Development of a Predictive Nomogram for Circumferential Resection Margin in Rectal Cancer Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Circumferential resection margin (CRM) is a key quality metric and predictor of oncologic outcomes and overall survival following surgery for rectal cancer. We aimed to develop a nomogram to identify patients at risk for a positive CRM in the preoperative setting. METHODS: We performed a retrospective evaluation of the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2014 for patients with clinical stage I-III rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision. Patients were excluded for emergency operation, resection for cancer recurrence, palliative resection, transanal resection, and missing CRM status. The primary outcome was positive CRM. Secondary outcomes included overall survival. RESULTS: There were 28,790 patients included. 2245 (7.8%) had a positive CRM. Higher tumor grade, lack of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mucinous/signet tumor histology, open approach, abdominoperineal resection, higher T stage, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion were all significantly associated with positive CRM (P < 0.05) and were included in the nomogram. The C-statistic was 0.703, suggesting a good predictive model. CONCLUSIONS: Positive CRM is associated with specific patient demographics and tumor characteristics. These factors can be used along with preoperative MRI to predict CRM positivity in the preoperative period and plan accordingly.

Opioid Utilization in Outpatient Anorectal Surgery: An Opportunity for Improvement.

INTRODUCTION: The opioid epidemic has resulted in close examination of postsurgical prescribing patterns. Little is known about postoperative opioid use in outpatient anorectal procedures. This study evaluated patient opioid use and created prescribing recommendations for these procedures. METHODS: One hundred and four patients undergoing outpatient anorectal procedures from January to May 2018 were surveyed on opioid consumption, surgical experience, and pain satisfaction. Patients were grouped into three tiers based on opioid usage. Multivariable models were used to determine factors associated with poor pain control. RESULTS: Patient satisfaction with pain control was 85.6%. Twenty five percent of patients reported leftover medication and 9.6% of patients requested opioid refills. Opioid prescribing recommendations were generated for each tier using 50th percentile with interquartile ranges. On multivariable modeling, the high-tier group was associated with poorer pain control. CONCLUSIONS: We created opioid quantity prescribing guidelines for common outpatient anorectal procedures. A multimodal approach to pain control utilizing nonopioids may reduce healthcare utilization.

Is newer always better?: comparing cost and short-term outcomes between laparoscopic and robotic right hemicolectomy.

BACKGROUND: Enthusiasm is high for expansion of robotic assisted surgery into right hemicolectomy. But data on outcomes and cost is lacking. Our objective was to determine the association between surgical approach and cost for minimally invasive right hemicolectomy. We hypothesized that a robot approach would have increased costs (both economic and opportunity) while achieving similar short-term outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis with a simulation of operating room utilization at a quaternary care, academic institution. We enrolled patients undergoing minimally invasive right hemicolectomy from November 2017 to August 2019. Patients were categorized by the intended approach- laparoscopic or robotic. The primary outcome was the technical variable direct cost. Secondary outcomes included total cost, supply cost, operating room utilization, operative time, conversion, length of stay and 30-day post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: 79 patients were included in the study. A robotic approach was used in 22% of the cohort. The groups differed significantly only in etiology of surgery. Robotic surgery was associated with a 1.5 times increase in the technical variable direct cost (p < 0.001), increased supply cost (2.6 times; p < 0.001) and increased total cost (1.3 times; p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in median room time (Robotic: 285 min vs. Laparoscopic: 170 min; p < 0.001) and procedure time (Robotic: 203 min vs. Laparoscopic: 118 min; p < 0.001). There were no differences observed in post-operative outcomes including length of stay or readmission. In a simulation of OR utilization, 45 laparoscopic right hemicolectomies could be performed in an OR in a month compared to 31 robotic cases. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic right hemicolectomy was associated with increased costs with no improvement in post-operative outcomes. In a simulation of operating room efficiency, a robotic approach was associated with 14 fewer cases per month. Practitioners and administrators should be aware of the increased cost of a robotic approach.

