Perineal reconstruction with local flaps: technique and results

Background

Wide excision of perineal lesions, often including the entire anal canal, may be necessary for benign and malignant conditions. Closure of these large defects is challenging, especially when continence is a goal. The aim of this study was to assess our experience with local flap closure of large perineal defects.

Methods

From 1994 to 2009, 20 patients underwent wide perineal and/or anal canal excisions and reconstruction using local flaps. Mean age was 45 years (range 20–65 years), 13 were male, and 8 (40 %) were immunocompromised. Primary indications included anal or perineal squamous cell carcinoma—(n = 12), Buschke-Lowenstein tumor (n = 3), and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 3), hidradenitis, stenosis, ectropion, and traumatic cloaca repair (n = 1 each). Primary procedures included wide local excision of large neoplastic lesions—(n = 15) (mean size 10 cm, range 5–18 cm), abdominoperineal resection (APR) (n = 2), perineoplasty with sphincteroplasty—(n = 1), and others—(n = 2). All were reconstructed with bilateral local flaps (V–Y 18, S 2). Thirteen had complete excision of the anal canal to the anorectal ring preserving the sphincters. Six (30 %) had ostomies; 2 with APR and 4 temporary.

Results

There were no perioperative deaths. Mean hospital stay was 4.2 days. Follow-up averaged 35 months (range 3–87 months) in survivors. Five patients died during follow-up; 2 of complications of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 3 of cancer (2 treated palliatively). Wound dehiscence occurred in 6 (30 %) patients: in 3 cases, this was minor dehiscence and healed quickly; in 3 cases, it was major dehiscence and occurred in the 2 radiation/APR patients and in one patient with advanced AIDS. Radiation was the only significant risk factor (P < .05). Twelve of 14 eligible patients with long-term follow-up and an intact anal canal are fully continent, and 2 are partially continent (1 traumatic cloaca; 1 the same as before surgery).

Conclusion

Local flap reconstruction of the perineum and anal canal is an excellent method of managing large perineal defects. Most heal primarily, even in immunocompromised patients, and continence may be preserved. Local flaps should be avoided in irradiated patients.     

Efficacy of preoperative endoscopic nasobiliary drainage for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Background/Purpose

Although percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage has previously been recommended as a primary preoperative step, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is prevalent as an alternative procedure. Few reports assess the efficacy and safety of ENBD in a substantial patient cohort.

Methods

Of 116 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent surgery, 62 (43 men and 19 women, median age 69 years) underwent preoperative ENBD. After classification of lesions according to Bismuth–Corlette (B–C) criteria, we evaluated efficacy and safety with respect to B–C type.

Results

Patients were classified as B–C types I (n = 5), II (n = 21), IIIa (n = 23), IIIb (n = 5), and IV (n = 8). Preoperative single ENBD was effective in 46/62 patients (74%) including 5/5 (100%) B–C type I, 20/21 (94%) type II, 16/23 (70%) type IIIa, 4/5 (80%) type IIIb, and 1/8 (13%) type IV. Sixteen cases (26%) required additional drainages with ENBD or endoscopic biliary stenting (EBS) in 8/16 (50%), and with PTBD in 8/16 (50%). Mild acute pancreatitis (n = 1, 2%), segmental cholangitis (n = 2, 3%), and acute cholangitis with catheter obstruction (n = 7, 11%) occurred with ENBD.

Conclusions

Preoperative single ENBD in the future remnant lobe is effective treatment for B–C type I–III hilar cholangiocarcimona. Preoperative ENBD was rarely complicated with segmental cholangitis.     

Evaluation by three-dimensional anal endosonography of injectable silicone biomaterial (PTQ?) implants to treat fecal incontinence: long-term localization and relation with the deterioration of the continence

Background

The purposes of the study were the long-term evaluation of silicone implants with three-dimensional (3D) anal endosonography and its correlation with anal incontinence.

Methods

Fifteen patients were injected with silicone because of anal incontinence and co-existing internal anal sphincter disruption (n = 8) or thinning (n = 7). The evaluation was performed with the Wexner score and 3D anal endosonographies.

