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Background: Transumbilical laparoscopic appendectomy (TULA) may be a feasible alternative to conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. However, a transumbilical incision may increase incisional surgical site infections (SSIs) compared to conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the morphology of the umbilicus and the incidence of SSIs in patients who underwent TULA. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study analysed the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis at our institution from June 2016 to October 2020. The patients were assigned to the SSI group (those with an SSI) or the non-SSI group. The morphology of the umbilicus was calculated by measuring its width and depth on preoperative computed tomography images and was compared between the SSI and non-SSI groups. Results: The SSI group included 23 patients, while the non-SSI group included 252 patients. The width of the umbilicus was significantly shorter in the SSI group than in the non-SSI group (29 ± 10 mm vs. 34 ± 9 mm, P = 0.027). The umbilicus was slightly deeper in the SSI group than in the non-SSI group; however, the difference was not significant (16 mm vs. 15 mm, P = 0.384). Conclusions: This was the first study investigating the correlation between the morphology of the umbilicus and SSI development in TULA. SSIs tended to occur more commonly in a narrow and deep umbilicus. An extension of the umbilical incision may help prevent SSI in patients with this umbilical morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, progressive, and disabling inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with an uncertain etiopathogenesis. CD can involve any site of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, and is associated with serious complications, such as bowel strictures, perforations, and fistula formation. The incidence and prevalence rates of CD in Korea are still lower compared with those in Western countries, but they have been rapidly increasing during the recent decades. Although there are no definitive curative modalities for CD, various medical and surgical therapies have been applied for the treatment of this disease. Concerning CD management, there have been substantial discrepancies among clinicians according to their personal experience and preference. To suggest recommendable approaches to the diverse problems of CD and to minimize the variations in treatment among physicians, guidelines for the management of CD were first published in 2012 by the IBD Study Group of the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases. These are the revised guidelines based on updated evidence, accumulated since 2012. These guidelines were developed by using mainly adaptation methods, and encompass induction and maintenance treatment of CD, treatment based on disease location, treatment of CD complications, including stricture and fistula, surgical treatment, and prevention of postoperative recurrence. These are the second Korean guidelines for the management of CD and will be continuously revised as new evidence is collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare cause of bowel obstruction that is characterized by the encasement of the small bowel by a thick, whitish, and fibrous membrane. The pathophysiology of SEP is poorly understood and preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Previous reports suggest that SEP may be linked to the chronic use of β-adrenergic blockers. A 46-yearold man with liver cirrhosis and end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis presented with recurrent abdominal pain and borborygmi. He had been taking propranolol to prevent bleeding from gastroesophageal varices for the past 15 years. Abdominal computed tomography showed ileal loops encapsulated by soft tissue with dilatation of the proximal small bowel on the right side of the abdomen. Barium follow-through showed conglomerated distal ileal loops with a cauliflower-like appearance. Explorative laparotomy revealed a thick, fibrous, whitish capsule encapsulating the ileal loops. The covering membrane was dissected and excised, resulting in an improvement in symptoms after surgery. Accordingly, a final diagnosis of SEP was made. Due to the lack of other apparent causes for SEP, we conclude that in this case, the long-term use of propranolol may be associated with the development of SEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), manifesting as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), after colorectal cancer surgery in Asian patients remains poorly characterized. The present study was designed to investigate the incidence of symptomatic VTE in Korean colorectal cancer patients following surgery, and to identify the associated risk factors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who developed symptomatic VTE after colorectal cancer surgery between 2006 and 2008. Deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed with Doppler ultrasound or contrast venography, and PE was identified with lung ventilation/perfusion scans or chest computed tomography. Thromboprophylaxis, including low-molecular-weight heparin, graduated compression stockings, and intermittent pneumatic compression, was used in patients considered at high risk of VTE. Results: Of the 3,645 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery, 31 (0.85%) developed symptomatic VTE. Of those 31 patients, 23 (74.2%) had DVT, 16 (51.6%) had PE, and 8 (25.8%) had both. Two patients died from PE. Univariate analysis showed that a history of VTE, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, transfusions, postoperative immobilization time, and postoperative complications were associated with VTE ( p < 0.05 for each). Multivariate analysis showed that a history of VTE, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, postoperative complication, advanced cancer stage, and postoperative immobilization time were risk factors for developing symptomatic VTE. The mean hospital stay was 18.3 