Annals of Coloproctology

Original Articles

Colorectal cancer

Is clinical complete response as accurate as pathological complete response in patients with mid-low locally advanced rectal cancer?: Niyaz Shadmanov, Vusal Aliyev, Guglielmo Niccolò Piozzi, Barıs Bakır, Suha Goksel, Oktar Asoglu; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(1):57-67. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00339.0048

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The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer involves neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by total mesorectal excision surgery. A subset of patients achieves pathologic complete response (pCR), representing the optimal treatment outcome. This study compares the long-term oncological outcomes of patients who achieved pCR with those who attained clinical complete response (cCR) after total neoadjuvant therapy, managed using a watch-and-wait approach.
Methods
This study retrospectively evaluated patients with mid-low locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant treatment from January 1, 2005, to May 1, 2023. The pCR and cCR groups were compared based on demographic, clinical, histopathological, and long-term survival outcomes.
Results
The median follow-up times were 54 months (range, 7–83 months) for the cCR group (n=73), 96 months (range, 7–215 months) for the pCR group (n=63), and 72 months (range, 4–212 months) for the pathological incomplete clinical response (pICR) group (n=627). In the cCR group, 15 patients (20.5%) experienced local regrowth, and 5 (6.8%) developed distant metastasis (DM). The pCR group had no cases of local recurrence, but 3 patients (4.8%) developed DM. Among the pICR patients, 58 (9.2%) experienced local recurrence, and 92 (14.6%) had DM. Five-year disease-free survival rates were 90.0% for cCR, 92.0% for pCR, and 69.5% for pICR (P=0.022). Five-year overall survival rates were 93.1% for cCR, 92.0% for pCR, and 78.1% for pICR. There were no significant differences in outcomes between the cCR and pCR groups (P=0.810); however, the pICR group exhibited poorer outcomes (P=0.002).
Conclusion
This study shows no significant long-term oncological differences between patients who exhibited cCR and those who experienced pCR.

Translational/basic research

Preclinical testing of a new radiofrequency ablation device in a porcine perianal fistula model: Sunseok Yoon, Jung-Woo Choi, Yongtaik Son, Hyun Soon Lee, Kwang Dae Hong; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(1):84-92. Published online February 26, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00626.0089

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
Anorectal fistulas present a treatment challenge, with conventional surgical methods potentially resulting in complications such as fecal incontinence. To improve patient outcomes, more effective and minimally invasive therapies are critically needed. In this study, an optimal porcine model for the creation of anorectal fistulas was developed and used to evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy.
Methods
Two distinct but related experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, a reliable and standardized porcine anorectal fistula model was developed. In the second, the healing process was assessed, and outcomes were compared between the RFA-treated group and the control group using the established porcine model.
Results
The results indicated that a 3.5-cm fistula tract length and a 14-day evaluation period following seton removal are optimal for the porcine anorectal fistula model. In the second experiment, the RFA group tended to exhibit better outcomes regarding fistula closure, although the differences were not statistically significant. Histopathologically, no significant difference in inflammation grade was observed between groups; however, scar tissue was more predominant in the RFA group.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that RFA therapy may offer potential benefits in the treatment of anorectal fistulas, as demonstrated using a porcine model. To validate these results and explore the mechanisms of action underlying RFA therapy for anorectal fistulas, further research involving larger sample sizes and a more robust study design is required.

Translational/basic research

The effect of tumor resection on intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in patients with right-sided colon cancer: Aldhimas Marthsyal Pratikna, M. Iqbal Rivai, Rini Suswita, Andani Eka Putra, Irwan Abdul Rachman, Avit Suchitra; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(1):47-56. Published online February 26, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00346.0049

