Laparoscopic versus Open Surgery in Colorectal Cancer: Is Laparoscopy Safe Enough?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the early and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open surgery in colorectal cancer stages 1-3. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Health Sciences University, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2021. METHODOLOGY: A total of 142 patients, who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer with a follow-up period of at least 3 years, were included in the study. The groups of the patients; (Group A) treated with laparoscopic surgery, and (Group B) treated with open surgery, were compared in respect of general characteristics, short and long-term morbidity, mortality, and oncological outcomes. RESULTS: Body Mass Index (BMI) values were higher, and the duration of surgery was shorter in Group A patients compared to Group B (p<0.05). The re-operation rate (12.2%) was observed to be statistically and significantly high in Group B (p=0.040). In comparison of the oncological outcomes, a significantly greater number of metastatic lymph nodes were removed in Group B (p=0.004). Stage 2A (31.1%) was observed at a higher frequency in Group A, and Stage 3C was significantly higher in Group B (25.7%) (p=0.037). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the number of lymph nodes removed, insufficient lymph nodes dissection (<12), surgical margin negativity, local recurrence, and distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: For the selected patient group with early-stage colorectal tumours, laparoscopic surgery has short-term oncological outcomes similar to those of open surgery and relatively lower morbidity and mortality rates. KEY WORDS: Laparoscopic surgery, Colorectal cancer, Open surgery, oncological Outcomes.

Timing of Percutaneous Cholecystostomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the timing of Percutaneous Cholecystostomy (PC) on morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Deparmant of Gastroenterological Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey from 2017 to 2020. METHODOLOGY: The study included 61 patients with ASA 3-4 score, who were underwent PC during the study period. The patients were separated into two groups as Group 1 (n = 23); who underwent PC in the first 24 hours; and Group 2 (n = 38), who underwent PC at 24-96 hours. Morbidity and mortality rates were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Morbidity was observed in 2 (8.7%) patients in Group 1 and 6 (15.8%) in Group 2 (p = 0.698) with 30-day mortality in 3 (13.04%) patients in Group 1 and 8 (21.1%) in Group 2 (p = 0.730). In the cholangiographic studies, more choledochus stones were determined in Group 2 (p = 0.041). Length of stay in hospital was calculated as mean 10.35 ± 9.50 days in Group 1 and 20.03 ± 45.28 days in Group 2 (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was found in the morbidity and mortality rates when PC was performed later. The length of stay in hospital was found to be shorter in patients applied with early PC. Key Words: Percutaneous cholecystostomy, Acute cholecystitis, Cholecystectomy, Morbidity, Mortality, Calculous cholecystitis, Acalculous cholecystitis.

Factors associated with postoperative complications following appendectomy in elderly patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Appendicitis in elderly patients is more challenging due to delayed presentation and higher comorbidities, which are associated with increased postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors that predict 30-day complications in elderly patients undergoing appendectomy. METHODS: The records of elderly patients who underwent appendectomy were reviewed. The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications. Independent variables examined included demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, pathological findings, and surgical features. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with postoperative complications. RESULTS: Evaluation was performed on 80 patients, comprising 63.8% females with a mean age of 71.3 years. Notably, 19 (23.8%) patients had one or more complications within 30 days after surgery. No significant difference was found between patients with and without complications in respect of age, gender, or laboratory features. The rates of American Society of Anesthesiologists scores 3-4 (p=0.006), hypertension (p=0.016), cardiovascular disease (p=0.049), and obesity (p=0.040) were significantly higher for patients with complications than for those without. On multivariate analysis, obesity (OR 9.41), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 9.72), and open appendectomy (OR 14.87) were independently associated with 30-day postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients undergoing appendectomy tend to have poorer outcomes than younger patients. Therefore, it is critical to identify factors that could reduce the possibility of adverse outcomes in this frail population. The results of this study suggest that obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an open approach are independent factors for complications in elderly patients undergoing appendectomy.

Factors associated with postoperative complications following appendectomy in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVE: Appendicitis in elderly patients is more challenging due to delayed presentation and higher comorbidities, which are associated with increased postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors that predict 30-day complications in elderly patients undergoing appendectomy. METHODS: The records of elderly patients who underwent appendectomy were reviewed. The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications. Independent variables examined included demographic data, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, pathological findings, and surgical features. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with postoperative complications. RESULTS: Evaluation was performed on 80 patients, comprising 63.8% females with a mean age of 71.3 years. Notably, 19 (23.8%) patients had one or more complications within 30 days after surgery. No significant difference was found between patients with and without complications in respect of age, gender, or laboratory features. The rates of American Society of Anesthesiologists scores 3-4 (p=0.006), hypertension (p=0.016), cardiovascular disease (p=0.049), and obesity (p=0.040) were significantly higher for patients with complications than for those without. On multivariate analysis, obesity (OR 9.41), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 9.72), and open appendectomy (OR 14.87) were independently associated with 30-day postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients undergoing appendectomy tend to have poorer outcomes than younger patients. Therefore, it is critical to identify factors that could reduce the possibility of adverse outcomes in this frail population. The results of this study suggest that obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an open approach are independent factors for complications in elderly patients undergoing appendectomy.

Do neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and interleukin-18 predict renal dysfunction in patients with familial Mediterranean fever and amyloidosis?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) predict renal disfunction in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). METHODS: This prospective study consisted of 102 patients with FMF in attack-free period, and 40 matched healthy controls. Of the patients, nine were diagnosed as amyloidosis. The patients were divided into two groups according to eGFR as below 120 mL per minute and above 120 mL per minute. Also, patients were divided into three groups according to the degree of urinary albumin excretion as normoalbuminuric, microalbuminuric, and macroalbuminuric. The serum levels of IL-18 (sIL-18) and NGAL (sNGAL), and urinary levels of IL-18 (uIL-18) and NGAL (uNGAL) were measured by using ELISA kits. RESULTS: The levels of sIL-18, sNGAL, uIL-18, and uNGAL were detected significantly higher in FMF patients, particularly in patients with amyloidosis, when compared to controls. sNGAL, uIL-18, and uNGAL were significantly higher in patients with eGFR < 120 mL per minute than in patients with eGFR ≥ 120 mL per minute. sNGAL, uIL-18, and uNGAL were correlated significantly with urinary albumin excretion, additionally, were inverse correlated with eGFR. The most remarkable findings of this study are of the higher values of sIL-18, sNGAL, uIL-18, and uNGAL in both normoalbuminuric FMF patients and patients with eGFR ≥ 120 mL per minute. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that sIL-18, uIL-18, sNGAL, and uNGAL are reliable markers of early renal disfunction in FMF patients, and may let us take measures from the early stage of renal involvement.