Does A Longer Waiting Period After Neoadjuvant Radio-chemotherapy Improve the Oncological Prognosis of Rectal Cancer?: Three Years' Follow-up Results of the Greccar-6 Randomized Multicenter Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the 3-year survival results of the GRECCAR-6 trial. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Current data on the effect of an extended interval between radiochemotherapy (RCT) and resection for rectal cancer on the rate of complete pathological response (pCR = ypT0N0) is controversial. Furthermore, its effect on oncological outcomes is unknown. METHODS: The GRECCAR-6 trial was a phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, controlled trial. Patients with cT3/T4 or TxN+ tumors of the mid or lower rectum who had received RCT (45-50 Gy with 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine) were included and randomized into a 7- or 11-week waiting period. Primary endpoint was the pCR rate. Secondary endpoints were 3-year overall (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence rates. RESULTS: A total of 265 patients from 24 participating centers were enrolled. A total of 253 patients underwent a mesorectal excision. Overall pCR rate was 17% (43/253). Mean follow-up from surgical resection was 32 ±â€Š8 months. Twenty-four deaths occurred with an 89% OS at 3 years. DFS was 68.7% at 3 years (75 recurrences). Three-year local and distant recurrences were 7.9% and 23.8%, respectively. The randomization group had no impact on the 3-year OS (P = 0.8868) or DFS (P = 0.9409). Distant (P = 0.7432) and local (P = 0.3944) recurrences were also not influenced by the waiting period. DFS was independently influenced by 3 factors: circumferential radial margin (CRM) ≤1 mm [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17-3.51], ypT3-T4 (HR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.19-6.08) and positive lymph nodes (HR = 3.62; 95% CI, 1.89-6.91). CONCLUSION: Extending the waiting period by 4 weeks following RCT has no influence on the oncological outcomes of T3/T4 rectal cancers.

Curative and Prophylactic Surgery of Young-onset Colorectal Cancer in Inherited Syndromes: A 15-Year Monocentric Retrospective Experience.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Although genoproteomic and clinicopathological knowledge on Lynch syndrome (LS) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) has notably increased during the past two decades and even though surgery represents the mainstay of treatment for both conditions, as of 2019, the surgical choice in terms of timing and procedure still appears controversial in the absence of definitive guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively analyzed of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) surgically treated at our Institution between 1st January 2003 and 31st December 2018. Particular attention was given to patients with LS and FAP ≤45 years of age (young-onset CRC); for this category of patients, the surgical procedures performed were compared in terms of benefits and disadvantages. RESULTS: A total of 1,878 primary CRCs were submitted to major surgery; young-onset malignancies accounted for 3.8% of all CRCs. Thirteen young-onset inherited CRCs were surgically removed from 11 patients with LS and two with FAP. Segmental colectomy and restorative proctocolectomy were the procedures most frequently performed in young patients with LS and FAP, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the light of our retrospective results, we highlight the need for randomized controlled trials comparing the surgical options for LS- and FAP-related CRC developing in young patients. Defining the advantages and risks of each surgical option is of the utmost importance in order to improve prognosis of such patients and establish unanimous recommendations.

Feasibility of restorative proctocolectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis-associated lower rectal cancer: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Restorative proctocolectomy (RP) may improve quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated lower rectal cancer to a greater extent than total proctocolectomy. However, patients with UC-associated cancer often have flat mucosal lesions that make it extremely difficult to endoscopically delineate the tumor margins. Therefore, there is a potential risk of residual tumor and local recurrence after RP in patients with UC-associated lower rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of RP in patients with UC-associated cancer of the lower rectum. METHODS: We retrospectively identified nine patients who had undergone RP for UC-associated lower rectal cancer at the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital between January 2000 and December 2016. The incidence of flat mucosal cancer, distal margin status, and oncologic outcomes were evaluated in the nine patients. RESULTS: Eight (89%) of the nine patients had flat mucosal cancer in the lower rectum. The median length of the distal margin was 22 mm (range 0-55 mm). No patient developed local or distant recurrence during follow-up. One patient had a positive distal margin. This patient underwent annual pouchoscopy, but had no local recurrence and died of pancreatic cancer 81 months after RP. The remaining eight patients were alive at the final observation. Five-year and 10-year overall survival rates in the nine patients were 100% and 66.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with UC-associated lower rectal cancer often have lesions of the flat mucosal type. However, RP is feasible and not necessarily contraindicated in such patients.