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Purpose
This study aimed to determine the effect of tumor resection on dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota in patients with right-sided colon cancer.
Methods
This study utilized a longitudinal design to explore the outcomes of patients diagnosed with right-sided colon cancer who underwent surgical resection at Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital from July to December 2023. We excluded patients with a documented history of comorbidities, specifically those affecting the digestive system. To compare the microbiota (genus and phylum) between patients with right-sided colon cancer and the control group, we conducted bivariate analyses using the independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test. Furthermore, we employed the dependent t-test or Wilcoxon test to assess changes in the dysbiosis of the microbiota (genus and phylum) before and after resection. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
This study included a total of 21 patients diagnosed with right-sided colon cancer. In the control group, Bacteroidetes constituted the highest proportion of intestinal microbiota, accounting for 56.34%. Prior to tumor resection, the intestinal microbiota of patients exhibited Proteobacteria as the predominant phylum, representing 52.97%. Following tumor resection, Bacteroidetes remained the most prevalent, comprising 50.9% of the intestinal microbiota. Significant variations in the levels of Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Cyanobacteria/Chloroplast were observed in the intestinal microbiota of patients with right-sided colorectal cancer before and after tumor excision (all P=0.001).
Conclusion
The microbiome of patients with right-sided colorectal cancer differed significantly from that of the control group. However, following tumor resection, the microbiome composition of these patients became more similar to that observed in the control group.

Citations

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Dynamics of the microbiota in right-sided colon cancer patients: pre- and post-tumor resection
Youn Young Park
Annals of Coloproctology.2025; 41(1): 1. CrossRef

Anorectal benign disease

Antibiotic use during the first episode of acute perianal sepsis: a still-open question: Stanislas Blondin, David Lobo, Axel Egal, Saliha Ysmail-Dahlouk, Milad Taouk, Josée Bourguignon, David Blondeel, Isabelle Etienney; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(1):40-46. Published online February 3, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00472.0067

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
The role of antibiotics in preventing fistula formation following an initial abscess remains a subject of debate. This study compared the incidence of fistula in ano in patients experiencing their first episode of acute perianal sepsis, with and without antibiotic therapy, and evaluated the prevalence of fistula in ano necessitating surgical intervention at 1 year.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital with a dedicated proctology department. All patients who presented to the emergency proctology unit with a first episode of acute perianal sepsis were eligible for inclusion.
Results
This study included 276 patients. At 1 year, fistula formation was identified in 65.6% of all patients, 54.0% of those who had received antibiotics, and 75.0% of those who had not (P<0.001). This finding remained significant after weighted propensity analysis (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.31–0.92; P=0.025).
Conclusion
The rate of fistula formation was relatively high in this study. However, it was lower among patients with perianal sepsis who were treated with antibiotics, although a causal relationship could not be established. Prolonged follow-up is needed to clarify the role of antibiotic therapy in preventing or delaying fistula development in patients with acute perianal sepsis.

Colorectal cancer

Comparison of colorectal cancer surgery patients in intensive care between rural and metropolitan hospitals in Australia: a national cohort study: Jessica A. Paynter, Zakary Doherty, Chun Hin Angus Lee, Kirby R. Qin, Janelle Brennan, David Pilcher; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(1):68-76. Published online January 24, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00269.0038

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Purpose
A small proportion of colorectal cancer (CRC) surgical patients will require an admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) within the early postoperative period. This study aimed to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to an ICU following CRC surgery per hospital type (metropolitan vs. rural) over a decade in Australia.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken of all adult patients admitted to a participating Australian ICUs following CRC surgery between January 2011 and December 2021. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.
Results
Over the 10-year period, 19,611 patients were treated in 122 metropolitan ICUs and 4,108 patients were treated in 42 rural ICUs. Rural ICUs had a lower proportion of annual admissions following CRC surgery (20 vs. 36, P<0.001). Patients admitted to a rural ICU were more likely to have undergone emergency CRC surgery compared to those admitted to a metropolitan cohort (28.5% vs. 13.8%, P<0.001). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality between metropolitan and rural hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–1.35; P=0.500). There was a general trend for lower mortality in later years of the study with the odds of death in the final year of the study (2021) almost half that of the first study year (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34–0.80; P=0.003).
Conclusion
There was no difference between in-hospital mortality outcomes for CRC surgical patients requiring ICU admission between metropolitan and rural hospitals. These findings may contribute to discussions regarding rural scope of colorectal practice within Australia and globally.

