Outcomes following colonic stenting for malignant left-sided bowel obstruction: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Malignant bowel obstruction is a common presentation and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Emergency resection is the traditional treatment modality. In recent years, colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery has become more prevalent. However, there is considerable debate surrounding its use. The aim of this review was to examine the technical and clinical success of self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) as a bridge to surgery for obstructing colorectal tumours. METHODS: We systematically reviewed randomised controlled trials using PubMed, Cochrane and SCOPUS databases. Included studies must have compared outcomes in SEMS as a bridge to surgery with those proceeding straight to emergency resection. RESULTS: A total of 1245 studies were identified. After removal of duplicates and non-relevant studies, we identified seven articles which met the predefined criteria. This review observed that 81% of SEMS were technically successful, with 76% of patients having restoration of gastrointestinal function. Iatrogenic perforation rate was 5%. One-fifth of patients required emergency surgery following stent placement, and permanent stoma rate was 8.7%. CONCLUSION: This study observed that SEMS as a bridge to surgery is associated with good technical and clinical success, with low rates of perforation and permanent stoma. SEMS should be part of the treatment armamentarium for obstructing colorectal neoplasms, but careful patient selection and institutional expertise are important factors for success.

Botulinum toxin injection vs topical nitrates for chronic anal fissure: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: Chronic anal fissures (CAFs) are frequently encountered in coloproctology clinics. Chemical sphincterotomy with pharmacological agents is recommended as first-line therapy. Topical nitrates (TN) heal CAF effectively but recurrences are common. An alternative treatment modality is injection of botulinum toxin (BT) into the anal sphincter. We aimed to perform an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of BT and TN in the management of CAF. METHOD: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant articles from inception until March 2017. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported direct comparisons of BT and TN were included. Two independent reviewers performed methodological assessment and data extraction. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled effect size estimates. RESULTS: Six RCTs describing 393 patients (194 BT, 199 TN) were included. There was significant heterogeneity among the trials. On random effects analysis there were no significant differences in incomplete fissure healing (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.13-1.68, P = 0.24) or recurrence (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.39-1.25, P = 0.22) between BT and TN, respectively. BT was associated with a higher rate of transient anal incontinence (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 0.98-6.57, P = 0.06) but significantly fewer total side effects (OR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.63, P = 0.01) and headache (OR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.60, P = 0.01) compared with TN. CONCLUSION: BT is associated with fewer side effects than TN but there is no difference in fissure healing or recurrence. Patients need to be warned regarding the risk of transient anal incontinence associated with BT.

Impact of radiotherapy on surgical repair and outcome in patients with rectourethral fistula.

AIM: Most patients presenting with rectourethral fistula acquire it as a complication of radiotherapy for prostate cancer, as a result of injury to the rectum during prostatectomy, through trauma or from Crohn's disease. This study examined whether choice of operation and results of surgery for rectourethral fistula are influenced by prior radiotherapy. METHOD: Male patients undergoing surgery for rectourethral fistula were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Data regarding aetiology, surgical treatment and outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Fifty patients (median age = 65.5 years) were identified. Radiation was received by 29 patients for prostate or rectal cancer, and 21 patients developed a fistula following prostatectomy, Crohn's disease or pelvic fracture (without radiation). Prior to definitive surgery, 30 patients underwent fecal diversion and 37 underwent urinary diversion. In total, 57 repairs were performed (44 patients had one repair, five patients had two and one patient had three). Definitive surgery was approached predominantly abdominally in radiated patients (90.6 vs 9.3%, P < 0.001) and perineally in nonradiated patients (80 vs 20%, P < 0.001). Successful primary fistula repair was more frequent in the nonradiated group compared with the radiated group (80.9 vs 0%, P < 0.001). Permanent colostomy and urinary diversion were more often required in radiated patients than in nonradiated patients (colostomy: 83 vs 0%, P < 0.001; urorostomy: 100 vs 19%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Few patients with radiation-induced rectourethral fistula avoid permanent colostomy and urostomy. In contrast, most patients with nonradiation-related fistulae undergo successful perineal repair without permanent faecal and urinary diversion.

Seppuku: a modern approach to an ancient injury.

A 67 year-old man with paraplegia and depression presented with self-inflicted evisceration and small bowel injury. Damage control surgery was undertaken at emergency laparotomy with definitive anastomosis performed at second-look laparotomy following 24 hours resuscitation in ICU. He had an uncomplicated post-operative course and was discharged to an inpatient psychiatric unit.

