Risk factors for anastomotic leakage following ileosigmoid or ileorectal anastomosis.

AIM: Reconstruction with an ileosigmoidal anastomosis (ISA) or ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) is a surgical option after a subtotal colectomy. Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a problematic complication and high rates have been reported, but there is limited understanding of the risk factors involved. The aim of this study was to assess the established and potential predictors of AL following ISA and IRA. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study including all patients who had undergone ISA or IRA at three Swedish referral centres for colorectal surgery between January 2007 and March 2015. Data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome were collected from medical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the association between patient and treatment related factors and the cumulative incidence of AL. RESULTS: In total, 227 patients were included. Overall, AL was detected amongst 30 patients (13.2%). Amongst patients undergoing colectomy with synchronous ISA or IRA (one-stage procedure), AL occurred in 23 out of 120 (19.2%) compared with seven out of 107 (6.5%) after stoma reversal with ISA or IRA (two-stage procedure) (P = 0.004). In addition, the multivariate analyses revealed a statistically significantly lower odds ratio for AL following a two-stage procedure (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03-0.41, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms high rates of AL following ISA and IRA. In particular, a synchronous procedure with colectomy and ISA/IRA carries a high risk of AL.

The impact of perioperative fluid therapy on short-term outcomes and 5-year survival among patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery - A prospective cohort study within an ERAS protocol.

BACKGROUND: Restricted perioperative fluid therapy is one of several interventions in the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, designed to reduce morbidity and hospital stay after surgery. The impact of this single intervention on short and long term outcome after colorectal surgery is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cohort study includes all consecutive patients operated with abdominal resection of colorectal cancer 2002-2007 at Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. All patients were treated within an ERAS protocol and registered in the ERAS-database. Compliance to interventions in the ERAS protocol was analysed. The impact of a restrictive perioperative fluid therapy (≤3000 ml on the day of surgery) protocol on short-term outcomes as well as 5-year survival was assessed with multivariable analysis adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: Nine hundred and eleven patients were included. Patients receiving ≤3000 ml of intravenous fluids on the day of surgery had a lower risk of complications OR 0.44 (95% C I 0.28-0.71), symptoms delaying discharge OR 0.47(95% C I 0.32-0.70) and shorter length of stay compared with patients receiving >3000 ml. In cox regression analysis, the risk of cancer specific death was reduced with 55% HR 0.45(95% C I 0.25-0.81) for patients receiving ≤ 3000 ml compared with patients receiving >3000 ml. CONCLUSION: A restrictive compared with a non-restrictive perioperative fluid therapy on the day of surgery may be associated with lower short-term complication rates, faster recovery, shorter length of stay and improved 5-year survival.

Population-based analysis of colorectal cancer risk after oophorectomy.

BACKGROUND: The development of colorectal cancer is influenced by hormonal factors. Oophorectomy alters endogenous levels of sex hormones, but the effect on colorectal cancer risk is unclear. The aim of this cohort study was to examine colorectal cancer risk after oophorectomy for benign indications. METHODS: Women who had undergone oophorectomy between 1965 and 2011 were identified from the Swedish Patient Registry. Standard incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals for colorectal cancer risk were calculated compared with those in the general population. Stratification was carried out for unilateral and bilateral oophorectomy, and hysterectomy without specification of whether the ovaries were removed or not. Associations between the three oophorectomy options and colorectal cancer risk in different locations were assessed by means of hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression modelling. RESULTS: Of 195 973 women who had undergone oophorectomy, 3150 (1·6 per cent) were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a later date (median follow-up 18 years). Colorectal cancer risk was increased after oophorectomy compared with that in the general population (SIR 1·30, 95 per cent c.i. 1·26 to 1·35). The risk was lower for younger age at oophorectomy (15-39 years: SIR 1·10, 0·97 to 1·23; 40-49 years: SIR 1·26, 1·19 to 1·33; P for trend < 0·001). The risk was highest 1-4 years after oophorectomy (SIR 1·66, 1·51 to 1·81; P < 0·001). In the multivariable analysis, women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy had a higher risk of rectal cancer than those who had only unilateral oophorectomy (HR 2·28, 95 per cent c.i. 1·33 to 3·91). CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancer risk is increased after oophorectomy for benign indications.

