Real-world survival after colorectal surgery for malignancy in Korean patients with chronic kidney disease: an analysis of Korean healthcare big data, 2002–2019

Purpose@#Globally, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and has been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). There is a dearth of literature on the real-world morbidity and mortality associated with CKD comorbid with CRC. This study was performed to evaluate real-world survival outcomes of colorectal malignancy in Korean CKD patients. @*Methods@#The National Health Insurance Service of Korea provided data on patients who underwent surgical resection among patients diagnosed with CRC from 2002 to 2019. @*Results@#A total of 219,550 patients were included: 6,181 patients with underlying CKD and 213,369 patients without it.Each morbidity was significantly higher in the CKD-CRC group, and the postoperative mortality rates for the 30-day (3.11% vs. 1.78%, P < 0.001), 60-day (5.95% vs. 3.83%, P < 0.001), and 90-day mortality rate (8.12% vs. 5.32%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the CKD group. The median survival time (MST, year) was significantly lower in the CKD-CRC group (5.63; interquartile range [IQR], 5.26–5.91) than in the non-CKD-CRC group (8.71; IQR, 8.37–8.93). MST was significantly lower among CKD patients who received chemotherapy after adjustment by multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37–1.49; P < 0.001]). Subgroup analysis showed that in the CKD-CRC group, MST was lower in patients who received dialysis than in those who did not, even after multivariate analysis (adjusted HR, 2.38;95% CI, 2.20–2.58; P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Prevention of CKD-to-end-stage renal disease progression should be adopted as a strategy to increase postoperative survival, along with active surveillance and cancer treatment.

Outcomes of surgical treatments for rectovaginal fistula and prognostic factors for successful closure: a single-center tertiary hospital experiences

PURPOSE: Rectovaginal fistula can result from various causes and diverse surgical procedures have developed as a result. We investigated the outcomes of surgical treatments for rectovaginal fistula according to causes and procedures. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2016, 92 patients underwent 128 operations for rectovaginal fistula. Prospectively collected data were recorded, and a retrospective review was conducted. RESULTS: The median age was 49 years, and low fistula occurred in 58 patients (63.0%). The most common cause was radiation therapy, followed by pelvic operation, birth injury, perineal operation, cancer invasion, and trauma. The most common procedure during the first operation was diverting ostomy alone, followed by transanal rectal advancement flap, sphincteroplasty with perineoplasty, bowel resection, fistulectomy with seton placement, and Martius flap. Thirty-one patients (33.7%) experienced successful closure after the first operation. Repeated operations were performed in 16 patients (17.4%), including gracilis muscle transpositions, stem cell injections, and Martius flaps. The overall success rate was 42.4% (n = 39). Radiation therapy and pelvic operation as cause of fistula were significantly poor prognostic factors (P = 0.010, P = 0.045) and Crohn disease had a tendency for poor prognostic factors (P = 0.058). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy and pelvic operation for cancer were more common causes than birth injury, and these causes of rectovaginal fistula were the most important prognostic factors. An individualized approach and repeated surgeries with complex or newly developed procedures, even among high-risk causes of fistula, may be necessary to achieve successful closure.

Outcomes after local excision for rectal neuroendocrine tumor

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine tumor is a rare tumor in the rectum, but incidence has been increasing. Local excision is an option for treatment of small tumors, and transanal excision or endoscopic resection can be undergone. But indications for local excision have not been established yet. This study was to compare the long-term oncologic outcomes between transanal excision and endoscopic resection for rectal neuroendocrine tumor.METHODS: Patients diagnosed and treated with rectal neuroendocrine tumor from 2000 to 2015 were collected prospectively, and medical records were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: Forty patients were included, mean age was 50.20±13.35 years (male:female=23:17). Transanal excision and endoscopic resection were performed in 28 (70%) and 12 (30%) patients, respectively. Mean tumor size was 0.63±0.37 cm, and tumor location was 5.45±1.89 cm from anal verge. Tumor location was more distal rectum in transanal excision (5.04±1.73 cm vs. 6.42±1.98 cm, P=0.049). Pathologic T stage was T1 in all patients. Most of the patients (90%) showed tumor grade 1. After median 24 months (range, 0–86 months) follow-up, one patient (2.5%) experienced local recurrence. The patient underwent further transanal excision. There was no mortality after local excision.CONCLUSION: Local excision is a safe and effective treatment for small-sized neuroendocrine tumors in rectum.