A simplified tumor regression grade correlates with survival in locally advanced rectal carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced rectal cancer is frequently treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy to reduce local recurrence and possibly improve survival. The tumor response to chemoradiotherapy is variable and may influence the prognosis after surgery. This study assessed tumor regression and its influence on survival in patients with rectal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by curative surgery. METHODS: One hundred twenty-six patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3/T4 or N1/N2) were treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision. Patients received long-course radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions) in combination with 5-flourouracil over 5 weeks. By means of a standardized approach, tumor regression was graded in the resection specimen using a 3-point system related to tumor regression grade (TRG): complete or near-complete response (TRG1), partial response (TRG2), or no response (TRG3). RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival was 72% (median follow-up 37 months), and 7% of patients had local recurrence. Chemoradiotherapy produced downstaging in 60% of patients; 21% of patients experienced TRG1. TRG1 correlated with a pathological T0/1 or N0 status. Five-year disease-free survival after chemoradiotherapy and surgery was significantly better in TRG1 patients (100%) compared with TRG2 (71%) and TRG3 (66%) (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Tumor regression grade measured on a 3-point system predicts outcome after chemoradiotherapy and surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Effects of changes in pH and CO2 on pulmonary arterial wall tension are not endothelium dependent.

We examined the changes in isolated pulmonary artery (PA) wall tension on switching from control conditions (pH 7.38 +/- 0.01, PCO2 32.9 +/- 0.4 Torr) to isohydric hypercapnia (pH change 0.00 +/- 0.01, PCO2 change 24.9 +/- 1.1 Torr) or normocapnic acidosis (pH change -0.28 +/- 0.01, PCO2 change -0.3 +/- 0.04 Torr) and the role of the endothelium in these responses. In rat PA, submaximally contracted with phenylephrine, isohydric hypercapnia did not cause a significant change in mean (+/- SE) tension [3.0 +/- 1.8% maximal phenylephrine-induced tension (Po)]. Endothelial removal did not alter this response. In aortic preparations, isohydric hypercapnia caused significant (P < 0.01) relaxation (-27.4 +/- 3.2% Po), which was largely endothelium dependent. Normocapnic acidosis caused relaxation of PA (-20.2 +/- 2.6% Po), which was less (P < 0.01) than that observed in aortic preparations (-35.7 +/- 3.4% Po). Endothelial removal left the pulmonary response unchanged while increasing (P < 0.01) the aortic relaxation (-53.1 +/- 4.4% Po). These data show that isohydric hypercapnia does not alter PA tone. Reduction of PA tone in normocapnic acidosis is endothelium independent and substantially less than that of systemic vessels.

Incidental Phaeochromocytoma on Staging PET-CT in a Patient with a Sigmoid Tumour and Situs Inversalis Totalis.

An adrenal "incidentaloma" is defined as an unexpected finding on radiological imaging performed for unrelated indications. Improvements in radiological technology have seen a dramatic increase in this phenomenon. We report the unique case of a 60-year-old female presenting with a 6-month history of abdominal pain, altered bowel habit, and rectal bleeding. Her past medical history included situs inversus totalis and a patent ductus arteriosus. Colonoscopy revealed an ulcerated tumour in her sigmoid colon. Staging PET-CT confirmed a sigmoid tumour and also identified a large heterogenous enhancing FDG-avid right adrenal mass. Biochemical testing/MIBG imaging confirmed a right adrenal phaeochromocytoma. Hypertension was controlled and excision was performed via a transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy, in the left lateral decubitus position. Uniquely, liver retraction was not required due to its position in the left hypochondrium. Histology confirmed a benign 46 mm phaeochromocytoma. Subsequent uncomplicated sigmoid colectomy/right salpingo-oophorectomy for a locally advanced colonic tumour was performed with adjuvant chemotherapy. This case highlights the importance of accurately identifying functioning adrenal tumours before elective surgery as undiagnosed phaeochromocytomas carry significant intraoperative morbidity/mortality. Right adrenalectomy was made easier in this patient by the liver's unique position. Uncomplicated colorectal resection was made possible by combined preoperative functional/anatomical imaging.

Determining the frequency of prescription errors in an Irish hospital.

