GLR in Colorectal Cancers: An Easily Accessible Prognostic Marker.

Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer remains a significant health concern, necessitating reliable prognostic indicators for effective management. This study explores the preoperative prognostic significance of the Glucose/Lymphocyte Ratio (GLR) in colorectal cancers. Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed records of patients who underwent surgery for elective colorectal cancers between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021, at the Kosuyolu Training and Research Hospital Gastroenterologic Surgery Department. Demographic, clinicopathological, and follow-up data were comprehensively assessed. A cutoff was established from GLR ratios and patients were divided into two groups for prognosis analysis. Results: The study enrolled 222 eligible patients, examining variables such as age, sex, ASA score, neoadjuvant treatment, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, tumor grade, TNM stage, and GLR. The groups consisted of 128 patients with low GLR and 94 patients with high GLR. Statistical analyses revealed relations between GLR levels (p ≤ 0.001) and various prognostic factors such as age (p = 0.034), Perineural Invasion (PNI) (p = 0.002), tumor grade (p = 0.017), TNM stage (p = 0.003), and surgery time (p = 0.029), individuals with GLR ≥ 3.04 were observed to show higher mortality rates (p = 0.001). Above GLR cutoff point of 3.04 patients showed better overall survival rates. All survival related parameters were related with prognosis in univariant Cox regression tests. In multivariant cox regression tests GLR ≥ 3.04 significantly increased mortality by 2.9 times. (p = 0.003). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that GLR, calculated from preoperative glucose and lymphocyte values serves as an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancers. The findings suggest potential applications for GLR in survival analyses, with significant associations identified in age, PNI, tumor grade, TNM stage, and surgery time. Further investigations are warranted in homogeneous patient populations.

Hepatic bridge and round ligament of the liver during cytoreductive surgery: a retrospective cohort.

PURPOSE: The hepatic bridge as an anatomical variation may lead to recurrence and treatment failure in cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) by constituting an obscure region during surgery. This report aimed to highlight the relationship between the hepatic bridge and various prognostic factors in peritoneal carcinomatosis. METHODS: Data of 101 patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC for peritoneal carcinomatosis in a single centre were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, primary origin of peritoneal carcinomatosis, classification of hepatic bridge, Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score, and completeness of cytoreduction (CC) score were analysed. RESULTS: The tumour was proven histopathologically in 18 (28.6%) of 63 patients who underwent distal round ligament (DRL) resection. The PCI score was found to be significantly higher in patients with tumour in DRL compared to the ones without tumour (p < 0.001). The median PCI score of patients with implant positive DRL was 18 (12-20) and this score was 3 (2-6) for patients with implant negative DRL (p < 0.001). The ROC curve concerning the risk of an implant penetrating the round ligament revealed the optimal cut-off value of PCI at 10 with 88.9% sensitivity and 79.3% specificity. CONCLUSION: The round ligament should be removed, regardless of the PCI score, as a standard in mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. DRL should be removed when PCI is equal or higher than 10 for PC due to colorectal and ovarian cancers.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) patients' inter-demographics, histological type and association with secondary tumours. STUDY DESIGN: A case series. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, between January 2010 and December 2018. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with GIST and operated at the study place were analysed retrospectively. The demographics, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, tumour location, histopathology, risk classification, and prognosis were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age was 60.62 ± 10.63 (37-83) years and the male to female ratio was 1:1. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (51.7%). Tumour site was the stomach in the majority (86.2%), followed by the small intestine and colon. One patient also had a secondary malignancy. The most common histologic type was spindle cell, followed by mixed cell type. C-kit (CD117) and CD34 mutations were positive in 87.9% and 75.9% of the cases. One patient had liver metastasis on diagnosis and another had peritoneal implants per-operatively, who died after 36 months due to midgut volvulus. The mean follow-up period was 32.03 ± 13.67 months. Two patients developed liver metastasis in the early postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection and imatinib treatment have been provided with good prognosis. The most common histology is spindle cell type. GISTs might be associated with other cancers which should be searched and analysed. Key Words: Gastrointestinal stromal tumour, Secondary malignancy, Treatment, Prognosis.

Comparison of Common Surgical Procedures in Non-complicated Pilonidal Sinus Disease, a 7-Year Follow-Up Trial.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal disease is a common problem in primary health care which may require immediate surgical referral. Although various management options have been proposed, so far there is no gold standard treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine which of the following techniques was superior as regards postoperative complications and recurrence, midline unshifted adipofascial turn-over flap, midline shifted adipofascial turn-over flap or Karydakis flap. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of General Surgery. Patients with non-complicated pilonidal sinus were enrolled in the study from April 2009 to January 2012. All patients were randomized the day of surgery at the coordinating center by means of a computer program. Patients were randomized to receive midline unshifted adipofascial turn-over flap, midline shifted adipofascial turn-over flap or Karydakis flap. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia and patients were discharged 6 h after surgery. Demographic characteristics, skin color, body hair type, family history, preoperative complaints and duration of symptoms, cyst size, intraoperative iatrogenic cyst rupture, the presence of a tuft of hairs in the cyst, surgical techniques, duration of drainage, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and recurrence were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-two patients with non-complicated pilonidal sinus were enrolled. Seventy-two patients were randomized to midline unshifted adipofascial turn-over flap, 67 patients to midline shifted adipofascial turn-over flap and 53 patients to Karydakis flap. The mean age was 25.66 ± 7.67 years. At 76-month follow-up, the overall complications and recurrence rates were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In cases of non-complicated pilonidal sinus, we recommend surgical management using local anesthesia, outpatient surgery and the surgical approach with which the surgeon is most familiar.

Active gas aspiration to reduce pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate to what effect active subdiaphragmatic gas aspiration reduces pain after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 104 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly placed into 2 groups. Group I included active subdiaphragmatic gas aspiration (n=52) while group II included simple evacuation (n=52) without any additional procedures. Postoperative analgesic requirements were recorded and the level of postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain was assessed using a numeric scale after 24 postoperative hours. Data were analyzed using the χ test for nonparametric data and Student t test for parametric data. RESULTS: Age, volume of CO2 used during surgery, and operation duration were similar in the 2 groups. The simple evacuation group (group II) experienced more shoulder and abdominal pain postoperatively when compared with the active subdiaphragmatic aspiration group (group I) and had a higher use of analgesics during the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Active subdiaphragmatic gas aspiration after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a simple procedure that can effectively reduce postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain and as a result the need for analgesics.

Natal cleft deeper in patients with pilonidal sinus: implications for choice of surgical procedure.

PURPOSE: The study was planned to evaluate the depth of natal cleft in patients with pilonidal sinus disease and in healthy persons. METHODS: The study included 50 patients with pilonidal sinus disease and 51 volunteers. Data including body mass index and natal cleft depth were recorded. Natal cleft depth was measured in millimeters by using a caliper instrument. Data were evaluated with the use of the statistical package program (SPSS) with a chi-squared test analysis. P < 0.01 was evaluated as significant. RESULTS: There was no discernable difference in age, occupation, and sex between the groups. The mean natal cleft depth was 27.06 mm in the pilonidal sinus group and 21.07 in the nonpilonidal sinus group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01) for natal cleft depth. The mean body mass index was 25.71 in the pilonidal sinus group and 25.28 in the nonpilonidal sinus group. The difference between groups was statistically insignificant for body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The natal cleft of patients with pilonidal sinus disease is deeper than the natal cleft of members of the volunteer group.