Benchmarking patient satisfaction scores in a colorectal patient population.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare reimbursement is rapidly moving away from a fee-for-service model toward value-based purchasing. An integral component of this new focus on quality is patient-centered outcomes. One metric used to define patient satisfaction is the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Data are lacking to accurately benchmark these scores based on diagnosis. We sought to identify if different colorectal disease processes affected a patient's perception of their healthcare experience. METHODS: Adult colorectal patients seen between July 2015 and September 2016 in a tertiary hospital colorectal clinic were mailed a Press Ganey survey. Patients were stratified based on diagnosis: neoplasia, IBD, anorectal and benign colorectal disease. Survey scores were compared across the groups with adjustment for confounding variables. RESULTS: 312 patients responded and formed the cohort. The mean age was 61 (range 18-93) and 56% were women. The cohort breakdown was 38% neoplasia, 32% anorectal, 21% benign, and 9% IBD. In a multivariable model, there was a difference in PG scores by diagnosis; patients with neoplasia had higher Overall scores (ß 10.2; Std Error 4.0; p = 0.01), Care Provider scores (ß 8.5; Std Error 4.2; p = 0.04), Nurse Assistant scores (ß 15.0; Std Error 5.7; p = 0.01), and Personal Issues scores (ß 11.8; Std Error 5/0; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Press Ganey scores were found to vary significantly. Patients with a neoplasia diagnosis reported higher overall satisfaction, Care Provider, Nurse Assistant, and Personal Issues scores. Adjustment for disease condition is important when assessing patient satisfaction as an indicator of quality and as a metric for reimbursement. This study adds to increasing evidence about bias in these scores.

Crohn's Disease Obstructions.

Obstruction from stricturing Crohn's disease remains one of the most common reasons for intervention. Acute inflammation is often responsive to medications, but chronic fibrosis is unlikely to respond and will generally go on to require additional treatment. Newer methods, such as endoscopic balloon dilation, are gaining grounds in strictures that are amenable, but with high recurrence and strictures that may not be endoscopically accessible, surgery still plays a key role in the treatment of obstructing Crohn's disease.

Comparing pathologic outcomes for robotic versus laparoscopic Surgery in rectal cancer resection: a propensity adjusted analysis of 7616 patients.

BACKGROUND: Margin negative resection of rectal cancer with minimally invasive techniques remains technically challenging. Robotic surgery has potential advantages over traditional laparoscopy. We hypothesize that the difference in the rate of negative margin status will be < 6% between laparoscopic and robotic approach. METHODS: The National Cancer Database (2010-2014) was queried for adults with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and curative resection to conduct an observational retrospective cohort study of a prospectively maintained database. Patients were grouped by either robotic (ROB) or laparoscopic (LAP) approach in an intent-to-treat analysis. Primary outcome was negative margin status, defined as a composite of circumferential resection margin and distal margin. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), readmission, 90-day mortality, and overall survival. RESULTS: 7616 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent minimally invasive resection were identified. 2472 (32%) underwent attempted robotic approach. The overall conversion rate was 13% and was increased in the laparoscopic group [LAP: 15% vs. ROB: 8%; OR 0.47; 95% CI (0.39, 0.57)]. Differences in margin negative resection rate were within the prespecified range of practical equivalence (LAP: 93% vs.: ROB 94%; 95% CI (0.69, 1.06); [Formula: see text] = 1). For secondary outcomes, there was no difference in 30-day readmission [LAP: 9% vs.: ROB 8%; 95% CI (0.84, 1.24)] and 90-day mortality [LAP: 1% vs.: ROB 1%; 95% CI (0.38, 1.24)]. While the median LOS was 5 days in both groups, the mean LOS was 0.6 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.89) days shorter in the robotic group. CONCLUSION: This robust analysis supports either robotic or laparoscopic approach for resection of locally advanced rectal cancer from a margin perspective. Both have similar readmission and 5-year overall survival rates. Patients undergoing robotic surgery have a 0.6-day decrease in LOS and decreased conversion rate.

Assessing Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Referral Patterns to a Tertiary Care Center: A Novel Approach Using Geographic Information System Mapping.

