Prospective, randomised, multicentre, open-label trial, designed to evaluate the best timing of closure of the temporary ileostomy (early versus late) in patients who underwent rectal cancer resection and with indication for adjuvant chemotherapy: the STOMAD (STOMa closure before or after ADjuvant therapy) randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Temporary ileostomy is a valuable aid in reducing the severity of complications related to rectal cancer surgery. However, it is still unclear what is the best timing of its closure in relation to the feasibility of an adjuvant treatment, especially considering patient-reported outcomes and health system costs. The aim of the study is to compare the results of an early versus late closure strategy in patients with indication to adjuvant chemotherapy after resection for rectal cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective multicentre randomised trial, sponsored by Rete Oncologica Piemonte e Valle d'Aosta (Oncology Network of Piedmont and Aosta Valley-Italy). Patients undergone to rectal cancer surgery with temporary ileostomy, aged >18 years, without evidence of anastomotic leak and with indication to adjuvant chemotherapy will be enrolled in 28 Network centres. An early closure strategy (between 30 and 40 days from rectal surgery) will be compared with a late one (after the end of adjuvant therapy). Primary endpoint will be the compliance to adjuvant chemotherapy with and without ileostomy. Complications associated with stoma closure as well as quality of life, costs and oncological outcomes will be assessed as secondary endpoints. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial will engage the Network professional teams in a common effort to improve the treatment of rectal cancer by ensuring the best results in relation to the most correct use of resources. It will take into consideration both the patients' point of view (patient-reported outcome) and the health system perspective (costs analysis). The study has been approved by the Ethical Review Board of Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital in Turin (Italy). The results of the study will be disseminated by the Network website, medical conferences and peer-reviewed scientific journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04372992.

Collision Tumor Composed of an Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor and Adenocarcinoma of the Colon: a Rare Entity.

This report presents the case of an 83-year old man with a collision tumor consisting of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) and adenocarcinoma of the left colon. As the clinical and radiologic features of IMT are non-specific, only the accurate histopathological examination from the left hemicolectomy specimen was diagnostic. Although the prognosis of a colorectal IMT seemed more favorable than in other sites, four months after surgery the patient developed a tumor relapse. Therefore, malignant behavior of IMT could not be totally excluded. Recent studies have demonstrated that a chromosomal rearrangement involving 2p23, the site of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, is present in a subset of these tumors. In our patient, tumor cells did not present ALK-1 perinuclear positivity and it could have indicated a less favorable prognosis. The collision of these different entities is extremely rare and this is the first case reported in literature. Further cases of collision tumors with clinical information including their treatment and prognosis are needed.

Deadlock of proctologic practice in Italy during COVID-19 pandemic: a national report from ProctoLock2020.

Proctology is one of the surgical specialties that suffered the most during COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from a cross-sectional worldwide web survey, we aimed to snapshot the current status of proctologic practice in Italy with differences between three macro areas (North, Centre, South). Specialists affiliated to renowned scientific societies with an interest in coloproctology were invited to join a 27-item survey. Predictive power of respondents' and hospitals' demographics on the change of status of surgical activities was calculated. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04392245). Of 299 respondents from Italy, 94 (40%) practiced in the North, 60 (25%) in the Centrer and 82 (35%) in the South and Islands. The majority were men (79%), at consultant level (70%), with a mean age of 46.5 years, practicing in academic hospitals (39%), where a dedicated proctologist was readily available (68%). Southern respondents were more at risk of infection compared to those from the Center (OR, 3.30; 95%CI 1.46; 7.47, P = 0.004), as were males (OR, 2.64; 95%CI 1.09; 6.37, P = 0.031) and those who routinely tested patients prior to surgery (OR, 3.02; 95%CI 1.39; 6.53, P = 0.005). The likelihood of ongoing surgical practice was higher in the South (OR 1.36, 95%CI 0.75; 2.46, P = 0.304) and in centers that were not fully dedicated to COVID-19 care (OR 4.00, 95%CI 1.88; 8.50, P < 0.001). The results of this survey highlight important factors contributing to the deadlock of proctologic practice in Italy and may inform the development of future management strategies.

