[Investigations on in-hospital mortality in pancreatic surgery : Results of a multicenter observational study]. / Untersuchungen zur Hospitalletalität in der Pankreaschirurgie : Ergebnisse einer multizentrischen Beobachtungsstudie.

BACKGROUND: The rate of hospital mortality (in-hospital mortality) after complex pancreatic resections cannot be used as a decision-making criterion with no further analysis and specification. Such analysis has to provide a risk-adjusted benchmarking including a continuous evaluation taking into account the frequency of a surgical procedure and its competent perioperative management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As part of the Prospective Evaluation study Elective Pancreatic surgery (PEEP), overall 2003 patients were enrolled over a 3-year time period from 01 January 2006 to 12 December 2008, who underwent elective pancreatic surgery in 27 surgical departments. Included in the study were only hospitals which perform pancreatic resections. In addition to the analysis of the current situation of the operative treatment of pancreatic diseases, the complex aspects of the in-hospital mortality as a main outcome parameter were investigated. RESULTS: Out of all enrolled patients (n = 2003), 75 patients (3.7%) died during the hospital stay. In the group of 1045 patients with partial pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), 43 patients did not survive the hospital stay (4.1%). Similarly, such low in-hospital mortality rates were observed after total pancreatoduodenectomy (3.8%) and after left-sided resection of the pancreas (1.9%). With respect to a univariate risk stratification, advanced age and an American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 and 4 had a significant impact on in-hospital mortality. Multivariate regression analysis within the PD group revealed an increased need for blood transfusions and a delay in oral feeding as factors closely associated with specific complications with a significant impact on in-hospital mortality. Significant differences in the in-hospital mortality rates were found when comparing hospital volume groups, such as 10-20 vs. >20 cases/year for the 831 Kausch-Whipple procedures for adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. DISCUSSION: An adequate in-hospital mortality rate in the continuous benchmarking represents an acceptable quality level of structural and therapeutic predictions in pancreatic resections. The participation of surgical departments with complex oncosurgical interventions in clinical multicenter observational studies as a contribution to research on surgical care appears reasonable and recommendable since the results of such studies can provide a contribution to decision-making processes in daily surgical practice.

Oncological outcome after MRI-based selection for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in the OCUM Rectal Cancer Trial.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear whether all patients with rectal cancer need chemoradiotherapy. A restrictive use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) based on MRI findings for rectal cancer was investigated in this study. METHODS: This prospective multicentre observational study included patients with stage cT2-4 rectal cancer, with any cN and cM0 status. Carcinomas in the middle and lower third that were 1 mm or less from the mesorectal fascia, all cT4 tumours, and all cT3 tumours of the lower third were classified as high risk, and these patients received nCRT followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). All other carcinomas with a minimum distance of more than 1 mm from the mesorectal fascia and those in the upper third were classified as low risk; these patients underwent TME alone (no nCRT). Patients were followed for at least 3 years. Outcomes were the rates of local recurrence, distant metastasis and survival. RESULTS: Among 545 patients included, 428 were treated according to the study protocol: 254 (59·3 per cent) had TME alone and 174 (40·7 per cent) received nCRT and TME. Median follow-up was 60 months. The 3- and 5-year local recurrence rates were 1·3 and 2·7 per cent respectively, with no differences between the two treatment protocols. Patients with disease requiring nCRT had higher 3- and 5-year rates of distant metastasis (17·3 and 24·9 per cent respectively versus 8·9 and 14·4 per cent in patients who had TME alone; P = 0·005) and worse disease-free survival compared with that in patients who did not need nCRT (3- and 5-year rates 76·7 and 66·7 per cent, versus 84·9 and 76·0 per cent in the TME-alone group; P = 0·016). CONCLUSION: Restriction of nCRT to high-risk patients achieved good results.

[Gender-specific differences of the early postoperative and oncosurgical long-term outcome in rectal cancer-data obtained in a prospective multicenter observational study]. / Genderspezifische Unterschiede im frühpostoperativen und onkochirurgischen Langzeitoutcome nach Rektumkarzinomresektion.

