[Clinical and oncological results of the pathological complete response in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant treatment]. / Resultados clínico-oncológicos de la respuesta patológica completa en el cáncer de recto después de tratamiento neoadyuvante.

INTRODUCTION: Neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for rectal cancer in order to reduce local recurrence. Patients with a pathological complete response (PCR) have a better prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of PCR on the oncological outcomes in our patients. METHODS: All patients with stage ii/iii rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and radical resection between 2007 and 2011 were identified from a prospective database, and grouped based on whether they achieved PCR or not (non-PCR). Clinical, histological and oncological outcome data were compared. RESULTS: A total of 162 patients were included (62% men), with a mean age of 65 years. In terms of pre-operative TNM staging, 82 patients (50%) were T2, 75 (46%) were T3, and 5 (3%) were T4. Forty-two patients (25%) were N1, and 87 (53%) were N2. Low anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection were performed in 125 (77%) and 25 (15%) patients. Forty-three patients (26.5%) had postoperative morbidity. PCR was achieved in 19 patients (11.7%). After a median follow-up of 26 months, there are no recurrences in the PCR group, and in the non-PCR group, local recurrence was 1.4% (P=.78), and distant metastasis was 8.4% (P=.21). Overall survival (P=.39) and survival free of diseases (P=.23) were better in the PCR group, but the differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: Patients with pathological complete response have better oncological outcome.

[Colonic volvulus and recurrence of volvulus: what should we do?]. / Vólvulo de colon y recidiva del vólvulo: ¿qué debemos hacer?

INTRODUCTION: Colonic volvulus (CV) is an uncommon disease in our country, which may present clinically as an intestinal obstruction or occlusion. Its diagnosis and therapeutic management remains controversial. The objective of this article is to present our series, analyse the results and establish a therapeutic approach to decrease the recurrence of the volvulus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study of patients diagnosed with CV between January 1997 and December 2009. RESULTS: The study included 54 patients, with a mean age of 74 years, who had a total of 89 CV episodes. There was associated disease in 70% of the cases, which included 44% with constipation and 53% with neurological diseases. The volvulus was located in the sigmoid in 87% of cases and in the right colon in 13%. The large majority (92%) of cases had intestinal obstruction. Endoscopic treatment was effective in 61% and urgent surgery was performed in 31% of the cases, and in 40% of the first episodes of CV. There was recurrence of volvulus in 62% of cases treated with surgery, and surgery was performed in 72% of these. In the whole series, surgery was performed in 35 cases (64%), with sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis being the technique most employed. The overall mortality of the series was 7 cases (12%), with 16% being in cases of surgery due to recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic technique and initial treatment of CV is endoscopic decompression. Early elective surgery prevents the high recurrence rate associated with higher mortality.

[Morbidity and mortality associated with diverting ileostomy closures in rectal cancer surgery]. / Morbilidad y mortalidad en relación con el cierre de ileostomías derivativas en la cirugía del cáncer de recto.

INTRODUCTION: Derivative ileostomies are frequently performed to protect low anastomosis. The closure of the ileostomy has shown, under some circumstances, high associated mortality/morbidity rates. This study attempts to quantify the morbidity and mortality associated with ileostomy closure in rectal neoplasm patients and to determine if the length of time between the procedure of construction and closure increases the morbidity/mortality. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed, using the database of the colo-rectal surgical group in the department of general surgery. The subjects were the 62 patients treated between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006 who received both a low anterior resection to treat rectal neoplasm and a subsequent ileostomy closure. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 65 years (38-83) and consisted of 19 women (30.7%) and 43 men (69.3%). The mean time between the construction and closure was 10.48 months (2-56) and the mean hospital stay was 7.8 days (3-32). The overall morbidity/mortality rate was 33.8% and 6.4%. The most frequent surgical complications were postoperative intestinal occlusion (16.9%) and wound infection (11.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed high morbidity/mortality rate for the closure of temporary ileostomy. Patients who received the closure more than 11.65 months after the low anterior resection had significantly higher morbidity/mortality rates.

[Ischemic colitis: two forms of clinical presentation and outcome]. / Colitis isquémica: dos formas de evolución clínica.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical presentation and outcomes of ischemic colitis in our environment with a view to identifying risk factors. METHOD: Fifty-one patients diagnosed in our hospital with ischemic colitis over a 5-year period (1998-2002) were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment were studied. Two groups (surgical patients [n = 28] and nonsurgical patients [n = 23]) were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences between the two groups were found in demographic data and associated disease. Diagnosis was performed by colonoscopy in nonsurgical patients and by analysis of the surgical specimen in almost all surgical patients. The presenting symptom was lower gastrointestinal bleeding in nonsurgical patients (p < 0.05) and peritonism in surgical patients (p < 0.05). Mortality was significantly higher in patients older than 80 years than in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding was more common as the presenting symptom in transitory forms of ischemic colitis. An acute abdomen indicates serious forms requiring surgery. Therefore the initial clinical symptoms determine the treatment provided. Advanced age is a poor prognostic factor for ischemic colitis. Risk factors in our series were presentation as acute abdomen and advanced age.

[Current situation of colorectal trauma]. / Estado actual de los traumatismos colorrectoanales.

Mortality from colorectal trauma decreased from the end of the 19th Century, when death was the rule, to the 21st Century, when mortality is 5%. The greatest advances were produced during wars, mainly due to improved transport conditions, antisepsis, advances in operating and anesthetic techniques, the management of fluids, blood and blood products, the use of antibiotics, exteriorization of wounds, and the use of colostomy. Injuries to the anus, rectum and colon are infrequent. Their prevalence is difficult to establish because they can be caused by several factors. In Spain, the most frequent causes are traffic accidents and iatrogenic lesions, while in America the most common causes are stab or gunshot wounds. Although the etiology of these injuries is diverse, two major groups of colorectal trauma can be established: accidental injuries and iatrogenic trauma. Clinical symptoms vary, ranging from abdominal, pelvic, perianal or anal pain, sometimes associated with rectorrhagia, to peritonismus or shock. Diagnosis is based on physical and rectal examination and laboratory, radiological, and endoscopic investigations. Laparoscopy can also be used on occasions. Treatment should be individualized, depending on the patient's history, current status, the time elapsed since injury, the status of the injured intestine, the degree of fecal contamination, associated lesions, and the surgeon's experience.