Closure of the retroperitoneal space in laparoscopic anterior resection with FLEXDEX™

Comment on ‘Optimized fistulectomy using the novel FiXcision ® device: a technical feasibility study and evaluation of short term healing rates’

The evidence base for pilonidal sinus surgery is the pits

Improving outcomes for the treatment of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging for sentinel lymph node identification in colon cancer: a prospective single-center study and systematic review with meta-analysis Abstract Background Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has the potential to overcome the current drawbacks of sentinel lymph node mapping (SLNM) in colon cancer. Our aim was to provide an overview of current SLNM performance and of factors influencing successful sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification using NIR fluorescence imaging in colon cancer. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to identify currently used methods and results. Additionally, we performed a single-center study using indocyanine green (ICG) as SLNM dye in colon cancer patients scheduled for a laparoscopic colectomy. SLNs were analyzed with conventional hematoxylin-and-eosin staining and additionally with serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry (extended histopathological assessment). A true-positive procedure was defined as a tumor-positive SLN either by conventional hematoxylin-and-eosin staining or by extended histopathological assessment, independently of regional lymph node status. SLN procedures were determined to be true negatives if SLNs and regional lymph nodes revealed no metastases after conventional and advanced histopathology. SLN procedures yielding tumor-negative SLNs in combination with tumor-positive regional lymph nodes were classified as false negatives. Sensitivity, negative predictive value and detection rate were calculated. Results This systematic review and meta-analysis included 8 studies describing 227 SLN procedures. A pooled sensitivity of 0.63 (95% CI 0.51–0.74), negative predictive value 0.81 (95% CI 0.73–0.86) and detection rate of 0.94 (95% CI 0.85–0.97) were found. Upstaging as a result of extended histopathological assessment was 0.15 (95% CI 0.07–0.25). In our single-center study, we included 30 patients. Five false-negative SLNs were identified, resulting in a sensitivity of 44% and negative predictive value of 80%, with a detection rate of 89.7%. Eight patients had lymph node metastases, in three cases detected after extended pathological assessment, resulting in an upstaging of 13% (3 of 23 patients with negative nodes by conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining). Conclusions Several anatomical and technical difficulties make SLNM with NIR fluorescence imaging in colon cancer particularly challenging when compared to other types of cancer. As a consequence, reports of SLNM accuracy vary widely. Future studies should try to standardize the SLNM procedure and focus on early-stage colon tumors, validation of tracer composition, injection mode and improvement of real-time optical guidance.

Sacral nerve stimulation in patients with slow transit constipation

Emergency surgery for obstructing and perforated colon cancer: patterns of recurrence and prognostic factors Abstract Background The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence, patterns and prognostic factors of recurrence in patients with complicated colon cancer who had emergency surgery within 24 h of admission. Methods A retrospective observational study was performed on patients with obstructing or perforated colon cancer having resection with curative intent between 1996 and 2014 at a single center. Data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. Patients who had rectal cancer, iatrogenic endoscopic perforation, stage IV disease, palliative surgery, a colonic stent or decompressive colostomy were excluded. Results The study included 393 patients. Obstruction was observed in 320 patients (81.4%) and perforation in 73 (18.6%). Hartmann’s procedure was more frequently performed by general surgeons (7.5% vs 23.3%; p = 0.023). 30-day postoperative mortality was 13.5% (53/393), including 47 (14.7%) obstructed and 6 (8.2%) perforated patients. Postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo III–IV) occurred in 87 patients (22.1%), including 68 (21.2%) of obstructed and 19 (26.0%) of perforated patients. Anastomotic dehiscence was diagnosed in 52 of 329 (15.8%) patients with primary anastomosis and was higher in the obstructing group than in the perforated group (17.4% vs 7.6%). There was a significantly higher anastomotic dehiscence rate after procedures performed by general surgeons when compared with those performed by colorectal surgeons (10.3% vs 21.3%; p = 0.005; OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.4–5.9). With a median follow-up of 6 years, the recurrence rate was 30.1% (67.4% distant, 22.8% local, 9.8% both). Overall and cancer-related survivals were 68.7% and 77.8%, respectively. The presence of positive nodes, male gender, anastomotic dehiscence and diffuse peritonitis were independent predictors for local recurrence while type of surgeon (general) was an independent factor for distant recurrence. Conclusions Male gender, diffuse peritonitis, positive lymph nodes, type of surgeon and postoperative anastomotic dehiscence significantly influence recurrence of colorectal cancer in this series.

Complicated Allen–Masters syndrome

The cecal patch: a signature skip lesion in ulcerative colitis

A unique rectal lesion: heterotopic gastric mucosa with bland squamous cell epithelium