The value of national accreditation program for rectal cancer: A survey of accredited programs and programs seeking accreditation.

BACKGROUND: Significant variation in rectal cancer care has been demonstrated in the United States. The National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer was established in 2017 to improve the quality of rectal cancer care through standardization and emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach. The aim of this study was to understand the perceived value and barriers to achieving the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer accreditation. METHODS: An electronic survey was developed, piloted, and distributed to rectal cancer programs that had already achieved or were interested in pursuing the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer accreditation. The survey contained 40 questions with a combination of Likert scale, multiple choice, and open-ended questions to provide comments. This was a mixed methods study; descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. RESULTS: A total of 85 rectal cancer programs were sent the survey (22 accredited, 63 interested). Responses were received from 14 accredited programs and 41 interested programs. Most respondents were program directors (31%) and program coordinators (40%). The highest-ranked responses regarding the value of the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer accreditation included "improved quality and culture of rectal cancer care," "enhanced program organization and coordination," and "challenges our program to provide optimal, high-quality care." The most frequently cited barriers to the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer accreditation were cost and lack of personnel. CONCLUSION: Our survey found significant perceived value in the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer accreditation. Adhering to standards and a multidisciplinary approach to rectal cancer care are critical components of a high-quality care rectal cancer program.

Could meeting the standards of the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer in the National Cancer Database improve patient outcomes?

AIM: The National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) was developed to improve rectal cancer patient outcomes in the United States. The NAPRC consists of a set of process and outcome measures that hospitals must meet in order to be accredited. We aimed to assess the potential of the NAPRC by determining whether achievement of the process measures correlates with improved survival. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients undergoing curative proctectomy for non-metastatic rectal cancer from 2010 to 2014. NAPRC process measures identified in the National Cancer Database included clinical staging completion, treatment starting <60 days from diagnosis, carcinoembryonic antigen level measured prior to treatment, tumour regression grading and margin assessment. RESULTS: There were 48 669 patients identified with a mean age of 62 ± 12.9 years and 61.3% of patients were men. The process measure completed most often was assessment of proximal and distal margins (98.4%) and the measure completed least often was the serum carcinoembryonic antigen level prior to treatment (63.8%). All six process measures were completed in 23.6% of patients. After controlling for age, gender, comorbidities, annual facility resection volume, race and pathological stage, completion of all process measures was associated with a statistically significant mortality decrease (Cox hazard ratio 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.94, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Participating institutions provided complete datasets for all six process measures in less than a quarter of patients. Compliance with all process measures was associated with a significant mortality reduction. Improved adoption of NAPRC process measures could therefore result in improved survival rates for rectal cancer in the United States.

The Evolution of Pelvic Pouch Surgery: Optimal Pouch Design for an Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis.

The history of pouch surgery is rooted in surgical innovation to improve quality of life in patients requiring surgical extirpation of the colon and rectum. From the early straight ileoanal anastomosis to the continent ileostomy to the modern ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), techniques have evolved in response to pitfalls in design. Optimal IPAA design and construction have changed in response to functional outcomes. Nowadays, restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA is the optimal treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis. The J-pouch with stapled anastomosis has become the preferred procedure. Historical configurations and technical pearls, as described in this article, should be considered by surgeons who regularly care for patients requiring ileal pouch surgery.

Sarcopenia is associated with worse overall survival in patients with anal squamous cell cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sarcopenia is associated with poor long-term outcomes in many gastrointestinal cancers, but its role in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is not defined. We hypothesized that patients with sarcopenic ASCC experience worse long-term outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with ASCC treated at an academic medical center from 2006 to 2017 was performed. Of 104 patients with ASCC, 64 underwent PET/computed tomography before chemoradiation and were included in the analysis. The skeletal muscle index was calculated as total L3 skeletal muscle divided by height squared. Sarcopenia thresholds were 52.4 cm2 /m2 for men and 38.5 cm2 /m2 for women. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess overall and progression-free survival. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of the patients were sarcopenic (n = 16). Demographics were similar between groups. There was no difference in the clinical stage or comorbidities between groups. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with worse overall survival were male gender (hazard ratio [HR] 3.7, P = .022) and sarcopenia (HR 3.6, P = .019). Male gender was associated with worse progression-free survival (HR 2.6, P = .016). CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia is associated with worse overall survival in patients with anal cancer. Further studies are indicated to determine if survival can be improved with increased attention to nutritional status in sarcopenic patients.

