Carmela Di Martino

Effect of butyrate enemas on gene expression profiles and endoscopic/histopathological scores of diverted colorectal mucosa: A randomized trial

BACKGROUND A temporary stoma is often created to protect a distal anastomosis in colorectal surgery. Short-chain fatty acids, mainly butyrate, are the major fuel source for the epithelium and their absence in the diverted tract may produce mucosal atrophy and inflammation. AIMS To investigate whether the administration of sodium butyrate enemas (Naburen(©), Promefarm, Italy) could prevent mucosal inflammation and atrophy and affect gene expression profiles after ileo/colostomy. METHODS We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in patients with enterostomy performed for inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer or diverticulitis. Twenty patients were randomly allocated to receive 30ml of sodium butyrate 600mmol/L (group A) or saline (group B), b.i.d. for 30 days. RESULTS In group A endoscopic scores were significantly improved (p<0.01) while mucosal atrophy was reduced or unchanged; in group B mucosal atrophy was increased in 42.8% of patients. Despite the high dose of butyrate used, no short-chain fatty acids were detectable by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in colorectal biopsies. Group A patients showed up-regulation of genes associated with mucosal repair such as Wnt signalling, cytoskeleton regulation and bone morphogenetic protein-antagonists. CONCLUSION Butyrate enemas may prevent the atrophy of the diverted colon/rectum, thus improving the recovery of tissue integrity.

Results of Surgical Salvage Treatment for Anal Canal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis with Overview of the Literature

Background and Aim: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the gold standard treatment for anal cancer, which permits the maintenance of the anal function. However, about 30-40% of patients develop local disease progression, for which surgery represents a good salvage therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate survival and morbidity rate in patients who undergo salvage surgery in our single institution, with an overview of the literature. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on patients who underwent surgical treatment of anal canal cancer after failure of CRT. We evaluated overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years and postoperative morbidity rate. Results: Twenty patients who underwent radical surgery with abdominoperineal resection were included in the study. The survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 75, 60, and 37.4%; with a disease-free survival of 67, 53, and 35%, respectively. There was no postoperative mortality. The morbidity rate was 35%. Conclusion: Surgery represents the recommended therapy for persistent or recurrent anal canal cancer after CRT, with a good survival rate and an acceptable morbidity.

A multidisciplinary approach to desmoid tumors. When intra-abdominal fibromatosis degenerates into an abscess, which is the right treatment?

INTRODUCTION Desmoid tumors are rare benign tumors that originates in the fibrous sheath or musculo-aponeurotic structure. Histologically benign, they tends to invade locally and to be recurrent. PRESENTATION OF CASE We report a rare case of an intra-abdominal desmoid tumor in a patient affected by familial adenomatous polyposis, which degenerated into abscess. Male, 38 years, was hospitalized for abdominal pain, bowel obstruction and fever. The computed tomography showed a big dishomogeneous mass occupying the whole mesentery with internal massive liquefaction. The mass extended from the epigastrium for 13cm up to L3. On the right mesogastric side a solid, thick mass of about 2cm, with a length of 4.5cm, was identified; it was not cleavable from the wall and from some of the loops. We decided to perform a computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage. Two hundred ml of purulent necrotic material was aspirated, and washing with antibiotic solution was carried out. Cytological examination of fluid drainage showed histiocytes and neutrophils. At follow-up, the patients clinical condition had improved. An abdominal ultrasound showed a substantial reduction in the diameter of the mass. DISCUSSION Diagnosis and treatment of desmoids tumor in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis may be difficult, especially when desmoids are located intra-abdominally and in the mesentery. Seldom will desmoid tumors be complicated by abscess formation. CONCLUSION The management of desmoids tumors is not easy and the choice of the best treatment may be difficult due to the different possible anatomical presentations.

Rationalisation of the surgical technique for minimally invasive laparoscopic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis after previous total colectomy for ulcerative colitis

