The majority of colorectal resections require an open approach, even in units with a special interest in laparoscopic surgery.

AIM: Proponents suggest that laparoscopic colorectal resection might be achievable in up to 90% of cases, while keeping conversion rates below 10%. This unselected prospective case series reports on the proportion of patients having a completed laparoscopic colorectal resection in two units where laparoscopic colorectal practice is well established and readily available. METHOD: All patients undergoing elective and emergency colorectal resection during a 6-month period were identified. The underlying pathology and the surgical approach (laparoscopic or open) were recorded. The contraindications to laparoscopic resection were also documented. The need and rationale for conversion to an open approach were recorded. RESULTS: In total, 205 consecutive patients (160 elective and 45 emergency procedures) underwent colorectal resection for malignancy [117 (57%) patients] and benign pathology [88 (43%) patients]. Laparoscopic resection was attempted in 127/205 (62%) patients and 31/127 (24%) of these were converted to open surgery. The main reasons for not attempting laparoscopic resection were locally advanced disease and emergency surgery. The commonest reasons for conversion were advanced disease and to allow completion of rectal dissection and/or cross-stapling of the rectum. CONCLUSION: Despite a special interest in laparoscopic colorectal surgery of the two colorectal units who provided the data for this study, fewer than half (96/205; 47%) of the patients in this consecutive unselected series who were undergoing major colorectal resection had the procedure completed laparoscopically.

Does the laparoscopic colorectal surgery learning curve adversely affect the results of colorectal cancer resection? A 3-year prospective study in a district general hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is slowly being adopted across the UK. We present a 3-year prospective study of laparoscopic colorectal cancer resections in a district general hospital. METHOD: Data relating to premorbid, operative and postoperative parameters were recorded for all patients undergoing laparoscopic, open, planned converted (laparoscopic assisted) and unplanned converted resections prospectively from April 2003 to April 2006. RESULTS: A total of 238 colorectal resections were performed, 153 of which were for cancer. Of these 44 (29%) were open, 77 (50%) were laparoscopic and 32 (21%) were converted [26 (17%) planned and six (4%) unplanned]. Blood loss was less in the laparoscopic group compared with the open group (P = 0.02) as was intra-operative fluid replacement (P = 0.01). Time to requiring oral analgesia alone was shorter (P = 0.001) and bowel function returned earlier (P = 0.001) in the laparoscopic group. This is reflected in a trend towards a shorter hospital stay for the laparoscopic group compared with the open group (P = 0.049). The operating time of the laparoscopic group was not significantly longer (P = 0.38). The complication rate was similar between groups (P = 0.31) and the mortality in the laparoscopic group was 1.3%. CONCLUSION: Changing from open to laparoscopic dissection for colorectal cancer is safe even during the initial learning curve. There are clear potential short-term benefits for patients and the technique can be introduced without penalties in terms of reduced surgical throughput.

A personal view on laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.

Benefits such as reduced morbidity and shorter length of stay have been demonstrated for laparoscopic colon cancer resection, Laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery is thought to be more challenging and it is not clear if it offers the same benefits. There are concerns about oncological outcome and anastomotic technique and complications. In this review we discuss the difficulties and challenges of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery within the context of our own personal experience and with regard to some of the current literature. We propose that laparoscopic and open rectal cancer surgery both have a role and the challenge is selection of appropriate patients for each technique.

The use of intra-operative endo-anal ultrasound in perianal disease.

INTRODUCTION: Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for the structural imaging of anorectal pathology. This study prospectively assessed the impact of intra-operative EAUS on the surgical management of perianal disease. METHODS: EAUS was performed prior to and after examination under anaesthesia (EUA) in a consecutive series of patients with perianal disease. The impact of EAUS on the surgery performed was identified. RESULTS: Forty-three procedures have been performed in 38 patients (21 male, 17 female; mean age 42.7 years, range 6-76 years) over a three year period. Pathologies encountered were fistula-in-ano (42%), fissure-in-ano (26%), complicated perianal sepsis (16%) and carcinoma (5%). No specific abnormality was identified in 5 symptomatic patients (12%). Four patients with fissures had undergone previous sphincterotomy. In 22 cases (51.2%) the EAUS findings affected the surgical management (extent of muscle above a fistula 9 cases, extent of sphincterotomy 7 cases, site of sepsis identified 2 cases, exclusion of sepsis 2 cases, assessment of cancer resectability 1 case, biopsy of intersphincteric lesion 1 case). CONCLUSION: Intra-operative EAUS accurately identifies perianal disease and influences the surgical procedure performed. While not essential, it is a useful adjunct especially in recurrent perianal sepsis, undiagnosed anorectal pain and anal fissure.

Management of the rectal stump after emergency sub-total colectomy: which surgical option is associated with the lowest morbidity?