BACKGROUND: Gender-specific aspects have been increasingly considered in clinical medicine, also in oncological surgery. AIM: To analyze gender-specific differences of early postoperative and oncological outcomes after rectal cancer resection based on data obtained in a prospective multicenter observational study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: As part of the multicenter prospective observational study "Quality assurance in primary rectal cancer", data on tumor site, exogenic and endogenic risk factors, neoadjuvant treatment, surgical procedures, tumor stage, intraoperative and postoperative complications of patients with the histological diagnosis of rectal cancer were registered. Data from the years 2005-2006 and 2010-2011 were investigated with respect to gender-specific differences of postoperative morbidity, hospital mortality, local recurrency rate, disease-free and overall survival by univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Overall, data from 10,657 patients were evaluated: 60.9% of the patients were male, who were significantly younger (p < 0.001). Men had a significantly higher rate of alcohol (p < 0.001) and nicotine abuse (p < 0.001) as well as a trend to a higher body mass index (BMI) compared with women. Although, there was no significant difference in the distribution of various tumor stages comparing men and women, neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy was used significantly more often in male patients (p < 0.001). In addition, male patients underwent an abdominoperineal rectum exstirpation more often, whereas creation of an enterostoma and Hartmann's procedure were more frequently used in women (p < 0.001 each). Multivariate analysis revealed that male patients developed a higher overall morbidity (odds ratio, OR: 1.5; p < 0.001) during both study periods and from 2010-2011 a higher hospital mortality (OR: 1.8; p < 0.001). After a median follow-up period of 36 months, gender did not have a significant impact on overall survival, disease-free survival or on the local tumor recurrency. The 5­year overall survival was 60.5%, disease-free survival 63.8% and local recurrency rate was 5%. CONCLUSION: Independent of other variables, gender differences were found with respect to early postoperative outcome but not to oncological long-term results after surgery of rectal cancer.

[Hospital volume effects in surgical treatment of gastric cancer : Results of a prospective multicenter observational study]. / "Hospital-volume"-Effekt in der operativen Behandlung des Magenkarzinoms : Ergebnisse einer prospektiven multizentrischen Beobachtungsstudie.

BACKGROUND: The impact of hospital and surgeon volume on the treatment outcome based on data obtained from cohort and register studies has been controversially discussed in the international literature. The results of large-scale prospective observational studies within the framework of clinical healthcare research may lead to relevant recommendations in this ongoing discussion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within the framework of the prospective multicenter German Gastric Cancer Study 2 (QCGC 2), from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 a total of 2897 patients with the histological diagnosis of gastric cancer from 140 surgical departments were registered and analyzed. The departments were subdivided according to the number of cases into 4 volume groups: I) <5, II) 5-10, III) 11-20 and IV) >20 patients with surgical interventions per year. RESULTS: Overall 1163 patients (65.6 %) underwent surgical interventions in the departments of groups III and IV. Of the patients 521 (18 %) were scheduled for neoadjuvant treatment but with no significant differences among the various volume groups. In the departments of volume groups I and II subtotal gastric resection was performed significantly more often. Transthoracic extended surgical interventions in cases of a proximal tumor site were significantly more frequent in departments from volume group IV (p <0.001). The proportion of intraoperative fresh frozen sections correlated with the case volume: group I 23.2 % vs. group IV 61.2 %. Overall hospital mortality was 6.1 % and slightly higher in volume group I with 7.8 %. The median survival time and the 5­year survival rate showed no significant differences between the various volume groups independent of tumor stages. There was a tendency towards a longer median survival time in volume group IV only for proximal tumor sites, i.e. adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG). Using Cox regression analysis hospital volume did not have an independent impact on long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Hospital volume effects could only be detected for the treatment of AEG. To improve oncological long-term outcome, centralization of treatment of proximal gastric cancer appears to be recommendable.

