[Outcome of Icelandic patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) abroad].

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a known complication of colorectal cancer and has long been considered very difficult to manage. The survival has been reported to be under two years after systemic chemotherapy with or without palliative surgery. The most recent method of treatment is compiled of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) and has been suggested to significantly increase survival. The aim of this study was to research the cases of Icelandic patients undergoing this treatment overseas and the impact it has had on their disease. METHODS: A retrospective study of all Icelandic patients who have undergone CRS-HIPEC treatment abroad 2008-2017. Information was retrieved from medical records and from registry of the Icelandic Health Insurance committee of medical treatments abroad. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients have undergone CRS-HIPEC treatment after having received their initial treatment in Landspitali University Hospital. All of the surgeries were performed in the United States by the same surgeon in the years 2008-2017. The group consists of 10 women and 1 man with a mean age of 53 years. The cause of peritoneal carcinomatosis was appendiceal cancer for 7 patients (67%) and colon cancer for 3 patients (27%). One patient had a primary malignancy of the peritoneum, mesothelioma. Three patients suffered complications within 30 days of surgery, 2 had infection and 1 had an anastomotic leak. Another patient had a late complication of bowel stenosis and later a fistula. Five patients have completed their five year observation period post surgery without diagnosis of recurrence and mean follow-up time was 44 months. Out of 11 patients, 10 are still alive. Five have been diagnosed with recurrence of disease. CONCLUSION: Icelandic patients who have undergone CRS-HIPEC treatment have in most cases done well and survival is comparable to other studies. Half of the survivors did not have recurrence of disease within 5 years of surgery. Prognosis has improved since the introduction of this treatment and every reason to keep sending selected Icelandic patients abroad to receive it.

Quality of Life and Functional Outcome After Transanal Abdominal Transanal Proctectomy for Low Rectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy is a sphincter-preserving procedure designed to avoid colostomy in patients with cancer in the distal third of the rectum. Oncologic outcomes of this procedure have been established. However, data regarding patient satisfaction and quality of life are scant. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and functional outcomes of patients after transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral colorectal center. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy were included and surveyed using the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30, the Quality of Life Questionnaire CR38 module, and a questionnaire designed by the authors to assess satisfaction with quality of life. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of life, functional outcomes, and patient satisfaction were measured and compared by age, tumor level, and stage of the disease. RESULTS: A total of 133 surveys were mailed, and 90 patients responded and were included in the study. Patient quality of life was not significantly different after surgery. Patients with more proximal tumors had better lifestyle, physical, and emotional scores. Older patients performed better on multiple levels, including coping, emotional, body image, future perspective, and digestive. Stage of disease had no impact on quality of life. Compared with reference values, patients who underwent transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy performed better on most of the components. All of patients preferred transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy over having a stoma based on their current anal sphincter function, and >97% of patients preferred transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy based on their current quality of life, sexual function, and level of activities. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by the lack of a comparison group and a potential selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with quality of life and functional outcomes is high after transanal abdominal transanal proctectomy. Older patients and those with more proximal tumors performed better. This patient population clearly preferred a sphincter-preserving option for treatment of their rectal cancer.

Quality of life and fecal incontinence after transanal endoscopic microsurgery for benign and malignant rectal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive treatment used to excise a variety of rectal lesions. Potential overstretching of the sphincter's musculature due to dilation of the anal canal to allow placement of a 40-mm-wide scope combined with partial resection of the rectum and subsequent loss of rectal volume creates a concern regarding anorectal function postoperatively. Data regarding patient satisfaction with anorectal function and quality of life after TEM are scant. This report presents data on patient satisfaction gathered during a period of 10 years. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing TEM from 1997 to 2007 was queried to identify patients to survey using the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire version 3, and a questionnaire designed by the authors to assess satisfaction with quality of life. From a group of 86 patients, 57 (66 %) responded to the questionnaires. Patient satisfaction outcomes were determined by age, preoperative diagnosis, tumor level in the rectum, excision method, and radiation treatment. RESULTS: Most of the patients (94.7 %) preferred TEM to having a stoma. Age (p = 0.03) and nature of the lesion (p = 0.03) were the only factors that affected coping. Depression was affected only by the presence of malignancy (p = 0.001). Excision method was the only factor that significantly influenced overall lifestyle (p = 0.002). Neither tumor level (p = 0.8) nor radiation therapy (p = 0.9) affected patient satisfaction with lifestyle after TEM. The presence of malignancy (p = 0.004) and full-thickness excision (p = 0.02) were related to more problems with fecal incontinence. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction with fecal continence generally is high after TEM. Tumor level, size of tumor, and radiation therapy do not affect the level of satisfaction after TEM. Younger age and benign nature of the lesion help patients to cope better with lifestyle changes and reduce depression. Patients with submucosal excision have a significantly higher level of satisfaction.

