Empty pelvis syndrome: a retrospective audit from a tertiary cancer center.

INTRODUCTION: Empty pelvis syndrome (EPS) has been defined as a complications arising as a sequel of empty space created after extensive pelvic surgery involving perineal resection. However this definition has been heterogenous throughout the limited literature available. Hence, EPS is a significant yet under recognized complication vexing both patients and surgeons. Even till date, prevention and management of EPS remain a challenge. Various preventive strategies have been employed each with its own complications. Few small studies mentioned incidence of this dreaded complication in between 20 and 40%. But most of these studies quote vague evidence and especially only after TPE surgeries. To the best of our knowledge, incidence after APR and PE has never been mentioned in literature. PURPOSE: To assess the clinical burden of empty pelvis syndrome in patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection (APR), posterior exenteration (PE), or total pelvic exenteration (TPE) for low rectal cancers. METHODS: This is a retrospective audit from a high-volume tertiary cancer center in India. Patients who underwent APR, PE, or TPE between the years 2013 to 2021 were screened and analyzed for incidence, presentation, and management of empty pelvic syndrome (EPS). RESULTS: A total of 1224 patients' electronic medical records were screened for complications related to empty pelvis. The overall incidence of EPS was 95/1224 (7%) with 55/1024 (5%) in APR, 8/39 (20.5%) in PE, and 32/143 (21.9%) in TPE. The most common clinical presentation was small bowel obstruction 43/95 (45.2%) and most presented late, 56/95 (60%), i.e., after 30 days of surgery. Most of the patients who had EPS were managed conservatively 55/95 (57%). CONCLUSION: EPS is a significant clinical problem that can lead to major morbidity, especially after exenterative surgeries warranting effective preventive strategies.

Should anorectal manometry be routine before stoma reversal in patients after an intersphincteric resection?

INTRODUCTION: Anorectal manometry (ARM) is sometimes performed before ostomy reversal in patients with an intersphincteric resection (ISR) to predict bowel function. However, no clinical predictive data exist regarding its utility. METHODS: The single-centre, retrospective data of ISR patients who had an ARM prior to ostomy reversal, and bowel functional assessment with the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) and Wexner incontinence scores at least 6 months after reversal, were considered. Correlation statistics were performed with each of the manometric parameters and functional outcome categories. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included. The median basal and squeeze pressures were 41 and 100 mmHg, respectively. Any LARS (score ≥20) and major incontinence (score ≥11) was observed in 51.7% and 16.9%, respectively. None of the manometric parameters (median basal or maximum squeeze pressure, anal canal length, volume at urge and the ability to expel) correlated with LARS or incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Anorectal manometry (ARM) before ostomy reversal to predict bowel function at 6 months or beyond was not helpful in patients with an ISR and diverting stoma. No manometric parameter correlated with the LARS or Wexner incontinence scores.

Functional outcomes after robotic or laparoscopic intersphincteric resection - An inverse probability weighting analysis.

BACKGROUND: Functional outcomes after robotic and laparoscopic Intersphincteric resections (ISR) have not been studied adequately. We aimed to compare the bowel functions after robotic or laparoscopic ISR. METHODS: Single-center, cross-sectional study of minimally invasive ISR. Functional outcomes were assessed on the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), Wexner incontinence scale, and the Kirwan grading. Baseline characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, T stage, tumour height, preoperative radiation, and anastomotic configuration) in the groups were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). RESULTS: Functional outcomes were assessed for 132 patients, 85 laparoscopic and 47 robotic ISR were performed. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were well balanced (mean deviation <0.1). In the weighted cohorts of laparoscopic and robotic ISR, major LARS was observed in 18.1% and 18.5% (p - 0.182) and major incontinence on the Wexner scale in 18.4% and 22.8% (p - 0.443), respectively. The Kirwan grades of incontinence were also similar between the groups (p - 0.794). CONCLUSION: No differences in bowel functions on the LARS and incontinence scales between laparoscopic and robotic ISR were found in the present study.

The use of an obstetric balloon as a pelvic spacer in preventing empty pelvis syndrome after total pelvic exenteration in rectal cancers - A prospective safety and efficacy study for the Bakri balloon.

AIM: Empty pelvis syndrome (EPS) is a source of considerable morbidity following total pelvic exenteration. None of the available methods have been universally successful in mitigating this problem. The aim of this work was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the obstetric Bakri balloon in preventing empty pelvis syndrome. METHOD: This study was a combined prospective and retrospective study of all total pelvic exenterations for rectal cancers from a single institution performed between October 2013 and May 2022. Since December 2019 the Bakri balloon was used in all patients who provided consent. EPS within 90 days was the primary end point, and included bowel obstruction, pelvic collection and entero-perineal fistula. Comparison with those patients who did not have a Bakri balloon was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients with a Bakri balloon were compared with 96 patients without a balloon placed after pelvic exenteration. No patient experienced an untoward complication from balloon deployment. The incidence of EPS was 13.3% and 22.9% in the Bakri and no Bakri cohorts, respectively (p = 0.110). Every component of EPS was proportionally lower, without statistical significance. Based on point estimates, the number needed to treat to prevent EPS using the Bakri balloon was 10. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the Bakri balloon was safe without serious adverse events. The incidence of EPS after total pelvic exenteration was not statistically different with the use of the Bakri balloon despite a 9.6% reduction. A larger comparative study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the balloon.

