Constipation in the period of limited isolation during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 outbreak has become widespread globally and caused a new global chaos. This outbreak that completely affected the lifestyle of individuals resulted in periods of isolation. Here, we evaluated the effects of lifestyle changes with isolation on constipation. METHODS: A survey on constipation was performed during the 12-week isolation period starting in March 2020 in Turkey. Data of 390 individuals who participated in the survey through the social media and who were actively employed prior to isolation were analyzed. Rome IV criteria were used to evaluate constipation. RESULTS: Among the participants in the study, 253 (64.9%) were women with the mean age of 39.5±9.5 years. A statistically significant association was found between the decreased water consumption during the isolation period and constipation after the isolation (p=0.020; p<0.05). A significant association was found between the changes in physical activity and constipation after the isolation (p=0.013; p<0.05). New development of constipation during the isolation or declaration of increased constipation was found to be statistically associated with post-isolation constipation according to Rome criteria (p=0.000; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The data of this present study demonstrated that isolation period was effective on the newly developed constipation. Decreased physical activity and water consumption are also effective on constipation.

Constipation in the period of limited isolation during COVID-19 pandemic

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 outbreak has become widespread globally and caused a new global chaos. This outbreak that completely affected the lifestyle of individuals resulted in periods of isolation. Here, we evaluated the effects of lifestyle changes with isolation on constipation. METHODS: A survey on constipation was performed during the 12-week isolation period starting in March 2020 in Turkey. Data of 390 individuals who participated in the survey through the social media and who were actively employed prior to isolation were analyzed. Rome IV criteria were used to evaluate constipation. RESULTS: Among the participants in the study, 253 (64.9%) were women with the mean age of 39.5±9.5 years. A statistically significant association was found between the decreased water consumption during the isolation period and constipation after the isolation (p=0.020; p<0.05). A significant association was found between the changes in physical activity and constipation after the isolation (p=0.013; p<0.05). New development of constipation during the isolation or declaration of increased constipation was found to be statistically associated with post-isolation constipation according to Rome criteria (p=0.000; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The data of this present study demonstrated that isolation period was effective on the newly developed constipation. Decreased physical activity and water consumption are also effective on constipation.

Clinical importance of serum CEA and CA-19-9 levels in oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the incidence of gastroesophageal junction tumors has increased rapidly in worldwide. AIM: To evaluate pretreatment serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) adenocarcinomas regarding clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients undergoing curative surgery diagnosed with OGJ adenocarcinoma in the gastrointestinal surgery clinic between 2007 and 2019 were included in the study retrospectively. Kaplan Meier and Log Rank tests were performed in survival analyses. Logistic regression analysis was performed to state the independent variables affecting survival. RESULTS: The mean age of the 70 patients included in the study was 59.78 ±10.49 (31-76) years. Serum CEA and CA 19-9 were high in 19 (27.1%) patients. CEA ≥ 5 ng/ml was found to be statistically significant in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and in patients with a high number of positive lymph nodes (N +) (p = 0.041 and p = 0.042, respectively). CA 19-9 positivity was statistically higher in patients with lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.042 and p = 0.012, respectively). The age and N+ findings of the patients in the CA 19-9-positive group were statistically significant compared to the patients in the CA 19-9-negative group (p = 0.039 and p = 0.007, respectively). Overall survival rates of 1-3 and 5 years were statistically significantly lower in patients who were CA 19-9 positive (p = 0.016). For patients in whom both tumour markers were positive, the N+ mean value was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, a significant relationship was found in terms of overall survival and serum CA 19-9 in OGJ adenocarcinoma, and it was associated with both tumour markers being positive and the mean N+ value.

The learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a comparison of three inexperienced surgeons.

