[A screening program for colorectal cancer in Chilean subjects aged fifty years or more]. / Programa de detección de neoplasias colorrectales en población mayor de 50 años.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from colorectal cancer (CCR) in Chile has nearly doubled over the past 15 years. International studies have shown that CCR screening programs based on fecal occult blood test (FOBT) reduce CCR mortality. AIM: To analyze the results from a CCR screening model in people over 50 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2007 and 2009, a prospective multicenter study was performed in seven major Chilean cities. FOBT using an immunological method, was measured in asymptomatic subjects aged 50 years or more, without risk factors. In patients with a positive FOBT, with symptoms or with family risk factors, a colonoscopy was indicated. RESULTS: A total of 6348 subjects were assessed, FOBT was performed in 4938 of them, with a compliance of 77%. The result was positive in 9.6%. A total of 2359 colonoscopies were ordered, with an overall compliance of 50.1%. Of the 1184 colonoscopies performed, adenomas and high risk adenomas were found in 304 (26%) and 75 (6%) patients, respectively. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with stage I and IICCR. Three of these lesions were excised endoscopically and 10 surgically. The detection rate of polyps, high risk adenomas and cancer was 75, 12 and 2 per 1000 screened individuals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This program allowed the early detection of an important number of high risk colon lesions, and all patients with CCR were diagnosed at early stages.

Programa de detección de neoplasias colorrectales en población mayor de 50 años / A screening program for colorectal cancer in Chilean subjects aged fifty years or more

Background: Mortality from colorectal cancer (CCR) in Chile has nearly doubled over the past 15 years. International studies have shown that CCR screening programs based on fecal occult blood test (FOBT) reduce CCR mortality. Aim: To analyze the results from a CCR screening model in people over 50 years. Material and Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, a prospective multicenter study was performed in seven major Chilean cities. FOBT using an immunological method, was measured in asymptomatic subjects aged 50 years or more, without risk factors. In patients with a positive FOBT, with symptoms or with family risk factors, a colonoscopy was indicated. Results: A total of 6348 subjects were assessed, FOBT was performed in 4938 of them, with a compliance of 77%. The result was positive in 9.6%. A total of 2359 colonoscopies were ordered, with an overall compliance of 50.1%. Of the 1184 colonoscopies performed, adenomas and high risk adenomas were found in 304 (26%) and 75 (6%) patients, respectively. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with stage I and IICCR. Three of these lesions were excised endoscopically and 10 surgically. The detection rate of polyps, high risk adenomas and cancer was 75, 12 and 2 per 1000 screened individuals, respectively. Conclusions: This program allowed the early detection of an important number of high risk colon lesions, and all patients with CCR were diagnosed at early stages.

[Atypical presentation of a colorectal carcinoma]. / Cáncer colorrectal de presentación atípica.

We report a 67 years old male with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 15, that consults for malaise, weight loss and productive cough. Chest X ray examination showed a left pleural effusion. A pleural tap obtained a sterile exudate. A thorax CAT scan showed a proliferating mass in the splenic angle of the colon, with left lung and diaphragmatic invasion. Endoscopic biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent a subtotal colectomy with partial excision of diaphragm and left lung. The pathological report showed a mucosecretory adenocarcinoma, infiltrating the pericolonic adipose tissue without adjacent organ infiltration and a chronic inflammatory process involving colonic serosa, diaphragm pleura, and lung. Adjuvant chemotherapy was indicated and the patient is asymptomatic and without evidences of tumor recurrence after a 24 months follow up.

[Elective laparoscopic surgery in diverticular disease. A comparative study with conventional operative surgery ]. / Cirugía laparoscópica electiva en enfermedad diverticular. Un estudio comparativo con la cirugía convencional.

BACKGROUND: Elective surgery in diverticular disease (DD) consists classically in performing an open sigmoidectomy. Laparoscopic surgery of the colon can have results that are comparable to those of open surgery. AIM: To compare the results of laparoscopic and conventional surgery for DD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of preoperative, operative and postoperative variables of patients operated by laparoscopic surgery between the years 2000 and 20002. These results were compared with those of patients treated with conventional surgery in the same period. RESULTS: Thirty nine patients, mean age 59 years old, were operated via laparotomy and 18 patients, mean age 47 years old, were treated with laparoscopic surgery. Both groups were comparable in gender, amount of previous laparotomies, type of surgery performed and American Society of Anestesiologists classification. The operative time was significantly higher in the laparoscopic surgery group (230 v/s 130 min), but the opioid requirements, stay in an intensive surgical care ward, postoperative ileus and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group. Eleven percent of the patients included in the laparoscopic group and 31% of the patients treated with operative surgery had complications (p = 0.07). The length of the excised colon, the degree of inflammation and treatment costs were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery in DD is feasible, safe, requires less analgesia and allows a faster recovery of post-operative ileus and a lower hospital stay.