BACKGROUND: Faults in writing prescriptions are a common source of medical error. Iatrogenic injury due to medication error increases patient morbidity and hospital stay, thereby encouraging litigation. AIM: To assess the accuracy and legibility of the prescriptions in patients' medication charts. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study examined prescribing records of inpatients randomly selected in two surgical wards. Medication charts were assessed by a committee consisting of a nurse, a pharmacist and a doctor for omission and legibility of prescribing information. RESULTS: Important patient information and medication administration details were frequently omitted from charts. Overall, 27% of individual prescriptions had potential to cause prescription error because of illegibility or omission of medication administration details. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that prescription error frequently occurs in the clinical workplace and may contribute to medical error. Improving legibility of handwriting and use of novel prescribing devices may reduce prescription error.

The "flying" bile duct: avulsion of the common bile duct in a plane crash survivor.

Blunt trauma is an unusual cause of extrahepatic bile duct injury. This is a case of a 51-year-old gentleman who sustained a significant seatbelt injury in a plane crash. Laparotomy, performed due to persistent abdominal pain, revealed that the common bile duct (CBD) was completely avulsed from the duodenum. Following insertion of drains and transfer to a hepatobiliary centre, the devascularised CBD was excised and replaced with a roux-en-y hepaticojejunostomy. Necrotic tissue was debrided from the pancreatic head. A persistent bile leak developed from the sub-hepatic drain. Repeat laparotomy revealed a bile leak from small ducts on the liver surface. Ligation of the ducts and bioglue sealing of the area were successfully performed. Subsequent to this a pancreatic fistula developed from the main pancreatic duct, which has since resolved. This unusual case illustrates the need for prompt recognition and early repair to optimise outcomes in traumatic CBD injury.

Expression and regulation of connective tissue growth factor by transforming growth factor beta and tumour necrosis factor alpha in fibroblasts isolated from strictures in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) stimulates fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix production. Fibroblasts may initiate stricture formation in Crohn's disease through overexpression of CTGF. Stricturing that occurs in patients with Crohn's disease after treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha may be due to dysregulation of CTGF homeostasis. The aim of this study was to examine CTGF expression and regulation in fibroblasts isolated from patients with Crohn's disease. METHODS: Fibroblasts were isolated by a primary explant technique from serosal biopsies of strictured segments of bowel in eight patients undergoing resection for Crohn's disease and from normal colon in seven patients having resection for benign or malignant colorectal disease. Cells were stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF) beta and TNF-alpha. CTGF protein and mRNA expression were measured by western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction respectively. RESULTS: Mean(s.d.) CTGF protein expression in strictured Crohn's fibroblasts was higher than that in normal fibroblasts (56.5(9.7) versus 17.0(10.0) respectively; P = 0.011). In normal and strictured Crohn's fibroblasts, culture with TGF-beta increased CTGF protein and mRNA expression. Co-culture of normal fibroblasts with TNF-alpha suppressed TGF-beta-stimulated CTGF expression. CONCLUSION: : Increased expression of CTGF in strictured Crohn's fibroblasts underlies its role in fibrosis. TNF-alpha suppresses fibrosis by downregulating fibroblast CTGF expression, an effect that may be lost following anti-TNF-alpha treatment, thereby promoting stricture formation.

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor production in fibroblasts isolated from strictures in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that is implicated in early wound healing and fibrosis. Fibroblasts may initiate stricture formation in Crohn's disease through overexpression of VEGF. The aim of this study was to examine VEGF expression and regulation in fibroblasts isolated from patients with Crohn's disease. METHODS: Fibroblasts were isolated by a primary explant technique from serosal biopsies of non-strictured and strictured segments of bowel from eight patients undergoing resection for Crohn's disease, and normal colon from six patients undergoing resection for benign and malignant colorectal disease. Fibroblasts were cultured with transforming growth factor (TGF) beta and corticosteroids. After 24 h the culture supernatant was collected for VEGF assay by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: VEGF production was significantly higher in fibroblasts isolated from strictures (mean(s.e.m.) 1980(260) pg/ml) than from non-strictured segments (1116(165) pg/ml) in patients with Crohn's disease or control fibroblasts (898(93) pg/ml). TGF-beta increased VEGF production in normal and non-strictured Crohn's fibroblasts. Corticosteroids suppressed unstimulated VEGF production in all groups. CONCLUSION: Enhanced serosal fibroblast VEGF production might play a role in initiating stricture formation in Crohn's disease. VEGF production in serosal fibroblasts is sensitive to stimulation with TGF-beta. Corticosteroids may reduce stricturing through suppression of VEGF.