Factors affecting operative morbidity and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for presacral tumours: a multicentric cohort study from the Turkish Collaborative Group for Quality Improvement in Colorectal and Pelvic Surgery.

AIM: Data regarding the operative management of presacral tumours present various dilemmas due to their rarity and heterogeneous nature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the management strategy, factors associated with operative morbidity and long-term postoperative outcomes in a large group of patients undergoing surgery for presacral tumours. METHOD: This study was designed as a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Records of patients who underwent surgery for presacral tumours at 10 tertiary colorectal centres between 1996 and 2017 were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty seven patients (44 men) with a mean age of 46 years and body mass index of 27 kg/m2 were included. Fifty eight per cent of the patients had low sacral lesions (below S3). The operative approaches were transabdominal (17%), transsacral (65%) and abdominosacral (17%). The postoperative morbidity was 19%. Thirty per cent of the patients had a malignant tumour. Longer duration of symptoms (p = 0.001), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p = 0.01), abdominosacral operations (p = 0.0001) and presacral tumours located above S3 (p = 0.004) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Overall long-term postoperative recurrence and mortality were 6% and 5%, respectively, within a 3-year mean follow-up period in patients with presacral malignant tumours. CONCLUSION: Reduced physical condition, omission of symptoms prior to surgery, combined resections and high sacral tumours are the risk factors associated with postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for presacral tumours. Meticulous planning of the operation and intensified perioperative care may improve the outcomes in high-risk patients.

Prognostic significance of the immuno-peritoneal cancer index in peritoneal metastatic patients treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: A valid comparison of immune function among different patients with different primary pathologies or even with different tumour burdens requires the common use of a reliable assessment of the patient's condition. The combined immuno-PCI system can translate a complex clinical situation into a simple point value to improve postoperative outcomes to assess the prognostic significance of combined immuno-PCI in peritoneal metastatic patients treated with cytoreductive surgery(CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred twenty-four patients from the prospectively maintained database of Dokuz Eylul University Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Center were retrospectively analysed. In addition to the demographic findings and the well-known clinicopathologic factors, several systemic inflammation-based prognostic scores, including the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), CRP-albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-thrombocyte ratio (NTR), and thrombocyte count, were all searched and stratified into scoring categories as prognostic determinants of surgical complications, final oncologic outcomes, recurrent disease, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). ROC analyses were performed, and cut-off values were obtained for all immune parameters by using the Youden index method. RESULTS: There were 314 (74%) women and 110 (26%) men. The median age was 56 (ranging from 18 to 86) years. The most frequent sites of peritoneal metastasis were colorectal (n = 204; 48%) and gynaecologic carcinomas (n = 187; 44%). Thirty-three patients (8%) had primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. The median follow-up was 37.8 (ranging from 1 to 124) months. The overall survival was 51.7%. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were estimated as 80%, 48.4%, and 32.6%, respectively. PCI-CAR-NTR (1 to 3) (p < .001) scoring was an independent prognostic factor for DFS. In a Cox backwards regression analysis, anastomotic leak (p = .002), completeness of cytoreduction (p = .0014), number of organ resections (p = .002), lymph node involvement (p = .003), and PCI-CAR-NTR (1 to 3) scoring (p = .001) were found to be independently significant prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: The PCI is a reliable and consistently valid prognostic factor to evaluate the tumour burden and tumour extent in patients treated with CRS/HIPEC. Staging the host by combining the PCI with an immunoscore may help to improve the outcomes of complications and overall survival in these complex cancer patients. The aggregate maximum immuno-PCI tool may be a better prognostic measure for outcome evaluation.

