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Whereas the advancement of minimally invasive surgical techniques and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways for partial colectomies has shortened postoperative length of stay, the ideal length of stay after partial colectomy with or without diverting loop ileostomy is still up for debate. This article examines the safety and efficacy of discharging select patients home from day surgery following partial colectomy. We performed a retrospective review of 7 patients who underwent partial colectomy at one tertiary care center from December 2020 to August 2021. None of our cases suffered complications such as anastomotic leak, surgical site infection, or bowel obstruction or required admission to the hospital. One patient was seen in the emergency department on postoperative day 1 for nausea and vomiting and was managed as an outpatient. A second patient required a fluid bolus in the clinic for high ileostomy output. In conclusion, our study suggests that appropriately selected patients can be successfully managed in the outpatient setting without increased complications following partial colectomy when preoperative preparation and education are put in place alongside our colon ERAS pathway and minimally invasive surgical techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anastomotic leak is a major complication of colorectal surgery, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. This article focuses on definitions of anastomotic and subclinical leaks, risk factors associated with anastomotic leaks, relevance of surgical rituals, and use of imaging studies in diagnosing leaks. Surgeon skill is one of the most important determinants of clinical anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery. Other factors known to affect anastomotic healing include: blood supply, steroids, contaminated wound, and nutrition. Although a surgeon makes a decision about technique or a clinical judgment based largely upon personal preference and perception of a particular advantage, surgical rituals such as handsewn vs. stapled anastomois, use of pelvic drains, creation of defunctioning ileostomy are reviewed based on the literature available. Computed tomography (CT) imaging has been reported to be effective in identifying patients with anastomotic leaks and can detect intra-abdominal and perianastomotic abscesses, which can mimic the signs and symptoms of an anastomotic leak. However, watersoluble contrast enema seems superior to CT for diagnosis of anastomotic leak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ureteral catheter placement for identification of ureters during colorectal surgery has been a controversial subject with ill-defined indications. We present a case of ureteral catheter placement wherein the patient required readmission for renal failure with intervention under local anesthesia. This case highlights the importance of patient selection for catheter placement and clinical follow-up, as well as the need for prospective studies to determine the risk-benefit ratio of preoperative catheters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by Jeffrey Lake, Rahila Essani, Patrizio Petrone, Andreas Kaiser, Juan Asensio, and Robert Beart to a letter to the editor about the management of the retained rectal foreign bodies is presented.

Background Length of hospital stay (LOS) is an indirect measure of surgical quality and a surrogate for cost. The impact of postoperative complications on LOS following elective colorectal surgery is not well defined. The purpose of this study is to determine the contribution of specific complications towards LOS in elective laparoscopic colectomy patients. Materials and methods American College of Surgeon's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2011-2014) was queried for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic partial colectomy with primary anastomosis. Demographics, specific 30 d postoperative complications and LOS, were evaluated. A negative binomial regression adjusting for demographic variables and complications was performed to explore the impact of individual complications on LOS, significance set at P < 0.05. Results A total of 42,365 patients were evaluated, with an overall median LOS 4.0 d (interquartile range, 3.0-5.0). Unplanned reoperation and pneumonia each increase LOS by 50%; superficial surgical site infections (SSIs), organ space SSI sepsis, urinary tract infection, ventilation >48 h, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction each increase LOS by at least 25% ( P < 0.0001). When accounting for additional LOS and rate of complications, unplanned reoperation, bleeding requiring transfusion within 72 h, and superficial SSIs were the highest impact complications. Conclusions In laparoscopic colectomy, each complication uniquely impacts LOS, and therefore cost. Utilizing this model, individual hospitals can implement pathways targeting specific complication profiles to improve care and minimize health care cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]