Anorectal benign disease

Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) for high transsphincteric fistulas: a double-center retrospective study with long-term follow-up: Leichang Zhang, Chuanyu Zhan, Lu Li, Wanjin Shao, Guidong Sun, Yugen Chen, Guanghua Chen, Yulei Lang, Zenghua Xiao, Xiao Xiao; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(1):77-83. Published online January 17, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00024.0003

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) procedure in treating high transsphincteric fistulas.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the success rate of LIFT treatment in 82 patients with high transsphincteric fistulas involving at least one-third of the external sphincter. This study was carried out across 2 centers from November 2009 to February 2023.
Results
All patients underwent successful surgery with a median operative time of 48.9 minutes (range, 20–80 minutes), and no intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. The median follow-up duration was 85.5 months (range, 4–120 months), with 5 patients (6.1%) lost to follow-up. Treatment was successful in 62 patients, whose symptoms disappeared and both the external opening and the intersphincteric incision completely healed, yielding an overall efficiency rate of 80.5%. There were 15 cases (19.5%) of treatment failure, including 6 (7.8%) that converted to intersphincteric anal fistula and 9 (11.7%) that experienced persistent or recurrent fistulas. Only 1 patient reported minor overflow during the postoperative follow-up, but no other patients reported any significant discomfort. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with surgical success and those with treatment failure in terms of fistula length, history of previous abscess or anal fistula surgery, number of external orifices or fistulas, and location of fistulas (all P>0.05).
Conclusion
LIFT is a safe and effective sphincter-preserving procedure that yields satisfactory healing outcomes and has minimal impact on anal function.

Anorectal benign disease

Lower pain, less itching, and faster healing after ultrasound scalpel-assisted hemorrhoidectomy using an intimate cleaner containing chlorhexidine, acid hyaluronic acid, and natural anti-inflammatories: a multicenter observational case-control study: Antonio Brillantino, Luigi Marano, Maurizio Grillo, Alessio Palumbo, Fabrizio Foroni, Luciano Vicenzo, Alessio Antropoli, Michele Lanza, Maria Laura Sandoval Sotelo, Nicola Sangiuliano, Mauro Maglio, Rosanna Filosa, Lucia Abbatiello, Maria Preziosa Romano, Luana Passariello, Pasquale Talento, Giovanna Ioia, Corrado Rispoli, Mariano Fortunato Armellino, Vincenzo Bottino, Adolfo Renzi, Carlo Bartone, Luigi Monaco, Paolino Mauro, Stefano Picardi, Maria Paola Menna, Elisa Palladino, Mario Massimo Mensorio, Vinicio Mosca, Claudio Gambardella, Luigi Brusciano, Ludovico Docimo; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(6):602-609. Published online December 30, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00570.0081

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
Postoperative pain is a major concern for patients undergoing ultrasound scalpel-assisted hemorrhoidectomy, potentially exacerbated by delayed wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an intimate cleansing gel containing chlorhexidine, hyaluronic acid, and other anti-inflammatory agents (Antroclean Fisioderm) on postoperative pain, itching, and wound healing in patients who had undergone this procedure.
Methods
This multicenter observational case-control study involved a cohort of consecutive adult patients who underwent hemorrhoidectomy using an ultrasound device. The study compared 2 different postoperative wound management strategies over 1 month after surgery: washing with warm water twice per day (control group) versus a 2-minute topical application of intimate cleansing gel (Antroclean Fisioderm) followed by a warm water wash (intervention group).
Results
The median postoperative pain score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at each follow-up point (P<0.01). The percentage of patients reporting anal itching was also significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at each follow-up point (P<0.01). All patients in the intervention group achieved complete wound healing 4 weeks after surgery, compared to 88 (82%) in the control group (P<0.01). No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion
The topical application of intimate cleansing gel (Antroclean Fisioderm) twice daily for 1 month following ultrasound scalpel-assisted hemorrhoidectomy appears to be associated with faster healing, reduced pain, decreased itching, and improved quality of life, without any adverse effects. Further larger and prospective randomized trials are recommended to confirm these findings.

