Diagnosis and management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline.

1: ESGE recommends that the initial assessment of patients presenting with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding should include: a history of co-morbidities and medications that promote bleeding; hemodynamic parameters; physical examination (including digital rectal examination); and laboratory markers. A risk score can be used to aid, but should not replace, clinician judgment.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 2 : ESGE recommends that, in patients presenting with a self-limited bleed and no adverse clinical features, an Oakland score of ≤ 8 points can be used to guide the clinician decision to discharge the patient for outpatient investigation.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 3 : ESGE recommends, in hemodynamically stable patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding and no history of cardiovascular disease, a restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategy, with a hemoglobin threshold of ≤ 7 g/dL prompting red blood cell transfusion. A post-transfusion target hemoglobin concentration of 7-9 g/dL is desirable.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 4 : ESGE recommends, in hemodynamically stable patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding and a history of acute or chronic cardiovascular disease, a more liberal red blood cell transfusion strategy, with a hemoglobin threshold of ≤ 8 g/dL prompting red blood cell transfusion. A post-transfusion target hemoglobin concentration of ≥ 10 g/dL is desirable.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 5: ESGE recommends that, in patients with major acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding, colonoscopy should be performed sometime during their hospital stay because there is no high quality evidence that early colonoscopy influences patient outcomes.Strong recommendation, low quality of evidence. 6 : ESGE recommends that patients with hemodynamic instability and suspected ongoing bleeding undergo computed tomography angiography before endoscopic or radiologic treatment to locate the site of bleeding.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 7 : ESGE recommends withholding vitamin K antagonists in patients with major lower gastrointestinal bleeding and correcting their coagulopathy according to the severity of bleeding and their thrombotic risk. In patients with hemodynamic instability, we recommend administering intravenous vitamin K and four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC), or fresh frozen plasma if PCC is not available.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 8 : ESGE recommends temporarily withholding direct oral anticoagulants at presentation in patients with major lower gastrointestinal bleeding.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 9: ESGE does not recommend withholding aspirin in patients taking low dose aspirin for secondary cardiovascular prevention. If withheld, low dose aspirin should be resumed, preferably within 5 days or even earlier if hemostasis is achieved or there is no further evidence of bleeding.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 10: ESGE does not recommend routinely discontinuing dual antiplatelet therapy (low dose aspirin and a P2Y12 receptor antagonist) before cardiology consultation. Continuation of the aspirin is recommended, whereas the P2Y12 receptor antagonist can be continued or temporarily interrupted according to the severity of bleeding and the ischemic risk. If interrupted, the P2Y12 receptor antagonist should be restarted within 5 days, if still indicated.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland consensus guidelines in emergency colorectal surgery.

AIM: There is a requirement for an expansive and up to date review of the management of emergency colorectal conditions seen in adults. The primary objective is to provide detailed evidence-based guidelines for the target audience of general and colorectal surgeons who are responsible for an adult population and who practise in Great Britain and Ireland. METHODS: Surgeons who are elected members of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland Emergency Surgery Subcommittee were invited to contribute various sections to the guidelines. They were directed to produce a pathology-based document using literature searches that were systematic, comprehensible, transparent and reproducible. Levels of evidence were graded. Each author was asked to provide a set of recommendations which were evidence-based and unambiguous. These recommendations were submitted to the whole guideline group and scored. They were then refined and submitted to a second vote. Only those that achieved >80% consensus at level 5 (strongly agree) or level 4 (agree) after two votes were included in the guidelines. RESULTS: All aspects of care (excluding abdominal trauma) for emergency colorectal conditions have been included along with 122 recommendations for management. CONCLUSION: These guidelines provide an up to date and evidence-based summary of the current surgical knowledge in the management of emergency colorectal conditions and should serve as practical text for clinicians managing colorectal conditions in the emergency setting.

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) versus laparoscopic TME for MRI-defined low rectal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis of oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: While a shift to minimally invasive techniques in rectal cancer surgery has occurred, non-inferiority of laparoscopy in terms of oncological outcomes has not been definitely demonstrated. Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has been pioneered to potentially overcome difficulties experienced when operating with a pure abdominal approach deep down in the pelvis. This study aimed to compare short-term oncological results of TaTME versus laparoscopic TME (lapTME), based on a strict anatomical definition for low rectal cancer on MRI. METHODS: From June 2013, all consecutive TaTME cases were included and compared to lapTME in a single institution. Propensity score-matching was performed for nine relevant factors. Primary outcome was resection margin involvement (R1), secondary outcomes included intra- and post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: After matching, forty-one patients were included in each group; no significant differences were observed in patient and tumor characteristics. The resection margin was involved in 5 cases (12.2%) in the laparoscopic group, versus 2 (4.9%) TaTME cases (P = 0.432). The TME specimen quality was complete in 84.0% of the laparoscopic cases and in 92.7% of the TaTME cases (P = 0.266). Median distance to the circumferential resection margin (CRM) was 5 mm in lapTME and 10 mm in TaTME (P = 0.065). Significantly more conversions took place in the laparoscopic group, 9 (22.0%) compared to none in the TaTME group (P < 0.001). Other clinical outcomes did not show any significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to compare results of TaTME with lapTME in a highly selected patient group with MRI-defined low rectal tumors. A significant decrease in R1 rate could not be demonstrated, although conversion rate was significantly lower in this TaTME cohort.

