Treatment of Oesophagojejunostomy Leakage With the Use of Fibrin Glue: Case Report.

Oesophagojejunostomy leakage after total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy remains a significant clinical issue. In this paper, we present a case of a 63-year-old female patient who, on the first day after surgery, was diagnosed with oesophagojejunostomy leakage in the chest. The general condition of the patient was stabilized by the implementation of conservative treatment and thoracic drainage. Thanks to covered oesophageal stents, the leakage from the fistula between the anastomotic connection, pleura, and skin was reduced. In the subsequent step, treatment with fibrin glue resulted in complete closure of the fistula. The complementary use of fibrin glue may be effective in the treatment of small oesophagojejunostomy leakages when other endoscopic methods are not sufficient.

The assessment of risk factors for long-term survival outcome in ypN0 patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy and radical anterior resection.

BACKGROUND: The main negative prognostic factors in patients with rectal cancer after radical treatment include regional lymph node involvement, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion. However, some patients still develop cancer recurrence despite the absence of the above risk factors. The aim of the study was to assess clinicopathological factors influencing long-term oncologic outcomes in ypN0M0 rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy and radical anterior resection. METHODS: A retrospective survival analysis was performed on a group of 195 patients. We assessed clinicopathological factors which included tumor regression grade, number of lymph nodes in the specimen, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), and colorectal anastomotic leakage (AL). RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, AL and CCI > 3 had a significant negative impact on disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). After the division of ALs into early and late ALs, it was found that only patients with late ALs had a significantly worse survival. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that CCI > 3 was a significant adverse risk factor for DFS (HR 5.78, 95% CI 2.15-15.51, p < 0.001), DSS (HR 7.25, 95% CI 2.25-23.39, p < 0.001), and OS (HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.72-8.85, p = 0.001). Similarly, late ALs had a significant negative impact on the risk of DFS (HR 5.05, 95% CI 1.97-12.93, p < 0.001), DSS (HR 10.84, 95% CI 3.44-34.18, p < 0.001), and OS (HR 4.3, 95% CI 1.94-9.53, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Late AL and CCI > 3 are the factors that may have an impact on long-term oncologic outcomes. The impact of lymph node yield on understaging was not demonstrated.

Evaluation of risk factors for postoperative complications in rectal cancer patients.

<b>Introduction:</b> The complications of surgical treatment for rectal cancer, particularly anastomotic leaks after anterior resection, are a significant clinical problem. We retrospectively analysed preoperative factors that may affect the occurrence of complications. <br><b>Meterial and Methods:</b> A total of 392 rectal cancer patients were included in a retrospective analysis. A total of 257 anterior resections (AR) and 135 abdominoperineal resections (APR) were performed. The risk factors for early postoperative complications were analysed by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. <br><b>Results:</b> The significant risk factors for severe complications (grade 3B and higher on the Clavien-Dindo scale) in the multivariate analysis were neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio > 5 (P = 0.047) in the AR group, age of the patients (P = 0.031) in the APR group, and coronary artery disease in both groups (P = 0.03, P = 0.011, respectively). There were no risk factors for anastomotic leaks in the AR group before the analysis was divided into early and late leaks. In the univariate analysis, the statistically significant risk factors for early leaks were preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio > 5 and peripheral blood platelet count, while late leaks were associated with coronary artery disease; however, in the multivariate analysis, these factors were not statistically significant. <br><b>Conclusions:</b> The risk factors for severe postoperative complications were neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio > 5, advanced age of the patients and coronary artery disease. The different risk factors for early and late anastomotic leaks after anterior resection may indicate their different aetiologies.

Assessment of the risk of permanent stoma after low anterior resection in rectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: One of the most severe complications of low anterior rectal resection is anastomotic leakage (AL). The creation of a loop ileostomy (LI) reduces the prevalence of AL requiring surgical intervention. However, up to one-third of temporary stomas may never be closed. The first aim of the study was to perform a retrospective assessment of the impact of LI on the risk of permanent stoma (PS) and symptomatic AL. The second aim of the study was to assess preoperative PS risk factors in patients with LI. METHODS: A total of 286 consecutive patients who underwent low anterior rectal resection were subjected to retrospective analysis. In 101 (35.3%) patients, diverting LI was performed due to low anastomosis, while in the remaining 185 (64.7%) patients, no ileostomy was performed. LIs were reversed after adjuvant treatment. Analyses of the effect of LI on symptomatic AL and PS were performed. Among the potential risk factors for PS, clinical factors and the values of selected peripheral blood parameters were analysed. RESULTS: PS occurred in 37.6% and 21.1% of the patients with LI and without LI, respectively (p < 0.01). Symptomatic ALs were significantly more common in patients without LI. In this group, symptomatic ALs occurred in 23.8% of patients, while in the LI group, they occurred in 5% of patients (p < 0.001). In the LI group, the only significant risk factor for PS in the multivariate analysis was preoperative plasma fibrinogen concentration (OR = 1.007, 97.5% CI 1.002-1.013, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Although protective LI may reduce the incidence of symptomatic AL, it can be related to a higher risk of PS in this group of patients. The preoperative plasma fibrinogen concentration can be a risk factor for PS in LI patients and may be a useful variable in decision-making models.

Do surgeons use double gloves during surgery? Results of a survey.

<b>Introduction:</b> The perforation of gloves during surgical procedures is quite common. A cheap and quite effective method of reducing the risk of blood-borne infections is wearing two pairs of gloves. Unfortunately, some surgeons are reluctant to it, and they report decreased dexterity and sensation. The aim of the study was to evaluate surgeons' double-gloving practices to determine the factors related to compliance. <br><b>Material and methods:</b> An anonymous, 21-question survey in Polish was sent by post to 41 surgical departments. The questions concerned: demographic data, type of surgical gloves used, allergy to latex, number of surgeries performed, frequency of using double gloves and negative impressions from using them and finally, the frequency of needlestick injuries during surgical procedures. <br><b>Results:</b> We received 179 questionnaires back. More than 62% of the surgeons believe that double gloves provide better protection than a single pair, 24% do not believe in this, and 14% have no opinion. Only 0.6% of respondents always use double gloves during surgery, 19% double glove in at least 25% of cases and 68% do it occasionally. 13% of the surgeons declared that they had never worn double gloves. During high-risk procedures, 86% of respondents wear double gloves. About half of respondents (50.3%) report discomfort while wearing double gloves; 45% - decreased dexterity; about 30% complain of numbness and tingling; and 64% - decreased sensation. <br><b>Conclusion:</b> Due to the high number of surgical glove perforations and relatively high prevalence of needlestick injuries, it is necessary to use methods that reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens. The habit of using a double pair of gloves should be implemented especially among young surgeons starting to train in their specialities. Consequently, the period of initial discomfort will be combined with the acquisition of surgical skills, which will allow for gradual acclimatization.