[Contralateral hepatic hypertrophy following unilateral yttrium-90 radioembolization : Implications for liver surgery]. / Kontralaterale Leberhypertrophie nach einseitiger Yttrium-90-Radioembolisation : Implikationen für die Leberchirurgie.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of an adequate future liver remnant (FLR) is the principal limitation to liver surgery in patients with primary or secondary liver malignancies. Hence, methods to increase the volume of the FLR in preparation for liver resection are gaining in importance. OBJECTIVE: In addition to the traditional methods for induction of FLR hypertrophy, such as portal vein embolization (PVE) or portal vein ligation (PVL) with or without parenchymal dissection (ALPPS, in situ split), radioembolization (RE) using yttrium-90 microspheres also leads to a volume increase of non-embolized liver parenchyma. This review outlines its potential role as an alternative procedure for induction of liver hypertrophy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Synopsis and critical discussion of the available literature on the mechanisms of induction of liver hypertrophy, the advantages and drawbacks of the traditional methods, and current research on volume changes associated with RE as well as their implications for possible clinical use in preparation for liver surgery. RESULTS: Both PVE and PVL can achieve a substantial contralateral volume gain of up to 70 %. The development of contralateral hypertrophy can be accelerated by dissecting the liver parenchyma along the intended plane of resection in addition to PVL (in situ split). Compared to these methods, RE achieves less contralateral liver hypertrophy; however, this effect should not be disregarded as RE provides effective treatment of ipsilateral liver tumors along with induction of hypertrophy and may be associated with a reduced risk of tumor progression compared to PVE and PVL. CONCLUSION: The available data suggest that RE can complement the armamentarium of methods for induction of FLR hypertrophy in specific situations. Further studies are needed to establish its definitive role for this indication and are in preparation.

[Palliative surgery in visceral medicine. Exemplified by colorectal and gastric cancer]. / Palliativchirurgie in der Viszeralmedizin. Am Beispiel des kolorektalen und des Magenkarzinoms.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of primary tumor resection in metastatic disease remains a matter of debate. Existing data are almost exclusively limited to results from retrospective analyses. Data from prospective, randomized trials are currently not available. AIM: The results from two prospective observational studies involving gastric and rectal cancer patients are presented and discussed in the context of the available literature. METHOD: Based on data collected within the prospective quality assurance studies on gastric and rectal cancer conducted by the Institute for Quality Assurance in Surgery at Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany, the long-term outcome after palliative primary tumor resection in patients with International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage IV rectal cancer (2005-2008, n = 2046) and metastatic gastric cancer (2007-2009, n = 687) was analyzed and compared to published data. RESULTS: The median survival time following palliative primary tumor resection of UICC stage IV rectal cancer in the patients analyzed was 20 months. In patients with hepatic metastases undergoing metastasectomy the median survival was 38 months. This increased to 58 months for patients with lymph node negative primary tumors. In metastatic gastric cancer patients undergoing palliative (R2) gastric resection and also patients not undergoing surgery showed a prognostic benefit from palliative chemotherapy; however, the median survival time was significantly prolonged if palliative chemotherapy was preceded by resection of the primary tumor (11 versus 7 months, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Together with previously published data, the results from the two observational studies on rectal and gastric cancer presented here suggest a prognostic benefit from palliative resection of the primary tumor in metastatic disease.

Use of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Select Patients with Rectal Cancer for Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation--Interim Analysis of the German OCUM Trial (NCT01325649).