Early and late surgical outcomes of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis within a defined population in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), has become the procedure of choice in patients requiring reconstructive surgery for ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis. The aim of this population-based study was to present data prospectively registered and retrospectively evaluated on the short-term and the long-term results of 124 consecutive IPAA performed chronologically by three surgeons in a single referral centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent IPAA from 1993 to 2012 were included. Early and late morbidity and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Early complications were observed in 25 patients. There was one death from cardiac failure, high output stoma occurred in six patients and wound infection occurred in four patients. Complications were associated with higher BMI (P=0.032). Four patients had to be reoperated. Peroperative bleeding was reduced when using an ultrasonically activated scalpel for the perimuscular dissection (P<0.00001). Clavien-Dindo grade III-V affected five patients. Only one patient developed anastomotic leak and septic complications.Late complications occurred in 61 patients. There was no procedure-related mortality. Pouchitis was the most common complication (n=37). Primary sclerosing cholangitis and age younger than 40 years were associated significantly with a three- and two-fold increased risk of pouchitis, respectively. Small bowel obstruction was the second most common complication (n=16), more common in women (P=0.031). The pouch failure rate was low: 2.4%. Clavien-Dindo grade III-V affected 13 patients. CONCLUSION: In the hands of experienced high-volume surgeons, IPAA is a safe procedure associated with a relatively low early morbidity as well as an acceptable late morbidity.

Surgical outcomes of Korean ulcerative colitis patients with and without colitis-associated cancer.

AIM: To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics of surgically treated ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and to compare the characteristics of UC patients with colitis-associated cancer (CAC) to those without CAC. METHODS: Clinical data on UC patients who underwent abdominal surgery from 1980 to 2013 were collected from 11 medical institutions. Data were analyzed to compare the clinical features of patients with CAC and those of patients without CAC. RESULTS: Among 415 UC patients, 383 (92.2%) underwent total proctocolectomy, and of these, 342 (89%) were subjected to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. CAC was found in 47 patients (11.3%). Adenocarcinoma was found in 45 patients, and the others had either neuroendocrine carcinoma or lymphoma. Comparing the UC patients with and without CAC, the UC patients with CAC were characteristically older at the time of diagnosis, had longer disease duration, underwent frequent laparoscopic surgery, and were infrequently given preoperative steroid therapy (P < 0.001-0.035). During the 37 mo mean follow-up period, the 3-year overall survival rate was 82.2%. CONCLUSION: Most Korean UC patients experience early disease exacerbation or complications. Approximately 10% of UC patients had CAC, and UC patients with CAC had a later diagnosis, a longer disease duration, and less steroid treatment than UC patients without CAC.

Factors associated with 30-day readmission after restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA: a national study.

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmission has been identified by many payers as a surrogate for surgical quality. The 30-day readmission rate and factors associated with hospital readmission after restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA have not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to identify the rate of and factors associated with hospital readmission within 30 days of restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA. DESIGN: A retrospective review of patients undergoing IPAA from 2009 to 2012 in the University HealthSystem Consortium database was performed. Hospitals were stratified into quartiles according to the number of cases performed annually. SETTING: This study was conducted using a national database of university hospitals. PATIENTS: A total of 4952 patients within the 4-year study period were included in the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was readmission within 30 days of discharge. RESULTS: The 30-day readmission rate was 22.8% overall, although high-volume centers performed significantly better than low-volume centers (high vs low volume: 19.7% vs 28.2%; p < 0.001). When controlling for confounding variables, multivariate analysis identified female sex (OR, 1.191; p = 0.02), government-based (vs private) insurance (OR, 1.364; p < 0.001), and higher preoperative severity of illness (OR, 1.491; p = 0.001) to be associated with readmission. In addition, a significant volume-dependent relationship on 30-day readmission was identified, wherein undergoing operation at the higher-volume hospitals was protective for predicting readmission. Hierarchical regression modeling indicated that 31% of the variation in readmission rates among individual hospitals was accounted for by hospital volume. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective nature and limited postoperative complication data. CONCLUSIONS: The national 30-day readmission after IPAA creation was 22.8%, at least double that of other colorectal procedures. This high rate of readmission was mitigated by centers performing the highest volume of cases. Avoidance of referral to centers performing very few of these procedures annually may improve perioperative outcomes and reduce associated morbidity.

Surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis: ileorectal vs ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the current gold standard in the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) refractory to medical management. A procedure of significant magnitude carries its own risks including anastomotic failure, pelvic sepsis and a low rate of neoplastic degeneration overtime. Recent studies have shown that total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) has been associated with good long-term functional results in a selected group of UC patients amenable to undergo a strict surveillance for the relatively high risk of cancer in the rectum. This manuscript will review and compare the most recent literature on IRA and IPAA as it pertains to postoperative morbidity and mortality, failure rates, functional outcomes and cancer risk.

Unique risks for mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing nonemergent colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify unique risk factors for mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing nonemergent colorectal surgery. METHODS: A multivariate logistic regression model predicting 30-day mortality was constructed for patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing nonemergent colorectal procedures. Data were obtained from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005-2010). RESULTS: Among the 394 patients analyzed, those with serum creatinine levels >7.5 mg/dL had .07 times the adjusted mortality risk of those with levels <3.5 mg/dL. For colorectal surgery patients, the average serum creatinine level was 5.52 ± 2.6 mg/dL, and mortality was 13% (n = 50). CONCLUSIONS: High serum creatinine was associated with a lower risk for mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease, even though creatinine is often considered a risk factor for surgery. These results show how variables from a patient-centered subpopulation can differ in meaning from the general population.

[Surgical treatment of acute large bowel ileus].

The results of treatment were analyzed in 47 patients, suffering operable cancer of left half of large bowel, complicated by an acute obturation ileus of the large bowel (AOILB), in whom radical obstructive operation of the Hartmann type was performed. In 26 patients (the 1-st group) a typical obstructive operation of Hartmann type was accomplished, and in 21 (2-nd group)--a radical obstructive operation in accordance to the method proposed. In a 1-st group postoperative complications have occurred in 7 (26.9%) patients, duration of stay in stationary was 19 days on average; in the 2-nd group the complications were observed in 2 (9.5%) patients. Duration of treatment in stationary was 13 days. Thus, application of the method of surgical treatment of the AOILB proposed have permitted to reduce postoperative morbidity rate in 2.8 times, the lethality--in 2.4 times, duration of a stationary treatment--in 1.4 times, necessity in postoperative wound dressing procedures and expenditure on dressing material--in 10 times.

D3 Lymph Node Dissection in Right Hemicolectomy with a No-touch Isolation Technique in Patients With Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The role of lymph node dissection in the management of right-sided colon cancer remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the surgical treatment of curable right-sided colon cancer by using D3 lymphadenectomy with a no-touch isolation technique and to determine the extent of lymph node dissection optimal for the prognosis of right-sided colon cancer. DESIGN: This research is a retrospective cohort study from a prospectively collected database. SETTING: The investigation took place in a specialized colorectal surgery department. PATIENTS: : Data on 370 consecutive patients who underwent D3 lymph node dissection for right-sided colon cancer with a no-touch isolation technique were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The survival of patients with involvement of main nodes at the roots of colonic arterial trunks along superior mesenteric vessels through intermediate nodes in the right mesocolon was determined. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival of patients with stage I (n = 73, 19.7%), II (n = 155, 41.9%), and III (n = 142, 38.4%) cancer were 94.5%, 87.6%, and 79.2%. The 5-year disease-specific survival of patients with stages I, II, and III cancer were 100.0%, 94.5%, and 85.0%. Eleven patients (3.0%) had metastatic involvement of main lymph nodes, whereas 49 (13.2%) had metastases to intermediate lymph nodes. The 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival of patients with metastases to main lymph nodes were 36.4% for both, and 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival of patients with metastases to intermediate lymph nodes were 77.6% and 83.5%. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its nonrandomized retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: D3 lymphadenectomy with a no-touch isolation technique allows curative resection and long-term survival in a cohort of patients with cancer of the right colon.