Minimally invasive surgery

Robotic surgery may lead to reduced postoperative inflammatory stress in colon cancer: a propensity score–matched analysis: Eun Ji Park, Gyong Tae Noh, Yong Joon Lee, Min Young Park, Seung Yoon Yang, Yoon Dae Han, Min Soo Cho, Hyuk Hur, Kang Young Lee, Byung Soh Min; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(6):594-601. Published online December 6, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00171.0024

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Purpose
Robot-assisted surgery is readily applied to every type of colorectal surgeries. However, studies showing the safety and feasibility of robotic surgery (RS) have dealt with rectal cancer more than colon cancer. This study aimed to investigate how technical advantages of RS can translate into actual clinical outcomes that represent postoperative systemic response.
Methods
This study retrospectively reviewed consecutive cases in a single tertiary medical center in Korea. Patients with primary colon cancer who underwent curative resection between 2006 and 2012 were included. Propensity score matching was done to adjust baseline patient characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, tumor profile, pathologic stage, operating surgeon, surgery extent) between open surgery (OS), laparoscopic surgery (LS), and RS groups.
Results
After propensity score matching, there were 66 patients in each group for analysis, and there was no significant differences in baseline patient characteristics. Maximal postoperative leukocyte count was lowest in the RS group and highest in the OS group (P=0.021). Similar results were observed for postoperative neutrophil count (P=0.024). Postoperative prognostic nutritional index was highest in the RS group and lowest in the OS group (P<0.001). The time taken to first flatus and soft diet resumption was longest in the OS group and shortest in the RS group (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Among all groups, other short-term postoperative outcomes such as hospital stay and complications did not show significant difference, and oncological survival results were similar.
Conclusion
Better postoperative inflammatory indices in the RS group may correlate with their faster recovery of bowel motility and diet resumption compared to LS and OS groups.

ERAS

Effect of continuous wound infiltration on patients using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia for pain management after reduced-port laparoscopic colorectal surgery: Hyeon Deok Choi, Sung Uk Bae; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(6):564-572. Published online November 22, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00143.0020

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Purpose
Continuous wound infiltration (CWI) has been introduced as a component of multimodal analgesia to counteract the adverse effects of the most frequently used opioids. Advantages of reduced-port laparoscopic surgery (RPLS) include cosmetic benefits and decreased postoperative pain. We aimed to investigate the effect of CWI in patients using intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain management after RPLS for colorectal cancer.
Methods
This retrospective study included 25 patients who received both CWI (0.5% ropivacaine infused over 72 hours) and IV PCA (fentanyl citrate) and 52 patients who received IV PCA alone. The primary endpoint was pain scores on postoperative days (PODs) 0, 1, and 2. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the factors affecting the pain score on POD 0.
Results
On POD 0, the mean numeric rating scale score was significantly lower in the CWI group than in the control group (3.2±0.8 vs. 3.7±0.9, P=0.042). However, the scores were comparable between the groups during the rest of the period. Within 24 hours of surgery, the CWI group consumed fewer opioids (0.7±0.9 vs. 1.3±1.1, P=0.018) and more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (2.0±1.4 vs. 1.3±1.4, P=0.046) than the control group. Time to removal of IV PCA was significantly longer in the CWI group than in the control group (4.4±1.6 days vs. 3.4±1.0 days, P=0.016).
Conclusion
CWI with ropivacaine and IV PCA was more effective than IV PCA alone in controlling postoperative pain within 24 hours of surgery, and opioid use could be reduced further.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Optimizing postoperative pain management in minimally invasive colorectal surgery
Soo Young Lee
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(6): 525. CrossRef

