t test. All statistical tests were two-tailed at a significance level of 0.05.ResultsDemographic characteristics and clinical features of both groups were similar. Intensity of pain at rest in LG compared with PG was significantly lower during the first 24 h post-operatively. LG patients reported significantly less pain during movements at 2-, 12-, and 24-h post-surgery than PG patients. The study showed that ketorolac consumption was significantly higher in PG: mean ketorolac consumption in LG was 43.77 ± 13.86 mg and in PG 51.67 ± 13.16 mg (p = 0.047). Compared with placebo, lidocaine infusion produced a 32 % reduction in time to the first drink (Cohen’s d = 3.85), 16 % reduction in time to the first full diet (Cohen’s d = 3.35), and 18 % reduction in time to the first bowel movement (Cohen’s d = 2.30). Patients who received lidocaine stayed in hospital 1.2 days less than patients who received placebo (p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = 0.72). There were no significant differences in surgery-related complications between the two groups.ConclusionsPerioperative continuous IV lidocaine infusion has a beneficial effect as regards post-operative pain, restoration of bowel function, and length of hospital stay in patients who have undergone hand-assisted laparoscopic colon surgery.

Introduction For more than the last 20 years, low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision (TME) is a gold standard for rectal cancer treatment. Oncological outcomes have improved significantly and now more and more reports of functional outcomes appear. Due to the close relationship between the rectum and pelvic nerves, bowel, bladder, and sexual function are frequently affected during TME. Methods A search for published data was performed using the MEDLINE database (from 1 January 2005 to 31 January 2015) to perform a systematic review of the studies that described anorectal, bladder, and sexual dysfunction following rectal cancer surgery. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the MINORS criteria. Results Eighty-nine studies were eligible for analysis. Up to 76% of patients undergoing sphincter preserving surgery will have changes in bowel habits, the so-called "low anterior resection syndrome" (LARS). The duration of LARS varies between a few months and several years. Pre-operative radiotherapy, damage of anal sphincter and pelvic nerves, and height of the anastomosis are the risk factors for LARS. There is no evidence-based treatment available for LARS. Sexual function is more commonly affected after rectal surgery than after urinary function. The main cause of dysfunction is damage to pelvic nerves. Sexual and bladder functional outcomes in females are less well reported. Laparoscopic and robotic surgery allows better visualization of autonomic nerves and, therefore, more precise dissection and preservation. Conclusions It is important that rectal resection is standardized as much as possible, and that new functional outcome research use the same validated outcome questionnaires. This would allow for a high-quality meta-analysis.

The ultrasound-guided TAP block given during hand-assisted laparoscopic colon surgery as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen is a feasible and effective technique for postoperative analgesia in colon cancer patients and significantly reduces both pain experienced by patients and short-term postoperative analgesic use and promotes early ambulation. Future studies are needed to determine the efficacy and costs/benefits of the ultrasound-guided TAP block in HALS.

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P¼0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P¼0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P¼0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09e1.90; P¼0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89e1.90; P¼0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events. Clinical trial registration: NCT01601223.

Induced hypotension with epidural anesthesia influences the intraoperative blood loss in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate intraoperative blood loss and need of blood transfusions in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy under epidural/general anesthesia and general anesthesia. Two groups were selected: epidural/general anesthesia group (study group, 27 patients) received epidural anesthesia in association with general anesthesia, and general anesthesia group (control group, 27 patients) received general anesthesia alone. Epidural/general anesthesia was performed using 0.5% solution of bupivacaine and maintained by volatile anesthetic sevoflurane. General anesthesia was performed with endotracheal ventilation using sevoflurane and intravenous fentanyl. The present study showed that the mean blood loss in epidural/general anesthesia group was significantly lower in comparison with that of general anesthesia group (740±210 mL versus 1150±290 mL, P<0.001). In addition, less allogeneic blood was transfused in epidural/general anesthesia group: 0.19 blood units transfused versus 0.52 blood units in general anesthesia group (P=0.007). Our study proved that induced hypotension with epidural/general anesthesia reduced intraoperative blood loss and need of allogeneic blood transfusions in cancer patient undergoing open radical prostatectomy.