INTRODUCTION: Studies with inexperienced surgeons in terms of the learning curve for laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair are limited. AIM: To compare three inexperienced surgeons in terms of the learning curve without supervision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients' data, which were from consecutive laparoscopic TEP hernioplasties between December 2017 and February 2020, were analysed retrospectively. The primary outcome was to compare the learning curve of three surgeons (Surgeon A, B, and C) in terms of complications, conversion, and duration of surgery. Secondary outcomes were recurrence rates. RESULTS: A total of 299 patients were included in the study. Conversion and intraoperative complication rates decreased after the first 60 cases (from 10% to 2.5%, p = 0.013 and from 9% to 2.5%, p = 0.027, respectively). The mean operative time reached a plateau of less than 40 min after 51-81 cases (Surgeon A 51, B 71, and C 81 cases). Ageing was a risk factor for intraoperative complications and recurrence (p < 0.001, p = 0.008, respectively), and higher body mass index (BMI) was a risk factor for conversion (p = 0.004). Age ≥ 60 years compared to age < 60 years increased intraoperative complications five-fold and recurrence six-fold (p = 0.001). On the other hand, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 increased the possibility of conversion to open surgery nine-fold (p < 0.001). In addition, a positive correlation was found between the operative time and the BMI and VAS score (p = 0.004, p = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In order to reach the plateau in the operative time during the TEP learning curve period, more than 50 cases should be experienced, whereas more than 60 cases are needed for conversion, intraoperative complications, and recurrence.

The risk of post-polypectomy bleeding among patients receiving antithrombotic agents: A prospective observational study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: In July 2012, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society updated their guidelines for gastroenterological endoscopy in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. Colonoscopic polypectomy procedures are associated with a high risk of bleeding. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the safety of colonoscopic polypectomy procedures in terms of bleeding, among patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary-level public cardiovascular hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: Colonoscopic polypectomies carried out in a single endoscopy unit between July 2018 and July 2019 were evaluated prospectively. The patients' data, including age, gender, comorbidities, whether antithrombotic drug use was ceased or whether patients were switched to bridging therapy, polyp size, polyp type, polyp location, histopathology, resection methods (hot snare, cold snare or forceps) and complications relating to the procedures were recorded. RESULTS: The study was completed with 94 patients who underwent a total of 167 polypectomy procedures. As per the advice of the physicians who prescribed antithrombotic medications, 108 polypectomy procedures were performed on 60 patients without discontinuing medication and 59 polypectomy procedures were performed on 34 patients after discontinuing medication. The age, gender distribution and rate of bleeding did not differ significantly between the patients whose medication was discontinued and those whose medication was continued (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that the colonoscopic polypectomy procedure without discontinuation of antithrombotic medication did not increase the risk of bleeding. This procedure can be safely performed by experienced endoscopists in patients with an international normalized ratio (INR) below 2.5.

Sarcopenia is associated with increased severe postoperative complications after colon cancer surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing surgery. We aimed to investigate the relationship between postoperative complications of sarcopenic patients who had been operated on for colon cancer and the effects on short-term mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, patients who had undergone colon cancer surgery between January 2013 and December 2018 were collected retrospectively. Sarcopenia was diagnosed by the skeletal muscle index (SMI) derived from a preoperative computed tomography scan. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether sarcopenia is associated with postoperative major complications (POMC). RESULTS: The study included 160 patients with a mean age of 62.4 ±12.6 years. Clavien-Dindo grade 1-2 (minor) complications were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.896). However, grade ≥ 3 (major) complications were detected in 13 (17.8%) patients in the sarcopenic group (SG) and in 5 patients in the non-sarcopenic group (NSG) (5.7%) (p = 0.016). Length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was longer in SG (p = 0.002) and there was no difference between 1-month and 6-month mortality rates (p = 0.273 and p = 0.402, respectively). According to univariate analyses, sarcopenia and age over 65 years were related to POMC. In multivariate analyses, sarcopenia (odds ratio = 3.039; 95% confidence interval 1.008-9.174; p = 0.048) and advanced age (odds ratio = 3.246; 95% confidence interval 1.078-9.803; p = 0.036) were found to be independent risk factors for POMC. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that while sarcopenia is a risk factor for POMC, sarcopenia also prolongs the duration of ICU stay. Also sarcopenia has no effect on short-term mortality.