Protocolo de cirugía laparoscópica intestinal / Protocols of laparoscopic intestinal surgery

El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar los resultados del Protocolo de Cirugía Laparoscópica Intestinal del Departamento de Cirugía Digestiva del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica, entre 1998 y 2002. Revisamos los datos clínicos, quirúrgicos y postoperatorios de todas las cirugías. Se operó un total de 54 pacientes, con una edad promedio de 53 años (17-89); el 53 por ciento presentaba un riesgo anestésico ASA I, el 40 por ciento ASA II, y el 7 por ciento ASA III; el 52 por ciento tenía el antecedente de una cirugía abdominal previa. Los dos diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron enfermedad diverticular (33 por ciento), y cáncer colorrectal (28 por ciento). Las cirugías practicadas corresponden a colectomías (56 por ciento), reconstitución de tránsito (11 por ciento), ileostomía (11 por ciento), rectopexias (7 por ciento), resección de intestino delgado (4 por ciento), resecciones abdomino perineales (4 por ciento), anastomosis ileorrectal (3 por ciento), resección anterior baja (2 por ciento), y pexia de sigmoides (2 por ciento). Se realizó una cirugía resectiva en 35 pacientes (65 por ciento), y en 41 (76 por ciento), se practicó una cirugía con anastomosis. El tiempo operatorio mediano fue de 198 minutos (30-335), y la tasa de conversión fue de 7 por ciento. Las tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad fueron de 13 por ciento y 2 por ciento, respectivamente. Entre las cirugías resectivas destacan los bajos requerimientos analgésicos (PCA y Aines i.v: 1,5 y 3 días respectivamente), la baja necesidad de estadía en unidades de intermedio (27 por ciento), el restablecimiento del tránsito de gases promedio a los 2 días, y la estadía hospitalaria mediana de 5 días. En los casos oncológicos y con un seguimiento de 16 meses, no hemos observado implantes tumorales en los sitios de los trocares, ni evidencia de recurrencia y todos los pacientes se encuentran vivos. Concluímos que la cirugía laparoscópica es factible de realizar con resultados satisfactorios, en el marco de un protocolo.

Utilidad de la endosonografía rectal en la etapificación preoperatoria del cáncer de recto / Utility of the rectal endosonography in the preoperating staging of the rectum cancer

Dado que la quimiorradioterapia neoadyuvante ha ido cobrando fuerza como tratamiento inicial en los pacientes con cáncer de recto, cada vez se hace más necesario contar con un examen que permita realizar una precisa selección de pacientes para esta terapia. Dentro de los estudios preoperatorios, la endosonografía anorrectal (ER), ha ido ganando un lugar cada vez más importante. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la efectividad de la endosonografía anorrectal en la evaluación preoperatoria de los pacientes con cáncer de recto. Se registran en forma prospectiva las ER realizadas entre diciembre de 1999 y agosto del 2002. En este período se realiza un total de 417 ER. El examen fue realizado en forma ambulatoria sin requerimiento de sedación. No hubo morbilidad debido al procedimiento. Se informó una neoplasia primaria del recto en 137 pacientes. De ellos, 60 fueron tratados en el Hospital de la Universidad Católica (43,8 por ciento). Veinte y dos (36,6 por ciento) no recibieron quimio ni radioterapia preoperatoria. De acuerdo al informe de la endosonografía fueron considerados etapa I el 27 por ciento de los pacientes, etapa II el 23 por ciento y etapa III el 50 por ciento. Al comparar la ER con el informe de anatomía patológica observamos una concordancia del 82 por ciento para la profundidad del compromiso de la pared rectal (valor predictivo positivo: 94,7 por ciento y el valor predictivo negativo 86 por ciento) y una concordancia del 63 por ciento para la presencia de adenopastías perirrectales (valor predictivo positivo 70 por ciento y valor predictivo negativo 63 por ciento). El ER es un buen examen de etapificación preoperatoria en cáncer de recto y permite seleccionar pacientes para terapia neoadyuvante