OBJECTIVE: To identify the preferred surgical management of the rectal stump after emergency subtotal colectomy (ESC) for acute severe colitis by assessing the morbidity associated with each option. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing ESC at a district general hospital between 1999 and 2004 were retrospectively audited for pathology, rectal stump complications and length of postoperative hospital stay (POS). RESULTS: Thirty-seven ESCs were performed, 34 were undertaken for disease refractory to medical treatment, 2 for toxic mega colon and 1 for perforation. Thirty-four cases were for ulcerative colitis, 2 Crohn's colitis and 1 infective colitis. Twenty-seven had an intraperitoneal and 10 a subcutaneously placed closed rectal stump. The median POS for patients with a subcutaneously placed stump was shorter than for those with an intraperitoneal stump, 8 and 15 days, respectively (P = 0.04). Two patients had leakage from an intraperitoneal stump, prolonging POS (33 and 193 days). Three of the subcutaneous stumps leaked causing wound infection but not prolonging the POS (6, 7 and 16 days). CONCLUSION: Avoiding a second stoma by closing the rectal stump after ESC has been confirmed as acceptable practice by studies over the last 15 years, reporting no overall increase in complications. The location of a closed rectal stump appears to influence the incidence of pelvic sepsis. The lowest pelvic sepsis rate is associated with subcutaneous placement; despite a higher wound infection rate this option appears to be associated with a lower total morbidity reflected in a shorter POS.

Lateral internal sphincterotomy is not redundant in the era of glyceryl trinitrate therapy for chronic anal fissure.

Lateral internal sphincterotomy has been the standard treatment for chronic anal fissure, but fissure healing rates of up to 80% with topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) treatment have suggested that this operation may become redundant. We evaluated the results of topical treatment of chronic anal fissures with 0.2% GTN for 6 weeks in the outpatient clinical setting, outside the confines of a randomized clinical trial. The role of lateral internal sphincterotomy in the GTN era was also assessed. GTN induced fissure healing in 21 of 49 consecutive patients. Fissures healed spontaneously in 2 patients who discontinued GTN because of headache. Lateral internal sphincterotomy was performed in 26 patients who had persistent symptoms after 6 weeks of GTN therapy. At the 6-week post-sphincterotomy review, all fissures had healed and there were no complications. In this study topical GTN for treatment of chronic anal fissure in the outpatient setting was not as effective as demonstrated in controlled clinical trials. Lateral internal sphincterotomy is still a good therapeutic option, especially in patients not responding to GTN.

An audit of emergency abdominal aortic aneurysm repair to establish the necessity for an emergency vascular surgical rota.

Mortality for emergency abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair remains high but results of specialist vascular surgeons are superior to those of general surgeons. A retrospective audit was performed on all patients undergoing emergency AAA repair over 53 months at one hospital to determine the necessity for a vascular specialist on-call rota. Patients were stratified into two groups, those treated by specialist vascular surgeons and those treated by general surgeons. There were 37 patients in the vascular surgeon group and 36 in the general surgeon group. There was no significant difference between the two groups when age, sex distribution, APACHE II score on admission, pre-operative delay and type of rupture were considered. The average operating time was 114.7 min in the vascular surgeon group and 111.9 min in the general surgeon group. Total blood transfusion requirements, and postoperative duration of ventilation, inotrope therapy and intensive treatment unit stay were similar in the two groups. Intra-operative, 30-day and cumulative hospital mortalities were 10.8% versus 8.3%, 32.4% versus 38.9% and 40.5% versus 38.9% in the vascular surgeon and general surgeon groups, respectively. The mortality figures compare favourably with other published series. As the results of the two groups were similar, there is currently no need for vascular surgeons to be routinely available for acute AAA surgery at our hospital.

The rapid access proctology clinic: an appraisal of one year's experience.

A walk-in, once-a-week clinic was established in May 1993. In the first year, 1268 patients (954 new and 314 follow up) were seen with a reduction in waiting time, high patient and general practitioner satisfaction, and raised awareness of colorectal disease.

The relationship between pancreatic enzyme release and activation and the acute-phase protein response in patients with acute pancreatitis.

It has been suggested that the severity of an attack of acute pancreatitis is related to the presence of intraglandular trypsinogen activation and that disease severity is also reflected by the degree of the acute-phase protein response. In this study we examine the relationships among amylase release, the degree of trypsinogen and prophospholipase A2 activation [as measured by urinary trypsinogen activation peptide (TAP) and prophospholipase A2 activation peptide (PLAP) concentrations], and the serum concentrations of the acute phase-protein C-reactive protein (CRP) and the principal mediator of the acute-phase protein response, interleukin-6 (IL-6). Twenty-four patients (14 mild and 10 severe attacks) were studied. Peak serum amylase concentrations were seen within 12 h and peak urinary TAP/creatinine (Cr) and PLAP/Cr ratios between 12 and 24 h after the onset of symptoms, preceding those of IL-6 and CRP. The integrated TAP/Cr and PLAP/Cr responses were significantly greater in those with severe disease [95% confidence internal (CI) = 106-259.6 pmol/mmol/h, p < 0.0008; and 95.1% CI = 462.2-3887 pmol/mmol/h, p < 0.003, respectively]. The integrated amylase response was not significantly greater in those with severe disease (95.6% CI = -415 to 832 IU/L/h, p < 0.14). There was a strong correlation among the integrated IL-6, TAP/Cr (r = 0.63, p < 0.01), and PLAP/Cr (r = 0.64, p < 0.01) responses but a poor correlation with the integrated amylase response (r = 0.19, NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Surgical workload as a consequence of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

