Effectiveness of Sodium Picosulfate/Magnesium Citrate (PICO) for Colonoscopy Preparation

PURPOSE: Bowel preparation with sodium phosphate was recently prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is safe and effective; however, it is difficult to drink. To identify an easy bowel preparation method for colonoscopy, we evaluated three different bowel preparation regimens regarding their efficacy and patient satisfaction. METHODS: In this randomized, comparative study, 892 patients who visited a secondary referral hospital for a colonoscopy between November 2012 and February 2013 were enrolled. Three regimens were evaluated: three packets of sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (PICO, group A), two packets of PICO with 1 L of PEG (PICO + PEG 1 L, group B), and two packets of PICO with 2 L of PEG (PICO + PEG 2 L, group C). A questionnaire survey regarding the patients' preference for the bowel preparation regimen and satisfaction was conducted before the colonoscopies. The quality of bowel cleansing was scored by the colonoscopists who used the Aronchick scoring scale and the Ottawa scale. RESULTS: The patients' satisfaction rate regarding the regimens were 72% in group A, 64% in group B, and 45.9% in group C. Nausea and abdominal bloating caused by the regimens were more frequent in group C than in group A or group B (P < 0.01). Group C showed the lowest preference rate compared to the other groups (P < 0.01). Group C showed better right colon cleansing efficacy than group A or group B. CONCLUSION: Group A exhibited a better result than group B or group C in patient satisfaction and preference. In the cleansing quality, no difference was noted between groups A and C.

Diagnostic Usefulness of Routinely Performed Preoperative Chest Computed Tomography for Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The most common site of metastases in colorectal cancer (CRC) is the liver, and the second common site is the lung (10-20%). Preoperative staging for CRC is very important. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of chest computed tomography (CT) for preoperative staging in CRC. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2007, a total of 597 patients with colorectal cancer underwent surgery at our hospital. One hundred fifty of those patients had received chest CT preoperatively. We analyzed the chest radiologic findings from chest x-ray (CXR), abdominal CT, and chest CT. RESULTS: The detection rate of abnormal lung findings was higher in chest CT than in the other chest radiologic findings (chest PA: 10 [6.6%]; abdominal CT: 19 [12.7%]; chest CT: 48 [32.0%]). On the chest CT, 19 of the 150 (12.7%) patients that had received a chest CT preoperatively were initially suspected of having malignant lesions. Besides two primary lung malignancies (solitary nodules), metastatic lesions were revealed in 5 (3.3%), 11 (7.3%), and 17 (11.3%) patients on CXR, abdominal CT, and chest CT, respectively. Eleven (64.7%) of the patients having metastatic chest CT lesions were also identified on lower lung fields by abdominal CT. Seven also had other metastatic foci (liver and paraaortic LN). Initially, stage IV was identified in 37 (24.7%) and 40 (26.7%) patients in abdominal CT and chest CT, respectively. After one year, 11 of the 150 (7.3%) patients who had received a chest CT had been diagnosed with pulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSION: Chest computed tomography is the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of pulmonary metastases. However, if the interpretations of abdominal CT and individualized diagnostic methods are accurate, the demand for unnecessary preoperative work-up may be reduced.

The Usefulness of FDG-PET/CT for the Prediction of Regional Lymph Node Metastases in Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: Proper preoperative staging is important in planning optimal therapy for individual patients and improving outcome. There is no ideal imaging methods for accurate colorectal cancer staging. The purpose of our study was to determine the usefulness of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) for the status of regional lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Two hundred forty six surgically resected colorectal cancers were retrospectively reviewed from Jan 2007 to Jul 2009. All patients underwent abdominal CT and FDG-PET/CT preoperatively. RESULTS: There were 129 males (52.4%) and the mean age was 62 (range: 25~88 years). Tumor location was the colon in 148 (59.7%) patients, and the rectum in 98 (40.3%) patients. Pathological stages were I: 43 (17.5%), II: 78 (31.7%), III: 81 (32.9%), IV: 44 (17.9%). Regional lymph node metastasis by pathological examination was 118 (48%) patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of regional lymph node staging were 66.4%, 66.7%, 64.8%, 68.3%, and 67%, respectively, with the FDG-PET/CT, and 57.1%, 71.3%, 64.8%, 64.3%, and 65%, respectively, with whole abdominal CT. The difference in the accuracy of nodal staging between the two modalities was not significant. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the assessment of regional lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer was relatively low, and similar to that of abdominal CT. Therefore, further study will be needed to determine the clinical usefulness of preoperative FDG-PET/CT in colorectal cancer.