The risk factors for gastrointestinal anastomotic leak after cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal anastomotic leak (GAL) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors associated with GAL in peritoneal metastases (PM) surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC with gastrointestinal anastomosis were included. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status were used to assess preoperative condition of the patients. GAL was recorded as gastrointestinal extralumination diagnosed clinically, radiologicaly, or during reoperation. RESULTS: Among 362 patients who were analyzed, the median age was 54 years, 72.6% were female, and the most common histopathologies were ovarian cancer (37.8%) and colorectal (36.2%) cancer. The median Peritoneal Cancer Index was 11 and 80.1% of the patients underwent complete cytoreduction. A single anastomosis was performed in 293 (80.9%) patients, two anastomoses in 51 (14.1%) and three anastomoses in 18 (5%) patients. Diverting stoma was performed in 43 (11.8%) patients. GAL was seen in 38 (10.5%) patients. Smoking (p<0.001), ECOG performance status (p=0.014), CCI score (p=0.009), pre-operative albumin level (p=0.010), and number of resected organs (p=0.006) were significantly associated factors with GAL. Independent risk factors for GAL were smoking (Odds Radio [OR]: 6.223, confidence interval [CI]: 2.814-13.760; p<0.001), CCI score ≥7 (OR: 4.252, CI: 1.590-11.366; p=0.004), and pre-operative albumin level ≤3.5 g/dl (OR: 3.942, CI: 1.534-10.130; p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Patient-related factors such as smoking, comorbidity, and pre-operative nutritional status had an impact on anasto-motic complications. Proper patient selection and prediction of an index patient requiring a prehabilitation program with a high level of care are essential prerequisites to obtaining lower anastomotic leak rates and improving outcomes in PM surgery.

Urgent re-laparotomies in cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the morbidity-mortality results in terms of immunscore factors and to predict the outcomes of urgent re-laparotomized patients treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: Prospectively maintained database of 661 patients treated with potentially curative intent of CRS and HIPEC through the years of 2007 and 2020 was evaluated. URL was done for 28 (4.2%) patients as unplanned re-explorative surgery; 22 (78.6%) of them was female. The median age was 57 year (ranging, 24-76 years). There were 22 (78.6%) elderly patients over 65 years old. All standard clini-co-pathological characteristics, re-operative findings, and the morbidity-mortality results were analyzed. The well-known immunoscores such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-thrombocyte ratio (NTR), and CRP-albumin ratio (CAR) were determined. RESULTS: The main indication for URL was small bowel anastomotic leak (n=13, 46.4%). The abdominal wall disruption (n=5, 17.9%) was the second indication. The frequent localization of injured organ was again small bowel. The 28.6% of patients (n=8) were re-op-erated in early postoperative period (in 7 days), while as the rest of them (n=20, 71.4%) in 90 days. There was only one repeat-URL patient in this series. Many of the URL patients (n=16, 57.1%) had more than one co-morbidities. Delving into the overall group, there were Clavien-Dindo (C-D) Grade I-II complications in 104 (16.4%) patients and C-D Grade III-IV in 88 (13.9%) patients, whereas in URL patient group, C-D Grade III-IV complications were seen in 22 (78.6%). In this prospective cohort, the overall mortality rate was 3.2% (n=20) in patients who were not re-explored. Six (21.4%) patients were lost in URL patients, which the main reason for fail-ure-to-rescue was sepsis due to entero-enteral anastomotic leak. In four of them, multiple co-morbidities were affected the post-URL period of complex cancer care. Pre-URL median NLR, NTR, and CAR values were 9.12 (ranging, 1.72-37.5), 0.03 (ranging, 0.01-0.12), and 41.4 (ranging, 4.2-181.3), respectively. NLR and CAR values (4.71 and 28.8) estimated before pre-CRS were also significantly high (p=0.01 and p<0.01) in patients who were going to be operated for URL. These immunoscores values did not show any association in between pre-CRS and pre-URL mortal patients. CONCLUSION: The crucial decision-making factors at work were complex and complicated in 'unplanned' URL. The overall mor-bidity-mortality results seemingly depends on the severity and extent of peritoneal metastatic disease. Medically-unfit URL patients with high-risk factors should be selected to a vigilant monitoring and clinical care. Timely surgical intervention and intense management strategy are utmost important issues to lower morbi-mortality results in patients treated with URL.

Tumoral and Parenchymal Morphological Assessment in Liver Metastases of Colorectal Carcinoma: Micrometastasis, Peritumoral Lymphocytes, Tumor Budding and Differentiation are Potential Prognostic Factors.

