Risk factors and outcomes of restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. Retrospective study of 75 single center cases.

OBJECTIVE: Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the surgical gold standard in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Results are generally satisfactory but there is a significant rate of patients who experience postoperative complications. The aims of our study were to identify the pre- and intraoperative risk factors and their correlation with the reported outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the medical records of all consecutive patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA for UC in our center from 2010 to 2021. Pre- and intraoperative factors were examined and correlated with pouchitis, endoscopic pouchitis, pouch failure, anastomotic leak, postoperative complications classified according to Clavien-Dindo score and stoma outlet obstruction. A univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Out of 75 patients undergoing 3- or 2-stage IPAA surgery, the coexistence of extraintestinal clinical manifestations and preoperative topical rectal stump therapy for active proctitis were significantly associated with the occurrence of pouchitis (OR=4.4, p=0.03 and OR=7.6, p=0.01). Endoscopic pouchitis was found to be related to preoperative topical rectal therapy (OR=10.2, p=0.007), but not to extraintestinal manifestations of disease. Anastomotic leak was found to be significantly related to pouch failure (OR=22.7, p=0.007). Surgical indication for malignancy increased the risk for early complications (Clavien-Dindo >2) (OR=16.0, p=0.04). Young age was associated with the occurrence of outlet stoma obstruction in patients with recent IPAA surgery (OR=0.97, p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on observed results, an appropriate preoperative patient assessment aimed at detecting specific risk factors is crucial to identify early or prevent worse outcomes in patients undergoing IPAA surgery.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on IBD surgery: a single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: The spread of COVID-19 pandemic forced the national healthcare system to reorganize almost all surgical services, in order to maintain an adequate therapeutic offer. At General Surgery department of Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli in Rome, surgical procedures were progressively reduced to provide beds and personnel for COVID-19. The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of one year of COVID-19 pandemic on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) surgery in a cohort of patients and evaluate post-operative short-term complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our team retrospectively analyzed the records of IBD patients who were referred to an IBD-related resective surgery from January 2020 to December 2020. These patients were compared to a comparable group of IBD patients who were operated from January 2019 to December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were included in the study. Median age was 44 (range 15-77). Patients were referred for Ulcerative colitis (23.1%) and Crohn's disease (76.9%). Eighty-three patients underwent surgery from January 2020 to December 2020, which constitutes a 4.6% increase in the number of patients compared to the same period in 2019. Median post-operative hospital stay increased (7 days in 2019 vs. 6 days in 2020). Laparoscopic was the most frequently performed procedure during both periods (49% in 2019 and 59% in 2020). Complication rates, reported as Clavien-Dindo score 3 or 4, slightly decreased in 2020 (6.5 in 2019 vs. 4.8 in 2020). PCR test for detection of COVID-19 infection was conducted in all the patients before the hospitalization. Two patients out of 70 were tested positive for COVID-19 and their surgeries were rescheduled. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant reduction in IBD resective surgeries at our center in 2020, nor a deterioration of the outcomes. A reduction of other elective surgical procedures had to be carried out and adequate protective measures for both patients and healthcare workers were established.

New perspectives in the prediction of postoperative complications for high-risk ulcerative colitis patients: machine learning preliminary approach.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with acute severe and medical refractory ulcerative colitis have a high risk of postoperative complications after total abdominal colectomy (TAC). The objective of this retrospective study is to use machine learning to analyze and predict short-term outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 32 patients with ulcerative colitis were treated with total abdominal colectomy between 2011 and 2017. Biographical data, preoperative therapy, blood chemistry, nutritional status, surgical technique, blood transfusion and preoperative length of stay were the features selected for the statistical analyses and were used as input for the machine learning algorithms to predict the rate of complications. RESULTS: Traditional statistical analysis showed an overall postoperative morbidity rate of 34% and a mortality rate of 3%. Preoperative low serum albumin levels (<2.5 g/dL) were related to a higher risk of minor infectious complications with statistical significance (p<0.05). Preoperative length of stay (>4 days), blood transfusions (≥1 unit) and body temperature (≥37.5°C) demonstrated a major impact on infectious morbidity with statistical significance (p<0.05). Patients treated with steroids and rescue therapy presented a higher risk of minor infectious complications (p<0.05). Evaluating only preoperative features, machine learning algorithms were able to predict minor postoperative complications with a high strike rate (84.3%), high sensitivity (87.5%) and high specificity (83.3%) during the testing phase. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning is demonstrated to be useful in predicting the rate of minor postoperative complications in high-risk ulcerative colitis patients, despite the small sample size. It represents a major step forward in data analysis by implementing a retrospective study from a prospective point of view.