External validation of models predicting the individual risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis from colon and rectal cancer.

AIM: To externally validate previously published predictive models of the risk of developing metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) after resection of nonmetastatic colon or rectal cancer and to update the predictive model for colon cancer by adding new prognostic predictors. METHOD: Data from all patients with Stage I-III colorectal cancer identified from a population-based database in Stockholm between 2008 and 2010 were used. We assessed the concordance between the predicted and observed probabilities of PC and utilized proportional-hazard regression to update the predictive model for colon cancer. RESULTS: When applied to the new validation dataset (n = 2011), the colon and rectal cancer risk-score models predicted metachronous PC with a concordance index of 79% and 67%, respectively. After adding the subclasses of pT3 and pT4 stage and mucinous tumour to the colon cancer model, the concordance index increased to 82%. CONCLUSION: In validation of external and recent cohorts, the predictive accuracy was strong in colon cancer and moderate in rectal cancer patients. The model can be used to identify high-risk patients for planned second-look laparoscopy/laparotomy for possible subsequent cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Individualized prediction of risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to develop a tool for predicting the individual risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis after surgery for non-metastatic colorectal cancer. METHOD: Independent predictors for metachronous colorectal carcinomatosis have previously been identified using a population-based database. Predictive models for colon and rectal cancer were developed from these data. The predictive models were based on multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression and were internally validated with bootstrapping. Performance was assessed by the concordance index and calibration plots. RESULTS: In all, 8044 patients who underwent abdominal resection of colorectal cancer Stage I-III were included. The colon and rectal cancer risk score models predicted metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis with a concordance index of 80% and 78%, respectively. Factors in the models included age, pathological pT stage, pN stage, number of examined lymph nodes (0-11, 12+), type of surgery (emergency/elective), completeness of cancer resection (R0/R1/R2), adjuvant chemotherapy (yes/no), preoperative radiotherapy and tumour location. CONCLUSION: The proposed predictive models showed high internal validity and enabled individualized prediction of peritoneal recurrence of colorectal cancer. The models may help in the planning of treatment and follow-up of patients. However, external validation is warranted to assess generalizability of the predicted absolute risks.

Preoperative sexual function in women with rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Even though sexual dysfunction has been reported after rectal cancer treatment, information on preoperative sexual function is scarce, particularly in female patients. AIMS: To describe preoperative sexual function in women with rectal cancer, and to analyse potential sources of bias. METHODS: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was administered to women with newly diagnosed non-metastatic rectal cancer, irrespective of whether they were sexually active or not. FSFI total and domain scores were calculated for women with complete responses to the corresponding items. Data were compared for those who did and did not complete all the FSFI domains, and for women in the study cohort, and those who were eligible for inclusion but not included. RESULTS: Sexual inactivity was common. Mean FSFI total score was low (16.4 ± 10.6 SD) among the women who completed all six FSFI domains. The proportion of women who had a partner was higher in this group compared with those who did not complete all the domains (49 of 57 vs 7 of 25, p < 0.001). Eighty-two of the 157 women eligible for inclusion were included. Included women were younger (p = 0.002) and had less co-morbidity than those who were not included (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The low FSFI total score indicates sexual dysfunction. However, the use of FSFI in both women who are and who are not sexually active complicates interpretation of the data and may result in an information bias hampering internal validity. External validity may be limited by selection bias.

