The Impact of Enhanced Recovery on Long-Term Survival in Rectal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Implementing perioperative interventions such as enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) has improved short-term outcomes and minimized length of stay. Preliminary evidence suggests that adherence to the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol may also enhance 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) in colorectal cancer surgery. This retrospective study presents long-term survival outcomes and disease recurrence from a high-volume, single-center practice. METHODS: All patients over 18 years of age diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma and undergoing elective minimally invasive surgery (MIS) were retrospectively reviewed between February 2005 and April 2018. Relevant data were extracted from Mayo electronic records and securely stored in a database. Short-term morbidity and long-term oncological outcomes were compared between patients enrolled in ERP and those who received non-enhanced care. RESULTS: Overall, 600 rectal cancer patients underwent MIS, of whom 320 (53.3%) were treated according to the ERP and 280 (46.7%) received non-enhanced care. ERP was associated with a decrease in length of stay (3 vs. 5 days; p < 0.001) and less overall complications (34.7 vs. 54.3%; p < 0.001). The ERP group did not show an improvement in overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) compared with non-enhanced care on multivariable (non-ERP vs. ERP OS: hazard ratio [HR] 1.268, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.852-1.887; DFS: HR 1.050, 95% CI 0.674-1.635) analysis. CONCLUSION: ERP was found to be associated with a reduction in short-term morbidity, with no impact on long-term oncological outcomes, such as OS, CSS, and DFS.

Tofacitinib Exposure Does Not Increase Postoperative Complications Among Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Undergoing Total Colectomy: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis, total colectomy and tofacitinib have all been associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism. OBJECTIVE: To determine if preoperative tofacitinib exposure increases venous thromboembolism or other postoperative complications among patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing subtotal colectomy, total colectomy or total proctocolectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective, case-control study at a single institution. SETTINGS: A tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Adult patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing subtotal colectomy, total colectomy or total proctocolectomy after 2018 who were taking tofacitinib within 30 days of surgery (n = 56) were compared to age and sex-matched patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing the same surgeries but who were not exposed to tofacitinib (n = 56). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was differences in the incidence of venous thromboembolism within 90 days of surgery based on tofacitinib exposure. Secondary outcomes were 90-day postoperative complications. RESULTS: Groups were well matched for age (non-tofacitinib: mean 35.2 years [SD 12.0], tofacitinib: 35.9 [SD 12.1], p = 0.36) and sex (41% female in each group, p = 1.00). Medical characteristics were similar between groups except for biologic medication exposure 30 days before surgery (non-tofacitinib: 66%, tofacitinib: 36%, p = 0.004). Surgical characteristics did not differ between groups. Most patients were discharged on extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (non-tofacitinib: 80% and tofacitinib: 77%). Adjusted for biologic exposure, there were no statistically significant differences in venous thromboembolism (non-tofacitinib exposed: 14%, tofacitinib-exposed: 4%, p = 0.09) or other postoperative outcomes. LIMITATION: Retrospective, single institutional study. CONCLUSION: Among patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing total colectomy or proctocolectomy, exposure to tofacitinib was not associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism or other postoperative complications. See Video Abstract.

Intestinal malrotation in the adult population: Diagnosis, management, and outcomes after laparoscopic Ladd procedure.

BACKGROUND: The Ladd procedure is the treatment of choice for patients with intestinal malrotation; however, the long-term outcomes of the laparoscopic Ladd procedure are not well documented. This study aimed to review the presentation, management, and outcomes of adult patients who underwent a laparoscopic Ladd procedure. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted to identify adult patients with malrotation who underwent a laparoscopic Ladd procedure between January 1995 and June 2022 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Patient details and follow-up data were obtained from the electronic medical records. Patients were invited to participate in a structured phone interview to assess symptoms and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: A total of 44 patients underwent the laparoscopic Ladd procedure. Of the 44 patients, 42 (95.5 %) were symptomatic, with 7 (16.7 %) presenting with acute symptoms. Moreover, 8 laparoscopic procedures (13.6 %) required conversion to an open procedure. The median estimated blood loss was 20 mL (IQR, 10-50), operative time was 2.3 h (IQR, 1.8-2.8), and hospital length of stay was 2 days (IQR, 2-3). Postoperative ileus was the most common complication (18.0 %). The median follow-up was 8.00 years (IQR, 2.25-13.00), with more than 90.0 % of patients having partial or complete symptom resolution. Of note, 28 patients (63.6 %) completed phone interviews. Moreover, 1 patient (2.0 %) reported a postoperative volvulus. When asked to compare their current symptoms with those preoperatively, 78.6 % of patients noted that they were significantly better. Furthermore, 85.7 % of patients reported that their QoL was significantly better after surgery. Finally, 96.4 % of patients would recommend the procedure to a friend or family member with the same condition. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic Ladd procedure is a safe and effective surgical procedure for adult patients with intestinal malrotation.