Introduction: Various potential prognostic histopathologic factors for colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis have been proposed. However, there is still no consensus on pathological reporting of colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis resection materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between selected tumoral and parenchymal histopathologic features and prognostic factors for better characterization and prognostic prediction of the patients with colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis. Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin stained slides from 100 patients who underwent hepatic resection were evaluated. Pathologic characteristics; including number of tumor nodules, largest tumor size, status of surgical margin, tumor distance to closest margin, tumor necrosis, the presence of tumor capsule, tumor differentiation, perineural and lymphovascular invasion, micrometastasis, tumor budding, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrate and parenchymal features including steatosis, steatohepatitis, lobular inflammation, confluent necrosis, hepatocyte ballooning, portal inflammation were assessed. For 49 patients who were treated with preoperative chemotherapy, tumor regression grade and chemotherapy-related parenchymal changes such as sinusoidal damage, venous obstruction, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, steatosis and steatohepatitis were also evaluated. Results: The presence of lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001), micrometastasis (p=0.004), absent or mild peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration (p =0.013), high tumor budding score (p=0.033) and moderate/poor differentiation (p=0.022) were significantly associated with shorter overall survival. Lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: We conclude that tumor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, micrometastasis, peritumoral lymphocytic reaction and tumor budding score are potential prognostic histopathological features and candidates for inclusion in pathology reports of colorectal carcinoma liver metastasis resections.

Giant gossypiboma presenting as a pelvic mass.

Gossypiboma is a foreign object, such as a mass of cotton matrix or a sponge, that is left behind in a body cavity during surgery. It is uncommon, mostly asymptomatic, and hard to diagnose. It may be incorrectly diagnosed preoperatively, which can lead to unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures and operations. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue masses detected in patients with a history of a prior operation. We present a case of 36-year-old female who referred to emergency room with severe abdominal pain and distension. Imaging revealed a giant intra-abdominal mass resembling a soft tissue tumor, but revealed to be a giant gossypiboma caused by a sponge that was forgotten during previous ectopic pregnancy surgery. This case differs from others with the absence of findings supporting gossypiboma such as calcification or trapped gas bubbles and emphasizes the importance of this potentially life-threatening complication of surgery.

Reconsideration of Clinicopathologic Prognostic Factors in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors for Better Determination of Adverse Prognosis.

The question of how successful we are in predicting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNET) with poor prognosis has not been fully answered yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of clinicopathological features on prognosis and to determine their validity in prediction of prognosis and whether a better prognostic classification can be made. Fifty-six patients who underwent pancreatic resection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor were included. The associations between clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were evaluated statistically. Efficiencies of different thresholds for tumor size, mitotic count, and Ki67 proliferation index for prognosis prediction were compared. Vascular invasion was statistically associated with high tumor grade, advanced pT stage, and mortality rate. The presence of non-functional tumor, lymphatic invasion, and > 10 cm tumor size were significantly related to shorter overall survival. Advanced pT stage (pT3-4), > 5 cm tumor size, and high tumor grade (grades 2-3) were significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival. The mortality rate showed the strongest statistical significance with mitotic count when grouped as 1: < 2, 2: 2-10, and 3: > 10 mitosis/ 2 mm2. The 10% threshold value for Ki67 index was more successful in predicting adverse prognosis. Among the morphologic variants, the ductulo-insular variant was the most promising to have positive prognostic value in our series, although no statistical significance was detected. In conclusion, threshold values of 5 cm and 10 cm for tumor size, 10% for Ki67 proliferation index, and 10/2 mm2 for mitotic count and vascular and lymphatic invasion assessed separately are potential prognostic candidates for better stratification of panNETs.

Cross-sectional areas of rectus abdominis and psoas muscles reduces following surgery in rectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the trophic changes in rectus abdominis and psoas muscles in patients who underwent open or laparoscopic rectum resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed preoperative staging computerized tomographies (CT) and postoperative first oncological follow-up CTs of the patients who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer from 2010 through 2015. We measured cross-sectional area of left and right rectus abdominis muscles from two levels (above and below umbilicus) where they are widest and psoas muscle at mid-level of the fourth lumbar vertebral body in axial CT images and compared preoperative and postoperative measurements. We investigated the effects of age, sex, administration of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT), type of surgery (open or laparoscopic), or construction of a diverting ileostomy on cross-sectional muscle area changes. RESULTS: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria 60 patients found to be eligible for the study. Muscle areas of all measurement sites were reduced postoperatively compared to paired preoperative values. There was no significant effect of age, sex, administration of preoperative CRT, type of surgery (open or laparoscopic), or construction of a diverting ileostomy to muscle cross-sectional area reductions. CONCLUSION: Cross-sectional areas of the rectus abdominis and the psoas muscles of rectal cancer patients reduces following rectum resection which indicates atrophy of these muscles. Clinicians should be aware of this problem and focus on prevention of muscle atrophy during the treatment of rectal cancer patients.