What To Do With Lateral Nodal Disease in Low Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer? A Call for Further Reflection and Research.

BACKGROUND: There remains a lack of international consensus on the appropriate management of lateral nodal disease. Although the East manages this more aggressively with lateral lymph node dissections, the West aims to eradicate small-volume disease with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and lateral nodal disease is not considered for routine surgical treatment. However, recent studies have shown that, despite neoadjuvant treatment, a significant number of patients with lateral nodal disease develop local recurrence in the lateral compartment after total mesorectal excision. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the role of the pretreatment features of lateral nodes on MRI in regard to local recurrence. DESIGN: All patients operated on for low locally advanced rectal cancer over a 5-year period were evaluated retrospectively. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a single expert center. PATIENTS: The MRIs of a total of 313 patients were reviewed, and only those with rectal cancers up to 8 cm from the anorectal junction, measured on MRI, were selected. This left 185 patients; of these, 58 patients had clinical T1 or T2 tumors as assessed on MRI, identifying 127 patients who had cT3/T4 tumors that were included in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were lateral local recurrence and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The lateral local recurrence rate was significantly higher (33.3% 4-year rate) in patients with nodes larger than 10 mm than in patients with smaller nodes (10.1%, p = 0.03), despite patients being irradiated in the lateral compartment. LIMITATIONS: Because this is a relatively uncommon disease, patient numbers are low, and a multicenter study is needed to further address lateral nodal disease in low rectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Chemoradiotherapy with total mesorectal excision might not be sufficient in a selected group of patients. Further research is needed about which pretreatment features of the lateral nodes predict local recurrence and what is needed to prevent these from developing. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A338.

Intestinal stem cells and intestinal homeostasis in health and in inflammation: A review.

BACKGROUND: The human intestine is a complex group of organs, highly specialized in processing food and providing nutrients to the body. It is under constant threat from microbials and toxins and has therefore developed a number of protective mechanisms. One important mechanism is the constant shedding of epithelial cells into the lumen; another is the production and maintenance of a double-layered mucous boundary in which there is continuous sampling of the luminal microbiota and a persistent presence of antimicrobial enzymes. However, the gut needs commensal bacteria to effectively break down food into absorbable nutrients, which necessitates constant communication between the luminal bacteria and the intestinal immune cells in homeostasis. Disruption of homeostasis, for whatever reason, will give rise to (chronic) inflammation. DISCUSSION: Both medical and surgical management of this disruption is discussed.

Management of Tumors of the Ischiorectal Fossa: The Role of Percutaneous Biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Noninflammatory masses in the ischiorectal fossa are rare. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review our experience with ischiorectal fossa tumors and to address the question of whether percutaneous biopsy should be undertaken. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a tertiary institution. PATIENTS: From April 2007 to November 2014, all consecutive ischiorectal fossa masses treated in a referral center were retrospectively reviewed. They were all presented and discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all the patients. Inflammatory pathologies, such as abscess, were excluded from the analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous biopsy and surgical excision of ischiorectal fossa tumors were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative, pathological, and oncological outcomes were measured. RESULTS: Eleven patients were identified (8 female; median age, 50 years; range, 25-90). Percutaneous biopsy was undertaken in 8 patients. All biopsies were diagnostic and altered preoperative management in 3 cases (aggressive angiomyxoma (n = 2), desmoid fibromatosis (n = 1)). Overall final diagnosis was benign in 3 patients, locally aggressive neoplasm in 3, and malignant in 5 cases (leiomyosarcomas (n = 2), liposarcomas (n = 2), and angiomyosarcoma (n = 1)). Surgical approaches were perineal in 8 patients, abdominoperineal in 1 patient, and totally abdominal in 1 patient. One patient (age 90 years) was managed nonsurgically. After resection, 2 positive margins were observed (R1 rate, 20%). After a mean follow-up of 24.3 months, 3 patients have experienced local recurrence, which required further surgery in 2 cases. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by the small number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Noninflammatory masses in the ischiorectal fossa are rare, but they are commonly malignant and should be imaged by MRI. Unless the radiological appearances are diagnostic, percutaneous biopsy is recommended and alters management in about one-third of cases.