Mortality and anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to analyze the mortality and symptomatic anastomotic leak following stapled anastomosis after anterior resection for rectal cancer. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed retrospectively 161 patients subjected to elective anterior resection of the rectum. There were 102 (63.3%) men and 59 (37.7%) women. The patients were divided into two groups according to tumor location: group I - 129 (80.1%) patients with tumor located >6 cm from the anal verge and group II - 32 (19.9%) patients with tumor located =6 cm. RESULTS: Anastomotic leak was found in 5 (3.1%) patients, three (2.3%) from group I and two (6.2%) from group II (p<0.26). Anastomotic leak was found more often in patients with renal failure (p<0.0023) and in those who had undergone RBC concentrate transfusion (p<0.0045). Seven (4.3%) patients died in the postoperative period. Deaths occurred more frequently in patients with valvular heart disease (p<0.00002), renal failure (p<0.0047) and in those given concentrates of RBC (p<0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of postoperative surgical complications after resection for rectal cancer is not high and is acceptable; however, there is an increased risk of leakage after low anterior resection. Renal failure as well as RBC concentrate transfusion have an influence on mortality and anastomotic leak.

[Iliac vessels malformations as a cause of gluteal varices]. / Malformacje naczyn biodrowych jako przyczyna zylaków posladków.

Gluteal varices are caused by different malformations (congenital or other disorders) within pelvic vessels. They are usually congenital, rarely acquired disorders. The rarity of incidence, diagnostic difficulties and sometimes ineffective methods of treatment made the authors of this article to present a case of 51-year-old patient with hemorrhoids with concomitant left gluteal varices caused by internal iliac artery-vein fistula.

[Metastasis to brain from rectal cancer as the first manifestation of neoplasmatic disease]. / Przerzut raka odbytnicy do osrodkowego ukladu nerwowego jako pierwszy objaw choroby nowotworowej.

Cerebral metastases from colorectal cancer are uncommon. They are usually a late manifestation of the neoplasmatic disease. The symptoms aren't always typical. We report the case of 52-year-old woman in whom the first manifestation of the disease was metastasis to brain.