Second-look surgery plus HIPEC for patients with colorectal cancer at high risk of peritoneal carcinomatosis: Should we resect the initial anastomosis? An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery (CCRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) improves the overall survival in selected cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) of colorectal origin. Second-look surgery in asymptomatic patients at high risk of developing PC has shown encouraging results. This study aims at identifying cases in which initial anastomosis should be resected. METHODS: Patients treated by second-look surgery and HIPEC were identified from a prospective database. High-risk was defined as synchronous resected and minimal PC, ovarian metastasis or perforated primary tumor. Patients were divided in two groups based on intra-operative evaluation of the anastomosis: possibly-invaded (PI) and unlikely-invaded (UI). PI was defined as 1) PC away from the anastomosis, 2) nodules resting on the anastomosis 3) anastomotic stenosis or anastomotic thickening. Anastomosis in the PI group were resected. RESULTS: Forty patients were included: 12 in the PI group and 28 in the UI group. Incidence of pathological anastomotic invasion was 42% (5 on 12 patients) in the PI group. In the UI group, 2 patients had anastomotic recurrence, both associated with peritoneal recurrence. Morbidity and mortality was not influenced by anastomosis resection. The presence of suspicious nodules on the anastomosis had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89% in predicting anastomotic invasion. CONCLUSION: In second-look surgery and HIPEC for colorectal cancer at high-risk of PC, anastomosis should be resected when overlying PC nodules are found. This attitude is supported by high sensitivity of this finding for anastomotic invasion and low morbidity related to anastomotic resection.

Patients' quality of life after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: mixed-methods study.

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an increasingly widespread therapy method. It is associated with many socio-psychological and physical risks. Forty-four subjects, who were clinically monitored at the Bolzano BMT Centre including a follow-up period of at least 3 months, completed the questionnaire Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (version 4). Semi-structured, problem-oriented interviews were conducted with seven randomly selected subjects, the results of which were subjected to a summarising content analysis according to Mayring. The results from the quantitative and qualitative parts were compared based on triangulation. In the random sample, 22.7% stated that they were highly satisfied with their current quality of life (QOL). Throughout all dimensions of the questionnaire, women showed lower scores than men. The results revealed a positive correlation between the post-HSCT period and QOL (r(s)=0.338, P=0.025), especially regarding the social/family (r(s)=0.411, P=0.006) and emotional well-being (r(s)=0.306, P=0.043). The interviews primarily revealed dependence and inability to work. The support received from family, friends and hospital staff and the shift in priorities because of the transplantation were perceived as positive. The comparison mainly leads to corresponding results of the quantitative and qualitative parts of the study. Patient self-rating using questionnaires and interviews plays a direct and relevant role in the assessment of the QOL after allogeneic HSCT.

Immunocytochemistry of p16INK4a in liquid-based cervicovaginal specimens with modified Papanicolaou counterstaining.

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and value of a modified Papanicolaou counterstain for p16(INK4a) immunostaining in liquid-based cervicovaginal samples. METHODS: Immunocytochemical analyses were carried out with p16(INK4a) and modified Papanicolaou counterstain on 81 liquid-based samples, including 23 of within normal limits (WNL), 6 of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 20 of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 16 of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and 16 of atypical squamous cells, high-grade lesion cannot be excluded (ASC-H). Results were compared with histological or cytological follow-up. For comparison, samples from 29 more cases (10 of LSIL, 10 of ASC-H and 9 of HSIL) were immunostained with p16(INK4a) and conventionally counterstained with haematoxylin. The intensity of immunostaining in cases of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) was assessed using a 0-3 scoring system. Interobserver agreement was calculated by kappa statistics. RESULTS: Expression of p16(INK4a) was detected in 3 of 23 cases of WNL, 4 of 6 cases of LSIL, all cases of HSIL, 5 of 16 cases of ASC-US and 13 of 16 cases of ASC-H. Excluding two cases with no residual dysplastic cells in the immunocytochemistry, all cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2 or CIN3 at follow-up expressed p16(INK4a) and none of the p16(INK4a)-negative cases showed a high-grade lesion at follow-up. No evident differences in pattern or intensity of p16(INK4a) expression were observed between the specimens of the study and control groups. Interobserver agreement was significantly better in the study group than in the group with conventional immunostaining (combined kappa 0.773 v 0.549; p<0.05), and still better, albeit statistically not significant, than with conventional immunostaining and cervical smear test together (combined kappa 0.773 v 0.642). CONCLUSION: Immunocytochemistry with p16(INK4a) and modified Papanicolaou counterstain may add to the cervicovaginal cytology the full potentiality of p16(INK4a) without the need of a further slide and the risk of loss of dysplastic cells, yet maintaining the typical morphological features of the smear test.

Laparostomy in the treatment of severe peritonitis: a review of 60 cases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of laparostomy in the management of patients with severe abdominal infections. From June 1992 to December 2000 sixty patients with severe peritonitis were treated with laparostomy and studied retrospectively. Thirty-eight had post-operative peritonitis. Twelve patients had necrotic pancreatitis. Five patients had peritonitis due to ischemic colitis. Two patients had hemoperitoneum following multiple abdominal operations, and three patientshad severe wound dehiscence. The APACHE II score was used to determine the severity of patients' condition. The median age was 46 years, the mean APACHE II score was 19.7, and the observed mortality was 38.3%. The incidence of spontaneous fistulation of the exposed loop of intestine was 13.3%. In 11 patients abdominal wall closure was accomplished by primary intention. Incisional hernias were inevitable in the rest of patient and were repaired 1 years after surgery. Laparostomy is a good way to manage patients with severe peritonitis but it should be performed before irreversible septic shock and subsequent multi organ failure develop.