Results

Forty-four implants were performed. The endosonography at 3 months detected that all the implants were properly located. At 24 months, it detected 37/44 implants of initially injected and 33/37 were properly located. Four of 37 implants had moved and 7/44 were neither in the anus nor in the rectum. A total of 8/15 patients had their implants correctly placed. Globally, silicone implants significantly improved fecal continence.

Conclusions

The silicone implants might have moved or even be lost. The continence deterioration suffered by most patients after the first year of the injection has no relation with the localization and number of implants that the patients have.     

Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 and epidermal growth factor receptor are expressed in pancreatic tubular adenocarcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia

Background

Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) is expressed in normal human pancreatic acinar cells and in a variety of tumors, and binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mediating cell proliferation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Here, we aimed to assess SPINK1 and EGFR expression in various neoplastic lesions, including tissues demonstrating precancerous changes.

Methods

Surgical specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (n = 23), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN; n = 21), pancreatic neoplasms other than ductal adenocarcinoma (n = 8), chronic pancreatitis (n = 11), and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions within the resected specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically for SPINK1 and EGFR expression.

Results

Sixty-five PanIN-1A, 32 PanIN-1B, 17 PanIN-2, and 6 PanIN-3 were identified. Both SPINK1 and EGFR were expressed in almost all PanIN lesions. All tubular ductal adenocarcinoma, IPMN, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma samples (neoplasms of ductal origin) expressed SPINK1, whereas acinar cell carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, insulinoma, and islet cell carcinoma did not. EGFR was expressed in 87 % of tubular adenocarcinoma and 48 % of IPMN lesions. Among IPMN lesions, malignant lesions (IPMC) expressed EGFR more often than benign lesions (IPMA) did. Scattered expression of EGFR was observed in normal pancreatic ducts and within the tubular complex within chronic pancreatitis lesions.

Conclusions

These results indicate that SPINK1 plays a role as a growth factor, signaling through the EGFR pathway in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and neoplasms, and that the EGFR is involved in the malignant transformation of IPMN.     

Indocyanine green fluorescent imaging for detecting extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent imaging has been used effectively to identify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in intraoperative setting. However, whether extrahepatic metastatic lesions from HCC can also be detected by this imaging is unknown.

Methods

This study was conducted on 17 patients with suspected extrahepatic HCC metastases in the lung (n = 3), adrenal gland (n = 1), lymph node (n = 7), peritoneum (n = 5) and both lymph node and peritoneum (n = 1). ICG was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg prior to operation for liver function evaluation. Intraoperative ICG fluorescent imaging was performed with a near-infrared light camera system. The surgical specimens were also examined in all cases for the presence of ICG fluorescence.

Results

Of 28 lesions for which ICG fluorescence was examined intraoperatively, 24 lesions exhibited fluorescence and were proved to be HCC metastases pathologically. Five of them were newly identified by ICG fluorescent imaging. The other four lesions included two HCC metastases and two benign tumors. Of 33 suspicious metastatic lesions extirpated, 26 lesions emitting fluorescence from the specimen were all metastatic HCC. The other 7 lesions consisted of 6 benign tumors and one HCC metastasis. Accordingly, the positive predictive value of in vivo and ex vivo ICG fluorescent imaging were both 100 %, while the negative predictive value of those methods were 50 and 86 %, respectively.

Conclusions

Extrahepatic metastases from HCC exhibited ICG fluorescence when illuminated by near-infrared light, indicating their capability to transport ICG. This imaging can be a useful tool for intraoperative detection of metastasis in HCC patients.     

Ileal pouch–anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: a Canadian institution’s experience

Background

We aimed to summarize the outcomes of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients receiving an ileal pouch–anal anastamosis (IPAA) over an 11-year period at a high-volume Canadian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed for subjects with UC who underwent IPAA between 2002 and 2013. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data, clinical characteristics, preoperative medical treatment, and surgical outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling were used to determine significant factors in postoperative outcomes.

