Risk factors for severe morbidity and definitive stoma after elective surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis: a multicenter national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In the decision to perform elective surgery, it is of great interest to have data about the outcomes of surgery to individualize patients who could safely undergo sigmoid resection. The aim of this study was to provide information on the outcomes of elective sigmoid resection for sigmoid diverticular disease (SDD) at a national level. METHODS: All consecutive patients who had elective surgery for SDD (2010-2021) were included in this retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. Patients were identified from institutional review board-approved databases in French member centers of the French Surgical Association. The endpoints of the study were the early and the long-term postoperative outcomes and an evaluation of the risk factors for 90-day severe postoperative morbidity and a definitive stoma after an elective sigmoidectomy for SDD. RESULTS: In total, 4617 patients were included. The median [IQR] age was 61 [18.0;100] years, the mean ± SD body mass index (BMI) was 26.8 ± 4 kg/m2, and 2310 (50%) were men. The indications for surgery were complicated diverticulitis in 50% and smoldering diverticulitis in 47.4%. The procedures were performed laparoscopically for 88% and with an anastomosis for 83.8%. The severe complication rate on postoperative day 90 was 11.7%, with a risk of anastomotic leakage of 4.7%. The independent risk factors in multivariate analysis were an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ 3, an open approach, and perioperative blood transfusion. Age, perioperative blood transfusion, and Hartmann's procedure were the three independent risk factors for a permanent stoma. CONCLUSIONS: This series provides a real-life picture of elective sigmoidectomy for SDD at a national level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Comité National Information et Liberté (CNIL) (n°920361).

Long term outcome of multidisciplinary management of urethro-rectal fistula after urologic surgery.

Urethro-rectal fistula (URF) is a rare but serious condition whose treatment is poorly codified. This study aims to evaluate the short and long-term results of multidisciplinary management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected the records of patients with URF operated on at the University Hospital of Tours between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2020. Short-term and long-term results according to management are reported. RESULTS: The study included 20 patients. As an initial gesture, 11 patients underwent bladder catheterization and colostomy, seven underwent bladder catheterization alone, one underwent graciloplasty, and one, a York Mason procedure. The success rate of initial conservative management was only 5% (1/20). As a secondary or tertiary intervention, ten patients underwent a York Mason procedure and nine underwent graciloplasty. At the end of the study period, with a median follow-up of 50 months, 19 had been effectively treated for URF, 16 were able to have colostomy closure with restoration of digestive continuity while four had a permanent stoma. One patient had anal incontinence, 14% had major stress urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary care remains a cornerstone of the treatment of URF because iterative surgeries may be required, with an overall success rate of up to 95% at the end of follow-up.

Disorders of anorectal motility: Functional defecation disorders and fecal incontinence.

Functional defecation disorders (FDDs) and fecal incontinence (FI) are common anorectal disorders often distressing and significantly add to the healthcare burden. They present with multiple, overlapping symptoms that can often obscure the underlying pathophysiology and can pose significant management dilemmas. A detailed history, stool diaries and visual scales of stool form, a careful digital rectal examination are needed to guide anorectal physiology tests. With high-resolution (3-D) anorectal manometry, anal ultrasonography, (magnetic resonance) defecography and imaging, and neurophysiological tests, it is possible to define and characterize the underlying structural and functional abnormalities more accurately. In this review, we present a succinct update on the latest knowledge with regards to the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of FDDS, fecal incontinence and abnormalities of rectal capacity (i.e., megarectum, microrectum).

Long-term outcomes of Hartmann's procedure versus primary anastomosis for generalized peritonitis due to perforated diverticulitis: follow-up of a prospective multicenter randomized trial (DIVERTI).

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of Hinchey III and IV diverticulitis involves Hartmann's procedure (HP) or primary resection anastomosis (PRA) with or without fecal diversion. These procedures were evaluated in four randomized controlled trials. Early results from these trials demonstrated similar rates of complications but higher rates of colonic restoration after PRA than HP. Long-term follow-up has not been reported to date. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in patients previously enrolled in a prospective randomized trial comparing HP and PRA for generalized peritonitis due to perforated diverticulitis (DIVERTI trial). STUDY DESIGN: Follow-up data were available for 78 of 102 patients. Demographic data, incisional hernia rate, need for additional surgery related to the primary procedure, and QoL were recorded. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 76% and did not differ between the two groups. Incisional hernia was reported in 21 (52%) patients in the HP arm and in 11 (29%) patients in the PRA arm (p = 0.035). The HP arm demonstrated significantly lower SF-36 physical and mental component scores. The mean general QoL (EQ-VAS) and mean EQ-5D index scores were better after PRA than after HP, but this difference was not statistically significant. The results of GIQLI, which measures intestine-specific QOL, did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This follow-up study with a median follow-up time of > 9 years among living patients indicates that PRA for perforated diverticulitis is associated with fewer long-term complications and better QoL than HP. PRA significantly reduced the incisional hernia rate and the need for reoperation. Long-term survival was not jeopardized by the PRA approach. Future studies are needed to address the utility of protective stoma.