Outcomes in immunosuppressed anal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressed patients have an increased risk of developing anal cancer, but little data exists regarding outcomes of this population. METHODS: A retrospective review of anal cancer patients at a single academic institution from 2006 to 2017 was performed. RESULTS: 19 (14%) of 136 anal cancer patients were immunosuppressed. Immunosuppressed patients were more likely to be hypoalbuminemic (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.025), less likely to complete chemotherapy (58% vs. 80%, p = 0.031) or exhibit a complete response to chemoradiation (57% vs. 82%, p = 0.037), and more likely to experience recurrence (53% vs. 25%, p = 0.013). Hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with worse overall (HR 6.4, CI 2.2-19.2, p < 0.001) and progression-free (HR 4.4, CI 1.8-10.4, p < 0.001) survival. CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressed patients have poor tolerance of chemotherapy and response to chemoradiation, and an increased rate of recurrence. This finding is possibly due to the relationship between immunosuppression and hypoalbuminemia, which was associated with worse overall and progression-free survival.

Does one size fit all? Risks and benefits of neoadjuvant chemoradiation in patients with clinical stage IIA rectal cancer requiring abdominoperineal resection.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) has become the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer, decreasing locoregional recurrence, yet with an unclear survival advantage. We aimed to assess the benefit of nCRT on oncologic and perioperative outcomes of patients with clinical stage IIA rectal adenocarcinoma treated with abdominoperineal resection (APR). METHODS: Patients with clinical T3N0 rectal adenocarcinoma that underwent APR between 1995 and 2014 were included. Patients who received nCRT were compared with patients who did not. Multivariate analysis was conducted to compare oncological and perioperative outcomes between the groups. RESULTS: 127 patients were included, of which 94 received nCRT. Median follow-up was 11.9 years. There was no difference in circumferential margins, postoperative morbidity, and complication rates between the groups. There was no difference in 5-year oncological outcomes between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found in 5-year oncological outcomes between patients with clinical T3N0 rectal adenocarcinoma necessitating an APR who received nCRT and those not receiving nCRT, with similar overall complication rates.

Reoperative Surgery in Complex Crohn's Disease.

This article provides a structured approach to the technical aspects of reoperative surgery for Crohn's disease. Specific indications for surgery including repeat ileocolic resection, Crohn's complications of ileal pouch anal anastomosis and continent ileostomy, completion proctectomy, and the role of small bowel transplant will be discussed.

Is Conversion of a Failed IPAA to a Continent Ileostomy a Risk Factor for Long-term Failure?

BACKGROUND: A continent ileostomy may be offered to patients in hopes of avoiding permanent ileostomy. Data on the outcomes of continent ileostomy patients with a history of a failed IPAA are limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether a history of previous failed IPAA had an effect on continent ileostomy survival and the long-term outcomes. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: This investigation took place in a high-volume, specialized colorectal surgery department. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent continent ileostomy construction after IPAA failure between 1982 and 2013 were evaluated and compared with patients who have no history of IPAA surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional outcomes and long-term complications were compared. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients fulfilled the case-matching criteria and were included in the analysis. Requirement of major (52% vs 61%; p = 0.756) and minor (15% vs 19%; p = 0.492) revisions were comparable between patients who had continent ileostomy after a failed IPAA and those who had continent ileostomy without having a previous restorative procedure. Intubations per day (5 vs 5; p = 0.804) and per night (1 vs 1; p = 0.700) were similar in both groups. Our data show no clear relationship between failure of continent ileostomy and history of failed IPAA (p = 0.638). The most common cause of continent ileostomy failure was enterocutaneous/enteroenteric fistula (n = 14). Six patients died during the study period because of other causes unrelated to continent ileostomy. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective and nonrandomized nature. CONCLUSIONS: Converting a failed IPAA to a continent ileostomy did not worsen continent ileostomy outcomes in this selected group of patients. When a redo IPAA is not feasible, continent ileostomy can be offered as an alternative to conventional end ileostomy in highly motivated patients. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A803.

