Renata Stępień

The Risk of Surgical Treatment in Patients Aged 85+, with Special Consideration of Colorectal Cancer

UNLABELLED The increase in prevalence of chronic diseases in old age is concomitant with increasing risk of neoplasms requiring surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the indications, treatment outcomes, complications and mortality associated with surgical treatment of patients aged 85 or more, with special consideration of colorectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS The retrospective analysis involved a group of 94 patents (x = 88.9) aged 85 or more and treated surgically in the years 2006-2011. The results were compared with a randomly selected control group of 91 patients aged 45-75 (x = 56,4) and treated surgically in the same period. RESULTS Neoplastic diseases in the study group (85 ≥), compared with the control group (< 75), were a significantly more frequent indication for surgical treatment (p < 0.01). In the group of patients aged 85 or more, the most frequent indications for elective surgery were neoplasms of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (26.4%) and gastrointestinal neoplasms, mainly colorectal cancer (23.5%). Postoperative complications were significantly more frequent (p < 0.01) among patients aged 85 or more (n = 27; 34.8%) than in the younger group (n = 17; 18.7%). Postoperative mortality among patients undergoing emergency surgery was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the senior group than in the group of younger patients. CONCLUSIONS Surgical procedures in patients aged 85 or more are most frequently performed in the emergency setting, and their most common cause are neoplastic diseases. Emergency surgical treatment in patients aged 85 or more is associated with a significantly higher risk, compared with younger age groups, of developing multi-organ postoperative complications, usually leading to death. Elective surgical treatment in patients aged 85+ after appropriate preoperative preparation and in the group of younger patients shows similar early outcomes.

Can urea breath test (UBT) replace rapid urea test (RUT)

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen. Its influence on the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer has been confirmed in many researches. The conclusion is obvious- early detection and eradication of Hp can prevent the development of the disease. METHODS The objective of the study was to analyse the clinical and practical value of Carbon-13 urea breath test (UBT) in patients hospitalized due to pain complaints in the upper abdomen and dyspeptic symptoms. Fifty patients were enrolled in the study. Each patient underwent urea breath test according to the instruction included by the producer. Thereafter, each patient included in the study group was performed endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract with the biopsy of the mucosa to determine the urease activity with rapid urease test (RUT). RESULTS In the study group, 14 patients (28%) achieved a positive urease test result which was confirmed in RUT. Four (8%) patients, despite a positive breath test, did not have a positive result in urease activity from gastric mucosa. In 2 cases (4%) despite negative result of UBT there was urease actitvity confirmed in gastroscopic sections. The remaining 30 patients (60%) had a negative result in both studies. CONCLUSIONS The limited availability of the gold standard for diagnostics of upper gastrointestinal tract diseases (gastroscopy) is the basis for the search for new methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection. The urea breath test is a method of high sensitivity and specificity. The positive result of urea breath test may be the basis for the inclusion of eradication therapy.

Cost-effectiveness of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of acromegaly

ABSTRACT Introduction: Somatostatin analogues (SSAs) are the largest contributor to the direct medical cost of acromegaly management worldwide. The aim of this review was to identify and report available evidence on the cost-effectiveness of SSAs in the treatment of acromegaly. Areas covered: A literature search on relevant papers published up to April 2018 was performed. A total of 22 eligible studies (10 full-text articles and 12 conference abstracts) conducted in 14 countries were included in the analysis. In majority of studies, modelling technique was the principal research method. Expert commentary: The results of cost-effectiveness analyses: 1) support published recommendations where SSAs are indicated as first-line medical treatment for patients with persistent disease after surgery or who are not eligible for surgery; 2) suggest that preoperative medical therapy with SSAs may be highly cost-effective in acromegalic patients with macroadenoma, in centres without optimal surgical results 3) indicate that in some countries pasireotide and pegvisomant appeared to be cost-effective or even dominant strategies in comparison to first-generation SSAs. The main limitation of economic evaluations was the lack of high-quality studies designed to directly compare various treatment strategies in acromegaly.

Quality of life in patients with diabetic foot ulcer in Visegrad countries

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To identify the quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcers in the Visegrad countries. BACKGROUND The diabetics with foot ulcers are principally evaluated on the basis of physical parameters, but this does not always reveal much about the patients experience of life with ulceration. DESIGN The cross-sectional study. METHODS The standardised generic questionnaire World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF was used. The sample was made up of 525 participants and the calculations were performed using the IBM spss statistical program. RESULTS The significant negative correlations between demographic data such as age, duration of diabetes mellitus, duration of diabetic ulceration treatment and a lower level of quality of life were found across the sample. The statistically significant differences according to clinical characteristics such as Wagner classification, frequency of foot ulcers, present peripheral vascular disease and pain in terms of quality of life were also revealed. Significant differences of quality of life among Visegrad countries were revealed: Hungarys participants had a worse quality of life than others, while Slovak participants expressed lower satisfaction with their health than Czech. CONCLUSIONS Socio-demographic factors and clinical characteristics influence the quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcer. Significant differences between patients of Visegrad countries were found in all domains of quality of life: physical, psychological, social and environmental. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcer reflects the conditions and healthcare system in each of the Visegrad countries. We have to respect socio-demographic factors and clinical characteristics in nursing care. This could have an impact on managing patient care not only with regard to their diabetic foot ulcer but also with regard to the patient as a personality with their own problems in relation to physical, psychosocial and environmental conditions.

Cancer of the oesophagus and gastroesophageal junction – a difficult clinical problem

Introduction Cancer located in the oesophagus and gastroesophageal junction is a complex clinical problem and the results of its treatment still remain unsatisfactory. The objective of the study was the clinical analysis of a group of patients with cancer of the oesophagus or gastroesophageal junction, who received combined medical and surgical treatment. Material and methods The analysis was performed on a group of 128 patients with the diagnosis of oesophageal cancer or cancer of the gastroesophageal junction. Analysis of medical records and follow-up examinations were used in the research procedure. Results From among 128 patients with a diagnosis of oesophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer, 50 (38.5%) received surgical resections. The surgery most frequently performed (n = 15) was sub-total oesophageal resection according to Akiyama procedure by right-sided thoracotomy (oesophageal anastomosis in the neck). The largest group were patients (n = 26) with stage T3N1M0 of advancement of the disease. In all cases of cancer located in the lower third of the oesophagus, an adenocarcinoma pattern was diagnosed in the histopathological examination, whereas in the case of cancers located in the middle third and upper third of the thoracic oesophagus a carcinoma planoepitheliale pattern was seen. Anastomotic leaks occurred in seven patients (14%). Six patients died during the post-operative period (12%). The mean survival time in the group of analysed patients was two years. Conclusions Cancer of the oesophagus or gastroesophageal junction is associated with low resectability, high risk of complications after surgery, and poor oncologic outcome. It is necessary to seek new methods of treatment.