The effect of preoperative stoma training for patients undergoing colorectal surgery in an enhanced recovery programme.

INTRODUCTION: Stoma formation following colorectal resection is often anticipated prior to surgery. Becoming independent with stoma handling can sometimes delay discharge beyond achievement of discharge criteria. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of preoperative stoma training on length of stay. METHODS: Patients undergoing colorectal resection within an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme were prospectively entered into a database. Retrospective analysis was performed of those who received a stoma as part of their operation. Patients who underwent preoperative stoma training were compared with those who had conventional postoperative training. The primary outcome measure was length of hospital stay. Secondary outcome measures included overall morbidity, stoma related morbidity, ERAS milestone achievement and readmission rates. RESULTS: The median length of stay was improved in the patients receiving preoperative stoma training (8 days [interquartile range: 6-10] vs 9 days [interquartile range: 7-19.5], p=0.025). No statistically significant difference was observed in overall morbidity rates, stoma specific morbidity, ERAS milestones or readmission rates. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative stoma training can reduce length of stay and could be employed routinely for patients who are planned to have colorectal surgery. Such training can be incorporated within ERAS pathways.

Prophylactic mesh placement of permanent stomas at index operation for colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Parastomal herniation occurs in 30-50% of colostomy formations. The aim of this study was to radiologically evaluate the mechanical defects at stoma sites in patients who had previously undergone a permanent colostomy with or without mesh at the index operation for colorectal cancer. METHODS: A study was performed of all colorectal cancer patients (n=41) having an end colostomy between 2002 and 2010, with or without Prolene(®) mesh plication, with blinded evaluation of the annual follow-up staging computed tomography (CT) for stomal characteristics. The presence of parastomal hernias, volume, dimensions, grade of the parastomal hernia and abdominal wall defect size were measured by two independent radiologists, and compared with demographic and operative variables. RESULTS: In those patients with radiological evidence of a parastomal hernia, Prolene(®) mesh plication significantly reduced the incidence of bowel containing parastomal hernias at one year following the procedure (p<0.05) and also reduced the diameter of the abdominal wall defect (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic mesh placement at the time of the index procedure reduces the diameter of abdominal wall aperture and the incidence of parastomal hernias containing bowel. Future studies should use both objective radiological as well as clinical endpoints when assessing parastomal hernia development with and without prophylactic mesh.

Systematic review of the management of ischaemic colitis.

AIM: The study reviews the literature related to ischaemic colitis (IC) to establish an evidence base for its management and to identify factors predicting severity and mortality. METHOD: A systematic review of the English language literature was conducted according to recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched using the keyword search 'ischaemic colitis OR colon ischaemia OR colonic ischaemia OR management ischaemic colitis'. IC is often misdiagnosed so only studies where the diagnosis was supported by histopathology in every case were included. Critical appraisal was performed of included studies using predefined quality assessment checklists and narrative data synthesis. RESULTS: In all, 2610 publications were identified. Of these, eight retrospective case series and three case controlled studies describing 1049 patients were included. Medical management was used in 80.3% patients of whom 6.2% died. Surgery was required in 19.6% of whom 39.3% died. The overall mortality of IC was 12.7%. Lack of rectal bleeding, peritonism and renal dysfunction were commonly quoted predictors of severity; however, right sided IC appeared to be the most significant predictor of outcome. CONCLUSION: Most patients with IC can be managed conservatively. Right sided IC may be the most significant predictor of severity.

Traumatic injury to the colon and rectum in Scotland: demographics and outcome.

AIM: An analysis of a multi-centred database of trauma patients was performed. METHOD: The study used data from a prospective multi-centre trauma database containing details of 52 887 trauma patients admitted to participating Scottish Hospitals over an 11-year period. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty (0.64%) of 52 887 trauma patients (284 male) with colorectal injuries were identified; 43.9% of colorectal injuries occurred following blunt trauma and 56.1% following penetrating injury. Patients in the latter group were younger, had less haemodynamic compromise and were less likely to die than those with blunt trauma (P < 0.01). The overall mortality rate was 25.6% and after rectal injury it was 21.2% (P > 0.05). Female gender, increased age, road traffic accidents and those admitted as a result of a blunt traumatic injury were associated with increased mortality. Age > 65 years (P = 0.01), increasing injury severity score (ISS) at presentation (P < 0.001), haemodynamic compromise (P = 0.045) and decreased Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) (P < 0.001) had the strongest independent associations with mortality. CONCLUSION: Colorectal injury after trauma has a high morbidity. Clinical features associated with death allow stratification of mortality risk.

The clinical significance of radiologically detected indeterminate pulmonary nodules in colorectal cancer.