The risk of post-polypectomy bleeding among patients receiving antithrombotic agents: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: In July 2012, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society updated their guidelines for gastroenterological endoscopy in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. Colonoscopic polypectomy procedures are associated with a high risk of bleeding. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the safety of colonoscopic polypectomy procedures in terms of bleeding, among patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary-level public cardiovascular hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: Colonoscopic polypectomies carried out in a single endoscopy unit between July 2018 and July 2019 were evaluated prospectively. The patients' data, including age, gender, comorbidities, whether antithrombotic drug use was ceased or whether patients were switched to bridging therapy, polyp size, polyp type, polyp location, histopathology, resection methods (hot snare, cold snare or forceps) and complications relating to the procedures were recorded. RESULTS: The study was completed with 94 patients who underwent a total of 167 polypectomy procedures. As per the advice of the physicians who prescribed antithrombotic medications, 108 polypectomy procedures were performed on 60 patients without discontinuing medication and 59 polypectomy procedures were performed on 34 patients after discontinuing medication. The age, gender distribution and rate of bleeding did not differ significantly between the patients whose medication was discontinued and those whose medication was continued (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that the colonoscopic polypectomy procedure without discontinuation of antithrombotic medication did not increase the risk of bleeding. This procedure can be safely performed by experienced endoscopists in patients with an international normalized ratio (INR) below 2.5.

The factors of pancreatic fistula development in patients who underwent classical pancreaticoduodenectomy.

AIM: Pancreatic fistula (PF) and anastomotic leakage are significant complications of the pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The PF is considered as the root cause of other major complications of PD. The aim of the study was to investigate the risk factors underlying PF that occurred after PD and the effects of the PF on postoperative morbidity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, fifty patients who underwent classic PD were evaluated, retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups as patients with PF and patients without PF. The following demographical, clinical and operative parameters were collected to evaluate the PF; age, gender, preoperative biochemical parameters, resection type, duration of the operation, patient's comorbidities, amount of perioperative transfusion, localization of the tumour, texture of the residual pancreas, type of the anastomosis and the diameter of the pancreatic duct. RESULTS: A statistically significant relation was found between the texture of the remnant pancreatic parenchyma and PF (p<0.001). A significant relation was determined between PF and preoperative ALP, GGT, AST, ALT, hemoglobin levels and length of the hospitalization (p<0.05). In this study, we found that mortality, abdominal bleeding, bile leakage, intra-abdominal abscess were associated with reoperation and prolonged hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The lack of internationally accepted definition of a fistula is an important issue. Preoperative high ALP, ALT, AST, GGT values, low hemoglobin values and soft texture of remnant pancreatic tissue were found to be related with PF that occurs after PD. Residual pancreatic tissue has been shown as an independent risk factor. KEY WORDS: ISPGF, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, Pancreatic fistula, Risk factors.

Multiple small bowel perforation in a young adult female due to Rapunzel Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Rapunzel's syndrome is the state of the gastric trichobezoar (hair ball) extending to the small intestine. Although it is seen very rarely, it is a psychiatric and mental illness especially in young women. We present here, a young female with recurrent trichotillomania. CASE PRESENTATION: In a 24-year-old patient who underwent laparotomy due to recurrent trichobezoar, which completely filled the stomach and extended to the small intestine, caused perforation in two places in the small intestine, was removed by gastrotomy and enterotomy. One of the perforated areas was very close to ligament of Treitz, and perforation occurred due to the ulcer caused by trichobezoar. Post-operative central total parenteral nutrition was given and oral intake was started at the end of the first week. The patient was referred to psychiatry and antipsychotic medication was started. She was discharged on the 9th postoperative day without any problem. CONCLUSION: Although there are no signs of peritonitis in such Rapunzel syndrome cases, a detailed exploration should be made by keeping in mind that trichobezoar will cause ulceration and perforation. In addition, as the primary cause is the underlying psychiatric disorder, patients should be referred to the psychiatry clinic to prevent recurrence. KEY WORDS: Adult, Rapunzel syndrome, Surgery, Trichobezoar, Trichotillomania.

