Short-Term Outcomes for Restorative and Non-Restorative Proctocolectomy in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Curative surgery for ulcerative colitis can be subdivided into restorative (with pouch and anastomosis) and non-restorative operations. Restorative surgery in older adults is controversial, due to concerns about surgical risk and long-term functional outcome. The goal of this study is to compare 30-day outcomes for restorative and non-restorative surgery in older adults with ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Initiative Program from 2012-2018. Patients were included if they were >65 years old and had ulcerative colitis. Restorative and non-restorative surgeries were defined with procedure codes. Patient characteristics and adverse surgical outcomes were compared between restorative and non-restorative surgeries utilizing chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate the association of restorative versus non-restorative surgery with adverse surgical outcomes while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 392 total patients, 95 had restorative and 297 had non-restorative surgery. Patients undergoing restorative surgery, compared to non-restorative surgery, were significantly younger (P<0.01), had lower incidences of steroid usage (P<0.001) and higher rates of readmission (P = 0.02). There were no differences in post-operative complications between the groups in both unadjusted analyses and covariate-adjusted regression analysis (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In carefully selected older patients with ulcerative colitis, restorative surgery is associated with increased readmission, but otherwise similar rates of morbidity or mortality compared to non-restorative surgery. Data regarding postoperative functional outcome and quality of life are also needed to help select the most appropriate curative option for older adults.

Frailty is a stronger predictor than age for postoperative morbidity in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Crohn's disease are particularly susceptible to preoperative frailty owing to the chronic nature of the illness and immunosuppressive therapy. The hypothesis in this study was that frailty would have a greater impact on postoperative outcome than age in older individuals with Crohn's disease. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) from the years 2012 to 2018. Patients with Crohn's disease who underwent a bowel resection were identified from diagnostic and procedure codes. Frailty was assessed using the 5-point Simplified Frailty Index (0-not frail, 5-most frail). Age was defined as an ordinal variable with 3 age ranges (18-64, 65-79, >80 years). Aggregate morbidity was classified according to the standard NSQIP definitions. Simplified Frailty Index was evaluated as a potential predictor of morbidity and mortality using covariate-adjusted logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: A total of 9,023 patients underwent bowel resection for Crohn's disease during the study period. Patient Simplified Frailty Index ranged from 0 to 3 (Simplified Frailty Index = 0, 82%; 1, 15%; 2, 2.5%; 3, 0.1%), and higher Simplified Frailty Index was associated with increased age (P < .01). In multivariate regression, a Simplified Frailty Index was significantly associated with postoperative morbidity (Simplified Frailty Index ≥ 2: odds ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval [1.84-3.63], P < .0001). In contrast, age was not found to be a significant predictor of morbidity when adjusted for Simplified Frailty Index and other covariates (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Frailty is a stronger predictor than age for morbidity in Crohn's-related bowel resection. Functional assessments and vulnerability screening should be used to determine surgical candidacy rather than age alone.

Predictors of underlying carcinoma in patients with suspected acute diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients who undergo colon resection for suspected diverticulitis will unexpectedly be found to have cancer. We hypothesized that a subset of variables could be used to help predict a diagnosis of cancer preoperatively. METHODS: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data (2012-2018) were used to identify all patients with a preoperative diagnosis of diverticulitis who had unexpected cancer using postoperative staging data. Key characteristics of the study groups were compared with χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: A total of 17,368 patients were identified with an operative indication of acute diverticulitis. Of these, 164 (0.94%) had an unexpected postoperative diagnosis of cancer. Most cancer patients had locally advanced tumors (T1-2: 15%; T3: 39%; T4: 45%), and 37.1% had positive lymph nodes. Rates of margin positivity and inadequate lymph node harvest were 1.2% and 15.9%, respectively. In bivariate analyses, cancer patients had increased age (P < .01), decreased albumin (P < .001), and increased rates of preoperative anemia (P = .01), sepsis (P < .01), and weight loss (>10% in 6 months) (P < .001). The only variables significantly associated with cancer in multivariate regression analysis were sepsis (odds ratio 2.14, 95% confidence interval [1.3-3.6]; P < .01), weight loss (odds ratio 2.31, 95% confidence interval [1.1-4.4]; P = .01), and preoperative albumin level (odds ratio 0.64, 95% confidence [0.45-0.92]; P < .01). CONCLUSION: An unexpected postoperative diagnosis of cancer occurs in a small percentage of patients with suspected diverticulitis. Surgeons should have a high index of suspicion for cancer in patients with sepsis or malnutrition.

Surgical intervention for mechanical large bowel obstruction at a tertiary hospital: Which patients receive a stoma and how often are they reversed?