Management of obstetrical injuries to the anal sphincter: A survey of French current practice and perceptions according to the specialties.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To conduct a survey of current practice in the management of obstetrical anal sphincter injuries (OASI) and to compare short, medium and long-term practices according to the specialty of the surgeon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 50-item questionnaire was addressed by mail to various specialists via the national learned societies. The questionnaire was addressed only to practitioners who currently managed OASI in their practice. RESULTS: Of the 135 healthcare professionals who responded, 57 were sub-specialists in ano-rectal surgery (42.2%) and 78 were obstetrical or gynecological specialists (OB-GYN) (57.8%). Management in the acute period after OASI was similar among the specialties and 50% of the practitioners did not perform suture repair of the internal sphincter. Furthermore, few gynecological specialists recommended systematic consultation with an ano-rectal specialist during acute management. In the medium term, ano-rectal specialists were more likely to explore gastro-intestinal symptoms, either clinically or through para-clinical studies. However, these studies did not systematically lead to interventional management in the absence of consensus, particularly for medium-term sphincter repair. In addition, 25% of practitioners recommended that patients undergo systematic delivery by caesarean section for further pregnancies after OASI. In the long term (>12 months), there were substantial differences in management of OASI not only between specialties but also within the same specialty. CONCLUSION: The various specialists should coordinate to propose multidisciplinary recommendations on the management of OASI.

Adult appendicitis: Clinical practice guidelines from the French Society of Digestive Surgery and the Society of Abdominal and Digestive Imaging.

INTRODUCTION: The French Society of Digestive Surgery (SFCD) and the Society of Abdominal and Digestive Imaging (SIAD) have collaborated to propose recommendations for clinical practice in the management of adult appendicitis. METHODS: An analysis of the literature was carried out according to the methodology of the French National Authority for Health (HAS). A selection was performed from collected references and then a manual review of the references listed in the selected articles was made in search of additional relevant articles. The research was limited to articles whose language of publication was English or French. Articles focusing on the pediatric population were excluded. Based on the literature review, the working group proposed recommendations whenever possible. These recommendations were reviewed and approved by a committee of experts. RESULTS: Recommendations about appendicitis in adult patients were proposed with regard to clinical, laboratory and radiological diagnostic modalities, treatment strategy for uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, surgical technique, and specificities in the case of macroscopically healthy appendix, terminal ileitis and appendicitis in the elderly and in pregnant women. CONCLUSION: These recommendations for clinical practice may be useful to the surgeon in optimizing the management of acute appendicitis in adults.

A Reappraisal of Outcome of Elective Surgery After Successful Non-Operative Management of an Intra-Abdominal Abscess Complicating Ileocolonic Crohn's Disease: A Subgroup Analysis of a Nationwide Prospective Cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few prospective data exist on outcomes of surgery in Crohn's disease [CD] complicated by an intra-abdominal abscess after resolution of this abscess by antibiotics optionally combined with drainage. METHODS: From 2013 to 2015, all patients undergoing elective surgery for CD after successful non-operative management of an intra-abdominal abscess [Abscess-CD group] were selected from a nationwide multicentre prospective cohort. Resolution of the abscess had to be computed tomography/magnetic resonance-proven prior to surgery. Abscess-CD group patients were 1:1 matched to uncomplicated CD [Non-Penetrating-CD group] using a propensity score. Postoperative results and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among 592 patients included in the registry, 63 [11%] fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The abscess measured 37 ±â€…20 mm and was primarily managed with antibiotics combined with drainage in 14 patients and nutritional support in 45 patients. At surgery, a residual fluid collection was found in 16 patients [25%]. Systemic steroids within 3 months before surgery [p = 0.013] and the absence of preoperative enteral support [p = 0.001] were identified as the two significant risk factors for the persistence of a fluid collection. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference between the Abscess-CD and Non-Penetrating-CD groups in the rates of primary anastomosis [84% vs 90% respectively, p = 0.283], overall [28% vs 15% respectively, p = 0.077] and severe postoperative morbidity [7% vs 7% respectively, p = 1.000]. One-year recurrence rates for endoscopic recurrence were 41% in the Abscess-CD and 51% in the Non-Penetrating-CD group [p = 0.159]. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery after successful non-operative management of intra-abdominal abscess complicating CD provides good early and long-term outcomes.

