title: Laparoscopic surgery for radiation enteritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for radiation enteritis-induced intestinal stenosis requiring ileocecal resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of radiation enteritis patients that underwent laparoscopic ileocecal resection and ileo-ascending colonic side-to-side anastomosis in a single center from January 2012-February 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty patients were identified and matched by abdominal adhesion grade, age, gender, primary malignancy distribution, previous abdominal surgery history, and body mass index to 30 patients that underwent open surgery for the same procedure from August 2009-December 2011. General information, operative findings, and short-term outcomes were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The conversion rate of laparoscopic surgery was 23.3%. The length of skin incision in the laparoscopic group was significantly shorter than that of the open surgery group (6.8 cm versus 15.8 cm, P = 0.001). Laparoscopic surgery significantly decreased recovery time to total enteral nutrition (10.3 d versus 15.6 d, P = 0.037); however, postoperative hospital stay was not significantly different between the two groups (28.2 d versus 32.4 d, P = 0.924). Intraoperative blood loss (125 mL versus 189 mL, P = 0.000) and operation time (138 min versus 171 min, P = 0.003) were significantly improved in the laparoscopic group compared with those in the open surgery group. Laparoscopic surgery did not significantly decrease postoperative morbidity but did decrease the pleural effusion rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic surgery is feasible for treatment of radiation enteritis-induced intestinal stenosis with a relatively low conversion rate. Laparoscopic surgery is as safe as open surgery and is superior to open surgery with decreased skin incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative recovery time to total enteral nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Danhua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Shaoyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: liys@medmail.com.cn.
authors.forename: Yousheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jieshou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Case-matched study; Laparoscopic surgery; Radiation enteritis