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of large bowel obstruction (LBO) is heterogeneous and influenced by multiple variables. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the surgical interventions and outcomes of patients necessitating surgery for LBO. METHODS: Patients with LBO between 2000 and 2017 were included. Main outcomes measures are intraoperative findings, operative management, post-operative outcomes and stoma closure rates. RESULTS: 133 patients were included with predominately left-sided obstruction (82%). The most common etiology was colorectal cancer (44%) followed by extrinsic malignant compression (29%). The most common operation performed was fecal diversion without resection (46%). This group had significantly more stage 4 carcinoma, carcinomatosis and had the lowest stoma closure rate (16%). Eighty-six percent of the operated patients underwent fecal diversion, of these, 27% had stoma reversal at 6 months. Patients that had a resection and anastomosis with diverting loop ileostomy were most likely to undergo stoma reversal (p = 0.005) and had the lowest number of patients with stage-IV carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: In this single institution analysis, the management of LBO entails high operative and stoma rates, with less than 30% of patient undergoing stoma closure. Resection, anastomosis and DLI had the highest chance of stoma reversal.

Serious Gastrointestinal Complications After Cardiac Surgery and Associated Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Severe gastrointestinal (GI) complications (GICs) after cardiac surgery are associated with poor outcomes. Herein, we characterize the severe forms of GICs and associated risk factors of mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinically significant postoperative GICs after cardiac surgical procedures performed at our institution from January 2010 to April 2017. Multivariable analysis was used to identify predictors for in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of 29,909 cardiac surgical procedures, GICs occurred in 1037 patients (3.5% incidence), with overall in-hospital mortality of 14% compared with 1.6% in those without GICs. GICs were encountered in older patients with multiple comorbidities who underwent complex prolonged procedures. The most lethal GICs were mesenteric ischemia (n = 104), hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) dysfunction (n = 139), and GI bleeding (n = 259), with mortality rates of 45%, 27%, and 17%, respectively. In the mesenteric ischemia subset, coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR], 4.57; P = .002], coronary bypass grafting (OR, 6.50; P = .005), reoperation for bleeding/tamponade (OR, 12.07; P = .01), and vasopressin use (OR, 11.27; P < .001) were predictors of in-hospital mortality. In the HPB complications subset, hepatic complications occurred in 101 patients (73%), pancreatitis in 38 (27%), and biliary disease in 31 (22%). GI bleeding occurred in 20 patients (31%) with HPB dysfunction. In the GI bleeding subset, HPB disease (OR, 10.99; P < .001) and bivalirudin therapy (OR, 12.84; P = .01) were predictors for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Although relatively uncommon, severe forms of GICs are associated with high mortality. Early recognition and aggressive treatment are mandatory to improve outcomes.

