ABSTRACT
Indocyanine Green (ICG) has significantly advanced minimally invasive surgery. It is widely recognized for its ability to visualize blood vessel patency in real-time across various surgical specialties. While its primary use in colorectal surgery is to evaluate anastomoses for leaks, numerous other applications have been documented in the literature. In this review, we aim to explore both established and emerging applications of ICG fluorescence in colorectal surgery, with the goal of improving patient outcomes. This includes preoperative tumor marking and the detection of metastatic disease. Some applications, such as lymphatic mapping, require further research to determine their impact on clinical practices. Conversely, others, like the intraoperative localizations of ureters, necessitate additional procedures and are not yet widely accepted by the surgical community. However, the development of alternative compounds could offer better solutions. Future research should focus on areas like quantitative ICG and protocol standardization in prospective multicenter studies.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. As rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon colorectal cancer, there is limited data on this clinical entity. We aimed to evaluate the tumor characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes of this rare deadly disease. METHODS: Pathological specimens from 2017 to 2022 at a single National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center were screened for all rectal cases with a diagnosis of SCC. All patients with a primary rectal SCC were included. Patients who had extension to the dentate line or evidence of an anal mass, and those who were treated at an outside institution, were excluded. Demographic, treatment, outcome, and surveillance data was extracted. RESULTS: There were 56 specimens identified, nine of which met inclusion criteria. Most patients were White (78%), Hispanic (78%), and female (67%). The average age at diagnosis was 57 y [52-65]. All patients had nodal involvement at the time of clinical staging. All patients were treated with Nigro protocol, with one patient treated with surgery first. The median time of follow-up was 12 mo after initial treatment, 33% had recurrence, with median time to recurrence of 25 mo. Overall, mortality from rectal SCC was 33% at a median time of 37 mo from initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal SCC is a colorectal cancer that is not fully understood. Our findings showed that treatment mirrors that of anal SCC, with similar rates of survival to both rectal adenocarcinoma and anal SCC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Rectal Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Rectal Neoplasms/pathology , Rectal Neoplasms/mortality , Rectal Neoplasms/therapy , Rectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Rectal Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Neoplasm Staging , Proctectomy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology , Rectum/pathology , Rectum/surgeryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Numerous institutions have reduced preclinical didactic time to facilitate earlier clinical exposure during the second year of medical education. However, the effects that shortened preclinical education may have on performance in the surgery clerkship are unclear. This study aims to compare the clinical and examination performance of second- (MS2) and third-year (MS3) students synchronously completing an identical surgery clerkship. DESIGN: All students completing the surgery clerkship (identical didactics, examinations, clinical rotations, etc.) were included. MS3s received 24 months of preclinical education, whereas MS2s received 14 months. Performance outcomes included weekly quizzes based on lectures, NBME Surgery Shelf Exam, numeric clinical evaluations, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) scores, and overall clerkship grades. SETTING: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: All second- (MS2) and third-year (MS3) medical students completing the Surgery Clerkship over 1 year (nâ¯=â¯395). RESULTS: There were 199 MS3 (50%) and 196 MS2 (50%) students. MS3s demonstrated higher median shelf exams (77% vs 72% MS2s), weekly quiz score averages (87% vs 80% MS2s), clinical evaluations (96% vs 95% MS2s), and overall clerkship grades (89% vs 87% MS2s), all p < 0.020. There was no difference in median OSCE performance (both 92%; pâ¯=â¯0.499). A greater proportion of MS3 students performed in the highest 50% of weekly quiz scores (57% vs 43% MS2), NBME shelf exams (59% vs 39% MS2), and overall clerkship grades (45% vs 37% MS2), all p < 0.010. No significant difference in the proportion of students placing in the top 50% of clinical parameters including the OSCE (48% MS3 vs 46% MS2; pâ¯=â¯0.106) and clinical evaluations (45% MS3 vs 38%; pâ¯=â¯0.185) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Although the duration of preclerkship education may correspond to examination scores, MS2s and MS3s perform similarly on clinical metrics. Future strategies to enhance available preclinical didactic time and preparation for examinations are needed.