Predictors of Morbidity and Mortality After Surgery for Intestinal Perforation

PURPOSE: An intestinal perforation is a rare condition, but has a high mortality rate, even after immediate surgical intervention. The clinical predictors of postoperative morbidity and mortality are still not well established, so this study attempted to identify risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality after surgery for an intestinal perforation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 117 patients who underwent surgery for an intestinal perforation at a single institution in Korea from November 2008 to June 2014. Factors related with postoperative mortality at 1 month and other postoperative complications were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of enrolled patients was 66.0 ± 15.8 years and 66% of the patients were male. Fifteen patients (13%) died within 1 month after surgical treatment. Univariate analysis indicated that patient-related factors associated with mortality were low systolic and diastolic blood pressure, low serum albumin, low serum protein, low total cholesterol, and high blood urea nitrogen; the surgery-related factor associated with mortality was feculent ascites. Multivariate analysis using a logistic regression indicated that low systolic blood pressure and feculent ascites independently increased the risk for mortality; postoperative complications were more likely in both females and those with low estimated glomerular filtration rates and elevated serum C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSION: Various factors were associated with postoperative clinical outcomes of patients with an intestinal perforation. Morbidity and mortality following an intestinal perforation were greater in patients with unstable initial vital signs, poor nutritional status, and feculent ascites.

Surgical treatment for high-grade pseudomyxoma peritonei originated from appendix: Analysis of clinical outcomes of repeated debulking surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of repeated debulking surgery for high-grade pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) originating from the appendix.METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2014, fifty patients, who underwent debulking surgery for high-grade PMP originating from the appendix, were obtained from a prospectively collected database and retrospectively analyzed. Two groups according to the number of operations were divided and analyzed.RESULTS: A total of 118 operations were performed. Thirty-one patients received more than two operations. The median interval between operations was 18.2 months (range, 2–170 months). Complications developed after 26 operations (22.0%), including ileus (n=10), intra-abdominal fluid collection (n=7), surgical site infection (n=5), and others. There were two mortalities within 30 days after operation. Between two groups of patients who received one operation only and patients who received more than two operations, transfusion, diversion operation, and postoperative complication rate showed statistically significant differences. Two groups of patients had no differences in overall survival rates.CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the number of operations does not affect the survival rate of high-grade appendiceal PMP, in which repeated debulking surgery is vital to relieve symptoms of the tumor burden.

Imaging of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Thymidine Kinase Gene Expression with Radiolabeled 5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) in Liver by Hydrodynamic-based Procedure / 핵의학분자영상

PURPOSE: Hydrodynamic-based procedure is a simple and effective gene delivery method to lead a high gene expression in liver tissue. Non-invasive imaging reporter gene system has been used widely with herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) and its various substrates. In the present study, we investigated to image the expression of HSV1-tk gene with 5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) in mouse liver by the hydrodynamicbased procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HSV1-tk or enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) encoded plasmid DNA was transferred into the mouse liver by hydrodynaminc injection. At 24 h post-injection, RT-PCR, biodistribution, fluorescence imaging, nuclear imaging and digital wholebody autoradiography (DWBA) were performed to confirm transferred gene expression. RESULTS: In RT-PCR assay using mRNA from the mouse liver, specific bands of HSV1-tk and EGFP gene were observed in HSV1-tk and EGFP expressing plasmid injected mouse, respectively. Higher uptake of radiolabeled IVDU was exhibited in liver of HSV1-tk gene transferred mouse by biodistribution study. In fluorescence imaging, the liver showed specific fluorescence signal in EGFP gene transferred mouse. Gamma-camera image and DWBA results showed that radiolabeled IVDU was accumulated in the liver of HSV1-tk gene transferred mouse. CONCLUSION: In this study, hydrodynamic-based procedure was effective in liver-specific gene delivery and it could be quantified with molecular imaging methods. Therefore, co-expression of HSV1-tk reporter gene and target gene by hydrodynamic-based procedure is expected to be a useful method for the evaluation of the target gene expression level with radiolabeled IVDU.