Influence of caseload and surgical speciality on outcome following surgery for colorectal cancer: a review of evidence Part 2: Long-term outcome

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed recent literature to assess the impact of hospital caseload, surgeon's caseload and education on long-term outcome following colorectal cancer surgery. METHOD: We searched the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases for relevant literature starting from 1992. We selected hospital caseload, surgeon's caseload and surgeon's education, type of hospital, and surgeon's experience as variables of interest. Measures of outcome were recurrence-free survival and overall survival, and for rectal cancer frequency of permanent stoma. We reviewed the 34 studies according to tumour location: colonic cancer, rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer. We described the studies individually and performed a meta-analysis whenever it was considered appropriate. RESULTS: For colonic cancer, overall survival improved with increasing hospital caseload, odds ratio (OR) 1.22 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.28], and surgeon's education. For rectal cancer, overall survival improved with increasing hospital caseload, OR 1.38 (95% CI 1.19-1.60), and, possibly by surgeon' education and experience. Cancer-free survival was strongly influenced by surgeon's education. The colostomy rate was less in high caseload hospitals, OR 0.76 (95% CI 0.68-0.85). For colorectal cancer, overall survival improved with surgeon's education. CONCLUSION: The data have provided evidence that long-term survival following colorectal cancer surgery in general improved significantly with increasing hospital caseload and surgeon's education.     

Influence of caseload and surgical speciality on outcome following surgery for colorectal cancer: a review of evidence. Part 1: short-term outcome

OBJECTIVE: An association between caseload and outcome has been reported for complex surgical procedures. We systematically reviewed recent literature to determine whether caseload and surgical speciality are associated with short-term outcome following colorectal cancer surgery. METHOD: We searched the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases for relevant publications starting in 1992. We selected hospital caseload and type, and surgeon's caseload, education and experience as variables of interest. Measures of outcome were postoperative morbidity, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and for rectal cancer anastomotic leak. We stratified the 35 reviewed studies by tumor location: colonic cancer, rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer and described the studies individually. A meta-analysis was performed only when it was considered appropriate. RESULTS: For colonic cancer, postoperative morbidity was associated with surgeon's caseload and education. Postoperative mortality was strongly associated with hospital caseload (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.55-0.73), and surgeon's caseload (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.39-0.64). It was also influenced by surgeon's education and experience. For rectal cancer, we found no evidence of an association between the selected variables and short-term outcome, including frequency of anastomotic leak. For colorectal cancer, there was evidence for an association between postoperative morbidity and hospital caseload. CONCLUSION: Our review offers evidence for a positive association between high hospital caseload, surgeon's caseload, sub-speciality and experience and improved short-term outcome in colonic cancer surgery. We failed to find evidence of a relationship for rectal cancer surgery, possibly owing to methodological artifacts. No study reported an inverse relation.     

Outcome of surgery in patients with hematological malignancies: A 12-year retrospective analysis

Background: Surgical intervention in patients with malignant hematological disorders is a major undertaking due to the expected risks of bleeding, infection and poor wound healing. Methods and materials: A retrospective study of patients treated at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, Saudi Arabia between January 1991 and December 2002 was conducted. The results of patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma who underwent surgical procedures (study group) were compared with those of a control group composed of patients with the same spectrum of disorders treated over the same period of time and given the same treatment protocols but never required any surgery. Results: No single death occurred intraoperatively or in the immediate postoperative period due to surgical therapy per se. However, follow up of both groups of patients revealed a shorter long‐term survival and higher rates of relapse and severe invasive infections in the surgical group compared to the control group of patients. The mean survival for the study group was 1871 ± 307 days versus 3094 ± 279 days for the control group of patients (P = 0.0027). Thirty (75%) study patients suffered relapses of their malignant hematological disorders versus 23 (37.1%) control patients. Forty‐five relapses were encountered in the study group of patients (1.5 relapses per relapsed patient) versus 26 relapses in the control group (1.13 relapses per relapsed patient). Various infections occurred in 37 (92.5%) study patients and 32 (51.6%) control patients. Recurrent infections developed in 30 (75%) study patients and 22 (35.5%) control patients (P = 0.00008). Infections causing tissue invasion were encountered in 29 (72.5%) study patients and 22 (35.5%) control patients. Conclusion: Even major surgical procedures can be performed in patients with leukemia or lymphoma provided enough preparatory measures are made to minimize bleeding and infectious complications. Surgery may, however, be associated with long‐term complications such as a high incidence of relapse of the primary malignant hematological disorder and an increased rate of severe and invasive infections.     

吻合血管的胸脐皮瓣移植修复足踝部大面积软组织缺损

目的 探讨吻合血管的胸脐皮瓣移植修复足踝部大面积软组织缺损的临床效果.方法 对18例足踝部大面积软组织缺损(其中11例伴胫前或胫后血管节段损害)采用胸脐皮瓣游离移植修复创面.创面面积12cm×6cm～32cm×12cm.结果 移植皮瓣全部成活,3例足跟部缺损的病人术后因长期磨擦形成足跟部慢性溃疡;3例皮瓣臃肿,需再次手术整形.其余病例外观和足踝部功能恢复满意.结论 胸脐皮瓣为腹壁下动脉供血,血运丰富,血管解剖恒定,血管蒂长,可切取面积大且易于切取,适宜修复足踝部软组织缺损,尤其适用于缺损面积大、胫前或胫后血管之一长节段损害者.     