Effects of the Use of Automatic Tube Current Modulation on Patient Dose and Image Quality in Computed Tomography

Objectives: The frequency of abdominal computed tomography examinations is increasing, leading to a significant level of patient dose. This study aims to quantify and evaluate the effects of automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) technique on patient dose and image quality in contrast-enhanced biphasic abdominal examinations. Methods: Two different scan protocols, based on constant tube current and ATCM technique, were used on 64 patients who visited our radiology department periodically. For three patient groups with different patient size, results from two protocols were compared with respect to patient dose and image quality. Dosimetric evaluations were based on the Computed Tomography Dose Index, dose length product, and effective dose. For the comparison of image qualities between two protocols, Noise Index (NI) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) values were determined for each image. Additionally, the quality of each image was evaluated subjectively by an experienced radiologist, and the results were compared between the two protocols. Results: Dose reductions of 31% and 21% were achieved by the ATCM protocol in the arterial and portal phases, respectively. On the other hand, NI exhibited an increase between 9% and 46% for liver, fat and aorta. CNR values were observed to decrease between 5% and 19%. All images were evaluated by a radiologist, and no obstacle limiting a reliable diagnostic evaluation was found in any image obtained by either technique. Conclusion: These results showed that the ATCM technique reduces patient dose significantly while maintaining a certain level of image quality.

The results of expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene mesh repair in difficult abdominal wall defects.

BACKGROUND: The repair of difficult abdominal wall defects (AWDs) continues to be a crucial and demanding issue for surgeons. This study aimed to present the risk factors and the long-term results of usage of an expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) synthetic mesh for the AWR of difficult abdominal wall defects. METHODS: This study included 156 adult patients who underwent difficult AWR with e-PTFE mesh for incisional hernia, ventral hernia, and created AWDs of various etiopathologies. The association between the risk factors and the postoperative complications of AWR was analyzed, and overall long-term outcomes of e-PTFE repair were assessed. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 119.1 (ranging from 2 to 206) months. In 70 (44.8%) patients, there were major co-morbidities. A surgical site infection developed in 17 (10.9%) patients. Of these, only 2 (1.3%) patients had e-PTFE mesh infection. Seven (4.4%) patients experienced recurrence. Recalcitrant seroma formation occurred in 8 (36.3%) patients. CONCLUSION: E-PTFE synthetic mesh usage for difficult abdominal wall hernias can help the hernia surgeon obtain safe and durable long-term results of sound repair.

Predictability of myometrial, lower uterine segment and cervical invasion with 3D transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in endometrial cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.

AIMS: The objective of this study is to identify the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (3D-US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting myometrial, lower uterine segment and/or cervical invasion in endometrial cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 40 patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer were performed 3D-US and MRI, preoperatively. Deep myometrial, lower uterine segment and cervical invasion were evaluated subjectively and results were compared with the final histology as a gold standard. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy of 3D-US for detecting deep myometrial, lower uterine segment and cervical invasion were 87.5%, 80% and 85%, respectively. The same results for MRI were 75%, 65% and 70%, respectively. For deep myometrial, lower uterine segment and/or cervical invasion in endometrial cancer, 3D-US had higher sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value and accuracy than MRI. The combination of these two imaging techniques had an increased sensitivity of detecting all parameters related with tumoral invasion but decreased specificity and the accuracy. CONCLUSION: 3D-US had better performance in detecting myometrial, lower uterine segment and/or cervical invasion than MRI in endometrial cancer patients. Combination of these techniques was not preferred according to this study.

Liver Transplant in Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: Long-Term Experience of a Single Center.