Minimally invasive surgery

New double-stapling technique without staple-crossing line in laparoscopic low anterior resection: effort to reduce anastomotic leakage: Nam Seok Kim, Ji Hoon Kim, Yoon Suk Lee, In Kyu Lee, Won Kyung Kang; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(6):573-579. Published online November 22, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2022.00409.0058

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF: Purpose
This study aimed to demonstrate the safety of new double-stapling technique (nDST), without a crossing line and dog ears, by comparing with conventional DST (cDST) in laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR).
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 98 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic LAR for rectal cancer from January 2018 to December 2020. The inclusion criterion was an anastomosis level below the peritoneal reflection and 4 cm above the anal verge. In the nDST group, the staple line of the linear cutter was sutured using barbed sutures to shorten the staple line before firing the circular stapler. Therefore, there were no crossing lines after firing the circular stapler. A 2:1 propensity score matching was performed between the cDST and nDST groups.
Results
After propensity score matching, 39 patients were in the cDST group and 20 were in the nDST group. There were no significant differences in patient demographics between the 2 groups. There was no difference in the total operation time between the cDST and nDST groups (124.0±26.2 minutes vs. 125.2±20.3 minutes, P=0.853). Morbidity rates were similar between the 2 groups (9 cases [23.1%] vs. 5 cases [25.0%], P=0.855). There was no significant difference in leakage rate (4 cases [10.3%] vs. 1 case [5.0%], P=0.847) and anastomotic bleeding rate (1 case [2.6%] vs. 3 cases [15.0%], P=0.211).
Conclusion
The nDST to eliminate the crossing line and dog ears in laparoscopic LAR is technically feasible and safe. However, more attention should be paid to anastomotic bleeding in such cases.

Colorectal cancer

Preventive efficacy of hydrocortisone enema for radiation proctitis in rectal cancer patients undergoing short-course radiotherapy: a phase II randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial: Mohammad Mohammadianpanah, Maryam Tazang, Nam Phong Nguyen, Niloofar Ahmadloo, Shapour Omidvari, Ahmad Mosalaei, Mansour Ansari, Hamid Nasrollahi, Behnam Kadkhodaei, Nezhat Khanjani, Seyed Vahid Hosseini; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(5):506-514. Published online October 22, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2024.00192.0027

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Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of hydrocortisone enema in preventing radiation proctitis in patients with rectal cancer undergoing short-course radiotherapy (SCRT).
Methods
This phase II randomized controlled trial enrolled patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced rectal cancer (clinically staged T3–4 and/or N1–2M0). Participants received a median of 4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) followed by 3-dimensional conformal SCRT (25 Gy in 5 fractions). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a hydrocortisone enema (n=50) or a placebo (n=51) once daily for 5 consecutive days during SCRT. The primary endpoint was the incidence and severity of acute proctitis.
Results
Of the 111 eligible patients, 101 were included in the study. Baseline characteristics, including sex, age, performance status, and tumor location, were comparable across the treatment arms. None of the patients experienced grade 4 acute gastrointestinal toxicity or had to discontinue treatment due to treatment-related adverse effects. Patients in the hydrocortisone arm experienced significantly less severe proctitis (P<0.001), diarrhea (P=0.023), and rectal pain (P<0.001) than those in the placebo arm. Additionally, the duration of acute gastrointestinal toxicity following SCRT was significantly shorter in patients receiving hydrocortisone (P<0.001).
Conclusion
Hydrocortisone enema was associated with a significant reduction in the severity of proctitis, diarrhea, and rectal pain compared to placebo. Additionally, patients treated with hydrocortisone experienced shorter durations of gastrointestinal toxicity following SCRT. This study highlights the potential benefits of hydrocortisone enema in managing radiation-induced toxicity in rectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Hypofractionated Chemoradiotherapy in Elderly Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
Jae Seung Kim, Jaram Lee, Hyeung-min Park, Soo Young Lee, Chang Hyun Kim, Hyeong Rok Kim
Cancers.2024; 16(24): 4280. CrossRef

