Colorectal cancer: comparative analysis between two series of patients separated by more than three decades

Abstract Aim This study characterizes Colorectal Cancer (CRC) incidence in the University Hospital Ramon and Cajal, Madrid, and analyzes variations over time. It establishes risk groups, aiming to discover whether diagnosis can be determined in less advanced stages of disease. Method Evolutionary epidemiological study of genetic and environmental factors contributing to the development of CRC in this district that enables the comparison of two cohorts of patients separated by 37 years: G1 (patients of current group) and G2 (patients of historical group). The main risk variables gleaned retrospectively were analyzed and the statistical association between cohorts was determined. Results The mean age of patients increased significantly from 64 to 71 along with the incidence of ascending colon cancer. G1 scored higher than G2 for: the incidence of colon cancer in men, detection of adenomatous polyps (48.1%), percentage of resectability with curative intent (80.4%), and Dukes A stage (34.1%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion Biological aspects of CRC have been compared against its profile three decades earlier. We can confirm the existence of concrete changes in the manifestation and staging at the time of diagnosis or following earlier treatment. (AU)

Cirugía abierta vs. laparoscópica: calidad de vida y sintomatología ansioso-depresiva en cáncer colorrectal / Laparoscopic vs. open surgery: quality of life and anxious-depressive symptomatology in colorectal cancer

Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar la calidad de vida, y la sintomatología ansioso-depresiva, en una muestra de pacientes de cáncer colorrectal sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico, por vía abierta o laparoscópica. Material y Métodos: 60 pacientes fueron evaluados en Calidad de vida, mediante el cuestionario de la EORTC QLQ-C30, y sintomatología ansioso-depresiva mediante la escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria (HADS). Además se realizaron análisis en función de tres variables sociodemográficas: edad, género y nivel socioeducativo. Resultados: No se encontraron diferencias significativas en función de la modalidad quirúrgica en calidad de vida y sintomatología ansioso-depresiva. La mayor parte de los pacientes presenta niveles de calidad de vida muy satisfactorios, si bien un 27% presentan problemas de calidad de vida. Las medias en sintomatología ansioso-depresiva se encuentran en los rangos normales, no obstante el 18% presenta sintomatología depresiva y el 22% ansiosa. Discusión y Conclusiones: Se puede concluir que los dos tipos de cirugía, a medio y largo plazo, tienen efectos similares sobre la calidad de vida y la sintomatología ansioso-depresiva de los pacientes. No obstante, aun estando libres de tratamiento activo y habiendo transcurrido más de un año de media desde la cirugía, se ha encontrado que hay pacientes que presentan problemas en su calidad de vida, y sintomatología ansioso-depresiva. Por ello es necesario que éstos sean evaluados psicológicamente para prestarles la atención necesaria, y así optimizar la calidad asistencial.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life, and anxious-depressive symptoms in a sample of colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment, open or laparoscopic approach. Material and Method: 60 patients were assessed on quality of life, through the questionnaire of the EORTC QLQ-C30, and anxious-depressive symptomatology scale by Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS). Further analyzes were conducted according to three demographic variables: age, gender and socio-educational level. Results: No significant differences were found related to surgical type in quality of life and anxious-depressive symptomatology. Most of the patients have very satisfactory quality of life levels, while 27% of them have problems about it. Means in anxious-depressive symptoms are at normal range, despite of 18% whom presented depressive symptoms and 22% anxiety. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the two types of surgery, in a medium and long term, have similar effects on quality of life and anxious-depressive symptoms of patients. However, even free of active treatment and over a year after surgery, we found that there are patients who have problems in their quality of life and anxious-depressive syndrome. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate and to give them the attention needed and optimize quality of care.

Fístula enteroatmosférica y uso del VAC: a propósito de un caso / Enteroatmospheric fistula and vaccum assited closure: report of a case

Las fístulas gastrointestinales asociadas con abdomen abierto posterior a cirugía abdominal mayor son una complicación grave. El manejo es extremadamente difícil y la mortalidad bastante alta a pesar de los modernos avances médicos. Aquellos pacientes que sobreviven al daño metabólico y fisiopatológico inicial, requieren en su mayoría cierre quirúrgico de la fístula lo cual es técnicamente complejo. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con una neoplasia de rectosigma que se abordó por laparoscopia y desarrolló una fístula enteroatmosférica sobre la incisión de Pfannestiel que se utilizó para la extracción de la pieza. Conclusión: El cierre asistido por vacío artesanal y el manejo nutricional adecuado permiten la mejoría en pacientes con fístulas complejas logrando las condiciones adecuadas para el cierre definitivo.

The gastrointestinal fistula associated to posterior open abdominal trauma or abdominal surgery implies severe complications. The handling of these cases is extremely hard and mortality is very high despite medical advances. Those patients who survive the initial metabolic and phisycopathological damages require, on most cases, a surgical closure of the fistula which is a very complex procedure technically. We describe the case of a patient with a rectosigmoid neoplasm that was addressed laparoscopically and enteroatmospheric fistula just developing on phannestiel incision was used to extract the neoplasm. Conclusion: The closure assisted by “hand made vacuum” and adequate nourishment allows recovering patients with complex fistulas to achieve adequate conditions for definitive closure.