Results

Seven hundred fifty-eight were included from the IBD database. The median age at the time of surgery was 37.1 (±12.1). Mean preoperative disease duration was 8.1 years (±8.7). Three hundred sixty-nine patients (48.7 %) had systemic corticosteroids (>15 mg/day) within 30 days prior to surgery. Of these, 286 patients had high dose (>30 mg/day) corticosteroids within 7 days of their first surgery. One hundred nine (14.0 %) IPAA procedures were performed laparoscopically. Pelvic pouches were created in traditional 2 (n = 460) and 3 (n = 285) stages; the remainder (n = 13) was performed in non-traditional staged operations. Early complications, defined as occurring within the same stay in hospital, consisted of pelvic abscess (n = 135, 17.8 %), small bowel obstruction (n = 134, 17.7 %), wound infection (n = 108, 14.3 %), and deep vein thrombosis (n = 33, 4.4 %). The overall pouch leak rate was 92 (12.1 %). There was one death in our study. The median length of stay was 10.3 days (SD6.0). Late complications, defined as occurring after discharge from hospital, consisted of anal stricture (n = 55, 7.3 %), pouch fistula (n = 26, 3.4 %), and functional pouch failure (n = 7, 0.9 %).

Conclusions

IPAA has been found to be a safe and effective method of surgical management of UC patients in a high-volume IBD center.

     

Characteristics of Small Bowel Tumors Detected by Double Balloon Endoscopy

Background

A few reports suggest that the emergence of double balloon endoscopy (DBE) has likely changed the clinical picture of small bowel tumors (SBTs).

Aim

To further clarify the characteristics of SBTs detected by DBE.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted in 227 patients who had undergone DBE.

Results

The SBT group contained more symptomatic patients than the non-SBT group (90% vs. 49%, P < 0.0005) with a significantly higher rate of gastrointestinal symptoms at presentation (72% vs. 33%, P < 0.005). Twenty patients (8.8%) were eventually diagnosed with SBT, and their indications for DBE were obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 5), abdominal pain (n = 5), abdominal fullness (n = 5), vomiting (n = 2), and diarrhea (n = 1). Tumors were located in the jejunum in 14 patients (70%) and in the ileum in 6 (30%). A final histological diagnosis was assigned to all 20 patients: primary adenocarcinoma (n = 8, 40%), malignant lymphoma (n = 5, 25%), metastatic cancer (n = 4, 20%), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n = 1, 5%), carcinoid tumor (n = 1, 5%) and inflammatory fibroid polyp (n = 1, 5%). Stenosis or ulceration were the most frequently observed endoscopic findings (n = 13, 65%). All primary adenocarcinomas and three of four (75%) metastatic cancers showed stenosis or ulceration. Three of five (60%) malignant lymphomas showed multiple lymphomatous polyps. All patients but one underwent surgical resection or chemotherapy or both.

Conclusion

DBE is a safe and useful procedure that enables a precise diagnosis of SBTs.     

No-touch resection of hilar malignancies with right hepatectomy and routine portal reconstruction

Background/Purpose

Locoregional recurrence following resection of hilar biliary cancers could be caused by the microscopic dissemination of cancer cells during dissection of the portal vein from the involved bile duct at the hilar region. This retrospective study assessed the feasibility and safety of a new procedure consisting of right-sided hepatectomy, caudate lobectomy, and bile duct resection combined with routine resection of the portal bifurcation to enable no-touch resection of hilar malignancies.

Methods

Of 64 patients who underwent right-sided hepatectomy for hilar biliary cancer, the portal bifurcation was routinely resected by the above new procedure in 25 patients, based on preoperative imaging diagnoses. Perioperative outcomes were compared with those in patients who underwent conventional portal reconstruction (n = 18) and with those in patients who had preservation of the portal bifurcation (n = 21).

Results

Perioperative data from patients with routine portal reconstruction were similar to those in the patients with conventional portal reconstruction and the patients without portal reconstruction. There were no postoperative complications directly related to portal reconstruction.

Conclusions

No-touch resection of hilar malignancies with right hepatectomy and the routine use of portal reconstruction was feasible and safe. The oncologic impact of this technique merits further evaluation.     

Role of capsule endoscopy Pillcam COLON 2 in patients with known or suspected Crohn’s disease who refused colonoscopy or underwent incomplete colonoscopic exam: a case series

Background

Almost 70–80 % of patients with Crohn’s disease and virtually all patients with ulcerative colitis have colorectal mucosa involvement. Colon capsule endoscopy is an interesting option for patients unable or unwilling to undergo colonoscopy. We report our experience with the second-generation colon capsule PillCam^® COLON 2 in the detection of significant lesions in patients with known or suspected Crohn’s disease, who refused colonoscopy or underwent incomplete colonoscopic exam.