BACKGROUND: Patients and their family members with hereditary colorectal cancer require longitudinal follow-up that is best achieved through a dedicated program with a registry. However, referrals for these conditions remain poor. Geographic information systems technology is a novel method to evaluate geographic variation in multiple realms but is being used more in health care. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate referral patterns with geographic information systems technology to better target efforts for improving overall referrals. We hypothesized that marked variation would exist as to the geospatial locations of referrals and that gastroenterologists would be the dominant referral source. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. PATIENTS: The hereditary colorectal cancer registry was queried from June 2007 to August 2016 for demographics, distance to center, genetic mutations, and the specialty of the referring providers. Geospatial data on both patient and referring specialist were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We analyzed patient and referral data with geographic information systems technology to look for gaps and patterns. RESULTS: A total of 676 patients were entered into the registry during this period. Fifty-six percent were women, and the median age was 50 years (interquartile range, 42-60 y). The median distance from the center was 60 miles (interquartile range, 22-120 miles), and 31% carried an identified germline mutation. Gastroenterology represented the overall largest source of referrals and, when broken down by syndrome, they represented the top referral specialty for familial adenomatous polyposis. Surgeons were the largest referral source for Lynch syndrome. LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by covariates in the database. CONCLUSIONS: Our hereditary colorectal cancer registry serves a large geographic area, with the largest group of referrals coming from gastroenterologists. Performing this analysis with geographic information systems technology mapping allowed us to identify clustering of patients and providers throughout the region as well as gaps. This information will help to target outreach and distribution of educational materials for providers and their patients to increase registry enrollment. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A950.

Surgical management of primary colonic lymphoma: Big data for a rare problem.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary colonic lymphoma (PCL) is rare, heterogeneous, and presents a therapeutic challenge for surgeons. Optimal treatment strategies are difficult to standardize, leading to variation in therapy. Our objective was to describe the patient characteristics, short-term outcomes, and five-year survival of patients undergoing nonpalliative surgery for PCL. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis in the National Cancer Database. Included patients underwent surgery for PCL between 2004 to 2014. Patients with metastases and palliative operations were excluded. Univariate predictors of overall survival were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: We identified 2153 patients. Median patient age was 68. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for 57% of tumors. 30- and 90-Day mortality were high (5.6% and 11.1%, respectively). Thirty-nine percent of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. For patients surviving 90 days, 5-year survival was 71.8%. Chemotherapy improved survival (surgery+chemo, 75.4% vs surgery, 68.6%; P = .01). Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with overall survival after controlling for age, comorbidity, and lymphoma subtype (HR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.51; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing surgery for PCL have high rates of margin positivity and high short-term mortality. Chemotherapy improves survival, but <50% receive it. These data suggest the opportunity for improvement of care in patients with PCL.

An enhanced recovery program in colorectal surgery is associated with decreased organ level rates of complications: a difference-in-differences analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative care has lacked coordination and standardization. Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) have been shown to decrease aggregate complications across surgical specialties. We hypothesize that the sustained implementation of an ERP will be associated with a decrease in a broad range of complications at the organ system level. STUDY DESIGN: Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal procedures between 1/2011 and 10/2016 were included. Patients were stratified based on exposure to a sustained ERP (7/2014-10/2016) after an 18-month wash-in period in a pre-post analysis. The primary outcome was 30-day complication rate by organ category as collected by National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) abstractors. Demographic and other patient level data were collected. Complication rates were compared using multivariable regression employing a differences-in-differences (DiD) approach using the national NSQIP PUF file to account for secular trends. RESULTS: A total of 1182 patients were included in this study, with 47% treated in an ERP. The two groups were similar in age, gender, race, BMI, comorbidity index, and procedure type. In a multivariable DiD analysis, significant reductions were seen in surgical site infection (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.20-0.43), postoperative pulmonary complications (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24-0.90), transfusion (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.15-0.51), urinary tract infections (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.18-0.66), sepsis (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.20-0.61), and cardiac complications (OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.01-0.84). A reduction in return to the operating room and 30-day readmission was also observed. Median length of stay (LOS) decreased from 5.2 to 3.5 days (p < 0.001). No significant changes occurred for acute kidney injury and hematologic complications. CONCLUSION: An ERP was associated with reduced complication rates across a wide range of organ categories and > 1.5-day reduction in LOS in a colorectal surgery population.