OBJECTIVES: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. More than half of the patients will face end-stage liver disease and require liver transplant. Here, we describe the long-term outcomes of liver transplant in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis at our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this retrospective, observational study, we investigated all patients who underwent liver transplant for primary sclerosing cholangitis between January 2005 and June 2013 at the Dokuz Eylul University Hospital. Patient data were obtained from hospital records. Our inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years old and diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis. RESULTS: Of 11 patients included the study, 6 (54.5%) were male and 5 (45.5%) were female. Mean age was 40.6 ± 11.0 years (range, 23-60 y). All patients had cirrhosis due to primary sclerosing cholangitis. With regard to Child-Turcot-Pugh classification, 2 patients (18.2%) were classified as having Child-Turcot-Pugh A cirrhosis, 7 patients (63.6%) were classified as having B cirrhosis, and 2 patients (18.2%) were classified as having C cirrhosis. Mean Modified End-Stage Liver Disease score was 17.5 ± 6.1 (range, 7-25). Cholangiocarcinoma was not detected in explant pathologic examinations. Primary sclerosing cholangitis recurrence developed in 2 patients (18.1%). Three patients (27.2%) died during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplant is a good therapeutic option for primary sclerosing cholangitis with satisfactory long-term outcomes. Liver transplant should be reserved for patients with end-stage liver disease and other conditions that significantly impair quality of life.

Magnetic resonance-based pelvimetry and tumor volumetry can predict surgical difficulty and oncologic outcome in locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of the pelvic dimensions and tumor volume on surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent open surgery after neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiation for primary rectal cancer were included. The predictive value of magnetic resonance-based pelvic measurements and tumor volume on the surgical difficulty and oncologic outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: 125 patients were included. The independent risk factors related to the circumferential resection margin status were the pT stage [odds ratio (OR) 3.64, confidence interval (CI) 1.409-7.327] and tumor volume after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OR 1.59, CI 1.018-2.767). The operative time (p = 0.014, OR 1.453) and pelvic depth (p = 0.023, OR 1.116) were independent predictive factors for anastomotic leak. The median follow-up was 72 (2-113) months. Local recurrence was seen in 17 (14.1%) patients. Anastomotic leak (OR 1.799, CI 0.978-3.277), the circumferential resection margin status (OR 3.217, CI 1.262-7.870) and the relative tumor volume rate (OR 1.260, CI 1.004-1.912) were independent prognosticators of local recurrence. The 5-year overall survival was 66.7%. The circumferential resection margin status (hazard ratio: 4.739, CI 2.276-9.317), pN stage (OR 3.267, CI 1.195-8.930) and relative tumor volume rate (OR 2.628, CI 1.042-6.631) were independent prognostic factors for the overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Relative dimensions of the tumor in the pelvis influence the local recurrence and overall survival rates. Magnetic resonance-based measurements can predict the difficulty of surgery and allow surgeons to consider the appropriate surgical approach.

Treatment of intraoperatively detected peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin with cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) may be missed by preoperative imaging. We are presenting our experience with incidentally detected PC of colorectal origin treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) at the same operation. METHODS: Between January 2010 and September 2016, 19 patients underwent CRS and IPC due to incidentally detected PC of colorectal origin. Data were analyzed from a prospectively collected database. RESULTS: The median age was 59 (29-78). In three patients, PC was diagnosed during emergency surgery. The primary tumor was located in the rectum (three patients; one with recurrent disease), left colon (9 patients), and right colon (7 patients). All patients underwent CRS and IPC, and one patient operated laparoscopically. Median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 5 (range, 3-14), and complete cytoreduction (CC-0) was achieved in 14 patients. After CRS, 8 patients received early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC), 7 patients received hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), and 4 patients received both HIPEC and EPIC. The median hospital stay was 9 (6-29) days. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Median follow-up was 40.2 (12-94) months. Five-year overall survival was 63.2%. Estimated mean survival time is longer in patients who underwent complete cytoreduction compared to patients having CC-1 or CC-2 cytoreduction (87.7 vs. 20.3 months; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive surgery and IPC can be performed safely in patients with intraoperatively detected incidental PC of colorectal origin.

