The Difficult Colorectal Polyp.

Difficult colorectal polyps represent lesions that pose a challenge to traditional endoscopic snare polypectomy. These polyps have historically been managed by surgical resection. Currently, several less invasive options are available to avoid colectomy. Repeat colonoscopy and snare polypectomy by an expert endoscopist, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, and combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery have been developed to remove difficult polyps without the need for formal surgical resection. Patients with rectal polyps have the advantage of additional transanal minimally invasive techniques to enhance their resectability. Today, most colorectal polyps can be managed without the need for formal surgical resection.

Management of the difficult colon polyp referred for resection: resect or rescope?

PURPOSE: Patients are frequently referred for resection of difficult colon polyps. Before colectomy the experienced surgeon has the option of repeating the colonoscopy to assess the polyp, tattoo the site, and potentially remove the polyp. The purpose of this study was to review our results with this approach. METHODS: All new patients referred during a five-year period to an 11-physician colon and rectal surgical group with the diagnosis of colon polyp (CPT 211.3) that was not previously removed were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with rectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, previous cancer, or familial adenomatous polyposis were excluded. Patient demographics, details of the polyps, success of polypectomy, reasons for surgical resection, pathology, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 252 patients with a mean age of 65 years. Eighty patients underwent resection upon referral without a repeat colonoscopy. Upon resection, invasive cancers were found in 13 cases. A total of 172 patients underwent at least one repeat colonoscopy by the colorectal surgeon. Of this group, 101 patients had successful polypectomy, thus avoiding major colectomy. The remaining 71 patients had a subsequent colon resection after at least one repeat colonoscopy. In 26 cases the polyp site was tattooed for later localization. There were nine postpolypectomy hemorrhages treated nonoperatively and two perforations. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat colonoscopy by an experienced surgeon leads to complete removal and avoidance of major colectomy in 58 percent of these cases. Patients with large difficult polyps referred for resection should be considered for repeat colonoscopy before surgery.

MRSA-related perianal abscesses: an underrecognized disease entity.

PURPOSE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in perianal abscesses represents an underrecognized condition. It is unclear whether these abscesses differ in presentation or other characteristics from their non-MRSA counterparts. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with perianal abscess, who underwent incision and drainage between January 2003 and September 2005, were identified retrospectively. Demographics, abscess characteristics (induration, erythema, abscess size, amount of purulence), presence of MRSA on culture, MRSA susceptibilities, and clinical course were collected. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients (62.5 percent male; mean age, 42.7+/-13.7 years) were treated for perianal abscess. For the 69 patients cultured at drainage, MRSA was present in 34.8 percent (24/69) of cases (95 percent confidence interval, 24.6-46.6 percent). MRSA-positive patients did not significantly differ from MRSA-negative patients with respect to age, MRSA risk factors, duration of symptoms, white blood cell count at admission, or length of stay. Patients were more likely to be MRSA-positive if they possessed extensive induration (odds ratio, 6.52; P=0.003), extensive erythema (odds ratio, 5.75; P=0.003), or small amount of purulence (odds ratio, 9.72; P=0.006). Ischiorectal abscesses were significantly less likely to be MRSA-positive (odds ratio, 0.34; P=0.016). No patients with MRSA-positive abscesses developed fistulas. All MRSA isolates were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and had limited susceptibility to quinolones. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MRSA in perianal abscesses has not been described previously and is higher in our group of patients than would be expected. MRSA-positive patients cannot be identified by risk factors alone. Antibiotic resistance spectra of MRSA vary from that of enteric bacteria typically seen in perianal abscesses. Therefore, it may be beneficial to culture all perianal abscesses with extensive induration and erythema or minimal purulence.