Ketorolac Use and Anastomotic Leak in Elective Colorectal Surgery: A Detailed Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent population-level analyses have linked ketorolac use to adverse outcomes. However, its use is also associated with decreased opioids and faster return of bowel function. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the association between ketorolac and anastomotic leak. We hypothesize that receiving at least 1 dose of ketorolac will not be associated with anastomotic leak in elective colorectal surgery. DESIGN: This is a retrospective, observational cohort study of a prospectively collected data base. Anastomotic leak rates and other patient outcomes were adjusted for patient-level factors and then compared via a multivariable logistic regression. A secondary analysis assessed a dose-response association with anastomotic leak. SETTING: This study was conducted at a tertiary care colorectal surgery service. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with a nondiverted anastomosis were identified from 2012 to 2016. INTERVENTION: Exposure was defined as any administration of ketorolac during the perioperative time period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was anastomotic leak. RESULTS: A total of 877 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 479 (54.6%) were women, and the median age was 55 years. Overall, 566 (64.5%) patients were exposed to ketorolac. In the cohort, 27 (3.1%) patients experienced an anastomotic leak. In an unadjusted analysis, there was no association between ketorolac exposure and anastomotic leak (ketorolac: 3.1% vs no ketorolac: 3.3%; p = 0.84). This persisted in a multivariable model (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.38-2.57; p = 0.98). Neither AKI (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 0.51-20.6; p = 0.21), return to the operating room (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.40-2.85; p = 0.88), nor readmission (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.59-1.80; p = 0.93) was associated with ketorolac use. In a secondary analysis of patients receiving ketorolac, there was no association between total ketorolac dosing and anastomotic leak (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00; p = 0.20). LIMITATIONS: This study was a retrospective review, and there was a low incidence of anastomotic leak. CONCLUSION: Ketorolac exposure was associated with neither anastomotic leak nor other important postoperative outcomes. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A784.

Barriers to laparoscopic colon resection for cancer: a national analysis.

BACKGROUND: Level one evidence has shown that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for colon cancer improves short-term outcomes with equivalent long-term oncologic results when compared to open surgery. However, the adoption of MIS for patients with colon cancer has not been universal. The goal of this study is to identify barriers to the use of MIS surgery in colon cancer resection across the United States. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for all cases of colonic adenocarcinoma resection from 2010 to 2012. Patients undergoing an MIS approach were compared with those undergoing open surgery (OS). MIS was defined as either robotic or laparoscopic surgery. Patients with metastatic disease, surgery for palliation, or tumors >8 cm were excluded. Multivariable modeling was used to identify variables associated with the use of open surgery. RESULTS: After applying exclusion criteria, 124,205 cases were identified. An MIS approach was used in only 54,621 (44%) patients. In a multivariable model adjusting for stage and tumor size, a number of important factors were associated with decreased odds of a MIS approach including black race (OR .91; p < .0001), lack of insurance (OR .51; p < .0001), lower education (OR .88; p < .0001), lower income (OR .83; p < .0001), treatment at a community program (OR .86; p < .0001), and treatment at a low-volume center (OR .79; p < .0001). Utilization of MIS increased over the study period (2010: 38.7%, 2011: 44.0%, 2012: 49.1%; p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: MIS approach is utilized in less than half of all colon resections in this national database, which accounts for over 70% of all diagnosed cancers in the US. Significant variability exists among age, race, insurance status, socioeconomic status, region, and facility type. In light of the recognized benefits of the MIS approach, local and national policy should focus on narrowing these disparities and continuing the upward trend of MIS utilization.

Translational Research in Familial Colorectal Cancer Syndromes.

Growing knowledge of inherited colorectal cancer syndromes has led to better surveillance and better care of this subset of patients. The most well-known entities, including Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, are continually being studied and with the advent of more sophisticated genetic testing, additional genetic discoveries have been made in the field of inherited cancer. This article will summarize many of the updates to both the familiar and perhaps less familiar syndromes that can lead to inherited or early-onset colorectal cancer.

Nodal Disease in Rectal Cancer Patients With Complete Tumor Response After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: Danger Below Calm Waters.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients with rectal cancer who undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy will develop a complete pathologic tumor response. Complete nodal response is not universal in these patients and is difficult to assess clinically. Quantifying the risk of nodal disease would allow for targeted therapy with either radical resection or "watchful waiting." OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify risk factors for residual nodal disease in ypT0 rectal adenocarcinoma. DESIGN: This is a retrospective case control study. SETTINGS: The National Cancer Database 2006 to 2014 was used to identify patients for this study. PATIENTS: Patients with stage II/III rectal adenocarcinoma who completed chemoradiation therapy followed by resection and who had ypT0 tumors were included. Patients with metastatic disease and <2 lymph nodes evaluated were excluded. Patients were divided into 2 groups: node positive and node negative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was nodal disease. The secondary outcome was overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 42,257 patients with stage II/III rectal cancer underwent chemoradiation therapy and radical resection; 4170 (9.9%) patients had ypT0 tumors and 395 (9.5%) were node positive. Of patients with clinically node-negative disease (ie, pretreatment imaging), 6.2% were node positive after chemoradiation therapy and resection. In multivariable analysis, factors predictive of nodal disease included increasing (pretreatment) clinical N-stage, high tumor grade (3/4), perineural invasion, and lymphovascular invasion. Higher clinical T-stage was inversely associated with residual nodal disease. Overall 5-year survival was significantly different between patients with ypN0, ypN1, and ypN2 disease (87.4%, 82.2%, and 62.5%, p = 0.002). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the lack of clinical detail in the database and the inability to assess recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Ten percent of patients with ypT0 tumors had positive nodes after chemoradiation therapy and resection. Factors associated with residual nodal disease included clinical nodal disease at diagnosis and poor histologic features. Patients with any of these features should consider radical resection regardless of tumor response. Others could be suitable for "watchful waiting" strategies. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A458.