Morphological Features of Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors after Gleevec Treatment: Two Cases Report

We report two patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with a focus on the morphological features related to Gleevec treatment. In case 1, a 50-year-old woman presented with a 1.8 cm metastatic GIST in the liver after resection of a gastric GIST. Majority of the metastatic tumor showed fibrosis and hyalinization after 8 weeks of Gleevec treatment. CD117-positive cells were present in approximately 1% of the overall tumor. In case 2, a 2 cm and 14 cm metastatic liver masses were found in a 54-year-old man who had a rectal GIST. After 4 weeks of Gleevec treatment, metastatic tumors showed a decrease in size on CT scan. The metastatic tumors showed a decrease in number of tumor cells. The hemorrhage, cystic changes, necrosis, and fibrosis made up approximately 90% of the tumor. The morphological features related to Gleevec treatment are important for correct diagnosis and evaluation of tumor response and prognosis.

Application of BMS(TM) Avoids a Defunctioning Colostomy in the Treatment of Fournier's Gangrene

PURPOSE: Recently developed BMS(TM) (Zassi Bowel Management System(TM): Hollister Inc., Illinois, USA) can provide effective nonsurgical fecal diversion without the risks associated with colostomy creation and subsequent closure. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMS in diverting feces from the perianal wide surgical wound in patients with Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: BMS(TM) was applied in five patients (male: 2, median age; 44) with Fournier's gangrene from January 2000 to September 2001. The treatments consist of three times a day wound dressing after wide surgical debridement and intravenous antibiotic therapy. For evacuation of feces, twice daily warm saline irrigation was administered via BMS(TM) or low daily doses of polyethylene glycol solutions were orally taken in. An endoscopic and anorectal manometric study was done to evaluate possible mucosal complications and anorectal functional changes. RESULTS: The average duration of the BMS application was 41 (range, 22~63) days. The result of a manometric study after immediate removal of the BMS(TM) showed a decreased mean resting pressure (range: 22~36 mmHg) and a decreased mean squeezing pressure (range: 32~39 mmHg). After 3 days, the sphincter pressure had improved markedly: mean resting pressures of 38, 45, 60, and 63 mmHg and mean squeezing pressure of 78, 89, 91, and 101 mmHg respectively. Fecal incontience was not noted in any patient. Other possible mucosal complications were not noted. There were no mortalit. CONCLUSIONS: BMS(TM) application in Fournier's gangrene patients after surgery successfully avoids a defunctioning colostomy. Furthermore, no significant complications were noted over a prolonged period up to 63 days.

The Prognostic Impact of Obstructed Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: An obstructed colorectal cancer (OB) has a poorer survival than a non-obstructed cancer (NOB). This study examined the prognostic impact of bowel obstruction on colorectal cancer. METHODS: From December 1999 to December 2005, patients undergoing single stage operation for OB were examined prospectively. OB (n= 193) was compared with a NOB (n=444) used in a primary tumor resection during the same period. 637 colorectal cancers were examined in this study. RESULTS: The overall operative mortality was 21 (3.3%) and the postoperative mortality was significantly higher in the OB (OB: 16, 8.3%) group than in the NOB (NOB: 5, 1.1%) group. The proportion of OB was higher in the left-colon (52.8%) than in the right colon (16.0%) and rectum (31.1%, P<0.001). However, OB was associated with an older age (P=0.013). The proportion of advanced tumor stage was higher in OB (II: 35.8%, III: 39.5%, IV: 24.7%) than in NOB (II: 53.2%, III: 35.8%, IV: 11.0%, P<0.001). The 5-year cancer-related survival for OB was worse than NOB (OB: 77.3%, NOB: 57.8%, P<0.05). However, in the cases of a colorectal cancer performed curative resection (stage II and III), the survival for OB was not worse than NOB: stage II (OB: 82.8%, NOB: 92.2%, P=0.24), stage III (OB: 65.2%, NOB: 56.9%, P=0.43). CONCLUSIONS: OB has older and more advanced disease characteristics. However, if an oncologically curative resection is performed, the survival for OB is similar to that of a NOB.