days, and the mortality rate was 6.5%. Conclusions: The incidences of symptomatic DVT and PE were found to be not low in Asian colorectal cancer surgery patients compared with Western countries. The risk factors for VTE were a history of VTE, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, postoperative complications, advanced cancer stage, and postoperative immobilization. Thromboprophylaxis should be strongly considered in patients with these characteristics. Large prospective randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further evaluate the risk of VTE in Asian patients, and to determine the optimal prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcinoids are heterogeneous neuroendocrine tumors with malignant potential. The rectum is the third most common location for gastrointestinal carcinoids. We assessed the clinicopathological characteristics of rectal carcinoids. A retrospective study of 203 patients treated for rectal carcinoids at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea from 1991 to 2007. The patients were on average 51 (18–83) years old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.48:1. Over half (62.1%) of the patients were asymptomatic. The most frequent symptoms in the symptomatic patients were abdominal pain (11.1%) and hematochezia (10.7%). Local excision was applied to 92.1%, low anterior resection to 4.9%, and biopsy only to 3.0% of total patients. Initially, 4.4% presented with distant metastasis. Distant metastasis rates for tumors ≤1 cm, >1 to ≤2 cm, and >2 cm were 1.7% (3/177), 15.0% (3/20), and 50.0% (3/6), respectively. In the follow-up period, three patients showed recurrences. The size, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and T and N stages were associated with distant metastasis. The overall 5-year survival rate was 94.0%. The TNM stage and presence of lymphovascular invasion were associated with lower survival. The chance that a rectal carcinoid will develop distant metastases increases as the tumor increases in size, lymphovascular invasion or perineural invasion is present, and T and N stages increase. The TNM stage and presence of lymphovascular invasion were associated with lower survival. Treatment plan should be chosen carefully considering above factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the characteristics of synchronous and metachronous gastric cancer in patients with colorectal cancer. We reviewed 8,680 patients who underwent operations for primary sporadic colorectal cancer from 1989 to 2008. Synchronous gastric cancer was defined as gastric cancer diagnosed within 6 months of a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Gastric cancer diagnosed more than 6 months before or after colorectal cancer was defined as metachronous. The incidences of synchronous and metachronous gastric cancer were 0.93 and 1.4%, respectively (combined 2.4%). The standardized incidence ratio was 1.199 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.005–1.420) when the patients with premetachronous gastric cancer were excluded. Patients with synchronous and metachronous gastric cancer were 5 years older on average compared to the control population without gastric cancer. In addition, multivariate analysis revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 3.6 for being male, OR = 2 for positive family history of solid tumors, OR = 2.2 for colonic lesion, and OR = 4 for MSH2 expression loss compared to patients without gastric cancer. Patients with postmetachronous gastric cancer (when compared to synchronous and premetachronous gastric cancer), a preoperative CEA level of less than 6 ng/ml, and a relatively early stage of colorectal cancer had significantly higher overall ( p = 0.016, 0.007, and 0.004, respectively) and disease-free survival rates ( p = 0.046, 0.003, and 0.004, respectively), only on univariate analysis. Lymphovascular invasion of colorectal cancer and an advanced stage of gastric cancer were independent poor prognostic factors for both overall ( p = 0.018) and disease-free survival ( p = 0.028). Gastric cancer surveillance is recommended for patients with colorectal cancer, especially when the patient is old and male, has a positive family history of solid tumors, has a colonic lesion, or lacks MSH2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-abdominal fistulas occur in one-third of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Although they are common, these fistulas may pose difficult problems for the surgeon. We assessed the clinical presentation of intra-abdominal fistulas in patients with CD and compared the clinicopathologic characteristics of CD with and without fistulas. We analyzed consecutive laparotomy cases for 254 patients with CD between 1991 and 2008. Clinicopathologic data were abstracted from patient charts and a prospectively maintained database. Patient variables with and without fistulas were analyzed using the Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, and Student’s t test. A total of 93 surgical procedures were performed on 83 patients (32.7%) who had at least one intra-abdominal fistula, revealing a total of 122 fistulas. Enteroenteric fistulas were the most common (30.3%), followed by enterocutaneous (23%), enterosigmoid (19.7%), enterocolonic (9.7%), and enterovesical (9.7%). Most cases (95.7%) underwent intestinal resection, with primary anastomosis in 77 of the cases (82.8%). There was no mortality, although 15 (16.1%) patients experienced postoperative complications. In the comparison of 270 cases with and without fistulas, cases with fistulas tended to have more frequent surgeries for perianal fistulas or abscesses ( P = 0.001), more frequent intra-abdominal abscesses on CT ( P = 0.044), and a higher incidence of combined small bowel and colonic disease ( P < 0.001). The incidence and clinical features of fistulas were similar to those reported in previous studies of western patients. We identified that patients with CD and fistulas have more frequent other CD-related sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]