Segmental Colectomy for Ulcerative Colitis: Is There a Place in Selected Patients Without Active Colitis? An International Multicentric Retrospective Study in 72 Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to report a multicentric experience of segmental colectomy [SC] in ulcerative colitis [UC] patients without active colitis, in order to assess if SC can or cannot represent an alternative to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA]. METHODS: All UC patients undergoing SC were included. Postoperative complications according to ClavienDindo's classification, long term results, and risk factors for postoperative colitis and reoperation for colitis on the remnant colon, were assessed. RESULTS: A TOTAL OF: 72 UC patients underwent: sigmoidectomy [n = 28], right colectomy [n = 24], proctectomy [n = 11], or left colectomy [n = 9] for colonic cancer [n = 27], 'diverticulitis' [n = 17], colonic stenosis [n = 5], dysplasia or polyps [n = 8], and miscellaneous [n = 15]. Three patients died postoperatively and 5/69 patients [7%] developed early flare of UC within 3 months after SC. After a median followup of 40 months, 24/69 patients [35%] were reoperated after a median delay after SC of 19 months [range, 2-158 months]: 22/24 [92%] underwent total colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis [n = 9] or total coloproctectomy [TCP] [n = 13] and 2/24 [8%] an additional SC. Reasons for reoperation were: colitis [n = 14; 20%], cancer [n = 3] or dysplasia [n = 3], colonic stenosis [n = 1], and unknown reasons [n = 3]. Endoscopic score of colitis before SC was Mayo 23 in 5/5 [100%] patients with early flare vs 15/42 without early flare [36%; p = 0.0101] and in 9/12 [75%] patients with reoperation for colitis vs 11/35 without reoperation [31%; p = 0.016]. CONCLUSIONS: After segmental colectomy in UC patients, postoperative early colitis is rare [7%]. Segmental colectomy could possibly represent an alternative to IPAA in selected UC patients without active colitis.

Primary anastomosis and nonrestorative resection for perforated diverticulitis with peritonitis: meta-analysis of randomized trials.

AIM: The aim of this meta-analysis was to comparatively evaluate the outcomes of primary anastomosis (PRA) and nonrestorative resection (NRR) as emergency surgery and ostomy reversal in patients with perforated diverticulitis and peritonitis. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. Postoperative morbidity following emergency resection was the primary end-point. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Cochrane Quality Assessment Tool including recruitment bias and crossover with intention-to-treat analysis. The Haenszel-Mantel method with odds ratios (OR, 95% CI) and the inverse variance method with mean difference (MD, 95% CI) as effect measures were utilized for dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials totaling 382 patients (180 PRA vs 204 NRR) were included. Morbidity rates following emergency resection did not differ (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.65, 1.51; P = 0.95; number needed to treat/harm (NNT) 96). Organ/space surgical site infection rates were 3.3% in PRA vs 11.3% in NRR (OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.12, 0.74; P = 0.009; NNT = 13). Postoperative morbidity rates following ostomy reversal were significantly lower in PRA (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.15, 0.64; P = 0.001; NNT = 7). Pooled ostomy non-reversal rates were 16% in PRA vs 35.5% in NRR (OR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.22, 0.62; P = 0.0001; NNT = 6) with high heterogeneity (I2  = 63%; τ2  = 8.17). Meta-regression analysis revealed significant negative correlation between the PRA-to-NRR crossover rate and the ostomy non-reversal rate (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis found that PRA was associated with better short- and long-term outcomes at the cost of significantly longer operating time at emergency surgery.