IMA-origin Lymph Node Metastasis in Left Colon Cancer

PURPOSE: Although an extended colon resection with high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) generally has been recommended as curative surgery for advanced left colon cancer (LCC), it shows little or no survival advantage over segmental resection with low ligation of IMA. The present study is to determine the risk factors associated with IMA-origin lymph-node (LN) metastasis and to clarify the implication of IMA-origin LN metastasis. METHODS: We examined the clinicopathological results of 200 cases of LCC. LN dissection was performed as follows: D2 en-bloc resection of the primary tumor, IMA-origin LN dissection, and paraaortic LN dissection. RESULTS: The incidence of IMA-origin LN metastasis of LCC was 4.5% (9 cases), and all cases involved sigmoid colon cancer. The independent risk factors of IMA-origin LN metastasis were four or more regional LN metastases (hazard ratio: 16.51, 95% confidence interval: 1.60~164.12) and a preoperative CEA level of greater than 6 ng/ml of (hazards ratio: 6.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.06~41.32). The incidence of IMA-origin LN metastasis among stage IIIC patients was 26.7%. Five of the 9 (55.6%) cases of IMA-origin LN metastasis had a concomitant paraaortic LN metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IMA-origin LN metastasis among patients with LCC was low; however, IMA-origin LN metastasis should be considered as a systemic metastasis.

The Effect of Body Composition and Age on the Metabolic Response to Stress after Colorectal Surgery

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the effect of body composition and age on the metabolic responses before and after elective colorectal resection. METHODS: We studied 20 active, healthy patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery. Their body composition was measured by using a Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer. The O2 and CO2 consumption (VO2 and VCO2), respiratory quotient (RQ) and resting energy expenditure (REE) were measured by Indirect Calorimetry with using a Ventilated Hood System. RESULTS: The median age was 55 year (range: 35~70 year). The serum glucose, cortisol, insulin, C-reactive protein, cathecholamine and total body water (TBW), postoperative mean VO2, VCO2 and REE were all independent of patient age. The REE increased 9+/-4.3% after operation, but this increase was not related to age. The TBW was strongly related with the preoperative VO2 and VCO2, and the preoperative REE (r2=0.42~0.57, P<0.001). The postoperative VO2, VCO2 and REE were dependent on the TBW. The preoperative REE was dependent on the age, gender, preoperative TBW and body muscle mass (r2=0.526, P<0.000). The postoperative REE was dependent on the TBW and it was strongly related with the preoperative value (r2=0.796, P< 0.000). The postoperative day change of the REE was dependent on the postoperative day change of the TBW (r2=0.700, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: The TBW was not related to age. The TBW was the most valuable index to predict the change of the postoperative REE. Therefore, the preoperative TBW may be considered as the meaningful indicator to predict the change of the postoperative REE.

A case of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) arising in the colon / 대한내과학회지

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare family of related mesenchymal neoplasms that include angiomyolipoma, lymphangiomyomatosis and clear cell 'sugar' tumor of the lung. Although this type of tumor has been described in the literature in organs such as kidney, lung, uterus and urinary bladder, there are few reports of gastrointestinal tract-related tumor. We report here on a case of PEComa arising in the transverse colon. This occurred in a 41-year-old male who had no history of tuberous sclerosis complex. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of nests or sheets of epithelioid cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm. The tumor cells were positive for HMB-45, vimentin and caldesmon, but they were negative for S-100 protein, cytokeratin and CD117, according to immunohistochemical staining. Careful follow up is warranted because the biological behavior of PEComa has not yet been documented. We present here a case of colonic PEComa that was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and the histopathologic findings, and we include a review of the literature.

