Early surgery after bridge-to-surgery stenting for malignant bowel obstruction is associated with better oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Placement of self-expanding metal stents has been increasingly adopted as a bridge to surgery in patients presenting with obstructed left-sided colorectal cancers. The optimal bridging time has yet to be widely established, hence this retrospective study aims to determine the optimal bridging time to elective surgery post endoluminal stenting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent colorectal stenting for large bowel obstruction in a single, tertiary hospital in Singapore between January 2003 and December 2017 were retrospectively identified. Patients' baseline demographics, tumour characteristics, stent-related complications, intra-operative details, post-operative complications and oncological outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients who successfully underwent colonic stenting for malignant left sided obstruction, 33.96% of patients underwent surgery within two weeks of stent placement while 66.04% of patients underwent surgery after 2 weeks of stent placement. Univariate analysis between both groups did not demonstrate significant differences in postoperative complications and stoma formation. Significant differences were observed between both groups for stent complications (38.89% vs 8.57%, p = 0.022), on-table decompression (38.89% vs 2.86%, p = 0.001) and systemic recurrence (11.11% vs 40.00%, p = 0.030). Increased bridging interval to surgery (OR 13.16, CI 1.37-126.96, p = 0.026) was a significant risk factor for systemic recurrence on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing definitive surgery within 2 weeks of colonic stenting may have better oncological outcomes without compromising on postoperative outcomes. Further prospective studies are required to compare outcomes between emergency surgery and different bridging intervals.

Transverse Colostomy Differs in Outcomes Compared to Sigmoid Colostomy: A Cohort Analysis.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to identify any differences in outcomes following transverse versus sigmoid colostomy creation for management of cancer. METHODS: Transverse and sigmoid colostomies are used to manage cancer-related complications including obstruction, perforation, and fistulation. The decision to use either colostomy is largely based on the surgeon's preference and the location of the cancer complication. All patients treated for cancer complications with the use of a sigmoid or transverse colostomy at National University Hospital between January 2011 and December 2016 were included. Patient characteristics and distribution frequencies were reported based on the operation performed. Post procedure morbidity and mortality was compared. Univariate and subgroup analysis were performed. RESULTS: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 93 patients who underwent a colostomy creation over a 5-year duration. Of the 93 patients included, 56 underwent a transverse colostomy (median age 59, 26 male, 30 female) and 37 a sigmoid colostomy (median age 64, 20 male, 17 female). According to univariate analysis, higher rates of stoma prolapse were seen patients with transverse colostomies. There were no differences in complications between a laparoscopic or open approach. There were no differences in the rate of other postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Sigmoid colostomies were associated with a lower prolapse rate compared to transverse colostomies for cancer management. The manner of surgical approach did not affect rate of postoperative complications.

The international anorectal physiology working group (IAPWG) recommendations: Standardized testing protocol and the London classification for disorders of anorectal function.

BACKGROUND: This manuscript summarizes consensus reached by the International Anorectal Physiology Working Group (IAPWG) for the performance, terminology used, and interpretation of anorectal function testing including anorectal manometry (focused on high-resolution manometry), the rectal sensory test, and the balloon expulsion test. Based on these measurements, a classification system for disorders of anorectal function is proposed. METHODS: Twenty-nine working group members (clinicians/academics in the field of gastroenterology, coloproctology, and gastrointestinal physiology) were invited to six face-to-face and three remote meetings to derive consensus between 2014 and 2018. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: The IAPWG protocol for the performance of anorectal function testing recommends a standardized sequence of maneuvers to test rectoanal reflexes, anal tone and contractility, rectoanal coordination, and rectal sensation. Major findings not seen in healthy controls defined by the classification are as follows: rectoanal areflexia, anal hypotension and hypocontractility, rectal hyposensitivity, and hypersensitivity. Minor and inconclusive findings that can be present in health and require additional information prior to diagnosis include anal hypertension and dyssynergia. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: This framework introduces the IAPWG protocol and the London classification for disorders of anorectal function based on objective physiological measurement. The use of a common language to describe results of diagnostic tests, standard operating procedures, and a consensus classification system is designed to bring much-needed standardization to these techniques.

Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation reduces the need for conventional hemorrhoid surgery in patients who fail rubber band ligation treatment.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess whether Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation can prevent patients from needing conventional surgery when rubber band ligation of their hemorrhoids has failed to achieve symptomatic relief. METHODS: All patients who underwent treatment for hemorrhoids in two hospitals between September 2004 and June 2007 are reported. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients (121 women; mean age, 44 (range, 17-84) years) were treated by rubber band ligation for two (181 patients) or three hemorrhoids (22 patients) during the study period. Fifty-four of these patients (27 percent) continued to suffer symptoms of bleeding (38 patients) or bleeding and prolapse (16 patients) after three clinic assessments. Fifty-two of these 54 patients subsequently underwent Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation. Two other patients had stapled anopexy. After a median follow-up of 18 (range, 6-33) months, 12 of the 52 patients (23 percent) who underwent Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation have returned with recurrent symptoms of bleeding (6 patients) and/or prolapse (6 patients). Four patients with recurrent symptoms were treated by single quadrant hemorrhoidectomy, and the remaining eight underwent Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation with rectoanal repair. CONCLUSION: Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation reduces the need for conventional hemorrhoid surgery where rubber band ligation has been unsuccessful.

Surgical specialist registrars can safely perform resections for carcinoma of the rectum.

AIM: To assess morbidity, mortality and cancer-related outcomes after supervised rectal resection for cancer by surgical specialist registrars (SpRs). PATIENTS: A total of 205 consecutive patients (115 male; median age 64 years [range, 24-90 years]) under the care of six consultant surgeons, who underwent elective rectal resection of their rectal cancer between 1995-1999 were studied. The modified Dukes' stages were A in 28 patients (13%), B in 47 (21%), C in 103 (51%), and D in 30 (15%). RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients (35 males) of mean age 64 years (range, 38-82 years) underwent supervised resection (60 anterior resections. 8 abdomino-perineal resections) by a SpR. Of these, 7 (10%) were modified Dukes' stage A, 16 (22%) stage B, 37 (54%) stage C, and 8 (13%) stage D. Postoperative morbidity (SpRs 32% versus consultants 41%; P = 0.25) and mortality (SpRs 3% versus consultants 6%; P = 0.1) were comparable with consultant outcomes. Local recurrence rates (SpRs 9% versus consultants 9%; P = 0.5) and crude survival (SpRs 64% versus consultants 61%; P = 0.31) were also comparable after a median follow-up of 48 months (range, 24-72 months). CONCLUSION: Operative and cancer-related outcomes are not compromised by supervised SpR resections of rectal cancer in selected patients.

Sphincter-Preserving Therapy for Treating a Chronic Anal Fissure: Long-term Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To estimate the risk of recurrent fissure in ano after sphincter preserving treatments. METHODS: A retrospective case note review, combined with a telephone survey was conducted for all patients treated for a chronic anal fissure between 1998 and 2008. RESULTS: Six hundred and twelve patients (303 women: mean age, 39 years; range, 16-86 years) were treated for chronic anal fissure between 1998 and 2008. Topical diltiazem 2% was initially prescribed for 8 weeks. The fissure did not heal in 141 patients. These patients (61 women: mean age, 30 years; range, 15-86 years) were treated with 100 IU botulinum A toxin (Botox) injection combined with a fissurectomy under general anaesthesia. Thirty eight patients suffered a recurrence of their fissure within two years. Thirty-four healed with further medical or sphincter conserving surgical therapy while four required a lateral internal sphincterotomy. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of patients with chronic anal fissure can be treated with sphincter conserving treatments. This may require several interventions before healing can be achieved. Assessment for recurrence after 'conservative' treatments requires a minimum of two-year follow-up.

Appendiceal endometriosis and carcinoid presented as acute appendicitis in pregnancy: a rare case report and review of the literature.

A 22-year-old pregnant woman presented at the twenty-seventh week of gestation in the Emergency Department with acute abdominal pain and right iliac fossa tenderness. Urgent MRI was done and was suggestive of acute appendicitis. A laparoscopy was performed that confirmed an inflamed and purulent appendix that was removed. The technique used is described in detail. The histopathologic findings were those of acute appendicitis, carcinoid, and endometriosis of the appendix. We report the first case of this extremely rare triad presented in pregnancy.