Methods

We have retrospectively reviewed the results of capsule endoscopy in 6 patients who refused colonoscopy (n = 3) or underwent incomplete colonoscopic exam (n = 3) between March 2011 and October 2012. In all patients, a CT scan was obtained before capsule endoscopy to rule out significant stenosis.

Results

In our series of 6 patients, 4 had both small bowel and colonic involvement. The use of the PillCam^® COLON 2 capsule allowed a thorough examination and evaluation of the mucosal lesions with high acceptability, the method being perceived as noninvasive by the patients. No adverse events related to the capsule or bowel preparation were recorded.

Conclusion

In this patient population, PillCam^® COLON 2 capsule endoscopy was safe. The capsule findings had an important impact on treatment decisions and patient management.     

Diagnostic Value of Strain Echocardiography,Galectin-3, and Tenascin-C Levels for the Identification of Patients with Pulmonary and Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Background

Cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis has been associated with poor prognosis. We evaluated myocardial contractility quantitatively in a cohort of pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) patients with and without cardiac involvement. We also studied markers of fibrosis (tenascin-C [Tn-C] and galectin-3 [Gl-3]) as diagnostic tools for PS and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).

Methods

Forty ambulatory patients with PS of grades 1–2 and 26 healthy subjects were prospectively enrolled. All patients with PS underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to explore the presence of CS. The study population was divided into three groups: controls (n = 26), non-CS patients (n = 34), and CS patients (n = 6). Speckle-tracking strain echocardiography (STE) was performed on all patients, and Gl-3 and Tn-C values were measured in all patients and controls.

Results

PS patients had higher levels of Gl-3 and Tn-C than did controls, and the STE parameters of PS patients, including global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS), were lower than those of controls (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). GLS values were lower in CS patients than in the other groups (p = 0.05).

Conclusions

PS patients demonstrate reduced cardiac contractility, independent of CMR-proven structural cardiac lesions, while patients with structural lesions have a more pronounced drop in strain parameters. Tn-C and Gl-3 are promising markers for the diagnosis of PS, but they are not specific for cardiac involvement.     

Ano-coccygeal support in the treatment of idiopathic chronic posterior anal fissure: a prospective non-randomised controlled pilot trial

Background

Idiopathic chronic anal fissure is believed to be a consequence of a traumatic acute anodermal tear followed by recurrent inflammation and poor healing due to relative tissue ischaemia secondary to internal sphincter spasm. This pilot trial compared the efficacy of a novel manufactured ano-coccygeal support attached to a standard toilet seat (Colorec) to the standard procedure of lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) for chronic anal fissure.

Methods

Fifty-three patients with confirmed chronic anal fissures were enrolled and assigned, based on their preference, to the test group and the control group. Each patient was reviewed after therapy, and follow-up was scheduled at 4, 6 and 8 weeks and at 6 months.

Results

The fissure healing rate was 100 % in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the test group (n = 30, median age 42 years; range 20–71 years) and the control group (n = 22, median age 38 years; range 23–60 years) with regards to resolution of rectal bleeding at defaecation after 4 weeks (86.6 vs 72.7 %, p = 0.698), and by week 6, bleeding had resolved in 100 % of patients in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the test group and the control group with regards to pain scores at 4, 6 and 8 weeks (4.30 ± 0.79, 2.03 ± 0.80, 0.43 ± 0.50 vs 3.50 ± 0.74, 1.68 ± 0.56, 0.50 ± 0.51, p = 0.054) and to time until complete healing of fissures (5.60 ± 1.52 weeks vs 5.91 ± 1.57 weeks, p = 0.479). After continuous use of the ano-coccygeal support over 6 months, no patients in the test group had recurrent fissures. No complications were observed during the trial.

Conclusions

Results of both methods were comparable and demonstrated that the ano-coccygeal support is at least as effective as LIS, without any short-term complications. Larger and randomised trials on the use of ano-coccygeal support for chronic anal fissures are awaited.     