[Abdominal giant lipoma].

Lipomas are slow-growing, benign soft tissue tumors that are typically asymptomatic. We describe the case of a 52 year old female, severely overweight who presented with an 8 month history of slowly progressive large lower abdomi-nal mass. Clinical workup gave an indication of a subcutaneous lipoma. The patient underwent open surgery where the mass was removed. Pathology results revealed a lipoma without malignancy. Lipomas only require treatment when they are symptomatic or to rule out malig-nancy. Giant lipomas are defined as a lesion that are over 10 cm in length or weigh more than 1000 grams.

[Incidence, cause and treatment of colonic perforations in Iceland 1998-2007: A nationwide study].

INTRODUCTION: Colon perforation is a serious illness with mortality reported from 0-39%. Surgery used to be the gold standard but treatment has changed as studies have indicated comparable results with less invasive treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of acute colon perforations in Iceland, causes and treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, nationwide, multicenter analysis was performed based on ICD-10 codes from databases of the main hospitals in Iceland. Age, gender, year of perforation, cause, means of diagnosis, treatment and outcome were registered. Patients under 18 years and post mortem diagnosis were excluded. RESULTS: 225 patients met criteria, 131 women (58%) and 94 men (42%), median age 70 years (range 30-95). The most common causes were diverticulitis (67%), colonoscopy (12%) and complications during operations (5%). During the first five study years, 27% received conservative treatment while 71% underwent surgery. By the end of the study era this ratio was 45% and 54% respectively. The rate of permanent stoma was 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Diverticulitis was the most common cause of colon perforation in Iceland during the study period. Many patients still undergo surgery but there has been a dramatic change toward more conservative treatment. The rate of stoma closure is comparable to studies elsewhere. 1University Hospital of Iceland, Dept. General Surgery, 2University of Iceland, Faculty of Medicine, 3Akureyri Teaching Hospital, 4Akranes Hospital and Health Care Center, Iceland. Key words: Colon perforation, diverticulitis, Hartmann's reversal. Correspondence: Elsa B. Valsdottir, elsava@landspitali.is.

[Quality of Life after colectomy due to ulcerative colitis].

INTRODUCTION: A significant proportion of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) undergo colectomy. The aim was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with UC who underwent colectomy at The National University Hospital of Iceland or Akureyri Hospital 1995-2009 were included. 106 patients received three questionnaires. SF-36v2 and EORTC are standardised QOL-questionnaires. The third contained functional questions designed by the researchers. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients replied (78%), 45 men (54%) and 38 women (46%). Average age at operation was 45 years (10-91 years). Forty-four (53%) had ileostomy, 28 (34%) ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and 11 (13%) ileorectal anastomosis. Among patients who had the rectum removed 37% described changes in urinary habits and 46% in sexual life after surgery. Among patients with IPAA 75% admitted to faecal incontinence but this was mild according to Wexner's scale in 83% of the cases. According to SF-36v2 there was no significant difference in the QOL of colectomy patients compared to the general population. Patients generally felt good about their health, body image and weight and had mild symptoms according to EORTC QLQ-CR29. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary habits and sexual life were commonly affected after rectal removal. Faecal incontinence among IPAA-patients was much more common than expected. There was not much difference in quality of life compared to the general population. The results of the study are important for patient education and may aid them in their decision making since removing the colon or having a stoma does not seem to affect quality of life. Key words: Quality of life, ulcerative colitis, ileostomy, colectomy. Correspondence: Elsa B. Valsdottir, elsava@landspitali.is.