INTRODUCTION: Introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery for rectal cancer decreased local recurrence dramatically. Additional neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCR) is frequently given in UICC II and III tumors based on TNM staging which is of limited accuracy. We aimed to evaluate determination of circumferential margin by magnetic resonance imaging (mrCRM) as an alternative criterium for nCR. METHODS: Multicenter prospective cohort study which enrolled 642 patients in 13 centers with non-metastasized rectal adenocarcinoma. Patients with T4 tumors or patients with a mrCRM of 1 mm or less were treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation. All others proceeded directly to surgery when inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria were met. Quality of TME and accuracy of mrCRM determination were assessed during pathology workup. RESULTS: TME was complete in 381 of 389 patients after surgery without nCR (97.9%) and in 245 of 253 patients (96.8%) after nCR. Negative pathology circumferential margins (pCRM) were seen in 97.4% without nCR and in 89% of patients after nCR. Negative pCRM was predicted by negative mrCRM in 98.3% of rectal cancers. NCR was given to 253 of 642 patients (39.5%). Lymph node count was 23 (range 7-79; median/range) for surgery without nCR and 19 (range 2-56) for surgery after nCR. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical quality determined by pathology workup of specimen was very good in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging guided indication for nCR allows to achieve superb results concerning surrogate parameters for good oncological outcome. Thus, use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation with its potential detrimental side effects may be substantially reduced in selected patients.

[Spincter preservation after selective chemoradiotherapy of rectal cancer. Interim results of the OCUM study]. / Spinktererhalt nach selektiver Radiochemotherapie des Rektumkarzinoms. Zwischenergebnisse der OCUM-Studie.

BACKGROUND: In a prospective multicenter observational study (OCUM) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nRCT) was selectively administered depending on the risk of local recurrence and based on the distance between tumor and mesorectal fascia in pretherapeutic high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OBJECTIVE: Frequency and quality of abdominoperineal excision (APE) and sphincter preserving operations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 642 patients treated in 13 hospitals 389 received surgery alone and 253 nRCT followed by surgery. By univariate and multivariate analysis risk factors for APE were determined. Quality parameters were the quality grade of mesorectal excision, the pathohistological involvement of the circumferential resection margin and intraoperative local dissemination of tumor cells. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In 12.8 % of the patients APE was performed. Independent risk factors for APE were tumor location in the lower third of the rectum and the individual hospitals, where APE varied between 0 and 32 %. This variation was chiefly caused by the different case mix. Hospitals with a high APE rate (> 30 %) treated significantly more patients with very low lying carcinomas (< 3 cm above the anal verge) and more advanced tumors. The median height of the tumor in cases of APE was nearly equal in all participating hospitals. Independent on the number of cases the quality of rectal surgery was high. Within the patient groups of primary surgery and nRCT the oncological quality parameter did not significantly differ between sphincter preservation and APE. As far as sphincter preservation is concerned the results justify a selective application of nRCT in patients with rectal carcinoma. The long-term results still have to be awaited.

[Management of perioperative complications following tumor resection in the upper gastrointestinal tract]. / Management perioperativer Komplikationen nach Tumorresektionen im oberen Gastrointestinaltrakt.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection of tumors of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract represent complex procedures and are still associated with a relevant morbidity and mortality. A targeted preoperative risk analysis and patient selection with consideration of the nutritional status and comorbidities are important in order to reduce the perioperative complication rate. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Anastomotic leaks still remain the most feared surgical complication and in addition to early recognition, immediate initiation of an appropriate therapy are essential. Conservative treatment can be considered for small and adequately drained fistulas as well as in cervical leakages. Indications for surgical reintervention are leaks that occur in the early postoperative course, fulminant defects with diffuse mediastinitis and conduit necrosis. The majority of anastomotic leaks can be successfully managed with minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, e.g. stent placement and endoluminal vacuum therapy. Delayed gastric emptying is frequently observed following esophageal resection and usually shows a satisfactory response to medicinal treatment and endoscopic interventions. The benefits of pyloroplasty in the primary intervention is still a matter of debate. Chylothorax is a rare but serious complication which should initially be managed with conservative measures. CONCLUSIONS: For the successful management of postoperative complications following surgical resection of tumors of the upper GI tract both an interdisciplinary approach and the availability of an appropriate infrastructure with defined algorithms are of paramount importance. Therefore, a concentration of these procedures in specialized centers would be highly desirable.

[Lymph node dissection after primary surgery and neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy of rectal cancer. Interim analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study (OCUM)]. / Lymphknotendissektion nach primärer Chirurgie und neoadjuvanter Radiochemotherapie des Rektumkarzinoms. Interimsanalyse einer multizentrischen prospektiven Beobachtungsstudie (OCUM).

