Erectile Dysfunction Is Common after Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Cohort Study.

Erectile dysfunction is a known late complication following surgery for rectal cancer. We aimed to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery and characterize it. This was a prospective observational cohort study. Data from men after surgery for rectal cancer were collected between October 2019 and April 2023. The primary outcome was the prevalence of erectile dysfunction following surgery based on the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaires, IIEF-5 and 15. Secondary outcomes were prevalence in subgroups and self-perceived erectile function. In total, 101 patients agreed to participate, while 67 patients (67%) responded after a median six-month follow-up after surgery. Based on IIEF-15, 84% of the patients had erectile dysfunction. For subgroups, 74% of patients who underwent robot-assisted surgery had erectile dysfunction, whereas all patients who underwent either laparoscopic or open surgery had erectile dysfunction (p = 0.031). Furthermore, half of the patients rated their self-perceived ability to obtain and keep an erection as very low. In conclusion, in our cohort, erectile dysfunction was common after rectal cancer surgery, and half of the patients were unconfident that they could obtain and keep an erection. Information regarding this finding should be given so that patients feel comfortable discussing therapeutic solutions if needed.

Exploring Patients' Perspectives on Late Complications after Colorectal and Anal Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients often experience late complications following treatment for colorectal and anal cancer. Although several measurement tools exist to classify the severity of these symptoms, little is known about how patients personally experience and adapt to these complications. This study aimed to investigate patients' experiences and coping strategies in relation to these symptoms. METHODS: We conducted an explorative qualitative interview study to gather data. RESULTS: Our findings revealed two main categories: How patients react after treatment for colorectal and anal cancer, and Experienced symptoms. Additionally, we identified four sub-categories: the period after discharge, coping strategies, stool symptoms, and other symptoms. Patients commonly feel abandoned once their surgical and oncological treatments are completed. It is typical for patients to turn to the internet for guidance on managing late complications, despite being aware that evidence-based options are limited. Stool-related issues significantly impact patients' personal and professional lives, requiring constant preparedness for accidents, the use of diapers, and the need for extra clothing at all times. Furthermore, patients experience additional troublesome symptoms such as urinary incontinence, fatigue, pain, and sexual dysfunction, which further affect their daily lives. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experience multiple problems after colorectal cancer surgery, and this warrants more focused attention.

Variation in the length of terminal ileum specimen in right hemicolectomy: a descriptive study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to clarify the length of the bowel specimen and to assess if the length was affected by certain characteristics. METHODS: Eligible patients were adults who had undergone right hemicolectomy for cancer in caecum, appendix, ascending colon or transverse colon from September 2019 to September 2020 at Herlev Hospital, Denmark. Data were collected from medical records. The primary outcome was the length of the resected terminal ileum. Secondary outcomes were to assess if body mass index (BMI), surgical approach, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy affected the length of the terminal ileum specimen, and to report the length of the colon specimen subdivided on the cancer locations. RESULTS: In total, 50 patients were included. The median age was 74 years (range 36-91), 30 patients (60%) were females, and BMI was median 26 (range 17-45). The variation in the length of terminal ileum specimen was median 5 cm (range 1-17). The explorative analyses showed significant positive correlation between the length of terminal ileum specimen and BMI (P = 0.050) but not surgical approach (P = 0.23) nor neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.51). The length of the colon specimen naturally differed according to the cancer location with a median length of 26 cm (range 14-90). CONCLUSION: We found a variation in the length of the terminal ileum specimen without an apparent explanation for this variation. The colon specimen also varied naturally according to cancer location.

Establishment of a nurse-led clinic for late complications after colorectal and anal cancer surgery: a descriptive study.

PURPOSE: Survival rates after colorectal and anal cancer are increasing and more patients have late complications to treatment. This represents a clinical field under development, and we have established a specialized clinic for late complications after colorectal and anal cancer. With this paper, we want to give our experiences and present the organizational setup with a nurse as the primary contact person. METHODS: We have established a multidisciplinary clinic for the treatment of late complications and the clinic is organized with specialized nurses as the front persons. The structure includes a stepwise increase in expertise level when needed, and the patient has one common entry regardless of symptoms. Initial screening is performed by an electronic questionnaire which is followed up by a consultation with the nurse. The nurse can provide primary treatment according to local algorithms developed in the clinic and refer the patient to more specialized care if needed. RESULTS: Experiences from the first year of service show that more than half of the patients needs this and wants consultation in the late complication clinic. We also found that most of the consultations were performed successfully by phone instead of by physical visits, and the most common clinical problem was bowel symptoms including diarrhea and urge. CONCLUSION: We have established a nurse-led clinic for late complications after colorectal and anal cancer. There seems to be a high need for this function in a department taking care of colorectal and anal cancer.