Long-term Result for Rectal Cancer in Cases of a Curative Resection after Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE: Preoperative chemoradiation is the recommended standard therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer and is associated with sphincter preservation and improved survival. Our study was performed to determine the surgical outcomes and the prognostic factors for rectal cancer with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) followed by a relative curative resection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 251 advanced rectal cancer patients who underwent a PCRT, between Jan 1995 and Dec 2002. All patients a received 25 days RTX (total dose: 4,500~5,040 cGy) and intravenous 5-FU (425 mg/m2/ day) plus leucovorin (20 mg/day) for 24 hrs. Surgery was performed about 4~6 weeks after completion of RTX. The median follow up was 79 months (range 1-142). RESULTS: All patients were comfortable with PCRT. Postoperative mortality was 1.1%. After PCRT, 92.2% of the patients and, especially, 82.2% of the low rectal cancer patients had sphincter preserving surgery. Complete remission of the tumor was stenin 15.1% of the cases, but was not significantly associated with recurrence. The overall recurrence and the local recurrence rates were 15.1% and 4.4%, respectively. Cell differentiation, circumferential margin, and lymphovascular invasion were independent risk factors for local recurrence in the multivariate analysis. Prognostic factors for overall and disease-free survival were cell differentiation, circumferential margin, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis in the multivariate analysis. The 5-year disease-free survival rates for stages I, II, and III, and for no-residual tumor were 96.1%, 83.4%, 69.0%, and 89.1%, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced rectal cancer treated using preoperative chemoradiation resulted in excellent sphincter preservation. Our long-term follow-up results showed good local control and improved survival for rectal cancer.

Investigation of Defecographic Findings in Patients with Pelvic Outlet Obstructive Disease

PURPOSE: Defecography is a dynamic investigation which can influence clinical decision making in patients with pelvic outlet obstructive disease (POOD). The current study was designed to establish defecographic findings in patients with POOD. Specifically, we sought to assess the physiologic characteristics of categorized types by using anorectal physiologic tests. METHODS: One hundred seven patients (disease group; 45 men, 62 women) with POOD were retrospectively categorized as type I [non-relaxation of puborectalis (NRPR) only, n=19], type II [NRPR and rectocele, n=20], type III [NRPR, rectocele, and dynamic perineal descent (PD), n=17], type IV [deformed rectocele, mild-to-moderate fixed PD, and absence of NRPR, n=29], and type V [rectocele, severe fixed PD, and absence of NRPR, n=20] on the bases of defecographic findings. The ability to evacuate, the frequency/degree of intarectal intussusception (IRI), and the size of the rectocele were evaulated in these defecographic types of POOD. Age, duration of symptoms, and the physiologic findings of anal manometry and EMG/PNTML were compared for the five types. Eighteen healthy volunteers who had no defecation difficulty were used to estimate the normal findings of defecography. RESULTS: The age and the sex showed no significant differences among the types. The duration of symptoms was gradually lengthened from type I to V (P<0.01). The ability to evacuate in patients with POOD was significantly worse (failed to effectively evacuate) compared to that in the healthy volunteers (P<0.01). The frequency of IRI was increased more and more from type I to V (P<0.01). The size of the rectocele was significantly increased in types V compared to the other types (P<0.01). Manometric and neurologic findings, including EMG/PNTML, revealed no significant differences among the types. CONCLUSIONS: Even though there were no specific differences in the findings of the anal manometric and neurologic tests, the evacuation dynamics; were different in the five defecographic categories of patients with POOD. Specifically, these differences were relevants to the presence of NRPR, rectoceles, IRI, and perineal descent.