Is 30-day mortality an appropriate measure of risk in elderly patients undergoing elective colorectal resection?

AIM: The study aimed to define mortality in the elderly following elective colorectal resection and to identify the most meaningful postoperative period to report mortality rates in this group of patients. METHOD: A systematic review was undertaken to identify studies that reported on mortality in the elderly following elective colorectal resection. Searches of MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed databases were carried out by two independent reviewers and the results were collated. Two reviewers conducted literature searches independently and the third reviewer acted as an arbiter in case of discordance. RESULTS: Two-hundred and thirty-six studies published in 2000 or later were identified in the search. Studies were excluded if they included emergency surgery, included patients receiving surgery before 1995, or did not comment on mortality in an elderly age group. Seventeen studies were finally included in the review. Thirty-day or postoperative mortality rates varied from 0 to 13.3%. Short-term mortality was low in elderly patients selected for minimal access surgery. National population and registry observational audits reported higher short-term mortality rates than most small case series or cohort studies. One national audit demonstrated that a significant mortality risk persists for up to 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION: Historical case series suggest that 30-day mortality following colorectal resection in the elderly is low. The reliability of 30-day mortality measures to reflect surgical success in this cohort is, however, questionable as a significant proportion of patients die in the months following surgery.

Who performs proctectomy for rectal cancer in the United States?

BACKGROUND: There is wide variation in surgical care for rectal cancer in the United States. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the differences in individual surgeon procedural profiles that might explain variations in the rates of restorative vs nonrestorative proctectomy for rectal cancer. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective examination of a cohort derived from trackable state hospital discharge data from 11 states. PATIENTS: We identified all patients with rectal cancer that underwent restorative proctectomy (sphincter-sparing surgery) vs nonrestorative proctectomy (colostomy formation) over a 24-month study period (January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004). INTERVENTION: We developed an inpatient procedural profile of each treating surgeon's practice across general surgery procedure codes and summed the number of restorative vs nonrestorative proctectomies for rectal cancer by surgeon. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were nonrestorative proctectomy, mortality, and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 7519 proctectomies were performed for rectal cancer by 2588 surgeons. During the 24-month study period, 1003 (38.8%) surgeons performed only nonrestorative procedures for rectal cancer. On multivariate analysis, the likelihood that a surgeon performed only nonrestorative procedures was increased if that surgeon performed more integumentary procedures and decreased if the surgeon performed at least one ileoanal pouch procedure or more anorectal procedures. Patients who underwent proctectomy by surgeons who performed only nonrestorative procedures had significantly higher mortality (2.5 ± 0.7%) and longer length of stay (11.3 ± 8.8 days) in comparison with those patients treated by surgeons who performed both restorative and nonrestorative procedures (1.3 ± 0.3% mortality and 9.2 ± 6.9 days, P < .001 for both analyses). The volume of proctectomy performed significantly affected all analyses. LIMITATIONS: : The retrospective design introduces potential selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 24-month period, 38.8% of surgeons performed only nonrestorative procedures for rectal cancer. These surgeons did not regularly perform anorectal or ileoanal pouch procedures, suggesting that they may not have a focus on colorectal disease in their practice; they had significantly higher mortality and length of stay for their patients who underwent proctectomy for rectal cancer.

Volume analysis of outcome following restorative proctocolectomy.

BACKGROUND: This observational study aimed to determine national provision and outcome following pouch surgery (restorative proctocolectomy, RPC) and to examine the effect of institutional and surgeon caseload on outcome. METHODS: All patients undergoing primary RPC between April 1996 and March 2008 in England were identified from the administrative database Hospital Episode Statistics. Institutions and surgeons were categorized according to the total RPC caseload performed over the study interval. RESULTS: Some 5771 primary elective pouch procedures were undertaken at 154 National Health Service hospital trusts. Median follow-up was 65 (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 28-106) months. The 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 0·5 per cent and the 1-year overall mortality rate 1·5 per cent. Some 30·5 per cent of trusts performed fewer than two procedures per year, and 91·4 per cent of surgical teams (456 of 499) carried out 20 or fewer RPCs over 8 years. Median surgeon volume was 4 (i.q.r. 1-9) cases. Failure occurred in 6·4 per cent of cases. Low-volume surgeons operated on more patients at the extremes of age (P < 0·001) and a lower proportion with ulcerative colitis (P < 0·001). Older age, increasing co-morbidity, increasing social deprivation, and both lower provider and surgeon caseload were independent predictors of longer length of stay. Older patient age and low institutional volume status were independent predictors of failure. CONCLUSION: Many English institutions and surgeons carry out extremely low volumes of RPC surgery. Case selection differed significantly between high- and low-volume surgeons. Institutional volume and older age were positively associated with increased pouch failure.

