Corrigendum: Correction of the First Author's Affiliation. Outcome of Colorectal Surgery in Elderly Populations.

[This corrects the article on p. 139 in vol. 32, PMID: 27626024.].

Erratum: Author Name Correction: Outcome of Colorectal Surgery in Elderly Populations.

[This corrects the article on p. 139 in vol. 32, PMID: 27626024.].

Outcome of Colorectal Surgery in Elderly Populations.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of age on short-term outcomes after colorectal surgery in terms of the 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. METHODS: The subjects for the study were patients who had undergone colorectal surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age; groups A and B patients were ≥80 and <80 years old of age, respectively. Both groups were manually matched for body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, Charlson Comorbidity Index and procedure performed. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients, 91 men (45.5%) and 109 women (54.5%), were included in this retrospective study. These patients were equally divided into 2 groups. The mean ages were 85 years in group A (range, 80 to 104 years) and 55.3 years in group B (range, 13 to 79 years). The overall 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 1% of total 200 patients; both of these 2 patients were in group A. However, this observation had no statistical significance. No intraoperative complications were encountered in either group. The overall 30-day postoperative morbidity rate was 27% (54 of 200) for both groups. The 30-day postoperative morbidity rates in groups A and B were 28% (28 of 100) and 26% (26 of 100), respectively. However, these differences between the groups had no statistical significance importance. CONCLUSION: Age alone should not be considered to be more of a contraindication or a worse predictor than other factors for the outcome after colorectal surgery on elderly patients.

Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy for internal rectal prolapse using biological mesh: postoperative and short-term functional results.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy is a novel procedure to correct internal and external rectal prolapse. Several authors have shown that this approach is safe and improves obstructive defaecation symptoms and faecal incontinence, without inducing new-onset constipation, possible after posterior rectopexy. Over the last decade, as for other procedures, biological meshes are used to correct pelvic floor disorders. Literature data are scant. In this study, we present our experience with this procedure using biological mesh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospectively collected data on laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy for internal rectal prolapse were analysed. All patients underwent preoperative evaluation with defaecating proctography and/or pelvic dynamic MRI, full colonoscopy, anal physiology studies and endo-anal ultrasound. End-points were to evaluate surgical complications and functional results of this technique such as changes in bowel function (Wexner Constipation Score and Faecal Incontinence Severity Index) at 3 and 6 months. Analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test for unpaired data and Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired data (two-sided p test). RESULTS: Thirty-four consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (median age 59, range 25-78 years, mean follow-up was 12 months). Twenty-eight patients (82%) had a constipation score ≥ 5, while 14 (41%) a FISI score ≥ 10. Nine patients (26%) had mixed obstructed defaecation and faecal incontinence. One patient required conversion to open (3%). Median length of stay was 2 days. Overall complication rate was 23.5%. Preoperative constipation (median Wexner score 15) and faecal incontinence (median FISI score 12) improved significantly at 3 months (Wexner 5, FISI 5, both p < 0.001). Two patients experienced prolapse persistence or recurrence. No patients had function worsening or complained of sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy using biological mesh for internal rectal prolapse is safe and effective in ameliorating symptoms of obstructed defaecation and faecal incontinence.

Radiofrequency versus conventional diathermy Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy: a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: In the past decade, several new surgical tools have revived the hope for an improved technique to treat radically hemorrhoids with less postoperative pain. Among these radiofrequency (RF), excisional surgery seems to be safe, fast, and accompanied by less postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare RF (ligasure TM) to conventional diathermy Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MMH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2003 and July 2009, 210 symptomatic patients were randomized to undergo RF (118 patients) or diathermy MMH (92 patients). Mean follow-up was 39 ± 16 months. Clinical outcome was assessed by validated questionnaire on postoperative symptoms and satisfaction. Primary endpoints were pain and wound healing. Secondary endpoints were operative time, early and late complications (including recurrences), and patient satisfaction. Data was analyzed using chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Despite postoperative pain was less after RF, this difference was significant only for severe pain (expressed as VAS score >7). Significant differences were observed in terms of wound healing. The two techniques were similar in terms of early and late complications. CONCLUSIONS: RF hemorrhoidectomy is followed by reduced severe pain and better wound healing. However, in our experience, this is not followed by earlier return to daily activities.

Porcine dermal collagen matrix injection may enhance flap repair surgery for complex anal fistula.

INTRODUCTION: The use of biomaterials to treat anal fistula has drawn great interest. More recently, a porcine dermal matrix injection has been proposed as infill biomaterial to treat fistulas. METHODS: We propose a novel approach consisting in non-cutting seton positioning followed by flap repair associated with dermal matrix injection into the fistula tracts after several weeks. RESULTS: We report our experience with this two-staged procedure on 11 consecutive patients with recurrent high trans-sphincteric fistulas with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, this two-stage approach seems to be safe and effective.

Single inherited thrombophilias and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Inherited thrombophilia is believed to be a multiple gene disease with more than one defect. We aimed to determine the association between single thrombophilic patterns and a variety of pregnancy diseases. METHODS: 284 pregnant women were recruited for the present study and were divided in two groups: A group (176 controls) and B group (108 cases). Patients belonging to the B group had one of the following: severe pre-eclampsia, hemolysis, hepatic enzymes increase, hypertension and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, gestational hypertension, fetal growth restriction, intrauterine death, abruptio placentae and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. To detect methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C, MTHFR C677T, factor V Leiden, PAI-1, mutant prothrombin G20210A, an inverse hybridization technology was used. Plasma homocysteine, antithrombin (AT) III and protein S were determined. A modified functional activated protein C resistance was detected. RESULTS: MTHFR C677T and hyperhomocysteinemia were more prevalent than other thrombophilias. Deficiency in AT III was significantly linked with pre-eclampsia (relative risk 0.88; 95% CI 0.83-0.94). Activated protein C resistance (APCR) was significantly related to the abruptio placentae (relative risk 0.71; 95% CI 0.61-0.82). COMMENTS: Apart from the linkage between AT III deficiency and the occurrence of pre-eclampsia, and apart from the increased risk of abruptio placentae in pregnant women with altered APCR, we obtained findings in contrast with some of the published literature. In our case series, no association of pre-eclampsia with factor V Leiden or with prothrombin gene mutation was found.