Idiopathic Myointimal Hyperplasia of the Mesenteric Veins: A Rare Imitator of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of the mesenteric veins (IMHMV) is a rare cause of chronic colonic ischemia characterized by intimal smooth muscle proliferation and luminal narrowing of the small to medium sized mesenteric veins. It predominantly affects the rectosigmoid colon in otherwise healthy, middle-aged males. Definitive diagnosis and treatment are surgical; however, patients are frequently misdiagnosed, which often results in a protracted clinical course. We describe a case of IMHMV presenting as left hemicolitis in a 53-year-old male, as well as the endoscopic, histopathologic, and radiographic findings that established the diagnosis.

The correlation Between anal pap cytology and histologic outcomes in HIV-Positive males.

BACKGROUND: Anal intraepithelial neoplasia is a precursor to anal carcinoma. The use of anal pap cytology has been accepted as a screening method for anal carcinoma, however sensitivity and specificity vary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study involving 155 HIV-positive males with abnormal anal cytology and surgical resection. RESULTS: 155 patients met inclusion criteria. 31.6% were diagnosed with atypical cytology, 61.9% with low-grade cytology, and 6.4% with high-grade cytology. At surgery, 19.4% were diagnosed with condylomata, 34.8% with anal intraepithelial neoplasia 1, 17.4% with anal intraepithelial neoplasia 2, 27.1% with anal intraepithelial neoplasia 3 and 1.3% with anal carcinoma. There was a positive correlation between high-grade anal cytology and high-grade histology (r = 0.27; p = 0.0008). Comparison of risk factors showed no significant association. CONCLUSION: Anal cytology has a significant correlation with surgical histology. There were still instances of high-grade lesions being found after low-grade cytology. This highlights the necessity of patients with low-grade cytology undergoing anoscopic evaluation.

Long-term bowel dysfunction and decision regret in diverticulitis: A mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: This study had aimed to describe long-term decision regret, bowel dysfunction, and the overall quality of life in patients with diverticulitis, and to determine if elective colectomy was associated with these patient-reported outcome measures. METHODS: This mixed-methods, survey-based study was administered to a national cohort of patients in the United States with diverticulitis. We measured decision regret (Brehaut Decision Regret), bowel dysfunction (Low Anterior Resection Syndrome score), and the overall quality of life (EuroQol 5 Dimension) in this population. We asked open-ended questions to elucidate factors that influenced patients' choices between elective colectomy and observation. RESULTS: Among the 614 respondents, 294 (48%) chose between colectomy and observational management, 94 (15%) had surgery, and 157 (26%) had major Low Anterior Resection Syndrome. Of the 294 that chose between colectomy and observational management, 51 (17%) experienced decision regret. Colectomy was associated with an average decrease in the Brehaut Decision Regret score by 6 points but was not associated with a categorical measure of decision regret (Brehaut Score ≥50). Bowel dysfunction and overall quality of life were not significantly associated with colectomy. Disease-related factors, psychosocial factors, and interactions with physicians were commonly cited as reasons for pursuing colectomy or observational management. CONCLUSION: Patients with self-reported diverticulitis describe high levels of decision regret and bowel dysfunction regardless of chosen management strategy. Physicians should be aware that psychosocial factors can strongly influence a patient's choice between colectomy and observational management. We advocated for future prospective studies using patient reported outcome metrics to improve outcomes in diverticulitis.