Single Balloon Enteroscopy (SBE) Assisted Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Patients with Roux-en-Y Anastomosis

Background

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with Roux-en-Y anastomosis is a complex challenge. Long length of afferent limb after an acute angle at the jejunojejunostomy and altered location of the biliary orifice make biliary cannulation difficult. Single balloon enteroscopy assisted ERCP (SBE-ERCP) is a promising alternative to conventional approaches.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of SBE-ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction at a high volume tertiary referral center.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study. All procedures were performed by a single, experienced pancreatobiliary endoscopist. Patient demographics and related clinical data were obtained. The rate of procedure successes and complications were determined.

Results

Fourteen patients (nine women) with a median age of 63 years (range 35–83 years) underwent 22 SBE-ERCP procedures from March 2009 to May 2011. Surgically altered anatomy consisted of Whipple procedure (n = 4), hepaticojejunostomy (n = 9) and partial gastrectomy (n = 1). Indications for SBE-ERCP were obstructive jaundice (n = 10), cholangitis (n = 7), post-PTC internalization (n = 3) and biliary stent extraction/exchange (n = 2). The hepaticojejunostomy site (HJS) was reached in 15 (68 %) procedures. Successful interventions were performed in 11 (73 %) of 15 cases, including balloon dilation of biliary strictures (n = 3), insertion of biliary stents (n = 7), retrieval of biliopancreatic stents (n = 4) and biliary stone extraction (n = 4). The mean procedural time for successful interventions was 97.6 min (range 73–147 min). No procedural complications occurred during the median follow-up of 501 days (range 22–1,242 days).

Conclusion

SBE-ERCP is safe and carries an acceptable success rate in experienced hands.     

Serum antibodies against the 70k polypeptides of the U1 ribonucleoprotein complex are associated with psychiatric syndromes in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study

Objectives

We assessed the association between serum autoantibodies against the 70-kDa polypeptide of the U1-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex (U1-70k) and the central nervous system (CNS) syndromes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods

We studied 106 hospitalized patients with active SLE, comparing those with (n = 32) and without (n = 74) CNS syndromes. CNS syndromes were further classified into neurologic (n = 21) and psychiatric (n = 15) disorders. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-U1-70k antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant antigens. IgG antibodies against whole U1-RNP were measured using commercial ELISA kits.

Results

Although there was no significant difference in the levels of serum anti-U1-70k antibodies in SLE patients with or without CNS syndromes (p = 0.83), the levels were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared with patients without psychiatric syndromes (p = 0.030). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the levels of serum anti-U1-RNP antibodies in SLE patients with or without psychiatric syndromes (p = 0.555).

Conclusions

These results indicate that serum anti-U1-70k antibodies are associated with psychiatric syndromes in SLE but that they are not associated with CNS syndromes as a whole or with neurologic syndromes. The anti-U1-70k antibodies might be involved in the pathological mechanisms of psychiatric syndromes in SLE.     

p53-autoantibody may be more sensitive than CA-125 in monitoring microscopic and macroscopic residual disease after primary therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer

Purpose

To evaluate the use of p53-autoantibodies (p53-aab) for monitoring minimal disease after standard therapy of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of p53-aab in preoperative and long-term follow-up serum samples from 10 patients selected for representing three relevant EOC subgroups: platinum-sensitive disease after macroscopic complete debulking (n = 4) and platinum-sensitive (n = 3) or platinum-resistant disease (n = 3), both after suboptimal debulking with residual tumor of <1 cm diameter. p53-aab levels were quantified by a sandwich ELISA in two independent experiments. CA-125 values of all samples and clinical information were retrieved from medical records.

Results

Patients with early relapse (median PFS 7 months, n = 8) had high p53-aab levels throughout follow-up while CA-125 values had dropped below the cut-off after primary surgery during or after chemotherapy in these cases. Patients with seroconversion to p53-aab negativity experienced prolonged PFS (n = 2; #1: 50 months, #2: no evidence of disease for 36 months until last follow-up). Continued p53-aab positivity was not related to the resection status or platinum sensitivity.

Conclusions

p53-autoantibodies may be a highly sensitive marker for minimal residual tumor mass after surgery and/or chemotherapy rather than standard CA-125, possibly due to the different nature of these markers. CA-125 released by cancer cells is related to tumor mass, whereas p53-aab levels can indicate the presence of few tumor cells due to amplification by the immune system. Seroconversion of p53-aab could be associated with long-term survival.     