Correction to: Inflammatory bowel disease position statement of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR): ulcerative colitis.

The affiliation of the author Silvio Danese has been incorrectly published in the original publication.

Correction to: Inflammatory bowel disease position statement of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR): Crohn's disease.

The affiliation of the author Silvio Danese has been incorrectly published in the original publication.

Inflammatory bowel disease position statement of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR): Crohn's disease.

The Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR) promoted the project reported here, which consists of a position statement of Italian colorectal surgeons to address the surgical aspects of Crohn's disease management. Members of the society were invited to express their opinions on several items proposed by the writing committee, based on evidence available in the literature. The results are presented, focusing on relevant points. The present paper is not an alternative to available guidelines; rather, it offers a snapshot of the attitudes of SICCR surgeons about the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease. The committee was able to identify some points of major disagreement and suggested strategies to improve quality of available data and acceptance of guidelines.

Inflammatory bowel disease position statement of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR): ulcerative colitis.

The Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR) promoted the project reported here, which consists of a Position Statement of Italian colorectal surgeons to address the surgical aspects of ulcerative colitis management. Members of the society were invited to express their opinions on several items proposed by the writing committee, based on evidence available in the literature. The results are presented, focusing on relevant points. The present paper is not an alternative to available guidelines; rather, it offers a snapshot of the attitudes of SICCR surgeons about the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis. The committee was able to identify some points of major disagreement and suggested strategies to improve the quality of available data and acceptance of guidelines.

Does CD10 expression individuate a GIST subgroup of patients?

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate expression of CD10 in a series of gastrointestinal tumors (GIST) and to find its relationship with prognosis, biological and clinical behavior. GISTs represent the most frequent gastrointestinal (GI) mesenchymal tumors. Biological behavior of GIST cannot be easily predicted; for this reason many biomolecular factors are being investigated to predict prognosis. Recently the role of the CD10 as prognostic predictor in the carcinogenesis of the gastrointestinal carcinomas has been accurately studied. To our knowledge, no data regarding the role of CD10 in GISTs have been published to date. METHODS: CD10 expression was searched by immunohistochemistry in 29 histological specimens of proved GIST surgically treated. Patients' characteristics and all pathologic features of tumors were statistically reviewed and compared to CD10 expression. Survival analysis was also calculated respect to CD10 expression and relevant clinical or pathological features. RESULTS: CD10 was expressed in 24.1% of cases. There was no correlation between CD10 positivity and risk category, morphology, size or mitosis. The CD10 expression status did not prove to be statistically related to worse prognosis, advanced disease (metastasis) or recurrence, however it was significantly correlated to the tumor site. CONCLUSION: CD10 expression in our series seems to be associated to a small bowel origin of tumor. CD10 expression alone failed to reveal a statistically significant prognostic value. However survival analysis revealed worse prognosis in stomach tumours with mitotic count >10/50 HPF.

[Pancreatic fistula after left pancreatectomy. Risk factors analysis on 68 patients]. / La fistola pancreatica dopo pancreasectomia sinistra. Analisi dei fattori di rischio su 68 casi.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors related to pancreatic fistula after left pancreatectomy, considering the difference between the use of mechanical suture and the manual suture to close the pancreatic stump. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients, undergoing left pancreatectomy, were included in this study during a 10-year period. Eight possible risk factors related to pancreatic fistula were examined, such as demographic data (age and sex), pathology (pancreatic and extrapancreatic), technical characteristics (stump closure, concomitant splenectomy, additional procedures), texture of pancreatic parenchyma, octreotide therapy. RESULTS: Fourty-one patients (60%) underwent left pancreatectomy for primary pancreatic disease and 27 (40%) for extrapancreatic malignancy. Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 1.5% and 35%, respectively. Fourteen patients (20%) developed pancreatic fistula: 4 of them were classified as Grade A, 9 as Grade B and only one as Grade C. Three factors have been significantly associated to the incidence of pancreatic fistula: none prophylactic octreotide therapy, spleen preserving and soft pancreatic texture. It's still unclear the influence of pancreatic stump closure (stapler vs hand closure) in the onset of pancreatic fistula. CONCLUSION: In this study the incidence of pancreatic fistula after left pancreatectomy has been 20%. This rate is lower for patients with fibrotic pancreatic tissue, concomitant splenectomy and postoperative prophylactic octreotide therapy.

