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Aim This manuscript provides the introduction and detailed methodology used in subsequent reviews to assess the outcomes of surgical interventions with the primary intent of treating chronic constipation in adults and to develop recommendations for practice. Method PRISMA guidance was adhered to throughout. A literature search was performed in public databases between January 1960 and February 2016. Studies that fulfilled strictly-defined PICOS (patients, interventions, controls, outcome, and study design) criteria were included. The process involved two groups of participants: (i): 'a clinical guidance group' of 18 UK experts (including junior support) who performed the systematic reviews and produced summary evidence statements ( SES) based strictly on data synthesis in each review. The same group then produced prototype graded practice recommendations ( GPRs) based on coalescence of SES and expert opinion; (ii): a European Consensus group of 18 ESCP (European Society of Coloproctology) nominated experts from nine European countries evaluated the appropriateness of each prototype GPR based on published RAND/ UCLA methodology. Results An overview of the search results is provided in this manuscript. A total of 156 studies from 307 full text articles (from 2551 initially screened records) were included, providing data on procedures characterized by: (i) colonic resection ( n = 40); (ii) rectal suspension ( n = 18); (iii) rectal wall excision ( n = 44); (iv) rectovaginal septum reinforcement ( n = 47); (v) sacral nerve stimulation ( n = 7). The overall quality of evidence was poor with 113/156 (72.4%) studies providing only Oxford level IV evidence. The best evidence was extracted for rectal excisional procedures, where the majority of studies were Oxford level I or II. The five subsequent reviews provide a total of 99 SES (reflecting perioperative variables, efficacy, harms and prognostic variables) that contributed to 100 prototype GPRs covering patient selection, procedural considerations and patient counselling. The final manuscript details the 85/100 GPRs that were deemed appropriate by European Consensus (remaining 15 were all uncertain) and future research recommendations. Conclusion This manuscript and the following 6 papers suggest that the evidence base for surgical management of chronic constipation is currently poor although some expert consensus exists on best practice. Further studies are required to inform future commissioning of treatments and of research funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This manuscript forms the final of seven that address the surgical management of chronic constipation ( CC) in adults. The content coalesces results from the five systematic reviews that precede it and of the European Consensus process to derive graded practice recommendations ( GPR). Methods Summary of review data, development of GPR and future research recommendations as outlined in detail in the 'introduction and methods' paper. Results The overall quality of data in the five reviews was poor with 113/156(72.4%) of included studies providing only level IV evidence and only four included level I RCTs. Coalescence of data from the five procedural classes revealed that few firm conclusions could be drawn regarding procedural choice or patient selection: no single procedure dominated in addressing dynamic structural abnormalities of the anorectum and pelvic floor with each having similar overall efficacy. Of one hundred 'prototype' GPRs developed by the clinical guideline group, 85/100 were deemed 'appropriate' based on the independent scoring of a panel of 18 European experts and use of RAND- UCLA consensus methodology. The remaining 15 were all deemed uncertain. Future research recommendations included some potential RCTs but also a strong emphasis on delivery of large multinational high-quality prospective cohort studies. Conclusion While the evidence base for surgery in CC is poor, the widespread European consensus for GPRs is encouraging. Professional bodies have the opportunity to build on this work by supporting the efforts of their membership to help convert the documented recommendations into clinical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a list of papers focusing on the various ways to address different kinds of colorectal diseases. They include the "European Journal of Nutrition" which discusses the significance of utilizing a hand dynamometer to evaluate malnutrition of patients in hospitals, "Diseases of the Colon and Rectum" concerning the postoperative effect of tissue welding device and vessel sealing device, and "Digestive Diseases and Sciences" which focuses on the treatment of fistula-in-ano.

