Impact of an in-consult patient decision aid on treatment choices and outcomes of management for patients with an endoscopically resected malignant colorectal polyp: a study protocol for a non-randomised clinical phase II study.

INTRODUCTION: Management of an endoscopically resected malignant colorectal polyps can be challenging due to the risk of residual tumour and lymphatic spread. International studies have shown, that of those choosing surgical management instead of surveillance strategy, there are between 54% and 82% of bowel resections without evidence of residual tumour or lymphatic spread. As surgical management entails risks of complications and surveillance strategy entails risks of residual tumour or recurrence, a clinical dilemma arises when choosing a management strategy. Shared decision-making is a concept that can be used in preference-sensitive decision-making to facilitate patient involvement and empowerment to facilitate active patient participation in the decision-making process. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study protocol describes our clinical multi-institutional, non-randomised, interventional phase II study at Danish surgical departments planned to commence in the second quarter of 2024. The aim of this study is to examine whether shared decision-making and using a patient decision aid in consultations affect patients' choice of management, comparing with retrospective data. The secondary aim is to investigate patients' experiences, perceived involvement, satisfaction, decision conflict and other outcomes using questionnaire feedback directly from the patients. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: There are no conflicts of interest for principal or local investigators in any of the study sites. All results will be published at Danish and international meetings, and in English language scientific peer-reviewed journals. Our study underwent evaluation by the Regional Committees on Health Research Ethics for Southern Denmark (file number 20232000-47), concluding that formal approval was not required for this kind of research. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05776381.

Anastomosis technique and leakage rates in minimally invasive surgery for right-sided colon cancer. A retrospective national cohort study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the different techniques currently used in Denmark to construct right-sided ileocolic anastomoses in minimally invasive surgery, and investigate, compare and analyse the anastomotic configurations and their anastomotic leakage (AL) rates. METHODS: This was a retrospective register-based, study design using prospectively collected data from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG) database. All patients aged 18 years or older with a malignant colorectal tumour in Denmark in the period of 1 February 2015 until 31 December 2019, and who had an elective, curative, minimally invasive right hemicolectomy (MIRH) with ileocolic anastomosis, were included. RESULTS: Three thousand three hundred ninety-eight patients were included. The most commonly used anastomotic approach was the extracorporeal (EC) hand-sewn anastomosis (HA) with end-to-end configuration (59%) and the second most used was the EC stapled anastomosis (SA) side-to-side configuration (20%). The latter had a higher AL rate compared with the hand-sewn technique (3.8% vs. 1.3%), and had significantly higher odds ratio (OR) (OR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.56-4.92, p < 0.0001) for AL in the adjusted regression model. The least used technique was the end-to-side HA which also had a significantly higher OR (OR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.30-7.15, p = 0.010) compared with the end-to-end HA. Smoking was an independent factor associated with higher OR for AL. CONCLUSION: The ileocolic end-to-end HA was the most commonly used technique and had the lowest AL rate in MIRH for colon cancer. The EC SA technique and tobacco smoking were independent risk factors for leakage of the ileocolic anastomosis.

[Metastasis from a malignant melanoma presenting as a gall bladder polyp].

Gall bladder polyps larger than 10 mm hold an increased risk of malignancy. In this case report, a metastasis from a superficial spreading malignant melanoma level IV presented as a large gall bladder polyp in a 52-year-old woman. The melanoma had been surgically resected eight years earlier. The most frequent distant metastatic sites of malignant melanoma are soft tissue, lung, liver, skin and brain, but metastasis to the gallbladder is rare. It is important to refer patients with large gall bladder polyps to centres with expertise in liver surgery.

[Palliative treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction].

In gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) the passage from the stomach to the intestine is obstructed. The condition is referred to as malignant GOO if cancer is the reason. Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) and gastrojejunostomy (GEA) are the therapeutic options for palliation, with SEMS often being recommended as first choice. However, no major difference in terms of clinical success has been shown between SEMS and GEA in comparative studies. Thus, the choice between SEMS and GEA should be made on an individual basis. If SEMS is chosen, covered and uncovered stents offer equal success rates.