[Late complication after colon self-expandable metal stent placement: a case report]. / Complicanza tardiva dopo posizionamento colico di stent metallico autoespandibile: caso clinico.

Treatment of acute colorectal malignant obstruction, by using self-expandable metallic stents is useful for both palliative and decompressive therapy before the final surgical treatment. In this case, the patient may be benefit from a period of medical optimization prior to undergoing planned surgical resection by a colorectal surgeon. This is a minimally invasive procedure, relatively safe, which obviates the need for colostomy for evacuation relieving physical and psychological burden and contributing the improvement of quality of life. Furthermore, this method also has the advantage of being cost-effective. The previous experience in the benign biliary stenosis allowed the extension of using the metallic stents also for the treatment of benign colorectal diseases (diverticular occlusion, anastomotic strictures, colonic endometriosis). Complications of colon self-expandable metallic stents placement may occur during the procedure and soon after placement (early complications) or, rarely, late after insertion (late complications). These include bleeding, re-obstruction, pain, tenesmus, stent migration, and perforation. The authors report a case of an 81 year-old woman with inoperable rectal carcinoma with liver metastasis who underwent palliative treatment of self-expanding metallic stent endoscopic placement. One month later, the patient presented with acute abdomen at Accidents and Emergencies Department. The diagnosis was a late rectosigmoid junction perforation by stent placement.

Preoperative chemoradiation with raltitrexed ('Tomudex') for T2/N+ and T3/N+ rectal cancers: a phase I study.

The use of raltitrexed ('Tomudex') as concomitant chemotherapy during preoperative radiotherapy in chemonaïve patients with stage II/III rectal cancer has been examined in this study and its recommended dose in conjunction with radiotherapy investigated. Forty-five Gray (Gy) of radiotherapy (1.8 Gy daily, 5 days per week) was delivered to the posterior pelvis, followed by a 5.4 Gy boost. Single doses of raltitrexed (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg/m(2)) were administered on days 1, 19 and 38. Only 1 of the 15 patients entered experienced a dose limiting toxicity (DLT) (grade 3 leucopenia) at the 3.0 mg/m(2) dose level. The overall response rate was 80% (five complete responses, seven partial responses). These preliminary data suggest that raltitrexed is a well tolerated and effective treatment when combined with preoperative radiotherapy in patients with stage II/III rectal cancer. The recommended dose of raltitrexed for future phase II studies will be 3.0 mg/m(2).

How can the assessment of fistula-inano be improved?

PURPOSE: Fistula-in-ano anatomy and its relationship with anal sphincters are important factors influencing the results of surgical management. Preoperative definition of fistulous track(s) and the internal opening play a primary role in minimizing iatrogenic damage to the sphincters and recurrence of the fistula. METHODS: Physical examination and endoanal ultrasound (performed with a 10 MHz endoprobe), either conventionally or with an injection of hydrogen peroxide, were performed in 26 consecutive patients. Results were matched with surgical features to establish their accuracy in preoperative fistula-in-ano assessment. RESULTS: Accuracy rates of clinical examination endoanal ultrasound, and hydrogen peroxide-enhanced ultrasound were 65.4, 50, and 76.9 percent for primary tracks, 73.1, 65.4, and 88.5 percent for secondary tracks, and 80.8, 80.8, and 92.3 percent for horseshoe extensions, respectively. Compared with physical examination and endoanal ultrasound, accuracy of hydrogen peroxide-enhanced ultrasound was higher for transsphincteric and intersphincteric primary tracks and horseshoe extensions. Both endoanal ultrasound and hydrogen peroxide-enhanced ultrasound displayed a significantly higher accuracy in detecting the internal openings (53.8 and 53.8 percent, respectively) compared with clinical evaluation (23.1 percent; P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that hydrogen peroxide-enhanced ultrasound can be very reliable and useful in the definition of fistula anatomy, its relationship with anal sphincters, and, hence, surgical strategy. It also improves identification of secondary extensions, particularly horseshoe tracks. This method, besides being safe, economic and reputable, both preoperatively and postoperatively, could be helpful in checking operative results and recurrence.

Accurate lymph-node detection in colorectal specimens resected for cancer is of prognostic significance.