Percutaneous nerve evaluation based on electrode placement under control of autonomic innervation

Background

Foramen needle electrode placement for percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) is currently carried out while observing the somatic motor response. This study investigated electrode placement while observing the autonomic as well as the somatic response.

Methods

A consecutive series of ten patients (seven women) with a median age of 51.9 (range 30–75) years undergoing PNE for faecal incontinence (n = 6) and obstipation (n = 4) were investigated prospectively. Electrode placement was carried out under simultaneous electromyography (EMG) of the external anal sphincter (EAS) and internal anal sphincter (IAS) and cystomanometry.

Results

PNE under control of somatic and autonomic nerve responses was carried out in all patients. In three out of ten patients, initial needle electrode placement showed single evoked EMG signals from the EAS. Final electrode placement resulted in adequate somatic motor and autonomic responses in all patients. Comparison of the increases in IAS EMG amplitude on the right and left stimulation sites for sacral nerves S3 and S4 demonstrated significant differences [S3 right: median 15.3 (interquartile range (IQR) 10.4; 20.1) µV vs. S3 left: median 11.6 (IQR 8.6; 16.0) µV, p = 0.034 and S4 right: median 24.1 (IQR 20.1; 37.2) µV vs. S4 left: median 12.0 (IQR 10.7; 13.7) µV, p = 0.012]. Stimulation-induced bladder activation was achieved in all seven patients with concomitant urinary dysfunction.

Conclusions

Control of not just the somatic motor response but also the autonomic nerve response during foramen needle electrode placement may objectify PNE.     

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation with concomitant boost radiotherapy associated to capecitabine in rectal cancer patients

Purpose

The primary end-points were complete pathological response and local control. Secondary end-points were survivals, anal sphincter preservation, and toxicity profile.

Methods

Patients with T3/T4 and or N+ rectal cancer (n?=?65) were treated with preoperative concomitant boost radiotherapy (55 Gy/25 fractions) associated to concurrent chemotherapy with oral capecitabine.

Results

All patients completed the programmed treatment. The complete pathological response was achieved by 17 % of the patients. Anal sphincter preservation surgery was possible for 86 % of the patients with low rectal cancer (≤5 cm from the anal verge). The T-stage and N-stage downstaging were achieved by 40 and 58 % of the patients, respectively. Circumferential radial margin was involved (close/positive) in eight patients. After a median follow-up of 26 months, local and distant recurrence occurred in two and 11 patients, respectively. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 86.8 and 81 %, respectively. Non-hematological?≥?grade 3 toxicities were observed in 15 % of the patients. On univariate analysis N-downstaging and positive circumferential radial margin were significantly associated with worse overall survival (p?=?0.003 and p?=?0.023, respectively), disease-free survival (p?=?0.001 and p?=?0.036, respectively), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) (p?=?0.001 and p?=?0.038, respectively).On multivariate analysis, the N-downstaging were significantly associated with better overall survival (OS) (p?=?0.022).

Conclusions

Our data support the efficacy of preoperative treatment for rectal cancer in terms of local outcomes. Radiation treatment intensification may have a biological rationale; longer follow-up is needed.     

Selection of prophylactic antibiotics according to the microorganisms isolated from surgical site infections (SSIs) in a previous series of surgeries reduces SSI incidence after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background

The incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) is high after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

We divided 116 consecutive patients who underwent PD into an early group (n = 58) and a later group (n = 58) according to time of surgery. In both groups, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage was mainly employed for the patients with obstructive jaundice. In the later group, prophylactic antibiotics were selected according to the susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from SSIs in the early group. The incidence of SSIs was compared between the groups.

Results

The background characteristics (including methods of preoperative biliary drainage and microorganisms in the bile obtained before or during operation) of the patients were not significantly different between the groups, except for the serum albumin level, which was lower in the later group than in the early group (P = 0.0026). The incidence of SSIs was significantly lower in the later group (24.1 %) than in the early group (46.6 %) (P = 0.0116). Belonging to the later group was one independent negative risk factor for SSI.

Conclusions

Selection of prophylactic antibiotics on the basis of microorganisms isolated from SSIs in the early group contributed to the reduced incidence of SSIs in the later group after PD.