Does stoma modify compliance with enhanced recovery after surgery programs? Results of a cohort study.

PURPOSE: Few studies have focused on enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) in patients who have received a stoma after colorectal surgery. The objective of the study was to compare ERP compliant patients who have not received a stoma, those who received a colostomy, and those who received an ileostomy. METHODS: This study used data that had been prospectively collected as part of the ERP audit performed through the Groupe francophone de Réhabilitation Améliorée après Chirurgie [Francophone Group for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery] over a 4-year period. All patients who had undergone colorectal surgery were included and separated into three groups (no stoma, ileostomy, and colostomy). The primary outcome was ERP compliance, calculated through the use of 16 tracer items. RESULTS: Of the 422 recruited patients, 317 had not received a stoma (75.12%), 59 had an ileostomy (13.98%), and 46 had a colostomy (10.90%). ERP compliance was 73% in the non-stoma group, 66.6% in the ileostomy group, and 66% in the colostomy group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that patients from the ileostomy group had a higher risk of bowel preparation [OR = 9.1; 95% CI = 1.16-71.65] and of maintaining their urinary catheter [OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.14-0.81] than the group which did not receive a stoma. Patients from the colostomy group required significantly more drainage than those in the non-stoma group (OR = 4.3; 95% CI = 1.33-14.02). CONCLUSION: ERP is feasible in colorectal surgery in the context of stomas, but in case of ileostomy protecting a rectal surgery, the audit system must be adapted to the protocols in use in the departments.

Pre-habilitation before colorectal cancer surgery could improve postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery: a case-matched study.

PURPOSE: While its effect is controverted, multimodal pre-habilitation could be used to improve the postoperative course following colorectal cancer surgery. However, by increasing lean body mass, pre-habilitation could reduce the time needed to recover gastrointestinal (GI) functions. The aim was to assess the impact of pre-habilitation before colorectal cancer surgery on postoperative GI motility recovery. METHODS: This is a matched retrospective study based on a prospective database including patients undergoing colorectal surgery without pre-habilitation (NPH) (2016-2018) and with pre-habilitation (PH group) (2018-2019). The main outcome measure was the time to GI-3 recovery (tolerance to solid food and flatus and/or stools). RESULTS: One hundred thirteen patients were included, 37 underwent pre-habilitation (32.7%). The patient's age, the surgical procedure, the surgical access, the rate of synchronous metastasis, the rate of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, and the rate of stoma were more important in the PH group. Conversely, the rate of patients with an ASA score of > 2 was higher in the NPH group. By matching patients according to age, gender and surgical procedure, 84 patients were compared (61 in the NPH group and 23 in the PH group). The mean of GI-3 recovery was significantly lower in the PH group. The other endpoints were not significantly different but time to GI function recovery and medical morbidity tended to be higher in the NPH group. Compliance with the enhanced recovery program was significantly higher in the PH group. CONCLUSION: Pre-habilitation before colorectal cancer surgery reduced time to GI function recovery and may increase compliance with the enhanced recovery program.

The Predictive Value of Pulse Wave Velocity for Anastomotic Leakage After Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Arterial perfusion defects are a risk factor for anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal surgery. Measuring arterial stiffness using pulse wave velocity (PWV) is known to reflect the performance of the arterial network. The objective of this study was to assess the predictive value of PWV for AL after colorectal surgery. METHODS: A prospective monocentric study was conducted on all consecutive patients who underwent colorectal surgery scheduled between March 1, 2016 and May 1, 2017. Patients were divided into two groups according to the PWV which was measured preoperatively using the pOpmètre® device: PWV+ (PWV > 10 m/s) and PWV- (PWV ≤ 10 m/s). We then compared the PWV+ and PWV- groups. The primary endpoint was the AL rate. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were studied, including 60 in the PWV- group and 36 in the PWV+ group. Patients in the PWV+ group were more at risk of presenting with AL than those in the PWV- group (6.25 vs 0%) (p = 0.002). There was no difference in immediate postoperative complications between the two groups apart from the length of hospital stay. PWV predicted the appearance of AL with a sensitivity of and a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: Measuring PWV could be a used as a predictive examination in the early detection of AL after colorectal surgery.

Long-term functional outcomes of perineal gangrene: worse than expected?-an observational retrospective study.

PURPOSE: For survivors of perineal gangrene (PG), quality of life and functional prognosis of pelvic functions are probably overestimated. The aim of this study was to report long-term anal and urinary sphincter dysfunctions, sexual sequelae, and patients' quality of life after treatment of perineal gangrene. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted in one university hospital over 16 years. Seventy-three patients experienced PG; 22 were subject to long-term follow-up. Three questionnaires were sent to patients to assess pelvic dysfunction and quality of life: the GIQLI, the Cleveland Incontinence Score, and the USP score for urinary dysfunction. Sexual sequelae were considered if orchiectomy or penile resection for male patients and vulvar resection for female patients were performed. RESULTS: Of the 72 patients included, seven died before discharge (9.7%) and at least 14 died during follow-up (19.4%), despite a mean age of 62 years (± 13). Among the surviving patients, seven experienced an alteration of their quality of life (44%) (GIQLI < 96). Six patients still had a colostomy, and among the remaining patients, 11 experienced minimal to mild incontinence (68.7%), while one experienced constipation (6.2%). One patient suffered from urinary incontinence (4.5%), and six suffered from dysuria (27.3%). Three male patients (14%) underwent an orchiectomy, and one female patient (100%) underwent a vulvar resection. CONCLUSION: PG leads to a high rate of anal and urinary dysfunctions. Urinary dysfunctions are taken into account and treated; however, anal incontinence is not investigated even though it could lead to decreased quality of life.

