Systemic versus Oral and Systemic Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SOAP) study in colorectal surgery: prospective randomized multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the role of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and oral antibiotic prophylaxis (OABP) in reducing postoperative complications in colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of OABP given in addition to MBP in the setting of a prospective randomized trial. METHODS: Patients awaiting elective colorectal surgery in four Hungarian colorectal centres were included in this multicentre, prospective, randomized, assessor-blinded study. Patients were randomized to receive MBP with or without OABP (OABP+ and OABP- groups respectively). The primary endpoints were surgical-site infection (SSI) and postoperative ileus. Secondary endpoints were anastomotic leak, mortality, and hospital readmission within 30 days. RESULTS: Of 839 patients assessed for eligibility between November 2016 and June 2018, 600 were randomized and 529 were analysed. Trial participation was discontinued owing to adverse events in seven patients in the OABP+ group (2.3 per cent). SSI occurred in eight patients (3.2 per cent) in the OABP+ and 27 (9.8 per cent) in the OABP- group (P = 0.001). The incidence of postoperative ileus did not differ between groups. Anastomotic leakage occurred in four patients (1.6 per cent) in the OABP+ and 13 (4.7 per cent) in the OABP- (P = 0.02) group. There were no differences in hospital readmission (12 (4.7 per cent) versus 10 (3.6 per cent); P = 0.25) or mortality (3 (1.2 per cent) versus 4 (1.4 per cent); P = 0.39). CONCLUSION: OABP given with MBP reduced the rate of SSI and AL after colorectal surgery with anastomosis, therefore routine use of OABP is recommended.

Pathologic assessment of response to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer liver metastases after hepatic resection: which method to use?

BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receive chemotherapy prior liver resection more and more frequently. Histopathologic assessment methods of the resected specimen could evaluate the response to chemotherapy. In this study it is analyzed if these histopathologic changes are specific to preoperative chemotherapy and if these methods have correlation with survival. METHODS: Sixty three patients with available pathology slides, resected for colorectal cancer liver metastases were enrolled in this study. 46 patients (73%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Five pathological evaluation methods were compared according to the literature: [1] residual tumor cell ratio, [2] tumor regression grade (TRG) scoring system, [3] modified tumor regression grade (mTRG) scoring system with the type of necrosis, [4] pattern of tumor regression and [5] the tumor thickness at the tumor-normal interface (TNI). RESULTS: Analyzing the pathological methods between the chemotherapy (CTX) and the non-chemotherapy group (NC), we found that that four evaluation methods showed significant and one showed strong correlation with the use of chemotherapy. (Residual tumor cell ratio: p = 0.08; TRG: p <0.01; mTRG: p = 0.03; pattern of tumor regression: p <0.01; TNI: p = 0.02). In the chemotherapy group none of the analyzed pathological methods showed significant correlation with progression free survival (PFS) or with overall survival (OS). Residual tumor cell ratio, TRG and the pattern of tumor cells showed positive but not significant correlation with OS and PFS and a slight difference in the group of patients with TNI <2 mm could be documented. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor regression grade (TRG) and tumor thickness at the tumor-normal interface (TNI) were the most useful methods for pathological response evaluation and these methods had some correlation with survival. According to these data, authors concluded, that a reproducible and well defined scoring system, based on different histopathological evaluation methods should be developed to predict more accurately the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in CRCLM patients.

Pouch-sacral fistula three years after restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis.

Fistula formation after restorative proctocolectomy poses a challenge to the surgeon and sometimes can lead to the excision of the pouch. A 21-year-old female patient developed an ileal J-pouch-sacral fistula with abscess and osteomyelitis of the sacrum, more than three years after the pouch construction for ulcerative colitis. Two months prior to this event, the patient had a single and transient episode of pouchitis. The role of pouchitis in the aetiopathogenesis of the fistula is unclear. To our knowledge, the late development of such a fistula has not been reported previously.

Clinical significance and application of anorectal physiology.

During the last decade, interest in anorectal disorders has increased continuously. This review presents the results of Hungarian authors' contributions to a better understanding of anorectal physiology over the last 10 years. It has been demonstrated that the surgical technique of pelvic floor reconstruction can be refined and surgical complication rates reduced through the analysis of anal basal pressure components and exploration of internal anal sphincter function. Objective assessment of anal continence (distinguishing continent from incontinent patients) is a consistent problem in clinical practice. The balloon-retaining test, a special application of manometry, facilitates evaluation of anorectal function in incontinent patients. Constipation is an extremely common symptom. Surgical treatment of these ailments should not be regarded as a first-choice therapy. Disordered defecation due to anismus can be identified by defecometry, and can eventually be treated by biofeedback training. The data presented here demonstrate the enormous impact of sophisticated diagnostic techniques on the therapeutic options in treatment of anorectal diseases.