C-reactive protein assessment to predict early septic complications after laparoscopic bowel resection for endometriosis: a diagnostic study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) level for early septic complications after laparoscopic bowel resection for endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective study using data prospectively recorded in the CIRENDO database. SETTING: University tertiary referral centre. POPULATION: Three hundred and three women managed by segmental resection or disc excision for colorectal endometriosis in 40 consecutive months. METHODS: C-reactive protein was routinely measured at postoperative days 4, 5, and 6. Bowel fistula, pelvic abscess, and pelvic infected haematoma were prospectively recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was built to assess the best cut off CRP value to predict early septic complications. RESULTS: The incidence of bowel fistula and pelvic abscess/infected hematoma were 2 and 7.9%, respectively. The CRP cut-off value of 100 mg/l at postoperative day 4 predicts early septic pelvic complications (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of, respectively, 76, 83, 30.2, and 90.4%), and the area under the curve was 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.92). CONCLUSION: Postoperative CRP monitoring is useful in the prediction of early septic pelvic complications following bowel endometriosis surgery, with possible impact on the management of postoperative outcomes and hospitalisation stay. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Levels of CRP ≥100 mg/l at day 4 after bowel resection or excision for endometriosis are associated with early septic pelvic complications.

Sacral nerve modulation for faecal incontinence: influence of age on outcomes and complications. A multicentre study.

AIM: Faecal incontinence is frequent in the elderly. Little is currently known about the efficacy of sacral nerve modulation (SNM) in the elderly. The present study aimed to assess the impact of age on the outcome of SNM and on the surgical revision and explantation rates by comparing the results of a large data set of patients. METHOD: Prospectively collected data from patients who underwent an implant procedure between January 2010 and December 2015 in seven French centres were retrospectively evaluated. In total, 352 patients [321 women; median age (range): 63 (24-86) years] were included. Clinically favourable and unfavourable outcomes, and surgical revision and explantation rates, were compared according to the age of the patients. RESULTS: A similar outcome was observed when comparing patients < 70 years and ≥ 70 years (a favourable outcome in 79.2% and 76.2%, respectively, P = 0.89). The probability of a successful treatment as a function of time was similar for the two age groups (< 70 years and ≥ 70 years, P = 0.54). The explantation and revision rates were not influenced by age (explantation rate: 17% in patients < 70 years vs 14% in patients ≥ 70 years, P = 0.89; and revision rate: 42% in patients < 70 years vs 40% in patients ≥ 70 years, P = 0.89). The probability of explantation as a function of time was similar for the two age groups (P = 0.82). The limitations of this study were its retrospective status, the rate of loss at follow-up and different durations of patient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that patients ≥ 70 years suffering from faecal incontinence benefit from SNM with a similar risk as a younger population.

Surgical management of obstructive left colon cancer at a national level: Results of a multicentre study of the French Surgical Association in 1500 patients.

PURPOSE: Surgical management of obstructive left colon cancer (OLCC) is controversial. The objective is to report on postoperative and oncological outcomes of the different surgical options in patients operated on for OLCC. METHODS: From 2000-2015, 1500 patients were treated for OLCC in centers members of the French Surgical Association. Colonic stent (n=271), supportive care (n=5), palliative derivation (n=4) were excluded. Among 1220 remaining patients, 456 had primary diverting colostomy (PDC), 329 a segmental colectomy (SC), 246 a Hartmann's procedure (HP) and 189 a subtotal colectomy (STC) as first-stage surgery. Perioperative data and oncological outcomes were compared retrospectively. RESULTS: There was no difference between the 4 groups regarding gender, age, BMI and comorbidities. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were 4-27% (PDC), 6-47% (SC), 9-55% (HP), 13-60% (STC), respectively (P=0.005). Among the 431 living patients after PDC, 321 (70%) patients had their primary tumour removed. Cumulative mortality and morbidity favoured PDC (7-39%) and SC (6-40%) compared to HP (1-47%) and STC (13-50%) (P=0.04). At the end of follow-up definitive stoma rates were 39% (HP), 24% (PDC), 10% (SC), and 8% (STC) (P<0.0001). Five-year overall and disease-free survival was: SC (67-55%), PDC (54-48%), HP (54-37%) and STC (48-49%). After multivariate analysis, SC and PDC were associated with better prognosis compared to HP and STC. CONCLUSION: In OLCC, SC and PDC are the two preferred options in patients with good medical conditions. For patients with severe comorbidities PDC should be recommended, reserving HP and STC for patients with colonic ischaemia or perforation complicating malignant obstruction.

Thirty-day mortality after emergency surgery for obstructing colon cancer: survey and dedicated score from the French Surgical Association.