INTRODUCTION: The OCUM trial (NCT01325649) aims to clarify whether low rates of local recurrence are also achieved when the indications for neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy are not based on the clinical TNM staging but on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging with measurement of the tumor distance to the circumferential resection margin. In this interim analysis the lymph node status in OCUM patients was investigated as a surrogate parameter for quality of surgery and histopathological work-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Until now a total of 560 patients have been included in this study. Total mesorectal excision (TME) without pretreatment was undertaken in 338 patients (60.4 %) and neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy was administered in 222 (39.6 %) patients. The histological work-up was performed according to the guidelines of the German Association of Pathologists. Data are given as median values and ranges in brackets. RESULTS: The lymph node yield was 24 (7-79) in 338 patients undergoing primary TME surgery without pretreatment, while 20 (3-56) lymph nodes were identified in patients after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (p = 0.001). A minimum of 12 lymph nodes were analyzed in 335 out of 338 patients (99.1 %) and in 209 out of 222 patients (94.1 %) following neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (p = 0.001). Lymph node metastasis was identified (p = 0.362) in 116 out of 338 patients without pretreatment (34.3 %) and in 71 out of 222 patients after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (32.0 %). Patient age did not influence the number of identified lymph nodes or rate of lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: In this trial the number of identified lymph nodes suggests that the quality of surgery and histopathological work-up were adequate compared to the standards defined by national guidelines. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy led to a reduced lymph node yield compared to surgery without pretreatment; however, this did not influence the rate of lymph node metastasis.

[Quality of Mesorectal Excision ("Plane of Surgery") - Which Quality Targets are Adequate?]. / Qualität der Mesorektumexzision ("plane of surgery") - Welche Qualitätsziele sind angemessen?

Today, the examination of rectal cancer specimens includes the obligate macroscopic assessment of the quality of mesorectal excision by the pathologist reporting the plane of surgery. The frequency of operations in the muscularis propria plane of surgery (earlier described as incomplete mesorectal excision) is essential. The quality of mesorectal excision is important for the prognosis, especially as local recurrences are observed more frequently after operations in the muscularis propria plane of surgery. For the definition of quality targets, data of 13 studies published between 2006 and 2012, each with more than 100 patients and adequate specialisation and experience of the surgeons (5413 patients), data of the prospective multicentric observation study "Quality Assurance - Rectal Cancer" (at the Institute for Quality Assurance in Operative Medicine at the Otto-von-Guericke University at Magdeburg) from 2005 to 2010 (8044 patients) and data of the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, from 1998 to 2011 (991 patients) were analysed. The total incidence of operations in the muscularis propria plane of surgery was 5.0 % (721/14 448). Even with adequate specialisation and experience of the surgeon, the frequency of operations in the muscularis propria plane of surgery is higher in abdominoperineal excisions than in sphincter-preserving surgery (8.4 vs. 2.8 %, p < 0.001). Thus, the quality target for the frequency of operations in the muscularis propria plane should be defined as < 5 % for sphincter-preserving procedures and as < 10 % for abdominoperineal excisions.

[Palliative treatment of advanced gastric cancer from surgical point of view]. / Palliative Behandlung des fortgeschrittenen Magenkarzinoms aus chirurgischer Sicht.

