[Opioid induction using rapid release drugs and the shift to fentanyl patches].

SUBJECT AND METHODS: From April 2011 to March 2013, 20 patients with cancer pain that was not controlled by non-opioid analgesics were treated with a short-acting opioid for cancer pain management.The primary carcinoma sites were the stomach( n=5), colo-rectum(n=5), lungs(n=3), urinary bladder(n=2), breast(n=2), pancreas(n=2), and liver(n=1). The analgesic effects and adverse events were evaluated, and a shift to fentanyl patches was made for patients whose cancer pain was relieved.After the shift, the efficiency and safety were validated. RESULTS: All 6 patients with a numeric rating scale (NRS)less than 5 at the time of opioid induction had a good analgesic effect, and in only 1 patient, grade 2 constipation and grade 3 anorexia was observed.Of the 14 patients who had an NRS of 6 or greater, 11 had a good analgesic effect.However, 3 patients experienced no effect, and their survival periods after opioid induction were very short.In the 11 patients with good pain control, only 3 patients exhibited grade 2 adverse events.Nine patients out of 17 with a good analgesic effect caused by short-acting opioids were shifted to fentanyl patches, and 8 patients were under good analgesic control for 2 weeks or more. CONCLUSION: Opioid induction using rapid release drugs was effective and safe.However, these drugs should be clinically considered at an early stage.Furthermore, in patients where a shift to a fentanyl patch was possible, good long-term pain control was achieved.

Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Review of 39 Japanese Cases.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare gastrointestinal complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) characterized by intramural accumulation of gas within thin-walled cysts. We report the case of an 82-year-old female patient with pneumoperitoneum due to PCI associated with SSc and review the features of the 39 Japanese cases. The median patient age was 57 years (range 24-83 years) and the male/female ratio was 1 : 12. In the recent decade, 14 out of 15 cases (93.3%) evaluated with CT scans were diagnosed with PCI. The results suggest that CT scan may be a useful diagnostic tool for detecting PCI. PCI in patients with SSc is usually benign and requires only conservative therapy. However, two patients (5.1%) with signs of peritoneal irritation required surgery. When peritoneal irritation secondary to additional pathology is observed, surgical treatment may be warranted; a precise diagnosis for this condition is therefore essential.

Underweight status predicts a poor prognosis in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of underweight status on the survival of elderly patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 113 patients aged ≥75 years who underwent curative surgery for CRC were included. In addition to standard perioperative variables, body mass index (BMI) was assessed. The patients were categorized as underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) or non-underweight (BMI≥18.5 kg/m2). The 3-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analyzed. Of the 113 patients, 24 (21%) were underweight. The two groups were well-balanced regarding all factors evaluated. In the multivariate analysis, underweight status was an independent indicator of lower 3-year OS [hazard ratio (HR)=2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-6.50; P=0.033] and CSS (HR=3.51, 95% CI: 1.16-10.60; P=0.025) rates. Compared with the non-underweight group, the underweight group had significantly worse 3-year OS (66.7 vs. 86.5%, respectively; P=0.017) and CSS (74.1 vs. 90.9%, respectively; P=0.025) rates. Therefore, underweight status was a significant risk factor for poor survival in elderly CRC patients. The development of effective nutritional interventions may improve the prognosis of such patients.

The impact of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion on survival in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and survival following curative surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) in elderly patients has not been elucidated to date. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cases of 108 patients aged 75 years or more who underwent curative surgery for CRC between 2004 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The association between perioperative ABT requirements and other clinicopathological variables was examined. Subsequently, perioperative ABT was compared with other variables concerning overall survival (OS) by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Tumor depth, lymph node metastasis and hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with perioperative ABT. Transfused patients had significantly worse OS compared to non-transfused patients. In the multivariate analysis, perioperative ABT (hazard ratio=3.16, 95% confidence interval=1.11-8.98, p=0.031) was the only independent indicator of OS. CONCLUSION: Perioperative ABT was significantly associated with increased mortality in elderly patients with CRC.