指背血管蒂逆行岛状皮瓣的临床应用

目的：探讨一种新的方法修复手指部皮肤软组织缺损。方法：以手指背血管为蒂，于近节指背、指蹊及掌背远端区域设计逆行岛状皮瓣转移至手指皮肤软组织缺损处，皮瓣及蒂部包涵指背动脉及指背浅静脉，皮瓣供区可直接拉拢缝合或皮片移植修复。结果：1999年10月～2002年8月，临床应用12例13个皮瓣，11个皮瓣完全成活，2个皮瓣发生表皮层坏死，经换药后自愈。结论：指背血管蒂逆行岛状皮瓣邻近手指皮肤软组织缺损区，血运可靠，可以安全、简便地修复手指创面。     

Multicentre prospective audit of surgical outcomes and acute complications following short course pre-operative radiotherapy for resectable rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The addition of short course pre-operative radiotherapy to total mesorectal excision reduces local recurrence in resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum. In a previous retrospective study potential factors associated with early complications following this combination were identified. The aim of this study was to examine these relationships in a prospective multicentre audit. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients who received short course pre-operative radiotherapy in four cancer centres between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002 were included. Data including patient age, radiotherapy field length, overall treatment time, operation type, surgical outcomes and complications occurring within 3 months of the 1st day of radiotherapy were collected. These were compared and combined with the previously studied cohort of 176 patients treated at one centre between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 1999. RESULTS: In the prospective cohort only patient age (P=0.001) was significantly associated with acute complications. However, both the overall treatment time (median 9.0 vs 11.0 days P <0.0001) and field length (median 16.6 vs 17.0 cm P=0.03) were significantly shorter in this cohort when compared to the previous retrospective study. In patients from both studies (n=283), increasing age (P=0.002) and field length (independent of operation type) (P=0.02) were independently associated with an increased risk of acute complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that meticulous selection of patients for short course pre-operative radiotherapy and smaller planning target volumes may be associated with a lower risk of acute complications. The use of MRI scanning to stage pelvic disease may reduce the number of patients with R1 resections receiving short course pre-operative radiotherapy.     

手外科温箱的研制及临床应用

目的研究手外科温箱对手外伤患者伤口或创面愈合,以及再植手指或手成活的影响。方法同期对手外伤术后应用手外科温箱治疗59例,应用烤灯治疗54例,观察效果。结果手外科温箱治疗59例,再植手指成活率97%,伤口一期愈合率96％,感染率4%;烤灯治疗54例,再植手指成活率90％,伤口一期愈合率92％,感染率8％。结论手外科温箱能提供观察、照明、保温、保湿、供氧、消毒、操作等功能,再植手指成活率和伤口一期愈合率明显上升,感染率明显下降,是手外科必备治疗康复设备。     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检的临床意义

目的 评价应用蓝染料示踪剂识别乳腺癌前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymph node,SLN)的可行性和SLN预测腋窝淋巴结（axillary lymph node,ALN)转移的准确性。方法 应用专利蓝对42例临床腋窝淋巴结阴性的乳腺癌患者进行SLN定位和活检术。结果 37例找到SLN，SLN检出率88.1%，SLN的成功定位与患者的年龄有关。SLN预测ALN状态的准确率为93.8%，假阴性2例。结论 蓝染料示踪法定位乳腺癌SLN是成功率较高的方法，且操作简单，花费少，SLN活检能够准确预测腋窝淋巴结的转移状况，在将来治疗腋淋巴结阴性的乳腺癌中，这一技术可以免除患者接受不必要的腋淋巴结清扫术。     

国产重组人脑钠素与硝普钠用于心脏手术围术期处理的对比研究

目的 对重组人脑钠素（rhBNP）用于心脏手术围术期处理的可行性、安全性和有效性进行初步观察，并与硝普钠的作用进行比较。方法 选择择期心脏手术病人22例，随机分为rhBNP组（B组）和硝普钠（SNP）组（s组），每组11例。比较rhBNP与SNP对病人血流动力学和肝肾功能的影响。结果 与给药前和S组比较，B组用药后15、30、60、120和180min各点心输出量增加显著（P〈0．05，P〈0．01）；B组与给药前比较，给药后即刻、15、30和60min时点外周血管阻力下降显著（P〈0．05）；给药后即刻、15和30点与S组比较，下降显著（P〈0．05）。B组肺毛细血管楔压（PCWP）与用药前比较，用药后即刻、15、30、60、120和180min下降显著（P〈0．05，P〈0．01）；与S组比较，给药后30、60、120和180min差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05，P〈0．01）。S组PCWP与用药前比较，用药后60min、120min和180min下降显著（P〈0．05）。B组与输注rhBNP前以及S组比较，平均动脉压、心率和中心静脉压差异均无统计学意义。输注rhBNP后病人24h尿量明显增加。用药过程中以及30d后进行电话随访，未见药物不良反应。结论 rhBNP用于心脏手术围术期处理是可行的，具有改善心功能和稳定循环的作用。