Complete Single Stage Management of Left Colon Cancer Obstruction with a New Devices

Intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation for single stage procedure in left colon cancer obstruction is a preferred technique recently however, synchronous pathology cannot be detected. A new device that enables easy intraoperative irrigation and colonoscopy before resection of tumor was devised. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the new device for single stage procedure in left colon cancer obstruction. METHODS: The new device (NICI; MITech co., Ltd, Seoul, Korea) consists of a Y-shaped teflon tube of maximum diameter 2.9, 3.5 and 4.1 cm, one proximal end is designed to connect with the dilated colon just proximal to the lesion. Two distal branches are for drainage of fecal matter and for retrograde insertion of irrigation catheter and subsequent colonoscope respectively. RESULTS: There were 53 patients (27 male, median age 64, range; 28~82) who underwent this procedure. No extraintestinal leaks were encountered. The volume of saline used was 12 (range; 6 to 27) Liters over 14 (range; 9 to 22) minutes. Subsequent colonoscopic examination added 10 (range, 8 to 15) minutes to the entire operation in 28 patients. There were one anastomotic leakage and 2 wound infections, however, there was no operative mortality. On-table colonoscopy resulted in extended resection in 3 cases because of synchronous malignancy in frozen biopsy and found synchronous polyps in 13 of 28 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The new device enabled safe, simple and time saving single stage surgical management of left colon cancer obstruction. The ability to perform on-table colonoscopy enabled treatment of synchronous bowel pathology.

The Economic Efficiency of the Single Stage Management of Left Colon Cancer Patient

PURPOSE: Two-stage management with Hartmann's procedure is the most common procedure used for the treatment of obstructive left colon cancer with or without perforation. However, single-stage procedures have gained popularity recently with reports that show little difference in safety compared to the conventional multi-stage procedures. To evaluate the economic advantage of single stage procedure compare with two stage procedure in emergent left colonic pathology. METHODS: Eleven patients (SP; single stage procedure) without other accompanying diseases among 15 patients who entered the emergency room and treated by the single stage procedure using the intraoperative irrigation for the left colon obstructions with or without perforation during the period from July of 1999 to November of 2000, were compared in their costs retrospectively with 11 patients (MP; multiple stage procedure) without other accompanying diseases and had final reduction of stoma out of 28 patients treated by Hartman's procedures including the resections of lesions during the period from September 1996 to May 1999 with the same diagnosis. The costs were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests, with data on the costs of overall treatments, operations, anesthesia, admission room, medications, test/evaluations, and managements as well as days of hospital stay, all on the record of accounting department. The relationships of the factors to the total cost of treatment were evaluated using Multi-variant regression analysis, and the pre-operative physiologic status were compared using APACHE III scoring system. The total treatment cost did not include optional treatment costs, uninsured admission room costs, and the costs of colonic irrigator used in the operations for the SP. RESULTS: There were no significant difference in the age and gender of the two groups as 67 +/-15 years with 6 males for the SP and 6+/-19 years with 7 males for the MP. The preoperative physiologic status of patients, in APACHE III scoring system, were 29.1+/-10.6 in the SP and 26.1+/-8.2 in the MP without any significant difference between the two groups. The average of hospital stay showed a significant difference between two groups as 17.1+/-6.2 (range: 13-25) days for the SP and 31.3 (range: 24-43) days for the MP (p<0.01). The average of total costs showed also a significant difference in two groups as 3,938 687 (range: 3,017-4,974) thousand won for the SP and 7,543 1,851 (range: 5,314-9925) thousand won for the MP (p<0.01). It showed that the SP had roughly 50, 53, 76, 79, and 72% reductions of costs over operations, anesthesia, admission room, medications, tests/evaluations, and managements. The analysis of the overall costs of treatments showed 3,540 thousand won reduction in SP. CONCLUSIONS: Single stage procedure using intraoperative colonic irrigation technique showed no difference in safety but has an economical advantage over the conventional multiple stage in the management of emergent left colonic obstruction or perforation patients.