AIM: The aim was to define risk factors for postoperative mortality in patients undergoing emergency surgery for obstructing colon cancer (OCC) and to propose a dedicated score. METHOD: From 2000 to 2015, 2325 patients were treated for OCC in French surgical centres by members of the French National Surgical Association. A multivariate analysis was performed for variables with P value ≤ 0.20 in the univariate analysis for 30-day mortality. Predictive performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 1983 patients were included. Thirty-day postoperative mortality was 7%. Multivariate analysis found five significant independent risk factors: age ≥ 75 (P = 0.013), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ III (P = 0.027), pulmonary comorbidity (P = 0.0002), right-sided cancer (P = 0.047) and haemodynamic failure (P < 0.0001). The odds ratio for risk of postoperative death was 3.42 with one factor, 5.80 with two factors, 15.73 with three factors, 29.23 with four factors and 77.25 with five factors. The discriminating capacity in predicting 30-day postoperative mortality was 0.80. CONCLUSION: Thirty-day postoperative mortality after emergency surgery for OCC is correlated with age, ASA score, pulmonary comorbidity, site of tumour and haemodynamic failure, with a specific score ranging from 0 to 5.

Long-term outcome and management of right colonic diverticulitis in western countries: Multicentric Retrospective Study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Right colonic Diverticulitis (RD) is rare in Europe; few studies have focused on it and its management is not standardised. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical presentation (complicated, uncomplicated), acute phase management and long-term outcome of RD in western countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2003 to 2017, 93 consecutive patients who presented with RD were retrospectively included at 11 French Hospital Centres. RESULTS: The study population consisted of two groups: Uncomplicated Right Diverticulitis (URD) group (63.5%, (n=59)) and Complicated Right Diverticulitis (CRD) group (36.5%, [n=34]). 84.7% (n=50/59) of URD were treated conservatively. 41.2% (n=14/34) of patients with CRD had emergency surgery (mostly laparotomy) for Hinchey III peritonitis, clinical intolerance or hemodynamic instability. Altogether 5.2% (n=2/34) patients with CRD had surgery after a cooling off period (initially abscess). The overall rate of severe postoperative complications was low (8%). Recurrence rate was low and comparable in both groups: 6.8% (n=4/59) for URD and 8.8% (n=3/34) for CRD, all recurrences occurred in the same locations with an uncomplicated form, 42.9% (n=3/7) of them had elective laparoscopic surgery and the rest were conservatively treated. Median follow up was 33.2 months. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment can be proposed safely and efficiently for URD and for selected patients with CRD. Surgery should be reserved for unstable patients or patients with severe forms of complicated diverticulitis in emergency.

The diagnostic value of the functional lumen imaging probe versus high-resolution anorectal manometry in patients with fecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: The functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP® ) is a new technology that measures the distensibility of the anal canal represented by the anal distensibility index. The aims of this study were (i) to compare the anal distensibility index to anal pressure in a cohort of patients with fecal incontinence (FI) and (ii) to compare the diagnostic value of the EndoFLIP® to that of high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) in the same cohort of patients. METHODS: Eighty-three consecutive patients with FI who underwent EndoFLIP® and HRAM assessments were enrolled. The diagnostic value of the EndoFLIP® was compared to that of HRAM and agreement between EndoFLIP® and HRAM data was assessed. KEY RESULTS: More than 70% of the patients diagnosed with anal deficiency at rest and/or during voluntary contractions by HRAM had the same diagnosis using the EndoFLIP® . Two patients with higher distensibility indexes at rest had normal anal resting pressures. Sixteen patients with a normal EndoFLIP® index (ie, normal distensibility index at rest and during voluntary contractions) had an abnormal HRAM result. Seven of these 16 patients (44%) had no sphincter lesion or neuropathic disorder that could explain an abnormal anal sphincter function. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: We demonstrated that the anal distensibility index and HRAM results are largely in agreement. We did, however, identify several discrepancies between the two techniques, indicating that they may be complementary.

Management of deep infiltrating endometriosis by laparoscopic route with robotic assistance: 3-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of deep endometriosis surgery using robotic assistance, benefits and limits of this approach. METHOD: Case-series study enrolling patients managed for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) using robotic assistance in our department between September 2011 and March 2014 (NCT02294825). Self-questionnaires including pain and digestive symptoms were filled in preoperatively and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled in the series. They represented 54% of patients managed for gynecological disease by laparoscopic route with robotic assistance during the study period, and 14% of patients managed for deep endometriosis in our department. Follow-up averaged 24±8 months, and no patient was lost to follow-up. Thirty-two patients had rectal involvement: rectal shaving was performed in 25 patients, disc excision in 3 and colorectal resection in 4. Three patients had bladder resection. Thirteen patients presented with deep endometriosis of the ureters: ureterolysis was performed in 11 of them, and resection of the ureter followed by reimplantation into the bladder in 2 patients. One major complication (Clavien IIIb) was recorded in a patient presenting with necrosis of the right ureter on postoperative day 5. Nine patients tried to conceive after surgery and 8 have already become pregnant (88.9%). One year after surgery, self-questionnaires revealed a significant decrease in pain symptoms and significant improvement in several item values of gastrointestinal standardized questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of DIE is feasible using robotic assistance. However, data available in the literature and our own experience do not definitively support the hypothesis of the superiority of robotic assistance in the management of DIE.