Nationwide Heterogeneity in Hospital-Specific Probabilities of Rectal Cancer Understaging and Its Effects on Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Rectal cancer patients who are understaged may not be offered the highest quality treatment modalities, which are based on an accurate assessment of preoperative staging. The objective of this study was to evaluate heterogeneity in the probability of being understaged at Commission on Cancer hospitals in the United States and to assess how this variation affects outcomes. METHODS: The 2006-2013 National Cancer Data Base was queried for clinical stage I-III rectal cancer patients who underwent resection. The initial clinical stage was compared with the "gold standard," pathological stage. A Bayesian multilevel logistic regression model was used to characterize variation in hospital-specific probabilities of being understaged (clinical stage < pathologic stage). Separate analyses assessed the impact of being understaged on positive circumferential resection margins (CRM), receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy, and 5-year overall survival. RESULTS: Among 12,684 patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemoradiation and treated at 1176 hospitals, 3044 (24%) were understaged. After patient level risk-adjustment, a 24-fold difference in the probability of being understaged was observed between hospitals (range 3-72%, median = 15%). Understaging was independently associated with positive CRM [odds ratio (OR) 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39, 1.92] and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 14.22, 95% CI 13.55, 18.88). Despite an increase in the delivery of systemic therapy after surgical resection, understaging was associated with worse survival (hazard ratio = 1.61, 95% CI 1.48, 1.95). CONCLUSIONS: Deficiencies in high-quality rectal cancer management begin with incorrect clinical staging. The risk-adjusted probability of understaging varied widely between hospitals. This institutional failure to provide optimal oncological management at the start of care was associated with worse long-term survival.

Modified Pfannenstiel Open Approach as an Alternative to Laparoscopic Total Proctocolectomy and IPAA: Comparison of Short- and Long-term Outcomes and Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: A laparoscopic approach to total proctocolectomy with IPAA has been suggested to have better short-term outcomes and cosmesis, whereas open surgery by midline incision may result in shorter operative times. We hypothesized that a modified Pfannenstiel open approach would combine the advantages of both techniques. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of open total proctocolectomy with IPAA using a modified Pfannenstiel incision versus those following the laparoscopic approach. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study comparing patients submitted to open IPAA using modified Pfannenstiel incision versus laparoscopy from 1998 to 2014. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a high-volume tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Among 1275 patients, 119 patients underwent the laparoscopic approach and 33 underwent the modified Pfannenstiel approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Short- and long-term outcomes were evaluated, and quality-of-life questionnaires were assessed. RESULTS: Patients who underwent the modified Pfannenstiel approach were younger, more often women, and had lower BMI and ASA classification compared with those who underwent laparoscopy. Surgical time was lower in Pfannenstiel, and no difference was observed in length of hospital stay. No difference was observed in postoperative complications, pouch failure rate, or quality of life. Patients were then matched 1:1 by diagnosis, sex, age (±5 y) and BMI (±5 kg/m). The Pfannenstiel approach still had a shorter surgical time. No difference was observed in the length of hospital stay, complications, pouch failure, or quality of life. In long-term follow-up, pouchitis symptoms occurred more frequently in Pfannenstiel (mean follow-up = 7.3 y), and seepage was more frequently observed in the laparoscopy group (mean follow-up = 4.2 y). These differences were not observed in matched patients. LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its retrospective design and inherent selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Pfannenstiel approach provides equivalent short- and long-term outcomes and similar quality of life compared with laparoscopy but with a significantly shorter operative time. The modified Pfannenstiel approach to total proctocolectomy with IPAA may be the most efficient method in selected patients. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A562.

Evaluating the Current Status of Rectal Cancer Care in the US: Where We Stand at the Start of the Commission on Cancer's National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: In an effort to improve the quality of rectal cancer care in the US, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer has developed the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC). We aimed to describe the current status of rectal cancer care before implementation of the NAPRC. STUDY DESIGN: The 2011-2014 National Cancer Database was queried for non-metastatic rectal cancer patients who underwent proctectomy. The NAPRC process measures evaluated included clinical staging completion, treatment starting fewer than 60 days from diagnosis, CEA level drawn before treatment, tumor regression grading, and margin assessment. The NAPRC performance measures included negative proximal, distal, and circumferential margins, and ≥12 lymph nodes harvested during resection. RESULTS: There were 39,068 patients identified (mean age 62 years, 61.6% male sex). In >85% of patients, clinical staging was completed, treatment was started within 60 days, and all tumor margins were assessed. Pretreatment CEA level (64.6% complete) was the process measure most often omitted. However, completion of all included process measures occurred in only 28.1% of patients. All pathologic margins were negative in 79.8% of patients and 73.2% of specimens reported ≥12 lymph nodes. Overall, 56.3% of patients achieved all performance measures. Patients treated at high-volume centers (>30 cases/year) had higher odds of meeting all performance measures (odds ratio 1.42; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, very few patients achieved all of the proposed quality measures for rectal cancer care. It will be important to re-evaluate these data after the implementation of the NAPRC.