The Safety of Intraoperative Colonic Irrigation for Single Stage Procedure in Emergency Based Left Colonic Pathology

Staged procedures are preferred to single stage procedures in emergency based left colonic obstruction or perforation because of the safety. PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the single stage procedure in emergency based left colonic pathology is not safe. METHODS: We compared medical records of single stage procedure (SP, n=22 male; 10, mean age: 60+/-17, range: 26-82 Yrs) with Hartmanns procedure (HP, n=23 male; 13, mean age: 58+/-16, range: 18-90 Yrs) and diverting loop colostomy (DC, n=19, male; 12, mean age: 59+/-19, range: 19-80 Yrs) in these 4 years. All the patients were admitted via emergency room. Intraoperative colonic irrigation method with newly developed irrigation device (MITech co., Ltd, Seoul, Korea) was used for SP. APACHE III scoring system was applied to evaluate the physiologic status of the patients. Preoperative data were compared with the 1st and 3rd postoperative day (POD). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in patient demographics and preoperative APACHE III scores. The improvement of APACHE III score was significant in SP and DC on the 3rd POD from 29.6+/-20.9 to 22.9+/-10.2 and 25.7+/-13.3 to 21.4+/-14.8 (P<0.05). There was also a significant improvement in DC (25.7+/-13.3 to 21.9+/-12.9, P<0.05) on the 1st POD, however, there was only a tendency of improvement in SP (29.6+/-20.9 to 26.1+/-12.3) without statistical significance. The scores in HP showed no improvement on the 1st and 3rd POD. There were 3 operative mortalities in HP and one in DC. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the safety of the single stage procedure with newly developed colonic irrigation device is comparable to palliative decompressive loop colostomy and better than Hartmanns procedure in emergency based left colonic pathology.

Clinical Application of Continent Anal Plug in Bed-Ridden Patient with Intractable Diarrhea

Poor control of bowel movement in some bed-ridden patients with various causes such as stroke or spinal cord injury which causes fecal leakage and diarrhea, increases the risk of perianal excoriation, bed sores and is a burden on caregivers. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of fecal evacuation, prevention and treatment of skin complications in intractable diarrhea patients employing a new device. METHODS: A continent anal plug (CAP: US Patent No. 5,569,216: Join Ent. Seoul, Korea) comprises an inner balloon surrounded by an external balloon both of which are mounted on a silicone tube containing a pair of air passages and an enema fluid inlet. The tube is secured in place in the rectum by the inflatable external balloon and is designed to drain fecal matter through a thin collapsible hose situated in the anal canal. Thirty two patients (21 male, median age 61 years, range; 28~76) were evaluated after fully informed consent. Median duration (range) was 12 (3~37) days. RESULTS: CAP evacuated efficiently in those with loose or watery stools who only required once daily irrigation or not. Skin excoriations improved in 3~7 days. Minimal leakage was seen around the anus. There was no anorectal mucosal injury noted over 37 days. Conclusions: The CAP was an efficient method of treating patients with loss of bowel control and incontinence because it enabled controlled fecal evacuation and helped reduction of skin complications without causing anorectal mucosal injury.

The Effects of Pudendal Block in Voiding Complication after Anal Surgery

Urinary retention in common benign anal surgery is a burden to ambulatory surgery. PURPOSE: To reduce voiding complication pudendal nerve block (PB) was applied in hemorrhoids surgery. METHODS: We compared PB with spinal anesthesia (SA) for anal surgery. In this prospective study, 163 patients undergoing elective hemorrhoids surgery by single surgeon were randomized to receive either PB with 0.5% bupivacaine (n=81) with 1: 20,000 epinephrine or SA with 0.5% bupivacaine (n=83). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in patient demographics, total amount of administered fluid, time to onset of block, or intraoperative pain. All patients had a successful block for surgery however, puborectalis muscle relaxation with PB was not complete. The time from injection of the anesthetics to first development of pain was longer in the patients who received PB (9.1 vs 3.1h; P<0.001). Urinary catheterization needed in only 6 patients in PB group compared with 57 cases in SA group (p<0.001). Degree of pain was significantly low in PB (2.7 vs 5.2 with VAS; p<0.001) Injected analgesics was significantly reduced in PB (16/81 vs 45/82; p<0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PB with bupivacaine results in fewer postoperative voiding complications and less pain compared with traditional SA in hemorrhoidectomy.