A comparison of POSSUM, P-POSSUM and colorectal POSSUM for the prediction of postoperative mortality in patients undergoing colorectal resection.

PURPOSE: POSSUM (Physiologic and Operative Severity Score for enUmeration of Morbidity & Mortality) and P-POSSUM have been validated as scoring tools for the prediction of postoperative complications in general surgical patients. More recently a colorectal-specific POSSUM has been developed for mortality prediction. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the accuracy for mortality prediction of POSSUM, P-POSSUM, and colorectal POSSUM after major and complex major colorectal procedures. METHODS: The relationship between the observed and expected morbidity and mortality was examined in 347 consecutive patients (321 elective, 26 urgent) undergoing a major or complex major colorectal resection using POSSUM, P-POSSUM, and Colorectal POSSUM. The accuracy of using these scoring tools to predict mortality was assessed using Receiver Operator Characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 347 consecutive patients (median age, 69 (range, 34-92) years) were assessed. Seventy-one patients (20.5 percent) suffered a postoperative complication and 15 patients (4.3 percent) died. The observed: expected POSSUM ratio for morbidity was 0.71 and mortality 0.68. The area under curve from Receiver Operator Characteristic curve analysis for POSSUM was 0.752. The observed:expected mortality ratio for P-POSSUM was 0.71, and the area under curve from Receiver Operator Characteristic curve analysis was 0.749. The observed:expected mortality ratio for colorectal POSSUM was 0.75, and the area under the curve from Receiver Operator Characteristic curve analysis was 0.781. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal POSSUM provides comparable prediction of mortality risk after colorectal resection compared with POSSUM and P-POSSUM.

Subspecialisation and its effect on the management of rectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the impact of subspecialisation on surgical and oncological outcomes after rectal cancer surgery in a single surgical unit within a district general hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 207 patients with rectal cancer treated surgically by two colorectal surgeons and four experienced general surgeons at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England between January 1995 and December 1999 were studied. A retrospective case-note review of each patient's personal details, operative and histological findings, their subsequent clinical progress and oncological outcomes, including 5-year survival were recorded. RESULTS: In the study group, 127 patients were treated by a colorectal surgeon and 80 by general surgeons. Pre-operative radiotherapy was more likely to be given to patients treated by a colorectal surgeon. Fewer permanent stomas were performed by colorectal surgeons. Postoperative morbidity, transfusion requirements, anastomotic leak rates and 30-day mortality were not significantly different. Tumour-involved circumferential resection margins, local recurrence rates and risk of distant metastases were similar between the two groups of surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal subspecialisation has resulted in an increased use of pre-operative radiotherapy and fewer permanent stomas. No significant improvement in surgical or oncological outcomes after rectal cancer surgery have been observed.

A prospective audit of 300 consecutive young women with an acute presentation of right iliac fossa pain.

INTRODUCTION: A prospective study of 300 women of child-bearing age presenting with right iliac fossa pain was carried out to determine what proportion had appendicitis and whether active observation resulted in a delay in diagnosis to the detriment of the patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for 300 consecutive women of childbearing age referred with right iliac fossa pain to general surgeons at a district general hospital. RESULTS: After clinical assessment, 71 were discharged home immediately. Two others were found to be pregnant and 4 admitted to gynaecology. The remaining 223 women were admitted to the general surgical unit, 112 of whom underwent immediate appendicectomy. Of these, 97 had acute appendicitis. Two suffered deep infection and two had a superficial wound infection. A further decision to operate was made in 42 of 111 patients admitted for active observation, with 36 having acute appendicitis and 2 having a carcinoid tumour. Four had a wound infection. The average in-patient stay of those admitted for active observation and not operated on was 2 days (range, 1-4 days) compared with a length of stay of 2 days (range, 1-7 days) for those who underwent 'immediate' appendicectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Most women of child-bearing age who present with right iliac fossa pain do not have appendicitis. Those who do not have the classical features of appendicitis or peritonism can be safely managed by active observation.