Trends in the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis over time: increased mortality and centralization of care.

BACKGROUND: New medical therapies available to ulcerative colitis (UC) patients have influenced operative mortality for patients requiring colectomy. We sought to examine trends in treatment and outcome for UC patients treated surgically. METHODS: A review of 36,447 UC patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed, comparing the pre-monoclonal antibody era (1990-1996) to the present-day era (2000-2006). Patients treated with total colectomy with ileostomy or proctocolectomy with ileal pouch were reviewed for outcome measures and practice setting (rural, urban non-teaching, urban teaching). Our main outcome measures were in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and total charges. RESULTS: Total colectomy (n = 30,362) was performed five times more often than proctocolectomy (n = 6,085). When comparing the two study periods, mortality after total colectomy increased 3.8% to 4.6% (p = 0.0003). This difference was primarily due to increasing mortality in later years; when 1995-1996 was compared to 2005-2006, mortality increased from 3.6% to 5.6% (p < 0.0001). There were no deaths in the proctocolectomy group (p < 0.0001). The distribution by practice setting shifted over the two study periods, decreasing in rural (7.0% to 4.8%) and urban non-teaching (43.7% to 28.4%) centers, and increasing in urban teaching centers (49.3% to 66.8%). The total inflation-adjusted charges per patient increased significantly ($34,638 vs. $43,621; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate after total colectomy is increasing, and the difference is accentuated in the years since widespread use of monoclonal antibody therapy. The care of these patients is being shifted to urban teaching centers and is becoming more expensive.

Management and results of complications after anterior resection with colonic pouch reconstruction for rectal cancer.

AIM: Colonic J-pouch reconstruction is widely carried out during low anterior resection. The aim of this observational study was to describe the complications and evaluate the results of adverse event management. METHOD: A total of 128 patients underwent an elective anterior resection with colorectal or coloanal J-pouch reconstruction for primary rectal cancer between January 1997 and December 2008. RESULTS: The overall mortality was 1.6%. Three (2.3%) patients developed pouch necrosis, one of whom died. The rate of anastomotic leakage was 11.7%. Other major complications included intra-abdominal abscess (3.1%), haemorrhage (0.8%) and abdominal dihiscence (0.8%). In all cases of anastomotic leakage, the pouch was salvaged, with 80% of patients undergoing surgical revision with relaparotomy and transanal suture. Patients with pouch necrosis underwent relaparotomy with removal of the pouch and a terminal colostomy. In all cases of intra-abdominal abscess without anastomotic leakage, radiologically controlled percutaneous drainage was carried out. CONCLUSION: Anal function can usually be saved after anastomotic leakage by salvage surgery without increase in mortality.

Long-term outcome 10 years or more after restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess quality of life (QOL) in a long-term follow-up of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) 10 years and more after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) to correlate these results with pouch function and to assess the long-term pouch failure rate. METHODS: In a unicentric study, 294 consecutive patients after IPAA between 1988 and 1996 were identified from a prospective database. QOL was evaluated according to the validated Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). RESULTS: Overall median follow-up was 11.5 years. Thirty-seven patients experienced pouch failure (12.6%). The rates of ileal pouch success after 5, 10 and 15 years were 92.3%, 88.7% and 84.5%. According to the GIQLI, patients with a functioning pouch achieved a mean score of 107.8, reflecting a decrease of QOL of 10.8% compared to a healthy population. There were significant negative correlations between QOL and an age of >50 years (p < 0.05), pouchitis, perianal inflammation and increased stool frequency (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: QOL and functional results of patients with UC 10 years or more after IPAA were acceptable; however, those were reduced when compared to a healthy population. Pouch failure rate still increases up to 15.5% 15 years after IPAA. This result represents an important issue in providing patients with comprehensive preoperative information.