PURPOSE: Lymph-node involvement is the most important prognostic factor in colorectal cancers. Many staging systems adopted node status as a parameter of tumor classification. However, the number of identified and positive glands varies across articles, depending on specimen examination. There is a consistent risk of substaging tumors and undertreating patients. Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of different pathologic methods. METHODS: Eight hundred one patients who underwent curative resection of colorectal cancer entered the study and were divided into two groups. In Group 1 the specimen was "en bloc" fixed, and nodes were identified by sight and palpation. In Group 2 the mesentery of the excised specimen was dissected away from the bowel, stretched, and pinned to cork board. The mesenteric segment surrounding the origin of principal vessels was divided from the segment surrounding the colic vessels. All specimen segments were fixed, node identification being performed by sight and palpation. Examined and positive nodes were recorded, and metastatic rate and incidence was calculated in the two groups. Patients were classified with use of different staging systems. Survival rates were calculated, related to tumor stage, and compared statistically. Pathologic procedures were included in a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A significantly higher number of detected and positive nodes and metastatic rate (37.5 vs. 30.2 percent; P < 0.05) were observed in Group 2; 45.2 percent of Group 2 and 25.3 percent of Group 1 cases had more than three positive nodes (P < 0.05). In Group 2 several patients shifted from earlier to more advanced stages compared with Group 1 cases. Five-year and ten-year survival rates were significantly higher (P = 0.04) in Group 2 (81.5 and 77.2 percent) than in Group 1 (76.7 and 61.5 percent), mostly in patients with TNM Stage N0. Survival analysis related to Astler and Coller's and Tang's classifications confirmed such features. Higher rates of local recurrences and distant metastases were found in Group 1, particularly if related to node status (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated the pathologic method is an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the prognostic impact of specimen examination. Inaccurate methods could down-stage the tumor and exclude the patient from adjuvant therapies, with detrimental effects on the outcome of the case.

Prognostic factors in colorectal cancer. Literature review for clinical application.

PURPOSE: Identification of prognostic factors is a primary basis for planning the treatment and predicting the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer. Reviewing studies from the literature performed using univariate and multivariate analyses and their own study, the authors critically discuss the prognostic value of the clinicopathologic parameters of the tumor. METHODS: Among 853 patients with colorectal tumors seen at the Department of Clinical Surgery of the Catholic University of Rome, Italy, 690 cases that were curatively resected the study. Overall survival rate, related to the clinicopathologic variables, was calculated, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Five-year and ten-year overall survival rates were 70 and 55 percent, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that node involvement, distant metastases, bowel obstruction, and patient gender are factors independently related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the literature and the present study suggest that only a few clinical parameters, particularly bowel obstruction, and some pathologic factors (tumor stage, vessels invasion, and tumor ploidy) are related to patient survival rate and are the most reliable prognostic criteria. In prospective clinical studies, any other new pathologic or molecular factors should be matched with these parameters to confirm their value in outcome prediction.

[The anal canal: 2 cycles of radiochemotherapy and boost brachytherapy]. / Canale anale: due cicli di radiochemioterapia concomitante e sovradosaggio con brachiterapia.

From 1988 to 1996, twenty-six patients with epidermoid anal cancer were examined at the Radiotherapy Department of Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Rome. At diagnosis, 13 patients were stage II, 11 patients were stage III, 2 patients had a small recurrence after local excision. All the patients were treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy followed by a brachytherapy boost. Treatment was carried out in two cycles 4-5 weeks apart. Chemotherapy consisted of 5FU (1,000 mg/sqm, continuous infusion over the first 4 days) and Mitomycin C (10 mg/sqm on day 1, bolus administration). Radiotherapy was administered with two AP opposed coaxial beams of the same size. The target was T and inguinal, external, internal and common iliac lymph nodes. The total dose for each cycle was 23.4 Gy, administered with conventional fractionation and a daily dose of 180 cGy. Four-six weeks after the end of cycle 2, the patients received a boost of interstitial brachytherapy. During concomitant radiochemotherapy, grade 3-4 (RTOG-EORTC scale) acute hematologic and cutaneous toxicities were observed in 15% and 4% of patients, respectively; treatment was discontinued in 4 patients. Complete response was observed in 21 patients (81%) and partial response in 5 (19%). The later underwent surgery, namely local excision in 1 patient and abdominoperineal resection in 4 patients. The median observation period of our study population was 45 months. Five-year actuarial local control of the 26 patients was 88%. Five year actuarial survival was 75% and sphincter conservation 77%. Our results confirm the data reported by Cummings of Princess Margaret Hospital, who observed low toxicity when the two cycles of concomitant radiochemotherapy are split. Randomized phase-III studies should clarify the potential role of the new radiochemotherapy combinations which should be compared with reference treatments providing repeatable results and low toxicity. Our treatment may make a reference for more innovative combinations of radiochemotherapy.