Rickard Lindgren

What Is the Risk for a Permanent Stoma After Low Anterior Resection of the Rectum for Cancer? A Six-Year Follow-Up of a Multicenter Trial

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the risk for permanent stoma after low anterior resection of the rectum for cancer. METHODS: In a nationwide multicenter trial 234 patients undergoing low anterior resection of the rectum were randomly assigned to a group with defunctioning stomas (n = 116) or a group with no defunctioning stomas (n = 118). The median age was 68 years, 45% of the patients were women, 79% had preoperative radiotherapy, and 4% had International Union Against Cancer cancer stage IV. The patients were analyzed with regard to the presence of a permanent stoma, the type of stoma, the time point at which the stoma was constructed or considered as permanent, and the reasons for obtaining a permanent stoma. Median follow-up was 72 months (42-108). One patient with a defunctioning stoma who died within 30 days after the rectal resection was excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: During the study period 19% (45/233) of the patients obtained a permanent stoma: 25 received an end sigmoid stoma and 20 received a loop ileostomy. The end sigmoid stomas were constructed at a median of 22 months (1-71) after the low anterior resection of the rectum, and the loop ileostomies were considered as permanent at a median of 12.5 months (1-47) after the initial rectal resection. The reasons for loop ileostomy were metastatic disease (n = 6), unsatisfactory anorectal function (n = 6), deteriorated general medical condition (n = 3), new noncolorectal cancer (n = 2), patient refusal of further surgery (n = 2), and chronic constipation (n = 1). Reasons for end sigmoid stoma were unsatisfactory anorectal function (n = 22) and urgent surgery owing to anastomotic leakage (n = 3). The risk for permanent stomas in patients with symptomatic anastomotic leakage was 56% (25/45) compared with 11% (20/188) in those without symptomatic anastomotic leakage (P < .001). CONCLUSION: One patient of 5 ended up with a permanent stoma after low anterior resection of the rectum for cancer, and half of the patients with a permanent stoma had previous symptomatic anastomotic leakage.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: a shift of the paradigm?

Purpose: To compare endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) to the results with open surgery. Methods: Between May 2001 and January 2004, 50 patients were diagnosed with rAAA. Fifteen (30%) patients (14 men; median age 73 years, range 58–85) underwent EVAR, while 26 (52%) patients (23 men; median age 75 years, range 60–84) had open surgery. Nine (18%) patients (5 men; median age 86 years, range 77–91) were not operated upon. Circulatory shock was defined as systolic blood pressure < 80 mmHg. Mortality was defined as death within 30 days after operation; in cases where hospital stay exceeded 30 days, in-hospital mortality was registered. Five risk factors (age >76 years, loss of consciousness, hemoglobin < 90 g/L, creatinine >190 μmol/L, and electrocardiographic ischemia) were analyzed. Results: In the EVAR group, 93% (14/15) of the aneurysms were excluded from the blood-stream; there were 2 (13%) conversions: 1 intraoperatively for stent-graft migration and another owing to dissection prior to hospital discharge. Mortality after open surgery was 46% (12/26) versus 13% (2/15) in the EVAR group (p>0.05). Univariate analysis without considering variables other than mortality resulted in OR 5.4 (95% CI 0.9 to 58; p=0.07). Considering risk factors and shock, multivariate analysis resulted in OR 6.5 (95% CI 0.8 to 96; p=0.08). In the EVAR group, 60% (9/15) had complications; in the group with open surgery, the complication rate was 85% (22/26; p=0.13). Conclusions: It is possible to treat rAAA with EVAR. Hypotensive patients can, at least initially, be operated under local anesthesia to stabilize blood pressure utilizing a percutaneously inserted occlusion balloon. There was a trend in our study for reduced mortality and morbidity with EVAR, but further studies are required to conclude whether EVAR significantly increases survival and reduces complications.