Sessile Serrated Polyposis: Not an Inherited Syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Researchers are searching in vain for a coherent genetic explanation for serrated polyposis. We hypothesize that there is no consistent monogenetic inheritance. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the serrated polyposis phenotype, assessing features of mendelian inheritance, and to compare these features with patients with a solitary sessile serrated lesion. DESIGN: This was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database comparing patients with serrated polyposis versus solitary sessile serrated lesions. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a single-institution tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with serrated polyposis meeting World Health Organization criteria type I (≥5 serrated polyps proximal to the sigmoid, ≥2 of which are ≥10 mm in diameter) and isolated sessile serrated lesions were included MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Disease phenotype was the main outcome measured. RESULTS: A total of 46 serrated polyposis patients were identified. Median age of first sessile serrated lesion was 66 years (interquartile range, 42-70 y). A total of 60.3% were current or past smokers (mean = 38.6 packs per year). Serrated polyposis patients had a higher number of all types of polyps (26.3 vs 4.4) and a higher rate of high-grade dysplasia (19.6% vs 3.7%) compared with patients with a solitary sessile serrated lesion. A total of 36.2% of patients had personal history of noncolorectal cancers, including skin, prostate, breast, thyroid, and renal cell cancers and leukemia. In addition, 32.6% had a family history of colorectal cancer in first- or second-degree relatives; these cancers were not young age of onset. Breast and prostate cancers were also common (family history of any cancer, 83.0%). Ten patients underwent genetic testing: 4 had negative panels, 1 had a pathogenic variant in MSH2, 1 an IVS7 deletion in PTEN, 2 negative APC sequencing (1 negative MYH), and 1 a pathogenic variant in Chek2. LIMITATIONS: RNF4 was not sequenced. Genetic analysis was performed on a subset of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of associated cancers suggests an underlying genetic predisposition to disordered growth, but serrated polyposis does not have typical features of dominant inheritance. The association with smoking suggests that familial/environmental factors play a role. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B84. POLIPOSIS SERRADA SÉSIL: ¿NO ES UN SÍNDROME HEREDITARIO?: Los investigadores están buscando en vano una explicación genética coherente para la póliposis serrados. Suponemos que no existe una herencia monogenética consistente.1) Describir el fenotipo de póliposis serrada, evaluando las características de la herencia mendeliana, 2) comparar estas características con pacientes con una lesión serrada sésil solitaria.Revisión retrospectiva de una base de datos mantenida prospectivamente que compara pacientes con póliposis serrada versus lesiones serradas sésiles solitarias.Institución única, centro de referencia terciario.Pacientes con póliposis serrada que cumplen con los Criterios de la Organización Mundial de la Salud Tipo I (≥ 5 pólipos serrados proximales al sigmoideo, ≥2 de los cuales tienen ≥10 mm de diámetro) y lesiones serradas sésiles aisladas.Fenotipo de la enfermedad.Se identificaron un total de 46 pacientes con póliposis serrada. La edad mediana de la primera lesión serrada sésil fue de 66 años (RIC: 42-70 años). El 60.3% eran fumadores actuales o pasados (medio 38.6 paquetes / año). Los pacientes con póliposis serrada tuvieron un mayor número de todos los tipos de pólipos (26.3 versus 4.4) y una mayor tasa de displasia de alto grado (19.6% versus 3.7%) en comparación con los pacientes con una lesión serrada sésil solitaria. El 36.2% de los pacientes tenían antecedentes personales de cánceres no colorectales, incluyendo los cánceres de piel, próstata, mama, tiroides, células renales y leucemia. El 32.6% tenía antecedentes familiares de cáncer colorectal en familiares de primer o segundo grado; estos cánceres no eran de inicio de edad temprana. El cáncer de mama y próstata también fue frecuente (antecedentes familiares de cualquier tipo de cáncer: 83.0%). 10 pacientes se sometieron a pruebas genéticas: 4 tenían paneles negativos, 1 tenía una variante patogénica en MSH2, 1 una eliminación IVS7 en PTEN, 2 secuenciación APC negativa (1 MYH negativa) y 1 variante patogénica en Chek2.RNF4 no fue secuenciado. El análisis genético se realizó en un subconjunto de pacientes.La tasa de cánceres asociados sugiere una predisposición genética subyacente al crecimiento desordenado, pero la póliposis serrada no tiene características típicas de herencia dominante. La asociación con el tabaquismo sugiere que los factores familiares / ambientales juegan un papel. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B84. (Traducción-Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil).

Colorectal Surgery Resident Participation in Screening Colonoscopies: How Does It Impact Quality?

BACKGROUND: Performing colonoscopies is an integral component of colorectal surgery residency training. There exists a paucity of literature regarding colonoscopy quality metrics with colorectal trainee involvement. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of colorectal surgery resident participation on quality metrics in screening colonoscopy. DESIGN: Screening colonoscopies performed between August 1, 2016, and July 31, 2018, were queried from a prospectively maintained institutional database. Data were cross-checked with resident case logs to verify colonoscopies with resident participation. SETTING: This study was conducted by the colorectal surgery department at a tertiary level hospital in the United States. PATIENTS: Consecutive, asymptomatic patients aged ≥45 years, undergoing screening colonoscopy, were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The quality parameters measured included overall, male, and female adenoma detection rates; total examination time; withdrawal time; cecal intubation rate; quality of bowel preparation; complications; and medication dosage. RESULTS: A total of 4594 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 60.5 ± 8.4 years (range, 45-91); 51.7% were women. Overall, 4186 of the colonoscopies were performed without resident participation, and 408 were performed with resident participation. Scope insertion, withdrawal, and total examination times were longer in the resident group. Cecal intubation rate, polypectomy rate, sex-specific and overall adenoma detection rates, and complication rates were similar between the groups. In the multivariate model, trainee involvement had no significant impact on adenoma detection rate. In addition, the trainee group utilized a higher mean dose of fentanyl. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of the data with possible coding errors of the database and the inability to quantify the amount of resident participation and to clarify the degree of attending surgeon assistance and oversight were limitations of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal surgery resident participation in screening colonoscopy takes longer and appears safe, while achieving all national quality metrics without compromising adenoma detection rates. Changes in colonoscopy scheduling in regard to length of time may prove beneficial when there is resident participation. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B43. PARTICIPACIÓN DE LOS RESIDENTES DE CIRUGÍA COLORRECTAL EN COLONOSCOPIAS DE CRIBADO: ¿CÓMO AFECTA LA CALIDAD?: La realización de colonoscopias es un componente integral del entrenamiento de residencia en cirugía colorrectal. Existe una escasez de literatura con respecto a las medidas de calidad de la colonoscopia con la participación de los aprendices colorrectales.Investigar el efecto de la participación de residentes de cirugía colorrectal en las medidas de calidad en la colonoscopia de cribado.Las colonoscopias de cribado realizadas entre el 1 de agosto de 2016 y el 31 de julio de 2018 se consultaron desde una base de datos institucional mantenida prospectivamente. Los datos se cotejaron con registros de casos de residentes para verificar las colonoscopias con participación de residentes.Departamento de cirugía colorrectal en un hospital de tercer nivel de los Estados Unidos.Pacientes consecutivos, asintomáticos, edad ≥45 años, sometidos a colonoscopia de detección.Parámetros de calidad que incluyen tasas generales de detección de adenoma en hombres y mujeres, tiempo total de examen, tiempo de retiro, tasa de intubación cecal, calidad de la preparación intestinal, complicaciones y dosis de medicamentos.Se incluyeron un total de 4.594 pacientes en el estudio con una edad media de 60,5 ± 8,4 años (rango, 45-91) y 51,7% mujeres. En total 4,186 de las colonoscopias se realizaron sin participación de los residentes y 408 se realizaron con la participación de los residentes. Los tiempos de inserción, retiro y examen total del alcance fueron más largos en el grupo residentes. La tasa de intubación cecal, la tasa de polipectomía, las tasas de detección de adenoma específicos de género y generales, y las tasas de complicaciones fueron similares entre los grupos. En el modelo multivariado, la participación de los aprendices no tuvo un impacto significativo en la tasa de detección de adenoma. Además, el grupo de aprendices utilizó una dosis media más alta de fentanilo.Carácter retrospectivo de los datos con posibles errores de codificación de la base de datos. Incapacidad para cuantificar la cantidad de participación de los residentes y para aclarar el grado de asistencia y supervisión del cirujano.La participación de los residentes de cirugía colorrectal en la colonoscopia de cribado lleva más tiempo y parece segura, mientras se logran todas las medidas de calidad nacionales sin comprometer las tasas de detección de adenoma. Los cambios en la programación de la colonoscopia con respecto al período de tiempo pueden ser beneficiosos cuando hay participación de residentes. Vea el resumen del video en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B43.