Sacral nerve stimulation can alleviate symptoms of bowel dysfunction after colorectal resections.

AIM: Poor functional results, such as faecal incontinence (FI), low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) or high stool frequency, can occur after colorectal resections, including proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), rectal resection and left hemicolectomy. Management of such patients is problematic, and some case reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in these situations. Our aim was to analyse the effectiveness of SNS on poor functional results and on quality of life in patients after treatment with different types of colorectal resection. METHOD: At five university hospitals from 2006 to 2014, patients with poor functional results after rectal resection, IPAA or left hemicolectomy underwent a staged SNS implant procedure. Failure was defined by the absence or insufficient improvement (< 50%) of FI episodes. RESULTS: SNS for bowel dysfunction was performed in 16 patients after rectal resection with coloanal anastomosis, left hemicolectomy with colorectal anastomosis or IPAA. Two (13%) cases of primary failure were observed after the percutaneous stimulation test. Median frequency of stool, FI episodes and urgency were significantly improved in 14 patients. Wexner and LARS scores were also significantly improved for 14 patients. When we compared results according to the type of colorectal surgery (IPAA, rectal resection or left hemicolectomy), median frequencies of stool and urgency, Wexner and LARS scores were still significantly improved. Overall success rate was 75% (12/16 patients) in intention-to-treat analysis and 86% (12/14 patients with permanent electrode) in per-protocol analysis. CONCLUSION: SNS seems to improve bowel dysfunction following rectal resection, left hemicolectomy or IPAA.

Is the image "right" for everyone? Introduction to the parallax effect in laparoscopic surgery.

AIM OF THE STUDY: During minimally invasive abdominal surgery, a laparoscope is used to film the procedure, which is transmitted to a flat screen monitor. The horizontality of the image depends on the orientation in space and the visual comfort of the surgeon. Observing the screen via a lateral angle of incidence frequently results in the camera assistant making errors in determining the horizontality of the image. Thus, what is "right" for the camera assistant is not necessarily 'right' for the surgeon. We aimed to explain the impact of these errors in laparoscope manipulation, by the description of the parallax effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To describe this phenomenon of perceptions changing depending on the angle of view, from the basis of the parallax effect, we observed the change of position and for two observers, (the surgeon and the camera assistant) seated at two different locations, using an experimental set up (i.e., photography equipment, a screen and a pelvitrainer). RESULTS: The position of the camera assistant positioned at an angle of incidence of 45° from the surgeon, the observation of the screen with a lateral incidence changes the perception of the image viewed on the screen. For correcting the conflict between the subjective visual perception of the camera assistant and the actual image horizon, the camera assistant instinctively rotates the image, which can lead to an "incorrect" image, deleterious for the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: This article introduces a previously unexplained concept in medical literature, called the parallax effect. The parallax effect results in the camera assistant making systematic errors in determining image horizontality on the screen.

Management of rectal cancer: the 2016 French guidelines.

AIM: Rectal cancer is a malignant disease requiring multidisciplinary management. In view of the increasing number of studies published over the past decade, a comprehensive update is required to draw recommendations for clinical practice mandated by the French Research Group of Rectal Cancer Surgery and the French National Coloproctology Society. METHOD: Seven questions summarizing the treatment of rectal cancer were selected. A search for evidence in the literature from January 2004 to December 2015 was performed. A drafting committee and a large group of expert reviewers contributed to validate the statements. RESULTS: Recommendations include the indications for neoadjuvant therapy, the quality criteria for surgical resection, the management of postoperative disordered function, the role of local excision in early rectal cancer, the place of conservative strategies after neoadjuvant treatment, the management of synchronous liver metastases and the indications for adjuvant therapy. A level of evidence was assigned to each statement. CONCLUSION: The current clinical practice guidelines are useful for the treatment of rectal cancer. Some statements require a higher level of evidence due to a lack of studies.