When are Defunctioning Stomas in Rectal Cancer Surgery Really Reversed? Results from a Population-Based Single Center Experience

Background and Aims: This study assessed the timing of reversal of defunctioning stoma following low anterior resection of the rectum for cancer and risk factors for a defunctioning stoma becoming permanent in patients who were not reversed. Material and Methods: Patients who underwent low anterior resection with defunctioning stoma during a 12-year period were assessed with regard to timing of stoma reversal. Delayed reversal was defined as >4 months after low anterior resection. Patients with a defunctioning stoma that was never reversed were assessed regarding risk factors for permanent stoma. Results: A total of 134 patients were analyzed. Of 106 stoma reversals, 19% were reversed within 4 months of low anterior resection, while 81% were reversed later than 4 months. In 58% of these patients, the delay was to due to low medical priority given to this procedure. The other main reasons for delayed stoma reversal were nonsurgical complications (20%), symptomatic anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection (12%), and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (10%). Of all patients, 21% (28/134) ended up with a permanent stoma. Risk factors for a defunctioning stoma becoming permanent were stage IV cancer (P < 0.001) and symptomatic anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Four in five patients experienced a delayed stoma reversal, in a majority because of the low priority given to this surgical procedure.

Does a defunctioning stoma affect anorectal function after low rectal resection? : Results of a randomized multicenter trial

BACKGROUND: Anorectal function is often impaired after low anterior resection of the rectum. Many factors affect the functional outcome and not all are known. OBJECTIVE: This trial aimed to assess whether a temporary defunctioning stoma affected anorectal function after the patients had been stoma-free for a year. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Twenty-one Swedish hospitals performing surgery for rectal cancer participated. PATIENTS: Patients who had undergone low anterior resection for adenocarcinoma of the rectum were eligible. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive a defunctioning stoma or no stoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anorectal function was evaluated with a questionnaire after patients had been without a stoma for 12 months. Questions pertained to stool frequency, urgency, fragmentation of bowel movements, evacuation difficulties, incontinence, lifestyle alterations, and whether patients would prefer a permanent stoma. RESULTS: After exclusion of patients in whom stomas became permanent, a total of 181 (90%) of 201 patients answered the questionnaire (90 in the stoma group and 91 in the no-stoma group). The median number of stools was 3 during the day and 0 at night in both groups. Inability to defer defecation for 15 minutes was reported in 35% of patients in the stoma group and 25% in the no stoma group (P = .15). Median scores were the same in each group regarding need for medication, evacuation difficulties, fragmentation of bowel movements, incontinence, and effects on well-being. Two patients (2.2%) in the stoma group and 3 patients (3.3%) in the no-stoma group would have preferred a permanent stoma. LIMITATIONS: Because this study was an analysis of secondary end points of a randomized trial, no prestudy power calculation was performed. CONCLUSIONS: A defunctioning stoma after low anterior resection did not affect anorectal function evaluated after 1 year. Many patients experienced impaired anorectal function, but nearly all preferred having impaired anorectal function to a permanent stoma.

Symptomatic anastomotic leakage diagnosed after hospital discharge following low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Objective  The aim of this study was to investigate patients with symptomatic anastomotic leakage diagnosed after hospital discharge.

Evaluation of long-term anorectal function after low anterior resection: a 5-year follow-up of a randomized multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Anorectal function after rectal surgery with low anastomosis is often impaired. Outcome of long-term anorectal function is poorly understood but may improve over time. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated anorectal function 5 years after low anterior resection for cancer with regard to whether patients had a temporary stoma at initial resection. The objective of this study was to assess changes in anorectal function over time by comparing the results with anorectal function 1 year after rectal resection. DESIGN: This study was a secondary end point of a randomized, multicenter controlled trial. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at 21 Swedish hospitals performing rectal cancer surgery from 1999 to 2005. PATIENTS: Patients included were those operated on with low anterior resection. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive or not receive a defunctioning stoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We evaluated anorectal function in patients who were initially randomly assigned to the defunctioning stoma or no stoma group, who had been free of stoma for 5 years, by means of using a standardized patient questionnaire. Questions addressed stool frequency, urgency, fragmentation of bowel movements, evacuation difficulties, incontinence, lifestyle alterations, and patient preference regarding permanent stoma formation. Results were compared with the same patient cohort at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients answered the bowel function questionnaire (65 in the no-stoma group and 58 in the stoma group). No differences were found between groups regarding the number of passed stools, need for medication to open the bowel, evacuation difficulties, incontinence, and urgency. General well-being was significantly better in the no-stoma group (p = 0.033). Comparison with anorectal function at 1 year showed no further changes over time. LIMITATIONS: The study was based on a limited sample size (n = 123) and formed a secondary end point of a randomized trial. CONCLUSIONS: Anorectal function was impaired for many patients, but the temporary presence of a defunctioning stoma after rectal resection did not affect long-term outcome. Anorectal function did not change between 1-year and 5-year follow-up.