Risk factors for symptomatic esophageal stricture after caustic ingestion-a retrospective cohort study.

Esophageal stricture is a major secondary complication of ingesting caustic agents. We examined our experiences with caustic injuries with a view to finding clinical and biological risk factors of esophageal strictures secondary to caustic ingestion. Records were retrieved for 58 adults admitted consecutively to our intensive care unit for caustic ingestion. Fifty cases were managed conservatively and therefore retained for analyses. Patients were grouped according to whether they developed strictures or not during the follow-up period. Mucosal damage was assessed by emergency endoscopy. Eleven patients (22%) developed a stricture. At referral, dysphagia, epigastric pain, and hematemesis were associated with secondary stricture (respectively P = 0.047, P = 0.008, P = 0.02). A high Zargar endoscopic grade (above IIa; P = 0.02), the ingestion of strong acids or alkalis (P = 0.006), hyperleukocytosis (P = 0.02), and a low prothrombin ratio (P = 0.002) were associated with a higher risk of developing a stricture. The median delay of stricture diagnosis was 12 (8;16) days after ingestion, with extreme values from 4 to 26 days. Initial symptoms such as dysphagia or hematemesis, early endoscopy showing >IIa grade esophagitis, and certain laboratory results should draw the physician's attention to a high risk of esophageal stricture.

Acute mesenteric ischemia of arterial origin: importance of early revascularization.

GOAL: The goal of our study was to show that survival was better when early revascularization was performed rather than gastrointestinal resection in the management of acute mesenteric ischemia of arterial origin. METHODS: The reports of patients managed in our center between January 2005 and May 2012 for acute mesenteric ischemia of arterial origin were analyzed retrospectively. Data on clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings, the interval before treatment, the operative findings and the surgical procedures were collected. Follow-up information included the postoperative course, and mortality at 48 h, 30 days and 1 year, the latter being compared between patients undergoing revascularization versus gastrointestinal resection. RESULTS: Of 43 patients treated during this period, 20 had gastrointestinal lesions deemed to be beyond all therapeutic resources, 13 were treated with gastrointestinal resection without revascularization, while 10 underwent early revascularization. There were no statistically significant differences found in the extent of involvement between the two groups (P=0.22). Mortality at 48 h, 30 days and 1 year was 8% (n=1), 30% (n=4) and 68% (n=8) in patients who underwent enterectomy vs. 0% (n=0), 0% (n=0) and 10% (n=1) in patients who underwent revascularization procedures. The difference at 1 year was statistically significant (P=0.02). At 1 year, two patients in the revascularized group had a short bowel syndrome vs. one in the non-revascularized group. CONCLUSION: Acute mesenteric ischemia of arterial origin is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Optimal management should include early revascularization.

Surgery for incarcerated hernia: short-term outcome with or without mesh.

BACKGROUND: Incarcerated hernias represent about 5-15 % of all operated hernias. Tension-free mesh is the preferred technique for elective surgery due to low recurrence rates. There is however currently no consensus on the use of mesh for the treatment of incarcerated hernias, especially in case of bowel resection. AIM: The aims of this study were (i) to report our current practice for the treatment of incarcerated hernias, (ii) to identify risk factors for postoperative complications, and (iii) to assess the safety of mesh placement in potentially infected surgical fields. METHODS: This retrospective study included 166 consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for incarcerated hernia between January 2007 and January 2012 in two university hospitals. Demographics, surgical details, and short-term outcome were collected. Univariate analysis was employed to identify risk factors for overall, infectious, and major complications. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients (50.6 %) presented inguinal hernias, 43 femoral (25.9 %), 37 umbilical hernias (22.3 %), and 2 mixed hernias (1.2 %), respectively. Mesh was placed in 64 patients (38.5 %), including 5 patients with concomitant bowel resection. Overall morbidity occurred in 56 patients (32.7 %), and 8 patients (4.8 %) developed surgical site infections (SSI). Univariate risk factors for overall complications were ASA grade 3/4 (P = 0.03), diabetes (P = 0.05), cardiopathy (P = 0.001), aspirin use (P = 0.023), and bowel resection (P = 0.001) which was also the only identified risk factor for SSI (P = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, only bowel incarceration was associated with a higher rate of major morbidity (OR = 14.04; P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Morbidity after surgery for incarcerated hernia remains high and depends on comorbidities and surgical presentation. The use of mesh could become current practice even in case of bowel resection.