Incidence, prevalence and risk factors for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: This was a population-based cohort study to determine the incidence, prevalence and risk factors for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer. METHODS: Prospectively collected data were obtained from the Regional Quality Registry. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for multivariable analysis of clinicopathological factors to determine independent predictors of PC. RESULTS: All 11 124 patients with colorectal cancer in Stockholm County during 1995-2007 were included and followed until 2010. In total, 924 patients (8.3 per cent) had synchronous or metachronous PC. PC was the first and only localization of metastases in 535 patients (4.8 per cent). The prevalence of synchronous PC was 4.3 per cent (477 of 11 124). The cumulative incidence of metachronous PC was 4.2 per cent (447 of 10 646). Independent predictors for metachronous PC were colonic cancer (hazard ratio (HR) 1.77, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.31 to 2.39; P = 0.002 for right-sided colonic cancer), advanced tumour (T) status (HR 9.98, 3.10 to 32.11; P < 0.001 for T4), advanced node (N) status (HR 7.41, 4.78 to 11.51; P < 0.001 for N2 with fewer than 12 lymph nodes examined), emergency surgery (HR 2.11, 1.66 to 2.69; P < 0.001) and non-radical resection of the primary tumour (HR 2.75, 2.10 to 3.61; P < 0.001 for R2 resection). Patients aged > 70 years had a decreased risk of metachronous PC (HR 0.69, 0.55 to 0.87; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: PC is common in patients with colorectal cancer and is associated with identifiable risk factors.

Epidemiology and prognosis of ovarian metastases in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: National guidelines for prophylactic oophorectomy in women with colorectal cancer are lacking. The aim of this population-based cohort study was to report on the prevalence, incidence and prognosis of ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer, providing information relevant to the discussion of prophylactic oophorectomy. METHODS: All 4566 women with colorectal cancer in Stockholm County during 1995-2006 were included and followed until 2008. Prospectively collected data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome were obtained from the Regional Quality Registry. RESULTS: The prevalence of ovarian metastases at the time of diagnosis of colorectal cancer was 1.1 per cent (34 of 3172) among women with colonic cancer and 0.6 per cent (8 of 1394) among those with rectal cancer (P = 0.105). After radical resection of stage I-III colorectal cancer, metachronous ovarian metastases were found during follow-up in 1.1 per cent (22 of 1971) with colonic cancer and 0.1 per cent (1 of 881) with rectal cancer (P = 0.006). Survival in patients with ovarian metastases was poor. CONCLUSION: Ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer are uncommon.

Differences in multidisciplinary team assessment and treatment between patients with stage IV colon and rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: At diagnosis, 14-27% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have distant metastases (stage IV) and a poor prognosis. Today, treatment decisions for CRC patients are often made at multidisciplinary team (MDT) conferences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of development and implementation of MDT assessment and treatment in patients with stage IV colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC) in a large population. METHOD: All 1449 patients who had stage IV CRC at the time of diagnosis and were registered in the regional quality registry of Stockholm from 1995 to 2004 were included. Patients with CC and RC were grouped according to treatment and their characteristics were analysed separately. RESULTS: In total, 1000 patients with CC and 449 patients with RC had stage IV disease. Of these, 689 (68.9%) CC patients and 352 (78.4%) RC patients were assessed by a MDT and the proportion increased over the study period (P < 0.001). Surgery for metastases was undertaken on 39 (3.9%) CC patients and 38 (8.5%) RC patients (P < 0.001). CRC patients selected for metastasis surgery had 37% 5-year survival when compared with 2% in patients who were not selected for metastasis surgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with CC were less often assessed by a MDT and less often had metastasis surgery than RC patients. The proportion of patients with CC and RC assessed by a MDT increased during the study period, as did the proportion who had surgery for metastases. MDT assessment opens up the opportunity for more aggressive treatment with better outcomes.

Diagnostic accuracy in 2,351 patients undergoing appendicectomy for suspected acute appendicitis: A retrospective study 1986-1993.

AIMS: To investigate the pre-operative findings, accuracy, perforation rate and complication rate in 2,351 patients who underwent appendicectomy during 1986-1993. METHOD: The 2,351 records from patients who underwent surgery were analysed to determine whether the pre-operative investigations introduced can improve the diagnostic accuracy when analysed in total. RESULTS: The total diagnostic accuracy which was 70.9% in 1986 increased to a statistically significant figure of 87.1% in 1993. In female patients, the figure increased from 61.7 to 82.4% and in males from 82.0 to 91.2% during the studied period. The complication rate was in total 10.4% including a mortality of 0.21% (5 patients). CONCLUSION: We believe that with a combination of increased interest in patients with acute appendicitis, a wider use of active in-hospital observation, a more standardised pre-operative laboratory investigation and the use of ultrasonography, a high diagnostic accuracy could be reached without an increased rate of complications and perforations.