Data are available on two multicenter observational studies, the East German Gastric Cancer Study (EGGCS) '02 (surgical interventions only) and the German Gastric Cancer Study II (QCGC) from 2007 to 2009 (after inauguration of multimodal therapeutic concepts) with regard to palliative treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Through the first investigation period from January to December 2002 (EGGCS) overall 1139 patients with primary gastric cancer were registered and evaluated and then from 2007 to 2009 (QCGC) another 2897 patients were included. Comparing both time periods, there were no significant changes in the distribution of tumor sites and stages according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) classification, in particular, there was no significant reduction of advanced tumor stages. From 2007 to 2009 in total 521 patients (18 %) received neoadjuvant therapy, 401 patients (13.9 %) out of the group with curative intention and 120 (4.1 %) out of the group of patients with palliative intention. The proportion of palliative patients who underwent chemotherapy (with neoadjuvant intention and/or postoperatively) was 32.5 % (n = 223). Thus, the rate of palliative treatment (rate of no R0 resection status 29.6 %, rate of patients who did not undergo surgical intervention at all 9.5 %) could be diminished from almost 40 % in 2002 to 24.5 % through the time period from 2007 to 2009. Taking all patients together (with curative and palliative intention) an increase of the 4-year survival probability from 40.0 % to 48.5 % was observed after inauguration of multimodal therapy. After a 5-year follow-up median survival time was 34 months during the investigation period from 2007 to 2009 considering all study subjects. Patients who had undergone palliative surgical interventions benefited from postoperative palliative chemotherapy; however, as expected this was of greater benefit to patients with resecting surgical interventions than those with non-resecting operations. Palliative tumor resection (even R2 resection status) should be part of a concept of multimodal palliative therapy in cases of acceptable perioperative risk.

[Treatment reality with respect to laparoscopic surgery of colonic cancer in Germany]. / Versorgungsrealität in der laparoskopischen Chirurgie des Kolonkarzinoms in Deutschland.

BACKGROUND: Prospective randomized studies and meta-analyses have shown that laparoscopic resection for colonic cancer is equivalent to open resection with respect to the oncological results and has short-term advantages in the early postoperative outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate whether laparoscopic colonic resection has become established as the standard in routine treatment. METHODS: Data from the multicenter observational study "Quality assurance colonic cancer (primary tumor)" from the time period from 1 January 2009 to 21 December 2011 were evaluated with respect to the total proportion of laparoscopic colonic cancer resections and tumor localization and specifically for laparoscopic sigmoid colon cancer resections. A comparison between low and high volume clinics (< 30 versus ≥ 30 colonic cancer resections/year) was carried out. RESULTS: Laparoscopic colonic cancer resections were carried out in 12 % versus 21.4 % of low and high volume clinics, respectively (p < 0.001) with a significant increase for low volume clinics (from 8.0 % to 15.6 %, p < 0.001) and a constant proportion in high volume clinics (from 21.7 % to 21.1 %, p = 0.905). For sigmoid colon cancer laparoscopic resection was carried out in 49.7 % versus 47.6 % (p = 0.584). Differences were found between low volume and high volume clinics in the conversion rates (17.3 % versus 6.6 %, p < 0.001), the length of the resected portion (Ø 23.6 cm versus 36.0 cm, p < 0.001) and the lymph node yield (Ø n = 15.7 versus 18.2, p = 0.008). There were no differences between the two groups of clinics regarding postoperative morbidity and mortality. The postoperative morbidity and length of stay were significantly lower for laparoscopic sigmoid resection than for conventional sigmoid resection. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic access route for colonic cancer resection is not the standard approach in the participating clinics. The laparoscopic access route has the highest proportion for sigmoid colon resection. The differences in the conversion rates, length of the resected portion and the number of lymph nodes investigated between the low volume and high volume clinics must be viewed critically and must be interpreted in connection with the long-term oncological results.

[Iatrogenic splenic injuries in surgery of colorectal carcinoma: impact on the oncological long-term of outcome]. / Iatrogene Milzverletzungen in der kolorektalen Karzinomchirurgie: Einfluss auf das onkologische Langzeitergebnis.