A study was performed to evaluate the surgical workload that has resulted from screening an at-risk population for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to forecast the likely workload from an established screening programme. Over an 8-year period 8944 people aged 65-80 years were screened; 356 were found to have an AAA of 3 cm or greater in diameter. There were 288 outpatient consultations involving 171 patients, and 43 patients (4.8 per 1000 screened) had surgery during the study period. A fully operational screening programme for a population of 250,000, screening men and women at a rate of 2000 per year, would be expected to produce a surgical workload of nine or ten operations for AAA per year. Screening men only would increase this to 34 annually.

Trypsinogen activation peptides (TAP) concentrations in the peritoneal fluid of patients with acute pancreatitis and their relation to the presence of histologically confirmed pancreatic necrosis.

This study measured the volume and colour, as well as concentrations of trypsinogen activation peptides (TAP) in the peritoneal fluid of 22 patients with acute pancreatitis and related these findings to the presence of pancreatic necrosis. Nine patients had a severe attack with histologically confirmed pancreatic necrosis, seven a severe attack without confirmed necrosis, and six a mild attack, also without confirmed necrosis. A free fluid volume > 20 ml or free fluid colour > grade 5 on the Leeds chart, or both detected histologically confirmed pancreatic necrosis with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 31%. A total peritoneal fluid TAP concentration of > or = nmol detected histologically confirmed pancreatic necrosis with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 85%, figures comparable with contrast enhanced computed tomography. These findings suggest that the measurement of peritoneal fluid TAP concentrations can detect effectively histologically confirmed pancreatic necrosis and that such measurements may prove useful in the selection of patients for surgery.

Detection of human pancreatic pro-phospholipase A2 activation using an immunoassay for the free activation peptide DSGISPR.

There are several forms of the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in human tissues. In the pancreas the enzyme is produced as a zymogen, pro-phospholipase A2 (pro-PLA2). The active form is generated upon proteolytic cleavage of the N-terminal prophospholipase A2 activation peptide (PLAP), with the sequence Asp-Ser-Gly-Ile-Ser-Pro-Arg (DSGISPR). Antisera specific for free PLAP were produced by immunization with the synthetic peptide, N-terminally conjugated to bovine thyroglobin. Affinity purified antibodies were used to develop a radioimmunoassay with a detection limit of 5 nmol/L. Competitive inhibition studies with amino-terminally truncated sequences showed that, at least, the C-terminal pentapeptide (GISPR) was required for significant inhibition. Anti-PLAP antibodies did not react with native human pancreatic homogenate (a source of pro-PLA2). A large immunoreactive signal was generated upon trypsinization, which coeluted with synthetic PLAP when chromatographed on Sephadex-G25. Likewise, Sephadex-G50 chromatograph fractions of the untrypsinized homogenate reacted with the antibodies only after trypsinization. The immunoreactive signal appeared at a molecular weight of 14,500 which corresponds to the reported molecular weight of pancreatic pro-PLA2. This demonstrates that the assay is specific for the free peptide and reports pro-PLA2 activation. PLAP assay may therefore contribute to the study of the role of the PLA2 activation event in disease states such as pancreatitis.

Released prophospholipase A2 activation peptides in the rapid early prediction of trauma outcome: a preliminary report.

Clinical scores of trauma severity may not be adequate measures of trauma-related systemic pathophysiology to be useful in the early prediction of individual patient outcome. This preliminary study evaluates the role of Prophospholipase A2 Activation Peptide (PLAP), measured in patient urine by modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), as an early prognostic in the severely injured. Of nine polytrauma patients requiring intensive care after a major accident, two died and one was permanently severely disabled (group 1), whilst six made a full recovery (group 2). These two groups had different ranges of urine PLAP concentration (P = 0.024). Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation may be an early event in tissue damage pathways that lead to multisystem organ failure (MSOF). We believe urine and plasma PLAP concentrations merit further evaluation for the early prediction of individual trauma outcome.

Trypsinogen activation peptides assay in the early prediction of severity of acute pancreatitis.

Trypsinogen activation can be quantified by measurement of released activation peptides (TAP assay). TAP assay in urine was performed on admission for 55 patients with acute pancreatitis. TAP concentration correlated with subsequent disease severity in 87%, whereas C-reactive protein concentration, and multifactorial scoring at 48 h, were correct in 55% and 84%. Sensitivity and specificity for TAP assay were 80% and 90%, for C-reactive protein 53% and 55%, and for multifactorial scoring at 48 h, 60% and 93%. Urine TAP assay distinguishes acute pancreatitis without trypsinogen activation from acute pancreatitis with trypsinogen activation, and helps to identify patients who will progress to the severe acute disease. Use of the assay should allow early intensive treatment of those who need it.