Closing Perianal Fistulas Using a Laser: Long-Term Results in 103 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Primary closure of the fistula tract using energy emitted by a radial fiber connected to a diode laser is a novel procedure for treating perianal fistulas. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effectiveness of this new technique. DESIGN: The surgical objective was to seal the fistula tract using laser energy. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a single day-case surgery center. PATIENTS: Between April 2012 and June 2016, 103 consecutive patients with primary or recurrent perianal fistula underwent a laser closure procedure using a 12-watt laser emitting at a wavelength of 1470 nm. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were classified according to the Park classification, and healing was evaluated based on the perianal fistula disease severity score. RESULTS: Among the 103 patients treated using the laser closure procedure, 82 (80%) were men and 21 (20%) were women. The median age of the patients was 43 years (range, 18-78 y). Fifty-three patients (52%) had previous perianal fistula repair surgery. Based on the Park classification, 56 patients (54%) had intersphincteric fistula, 29 (28%) had transsphincteric fistula, 11 (11%) had suprasphincteric or extrasphincteric fistula, and 7 (7%) had superficial perianal fistula. Based on the perianal disease severity score, 41 patients (40%) obtained overall complete healing, 38 (37%) had persistent symptomatic drainage, 20 (19%) had slight drainage with minimal symptoms, and 4 (4%) had painful symptomatic drainage. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective analysis of noncomparative data with a lack of formal prospective continence assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of perianal fistulas using a laser should be considered as a treatment option but with modest expectations. Although our complete healing rate was not as high as in earlier studies, this technique is a reasonable option with nearly no risk of sphincter damage when treating perianal fistulas. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A545.

A rare pattern of lung metastasis of rectum adenocarcinoma.

Lung is primary capillary filter of venous drainage for many organs. As a result of this, it is the most common metastasis site of extrapulmonary organ tumours. Cystic and cavitary forms of lung metastases are unusual. In evaluation of patients with these lesions benign and malignant lesions should be distinguished from each other. In this case report, we aimed to present computed tomography findings of an unusual cystic form of lung metastasis that is originated from rectum adenocarcinoma.

Infectious Complications after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review the post-operative and infectious complications and determine the risk factors associated with infections in cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2007 and December 2013, patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC with a curative intent were included in the study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System definitions were used to identify post-operative nosocomial infections. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-nine CRS and HIPEC procedures were performed. Overall, 155 complications were observed in 82 (48.5%) patients. Grade 3-4 morbidity rate was 25.5% (n = 43). Seventy infections occurred in 47 patients. Surgical site infection was the most common infectious complication. The most common micro-organism isolated from the cultures was Escherichia coli. Age (odds ratio [OR]1.039, confidence interval [CI] 1.006-1.073), the mean total number of staff scrubbing in the operation(OR 2.241, CI 1.415-3.548), and intensive care unit stay (OR 1.325, CI 0.953-1.842) were independent risk factors for infectious complications. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious complications are the most important cause of peri-operative morbidity and death in CRS and HIPEC. As well as patient and tumor characteristics, surgeon/center-related factors play an important role in infectious morbidity. Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis should be considered as a complex oncologic group at high risk of infectious complications.

A Case of a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Diagnosed at the Postpartum Period.

Introduction. We discuss a rare gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) case detected at the 10th postpartum week and we want to pay attention to the challenges and improvements in the diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, and follow-up of this rare tumor accompanied with the review of the current literature. Case Presentation. A 32-year-old multiparous woman presented with abdominal swelling 10 weeks after her second vaginal birth. Abdominal examination revealed a mass starting from the pelvic level and extending to the right upper quadrant. Radiological examinations showed a solid, multiloculated, and hypervascular mass starting from the pelvis and extending to the transverse colon. En bloc mass with a 20 cm jejunal segment resection and a left pelvic side wall peritonectomy with omentectomy was performed. The pathologic examination revealed a high-risk GIST which originated from the jejunum and disseminated to the peritoneum. The patient has been given imatinib 400 mg/day since then. She did not reveal any progression during the 15-month follow-up postoperatively. Conclusion. GIST tumors are rare and there is not sufficient information in the literature regarding its management. In this patient having high risk GIST and GIST sarcomatosis we successfully treated the patient by surgery and adjuvant imatinib chemotherapy.

A Case of Type 2 Youssef's Syndrome following Caesarean Section for Placenta Previa Totalis.

Vesicouterine fistula is a rare type of urogenital fistulas. It is most commonly observed after cesarean section (C/S) due to iatrogenic reasons. In this article, a case of a vesicouterine fistula which developed after C/S operation is presented. This was the patient's second C/S and this time placenta previa totalis was the primary pathology. Since it is a rare complication, we found it interesting, and, in this article, this clinical problem was discussed with details about diagnosis and treatment in light of the literature.