Effects of Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy on the Healing of Colonic Anastomosis with the Lapse of Operation Time in the Rat

PURPOSE: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has become an important adjunct in the management of rectal cancer. But both systemic toxicity of chemotherapy and local effect of radiation interfere wound healing of intestinal anastomosis and ultimately may lead to anastomotic leak and septic complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal time interval between preoperative chemoradiotherapy and anastmotic construction, and it was evaluated by security of anastomotic construction. METHODS: One hundred and twenty male Sprague Dawley rats weighing approximately 250 g were randomly divided into 4 groups (Control group; n=40, Group 1; n=20, Group 2; n=20, Group 3; n=40). The control group (n=20) underwent anastomotic construction at 1 week after general anesthesia without preoperative chemoradiotherapy. The experimental animals (group 1, 2, 3) received preoperative chemoradiotherapy with 5 daily dose (20 mg/kg) of 5-fluorouracil and single dose of 1500 cGy radiation at the rectosigmoid junction under general anesthesia on the day after last dose of chemotherapy. And group 1~3 subsequently underwent a laparotomy to make anastomotic construction at 1 week (Group 1), 2 weeks (Group 2), and 3 weeks (Group 3; n=20) after completion of chemoradiotherapy. The security of anastomotic construction was determined by bursting pressure, tissue hydroxyproline content, gross and microscopic findings of anastomotic area at the 5th and 10th postoperative day after anastomotic construction. To evaluate systemic toxicity after che-moradiotherapy, serial body weight and alteration of CBC were measured in the control group (n=20) and Group 3 (n=20) without anastomotic construction. RESULTS: At the 5th postoperative day, Mean bursting pressures of the all treated groups were lower than that of the control group (Control group; 88 23 mmHg, Group 1; 49 22 mmHg, Group 2; 56 17 mmHg, Group 3; 78 23 mmHg). The difference was not significant in the group 3 compared with the control group. Body weight decreased in the all treated animals. The mean body weight was lowest on the day 8 after completion of chemoradiotherapy and then it gradually increased. WBC and platelet counts also decreased in the all treated animals. WBC count was lowest on the day 1 and platelet count was lowest on the day 3 after completion of chemoradiotherapy. Mean hydroxyproline contents at the anastomotic sites in the all treated groups were higher than that of the control group, especially in the group 2 and 3. Similar histologic changes were observed in both group 3 and control group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the optimal time interval for safe intestinal anastomosis after preoperative chemoradiotherapy is 3 weeks or later.

Is Laparoscopic Procedure Adequate for Colorectal Cancer Surgery?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possibility that laparoscopic procedure could perform surgeries keeping the principle of oncologic surgery. METHODS: From July 1993 to June 1996, thrity patients undergone laparoscopic assisted colon and rectal resections (LR) for malignant disease at Yeungman university hospital. Margins of resection and lymph nodes (LNs) recovered were compared with those of thirty stage matched open resection cases (OR, n=30) retrospectively. There was no operative mortality in both group. Operative techniques used in LR vs OR were colectomy, 5:6; anterior resection, 6:5; low anterior resection, 11:12 and abdominoperineal resection, 8:7. Parameters were analgesic use, duration of postoperative ileus, operative time, hospital stay, margins of rescetion, lymph node yield (LNs), and recurrence. RESULTS: Patients who underwent LR had less pain, a shorter period of postoperative ileus and hospital stay than patients who underwent OR. But, the length of operative time was greater for patients undergoing LR. Mean lymph node yield in the laparoscopic group was 16 compared with 18.1 in the open group (P=0.560). Average margins of resection in LR vs OR were 13.9 cm vs 14.1 cm proximally (P=0.823), 3.6 cm vs 5.2 cm distally (P=0.498). In no case did the margins contain tumor. There was no statistical significance in dissected LNs and the length of both resection margins in both groups. Recurrence was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, there is no evidence that laparoscopic technique is inadequate in following the cancer surgery principle.