AIM: Colorectal cancer patients identified with indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) in the absence of other metastasis represent a clinical dilemma. This study aimed to identify characteristics that could predict which nodules truly represented a metastasis in an attempt to optimize therapy and to reduce the number of follow-up chest CT scans performed. METHOD: All patients with colon or rectal cancer who presented between 2004 and 2008 were analysed. Patients with IPN on staging CT were identified from a dedicated prospective database and the medical records analysed and follow up recorded. Patients with obvious metastatic disease were excluded from analysis. Association of location, number and size of the nodules and metastatic disease were the primary end-points for analysis. RESULTS: Nine hundred and eight patients presenting with cancer of the colon or rectum were identified. Thirty-seven (4%) patients were diagnosed with IPN with no obvious metastatic disease on staging CT. At a median follow up of 23 months there were eight (21%) cases where nodules had progressed. No significant association was detected between nodule size and pulmonary metastasis. Half of the patients with four or more nodules showed progression on serial CT imaging suggestive of pulmonary metastasis (χ(2), P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancer patients with four or more indeterminate pulmonary nodules on preoperative staging CT imaging, even in the absence of metastasis elsewhere, are likely to represent pulmonary metastatic disease. These patients should be followed up with short-term interval CT imaging to enable early detection of progression so that treatment can be tailored appropriately.

A 5-year analysis of readmissions following elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy - cohort study.

AIMS: This study aimed to determine readmission rates, causes for readmission and outcomes for patients undergoing elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) without intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC). METHODS: Timing related to readmissions was grouped as <6 weeks, 6 weeks-1 year, 1-2 years and >2 years. Outcomes and variables related to readmission were evaluated. RESULTS: 101 readmissions (6.6) were noted amongst 1523 consecutive LC. The median follow up was 4 years (range 1.6-6.4 years). There was no difference in the median age (48 vs. 53 years, P = 0.2) and sex of the patients between the readmitted and no readmission groups. The incidence of readmissions (n = 101) within the first 6 weeks, 6 weeks-1 year, 1-2 years and >2 years were 2.8%, 1.5%, 1.4% and 0.7% respectively. The most common reasons for readmissions were non-specific abdominal pain (NSAP) (36%), obstructive jaundice (14%), peptic ulcer disease (10%), intra-abdominal collection (4%) and bile leak (3%), pancreatitis (3%), and other reasons (30%). Overall, 24 (22%) of readmissions were related to biliary problems, the majority of these occurred (15/24, 63%) within 6 weeks of LC. The incidence of retained stones within the first 6 weeks, 6 weeks-1 year, 1-2 years and >2 years were 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.1% and 0% respectively. Overall 14 (14%) patients were readmitted with retained stones and all were managed by ERCP & ductal clearance. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rate following elective LC is low with the majority occurring within the first 6 weeks and only a quarter of these related are directly to biliary pathology. In the absence of routine IOC, around 1% of patients present with retained stones within 2 years of LC. A small fraction of patients continue to suffer from NSAP and should be warned prior to the surgery.

Outcome of right- and left-sided colonic and rectal cancer following surgical resection.

AIM: To determine the outcome of surgery for colorectal cancer from a single region and to see whether location of the primary cancer influences prognosis. METHOD: Patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed from January 2002 to December 2006, entered into a prospective database were followed until death or to December 2008. Right-sided (caecum to transverse colon) and left-sided (splenic flexure to rectosigmoid junction) colonic cancers and rectal cancers (distal to rectosigmoid junction to the anus) were identified. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier (log-rank statistic) and Cox regression analysis with a P-value < 0.05 denoting significance. RESULTS: Of 841 patients with solitary colorectal cancers identified (median age 72 [30-101] years; 53% male), 283 (33.7%) were right-sided colonic, 330 (39.2%) were left-sided colonic and 228 (27.1%) were rectal. Respective resection rates were 82.7%, 77.9% and 91.6%, and curative resection rates were 79.9%, 82.9.0% and 85.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference in recurrence rates between right- (16.1%), left-sided (23.0%) colonic and rectal (20.7%) cancers (P = 0.207). Respective mean survival rates were 54.4, 59.8 and 63.6 months (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Right-sided colorectal cancers had a worse prognosis than left-sided and rectal cancers, possibly because of more advanced staging and fewer curative resections.

MR imaging of fistula in ano: indications and contribution to surgical assessment.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for fistula in ano. The purpose of this study was to analyse the use of MRI, and to assess its contribution towards the assessment of this sometimes difficult condition. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients with fistula in ano between January 2003 and December 2007 was performed, focussing on those who had MRI assessment. The primary pathology, indication for MRI and the contribution of this investigation to assessment of fistula in ano were analysed. RESULTS: MRI was performed in 40 patients. The primary pathologies included: perianal sepsis in 20 (50%), Crohn's disease in 11 (27.5%), primary fistula in ano in 6 (15%) and others in 3 (7.5%) patients. Indications for MRI were to assess the fistula anatomy in 17 (42.5%), to assess a clinically suspected fistula in 12 (30%), to assess a complex fistula found at Examination Under Anaesthesia (EUA) in 6 (15%) and to exclude a fistula in 5 (12.5%). MRI was considered helpful in 34 (85%) of all cases. MRI established the fistula anatomy and guided further surgery in 47.1%, correlated with EUA findings in 38.2% and excluded a suspected fistula in 14.7% of these. CONCLUSIONS: This study further supports the benefit of using MRI to assess fistula in ano. When used in selected patients, it was of benefit in 85% of cases, by establishing fistula anatomy and guiding further surgery, correlating EUA findings or excluding a clinically suspected fistula.