Įvadas / tikslasEpidurinis skausmo malšinimas yra vienas iš efektyviausių skausmo malšinimo būdų atliekant tiesiosios žarnos operacijas. Įrodyta, kad jis sumažina pooperacinio žarnų nepraeinamumo dažnį. Šio darbo tikslas buvo nustatyti, ar prevencinis epidurinis skausmo malšinimas yra pranašesnis už epidurinį skusmo malšinimą operacijos pabaigoje. Ligoniai ir metodai Į tyrimą buvo įtraukti 22 ligoniai, kuriems buvo atliktos tiesiosios žarnos rezekcinės operacijos. Atsitiktinės atrankos būdu jie suskirstyti į tiriamąją (T) ir kontrolinę (K) grupes. Abiejų grupių ligoniams taikyta tiek bendroji nejautra, tiek epidurinis skausmo malšinimas. Tiriamosios grupės ligoniams į epidurinį tarpą buvo leidžiama bupivakaino ir morfino dar neprasidėjus operacijai. Kontrolinės grupės ligoniams taikytas intraveninis skausmo malšinimas ir tik operacijos pabaigoje į epidurinį kateterį buvo leidžiama bupivakaino ir morfino. Rezultatai Tiriamosios grupės pacientams prireikė mažiau anestetikų operacijos metu, o skausmo intensyvumas buvo mažesnis pirmąsias 6 valandas po operacijos, palyginti su kontrolinės grupės pacientais. T grupės pacientams po operacijos reikėjo mažiau skausmą malšinančių vaistų. Išvada Prevencinis epidurinis skausmo malšinimas yra pranašesnis už epidurinį skausmo malšinimą operacijos pabaigoje. Reikšminiai žodžiai: prevencinis skausmo malšinimas, epidurinis skausmo malšinimas, kolorektalinė chirurgija. ISSN 1392-0995, ISSN 1648-9942 (online) http://www.chirurgija.lt LIETUVOS CHIRURGIJA Lithuanian Surgery 2011, 9 (3-4), p. 90-96 91 Prevencinis skausmo malšinimas kolorektalinėje chirurgijoje Background / objectiveEpidural analgesia is one of the most effective methods of pain relief in colorectal surgery. Epidural anesthesia reduces also the incidence of postoperative ileuses. The aim of the study was to determine whether preemptive epidural analgesia performed before laparotomy is more effective then laparotomy performed at the end of operation. Patients and methodsTwenty-two patients were included in the study. Rectum resection was performed for all patients. The patients were randomized to study T and control K groups. Both groups received a combined general-epidural anesthesia. Patients in the T group received bupivacaine and morphine via epidural route prior to laparotomy. The K group received intravenous fentanyl infusion during the operation. And at the end of operation, the K group patients received bupivacaine and morphine via the epidural route. ResultsPatients of the T group required fewer anesthetics intraoperatively and had lower pain scores in the first six hours postoperatively than patients of the K group. Also, they needed less analgesic infusion after operation than did patients of the K group. ConclusionThe investigation has shown that the preemptive bupivacaine and morphine epidural injection is superior to the injection of these drugs at the end of operation.