Distribution of colorectal cancer in young African Americans: implications for the choice of screening test.

BACKGROUND: We recently reported on a left-sided predominance of colorectal cancers in the young (under age 50). Given the predilection of young African Americans for the disease, we wondered if there may be a difference in the biology of colorectal carcinogenesis between this group and Caucasians. OBJECTIVE: Compare the distribution of colorectal cancer in African American patients and Caucasians under age 50, and describe implications for screening in these groups. PATIENTS: Colorectal cancer patients diagnosed under the age of 50 between the years 2000 and 2016. All races other than African American and Caucasian and all patients with hereditary colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES: race, age at diagnosis (5 subgroups: < 20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-44, and 45-49 years) and cancer location; right (cecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure), left (descending colon and sigmoid colon), or rectal. RESULTS: 759 patients were included; 695 (91.6%) were Caucasian and 64 (8.4%) were African American. Most cases were diagnosed between ages 40 and 49 (African American = 75%, Caucasian = 69.5%). Rectal cancer was most common in both races, although significantly more common in Caucasian than in African American patients (64.2% vs 39.1%). Right colon cancer was more commonly found in African Americans (37.5%) compared with Caucasians (18%) (p = 0.0002). The ratio of rectal to right-sided colon cancer in African Americans was 1:1 compared with 3.6:1 in Caucasians. LIMITATIONS: Relatively low number of African American patients CONCLUSION: The high rate of right-sided cancer in young African American patients means that they should be screened with colonoscopy. The increased incidence of right-sided cancers may represent a different biology of carcinogenesis in African Americans and deserves further study.

Appendix orifice polyps: a study of 691 lesions at a single institution.

PURPOSE: Data on the management of appendix orifice lesions are limited. We present our experience on the management of appendix orifice lesions focusing on the range of size, histology, treatment, and outcomes for polyps at the appendix orifice. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Those having appendix orifice lesion removed and sent for histology between 2000 and 2017. INTERVENTIONS(S): Polypectomy, surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polyp size, shape, histology, treatment. RESULTS: In total, 691 patients matched our inclusion criteria. Screening was the most common indication for colonoscopy (49.1%). Mean size was 10.1 mm. The most common excision method was cold biopsy forceps (36.3%), followed by hot snare (9.3%), cold snare (8.5%), jumbo cold forceps (6.7%), hot biopsy (6.8%), and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)/endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (4%). Recurrence was seen in 19/184 (10.3%) patients. Index polyps ≥ 10 mm had a significantly higher risk of recurrence compared to those ≤ 5 mm (odds ratio 3.2 95% CI 1.1-9.2, p = 0.027). None of the patients had complications. Surgery was performed in 45/691 (6.5%). Polyps > 5 mm (41/45) were more likely to require surgery than polyps ≤ 5 mm (4/45 6.67%), p < 0.001. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study. CONCLUSION: Appendix orifice polyps can usually be managed by conventional endoscopic polypectomy methods without the need for ESD.