Sacral nerve stimulation can be successful in patients with ultrasound evidence of external anal sphincter disruption.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine whether patients with fecal incontinence and endoanal ultrasound evidence of anal sphincter disruption may be successfully treated by sacral nerve stimulation. METHODS: Five consecutive females with incontinence to solids and endoanal ultrasound evidence of anal sphincter disruption were treated by a two-week trial of sacral nerve stimulation. If successful, patients then proceeded to permanent sacral nerve stimulation implantation. RESULTS: Five patients, aged 34 to 56 years, were treated by temporary sacral nerve stimulation. Four had symptoms starting after childbirth. Two had previously had an anterior sphincter repair. After a two-week trial, three females reported full continence and an improvement in all aspects of their Rockwood fecal incontinence quality of life scores. These three females underwent permanent sacral nerve stimulation implantation. The remaining two patients reported no improvement and underwent dynamic graciloplasty or end colostomy respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral nerve stimulation may successfully restore bowel continence in some patients with endoanal ultrasound evidence of a defect in their external anal sphincter.

Randomised trial of topical 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate and lateral internal sphincterotomy for the treatment of patients with chronic anal fissure: long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes 24 months after treatment of chronic anal fissure with 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate ointment (GTN) or lateral internal sphincterotomy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised trial. SETTING: One teaching, one private, and 3 district hospitals, U.K. SUBJECTS: Seventy patients were randomised into two groups of 35 each to use 0.2% GTN ointment or have a lateral internal sphincterotomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of symptoms and healing of fissures assessed after 24 months. RESULTS: All those operated on were initially cured but one fissure recurred after 8 months. Nineteen of 35 fissures treated with GTN healed. The remaining 16 patients randomised to use GTN ointment whose fissures did not heal were then treated by sphincterotomy. Three patients whose fissures healed successfully with GTN developed recurrences within 6 months of completing treatment. The remaining 16 of 19 patients treated with GTN whose fissures healed were free of symptoms with no clinical evidence of recurrence after 24 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Many anal fissures heal with topical treatment with GTN. Lateral internal sphincterotomy remains effective but should be reserved for patients who fail to respond to initial chemical sphincterotomy.

Pregnancy and delivery before and after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for inflammatory bowel disease: immediate and long-term consequences and outcomes.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate pregnancy, delivery, and functional outcome in females before and after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis. METHODS: From a prospective database of 1,454 patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis between 1981 and 1995, a standardized questionnaire was sent to all female patients aged 40 years or younger at the time of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (n = 544). RESULTS: The response rate was 83 percent (450/544) with a mean follow-up after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis of 13 years. A total of 141 females were pregnant after the chronic ulcerative colitis diagnosis, but before ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (236 pregnancies; mean, 1.7) and 87 percent delivered vaginally. A mean of five (range, 1-16) years after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, 135 females were pregnant (232 pregnancies; mean, 1.7). Comparison of pregnancy and delivery before and after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in the same females (n = 37) showed no difference in birth weight, duration of labor, pregnancy/delivery complications, vaginal delivery rates (59 percent before vs. 54 percent after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis), and unplanned cesarean section (19 vs.14 percent). Planned cesareans occurred only after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and were prompted by obstetrical concerns in only one of eight. Pouch function at first follow-up after delivery (mean, 7 months) was similar to pregravida function. After ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, daytime stool frequency was the same after delivery as pregravida (5.4 vs. 5.4, not significant) but was increased at the time of last follow-up (68 months after delivery; 5.4 vs. 6.4; P < 0.001). The rate of occasional fecal incontinence also was higher (20 percent after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and 21 percent pregravida vs. 36 percent at last follow-up; P = 0.01). No difference in functional outcome was noted compared with females who were never pregnant after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (n = 307). Age and becoming pregnant did not affect the probability of pouch-related complications, such as stricture, pouchitis, and obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Successful pregnancy and vaginal delivery occur routinely in females with chronic ulcerative colitis before and after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The method of delivery should be dictated by obstetrical considerations. Pouch function and the incidence of complications in females with pregnancies seem largely unaffected long-term.