The Impact of Steroids and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Colectomies in the Era of Enhanced Recovery.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols are commonly used, but their utility in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and steroid use is poorly studied. We sought to examine influence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and steroid use on hospital length of stay (LOS) and operative duration in patients undergoing colectomies in the era of ERAS. METHODS: We performed retrospective review of our institutional National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) registry (2016-2018) for colectomies. We performed 2 distinct analyses to examine influence of steroids and IBD on LOS and operative duration. Multivariable linear regression was used to predict outcomes after adjusting for relevant perioperative features. RESULTS: There were 366 patients in the cohort; 17.8% were on steroids and 16.4% had IBD. Patients using steroids had longer LOS (6 vs 4 days, P < .0001). IBD patients had a longer LOS (7 vs 5 days, P < .0001) and longer operative duration (383 min vs 335.5 minute, P = .01) compared to non-IBD patients. On multivariable analysis, steroid use was not associated with increased LOS or operative duration. Inflammatory bowel disease was associated with an increased hospital LOS and operative duration. DISCUSSION: Patients on steroids had longer LOS when compared to patients not on steroids. Inflammatory bowel disease regardless of steroid use was found to be a significant risk factor for both increased LOS and operative duration. A closer look at preoperative physiology may help to tailor ERAS protocols in patients with inflammatory conditions.

Does routine use of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography prevent anastomotic leaks? A retrospective cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient perfusion to anastomoses in colorectal surgery is known to lead to complications. This study aims to evaluate whether routine use of fluorescence angiography (FA) alters the incidence of anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 554 colorectal resections with and without the use of intraoperative fluorescence angiography. Anastomotic leak rates and whether angiography altered surgical management were the main outcomes measured. RESULTS: The anastomotic leak rate was found to be 1.3% both with and without use of FA (p > 0.05). Significantly more alterations were made to planned anastomotic site in FA group (n = 13, 5.6%) as compared to the group prior to use of FA in whom no alterations were made (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was found in anastomotic leak rates between the two groups studied. Routine use of fluorescence angiography significantly altered intra-operative decision-making without discernible change in clinical outcome.

New Management Strategies for Ectopia Lentis.

Ectopia lentis refers to displacement of the crystalline lens in the setting of various systemic and metabolic disorders. A literature review was conducted to investigate the management of non-traumatic ectopia lentis in the pediatric population, particularly focusing on surgical intervention. Both limbal and pars plana approaches for lensectomy are well established in the literature. Surgical options for intraocular lens implantation in pediatric eyes with ectopia lentis include anterior chamber intraocular lenses and iris-fixated or scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses. Recently, the use of capsular tension rings has also been described with promising results. Visual rehabilitation and treatment of amblyopia are essential for patients within the amblyogenic age group following surgical intervention.

Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography--an objective evaluation of anastomotic perfusion in colorectal surgery.

The essentials for any bowel anastomosis are: adequate perfusion, tension free, accurate tissue apposition, and minimal local spillage. Traditionally, perfusion is measured by assessing palpable pulses in the mesentery, active bleeding at cut edges, and lack of tissue discoloration. However, subjective methods lack predictive accuracy for an anastomotic leak. We used intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography to objectively assess colon perfusion before a bowel anastomosis. Seventy-seven laparoscopic colorectal operations, between June 2013 and June 2014, were retrospectively reviewed. The perfusion to the colon and ileum was clinically assessed, and then measured using the SPY Elite Imaging System. The absolute value provided an objective number on a 0-256 gray-scale to represent differences in ICG fluorescence intensity. The lowest absolute value was used in data analysis for each anastomosis (including small bowel) to represent the theoretical least perfused/weakest anastomotic area. The lowest absolute value recorded was 20 in a patient who underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for an adenoma, with no postoperative complications. Four low anterior resection patients had additional segments of descending colon resected. There was one mortality in a patient who underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. This study illustrates an initial experience with the SPY system in colorectal surgery. The SPY provides an objective, numerical value of bowel perfusion. However, evidence is scant as to the significance of these numbers. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are required to determine specific cutoff values correlated with surgical outcomes, specifically anastomotic leak rates.