Subject(s)
Clinical Clerkship , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Students, Medical , Humans , Educational Measurement , Time Factors , Clinical CompetenceABSTRACT
Anorectal manifestations of monkeypox are increasingly being recognized as a potentially serious complication. We present the case of an HIV-positive, tecovirimat-treated male presenting with monkeypox virus-associated severe proctitis with associated perianal pathology. Despite the use of antiviral agents and intravenous vaccinia immune globulin, the monkeypox-associated perianal lesions evolved into abscesses, requiring incision and drainage. This report highlights a multidisciplinary approach involving surgery for anorectal complications of monkeypox virus-associated proctitis and perianal lesions. Surgery may offer immediate relief and reduce the potential long-term morbidity associated with severe monkeypox virus-associated rectal and perianal manifestations refractory to available medical countermeasures.
Subject(s)
Anus Diseases , Mpox (monkeypox) , Proctitis , Rectal Diseases , Humans , Male , Rectal Diseases/surgery , Rectal Diseases/complications , Anus Diseases/drug therapy , Anus Diseases/surgery , Rectum/surgery , Proctitis/drug therapy , Proctitis/surgery , Proctitis/complicationsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous institutions converted medical education didactics to electronic formats including both live teleconference didactics and recorded faculty lectures. This study aims to compare the effect of recorded versus live teleconference didactic lectures on medical student examination scores during the surgery clerkship. DESIGN: Medical students completing the Surgery Clerkship received a weekly series of didactic lectures taught by faculty via a teleconference (2020-2021 academic year) or recorded format (2021-2022 academic year). Performance outcomes included weekly quizzes, National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Surgery Shelf Exam, and clerkship Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scores. SETTING: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: All second- (MS2) and third-year (MS3) medical students completing the Surgery Clerkship over two academic years (nâ¯=â¯312). RESULTS: Students who received live teleconference lectures (nâ¯=â¯156) demonstrated higher average scores on weekly quizzes (89%) and the NBME shelf exam (76%) compared to those receiving recorded lectures (nâ¯=â¯156; 71% quiz, 70% shelf exam), both p < 0.001. There was a significant association with performance in the highest quartile (Q1) of weekly quiz scores and receiving live lectures (40% vs. recorded lectures 1%, p < 0.001). Comparing only MS3 students, mean weekly quiz scores and Q1 achievement were significantly higher (both p < 0.001) in the teleconference cohort with no significant difference in NBME shelf exam performance (pâ¯=â¯0.971). No difference in OSCE performance was observed between groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that synchronous teleconferences may be more effective than recorded lectures for achieving institutional learning objectives on the surgery clerkship without any negative impact on NBME shelf exam or clinical evaluation parameters. This information should be used to inform future institutional clerkship design and educational initiatives.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Clinical Clerkship , General Surgery , Students, Medical , Telecommunications , Humans , Educational Measurement , Pandemics , Clinical Clerkship/methods , COVID-19/epidemiology , Clinical Competence , General Surgery/educationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Problem-Based Learning (PBL) has become an integral part of medical student education for preclinical curricula, but few studies have evaluated the benefits of a PBL curriculum for clinical education. This study aims to assess the 1-year experience after implementing a resident-led PBL program for the third-year (MS3) surgery clerkship and compare students' self-reported preparedness following PBL sessions to traditional faculty-led lectures. METHODS: Surgical faculty and residents developed a PBL curriculum to address common topics in surgical education. Pandemic requirements necessitated a switch from in-person to virtual sessions during the experience. Students enrolled in the MS3 surgical clerkship were asked to participate in a survey. Demographics and clerkship data were obtained. Quality of PBL and faculty-led lectures were assessed using a ten-point Likert scale, and standard statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: During the study period, 165 students rotated through surgery, of which 129 (78%) responded to the survey (53% female, 59% white). PBLs were held in-person (53%), exclusively virtual (32%) or hybrid (15%) platforms. In-person PBLs were preferred to faculty-led lectures for preparing students for NBME examinations (6.9 vs 6.0), oral examinations (7.8 vs 6.3), and surgical cases (6.3 vs 5.8), all P < .001. Virtual PBLs were also preferred to lectures for preparing students for NBME examinations (6.8 vs 5.8, P < .001) and surgical cases (5.6 vs 4.8, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: PBL is a valuable adjunct for medical student education. Resident-led PBLs were preferred to faculty-led lectures for preparing students for examinations and clerkship experiences and may be useful adjuncts to clinical education.
