Ensuring quality in contextualised cancer management guidelines for resource-constraint settings: using a systematic approach.

To address the wide variation in access to cancer care in India requires strengthening of infrastructure, trained oncology workforce, and minimisation of out-of-pocket expenditures. However, even with major investments, it is unlikely to achieve the same level of infrastructure and expertise across the country. Therefore, a resource stratified approach driven by evidence-based and contextualised clinical guidelines is the need of the hour. The National Cancer Grid has been at the forefront of delivery of standardised cancer care through several of its initiatives, including the resource-stratified guidelines. Development of new guidelines is resource and time intensive, which may not be feasible and can delay the implementation. Adaptation of the existing standard guidelines using the transparent and well-documented methodology with involvement of all stakeholders can be one of the most reasonable pathways. However, the adaptation should be done keeping in mind the context, resource availability, budget impact, investment needed for implementation and acceptability by clinicians, patients, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The present paper provides the framework for systematically developing guidelines through adaptation and contextualisation. The process can be used for other health conditions in resource-constraint settings.

Consensus Guidelines for the Use of Fluorescence Imaging in Hepatobiliary Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To establish consensus recommendations for the use of fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) in hepatobiliary surgery. BACKGROUND: ICG fluorescence imaging has gained popularity in hepatobiliary surgery in recent years. However, there is varied evidence on the use, dosage, and timing of administration of ICG in clinical practice. To standardize the use of this imaging modality in hepatobiliary surgery, a panel of pioneering experts from the Asia-Pacific region sought to establish a set of consensus recommendations by consolidating the available evidence and clinical experiences. METHODS: A total of 13 surgeons experienced in hepatobiliary surgery and/or minimally invasive surgery formed an expert consensus panel in Shanghai, China in October 2018. By the modified Delphi method, they presented the relevant evidence, discussed clinical experiences, and derived consensus statements on the use of ICG in hepatobiliary surgery. Each statement was discussed and modified until a unanimous consensus was achieved. RESULTS: A total of 7 recommendations for the clinical applications of ICG in hepatobiliary surgery were formulated. CONCLUSIONS: The Shanghai consensus recommendations offer practical tips and techniques to augment the safety and technical feasibility of ICG fluorescence-guided hepatobiliary surgery, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy, liver segmentectomy, and liver transplantation.

Rare biliary cystic tumors: a case series of biliary cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinoma.

Cystic lesions of the liver are common and a major proportion is formed by parasitic cysts and simple cysts. Biliary cystic tumors (BCTs), namely biliary cystadenoma (BCA) and biliary cystadenocarcinoma (BCAC), are rare tumors which usually arise from the intrahepatic biliary tree. BCAs have malignant potential and are difficult to differentiate from BCAC pre-operatively on radiological imaging. Here we have presented 4 patients with BCTs and reviewed the literature pertaining to them.The data of four patients with BCA/BCAC diagnosed and treated at our institute were retrieved from our database and records were reviewed for age, sex, history, imaging, surgery, pathology and follow-up. Mean age of the patients was 53.5 years (range 30-71 years). Two male and two female patients presented with abdominal pain, of which one male patient had pancreatitis at diagnosis. Characteristic features were seen on pre-operative imaging (cystic lesions with internal septations) and biliary communication was identified in the patient with pancreatitis. Three patients were diagnosed with a BCA on final histology, while one patient had a BCAC. Following surgical resection, all the patients are asymptomatic and disease free with a mean follow-up of 24 months (range 10-40 months). In conclusion, BCTs should be suspected in the presence of a well-encapsulated, cystic hepatic lesion with internal septations. Although pre-operative distinction between BCA and BCAC is difficult, the lesion, whenever possible, should be completely resected as long-term outcomes are good, especially with BCA.

Temporal Change in Phenotypic Behaviour in Patients with Crohn's Disease: Do Indian Patients Behave Differently from Western and Other Asian Patients?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In Western studies, one-third of patients with Crohn's disease have stricturing or penetrating disease at presentation and one-half will progress to complicated disease in 20 years. Asian studies indicate that the Asian disease phenotype may be different. Our aim was to study the disease behaviour in Indian patients with Crohn's disease. METHODS: In this hospital-based study, we analysed [Montreal classification] disease phenotype, presence of perianal disease, need for intestinal surgery, and changes in the Montreal classification over time in Crohn's disease patients from our database. RESULTS: In the 178 patients (median age 35, interquartile range [IQR] 21 years; 97 males) with Crohn's disease, the proportion of various features was as follows. More patients had ileo-colonic[L3: 43.8%] than ileal[L1: 27.5%] or colonic[L2: 28.7%] disease. Perianal disease was seen in 11.8% at baseline. Non-stricturing, non-fistulising disease[B1] was seen in 74.7%, 65.7%, 50%, and 44.4% at baseline, at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Stricturing disease[B2] was seen in 21.4%, 21.9%, 28.9%, and 33.3%; penetrating disease[B3] in 3.9%, 11.4%, 21%, and 16.7%; and intestinal surgery was required in 10.7%, 20%, 34.2%, and 55.5%, respectively. KaplanMeier analysis showed no association between progression of disease and patient age or the location of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Gender distribution and predominant ileo-colonic location of disease were similar to earlier Asian reports on Crohn's disease. Perianal disease was less frequent than reported in Western and other Asian studies. One-fourth of Indian patients had aggressive disease at diagnosis, but the tendency to progress towards aggressive disease over time was less pronounced than in Western patients.