Application of a New Colostomy Device in Incontinent Dog Model

BACKGROUND: Recently developed electrically stimulated gracilis neosphicter or artificial sphincter is quite a promising trial in fecal incontinence However, surgical technique is not simple, the devices are expensive and only specialists can perform the procedures successfully. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed simple silicon device in incontinent dog model. METHODS: A New Colostomy Device (NCD; US Patent No. 5,569,216) for fixing in the stoma or rectum of human body, includes an internal balloon, a ring figured extemal balloon surrounding the internal balloon, a connecting tube disposed under the both infernal and external balloons and supply tube containing a pair of air passages and an enema fluid passage. It is designed to be inserted into the rectum and is held in place by an inflatable external balloon and drains irrigated fecal matter through a thin collapsible connecting tube which exist in the anal canal. Six mongrel dog with 22~26 kg of body weight were prepared. Anal incontinence was made by bilateral severing of the internal and external sphincters and puborectalis muscle under the general anesthesia. Marlex mesh ring was applied to the anal canal as Thiersch wire for the prevention of NCD expulsion in straining. After then, NCD with 2.5 cm of luminal diameter was inserted to the rectum proximal to the Malex mesh ring. Daily irrigation and evacuation was done with 800~1000 cc of tepid water in each dogs. Daily food contained 30 gm of Psyllium dextrose. RESULTS: Initially 6 dogs were observed for 7 days. Daily irrigation made evacuation of fecal matter well in each dogs. There was no prolapse of device through the anal orifice. Anoscopic examination after 7 days showed no rectal and anal mucosal injury. Two dogs were kept for 40 days as same manner. Sometimes spontaneous bowel movement without water irrigation was noted when the stool were loose. Weelky anoscopic examination revealed no evidence of mucosal injuries for 40 days also. There was no septic or other complication. CONCLUSION: NCD evacuated fecal matter well enough to empty the rectum in all incontinence dog model. Adequate sized NCD could be used for clinical trials in selected incontinence patients.

Complication of the Hemorrhoid Treatment by Sclerotherapy

The technique of the sclerotherapy for hemorrhoid treatment was introduced in the late 19th century. The sclerotherapy is a simple method with lesser pain or complication, in case of being operated with an exact indication. But the fact is that this sclerotherapy is used imprudently and secretly by quack, owing to misunderstanding of its simplicity. This thesis is a clinical analysis of 575 patients who were diagnosed hemorrhoids, anal stenosis, anal incontinence and admitted from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1995. 99 patients(17.1%) of them were taken sclerotherapy Previously The Peak incidence was in the 4th decade of male(41.8%) and the 5th decade of female(40.6%). From five to ten years of the time lapse between onset of symptoms and admission was 27.3% and it appeared most frequently. It seems that the incompleteness of the first treatment cased the extension of illness period to the patients. The most frequent complaint was prolapse(72.7%). The 3rd and 4th degree of hemorrhoid were 58.5%. Combined diseases were anal stenosis(22.2%), fissure and skin tag(16.1%), and rectocele(11.1%). Owing to incompleteness of the sclerotherapy, the degree and symptoms of hemorrhoids were more severe than the general hemorrhoids and combined diseases also were more complicated. So conservative treatment and non-surgical treatment were impossible, and Left lateral internal sphinterotomy, rectopexcy, anoplasty, fistulotomy, sphinteroplasty, colostomy with hemorrhoidectomy performed. but the treatment itself was more complex and difficult. In conclusion, it is thought that the national and positive medical education about hemorrhoids and the controls about the abnormal treatment are needed.