Subject(s)
Clinical Clerkship , Education, Medical , Students, Medical , Humans , Female , Male , Problem-Based Learning , Curriculum , Surveys and Questionnaires , Educational StatusABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Colonoscopy is a common procedure performed by colorectal surgeons for screening, diagnosis, and surveillance of various colorectal diseases. Existing literature has conflicting data on quality outcomes of colonoscopies performed in the afternoon and the morning schedules and only includes colonoscopies performed by gastroenterologists. We sought to analyze procedural outcomes between morning and afternoon colonoscopies performed by colorectal surgeons. DATA SOURCES AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A retrospective chart review of colonoscopies performed by colorectal surgeons at a tertiary care center from October 2018 through July 2020 was performed. Complete colonoscopies with documented times were included. Patients with colonic resection and incomplete colonoscopy were excluded. Main outcome measures adenoma and polyp detection rates and colonoscopy time variables were compared between morning and afternoon colonoscopies. RESULTS: A total of 781 patients were analyzed. Colonoscopies were evenly distributed during shifts (49% morning and 51% afternoon). The overall polyp and adenoma detection rates were 46% and 29%, respectively. There were no significant differences in adenoma and polyp detection rates and colonoscopy duration between morning and afternoon colonoscopies. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that history of prior polypectomy was an independent predictor of adenoma detection rate (OR: 2.17, 95% CI 1.33-3.54, p = 0.002) and was associated with significantly increased colonoscopy times in afternoon shift. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in quality outcomes of adenoma and polyp detection rates between morning and afternoon colonoscopies performed by colorectal surgeons. In addition to known predictors, cecal intubation time and history of polypectomy were also independent predictors of adenoma detection rate. Patients with prior polypectomy had increased colonoscopy times in afternoon shift. Since colorectal surgeons perform higher proportion of diagnostic and surveillance colonoscopies, these patients may be better suited for colonoscopies in morning shift.
Subject(s)
Adenoma , Colonic Polyps , Colorectal Neoplasms , Surgeons , Adenoma/diagnosis , Adenoma/surgery , Appointments and Schedules , Cecum , Colonic Polyps/diagnosis , Colonic Polyps/surgery , Colonoscopy/methods , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Time FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine if there are correlations between clinical performance and objective grading parameters for medical students in the third-year surgery clerkship. METHODS: Clerkship grades were compiled from 2016 to 2020. Performance on clinical rotations, NBME shelf exam, oral exam, and weekly quizzes were reviewed. Students were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4) based on clinical performance. Standard statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: There were 625 students included in the study. Students in Q1+Q2 were more likely than those in Q3+Q4 to score in the top quartile on the shelf exam (29% vs. 19%, p = 0.002), oral exam (24% vs. 17%, p = 0.032), and quizzes (22% vs. 15%, p = 0.024). However, there was negligible correlation between clinical performance and performance on objective measures: shelf exam (R2 = 0.027, p < 0.001), oral exam (R2 = 0.021, p < 0.001), and weekly quizzes (R2 = 0.053, p = 0.092). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical performance does not correlate with objective grading parameters for medical students in the third-year surgery clerkship.