Anorectal benign disease

Proctitis distal to colorectal anastomosis: a retrospective cohort study of an underreported complication after sigmoidectomy: Ajmal Khan, Maziar Nikberg, Kenneth Smedh, Abbas Chabok; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(5):498-505. Published online October 22, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00675.0096

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
Proctitis distal to colorectal anastomosis is rare and infrequently reported. We evaluated the incidence, symptoms, treatment, and potential risk factors associated with this condition.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study in Västmanland County, Sweden. This investigation included all patients who underwent sigmoidectomy with colorectal anastomosis between 2008 and 2020. We excluded patients without an anastomosis and those with inflammatory bowel disease.
Results
Of the 546 patients identified, 233 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of whom 26 (11.2%) developed proctitis distal to colorectal anastomosis. The most frequent symptoms included urgency (n=16, 61.5%), increased stool frequency (n=12, 46.2%), and anorectal pain (n=12, 46.2%). Endoscopic balloon dilation was performed in 20 cases (76.9%), with 10 requiring only a single therapeutic procedure. The median number of dilations was 3 (range, 1–8). Multivariable analysis revealed that surgery due to malignancy and emergency surgery were associated with elevated risk of proctitis. A subgroup analysis of patients who underwent surgery due to malignancy indicated that smoking (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–14.0) and emergency surgery (odds ratio, 6.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–37.1) were also associated with increased proctitis risk.
Conclusion
Proctitis distal to colorectal anastomosis is not uncommon following sigmoidectomy. Patients undergoing emergency surgery or surgery due to malignancy and who had a history of smoking displayed an increased risk of developing proctitis. Due to the paucity of symptoms observed, particularly in patients with a diverting stoma, routine endoscopic rectal examination should be performed during follow-up after sigmoidectomy.

Complication

Early warning model to detect anastomotic leakage following colon surgery: a clinical observational study: Pooya Rajabaleyan, Ravish Jootun, Sören Möller, Ulrik Deding, Mark Bremholm Ellebæk, Issam al-Najami, Ian Lindsey; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(5):431-439. Published online October 8, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00745.0106

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Purpose
We aimed to develop a predictive tool for anastomotic leakage (AL) following colon cancer surgery by combining a clinical early warning score (EWS) with the C-reactive protein (CRP) level.
Methods
The records of 1,855 patients who underwent colon cancer surgery at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between January 2013 and December 2018, with or without AL, were retrospectively reviewed. EWS and CRP levels were assessed daily from the first postoperative day until discharge. AL was defined as an anastomotic defect observed at reoperation, the presence of feculent fluid in a pelvic drain, or evidence of AL on computed tomography. The tool incorporated postoperative EWS and CRP levels for the accurate early detection of AL.
Results
From postoperative days 3 to 7, the mean CRP level exceeded 200 mg/L in patients with AL and was under 200 mg/L in those without AL (P<0.05). From postoperative days 1 to 5, the mean EWS among patients with leakage exceeded 2, while scores were below 2 among those without leakage (P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified postoperative day 3 as the most predictive of early leakage, with cutoff values of 2.4 for EWS and 180 mg/L for CRP; this yielded an area under the curve of 0.87 (sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 70%).
Conclusion
We propose using an EWS of 2.4 and a CRP level of 180 mg/L on postoperative day 3 following colon surgery with anastomosis as threshold values to prompt investigation and treatment of AL.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Early detection of anastomotic leakage in colon cancer surgery: the role of early warning score and C-reactive protein
Gyung Mo Son
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(5): 415. CrossRef
Predictive Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Anastomotic Leaks in Colorectal Surgeries: A Systematic Review
Wahidullah Dost, Mohammad Qaher Rasully , Mohammad Nazir Zaman, Wahida Dost, Wahida Ali, Sami A Ayobi, Raisa Dost, Jamaluddin Niazi, Kinza Bakht, Asma Iqbal, Syed Faqeer Hussain Bokhari
Cureus.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