Percutaneous stenting of the portal vein prior to biliary bypass in a patient with chronic pancreatitis and portal biliopathy.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) often leads to obstruction of one or all the components of the spleno-mesenterico-portal (SMP) axis. This is often due to the ongoing inflammatory process which may lead to thrombosis of the surrounding veins. However, the inflammation also leads to progressive fibrosis and occlusion of the veins without thrombosis. This fibrosis is also responsible for the duodenal obstruction and biliary strictures associated with CP. These patients, with simple occlusion or encasement of one or a combination of components of the SMP axis, can be treated with venous stenting. Here, we present the case of a 58-year-old gentleman with portal vein occlusion and portal biliopathy secondary to CP. This patient was successfully treated with percutaneous transhepatic portal vein stenting and a subsequent surgical biliary bypass. In conclusion, portal venous obstruction in CP may be just due to local fibrosis and is amenable to treatment with a percutaneously placed portal venous stent.

Colorectal cancers in ulcerative colitis from a low-prevalence area for colon cancer.

AIM: To determine the incidence and risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with ulcerative colitis from a low prevalence region for CRC. METHODS: Our prospective database yielded a cohort of 430 patients [age: 44 ± 14.6 years; 248 men (57.7%)] with ulcerative colitis (median disease duration 6, range: 1-39 years) for analysis. Of these, 131 (30.5%) had left-sided colitis and 159 (37%) extensive colitis. Patients with histologically confirmed CRC within the segment with colitis were compared with those without CRC, to determine the risk factors for the development of CRC. RESULTS: Twelve patients (2.8%) developed CRC. The overall incidence density was 3.56/1000 patient-years of disease - 3/1000 in the first 10 years, 3.3/1000 at 10 to 20 years, and 7/1000 at > 20 years. Three of our 12 patients developed CRC within 8 years of disease onset. On univariate analysis, extensive colitis, longer duration of disease, and poor control of disease were associated with development of CRC. On multivariate analysis, duration of disease and extent of colitis remained significant. CONCLUSION: CRC occurred in 2.8% of patients with ulcerative colitis in our population - an incidence density similar to that in Western countries in spite of a low overall prevalence of colon cancer in our population. The risk increased with extent and duration of disease.

Methylene blue dye injection for identification of occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

The exact site of small bowel bleeding is difficult to detect intraoperatively. We present a simple method of on-table identification of the site of the bleed. A 55-year-old lady presented with recurrent episodes of melena and drop in hemoglobin. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed angiodysplasia of a vessel supplying the proximal jejunum. A microcatheter was placed at this site in the DSA suite, just prior to laparotomy. Two cubic centimeters of methylene blue dye was injected into the microcatheter on-table which demarcated the 6 in. of involved jejunum which was then resected. Patient is currently doing well over a 6-month follow up with no further episodes of melena. In conclusion, preoperative DSA and selective catheterization of the affected vessel allow for on-table localization of the exact site of bleed. This simple method avoids more invasive techniques of detection and enables limited segmental resection of the affected bowel.

Protective effect of Hypericum hircinum on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Oxidative stress is the main factor in doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiotoxicity. Wistar rats received either DOX (3 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) every other day or combination of Hypericum hircinum (100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹, p.o.) and DOX or H. hircinum (200 mg kg⁻¹, p.o.) extract alone for 2 weeks. Cardiotoxicity was assessed by recording changes in ECG, heart rate and measuring the levels of cardiac marker enzymes--lactic acid dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, the antioxidant defence enzymes--reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidative value (LPO) at the end of treatment schedule. Treatment with H. hircinum significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of LPO and marker enzymes, increased the levels of GSH and SOD, reversed the changes in ECG and prevented the decrease in heart weight in DOX-treated group. The results suggest that H. hircinum has the potential to prevent the cardiotoxic effects induced by DOX.