Oncoplastic reshaping in breast-conserving surgery in a peripheral hospital. The Novi Ligure "San Giacomo" hospital experience.

AIM: To confirm that oncoplastic approach to cancer is a fundamental part of modern breast conserving surgery also in a suburban hospital. MATERIAL OF STUDY: The Authors used oncoplastic techniques in 60 cases including 45 first level and 15 second level procedures: they show some cases of conservative surgery and breast reshaping with upper, medial and lower pedicle. DISCUSSION: Screening programs are able to identify early breast cancer; the breast conserving surgery with oncoplastic glandular reshaping should be an established custom to ensure oncological safety with the best cosmetic result. CONCLUSIONS: The oncoplastic approach to breast cancer should be the theoretical and practical knowledge of the breast surgeon. Today in fact the breast surgeon must be a "vertical surgeon" in order to treat cancer completely, interfaced with a multidisciplinary team to ensure a personalized treatment for each patient. In this presentation the Authors want to focus on oncoplastic surgery in a medium flow suburban hospital.

Use of oxidized and regenerated cellulose polymer in oncoplastic breast surgery.

AIM: The aim of this paper is evaluate the use of oxidized regenerated cellulose in order to control breast symmetry, shape and volume reducing skin retraction after wide excision for the treatment of early breast cancer. MATERIAL OF STUDY: The Authors describe a new procedure using oxidized regenerated cellulose polymer after 8 resections for breast cancer and 1 total galactophore ducts resection for nipple discharge. DISCUSSION: Oncoplastic breast surgery allows a more radical local tumour excision achieving an acceptable cosmetic result. Breast reshaping absorbs the volume loss and decreases the risk of a localized defect although there are zones that are at high risk of deformity. Once reabsorption of the seroma occurs, the excision cavity becomes prominent due to fibrosis and retraction of the surrounding tissue creating a noticeable defect. CONCLUSIONS: In oncoplastic breast surgery the oxidized regenerated cellulose by preventing the hematoma, can promote dermal fibroblasts proliferation and cell migration playing a role in adjustment of the shape, volume and symmetry of the breast and reducing skin retraction.

An example of lumpectomy for lower inner quadrant breast cancer with 1(st) level oncoplastic reconstruction by glandular splitting.

Oncoplastic techniques extend the scope for breast conserving surgery by combining an extensive local excision with a simultaneous reconstruction of the defect to avoid local deformity. If less than 20% of the breast volume is excised a level I procedure is adequate and can be performed by breast surgeon without specific training in plastic surgery. For breast cancer is possible to fill the defect of the lower inner lumpectomy by splitting the upper inner quadrant. The Authors describe a novel technique in giant breast.

Clinical presentation and risks.

BACKGROUND: A recurrent episode of diverticulitis is a new distinct episode of acute inflammation after a period of complete remission of symptoms. Outdated literature suggested a high recurrence rate (>40%) and a worse clinical presentation with less chance of conservative treatment. More recent studies showed a more benign course with no need toward an aggressive policy of treatment. METHODS: We report data from revised literature and from our study: a 4-year multicenter retrospective and prospective database analysis of 743 patients hospitalized for acute diverticulitis (AD) treated medically or surgically and then followed for a minimum of 9 years. RESULTS: The literature showed a recurrence rate of 25-35% at 5 years of follow-up, with a reduced risk of severe complications (i.e. perforations), a risk of subsequent emergency surgery of 2-14% and a risk of stoma and related death of 0-2.7%. Several risk factors of recurrence have been advocated: family history, abscess, severe CT stage, comorbidities (renal failure, collagen vascular disease) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Young age is still a matter of debate. These studies have different limitations: retrospective, lack of definition of AD, small number of patients, long recruiting time, short follow-up, study population or hospital-system based. In our study of 320 followed-up, medically treated patients, 61% were asymptomatic and 22% complained of chronic symptoms: the 12-year actuarial risk of recurrence, emergency surgery, stoma and death was 21.2, 8.3, 1 and 0%, respectively. Recurrence was related to very young age (<40 years) and more than 3 previous episodes of AD. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the benign course of diverticulitis treated conservatively, with a low long-term risk of serious complications and death, and does not support an aggressive surgical policy to prevent them.