Use of topical negative pressure in assisted abdominal closure does not lead to high incidence of enteric fistulae.

AIM: Reports suggested an increase in enterocutaneous fistulae with topical negative pressure (TNP) use in the open abdomen. The purpose of this study was to establish if our experience raises similar concerns. METHOD: This is a 5-year prospective analysis, from January 2004 to December 2008, of 42 patients who developed deep wound dehiscence or their abdomen was left open at laparotomy requiring 'TNP' to assist in their management. The decision to use TNP was taken if it was felt unwise or not feasible to close the abdomen. RESULTS: There were 22 men; the median age was 68 (range 21-88) years. Twenty of 42 patients had peritonitis, 5/42 had oedematous bowel, 5/42 ischaemic gut, one had a large abdominal wall defect following debridement due to methicillin-resistant staphyloccus (MRSA) infection, 11/42 developed deep wound dehiscence. In 30/42, VAC abdominal dressing system and TNP were applied. In 12/42, VAC GranuFoam and TNP were used, of these five patients required a mesh to control the oedematous bowel. Four of 42 patients died. A total of 34 patients had anastomotic lines, 2/42 developed enteric fistulae, and both survived. CONCLUSION: This study does not support the reports suggesting a higher fistulae rate with TNP. In our opinion, its use in the open abdomen is safe.

Adult intussusception: case reports and review of literature.

Adult intussusception occurs infrequently and differs from childhood intussusception in its presentation, aetiology, and treatment. Diagnosis can be delayed because of its longstanding, intermittent, and non-specific symptoms and most cases are diagnosed at emergency laparotomy. With more frequent use of computed tomography in the evaluation of patients with abdominal pain, the condition can be diagnosed more reliably. Treatment entails simple bowel resection in most cases. Reduction of the intussusception before resection is controversial, but there is a shift against this, especially in colonic cases. Surgical treatment can be difficult in gastroduodenal and coloanal intussusceptions, sometimes requiring innovative techniques. This paper presents the diagnosis and management of four cases of adult intussusception, followed by review of the literature.

Missed diagnoses in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: A few studies have been published on cancers missed at previous endoscopy, but detailed analyses of the causes for failure were lacking. The aims of our study were to determine the incidence of and causes for failure to detect oesophageal and gastric cancers after referral of patients to a surgical endoscopy unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of a consecutive series of 305 patients diagnosed with oesophageal and gastric cancers, we retrospectively identified patients who had undergone an endoscopy within 3 years before the diagnosis. The timing of previous endoscopies, indications for endoscopy, endoscopic findings and the number of biopsy specimens taken were recorded. Missed diagnoses were categorized as either definitely or possibly missed and the reasons for failure were documented. RESULTS: Of the 305 patients, 30 (9.8 %) had undergone a minimum of one endoscopy within the previous 3 years, 20 (67 %) of these within the previous 1 year. Sinister symptoms were present at the time of previous endoscopies in 75 % of patients with oesophageal cancer (n = 16) and in 57.2 % of patients with gastric cancer (n = 14). In 56 % of the patients with oesophageal cancers the initial diagnosis was oesophagitis or benign stricture; in 71.4 % of the patients with gastric cancers the initial diagnosis was gastritis, ulcer or "suspicious lesion". Among those patients with a definitely missed diagnosis (7.2 %), endoscopist errors accounted for the majority of failures (73 %) and the remainder were due to pathologist errors (27 %). CONCLUSIONS: Missed cancers were a frequent finding in patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer who had undergone previous endoscopy, and errors by the endoscopists accounted for the majority of missed lesions. This study emphasizes the importance of identifying signs of early cancers and of having a low threshold for performing multiple biopsies of any suspicious-looking lesion.

The role of the intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) in emergency surgery.

Elective surgical procedures are often delayed for up to six months in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction (MI) because of the substantial risk of re-infarction and high peri-operative mortality. The optimal management of patients who have sustained a recent myocardial infarction and who require an emergency abdominal operation, however, has yet to be defined. The use of an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) may play a role in such patients by improving the function of the injured heart. Three cases are presented in which IABP was used in patients who had recently sustained a myocardial infarction and who required emergency abdominal surgery. A review of the literature is presented and the application of IABP in such circumstances is discussed. Although clinical experience is limited, the use of the IABP may be useful in selected patients who have sustained a recent MI and who require emergency surgery.