Blas Flor-Lorente

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leak After Colon Resection for Cancer: Multivariate Analysis and Nomogram From a Multicentric, Prospective, National Study With 3193 Patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine pre-/intraoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after colon resection for cancer and to create a practical instrument for predicting anastomotic leak risk. BACKGROUND Anastomotic leak is still the most dreaded complication in colorectal surgery. Many risk factors have been identified to date, but multicentric prospective studies on anastomotic leak after colon resection are lacking. METHODS Fifty-two hospitals participated in this prospective, observational study. Data of 3193 patients, operated for colon cancer with primary anastomosis without stoma, were included in a prospective online database (September 2011-September 2012). Forty-two pre-/intraoperative variables, related to patient, tumor, surgical procedure, and hospital, were analyzed as potential independent risk factors for anastomotic leak (60-day follow-up). A nomogram was created to easily predict the risk of anastomotic leak for a given patient. RESULTS The anastomotic leak rate was 8.7%, and widely varied between hospitals (variance of 0.24 on the logit scale). Anastomotic leak significantly increased mortality (15.2% vs 1.9% in patients without anastomotic leak, P < 0.0001) and length of hospitalization (median 23 vs 7 days in uncomplicated patients, P < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, the following variables were independent risk factors for anastomotic leak: obesity [P = 0.003, odds ratio (OR) = 2.7], preoperative serum total proteins (P = 0.03, OR = 0.7 per g/dL), male sex (P = 0.03, OR = 1.6), ongoing anticoagulant treatment (P = 0.05, OR = 1.8), intraoperative complication (P = 0.03, OR = 2.2), and number of hospital beds (P = 0.04, OR = 0.95 per 100 beds). CONCLUSIONS Anastomotic leak after colon resection for cancer is a frequent, relevant complication. Patients, surgical technique, and hospital are all important determining factors of anastomotic leak risk.

Risk Factors for Nonhepatic Surgery in Patients with Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver appears to have an unfavorable prognosis in the surgical patient. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis undergoing nonhepatic surgery. We studied 135 patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing nonhepatic procedures and 86 controls matched by age, sex, and preoperative diagnosis. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables associated with 30-day mortality and morbidity were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with cirrhosis showed higher blood transfusion requirements, longer length of hospital stay, and a higher number of complications than controls. The mortality rate was 16.3% in cirrhotics and 3.5% in controls. By univariate analysis, the need for transfusions, prothrombin time, and Child-Pugh score were significantly associated with postoperative liver decompensation, whereas duration of surgery, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh score, cirrhosis-related complications, and general complications were significantly associated with mortality. In the multivariate analysis, Child-Pugh score (odds ratio [OR] 24.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.5 to 106); duration of surgery (OR 5; 95% CI 1.2 to 15.6), and postoperative general complications (OR 3.7; 95% CI 3.4 to 6.4) were independent predictors of mortality. Patients with cirrhosis undergoing nonhepatic operations are at significant risk of perioperative complications leading to death. Independent variables associated with perioperative mortality include preoperative Child-Pugh score, the duration of surgery, and the presence of postoperative general complications.

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as early predictors of anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Although the early diagnosis of anastomotic leak is a key point in reducing its clinical consequences, in daily practice, anastomotic leak diagnosis is often late. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether procalcitonin and C-reactive protein are good predictors of anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery. DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study. SETTINGS: This study was conducted by a specialized colorectal multidisciplinary team of a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A series of 205 consecutive patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery in a specialized unit was prospectively analyzed. The following data were collected: demographic, surgical, ASA class, POSSUM, and morbidity. During the first 5 postoperative days, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, leukocytes, platelets, and vital signs were evaluated daily. INTERVENTIONS: Daily assessment of clinical variable and serological data were conducted in the first 5 postoperative days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the area under the curve at receiving operating characteristic curve analysis of the different variables in relation to the anastomotic leak. RESULTS: Anastomotic leak was detected in 17 (8.3%) patients; 11(5.4%) of the patients had a major anastomotic leak (need for drainage or reoperation). None of the variables evaluated were shown to be reliable in the early detection of anastomotic leak, considering both minor and major (maximum area under the curve <0.80). In contrast, when considering only major anastomotic leaks, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were reliable predictors on postoperative days 3 to 5 (p < 0.0001, area under the curve >0.80). The best combination was procalcitonin at postoperative day 5 (area under the curve = 0.86), with a cutoff of 0.31 ng/mL, resulting in a 100% sensitivity, 72% specificity, 100% negative predictive value, and 17% positive predictive value. LIMITATIONS: Only symptomatic patients were investigated to rule out anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein are both reliable predictors of major anastomotic leak after colorectal resection, although procalcitonin is more accurate. Raised procalcitonin and C-reactive protein serum concentration on postoperative days 3 to 5 renders necessary a careful evaluation of the patient before discharge.

Preoperative chemoradiation may not always be needed for patients with T3 and T2N+ rectal cancer.

Preoperative chemoradiation is becoming the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, since the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME), local recurrence rates have been reduced significantly, and some patients can be spared from potentially toxic over treatment. The current study was designed to assess the factors that predict recurrence in an institutional series of patients with rectal cancer who had clinical T2 lymph node‐positive (cT2N+) tumors or cT3N0/N+ tumors and underwent radical surgery without receiving preoperative chemoradiation.

