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Background: The technical difficulty an operation creates for a surgeon is difficult to measure. Current measures are poor surrogates. In both research and teaching settings it would be valuable to be able to accurately measure this degree of difficulty. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX) is a multi-dimensional scale designed to obtain workload estimates relating to a task. This study aimed to evaluate the NASA TLX as an objective measure of technical difficulty of an operation., Methods: Seven surgeons performed 127 pre-defined operations (minimally invasive right hemicolectomy & re-do bariatric surgery) and recorded a NASA TLX score after each operation. These scores were compared to numerous clinical parameters and the score was correlated with the subjective measure of whether the surgeon categorized the operation as "easy", "moderate" or "difficult"., Results: The NASA TLX score was significantly correlated with operative duration, blood loss, previous abdominal surgery and the surgeons' assessment of difficulty. It did not correlate with intra-operative or post-operative complications, conversion to open surgery or length of stay., Conclusions: The NASA TLX score provides a graded numerical score that that correlated significantly with the surgeon's assessment of the technical difficulty, and with operative duration, intra-operative blood loss and previous abdominal surgery. This novel application of this tool could be employed in both research and teaching settings to score surgical difficulty and monitor a trainee's proficiency over time., (© 2022 The Authors. ANZ Journal of Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Rectal cancer is a challenging disease process to manage, with a rising incidence in young adults. Several clinical advances have been made in the past decade with regards to optimal treatment strategies in early-stage (T1-2, node negative tumours) and locally advanced cancers (T3-4 and/or nodal positivity) utilizing a multimodal approach of surgery, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy, all aiming to optimize oncological outcomes, while minimizing associated morbidity. This narrative review aimed to summarize trial level evidence apropos the management of early and locally advanced rectal cancer. All relevant prospective clinical trials were identified through a computer-assisted search of PubMed, EMBASE, Medline databases between 1990 and 30 June 2021. With regards to early rectal cancer, there is limited trial-level evidence in the literature. Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the current standard of care, but local excision could be considered in select patients with pT1 tumours, or patients with near or complete clinical response to neoadjuvant CRT. As for locally advanced rectal cancer, the current standard of care consists of long-course chemotheradiotherapy or short-course radiotherapy, followed by TME. However, the role of total neoadjuvant therapy is promising, with respect to both oncological outcomes, as well as in reducing toxicity. Both induction and consolidation chemotherapy treatment approaches have been described in literature, with encouraging early results. The optimal management of rectal cancer is constantly evolving. More research is needed to investigate the long-term oncological and functional outcomes following new multimodal therapies in the management of early-stage and locally advanced rectal cancer., (© 2022 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Background: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common general surgical presentation and there has been a shift towards non-operative management (NOM) for patients with previous abdominal surgery. Historically, exploratory surgery has been mandated for SBO in patients with a virgin abdomen. However, there is increasing evidence for NOM in this group of patients., Methods: A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A search was undertaken between 1995 and 2020 on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed. Primary outcome measures were success and failure rates, whereas secondary outcome measures were morbidity, mortality rates and identifying underlying aetiologies., Results: Six observational studies were included, with 205 patients in the NOM and 211 patients in the operative group. There was a high success rate of 95.6% and low morbidity rate of 3.1% in the NOM group compared to 88.6% and 26% in the operative group, respectively. Both groups reported no mortalities. The most common aetiologies for SBO in a virgin abdomen were adhesions (63%), malignancy (11%), foreign body/bezoar (5%), internal hernia (4%) and volvulus (4%)., Conclusion: NOM for SBO is a safe and feasible option for a select group of clinically stable patients with a virgin abdomen without features of closed-loop obstruction. Adhesions are the most common cause of SBO in this group of patients. Further large-scale prospective clinical studies with standardized NOM modality, homogenous clinical resolution indicators and long-term follow-up data are warranted to allow for quantitative analysis to reinforce this evidence., (© 2020 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Background: Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) is dysplasia in the epithelium of the anus and is a pre-malignant condition associated with a low rate of progression to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The natural history of progression for AIN to anal SCC is poorly defined. This study aims to review our experience with AIN and investigate the natural history of progression., Methods: Data on all patients with AIN from January 2005 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Three separate databases were searched - Colorectal, Radiation Oncology and Infectious Diseases. All databases were cross-referred to obtain a complete but non-duplicated data set. Electronic charts were reviewed to obtain clinical information., Results: Twenty-eight patients were identified with AIN of various grades. There were 25 males, three females. Twenty of the male patients were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. Mean length of follow up was 56 months. Complete regression of AIN to normal was noted in 13 patients (46%). Four patients had persisting AIN III with no evidence of regression or malignant transformation. Nine patients with pre-existing AIN developed SCC (32%). Seven were positive for HIV infection (all males). Median time to progression was 36 months. None of the patients demonstrated clear linear pattern of progression of AIN to SCC., Conclusion: High grade AIN may progress to anal SCC and surveillance is indicated. The exact natural history of progression for AIN is difficult to predict. There is no linear progression over time evident. HIV patients with AIN are at higher risk of developing SCC., (© 2018 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Background: Enterocutaneous fistulas (ECFs) are complex and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to evaluate ECF outcomes in a single tertiary hospital., Methods: A retrospective study of all patients treated with ECF between the period of January 2009 and June 2014 was conducted. Baseline demographic data assessed included the primary aetiology of the fistula, site of the fistula and output of the fistula. Outcomes measures assessed included re-fistulation rate, return to theatre, wound complications, fistula closure rate and death over the study period., Results: A total of 16 patients with ECF were recorded within the study period. Mean age of the patient cohort was 55.8 ± 11.8 years with a female predominance (11 females, 5 males). Primary aetiology were Crohn's disease (31%), post intra-abdominal surgery not related to bowel neoplasia (50%) and post intra-abdominal surgery related to bowel neoplasia (19%). Majority of the fistulas developed from the small bowel (75%) and had low output (63%). Operative intervention was required in 81% of patients with an overall closure rate of 100%. Median operations required for successful closure was 1.15 operations. Mean duration between index operation and curative operation was 8 ± 12.7 months., Conclusion: Appropriate bundle of care (perioperative care, surgical timing and surgical technique) can produce excellent results in patients with ECF., (© 2016 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Background: Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection for chronic anal fissure (CAF) is commonly performed, yet there remains no consensus on optimal dosage or frequency of injections required to achieve complete resolution of anal fissure. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Botox and side-effect profile in the management of CAF., Methods: A retrospective clinical study of patients between 2010 and 2014 who underwent a Botox injection for CAF at a tertiary centre was performed. The effectiveness of Botox was measured using standardized outcomes including overall healing rate, presence of anal pain, recurrence and need for repeat botulinum injection. Binary outcomes were assessed using logistic regression model. The analysis was performed using Stata version 13 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA)., Results: One hundred and one patients underwent 126 Botox injections within the study period. The mean first post-operative visit was at 1 month. The overall recurrence rate was 32%. The majority of patients were given 33 U. No statistically significant relationship between dose and recurrence was identified. The presence of pain at the first post-operative visit was a predictor of future recurrence (odds ratio 3.92, confidence interval 1.58-9.74, P = 0.003)., Conclusion: Botox is an effective strategy for CAF. Low doses can be given with good efficacy as highlighted by our audit and has the potential for great cost saving. The best predictor of recurrence is the presence of pain at the first post-procedure visit., (© 2015 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)