Renatas Tikuišis, Povilas Miliauskas, Narimantas Evaldas Samalavičius, Giedrė RudinskaitėVilniaus universiteto Onkologijos institutas, Santariškių g. 1, LT-08660 VilniusEl paštas: renatas.tikuisis@loc.lt Įvadas / tikslas Palyginti su sistemine analgezija opiatais, atliekant atviras gaubtinės ir tiesiosios žarnos operacijas, epidurinė nejautra efektyviau malšina skausmą ir ją sukėlus sumažėja pooperacinio žarnų nepraeinamumo dažnis. Šio tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti epidurinės analgezijos poveikį skausmo malšinimui ir žarnyno funkcijos atsitaisymui po gaubtinės ir tiesiosios žarnos operacijų. Ligoniai ir metodai Tyrime dalyvavo 50 ligonių, kuriems buvo atlikta gaubtinės arba tiesiosios žarnos rezekcija. Tai buvo perspektyvusis tyrimas, kuris truko dvejus metus. Atsitiktinės atrankos būdu ligoniai buvo suskirstyti į tiriamąją (T) ir kontrolinę (K) grupes. Po 25 ligonius pateko į kiekvieną grupę. T grupės ligoniams buvo taikyta epidurinė nejautra, o K grupės – švirkščiami narkotiniai analgetikai į veną ir penkis raumenis. Buvo vertinamas narkotinių analgetikų suvartojimas, skausmo intensyvumas po operacijos, žarnyno funkcijos atsitaisymo laikas ir laikas, kai ligonis pradėjo vartoti kietą maistą. Rezultatai Abi grupės pagal operacijos apimtį ir ligonių charakteristiką buvo labai panašios. T grupės ligoniams reikėjo mažiau narkotinių analgetikų, jiems skausmo intensyvumas buvo mažesnis, jų žarnyno veikla atsitaisė anksčiau ir jie anksčiau pradėjo vartoti kietą maistą, palyginti su K grupės ligoniais. Išvada Epidurinės analgezijos metodas yra pranašesnis už intraveninį skausmo malšinimo metodą, taip pat mažiau suvartojama narkotinių analgetikų. Epidurinė analgezija pagreitina žarnyno funkcijos atsitaisymą, todėl ligoniai anksčiau pradeda valgyti kietą maistą po atvirų gaubtinės ir tiesiosios žarnos operacijų. Reikšminiai žodžiai: epidurinė analgezija, intraveninė analgezija, gaubtinės žarnos rezekcija, tiesiosios žarnos rezekcija Influence of epidural analgesia on postoperative pain relief and gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal resection Renatas Tikuišis, Povilas Miliauskas, Narimantas Evaldas Samalavičius, Giedrė RudinskaitėVilnius University, Institute of Oncology, Santariškių str. 1, LT-08660 Vilnius, LithuaniaE-mail: renatas.tikuisis@gmail.com Backgound / objective Epidural analgesia provides superior analgesia with a lower incidence of postoperative ileus as compared with systemic opiate analgesia in open colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of epidural analgesia on the outcome after colorectal surgery. Patients and methods Fifty patients were enrolled in this investigation. Open colorectal resection was performed for all these patients. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: the study group (T) and the control group (K). Epidural analgesia was used for 25 patients of group T, and intravenous-intramuscular analgesia was used for 25 patients of group K. Consumption of narcotic analgesics, pain intensity, gastrointestinal recovery time and solid food tolerated time were investigated. Results There were no significant differences in the type of operations and preoperative patients’ characteristics between the groups. Consumption of narcotic analgesics was lower in group T, and analgesia was more effective in the epidural group. The mean time of peristalsis and solid food tolerance was earlier in group T as compared with group K. Conclusion Epidural analgesia provides a significant benefit as regards analgesic consumption, postoperative pain relief and the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing open colorectal resection. Keywords: epidural analgesia, intravenous analgesia, colorectal surgery

Straipsnio tikslas -aprašyti retą tarpvietės išvaržos klinikinį atvejį ir pateikti literatūros apžvalgą.Pooperacinė tarpvietės išvarža yra reta patologija, apibūdinama kaip intraperitoninių organų išsiveržimas į tarpvietės sritį. Pooperacinės tarpvietės išvaržos gali būti operuojamos per priekinę pilvo sieną, tarpvietę, mišrią prieigą ar laparoskopiškai. Defektas, esantis tarpvietėje, gali būti pridengtas gretimais audiniais ar tinkliuku. Pristatomas pooperacinės išvaržos, atsiradusios po laparoskopinės abdominoperinealinės tiesiosios žarnos rezekcijos, klinikinis atvejis. 2007 metais 84 metų moteriai diagnozuota vidutinės diferenciacijos tiesiosios žarnos adenokarcinoma. Ligonei buvo atliktas priešoperacinis spindulinis gydymas. 2007 metų balandį atlikta laparoskopinė abdominoperinealinė rezekcija. Po metų ligonė pastebėjo darinį tarpvietėje, jis vis didėjo, tapo skausmingas, ir 2010 metų lapkritį moteriai buvo atlikta išvaržos plastika. Pasirinktas abdominoperinealinis prieigos būdas. Tarpvietės defektas panaikintas pridengiant jį autogeniniais audiniais. Pooperacinis laikotarpis buvo sklandus ir ligonė išrašyta į namus. Pooperaciniu laikotarpiu išvarža neatsinaujino. Reikšminiai žodžiai: tarpvietės išvarža, abdominoperinealinė rezekcija, laparoskopija, hernioplastika. Klinikiniai atvejai