Does a Defunctioning Stoma Impair Anorectal Function After Low Anterior Resection of the Rectum for Cancer? A 12-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Multicenter Trial

BACKGROUND: Anorectal function after low anterior resection of the rectum for cancer is often impaired, and long-term outcome has not frequently been reported. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated anorectal function 12 years after rectal resection with regard to whether patients had a defunctioning temporary stoma at the initial rectal resection. DESIGN: An exploratory cross-sectional investigation of a previously randomized study population. SETTINGS: Twenty-one Swedish hospitals performing rectal cancer surgery during a 5-year period participated in the trial. PATIENTS: Patients operated on with low anterior resection for cancer were included. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive or not receive a temporary defunctioning stoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We evaluated anorectal function 12 years after low anterior resection in patients who were initially randomly assigned to temporary stoma or not, by means of using the low anterior resection syndrome score questionnaire, which assesses incontinence for flatus, incontinence for liquid stools, defecation frequency, clustering, and urgency. Self-perceived health status was evaluated by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty-nine percent (87/98) of the patients responded to the questionnaires, including 46 with and 41 without an initial temporary stoma. Patient demography was comparable between the groups. No differences regarding major, minor, and no low anterior resection syndrome categories were found between the groups. The stoma group had increased incontinence for flatus (p = 0.03) and liquid stools (p = 0.005) and worse overall low anterior resection syndrome score (p = 0.04) but no differences regarding frequency, clustering, and urgency. LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its sample size (n = 98) based on a previously randomized trial population (n = 234). CONCLUSIONS: After low anterior resection for cancer, the incidence of the categories major, minor, and no low anterior resection syndrome were comparable in the stoma and the no-stoma groups. Incontinence for flatus and liquid stools was more commonly reported by patients who were randomly assigned to temporary stoma, as compared with those without, which may indicate an association between temporary stoma and impaired anorectal function. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A413.

Risk factors for depression following traumatic injury: An epidemiological study from a scandinavian trauma center

INTRODUCTION A significant proportion of patients suffer depression following traumatic injuries. Once manifested, major depression is challenging to overcome and its presence risks impairing the potential for physical rehabilitation and functional recovery. Risk stratification for early detection and intervention in these instances is important. This study aims to investigate patient and injury characteristics associated with an increased risk for depression. METHODS All patients with traumatic injuries were recruited from the trauma registry of an urban university hospital between 2007 and 2012. Patient and injury characteristics as well as outcomes were collected for analysis. Patients under the age of eighteen, prescribed antidepressants within one year of admission, in-hospital deaths and deaths within 30days of trauma were excluded. Pre- and post-admission antidepressant data was requested from the national drugs registry. Post-traumatic depression was defined as the prescription of antidepressants within one year of trauma. To isolate independent risk factors for depression a multivariable forward stepwise logistic regression model was deployed. RESULTS A total of 5981 patients met the inclusion criteria of whom 9.2% (n=551) developed post-traumatic depression. The mean age of the cohort was 42 [standard deviation (SD) 18] years and 27.1% (n=1620) were females. The mean injury severity score was 9 (SD 9) with 18.4% (n=1100) of the patients assigned a score of at least 16. Six variables were identified as independent predictors for post-traumatic depression. Factors relating to the patient were female gender and age. Injury-specific variables were penetrating trauma and GCS score of≤8 on admission. Furthermore, intensive care admission and increasing hospital length of stay were predictors of depression. CONCLUSION Several risk factors associated with the development of post-traumatic depression were identified. A better targeted in-hospital screening and patient-centered follow up can be offered taking these risk factors into consideration.

Gas within the liver and polymicrobial bacteraemia due to colovenous fistula: Two cases in one month

Two cases presented at our hospital within 1 month with polymicrobial bacteraemia and gas within the liver shown on CT scan. Both transpired to have colovenous fistula due to diverticulitis. Because of our awareness of the first case, the colovenous fistula of the second case was identified rapidly. As surgical treatment is probably essential for this condition, the possibility of colovenous fistula should be borne in mind in patients with gas within the liver, especially if they have bacteraemia.

Effect of beta-blocker therapy on early mortality after emergency colonic cancer surgery: Beta-blocker therapy and mortality after emergency colonic cancer surgery

Emergency colorectal cancer surgery is associated with significant mortality. Induced adrenergic hyperactivity is thought to be an important contributor. Downregulating the effects of circulating catecholamines may reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. This study assessed whether regular preoperative beta‐blockade reduced mortality after emergency colonic cancer surgery.