Subject(s)
Clinical Clerkship/standards , Clinical Competence , Educational Measurement , General Surgery/education , Clinical Clerkship/statistics & numerical data , Clinical Competence/standards , Clinical Competence/statistics & numerical data , Educational Measurement/standards , Educational Measurement/statistics & numerical data , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 emergency, medical students were mandated to remain home, creating challenges to providing education remotely for third-year clinical rotations. This study aims to assess student reception and investigate objective outcomes to determine if online learning is a suitable alternative. METHODS: Medical students enrolled in the third-year surgical clerkship during COVID-19 were asked to participate in a survey. 19 of 27 (70%) students participated. Content, faculty-led lectures, and resident-led problem-based learning (PBL) sessions were assessed using a ten-point Likert scale. National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) examination, weekly quiz, and oral examination scores were compared to previous years. Student t-tests compared the groups. RESULTS: The median age was 25 years. Comparing in-person to electronic sessions, there was no difference in effectiveness of faculty sessions preparing students for NBME (6.2 vs. 6.7, P = .46) or oral examinations (6.4 vs. 6.8, P = .58); there was also no difference in resident-led PBL sessions preparing students for NBME (7.2 vs. 7.2, P = .92) or oral examinations (7.4 vs. 7.6, P = .74). Comparing this group to students from the previous academic year, there was no difference in weekly quiz (85.3 vs. 87.8, P = .13), oral examination (89.8 vs. 93.9, P = .07), or NBME examination (75.3 vs. 77.4, P = .33) scores. DISCUSSION: Surgical medical didactic education can effectively be conducted remotely through faculty-led lectures and resident-led PBL sessions. Students did not have a preference between in-person and electronic content in preparation for examinations. As scores did not change, electronic education may be adequate for preparing students for examinations in times of crisis such as COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Clinical Clerkship/organization & administration , Education, Medical, Undergraduate/organization & administration , General Surgery/education , Adult , Educational Measurement , Female , Florida/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients with adenomatous polyposis may be at increased risk for developing thyroid cancer (TC). However, screening guidelines for TC in these patients are not well established. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis, attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis, and gene mutation-negative adenomatous polyposis enrolled in our Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Family Registry were eligible for a screening thyroid ultrasound (US). Findings were reviewed by the study endocrinologist and intervention and/or follow-up determined. RESULTS: Fifty patients underwent screening thyroid US. Thirty-four (68%) patients had abnormal findings on US, including 27 (79%) with thyroid nodules. In 7 patients, US-detected thyroid nodules met established criteria for fine-needle aspiration. Of the 6 patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration, 2 (4%) were diagnosed with papillary TC. Both of these patients were female. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of adenomatous polyposis patients will have abnormal results on thyroid US, including suspicious-appearing thyroid nodules that when biopsied are malignant. Female patients have an apparently greater risk of developing TC. Polyposis patients, especially women, should be offered participation in a thyroid US screening program.
Subject(s)
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli/complications , Early Detection of Cancer/methods , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Carcinoma/diagnostic imaging , Carcinoma/etiology , Carcinoma/pathology , Carcinoma, Papillary , Child , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Registries , Risk Factors , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary , Thyroid Gland/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/etiology , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Nodule/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Nodule/etiology , Thyroid Nodule/pathology , Ultrasonography , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Serrated polyposis syndrome is a rare syndrome associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer. The World Health Organization criteria were established to standardize the diagnosis and management of patients afflicted with serrated polyposis. Although useful, the criteria may not be ideal for the initial screening of at-risk populations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the use of a minimal cutoff point of serrated lesions to increase the yield of serrated polyposis cases. DESIGN: This was a retrospective review of colonoscopy and pathology reports to identify patients who met the World Health Organization criteria for serrated polyposis. SETTING: This study was conducted at a tertiary cancer care referral center. PATIENTS: Five hundred patients who had at least 2 pathologically confirmed hyperplastic polyps and/or sessile serrated adenomas/polyps diagnosed between 1999 and 2009 were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the number of serrated polyposis cases. RESULTS: Forty of the 500 (8%) patients met the World Health Organization criteria for serrated polyposis syndrome. Patients underwent a median of 4 colonoscopies (range, 1-23) before satisfying the criteria, and only 1 (3%) patient met the criteria for diagnosis during the initial colonoscopy. All 16 patients with a history of colorectal cancer were only diagnosed with serrated polyposis either at the time of their cancer diagnosis or during postoperative colonoscopies. Only 5 of the 40 (13%) patients were enrolled in our institutional Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Family Registry before our study for prospective serrated lesion tracking and colorectal cancer screening. LIMITATIONS: This tool requires validation in a prospective setting. CONCLUSIONS: The cutoff point of at least 2 pathologically confirmed serrated lesions can serve as a screening tool for identifying patients meeting the World Health Organization criteria for serrated polyposis syndrome who would otherwise go undetected.
