The detection and management of complications following the treatment of liver metastases

While once considered as incurable systemic disease, treatment options for liver metastases have increased over the last 30 years and safety has improved dramatically, such that for a selected group of patients the hope of cure can now be offered with radical treatment, and low morbidity interventions can be offered which prolong survival, even in patients with more widely disseminated disease. Advances have been made in selection and surgical technique for liver resection and several adjuncts to resection now exist in the form of portal vein embolization, thermal ablation and targeted drug or radiotherapy delivery options. A natural consequence of these developments has been the delivery of services within fewer specialist units, with the result that later complications of therapy may present to local hospitals, rather than directly to the specialist centres. This article will describe the current common liver-directed therapies and outline the presentation and management of their complications.     

鲜天南星水提取物对小鼠子宫纤维瘤的抑制作用和对小鼠雌激素的影响

【摘要】目的 探讨鲜天南星水提取物对小鼠子宫纤维瘤的抑制作用及对小鼠雌激素水平的影响。方法 选取SD健康雌性小鼠30只，随机分为正常组、模型组、实验组3组，每组各10只，对模型组、实验组进行子宫纤维瘤模型建立，正常组不作处理。实验组小鼠予以鲜天南星水提取物进行干预，正常组、模型组小鼠注射等体积生理盐水。对小鼠子宫重及子宫系数进行统计计算，酶联免疫吸附试验法检测雌二醇（Estradiol，E2）、孕酮（Progesterone，P）、卵泡刺激素（Follicle stimulating hormone，FSH）、黄体生成激素（Luteinizing Hormone，LH）水平。结果 干预后，模型组及实验组小鼠子宫重及子宫系数均高于正常组，实验组小鼠子宫重及子宫系数均低于模型组（P＜0.05）；干预后，模型组及实验组小鼠血清E2、P、FSH、LH水平均高于正常组，但实验组小鼠血清E2、P、FSH、LH水平均低于模型组（P＜0.05）。结论 鲜天南星水提取物可对小鼠子宫纤维瘤起到一定的抑制作用，并能对E2、P、FSH、LH等激素水平进行调控，为子宫纤维瘤的临床治疗提供一定的理论依据，值得临床借鉴。     

Pelvic exenteration: Pre-, intra-, and post-operative considerations

This review outlines the role of pelvic exenteration (PE) in the management of certain locally-advanced primary and recurrent rectal cancers. PE has undergone significant evolution over the past decades. Advances in pre-, intra-, and post-operative care have been directed towards achieving the ‘holy grail’ of an R0 resection, which remains the most important predictor of survival, quality of life, morbidity, and cost effectiveness following PE.Patient selection for surgery is largely determined by assessment of resectability. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging determines the extent of local disease, while positron emission tomography remains the most accurate tool for exclusion of distant metastases. PE in the setting of metastatic disease or with palliative intent remains controversial.The intra-operative approach is based on the anatomical division of the pelvis into five compartments (anterior, central, posterior, and two lateral). Within each compartment are various possible dissection planes which are elected depending on the extent of tumour involvement. Innovations in surgical technique have allowed ‘higher and wider’ dissection planes with resultant en bloc excision of major vessels, major nerves, and bone. Evidence of improved R0 resection and survival rates with these techniques justifies the radicality of these novel approaches.Post-operative care for PE patients is technically demanding with a substantial hospital resource burden. Unique considerations for PE patients include the ‘empty pelvis syndrome’, urological complications, and management of post-operative malnutrition. While undeniably a morbid procedure, quality of life largely returns to baseline at six months, and for long-term survivors is sustained for up to five years.     