Far from black and white: Role of race, health literacy, and socioeconomic factors in the presentation of acute diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: Racial discrepancies in treatment and outcomes of acute diverticulitis have been observed, yet underlying factors are poorly understood. We aimed to identify racial inequalities in health literacy among patients hospitalized with acute diverticulitis and characterize factors associated with more severe presentation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 947 Black or White patients admitted with acute diverticulitis at a quaternary referral center from January 2009 through September 2019. Health literacy was determined by the validated Brief Health Literacy Screening, and socioeconomic status was defined by the area deprivation index, a composite of multiple neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation measures. The primary outcome was severity of disease presentation represented by systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria; secondary outcomes included intensive care unit admission, length of stay, and invasive interventions. RESULTS: Among all study participants, 121 (12.8%) self-identified as Black. Overall, 140 (14.8%) patients had inadequate health literacy, and 495 (52.3%) had area deprivation index greater than the national median. There was no association between race or area deprivation index and health literacy. A total of 340 (35.9%) patients met criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and 88 (9.3%) underwent an intervention; median length of stay was 3.5 days. Race, health literacy, and area deprivation index were not significantly associated with outcomes (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Among patients with acute diverticulitis, no difference in severity of presentation by race, health literacy, or area deprivation index was observed. These findings suggest that differences in presentation of acute diverticulitis may not be driven by these social factors. Future studies should include considerations of clinical characteristics of acute diverticulitis, such as the role of access and underuse of healthcare resources.

Neoadjuvant radiation for clinical T4 colon cancer: A potential improvement to overall survival.

BACKGROUND: Resection of T4 colon cancer remains challenging compared to lower T stages. Data on the effect of neoadjuvant radiation to improve resectability and survival are lacking. The purpose of this study is to describe the use and outcomes of neoadjuvant radiation therapy in clinical T4 colon cancer. METHODS: Adults with clinical evidence of T4 locally advanced colon cancer were included from the National Cancer Database (2004-2014). Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the association between neoadjuvant radiation therapy and R0 resection rate, multivisceral resection, and overall survival. RESULTS: Fifteen thousand two hundred and seven patients with clinical T4 disease who underwent resection were identified over the study period. One hundred ninety-five (1.3%) underwent neoadjuvant radiation therapy. Factors associated with the use of neoadjuvant radiation therapy included younger age, male sex, private insurance, lower Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and treatment at an academic research program. Neoadjuvant radiation therapy was associated with superior R0 resection rates (87.2% neoadjuvant radiation therapy vs 79.8% no neoadjuvant radiation therapy; P = .009). Five-year overall survival was increased in the neoadjuvant radiation therapy group (62.0% neoadjuvant radiation therapy vs 45.7% no neoadjuvant radiation therapy; P < .001). The benefit of neoadjuvant radiation therapy persisted in a Cox proportional hazards multivariable model containing a number of confounding variables, including comorbidity and postoperative chemotherapy (odds ratio 1.37; 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.77; P = .01). In a subgroup analysis of T4b patients, there was an even greater size effect in adjusted overall survival (odds ratio 1.71; 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.72; P = .02). CONCLUSION: Although radiation is rarely used in locally advanced colon cancer, this National Cancer Database analysis suggests that the use of neoadjuvant radiation for clinical T4 disease may be associated with superior R0 resection rates and improved overall survival. Patients with clinical T4b disease may benefit the most from treatment. Neoadjuvant radiation therapy should be considered on a case-by-case basis in locally advanced colon cancer.

Management of colonoscopic perforations: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Perforation during colonoscopy is a rare but well recognized complication with significant morbidity and mortality. We aim to systematically review the currently available literature concerning care and outcomes of colonic perforation. An algorithm is created to guide the practitioner in management of this challenging clinical scenario. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review of the literature based on PRISMA-P guidelines was performed. We evaluate 31 articles focusing on findings over the past 10 years. CONCLUSION: Colonoscopic perforation is a rare event and published management techniques are marked by their heterogeneity. Reliable conclusions are limited by the nature of the data available - mainly single institution, retrospective studies. Consensus conclusions include a higher rate of perforation from therapeutic colonoscopy when compared to diagnostic colonoscopy and the sigmoid as the most common site of perforation. Mortality appears driven by pre-existing conditions. Treatment must be tailored according to the patient's comorbidities and clinical status as well as the specific conditions during the colonoscopy that led to the perforation.