INTRODUCTION: Iatrogenic lesions of the spleen during surgery of colorectal carcinoma is considered a significant risk factor for a worse early postoperative outcome. With regard to the impact of iatrogenic splenic lesions particularly associated with splenectomy on the oncological long-term outcome, only limited valid data are available. METHODS: Data obtained in a prospective multicenter observational study were analyzed. The study enrolled 45,265 patients with surgery for colorectal carcinoma in curative and palliative intentions during the study period from 01 January 2000 to 31 December 2004, with regard to the impact of iatrogenic splenic lesions on survival rates. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Follow-up data with corresponding informed consent were obtained from 564 patients with iatrogenic splenic lesions, resulting in a follow-up rate of 99.8 %. The median follow-up period was 50.2 months. The median 5-year overall survival was 4.8 years in group I (splenic lesion with splenectomy) and in group II (splenic lesion with organ preservation) 8.0 years (p = 0.009). Between group II (splenic lesion with organ preservation) and group III (control group with no splenic lesion) there were no significant differences with regard to long-term survival. Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, iatrogenic splenic lesions with splenectomy were identified as an independent risk factor for a worse oncological long-term outcome.

[Surgical treatment of carcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction - results achieved in multicentre studies]. / Multizentrische Ergebnisse der chirurgischen Therapie der Karzinome des ösophagogastralen Übergangs.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction are increasingly being considered as a separated tumour entity. The prognosis is rather poorer compared with that for distal gastric cancer. Data from a multicentre study as part of research on clinical care aim to reflect the current situation in surgical treatment after inauguration of neoadjuvant modalities. PATIENTS AND METHOD: As part of the ongoing prospective multicentre observational study QCGC 2 (German Gastric Cancer Study 2), 544 adenocarcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction (AEG 1-3) were registered from 01/01/2007 to 12/31/2009. RESULTS: Patients underwent surgical intervention in 108 (76.6 %) of the 141 surgical departments which provided data to the study. In 391 patients (82.5 %), R0 resection was achieved. Almost 60 % of the carcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction were approached in departments with no more than 10 of these tumour lesions through the whole study period (3 years). Endoscopic ultrasonography was performed in 283 cases (53 %); the rate of neoadjuvant treatment was 34.4 % (n = 187). Intraoperative fresh frozen section was only included in intraoperative decision-making in 242 patients (60.8 %). In the revealed heterogeneous spectrum of surgical interventions, a limited number of transthoracic approaches (20 %) and a mediastinal lymphadenectomy rate of only 47 % were found. Hospital lethality was 6.6 %. In the adenocarcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction, a significantly lower median survival (25 months) compared with distal gastric cancer (38 months) was observed depending on the tumour stage. In addition, 5-year survival rate of AEG patients (33.1 %) was distinctly lower than for patients with distal gastric cancer (41.4 %). There was no significantly better survival by neoadjuvant treatment in the group of investigated patients. CONCLUSION: The results in the treatment of carcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction in the multicentre setting including surgical departments of each profile and region even after introduction of multimodal therapeutic concepts are not satisfying. In particular, modern diagnostic and surgical strategies need to be widely used or their percentage has to be increased. In this context, centralisation of the surgical care of this specific tumour entity appears reasonable.

[Rectal cancer surgery in Germany - a 10-year-analysis based on the data of the "Institute of Quality Assurance in Operative Medicine" at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg]. / Rektumkarzinomchirurgie in Deutschland - eine 10-Jahres-Übersicht auf der Grundlage der Daten des AN-Instituts für Qualitätssicherung in der operativen Medizin gGmbH an der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of rectal cancer has undergone pronounced changes during the last two decades. There has been a significant improvement in local tumour control due to consequent use of neo-adjuvant therapy and total mesorectal excision in cases of distal rectal cancer. The presented analysis examines the realisation of the multimodal therapy for rectal cancer under the conditions of routine patient-centred care over a period of ten years. METHOD: The data acquired in the prospective multicentre observational study "Quality Assurance - Rectal Cancer" from the years 2000 to 2010 were analysed. N = 33,724 patients were documented. The resection rate was 95.2 %. The rate of curative resection was 84.2 %. RESULTS: No change was detected in perioperative total morbidity and lethality during the course of the study. The percentage of patients with neo-adjuvant treatment and curative resection rose from 5.6 % (2000) to 40.5 % (2012). The rate of performed TME in distal rectal cancer rose from 75.2 % (2000) to 95.3 % (2012). For patients who underwent curative resection in the years 2000/2001 the 5-year local recurrence rate was 11.7 %, while it was found to be 4.6 % for patients who were thus treated in the years 2005/2006 (p < 0.001). There was no improvement of total survival. CONCLUSION: While an increase in the use of neo-adjuvant treatment for rectal cancer and the establishment of TME in routine patient-centred care have led to a significant improvement in local tumour control with a constant total morbidity and lethality, there is no detectable influence on the patients' total survival.

