Persistent and Recurrent Clostridium difficile Colitis.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most frequent cause of nosocomial diarrhea. It has become a significant dilemma in the treatment of patients, and causes increasing morbidity that, in extreme cases, may result in death. Persistent and recurrent disease hamper attempts at eradication of this infection. Escalating levels of treatment and novel therapeutics are being utilized and developed to treat CDI. Further trials are warranted to definitively determine what protocols can be used to treat persistent and recurrent disease.

Surgical repair of rectovaginal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To report surgical outcomes of patients who underwent rectovaginal fistula (RVF) repair with a history of Crohn's disease utilizing several reconstructive techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series of women (n=6) with Crohn's disease surgically treated with either vaginal or rectal advancement flaps. Demographic information and data specific to Crohn's disease at the time of surgery were collected. In addition, operative reports and postoperative follow-up visits were reviewed. RESULTS: During the study period, six women with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and RVF underwent surgical management. Five patients had a vaginal advancement flap (VAF) by Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and one patient was treated by the rectal advancement flap by Colorectal Surgery. The failure rate in our study population was 33% (2/6). Of note, two of the patients who had a successful VAF had a previous failure after RAF. In addition, four patients who had a repair via the transvaginal approach had a concomitant pedicled flap procedure (i.e. Martius or gracilis flap). The average follow-up for all our patients was 5 months (+/- 6.5 months). No patients failed if they received a VAF with a concomitant flap procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This case series illustrates several techniques utilized for the repair of RVF in patients with Crohn's disease. The use of a bulbocavernosus flap during the primary repair of RVF in this patient population may be considered to bolster the rectovaginal septum.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: safe for midrectal lesions in morbidly obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a safe option for proximal rectal tumors in morbidly obese patients for whom transabdominal pelvic dissection often is fraught with morbidity. METHODS: From a database of 318 patients who underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery, we report a retrospective case-control study of 9 patients with a body mass index range of 35 to 66 with sessile rectal lesions 6 to 15 cm from the anal verge who underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery. Case subjects were compared with 15 controls and matched for age, tumor type, and level of tumor. The average body mass index of controls was 30 (P < .001). By using t test analysis, perioperative outcomes (surgical time, blood loss, and hospital length of stay) and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: Sessile tumors were located 7 to 11 cm from the anal verge with a diameter of 1 to 4 cm. Patient and tumor factors such as age, distal tumor margin from anal verge, and tumor diameter were not significantly different between case subjects and controls. Surgical blood loss, surgical time, and hospital length of stay were not significantly different between the 2 groups. One complication occurred among the cases. No complications occurred in the control group. All patients had complete surgical resections with negative margins. CONCLUSIONS: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery in morbidly obese patients is a safe, feasible, and a viable alternative to low anterior resection.

Practice parameters for the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is dedicated to assuring high-quality patient care by advancing the science, prevention, and management of disorders and diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. The Standards Committee is composed of Society members who are chosen because they have demonstrated expertise in the specialty of colon and rectal surgery. This committee was created to lead international efforts in defining quality care for conditions related to the colon, rectum, and anus. This is accompanied by developing Clinical Practice Guidelines based on the best available evidence. These guidelines are inclusive, and not prescriptive. Their purpose is to provide information on which decisions can be made, rather than dictate a specific form of treatment. These guidelines are intended for the use of all practitioners, health care workers, and patients who desire information about the management of the conditions addressed by the topics covered in these guidelines. It should be recognized that these guidelines should not be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure must be made by the physician in light of all of the circumstances presented by the individual patient.

Vacuum-assisted closure of complex perineal wounds.

The Vacuum-assisted Closure device decreases the time to wound healing, thus increasing the deposition of granulation tissue, and decreasing the use of wound care specialists. Perineal wounds present a special challenge. We present four cases of complex perineal wounds in which the Vacuum-assisted Closure device was used. In each case, wound care was simplified and healing accelerated. The Vacuum-assisted Closure device allows earlier wound closure, early skin grafting (with improved graft adherence), earlier hospital discharge, and earlier return to baseline functional status. Its use in the perineum presents a challenge, but with proper application, even the most complex perineal wounds can be healed.

Perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma: unusual case presentations and review of the literature.

Perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma is a rare cancer constituting 3 to 11 per cent of all anal carcinomas. It may arise de novo or from a fistula or abscess cavity. We present two cases of this disease process. Case One is a 52-year-old man with a chronic history of perianal abscesses who presented to the emergency room with a large bowel obstruction. He required diversion and wide local excision with lateral internal sphincterotomy for relief of the obstruction. Pathology from the excised material revealed the unexpected diagnosis of invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the anus. Case Two is a 59-year-old man with a chronic history of complex fistulas and abscesses who presented to our office with a horseshoe fistula and deep postanal space abscess. Because of the nonhealing nature of the wound, biopsies from the abscess crater, fistulous tract, and the perianal skin opening were taken. The pathology department identified the specimens as invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the anal canal. This is an aggressive cancer often misdiagnosed clinically as benign pathology. A high index of suspicion and biopsy of fistulous tracts and abscesses are the keys to early diagnosis and treatment. With combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy in conjunction with aggressive surgical resection long-term survival might be obtained.