Mortality risk analysis following routine vs selective defunctioning stoma formation after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To answer the question whether a defunctioning stoma (DS) should be constructed routinely after total mesorectal excision or whether it could be used selectively to ensure patient safety. METHOD: A PubMed search was performed. All randomized trials on the role of a DS were included. Also, observational articles published between January 1997 and August 2007 were reviewed. Sensitivity analysis of the mortality risk was performed. RESULTS: The clinical anastamotic leak (CAL) rate was 17% in 358 patients from four randomized trials and 9.6% in 4059 patients from 39 observational studies. The CAL rate increased significantly from 9.6% with DS to 24.4% without DS in four randomized trials, and from 7.9% with DS to 13.2% without DS in 17 observational studies. The re-operation rate as a result of anastomotic leakage was lower in patients with DS than in patients without DS in both study types. Leak-related mortality was not significantly different: 7.2% with vs 7.7% without DS in observational studies, and 0% with vs 4.6% without DS in randomized trials. Sensitivity analysis indicated that a selective DS strategy is acceptable if the CAL rate without DS is less than 16.6% with a CAL-related mortality of no more than 4.6%. CONCLUSION: The results of this review support the routine construction of a protective stoma. However, selective use of a DS is justified from a patient safety point of view if the CAL-rate and its related mortality are limited. Each unit should audit its performance.

Effect of systemic corticosteroids on elective left-sided colorectal resection with colorectal anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of systemic steroid therapy on surgical outcome after elective left-sided colorectal resection with rectal anastomosis is not well known. METHODS: We compared 606 consecutive patients including 53 patients who were on steroids and undergoing surgery between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality and anastomotic leakage rates were equivalent. The postoperative complications rate, especially infections, was higher in steroid-treated patients than in non-steroid-treated patients: 38% (20 of 53 patients) versus 25% (139 of 553 patients), respectively (P = .046). In the steroid group, univariate analysis revealed 3 significant risk factors for postoperative complications: blood transfusion, preoperative anticoagulation, and chronic respiratory failure. In a multivariate analysis, blood transfusion and chronic respiratory failure remained independent factors for postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Patients on steroids have a higher incidence of postoperative complications after elective left-sided colorectal resection with rectal anastomosis.

Factors associated with failure in managing pelvic sepsis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA)--a multivariate analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic sepsis is known to cause a detrimental outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). The aim of this study was to examine potential factors associated with failure in managing pelvic sepsis after IPAA. METHODS: We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis on 2518 IPAA patients between 1983 and 2005. Failure was defined as pouch failure, the need for a permanent ileostomy, or mortality as a result of sepsis. There were 157 patients (6.2%) with pelvic sepsis after IPAA. These involved anastomotic leak 34% (54/157) and fistula 25% (40/157). There were 5 mortalities related to sepsis. Mean age at surgery was 38.1 +/- 14.4 years and mean follow-up was 5.5 +/- 4.7 years. RESULTS: Pouches were saved in 75.8% patients. Univariate analysis identified early sepsis (P = .040), preoperative steroid use (P = .007), and need for percutaneous drainage (P = .004) as significant factors associated with treatment success. Factors associated with failure were hypertension (P = .026), hand-sewn anastomosis (P = .038), associated fistula (P = .0003), need for transanal drainage (P = .0002), need for laparotomy to control septic complications (P < .0001), delayed ileostomy closure (P = .0003), and need for a new diverting ileostomy (P < .0001). By using multivariate analysis with selected covariates, significant factors associated with failure were associated fistula (P = .0013), need for transanal drainage (P = .003), delayed ileostomy closure (P = .022), need for a new ileostomy diversion (P = .004), and hypertension (P = .039). We developed a predictive scoring system for failure to use in management plans and decision-making for the treatment of septic complications of IPAA. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic sepsis after IPAA has a significant impact on pouch failure. This predictive model for failure may play an important role in providing risk estimates for successful outcomes.