Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for increased high-grade morbidity after elective rectal cancer resection.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association of preoperative hypoalbuminemia and postoperative complications after elective resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: From September 2009 to December 2014, all patients who underwent elective rectal resection for adenocarcinoma of the rectum were identified using a prospective colorectal cancer database. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as a serum albumin < 35 g/L. Characteristics and outcomes of hypoalbuminemic patients were compared to those of patients with normal albumin levels. Potential risk factors for postoperative major morbidity, defined as Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade 3, were analyzed by both univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy patients met the inclusion criteria. Hypoalbuminemic patients (67/370 (18%)) were significantly older and had more advanced tumor stages and more comorbidities (more ASA III, higher percentage of diabetics). Furthermore, they were more likely to undergo abdominoperineal resection instead of low anterior resection and less likely to be operated laparoscopically. On univariate analysis, a higher BMI, advanced tumor stages, diabetes, open procedures, pre- and postoperative hypoalbuminemia, a higher decrease in albumin (∆ preop-postop), and conversion were significantly associated with postoperative high-grade morbidity. On multivariate analysis, diabetes, advanced tumor stages, a higher decrease in the albumin level, as well as preoperative hypoalbuminemia turned out to be independent risk factors for postoperative high-grade morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative high-grade morbidity. As a low-cost and easy accessible test, serum albumin should be used as a prognostic tool to detect patients at risk for adverse outcomes after resection for rectal cancer.

Transgastric appendicectomy.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies and small anecdotal reports have documented the potential and feasibility of transgastric appendicectomy. This paper reports the results of the new technique in a selected group of patients. METHODS: From April 2010 transgastric appendicectomy was offered to all patients with acute appendicitis, but without generalized peritonitis or local contraindications. RESULTS: Of 111 eligible patients 15 agreed to undergo the transgastric operation. After conversion of the first case to laparoscopy because of severe inflammation and adhesions, the following 14 consecutive transgastric procedures were completed. Two patients with initial peritonitis required laparoscopic lavage 4 days after transgastric appendicectomy, but no leaks were detected at the appendiceal stump or stomach. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results have shown the feasibility of this innovative procedure. Additional studies, however, are required to demonstrate the specific advantages and disadvantages of this approach, and define its role in clinical surgery.

[New ways in the surgery of acute appendicitis?]. / Neue Wege in der operativen Behandlung der akuten Appendizitis?

Acute appendicitis is still one of the most common abdominal emergencies necessitating operative treatment. For the past century, the conventional management of appendicitis has been open appendectomy. Since the introduction of laparoscopic appendectomy, it has been performed with increased frequency. Clinical trials evaluating outcomes comparing open appendectomy with laparoscopic appendectomy indicate that laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with lower complication rate and lower mortality and is to be considered the procedure of choice for patients with suspected acute appendicitis. Ever since Kalloo's first report on transgastric peritoneoscopy in a porcine model in 2004, this dramatic surgical revolution has prompted many surgeons and endoscopists to study this new technique. This complex technique involves breaching the wall of a hollow organ to gain access into the peritoneum: Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). In recent years, several NOTES experiments have been carried out in animal models and even on humans, including appendectomy. NOTES may help to reduce surgical pain and shorten recovery time. The concept of NOTES has generated intensive interest in the medical community as well as in the group of patients. Although the novel procedure is still far from being mature and many technical problems have to be overcome and more clinical studies have to be done before its widespread application in human appendectomy, NOTES is a promising procedure for the future.

Imaging EGFR phosphorylation in intact human pancreatic carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Carcinoma of the pancreatic duct is a highly malignant tumor characterized by aggressive and early metastastatic growth. A high rate of tumor recurrence after surgical resection and the lack of effective chemotherapeutic approaches result in low 5-year survival rates. Overexpression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor have been correlated to a higher tumor biological aggressiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated EGFR RNA and protein expressions in different pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. EGFR phosphorylation was determined using acceptor photobleaching fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). RESULTS: The imaging method allowed determination of receptor phorphorylation in intact cells without external calibration. Significant differences between the cell lines were found in EGFR expression but not in phosphorylation of EGFR without EGF stimulation. After stimulation with EGF, significant differences were found in receptor phorphorylation. EGFR expression did not correlate with EGFR phorphorylation. CONCLUSION: Since EGFR phosphorylation conveys signal transduction within cells, this molecular imaging method could be useful for the identification of patients with a high level of EGFR phosphorylation within tumor cells and, thus, to select patients for an EGFR-targeted therapy.

Perianal abscess caused by Actinomyces: report of a case.

Most anal abscesses are caused by anal fistula and invasion of the surrounding tissues by a mixed colonic flora. The treatment comprises excision of the abscess and. if appropriate, fistulectomy. Primary anorectal actinomycosis and perianal actinomycosis are very rare and are caused by Actinomyces, which is a ubiquitous microaerophilic bacterium. Here we report a case of perianal actinomycosis. The patient had a short history of painless perineal induration without fever or leucocytosis with normal routine blood tests. After excision sulphur granules drained from the cavity and the pathological investigations were indicative of perianal actinomycosis. Appropriate surgery and antibiotic treatment healed the perianal infection. After elimination of other diagnoses, e.g. Crohn's disease, tuberculosis and malignant growths, this rare case of perianal actinomycosis should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of a painless perianal mass.

Ileus secondary to wireless capsule enteroscopy.

Wireless capsule enteroscopy, being a novel, painless investigative technique, is reported to be significantly superior to push enteroscopy in its ability to find bleeding abnormalities in the small intestine. Here we report a case of acute jejunal obstruction following wireless capsule endoscopy. The patient had a 1-month history of gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown source. Further evaluation including gastroscopy and colonoscopy, angiography and computed tomography (angio-CT), and radio-labeled erythrocytes scan failed to reveal a source of bleeding. Therefore, wireless capsule enteroscopy was performed. Before capsule endoscopy, there was no clinical or imaging evidence of strictures or stenosis. At readmission it could be shown that there were two inflamed strictures of the small intestine. The capsule was detected at a stricture of the small intestine detected by abdominal ultrasonography and conventional computed tomography. The patient underwent a medical treatment with steroidal and other anti-inflammatory drugs for a total of 23 days and was discharged without complaints. Acute laparotomy after readmission with jejunal ileus proofed the capsule occluding two highly inflamed jejunal stenosis caused by Crohn disease. The present case demonstrates the potential for complications when wireless capsule enteroscopy is performed in the presence of intestinal strictures. Any history of inflammatory bowel disease, abdominal irradiation, cancer, obstruction, and abdominal surgery must be elicited in detail and may exclude the use of wireless capsule enteroscopy.