Bevacizumab treatment before resection of colorectal liver metastases: safety, recovery of liver function, pathologic assessment.

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receive chemotherapy prior liver resection more and more frequently. This preoperative treatment has many effects which have to be analysed, like the safety of liver resection, toxicity, tissue regeneration, radiological and pathological response and survival data. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of bevacizumab containing preoperative chemotherapy and functional recovery of the liver after resection for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) and to analyse radiological and pathological data. Data of three groups of 120 consecutive patients-(1) CTX + BV: cytotoxic chemotherapy + bevacizumab, (2) CTX: cytotoxic chemotherapy, (3) NC: no treatment before liver resection-were analysed. Postoperative liver function and complications were compared, clinical, radiological and pathological data were evaluated. Between 01.12.2006 and 31.12.2010 41 resections was performed after chemotherapy + bevacizumab (CTX + BV) and 27 resections was performed after preoperative chemotherapy without bevacizumab (CTX). There were 60 hepatic resections in this period without neoadjuvant treatment (NC). 8 patients had repeated resections. The postoperative complication rate was 40 % but there was no statistical difference between the groups (P = 0.72). Only the type of resection was associated with a significantly higher complication rate (p = 0.03). The subgroup of patients, who received irinotecan had a higher complication rate in the CTX group than in the BV + CTX group (55 % vs 41 %). Preoperative administration of bevacizumab was associated with higher peak postoperative AST, ALT levels but did not affect functional recovery of the liver. The RECIST system was not able to predict the outcome after chemotherapy in every patient and in many cases this system overestimated the effect of chemotherapy. On histopathological examination the presence of necrosis was not associated with chemotherapy or pathological response. Use of chemotherapy before hepatic resection of CLM was not associated with a significant increase in complication rates. The functional recovery of the liver was not affected by the preoperative administration of chemotherapy. The use of combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy is safe before hepatic resection.

Ano-rectal physiological changes after rubber band ligation and closed haemorrhoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of treatment for haemorrhoids on ano-rectal physiology was studied in a prospective longitudinal follow-up study. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients having II-III degree (Group I, 18 patients) or IV degree (Group II, 18 patients) haemorrhoids were studied. Group I underwent rubber band ligation while Group II underwent closed scissors haemorrhoidectomy. RESULTS: Patients in Group I had significantly lower maximum basal pressure (P < 0.05) and also significantly lower maximum squeeze pressure (P < 0.05) compared to Group II before treatment. Both basal and squeeze pressures dropped after haemorrhoidectomy (P < 0.001) whereas they remained unchanged after rubber band ligation (P > 0.1). The volume of first sensation was higher in Group II before treatment (P < 0.001) and remained so after treatment. Rectal compliance was higher (P < 0.005) in Group I before treatment. It increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05, Group I; P < 0.001, Group II) after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results show a significant increase in anal pressures in constantly prolapsing (IV degree) haemorrhoids. Most of the physiological differences observed between the two groups were abolished after treatment. This suggests that these may be a consequence rather than a cause of haemorrhoids.

The outcome of pancreatic fistulas developed after surgery for pancreatic pseudocysts.

Pancreatic fistulas (PF) develop in about 20% of cases operated for pancreatic pseudocysts. The authors analyse 81 cases of postoperative PF. These were formed following 991 operations performed for pancreatic pseudocysts (PPCs) in 850 patients from 1987 to 1992. It is concluded that the incidence of PF formation is significantly (P < 0.01) increased following interventions for acute-type pseudocysts and after external drainage. One-third of the fistulas closed spontaneously within 1-4 weeks, while another 1/3 persisted for 1-6 months before gradual closure. Closure of fistulas was facilitated by inhibition of pancreatic secretion with Somatostatin or endoscopic intervention (EST, endoprosthesis) in 24% of all cases. Only 15% (14 cases), of the fistulas, i.e. 1% of total patients, required surgery. The procedure of choice in the 14 cases was exstirpation of fistulas alone (2 cases) or combined with necrectomy (10 cases), or with distal pancreatic resection (2 cases). In cases of drained pancreatic fistulas observation can be an appropriate treatment option, while long-standing fistulas producing large amounts require intervention.