Abstract: Aim: The abdominal incision for specimen extraction could trigger postoperative pain after laparoscopic colorectal resections (LCRs). Continuous wound infusion (CWI) of ropivacaine may be a valuable option for postoperative analgesia. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential benefits of ropivacaine CWI on pain relief, metabolic stress reaction, prevention of wound hyperalgesia and residual incisional pain after LCR. A subgroup with intravenous lidocaine infusion (IVL) was added to discriminate between the peripheral and systemic effects of local anaesthetic infusions. Method: Patients were randomly allocated to three subgroups: CWI (0.2% ropivacaine 10 ml/h for 48 h); IVL (lidocaine 1.5% at 4 ml/h for 48 h); control group. Results: In all, 95 patients were randomized (86 patients analysed). Postoperative pain intensity did not differ significantly between groups. Within the first 24 h after surgery, morphine requirement was significantly lower in the CWI group compared with the IVL group, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.15, respectively). The area of hyperalgesia did not differ significantly between subgroups, nor did the hyperalgesia ratio which was 1.2 cm (0.0−6.7) vs 1.9 cm (0.4−4.0) vs 2.0 cm (0.5−7.0) in the CWI, IVL and control groups respectively (P = 0.35). The number of patients reporting residual incisional pain after 3 months (3/26 vs 4/23 vs 4/23 in the CWI, IVL and control groups respectively) did not differ significantly between the groups, nor did their metabolic stress reactions. Conclusion: Ropivacaine CWI at the site of the abdominal incision did not provide any significant benefit either on analgesia or on the prevention of wound hyperalgesia after LCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Precise information regarding the location of an anal fistula and its relationship to adjacent structures is necessary for selecting the best surgical strategy. Retrospective and cross-sectional studies were performed to determine predictive factors for recurrence of anal fistula from preoperative examination by three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D- EAUS). Method Patients in our tertiary centre and in a private centre specialized in proctology undergoing preoperative 3D- EAUS for cryptoglandular anal fistulae between 2002 and 2012 were included. A questionnaire was sent in September 2013 to assess the patient's condition with regard to recurrence. Variables checked for association with recurrence were gender, type of centre, previous fistula surgery, secondary track formation and classification of the fistula. Results There were 143 patients of whom 96 had a low fistula treated by fistulotomy, 28 a high fistula treated by fistulectomy and 19 a high fistula treated by fistulectomy combined with a mucosal advancement flap. The median duration of follow-up was 26 (2-118) months. The fistula recurred in 40 (27%) patients. Independent risk factors included the presence of secondary track formation [hazard ratio 2.4 (95% CI 1.2-51), P = 0.016] and previous fistula surgery [hazard ratio 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-4.6), P = 0.041]. Agreement between the 3D- EAUS examination and the evaluation under anaesthesia regarding the site of the internal opening, classification of the fistula and the presence of secondary tracks was 97%, 98% and 78%. Conclusion The identification of secondary tracks by preoperative 3D- EAUS examination was the strongest independent risk factor for recurrence. This stresses the importance of preoperative 3D- EAUS in mapping the pathological anatomy of the fistula and a thorough search for secondary track formation during surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pilonidal disease ( PD) is a common inflammatory disease of the gluteal fold, resulting in recurrent acute/chronic infection at the level of the natal cleft. In this study, endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment ( EPSiT), a new endoscopic minimally invasive procedure, was evaluated for its effectiveness in treating PD. Methods Two hundred and fifty prospective patients with chronic PD were enrolled in a prospective multicentre study conducted at a secondary and tertiary colorectal surgery centre. The primary end-point of this study was wound healing, and the short-/long-term outcomes such as healing time, morbidity rate and recurrence rate were analysed. The secondary end-point of this study was quality of life (QoL). Results The complete wound healing rate was 94.8%, and the mean complete wound healing time was 26.7 ± 10.4 days. The incomplete healing rate (5.2%) was significantly related to the number of external openings ( P = 0.01). There was no difference in the failure rate when EPSiT was performed as the first-line treatment for PD or when it was used after unsuccessful procedures ( P = n.s.). Recurrence occurred in 12 cases (5%). The QoL significantly increased from preoperative levels 15 days after the EPSiT procedure (45.3 vs 7.9; P < 0.0001). Conclusions The EPSiT procedure is a safe and effective technique for treating PD. It provides better short- and long-term outcomes than various other techniques that are more invasive. EPSiT is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, which is associated with a quick recovery and a good QoL outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) after colorectal surgery remains a leading cause of delayed postoperative recovery and prolonged hospital stay. Its exact incidence is unknown. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the definitions and incidence of PPOI previously described. Method MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (up to July 2014) were searched. Two authors independently reviewed citations using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results The search strategy yielded 3233 citations; 54 were eligible, comprising 18 983 patients. Twenty-six studies were prospective [17 of these being randomized controlled trials (RCTs)] and 28 were retrospective. Meta-analysis revealed an incidence of PPOI of 10.3% (95% CI 8.4-12.5) and 10.2% (95% CI 5.6-17.8) for non-RCTs and RCTs, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed for both non-RCTs and for RCTs. The used definition of PPOI, the type of surgery and access (laparoscopic, open) and the duration of surgery lead to significant variability of reported PPOI incidence between studies. The incidence of PPOI is lower after laparoscopic colonic resection. Conclusion There is a large variation in the reported incidence of PPOI. A uniform definition of PPOI is needed to allow meaningful inter-study comparisons and to evaluate strategies to prevent PPOI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Surgical closure of high or complex anal fistulae is often a difficult challenge. A special Nitinol clip, the OTSC clip (Ovesco AG), was evaluated for fistula closure in a porcine model. Method A total of 20 fistulae were created in 10 animals by seton insertion. Four weeks after fistula induction the setons were removed: one internal fistula opening per animal was left untreated as control whereas the other opening was closed by the OTSC clip using a specially developed transanal clip applicator. The safety and technical feasibility of the clip application were tested. Another 4 weeks later, fistulae were macroscopically assessed for closure. For histological examination, the anorectum including the fistula tract was excised en bloc. Results Four weeks after clip placement, all external and internal fistula openings were macroscopically closed. The clip application site presented with an increased scarring. Microscopically, 40% of residual tracts and a more intense chronic inflammation were seen in the untreated control fistulae. After clip placement, 10% of the fistulae persisted associated with a higher density of collagen fibres indicating a better fistula scarring and healing. No unexpected side-effects or complications caused by the clip were observed. Conclusion Fistula closure using the OTSC clip represents a promising sphincter-preserving minimally invasive procedure. This study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the 'anal fistula claw' for fistula closure. In spite of limitations of the porcine model the results justify clinical applications and further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the position statement of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Irelands (ACPGBI) on the management and treatment of anal fistula. It classifies medical evidences on anal fistula treatment, which were gathered from Cochrane Database, Pub Med, MEDLINE and EM-BASE, and grades recommendations for those evidences basing on the level of associated evidence and other recommendations. Detailed aspects of the disease's pathology, diagnosis and treatment is provided.

The article presents the position statement of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Irelands (ACPGBI) on the management of malignant large bowel obstruction. It classifies medical evidences on bowel obstruction management, and grades recommendations for those evidences basing on the level of associated evidence and other recommendations. Diagnosis, non-surgical management, patient optimization, and surgical management are the main sections addressed within the report.

The article focuses on whether the method of surgical access to the abdomen determine treatment in perforated diverticulitis. Patients with perforated diverticulitis should undergo primary resection or nonresectional surgery regardless of the surgical access to the abdomen. The findings should be the basis of the treatment of perforated diverticulitis patients.