ERAS

Impact of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program on the management of complications after laparoscopic or robotic colectomy for cancer: Victoria Weets, Hélène Meillat, Jacques Emmanuel Saadoun, Marie Dazza, Cécile de Chaisemartin, Bernard Lelong; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(5):440-450. Published online September 20, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00850.0121

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Purpose
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) reduces postoperative complications (POCs) after colorectal surgery; however, its impact on the management of POCs remains unclear. This study compared the diagnosis and management of POCs before and after implementing our ERAS protocol after laparoscopic or robotic colectomy for cancer and examined the short- and mid-term oncologic impacts.
Methods
This single-center, retrospective study evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic colectomy for cancer between 2012 and 2021, focusing on the incidence of POCs within 90 days. We compared outcomes before (standard group) and after (ERAS group) the implementation of our ERAS protocol in January 2016.
Results
Significantly fewer patients in the ERAS group developed POCs (standard vs. ERAS, 136 of 380 patients [35.8%] vs.136 of 660 patients [20.6%]; P<0.01). The ERAS group had a significantly shorter mean total length of stay after POCs (13.1 days vs. 11.4 days, P=0.04), and the rates of life-threatening complications (6.7% vs. 0.7%) and 1-year mortality (7.4% vs. 1.5%) were significantly lower in the ERAS group than in the standard group. Among patients with anastomotic complications, laparoscopic reoperation was significantly more common in the ERAS group than in the standard group (8.3% vs. 75.0%, P<0.01). Among patients with postoperative ileus, the diagnosis and recovery times were significantly shorter in the ERAS group than in the standard group, resulting in a shorter total length of stay (13.5 days vs. 10 days, P<0.01).
Conclusion
The implementation of an ERAS protocol did not eliminate all POCs, but it did accelerate their diagnosis and management and improved patient outcomes.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Optimizing postoperative pain management in minimally invasive colorectal surgery
Soo Young Lee
Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(6): 525. CrossRef

Colorectal cancer

The impact of short-course total neoadjuvant therapy, long-course chemoradiotherapy, and upfront surgery on the technical difficulty of total mesorectal excision: an observational study with an intraoperative perspective: Cheryl Xi-Zi Chong, Frederick H. Koh, Hui-Lin Tan, Sharmini Su Sivarajah, Jia-Lin Ng, Leonard Ming-Li Ho, Darius Kang-Lie Aw, Wen-Hsin Koo, Shuting Han, Si-Lin Koo, Connie Siew-Poh Yip, Fu-Qiang Wang, Fung-Joon Foo, Winson Jianhong Tan; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(5):451-458. Published online September 19, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00899.0128

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Purpose
Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is becoming the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, surgery is deferred for months after completion, which may lead to fibrosis and increased surgical difficulty. The aim of this study was to assess whether TNT (TNT-RAPIDO) is associated with increased difficulty of total mesorectal excision (TME) compared with long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCRT) and upfront surgery.
Methods
Twelve laparoscopic videos of low anterior resection with TME for rectal cancer were prospectively collected from January 2020 to October 2021, with 4 videos in each arm. Seven colorectal surgeons assessed the videos independently, graded the difficulty of TME using a visual analog scale and attempted to identify which category the videos belonged to.
Results
The median age was 67 years, and 10 patients were male. The median interval to surgery from radiotherapy was 13 weeks in the LCRT group and 24 weeks in the TNT-RAPIDO group. There was no significant difference in the visual analog scale for difficulty in TME between the 3 groups (LCRT, 3.2; TNT-RAPIDO, 4.6; upfront, 4.1; P=0.12). A subgroup analysis showed similar difficulty between groups (LCRT 3.2 vs. TNT-RAPIDO 4.6, P=0.05; TNT-RAPIDO 4.6 vs. upfront 4.1, P=0.54). During video assessments, surgeons correctly identified the prior treatment modality in 42% of the cases. TNT-RAPIDO videos had the highest recognition rate (71%), significantly outperforming both LCRT (29%) and upfront surgery (25%, P=0.01).
Conclusion
TNT does not appear to increase the surgical difficulty of TME.

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