[Haemorrhoidal disease: role of conservative outpatient treatments]. / La malattia emorroidaria: ruolo dei trattamenti ambulatoriali conservativi.

AIM: This study is a critical review of conservative office treatments of haemorrhoidal disease. MATERIAL OF STUDY: Many are outpatient techniques proposed in current literature; several with small series, anecdotal ones or some ones yet abandoned for excessive morbidity (for example anal divulsion, dilatation and so on); among most used we describe procedure, indications, contraindications, results and limits about rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, infrared photocoagulation, bipolar diathermy and direct current therapy. RESULTS: Each method has its supporters, indications and limits; therefore in literature there are discordant opinions even when randomized studies are compared. Indeed each technique is been compared with one or more other ones but there is not a randomized trial which compares all these treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative office techniques, and rubber band ligation in particular, have an important role in second degree haemorrhoidal disease, in non-responsive to medical treatment first degree and also in third degree haemorrhoids in elderly patients with comorbidity or with sectorial or moderate prolapse.

[Diverticular disease of the colon: diagnosis and treatment. Consensus Conference, 5th National Congress of the Italian Society of Academic Surgeons]. / La malattia diverticolare del colon: quando e come trattarla. Consensus Conference- del quinto Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana dei Chirurghi Universitari (S.I.C.U.).

Diverticular disease (DD) is one of the most common disorders of the colon with an increased prevalence in Western populations. There are still many unsolved issues about indications, timing of surgery and modality of surgical treatment. These topics were discussed during the Consensus Conference (CC). There is still common agreement indicating surgery after the second acute episode of diverticular disease; however, patients younger than 50 years should undergo surgery after the first acute episode, because of a higher risk of recurrence compared to older patients. It is not clear though how to uniformly classify an acute episode (severe, moderate or mild): an accurate clinical and instrumental valuation (based on CT scan) is recommended to establish the real severity of the acute episode before recommending a surgical procedure. In presence of septic complications (abscess or peritonitis) of DD, colonic resection is indicated, but a primary anastomosis could be at risk of failure due to sepsis. Therefore a Hartmann's procedure or protective stoma could be preferable. However, instead of a staged procedure, an appropriate strategy should be to resolve sepsis and perform resection and anastomosis in election. Abscesses smaller than 5 cm intra-meso-colic or para-colic can be successfully treated medically; vice versa larger or pelvic abscesses should undergo percutaneous or laparoscopic drainage, postponing colonic resection in elective conditions. Limited purulent peritonitis can be favourably treated by means of laparoscopic approach and simple lavage and drainage of peritoneal cavity. Diffuse purulent or faecal peritonitis is the most dramatic complication which still has a high risk of mortality and morbidity. Surgical risk is related to clinical conditions, duration of peritonitis, age of patient and comorbidities. Thus it is not possible to state a univocal approach, although Hartmann's procedure keeps being the first choice. On this matter farther randomized studies are required to compare Hartmann's procedure with other techniques (such as primary anastomosis with or without diverting colostomy). A wide left colonic resection (with splenic flexure mobilization) extended beneath sigmoid-rectal junction is recommended to avoid immediate or late complications. Laparoscopic approach is feasible, even for management of complicated diverticular disease, if strict patient selection criteria are followed, duration of the procedure is comparable to open surgery and conversion rate is under 10%.

Right portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy for trauma.

Portal vein thrombosis may complicate splenectomy in patients with hemolytic anemia and myeloproliferative disease, whereas the frequency of portal vein thrombosis in case of trauma is not defined. A case of right portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy for trauma is reported in this paper. Hematologic workup did not reveal an underlying platelet or coagulation disorder. The patient was promptly anti-coagulated with complete recanalization of the portal vein. We conclude that mild symptoms, like abdominal pain and fever, after splenectomy should be investigated with a color Doppler ultrasonography to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of portal thrombosis and to anti-coagulate the patient with thrombosis, thus preventing bowel infarction and secondary portal hypertension. Routine postoperative color Doppler might also be justified in all postsplenectomy patients (without hematologic diseases) for early detection of a portal vein thrombosis.