Subject(s)
Colonoscopy , Intestinal Polyposis/pathology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Retrospective Studies , Syndrome , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
Cribriform-morular variant (CMV) is a rare subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) that is associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Given the high likelihood for multi-organ malignancies in FAP patients, this study explores the yield of diagnosing occult FAP among CMV-PTC patients. Institutional database was searched in order to identify patients with pathologically-confirmed CMV-PTC from 2000 to 2012. Medical records were reviewed, and clinical and pathological features were analyzed. Eleven cases of CMV were identified from 6,901 patients with PTC, for a prevalence of 0.16 %. All 11 patients were female. The median age at CMV-PTC diagnosis was 36 years (range 18-46). Two patients had pre-existing FAP at the time of PTC diagnosis. The other nine patients were referred for colonoscopy and/or genetic testing. Six patients underwent colonoscopy and one (17 %) was diagnosed with FAP based on polyposis phenotype and genetic testing. The mean age of patients at the time of CMV-PTC diagnosis was younger in the FAP group (23 years, range 18-34) than in the sporadic group (37 years, range 25-46). All three patients with FAP-associated CMV-PTC had multicentric tumors, while all five sporadic patients did not. Our study found that approximately one-sixth of patients with CMV-PTC may have occult FAP. Patients with FAP-associated CMV-PTC appear to be younger and more likely to have multicentric tumors than those with sporadic CMV-PTC. Due to the increased risk of malignancy in patients with FAP, patients with CMV-PTC should be referred for colonoscopy and/or genetic evaluation for FAP.
Subject(s)
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli/complications , Carcinoma/complications , Carcinoma/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/complications , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Carcinoma, Papillary , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Expression profiles of p21, p27, p53, Ki-67, and thymidylate synthase may be associated with response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The relationship between post-treatment protein expression and regional lymph node involvement has not been fully explored. METHODS: Tumor cores from 126 rectal cancer patients underwent immunohistochemical analysis for the aforementioned proteins. Staining indices (SIs) using percentage of stained cells and staining intensity were calculated for 10 tumor cores per patient. SI for each marker was compared between node negative and node positive patients. RESULTS: Twenty-six (20.6%) cancer patients had a pathologic complete response and 37 had inadequate tissue or cancer cells, leaving 63 for analysis. Thirty-seven (58.7%) cancer patients were node negative and 26 (41.3%) were node positive. There was an association between increased p27 SI and nodal positivity (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Increased p27 expression in post-treatment rectal cancer is associated with nodal positivity and may determine which patients are suitable for local excision.
Subject(s)
Neoplasm, Residual/diagnosis , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism , Rectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Rectal Neoplasms/therapy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chemoradiotherapy , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Lymphatic Metastasis , Male , Middle Aged , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Prognosis , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/biosynthesis , Tissue Array AnalysisABSTRACT
Minimally invasive or minimal access surgery (MAS) for colon and rectal cancer was introduced in the early 1990s. Although laparoscopic colon surgery is now practiced worldwide, technical barriers, including a steep learning curve, preclude the widespread adoption of MAS techniques for rectal cancer. In addition, although randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that MAS techniques for colon cancer are oncologically equivalent to open surgery, similar confirmatory studies for rectal cancer have yet to be reported. In this Review, current evidence in support of laparoscopic and robotic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer resection is presented. Other MAS approaches, such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, are also discussed.
Subject(s)
Laparoscopy/methods , Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery/methods , Rectal Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Robotics , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Multimodality fast-track protocols have been shown to enhance recovery after bowel resection. However, it remains unclear which of the components impact outcomes and whether processes actually occur as intended. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent elective bowel resection at a university teaching hospital under a standardized fast-track recovery protocol were compared with patients who underwent similar procedures before protocol initiation. Compliance was measured with the 7 major elements of the protocol: administration of nonopioid analgesia, perioperative lidocaine, nasogastric tube removal, early feeding, early ambulation, and fluid restriction. RESULTS: Eighty pathway patients were compared with 87 conventional patients. Only 3 of the 7 major components were successfully implemented. Fluid restriction was achieved in only 2 patients. Pain scores and ileus-related morbidities were comparable with the exception of nasogastric tube reinsertion, which was required twice as often in pathway patients (17 vs 8, P = .02). Thirteen pathway patients were readmitted compared with 7 control patients (P = .11). CONCLUSIONS: The delivery of expected care cannot be assumed. There was no discernible benefit in patient outcomes.