National screening for colorectal cancer is associated with stage shift to earlier diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Australia's National Bowel Cancer Screening Program consists of an immunohistochemical faecal occult blood test, targeting adults aged 50-74. Existing literature supports the principle of early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) via national screening, but little is known about the association between colonoscopy or polypectomy rates and CRC stage over time. The aim of this study is to identify the longitudinal change to colonoscopy and polypectomy rates, and any stage shift associated with this screening program. METHODS: A retrospective data-linkage study was performed using the Australian national health database (Medicare) to obtain colonoscopy and polypectomy rates between 1998 and 2017. A second prospective database of CRC resection specimens was analysed for this period. The cohort was divided based on time intervals related to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: pre-commencement 1998-2006 (Period A), immediately post-commencement 2007-2011 (Period B), and subsequent years 2012-2017 (Period C). Linear regression was used to test relation between annualized predictor and response variables. RESULTS: Annual colonoscopy rates doubled, and polypectomy rates tripled during the study (P < 0.001). Annual colonoscopy rate correlated to a lower T-stage (P = 0.038) and lower N-stage (P = 0.026), and there was a 7% increase in early CRC (stage I-II) in Period C (P < 0.001). Across the study period there was also a significant increase in right-sided tumours, and concurrent MMR deficiency and BRAF mutation. CONCLUSION: Polypectomy and colonoscopy rates increased after the introduction of the National Bowel Cancer screening program. There was a clinically significant shift to earlier CRC stage which manifested 5 years after its implementation.

A new hernia: Meckel's diverticulum within a parastomal hernia.

A Meckel's diverticulum is a true diverticulum containing all layers of bowel wall. An infrequently encountered sequela of this is a Littre's hernia, typically inguinal or femoral. This is the first description of a Meckel's diverticulum within a parastomal hernia. When encountered incidentally at surgery, resection should be considered on a case-by-case basis to prevent future complications of bleeding, obstruction or perforation.

The role of staging laparoscopy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its effect on patients' survival.

BACKGROUND: Prompt and accurate staging of pancreatic cancer is essential to distinguish patients to benefit from resection with curative intent and those with unresectable disease. A staging laparoscopy is used preoperatively to identify macroscopic or occult metastases not identified on imaging. This single-institution study aims to evaluate the role of staging laparoscopy in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its effect on overall survival. METHOD: Clinicopathologic data were evaluated for all patients undergoing staging laparoscopy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma from July 2014 to December 2019. The study identified 155 patients eligible for analysis. All patients were followed for at least 2 years. Clinical backgrounds, survival curves and prognostic factors were investigated. RESULTS: Resectability status among the cohort was 62 (40%) upfront resectable, 53 (34%) borderline resectable and 40 (26%) locally advanced disease. The median age was 69, with 44% male patients. Median CA19-9 value was 125 kU/L, and median CA125 value was 22 kU/L. Staging laparoscopy resulted in upstaging nine (15%) upfront resectable patients, five (9%) borderline resectable patients and ten (25%) locally advanced patients. There was positive cytology in 19 (12%), peritoneal deposits in six (4%) and peritoneal liver deposits in seven (5%) patients. Overall, the number needed to treat (NNT) to avoid an unnecessary laparotomy was eight patients. CONCLUSION: Staging laparoscopy continues to be a valuable investigation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In this institution, one in every eight patients undergoing a staging laparoscopy was upstaged to metastatic disease, thus avoiding an unnecessary laparotomy or a non-curative resection.

Preoperative cardiac and respiratory investigations do not predict cardio-respiratory complications after pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The process of undergoing a pancreatic resection places a patient under notable physiologic strain throughout the perioperative journey, with well recognized risks of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Preoperative preparations and screening often incorporate a barrage of testing, including electrocardiograms, transthoracic echocardiography, chest X-rays and spirometric evaluations. However, the current literature does not demonstrate whether these common tests provide any predictive correlation with postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. This retrospective study is structured to identify complications in post-pancreatic resection patients and assess for a predictive correlation with preoperative test results. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients having undergone a pancreatic resection at a single tertiary centre, between 2014 and 2016. The inpatient medical records were reviewed for 30-day postoperative complications, including acute myocardial infarction, cardiac dysrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia or pleural effusions. The results of routine preoperative diagnostic tests and complication rates were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients, median age of 66 years (range 18-88 years) were included in the study. Of these, 11 patients experienced a cardiac complication and 16 patients experienced a respiratory complication. Among those who experienced cardiac events, only two patients had abnormalities in their preoperative electrocardiograms. Patients who sustained a cardiac or respiratory event did not have any evidence of abnormality in their preoperative transthoracic echocardiography or respiratory investigations, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the recommendation that high-risk procedures such as pancreatic resections warrant thorough, routine, preoperative cardiac and respiratory investigation, a more functional preoperative assessment should be considered to stratify and predict postoperative outcomes.

Is leukocytosis a predictor for recurrence of ischemic events after coronary artery bypass graft surgery? A cohort study.

Objective. Studies have shown that inflammation plays an important role in pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of high WBC count before CABG in predicting the risk of ischemic events after CABG. Methods and Results. This prospective study was carried out on 380 patients who underwent CABG surgery. Ninety seven patients (25.5%) had recurrent ischemic event. Mean WBC count before CABG surgery in patients with recurrent ischemic event was 7267 mic/lit ± 1863, which was significantly higher than the others, with a mean WBC count of 6721 mic/lit ± 1734 (P = 0.011). Patients with a WBC count more than 6000 mic/lit were at the highest risk for recurrent ischemic event (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.18-3.44, P = 0.009). After adjustment for age, sex, family history, smoking, hyperlipidemia, Logestic Euro score, post opretive enzyme release (CK.mb), arterial graft and BMI, the relationship between the group with WBC count higher than 6000 mic/lit and recurrent of ischemic event remained significant (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.2 to 4, P = 0.005). Conclusions. High WBC count before CABG surgery is an independent risk factor for ischemic events one year after the surgery.