Introduction: No previous study clearly focuses on laparoscopic technique to perform the second stage surgery (proctectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA]) after total colectomy for acute/severe ulcerative colitis (UC). We describe the procedural steps for a simple and rational minimally invasive second stage surgery, reporting intra- and short-term post-operative results. Patients and Methods: During the period December 2014–December 2015, 10 consecutive patients (8 males and 2 females) with mean age of 48 years underwent laparoscopic proctectomy and IPAA adopting our novel approach. They were operated 3 months after the previous total colectomy which has been performed, respectively, for acute (three patients) or severe (seven patients) UC. Intraoperative data and post-operative complications, divided as minor and major, were recorded and analysed. A body image questionnaire was administered to all patients to evaluate the cosmetic results of the procedure. Results: Overall mean surgical time was 235 ± 49 min. During the post-operative course, three patients required morphine for >48 h, no patient needed blood transfusion and bowel movements recovery happened as mean during the 2nd day. No early major complications happened. Two patients (20%) developed peri-ileostomic wound infection at the right flank. Only one patient (10%) suffered from ileal-anal anastomotic dehiscence, conservatively treated till resolution. The average length of hospital stay was 8 ± 2 days. The body image questionnaire showed in all patients an extreme satisfaction about the results obtained (mean value = 59/64 points). Conclusions: Through three standardised surgical steps easily reproducible, we describe an almost scar-less procedure able to optimise the intraoperative time with good post-operative results in terms of complications and cosmesis.

Outcome after ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis patients: experience during a 27‐year period

No previous study describes the postoperative outcome and functional results after ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis (IPAA), performed in ulcerative colitis by the same surgical team with the different anastomotic techniques adopted in a 27‐year period.

Could Total Colectomy with Ileorectal Anastomosis Be an Alternative to Total Proctocolectomy with Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Selected Ulcerative Colitis Patients?

Purpose. To evaluate ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) in selected ulcerative colitis patients. Methods. Early and late complications after IRA and IPAA were investigated. Bowel function and quality of life were assessed. Functional and QoL studies were performed as a matched pair analysis, comparing 98 patients who underwent IRA versus 98 patients who underwent IPAA. Results. In IRA group, 2 patients (1.6%) developed anastomotic l dysplasia (HGD) developed in 3 patients dysplasia (HGD) developed in 3 patients eakage, 1 patient (0.8%) had intestinal obstruction, and 2 patients (1.6%) had abdominal hematoma. Mean follow-up was 11.5 (range: 2–24.3) years. Failure of IRA occurred in 19 patients (15.1%); in 12 patients (9.5%), failure was related to severe proctitis, in 3 patients (2.4%), it was related to the development of high-grade dysplasia, and in 4 patients (3.2%), it was related to the development of rectal cancer. About functional results, stool consistency [liquid (6.7% of IRA patients versus 29% of IPAA patients; p = 0.003)], daily soiling (0% versus 6%; p = 0.01), and nocturnal soiling (6% versus 25.5%; p = 0.03) were statistically different. Only 1% of IRA patients versus 11% of IPAA patients had episodes of perianal inflammation (p = 0.007). CGQoL was 0.72 (±0.14, SD) in IRA patients and 0.75 (±0.11, SD) in IPAA patients (p = ns). Conclusion. In selected patients, IRA is an appropriate surgical option, with low morbidity, comparable quality of life, and better functional results than IPAA.

About the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance in Crohn's Colitis

Dear Sir, Weread withinterest thecommendablestudy by Dr Basseri 1 and colleagues that focuses on the risk of developing Colorectal Cancer (CRC) in patients with Crohns Colitis (CC). They analyzed results of screening and endoscopic surveillance in 411 patients followed from 1992 to 2009 at their institution. The study faces a yet unsolved problem and we would be pleased to suggest some observations born from a recent published clinical experience. 2 Literature shows that screening and endoscopic surveillance can be helpful in finding an early stage of CRC in patients with CC, but the efficacy in improving CRC related survival for this setting of patients is not demonstrated. This is because studies include small and heterogeneous series of patients, very often with selection bias, resulting in a low statistical evidence. It is a problem of difficult solution due to the small number of patients analyzed, that does not spare even this study. The authors affirm that the incidence of dysplasia and cancer was lower than in similarly designed study by Friedman andGillen. 3,4 They explainthatbecauseofthelowerfrequency of extensive colitis in the patient cohort (55%) compared to that of the aforementioned studies (90 and 100%), thus suggesting the extent of inflammation as risk factor for CRC development. Nevertheless, such a big difference could be explained by a dissimilarity in the inclusion criteria regarding screening and surveillance that it does not make the studies comparable. As consequence, the assertion that incidence was lower seems not correct. Moreover, the study does not consider the activity of the disease nor the relation with structuring or penetrating disease as possible variables. Additionally the lack of a control group, as well as data concerning the incidence of sporadicCRCingeneralpopulationofthesamegeographic area and its frequency of localization (distal or proximal large bowel) might create difficulties of interpretation. In this point of view the activity of the disease may result more important than the extension of the involved mucosa as a risk factor for malignant transformation, particularly if we consider the reported mean age at diagnosis of carcinoma (N55 yr). In order to incorporate the current results to clinical practice, much more knowledge would be required and the study, even if interesting and well written, does not seem to add more to the present literature.