[Late complications and functional disorders after rectal resection : Prevention, detection and therapy]

The prognosis of patients with rectal carcinoma has been improved with the implementation of multimodal therapy and improvement of the surgical technique. Therefore, late complications and functional consequences that determine the quality of life following oncological rectal resection are increasingly being recognized. In general both the surgical trauma and side effects of the multimodal therapy play a critical role in the manifestation of various problems in the long-term course after treatment of rectal carcinoma. In this context the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) has been described which is influenced by different factors and can be worsened by neoadjuvant radiation. Disorders of the urinary bladder and sexual dysfunction as well as benign anastomotic stenoses are problems independent of LARS. Therapeutic approaches for these late complications and functional disorders have either been insufficiently evaluated or are not available. Treatment of functional disorders can be attempted by pelvic floor training, biofeedback and sacral nerve stimulation. Interventional and surgical procedures are available to treat anastomotic stenosis. It must be emphasized that an adequate surgical technique is indispensable to avoid most of these late complications and functional disorders.

Recurrence after perineal rectosigmoidectomy: when and why?

AIM

Reported recurrence rates after perineal rectosigmoidectomy (Altemeier's procedure) in patients with full-thickness rectal prolapse vary from 0% to 60%. The object of this study was to analyse risk factors for recurrence after this procedure.

METHOD

From May 2004 to December 2012, 63 consecutive patients suffering from full-thickness rectal prolapse undergoing perineal rectosigmoidectomy were included. Of these 46 were female and the median age of the whole group was 79 (30-90) years. The median follow-up was 53 (3-99) months. Patient characteristics and operative parameters were compared between patients with and without recurrence.

RESULTS

One patient died and another patient needed re-operation. Eight full-thickness recurrences occurred in eight patients after a median of 18 (6-48) months. Stapled compared with handsewn anastomosis (hazard ratio 7.96, 95% confidence interval 1.90-33.47; P = 0.001) and shorter specimen length (hazard ratio 4.06, 95% confidence interval 0.97-16.99; P = 0.03) increased the risk of recurrence in Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

The operative technique including stapled anastomosis and length of the resected specimen seems to be associated with a high recurrence rate after perineal rectosigmoidectomy.

[Abdominal compartment syndrome]

Abdominal compartment syndrome is defined as a pathological elevation of intraabdominal pressure associated with significant organ dysfunction and failure. Organ dysfunction mainly affects the renal, pulmonary, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system. A high level of suspicion for this condition and early identification of patients at risk are mandatory for the successful management of abdominal compartment syndrome, which includes conservative and operative strategies.

Perineal rectosigmoidectomy: quality of life

AIM

For any surgical treatment of full-thickness rectal prolapse, little attention has been given to quality of life (QoL). This study prospectively evaluated continence, constipation and QoL after perineal rectosigmoidectomy for full-thickness rectal prolapse in young and elderly patients in the long term.

METHOD

From May 2003 to May 2010, consecutive patients suffering from full-thickness rectal prolapse and treated with perineal rectosigmoidectomy were prospectively studied. A standardized questionnaire, including the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score (CCCS), the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS) and generic [EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D)] and constipation-specific [Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life (PAC-QOL)] QoL scores, was administered pre- and postoperatively. The Wilcoxon test (for EQ-5D data) and two-sample Student's t-test [for EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), CCCS, CCIS and PAC-QOL data) were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients (47 women), 72.7 (range 30-89) years of age, underwent perineal rectosigmoidectomy. One patient died and one patient needed reoperation. Five full-thickness recurrences occurred. Thirty-seven patients completed the follow-up questionnaire at a median of 49 (range, 6-89) months. Postoperative incontinence and constipation improved significantly (CCIS from 13 ± 7.28 to 8.7 ± 6.96 and CCCS from 8.32 ± 6.96 to 3.49 ± 4.17). Furthermore, QoL, in terms of mobility, usual activity, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression and subjective state of health, were significantly better at follow-up (P < 0.001). All dimensions of constipation-related QoL improved (P < 0.001). The results did not differ significantly between patients under or over 69 years of age.

CONCLUSION

Patients' experience improved general and constipation-related QoL after perineal rectosigmoidectomy, and this was independent of age.

Is there a role for laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with suspected adrenocortical carcinoma? A critical appraisal of the literature

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine neoplasm and complete resection is the only treatment with curative intent for patients with nonmetastatic disease. It is highly debatable whether minimally invasive surgery is oncologically equal to open procedures in these patients. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the feasibility and oncological effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for ACC. Using a Pubmed search strategy covering the time period up until July 2012, we identified 568 original articles and reviews with the following search terms: "adrenal gland neoplasms" and "laparoscopy", with restriction to patients over 18 years of age. Finally, 23 publications, including 6 "key studies", became the basis of this review. The key papers described 673 patients with localized ACC, of whom 112 had laparoscopic surgery. Acknowledging the subjectivity of our personal view, we draw the following conclusions: 1) since all available studies are retrospective, a final judgment of laparoscopic surgery in ACC cannot be provided; 2) the surgical treatment of patients with (suspected) ACC should be limited to specialized centers; and 3) For tumors of limited size (<10 cm) without evidence of invasiveness, laparoscopic adrenalectomy does not seem to be oncologically inferior to open surgery when performed in a state of the art manner and when oncological standards (margin-free resection, avoidance of tumor spillage) are respected. However, open adrenalectomy should still be regarded as standard treatment for ACC and laparoscopic surgery should be performed within a clinical trial or at least as an observational study.