Joshua M. Eberhardt

The impact of anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal abscess on cancer-related outcomes after resection for colorectal cancer: a case control study.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to analyze the impact of anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal abscess on cancer recurrence and survival in patients who underwent resection for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Data for patients who underwent resection for colon or rectal cancer were retrieved from a prospective colorectal cancer database. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, palliative resection, or perioperative mortality were excluded. Patients with postoperative anastomotic leak or intra-abdominal abscess were matched at a 1:2 ratio to patients from the same database who had no leak or abscess. Matched characteristics were age, gender, cancer stage, tumor histology, and operation occurring within three years of each other. Survival and cancer recurrence at five-year follow-up were evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. RESULTS: In patients with colon cancer, comparison of the 59 patients with a leak or an abscess with 118 matched controls showed no differences in demographic or treatment characteristics, recurrence, or mortality. In patients with rectal cancer, comparison of the 97 patients with a leak or an abscess with 194 matched controls showed that at five-year follow-up the complication group had higher rates of overall mortality (46.8 vs. 28.9, P < 0.01), cancer-specific mortality (28.7 percent vs. 18.0 percent, P = 0.03), overall recurrence (28.6 vs. 15.7, P = 0.01) and local recurrence (11.0 percent vs. 5.0 percent, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Anastomotic leak and intra-abdominal abscess were not associated with worsened 5-year survival or recurrence in patients who underwent resection for colon cancer. However, these complications were associated with increased overall and cancer-specific mortality and increased overall and local recurrence in patients who underwent resection for rectal cancer.

Burn Injury Alters the Intestinal Microbiome and Increases Gut Permeability and Bacterial Translocation

Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of death in burn patients who survive the initial insult of injury. Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier has been shown after burn injury; this can lead to the translocation of bacteria or their products (e.g., endotoxin) from the intestinal lumen to the circulation, thereby increasing the risk for sepsis in immunocompromised individuals. Since the maintenance of the epithelial barrier is largely dependent on the intestinal microbiota, we examined the diversity of the intestinal microbiome of severely burned patients and a controlled mouse model of burn injury. We show that burn injury induces a dramatic dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome of both humans and mice and allows for similar overgrowths of Gram-negative aerobic bacteria. Furthermore, we show that the bacteria increasing in abundance have the potential to translocate to extra-intestinal sites. This study provides an insight into how the diversity of the intestinal microbiome changes after burn injury and some of the consequences these gut bacteria can have in the host.

Obstructive sleep apnea in general surgery patients: is it more common than we think?

BACKGROUND To determine the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in preoperative surgical patients. METHODS Three hundred seventy-one new patients presenting to an outpatient general surgery clinic were prospectively screened for risk of OSA using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Patients were classified as high risk with a score of >3 on the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Polysomnography results were reviewed when available. RESULTS Complete questionnaires were available on 367 (98.9%) patients. Two hundred thirty-seven patients (64.6%) were classified as high risk of OSA on the questionnaire. Polysomnography results available on 49 patients revealed severe OSA in 17 (34.5%), moderate in 8 (16.5%), mild in 14 (28.5%), and no OSA in 10 (20.5%) patients. The positive predictive value and sensitivity of the questionnaire were 76%, and 92% for the STOP-Bang questionnaire, respectively. The sensitivity increased to 100% for severe OSA. CONCLUSION Preoperative screening for OSA should be considered to diagnose patients at risk.

Noninvasive measurement of intestinal inflammation after burn injury.

Intestinal inflammation has been linked with multiorgan failure in patients with burn and other traumatic injuries. We hypothesized that markers of intestinal inflammation are detectible noninvasively. Fecal samples were collected from seven severely burned patients and 15 control patients for the measurement of inflammatory cytokines using a multiplex assay kit. In addition, fecal levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase were measured using standard procedures. Compared with a control group, levels of inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased in the burn group. Interleukin (IL)-6 increased to a mean (± SEM) of 2.16 ± 0.61 to 3.81 ± 0.49 pg/mg (P < .05), as did IL-8 (3.32 ± 0.76 to 20.51 ± 6.65 pg/mg; P < .05), IL-12 (6.23±0.98 to 8.11±0.95pg/mg; P=0.01), IL-13 (3.86 ± 0.32 to 11.83 ± 1.47 pg/mg; P < .05), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (2.78 ± 2.61 to 6.5 ± 3.97 pg/mg; P < .05), MPO (13.41 ± 1.40 to 24.52 ± 4.31 units/mg protein; P < .05), and elastase (2.46 ± 0.38 to 5.08 ± 0.72 pg/mL; P < .05). Our results suggest that markers of intestinal inflammation are measurable by noninvasive means and are increased after burn injury compared with controls. Of note, increased IL-8 correlated with increased MPO and elastase activity, suggesting a role for neutrophil activation in burn-mediated intestinal inflammation. Thus, these inflammatory cytokine profiles may be valuable biomarkers of intestinal inflammation after burn injury.

Extrapulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Purpose. Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma affecting the anal canal is a rare and poorly understood entity which can, in its early stages, masquerade as benign anorectal disease such as hemorrhoids. Methods. We report a case of this rare malignancy which initially presented with hematochezia and anal pain. We also review the literature with regard to previously described cases and management strategies including the role of surgery. Results. Despite aggressive multidisciplinary treatment consisting of chemotherapy and radiation, the disease progressed rapidly with dissemination occurring only three months after completion of treatment. Because of the aggressive nature of this tumor, the treatment options for this almost universally fatal malignancy are often palliative in nature. Conclusion. Chemoradiotherapy is likely the most reasonable approach to extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma of the anal canal given its aggressiveness.

Common Anorectal Disorders for the Intensive Care Physician

Although anorectal disorders such as abscess, fissure, and hemorrhoids are typically outpatient problems, they also occur in the critically ill patient population, where their presentation and management are more difficult. This article will provide a brief review of anorectal anatomy, explain the proper anorectal examination, and discuss the current understanding and treatment concepts with regard to the most common anorectal disorders that the intensive care unit clinician is likely to face.

Recurrent retrorectal teratoma.

Retrorectal tumors are a rare group of neoplasms that occur most commonly in the neonatal and infant population. They vary in presentation, but teratomas are the most common and often present as a protruding mass from the sacrococcygeal region. Immediate surgical resection is indicated when found and coccygectomy is performed to prevent recurrence. When teratomas recur, the patients most often have vague symptoms and the tumors usually have malignant transformation. Here, we present the case of a young woman who underwent surgical resection of a sacrococcygeal teratoma at 3 days of age where the coccyx was not removed. She presented at 31 years of age with lower extremity paresthesias and radiography revealed a cystic mass extending from the sacrum. After resection, pathology revealed a recurrent teratoma with nests of adenocarcinoma.

Development of Cerebral Metastasis after Medical and Surgical Treatment of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus is a relatively uncommon GI malignancy. When it does occur, it metastasizes in only a small minority of patients. Spread of anal squamous cell carcinoma to the brain is exceedingly rare, and has been previously reported only three times in the medical literature. We report the case of a 67 year old male who was diagnosed on presentation with a poorly differentiated anal squamous cell carcinoma that already had a solitary metastasis to the liver. While the tumors were initially responsive to chemoradiotherapy, the patients primary and liver lesions recurred. The patient then underwent synchronous abdominoperineal resection for the primary lesion and a liver lobectomy for the metastasis. Soon thereafter, the patient developed focal neurologic symptoms and was found to have an intracranial lesion that on biopsy demonstrated metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. This case highlights the fact that patients with a previous history of anal squamous cell carcinoma can occasionally develop cerebral metastasis. Furthermore, cerebral metastases from anal squamous cell carcinoma portend a dismal prognosis even in the face of aggressive medical and surgical therapy.

Chilaiditi Syndrome: A Case Report Highlighting the Intermittent Nature of the Disease

Background Chilaiditi syndrome is a phenomenon where there is an interposition of the colon between the liver and the abdominal wall leading to clinical symptoms. This is distinct from Chilaiditi sign for which there is radiographic evidence of the interposition, but is asymptomatic. Case Presentation Here, we present the case of a patient who, despite having clinical symptoms for a decade, had a delayed diagnosis presumably due to the interposition being intermittent and episodic. Conclusions This case highlights the fact that Chilaiditi syndrome may be intermittent and episodic in nature. This raises an interesting question of whether previous case reports, which describe complete resolution of the syndrome after nonsurgical intervention, are perhaps just capturing periods of resolution that may have occurred spontaneously. Because the syndrome may be intermittent with spontaneous resolution and then recurrence, patients should have episodic follow-up after nonsurgical intervention.

Care of the Elderly Patient with Acute Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is frequently encountered in the elderly population. Because elderly patients typically have decreased physiologic reserve and other complicating comorbid conditions, treatment decisions must be carefully made. Like with younger patients, uncomplicated diverticulitis is usually treated successfully with antibiotics alone. Frequent contact with the patient is required so that worsening is promptly detected, and a treatment escalation, if needed, is not missed. Treatment of complicated diverticulitis depends on the specific complication. For perforated diverticulitis, resection with end colostomy has been the traditional operation, but in recent years, its use has been challenged by other options including resection with anastomosis and proximal diversion and laparoscopic lavage.