Inferior Vena Cava Malformations and Deep Venous Thrombosis

We carried out a prospective study of 116 patients under 50 years of age who had deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities to determine whether the presence of congenital anomaly of the inferior vena cava (IVC) was a risk factor for the disease. All patients were investigated by Doppler echography. Some 37 patients who had iliac vein occlusion also underwent phlebography. In 10 patients in whom the IVC was difficult to image, magnetic resonance angiography or computerized axial tomography was carried out. In all patients, studies of antithrombin, protein C and protein S deficiency, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, antiphospholipid antibodies, and acquired risk factors were also performed. Of the 37 patients who had iliac vein occlusion, six had an IVC anomaly. Two of these patients had antiphospholipid antibodies, while another had prothrombin G20210A. Two patients with an anomaly had recurrent thrombotic occlusion. In conclusion, congenital IVC anomalies were present in 16.2% (95% confidence interval, 6.2-32%) of young patients with iliac thrombosis.

Anomalías de la vena cava y trombosis venosa profunda

Resumen Estudio prospectivo de 116 pacientes menores de 50 anos con trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) de los miembros inferiores, en el que se valora la presencia de anomalias de la vena cava inferior (VCI) como factor de riesgo de la TVP. Se practico a todos una eco-Doppler; cuando tenian afeccion iliaca se realizaba tambien flebografia, y cuando el drenaje a la VCI era deficiente, se completaba el estudio con resonancia magnetica o tomografia computarizada. En todos los pacientes tambien se realizaron las siguientes determinaciones: antitrombina, deficit de proteina C y S, factor V Leiden, protrombina G20210A y anticuerpos antifosfolipidicos. Tambien se valoraron los factores de riesgo adquiridos. De los 37 pacientes con afeccion iliaca, 6 presentaron anomalias de VCI: 4 hipoplasias y 2 duplicaciones. Todos ellos eran menores de 30 anos, 2 tenian anticuerpos antifosfolipidicos y 1 protrombina G20210A. Dos presentaron recidiva trombotica tras la suspension de la anticoagulacion. En conclusion, el 16,2% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 6,2-32) de los pacientes con trombosis iliaca presentaba anomalia de la VCI.

Anastomotic leakage after colon cancer resection: does the individual surgeon matter?

Anastomotic leakage is one of the most feared complications after colonic resection. Many risk factors for anastomotic leakage have been reported, but the impact of an individual surgeon as a risk factor has scarcely been reported. The aim of this study was to assess if the individual surgeon is an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage in colonic cancer surgery.

Management of intersphincteric abscesses

Objective  Intersphincteric abscesses are relatively rare, and in some cases of upward extensions in the supralevator plane, can be difficult to manage. The aim of this study was to analyse the type of treatment used in these abscesses.

Prospective evaluation of intraoperative peripheral nerve injury in colorectal surgery.

Aim  Intraoperative peripheral nerve injury can have permanent neurological consequences. Its incidence is not known and varies according to the location and the surgical specialty. This study was a prospective analysis of intraoperative peripheral nerve injury as a complication of abdominal colorectal surgery.

Pathological evaluation of mesocolic resection quality and ex vivo methylene blue injection: what is the impact on lymph node harvest after colon resection for cancer?

BACKGROUND: Although the National Quality Forum has endorsed the harvest of ≥12 lymph nodes as a standard quality indicator for colon cancer surgery, this minimum quantity is not reached in many centers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the implementation of a mesocolon evaluation pathological protocol and ex vivo arterial methylene blue injection on the number of nodes harvested after colon cancer resection. DESIGN: A prospective series was compared with a historical group. SETTINGS: This study was conducted by a specialized colorectal multidisciplinary team at a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: From June 2009 to December 2009, all the specimens after colon resection for cancer were analyzed with the use of a “mesocolon quality pathological evaluation” protocol. Moreover, a consecutive series of specimens was analyzed after arterial ex vivo injection of methylene blue. We compared the study groups with our previous series (2005–2009). INTERVENTIONS: The “mesocolon quality pathological evaluation” protocol was used with or without arterial methylene blue ex vivo injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome measure was the number of lymph nodes harvested. RESULTS: The mean number (SD) of lymph nodes collected was 20.6 (10.5), 37.1 (12.8), and 47.6 (12.9) (p < 0.0001) in the control, protocol, and methylene blue groups. In the control group, the minimum number of 12 and 18 lymph nodes collected was not reached in 92 (15.9%) and 258 (44.6%) patients. In contrast, all patients in the protocol and methylene blue groups had more than 18 lymph nodes collected. The multivariate analysis confirmed the application of the “mesocolon quality pathological evaluation” protocol and the methylene blue ex vivo injection, along with the type of resection and the length of the specimen, to be independent factors determining the number of nodes collected. LIMITATIONS: The patients are not randomly selected and are compared with a retrospective series. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a “mesocolon quality pathological evaluation” protocol along with the arterial ex vivo injection of methylene blue can significantly increase the number of nodes isolated after colonic resection, reaching a 100% rate of specimens with more than 12 nodes.