Long-term Outcomes After Continent Ileostomy Creation in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Crohn's disease have a higher failure rate after ileal pouch surgery compared with their counterparts with ulcerative colitis. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that risk of continent ileostomy failure can be stratified based on the timing of Crohn's disease diagnosis and aimed to assess long-term outcomes. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTINGS: The investigation took place in a high-volume, specialized colorectal surgery department. PATIENTS: Patients with Crohn's disease who underwent continent ileostomy surgery between 1978 and 2013 were evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional outcomes, postoperative complications, requirement of revision surgery, and continent ileostomy failure were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 48 patients (14 male patients) with a median age of 33 years at the time of continent ileostomy creation. Crohn's disease diagnosis was before continent ileostomy (intentional) in 15 or made in a delayed fashion at a median 4 years after continent ileostomy in 33 patients. Median follow-up was 19 years (range, 1-33 y) after index continent ileostomy creation. Major and minor revisions were performed in 40 (83%) and 13 patients (27%). Complications were fistula (n = 20), pouchitis (n = 16), valve slippage (n = 15), hernia (n = 9), afferent limb stricture (n = 9), difficult intubation (n = 8), incontinence (n = 7), bowel obstruction (n = 7), valve stricture (n = 5), leakage (n = 4), bleeding (n = 3), and valve prolapse (n = 3). Median Cleveland global quality-of-life score was 0.8. Continent ileostomy failure occurred in 22 patients (46%). Based on Kaplan-Meier estimates, continent ileostomy survival was 48 % (95% CI, 33%-63%) at 20 years. Continent ileostomy failure was similar regardless of timing of diagnosis of Crohn's disease (p = 0.533). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective and nonrandomized nature. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of continent ileostomy in patients with Crohn's disease are poor, regardless of the timing of diagnosis. Very careful consideration should be given by both the surgeon and the patient before undertaking this procedure in patients with Crohn's disease. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A327.

Considering Value in Rectal Cancer Surgery: An Analysis of Costs and Outcomes Based on the Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Approach for Proctectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare value (outcomes/costs) of proctectomy in patients with rectal cancer by 3 approaches: open, laparoscopic, and robotic. BACKGROUND: The role of minimally invasive proctectomy in rectal cancer is controversial. In the era of value-based medicine, costs must be considered along with outcomes. METHODS: Primary rectal cancer patients undergoing curative intent proctectomy at our institution between 2010 and 2014 were included. Patients were grouped by approach [open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery (RS)] on an intent-to-treat basis. Groups were compared by direct costs of hospitalization for the primary resection, 30-day readmissions, and ileostomy closure and for short-term outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 488 patients were evaluated; 327 were men (67%), median age was 59 (27-93) years, and restorative procedures were performed in 333 (68.2%). Groups were similar in demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment details. Significant outcome differences between groups were found in operative and anesthesia times (longer in the RS group), and in estimated blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, length of stay, and postoperative complications (all higher in the open surgery group). No significant differences were found in short-term oncologic outcomes. Direct cost of the hospitalization for primary resection and total direct cost (including readmission/ileostomy closure hospitalizations) were significantly greater in the RS group. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic and open approaches to proctectomy in patients with rectal cancer provide similar value. If robotic proctectomy is to be widely applied in the future, the costs of the procedure must be reduced.

Incidence, Patterns, and Predictors of Locoregional Recurrence in Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Locoregional recurrence (LR) in colon cancer is uncommon but often incurable, while the factors associated with it are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns and predictors of LR after curative resection for colon cancer. METHODS: All patients who underwent colon cancer resection with curative intent between 1994 and 2008 at a tertiary referral center were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database. The association of LR with clinicopathologic and treatment characteristics was determined using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1397 patients were included with a median follow-up of 7.8 years; 635 (45%) were female, and the median age was 69 years. LR was detected in 61 (4.4%) patients. Median time to LR was 21 months. On multivariable analysis, the independent predictors of LR were disease stage [hazard ratio (HR) for Stage II 4.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-19.9, HR for Stage III 10.8, 95% CI 2.6-45.8], bowel obstruction (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.9-7.4), margin involvement (HR 4.1, 95% CI 1.9-8.6), lymphovascular invasion (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.06-3.5), and local tumor invasion (fixation to another structure, perforation, or presence of associated fistula, HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.5). Adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with reduced LR in patients with either Stage II or Stage III tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to oncologic surgical principles in colon cancer resection results in low rates of LR, which is associated with tumor-dependent factors. Recognition of these factors can help to determine appropriate postoperative surveillance.

