Defining diverticular fistula through inpatient admissions: a population study.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular fistula, a pathologic connection from the colon to the skin or another organ, is an uncommon sequela of diverticular disease. It is generally considered an indication for surgery. The current literature is limited in terms of defining the epidemiology of this disease process. This analysis defines the demographics of fistulous diverticular disease on a national level. METHODS: A retrospective review of the 2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was conducted, using ICD-10 codes for diverticular disease, diverticular-associated fistulas, and associated surgeries. Demographic factors were compared between groups, and several sub-group analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 7,105,498 discharges were recorded: 119,115 (1.68%) with non-fistulizing diverticular disease and 3,843 (0.05%) with diverticular fistula. Patients with diverticular fistula were more likely to be younger (64.7 v 68.2 years, p < .0001) and female (57.3% v 55.4%, p = 0.028) than patients with non-fistulizing disease. They were also more likely to undergo surgery (64.9% v 25.7%, p < .0001), to be admitted electively (44.7% v 12.0%, p < .0001), and to have a longer length of stay (LOS) (mean 8.07 v 5.20 days, p < .0001). Diverticular fistula patients that underwent surgery were more likely to be male (44.8% v 39.0%, p = 0.003), to be admitted electively (65.3% v 6.7%, p < .0001), and to have longer LOS (mean 8.74 v 6.81 days, p < .0001) than those who received medical treatment alone. CONCLUSION: Diverticular fistula is a rare diagnosis, accounting for 0.05% of total admissions and 3.12% of admissions for diverticular disease. However, this is more common than the previously reported rate of < 0.1% of diverticular disease admissions. While surgery is generally indicated for diverticular fistula, only 64.9% of patients underwent surgical treatment. Although this study is limited by its retrospective nature and use of administrative data, our findings elucidate the prevalence and patterns of inpatient admissions for diverticular fistula in the United States.

Are our publications failing the inspection?: a review of the publications in rectal cancer surgery between 2002 and 2012.

BACKGROUND: Quality of publications is considered a subjective measurement, and more weight is placed on prospective studies, especially randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the type of publications and evaluates the quality of randomized clinical trials and review articles using an objective measurement. DATA SOURCES: Medline (PubMed) is the data source for this work. STUDY SELECTION: We used the terms "rectal neoplasms/surgery" and the filters "10 years," "humans," and "English." MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured compliance with checklist items. Randomized clinical trials were reviewed using the Consolidates Standards of Reporting Trials statement; systematic reviews/meta-analyses were reviewed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. RESULTS: A total of 3603 articles were identified: 20.8% were case report/series, 20.5% were retrospective cohorts, 14.0% were reviews or meta-analyses, 16.4% were prospective cohorts, 14.0% were other types of articles (comments, letters, or editorials), 5.5% were clinical trials (phase I/II), 4.2% were randomized clinical trials, and 4.4% were cross-sectional studies. We reviewed 108 randomized clinical trials; the maximum score possible was 74.0, the average score was 44.6 (range, 20.0-64.0), 4 (3.7%) were graded as "excellent," 21 (19.4%) were "good," 44 (40.7%) were "deficient," and 39 (36.1%) were graded as "fail." The predictors of higher scores for randomized clinical trials were year of publication after 2007 (p = 0.00), higher impact factor (p = 0.03), and declared funding (p = 0.01). Twenty-nine meta-analyses were reviewed; the average score was 19.64 (range, 12.0-25.0); 5 articles (17.2%) were graded as "excellent," 12 (41.4%) were "good," 10 (34.5%) were "deficient," and 2 (6.9%) were "fail." LIMITATIONS: Only 1 electronic database was used, so we lacked a validated score. In addition, the search terms did not include "colorectal." CONCLUSIONS: A total of 20.8% of the articles published were case reports and 25.0% of the articles were prospective or clinical trials. Although randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews provide the highest level of evidence, publications with missing data limit replication of the study and affect the generalizability of results to other populations. To improve the quality of our publications, authors, reviewers, and journal editors should consider the endorsement of standardize checklists.

Hospital readmission for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities following ileostomy construction: preventable or unpredictable?

BACKGROUND: Ileostomy creation has complications, including rehospitalization for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. Although studies have identified predictors of this morbidity, readmission rates remain high. METHODS: The researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with ileostomy creation at a tertiary institution from January 2008 to June 2011. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four patients (154) were included in this study; 71 (46.1 %) were female. Mean age was 49 ± 17.64 (range 16-91), and mean BMI was 26.9 ± 6.44 (range 13-52). The readmission rate for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities was 20.1 % for the study population; of those readmitted for all diagnoses, dehydration accounted for 40.7 % of all readmissions. Cancer was associated with readmission (χ(2) = 4.73, p = 0.03) as was neoadjuvant therapy (χ(2) = 9.20, p = 0.01). After multivariate analysis, only the use of anti-diarrheals and neoadjuvant therapy remained significant. High stoma output, adjuvant treatment, and postoperative complications were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that the use of anti-diarrheals and neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer were associated with readmission. Our findings imply that the use of anti-diarrheals may be a marker for patients at risk for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities; these patients should be strictly monitored at home. Our study also suggests consideration of avoidance of ileostomy creation or different discharge criteria for at-risk patients. Prospective studies focused on stoma monitoring after discharge may help reduce rehospitalizations for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities after ileostomy creation.

Tumor scatter after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer: are we dealing with an invisible margin?

BACKGROUND: After the impressive response of rectal cancers to neoadjuvant therapy, it seems reasonable to ask: can we can excise the small ulcer locally or avoid a radical resection if there is no gross residual tumor? Does gross response reflect what happens to tumor cells microscopically after radiation? OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify microscopic tumor cell response to radiation. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. SETTING: This investigation was conducted at a single tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: Patients were selected who had elective radical resection for rectal cancer after preoperative chemotherapy and radiation performed by 2 colorectal surgeons between 2006 and 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was tumor presence after radiation therapy RESULTS: Of the 75 patients, 20 patients were complete responders and 55 had residual cancer. Of these patients, 28 had no tumor cells seen outside the gross ulcer, and 27 (49.1%) had tumor outside the visible ulcer or microscopic tumor present with no overlying ulcer. Of these tumors, 81.5% were skewed away from the ulcer center. The mean distance of distal scatter was 1.0 cm from the visible ulcer edge to a maximum of 3 cm; 3 patients had tumor cells more than 2 cm distal to the visible ulcer edge. Tumor scatter outside the ulcer was not associated with poor prognostic factors, such as nodal and distant disease, perineural invasion, or mucin; however, it was associated with lymphovascular invasion (χ2 = 4.12, p = 0.038) LIMITATIONS: There was limited access to clinical information gathered outside our institution. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 1) after radiation, the gross ulcer cannot be used to determine the sole area of potential residual tumor, 2) cancer cells may be found up to 3 cm distally from the gross ulcer, so the traditional 2-cm margin may not be adequate, and 3) local excision of the ulcer or no excision after apparent complete response appears to be insufficient treatment for rectal cancer.