The safety of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy in patients receiving antithrombic drugs. A single-centre prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: In July 2012, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society updated their guidelines on gastroenterological endoscopy in patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy, although the safety of endoscopic procedures in patients receiving antithrombotic drugs has yet to be sufficiently studied. AIM: This study evaluates the safety of upper gastroenterological endoscopic biopsy in patients receiving antithrombotic drugs. We evaluated the prospective observational safety of endoscopic biopsy performed in the endoscopy unit of our patients using antithrombotic drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (OGD) and biopsies performed at a single endoscopy unit between July 2018 and February 2019 were examined in this prospective observational study. Patients receiving antithrombotic drugs due to cardiovascular and neurological reasons, who underwent an endoscopic mucosal biopsy for diagnostic purposes, were included in the study. RESULTS: The study was completed with 166 patients who underwent an endoscopic biopsy, from whom a total of 327 biopsies taken. The patients were examined in two groups: those "receiving antithrombotic drugs" and those who had "stopped taking antithrombotic drugs". There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective observational study showed that performing an endoscopic biopsy without the cessation of antithrombotic drugs does not increase bleeding risk. Low-risk procedures, such as endoscopic mucosal biopsies, can be performed confidently by experienced endoscopists.

The impact of sarcopenia on pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The role of sarcopenia in pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in non-metastatic locally advanced rectal cancer is currently unknown. The present study investigates the association between sarcopenia and post-nCRT pCR. METHODS: The data of patients operated on following nCRT between January 2013 and January 2020 were collected retrospectively. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the calculation of the skeletal muscle index (SMI) from computed tomography carried out at the time of the initial diagnosis. A statistical analysis was then conducted for predictors of pCR. RESULTS: The study included 61 patients with an average age of 57.3 years, 28 of whom formed the non-sarcopenic group (NSG) and 33 the sarcopenic group (SG). Of the patients, 32.7% were at clinical stage 2, and 67.3% were at clinical stage 3. Pathologic data following a mesorectal excision revealed a pCR rate of 21.4% in the NSG compared with 3% in the SG, which was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.025). The TNM downstaging rate was higher in the NSG than in the SG, although the difference was not statistically significant (50% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.28). A univariate analysis revealed the factors affecting pCR to be non-sarcopenia (p = 0.025), age < 61 years (p = 0.004), interval to surgery ≥ 8 weeks (p = 0.029), and serum CEA < 2.5 ng/ml (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia was found to be a negative marker of pCR following nCRT in non-metastatic locally advanced rectal cancer.

Pilonidal sinus of the perianal region: Difficult to diagnose.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal sinus usually arises in the area of natal cleft in young men. Hair accumulation in the wound in the perianal region is very rare. Although pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used in the differential diagnosis of perianal region diseases, it is not possible to diagnose perianal pilonidal sinus by MRI. CASE: A 24-year-old male patient presented with the complaint of swelling and itching in the anus for several months. On physical examination, the area giving endure and fluctuation was detected in the perianal region. An area of ​​2 × 2 cm hyperintense in T2 was seen in pelvic MRI. In the surgical exploration, collection of hair was seen at 7 o'clock at perianal region with pus discharge. After the cavity was cleaned, crystallized phenol was applied to the area and the wound was left to secondary healing. Granulation was observed after 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Perianal pilonidal sinus is very rare in the literature and is often confused with other perianal diseases such as perianal abscess or anal fistula. In this respect, when examining perianal diseases, especially in young men, perianal pilonidal sinus should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis.

Gastric mixed adeno-neuroendocrine carcinoma with a large cell neuroendocrine component A case reports.

Digestive system carcinomas containing a neuroendocrine and an exocrine component are classified as mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas(manec), as one of the component represents at least 30% of the whole lesion. We herein aim to contribute to literature by presenting our rare case of gastric manec. A 58-year-old male patient had a 3 cm mass placed in the antrum in his gastroscopy. The biopsy result was signet ring cell carcinoma. After that total gastrectomy with d2 lymph node dissection and roux-en-y oesophagojejunostomy was performed. The histopathology result was signet ring cell and mucinous adenocarcinoma with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma component(manec). Manec, a rare type of biphasic tumor, usually has a poor prognosis regardless of its stage and location. This behavior is thought to be caused by the neuroendocrine component. It is vital to know the histopathology of the tumor in order to provide certain standards diagnosis and treatment management. KEY WORDS: Gastric cancer, MANEC, Mixed adenoneuroandocrine cancer.