Bowel Functional Outcomes After Long-Course or Short-Course Radiation for Advanced Rectal Cancers: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite short-course radiation and chemotherapy gaining popularity because of similar or better oncological outcomes, functional outcomes relative to long-course radiation have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare bowel function outcomes after long-course or short-course radiation and delayed operation for advanced rectal cancers. DESIGN: Propensity-matched analysis. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a single tertiary cancer center. Patients were operated on between 2014 and 2020. PATIENTS: The study included patients with locally advanced, nonmetastatic, mid, and low rectal cancers who underwent low anterior resection with stapled anastomosis and diverting ostomy. Extended or beyond total mesorectal excisions and lateral node dissections were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Long-course radiation delivered as a radiation dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions or short-course radiation (5 Gy in 5 fractions) and delayed surgery after 4 to 6 weeks with or without chemotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One-time assessment of low anterior resections syndrome and Wexner incontinence scores at least 6 months after stoma reversal. RESULTS: After matching 124 patients in the 1:2 ratio between short- and long-course radiations, 93 patients were included for analysis. Any low anterior resection syndrome was found in 90.3% of short-course patients compared to 54.8% after long-course radiation (p < 0.001). Major incontinence was detected in 6.5% after short-course radiation as opposed to 8.1% of patients after long-course radiation (p = 0.781). On multivariate logistic regression, short-course radiation predicted the development of any low anterior resection syndrome with an OR of 4.4. LIMITATIONS: Selection and misclassification biases from retrospective recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with locally advanced, nonmetastatic, mid, and low rectal cancers who underwent preoperative radiation followed by stapled low anterior resection, short-course radiation had higher probability of developing low anterior resection syndrome than long-course radiation. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/C37. RESULTADOS DE LA FUNCIN INTESTINAL DESPUS DE LA RADIACIN DE CICLO LARGO O CORTO EN CNCER DE RECTO AVANZADO UN ANLISIS EMPAREJADO DE PROPENSIN: ANTECEDENTES:A pesar de que la radiación de corta duración y la quimioterapia están ganando popularidad debido a resultados oncológicos similares o mejores, los resultados funcionales en relación con la radiación de larga duración no han sido evaluado.OBJETIVO:Comparar resultados de la función intestinal después de la radiación de ciclo largo o corto y cirugía diferida para los en cáncer de recto avanzado.DISEÑO:Análisis emparejado de propensión.ENTORNO CLINICO:Centro único de cáncer terciario. Pacientes operados entre 2014 y 2020.PACIENTES:Cánceres de recto medio y bajo localmente avanzados, no metastásicos, que se sometieron a resección anterior baja con anastomosis grapada y ostomía de derivación. Se excluyeron las escisiones total de mesorecto extendidas o más allá del plano y las disecciones de los ganglios laterales.INTERVENCIONES:Radiación de ciclo largo administrada como 50 Gy en 25 fracciones o radiación de ciclo corto (5 Gy en 5 fracciones) y cirugía diferida después de 4 a 6 semanas con o sin quimioterapia.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Evaluación única del síndrome de reseccion anterior baja y escala de Wexner de incontinencia al menos seis meses después de la restitución del tránsito intestinal.RESULTADOS:Después de emparejar 124 pacientes en la proporción 1:2 entre radiación de ciclo corto y largo, se incluyeron 93 pacientes para el análisis. Se encontró cualquier síndrome de resección anterior baja en el 90,3% de los pacientes de ciclo corto en comparación con el 54,8% después de la radiación de ciclo largo (p < 0,001). Se detectó incontinencia grave en el 6,5% después de un tratamiento de corta duración frente al 8,1% de los pacientes que recibieron un tratamiento de radiación de larga duración (p = 0,781). En la regresión logística multivariable, la radiación de corta duración predijo el desarrollo de cualquier síndrome de resección anterior baja con una probabilidad de 4,4.LIMITACIONES:Sesgos de selección y clasificación errónea de reclutamiento retrospectivo.CONCLUSIONES:Para los cánceres de recto medio e inferior localmente avanzados, no metastásicos, que se sometieron a radiación preoperatoria seguida de resección anterior baja con grapas, curso corto tuvo una mayor probabilidad de desarrollar síndrome de resección anterior baja en comparación con radiación de curso largo. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/C37. (Traducción- Dr. Francisco M. Abarca-Rendon).

V-Y Gluteal Advancement Fasciocutaneous Flap for Reconstruction of Perineal Defects After Surgery for Anorectal Cancers- A Single-Center Experience.

An ideal method of perineal closure after resection for low rectal cancer surgery is a topic of debate. Morbidity associated with primary perineal closure due to wound break down delays recovery from surgery and adjuvant treatment with poor oncological outcome at the end. Herewith, we present our experience with V-Y gluteal advancement fasciocutaneous flap done for 131 patients for reconstruction of perineal and pelvic defect. With our experience, this is a safe and simple method with an acceptable complication rate that can be practiced by colorectal surgeons, even in the absence of a dedicated plastic surgery team.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: a rare tumour of the abdomen.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: a rare tumor of the abdomen, is a diagnostic dilemma. This report emphasizes the importance of diagnostic laparoscopy in the diagnosis of the tumour.