[Colorectal tumor surgery in the elderly: results of quality assurance]. / Kolorektale Tumorchirurgie beim Hochbetagten: Ergebnisse der Qualitätssicherung.

The age group ≥ 80 years has become of great importance in the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer due to the demographic changes over the years. To assess patient risk, early postoperative and oncologic long-term outcome 64,740 patients with colorectal cancer were enrolled in various nationwide multicenter observational studies through two study periods (2000-2004 and 2009-2011) and analyzed according to various age groups, in particular ≥ 80 years. The percentage of octogenarians increased from 2009 to 2011, which was associated with an increased patient risk. In 70  % of patients ≥ 80 years old the operative risk was preoperatively classified as ASA stages III and IV. There was a high age-independent resection rate of colon cancer; however, the rectal cancer resection rate in octogenarians was significantly lower. In the age group ≥ 80 years there was a relatively high rate of emergency surgical interventions because of an ileus due to tumor-induced lumen obstruction leading to a hospital mortality rate in both study periods of 18.8 % and 17.9 %, respectively. In the octogenarians there were more locally advanced colon cancer lesions of stage T3/4 but less tumor lesions with distant metastases. The age-corrected tumor-free 5-year survival rate of the octogenarians with colon cancer of tumor stage UICC I-III was identical to that of younger patients.

[Surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma. German multicenter observational studies]. / Chirurgische Therapie des Magenkarzinoms. Multizentrische Beobachtungsstudien.

The aim of the review is to compare the results of selected German multicenter observational studies on the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma within the last two decades. Overall, 6,035 patients with gastric cancer who had been registered in numerous German comprehensive surgical clinics and departments in the time periods 1986-1989, January through December 2002 and 2007-2009 were enrolled in this analysis. In particular, the study aimed to investigate the most important criteria and factors with an impact on the perioperative and early postoperative outcome including the effects on oncological long-term results. In addition to the advances in diagnostic procedures and surgical techniques, the impact of multimodal therapeutic concepts which have been established particularly in the third investigation period is emphasized.

[Quality indicators of diagnosis and therapy in MRI-based neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for rectal cancer - interim analysis of a Prospective Multicentre Observational Study (OCUM)]. / Qualitätsindikaktoren der Diagnose und Therapie bei MRT-basierter neoadjuvanter Radiochemotherapie des Rektumkarzinoms - Interimsanalyse einer prospektiven, multizentrischen Beobachtungsstudie (OCUM).

BACKGROUND: The interim analysis of a prospective multicentre observational study of selective neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OCUM) in patients with rectal cancer should evaluate the quality of diagnosis and therapy as a prerequisite for continuation of the study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 230 patients with the clinical stage cT2 - 4, each cN, M0 with radical tumour resection were enrolled until now. The values of 13 quality indicators were compared with the target values formulated by the workflow of the Working Group rectal cancer II and the German Cancer Society and were also compared with the results of the certified bowel centres of Germany 2010. RESULTS: The target values were fulfilled to a high degree regardless of caseload. 83 % of parameters have been fully achieved and 14 % nearly achieved. In primary surgery the proportion of patients with 12 or more histologically examined lymph nodes was 99.2 %, after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy 90 %. A R0 resection was performed in 98.3 % and a resection of TME in muscularis propria plane only in 2.2 %. The rate of positive circumferential resection margins (pCRM + ) was 5.7 % only. CONCLUSIONS: The high quality of rectal surgery justifies the concept and the continuation of the study.