Clinically Node Negative, Pathologically Node Positive Rectal Cancer Patients Who Did Not Receive Neoadjuvant Therapy.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the preferred standard of care for clinical stages II-III rectal cancer. It is uncertain whether clinically node negative (cN-) tumors found to be pathologically stage III could be optimally treated with surgery alone and avoid adjuvant treatments. The aim of our study was to define the outcomes of such patients. METHODS: Patients undergoing radical surgery using total mesorectal excision (TME) techniques for rectal cancer (≤12 cm from the anal verge) with curative intent during 2000-2012 and found to have stage III disease on final pathology were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were staged with abdominopelvic CT, transrectal endoscopic ultrasound, and/or pelvic MRI. Exclusion criteria were cN+ without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, hereditary colorectal syndromes, inflammatory bowel diseases, lack of preoperative nodal staging, intraoperative radiotherapy, and follow-up <3 years. We compared cN-/pN+ patients according to the postoperative treatment received (group 1 if no further treatment, group 2 if any postoperative treatments), using ypN+ patients (neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy + surgery) as controls (group 3). Oncological outcomes evaluated included overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence (LR), and distant recurrence (DR). RESULTS: Out of 218 patients included in the study, 77 cN- patients underwent initial surgery with a pN+ surgical specimen. Eighteen of these patients received no postoperative treatment due to associated comorbidity, patient preference, or postoperative complications while the remaining 59 (group 2) patients received chemoradiotherapy (n = 21) or chemotherapy alone (n = 38), respectively, and group 3 included 141 patients. Distal, radial resection margins and TME grading when available were comparable among groups. cN-/pN+ patients treated with surgery alone were associated with significantly poorer cancer outcomes compared with cN-/pN+ patients who received any form of adjuvant therapy and to ypN+ patients. CONCLUSION: TME surgery is not sufficient to optimize outcomes among rectal cancer patients believed to be node negative and found to be stage III based on specimen pathology.

Substernal Colonic Interposition After Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Graft in a Patient With a Patent Left Internal Thoracic Artery Graft: A Surgical Challenge.

Esophageal reconstruction by a substernal route with a colonic conduit after previous esophagectomy and end-cervical esophagostomy in the presence of a patent left internal thoracic artery graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery is a technically challenging procedure. In this case report, we describe a safe approach to this difficult problem. With proper planning and careful dissection, substernal esophageal reconstruction after previous sternotomy in patients with a patent left internal thoracic artery graft is feasible and can be safely performed.

Factors associated with the location of local rectal cancer recurrence and predictors of survival.

PURPOSE: The location of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) may influence survival. This study examines factors affecting the location of LRRC, the effect of LRRC location on survival, and predictive factors for survival in patients with LRRC. METHODS: Patients undergoing initial proctectomy and subsequent management of LRRC at the Cleveland Clinic (1980-2011) were included. Data regarding index surgery, LRRC, and survival were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-seven patients were identified with a mean follow-up 59.8 ± 50.1 months and time to LRRC of 31.7 ± 30.1 months. Sixty patients underwent surgery with curative intent. Anastomotic leak and retrieving less than 12 lymph nodes at index proctectomy were associated with posterior (P = 0.019) and lateral (P = 0.036) recurrences, respectively. Having an axial relative to an anterior, posterior, or lateral recurrence was associated with improved overall survival (P = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, undergoing primarily palliative treatment (OR, 5.2; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 3.2-8.4; P < 0.001), age at LRRC >60 years (OR, 1.9; 95 % CI, 1.3-2.7, P < 0.001), advanced primary tumour stage (OR, 1.5; 95 % CI, 1.1-2.1; P = 0.021), and anastomotic leak at index surgery (OR, 1.8; 95 % CI, 1.2-2.7; P = 0.008) were associated with reduced LRRC 5-year survival. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that features of the primary tumour and technical factors at the time of index proctectomy influence both the location of LRRC and survival.