Nationwide outcomes of newborns with rectosigmoid versus long-segment Hirschsprung disease

PurposeHirschsprung Disease (HD) is a common congenital intestinal disorder. While aganglionosis most commonly affects the rectosigmoid colon (rectosigmoid HD), outcomes for patients in which aganglionosis extends to more proximal segments (long-segment HD) remain understudied. This study sought to compare postoperative outcomes among newborns with rectosigmoid and long-segment HD.MethodsThe Nationwide Readmission Database was queried from 2016 to 2018 for newborns with HD. Newborns were stratified into those with rectosigmoid or long-segment HD. Those who received no rectal biopsy or pull-through procedure during their newborn hospitalization were excluded. A propensity score-matched analysis (PSMA) of newborns with either type of HD was constructed utilizing 17 covariates including demographics, comorbidities, and congenital-perinatal conditions.ResultsThere were 1280 newborns identified with HD (82% rectosigmoid HD, 18% long-segment HD). Patients with rectosigmoid HD had higher rates of laparoscopic resections (35% vs. 12%) and less frequently received a concomitant ostomy (14% vs. 84%), both p < 0.001. Patients with long-segment HD were more likely to have a delayed diagnosis (12% vs. 5%) and require multiple bowel operations (19% vs. 4%), both p < 0.001. They experienced higher rates of complications, including small bowel obstructions (10% vs. 1%), infections (45% vs. 20%), and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (11% vs. 5%), all p < 0.001. After PSMA, newborns with long-segment HD were found to have a longer length of stay and higher hospitalization costs.ConclusionNewborns with long-segment HD experience significant delays in diagnosis, surgery, and complications compared to those with rectosigmoid HD. This information should be utilized to improve healthcare delivery for this patient population.Type of StudyRetrospective comparative study.Level of EvidenceIII.     

层流洁净新生儿重症监护病房早产儿实施床旁手术的可行性分析

 目的 探讨层流洁净新生儿重症监护病房(NICU)早产儿实施床旁手术的效果与可行性。方法 回顾性分析某军队三甲综合医院2017年9月—2020年10月NICU住院并进行床旁动脉导管扎闭术(PDA)及腹部探查术的危重新生儿的临床资料,在NICU行床旁手术者列为NICU组,转入手术室进行手术者列为手术室(OR)组,比较两组新生儿术后体温、切口感染率及病死率的差异。结果 共计纳入258例新生儿,其中NICU组166例,OR组92例。NICU组新生儿出生胎龄、出生体质量、手术时体质量、新生儿危重病例评分均低于OR组;NICU组新生儿术前应用呼吸机通气比例高于OR组,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05)。NICU组与OR组新生儿术中抽检空气培养微生物菌落数、术前体温、PDA与剖腹探查术的构成比例、术后切口感染发病率及病死率比较,差异均无统计学意义(均P＞0.05),但手术后OR组新生儿平均体温低于NICU组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 层流洁净NICU早产儿行床旁PDA和腹部手术临床可行,且床旁手术更有利于减少术后低体温的发生。对层流洁净病房进行日常规范化维护,可以有效保障危重早产儿床旁手术的安全。     

Immediate Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Non-Metastatic Colon Cancer: Phase I Trial Evaluating a Novel Treatment Protocol

BackgroundThe optimal timing of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in non-metastatic colon cancer is poorly defined. Delays in AC result in decreased survival. Effective cytotoxic treatments should be considered during the perioperative phase of care. The immediate adjuvant chemotherapy (IAC) concept intends to capitalize on the therapeutic benefits that can be achieved in the perioperative period. We aim to demonstrate that IAC is safe and tolerable.Patient and MethodsMicrosatellite stable invasive adenocarcinomas were treated with intravenous Leucovorin 20 mg/m2 and single dose of 5-Flurouracil 400mg/m2 at the time of surgery. High-risk stage II and stage III received the first dose of standard AC at 14 days after surgery. Serial measurements of blood-based biomarkers were measured. Quality of life (QOL) was measured using EORTC QLQ-C30.ResultsOf the 20 patients recruited, 40% had final pathology of stage III, 40% stage II and 20% stage I. All patients received intra-operative chemotherapy with no associated morbidity. Median length of stay was 2 days (range of 2-4). There was no intraoperative morbidity with 5% (N = 1) grade 3 complication. AC was administered to 65% of patients. The median time to AC was 14 days (range 14-36). Overall quality of life and health scores were similar before surgery and at 30-day postoperatively (P < .05).ConclusionsA protocol based on IAC starting at the time of surgical resection was found to be safe and feasible with no adverse effects on surgical morbidity or quality of life. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the oncologic benefit of this novel systemic treatment approach.